Springing the Trap 4

The four men wearing the same black garb as the other assassins were clearly experts from the way that they moved. Their footsteps were silent and light, and did not seem to affect the loose earth that had been churned up by the others as they charged at the troop. And Qin Feng did not miss the fact that there was one of them with wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

Someone who was clearly a lot older than his companions. And likely to be the one behind this whole thing, no doubt!

Du Yan must have seen the same, for he wasted no time rushing at the old man, with his gleaming metal maces weaving a strange pattern in front of his body, before flashing out to encircle the black-garbed leader's head!

It was a move that Du Yan had demonstrated to Qin Feng before, so he knew its name, and the sort of strength that it had behind every swing! And it was the sort of move that had its power doubled, if used on an unsuspecting enemy. Which probably accounted for its name:

[Du Family Hundred Weapon Mastery: Ambush in Ten Directions*!]

But the old man merely grunted and threw a series of punches at the globulous heads of the metal maces, defending himself against the attack. There were loud clangs as the pair of maces connected with his hands, which certainly surprised Qin Feng.

Du Yan too, was showing a shocked expression on his face as he stepped back. Clearly he had not expected his weapons to be fended off by bare hands. "Iron Fist? Kong Family Secret Art? Black Scaled Iron Fist?" he half-shouted, as he backed away.

"A good eye!"

The old man was not completely unaffected by the attack launched by Du Yan though, and he shook his hands after he took a step away from the clash. That was when Qin Feng noticed how there seemed to be a black-colored qi that was seeping out of his skin. Was that how the martial art got its name then?

But he didn't have too long to wonder about it. For the other three men, dressed in black, had not been content to simply watch the clash, and were launching their own attacks on Du Yan!

Qin Feng naturally did not hold back. The quartet was so focused on Du Yan that they did not seem to have put too much attention on him! No doubt they were thinking that he would not dare to bring his low cultivation into their fight. Well, he was more than pleased to prove them wrong!

[Flowing Wind Steps!]

[Four Seasons Sword: Shards of Winter Frost!]

He crossed the distance like a gale, and his sword tip flickered as he stabbed the weapon against the closest of the black-garbed men. All the while Qin Feng had the feeling that he was pinning a reaction on his target rather than actually hearing him give out a snort of derision. The Four Seasons Swordplay was not known for its speed and most of its power was hidden until the weapon made contact with its target. Unlike some styles that exhibited the full range of its killing aura, as it flashed towards the enemy.

Hence, he was not surprised to see the man-in-black he was targeting lift up his hands to fend off the weapon. No doubt, this one was planning to use his bare hands to ward off the attack, much like what his compatriot had done earlier, against Du Yan's twin maces.

But this was Qin Feng's sword, with a razor-sharp edge, and not a bludgeoning weapon with a rounded though heavy bashing form. And his Shards of Winter Frost was famous in the Heaven Sword School for its sudden release of power.

Thus, it was only when his fingers made contact with the weapon, that the sword qi from its edge burst forth, lacerating the black-clad man's palm! Blood spurted forth immediately, as the assassin pulled back his arm in shock!

Qin Feng didn't waste any time, as he sense his opponent's distress, as the latter hurriedly retreated. He had been waiting for just such a reaction!

[Four Seasons Sword: Blazing Sun of Summer!]

That follow-up was not something that he had come up with on his own, but what he had read in all those volumes that were stored in the Heaven Sword School Hidden Scripture Library! Why bother creating a pattern himself, when his forbears had already offered up something so effective?

After all, wasn't it something that made sense? To toss out something hot and fiery, after using the Winter's chill to freeze one's opponent, to slow him down? Besides that, the Summer Sword Stance was the best one for pursuit!

The man-in-black was certainly not expecting such a move from Qin Feng, and the second of his attacks struck him in exactly the same arm that he had pulled back. The same one that he had thrown up in panic, to shield himself from the second thrust of the sword.

But the Blazing Sun of Summer took a completely different line, compared to the Shards of Winter Frost! Something that the assassin had clearly not been expecting, when he thought to defend against the blow!

The black-clad man gave out a sharp cry, as the unexpected scorching hot qi flooded into his half-frozen arm, shattering his meridians!

Qin Feng didn't waste the opportunity that had just appeared in front of him, and his next lunge caught his opponent before he could summon any stance to defend himself. Not a surprise, since Qin Feng no longer bothered to waste his time channeling his qi this time.

The sword in his hand was thicker and heavier than he would have liked, but the tip of the same found its way to the black-garbed assassin's throat all the same, cutting off his loud scream of frustration. And toppled backwards as his body went limp!

Qin Feng wore a grim smile of satisfaction as he turned to the other three men-in-black. It seemed he had improved not only his internal strength but his swordplay had grown swifter as well. What he had been taught in the Heaven Sword School was true, after all. The stances did get smoother, and swifter, once his cultivation and understanding improved. He had a better control of the stances now, compared to what he was capable of, a mere month ago!

And immediately launched himself at the next target!

[Four Seasons Sword: Autumn Wind Sweeps the Fallen Leaves!]

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*十面埋伏