Chapter 135: A Blade for a Blade

This terrifying sensation originated from Fang Mu. Although Fang Mu's right hand had just been slashed by him, he clearly seemed to be powerless.

Yet, the dread was overwhelming, coming without any warning, leaving even Zhang Liu clueless about the cause.

Fang Mu stared at Zhang Liu, gently moving his lips to form a silent word.

Zhang Liu was struck with a sudden terror, recognizing the mouth shape—Die!

A horrifying gale of wind manifested around his neck. Zhang Liu’s pupils constricted as he exerted every ounce of strength to twist his body, desperately trying to evade the wind whistling at his throat.

Ultimately, he was a fraction of a second too late.

Zhang Liu felt a sharp pain in his abdomen; he had already been stabbed.

However, compared to the pain in his stomach, the scene unfolding right in front of him shocked him far more.

Before him, another Fang Mu had driven a butcher knife straight into his abdomen, wearing the exact same terrifying smile.

Zhang Liu understood instantly. This was also one of Fang Mu's miraculous abilities.

That bizarre movement technique could leave behind lingering afterimages. Fang Mu had deliberately feigned weakness, continuously using those illusory figures to deceive him, before unleashing the true fatal strike—an illusion capable of launching physical attacks.

No, to be precise, it could no longer be called an illusion. Zhang Liu believed it was more appropriate to call it a clone.

This level of scheming, combined with such ruthlessness, left Zhang Liu utterly astounded.

The clone suddenly released its grip on the butcher knife and opened its arms to embrace Zhang Liu.

Behind Zhang Liu, the butcher knife in the real Fang Mu's hand swept horizontally across...

"Die," Fang Mu said indifferently.

Zhang Liu pushed off with all his might, shattering the clone, but it was already too late to turn back.

The butcher knife hung in the air as a flurry of blade lights materialized across the sky, radiating a terrifying murderous intent.

"It's over. I've capsized in a drainage ditch!"

This was Zhang Liu's sole thought at that moment.

Devoid of any further options, Zhang Liu could only watch helplessly as the butcher knife descended...

Just as the butcher knife closed in, a streak of green light suddenly appeared, halting right between the blade and Zhang Liu.

"Clang!"

A deafening crash echoed as a man in green robes emerged, extending a palm to block the butcher knife.

Cold sweat beaded on the green-robed man's forehead; he had arrived merely a hair's breadth away from being too late.

The green-robed man flicked out a beam of light, instantly healing the injuries on both Fang Mu and Zhang Liu.

"Greetings, Lord Qing!" Zhang Liu hurriedly bowed in salute.

Fang Mu withdrew his blade, staring coldly at the green-robed man as he demanded, "Give me an explanation."

He recognized this man in green robes as well; he was someone from Director Wu's inner circle, whom he had previously encountered at the communication department.

Yet, the fact that the green-robed man had now intervened to stop him from killing Zhang Liu left him quite puzzled.

On the other side, the Iron Calculation Immortal and Yu Ling simultaneously withdrew their offensive stances and walked over.

The green-robed man gave a bitter smile and said, "Zhang Liu, what on earth were you plotting, you brat?"

He had just resolved a mysterious anomaly ruin and happened to pass by on his way back, never expecting to walk in on such a scene.

What surprised him even more was that Zhang Liu, a cultivator at the True Dragon Realm, had almost lost his life.

Of course, he had also discerned some clues: Zhang Liu seemed to have held something back until the very end, keeping his small crossbow unused.

Logically speaking, given Zhang Liu's temperament, he should not have acted this way.

It was precisely for this reason that the green-robed man stepped in to save Zhang Liu; otherwise, long before Fang Mu could act, the green-robed man could have crushed Zhang Liu to death with a single finger.

Zhang Liu fell silent for a moment before explaining his intentions.

The atmosphere grew somewhat quiet.

"Absurd!" the green-robed man raged. "Just for this, you caused the Supervisorate to lose a head of the communication department!"

"My Lord!" Zhang Liu said respectfully. "That department head only cared about currying favor with superiors and showed no interest in eradicating anomalies. Such a parasite deserved to die; I merely let him die for a worthy cause."

The green-robed man: "..."

Wait, why was everyone in this Supervisorate so abnormal? Aside from himself and Director Wu, were there any normal people left?

The corners of Fang Mu's mouth twitched as he said, "I have no interest in listening to you reminisce. There needs to be an explanation for this. I didn't ask to become a disciple, and he had no right to test me. If I don't get a satisfactory explanation, I'll kill him sooner or later."

Regardless of how eccentric Zhang Liu's hobbies might be, this incident was entirely Zhang Liu's fault, and Fang Mu would not back down.

The green-robed man rubbed the space between his brows and sighed, "Sigh, I didn't expect it to turn out like this."

The situation was rather awkward. If one were to kill Zhang Liu, it didn't quite warrant execution; yet if he wasn't killed, there was no way to placate Fang Mu.

The atmosphere grew somewhat tense. The Iron Calculation Immortal stepped closer to Fang Mu without saying a word.

He was unclear about the details, but this green-robed man was terrifyingly powerful.

Should any trouble arise, the Iron Calculation Immortal would spirit Fang Mu away at the very first sign.

The green-robed man sighed, looked at Zhang Liu, and asked, "What do you propose we do?"

Zhang Liu fell silent, suddenly reaching into his tunic, pulling out a piece of paper, and handing it over.

The green-robed man took it, scanned the contents, and his brow furrowed slightly.

"These are the people harboring malicious intentions against him. After all, he is the Director's disciple," Zhang Liu said after a brief silence. "I was in the wrong on this matter. He passed my test and is Director Wu's disciple, which means he is someone acknowledged by me, Zhang Liu. Once we return, I will clear away these obstacles for him."

The green-robed man nodded.

Fang Mu, however, shook his head. "Not enough. I can handle these things myself without your help. This isn't enough to buy your life."

The green-robed man frowned and sighed again, "You really are a lot like the Director."

Zhang Liu nodded and said, "I, Zhang Liu, do not like to owe debts. I was indeed in the wrong regarding this matter."

He drew his Wild Goose Feather Saber from its scabbard and offered the hilt to Fang Mu.

"You slashed me several times, so you can slash me back," Zhang Liu said earnestly. "Just spare my life. I am the Director's man, and you are the Director's disciple. Let me clear the obstacles for you."

Fang Mu took the Wild Goose Feather Saber and said with amused interest, "Aren't you afraid I'll actually hack you to death?"

Zhang Liu replied, "If I die, I die."

The green-robed man made no further attempt to stop them; the matter had now devolved strictly into a personal affair between Fang Mu and Zhang Liu.

Fang Mu looked at Zhang Liu, and the Wild Goose Feather Saber in his hand slashed horizontally...

Gash after gash appeared on Zhang Liu's body. Cold sweat poured from his forehead, yet he did not utter a single cry.

Moments later, Zhang Liu was covered in wounds from head to toe.

Fang Mu tossed the Wild Goose Feather Saber back to him and said, "That's enough."

Zhang Liu caught it and said, "Thank you."

Fang Mu said nothing more.

"Why aren't you leaving yet?" The green-robed man flicked a beam of light, healing Zhang Liu's wounds. "Go back and report the situation to the Grand Chief... Director."

Zhang Liu cupped his fists in a salute and departed, carrying the Wild Goose Feather Saber.

Once Zhang Liu had left, the green-robed man turned to Yu Ling and said, "I saw nothing. As far as I'm concerned, you are already dead."

Understanding the implication, Yu Ling donned her mask and likewise took her leave.

The green-robed man remarked, "Young Chief, I truly never expected you to have this side to you. With Zhang Liu's blade at your disposal from now on, none of the patrol leaders in the Supervisorate will dare to come and give you trouble."

Fang Mu chuckled. "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth—we're even now. Having one more friend is always better than having one more enemy. Besides, I've suddenly discovered that this fellow Zhang Liu is quite interesting."

The green-robed man burst into hearty laughter, dropping the subject. He pivoted to another matter, saying, "By the way, Young Chief, there is something I need to discuss with you this time."