Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 180: Chapter 117: Desperate Lovebirds! Slaughter Black Sand Again!_2

Pei Xuansi felt Helian Tie Lan’s determination. Admiration and gratitude rose in his eyes, followed swiftly by an unshakable resolve.

”Tie Lan, live well.”

A soft whisper echoed in Helian Tie Lan’s ear, and an ominous feeling swelled in her heart. In the next moment, she felt her burden lighten as Pei Xuansi suddenly leapt off her back and began limping towards the rear!

In the distance, the figures of the Black Sand Gang could be clearly seen.

Pei Xuansi laughed loudly:

”Tie Lan, you must live!”

His back, streaked with blood and slightly hunched, somehow appeared towering and formidable in that moment.

Helian Tie Lan’s angry retort stuck in her throat. She stared blankly at the resolute figure of Pei Xuansi, who plunged ahead without hesitation. Then she abruptly turned and sprinted away, her pace even faster than before. Yet, at the corner of her eye, glimmers of tears fell.

”Xuansi, I will avenge you...”

Hatred surged in Helian Tie Lan’s heart, fiercer and more intense than ever before.

She thought of returning to fight and die with Pei Xuansi, but that would be far too merciful for the Black Sand Gang. She vowed to make them pay—heavily.

Faintly behind her came the sounds of curses and fierce combat.

Helian Tie Lan fled desperately, unwilling to let Pei Xuansi’s sacrifice be in vain.

...

Huff, huff huff!

Heavy breaths echoed through the mountain forest. Without Pei Xuansi to slow her down, Helian Tie Lan’s speed was dizzyingly fast.

Her eyes were red, her stamina nearing its limits, sustained only by sheer determination.

Survive. Avenge Pei Xuansi!

But things rarely go as planned.

Helian Tie Lan’s sprint abruptly halted. In front of her stood a figure, hands clasped behind his back. As he turned to face her, the familiar handlebar mustache made her pupils contract sharply.

Leng Yun!

”You certainly know how to run. You’re the last one left.” Leng Yun’s lips curled into a mocking smile, his eyes brimming with murderous intent.

The pursuit had lasted an entire night.

One by one, the fleeing blacksmiths had been either captured or killed where they stood.

A faint trace of despair rose in Helian Tie Lan’s heart, and she couldn’t help but ask:

”Xuansi—what about him?”

”Are you talking about *that* guy?”

From behind came a teasing voice, followed by the sharp sound of something heavy being hurled through the air. Instinctively, Helian Tie Lan caught it. She looked down to find her hands cradling a bloody head, the lifeless eyes of Pei Xuansi staring back at her.

”Ah!!”

Helian Tie Lan let out a cry of agonized fury, tears streaming from her eyes.

She clutched Pei Xuansi’s severed head tightly against her chest, her body trembling, feeling no revulsion at its ghastly appearance.

”Xuansi, Xuansi...”

Leng Yun sneered dismissively:

”If you’d known it would end like this, why resist in the first place? If you two had obediently worked for the Black Sand Gang, you might have escaped death. That boy could have survived, but he chose to fight to the bitter end. Since that’s the case, I merely helped send him to the underworld.”

Helian Tie Lan raised her head, her gaze fierce and predatory, locking onto Leng Yun like that of a wild beast.

Leng Yun remained unfazed.

”Your craftsmanship is excellent. I’ll give you the same choice: Die, or go back and continue forging armor.”

Killing intent began to radiate from his eyes.

The chaos yesterday had claimed the lives of several blacksmiths, which would significantly delay the forging process. If Helian Tie Lan agreed, he was willing to spare her—for now. After all, her true value could still be exploited thoroughly. But if she refused, she could expect no mercy.

Ultimately.

Should Helian Tie Lan defy him...

He wouldn’t hesitate to kill!

The forest was swept by a light breeze, and the air hung still and tense. Leng Yun patiently awaited Helian Tie Lan’s answer.

Unbeknownst to them.

A pair of silent eyes had been observing everything from the shadows.

Gu Sheng had arrived some time ago.

He initially intended to infiltrate the gang’s stronghold but happened upon this scene. For now, he chose not to intervene.

”A blacksmith... So she was abducted by the Black Sand Gang? Are they secretly forging armor?”

From their exchange, Gu Sheng gleaned valuable information.

The severed head cradled by the blacksmith was unfamiliar to him, but judging by the circumstances, it was likely someone closely tied to her—perhaps even a lover.

”Should I step in?”

Gu Sheng mulled over the decision.

He had some connections to this blacksmith, though their interactions had been strictly business. Opposing him was the Black Sand Gang. Leng Yun, their leader, was someone whose face he had recognized from portraits but never encountered in person until now.

The telltale signs of roiling blood energy around Leng Yun’s body indicated that his cultivation was at the pinnacle of the Blood Refining Realm.

As for the dozen or so other gang members, they were mostly Martial Artists in the Refining Skin Realm.

Gu Sheng could easily cut through them alone.

The real question was whether saving her was worth the bother.

”People don’t find blacksmiths they trust so easily. If I save her this time, she’ll be even more diligent in creating my massive axe and heavy armor in the future.”

Gu Sheng didn’t hesitate for long.

After mastering the Fury Blood techniques, his combat strength with the giant axe had reached its peak. Having a high-quality weapon was crucial, and for now, he lacked the skills to forge one himself. Thus, he would have to rely on others.

”Besides, I’ve scouted the area thoroughly already; this appears to be the entirety of the Black Sand Gang’s pursuit force.”

Risk-free and lucrative opportunities—those were the ones Gu Sheng favored.

”Make it quick.”

Without a sound, Gu Sheng altered his form and appearance, taking on the guise of a butcher. He didn’t wish to reveal his mastery of disguise to the blacksmith.

Gu Sheng’s thoughts occurred in mere moments.

Meanwhile, Leng Yun was still awaiting Helian Tie Lan’s reply.

But Helian Tie Lan raised her head and smirked coldly at Leng Yun:

”You think I’ll forge armor for you again? Stop dreaming!”

Pei Xuansi had died at the hands of the Black Sand Gang. She wanted nothing more than to tear Leng Yun apart limb by limb. Even in death, she would never serve her enemies.

”Very well!”

Leng Yun’s eyes filled with murderous rage as his hand moved to strike.