Chapter 76: The Wheel of Fortune Turns

The Nei Yuan is over there.

Xu Xiaoshou pointed in that direction with his back turned.

At the corner of the small grove, there were three paths: one leading to his own courtyard, one to the Wai Yuan, and straight ahead to Yun Tai, the venue for the "Feng Yun Zheng Ba."

The third path went towards E Hu. Following it would lead you into the Nei Yuan, and then a small turn would take you to Ling Zang Ge.

"What are you going to the Nei Yuan for? Trying to steal books again?" Xu Xiaoshou asked out of curiosity.

This guy was completely wrapped up, with only his eyes visible, looking exactly like a thief or a robber.

But he wouldn't have come in without knowing the way, would he?

"That's none of your business." The masked man said in a muffled voice.

"Curiosity."

"Curiosity killed the cat."

"Oh, then go ahead!" Xu Xiaoshou said indifferently.

The masked man gritted his teeth: "So, can you get off me now?"

"Uh, sorry."

Xu Xiaoshou didn't really want to get off the other person, but riding like this wasn't a solution either—he couldn't just let this guy take him along to steal things, or he'd become an accomplice.

With a thrust at the waist, a massive rebounding force instantly sent the two of them flying several zhang apart.

Xu Xiaoshou charged forward with his head down for a while and noticed no movement behind him, so he was surprised.

He turned back and saw the masked man propping himself up against a tree trunk, struggling to get out of the puddle on the forest path.

Xu Xiaoshou: "..."

Are you really this weak and still dare to be a thief?

Did you actually come in from outside Ling Gong?

I suspect you're just putting on an act for me!

The masked man ignored Xu Xiaoshou, as if the guy's only purpose was to answer his simple questions.

But after walking towards the Nei Yuan for a long time, he noticed that the boy was still hiding under the white jade railing, peeking at him stealthily and curling up as if to hide his ears from thunder.

"..."

He stopped and sighed lightly: "You fought well earlier, but your Jian Yi path has gone astray. Turn back soon."

Xu Xiaoshou's eyebrows twitched—this guy had indeed seen the whole process of him killing someone!

The urge to silence him surged in his heart again, but could he beat this guy?

This person was too strange!

"My Jian Yi is an idea from a genius friend. You've got shallow experience and haven't seen it, that's all!" Xu Xiaoshou probed.

"Your path has already been worn out by others." The masked man didn't stop and walked straight away.

Xu Xiaoshou watched his back, his inner thoughts churning.

Is he lying to me?

Or has someone really already walked this pure Jian Yi combat path?

Impossible!

I've only truly used the "Ba Jian Shi" move, so how could he figure it out?

His Jian Yi is so weak, yet he dares to point fingers?

Ridiculous!

"This is a genius idea of mine!" Xu Xiaoshou shouted angrily.

The masked man didn't respond.

"Received taunt, Beidong Zhi +1."

Xu Xiaoshou clenched his fist and shouted again: "Ten Duan Jian Zhi!"

The expected reaction—like the other person stumbling or pausing—didn't happen. Xu Xiaoshou watched as he disappeared at the end of the path.

"Was I wrong?"

He pondered, feeling unsure.

That move the other person used to hurt him earlier really seemed like Jian Yi infused into a finger.

But is that possible? I just saw that imaginative sword technique in Ling Zang Ge, and now someone's already using it?

"It must be preconceived notions..."

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head, shaking off the absurd idea, and decided to leave.

Whatever that person is stealing or how, it's none of my business—as long as my killing doesn't get exposed.

Given that person's temperament, he probably won't expose it.

Of course, a thief sneaking into Ling Gong on a rainy night wouldn't be believed even if he did expose my killing.

Xu Xiaoshou found this person very strange and possibly a big trouble, and he didn't want to get involved.

"Time to go back to sleep!"

"Hope he doesn't show up again..."

"Tch! Shut up!"

Xu Xiaoshou slapped his own face hard, deciding to turn and leave, but then he stopped.

In his line of sight, the masked man was running back from the end of the path, and his movements seemed more frantic than before.

Without thinking, Xu Xiaoshou turned and ran, using all his strength.

Because he saw that behind the guy, a large group of Ling Fa Ge enforcers was following.

"How could it be this coincidental!"

These enforcers couldn't have discovered the masked man so quickly—the only reason they showed up must be that the commotion from my earlier fight was too big and attracted them.

Even though the other person struck first, I was the one who ended up killing, so Xu Xiaoshou was panicking.

Whoosh!

A shadow flashed by and blocked Xu Xiaoshou's path.

The masked man!

How the hell is he so fast? He was really putting on an act for me, wasn't he?

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't stop in time and collided head-on, but the masked man didn't get knocked away. Instead, he smoothly scooped him up and clamped him under his arm.

"I won't kill you. Just play along, and I'll leave Ling Gong, then let you go!" The raspy, saw-like voice appeared again.

Like hell I believe you!

Xu Xiaoshou started to struggle, but the guy suddenly thrust a finger into his waist, and terrifying Jian Qi rampaged through his body, shredding everything inside to pieces.

"Hmm? Such abundant vitality—impressive!"

The masked man instantly sensed the anomaly and made his Jian Qi even more fragmented, like countless tiny knives shuttling through Xu Xiaoshou's flesh, even suppressing the "Sheng Sheng Bu Xi" restorative force.

"Received attack, Beidong Zhi +1."

"Received attack, Beidong Zhi +1."

"..."

The information panel, which had been stalled, suddenly started working.

Pfft! Xu Xiaoshou spat out a mouthful of blood and completely lost the ability to move.

His face darkened. Escaped the dragon's lair only to enter the tiger's den?

This guy was definitely acting before—his control over Jian Yi is terrifying, stronger than mine by who knows how many times.

He felt like crying. Why do I always run into these big-shot level characters?

Old Sang is one thing; he's sort of on my side, even if he torments me, he brings some benefits too.

But this masked weirdo who popped up out of nowhere—based on his Jian Yi cultivation alone, he must have power not inferior to a Zong Shi!

"Let me go."

"No."

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned. Why does this feel so familiar? The tables have turned?

"You let me go, and I'll help you leave Ling Gong!" he said sincerely.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"I don't believe you!"

Xu Xiaoshou: "..."

So frustrating!

But there was nothing he could do. He held back his anger—the pain in his body was bearable, something he'd gotten used to, but being immobilized left him with only his mouth to speak.

Xu Xiaoshou kept bluffing: "I'm telling you, you'd better let me go. I have people behind me—do you know Qiao Qian Zhi? The elder from Ling Shi Ge..."

"You don't know him? Doesn't matter. What about Xiao Qi Xiu? He's a great elder in Ling Fa Ge..."

"You haven't heard of him either? Then what about Old Sang—you must know him..."

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly quieted down. He realized his tone sounded just like a villain threatening after being caught—this was basically asking for death!

But to his surprise, the masked man paused at the word "Old Sang" and said, "He's back?"

"Who?" Xu Xiaoshou jolted.

"Old Sang!"

"I don't know him." Xu Xiaoshou said calmly.

The masked man: "..."

"Received curse, Beidong Zhi +1."