Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
“I’ve underestimated Ling Yun Tower?” Fang Zhengzhi narrowed his eyes. He was obviously going to take Cang Yue’s words with a pinch of salt but she did not look like she was bluffing.
On the contrary, Cang Yue was calm and did not show any hint of fear even as Fang Zhengzhi kept his sword pointed at her throat.
This was a sort of confidence that only came about when one knew that everything was under their control.
This wasn’t right!
Approaching Cang Yue had been too easy!
Fang Zhengzhi was confident in his speed but he was not foolish enough to believe that he could kill Cang Yue by virtue of his speed alone.
After all, Cang Yue’s abilities surpassed that of the Monster King Xieluo.
“Fang Zhengzhi, be careful!” At this point, Lin Mubai’s voice rang out suddenly. It carried with it a sense of urgency.
“Hmm?” While Fang Zhengzhi tried to make sense of everything, the Traceless Sword in his hand lunged forward instinctively so as to kill Cang Yue before any potential surprises.
However, it was too late.
As the sword extended its reach, Cang Yue disappeared into thin air, leaving behind a few twinkling bits of light.
At the same time, Fang Zhengzhi could feel a chill in his bones from his back. It was threatening to immobilise him.
There was indeed a trap!
Fang Zhengzhi did not let it bother him and assessed the situation in his mind quickly. Had she allowed him to get close, then moved stealthily to his back through some special technique?
It probably was not this easy.
“Go to hell!” A chilling voice broke the silence.
It was Cang Yue’s voice and was coming from behind Fang Zhengzhi. It was very near.
Making sounds before a sneak attack?
Fang Zhengzhi was not stupid. If he guessed correctly, Cang Yue wanted to make him think that she had moved to his back when in fact, she had moved to the…
Left? Or right?
Up? Or down?
Most likely none of the above!
If it was any of the above, it would no longer be a brilliant move.
If it was Fang Zhengzhi conducting the attack, he would attack from the front. Cang Yue had disappeared from the front and the lunge of his sword had found only thin air.
A more careless person would no longer guard himself from the front.
Fang Zhengzhi did not know if his deductions were on point. Maybe he was being paranoid. Still, it was better to be safe than sorry.
After all, there was no way one could be completely prepared to deal with an ambush. He chose to follow his instincts.
“I shall slash down at the front again for good measure!” Fang Zhengzhi ignored the chill behind him and cut the Traceless Sword through the air once more in one fluid motion.
“Hum!”
There was an explosion of purple light and a roar. At short range, Fang Zhengzhi had picked the fastest sword move to execute, which was the Dragon Slayer Slash.
Just as his sword fell through the air, a “Poof!” sound was created from behind his back. It sounded like something had been hit with force.
It was the end!
Had he guessed wrongly?
Fang Zhengzhi’s heart skipped a beat. His thoughts wandered to an ancient warlord named Cao Cao who was intelligent and crafty. However, his major shortcoming was his paranoia.
Just now…
He seemed to have walked down the path of paranoia himself.
As he pondered, Fang Zhengzhi distinctly felt a force pushing him from the back and he resisted the pressure by reflex.
He found this pressure strange though.
It was not a hand nor a blade.
It felt like…
More like a person!
A person?!
Fang Zhengzhi felt something hum beside his ear and wanted to turn around. At the the same time, he could feel the excitement of the Traceless Sword.
Eh? He had hit something!
Fang Zhengzhi was speechless.
He had been steadily losing hope but now, his faith was renewed. This was proving to be a wild ride for his emotions.
Fang Zhengzhi’s sword slash had hit Cang Yue.
The twinkling bits of starlight in front of him suddenly grew brighter.
Blood sprayed everywhere.
Cang Yue’s body flew backwards and crashed into the great doors of Ling Yun Tower. Her purple robes had been torn and were turning red from a wound on her shoulder.
At the same time, blood had sprayed onto Fang Zhengzhi’s back as well.
“Poof!” Warm blood dotted Fang Zhengzhi’s back as a wail split the air. There was an explosion of golden light.
“Your Majesty? Lin Mubai!” Fang Zhengzhi turned around and realised that Lin Mubai was leaning against his back.
Wait a minute!
Cang Yue had been struck down by him. Lim Mubai had remained behind him the whole time. He was the person who had shouted at Fang Zhengzhi to be careful, but of who exactly?
Fang Zhengzhi craned his neck to see who was behind Lin Mubai.
It was not Cang Yue, but Green Jade!
“Father!” Ping Yang’s voice rang out. A fiery light closed in on Green Jade’s back.
“Ow!” A roar, followed by a golden light that shot through Green Jade’s chest. The light solidified to form the shining tip of a spear.
It was the Blazing Qilin Spear!
The spear had been run into Green Jade’s back, through her heart, and out of her chest.
Green Jade’s eyes were bulging and her face was a deathly white. She stared incredulously at the tip of the spear, which was poking out from her chest.
At the same time, a figure in red ran past Green Jade and into the arms of Lin Mubai. Her eyes were full of sorrow.
“Father, father…” Ping Yang wrapped her arms around Lin Mubai and shook him agitatedly.
As Fang Zhengzhi observed the scene before him, he came to his senses.
One at the front and one at the back!
Fang Zhengzhi had guessed correctly. Cang Yue had indeed chosen to attack from the front. However, in her ambush, she was prepared to exchange a life for his life.
Cang Yue had wanted a guarantee.
She had tried to confuse Fang Yuan by calling out to him behind his back. SHe had ordered Green Jade to lie in wait as well.
“Cough cough… you… how did you manage to see through my disguise?! Every single person that I had ever used it on is dead!” Cang Yuan was kneeling down on the ground as she stared at Fang Zhengzhi bitterly. She did not bother to look at Green Jade, who was dead by now, and the severely injured Lin Mubai, who had borne the brunt of Green Jade’s attack.
Fang Zhengzhi finally understood Cang Yue’s statement about him belittling Ling Yun Tower.
Yes!
Fang Zhengzhi had to agree that he had indeed underestimated Ling Yun Tower. He had never expected Ling Yun Tower to be way more ruthless than the other four Sects of the Holy Region.
In order to achieve its goals and to bring about a higher mission success rate, sacrificing any disciple was not out of the question.
Not even a disciple of the Sage State like Green Jade.
This was heartlessness at its best.
In Fang Zhengzhi’s opinion, Green Jade had indeed been surprised but she did not display any hint of regret before she died.
She was surprised by Ping Yang’s attack, surprised by Lin Mubai shielding Fang Zhengzhi’s with his own body and most of all, surprised by Fang Zhengzhi’s decision to attack from the front.
These surprises contributed to the disbelief in Green Jade’s eyes, which were glazed over by now.
Cang Yue was did not concern herself with Green Jade and focused on asking Fang Zhengzhi about how he managed to see through her disguise.
Fang Zhengzhi clenched his fists.
So this was the real Ling Yun Tower.
It was a place touted as the paradise of the Holy Region, where birds sang and flowers bloomed. Yet, the lives of its disciples were treated so cheaply.
“Shh…”
Suddenly, five figures leapt out of Ling Yun Tower. Their robes were of a higher-grade material than the white robes and green robes of those who had come before them.
They were all women.
Three of them had hair with streaks of white while the other two had developed wrinkles on their faces.
Their presence of all five of them radiated power.
Nevertheless, Fang Zhengzhi turned a blind eye to them and ignored Cang Yue’s question as well. He turned around and knelt down beside Lin Mubai.
“Your Majesty.” Fang Yuan gazed at Lin Mubai quietly. He had never expected Lin Mubai to receive a blow for him.
There are countless examples of subjects who had to sacrifice themselves for their kings. They would then be rewarded with posthumous titles and riches while their descendants would no longer want for anything. Those who survive would go on to live a life filled with wealth and glory.
However, in this case…
Lin Mubai, emperor of the Great Xia, had taken a blow for Fang Zhengzhi, and a heavy blow at that.
“Fang Zhengzhi, it is I who is w… weak. I was unable to… to cover you from the back and could only…” Lin Mubai spoke laboriously and tried to get to his feet, but to no avail.
“Your Majesty, I have some medicine with me…”
“It won’t be of any use. I know my condition. It’s too late… cough cough, it’s just that… I want to see Yu Er before I die…” Lin Mubai moved his hand weakly.
“Father, you can’t die! Don’t leave Ping Yang behind, Father…” Ping Yang’s eyes were welling up with tears.
“Fang Zhengzhi!” Lin Mubai grabbed onto Fang Zhengzhi’s sleeve tightly. His face was contorted in pain.
“My final wish… is to… is to see Yu Er before I die…”
“Dream on!” Cang Yue’s voice rang out as she sneered.
“Lin Mubai, my master gave me orders to spare you. However, it’s your fault that you had a death wish. Hahaha…”
“Your master?” Fang Zhengzhi shot a fierce glance at Cang Yue. He could see that she was excited.
Although he did not know what had happened between Lin Mubai and this Yu Er, he did remember what Lin Mubai had told him before the Sects of Flaming Capital City. Lin Mubai was at least half a master to Cang Yue.
Enmity?
What kind enmity could lead to this sort of heartlessness!
Ignoring Lin Mubai even as he lay dying on the ground? Ignoring Ping Yang even though she had spent six months waiting outside Ling Yun Tower by the frozen pool?
Fang Zhengzhi did not understand at first. He did not think that human nature could be corrupted to such an extent. However, after seeing how Cang Yue had sacrificed Green Jade’s life without batting an eyelid, Fang Zhengzhi had wisened up.
The Dao of Heartlessness!
To detach oneself from the world.
It might sound incredible but taking into account the way Ling Yun Tower conducted its business as well as its haughtiness, it was more than possible that such a thing could be true.
Of course, Fang Zhengzhi did not want to jump to conclusions, but if it was true, then this Yu Er that Lin Mubai was pining after could be witnessing the entire proceedings at that very moment.
Fang Zhengzhi had another bold theory. No one had bothered about Green Jade and company’s death, yet five imposing women had appeared after Cang Yue had been wounded by him.
The occurrence might not have appeared to be anything out of the ordinary, but considering Ling Yun Tower’s callousness, it was actually abnormal.