Chapter 709: Keeping a Promise
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Deng Yuanlei had actually been waiting for a while. He had already unsealed his acupoint by himself and wanted to launch a surprise attack on the Dragon King. But the other side had never went near him. Instead, he had sent Shangguan Ru to release the acupoint.
He didn’t know that the Dragon King didn’t know how to strike acupoints at all, not to mention unsealing them.
But he changed his mind at the last moment. Killing the little girl would not do him any good, but holding her hostage could potentially bring him a lot of benefits. She was obviously having an affair with the Dragon King.
Shangguan Ru was caught unprepared. Although she had grown up in the castle, she had never developed the deep-seated vigilance of a killer disciple. To her, the castle had always been warm and safe, and there had never been any need for her to worry about her life or safety.
Deng Yuanlei struck Shangguan Ru’s acupoint, grabbed a sword from a nearby disciple and put it against her neck, his laughter still hearty and clear. “Dragon King, we’ve agreed that the ones who live will be the winner. Since we are all alive, the duel has to go on.”
Red Bat was about to rush up, but was stopped by the Dragon King.
Gu Shenwei sighed but wasn’t fl.u.s.tered. “So the Qingcheng Sect has another ‘unique skill,’ huh.”
Deng Yuanlei didn’t care about the Dragon King’s sarcasm at all. He looked at the startled Doctor Sun and ordered his disciples, “Take him down.”
Doctor Sun, who had just finished treating Liu Fangsheng’s wound, didn’t expect that the other side would change faces so quickly. He anxiously took a defensive posture and said, “I also know kung fu.”
But before he had finished talking, he had already been struck in his back acupoints by two Qingcheng disciples at the same time.
Doctor Sun had actually learned a lot of martial arts skills for the purpose of treating diseases more effectively. However, this meant that he didn’t have many opportunity to compete with others and therefore, lacked experience, and was completely unable to counter a surprise attack.
With another hostage in-hand, Deng Yuanlei felt sure that he now held the upper hand. So he relaxed a bit and turned to look at Han Fen, who had been following Shangguan Ru. “Go tell your Hall Leader that the Central Plains has no grudges with your esteemed sect. Although the Qingcheng Sect has lost a few disciples, the past is the past and we won’t hold any grudges against you. Let’s mind our own businesses, though it would be most welcome if she’s willing to join hands.”
“That’s a bit difficult,” Han Fen said as she shrugged.
“Why?”
“The Hall Leader is in the Dragon King’s camp right now, but I do not dare meet her. She’ll kill me for sure if she sees me.”
Deng Yuanlei knew very little about the Waning Moon Hall, so he was a bit confused about what Han Fen’s response. “Then tell the one who’s in charge that I’m asking for peace and not war.”
“No problem. I’ll pa.s.s your words along to Master Commander and she can decide what to do. I don’t have time to think about it.” As she said this, Han Fen’s eyes were still fixed on Shangguan Ru. She slowly approached and raised her hand as if she were trying to pinch her face again.
Deng Yuanlei snapped, “Do not come near.”
“Eh? Weren’t you willing to ally with me? Why are you being so rude? And your voice is scarily loud.”
Deng Yuanlei softened his tone and said, “Whether we’re allies or not will be decided by your Master Commander, but now you should stay away for now. You are an acquaintance of the Dragon King’s, so do not try to help him save people.”
Han Fen laughed out loud, her voice really ‘scarily loud.’ The dozens of people present all felt their hearts tremble a bit and thought that this woman must be crazy. The laughter gradually died out. Han Fen pointed at Shangguan Ru and said, “Why would I save her? If she dies, then Master Commander will be very happy and so I’ll be very happy.”
Deng Yuanlei was completely confused about the relations.h.i.+p between the Dragon King and this madwoman now, but he didn’t want to complicate matters. So he said, “You can’t kill her now. You’d better back up three… no, five steps. Just watch from afar.”
Han Fen counted out the numbers as she retreated back. After taking three steps back, she hesitated for a moment and then took two more steps before smilingly asking, “Little girl, are you afraid?”
Shangguan Ru also smiled. “Not very afraid. I’m just a bit annoyed that I was fooled.”
Deng Yuanlei ignored the two and shouted at the Dragon King opposite to him, “Dragon King, I’ll just cut straight to the point. Let’s solve it by your rules. Surrender to me and hand over Silver Condor, and this will be all be over.”
Gu Shenwei shook his head, drew his saber, and walked over.
Deng Yuanlei was taken aback. “Stop. One more step, and I’ll cut off her head.”
Shangguan Ru calmly said, “It’s no use. He won’t acquiesce to any threats. If you kill me, then he’ll simply kill you and the whole Qingcheng Sect to avenge me.”
Han Fen was very happy to hear this. “Yuanlei, please do it now. I like watching the Dragon King kill people.”
Deng Yuanlei was dumbfounded. Whywere the women of the Western Regions he met all so crazy? Even Shangguan Ru who appeared normal was talking with a touch of madness now. Without answering the two, he said to the Dragon King who was approaching, “Don’t think that I won’t do it.”
Gu Shenwei moved forward steadily without a word. Instead of having any hesitation in his mind, he even cruelly thought that perhaps it would be ideal ending if he ended up avenging Shangguan Ru.
Shangguan Ru seemed to know what the Dragon King was thinking and suddenly felt relieved and at ease. She finally did not have to feel guilty about killing the pair of rocs anymore.
Dog Butcher jumped in front of the Dragon King and blocked his way. “Hold on, let me say something first.”
Gu Shenwei stopped. Dog Butcher turned to Deng Yuanlei, pondered for a while before saying, “Brother Yuanlei, aren’t you being a bit too shameless?”
Deng Yuanlei suppressed his anger and explained, “Brother Dog Butcher, this is the Norland and the Dragon King is from the Western Regions. Their rules are different from those of the Central Plains. It’s their nature to do whatever it takes no matter the cost. We are all Central Plains people and are working for the Imperial Court. We can discuss who has the right to own the Khan’s head later, but for now we have to join hands to fight our external enemies. Are the people of the Kongtong Sect willing to be loyal to a foreign bandit chief?”
Hesitating, Dog Butcher glanced at the Dragon King and Deng Yuanlei, and finally asked his junior disciples, “What do you think of this?”
The disciples looked at each other for a moment and finally one of them said, “If Aunt Master was awake, she’d definitely agree with Uncle Master Deng.”
Deng Yuanlei nodded and added on, “Right. Brother Dog Butcher, it’s better to wake up your sister and listen to her advice.”
“Alas, just let her sleep. If she’s awake now, she won’t let go of me for sure. Just leave her as she is now. What you said all made sense. Dragon King, I’m sorry but I think I’d better fight with you again so that my sister won’t be too angry when she wakes up. Honestly speaking, I’m not quite convinced that I lost earlier. I think that I can defeat you.”
Deng Yuanlei heaved a sigh of relief. With the help of an elder of the Kongtong Sect, he was sure to win.
Gu Shenwei flicked his Five Peaks Saber a bit and said, “Hmm, you can beat me, but I can kill you.”
“What the Dragon King said is too profound for me to understand.” Dog Butcher also blatantly said what was on his mind.
“When you fought with Old Man Mu, you probably held the upper hand the whole way but was defeated by him in the last second, right?”
“How do you know that? Did Old Man Mu tell you that?” asked Dog Butcher in surprise.
“How could Old Man Mu admit you had the upper hand? I guessed it myself. Your kung fu is very good but you seldom fight with anyone else other than the disciples of the Kongtong Sect, which causes you to lack a killing aura and to fight too steadily. If you can’t finish the fight in a short time, then you’ll repeat your moves with the same flaws always reappearing. Old Man Mu must have seized a chance and then defeated you in a few moves.”
“One move,” said Dog Butcher sadly. It was his sorest point and he had never understood why he had lost the fight. “Maybe you are right. I was actually defeated when I use the same move, ‘Drop Hollowing the Stone,’ the third time.”
“But your kung fu is still very good. Old Man Mu was trying to kill you, but he was only able to beat you. But if you fight again, I think that he’ll win faster this time.”
“Heh heh, the Dragon King is really good at flattering people. How’s your killing skill compared to Old Man Mu’s?”
“It’s hard to tell. He’s a bit more powerful in his martial arts skills, but I can still kill him if I’m willing.”
Deng Yuanlei was impatient but his tone was as warm as ever. “Brother Dog Butcher, don’t listen to the Dragon King’s nonsense. He made up this nonsense because he can’t defeat you. Martial arts skills are just martial arts skills, there are strong ones and weak ones. How could there be one specially designed for killing? If what he said was true, then wouldn’t it be a joke for our disciples to study and practice so hard?”
“The Dragon King actually has a point. Of course one needs better kung fu skills to kill one’s opponent, but that doesn’t mean that the ones who have advanced kung fu skills are also the best at killing. Alas, why am I complicating things so much? Get ready to fight, Dragon King. I’d like to see if I’ll repeat the same mistake.”
Dog Butcher held up his long crutch, and Gu Shenwei also gripped his saber hilt.
Dog Butcher thrust his crutch at the Dragon King like a sword, using a move that he had not shown before.
Gu Shenwei’s saber stuck close to the crutch.
The two both launched a speed attack and instantly exchanged five moves. The disciples of the two sects were dazzled but Deng Yuanlei realized the problem. “Brother Dog Butcher, do not compete in speed with the Dragon King; just use your unique skill.”
This reminder, however, produced an unexpected effect. n.o.body knew what was wrong with Deng Yuanlei’s words, but Dog Butcher suddenly jumped out of the fighting field and stabbed his crutch into the ground, and m.u.f.fledly grunted, “No more fighting, no more fighting.”
Gu Shenwei did not seize the moment to pursue.
Deng Yuanlei was very surprised and voiced the crowd’s confusion, asking, “Brother, what are you doing?”
Dog Butcher walked to Deng Yuanlei and without saying a word, suddenly made a move and stuck his vitals with the walking stick.
Deng Yuanlei thought that the other side was going to say something so he was a bit unprepared, though still able to instinctively wave his sword and block.
This time he finally understood what a kung fu skill specially designed to kill looked like.
One moment ago, the Dragon King had still been over a dozen paces away but in the next, he was right next to him. The speed was fast but not very surprising. As a master of the Qingcheng Sect, Deng Yuanlei was still able to react. But the Dragon King’s choice of timing was impeccable. When paired with Dog Butcher’s attack, Deng Yuanlei could barely free his hand to fend against the Dragon King’s blow.
n.o.body could understand what Dog Butcher was thinking, as his next action was to turn his crutch and fend off the Dragon King’s saber.
Gu Shenwei didn’t bother to guess at Dog Butcher’s intentions. After his saber was blocked, he still rushed up and hit Deng Yuanlei in the chest with his palm, though he didn’t use any knockout drugs this time.
Deng Yuanlei retreated a few steps, spat out a mouthful of blood, and then flopped to the ground.
The disciples of the two sects were all stunned and stood still. Dog Butcher held his crutch up and sighed. “I still can’t get over this hurdle. If I can’t keep my word, then I’d be no better than a dog or pig.”
Considering that Dog Butcher’s first name was ‘Dog,’ his words were quite amusing, but no one laughed. It turned out this elder of the Kongtong Sect was still obsessed with surrendering himself in public.
Gu Shenwei looked impa.s.sively at Shangguan Ru because he didn’t know how to unseal her acupoints.
Shangguan Ru smiled and turned her eyes to Han Fen. “Sorry to let you down.”
Han Fen’s eyes sparkled. “I knew it.” But she didn’t say what she knew. After repeating it several times, she said with great antic.i.p.ation, “Kill, Dragon King. Kill them all.”
Silver Condor, who had been silent until now, suddenly said, “It’s nearly dawn now.” Then he raised his voice and said, “Dragon King, now I believe you.”
This was unexpected. Gu Shenwei felt that the night hadn’t been totally a waste because Silver Condor was exactly the person he needed most.