"You didn't expect this, did you, Yang Fan? You're not the only one who knows this technique."
Seeing Yang Fan's astonished expression, Zhao Yunhai let out a cold laugh.
Yang Fan had originally believed himself to be favored by destiny, and that his acquisition of this ancient martial arts manual was utterly unique.
But he never anticipated Zhao Yunhai stepping forward now, brutally slapping his own face.
He discovered that the opponent's strength and proficiency in using the technique were far superior to his own.
If his understanding of martial arts was merely at a university level, then the opponent's mastery of the technique was undoubtedly beyond that of a doctoral professor.
Their battle, employing the same martial art and the same moves, felt as though they were sparring, feeding each other moves.
However, this was not entirely the case. Although their attacks were identical, Zhao Yunhai's speed and power far surpassed Yang Fan's.
"I must say, this technique is truly effective."
Zhao Yunhai fought with exhilarating abandon, while Yang Fan retreated with each exchange, his demeanor increasingly desperate.
Yang Fan had a feeling that the opponent was the true creator of this martial arts manual, and he was merely a student.
Moreover, from Zhao Yunhai's recent words, Yang Fan understood that Zhao Yunhai had not possessed this martial arts manual for long.
It was likely acquired recently. After Yang Fan had obtained the manual, he had immediately copied it and then destroyed it.
"Where did you get this technique?" Yang Fan couldn't help but demand.
"Do I need to submit an application to learn this kind of technique?" Zhao Yunhai couldn't help but laugh, repelling Yang Fan with a palm strike.
The next moment, Zhao Yunhai grabbed Yang Fan's hand and, with a crack, dislocated his wrist.
Yang Fan merely grunted, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Zhao Yunhai retaliated with a backhand strike, his elbow directly impacting Yang Fan's vital pulse. The force of the blow slammed into Yang Fan, sending him flying backward.
"Your mouth is still so stubborn. I wonder how long you can endure this."
Zhao Yunhai would not let up. If he were to kill Yang Fan, he would see it through to the end, showing absolutely no mercy.
"If anything happens to Young Master Yun, our heads will roll."
Du Lü's face was etched with anxiety, but Young Master Yun had ordered them to wait here. What were they to do?
However, seeing Young Master Yun gaining the upper hand brought them some relief, yet their worry did not diminish.
After all, luck played a significant role in a martial artist's combat, and martial artists were never immune to injury.
"Young Master Yun never does anything without certainty. We just need to wait here."
The others also stood restlessly, their hearts filled with apprehension, only Si Jin Yan managed to maintain a calm facade.
"What are you people doing standing around? Go help him!"
When Elder Feng noticed Zhao Yunhai fighting Yang Fan, his disciple, one-on-one, his heart leaped. He sternly rebuked those who were still idly standing by.
"Elder Feng, it's not that we don't want to help, but Young Master Yun didn't allow us to."
Lu Boyun explained with a look of helplessness.
"Nie Lao Gui, die!"
Elder Feng intended to quickly dispatch Nie Lao Gui and then go to assist Young Master Yun with Yang Fan.
Xiao Hai was the precious treasure of the Zhao family; nothing must happen to him.
Elder Feng drew a sword from behind him, and a flurry of sword rain instantly severed Nie Lao Gui's arm.
Having lost an arm, Nie Lao Gui was at a loss for words. He had never expected to encounter danger right at his doorstep.
His specialty was swordplay, but he simply didn't have the time to retrieve his sword.
Unarmed, he was even more outmatched.
Seeing the sword in Elder Feng's hand, Si Jin Yan's mind jolted.
He had almost forgotten that he was carrying a sword on his back!
This was a sword personally chosen by Zhao Hongwen, Zhao Yunhai's father, specifically for Zhao Yunhai.
However, Zhao Yunhai found hand-to-hand combat the most exhilarating, and although he could use a sword, he disliked it.
"Young Master Yun, take the sword!"
Si Jin Yan moved closer, threw the sword, and shouted.
Zhao Yunhai turned his head as the sword flew towards him. He gripped the hilt with one hand, and a flash of sword light shot forward.
Instantly, Yang Fan bore a sword mark extending from his abdomen to his shoulder.
Yang Fan, like his master, was unlucky, but he was slightly luckier. There was a dagger on his pant leg.
This was because they had to enter these deep mountains, and even with familiar paths, there were many poisonous insects, requiring a dagger to flick them away.
The sword mark was a deep wound, affecting Yang Fan's mobility.
A dagger was inherently at a disadvantage against a longsword.
Furthermore, Zhao Yunhai's strength far surpassed Yang Fan's. After only a few exchanges, Yang Fan sustained several more sword wounds.
The most severe was the severing of one of his ears by Zhao Yunhai.
Yang Fan attacked frantically, trying to find an opening.
But Zhao Yunhai gave him no chance to turn the tide.
As for Nie Lao Gui, due to his extensive combat experience, he only managed to hold on for a few minutes.
Now, a sword was impaled through Nie Lao Gui's chest and out his back.
Nie Lao Gui died on the spot.
However, even in death, he stood resolutely, his demeanor as unyielding in death as it was in life.
"Master!"
The moment Yang Fan saw his master die, his eyes turned crimson.
"Here comes the berserk mode!"
Zhao Yunhai knew that Yang Fan was most likely to trigger a protagonist's power-up in such moments.
But Zhao Yunhai would not give him any opportunity, charging forward to deliver a fatal blow.
Elder Feng, about to intervene, stopped when he saw Xiao Hai's swordsmanship.
When had Xiao Hai started practicing martial arts? He didn't know.
It wasn't his business to inquire.
But he could be sure that Xiao Hai had only recently begun practicing.
This was because Xiao Hai's aversion to martial arts was a well-known fact among the Zhao family.
What surprised him even more was the sword technique Xiao Hai was using—it was unheard of, never before seen.
Judging by the power of these sword moves, their strength must be extraordinary.
The longsword like a rainbow, the sword like a thunderbolt.
Technique and Sword Skill, Nine Heavens.
The protagonist's berserk mode was also the time of their weakest defense. Usually, at such moments, the villain would relax their vigilance and mock from the sidelines.
Then, after the protagonist's power-up was complete, they would be utterly astonished.
Protagonist's halo might not work on Zhao Yunhai, but he certainly wouldn't allow a protagonist's berserk mode to become a nuisance.
"You wish!"
Yang Fan's final counter-attack also employed the sword skill.
Yet, despite using the same sword skill, the power unleashed by the two was worlds apart.
One sword, one blood; one protagonist's demise.
Yang Fan died on the spot, with no further chance for a power-up.
Yang Fan's corpse lay with his eyes wide open, as if questioning how he could possibly die.
Zhao Yunhai, seeing Yang Fan dead, calmly withdrew his longsword.
The blood dripping from the sword tip was Yang Fan's heart's blood.
A treasured sword kills without leaving a trace.
"Scatter the ashes of these two master and disciple."
Zhao Yunhai tossed the longsword to Si Jin Yan and commanded.