Chapter 90: Faster, Harder, Stronger
That withered hand carried Tianhai Shengsheng's body, abruptly leaving the horse's back, retreating backward deep into Hundred Flowers Lane with the urgency of an arrow. Rainwater was smashed aside, a clear trail appeared on the bluestone slabs, and in an instant they were dozens of zhang away before their figures became visible.
It was a tall, thin old man, dressed in ordinary household clothes, with rather high shoulders. He had an antique air about him, yet also a very distinct aura of iron and blood. Beneath his withered palm, Tianhai Shengsheng seemed like a child.
The empty spaces within the curtain of rain burst forward, finally stopping before that warhorse. A figure appeared, and only then did the rain from the sky begin to fall again, the broken rain threads reconnecting, the layered rain curtains once more thickening.
From these images, one could calculate just how fast this figure's speed was.
He was a very ordinary-looking middle-aged man. His silk robe was covered in patterns of copper coins, several gold rings adorned his fingers, and he radiated an aura of gold and the stench of wealth. He looked like a common rich man or nouveau riche from a country town. Judging by appearance alone, who could have imagined he was the owner of that fist, suddenly appearing in the morning rain, instantly sending over a dozen riders flying, easily shattering Tianhai Shengsheng's iron spear with one punch, forcing that tall, thin old man to reveal himself?
He was the Golden Secretary from the Herb Garden, the one who had revealed his identity in the Weiyang Palace two nights ago... Jin Yulü.
The tall, thin old man looked at Jin Yulü, his white brows slightly raised. Raindrops touched them and instantly burst apart, showing great solemnity. His lips parted slightly, ready to speak.
Seeing Jin Yulü appear, Tang Thirty-Six confirmed that the National Academy would be safe today. Just as he was feeling delighted, he saw the tall, thin old man preparing to speak and shouted loudly, "Fight first, talk later."
These words were naturally directed at Jin Yulü. Given Tang Thirty-Six's generation and age, shouting at this legendary figure in such a manner was extremely rude, but Jin Yulü showed no discomfort and said, "That makes sense."
As soon as the words fell, Jin Yulü's figure vanished again in the morning rain.
The accumulated water on the bluestone slabs suddenly churned, footprints appeared on the walls of Hundred Flowers Lane, and dozens of empty spaces emerged within the heavy rain curtains. In just an instant, he was dozens of zhang away!
Those watching this scene were speechless with shock, wondering how such speed could exist in the world.
The tall, thin old man narrowed his eyes, sharp as a drawn sword, his expression growing even more solemn. As an old man who had participated in that war back then, he naturally knew how terrifying Jin Yulü was, especially his speed. So he unhesitatingly deployed his strongest technique.
He raised his withered palms and pushed forward. A slightly cold and powerful aura instantly enveloped Hundred Flowers Lane. The autumn rain falling from the sky slowed down, and during its descent, frost formed on the surface of the raindrops. They landed on the bluestone slabs with a crack, shattering like pearls!
The rain curtain became an ice curtain, layer upon layer forming defenses! Jin Yulü's figure appeared several zhang in front of the tall, thin old man. Dozens of frozen raindrops were sent flying by him, whistling out with a sharp hiss, leaving bottomless black holes in the walls of the lane!
At the same time his figure appeared, Jin Yulü's hands had already burst from his sleeves. He stared at the tall, thin old man behind the frost-sealed rain curtain, his eyes narrowing, his pupils also contracting, faintly emitting a cold, black light, extremely terrifying.
Scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape! Countless faint scraping sounds arose. Within the rain curtains of Hundred Flowers Lane, who knew how many fleeting flashes of light appeared? Those lights were curved, appearing and disappearing in an instant, extremely sharp. If anyone could see them clearly, they might have thought of the claw marks of some demonic beast.
That tall, thin old man used his extremely profound true essence to set up a powerful defense, freezing the rain curtain into ice. This could indeed minimize Jin Yulü's terrifying speed to the greatest extent, but he could not reduce the speed of Jin Yulü's arm movements. And no matter how powerful the defense, it could not withstand an endless, continuous assault.
In just a very short moment, only a few raindrops had fallen from the curtain, yet Jin Yulü had swung his arms hundreds of times at the rain curtain. Of course, neither Tang Thirty-Six, nor Chen Changsheng, nor the knights lying in the rainwater could see these images at all. This was what true strength meant.
With several tearing sounds, the layered rain curtains were ripped apart. Amidst the slight trembling of the rainwater, Jin Yulü's figure flickered like a phantom, arriving before the tall, thin old man and punching forward. The tall, thin old man let out a sharp shout, his withered palms standing sideways like blades, forcefully blocking the blow!
A dull thud sounded. Countless waves of air surged up, shaking the falling rain wildly in all directions. Cracks appeared with a crackling sound on the courtyard walls beside the lane.
Tianhai Shengsheng, protected behind the tall, thin old man, was not directly impacted, but his mind was heavily shaken. He let out a muffled groan, his face turning even paler.
That tall, thin old man bore the brunt of the attack. The terrifying power of Jin Yulü's fist was all absorbed by him. His face turned even paler, a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, and his legs trembled slightly.
Jin Yulü looked at him expressionlessly, did not continue attacking, but tucked his hands into his sleeves, turned around, and walked toward the National Academy.
His walking posture and the way he tucked his sleeves no longer made him look like a wealthy man or a nouveau riche, but like an old farmer.
This battle between experts started very quickly and ended even faster, faster than any onlooker could have imagined. Because Jin Yulü was too fast, shockingly fast, even surpassing those birds known for their speed. Throughout the entire continent, he could probably rank among the very top!
"You old farmer, not farming your fields on the Eastern Slope, what are you doing here!"
The tall, thin old man looked at Jin Yulü's slightly hunched back and shouted harshly.
Since the fight was over, they could talk. And after all, they were old acquaintances from many years ago. Jin Yulü did not turn around, continuing to walk forward with his hands tucked in his sleeves, and said, "Fei Dian, you're not sweeping snow in the north, so what are you doing here?"
Hearing the name Fei Dian, Tang Thirty-Six's expression changed slightly. A faint stir could be sensed deep in the streets and lanes.
That tall, thin old man was actually Fei Dian!
Fei Dian was one of the oldest and most powerful divine generals of the Great Zhou, a veteran who had participated in the war against the demon race back then. His achievements were outstanding, his reputation immense. Even the current glorious Divine General Xue Xingchuan had to treat him with great respect.
Who could have imagined that such a great figure would appear outside the National Academy in the early morning, secretly backing Tianhai Shengsheng?
And even fewer could have imagined that such a strong expert would be so thoroughly defeated by that middle-aged man.
The soldiers and civilians of the Great Zhou all knew that Fei Dian cultivated the Cold Eagle Art, which was fastest and most ferocious when activated. Yet that middle-aged man was even faster and stronger than him.
Those in the lane who did not know the middle-aged man's identity were speechless with shock, wondering who this person could be.
Chen Changsheng and the others naturally did not think this way.
"After so many years, Jin Yulü, you still only rely on brute strength and speed."
Fei Dian looked at his back and said mockingly.
Hearing these words, those in the lane finally learned Jin Yulü's identity and were left speechless with shock.
After the Ivy Banquet two nights ago, many people learned that Jin Yulü had been living in the capital with Her Highness Luoluo. This demon clan general, highly appreciated by His Majesty Taizong, had long become a living legend after several hundred years. Since it was him, the outcome of this battle was naturally not surprising.
No matter how fast Fei Dian was, he could not be faster than him.
Jin Yulü's speed ranked among the top five on the entire continent.
Hearing Fei Dian's words, Jin Yulü still did not turn around and said, "Seven hundred years ago, you said those words. Seven hundred years later, you're still saying the same thing... Your greatest strengths are strength and speed, yet you're inferior to me in both. What can be done about it?"
Truly promising children of noble families would always have strong protectors to ensure their safe growth, transforming from young geniuses into true experts. For example, when Tang Thirty-Six came from Wenshui to the capital, Vice Dean Zhuang was responsible for looking after him, so his family did not send anyone. But his family certainly could not have imagined that he would leave the Heavenly Dao Institute.
For three hundred years, Fei Dian had been on good terms with the Tianhai family, responsible for guarding the Northern Frontier's Yongxue Pass. When the Tianhai family sent Tianhai Shengsheng to Yongxue Pass for training, Fei Dian took on the role of caretaker. It was the same at Yongxue Pass, and it remained so after returning to the capital.
When Tianhai Shengsheng came to the National Academy this morning to assert his authority, Fei Dian said nothing but secretly followed. Because he knew this matter was not as simple as it seemed. Sure enough, the three students in the National Academy were very unusual, and in the end, Jin Yulü even appeared!
"If I remember correctly, you should now be at the Detached Palace Annex."
Fei Dian took the handkerchief Tianhai Shengsheng handed him and gently wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
By this time, Jin Yulü had already reached the entrance of the National Academy. He took the handkerchief Chen Changsheng handed him, gently wiped the rainwater from his face, turned around, and looked in that direction, saying, "Why must I be at the Detached Palace Annex?"
"Her Highness Luoluo is temporarily residing at the Detached Palace Annex. This is the will of His Holiness the Pope and also the will of Her Majesty."
Fei Dian looked at him with narrowed eyes through the rain curtain dozens of zhang away.
Jin Yulü smiled and asked, "And what does that have to do with me?"
Fei Dian frowned slightly and said, "You should be very clear. The White Emperor entrusted Her Highness to Her Majesty's care. Her Majesty's words are equivalent to the White Emperor's words. So even Her Highness Luoluo must obey. As a subject, do you intend to defy the White Emperor's decree?"
"The White Emperor's decree... I stopped listening to it several hundred years ago. I remember you were there at the time. Have you forgotten?"
Jin Yulü's smile suddenly vanished, and he said expressionlessly, "From the day His Majesty issued that reckless order, I ceased to be His Majesty's subject. His Majesty's words hold no force for me. Her Highness must obey Her Majesty the Empress Dowager because Her Majesty is an elder, because the White Emperor commanded it. I do not need to obey Her Majesty the Empress Dowager because I am not a Zhou person, and Her Majesty is not my elder. Besides, the White Emperor cannot command me now."
"I am Her Highness's Secretary. I only obey Her Highness's orders."
"Her Highness asked me to come to the National Academy and take a look, so I came to take a look."
"Is there a problem?"
Fei Dian looked at him, his emotions somewhat complicated. He knew that the reckless order of the White Emperor that Jin Yulü referred to was the matter of the Lishan disciples being executed for missing their deadline. That incident had caused a great uproar in the military at the time, splitting it into two factions and nearly shaking the alliance between humans and the demon race.
He sighed and said, "Several hundred years have passed, yet your temper is still this hard, your aura still this strong."
Jin Yulü said expressionlessly, "Back then, I was in charge of military law and killed countless people. The White Emperor's words I did not heed, and even His Majesty Emperor Taizong could do nothing about me. Why? Because I was not wrong. So why shouldn't I be hard? Why shouldn't my aura be strong?"
Hundred Flowers Lane fell silent, with only the sound of rain falling on the bluestone slabs.
Neither the dozen or so people at the entrance of the National Academy nor the many more hidden deep within Hundred Flowers Lane spoke a word.