Chapter 72: Small Grove

Whoosh!

A short sword whistled through the air, and Xu Xiaoshou reached out to catch it.

The experiment was a success!

Even with someone else's Ling Jian, he could now perform the "Ni Jian Shi" using his own Xian Tian Jian Yi.

"Well, this makes things easier..."

Without another word, Xu Xiaoshou struck down with his palm, instantly snapping the short sword in his hand in two.

Without Ling Yuan to sustain it, the Ling Jian couldn't withstand his "Feng Li Zhi Guang."

He gathered the other short sword and the head on the ground, paused to think, then stepped out of the courtyard.

"If I were the one who escaped, what would I do?" Xu Xiaoshou pondered, putting himself in the other's shoes.

Escape!

Flee for dear life, disappear without a trace, never look back!

Ahem...

That was a bit too simplistic.

"If I were the one who escaped and absolutely had to come back, what would I do?" Xu Xiaoshou stroked his chin.

First, I'd likely hang back at a distance for a quick look, using some perception-based Ling Ji to check the situation. If it felt wrong, I'd turn tail and leave; if there was an opportunity, I'd press on cautiously, step by step.

That guy's perception Ling Ji might be strong, but it couldn't compare to his own—that was evident from the skirmish in the courtyard just now. So, if he were to take a peek...

Xu Xiaoshou gazed out from the open ground in front of the courtyard. Ahead stretched a winding path, flanked by a small grove of trees.

The wooded path was long, the only route leading to his courtyard.

"Even if his perception range is vast, he'd still have to enter the grove at least halfway to detect anything. And if he wants to set an ambush, this would be the prime spot!" Xu Xiaoshou said confidently.

Clang!

The broken sword halves were tossed onto the ground.

If that guy caught sight of this, he'd surely panic!

Xu Xiaoshou quickly checked the number of Lian Ling Dan in his ring. After winning the championship last time and receiving the rewards, he still had dozens of bottles left.

"Plenty to go around!" He strode toward the small grove.

If that guy didn't come back tonight, so be it—he could stand in the rain all night; it wouldn't be a big deal.

But if he dared to return...

Hmph, then he'd never have to go back again!

"Wait... that's not right!"

"What if he anticipates what I'm thinking, and he's thinking about what I'm thinking about his thoughts?"

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly felt a chill, realizing it was entirely possible!

He rushed back, picked up the two halves of the broken sword, and then dashed into the small grove.

Every second counted!

...

Whoosh!

A piercing whistle cut through the rain as a crimson shadow shot out from the Nei Yuan.

Feng Kong's face was contorted with uncontrollable rage and humiliation.

Xu Xiaoshou!

It was really Xu Xiaoshou!

If not for Shao Yi's dying transmission from miles away, he might still be waiting at the Nei Yuan gate.

And because of that hesitation and delay...

Shao Yi had been killed by that guy!

"He wouldn't have died otherwise..." Feng Kong bit his gums until they bled, his anger boiling over.

Recalling how he and Shao Yi had been utterly outmaneuvered and humiliated by Xu Xiaoshou in the courtyard, his eyes bulged with fury.

A mere Jiujing cultivator, using such tactics to scare him off and then wear down a Yuan Tingjing peak expert like Shao Yi—it was an utter disgrace!

"Pray you managed to escape..."

"But even if you did, the rest of your life will be haunted by fear!"

Feng Kong looked like a madman, his face completely distorted, as he raced forward at top speed. In no time, he reached the vicinity of E Hu.

The dragonflies still skimmed the water, but now he was alone.

How ironic!

Raindrops pelted the lake surface, creating ripples that spread out in circles. The fat geese and fish scattered in terror from the overwhelming killing intent.

Plop, plop...

Bubbles burst on the lake as Feng Kong leaped across E Hu and landed on the white jade railing.

"Calm down!" The rain helped clear his mind, and he suppressed his anger.

Even though his misjudgment had led to his teammate's death, he wouldn't truly lose his composure.

Years as a professional assassin had trained him to keep a cool head. He steadied himself and began to think.

Xu Xiaoshou...

What made him formidable wasn't his strength, but his mind, which was on par with his own.

The back-and-forth in the courtyard had proven that, but Feng Kong refused to admit he'd been outsmarted on a deeper level.

He'd only been caught off guard by that scene in the courtyard, allowing Xu Xiaoshou to seize the upper hand.

Now, stepping back as an observer, those tricks of Xu Xiaoshou's were nothing special.

Clever, sure, but without the power to back it up, he was still as insignificant as an ant.

Even so, Feng Kong had to take this ant seriously. "If I were Xu Xiaoshou, how would I break out of this deadlock?"

Escape!

Flee for dear life, abandon everything, even the courtyard!

Feng Kong shook his head—that was impossible. He couldn't escape Ling Gong, and even outside, more people would be after his life.

That kid was smart; he knew you could run for a while, but not forever.

"So... an ambush?"

Feng Kong wasn't sure. Did that kid have the capability to set one up?

But then he thought of Shao Yi...

A Yuan Tingjing peak expert should have been enough to handle the task alone.

Yet, after he himself had left—er, retreated—Shao Yi was killed!

How?

A thousand doubts filled Feng Kong's mind; he couldn't believe a mere Jiujing cultivator like Xu Xiaoshou could take down Shao Yi, even with innate-level trump cards.

But now, he had no choice but to believe it!

Without dwelling on the details, he continued his reasoning. "Assuming he has the power to kill me and has set an ambush, how would he do it?"

The rainy night fell silent again.

As he pondered, the killing intent around him faded, and the lake's fat geese began honking chaotically, with bubbles rising as fish surfaced.

"If I were Xu Xiaoshou..." Feng Kong tilted his head, furrowed his brow, then his eyes lit up. "I'd anticipate what I'd anticipate and think what I'd think!"

"That's it!"

"This guy excels at figuring out others' thoughts—just like in the courtyard, where he saw through my schemes one after another."

"If he's planning an ambush, he'd definitely approach it from my perspective..."

Feng Kong nodded solemnly, feeling he'd found the key.

"He doesn't know my true strength, so everything's based on guesswork. And he definitely doesn't realize I've already figured out his identity!"

"So, if he's predicting I'll come back to kill him, he won't expect me to charge straight through. Instead, he'd think I'd advance slowly, probing as I go, based on what happened in the courtyard..."

"But with Shao Yi dead, if he's smart, he won't just sit and wait in the courtyard!"

"The only path to the courtyard is that long, wooded trail..."

Feng Kong suddenly tensed. "The small grove?"

It's possible!

If he followed his earlier logic, whether charging ahead or moving cautiously, Xu Xiaoshou could have set up an ambush at the front of the small grove, and he never would have suspected it.

And the outcome...

The thought made him shudder. How terrifying!

Thankfully, he'd seen through it all, so there was nothing to worry about.

A flash of hatred crossed Feng Kong's eyes. This was no longer just a job; he had to add vengeance to the mix.

"The small grove, huh..."

"Xu Xiaoshou, just wait there for your death!"