Desperados Attack - Chapter 53 - Mirror Strike

“Rules? What rules? I am originally a Han person from the central plains. I’ve long admired Nine Star Manor, and that’s why I’m here to visit. I didn’t know Nine Star Manor had any special rules.”

“Hmph, you’re just spouting nonsense,” the woman said, waving her hand dismissively. “Never mind, today is a celebratory day for our Manor. I’ll give you a chance from this Manor Lord, now quickly leave!”

Hearing this, Su Xinghe’s face darkened. He already intended to meet the Manor Lord, and now, hearing this person claim to be the Manor Lord and speak disrespectfully, while his friends had been taken, his anger flared like a wildfire.

“If you insist, Manor Lord, then I shall speak plainly. The man and woman you took at the grand market on the prairie today are my friends. If the Manor Lord wishes for peace, then return my friends to me, or else…”

Su Xinghe intended to make his point, but before he could finish his sentence, the woman shouted, “Shifting Mountains and Seas.”

These four words entered Su Xinghe’s ears. He didn’t know what kind of technique it was, only assuming it to be an extraordinarily powerful move.

“Die!”

The woman immediately followed with a shout. Su Xinghe raised his hand and struck with his sword. It was a simple sword move, but executed so perfectly under urgency, it was indeed a rare sight in the world.

The sword sliced through the air, but the woman did not evade. She chuckled and said, “If that’s your sword, then look at mine!”

The woman held no sword in her hand, yet as she spoke these words, she mirrored Su Xinghe’s strike precisely.

With a “boom,” two energy waves collided in mid-air, the powerful shockwave forcing some onlookers to retreat a few steps back, while most rolled over multiple times.

This move closely resembled the technique used earlier by Duanmu Jiu, each being an exceptionally powerful mirrored strike.

“Who are you?”

There were nine leaders in Nine Star Manor. Su Xinghe didn’t recognize them, but Tu Ning’er, observing from a distance, saw clearly.

She was usually careless, more like a man than a woman, but now she was extremely attentive because she was praying for Su Xinghe’s survival.

Why was she praying? Because Su Xinghe was about to die.

Why would Su Xinghe die?

Tu Ning’er, furrowing her brow and exhaling sharply, thought to herself that even if Su Xinghe had magical abilities, he wouldn’t escape from this woman’s hands in the Manor.

The women of Nine Star Manor were extremely frightening.

A drop of sweat rolled down Tu Ning’er’s face.

It turns out that Nine Star Manor has existed in the Jianghu for hundreds of years.

The reason Nine Star Manor has such a renowned reputation in the Jianghu is because it was founded during the Three Kingdoms¹ Period by none other than Zhuge Liang².

After Zhuge Liang’s death, Nine Star Manor faded from public knowledge. Only the tens of thousands of soldiers he stationed there continued to guard the place, having changed their names and backgrounds.

This is merely a legend, but as with all legends, the more it’s talked about, the more it spreads.

Subsequent Manor Lords of Nine Star Manor began working as bodyguards for others. As their reputation in the Jianghu grew, Nine Star Manor carved out its own realm in the Western Regions.

The old Manor Lord, Duanmu Song, had legendary tales associated with him in the Western Regions and even within the central plains’ Jianghu. However, after his death, Nine Star Manor vanished from the martial arts world of the central plains, leaving no trace. Yet, even as it disappeared from the central plains, its influence in the Western Regions remained immense.

Seeing the current scene unfold, Tu Ning’er felt a chill run through her heart, thinking, “If this kid dies, what will I do? I’ll never be able to rescue Xiao Feng.”

Watching the dazzling collision of blue lights, Su Xinghe commented, “What an impressive technique, to be able to replicate my move. Quite formidable indeed.”

The woman chuckled, “I told you to flee for your life, but you insist on throwing it away here. What can be done?”

After a while, she added, “Hmph, run for your life then! I don’t feel like killing today!”

“Insolent! You woman, how dare you speak so dismissively, not taking me seriously at all.”

Su Xinghe was already enraged. He could not stand being underestimated. As the future Sect Leader of Shu Mountain, how could he endure such humiliation?

“Woman, you have insulted me multiple times. How can I let you go?”

With one hand gripping his sword and the other hand extended with five fingers aiming at the woman, he shouted, “Majestic Path, all things thrive; Heavenly Dragon arises, undeterred… Ah, Divine Dragon Blazing Sword!”

After chanting a long incantation, the sword’s green blade started glowing red. Resembling a Blood-Stained Painting just taken from the forge, it appeared like a mere fire poker in his hand, yet this sword was far more powerful than a fire poker.

Su Xinghe understood this move clearly. He had long heard from his Master about a technique in the Western Regions that could harness others’ martial arts and turn them to one’s own advantage. Never giving it much thought before, seeing it now, he understood a great deal.

The technique he was now using could not be captured by the opponent.

Su Xinghe was overjoyed, for whether it was martial arts techniques or immortal sect spells, he exceeded this woman by quite a margin.

With the divine sword in his hand, the blazing red sword seemed to make everything seem trivial.

“Insolent! Prepare to meet your end!”

Su Xinghe leapt forward, swinging a downward sword strike.

The searing hot wave of flames forced the woman to retreat repeatedly.

Su Xinghe had no intention of stopping. As he swung his sword down from overhead, he briefly caught a glimpse of the woman’s face. She had an extraordinary beauty, as if she had stepped right out of a painting. Even in her panicked state, she remained stunning.

“Die!”

Her beauty failed to stir any sympathy in Su Xinghe’s heart.

The sword strike came down incredibly fast, the humming blade causing the woman to panic and not know what to do.

“Ah?”

She cried out, instinctively trying to dodge.

Onlookers were utterly shocked to witness such an event-having someone from outside not only enter Nine Star Manor but also chase one of their own. It was a disgrace.

Unconcerned, Su Xinghe pressed on, and when his first strike missed, he swiftly followed up with a slash aimed at her waist.

With a sharp “swish,” Su Xinghe’s sword struck the woman’s slender waist, tearing through her clothes, causing the lower garment to fall away.

“Ah!”

She let out a gasp, collapsing to the ground with a cry of distress.

The maids hurried over, calling out, “Second young lady, quickly, quickly, get the second young lady inside.”

Second young lady!

It turned out that the woman who had verbally sparred with Su Xinghe and engaged him in a duel was none other than Duanmu Shuang, the Second Manor Lord of Nine Star Manor.

A group of maids had already carried her back inside.

Footnote:

1. Three Kingdoms(三国): Refers to the period from 220 to 280 AD in Chinese history, during which the three states of Wei, Shu, and Wu coexisted.
2. Zhuge Liang(诸葛亮): A renowned military strategist and statesman during the Three Kingdoms period in China, famous for his exceptional wisdom and strategic abilities. He served as the Chancellor of Shu Han and lived from 181 to 234 AD.