Chapter 168: Chapter 0168: I Give You Time to Repent_1
The duel between Zhang Bin and Han Rui had been too swift; victory and defeat were determined in a single move, life and death decided in an instant. Therefore, even with two Liquid Transformation Late Stage masters watching from the side, they had been too late to intervene.
In fact, if Han Tie had been on guard and prepared for a rescue, he might have been able to use a hidden weapon to deflect Zhang Bin’s sword.
However, Han Tie knew his son’s strength all too well. Han Rui was formidable, having dominated the world for years, invincible against any opponent in the same realm. Thus, Han Tie was full of confidence in his son and never expected him to lose, let alone that defeat would mean death. He had not prepared for a rescue.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! How could the Young Sect Master have been defeated and killed?"
All the disciples of the Iron Sword Sect were dumbfounded, standing there speechless.
The members of the Special Action Team also wore expressions of unexpected shock. Holy shit, Zhang Kai is terrifyingly powerful! His sword is that fast? Even Han Rui was no match for him? Zhao Dawei shouted excitedly in his heart.
I underestimated this youth, and I underestimated the Taiqing Sect. This sect is powerful indeed, Luo Chengliang praised inwardly.
"Zhang Kai, your life is forfeit!" Han Tie’s eyes were bloodshot, and an icy, ruthless killing intent burst from him. With a clang, he drew his iron sword and shot toward Zhang Bin like an arrow, intent on slaying him with a single stroke to avenge his son.
SWOOSH!
Luo Chengliang suddenly sprang into action. Like a ghostly shadow, he took a single step that seemed to shrink the earth, crossing over ten meters to stand before Zhang Bin and shield him. A sharp cleaving knife appeared in his hands. He raised it slightly, exuding an aura of extreme terror as his eyes glinted with cold light. "Get back!" he shouted.
He slashed violently with his cleaving knife. He worried that Han Tie might attack recklessly, leaving him unable to protect Zhang Bin, so he struck first.
Han Tie’s expression changed slightly, and he was forced to raise his sword to parry.
CLANG!
The sound of striking iron rang out as a shockwave cleared the air and sparks flew.
Both men staggered backward several steps, their strengths clearly about equal.
"Luo Chengliang, get out of my way! I must kill him today, no matter what! How can I not avenge my son’s death?" Han Tie roared, his eyes bloodshot and his voice filled with murderous intensity.
At that moment, Zhang Bin began to vomit violently, almost bringing up bile. He hadn’t even had time to pull the sword from his chest.
It was, after all, his first time killing someone, and the stench of blood made him nauseous. But his opponent had been trying to kill him, and so ruthlessly at that. If his sword had been any slower, he would be the one lying dead on the ground. He had no choice but to kill him. Besides, two months ago, if not for his miraculous medical skills, he would have been killed by Han Rui’s father; by now, his bones would have long turned to dust. Since the father and son were so venomous, tirelessly plotting to kill him, how could he not return blood for blood and a tooth for a tooth?
Zhang Kai killed someone for the first time, and it was a terrifying expert like Han Rui. It seems the International Criminal Police Organization got a tremendous bargain, Zhao Dawei muttered to himself.
Qian Bing and Sun Tie had equally odd expressions. They were obviously surprised that Han Rui—a notorious assassin who had been a dominant, murderous force in the world for decades—had been so easily killed by a youth who had never taken a life before. Wasn’t this like an old ship capsizing in a ditch?
"Sect Master Han, I suggest you hand over the Jade Scroll Simple. In return, I will spare your life and merely cripple your cultivation. How does that sound?" Luo Chengliang had no intention of stepping aside. He continued to shield Zhang Bin and said coldly, "By now, I’m also certain that you were the assailant from that day."
"Nonsense! When did I ever take the Jade Scroll Simple? I’m telling you, if you don’t step aside, you will die here today! I must kill the one who killed my son," Han Tie said through gritted teeth, his eyes flashing fiercely. If Luo Chengliang didn’t move, he was prepared to lead his entire sect in an attack to exterminate all of them.
Zhang Bin understood Han Tie’s intention. He lifted his head and said coolly, "Han Tie, those who kill are fated to be killed. The seeds of the past bear the fruit of today. Don’t you understand yet? It was your own greed and shamelessness that led to Gu Yang being crippled by my Junior Brother, Zhang Bin. It led to your son’s death today, and it will lead to you becoming a corpse as well! Are you now planning to make the Iron Sword Sect a thing of the past, too?"
"Your Taiqing Sect doesn’t even have a single expert in the Liquid State, yet you dare speak of killing me and destroying the Iron Sword Sect?" Han Tie roared. "Come on, then! Stop hiding behind others and fight me to the death! Today, either you die or I do!"
"Idiot," Zhang Bin sneered. "The might of My Supreme Pure Gate is beyond your comprehension. Why would we need to involve a senior from the Liquid State to deal with an ant like you? I am more than enough." He then said, "Senior Luo, please step aside. I can handle him."
Luo Chengliang hesitated. He truly couldn’t fathom how a mere Mid Stage Qi Sea Realm cultivator could defeat a Late-stage Liquefaction Realm Cultivator. This simply overturned all the rules of cultivation.
However, Han Tie was eager to kill Zhang Bin, so he shouted with scorn, "Luo Chengliang, he’s an exceptional genius, a super expert far more powerful than you! Does he need your protection? Why don’t you get out of the way and let him come kill me?"
His words were, of course, sarcastic and sounded somewhat ludicrous, but they were also a very bad omen.
"Zhang Kai, be careful then."
After a moment’s hesitation, Luo Chengliang stepped aside. It seemed Zhang Kai truly didn’t need his protection. After all, the youth had never once sought his help. His worry was groundless.
As he stepped back, Zhang Bin—a sword still embedded in his chest—was exposed, standing in direct confrontation with Han Tie.
Han Tie looked at Zhang Bin as if he were a dead man. "Kid," he said, his voice as cold as ice, "I’m going to cut you into a thousand pieces to avenge my son."
"Han Tie, I’m giving you some time to repent for your sins. Otherwise, you’ll soon have no time left at all," Zhang Bin said coldly. "Also, when you report to Hell later, remember this for your next life: do not provoke My Supreme Pure Gate. It’s not something an ant like you can afford to do."
Everyone was shocked by Zhang Bin’s tone. They stared at him as if he were a monster, unable to comprehend what gave him such confidence. How could he be so arrogant as to disregard a Liquid Transformation Late Stage expert?
Is he just bluffing, or does he really have an ace up his sleeve? Even Zhao Dawei was muttering doubtfully in his heart.
Han Tie was so furious he nearly coughed up blood. He ground his teeth, his eyes shooting terrifying beams of light as a killing intent so thick it was almost tangible rose from his body. The iron sword in his hand erupted with a sharp Sword Qi at least two meters long. "Die!" he bellowed.
He charged toward Zhang Bin like a whirlwind, aiming to slay him on the spot.