Chapter 77: The Masked Man's First Move

The masked man was incredibly fast; even with Xu Xiaoshou tucked under his arm, it didn't affect his movements. However, the law enforcement officers from the Spirit Law Division pursuing them were no pushovers; they kept their distance, never losing track. Goose Lake was vast, yet the masked man crossed it in just a few bounds.

Just then, another team of law enforcement officers appeared ahead. This left not only the masked man stunned but Xu Xiaoshou utterly bewildered as well. Weren't they drawn here by the aftermath of his battle? It looked more like they had been lying in wait...

No, wait!

Perhaps they weren't attracted by his battle at all; they were already lying in ambush!

Xu Xiaoshou stared at the masked man in shock. Who exactly was this guy to make the Spirit Law Division dispatch so many people to ambush him? The overwhelming force of his previous battle couldn't even interrupt the Spirit Law Division's plan and get them to come out, even just to stop him from killing people?

Xu Xiaoshou's heart plummeted. So tonight he was just an outsider, and it seemed he had inadvertently disrupted the hidden arrangements within the Spirit Palace?

The masked man stopped, and as soon as he turned around, numerous figures emerged from the third and fourth sides of Goose Lake. Xu Xiaoshou felt a chill, realizing... These people had been waiting in ambush all along!

"You must be the 'Holy Slave' Elder Sang mentioned. We've been waiting for you for days. Surrender now." Xiao Qixiu emerged from the woods, a long sword on his back and a disdainful expression.

"He's really back..." The masked man's murmur was likely only audible to Xu Xiaoshou. He suddenly looked down. "Brat, do you know Elder Sang?"

"I don't!"

Xu Xiaoshou was almost in tears. He shouldn't have run his mouth; now the situation had taken a sharp turn for the worse, and his previous blabbering had put him in danger. He looked at Xiao Qixiu and yelled hoarsely, "Senior Official, help! This guy just killed two Spirit Palace disciples; I don't want to be the third!"

Xiao Qixiu: "..."

This brat really thought he could fool me. Did he think I was blind, after ambushing here for so long, that I didn't see him kill anyone? If it weren't for fear of ruining important matters, these few troublemakers tonight would all be arrested and sent straight to the execution platform!

"Received contempt, Passive Point +1."

The masked man's face was filled with question marks upon hearing this. "When did I kill anyone?" he thought. "This brat's slander shows no hesitation."

"Received a curse, Passive Point +1."

"You brat..."

Just as he was about to increase the density of his sword energy to torture Xu Xiaoshou, he heard the person at his waist say, "Hold steady, don't panic!"

"You take responsibility for those two lives, and I'll guarantee your escape from the Spirit Palace!"

The masked man was so amused he almost laughed. "Look at your cultivation level," he thought, "what can you possibly do?"

Seeing that one trick wouldn't work, Xu Xiaoshou started blabbering again: "I guess you're from some evil... I mean, righteous organization, right?!"

"To be honest, I can't stand this Spirit Palace anymore. They're all too hypocritical; I've wanted to join you for a long time."

"Later, do as I say. I know a secret passage..."

"You want to join us?" the masked man interrupted.

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned. What on earth was he focusing on? Shouldn't he be interested in the secret passage? He felt a bit panicked. Could it be that his words had come true, and this guy really was a member of some evil organization?

"That's not important," Xu Xiaoshou said, "what's important is the secret passage..."

"You want to join us?" the masked man interrupted him again.

Xu Xiaoshou was on the verge of tears. "Yes, I yearn for it!"

"What's your name?"

"Wen Chong!" Xu Xiaoshou blurted out without thinking, making it up on the spot. "Wen as in 'unprecedented,' Chong as in 'top-up.'"

"What 'top-up'?"

"Just... like topping up Q..." Xu Xiaoshou paused, then waved his hand frantically. "You wouldn't understand if I told you..."

"Chong as in 'surfing'!"

"What 'surfing'?"

"..."

Xu Xiaoshou admitted he was indeed a bit flustered, but he tried to appear calm and said indifferently, "Ming as in 'clever'!"

"Oh, Ming as in 'clever'..."

A hint of imperceptible amusement flickered in the masked man's clouded eyes. "So your name is Wen Ming?"

"..."

Xu Xiaoshou almost burst into tears. "That's not right," he thought. "Why am I messing up my words so many times tonight?!"

"My name is Wen Chong!" he said weakly.

The masked man didn't answer him, because Xiao Qixiu had already approached. With a flicker, his figure soared high above Goose Lake, where even the rain seemed colder. Xu Xiaoshou looked down at Goose Lake, which was now just a tiny speck, and the hundreds of law enforcement officers along its banks appeared as a thin line. He was instantly terrified. Even when flying on his sword, he wouldn't dare go this high. If he fell from here, his innate physical body would turn into a pile of mush.

"Hold me tight!" Xu Xiaoshou snuggled into the masked man's embrace. He was incredibly cowardly at that moment, utterly terrified.

The masked man was amused. He pulled out the finger he had inserted into Xu Xiaoshou's lower back, merely dangling him. "Don't move around, and you won't fall," he said.

Xu Xiaoshou panicked even more. Losing the physical pain, he felt even less secure. He thought for a moment. "How about you put your finger back in?" he asked. "I'm a little uneasy."

The masked man: "..."

Is this kid insane?

Without a word, he reinserted his finger into Xu Xiaoshou's lower back. Xu Xiaoshou let out a groan and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Holy crap, you actually did it!"

"Take it out, take it out! I was just joking."

Xu Xiaoshou was utterly distraught. This guy doesn't play by the rules!

The masked man pulled out his finger. Before Xu Xiaoshou could even recover, he felt his body being flung even higher into the sky. The howling wind almost killed him on the spot.

"Help!"

"Shut up, and watch!" the masked man snapped.

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes were already difficult to open due to the fierce wind and rain, but his 'perception' could see clearly. He saw Xiao Qixiu, far below, stretch out his hand, and the long sword on his back tore open a streak of green light in the night sky, like a shooting star, aimed directly at the masked man. The sword intent contained within this sword was as wild and violent as an ancient beast. Wherever the sword passed, the raindrops in the entire void were pulverized into nothingness.

Xu Xiaoshou instantly understood why the masked man had flung him away. If he wasn't further away, he probably would have been torn to shreds like the raindrops and vanished before the sword even got close. The masked man, surprisingly, remained unmoved. Not only that, Xu Xiaoshou could faintly hear his disdainful mockery.

"Among those who dare to attack me, you are the weakest..."

Xu Xiaoshou was utterly stunned. What arrogance! This level of posturing was... He felt that his usual composure and nonchalance in the arena was completely overshadowed by this display.

Before he could continue his complaints, the next second, Xu Xiaoshou's eyes widened. The masked man made no discernible movement; he simply gazed at the rapidly approaching long sword, with only a faint sword intent still emanating from his body. As a result, the long sword inexplicably trembled, emitting a choking sound as if under immense pressure. It bounced back, pointing directly at Xiao Qixiu.

Xiao Qixiu was bewildered. His sword, which had accompanied him for decades, had actually turned against its master? But he had no time to think. The speed of the rebounding long sword was even a fraction faster than when he controlled it. Just as he was about to move, an infinite amount of sword energy burst from his body, instantly knocking over those around him, while he himself was pinned in place by the sword energy.

*Thwack!*

The long sword pierced through Xiao Qixiu's body.

*Pfft!*

Xiao Qixiu's eyes were filled with disbelief as blood spurted from his seven orifices.

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes immediately bulged out, horrified and losing all color.

The masked man slowly raised his head, looking at Xu Xiaoshou, a hint of unusual movement in his clouded eyes.

"If my guess is correct..."

"this should be the path of sword intent you are currently pursuing?"