Chapter 424: Chapter 423: Black on Black in the Martial Arts World
Hearing Xu Jian’s question, the leader was clearly taken aback and exclaimed, "You’re not with Qi Hongshao?"
Xu Jian shook his head, "I don’t know her."
Although he had seen Qi Hongshao once several days ago and had learned from Yang Fei and Wang Lei’s conversation that Wang Lei and Qi Hongshao may have known each other in the past—and their relationship was not shallow—he indeed did not know this Qi Hongshao.
That these people were surrounding the three of them was truly a misunderstanding.
But now, whatever he said was useless; a grudge had already been formed.
The leader wished he could die—if the other party truly did not know Qi Hongshao, then his many brothers had died in vain.
"Regardless of whether you know that thieving woman, you’ve killed so many of our brothers; you deserve to die!" the leader growled.
Xu Jian simply smiled, "Come on then."
He didn’t move, just stood there, but the twelve men looked at each other and not a single one dared to approach him.
The deterrence of a poison master is just that awesome.
Moreover, poison works as an area attack, so numbers are useless.
Seeing that the other party did not make a move, Xu Jian said with a smile, "Since you won’t make a move, then I will."
As he spoke, he reached out towards the leader.
In the void, a gale howled and an invisible force instantly enveloped the leader, who felt as if an invisible giant hand had suddenly gripped his body, giving him an indescribable sense of suffocation.
"An Innate Master!" Horror flickered in the man’s eyes, his face turning red as he suddenly roared, his True Qi surging wildly within him, eliciting a powerful Protective Gang Qi that resisted the invisible force.
An Innate Master who could use poison was too terrifying.
After breaking free from the restraints, the man immediately retreated and shouted, "Send a signal, call for reinforcements!"
Hiss!
A sharp whistle pierced the air as a signal flare shot up into the sky, bursting several dozen meters up, displaying a splendid phoenix pattern.
Xu Jian was slightly surprised; he hadn’t expected that man’s strength to be decent enough to break free from his confinement.
Seeing that the signal had already been sent, a cold light flashed in his eyes and his figure flickered as he pounced towards the opposite side.
A minute later, the battle ended.
The leader was left lying on the ground with just a breath left in him.
Looking down at him from above, Xu Jian asked, "Who do you work for and what are you here to do?"
"It doesn’t matter who you are, even if you’re from the Poison Sect, by offending Mr. Four, you’ve only got one path left—death!"
After speaking, the leader’s mouth overflowed with a trace of fresh blood; he was indeed a tough man, choosing to bite his tongue and commit suicide.
Xu Jian shook his head helplessly, and after searching all the people on site, he found some gold and silver valuables along with a silver token engraved with a phoenix totem.
Presumably, it belonged to a certain organization within the Hidden Sect. He’d ask Wang Lei, a local, later on.
...
Deep in the dense forest, Qi Hongshao was dressed in red, with only a chestnut-colored steed accompanying her.
Surrounded by her were a group of people armed with swords and spears, encircling her completely.
Across from her stood a man in purple, with his hands behind his back, looking at Qi Hongshao and saying, "Hand it over and I can give you a quick end."
Qi Hongshao laughed, "You’re all so impatient. I, Qi Hongshao, have been wandering the Martial Arts World for years; how could I be unprepared? I’ve hidden the item in a secure place long ago—if I die, you’ll never get your hands on it."
The man in purple slightly furrowed his brows, then relaxed them and spoke indifferently, "The Qi Family has fallen for too long, to the point where you’ve forgotten that there are many strong people in this world who possess special means to make others tell the truth, right?"
Qi Hongshao thought of the term "Soul Search," and her expression changed slightly, but she quickly smiled and said, "It’s too late. If I don’t return within two hours, my people will make that item disappear completely."
The man in purple sneered, "Stop trying to bluff, you’re all alone in the Martial Arts World, you have no backup."
Qi Hongshao wanted to say more, but then wails of pain came from behind her.
The man in purple’s expression changed drastically, and he waved his hand, "Go and see what happened."
Qi Hongshao was also secretly puzzled.
She indeed had come alone, without any helpers, but what was happening? Why would there be people clashing with members of the Duanmu Family?
The man in purple stared intently at Qi Hongshao, who, with a composed and smiling face, said, "I’ve already obtained what Fourth Brother Duanmu wanted, but his dreams of deceiving me to snatch the item for himself are utterly delusional. Remember, this is the last time, if there is a next time, I will lose my patience and destroy the item outright. Go back and tell him, if he’s sincere, to bring what I want and exchange it with me."
Having said that, she took the reins of her jujube-red horse and prepared to leave.
The man in purple frowned deeply, and with a grand wave of his hand, the Martial Artists surrounding Qi Hongshao all stepped forward a few paces, shrinking the encirclement.
Qi Hongshao’s eyebrows raised as she stared at the man in purple, "How will you explain to Fourth Brother Duanmu if the item is destroyed? If I die, not only will you not get the item, my people will also tell the Giant Sword Manor the truth. When that time comes, and Fourth Brother Duanmu has to face an enemy like Giant Sword Manor, can you bear that responsibility?"
The man in purple was clearly intimidated, uncertain of what to do.
Qi Hongshao seized the opportunity to scold, "Out of my way!"
The few Martial Artists blocking her path all looked towards the man in purple.
"Hahaha, Liu Yao, you truly are incompetent, to be intimidated by a little woman like that. What a joke it would be if word got out in the Martial Arts World," a chilling voice said at that moment. A grey-clothed man wielding a sword emerged swiftly from the shadows of the woods and appeared in the midst of the scene.
The expression on Liu Yao’s face, the man in purple, changed slightly: "Sun Donglai, why are you here?"
Sun Donglai snorted coldly, "Mr. Four was afraid you’d botch the job, so he asked me to watch from the shadows. You truly did not disappoint Mr. Four, indecisive trash."
Liu Yao grew furious, "Bastard, how dare you insult me?"
Sun Donglai glanced at him coldly and said indifferently, "I’m not here to argue with you."
He then looked at Qi Hongshao and said coldly, "Come with me, Mr. Four wants to see you."
Qi Hongshao shook her head, "Fourth Brother Duanmu has already lost my trust. If he wants the item, we’ll meet another time. I will arrange the place and time."
Sun Donglai said coldly, "Why must you make it difficult for yourself? If you come with me nicely, I won’t harm a hair on your head, but if I have to act, I can’t guarantee that the sword in my hand will obey."
Qi Hongshao’s brows knitted together, and she suddenly sighed, looking toward an empty space deep in the forest and said slowly, "I have been bullied to this extent, and you still refuse to show yourself?"
Everyone in the forest was taken aback, especially Liu Yao and Sun Donglai, who immediately turned their gaze towards the direction Qi Hongshao was speaking to.
Behind a large tree in the forest, Wang Lei was also taken by surprise.
He had hidden himself so well, and was dozens of meters away, yet neither Sun Donglai nor Liu Yao had detected him. How had she noticed him?
While everyone was still in shock, Qi Hongshao mounted her horse, and with a Dragon Whip in her hand, it whipped through the air, knocking away two Martial Artists.
"Giddy up!"
Her only purpose was to break free and escape!
"Hmm, mere child’s play!"
Sun Donglai snorted coldly and took a step to give chase.
However, as he stepped forward, a sudden sense of dread filled him. He felt a terrible chill sweeping in from behind, engulfing him in an instant.
He quickly turned around, to see a blade’s light mingled with the dim glow of light, slashing down upon him.