Can a Scholar Be Called a Villain

Chapter 98: Han Tang

Lu Xiang Chuan’s grievous error of killing Old Bo’s friend cast the Jiang Hu into turmoil, sparking a fierce conflict between the Sun Manor and the Twelfth Great Roc Gang.

Tie Cheng Gang, burdened by guilt, chose to end his own life after laying his friends to rest. Sun Jian, who then buried Tie Cheng Gang, met his demise in an ambush during the burial.

Meanwhile, a blade-wielding expert emerged in the Jiang Hu. Despite his youthful appearance, he was already a first-rate expert.

Firstly, he attacked the borders of the Yan clan’s territory.

The Yan clan was taken aback as the young expert displayed an uncanny mastery of their lost arts, specifically the 《Zombie Fist》. Reacting to this threat, they dispatched their forces to eliminate him.

Armed solely with his blade, the young expert confronted the Yan family’s elder, a first-rate cultivator, and emerged victorious from their clash.

Soon after, he executed the Yan clan’s leader with only two swift blade strikes, leaving the clan’s territory soon after.

His reputation swiftly permeated every corner of the Jiang Hu: Murong Lin!

His name was Murong Lin!

Subsequently, Murong Lin emerged at the Xu clan castle. With a mere three masterful strokes of his blade, he dispatched the castle’s leader and ruthlessly extinguished the lives of the 175 inhabitants.

News of this staggering event rippled through the Jiang Hu, akin to a seismic shockwave. Xu Qing Song, whose strength had long since transcended into the realm of first-rate experts, was believed to stand above Murong Lin in terms of power. Yet, Murong Lin achieved the seemingly impossible act of ending his life.

His blade technique and unforgiving brutality earned him a notorious moniker within the Jiang Hu—the ‘Thin Bladed Demon’.

This title was bestowed due to his uniquely slender blade.

Subsequently, Murong Lin embarked on another devastating spree, toppling the Northern Bandits’ thirteen fortresses, leaving death and destruction in his wake. His name resounded like thunder across the world.

Concurrently, the ‘Demonic Locust Plague’ surged to prominence.

Though the exact moment of their emergence remained shrouded, the onslaught of tens of thousands of locusts—just three to four days prior—plunged the region into chaos, ravaging the autumn harvests.

A multitude of Jiang Hu experts ventured forth to quell the locust invasion, yet not a single soul returned from the mission.

The swarming locusts’ strength grew incessantly, inflicting insurmountable casualties upon third-rate experts, even denting the ranks of the second-rate. Only then did the alarm bells in the minds of the public begin to ring, signalling the alarming scale of the encroaching catastrophe.

The revelation that locusts held the power to defeat even second and third-rate experts shook the realm.

Unbeknownst to many, nearly a thousand crimson locusts clandestinely merged within the swarm, orchestrating the controlled descent of their brethren upon these lands while concealing their own presences.

By now, Blood Bat Locusts of the Manifestation realm had emerged as well.

By a tranquil riverside, an unassuming figure with a worn appearance idly fished, gaze fixed upon the drifting rod.

Beside him stood a nondescript man, his attire and countenance equally inconspicuous—Meng Xing Hun.

Meng Xing Hun’s gaze lingered upon the seemingly ordinary fisherman before him, unsure of how to proceed.

Abruptly, two men sprinted towards them, their garments drenched in blood as they shouted in distress. Trailing close behind were three pursuers.

Meng Xing Hun immediately turned towards the source of the commotion. The two individuals racing towards them were unmistakably clad in the attire of the Sun Manor.

As they reached Han Tang, the two newcomers collapsed to their knees, their pleas frantic, “Please, save us! Like you, we are loyal followers of Old Bo! The elder young master, Sun Jian, has been slain.”

“We do not fear death, but it is crucial that this news reaches Old Bo.”

“Should you decide to offer aid this once, Old Bo will unquestionably extend his gratitude towards both of you. You are no strangers to the depths of Old Bo’s camaraderie.”

Meng Xing Hun’s face contorted with a peculiar expression, while Han Tang exhibited an air of indifference, seemingly deaf to the plea.

Meng Xing Hun couldn’t help but admire Han Tang’s unwavering demeanour.

Meanwhile, the trio of pursuers, armed and relentless, roared, “Haven’t we already warned you? Fleeing is futile; your fate is sealed!”

“Since we’ve come this far, we must first report to the master.”

“Then, who among you is the master?”

Stepping back, Meng Xing Hun responded, “I am merely here to fish.”

Meng Xing Hun’s response inadvertently insinuated that the unassuming man beside him held the true authority in this domain.

Han Tang remained silent.

The trio continued to speak, “Whoever they may be, surrender these two vermin to us, and matters can be settled. If not…”

“These two are under the command of Old Bo. They bear responsibility for the demise of our comrades. Just as every wrongdoer has a debt to repay, every transgression has a reckoning.”

Han Tang offered a solemn nod. “Indeed, every wrongdoer has a debt to repay, every transgression a reckoning. Are you certain you desire these two?”

Startled, the three men hesitated momentarily before confirming, “Yes.”

With a measured tone, Han Tang said, “Very well.”

And in that instant, he executed the two individuals before casting their lifeless forms towards the trio.

A collective shock gripped both the trio and Meng Xing Hun.

Only now did Meng Xing Hun realize the ruse—a clever trap engineered to ensnare Han Tang. His attention was drawn to the hidden weapons adorning the corpses of the two men—one-hit, one-kill weapons were stitched into their palms, a detail he had initially overlooked.

The trio then respectfully saluted, “Now that they are dead, we have no further business here. We shall take our leave.”

With that, they turned to run. However, their escape was abruptly cut short as a glimmering streak of light materialized, severing their heads from their bodies. The detached heads hurtled in Meng Xing Hun’s direction, landing on the ground before him.

A hulking figure clad in cotton garbs brandished a blade as he advanced towards Han Tang and Meng Xing Hun, “These five individuals were the men of the Twelfth Great Roc Gang. Their performance aimed to deceive you. You shouldn’t have permitted their departure!”

Han Tang inquired, “You know Old Bo?”

The man experienced a brief moment of astonishment, “Certainly, Old Bo once rendered me his assistance. You are well aware of his benevolence.”

Absorbing the praise he lavished upon Old Bo, Han Tang responded with a nod, “I am truly grateful.”

Meng Xing Hun’s expression underwent a dramatic transformation. He recognized Han Tang’s character—a person who rarely expressed gratitude.

With a flick of his wrist, Han Tang swung the fishing rod, its line looping around the burly man’s form. Although the fishing line possessed some degree of sharpness, it paled in comparison to a blade.

Han Tang, unfortunately, had underestimated the strength of the burly man and the blade’s keen edge. In an instant, the fishing line weapon was severed.

Han Tang was at the sixth layer of the Sky Reaching realm.

His form wavered, and in an instant, three additional figures materialized at his side.

Each of them addressed Han Tang with a declaration:

“Tu City’s Tu Da Roc.”

“Luo River’s Luo Jin Roc.”

“Xiao Habour’s Xiao Yin Roc.”

“Yuan Chong’s Yuan Nu Roc.”

“Murong Lin, the Roc Slayer.”

Before grins could fully manifest, another voice interjected.

Of the group, only these four were dispatched to eliminate Han Tang.

But now, five voices rang out. They turned behind them, only to notice a young man dressed in cotton garbs with a thin knife in hand.

They were perplexed, Han Tang was indifferent, while Meng Xing Hun shouted,

“Thin Bladed Demon, Murong Lin!?”

And with this exclamation, everyone knew of this young man’s identity.

Tu Da Roc eyed Murong Lin with wariness, but his eyes then shifted to what lay behind him.

Casually waving his arm, Murong Lin scoffed, “What are you looking at? Your friend? That iron-headed little fellow? Tch tch tch, I had to strike twice to cleave his skull in two!”

His nonchalant tone conveyed the image of a mundane task, as if he had exerted the same effort required to cleave a tree trunk in two.

His words clarified the grim reality for Tu Da Roc. The Twelfth Great Roc Gang was now the Eleventh Great Roc Gang, having lost one of their first-rate experts to a solitary and wretched death outside the mountain pass.

Tu Da Roc’s expression underwent a drastic change. Regardless of Murong Lin’s affiliation with Old Bo, it was unmistakable that he had no goodwill towards them.

The prospect of eliminating Han Tang today seemed to be slipping away, and the four turned to retreat, only to be halted by both Murong Lin and Han Tang.

By this point, Murong Lin had already ascended to the second layer of the Sky Reaching realm. He stood unperturbed, his blade aimed towards the trio of third-layer Sky Reaching realm experts and the solitary fifth-layer Sky Reaching realm expert.

And the sixth layer Sky reaching realm expert, Han Tang, attacked without any hesitation.

Tu Da Roc and his companions were left with no choice but to defend themselves.

Meng Xing Hun, on the other hand, remained a passive observer positioned on the sidelines.

His purpose in coming here today was to kill Han Tang.

Translator’s note

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