The Decaying World-Chapter 146 - 136: Gaze 4

He caught the gold and weighed it in his hand.

"The structure of the entire New Martial Alliance is actually quite simple. There are two Alliance Leaders, a main and a vice, and nine Elders who are all masters of Great Martial Arts Halls. Below them are dozens of official members. Beyond the official members, there are outer members, and there are a lot of those. This Yuan Mountain Branch is presided over by one of the nine Elders, Butterfly Shadow Sword Mukai Kei. Below him are two vice-chiefs, over a dozen deacons, and hundreds of outer members. The deacons are all official members. The vice-chiefs are Bright Moon Blade Ding Chengying and Ghost Hand Zhao Dong."

"What’s the strength of this Elder, Butterfly Shadow Sword Mukai Kei?" Lin Hui hadn’t expected the man to know so much, so he asked another question.

"That’s not clear. Strength is all based on one’s combat record, and Mukai Kei hasn’t fought in many years. The last time he took action was probably ten years ago when he helped surround and kill a monster from the Fog Area, a Golden Summit Centipede. With the coordination of eight Circulation masters, he killed the High-Risk Level monster in a single blow, making a name for his Butterfly Shadow Sword."

He paused for a moment.

"As for anything earlier, I haven’t heard. Maybe the older Martial Artists would know more. After all, this Butterfly Shadow Sword isn’t from our generation."

"Thank you, my friend." Lin Hui cupped his fist. Although he still didn’t know the full extent of Butterfly Shadow Sword’s strength, it was obvious he was stronger than the average peak Circulation master. And that was his strength from ten years ago; he was definitely stronger now.

Understanding this, Lin Hui raised an eyebrow and gazed toward the New Martial Alliance’s Yuan Mountain Branch in the mountain forest, a new trace of caution growing in his heart.

"Don’t thank me. I’m a simple man; my only vice is that I love to watch a good show. If there’s anything else you want to know, just ask!" the bearded man said cheerfully.

He glanced at Lin Hui’s attire, hesitated, and then said, "But, judging by your clothes... don’t tell me you’re going to the New Martial Alliance to cause trouble?"

"Not exactly. I’ve just been training hard for many years and don’t know where my strength truly stands. I plan to find a place to measure it and see what level I’m at," Lin Hui said truthfully.

"That’s easy. Go to the New Martial Alliance and state your purpose. They have sparring arenas set up specifically for Martial Artists like you. At the same time, they use this method to train their own disciples," the bearded man explained, clearly well-informed.

"You’re very knowledgeable, my friend?" Lin Hui said, surprised. Being able to test his strength peacefully was naturally for the best.

"Yes, because I’ve fought in those arenas before." A nostalgic look appeared in the bearded man’s eyes.

Lin Hui was speechless. After bidding farewell to the bearded man, he followed the signs forward. Before long, the road ahead began to widen.

The path under his feet also grew steeper, climbing upward.

After passing through a grove of withered, yellow trees, a mottled white cliff face came into view.

Disc-shaped white stone platforms had been carved out of the cliff. From a distance, he could faintly see people sparring on them.

Farther away, a large complex of pale green buildings was nestled into the mountain forest, interspersed with dense woods. From time to time, figures would flash in and out of the complex at high speeds.

These people all moved through the air, disdaining common roads, and flashed directly over the treetops or rooftops.

They simply refused to take the stairs, as if the steps on the ground were an insult to their boots.

Only then did Lin Hui notice that on a tree branch a dozen meters above his head to the right, there were non-slip footboards tied there specifically for these high-flying people.

A round wooden plaque hung on the side of the board, indicating the direction of the next non-slip footboard.

SWISH.

Just then, two figures flashed past overhead. The fluctuation of their Inner Strength was just as fleeting.

Inner Power Martial Artists, a rarity in the Outer City, seemed utterly commonplace here.

Meanwhile, Lin Hui was making his way toward the Yuan Mountain Branch.

Inside the branch headquarters, Chief Butterfly Shadow Sword Mukai Kei was stroking his beard, sitting cross-legged on a terrace and gazing at the rolling mountains in the distance.

His two vice-chiefs arrived behind him. Their expressions were solemn as they sat down cross-legged, seemingly waiting for his answer to something.

"No matter what it is, you will endure it for now," Mukai Kei said, his face calm.

"But if this goes on, no one will pay the annual fees from the various territories! If we don’t take a stand, I’m afraid in the future..." Vice-Chief Ding Chengying was already over fifty. Faint crow’s feet had appeared on her once-delicate face. This woman, who looked like a noble lady, now had her own children and grandchildren. The once-famed Bright Moon Blade was no longer as relentless, pure, and pristine as the bright moon.

The immense financial demands of her family had gradually turned her into the very kind of person she had once despised.

"Liu Wu Jun has gone quiet. Even if he isn’t seriously injured, it’s impossible for him to reappear and suppress us anytime soon. Now is the perfect opportunity for revenge!" the other vice-chief, Zhao Dong, said grimly.

"How do you know if he’s truly injured or just faking it? Have you forgotten what happened three years ago?" Chief Mukai Kei said lightly. "If we make the first move, Liu Wu Jun will have every reason to come after us directly. When that time comes, even if the Alliance Leader intervenes, distant water can’t quench a nearby fire."

"Then let’s not target Liu Wu Jun’s direct assets. Doesn’t he have a sister stationed elsewhere?" Ding Chengying suggested.

"Liu Xiao just broke through to the Priest realm. You want to go?" Mukai Kei said.

"...." Ding Chengying fell silent.

"Can’t we notify the Faith and have them dispatch an emissary?" Zhao Dong frowned from the side.

"Watch your words!" Mukai Kei’s brow furrowed, and he shot a sharp look at Zhao Dong. "The last emissary died, and the other branches suffered heavy losses. It has already made the surrounding emissaries extremely displeased. Who would be willing to risk coming here now?"

"Then our only option is to go back to probing the periphery, to test whether Liu Wu Jun is truly injured or not," said Zhao Dong.

"You mean his mother, and that step-brother of his?" Mukai Kei said thoughtfully.

"Correct. His step-brother isn’t important. He’s a fast runner, and even if we caught him, it would be useless—he offers no leverage. Our only option is to capture his mother, Liu Shenglan..."

"No, the Lin Mansion’s defenses are too tight," Ding Chengying said, shaking her head.

"Alright, that’s enough." Mukai Kei suddenly stood up. "We have a guest." He stood on the terrace, his gaze sweeping down from above, instantly focusing on a swordsman in black who was slowly approaching the mountain gate.

Down below, Lin Hui also looked up into the distance at the same moment, his gaze landing on Mukai Kei. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

In that instant, their inexplicable auras as powerful Martial Artists allowed them to sense one another.

’This feeling? From so far away, I can actually feel his aura locking onto me, his gaze locking onto me...’ Lin Hui held out his hand, uncurling and clenching his fingers, carefully savoring this sensation he had never experienced before.

The other man’s gaze was almost tangible, like a knife slowly tracing a line across his body.

This was something he had never encountered when facing Wang Yueheng or any other opponent.

Novelty, anticipation, and a trace of desire to test his blade urged Lin Hui to quicken his pace, a smile on his face as he walked forward.

PAK.

Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks.

The smile on his face vanished abruptly.

A flash of red crossed his eyes, and text from the Blood Seal appeared.

’Notice: You are being watched by the Fog Spirit. Your speed is impaired.’

"Interesting...."

Lin Hui grinned.

"Truly interesting. To think a branch of the New Martial Alliance is hiding something like this??"

SHIIING...

He slowly drew his sword. The silver, one-point-six-meter-long Steel Sword Ruyi slid from its sheath on his back, and he held it level by his side.

The wind suddenly rose, swirling and spinning around him.

It swept through the surroundings.