Chapter 624: As Expected!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
He roared as the Divine Edge emerged once more. The sudden, intense saber light forced everyone to withdraw at least a step back. Yun Yang then slipped his hand into his embrace to retrieve a ceramic bottle, crushing it and popping a few pills into his mouth.
Yun Yang's action was timely and reasonable, no one could tell the ulterior motive behind it. Facing the lethal siege of cultivators whose cultivation base was far above his, it was a wise move to maintain his optimum state at all times. If he had good medicinal pills, he was shrewd to consume them quickly.
Unfortunately, he seemed to have exerted too much force in his haste; a tattered Go playbook flew out from his embrace and landed on the battlefield.
One could see that the manual was very old and torn, ready to break into pieces if more force was put on it. Landing on a battlefield, an area of intense mystical Qi, how could it survive? A powerful wind would have blown it to pieces.
Yun Yang was not bothered by this. His only aim was to probe. Furthermore, he was not the playbook's original owner and he did not really like to play Go anyway. If this Go manual could trigger an unexpected outcome, it would have performed its function.
When the manual appeared, the one nearest to Yun Yang and the playbook was about to strike Yun Yang with his staff, but the blow would have definitely ruined the manual. At the very last moment, the strike tilted ridiculously and missed its target.
Yun Yang was secretly pleased. With a confident wave of his saber, the strike was extended from below the playbook that was falling and pursued the assassin. The swift strike that came from a strange angle was not easy to avoid, but the person did not counter the attack; he retreated and narrowly avoided the blow.
Under everyone's gaze, the Go playbook fluttered as it fell, while Yun Yang cried out, "My Go manual!"
He then darted forward as if he was about to fetch and retrieve it.
In spite of this, the sound of the wind breaking could be heard. A radiant sword light flashed, following the path of an incoming sword as the falling manual was picked up by a staff and flung away.
The masked man in black who was watching the battle rose and caught the playbook, flipping it casually before stuffing it into his embrace.
Yun Yang was mad. "Are you fellows beggars? Snatching a trifle thing such as a playbook?"
The masked man replied coldly, "When you die, we want everything that you have on your body!"
"Wait for it! I've poisoned the manual anyway, you'll surely die having touched it!" Yun Yang retorted icily. He was spewing nonsense, but he had already come to a conclusion.
These people were indeed Sir Bi's men!
He wondered if it was a good thing or not that Sir Bi's obsession with the art of Go had far exceeded his expectations. All things considered, it had still created a huge variable in today's battle.
The leader who was clothed in black chuckled coldly. "So Young Master Yun likes to apply poison on things that he carries? What an interesting method to commit suicide! Since Young Master Yun likes to seek death so much, we shall assist you today. We shall send you on your way to the Nine Springs so that you don't do nonsensical rubbish anymore!"
Following the leader's command, the ten men quickly separated into three batches. Divided into three directions, one batch would fight to their heart's content before they retreated to be replaced by another batch. When Yun Yang finished tackling the two batches, the third batch would surface.
Even without considering the leader whose cultivation base was the highest, such an attacking pattern was sufficient to kill him.
Yun Yang was getting exhausted.
The least efficient combat method was right where Yun Yang's Achilles' heel was.
He stole a peek at the covetous masked man by the side and thought the fellow to be quite astute, talented to have arranged such a tactic.
From the current state, he would undoubtedly bring Yun Yang twice the pressure if he were to leap into the fray as well. It was foreseeable. However, said pressure could not instantly kill Yun Yang. As long as Yun Yang was willing to pay the price, he, too, had many ways to escape, bringing Shangguan Lingxiu along.
Yet the leader had just watched the fight from the side, observing everyone carefully. The possibility of him attacking at any time had, instead, captured most of Yun Yang's energy. Once Yun Yang's counterattack lacked consideration and his weakness was identified, the leader's forceful strike would instantly decide his life and death.
The reality now was that he would never know when this person would strike. This was the most upsetting fact.
As the battle raged, someone had intentionally or unintentionally moved closer to Shangguan Lingxiu. With a casual wave of her saber, Shangguan Lingxiu deflected the attack, but still let out a low grunt.
The masked leader by the side was furious. "Bastard! No one is asking you to cause further trouble! Focus on Yun Yang! No mistake is allowed!"
Everyone was stunned.
Anyone could deduce that any attack on Shangguan Lingxiu would distract Yun Yang, whether the lady was caught alive or killed outright. Was this not the best method to end him as quickly as possible?
Yet, they had been chastised.
The person was stupefied, but he dared not ask further, turning to Yun Yang again to launch his attacks. Shangguan Lingxiu did not pursue the fight as well, only going back to her spot as she held her sword, and stood immobile.
Yun Yang howled and laughed. "I didn't expect such a talent like you among commissioned assassins – rare, how rare! Why not turn to me instead? As long as you're willing to come, I guarantee you a marquis title that can be passed on for at least three generations!"
"Shut up!" The masked leader retorted with vehemence.
The billowing noises grew more violent. With a change of his mind, Yun Yang's defensive circle got smaller. The nine people who had surrounded him in three different directions began to falter, resulting in two people leaving the siege. One of the two who had left was the assistant head of the group, another cultivator of the Dao realm.
He was confused, unable to figure out the issue. To his perception, this battle should have ended a long time ago. As long as they could hold Shangguan Lingxiu hostage, it would distract Yun Yang and hasten his demise.
Their leader, however, had disallowed them from doing so.
The assistant thought it was utterly unreasonable and he, as the assistant, had the responsibility to remind him of the most efficient tactics that could be brought to bear. It had never bothered them to be called despicable or unscrupulous in their actions…
As the battle circle grew smaller, he did not hesitate to leave it.
"You have an opinion?" the masked leader asked in a low voice when he saw the assistant coming to his side, his gaze gleaming coldly.
The assistant was a Dao realm cultivator – an experienced man as well. He replied, panting, "Of course! Your decision is remarkably flawed and you're not allowing me to voice my thoughts? If this mission isn't completed, we'll definitely be questioned when we go back. Are you planning to shoulder this punishment alone?"
He stopped short of saying that he would have to be chastised as well if their mission failed.
The masked leader in black smirked in disdain, "Speak, then."
"Why can't we target Shangguan Lingxiu to distract Yun Yang?" The assistant went straight to the point. "Why are we ignoring an obvious advantage such as this, forgoing the most convenient opportunity and letting the brothers bleed and sacrifice themselves?"