Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 48: Chapter 48 Accident

On the mountain path.

Scattered goods and corpses lay everywhere. Those still fighting, even if not martial artists, were strong individuals who had trained in martial arts for years and had tremendous stamina, the kind who would sooner or later become martial artists.

Gu’s Manor’s declining situation was greatly reversed due to Gu Sheng’s divine arrows.

Although they were still slightly at a disadvantage, the previously overwhelming imbalance was no longer visible.

Aside from the initial stages where mountain bandits and villagers continuously fell, by now, the strength between the two sides was nearly evenly matched. Sword glints and blade shadows clashed incessantly, with no clear outcome.

Gu Sheng spotted Gu Xiaojiang’s figure among the fray.

This youth of the same age as him wielded a refined steel sword with a strict sword style, showing decent strength. At this moment, he was fighting alongside another guard from the manor against a mountain bandit martial artist.

Fifteen years old was the age when one could begin martial training—a path left for the non-main family youth by the manor. As for the main family’s children, they could begin training as soon as their bones and muscles were fully developed.

It seemed unfair, but in reality, in many villages controlled by other main families, the lower-class villagers didn’t even have the opportunity for martial training.

Relatively speaking,

Gu’s Manor was already considered humane, at least offering the lowest villagers a path forward.

”Everyone listen up! Keep these bastards here! Gu Jingang will arrive soon and make sure these beasts pay the price!”

Gu Dajiang roared angrily, continuing to inspire morale.

His blade quivered, the edge slicing through the air with a sharp scream, clashing against the Wolf Fang Club.

Though his palms were shaken numb, he paid no heed, stubbornly sticking to Wang Chong, employing a fearless, life-or-death fighting style.

Seeing Gu Renxu and numerous familiar faces falling before him, this middle-aged man, who looked like an ordinary farmer, was enraged!

The morale of Gu’s Manor soared. With hope in sight, each person fought fiercely toward the enemies, wishing they could split them in half.

Meanwhile, the mountain bandits’ hearts were agitated.

In the shadows, there was a sharpshooter who never missed, constantly pressuring them.

On top of that, the enemy reinforcements were about to arrive. Under the dual stress, they began to entertain thoughts of retreat.

But Gu’s Manor showed no intention of letting them go, willing to risk heavy injuries to leave these vicious bandits behind.

Wang Chong’s tiger-like eyes widened, his arm muscles bulging as he swung the Wolf Fang Club with immense force, kicking up billowing dust, intent on smashing Gu Dajiang into pulp.

However, Gu Dajiang was clearly not someone to be taken lightly. His iron palms wielded the long blade masterfully, his wide-opening and firm-closing movements still leaving room to maneuver. Though at a disadvantage, he was not someone that could be easily felled.

The situation became completely deadlocked.

And for Gu’s Manor, a deadlock was favorable.

Gu Sheng and Gu Erniu watched the developments below, their emotions slightly calming.

They only needed to wait for Gu Jingang to arrive with reinforcements for everything to be settled.

Gu Sheng fixed his gaze on the martial artists fighting in the distance. Their movements were agile, their senses sharp. Of the three remaining Black Blood Scatter arrows, he could not afford to waste even one; he needed to wait for the perfect opportunity.

Suddenly.

A chilling scream shattered the air as a Gu’s Manor martial artist’s head was thrown high into the sky, severed with a single slash. Blood sprayed three feet into the air!

Gu Sheng’s eyes turned cold. He saw a brutal mountain bandit gripping a chopper, his face unnaturally flushed red. The man cast a fierce glance toward the woods before swiftly moving away.

”It’s him! That mountain bandit who killed Gu Renxu!”

Gu Sheng’s gaze was icy. He had already spotted this man earlier, but the bandit martial artist was exceedingly wary, never leaving even a sliver of an opportunity for a shot.

Who could have guessed that this man would be so crafty? He had deliberately feigned an even fight earlier to relax the vigilance of Gu Manor’s martial artists.

Now Gu Sheng held his fire. He seemed to have deduced something, bursting into sudden action, his speed flaring up considerably. In an instant, the mountain bandit sliced through another guard like a blade through butter, decapitating him in one strike!

The bandit aimed to change the tide of the battle. If Gu Manor’s reinforcements arrived, his side would surely be annihilated!

”Gu Nian!”

”Nianzi!”

Gu Manor’s fighters erupted in grief; this was the first martial artist among their ranks to fall.

The mountain bandits, on the other hand, were invigorated.

Wang Chong laughed heartily.

”Zhang Da, nicely done!”

”Second Leader, that was beautiful!”

The mountain bandit named Zhang Da let out a savage laugh, part of his attention fixed on the forest as he quickly surged toward Gu Xiaojiang.

”Gu Dajiang, you want reinforcements? I’ll make sure you have none to count on!!”

This rampant laughter caused everyone’s expressions to shift instantly. Gu Dajiang’s fury soared as his hair bristled, but Wang Chong kept him tightly engaged, not giving him the chance to break away.

Gu Sheng’s heart clenched.

This mountain bandit wasn’t foolish. Knowing he couldn’t meddle in the Blood Refining realm duel between Gu Dajiang and Wang Chong, he opted for a tactical move—targeting Gu Xiaojiang to disrupt the tide of the battle. If any mishap occurred on Gu Dajiang’s end, the consequences would be unthinkable—reinforcements might never make a difference!

”I cannot let him succeed!”

Gu Sheng’s eyes turned icy as he readied his bow, stringing a Black Blood Scatter arrow with lethal precision, his gaze locked onto the wary figure, waiting for the right moment.

Zhang Da moved with exceptional agility, clearly not a typical Refining Skin realm martial artist. As he suddenly attacked, Gu Xiaojiang and the others were struck with terror.

Facing one martial artist was already their limit. Now, a stronger martial artist had joined the fray, instantly throwing their formation into disarray.

Slash!

Zhang Da’s arm strength was terrifying. With a single thrust of his blade, he pierced through a young man standing in front of Gu Xiaojiang as if slicing through paper.

The others were desperate to help but were pinned down by their own opponents.

Gu Xiaojiang’s face turned pale, the suffocating malice from the bandit oppressing him relentlessly. He felt utterly powerless.

”Am I, Gu Xiaojiang, destined to die today? I refuse to accept it! I still want to train in martial arts, to lead Gu’s Manor in destroying the Black Sand Gang. How can I die here? I refuse to accept this!”

His life seemed to be abruptly halted, his eyes bloodshot with anguish as he bit down in fury. Wielding his refined steel sword, he drew an intricate trajectory, miraculously deflecting Zhang Da’s chopper.

But that was all he could manage.

A tremendous force struck him, hurling him high into the air. Zhang Da’s strength was far beyond anything he could match. A sickening crack of splitting bones echoed as his body went limp and numb, incapacitated in place.

”Kid, you’ve got some moves, but against your grandpa Zhang Da, it’s still not enough!”

Zhang Da sneered, his face stained with drying blood, resembling a wicked spirit.

He leapt forward, intending to deliver the killing blow to Gu Xiaojiang.

Gu Xiaojiang’s eyes were filled with unwillingness and sorrow. He glanced at his father fighting in the distance, then let out a desperate howl.

”Father, hold on! Avenge me!!”

Gu Dajiang’s eyes almost burst out of their sockets as he trembled violently in grief and despair. Despite his furious efforts to rush over, Wang Chong’s interference slowed him to a crawl. His own eyes helplessly saw Zhang Da’s chopper rise high.

And then.

Whizz!!

A familiar sharp whistle of an arrow tore through the air, jolting everyone’s spirits.

Gu Sheng had made his move!

Seizing upon the brief moment of Zhang Da’s loosened guard while he struck, the arrow flew like lightning across the battlefield. The Black Blood-smeared arrowhead shimmered with a chilling glow, exuding a deadly aura.

Killing intent burned in Gu Sheng’s eyes.

The tragic scene of Gu Renxu remained vivid in his mind, driving him to an unprecedented level of focus. The arrow spun in flight, surging faster than ever before, even surpassing his previous limits.

Gu Manor’s warriors felt their spirits lifted, a flicker of hope reigniting in their hearts.

Especially Gu Xiaojiang, whose eyes gleamed once again with the spark of life.