My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 46 - 35: The Last Move

On Demon Extermination Day, how could anyone form alliances?

The alley was shrouded in gloom. Chen Yi glanced at Yin Weiyin, then at the middle-aged swordsman gradually approaching from a distance.

"Do you know him?"

Chen Yi asked.

Yin Weiyin shook her head and then said:

"I often train in isolation within the Prince Mansion. I barely know the tributes, let alone the maids."

Chen Yi immediately abandoned the idea of using Yin Weiyin as leverage and said:

"Min Ning, take her and head back. I’ll catch up shortly. That person... is an expert."

Min Ning hesitated for a moment before nodding. She grabbed Yin Weiyin and moved toward the rear, whispering after a few steps:

"Come quickly."

Chen Yi replied:

"I’ll try."

In the martial arts world, those who announce themselves immediately upon arrival are either arrogant fools or renowned experts. The man before him had a steady and solid presence, each step carrying unusual weight—he couldn’t possibly be the former.

Moreover, this person was someone Chen Yi had already heard of in the Capital City.

He was a True Disciple of the White Willow Sect. Anyone who chose to serve the Prince Mansion had the chance to form ties with him, become his apprentice, and perhaps even inherit the mantle of the next-generation True Disciple.

If Chen Yi remembered correctly, his martial arts skills were at least fifth-grade.

"Originally, the Prince ordered me to kill you in a few days. But plans rarely keep up with change—someone divined that you’d be in the vicinity, so I came to try my luck. Heaven has eyes; I didn’t expect to actually find you here,"

Huang Liuqing said leisurely, glancing at Min Ning and Yin Weiyin.

"Don’t worry, I operate by Jianghu code. I’ll only kill West Factory Thousand Households; I won’t touch the others. After I kill you, I might even spend some money to ensure you get a proper burial."

Chen Yi chuckled and said:

"Well, aren’t you considerate."

Huang Liuqing spat into the alley, cleared his throat, and said:

"Announce your name then."

Chen Yi replied:

"No need."

"Why no need?"

"No need means no need."

"Do you think you won’t die?"

"No."

"Then why no need?"

"Because there isn’t one."

Huang Liuqing froze briefly before bursting into laughter.

"Interesting. Then let us draw blades."

Chen Yi unsheathed the Brocade Spring Blade, its cold gleam faintly illuminating the alley.

Huang Liuqing also drew his weapon—his Ring Head Knife. Adorned with a red tassel at the hilt and forged of black iron, its plain appearance rendered its outline invisible amidst the dark alley.

They exchanged a glance. Lanterns held in their hands were cast away, falling onto the ground where the flickering flames danced and dimmed, reflecting off the blades—a signal. Huang Liuqing charged forward.

The Ring Head Knife rose high as Huang Liuqing’s figure flashed, stepping directly in front of Chen Yi to slash downward. The surrounding wind roared, sweeping the lantern off the ground, only for it to land once more.

Chen Yi stepped back a pace, using the back of his blade to block. The alley erupted with the deafening clash of iron.

The vibration reverberated through his blade. Chen Yi channeled his True Qi, his wrist exerting force to steady the Brocade Spring Blade. Then, with effort, he shifted to deflect the Ring Head Knife downward, following up with a horizontal slash.

The force stirred the air.

Huang Liuqing, seeing the oncoming ferocious counterstrike, stepped aside to dodge. However, just as his footing stabilized and he prepared to counterattack, Chen Yi advanced and executed another strike.

Driving his waist forward, Chen Yi’s Eagle Falling Skill combined seamlessly with the Flood Dragon Saber Technique. The resulting knife momentum roared like crashing waves. Huang Liuqing sneered and stopped retreating, instead raising his knife to meet the attack. The blades collided, emitting a crisp sound, sparks scattering through the night.

The clash forced both fighters to recoil—Chen Yi stepped back twice, whereas Huang Liuqing, as a Fifth Grade Martial Artist, only retreated one step and maintained a more stable posture. In an instant, offensive shifted to defensive.

In battles between martial artists, differing levels were often evident at these moments.

Chen Yi retreated another two steps to widen the distance, while Huang Liuqing again pressed forward, his Ring Head Knife cutting through the air. Each slash carried wild intensity, weaving an ominous killing intent with the night.

On this Demon Extermination Day, he resembled a slayer of both monsters and men.

Knife light flashed through the alley.

Chen Yi activated his footwork, simultaneously parrying and evading blows while seeking openings. Yet Huang Liuqing’s strikes poured down like a relentless storm. Though his footwork was mediocre, his mastery of the White Willow Sect’s knife technique was near perfection. Tales had long circulated in the Jianghu of him severing a warhorse clean in half by the river during his youth.

Every strike was fierce, aiming to overpower skill with sheer strength.

Chen Yi moved with agility, dodging each fatal blow with deft turns and counters, until a downward slash came from above—a gleam of cold light tearing through the air, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound. The lantern on the ground wavered briefly before extinguishing abruptly.

Chen Yi stepped back half a pace, raising his blade to block. As the blades met, a violent tremor followed. Both fighters recoiled again, but Chen Yi felt an intense tearing pain in his palm. A quick glance revealed that his tiger’s mouth was bleeding, his Brocade Spring Blade marred with a half-inch deep gash.

"Fine footwork, sharp blade techniques—you’re a rare talent. At your age, I couldn’t even hold a knife properly, but you’ve mastered both body movement and knife techniques,"

Huang Liuqing praised, then looked at Chen Yi’s wounded hand, sneering:

"Blades and swords are unfeeling—sorry, sorry."

Chen Yi inhaled deeply, choosing silence.

Throughout, he’d been at a disadvantage.

He was only Sixth Grade, but Huang Liuqing was Fifth Grade.

The disparity wasn’t just in rank. It lay in the strength and ruthlessness of the White Willow Sect’s knife techniques—sharp enough to cut through iron like mud. Chen Yi’s Copper Bone Skill was useless here, and the Ring Head Knife’s longer reach denied him the chance to strike with fists or palms. He couldn’t direct his century-old store of True Qi into Huang Liuqing’s body to make him explode from within.

Despite the numbness in his hands, Chen Yi still clenched the Brocade Spring Blade tightly.

Another technique might have enabled him to level the playing field, but here and now...

Knife light flowed like water, meandering quietly. Their breathing grew steady once more.

Chen Yi lowered his stance, bending slightly at the waist and knees, and said:

"I have one more move. Let’s see if you can withstand it."

"A trump card?"

"More like something I rummaged for."

Huang Liuqing’s eyes gleamed with curiosity.

"I’ll only use this move. If you survive it, feel free to learn it,"

Chen Yi said calmly, composing his breath.

Huang Liuqing cupped his fists, chuckling:

"A show of Jianghu honor. Master above, this disciple salutes you."

Observing his relaxed demeanor, Chen Yi knew Huang Liuqing hadn’t exerted his full strength yet. Unhurriedly, he added:

"If you do survive it, there’d be no point in me continuing to fight. I’d only await death—please make it quick and painless."

Huang Liuqing noted how Chen Yi’s posture resembled a taut bow, ready to unleash its force, and realized the move was no ordinary attack.

Solemnly, he asked:

"What move is it?"

Chen Yi switched his grip to his left hand, lightly grabbing the sheath with his right. Muttering under his breath, he said:

"Watch closely."

Gathering his breath, Chen Yi pulled his left arm back while his right hand suddenly exerted force. The sheath shot out aggressively, a dark blur streaking through the alley.

Huang Liuqing raised his knife to intercept, the blade slicing toward the flying sheath. The immense power behind it seemed capable of splitting mountains.

Seizing the moment, Chen Yi spun away as his sheath flew. Leveraging the momentum, he dashed forward with both feet, his figure darting out like an enraged dragon breaking free from the sea. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared into the night-shrouded alley.

With a loud crash, the sheath shattered and fell to the ground. Huang Liuqing stared at the now-empty alley in bewilderment.

The ultimate move...

Run!