Chapter Eighty-Six: Chu Han Stays Behind

Your martial art is indeed strange, but perhaps you have not mastered it yet. At its peak, it ought to be utterly silent—truly the finest art for assassination. Unfortunately for you, you are still far from that realm, and catching the trace you leaked is no difficult matter.

Chu Han smiled faintly. By then, Xue Ming's body had begun to go numb. His speed was no longer what it had been, and his technique had already been deciphered by Chu Han. The difference in their strength was vast as well. Xue Ming had reached the end of the road.

Chu Han clearly had no intention of giving him any chance to counterattack or flee. He lunged forward at once, both fists whipping out with astonishing speed. With his body already numbed, Xue Ming could not possibly keep up with Chu Han's attacks, let alone resist them.

He merely dodged slightly before Chu Han's fist smashed into his face and sent him flying heavily across the ground. His nose had been broken, blood streaming freely, yet he could no longer feel the pain. Fear had already consumed his heart.

Ever since he had begun practicing this technique, he had never lost a duel. On the battlefield, he existed as an assassin as well, and the number of people who had died by his hand was beyond counting. To encounter Chu Han was to meet the bane of his very existence.

"You... you can't kill me. I am of the Xue family, and I am also a general of Great Chu. If you kill me, neither the Xue family nor Great Chu will let you off. Your father is only a viscount, while our Xue family is a ducal house."

Lying on the ground, Xue Ming stared at Chu Han's calm expression, terror overwhelming him as he roared at the top of his lungs. For him, the only things left that could threaten Chu Han were his status as a general and the standing of the Xue family.

"Ha. So what? I crippled Xue Gui all the same. In the Xue family, are you somehow more important than Xue Gui?" Chu Han said with a cold laugh. "Today, you must die. Since you dared to ambush me, you will pay the price."

Chu Han knew that Xue Gui must hold a very high position in the Xue family. After all, at barely over thirty, he had already reached the peak of the Dao Palace realm. His talent was nothing this man before him could compare to, and Xue Ming's combat power was not especially formidable either. Everything he had today came from the power of his technique.

Seeing that Chu Han had no intention of sparing him, Xue Ming was instantly consumed by rage. He raised both hands, and a burst of silver light shot forward as he unleashed countless poisoned needles. The greenish sheen on them was enough to make one's blood run cold.

Every single needle was coated in deadly poison; even a slight touch would be enough to send Chu Han to his death. Of course, Xue Ming was not stupid. He knew these needles could not truly do much to Chu Han. Everything he did was merely preparation for his escape.

The instant the poisoned needles reached Chu Han, Xue Ming moved. He scrambled up from the ground and bolted. Meanwhile, Chu Han unleashed a bolt of lightning that struck every silver needle, sending them clattering to the ground. By then, Xue Ming had already vanished.

"Heh. If I let you get away, I might as well stop showing my face in the imperial capital."

Chu Han smiled faintly. A flash of lightning passed, and he, too, disappeared.

Xue Ming was limping his way back to the Xue family. As long as he made it home, he would be safe. He did not believe Chu Han had the nerve to cause trouble at the Xue residence. But Chu Han would not give him the chance to flee back there.

Before he had even run out of the forest, he saw a figure standing not far ahead. Chu Han's gaze made his skin crawl; he nearly frightened himself out of his wits. Hurriedly, he turned to run, only for a massive tiger-shaped bolt of lightning to thunder down upon him.

A chorus of screams rang out endlessly. By the time Xue Ming collapsed in the forest, he had already been burned beyond recognition by the lightning. His entire body was charred black, and his original features could no longer be made out.

Chu Han was equally blunt. He simply hoisted the body onto his shoulder, carried it to the gates of the Xue residence, and carved three large words into the door with his true energy before striding away.

Early the next morning, the Xue household steward opened the gate and found Xue Ming's corpse. He quickly summoned everyone from the Xue family. Staring at Xue Ming on the ground, no one said a word. Those who had once wanted to seize Chu Han themselves were now breaking out in cold sweat.

Even Xue Ming had fallen into Chu Han's hands. If they went, they would be marching to their deaths. Thankfully, they had not been greedy for merit and fought Xue Ming for the chance, or they would not still have their lives.

At that moment, everyone saw the three words Chu Han had left on the gate. None of them spoke, but all were burning with fury.

This was sheer provocation against the Xue family. He had killed Xue Ming, delivered the body to their doorstep, and even left those three words behind, plainly placing the Xue family beneath his notice.

"Damn it, Chu Han, you've truly enraged me! If I don't break your legs today, I won't bear the surname Xue!"

Xue Ren roared in fury, then seized a long spear and was about to set out to capture Chu Han, but the people around him stopped him.

Chu Han's strength was too terrifying, and the two people who had already encountered him had ended up in disastrous states: Xue Gui was unconscious and Xue Ming was dead. No one knew what Chu Han's true strength actually was. If something were to happen to Xue Ren as well, then the Xue family would be finished for good.

"Patriarch, do not act rashly. I heard that the Tang Prince's Mansion was also ruined by Chu Han, and Tang Feng was crippled. There are many families in the imperial capital who are close to Tang Feng. If we contact them and strike together, we can ensure absolute certainty. Otherwise, there may be unexpected complications."

A man dressed like a scholar hurried to Xue Ren's side and said a few words. The others all nodded as well, feeling that this was indeed the best course. Rallying the great families to oppose Chu Han was the most promising strategy, and also the one that would cost the Xue family the least.

Xue Ren nodded and issued the order for every family with a grudge against Chu Han to come to the Xue residence for detailed discussion. After that, he returned to the main hall of the Xue family and waited.

He was not a fool. He naturally knew that even if he went himself, he might not be able to do anything to Chu Han. This was the best plan available at present, and the one with the greatest hope of eliminating Chu Han.

Meanwhile, Chu Han had no idea at all about the Xue family's scheme. Instead, he went alone to the Viscount's Residence—the estate the emperor had just bestowed upon Tang Hao. From now on, this would be their home in the capital.

The Viscount's Residence was not large. Of course, it was much bigger than the Tang family estate in Jinyuan City, though compared to the Prince Jingyuan Mansion and the Tang Prince's Mansion, it still fell far short. But that was only natural. Tang Hao was, at best, merely a viscount, and could hardly be compared to those two mansions.

"Han'er, you've come just in time. Come with me to the army today. The armor production ordered by the emperor is resuming today, and I've already had the workers from the smithy come over."

Seeing Chu Han enter, Tang Hao was overjoyed and burst into laughter. He was extremely satisfied with, and proud of, this adopted son.

To be honest, everything he had today was thanks to Chu Han. Thus, he had already made up his mind that no matter what decision Chu Han made in the future, he would support him.

Chu Han nodded. Seeing how happy Tang Hao was, he finally relaxed. In his previous life, his greatest regret had been dragging down his foster father. In this life, he would never allow such a tragedy to happen again.

The two of them went straight to the imperial capital's military camp, which was dozens of times larger than the Lantian garrison. Tens of thousands of troops drilling together made for a scene of extraordinary magnificence.

Just as they were about to enter, they were stopped by several guards at the gate, who even shoved Tang Hao. Had Chu Han not been standing behind him, Tang Hao would have fallen to the ground.

"Who are you people? Don't you know this is Great Chu's army? Leave at once. This is not a place for country bumpkins like you to enter."