Chapter 106 - 104: The Title "Dragon Saber
"Take me there," Song Changming said as he got up, realizing that the leftovers couldn’t be eaten anymore.
On the street, in a bustling district.
A crowd had already gathered, whispering to each other and pointing fingers.
In front of a small stall selling gourd skewers, a young master from the city was miserably lying on the ground, covering one swollen cheek; several family guard-like martial artists lay scattered around, spitting blood continuously.
"You, you dare touch me!"
"Do you know who I am!"
The young master didn’t seem very old. Despite being beaten, he kept shouting menacingly, glaring at the people in front of him.
On the other side of the stall stood two white-clad women, along with several dignified swordsmen.
The women had long black hair trailing down to their waists, their faces covered with a thin layer of veils, and their bright eyes showed hints of anger.
Though it was hard to see their faces, just looking at their figures, they were quite charming and had outstanding temperaments.
They, too, held exquisite swords, not like ordinary women appearing weak, clearly adept martial artists from the Jianghu.
Beside them, several sword-bearing men also exuded an air of the Jianghu.
"I don’t care who you are. To dare to harass the ladies of Wangyue Pavilion in broad daylight deserves a beating!" Du Ling snorted coldly.
"The Xu Family won’t let you off; just wait and see!" the young master gritted his teeth.
"The Xu Family, what a family, to have raised such a spoiled brat!" Du Ling said disdainfully.
At this moment, several patrol guards, who were patrolling the streets, hurried over upon hearing the commotion, and seeing the scene, understood most of the situation.
"Street fighting, who threw the first punch?" the patrol guard asked sternly.
"You about time you bastards showed up! Arrest them all; I want them locked up!" the young master angrily scolded the patrol guards who had arrived.
The patrol guards frowned instantly but, recognizing the young master’s status, held back their anger despite their frustration.
Even as they worked for the Government Headquarters, the identity of Chief Patrol Guards didn’t grant them unchecked power throughout the County City, fearing no one.
When faced with the powerful city dignitaries who could enter the Governor’s Mansion and were qualified to meet the Governor, they dared not easily offend them.
"I’m the one who struck. He dared to harass women in the street, should I be arrested for stopping him?" Du Ling replied defiantly to the patrol guard.
"We’ll investigate this matter and uphold justice. All of you, follow me to the government for questioning!" the patrol guard shouted.
He wasn’t explaining to the people in front of him but reporting to the surrounding onlookers.
No matter what, they had to maintain the authority of the Patrol Guard and the Public Security Bureau and avoid criticism.
This was not only Song Changming’s demand but also something General Director Zhuang Ren repeatedly emphasized and instructed.
"This started because of me; I’ve implicated you all," said the veiled woman.
"No harm done, we must intervene in such injustices!" Du Ling declared.
"Why investigate? Didn’t you see me beaten? I told you to arrest them; are you blind or deaf?" the young master cursed angrily.
Feeling unsatisfied, he relied on the government officials being present to start cursing at Du Ling and his group.
Du Ling, not very old, felt a surge of anger and rushed forward to kick the young master in retaliation.
"I’ll shut your filthy mouth!"
The patrol guards, seeing the situation, were about to intervene.
No matter the justification, street fighting had to be stopped, or it would be their negligence.
Yet several around Du Ling immediately blocked the patrol guards.
All of them possessed impressive Martial Tao skills, blocking several patrol guards was no problem for them.
Clearly agitated, Du Ling fiercely kicked a few more times, making the young master cough blood repeatedly.
"That’s enough."
A sudden voice boomed in their ears.
Immediately, as Du Ling’s foot was about to land again, it was blocked by another foot in boots.
A strong force hit, causing Du Ling to stagger back, nearly falling to the ground.
"You!" Du Ling glared at Song Changming who stopped him.
"Kick again, and it could be a life; despite his awful behavior, it’s not for you to handle," Song Changming said coolly.
Soon after, Liang Zhao Long arrived with the Patrol Guard, surrounding the group tightly.
"Take them all back and await further orders," Song Changming commanded.
Clang!
Longswords were unsheathed, and those surrounded began drawing their swords.
"What, are you resisting arrest?" Song Changming asked, stepping towards them.
Beside him, the veiled woman suddenly noticed the dragon-head saber hilt protruding from Song Changming’s back, her eyes flashed, and she suddenly spoke.
"Are you the ’Dragon Saber’ Guard Captain Song!"
Song Changming’s expression turned displeased, "I’ll say it again, I’m not part of the Jianghu, and don’t need a nickname."
"..." Hearing that, the white-clad woman fell silent, the two women exchanged glances, puzzled.
In the Jianghu, only martial arts masters who made a name for themselves were often praised and given a loud, distinctive nickname.
This was almost a trademark for famous masters.
Many hope to make a name and earn such a recognized and widely known title from the Martial Realm.
This came to Song Changming, yet he seemed to disdain it, leaving people bewildered.
"Hmph, it’s rumored that in the Donglai Prefecture’s government, a remarkable young swordsman has emerged. In just a few short years, many renowned experts in the Jianghu have fallen at his hands.
Meeting him today, he turns out to be nothing more than someone who shelters evil. That’s all he is!" Du Ling snorted coldly.
"Shelters?" Song Changming glanced nonchalantly at the heavily injured nobleman on the ground.
"What qualification does he have for me to shelter him? Anyone disturbing the peace will be taken away."
"Fine! We can go to the government, but before that, I’d like to have a taste of that legendary sword skill of yours, Song Weizhang, so that I can be convinced!"
Having said that, Du Ling’s longsword thrust towards Song Changming.
"Young Master Du, don’t!" The white-clad woman beside him tried to stop him, but couldn’t.
They hadn’t expected Du Ling, who was standing up for them, to act so recklessly.
This time, Du Ling wanted to follow Jianghu rules to challenge and see who was superior since they found each other disagreeable.
But Song Changming was, after all, a government official, wearing an official uniform and couldn’t be treated like an ordinary Jianghu person.
"How dare you!" Liang Zhao Long’s expression changed, readying his saber to block in front of Song Changming.
"Let me handle it." Song Changming stepped around Liang Zhao Long.
Though this person appeared young and impetuous, acting impulsively and without regard for consequences, he did possess some martial prowess.
Chances are, Liang Zhao Long was not his match.
In just two steps, Du Ling’s sword was already near Song Changming, moving extremely fast, so much so that the onlookers hadn’t even gotten a chance to cry out.
Song Changming raised his hand without drawing the Dragon Pattern Saber slung across his back, opting to unsheathe the saber at his waist instead.
The long saber swept forward.
In an instant, Du Ling felt a darkness before his eyes; the surging cold wind made his entire body shiver, his limbs stiffen, and countless ghostly apparitions emerged in the gust, which made him panic.
The clash of sword and saber made Du Ling’s sword feel as if attracted by a magnet, as it was easily taken away by Song Changming’s saber.
Whoosh!
The dark wind and phantoms vanished instantly, leaving Du Ling standing there, stunned and bewildered, feeling the icy chill at his neck.
Song Changming’s blade was already against his throat, ready to take his life at any moment.
With just a single exchange, he was defeated decisively.
Furthermore, Song Changming hadn’t even drawn his signature Dragon Pattern Saber to deal with him.
This felt more like mockery, as if to say he didn’t even deserve to force his opponent to draw the Dragon Pattern Saber.
The blow to him was indeed too great.
He originally thought that the rumors about Song Changming were mostly exaggerated. They were of similar age, and he didn’t believe he would be inferior to Song Changming.
But reality had dealt him a heavy blow.
His proud martial talent was nothing in front of Song Changming.
Song Changming’s sharp gaze swept over the other companions of Du Ling, seeing them also taken aback and not daring to raise their swords, he finally dispersed his killing intent.
"Take them away!"
A group of Patrol Guards stepped forward to arrest everyone who had caused a disturbance in the street.
This included the two veiled women and the young nobleman who was almost unconscious from his injuries.
"It has to be Song Weizhang, after all. Such skills are truly impressive."
"But the Xu Family’s eldest young master being beaten like this in the street, if the Xu Family finds out, this won’t end well."
"It’s said that beauty brings trouble, and indeed it seems true. Those young heroes from Jianghu under the Xu Family’s power might also face suffering."
"Who would disagree?"
"..."
Regardless of how the bystanders discussed the matter heatedly, Song Changming was not interested in this street dispute.
The grievances between those Jianghu people and the Xu Family’s eldest young master, he was too lazy to interfere further.
After returning to the General Department, he just needed to follow the normal interrogation procedure. There would be special judges to handle and assign guilt.
"Chief, your skills have improved once again." After handing over the case, Liang Zhao Long asked.
Just now on the street, the saber strike Song Changming executed, he was the closest and felt it most intensely.
His first reaction in his heart was relief that the saber wasn’t directed at him.
At the same time, he noticed a significant change in Song Changming’s strength, an obvious improvement.
"Mm, I reached the Sixth Realm not long ago." Song Changming nodded without holding back when talking to his own people.
"Chief, you’re really discouraging." Liang Zhao Long shook his head helplessly.
He had thought that by diligently working day after day over the years, he could somewhat catch up to Song Changming’s cultivation speed.
But now, that illusion was shattered, and he only felt the gap in strength between him and Song Changming growing wider.
"You’re definitely the youngest Sixth Realm martial artist I’ve seen!"
Song Changming smiled and said, "If you look at the world, truly powerful people are as numerous as stars. My skills are still far from enough."
He was not complacent at heart, and that was his true feeling.
He never thought of comparing himself with martial artists of his age, as he found it meaningless.
The real enemies wouldn’t spare you just because you’re young.
Therefore, in his eyes, martial artists were only divided by strength, nothing else.