Exposed (Part 1)
“Who, then?” asked Cang Wanzi, flaring up.
Everyone started looking around. Ximen Buxing took his time shaking his head and opening his fan. He pointed to the small hill in the distance and hollered, “Hey, audience member over there. You going to do something? I will if you don’t.”
There was a youth in leaning on a big rock up the hill. He had his arms folded and looked bored out of his skin. He was someone Mu Yu knew – Lie Shang! Lie Shang’s aura overpowered Ximen Buxing; he was stronger than his last public appearance. The Body Severing Realm Ninth Layer cultivator stopped his focus on Mu Yu before responding, “Not interested.”
“Scared?” heckled Ximen Buxing.
“Not worth the trouble.”
“I agree. There’s no challenge. That’s why I can’t be bothered fighting the armoured insect. I just want to have a chat with Pretty Foxy.”
“Neither of you wants to defend humanity’s dignity?” questioned Cang Wanzi, irate.
“Defend humanity’s dignity? Never happening,” responded Lie Shang.
Ximen Buxing kept sneaking glances at Cang Wanzi to judge if they were pushing the envelope too far. Dying for some laughs was not called fun. Ximen Buxing deliberated what to do and then said, “Lie Shang, don’t annoy Elder. I know your secrets. If you don’t help, he won’t spare us. I could just spill your beans to save myself, but you won’t be so lucky.”
“Are you blackmailing me?”
“No, no, no, the elders are the ones blackmailing you, hehe,” japed Ximen Buxing, pointing to Cang Wanzi.
“I can lend a hand, but the same conditions apply. You know what to do if you want my service.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever. There’s never a good moment when I hang around you.”
“Hmph.” In a flash, Lie Shang had appeared in front of the armoured insect. “You’re no match for me. Find someone stronger. I don’t like being accused of picking on the weak.”
“I’ll make you change your mind!”
Lie Shang kept his arms crossed and remained unperturbed as the insect fiend encroached. Once she was within arm’s reach, he extended an arm and stopped her in her tracks. Surprisingly, the impact was quiet despite her speed.
As the insect fiend was panicking, Lie Shang asked, “No killing, right?” With a finger flick, he sent her all the way back to the fiend king.
Out of nowhere, the tournament became a platform for unknown cultivators to become overnight sensations. Lie Shang’s last publicised accomplishment was when he flicked Liu Feng into oblivion at Floating Celestial Island. Because of his low profile, nobody knew how much more he hid under his ordinary exterior.
Cang Wanzi: What technique was that? How come I never heard someone so impressive was among the unorthodox faction’s ranks?
Cang Wanzi wasn’t too pleased that the unorthodox faction was hogging the limelight as it indirectly impacted the orthodox sects.
“Qiao Xue, ice!” ordered the fiend king.
Upon inspecting the insect fiend’s condition, the fiend king discovered black skin and felt a burning sensation on his hand that reminded him of fire elemental demons.
Qiao Xue draped her water spirit over the insect fiend and transformed it into a blanket of ice. White smoke whisked from the burnt parts of the fiend’s skin. Had Lie Shang hit tried any harder, he would’ve roasted her, literally.
The fiend king stared intently at a nonchalant Lie Shang. He then moved his gaze onto Mu Yu. He turned back to Qiao Xue and inquired, “Be honest. Is Lan Feng Mu Yu? He returned the water spirit to you, didn’t he? I can tell that is the authentic water spirit. The young one up there can control fire the same way you control water, correct?”
Qiao Xue brought out her water spirit to treat the injured fiend without a second thought. She flinched. “… I don’t know,” she answered, voice fading with each word pronounced.
“Qiao Xue, Mu Yu has chosen to stand with humanity. That’s not good for us. I need his help.”
“Please don’t, Grandp-“
The fiend king sped over to Mu Yu. Mu Yu felt spiritual energy containing him all of a sudden. He was unable to break free by the time he reacted. The fiend king sniggered and grabbed him.
“Let Lan Feng go, you cheat!” blustered Cang Wanzi.
Daoist Yuan Hua, Cang Wanzi and Goddess Piaomiao rushed to Lan Feng’s aid.
“White Ape Archfiend, you are going to play dirty against someone younger than you?” raged Daoist Yuan Hua, preparing his walking stick.
“Release me, you old furball!”
“Hahaha, Mu Yu is one of us. What are you all getting riled up for?” jeered the fiend king.
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