A month later, a meeting was held to encircle and annihilate the killer guild, Smiling Coffin.
Many people filled the spacious conference room.
Asuna glanced at her watch and slapped the table.
“Where is Ling Feng? Why isn’t he here yet? The meeting is about to start.”
The crowd exchanged glances, and then Kirito raised his hand.
“Asuna, you know Ling Feng. He’s a red player, and look where our meeting is?”
“In the city center. Although NPCs also judge people by their appearance, Ling Feng, being a red player, would be hunted from the start.”
“Perhaps, Ling Feng is still being chased by the city guards right now.”
*Bang!*
The conference room door was suddenly kicked open, and Ling Feng rushed in, panting.
Under everyone’s gaze, he walked to the water dispenser as if no one else was there, poured a cup of water, and gulped it down.
After a cup of water, Ling Feng let out a comfortable sigh and walked to the round table, saying indignantly.
“A large-scale melee is starting out of nowhere.”
…
With a flash of bright light, Kirito appeared on a platform hundreds of meters away from the combat zone.
However, he was not alone; several other red players and Poh, the guild leader of Smiling Coffin, wielding a Magic Sword-level cleaver, were also present.
Kirito looked at the enemies before him, his brow furrowed, and assumed a fighting stance.
When Poh saw that it was not Ling Feng but Kirito who had been teleported, he was momentarily stunned.
He was somewhat confused as to why it wasn't Ling Feng.
He had gathered the top players of his guild here, intending to eliminate Ling Feng, the main threat, first.
But now, with everything prepared, the crucial element was missing.
And that crucial element had vanished with a sudden *snap*.
“You must be the guild leader of Smiling Coffin. This method, you were targeting Ling Feng, weren’t you?”
Kirito stared intently at the group not far in front of him, especially the one in the lead wielding the cleaver.
In SAO, Magic Sword-level weapons were rare, fewer than ten.
And according to the intel, the guild leader of Smiling Coffin possessed a shield-breaking weapon called the Friend-Slayer Cleaver.
The current setup here clearly wasn’t aimed at him, but at the most powerful player, Ling Feng.
After all, if the opposing side lost a major combatant, it would significantly reduce the pressure on their own battlefield.
And Poh’s plan was likely this scheme.
Unfortunately, Ling Feng was late due to some business, making him this lucky recipient.
“Indeed, if we don’t eliminate Ling Feng, this huge threat, we would likely be surrounded and annihilated today.”
“However, it seems Ling Feng isn’t here today.”
“Then—none of you will leave alive today. Eliminate him.”
With that said, Poh took a few steps back, and the top ten players of Smiling Coffin immediately surrounded Kirito with sinister smiles and attacked.
Cold sweat beaded on Kirito’s forehead. Surrounded by several psychopathic murderers, the pressure was immense.
He was confident that none of the people around him were weak, and with Poh, the guild leader of Smiling Coffin, watching menacingly.
“Damn it, Ling Feng, you’ve really gotten me into trouble.”
As the sound of footsteps echoed, Kirito quickly engaged in combat with several players.
If Kirito hadn’t been a hardcore player, with a slightly higher level and formidable combat power, he wouldn’t have been able to withstand this initial onslaught.
*Bang!*
Kirito was sent flying with a heavy blow, rolling several times on the ground.
“Damn it, do I have to use that?”
Kirito panted. Facing so many experts, even he couldn't withstand it. If this continued, he would surely die. He had to carve out a path to survival.
“As expected of the Black Swordsman, your strength is formidable, but this is the end. Eliminate him immediately.”
Poh applauded, a sinister smile playing on his lips as he said cruelly.
Upon hearing this, the red players immediately rushed towards Kirito, shouting all sorts of disgusting words.
“There’s no other way.”
Seeing the crowd closing in, Kirito knew he was out of time. He immediately pulled up his interface and began to operate.
Drops of cold sweat trickled down his forehead. At this moment, he was racing against death.
It would take him ten seconds to operate correctly, but his opponents wouldn't give him that time.
Poh also noticed Kirito’s subtle movements. Fearing any unforeseen circumstances, he threw his cleaver.
It traced a perfect arc through the air and swung down at Kirito.
*Clang!*
Just as the cleaver was about to strike Kirito, at the last critical moment, a blood-red longsword shot through the air from one direction, deflecting the cleaver.
Kirito looked forward with lingering fear and saw a sword he knew all too well plunged into the ground before him.
At the same time, a piece of music echoed across the empty platform.
“Da da da da! Da da da da!”
Everyone looked towards the source of the sound and saw Ling Feng and Sagiri striding forward.
The sound was coming from a sound stone that Ling Feng was holding.
“Yo! Isn’t that Kirito? Haven’t seen you for a day, why are you so weak?”
Ling Feng walked up to Kirito and teased him.
“Cough cough cough, how dare you say that? They were all looking for you.”
Although Kirito said this, his face no longer showed any solemnity, and he cursed playfully.
“Oh, really? Such a grand show to welcome me.”
Ling Feng walked step by step to the Fenji sword and drew it.
Sagiri immediately handed Kirito a potion.
With Ling Feng here, Kirito felt much more at ease. After drinking the potion, his health returned to a healthy level.
“Kirito, go help Asuna and Klein first. Leave this to me.”
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
Since Ling Feng said so, Kirito didn't refuse. He immediately got up and left.
“Let me see your welcome ceremony. Sagiri, hold onto this.”
Ling Feng tossed the sound stone to Sagiri behind him, who quickly caught it.
Da da da da!
Da da da da!
The river flows east!
The stars in the sky follow the Big Dipper!
…
No one can stop my bg—
The red players nodded in unison, dividing their tasks under the command of the vice-leader.
“Starting to change tactics? Finally, I can get serious.”
Ling Feng’s eyes lit up. Battle-hardened as he was, he naturally sensed the change in their approach. He took a deep breath, no longer looking casual, and assumed a combat stance, on guard.
He wasn’t worried about them escaping with transfer crystals, as this was a special labyrinth area, and non-special crystals would be ineffective.
The fact that Kirito was transferred out alone earlier was because the other party had used a rare special crystal.
Otherwise, the members of Smiling Coffin could have simply thrown a transfer crystal at each member of the攻略组 (strategy group), scattering their forces and even easily eliminating a large group of people.
Ling Feng in his serious state also showed the red players what a bug-like existence was.
The sword skills, the physical techniques, and the swordplay were connected more smoothly than eating Dove chocolates.
Especially his precise control over force. The paralysis potions originally aimed at Ling Feng were all reflected back at the red players.
This made the paralyzed red players curse furiously.
As the song ended, everyone except Poh lay on the ground, paralyzed and unable to move.
“It seems only you are left.”
Ling Feng waved Fenji, pointing the tip of the sword at Poh.
Poh glanced at his fallen teammates.
“A bunch of useless trash!”
“As expected of Sword Saint, now… let me also experience firsthand the strength of Sword Saint!”
Poh tilted his head, a cruel smile appearing on his face.
The next second, he took a step forward, charging out explosively. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Ling Feng, swinging his cleaver down.
“This speed…”
Ling Feng’s pupils contracted slightly. He immediately raised his sword to block, then counterattacked.
*Clang clang clang…*
Ling Feng and Poh clashed fiercely, their swords and cleavers flashing, sparks of metal colliding flying everywhere.