Chapter 309: Fear
Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
It was as if there were millions of ice needles that were pricking the inside of Gu Shenwei's body. The pricking sensation emanated from his viscera towards the surface of his body. The chilliness ebbed away bit by bit every time the pricking sensation hits his skin, but not for long before a new wave of ice needles began forming in his Dantian again. Even though Gu Shenwei protected the pulse of his heart, it did not numb the sensation of pain. On the contrary, it only further intensified and the excruciating pain that he had to endure was increased by twofold.
He could not hear anything as his ears were stuffed with cotton wool. However, he would still open his eyes involuntarily whenever danger approached.
There was a panic-stricken young macheteman who stood by the door. His face was so red that it could even be clearly seen in the night.
It was the sixth hour of exorcism. The most difficult period had passed. Gu Shenwei still needed to persevere for six more hours, but he was able to devote some of his energy to his surroundings.
The young macheteman seemed to be saying something indignantly as he approached Gu Shenwei. He couldn't hear anything, but he was able to feel a strong animosity from the young man's face.
The young macheteman did not pose the greatest threat. Instead, it was someone outside that posed the greatest threat.
The footprints left by the young macheteman were barely visible in the thick snow. Gu Shenwei was able to sense someone else hiding in the dark. The killing intent emanating from that person was weak but unshakable.
The young macheteman was filled with grief and indignation. He was discouraged. Like what the rumors would suggest, Dragon King seemed to be in a state of qigong deviation. However, even though Dragon King was in such a state, this demon still paid him no attention, as though his existence was insignificant.
"... I am here to seek revenge. I had initially hoped to be your disciple and kill you after learning your kung fu. However, God is fair; I currently have the opportunity to exact my revenge as you are currently incapacitated..."
Dragon King remained silent. The pained expression on his face subsided a little bit. His gaze was cold and empty. This made the youth even more furious.
The short sword that the youth unsheathed seemed a little too big for him. The youth thought that he could reach and kill Dragon King within three steps. However, it was as though there was an invisible net in front of him. The more he tried to move forward, the greater the resistance.
The youth was afraid. All the stories of Dragon King and the scene that he had witnessed of Dragon King killing the bandits during the first half of the night terrified him. This fear was like a heavy boulder that was weighing down on his small shoulders. His arms were shaking; his heart pounding and his legs were giving way.
He hated how incompetent he is. He couldn't move any closer, even though his blade was just three feet away from Dragon King.
A shadow appeared behind him and grabbed his arm with a strong and forceful hand. There was a hypnotizing cold voice that spoke above his head. "Do you want to live your whole life with regret?"
The youth bit his lips till it bled. He seemed to have gained strength from the mysterious cloaked man and took a step forward gently. The short sword in his hand was pointed at Dragon King's heart.
Dragon King was like an ice sculpture. It was as though he did not even have the strength to roll his eyes.
Like a hungry stray cat, the youth pounced on his target recklessly, without accounting for the difference in capabilities.
The cloaked man took a step back when the youth pounced forward. He was a very cautious man. Considering that this opportunity to kill Dragon King seemed to be too easy and much of a coincidence, he was being very vigilant.
However, things did not play out as it would.
The desperate young man had already exhausted all of his strength when the tip of the blade touched Dragon King's heart. The ice-like statue suddenly attacked and stabbed the cautious cloaked man behind the young macheteman.
All three of them were injured.
The feeble youth knelt on the ground, shivering. His short sword had been thrown aside. He did not manage to see what had happened above his head.
The cloaked man retreated hastily to the door, while holding his neck. He was horrified. It was as though he had seen a ghost, but he was still alive. He slumped over the doorstep.
Gu Shenwei's were the most injured. Most of his Internal Strength had been used to protect his heart pulse against the effects of the continuously emerging ice needles. The Death Scripture required its practitioners to use all of their strength to kill in one blow. Even though that move was only within a moment, it still diverted a lot of his Internal Strength.
The chilliness in his body took advantage of this and damaged several vital meridians concurrently. Gu Shenwei was barely able to hold back a mouthful of blood that rushed to his throat, but he was greatly shaken. He realized that the qigong deviation this time would cause him great harm.
"Such an evil swordcraft." The cloaked man was both impressed and frightened at the same time. He was still alive, but the Internal Breath in his Dantian evaporated rapidly like snow in spring. It escaped through every pore of his skin.
"Hey, crybaby! Get up." The cloaked man was unable to get up, so he tried to encourage the young macheteman instead. "Don't you want to exact your revenge? Your enemy is right in front of you. Do you know how many people in the world are hoping for such an opportunity? Yet you got it. Quickly pick up the sword and kill him."
"I... I dare not." The young man cried. Shameful tears welled up in his eyes.
In his plan, revenge would be a long process. He didn't expect the opportunity to come so soon.
"It is normal to be afraid since he's the Dragon King. Everyone will be nervous when they try to kill someone for the first time. It's alright. Stand up. With just one blow, you will be the person who killed Dragon King. You will be famous." The cloaked man persuaded patiently.
The youth knelt on the ground and shook his head desperately. He said, "No, I can't. My legs..."
"You coward. You have no guts!" The cloaked man failed to persuade the youth so he tried to provoke him instead. "Have you forgotten how your uncle was killed? He was stabbed in the back. Your young cousin was also stabbed to death. Your aunt who had no kung fu was raped and murdered. Have you forgotten all about it? Get up, you good for nothing!"
Gu Shenwei did not hear what the youth in front of him said, but the cloaked man heard it loud and clear from outside the house.
The taunting was effective. The youth picked up the short sword and stood up with a jerk. Wiping away his incompetent tears, he said, "Yes, I must kill you, Dragon King. Even if I will be killed when I step out of here, I want to kill you off right now."
Gu Shenwei could not hear what the youth said. There was no need for the Death Scripture swordcraft. He could just grab the Dragon Head Sword that was nearby and kill off the weak opponent. But even so, he would need to divert a little Internal Strength, and this alone was enough for him to be completely controlled by qigong deviation. Even if he survives, he would most likely be paralyzed.
Gu Shenwei was also amused by the fact that the renowned Dragon King of the Great Snow Mountain would actually be killed by a nobody.
"Hey, who are you people? What are you trying to do?" Jiang appeared at the doorstep.
Jiang faithfully carried out the Dragon King's order to stop anyone from entering the front yard till dawn. At first light, she was the first to check on the situation despite the dissuasion of others.
The cloaked man was shocked. He was so focused on Dragon King that he didn't notice any outsiders approaching him. However, he was too weak to get up and could only pin his hope on the youth. "Hurry up and do it!" He shouted.
Jiang's questioning had unnerved the youth, but he did not falter. Although his sword kept shaking, he still managed to accurately stab Dragon King's heart.
Jiang was taken aback. She leaped over the stranger at the doorstep and pounced on the youth. She pushed him aside and fought him for his weapon.
The short sword slit Dragon King's chest.
"Let go of me, I want to exact my revenge!"
The weak youth struggled desperately, but he was no match for Jiang, who was a girl from the Great Snow Mountain. Although she didn't know kung fu, she was still much stronger than other girls. Concerned about the safety of Dragon King, she exerted even more force.
Jiang snatched the short sword and stood guard in front of Dragon King. Panting, she said, "Do not come any closer." She then shouted loudly, "Somebody, come here quickly! There are assassins here!"
Like a ball that was bouncing back up, the cloaked man stood up suddenly. In an instant, Jiang was pushed to the corner of the wall. Her head banged against the wall and she passed out.
"The loss of Internal Strength was only temporary." The cloaked man breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn't help but grin nastily. There was not a lot of time, but it was enough for him to kill Dragon King and escape.
Gu Shenwei knew that he had no other choice but to grab the Dragon Head Sword.
Both weapons struck at the same time.
For the first time, he slipped up while using the Death Scripture swordcraft. As the Dragon Head Sword struck the short sword, the cloaked man retreated three steps forcefully and shot a hidden weapon towards Dragon King's chest.
Dragon King bent over, lying on the bed.
The hidden weapon was poisonous. The cloaked man thought to himself, "Dragon King is definitely going to die." Just as he was about to check on Dragon King, the guards of the Residence of Dragon King rushed into the front yard after hearing Jiang's shouts.
"He must be dead." The cloaked man thought to himself again and left the room, jumping onto the roof and escaping towards the city.
Gu Shenwei was still alive, but he was in a state that was no different from being dead.
The cotton wool in his ears was removed. Even the slightest noise would rattle his ears, yet he was unable to make out a single sound. He opened his eyes but everything he saw seemed surreal.
Why was the monk thumping his chest and stamping his feet? Why was the red-faced young girl crying? Why were the Xu siblings as pale as paper?
Gradually, the sounds and scenes finally merged, and the world became real.
"It's my fault, it's all my fault." Lianye was blaming himself. "I was tricked. I went around in circles. After spending so much effort catching the person, he didn't know anything at all. This is all my fault."
"Dragon King is awake," Xu Yanwei said, pleasantly surprised.
"How am I alive?" Gu Shenwei asked softly. He remembered that he had fallen into a deep icy abyss and his entire body was numb. There should be no way to save him.
"Master Lianye saved Dragon King," Lin Xiaoshan said as he stepped forward from the outermost of the crowd.
Lianye had pulled Dragon King back from the gates of hell; he used his Internal Strength to help Dragon King dispel most of the poison and stabilized his heart pulse. However, the monk still felt guilty and kept on repeating. "It's my fault."
Gu Shenwei tried to gather his Qi and was disheartened to realize that his Internal Breath had coagulated like glue. Although he didn't die, he couldn't even gather his Qi. He was only barely speaking and didn't even have the strength to raise his hand.
"Dragon King had just woken up. Let's not disturb him and leave him to rest. Jiang, please stay with him," Xu Yanwei said softly. Everyone nodded and left the room.
Lin Xiaoshan was behind the pack and was already at the door. He seemed indecisive about something. Hence, he turned around again and said, "Dragon King, there is something..."
"Dragon King is already in this state..." Jiang said angrily.
Lin Xiaoshan blushed slightly, but he still insisted on staying.
"Speak up," Gu Shenwei said weakly. He had never felt so frail before.
"The Meng family sent someone over to meet Dragon King. He claimed that he also represents Lady Meng."
Gu Shenwei had threatened Lady Meng with a "secret" and now she is trying to find out how much he knew. "Tell him to let Shangguan Hong come instead." Gu Shenwei replied.
Lin Xiaoshan froze. He had no idea how this matter was related to Supreme King's illegitimate son but he still acknowledged it in a low voice.
Gu Shenwei believed that by using Shangguan Hong's name, he would be able to convince Lady Meng that the secret was indeed with him.
Just when Lin Xiaoshan was about to leave, Gu Shenwei asked, "Who is that youth?"
"He said that he's Nie Zeng. He claimed that Dragon King killed his uncle, Nie Qing, and his family a few years ago. I had already locked him up and will wait for your instructions."
Gu Shenwei remembered it immediately. He and his master, Tie Hanfeng had killed a family of three a few years ago. The macheteman in the family was called Nie Qing.
"Release him," Gu Shenwei said. He was neither softhearted nor contemptuous, "Everyone has the right to seek revenge."