Chapter 34: The Mark of the War God

As the sunlight spread over Shangbei City, it marked the end of the most perilous day of Pang Wei’s life thus far.

The scene shifts to Nine Springs Mountain. On a slab of cyan stone, a man walks with an easy gait, his expression gentle. His perfectly refined face bears a hint of relaxation. Clad in white, he arrives at the cement platform, his injuries from the previous night seemingly vanished without a trace.

Falling Feather White Blade, Su Mingyu, speaks softly, his voice mild: "Senior Sister, long time no see."

The spirited, red-haired woman turns to look at the man in white: "Mingyu, you’ve grown up."

"Indeed," Su Mingyu’s expression remains as gentle as ever. "When I was just a child, I owed much to your care, Senior Sister. Yet, after all these years, you haven’t changed a bit."

"Then tell me," the woman’s blood-red eyes glint with a domineering aura, "do you think you have the qualifications to challenge me now?"

The corners of Su Mingyu’s perfectly refined mouth curl upward. His messy black hair possesses a unique charm. He speaks softly: "Senior Sister is still as direct as ever. The reason I came here is the same as the reason you came."

"Then, come."

Blood Flame parts her lips: "Let me see what level you have reached."

Su Mingyu nods, extends his right hand, and takes a step forward. His palm strikes directly toward Blood Flame’s throat—clearly, this is a probe.

She raises her hand, her pale skin contrasted by a black wrist guard, and blocks the palm strike with ease. Yet Su Mingyu’s smile widens. He shifts his feet, pivots behind her, and suddenly kicks toward her calf, intending to throw her off balance.

Speed is Su Mingyu’s specialty—a speed that surpasses the wind. Before Blood Flame can react, she is struck in the calf. Her knee buckles under the impact, and her body tilts.

However, the moment she begins to lean, Blood Flame exerts force into her feet, forcing her bent knee straight and repelling Su Mingyu’s kick.

Su Mingyu is pushed back by the recoil, taking a step back as the two distance themselves. Blood Flame turns, her red hair swaying slightly, and looks at her perfectly handsome junior with a smile: "Mingyu, speed isn’t everything."

"You’re right, Senior Sister," Su Mingyu’s expression remains unchanged. "My speed has already surpassed two limits. I’ve realized that to surpass the third limit, it isn’t just about raw speed. Even if I haven’t reached that level yet, it is enough for now."

"Does that mean you think you’re enough to be my opponent?"

There is a mysterious glint of amusement in Blood Flame’s eyes: "Your Senior Sister is no pushover."

Su Mingyu shakes his arms, his white robes still elegant: "In that attack, I didn’t even surpass my first limit, Senior Sister."

Blood Flame’s crimson eyes narrow sharply, but she immediately breaks into a smile: "Then I’d like to see where your limits truly lie."

"I’m launching the next attack!"

With her blood-colored and black boots and fluttering ribbons, Blood Flame steps forward and lashes out with a kick. The air explodes with a sonic boom as she strikes at Su Mingyu’s waist with fierce intensity. It is like a gale passing through; the surrounding emerald trees tremble, and gravel on the cement floor is swept into the air.

And that was merely a single kick.

Su Mingyu raises his arms to block the blow from the side, yet the impact is so violent that his feet leave the ground, sliding backward.

However, after sliding about a meter, Su Mingyu’s figure suddenly vanishes, leaving only a vortex of air behind. His speed has now surpassed the limit of the human eye.

"Boom!"

A loud explosion rings out as arm meets arm. Relying on her unparalleled combat instincts, Blood Flame tracks Su Mingyu’s attack. Her strength exceeds his; even if her speed cannot keep up, the outcome remains uncertain.

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"

Three more explosions follow. Green leaves are tossed into the air, dancing with the airflow before drifting away. When Su Mingyu reappears, he is three meters away from Blood Flame. They stand in silence, the bright light of a summer noon filtering under the sycamore trees.

"Is the testing over?" Blood Flame smiles. "Your growth is startling."

Su Mingyu’s face is gentle, his bangs obscuring his eyes. He says softly: "My strength still seems inferior to yours."

"However, what decides the outcome is often not just raw combat power. You are a martial artist, and I am an assassin."

Blood Flame’s expression turns solemn: "Then, please strike. Your Senior Sister will not show mercy as she did before. You have earned the right to stand as my equal!"

Su Mingyu looks up at the gaps between the glowing leaves and reaches out. A silver dagger appears between his fingers.

Falling Feather White Blade, Su Mingyu, has drawn his weapon.

Before the ancient Stove God Temple, the imminent clash comes to a sudden halt. As Su Mingyu draws his silver dagger, the Old Immortal emerges from the weathered wooden door: "Are you two trying to tear down my Stove God Temple?!"

Su Mingyu smiles, his gentle expression returning to the ease he displayed upon arrival. Blood Flame drops her heroic stance, and both turn to perform the master-disciple salute to the Old Immortal.

[When I bestow my God of War Mark, you shall be considered masters of your craft!]

And now, the moment has arrived.

"Well then," the Old Immortal pauses, "this old man is about to send you off. But I suppose you already know who I’m giving the mark to."

"Who?" Su Mingyu raises an eyebrow. "My aptitude is the best."

Blood Flame also lifts her perfectly sculpted chin: "Who? Master, my combat power is the strongest!"

"Hmph!"

"Playing dumb," the Old Immortal’s graying eyebrows twitch before he points a finger at one of them. "You should have reached your conclusion by now. The mark is given, now get out of here!"

In the Doomsday Town, the Old Immortal’s finger points at one person. Red hair sways slightly, and a smile appears on Blood Flame’s face. Su Mingyu sighs softly: "I knew it, it wouldn’t be given to me."

"You are now masters!"

The Old Immortal speaks in his aged voice, then turns and enters the Stove God Temple. With a creak, the doors slam shut. The master-disciple relationship has ended.

No further words are needed. In truth, all three understand: they understand why the 'God of War Mark' was promised to Blood Flame, they understand the Old Immortal’s intent, they understand their own missions, and they understand the paths they must walk. But there is no harm in fighting for what one wants—though Su Mingyu did not succeed.

[When one truly reaches such a stage, perhaps one becomes a person with a story to tell?]

Blood Flame extends her pale right palm and clenches it. A trace of crimson aura flashes and vanishes. On her forehead, an ancient blood-red symbol coalesces—resembling both flame and script. The powerful battle intent is enough to make weak creatures tremble.

"The Mark of Chiyou," Su Mingyu whispers. "Then congratulations, Senior Sister."

He turns, his white robes still pristine, save for the silver-white dagger he tosses into the air, signaling that Su Mingyu has not given up!

A powerful killing intent flows forth; a massive aura rises like an ocean. Su Mingyu intends to seize the mark! At this moment, he exerts every ounce of his power.

Blood Flame frowns, feeling intense pressure. Her crimson eyes lock onto the silver dagger descending in a parabolic arc—the source of the killing intent—while the aura emanates from Su Mingyu himself.

Must she be wary of both?

Or just the dagger?

Her black leather boots stomp the ground. Blood Flame uses a defensive stance; the air before her seems to solidify into an invisible barrier. Such a defense is something even armor-piercing artillery could not breach.

However, in an instant, Su Mingyu and the dagger in mid-air vanish simultaneously. Su Mingyu appears beside Blood Flame, walking past her with that same gentle demeanor. He steps forward, his perfectly gentle face expressionless, his black hair in its usual perfect state.

Three steps later, as they stand back-to-back, the air in front of Blood Flame suffers an unimaginable attack. A cracking sound echoes, and fissures appear in the very air. Within a three-meter radius, a terrifying, sharp wind erupts, though it lasts only a heartbeat before vanishing.

Blood trickles from the corner of Blood Flame’s mouth. It drips onto the ground, and she suddenly falls to one knee, coughing up more blood.

The air fissures seem to release energy, and sharp, erratic winds ravage the space. Su Mingyu does not turn back as he says, "Senior Sister, I believe I can still take that mark."

Breathing heavily, Blood Flame feels as though her heart was nearly pierced, and other parts of her body have sustained various degrees of injury. Had she not possessed such immense power, she would have died!

Su Mingyu has become increasingly terrifying.

"Mingyu, you may go," Blood Flame wipes away the blood. "I’ll let you go, consider it a favor from your Senior Sister."

A smile graces his lips. Su Mingyu speaks, his voice still gentle: "The outcome remains uncertain. If not for the God of War Mark, you would already be dead."

"Hmph!"

Blood Flame seems somewhat angered: "You are too obsessed."

He closes his eyes, then opens them, looking at the distant green trees. The sound of cicadas begins to rise. He walks down the stone path step by step, though his gait is a bit unsteady, appearing exhausted. At this moment, the outcome is decided.