160.1 – Harsh Sound
Qi Qiqi broke into another world.
When she reached a certain distance away from the Heaven Demon, she crossed a boundary.
True qi compressed for unknown reasons constrict her, making it hard for her to move. Have I dropped into water? This strange situation inadvertently prompted her to make such a guess.
Sand enveloped by true qi splashed over from not far away
Qi Qiqi covered her face with a sleeve to block the sand.
The Heaven Demon is right in front of her, probably less than 10 zhang away. She also appears to have noticed Qi Qiqi.
For some reason, the moment her gaze fell on Qi Qiqi, the Heaven Demon had a complicated look in her eyes.
Qi Qiqi didn"t have time to ponder about what the expression in the other person"s eyes in that split second meant, as she encountered an abrupt situation that forced her to stop in her tracks.
Someone flew towards her. To be more precise, someone was flung towards her.
It is Reverend Carefree.
In a moment of carelessness, he was. .h.i.t by a tail of the Heaven Demon and sent flying. He hit the ground in front of Qi Qiqi and smashed open a large pit, and a painful grunt drowned in the splashing dust and gravel.
“Reverend Carefree, are you okay!”
Qi Qiqi hurried to the place where Reverend Carefree fell and shouted with concern. The cloud of dust lifted by the impact is really large, making it hard for her to see the state of Reverend Carefree.
“d.a.m.n it!”
In the cloud of dust, a figure staggered to its feet.
“Reverend, you…”
After finally seeing Reverend Carefree"s appearance, Qi Qiqi"s words were stuck in her throat.
It"s a really tragic sight.
Leaving the bruises all over his body for now aside, his robe is covered in tears and grime, and the upper part of the robe has even been reduced to rags, barely hanging on the body.
Slender, purplish red whip bruises lie in disarray on the st.u.r.dy chest, oozing blood; the fly-whisk snapped in two and fell at his feet; the cloth crown that tied his hair is gone, and his long grey hair scatter messily.
Is this still the sage-like, carefree individual — Reverend Carefree?
“Oh, if it isn"t Temple Master Qi! Did you come to provide support?”
Reverend Carefree stood up straight with difficulty and looked at Qi Qiqi in surprise.
Qi Qiqi wanted to smile in return, but the other party"s awkward appearance made it so she really couldn"t smile.
“Oh, Temple Master Qi. I"m sorry for letting you see –“
Evidently having realized that he is an eyesore, Reverend Carefree smiled bitterly. However, before he finished speaking, he was stopped by a series of coughs. He must have suffered serious internal injuries as he coughed up blood.
After repelling several martial demons, Qi Qiqi stepped forward urgently to help.
“Reverend, are you alright?”
Reverend Carefree gestured with his hands, prompting Qi Qiqi to support him and stroke his back to pacify him.
After finally finishing coughing, he used a hand to wipe out the blood. The blood on his palm is slightly dark, but there is nothing mixed in it — such as flesh bits — to worry about. It seems that his injuries aren"t serious. Admittedly, he"s internal organs were only shocked, leading to some bleeding.
“I"m sorry for inconveniencing you, Temple Master Qi!” Reverend Carefree smiled apologetically.
The battle in the distance continued. Jiang Shan and another Beggar"s Union"s Elder cooperated seamlessly, one focused on defense and the other focused on offense, and unexpectedly tied down the Heaven Demon for now.
But —
Can just two Earth Realm martial pract.i.tioners fight a Heaven Demon to a standstill? Qi Qiqi is skeptical, feeling that the Heaven Demon hasn"t gone all out yet.
At this time, the Heaven Demon glanced at Qi Qiqi again, still an indescribable look in her eyes.
Why is she looking at me with those eyes? Qi Qiqi is puzzled, but she didn"t delve into it. At the moment, the situation doesn"t permit her to delve deeper. Qi Qiqi decided to put it in the back of her mind. She became alert of her surroundings — especially of the Heaven Demon. At the same time, she threw a question towards Reverend Carefree.
“Reverend, why don"t you retreat? The situation is unfavorable for us! There is no need to meet force with force and make unnecessary sacrifices! Besides, the martial demons haven"t encircled us. I can guarantee this with my life! Hurry up and retreat!”
Reverend Carefree politely declined Qi Qiqi"s help, refusing to let her continue to support him.
“Temple Master Qi, I naturally understand the situation you speak of…” Reverend Carefree shook his head helplessly, “But there are some who refuse to retreat… I"m also rather — Temple Master Qi, be careful!”
Qi Qiqi has already noticed the situation before Reverend Carefree"s warning.
“How vexing!”
She turned around, kicked a martial demon attacking her from behind, and sent it flying.
“Is it due to Beggar"s Union?” Qi Qiqi frowned.
Although he didn"t mention it by name, but when Reverend Carefree replied, he aimed a glance at the two Beggar"s Union"s members.
Beggar"s Union is unwilling to retreat.
Why? Qi Qiqi"s face is full of doubt.
“Protector Jiang said that cowering before martial demons is not befitting of real men…”
Is that fool Jiang Shan missing a few marbles? Is he an idiot? Qi Qiqi is so angry that she doesn"t know what to say. But she can only push it down.
Reverend Carefree closed his eyes and let out a profound sigh.
“His pride does not allow…”
“Senseless pride! Reverend Carefree, why are you accompanying him in this madness?”
“Since Beggar"s Union hasn"t retreated, we can"t either! They can"t handle this on their own!”
Unable to ignore the stubborn Beggar"s Union in their time of need, One Dao Church stayed behind. Is it the same as me? Qi Qiqi suddenly felt that they are a rather moral bunch.
Returning to the main topic, Beggar"s Union fighting for the sake of their pride just serves to harm themselves and others. But as Reverend Carefree said, they can"t abandon Beggar"s Union. Even though they are aware that it wouldn"t be wrong per se, but gossip in Demimonde won"t show consideration to them.
— “Merak Temple and One Dao Church left Beggar"s Union to sink or swim while in grave danger.”
If they really left Beggar"s Union to fend for themselves and departed, similar rumors would soon appear in the Martial World. Isn"t this unreasonable? But things like rumors are unreasonable to begin with.
On the other hand, people are very fond of rumors, so they spread easily. The matter with Xue Qilin charging into Heavenly Sword Gate is the best proof. When you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick. Merak Temple and One Dao Church may take a hit to their reputation.
The importance of “reputation” has been proven throughout history.
Because of this, all sects — Shadow Gate excluded — are paying particular attention to reputation. No one likes a sect with a bad reputation.
Concerned about this, Reverend Carefree, who doesn"t want for One Dao Church to be labelled as “one who ignores others in their time of need”, he deliberately stayed and fought against the enemy together with Beggar"s Union. Qi Qiqi is the same.
But nevertheless, the trial by fire groups have no reason not to retreat. Qi Qiqi wants the trial by fire groups to retreat, but how can she accomplish this? The only solution that comes to mind is either to persuade Jiang Shan to leave, or use tough measures to force him to leave.
“Reverend Carefree, I plan to try and persuade Protector Jiang to retreat. Can you give me a hand?”
Qi Qiqi"s intention is to have Revered Carefree stall the Heaven Demon, so that Jiang Shan can get away from the opponent and Qi Qiqi can talk with him.
In a fierce battle of this degree, dialogue and negotiation can hardly be carried out, since there is no spare time for distraction. Distraction is often deadly in battle.
“I already tried that, but regrettably, the other party is obstinate.”
“If he doesn"t listen, then even if I have to be unyielding, I"ll bring him away!” Qi Qiqi said indignantly.
“That"s difficult to accomplish!” Reverend Carefree shook his head, “He is as stubborn as a mule. But…”
“But?”
Qi Qiqi raised her head, and a profound smile immediately reflected in her eyes.
“The Heaven Demon isn"t going all out. From my perspective, she doesn"t want to kill us. Otherwise, with merely Earth Realm cultivation base, me and the other two wouldn"t be able to fight her for so long. We would have died. Moreover, we wouldn"t be able to discuss countermeasures for this long. She isn"t so much trying to kill us, as to drive us away… so the key lies with — Beggar"s Union.”
Qi Qiqi nodded her head to express that she understands. Reverend Carefree"s smile became more profound.
“Therefore –“
There is a certain emotion in Reverend Carefree"s eyes.
“We can leave "them" here.”
What he means is… Qi Qiqi froze.
“You want to plot against the two Beggar Union"s Earth Realm experts?”
Her voice trembled, probably shaken by the astonishment that welled up inside her.
Reverend Carefree is silent, declining to comment. There is an ominous glint floating in the abyss of the eyes staring straight at the girl in a red dress.
The answer is obvious.
Qi Qiqi held her breath and remained silent.
She knows that as long as the two Beggar"s Union"s Earth Realm experts die, Beggar"s Union will lose their greatest reason — the orders — for staying here.
— I want to leave, but I can"t disobey orders.
There must be many who have similar thought in Beggar"s Union. No, most of them should be thinking this way.
There is no one not afraid of dying; there are not many people who can drum up the courage to die.
Of course, if Qi Qiqi and Reverend Carefree plot against Beggar"s Union"s Earth Realm experts and cause them to die, it may evoke a determination to fight to the death in some Beggar"s Union"s disciples in order to avenge their elders.
However, that determination is largely just an impulse. There are many ways to persuade them. Qi Qiqi thought for a bit and came up with several methods and arguments.
— “Before he died, Protector Jiang wanted you to live.”
Just this simple sentence is enough to convince most of the disciples.
A lie? The dead cannot testify. Who can tell for sure that it"s just an excuse fabricated by Qi Qiqi and Reverend Carefree?