The rainstorm was spreading from Dongdu to Zhongjing.
The whole city was drowned in rain.
The heavy rain was continuously falling from the upper air, and it covered the whole city of Zhongjing and the big forest outside the city.
There was water everywhere.
The gloomy sky was starting to get dark in the farthest place within sight, as if it was the end of the world.
There was no place to escape, no way to move back to.
The thick forest had become very muddy because of the heavy rain. There was still dim sunlight outside the forest, but it still felt like at night inside the forest. The dense shadows of the trees seemed to be swallowing the light. The twigs were swaying along with the wind and rain, and leaves were falling. In such a dangerous situation, every tree in the dark forest seemed to be showing their bare fangs and waving their brandish claws, radiating a sense of creepiness and ferociousness.
In the dark forest with heavy wind and rain, someone was moving back.
Moving back slowly.
The sound of the footsteps could be heard from all the directions in the forest, along with the hovering wind. Many calm and deep voices rang out in the walkie-talkies, and they sounded despairing.
Control in the east side.
Control in the west side.
Control in the south side.
Control in the north side.
The encirclement is completed. Request to tighten the ring of encirclement.
With every sentence being said, the man who was moving back stopped his movement for a second out of instinct, when they said the last sentence, he finally stopped moving.
His giant-like height was more than two meters, and his face looked stern and calm. His shirt was already torn into pieces, so the breathtaking muscles in his upper body were exposed in front of everyone. His blood was streaming along his strong arms and chest, and eventually, it flushed down the ground by the rain.
He stopped moving and held his fists tightly, and his calm eyes were staring directly at the figures with synchronized movements in front of him. Gradually, there was a beam of murderous light like raging fire in his eyes, sharp and wild.
Then the killing began in the dark rain.
A man in his fifties stood in front of the giant-like figure. He was in a white robe and white hat, wearing a pair of white boots. His whole body was clean and neat. The falling rain was blown away about two or three meters away from him. The man in white stood in the air. There was a seemingly kind yet twisted smile on his face, which was full of wrinkles because he was too thin, making him look like a ghost.
The game is about to end.
The man in white said with a smile on his face,
I have to say, the game is very amusing, but I’m sick of it already. You should come with me. I can assure you, you will be treated as an honored guest, but of course, while you’re still useful to me.
Who are you?
The giant man in front of the man in white said in a deep voice. His body stood straight in the rain, looking extremely sharp and stern, but his tone exposed his poor state of health.
I’m Bai Ye.
The man in white said in a plain tone,
The right visiting professor of Wuji Palace. You don’t have to introduce yourself, I know who you are. You’re Xu Chu, the first disciple of Jade Pool in Zhongzhou State. You’re pretty good, not yet in the Thunder-shocking Realm, but you have already killed one of my confidant of the Thunder-shocking Realm. All of you are pretty good. Oh, let me see, does the man beside you come from Mount Shu in Zhongzhou State if I’m correct? The Great Void Sword Master? Ha, I know this one, too. He is from the Border Praetorian Corps. But I’ve never seen the two girls, I recognize the soon-to-be princess though.
There was creepy light of excitement shining in Bai Ye’s slim eyes.
But I have to say, you guys are the most valuable prey I’ve gotten these days. You’re smart and strong. But what a shame, you’re still in my hands right now.
Then everything was silent.
In the suffocating atmosphere, Xu Chu, who was standing at the very front, took a quiet step back.
Meanwhile, a few shadows which were hidden behind him in the dark took a step forward.
Then the six of them gathered together.
They kept moving back.
Although they already knew there was nowhere to escape, staying there and waiting to be slaughtered wasn’t their style.
The cold smile in Bai Ye’s eyes flashed away.
He slightly waved his hand. Suddenly, dozens of elites of Wuji Palace moved forward with him.
The suffocating atmosphere was getting more and more repressed, as if it was the prelude of a battle.
Be careful, don’t hurt our princess.
A voice rang out suddenly beside Baiye.
In the crowd, a man in a blood-red robe walked out of the crowd and directly stood beside Bai Ye.
The long, loose red robe fully covered his four limbs and his head. The red robe had the color of blood, and the wide pendulum was fluttering along with the wind. He was also standing in the air. He didn’t look like a human being standing beside Bai Ye, but more like a piece of clothing floating in the air.
Naturally.
The disdain in Bai Ye’s eyes flashed away. He said with a poker face,
I won’t hurt your princess, but you can’t touch all the other people here. Tian Yue, take all the people you want away later, the rest have to come back to Wuji Palace with me.
The red robe floating in the air moved slightly, and it seemed to be nodding.
The footsteps from all around were getting closer and closer along with the wind, and the threatening momentum spread around the forest.
Xu Chu’s face looked more and more stern.
He didn’t know Bai Ye, but he recognized the red robe beside him.
Tian Yue, the High Priest of the Ise Grand Shrine, a real superior a half step to Invincible Realm, the main killer who had been hunting them in the past few days.
The whole thing started with an inexplicable reason. They successfully killed a target in a hunting mission, and there was a young man about thirty years old with the target. There was no mercy in this kind of mission that involved the battle between two countries. Xu Chu planned to kill him too, out of instinct. But the young man who looked powerless suddenly jumped up and hurt Xu Chu really badly.
At that moment, the person with the fastest reaction wasn’t Li Baitian or Ning Qiancheng, but Dongcheng Rushi, who just joined them in the hunting mission.
The two of them fought for a short period of time. Xu Chu was hurt but it wasn’t a deadly injury, but the young man who had reached the Thunder-shocking Realm had fled the scene successfully.
From beginning to end, the young man just said one thing.
And he spoke in perfect Chinese.
I’ll keep you in mind.
This was the beginning of their nightmare.
In less than two hours after that, the Shinto power of East Island, the criminal syndicate, the elites of the Special Warfare System all took action immediately, from Ninghu to Juban, then to Zhongjing.
The old killers of the Fire-flaming Realm in the hunting mission were replaced by killers of the Thunder-shocking Realm, even Tian Yue, the High Priest of Ise Grand Shrine had joined the mission.
And right now, they still hadn’t figured out who that young man was.
But nothing mattered now.
If Tian Yue’s target was just Dongcheng Rushi, then Bai Ye’s target was everyone. That was the flavor of scheme blowing in the face. The whole thing meant that the beginning private grievances between them had now gotten involved in the general trend of the two countries.
There was already no point in thinking about the other things, and breaking out was the only option.
But breaking out?
Where could they break out?
Senior Brother, let’s give it the last shot, head to the east.
A soft voice rang out, with the weakness of a dying man.
If the situation is too bad, just leave me here. The ones who can carry on leaves with you.
Xu Chu’s body shook. He turned around and stared at Ning Qiancheng who was behind him.
Ning Qiancheng’s face had turned blue-gray like a dead man. He held Yu Qingyan who was in a coma in his arms tightly and managed to put on a weak smile.
I’m afraid I can’t make it.
He pushed Yu Qingyan in his arms towards Xu Chu while talking, his voice getting weaker and weaker.
Please take care of her, and Rushi, I can’t… General, I’m so sorry.
What the hell are you talking about?! We’re leaving together. Drunbility Cheng, hang in there for me. Unless I die before you, or… or…
Li Baitian pulled Ning Qiancheng’s collar but stopped talking abruptly.
Ning Qiancheng managed to smile for a second, then passed out again.
Carry Qingyan.
Li Baitian bit his teeth hard and carried Ning Qiancheng on his back. He told Ye Huayu something, then said in a deep voice,
Head to the east. We break out there!
You go first.
A clear, sharp voice rang out.
First Senior Brother, you take them to break out, and I’ll stall them for you.
You?!
Everyone turned around at the same time.
A very young girl stood next to Ye Huayu.
The girl looked twenty at most. She looked so immature but really pretty, and her figure was tall and thin. She was about 1.70 meters tall. The black tights she was wearing were a bit worn out, showing quite a lot of her white, fair skin. Now she was supporting Yu Qingyan with Ye Huayu. Noticing everyone had turned around and looked at her, she nodded and said in a serious tone,
I’ll stall them.
The blood and dirt on her face couldn’t hide her beauty. Her long black hair didn’t get wet by the rain and was fluttering in the wind. Her eyes were calm and clear, with unshakable firmness.
I can do this.
This was a beautiful girl with attentive and pure temperament. She stood in the night rain, like a stream of spring between the hills, cold but nourishing everything.
Exquisite and noble, clean and dustless.
Dongcheng Rushi!
Li Baitian frowned slightly. He wasn’t going to retreat but didn’t say anything, either.
But from the bottom of his heart, he wasn’t completely satisfied with Dongcheng Rushi, because of one reason only; she hid her strength from him.
Yes.
She hid her true strength from him.
At least this was what Li Baitian thought of her.
From Ninghu to Juban, then to Zhongjing, in this half a month, they were literally being hunted at all hours.
But Dongcheng Rushi rarely joined the fight from beginning to end.
Among the six people, everyone was in charge of something, but to think it carefully, Dongcheng Rushi never seemed to contribute anything.
Three days ago, Xu Chu personally killed the superior of the Thunder-shocking Realm from Wuji Palace, Leng Xue.
Five days ago, Li Baitian and Ye Huayu worked together on a sneak-attack. They managed to cause serious injury on a superior of the Thunder-shocking Realm, and two superiors of the Fire-flaming Realm died under the sword of Mount Shu.
But Li Baitian and Ye Huayu were also seriously injured.
Seven days ago, Xu Chu opened the road himself, took the team and rushed all the way out of Ninghu and into Juban.
Ten days ago.
Yu Qingyan.
Yu Qingyan was the weakest in the team, but she contributed the most.
She hurt Tian Yue, a superior a half step to Invincible Realm, really bad.
No one could explain what really happened.
Ten days ago, Tian Yue appeared for the first time, showing his arrogant momentum. Xu Chu was at the very front of the battle. The six of them were all attacking Tian Yue, but they still couldn’t beat him. In the chaos, Yu Qingyan, who was wandering outside the battle circle all along, gave Tian Yue a hit when no one was paying attention.
Then this brave and strong High Priest of Ise Grand Shrine exploded.
But it wasn’t his body that exploded, it was his blood.
His countless blood exploded into blood mist, and the blood mist burst out from all over his body with burning heat. In almost the blink of an eye, Tian Yue’s strength got crippled down a small realm. Tian Yue, who was surprised and angry, didn’t stay anymore. He turned around and fled after a subconscious counterattack.
But Ning Qiancheng blocked his counterattack which was aimed at Yu Qingyan. After the battle, Yu Qingyan went into a coma.
Ning Qiancheng was seriously injured and was on the verge of death.
But this battle also successfully brought a concern to the hunters. It was said that Tian Yue was poisoned by hypertoxic substance, but so far no one could explain it. When they were worried and confused, they wouldn’t hunt them with full force. In that case, they could have more time to run away, then they arrived in Zhongjing.
Meanwhile, in Zhongjing, Ise Grand Shrine was comprehensively working with Wuji Palace. The hunting was intense, but it felt like they were just chasing them instead of trying to kill them.
In several days in a row, they barely survived and carried on, but now all the supply had been used up. What was worse, all their strength and willpower had been run out. How could they retreat?
Right now there was literally no place they could retreat to.
And on the whole journey.
What had Dongcheng Rushi done?
She seemed to be fighting every time, but she didn’t pull out her sword all along.
A young superior who was even above him in the ranking of Zhongzhou State.
A young superior who reached the peak of the Fire-flaming Realm at the age of nineteen.
She didn’t even contribute as much as Ye Huayu.
Li Baitian wasn’t afraid of death or dying for friends, but Dongcheng Rushi’s behaviors made him really uncomfortable.
No.
Xu Chu shook his head without hesitation.
I’ll stall them, and you guys go first.
You can’t stall them.
Dongcheng Rushi looked at Xu Chu and said directly.
Xu Chu opened his mouth, and his expression changed slightly.
You want to…
What a touching moment, but unfortunately, none of you can get out alive.
A soft, gentle voice rang out suddenly.
You have two choices. First one, you come to Dongdu as guests with me. The second one, you come to Wuji Palace as guests with me.
A bolt of ghostly blue lightning suddenly flashed in the rain.
The lightning lit up the sky.
In the extreme brightness, a shadow of a young man walked straight out of the lightning.
Dongcheng Rushi stared at the lightning in front of her quietly. Her clear eyes blinked, and she didn’t say anything.
Tian Yue, the High Priest of Ise Grand Shrine, and Bai Ye, the right visiting professor of Wuji Palace, bowed down slightly at the same time.
Your Highness.
Your Highness?!
This was the honorific title for superiors of the Invincible Realm in the Dark World, but that wasn’t necessarily the case.
For example, Wang Yuetong, the little princess of the Wang family of Beihai, got called Her Highness in most of the time.
But people didn’t use this kind of word casually. People who got called this kind of title, either had the matching power or the matching identity.
His Highness from Japan?
Xu Chu and Li Baitian thought about the princess Tian Yue just mentioned.
They looked at each other for a brief second.
Was the young man they met in the hunting mission a prince from the East Island royalty?
The young man nodded casually. He was wearing a set of sportswear and had short hair and an average look. His height was like most of the men in East Island, and he was relatively short. There was nothing decorative on him. But his every move gave out a sense of indescribable nobleness.
How come you still haven’t done it yet?
The young man asked casually, and his tone was soft. But when the question reached Xu Chu’s and Li Baitian’s ear, the translation machine made it sound incredibly stiff.
We’re about to.
Tian Yue straightened his body and said in a respectful tone.
The young man nodded without a care in the world. He pointed at Dongcheng Rushi with flames in his eyes.
This woman, don’t hurt her. From tonight on, she’s mine.
I won’t marry you.
Dongcheng Rushi quietly looked at the young man who appeared suddenly. There was no hostility in her eyes, just concentration and seriousness, which were too pure to figure out.
But why?
The young man was a bit shocked, as if this was something interesting to him. He jokingly said,
Maybe I should introduce myself. I’m Prince Renwu from the East Island royalty. I can forgive you for everything you’ve done in East Island, and I’ll even consider making you my wife, this will be your honor. After all, I’m under a lot of pressure if I marry a sow from Shina. But something about you attracts me…
I won’t marry you.
Dongcheng Rushi said in a simple and direct tone.
She repeated it again. Then she said seriously as she watched Prince Renwu,
I have a fiancé.
Really?
Prince Renwu slightly raised his eyebrows.
Who is he?
He asked a simple question but still showed his frustration unconsciously.
But then he remembered her identity. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.
She was the daughter of the Commander of Zhongzhou State Border Praetorian Corps…
It involved the overall situation of East Island if he wanted to marry this woman.
Prince Renwu would accept her even if she wasn’t a virgin.
I haven’t met him before.
Dongcheng Rushi shook her head, and her clear eyes revealed her sorrow.
And I don’t know if I can ever see him.
She lifted her head and sighed while looking at the raining sky through the thick leaves and twigs.
You go first.
She stepped forward and said.
Junior Sister…
Xu Chu opened his mouth and said in a dry tone.
We have no choice.
Dongcheng Rushi said softly, and her hair was waving frantically in the wind. She stepped on the cool breeze and the night rain.
She reached her hand.
After all these days.
After all these years.
Her slim hand pulled out the long sword that had been carried on her back all along.
The name of the sword is Silence.
She said softly, and her light, ethereal voice spread around the mountain forest.
In just a second, the dense sword intent surged and roared. Soon, it swallowed the whole mountain forest.
This was the sword from Jade Pool.
The sword from Jade Pool was also Dongcheng Rushi.
In the mountain breeze and the night rain, extreme brightness and sharpness suddenly flashed in Dongcheng Rushi’s eyes.
Silence was about to come out of the scabbard.
I was in a desperate situation, but so were the enemies.
The enemies and I would perish together.
