World's No. 1 Swordsman
Chapter 55: Sword Drawn

Chapter 55: Sword Drawn

Early in the morning, instead of Ge Tianlin's counselor, advisor, or family from Northwest Lu, an elderly relative in a traditional Tang suit picked him up at the police station. He was of average height and had graying hair, but he looked spirited and gave off a youthful impression.

While watching from the shadows, Wang Sheng immediately reminded Bulldozer to stay alert as soon as the man entered the station, having already determined the elderly man to be at the Spirit Convergence Realm. His specific level of cultivation was unclear, but he could easily manipulate his own spiritual consciousness freely, making it evident that he was far superior to a sham like Ge Tianlin.

Is he a Daoist master from the Daoist sects?

He didn't look like one. His aura didn't resemble that of someone from Daoist sects either.

Although the true essence within the old man was already highly refined, it lacked the continuity and natural flow inherent in all Daoist schools.

Of course, the world's Daoist heritage wasn't limited to the Daoist sects alone. The Daoist sects were simply the most influential, often regarded as the orthodox path of immortal cultivation.

Over a thousand years ago, Daoist cultivation used to be a flourishing and diverse field. Today, various Daoist heritages had emerged abroad, not to mention domestically. Perhaps, without the Daoist sects even realizing it, many hidden Daoist heritages had quietly resurfaced.

The elderly man, who seemed to be in his sixties, greeted everyone politely and filled out forms with great efficiency. He maintained a smile even toward the officers who intentionally kept stern faces.

However, when he saw Ge Tianlin, his eyes widened. He took two steps forward and swiftly kicked Ge Tianlin in the hip. Despite being at the late stage of the Breath Condensation Realm, the robust young man still sprawled to the ground.

"Disgraceful!"

Ge Tianlin couldn’t say a word in his defense. Looking thoroughly humiliated, he merely sighed deeply, got up, and followed behind the old man like a scolded child.

The elder's ID identified him as Ge Gufeng. After paying the fine, he led Ge Tianlin out of the police station with a cold expression and in complete silence. They waited at the entrance for a while, hailed a taxi, and left the scene with the bare-footed Ge Tianlin.

Not long after the taxi departed, an SUV drove out from the corner of a street and followed from a distance.

Inside the car, Bulldozer yawned, looking exhausted. In the past forty-eight hours, he had only slept for less than four hours.

Unlike him, Wang Sheng showed no signs of fatigue. He had already stepped halfway into the Seed Formation Realm. Hence, though he still couldn't forgo food and rest entirely, a few sleepless days didn't affect his mental state much.

The SUV kept its distance. With few vehicles on the road, there was little chance of losing the trail.

Inside the taxi, Ge Tianlin sat anxiously beside the elderly man, not daring to even breathe heavily.

"Second Uncle..."

"Shut up! You disgrace the family name!"

Ge Gufeng glared at him, making Ge Tianlin shiver and hung his head in silence.

Sensing the situation, the taxi driver smiled knowingly. They eventually pulled into a residential area not far from Ge Tianlin's school. Bulldozer wanted to follow, but Wang Sheng stopped him. Their vehicle was far too conspicuous and would likely cause suspicion. Moreover, they likely stopped in one of their hideouts.

"Daoist Master Wang, is that old man powerful?" Bulldozer asked with concern.

"Stronger than Martial Uncle Li Shiwu," Wang Sheng replied, causing Bulldozer's expression to grow serious.

Bulldozer didn't really understand who was stronger, but any senior cultivator was undoubtedly leagues beyond someone like him, who only knew martial arts.

"So, what now?" he asked.

"What else? We can't let them slip away," Wang Sheng said as he picked up Abyss Listener, which was still wrapped in black cloth. "I'll go check out the situation. You call for backup."

Backup...

Bulldozer wanted to say something, but Wang Sheng had already pushed the car door open, jumped out, and casually made his way into the residential area's gate.

The security guard in the booth, dozing off, showed no signs of waking.

"Alright then," Bulldozer muttered and smacked his lips. Despite being an elite member of the investigative team, he couldn't help but feel as though he had no room to shine in front of these reclusive masters.

As the sun rose, the city that straddled the Dajiang River gradually came to life.

Inside the residential area, elderly residents were already out exercising, and cooking could be heard from several homes. Office workers heading to their morning shifts occasionally rushed past.

Wang Sheng had left a trace of spiritual consciousness on Ge Tianlin last night, allowing him to vaguely sense his location.

After winding through the residential area for some time, Wang Sheng ended up at another gate on the far side.

It was fortunate he had kept up. Ge Gufeng was cautious enough to enter the residential area as a diversion.

After sharing his location with Bulldozer, Wang Sheng continued to follow.

The exit led to a bustling street lined with food stalls. Even though it was still early, it was already crowded with people. The haphazardly parked vehicles made the narrow road even more congested.

Soon, Wang Sheng spotted Ge Gufeng at a bun shop, purchasing breakfast. Judging by the quantity, it seemed to be for four to six people.

To avoid drawing attention, Wang Sheng turned to a nearby porridge stall and bought a bowl of eight-treasure congee. He then slowly sipped it with a straw while keeping a moderate distance from Ge Gufeng.

After several twists and turns, they reached an older residential area with buildings that had clearly been around for decades.

Ge Tianlin was squatting at an alley entrance. When he saw the elderly man returning with bags of breakfast, he immediately rushed forward to help.

"Second Uncle, let me carry those."

"Hmph!" Ge Gufeng still looked displeased but seemed slightly less harsh than before.

The two entered the alley. With no one else around, Ge Gufeng finally exploded. "How many times have I told you not to call me ‘Second Uncle'? Show some discipline!"

"Yes, yes, Elder Ge," Ge Tianlin replied with a bitter smile.

Ge Gufeng raised his head to look at his nephew, disappointment and frustration evident in his expression. "What happened last night? Did you actually do it or not?"

Ge Tianlin let out a long sigh. "Second Uncle—Elder, you should know me better than anyone. How could I possibly do something so disgraceful and tarnish our family's reputation? The girl last night is my girlfriend; we attend the same university. The police just grabbed me out of nowhere and accused me of soliciting!"

"Really?"

"Of course!" Ge Tianlin smiled bitterly. "I'll bring her over to meet you if you don't believe me."

A light chuckle came from behind them.

"So you're saying that girl from last night is your girlfriend?"

The two turned around to see a young man standing at the alley's entrance, his presence unnoticed until now.

Ge Gufeng lowered his gaze to the peculiar rhythm in the man's steps, making them seem imbued with a Daoist essence. His expression immediately grew serious. His sharp gaze flickered as he raised an arm to shield Ge Tianlin behind him.

Ge Tianlin, on the other hand, felt inexplicably restless. He stared uneasily at the long sword wrapped in black cloth.

"What I heard last night sounded quite different. Didn't you tell the girl that if she pleased you, you'd cover her membership fee, give her extra cultivation techniques, and even some alchemy pills to boost her level?" Wang Sheng questioned calmly.

"Y-you're lying!" Ge Tianlin's face turned pale. "Second Uncle, I didn't do that! I—"

"Silence! Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough? I'll deal with you later!"

Immediately grasping the situation, Ge Gufeng glared at Ge Tianlin, his expression suggesting that he could hardly restrain himself from hitting him.

Then, his expression darkened as he turned back to Wang Sheng, realizing something.

"Who exactly are you? Why are you here? I advise you to stop!"

Wang Sheng continued to approach, now only ten meters away from the two. Abyss Listener trembled faintly, its black cloth beginning to unravel on its own.

"Run," Ge Gufeng ordered decisively. With a shake of his arm, he sent Ge Tianlin stumbling back three steps. "Inform the rest! Tell them someone's onto us!"

Ge Tianlin hesitated. "Second Uncle, let me stay and help you! He's just one man—how strong could he possibly be?"

"Don't make things worse!"

Wang Sheng took one step, causing true essence to burst beneath his feet. With another, he shot forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.

By the time Ge Gufeng turned his head, Wang Sheng had already broken into a charge, his icy spiritual consciousness locking onto Ge Gufeng's vital points.

Unleashing the Seven-Star Footwork, Wang Sheng landed on a shallow puddle without splashing a single drop.

The fourth step sent him briefly running along the walls of the alley, his sword's black cloth trailing behind him as it fell away. A glimmer of sword light shot forth like a streak of lightning.

In just four steps, Wang Sheng had crossed over ten meters and closed in on Ge Gufeng.

Though Ge Gufeng reacted swiftly, he only had time to channel his true essence and spiritual consciousness. As he pushed his palm forward with a burst of true essence, despair clouded his expression. His dim eyes reflected seven stars as sword shadows engulfed him.

The Seven-Star Sword Formation!

Just like a hawk going all out when hunting a rabbit, Wang Sheng had no intention of giving his opponent any chance to fight back. This wasn't a sparring match, after all. Hence, he immediately unleashed the full power of the sword formation.

To his credit, Ge Gufeng reacted decisively. He suffered deep gashes to his left arm, but he managed to block two of Wang Sheng's deadliest strikes.

During the brief reprieve, he reached into his robe for a handful of talismans. However, before he could activate even one, another arc of sword light severed the yellow talismans.

The experience that Wang Sheng had gained from fighting Shi Qianzhang twice was now paying off.

Ge Gufeng attempted to counterattack, but he had already lost the upper hand. In the blink of an eye, the sword pierced both his shoulders.

Blood spurted as a surge of pure true essence rushed into Ge Gufeng, shattering the meridians in his shoulders.

The injuries were severe. Without proper treatment, his arms would likely be crippled.

"You!" Ge Gufeng shouted.

Furious and in pain, he was about to unleash a string of curses. Before he could, Wang Sheng stepped forward and slammed the hilt of his sword into the side of Ge Gufeng's neck.

Learning from his encounter with the corrupt cultivator at the Li estate, Wang Sheng made sure to incapacitate his opponent as quickly as possible. Knocking people out was the safest option.

Their battle lasted mere seconds. The mid-stage Spirit Convergence Realm cultivator had been subdued.

Wang Sheng pushed him lightly, making him collapse against the wall. With blood flowing from his wounds, he looked utterly miserable.

Just two or three meters away, Ge Tianlin had been stunned as still as a wooden statue.

His second uncle had been...

Run! I gotta get out of here!

His mind screamed for him to escape, but his body refused to move.

A sword light swept toward him, stopping just short of his carotid artery.

Ge Tianlin's limbs turned icy. The morning breeze sent chills down his spine, making him shiver uncontrollably as he finally snapped out of his daze.

Wang Sheng's long sword was right in front of him. Sword light rippled faintly like waves from the blade, ready to render him unconscious and send him beside his second uncle at any moment.

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