Chapter 619: Thirteen
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The fact that the Dragon King had confidently requested to have more than one enemy stood in stark contrast to his previous attempts to delay the process as much as possible, which made King Shengri suspicious. So, when Iron Harrier chose the elders of the Jade Pure Sect as his helpers, he didn’t immediately agree, instead looking for hints from the two hunchbacks of the Essence Pavilion.
Old Man Mu was just as perplexed as King Shengri. The Dragon King’s victory or defeat was a matter of his own life and death, so he leaned forward and waved. When the Dragon King looked down, he lifted his collar a little, revealing a soft armor inside, and slyly winked.
This soft armor was one of Old Man Mu’s life-saving tricks. Ever since he had been hunted down and nearly killed by the crowd more than a decade ago, he made up his mind to wear this soft armor no matter how good his kung fu was.
He didn’t forget to take the soft armor with him even when Red Bat rescued him from the camp of the five elders of the Jade Pure Sect.
It was actually the first time he had shown such generosity to lend this treasure to others, and he prefaced it by saying, “Let’s be clear. I’m just lending it to you, and you have to give it back to me after we leave the forbidden zone.”
“No need.” Gu Shenwei’s martial arts skills were different from Old Man Mu’s as they focused on attacking rather than defending. If he wore soft armor, it might actually affect his fighting spirit.
As they stood closer, Old Man Mu finally found a problem. Although the Dragon King had a robust color in his cheeks, the pink on his face was unstable. It flickered like the image of a sunset over a rippling lake.
The Dragon King was eager to play short-handed because he could not hold out much longer.
The Frostpalm Technique was, after all, a lose-lose way to fight. No matter how high Gu Shenwei’s endurance was, it had a limit. He knew his Qi deviation all too well and had a premonition that a violent outburst would come soon.
Old Man Mu immediately knew what he should do after finding out the truth, so he loudly said, “No, I can’t let the Dragon King fight a pack of wolves all by himself. I want to go out and help!”
“Okay.” The Iron Harrier didn’t care. He had discovered Old Man Mu’s kung fu was poor at the moment and wouldn’t help much even if he joined the fight.
Seeing that they had an advantage, Dao Sheng, the elder of the Jade Pure Sect, immediately said, “We, the five elders of Jade Pure Sect, will also join. So there will be six people in total including the lord wing guard. The Dragon King can also choose five helpers, and then we can fight fair and square.”
Anyone with a discerning eye could easily see the thoughts of Dao Sheng. Of all the people currently on the Dragon King’s side, Chu Nanping was the only one who could be considered a kung fu expert. Old Man Mu and those ten guards were rather mediocre and couldn’t help much even if they partic.i.p.ated in the game. Whereas, the Norland side was able to remove the suspicion of them using the many to defeat the few.
King Shengri didn’t think it was a good idea. He no longer trusted the Jade Pure Sect so he shot a stare at Dao Sheng and ordered him to shut up.
The wing guard Iron Harrier nodded, “That’s fine. I’ve a few extra men on my side, so the Dragon King can also send some more people.”
This was not the final goal of Old Man Mu, who hastened to reply, “The Dragon King’s helpers will be me and Little Chu. That can be considered as two people. As for the ten guards, they always go in and out together, eating and sleeping together, and even go whoring at the same girl together, so they count as one. In total, the Dragon King has four men fighting the six people of the Norland. We’ll let you take the advantage in this match.”
The ten guards all coldly looked at Old Man Mu, very displeased with his description.
Iron Harrier had a high opinion of himself and thought that it didn’t matter even if all of the Dragon King’s men joined the fight. The officer around King Shengri, however, didn’t want to let their side take a beating. “They are ten people, and even if they are tied together they are still ten people. If the Dragon King wants to fight in groups, we must send the same number of warriors on our side.”
“Ehh, it’s you again. Just come at me if you want to avenge the princess consort of King Rizhu, but you’re under King Shengri’s command now, and you seem to be using your position for your own private revenge.”
The officer was the younger brother of the former princess consort of King Rizhu. Instead of seeking refuge with his brother-in-law, he had joined King Shengri’s side and was now deeply trusted. He ignored Old Man Mu’s provocation and snorted, “That’s exactly what I have in mind.” Then he turned to King Shengri and requested, “Your Highness, please allow me to join the fight if Old Man Mu goes onto the field.”
King Shengri was actually eager to see a brawl, but he became more cautious after losing several times. Looking at the kung fu masters of the Norland nearby, he directly asked, “How is it?”
The kung fu masters all nodded. They clearly understood that the more players on the stage, the more disadvantageous it was for the Dragon King.
King Shengri also nodded and said to the brother of King Rizhus’ princess consort, “Forget it, someone will avenge you.” Then he cleared his throat and announced himself, “Well, let’s make it a big game. Thirteen people from the Dragon King’s side against thirteen people from my side. The rules are simple. Whoever kills seven first will win.”
“Hey, you’ve gone too far. Everyone knows that the Dragon King’s guards have average kung fu skills and you want to fight thirteen against thirteen. That’s obviously bullying.”
One of the guards couldn’t bear it anymore and gruffly said, “We don’t know until after the compet.i.tion. It’s a great honor for the swordsmen of the Big Snow Mountain to fight alongside the Dragon King.
“You’re not swordsmen of the Big Snow Mountain, but instead chunks of ice. Whatever, I don’t care if you want to seek death. No one can care about others later in the compet.i.tion, and none of you will get protection from me.”
Another guard proudly said, “We can protect ourselves.”
Old Man Mu shook his head in mock indignation and winked at the Dragon King which meant, ‘If you want to settle it at once, I’ll help you realize your wish.’ His real meaning was, ‘the Dragon King must treat his men equally. Do not leave OId Man Mu behind if you want to save everyone’.
“Good.” Gu Shenwei ignored Old Man Mu and said, “King Shengri, you can send your men out now.”
King Shengri was still deep in thought when Dao Sheng volunteered, “The five of us have fought with the Dragon King and know his weakness. We would like to fight for Your Highness.”
King Shengri hesitated for a while before reluctantly nodding. “If you lose, just die on the field together. Don’t come back.”
“Yes.” Dao Sheng readily agreed and then stammered, “Your Highness… One of our junior brothers was kidnapped by the Dragon King’s subordinates and forced to enter the forbidden zone, and he’s still inside…”
Frowned, King Shengri stared at the Taoist priest, “Are you really kung fu masters? One of you was kidnapped and another’s internal energy was injured. You all seem so mediocre.”
“The Dragon King is good at using dirty tricks. He will not be the Jade Pure Sect’s match if he fights openly.”
“Hmm, the Dragon King is not a match for the five of you, of course.” King Shengri said sarcastically but agreed in the end. “Well, let your junior brother take part in the compet.i.tion and kill one of the Dragon King’s subordinates with his own hands to prove his innocence.”
Dao Sheng bowed to show his grat.i.tude. “You Highness is wise and kind-hearted, we…”
While Dao Sheng was still racking his brains for more ways to flatter King Shengri, his senior brother, Dao Nian was already waving to the distant Dao Lun, suggesting that he could come over now.
Dao Lun was anxiously awaiting for his fellow disciples to save him. Upon seeing his senior brother beckoning towards him, he couldn’t even believe his own eyes. After pointing to himself and getting the nodding confirmation from his senior brother, he excitedly left the core of the crowd, walked around the Dragon King and cautiously proceeded to King Shengri.
Halfway through the journey, seeing that the cavalry really didn’t fire an arrow, he felt at ease at once and held his head high.
When he came near, Dao Lun stammered thanks to King Shengri and then held Dao Nian’s hand. “Senior brother, you saved my life.”
Dao Nian and Dao Sheng exchanged a glance with a grudge in their hearts.
Dao Sheng complained inwardly that his senior brother had taken his credit. It was he who had beat his brains to save Dao Lun while his senior brother calmly accepted the thanks and did not even mention him.
Dao Nian, on the other hand, was angry with his junior brother for his greediness in taking all the credit, as he had found a way to get rid of the chill long ago but didn’t tell him in advance and embarra.s.sed him in front of King Shengri.
King Shengri didn’t pay attention to the little farce of the Jade Pure Sect. He was instead carefully selecting his own warriors.
The kung fu experts of the various sects of the Central Plains were still enthusiastic and many of them had the same idea with Dao Sheng, hoping to take this opportunity to rescue their trapped fellow disciples.
King Shengri refused, saying, “Five Taoists are enough. I won’t take any more people of the Central Plains.”
This was a crucial game. Once lost, he would lose the ground to pressure the Dragon King, and Immortal Peng’s magical relics and the young swordsman would slip away under his nose.
Thirteen warriors were quickly selected who consisted of the five elders of the Jade Pure Sect, the wing guard Iron Harrier, the two hunchbacks of the Essence Pavilion, and five Norland kung fu experts. King Shengri believed that even if the five elders of the Jade Pure Sect were a complete waste, the other people could still easily defeat the Dragon King and his subordinates.
The kung fu compet.i.tion was about to start. Old Man Mu had to find himself a reliable protector so he could survive the next melee. Obviously, he couldn’t rely on the Dragon King, so he turned to look at the teenager nearby. “Little Chu,” he said with a big smile, “You do have great taste. In this old man’s entire life, that little girl is the prettiest I’ve ever seen.”
Chu Nanping didn’t respond. He had heard the word ‘pretty’ too often long before he was eight years old, so he was not interested no matter if the other side was praising himself or anyone else.
“Alas, what a pity.” Old Man Mu hoped to attract Chu Nanping’s attention and he wasn’t disappointed after failing to do so. Instead, he continued, “Such a good girl, why must she join the Waning Moon Hall? Even if she isn’t mad or dead, she will become vicious and cruel and disown all her relatives and friends. Eventually, she will not even recognize herself and become a walking dead under Han Wuxian’s control.”
Chu Nanping lowered his head, “You’re talking nonsense.”
“I’m talking nonsense?” Old Man Mu asked back in surprise, “Look at Lotus, look at the disciples of the Waning Moon Hall around her. Do anyone of them look normal? I’ve spent a lot of time at the Waning Moon Hall. Do you know how they train their disciples? First, they let you like something such as a cat or dog, then they force you to dismember it. They will then slowly use people instead of a cat or dog. Han Wuxian nearly dissected me. So, you’d better be careful.”
Chu Nanping was a little confused. He didn’t expect that the means of the Waning Moon Hall were similar to that of the Emotionless Swordsmans.h.i.+p, but he had already given up and never wanted Tie Linglong to tread on his old road.
Old Man Mu knew it was the right time to persuade him. Besides, the warriors appointed by King Shengri was filing into the field, leaving him no more time to speak. So he lowered his voice and said, “This old man has a way of correcting the little girl on the wrong path. I don’t have time to tell you how to do it now. Protect me later and we’ll talk about it later.”
Chu Nanping thought for a while and nodded.
Gu Shenwei was ready, and the ten guards stood behind him with their heavy swords in their hands.
The fighting was imminent but was interrupted by the sound of hooves. It was not a squad of cavalry but as many as three or four hundred men.
The kung fu experts of the Central Plains, who remained by the side of King Shengri, immediately recognized that the newcomers were the kings whom they had taken refuge with.
The voice of King Rizhu was the loudest, which rang out from afar. “n.o.body is watching the warrior contest anymore after hearing that the Dragon King is having a kung fu compet.i.tion here. King Shengri, why didn’t you call everyone here to come and see such a good show?”
King Shengri had a horrible expression, and Gu Shenwei knew that something drastic must have taken place behind the scenes regarding the fight for the throne.