Chapter 106: Grandmaster Yang Guang

Lu Jue knew that what he said would be hard for ordinary people to comprehend.

Although Fang Yang was over fifty years old and lacked martial skills, it was understandable that his joints and bones had been broken. However, to have them completely crushed required immense strength.

“Human joints and bones are flexible. To break them with brute force or by impact with an external object, the shattered fragments would gather in one place, sometimes even piercing the skin,” Lu Jue explained, his expression growing grave.

Such force—let alone among those present—Lu Jue himself admitted was difficult to achieve.

Only someone who had truly reached the level of a Grandmaster could wield such overwhelming power.

“Upon examination, the county magistrate’s joints were all broken; bone fragments were scattered densely around, with punctures both front and back. It’s clear he was crushed and shattered by hand,” Lu Jue said.

His words struck fear into those gathered, seeming to confirm the mysterious figure Chen Pingwu had just mentioned.

Hearing this, Wei Nanqi and Sun Changxi both felt a chill run down their spines.

Wei Nanqi’s face darkened; after swallowing his saliva, he quietly asked Lu Jue, “Young Master Lu, you once slew that Grandmaster-level Tid warrior with a single sword strike. How would that mysterious man compare?”

Wei Nanqi’s question was natural—after all, they were mere mortals with little understanding of the world of the strong.

In this mundane world, though the powerful wield sharp blades, they remain mortal flesh and blood; encirclement and exhaustion can bring them down.

Lu Jue’s single sword strike had already cemented his status as a Grandmaster in everyone’s mind. Grandmasters were rare, and those beyond even more so.

Lu Jue sighed helplessly upon hearing Wei Nanqi’s question.

“I’ve only trained in swordsmanship since childhood. I killed that Tid Grandmaster because he was careless and had just recently advanced. But the injuries on the county magistrate today—I admit, I could not inflict such damage,” Lu Jue shook his head.

Noticing the anxious glance exchanged between Wei Nanqi and Sun Changxi, Lu Jue’s heart tightened with unease.

Wei Nanqi quickly knelt before Feng Yewu and said, “Your Majesty, the enemy operates in the shadows while we are in the open. Their skill is extraordinary. Please return to the palace soon to avoid any accidents.”

According to Lu Jue’s description, the opponent must be of Grandmaster rank or higher. Wei Nanqi feared another strike from such a figure, something beyond the resistance of mere mortals like them.

Feng Yewu understood Wei Nanqi’s concern but did not respond hastily. Instead, he bypassed the group and entered the dungeon silently, gazing at the collapsed Fang Yang before speaking.

“I have a question in my heart. Can you answer it?”

Wei Nanqi and the others bowed their heads quickly.

“Your Majesty, please ask. We will do our best.”

Feng Yewu showed no fear or concern about the mysterious figure, his expression calm.

“This government office is already surrounded by soldiers from the Court of Justice and the Ministry of Punishments. Even if the assailant’s skills are extraordinary, torturing the county magistrate so cruelly—wouldn’t he be afraid the magistrate’s screams would attract the soldiers?”

Feng Yewu’s words instantly awakened everyone.

Indeed, the county magistrate was an ordinary man. Facing such torture, why had no one heard a sound?

Watching their troubled faces, Feng Yewu smiled faintly.

“If he truly wished to kill, with such skill, why go to such lengths? If he genuinely wanted to kill me, how could these few guards possibly stop him?”

Wei Nanqi pondered for a moment, then hesitantly speculated, “Could it be out of respect for Young Master Lu’s skill?”

Lu Jue gave a bitter smile and explained to Wei Nanqi, “This person knew exactly where the county magistrate was held, evaded many guards, and must be fully aware of the movements of both myself and His Majesty. How could he not know I am injured?”

Wei Nanqi chuckled wryly; indeed, he had miscalculated.

Feng Yewu turned, looking through the narrow iron window at the bright moon outside. His eyes narrowed as he coldly speculated, “Such caution entering the dungeon yet inflicting such harm on the magistrate—he must be after some clue, wanting to understand me and Lu Jue’s situation. That he does not act personally shows he has his own reservations.”

...

Inside the carriage outside the county office, Chen Pingwu noticed something amiss about Yang Guang.

Unable to put it into words, the feeling arose from having grown up together—something outsiders would hardly detect.

Yang Guang, who had been resting with his eyes closed, seemed to sense Chen Pingwu’s gaze and asked, “Why do you look at me like that, Young Master?”

Chen Pingwu was startled; though Yang Guang’s eyes were closed, he still noticed the scrutiny. He quietly replied, “I don’t know why, but I feel something about you has changed.”

Yang Guang opened his eyes and turned toward the dark figure of Chen Pingwu. In his usually icy expression flashed a brief, fleeting look of surprise, like a shooting star.

“You can sense my change, Young Master?”

The carriage was dimly lit; Chen Pingwu did not notice the flicker of surprise in Yang Guang’s eyes. He only nodded faintly in confirmation.

Yang Guang’s eyes revealed a rare glimmer of joy. That Chen Pingwu could detect his change brought him comfort.

“You sensing my change means your martial realm has advanced. As for me, since that sword strike from you, I have fortuitously broken through my previous bottleneck and truly entered the Grandmaster realm.”

As a martial fanatic, Yang Guang found his own improvement the only thing in the world that could excite him.

Chen Pingwu’s face showed surprise as he asked, “You... you’ve broken through the Grandmaster realm?”

Yang Guang had been stuck just below Grandmaster level for four or five years. The difference between below and above Grandmaster was vast—now Yang Guang’s breakthrough was undoubtedly a qualitative leap for the faction of King Changwu.

Yang Guang smiled slightly for the first time in a while and joked, “Thanks to your sword strike, Young Master.”

Chen Pingwu laughed awkwardly. At that moment, the two seemed to have forgotten past troubles, their bond restored.

“Please keep it safe from now on, Young Master,” Yang Guang said. His expression gradually returned to its usual coldness as he handed Chen Pingwu a dagger from behind him. After a brief warning, he closed his eyes again to rest.

Chen Pingwu silently took the dagger and carefully concealed it.

Wang Jia, watching the two oscillate between laughter and surprise, was utterly confused, unable to understand the emotions between men.

But when she heard Chen Pingwu say Yang Guang was now a Grandmaster, she was shocked.

Though born into royalty, Wang Jia had heard of Grandmasters in the martial world.

Back in the Pingyi Royal Residence, she had seen some renowned Grandmasters, but none were younger than fifty years old.