Chapter 66: There Was a Time When I, Too, Stood with Hands in My Pockets, Defiant Against the World

"Young hero, we can see that your strength is far greater than this. May I ask your name?" Zong Ze cupped his fists respectfully.

Ji Huo stood up with a smile, stretching his limbs. "If you can force me to use my full strength, you’ll see where I truly come from."

Ma Liu asked, "You don’t seem like someone who can’t distinguish right from wrong, so why did you help that villain slaughter the martial world?"

Ji Huo explained, "That young lady’s sect was annihilated by the combined forces of the Tang Escort Agency, Swordpoint Manor, and Purple Lightning Peak. It was a vendetta within the martial world, and I could not bear to stand by, so I lent her a hand."

"But what about the massacre in Hongzhou and the two villages?" Ma Liu pressed.

"She was given a demonic weapon and lost control," Ji Huo replied, hands clasped behind his back, his tone unhurried. "A life for a life is only natural. Once she has her revenge on Purple Lightning Peak, I will personally see her on her way. The arrival of the demonic weapon in the martial world will bring chaos and endless slaughter. Since I’ve taken this matter upon myself, I will see to the demonic weapon as well."

"If anyone covets the demonic weapon, they are welcome to come to me," he declared openly, not only for the three before him, but for all the martial artists listening from afar.

The three exchanged glances. They had little interest in the demonic weapon itself; their only concern was that it would plunge the martial world into chaos or that someone was scheming behind the scenes. Since this young man had declared he would handle it, they had no reason to interfere further.

Yet—

"How can we trust that, once you have the demonic weapon, you will not use it to bring disaster to the world?" Ma Liu asked again.

Ji Huo grinned, "I’m not negotiating with you; I’m simply stating the facts."

He spoke with pride: "I’m here for two reasons—to deal with the demonic weapon, and to witness the valor of the Central Plains’ heroes. If you think you can fight, then challenge me. If not, then leave."

A gasp rippled through the distant crowd. So, he had come with the intent to challenge the martial world of the Central Plains single-handedly—what youthful bravado!

"Unbelievable! I can’t help but feel fired up!"

"Back in the day, I too dreamt of punching Sword Saints and kicking Grandmasters! Now I can’t even take on a stray dog."

"From his words, he’s not from the Central Plains? Where is he from?"

"Judging by his accent, perhaps from western Sichuan?"

The crowd buzzed with speculation, awe, and admiration—another extraordinary youth had appeared in the world.

Xia Ningshang, tending a boiling kettle, turned her head slightly at these words, gazing at Ji Huo as he faced the massed martial artists. Her clear eyes curved with amusement, like a crescent moon on the horizon, and she mused to herself: this fool does have a measure of boldness.

The three men strode forward, speaking in unison:

"In that case, young hero, draw your sword!"

Ji Huo shook his head with a laugh. "There’s no need for swords today." Raising his right hand, he beckoned them forward. "Come at me together."

Without hesitation, Zong Ze stamped his foot, charging forward like a primeval beast, and threw a punch!

Before the fist arrived, the wind did. The violent gusts whipped sand and leaves into the air, the force visible as a shockwave roaring toward Ji Huo.

Ji Huo showed no fear and answered with a punch of his own, appearing utterly ordinary.

Their fists collided in midair, and cracks webbed across the ground. A surge of energy, fiercer than before, erupted, and the blast sent the trees rustling wildly.

Zong Ze's face paled as he retreated five steps, deep footprints marking the earth where he landed, barely able to dissipate the terrible force. His right hand trembled, eyes wide with shock.

Just then, a flash of golden light—a forty-meter-long blade of energy—swept down toward Ji Huo’s brow!

"Watch the blade!" Ma Liu called out as he slashed.

Ji Huo struck again, his punch colliding with the blade’s force in midair, the two locked in stalemate. Then Ji Huo pressed forward, and the blade shattered. Ma Liu staggered back a few steps, his palm aching, his expression grave.

"Face my whip!" Jiang Hongyuan shouted, his waist whip flicking out like a spirit snake.

Ji Huo punched once more, but the supple whip darted around his fist, coiling like a snake around his wrist.

He was taken aback. He knew the serpent whip technique involved coiling, sweeping, hooking, and throwing, but this was the first time he had seen it pierce through fist wind so swiftly.

Jiang Hongyuan, seeing his whip entangle Ji Huo’s right hand, was overjoyed. Now, if he could just pull him in, the advantage would be his!

He yanked hard.

Ji Huo did not budge.

He pulled again.

Ji Huo remained unmoved.

"..." Jiang Hongyuan blinked in disbelief, then suddenly turned to shout at the other two, "His movements are restricted! Quickly, attack!"

Zong Ze and Ma Liu rushed forward, launching a punch and a blade strike simultaneously.

Ji Huo grinned, not bothering to free his hand from the whip, and fought the two with one hand.

He sent Zong Ze flying with a punch, then caught Ma Liu’s blade energy with his bare hand. The clash rang out like metal, yet Ji Huo’s palm remained unharmed.

"Iron Shirt! Golden Bell Shield!" Ma Liu’s face darkened. He had toppled many experts with this golden blade, but those who could catch it unscathed were exceedingly rare. If he wasn’t mistaken, this youth’s iron body skill was at its peak—perhaps he had mastered more than one such technique.

"Haha! You, too, come join us!" Ji Huo laughed, yanking Jiang Hongyuan into the fray.

Ji Huo now faced three second-rank masters alone, their struggle fierce and chaotic, sand and dust swirling around them.

From afar, the fight looked deceptively simple—none of the elaborate flair of mid-rank duels—yet watching it made one’s scalp tingle with awe.

The martial artists in the distance watched in silence, their eyes fixed on the four combatants. Though they could not fully comprehend the techniques, they tried to memorize every move; it might one day show them the way forward.

"He... he really is a third-rank master," one sighed with a wry smile. "We’ve lived all these years for nothing. This boy is so young!"

"When did such a figure emerge in the world? Truly..." another began, but trailed off, ending with a heavy sigh.

The martial world ages men quickly. Their youthful days were gone; now, all they could do was watch as a new generation reveled in the romance of the martial path.

"But really, just who is this young man? He’s holding his own against three second-rank masters alone. What is his true strength?" someone asked in terror.

The question left everyone silent. Some things are best left unexamined, for the more you think, the more despair you feel.

Xia Ningshang, having finished making tea, propped her chin in her hand and watched the four fight, her gaze lingering on Ji Huo as he faced the three opponents.

As she observed, a hint of puzzlement flashed in her eyes. She could tell Ji Huo was far from using his full strength. Sometimes, he would pull back at the last moment, as if instinctively about to end the fight, only to hold back, resulting in an odd rhythm.

As she watched, Xia Ningshang understood: he, too, was searching for the path to break through his own boundaries.