Chapter Ch82.1 - Papaya Flavored Senior Brother Gong(20)
Translated by Hua Li ^_~
In the instant the skin mask on Master Xia’s face was torn open, the righteous sects were all stunned.
The face beneath the mask was as youthful and handsome as a peach blossom, yet it stirred the deepest fears hidden within their hearts.
Someone exclaimed in horror, “Bao, Bao, Bao Shi! He, he is Bao Shi!!!”
This cry was like a drop of water falling into a hot oil pan, causing an immediate explosion of commotion.
Bao Shi, sensing the situation wasn’t favorable, tried to escape, but how could Gou Liang let him succeed? The two engaged in combat once again. Bao Shi even discarded his sword and used his martial arts to fight against Gou Liang. Their clash was far more intense than the previous fight between Master Xia and Gou Liang, every move carried a deadly intent.
Yue Qian was equally shocked and couldn’t stay still. He flew into the battle, fearing that Bao Shi might harm Gou Liang. However, Gou Liang said, “Yue Qian, step back.”
Though Yue Qian refrained from interfering, he didn’t move too far away, remaining ready to a.s.sist at any moment. Bao Shi, realizing that Yue Qian was Gou Liang’s weak point, attempted to take Yue Qian hostage. However, Gou Liang kicked his hand away and said, “Master, he’s not your opponent.”
Bao Shi’s attempts failed repeatedly, forcing him to give up. Now, his only choice was to defeat Gou Liang, retrieve the Master’s command token, and use the power of the demonic cult to resist the righteous sects. He had to hold back the enigmatic and powerful Xuandu along with his five companions, thus obtaining a slender chance of survival.
Thinking this through, his moves became even more ruthless.
Gou Liang didn’t dare underestimate his adversary either. Both of them fought with all their might, their speed so rapid that it left only fleeting shadows behind. Gradually, even sect leaders like Situ Zhangtian couldn’t keep up with their movements. If they tried, their inner energy would be shaken, and their vital energy would surge.
The young man playing the zither reminded, “Act within your limits, don’t force yourself.”
Situ Zhangtian and the others relented.
The battle between Gou Liang and Bao Shi escalated in speed. Both were peerless experts of the martial world. Every move and stance they executed was extraordinary, the fierce wind they generated caused the ground to shake and gra.s.s to be uprooted. Pebbles shattered as they pa.s.sed, leaving destruction in their wake.
Even Yue Qian had to use his entire inner energy to withstand their clashes and remain uninjured.
With disheveled black robes and hair, they fought for nearly two quarters of an hour. Yue Qian’s keen eyes caught a change in Bao Shi’s moves. It seemed he had grown impatient with Gou Liang’s persistence.
Unfortunately for him, his luck was rather poor!
“Nine Nether Annihilation!”
“Nine Nether Annihilation!”
As Bao Shi launched his attack, Gou Liang nearly simultaneously executed his technique, palms meeting, and their formidable inner energy collided. The ground cracked deeply under the force of their clash, the earth and dust exploding.
The person with the crane-like hair and youthful appearance let out a surprised sound and then chuckled, “Haha, truly a formidable young talent! This Bao Shi is going to lose.”
Indeed, as soon as he finished speaking, Bao Shi was thrown airborne by the rising dust, crashing onto the ground. He attempted to flee immediately, but thousands of silver needles shot toward him. Bao Shi turned to counter them, resulting in the needles littering the ground. Unfortunately, one needle had pierced a crucial acupoint, leaving him immobilized and unable to escape.
Gou Liang pursued, but his movements paused slightly. While he was defeating Bao Shi, the original soul that had remained inactive all this time was now purified by half!
Yue Qian landed beside him, watching anxiously, “Xiao Keng’er, are you injured?”
Gou Liang shook his head with great cheerfulness, stepped forward gracefully, and said, “Master, you’re still as rough as ever.”
Bao Shi, knowing his fate was sealed, locked eyes with Gou Liang, “You’ve actually mastered the ‘Nine Dark Arts’ technique?!”
“He hasn’t mastered the ‘Nine Dark Arts’ technique,” the crane-haired youth interrupted Bao Shi, chuckling, “He created a new variation of the ‘Nine Dark Arts’ technique, far more formidable than the one I wrote all those years ago. Now I see, my life’s work is merely average compared to his achievements. Young friend, I admire your extraordinary talent.”
The bystanders collectively exhaled, realizing that this senior was the supreme expert who created the ‘Nine Dark Arts’ a century ago. He was still alive!
The members of the Jiuming Tower were overjoyed, yet even Tang Louzhu, who had been terrified of Master Xia moments ago, didn’t dare to approach the master. They could only gaze at him with burning antic.i.p.ation.
“Well said.”
Gou Liang didn’t take his praise to heart, wearing an unconcerned expression. Then, he looked at Bao Shi and said, “Master, after all these years, this disciple never expected to find you here. It turns out you’ve become the current leader of the Beiyuan Sword Sect. Tsk tsk, if their ancestors were in the heavens, they would surely spit out all the incense offerings they have acc.u.mulated over these years.”
The members of the Beiyuan Sword Sect were all ashen-faced, particularly Mrs. Xia. She collapsed to the ground.
Strangely enough, Xia Xinya, who had been terrified of Master Xia a moment ago, screamed, “Bao Shi! How dare you impersonate my father! Where did you take my father?! Did you kill him?!”
With this revelation, she regained her composure.
Gou Liang chuckled, “Miss Xia, you’ve misunderstood. He hasn’t impersonated anyone. From beginning to end, he’s been the current leader of the Beiyuan Sword Sect. Of course, he’s also my master and the first generation leader of the Demonic Cult. Mrs. Xia, didn’t you ever wonder what your husband did when he secluded himself for all these years? The rivers and lakes would undoubtedly have run red with bloodshed. Did you have no suspicion at all?”
“Right, I suppose my master has always been discreet in his actions, naturally not giving you any handles.”
“However, Miss Xia, you did make an accurate point. You should ask him who your father truly is. As far as I know, Bao Shi practiced the ‘Harmonious Dual Cultivation’ technique with the previous master of the Hehuan Sect forty years ago. This technique preserved his youthful appearance, but he’s also unable to sire any more offspring. I believe you two elders should understand this best, right?”
Gou Liang looked at the two elders whose appearances matched those of young men. The latter nodded while Mrs. Xia retched in response.
As for Xia Xinya, she was thunderstruck, ending up seated on the ground.
Witnessing this, the others realized that even Mrs. Xia was unaware of who fathered her daughter, Xia Xinya. Bao Shi, in his madness, for the sake of concealing his ident.i.ty, had allowed other men to father children in Mrs. Xia’s womb… Such a pitiable situation for Mrs. Xia.
Yet, their sympathy was quite limited.
Considering Mrs. Xia had spent decades as the wife of this fiendish Bao Shi, it was akin to maggots festering on a beautiful carca.s.s, something to be shunned.
—— Even if Mrs. Xia eventually returned to the Medical Valley with Xia Xinya, living in seclusion as a widow and orphan, even the relatives of the Medical Valley would not treat them kindly. They were left alone and dest.i.tute, struggling to survive, and eventually will die with resentment.
No need to mention the events that will follow.
At this moment, Bao Shi wanted to understand, “How did you know my ident.i.ty?”
He believed he had executed his plan flawlessly.
Gou Liang didn’t need to ponder much over this reason, “Naturally, Bao San told me.”
“That’s impossible.”
Although he had met Bao San once, he hadn’t revealed his ident.i.ty, so even Bao San couldn’t have known!
Gou Liang chuckled, “Why not? It was thanks to you, my master, that I practiced the ‘Nine Dark Arts’ technique you left behind. Unfortunately, I lost control and my inner energy was completely wasted, leaving me defenseless. Bao San wanted my life, so how could I be unprepared? I had long placed a soul-tracking talisman on him. As long as he came within a hundred steps of me, I would sense it.”
“But on the day Mo Guanju died, I smelled the same scent on Sect Leader Xia’s body… A few days ago, I remembered this matter and decided to ask Bao San. Unexpectedly, he was acting under your orders to kill Mo Guanju and frame me.”
“Master, you’ve deceived your disciple quite harshly.”
Bao Shi couldn’t believe Bao San was alive and well. However, considering what happened to Jiang Suxi and her son, whom he was supposed to have killed, he wasn’t skeptical anymore. He shifted his attention and asked, “Where did you learn your medical skills? I had no idea my good disciple possessed such skill!”
“I have you to thank for that.”
“If Master hadn’t commanded me to pursue Hua Huichun into the Valley of Medicine, I wouldn’t have found myself coerced into the Holy Land of the Valley of Medicine. Did learning this skill save my life?” His smile vanished abruptly as he asked Bao Shi with a gentle tone, “Hua Huichun mentioned that I should be known as Ye Gui, doted on by Fanyin Pavilion and Jiuming Tower. Bao…could you elucidate what this implies?”
Pavilion Master Ye and Master Tang’s expressions underwent a sudden shift, their astonishment evident as they gazed at Gou Liang.
Bao Shi burst into hearty laughter. “And so what!”
“That’s correct. You, along with your senior brothers, were meant to be virtuous individuals! Yet now, they have transformed into shameless demons by the righteous. How much familial and mentor blood has stained your hands throughout the years? How many lives have they claimed, even those of their close kin? Hahaha, Xiao Jiu, don’t you find this more captivating than my annihilation of a single school or faction?” Gou Liang nodded, “The wisdom of the Master, it’s beyond comparison with ordinary individuals.”
“What, what does this imply? Are you truly Ye Gui?!” Pavilion Master Ye exclaimed in disbelief.
Gou Liang paid no heed to her and directed his words solely to Bao Shi, “In the past, I was resolute in achieving success. I deeply regret inflicting harm on the Master. The Master has always harbored unconventional notions. Why not inform me of your intentions this time, along with the manner in which you seek my demise?”
Bao Shi’s laughter grew even more exuberant. “Xiao Jiu, among all my disciples, you alone resemble me the most! With you, even if I perish, the tranquility of this world will forever remain elusive! As long as you are alive, my, Bao Shi’s, dominion over this world will remain unshaken! Hahahaha! Joyful, ecstatic!”
“Regrettably, I fear I might disappoint the Master.”
Gou Liang’s voice held a soft sigh.
“What did you just say?!” Bao Shi abruptly ceased laughing, a malicious glare fixed on him.
“Speaking of which, I still owe grat.i.tude to the Master.”
“If you hadn’t generously handed me the ‘Nine Dark Arts’ you took from my biological father, how could I have ended up being almost killed by Bao San and later saved by Yue Qian? You taught us that for a life-saving favor, one should offer oneself. I’ve always listened to your words, how could I have abandoned him?”
Pausing for a moment, he continued, “Master, the things you never found in your lifetime, your disciple has found. The Jianghu, martial arts, fame,fortune, peerless skills… these are not what I desire.”
Gou Liang looked at Yue Qian. When Yue Qian held his hand, he smiled.
“A moment of Spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold, a handsome young man like this, not even a thousand pieces of gold can compare.”
Hearing his affectionate voice, Yue Qian’s face warmed.
“You’re willing to ruin my decades of effort for this person?!” Bao Shi’s face turned ferocious, his eyes bloodshot. He suddenly yelled, breaking through the acupoint blocked by the silver needles, and lunged at Yue Qian with a deadly move—
Gou Liang immediately acted, disabling his lower jaw, but Bao Shi had already bitten down on a concealed poison sac.
It was a suicidal move, camouflaged as an attack.
Bao Shi, blood flowing from his mouth, laughed wildly, “Under the heavens, no one can kill me, except… myself! Hahaha!”
The poison, sealed in his throat, was about to take his life, but Gou Liang swiftly removed the silver needles and inserted one into his brain. With a touch of sorrow, he looked at Bao Shi and softly said, “Master, you’re going to be disappointed by your disciple.”
Bao Shi’s eyes widened, but he was holding on to his last breath.
This is the last chapter of this arc….I have divided this into two. See you next week!!!