Not an animal stayed after the ear-splitting crash that excavated a path in the forest.
Prior to commuting to Nanjiang, Emperor’s Entourage’s leader, Ye Yun called Dugu aside to tell him that the outcome of the expedition wasn’t the most important but what he heard and saw would be the most important. Only after beholding the outrageous event did Dugu understand why Ye Yun told him what he did, prompting him to check his memories.
Dugu kept what he judged a safe distance from Ming Feizhen, lest the latter discover his presence. He, however, was forced to pick up the pace when Ming Feizhen and Hong Jiu vanished. On his way, he spotted a familiar grey set of clothing. Given the white python’s danger, it wouldn’t be surprising for Hong Jiu to die in battle, let alone hurt badly enough to crouch on the ground. Hence, Dugu rushed over and placed a hand on Hong Jiu’s back to siphon internal energy over. “Brother Hong, how did you get hurt?”
Hong Jiu heaved two big breaths prior to looking up.“A moment of carelessness…”
“The python hurt you?”
Hong Jiu shook his head. “Sprained my ankle.”
“…” Dugu pulled his hand back slowly. “I need to get going.”
Hong Jiu grabbed Dugu. “Brother Dugu, in this era of material greed, are even you going to leave me for dead?”
“Shut up! I’d rather believe in ghosts than you spraining your ankle!”
“Why the hell would I be squatting here if I didn’t hurt my foot?! To count ants?!”
The two continued to go back and forth.
Meanwhile, Gewu screamed, “Baidizi, kill him!”
The white python spat out a venomous gas, forcing Ming Feizhen to retreat two steps. He slipped his hands into his sleeves, then drew two circles in front.
“Water King Thread.”
Baidizi halted, rather, was forced to halt. It spun around on a horizontal axis and then crashed into the earth, though it didn’t suffer remotely enough damage to faze it.
Ming Feizhen, having achieved his goal, became an untraceable mobile target. While he didn’t have the ability to accelerate, decelerate and change direction of movement with the fluidity and freedom Sima Huai had, Ming Feizhen could pile more speed on top of speed and then more. If he wanted to, he could augment his speed to the point that not even he could control his trajectory. The requisites to travel at that speed were internal energy that didn’t need recharges in between – on top of a sturdy body that could withstand the extreme velocity.
Once Ming Feizhen revealed himself again, the white python’s might meant nothing.
“This is called Ancient King Thread – Feather Stitching.” Ming Feizhen crossed the white python’s head to approach Gewu. “There are over four hundred strings of celestial spider thread cuffing it. It’ll need, at least, fifteen minutes to break free; I suppose that’s enough for us to have a quick chat.”
Although more terrified than ever, Gewu didn’t step back for he was aware that it would only delay the inevitable.
Gaze down on the python underfoot, Ming Feizhen continued, “This one is ranked third among the nine dragons. Both its offensive prowess and lifespan are like a dragon. When did you capture it?”
“… Forty-five years ago.”
“I’m impressed you didn’t feed it human flesh for decades. Your patience deserves praise.”
“H-how do you know?”
“You still have a lot to learn about Six Evils’ habits. Once they’ve tasted human flesh, they’ll harbour a strong predation towards humans. Additionally, their bodies begin to transform into a body more apt for feasting on humans as well as fighting them. You’ve shown this one only takes orders to attacks. I don’t believe you can tame a dragon that’s developed a violent disposition, either. If you could, you would’ve marched off Mount Wanyu already.”
Gewu went white in the face as he listened to his confidence verbally shattered.
“Your comprehension of their aggression isn’t wrong. Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m no expert at strategy. Even the ideas I come up with aren’t my own ideas. I didn’t use my brain once to screw you over. You pretty much buried yourself for me.
“You’re one of the thorough ones among the morons I’ve come across. You waited until I was unhinged, provoked me in various ways and tried to control me using your dragon taming methods. You should be proud you’re smarter than the idiots I’ve come across in the past. You were on the right track but not on the right level.”
“What level?”
“My level.” Ming Feizhen’s eyes turned red, startling Gewu again. In the chilling voice that Gewu heard prior to descending the mountain, Ming Feizhen resumed. “These aren’t Fengpeng eyes. They look similar, but it’s not the same thing. This is the product of a certain discipline’s usage. I usually feel moody when I use it.
“You only made one fault. Be it fengqi shenmu, a dragon’s roar or genocide, none of them are enough to trigger me. If you want to awaken the beast in me, you need to provide me with a decent challenge, at the very least. You? You’re too weak.”
“Why don’t you kill me?!” Gewu bellowed in a hoarse voice.
“I wouldn’t need to try to kill you. Who said I want to kill you, though?” Ming Feizhen placed a hand on Gewu’s shoulder. “This might hurt.”
A painful sensation comparable to meridians being severed shot down from Gewu’s shoulder to the rest of his body. Decades of assiduous training and studying was deleted with a single touch. All the internal energy he invested resources and decades to strengthening, all of the qi points he spent developing were erased from his body. No longer could he classify himself a martial artist ever again.
“Ming Feizhen! Aaargh! Ming Feizhen!” Gewu dropped into the blood he vomited. “Ming Feizhen!”
“I won’t kill you. There’s a line of people who want to kill you; it doesn’t need to be me. Your superior is here to pick you up.” Ming Feizhen looked up at the silver mask staying put in the distance and then walked off blithely.
“Ming Feizhen!” Even leaves trembled in the face of Gewu’s hatred. “I will make you regret not killing me!”
Note: For the people who missed it, I have changed “Shadow Lord” to “Shadow Lady”. I plead ignorance on this one. I had no idea “Lady” is the female version of “Lord”. I always thought “Lord” was gender neutral.
