Chapter 598: Tricked!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Mr. Nian was startled.
"Where is Dugu Chou?"
As Mr. Nian turned back abruptly, sword energy cried beside him, like the rumble of thunder in the sky. Ling Xiaozui's voice rang from afar, "Many years ago, we didn't get to see who won or lost in our battle. It has always been a regret of mine. Now that we have this opportunity today, come, Mr. Nian, let me experience the almightiness of the Four Seasons Tower's great leader!"
"Ling Xiaozui, what do you mean?" Mr. Nian was infuriated.
"Oh, nothing much. I just want to break an arm of yours. That's all, actually." Ling Xiaozui's faint smile was reflected in Mr. Nian's eyes alongside the rumblings of a thunderous sword light.
The sword light surged, its brilliance illuminating the vast expanse of sky; the sword generated a billowing gust of wind. Ling Xiaozui had unleashed the fullest potency of his might, and the wind and clouds raged in response.
Mr. Nian began to take evasive action, moving backward swiftly. It was evident that he did not want to engage in the fight, intending to draw back.
However, Ling Xiaozui's action was intentional, much more focused compared to Mr. Nian's spontaneous reaction. The opportunity had been taken at its best possible timing. The sword energy pursued the latter, like a leech attached to blood. A single misstep would end it all.
"Mr. Nian, forget about retreating and heading back. Dugu Chou has been gone for some time. That partner of yours is probably in a sticky situation right about now. What you should do now is patiently stay with me here."
Mr. Nian growled like thunder, his howl long and plaintive; the warning signs were obvious.
"No need to waste your energy. Even if he could hear it, it's useless. He's preoccupied. You, on the other hand, may die first if you're distracted by being concerned about others." Ling Xiaozui guffawed. "Come, come. Have a look at my Soaring Thirteen Sword. Compare this to what you've seen in the past!"
Suddenly, Mr. Nian saw it all clearly. "Gu Chaliang was never restrained, was he?"
"Of course not!" Ling Xiaozui cackled, his sword light turning into a wave the size of a mountain.
Mr. Nian was growing anxious.
If Gu Chaliang had not been restrained and his partner was carrying the former without a guard, he would fare poorly if he were to be ambushed in such a situation... This was aside from the presence of Dugu Chou and Feng Xiange...
How could he not have been restrained? He had checked the man several times himself!
The more Mr. Nian considered the issue, the more anxious he was. His roar was thunderous, his attacks were launched with full force; he wanted to be rid of Ling Xiaozui's entanglement. At the same time, Ling Xiaozui matched his opponent's ferocity; his sword light wove a net to prevent Mr. Nian from freeing himself.
With the constraint of an expert like Ling Xiaozui, it was impossible for Mr. Nian to leave without paying a price. Mr. Nian roared deafeningly, about to explode from anger, but he could only let time slip away, fighting Ling Xiaozui without any way to pull extricate himself.
…
Further away, a man clad in black carried Gu Chaliang as he sprinted through the forest. He moved incredibly fast, comparable to Ling Xiaozui's maximum speed. Out of the instinct to be cautious, the route he chose currently consisted of many isolated paths.
However, just as he took a turn around a hill, there was a loud crack that came from somewhere ahead. The cliff in front of him collapsed without warning. A white-haired and white-bearded form appeared out of the blue.
"Put Old Gu down!"
The man in black chuckled, saying, "Feng Xiange, this is a choice you've made. Why do you change your mind now? Are you turning back on your words?"
"A man has limits in what he should and should not do. Am I one to disregard justice and sentiment like Ling Xiaozui? As long as you put Old Gu down, we have nothing to do with each other. Otherwise, let us battle it out right here," Feng Xiange spoke angrily.
The mysterious man guffawed, "Fight with you? Alone?"
At this very moment, Gu Chaliang, who had been carried in his hands and had not moved even a single finger, suddenly sprung into action. It was a devastating ambush that used both his arms and legs!
The mysterious man was already on his guard when the unexpected event unfolded, but most of his attention was on Feng Xiange and his surroundings. Feng Xiange was skilled, but the man was not overly worried. What the man in black was concerned of was if there were other forms of assistance around. He had not expected Gu Chaliang, who was immobile in his arms, to move; not only had Mr. Nian checked the latter earlier, he had inspected the old man repeatedly as well. In addition to his unique seal and multiple restraining seals, how was Gu Chaliang suddenly able to move, let alone attack?
The mysterious man was horribly unprepared for this sudden turn of events.
He unleashed his cultivation base and reacted incredibly swiftly. With a roar, he shook Gu Chaliang away, and put some distance between them. With a twitch, three illusory silhouettes came into existence instantly. It was too bad that Gu Chaliang had been so close to him; no matter how honed his reflexes were, the lethal attack had still landed on him solidly!
With a soft pop, the first two illusory images were easily shattered. The mysterious man clothed in black staggered once he was struck and spat blood out. His body creaked; some bones had been broken within him. He spoke resentfully in anger, "Gu Chaliang, Feng Xiange, you are both dead men!"
Gu Chaliang howled, extending and stretching himself to hover in the air; he said faintly, "Death is an end no one can avoid, but you're destined not to be able to see our deaths – because the only one who will die today is you!"
Before Gu Chaliang's words echoed in the forest, another beam of sword light hacked from the sky as a distant voice said, "That's right. The only one to die today will be you!"
Surprised, the mysterious man looked over in the direction of the sound. A grey-clothed man was seen riding the air with his sword; swift as a dragon, he was bolting towards him, tearing through the night!
The newcomer was none other than Dugu Chou!
Hadn't he left earlier?
"You…"
It was evident to the man clad in black that he had been tricked. Roaring, he prepared to flee.
A trap set up by Dugu Chou, Feng Xiange, and Gu Chaliang was adequate to kill anyone in this world! It was simply too dangerous to linger! If he had fled any slower, he would lose his life.
In spite of his best efforts, Feng Xiange, whose hair and beard was snow-white, refused to let him go. He struck with all his might while Gu Chaliang, who had taken out his purple jade flute, followed suit.
Feng Xiange stood in front of the mysterious man, Dugu Chou behind him, and Gu Chaliang beside him. Three pinnacle experts were working together to exterminate this bane of existence. All three of them knew full well that this mysterious man before them was also a pinnacle expert on par with them, a dangerous character to behold. If they looked down on him or made the slightest mistake, the consequences could be irreversible.
Since they had decided to strike, they had to keep this man pinned down here. Otherwise, the results would be grave!
The mysterious man howled, his voice deafening. With a flash of his black robe, a ruler1 appeared in his hand. He took in a deep breath and cried aloud, "Great! Let me test the power of the world's three top experts!"
He rushed towards Feng Xiange in a vehement rage.
Even at such a critical juncture, he had still managed to make the best decision, based on sound judgment!
Translator Note:
1ruler (量天尺liàng tiān chǐ): a type of ancient weapon that looks like a sword but with its blade looking like a ruler without sharp edge and point.