Chapter 27 - Collapse at the First Blow

Yang Xuan was the real name of the man in green. Of course, Shen Lian had found out about it from Ling Chongxiao.

However, the person managed to utter the real name of the man in green; this would mean that the Xuanming division was decent in terms of data collection.

"Dear Sir, am I your prisoner? Or am I your underling?" Shen Lian stared at the officer from Xuanming division, Meng Han. Even though he was young and had a childish face, Meng Han found his stare to be intense.

He could not help but take a step back.

Governor Shuo was surprised by his move and squeaked lowly.

The room was eerily silent, and if someone were to make a sound then, it would be dropping a needle in a quiet room – everyone with an ear could hear.

Meng Han was surprised by the squeak. He blushed when he realized what was happening. His face was as red as burning iron.

Before he joined the Xuanming division, he was one of the disciples in the Chiyang Sect – one of the renowned and reputable great sects.

Chiyang Sect had been a loyal follower of the Founder of the dynasty before he came to be the Founder. The sect was cherished by the government and received various honorary titles for their services.

Chiyang Sect enjoyed high social status in both government and Jianghu.

Meng Han used to be one of the star disciples in the Chiyang Sect before he joined the Xuanming division. His talent was valued in the Xuanming division, which led him to be proud.

If words about this were to get out, what would the Jianghu drifters and his colleagues from the division think of him?

Shen Lian used to own a clinic. He met with people from all walks of life; he knew exactly what was going on in Meng Han's mind.

When faced with people as such, one must not succ.u.mb to their authority. Otherwise, they would think that you were an easy target to bully. Unlike the case with Governor Shuo, it was impossible to rationalize with people as such.

That was why Shen Lian showed his resilient side on purpose.

After all, the martial exercises left behind by the man in green could disrupt the balance in Jianghu.

Outsiders would never believe him if he said that he was not in possession of the Deity Vanquishing Sword and the Shenzu Scripture; what more, he actually had it in his possession.

Meng Han was the first to come for that, but he would not be the last.

The reason why Shen Lian moved out of the Shen family was to avoid bringing too many troubles to the family.

After all, he had not built his reputation yet. No one feared him, and there would be a lot of people who came looking for trouble.

By taking a step back, Meng Han had forced himself to an extreme – how could he be in fear of a young child?

"I just need to know about the incident with the man in green. I will not be harsh on you." Meng Han spoke calmly, hiding the tension in his eyes.

Anyone would be able to tell that he was merely suppressing his anger.

"What if I don't talk at all?" Shen Lian replied fearlessly.

"I see that you are not refuting the claim. Young child, it seems that I will have to show you some colors before you open your mouth willingly."

"Shen Lian, it is no big deal. Just start talking and the a.d.u.l.ts won't be too hard on you." Governor Shuo advised.

"This is a matter of the Xuanming division. We don't need comments from state officials like you." Meng Han glared at Governor Shuo.

Governor Shuo held back his anger. They were all working for the same Emperor, and in fact he got his office through sitting for the Imperial Examination. How dare the obnoxious people from Xuanming division look down on the state officials and treat them like pigs and dogs?

"Similarly, I don't need Sir Meng to comment on my matters." Shen Lian replied with a smile.

"Good child."

Meng Han was extremely angry. He was not planning to be too harsh on a mere child. However, Shen Lian had been pushing his buttons, and he could not contain his wrath anymore.

He drew the sword and instilled force into it. The iron sword that was made from well-tempered steel was burning, and hints of red could be seen.

The internal force of the Chiyang Sect had strong Yang qualities. This was why the disciples had names with characters such as Han, Bing, Yin, Leng. It was to serve as a constant reminder to them so that they would not be carried overboard by their pride and anger.

The mere chillness from his name, Han, did nothing to overcome the anger in Meng Han's heart. His essential Qi was about to be unleashed by sheer anger, and he was determined to teach Shen Lian a lesson.

He drew his sword without any prior notice. He was one with his sword and delivered himself along with the sword right at Shen Lian.

The move was called 'Words Stuck in One's Throat'– an attempt to shut Shen Lian up by directing the sword at his throat.

However, Meng Han still had rationality left in him. Even if he did not put his full strength into the move, Shen Lian would not be able to talk or eat for a few months.

If he could not talk, how else was he going to find out about the man in green?

This was why he tilted the edge of his sword and directed it downwards.

Shen Lian did not react to this. When Meng Han's sword stopped short, a dash of green light flashed past, and Shen Lian had a wooden sword made out of spotted laurel in his hand. With it, he hit Meng Han's Lie Que point.

The point was on the lateral border of a person's forearm, right above the radial styloid process, five centimeters above of the wrist crease, and was right between the brachioradialis and the abductor pollicis longus muscle, linking directly to the Conception Vessel.

Shen Lian's move was slow, but the angle and timing were impeccable. It was a later move that overpowered the opponent's earlier move.

Due to his weak inner Qi and lack of skills, Shen Lian could not have overpowered Meng Han. However, his earlier move did not rely on inner Qi. It was a move that sent a hint of the Deity Vanquishing Sword that he had nourished with his spirit right into Meng Han's body.

The mind must work together with the Qi; Shen Lian's move was directed at the Lie Que point and had injured Meng Han's spirit and mind. The inner Qi in him was messed up, and the discord was amplified due to the blockage of the Lie Que point.

Meng Han was angry and was in shock, he did not expect Shen Lian to win against him in a battle.

His thoughts were in a state of chaos, and he charged right ahead after pausing for a moment.

He did not realize that he could no longer see clearly anymore.

Shen Lian's sword moved along with the momentum, and he flicked it lightly; Meng Han was moving at a high speed when he was flicked by Shen Lian's sword.

Without wasting any strength, Shen Lian managed to send Meng Han flying out of the window from the third floor.

There was a wooden balcony on the second floor. Meng Han collided with the barrier and made a loud thud.

Luckily, the barrier was of good quality. It did not shatter into pieces under Meng Han's weight. It was broken in half.

Shen Lian took a look and saw Meng Han stranded on the window. Discreetly, he waved his sword, and a cold breeze brushed past Meng Han. It was as though someone poured a bucket of ice water on his head. The cold was excruciating, and Meng Han passed out on the barrier.

Governor Shuo and Shen Lian descended to the second floor, and they shooed away the curious onlookers.

"Governor Shuo, Sir Meng broke several of our belongings. Would it be alright for us to claim for the damages from the town hall?" Shen Lian sighed after looking at the broken barrier.

"Tell me, what do you think you have done? Why would you mess with someone from the Xuanming division?" Governor Shuo found it extremely ther.a.p.eutic looking at Meng Han's current predicament, he stifled a laugh before remarking to Shen Lian.

"I have already messed with him, what will come, will come." Shen Lian said nonchalantly.

"Of course you can leave whenever you want to after learning about the mystical martial arts in Jianghu, but what about the Shen family?" Governor Shuo knew fully well where Shen Lian learned his skills from. It definitely had something to do with the man in green.

Although he knew about Jianghu, he did not know about the finer details of martial arts and Dao techniques. Which was why he was not particularly shocked by the fact that Shen Lian managed to beat Meng Han in a fight.

On top of that, Shen Lian was so young! If words got out, how many Jianghu drifters would be ashamed by their incompetency and thought that they have wasted their life?

"It all happened too quickly. I had no time for detailed analysis. Unlike you Governor Shuo, I'm not concerned by the pros and cons; I only know how to give and take."

'Give' first; 'take' comes after.

It was only natural for one to take after giving.

Giving without taking, or taking without giving, both were unnatural.

"I'm not sure if Shen family is lucky or unlucky to have you. I used to be a studious person; the phrase 'there is no celestial who is not filial and not loyal in this world' is not unfounded. I hope that you understand that."