Are You Scratching an Itch for Me?

Jiang Dao raced all the way and soon arrived at the guest room area from before.

The moment he landed, Jiang Dao's gaze darkened.

The place before him was dilapidated, its doors collapsed, cobwebs everywhere.

Just like the old monk's quarters, there was not a trace of human presence.

Du Feng and the others inside had all vanished.

"Damn it..."

Jiang Dao's face turned icy as he gripped his steel saber tightly, veins bulging across the back of his hand.

His gaze was terrifying. His burly body slowly turned as he looked toward the pitch-black, sinister temple.

"I'd like to see just what kind of being you are!"

Not only was he not frightened, the viciousness in his heart was instead stirred awake. He rolled his neck, producing a series of cracking sounds, then strode toward the area where Li San and the others had been.

After crossing a courtyard, Jiang Dao soon reached the place where Li San and the others had settled earlier.

Yet upon arriving, he discovered that this place was just like Du Feng's quarters—utterly ruined, drafty on all sides, with patches of weeds everywhere.

Li San and the others had vanished as well!

Jiang Dao's eyes darkened. After carefully searching the area once, he set off again toward the depths of the temple.

This time, he had not even seen who the opponent was before everyone around him disappeared. It filled him with deep fury.

Passing through the corridors, Jiang Dao searched room after room, kicking out and shattering every broken door.

He did not believe they had all died.

If they had vanished so quickly right beneath his nose, they had most likely been hidden somewhere.

As he searched, Jiang Dao suddenly heard the sound of hurried footsteps.

His gaze sharpened, and he instantly turned to look toward the dark corridor.

The night wind howled. Without anyone noticing, it had grown stronger, sending fallen leaves whirling across the ground and blinding the eyes.

A black figure was rapidly approaching from the corridor.

Upon seeing Jiang Dao, that person clearly looked startled as well and abruptly stopped.

The two stood in the dark corridor, staring at one another without moving.

Suddenly, the other party spoke in a wary voice. "Is that Brother Jiang?"

"Li San?"

Jiang Dao narrowed his eyes and asked.

"It's me!"

The person opposite him let out a breath of relief, then quickly hurried over.

The night was murky black, without any moonlight.

Only after the other party came close did Jiang Dao see his face clearly.

Li San's expression was ugly and his body was a mess. He said, "Brother Jiang, did you encounter something strange too?"

"You did as well?"

Jiang Dao asked in a low voice.

"Yes."

Li San nodded. "I was originally keeping watch when I suddenly saw that little novice monk walking over from afar. He said a master in the temple wanted to see me and asked me to come with him. I guarded against everything imaginable, yet I never expected that little novice monk to be the problem. After he led me halfway there, a gust of yin wind blew over, and he vanished in an instant. When I turned around and followed the original route back, I discovered that all my companions had disappeared!"

He gritted his teeth, fury surging in his heart.

"That little novice monk didn't attack you?"

Jiang Dao watched Li San closely.

"I can't figure that out either. Perhaps my strength made him wary, or perhaps he could not knock me down instantly and feared drawing your attention, so he did not attack me!"

Li San nodded.

Turmoil surged in Jiang Dao's heart as he asked, "Brother Li, have you encountered this sort of strange event before?"

"Yes, but unfortunately, this thing is useless against most martial artists. Even I can only deal with its weakest existences."

Li San's expression was ugly. "But no matter what, I have to find my companions. Brother Jiang, our people only just disappeared. There is still time to find them now. If too much time passes, things are bound to change!"

Jiang Dao nodded directly.

The two immediately began searching the temple again.

"Hall Master..."

A startled cry suddenly rang out.

Jiang Dao whipped around.

In the darkness ahead, a black figure waved at him and rushed over in panic. "Hall Master, our people are gone."

"Du Feng!"

Jiang Dao recognized him and said in a deep voice, "Where did you run off to? Where are the others?"

"I don't know either. I only went out to relieve myself. When I went back, everyone was gone. Hall Master, there's something wrong with this place."

Du Feng ran over, terrified and breathing heavily.

"Gentlemen, we cannot delay any longer. Let's act quickly."

Li San's expression was grim.

The group immediately began searching again.

They searched room after room.

After kicking open door after door and searching from the front courtyard to the rear courtyard, Jiang Dao suddenly heard faint footsteps. He frowned and turned to look.

At the rear courtyard, a figure held a torch high and was rapidly searching the area as well.

Li San!

Jiang Dao's pupils contracted.

There was another Li San here?

Then who had that Li San been?

He abruptly turned and looked toward the Li San from before.

The spot was empty. Only Du Feng remained. There was not even the slightest trace of Li San.

"Du Feng, where is Li San?"

Jiang Dao shouted.

Du Feng jumped in fright and hurriedly turned around. Astonished, he said, "What Li San? Hall Master, it was only the two of us here from the beginning. Where was there any Li San?"

Jiang Dao's heart sank.

Had he fallen for it again?

At that moment, the Li San in the rear courtyard holding the torch finally noticed Jiang Dao. His expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly called out, "Is that Brother Jiang?"

Jiang Dao slowly exhaled and said, "Brother Li San?"

"It's me. Have your people disappeared too?"

Li San rushed over from afar and asked.

"Yes. Have you discovered anything?"

Jiang Dao asked.

"No. The entire temple has been abandoned for years. There is simply not a trace of human activity. That novice monk from earlier definitely was not human."

Li San's expression was ugly.

Turmoil surged in Jiang Dao's heart, and a trace of retreat had already formed in his mind.

This temple was far too strange. Visiting it in the dead of night could easily bring about unforeseen changes.

He could not even tell whether this Li San before him was real.

Jiang Dao suddenly turned and left, his face dark as he headed outside.

"Brother Jiang, where are you going?"

Li San hurriedly asked.

"Leaving this place!"

Jiang Dao's tone was low.

Du Feng at his side hurriedly followed after Jiang Dao.

Li San's expression changed slightly, and he quickly said, "Your companions have disappeared. Aren't you going to look for them?"

"Life and death are decreed by fate, wealth and honor bestowed by Heaven. Why care?"

Jiang Dao said.

"You..."

Li San was shocked and could not agree with Jiang Dao's view.

They were all his companions, trapped in this ghostly temple. No matter what, he would never abandon them.

"Brother Jiang, if you won't search, I'll search alone!"

Li San shouted.

Holding up his torch, he began searching through the temple once more.

Jiang Dao continued onward as the yin wind howled and the sound of the wind grew increasingly fierce.

Many fallen leaves danced wildly through the air.

Behind him, Du Feng suddenly revealed a wicked smile. He stared intently at Jiang Dao's back, one of his palms having already turned pitch-black, like refined iron.

Whoosh!

His palm was fast as lightning, tearing through the air as it clawed viciously toward Jiang Dao's back.

Clang!

A dull sound rang out, yet Jiang Dao's body did not move in the slightest.

The smile on Du Feng's face instantly froze.

Jiang Dao abruptly stopped. His head slowly turned toward the rear, and beneath the moonlit night, his eyes were indescribably terrifying and frightening, blazing with oppressive force.

"Are you scratching an itch for me?"

Jiang Dao's gaze was indifferent.

After failing with his first strike, Du Feng squeezed out another smile, revealing a mouthful of black teeth. Suddenly, both claws shot out like lightning, carrying a terrifying gale as they rapidly tore toward Jiang Dao's body. Their shrieks were ear-piercing, like a mass of dreadful black shadow.

"Die!"

Jiang Dao roared as all the power in his body erupted. His muscles bulged, and one palm, carrying the terrifying sound of wind and thunder, slammed brutally into Du Feng's chest.

Boom!

Wind Thunder Palm!

Pfft!

With an explosive sound, Du Feng spat out a torrent of blood. His entire chest was like it had been struck by a thousand-pound bronze pillar, blasting him away on the spot. His clothes exploded apart as he smashed heavily into the distance, every bone in his body broken.