Su Lai appeared ready for a desperate fight.
No.
This man was insidious and cunning; he needed to observe further.
The Eight Trigrams Trapping Array was indeed taxing him, and he couldn't sustain it.
If the fight continued like this, he was bound to lose.
"Again!"
Su Lai roared and charged at Li Yu once more.
His stance suggested he intended to take Li Yu down with him.
As they closed the distance, both raised their weapons and struck, but each was parried by the other.
After three exchanges, Li Yu seized an opportunity, and the red thread from his sleeve shot out again.
Seeing this, Su Lai made no move to dodge. The red thread pierced the arm holding his weapon.
Li Yu smirked, "Accept unprecedented pain."
A wisp of white gas entered Su Lai's arm through the red thread.
Immediately, Su Lai's expression contorted, veins bulging on his body, and a pained howl erupted: "Ahhh!"
While the Life-Chasing Thread inflicted no physical damage, it plunged the victim into endless agony until death.
Su Lai's facial features began to twist.
His arm felt as if it were being ground to dust in a pulverizer.
And the pain intensified.
This was beyond what a normal person could endure; Su Lai was already foaming at the mouth.
When pain reaches a certain threshold, one usually passes out. But the Life-Chasing Thread was different.
It continuously amplified the pain, preventing any chance of losing consciousness.
If pain had a scale of 12 levels, this was now 12 to the power of n.
Su Lai convulsed, his eyes rolled back, frothing at the mouth profusely, clearly at his limit.
Li Yu sneered mockingly, "Trying to trade injuries? Heh, you're not qualified for that."
With those words, Li Yu confidently deactivated the Eight Trigrams Trapping Array.
His internal energy was now almost depleted.
The very instant he deactivated the array, Su Lai suddenly raised his hand and roared, "Throat Lock Palm!"
"What!"
Li Yu's face contorted in disbelief, instinctively forgetting to dodge.
"Be careful!"
Li Fei, standing nearby, reacted swiftly, lunging forward and yanking Li Yu away.
But the distance was too great.
*Bang!*
Li Yu's shoulder instantly bled profusely, his shoulder blade shattered.
It was only due to Li Fei's timely intervention that this strike didn't result in Li Yu's immediate death.
Li Yu couldn't believe it, but the pain in his shoulder yanked him back to reality. Blood dripped onto the ground.
Yet, he paid it no mind.
"This is impossible, impossible, impossible..."
Li Yu shook his head, unable to comprehend the reality before him.
How could he still cast a technique in this state?
Why?!
No!
This couldn't be real!
Li Fei, beside him, began to staunch the bleeding, calling out, "Brother, don't just stand there!"
Li Yu seemed not to hear, muttering to himself.
"This is impossible, impossible..."
At this moment, Su Lai spoke slowly, "Li Yu, you lost!"
Li Yu snapped back to his senses, staring at Su Lai with terror.
Li Fei, standing nearby, glared at Su Lai, his hand instinctively reaching for the saber at his waist.
Seeing this, Su Lai offered a faint smile, deliberately taunting, "You want to kill me? Come on then. I've already won, won by far."
Su Lai felt no fear of death. Trading one life for the future of two top-ranked Heavenly disciples was worth it.
It was, in fact, a profitable exchange.
Li Yu spoke up to stop him, "No, let him go."
Li Fei looked at Li Yu, bewildered, "Brother, why?"
Li Yu didn't wish to elaborate, merely stating weakly, "A bet is a bet."
Li Fei ignored this, drawing his saber and preparing to deliver a fatal blow to Su Lai.
Su Lai, with no means to resist, could only watch.
Li Yu suddenly shouted, "Let him go!"
Li Fei, who had already taken a step forward, turned to Li Yu, "Brother, with just one strike I could..."
Before he could finish, Li Yu roared, "I said let him go, do you hear me!"
Seeing his elder brother's fury, Li Fei could only comply, glaring at Su Lai, "Get lost."
Su Lai paid Li Fei no mind, instead looking at Li Yu, smiling faintly, and expressing admiration, "The Yin Yang Master Li family is not entirely without merit. You, Li Yu, possess some spirit."
Li Yu remained silent, not even looking at Su Lai.
Su Lai saw no reason to linger and turned to leave.
Li Bu and Li Yu's chances of advancing further in life were likely ruined.
Unless they could overcome their inner demons.
It was perhaps better that they didn't kill him; this way, they still had a chance to conquer their inner demons.
If Li Fei had killed him, then this inner demon would have haunted them forever.
But now was not the time to dwell on such thoughts.
Su Lai shook his head, trying to quicken his pace, but it was impossible.
Master Yu had too many enemies; he had to reach his side as soon as possible.
Su Lai was not physically injured, but the mental torment had left him scarred.
At this moment, his subordinates from the restaurant arrived.
Li Fei instructed the men behind him, "Take Third Master back to the restaurant."
Two subordinates nodded and helped Li Bu leave.
Li Fei turned to Li Yu, concerned, "Brother, let's head back to the restaurant."
Li Yu's face was haggard, looking as if he had aged ten years in an instant. He was utterly devoid of spirit, as if his soul had been extinguished.
Li Yu looked at Li Fei and instructed, "Don't kill him. I want to exact my revenge personally."
Li Fei nodded, comforting him, "I'll do as you say, Brother. I won't kill him. Let's go back to the restaurant."
Li Yu nodded and said no more.
Li Fei subtly turned and gave the assembled subordinates a meaningful glance.
The subordinates instantly understood his intent and remained motionless.
Only after Li Fei had left with Li Yu did they begin to pursue Su Lai.
At the corner of the alley, Su Lai leaned against the wall, his arm trembling uncontrollably, his legs utterly lacking strength.
"Damn it, recover quickly."
Su Lai cursed, attempting to run, but could only manage a shaky walk.
*Thump... thump... thump...*
Footsteps approached, and Su Lai's expression shifted drastically.
Damn it, that bastard didn't listen to Li Yu.
Li Yu had agreed to let him go and wouldn't go back on his word, especially since Su Lai was his inner demon.
The only explanation was that Li Fei had disregarded his brother's command and sent men to hunt him.
"Quickly, he must be just ahead. He can't have gone far."
The leader shouted.
Hearing the footsteps drawing nearer, Su Lai pressed himself against the wall, intending to rest for one more second.
In his current state, even running was a problem; he could only fight to the death.
If it were half an hour ago... dealing with these low-level thugs would have been as easy as drinking water, as effortless as passing gas.
Hearing the footsteps less than half a meter away, Su Lai let out a long sigh, his eyes narrowing.
The moment the first person rounded the corner, Su Lai launched a surprise attack, locking his throat and uttering, "Throat Lock Palm!"