Chapter 69: Exposed

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

The invisible Jin Zhao Tian Yan burned fiercely, and Shao Yi's face contorted in pain. After enduring that peculiar searing force for so long, even with Lingyuan protecting his body, his skin had turned crimson and felt scorching hot.

Wisps of steam rose into the air, carrying the acrid smell of roasting flesh.

"By my reckoning, A Kong Ge should be quite far away by now..."

Shao Yi gritted his teeth against the agony, holding on desperately. His Lingyuan was nearly depleted, and if he waited any longer, he might not even be able to escape.

"Delayed long enough, thinking of running?"

The chilling voice cut through the air right on cue, making Shao Yi's heart pound.

Is this guy even human? How does he always know what's on my mind?

Xu Xiao Shou feigned nonchalance, his gaze seemingly fixed on the endless rain, but his "perception" caught every muscle twitch on Shao Yi's body.

The instant this guy so much as shifted, Xu Xiao Shou could tell if he was about to bolt or make a stand.

With his Lingyuan almost completely burned out, daring to stay behind meant he had some sort of trump card.

Perhaps a masterful escape technique, or maybe he intended to drag things out for a desperate fight.

If he chose the former, that was fine, but the latter would be problematic...

So Xu Xiao Shou used his words to nudge Shao Yi's thoughts towards fleeing.

Yet he worried that if Shao Yi left and then realized something was amiss, he might team up with the other guy and come back...

That would be the end of him.

So Xu Xiao Shou made his decision: even though he desperately wanted this person gone, tonight he had to keep him here...

As a corpse.

The question was how—how to kill him?

That was the issue...

...

Shao Yi's mind reeled with shock and uncertainty, but he couldn't afford to hesitate any longer—delay would only invite more danger. He had to leave immediately.

Just as he was about to make his move, the terrifying figure opposite him spoke again.

"You think you're the only one stalling for time?"

"Actually, I am too..."

Shao Yi froze. What did he mean? Was he implying something?

Could it be that this guy had been injured in his fight with Xu Xiao Shou and was recovering?

"You think your friend can get away?"

Seeing Shao Yi's silence, Xu Xiao Shou had to continue the one-man show to buy more time.

"Tonight, you're not leaving, and neither is he." He fabricated it on the spot.

Shao Yi's expression changed drastically. He quickly scanned his own divine soul aura but found no marks on him at all.

"Impossible!"

"How could you leave a mark on us without even touching us?"

Xu Xiao Shou paused, first because of the guy's strange accent, and second because of the word "mark"...

What mark?

This guy's imagination was running wild!

But a response was good—it meant he could just go with the flow and keep him occupied.

The longer this dragged on, the less Lingyuan this guy would have left. He probably didn't have any skill like "Yuanqi fully restored"...

Xu Xiao Shou calmly replied, "So you think you're spontaneously combusting?"

What did that mean?

Spontaneously combusting?

Shao Yi's heart skipped a beat as he suddenly remembered that this man in white hadn't touched him—the "ghost fire" had ignited directly on his body.

This guy...

He was too terrifying!

He couldn't wait any longer—who knew what other bizarre tricks he might pull? Since escape wasn't an option...

Better to strike first than wait to be killed!

Xu Xiao Shou never expected his stalling tactic to backfire. He was still muttering to himself, "Let's play a game..."

Whoosh!

A black light shot towards him, cutting off his words.

Xu Xiao Shou's "perception" never wavered. Facing Shao Yi's lightning-fast short sword from his sleeve, he merely flicked his finger with a disdainful air, like a true master.

Clang!

With "反震" and "Fengli Zhi Guang," he sent the weapon flying over ten zhang away, embedding it deeply into the wall.

In the next second, Xu Xiao Shou froze—his two fingers seemed stuck in midair, unable to move.

Damn it!

What did I just do? Why did I use my fingers to flick it away?

Couldn't I have just dodged?

Help!

Shao Yi was stunned too. He had planned to strike and then flee immediately.

But after seeing that scene, his feet felt like they were filled with lead—he couldn't budge.

His eyes widened in disbelief, his voice trembling. "Innate... innate physical body?"

"No..." Xu Xiao Shou took a deep breath. "You must have seen wrong!"

"???"

"Actually, it's called 'Shi Duan Jian Zhi'."

"!!!"

Shao Yi felt his worldview shattering. His mind went completely blank.

This person... he was Xu Xiao Shou!!!

How could he be Xu Xiao Shou???

But an innate physical body...

Not even one of the thirty-three in the inner courtyard had that!

He really was Xu Xiao Shou!!!

Shao Yi's eyes bulged with rage, his head feeling like it might explode. He couldn't accept any of this.

If this man was Xu Xiao Shou, then his cultivation was truly just barely at Lianling Ninth Realm—a pathetic weakling...

And he and his companion had been played like fools for so long?

Even A Kong Ge had been scared off by this guy?

"Under suspicion, passive value +1."

"Under suspicion, passive value +1."

"..."

The messages flooded his mind, and Xu Xiao Shou sighed softly, knowing the charade was up.

Who would have thought that all his pretending would unravel from a casual flick? It was just a habitual move!

Habits really do kill!

"Sorry, I lied to you. I am Xu Xiao Shou."

"You're a good person..."

Shao Yi was so furious he nearly spat blood.

He mustered his remaining Lingyuan to attack, but found it was less than a tenth of what he had.

"You have no Lingyuan left—you can't beat me!"

Xu Xiao Shou knew his situation inside out and advised, "If you leave now, I'll pretend you were never here and go back to sleep."

"Sleep my ass! I'll kill you!" Shao Yi charged with a short sword in hand.

The collapse of his worldview was infuriating enough, and this guy's sarcastic jabs were like salt in the wound—who could take it?

"Under insult, passive value +1."

Perfect!

Xu Xiao Shou kicked off and retreated swiftly.

He was afraid that if Shao Yi calmed down, he'd escape and bring reinforcements!

But he never expected Shao Yi to be so bold, choosing to fight alone.

A Lianling master, even at Yuan Ting Jing peak, was formidable, but with his Lingyuan almost gone, what could he do? Rely on that frail body?

That's what Xu Xiao Shou thought, but he didn't slow down his retreat.

Trash-talking felt great, but what if this guy had just enough Lingyuan left to take him out...

He couldn't give him the chance!

He had to burn away every last drop of his Lingyuan before making a move!

"Under pursuit, passive value +1."

Hm?

What the hell?