Chapter 1 Atobe

At this moment, even if Atobe could avoid it consciously, he couldn't avoid it physically.

The paper fan, carrying the wind, howled as it arrived, and he barely had time to raise his arms to block it in front of him.

With a *chi* sound, the edge of the fan struck Atobe's arm. In that second, Atobe only felt a burst of force coming from his forearm, pushing him back a step.

As mentioned earlier, the protective gear Atobe was wearing was not bad, with high defensive power, capable of blocking even Shi Yanran's throwing knives. Tang Shize's sweep at this moment was comparable in power to that attack. However, Atobe was attacked from behind when he was hit by the throwing knives, while this time he was blocking head-on. Therefore, he didn't feel that this blow was too strong, and the loss of survival value was not as high as it was then.

"How is this possible?" Tang Shize was extremely surprised in his heart. When that blow made contact just now, he didn't feel the slightest bit of internal energy from the other party's body. According to common sense, without using any internal energy to receive such a blow, a person's arm should definitely be fractured. But this Jin fellow in front of him only took a slight step back, his arms intact, as if he was completely unharmed.

"Impossible!" Tang Shize didn't believe in this evil, and launched another attack.

This young master of the Tang family had been quick-witted and clear-headed since childhood, and he had cultivated a good skill of "Nianhua Shou" (Flower Plucking Hand) at the age of twenty. His Thirteen Styles of Nianhua Shou had a total of thirty-nine variations, emphasizing speed, accuracy, agility, dexterity, and danger. Coupled with the Tang Clan's unique internal energy and poison techniques, it could be said to be even more powerful. Although the power of a direct hit was far less than the imposing manner of the Shaolin Dragon Claw Hand, the Nianhua Shou was unparalleled in the martial world for its speed, unpredictability, hidden strength, and the poisonous wind it could carry at any time during close combat, and no one did not fear him by three points.

But… Atobe knew nothing about these things.

When Murong Ying was telling him about Jianghu (martial world) knowledge, if she mentioned Jianghu figures, she would only say their names, nicknames, identities, and what kind of kung fu they were generally good at. She couldn't possibly tell him the other party's martial arts routines, characteristics, including how to break them. If she even told him these, then not to mention one afternoon, she wouldn't be able to finish it in ten afternoons. Moreover, this kind of information no longer belonged to the category of "Jianghu common sense," and might involve the safety of others' lives.

Therefore, facing Tang Shize's next attack, Atobe still responded routinely. In his opinion, this young master Tang's strength was very ordinary, and seemed to be not as strong as Shi Yanran. The attack power was completely within the range he could withstand.

In the blink of an eye, dozens of moves were exchanged. The faster Tang Shize's hands became, the more surprised he became: What kind of trick is this Jin fellow playing? Bare hands against my fan, only defending and not attacking, and not showing any internal energy at all. When the attacks hit his body, it seemed as if they were hitting some kind of armor… Even the highest level of the Golden Bell Shield wouldn't have a method that could be used without circulating energy, right? Could it be that this kid is made of copper skin and iron bones?

Suddenly, a figure jumped in sideways, made three moves in a row, then feinted, and then thrust out an arm, seizing Tang Shize's wrist.

"Young Master Tang." This person who made the move was none other than Gongsun Li. He had been watching from the sidelines for a while, and seemed to feel that he had seen through something, so he jumped out and stopped the fight between the two. "Enough, isn't it? Haven't you seen that this young hero Jin is trying his best to tolerate you? If you continue to force him like this, and let young hero Jin really make a move… Humph, I'm afraid even I, Gongsun, may not be able to stop him at that time."

As soon as these words came out, Tang Shize's mind buzzed. He also seemed to understand something, and suddenly turned his head to look at Atobe: "You…" He recalled the moves he had made and the other party's response. From beginning to end, Atobe was just standing in place, hardly dodging his attacks, nor moving too much distance. When blocking, he didn't use any martial arts routines, just extending his arms and bending his legs. "Very well… very well done, Broken Sword Teahouse. Tang admires you!"

Tang Shize glared at Gongsun Li, then flicked his hand and broke free from the latter's grip. He walked a few steps to Atobe, took out a small, square paper packet from his belt, "This is the antidote to my Fan Wind Poison, please accept it, young hero Jin."

Atobe blankly took the paper packet. In fact, when he heard this sentence, he had just noticed that his status in the menu had become [Poisoned].

"Um… thank you." Atobe instinctively thanked him. He was the only one of the four present who didn't understand what was going on. In his opinion, this NPC named Tang… had turned from neutral to hostile without warning, and then from hostile to friendly.

"I am Tang Shize, known as Quick-Hand Nianhua." Tang Shize cupped his fists and said, "May I know young hero Jin's esteemed name?"

"Damn! I have to say it again? Is this interesting?" Atobe was quite unhappy in his heart, but on the surface, he still replied weakly, "Jin Fugui…"

Tang Shize replied: "Today, I was abrupt. If there was any offense, please forgive me, young hero Jin." As he said this, he glanced at Gongsun Li and Shi Yanran again, "If there is a chance in the future, Tang will ask young hero Jin for advice again. Farewell!" After saying that, he snorted coldly and walked away angrily.

After he left the room, Atobe breathed a sigh of relief, swallowed the antidote, and removed his abnormal state. Looking at his survival value, which had dropped to 30%, Atobe really didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Hehe… Young hero Jin's martial arts are indeed extraordinary." Gongsun Li said, "Facing Tang Shize's Nianhua Shou, he was able to use slowness to defeat speed, and remain as still as a mountain. Without showing internal energy, without using weapons, he withstood all the attacks.

The skill displayed in this forbearance… is enough to show that your external kung fu has reached its limit. With Tang Shize's internal energy cultivation, if he were hit by a punch from you, young hero, I'm afraid his bones and flesh would be shattered on the spot. Humph… It's ridiculous that that ignorant child didn't know the depths, and didn't know that you were kindly sparing him."

"These Jianghu people's imaginations are really limitless… How did they see that I was letting him win… and even imagined it to this extent…" Atobe repeatedly complained in his heart, so the ultimate state of external kung fu is to have the defensive power of a Fine-grade armor without using internal energy or borrowing moves? I wonder if a person in this state can block bullets with their full defense…

"You flatter me… you flatter me…" Atobe replied, trying to maintain a calm expression. From the current situation, Gongsun Li and Shi Yanran were unlikely to attack him, so he would pretend for the time being, "Oh, the poison on my body still needs… um… some adjustment. If you two don't have anything else…"

"Oh, of course, of course." Gongsun Li gave Shi Yanran a look, and then the two of them said goodbye and left together.

After the two of them went out the door, they walked until they were in a deserted place, and Shi Yanran said, "That Jin Fugui… is he really as powerful as you said?"

"If you learned more kung fu from my sect leader senior brother, instead of fooling around with that Wang Ao all day long, you would probably be able to see it." Gongsun Li sarcastically said.

"Bah! It's not your turn to take care of my business! Besides, the person has already been killed, and you were also involved…" Shi Yanran replied with a fierce look on her face.

"Enough!" Gongsun Li said sternly, "It's only for the sake of Wanhua Tower's reputation that I'm cleaning up this mess for you, but now I've gotten myself into trouble." He said with a gloomy expression, "These five people from the Broken Sword Teahouse will have to be silenced sooner or later, but not in Cangling. Right now, we have to please them, try to stabilize these weirdos, and when the duel is over and the various groups return home, I will send someone to track their whereabouts, and then discuss it in the long term…"

"Then what if… they really don't plan to tell this secret?" Shi Yanran said.

"Keeping secrets is only temporary, not eternal." Gongsun Li said, "Don't you even understand this principle?"

Gongsun Li was naturally suspicious and would not trust others. In his eyes, only dead people would keep secrets. And the living people he could trust were only himself. At this moment, Gongsun Li had actually developed murderous intentions towards Shi Yanran, because he felt that Shi Yanran herself was not without the possibility of leaking secrets.

In order to one day have the Wanhua Tower that belonged to him, for the Jianghu status and reputation of this sect, Gongsun Li would spare no effort to eliminate every threat and clean up every stain.

"Then… since their martial arts are so high, how should we attack in the future?" Shi Yanran asked again, "Also, the origin of this Broken Sword Teahouse is probably not that simple, right? Do you really believe that the leader Feng is self-reliant and new to the Jianghu?"

"That's why I said, we need to discuss it in the long term." Gongsun Li said, "If they have any origins or backers, then we'll investigate their origins first. If what that Feng Bujue said is true… humph, that's even better. Within half a month, I'll let them see what Jianghu dangers are."

…………

"Achoo!" Feng Bujue sneezed violently, "No way… I'm wearing more clothes, but I'm still sneezing." He covered his mouth and nose and said, "Is someone thinking of me with ill intentions again…"

"Why do you know it's ill intentions?" Siyu asked.

"Because the memories I leave with others are often not associated with beauty." Feng Bujue replied. He suddenly thought of something, "Eh? So you can sneeze in the game? Then can you also burp and fart, etc…"

"If you dare to experiment in front of me…" A hint of undisguised icy killing intent appeared in Siyu's eyes.

"Hehe, just kidding, just kidding." Feng Bujue laughed.

They were currently traveling between trees and rocks, and the surrounding shadows were as thick as ink. Feng Bujue's flashlight could only illuminate a few meters ahead, but Siyu's lantern could illuminate a larger area in this light-swallowing environment.

The description of the [Constant Dim Light Lantern] stated that "It can only illuminate an area of about five meters around it at all times. Twisting the switch cannot control its brightness or darkness, nor can it be turned off." This characteristic had become an advantage at this moment, because now the flashlight's cone-shaped beam was actually not shining far enough.

Since stepping onto the island, the two of them had been moving towards the center of the island. The surrounding forest had no traces of any human or animal activity, and the two were shrouded in desolation and silence.

However, as they walked among the surrounding rocks and trees, they would vaguely hear the sound of shouting, as if someone from another world that was far away and yet close at hand was shouting to them, begging for help…

This journey was extremely tormenting for Siyu. The dark, oppressive atmosphere made it impossible for her scare value to drop to the bottom. Even though she still had a cold and frosty expression on the surface, in such an environment, as long as you're human, you'll be affected by the atmosphere of terror to some extent. At this time, as long as any strange thing flashed out from behind the dark trees, it could scare people.

Of course, it's not that Feng Bujue isn't human, it's just that he's a person who's not very normal in body and mind.

For him, moving forward in a dark and bleak forest wasn't much different from moving forward in a sunny meadow. If he had a choice, he would prefer the dark forest…

You could say that he was a bit dark at heart, but he just didn't like things that were too harmonious and sunny.

Moreover, many people knew about Feng Bujue's "evil nature," and it was an open secret. Long before he went to high school, there were countless legends about Brother Jue.

One of the stories was…

I remember when Feng Bujue went to a summer camp in elementary school one year, he was randomly assigned to a group with six children who didn't know each other. Among them was a very sunny, healthy, pure, and upward-thinking good kid. He was simply the "other family's child" in the eyes of parents, a good student in the eyes of teachers, and a toady in the eyes of classmates…

This classmate was the first in the group to take the initiative to introduce himself, breaking the awkward silence and greeting the unfamiliar partners one by one. When he came to Feng Bujue, Brother Jue looked at the other person with a Schrödinger's cat look and said, "Um… you are friendly and happy. Hehe… I have to stop this emotion from spreading."

On that day, a good child left an indelible shadow…

There were many similar legends. After Brother Jue became an adult and became a professional writer, he gradually became an urban legend, but let's talk about these things later…

Back to the script, let's say that Feng Bujue calmly moved forward to clear the way. Suddenly, he stopped, pointed his flashlight at the base of a tree, and said, "Look there."

Seeing him stop, Siyu's heart tightened. She thought a terrifying scene was about to appear, but when she followed the light of the flashlight, she realized that it was just an item hidden between the tree roots and rocks.

[Name: Spider Silk Gloves]

[Type: Armor]

[Quality: Fine]

[Defense: Medium]

[Attribute: None]

[Effect: Can stick to objects]

[Equipment Requirements: General Expertise D, Fighting Expertise D]

[Note: Do you want to use your hands to directly stick to objects weighing more than ten pounds? Do you want to climb walls by sticking to them with your bare hands? Do you want to smear someone's face with spider silk? Don't dream! The adhesive force of these gloves is not as good as transparent tape, and it's about the same as a sticky note!]

"Um… listing all the functions that are not available…" Feng Bujue threw the gloves on the ground unhappily, "This is a rip-off! It's better not to mention it! I was getting happier and happier after reading the first half!"

Siyu looked at his back behind him, sighed softly, and then smiled knowingly. She didn't know why her sense of humor had become so low.

Unexpectedly, at this moment when she relaxed, suddenly, a little girl's hand reached out from the darkness and covered Siyu's mouth. Before she could make a sound, she was pulled back by a huge force and dragged into the darkness.

Although Feng Bujue didn't hear the shout, the shaking of the light and the sound of the lantern falling to the ground immediately caught his attention. He turned his head suddenly, but only saw the lantern lying on the ground, and Siyu was nowhere to be seen.