Asking Mr. Jiang to Act

Late autumn, on a moonless night with a howling wind.

In a secluded alley off Pinglan Street.

Jiang Wang braced himself against the wall, gasping for breath.

He had never gone beyond Qixia Street before. Even though this alley was right beside Qixia Street, the walk had still exhausted him badly.

Just then, Jiang Wang heard people talking ahead.

"Monsters are the greatest aberrations in this human world. They act without restraint, but low-level Monsters also know fear and will not take the initiative to attack cultivators—unless their cultivation is deep enough."

Su Lingyi clenched the sword in his hand. Truthfully, he had not wanted to come.

The Black Flame Army had also informed the Garrison Headquarters of what they had uncovered in their investigation. That was how Su Lingyi learned that Monsters had appeared.

With Du Zicheng imprisoned, Su Lingyi had also become a suspect in the Garrison Headquarters' eyes. To prove his innocence and help his junior sister rescue her brother, he could only grit his teeth and take the gamble.

But the more he speculated about this situation, the more regret gnawed at him.

If they encountered some great Monster, he was already thinking about how to escape.

Du Yanruo knew this was dangerous as well, but she was desperate to save her brother. She could not afford to care about anything else, and Senior Brother Su was the only person she could rely on.

"Who's there?!"

Su Lingyi was very cautious.

Even the slightest rustle of wind or grass did not escape his notice.

When he saw Jiang Wang emerge from around the corner, Su Lingyi's brows furrowed tightly.

"So it was the Young Marquis."

Before Instructor Cai came to Hun City, Su Lingyi could only force a smile whenever he faced Jiang Wang. Though he was furious, there was nothing he could do about it.

Jiang Wang deliberately brought up the sore point, greeting him with a grin. "Brother Su, didn't you say you would come to my marquis's residence and apologize? How come I've been waiting all this time without seeing you? Looks like you really have no sincerity at all."

Su Lingyi's expression stiffened slightly. He gave an awkward laugh. "There have simply been too many matters to handle. I never found the opportunity."

Du Yanruo wanted to say something. She felt Senior Brother Su had no need to be so polite to Jiang Wang, but suddenly her heart tightened.

She whirled around.

Green light emerged from the dim alley.

A tall, slender figure could vaguely be seen swaying ahead.

The crisp sound of footsteps seemed especially piercing at this moment.

Thick fog gradually spread, green lights flickering within it. In an instant, the atmosphere became chilling and sinister.

Su Lingyi immediately drew his sword.

His expression had never been so grave.

Jiang Wang then noticed that the Long Night Saber in his hand was trembling faintly, radiating an icy chill that pierced to the bone.

It was more like a warning of danger.

Very soon, the swaying figure in the alley became clear.

A tattered white shirt hung from its body. It was slender and a full zhang tall, its sleeves dangling to the ground. As it walked, its slightly bent upper body swayed from side to side. Its waist-length hair hung loose, concealing its entire face.

Because of its height, Jiang Wang's gaze slowly traveled upward as well.

What normal person could possibly be this tall?

Du Yanruo's face had gone somewhat pale.

Looking at the tall, slender figure before them, she instinctively grabbed Su Lingyi's arm and said in a trembling voice, "It looks a little like the Monster Instructor Cai mentioned..."

Su Lingyi said gravely, "It's Ao Yin!"

Jiang Wang frowned. "Is this Monster very powerful?"

Even Su Lingyi's hand holding the sword was trembling. "The Monsters Luo Yong and Wangliang would be no more than playthings before it."

He had never imagined that such a terrifying Monster as Ao Yin would exist in Hun City!

Although Jiang Wang had already seen Luo Yong and Wangliang, he had not truly felt how terrifying they were. Naturally, it was difficult for him to understand Su Lingyi's feelings at this moment.

Thus, his expression remained calm, as though he had merely heard that ants were blocking the road ahead.

Seeing Jiang Wang's utterly unconcerned appearance, Su Lingyi felt even more chilled to the bone.

Could it be that Jiang Wang did not even regard a Monster like Ao Yin as worth his notice?

He found it hard to accept.

Even Instructor Cai would not dare let his guard down before Ao Yin.

He absolutely refused to believe Jiang Wang could be stronger than Instructor Cai. Otherwise, how was he supposed to take revenge?

As if recalling something, Su Lingyi slowly retreated to Jiang Wang's side and performed a sword-clasping salute. "My abilities are meager. I fear I must rely on the Young Marquis. Since we have met here, our purposes must be the same. Su is willing to support the Young Marquis from the side."

How could Jiang Wang fail to understand what Su Lingyi meant?

He revealed a meaningful smile.

Su Lingyi forced an awkward smile in return.

Jiang Wang did not expose him directly, but he was actually somewhat worried too.

If Ao Yin really was so terrifying, he could not guarantee that strange power would be able to suppress it.

But he still decided to give it a try.

Gripping his saber tightly, he walked step by step toward Ao Yin.

Seeing this, Du Yanruo said quietly, "Senior Brother Su deliberately wants him to deal with the Monster. Isn't that sending him to his death?"

Su Lingyi was just about to speak.

But Du Yanruo continued, "I understand. If he dies at the Monster's hands, then the marquis's residence will have no reason to make things difficult for the Du Family afterward. Killing two birds with one stone—Senior Brother Su truly has brilliant tactics."

Su Lingyi: "..."

Though it made a great deal of sense, he truly had not considered any of that just now.

He could only smile and say, "I'm doing this for you too, Junior Sister."

Du Yanruo was deeply moved.

The alley was very dark, but there was light in Jiang Wang's eyes.

He gently let out a breath.

Then, saber in hand, he charged at the Monster before him.

Bang!

Splat!

Ao Yin merely raised its hand lightly.

Jiang Wang's face was plastered against the wall.

Its head lifted slightly, and a green, oily eye appeared amid its loose hair, seemingly filled with countless questions.

As its arm rose, the sleeves that had hung directly to the ground slowly revealed the metal-like sharp claws hidden within.

It swayed forward. Its sharp claws, a full two chi long, scraped against the wall and carved four deep grooves through it, sparks flying everywhere.

Su Lingyi stared at the scene in disbelief.

That was it?

As Jiang Wang stood up again.

Du Yanruo said, "What a pity. He actually didn't die. Who knows what kind of dog-shit luck he stepped in."

Su Lingyi remained silent.

He felt there was something very wrong with this scene.

Jiang Wang was clearly supposed to be strong. Even if he was not as strong as Instructor Cai, he should not have been so utterly unable to withstand a single blow.

Could this be that so-called perverse sense of humor again?

He looked at Jiang Wang, who swayed as though he could barely stand.

This man definitely had masochistic tendencies.

Jiang Wang was actually bewildered.

His entire body felt as though it had been torn apart, the pain excruciating.

Yet that power had not appeared at all.

Was the threat not severe enough, or had he guessed wrong from the very beginning?

If he tried again, would he die?

He was a little torn.

This was completely different from what he had imagined.

He turned around and ran without hesitation.

He could not possibly throw his life away.

Su Lingyi was stunned.

This was not what he had imagined either.

Jiang Wang was almost out of the alley, panting so heavily it sounded as though he were about to die.

Su Lingyi came to his senses. Without another word, he grabbed Du Yanruo and ran after him.

They quickly overtook Jiang Wang.

A realization gradually dawned on him.

Perhaps Jiang Wang was not nearly as formidable as he had thought.

What happened at the Qixia Street intersection had likely only been some problem with his own body.

And the attitudes of those three cultivators toward Jiang Wang in that ruined alley perhaps had another explanation.

At that thought, he became furious.

So he had been scaring himself all along.

And every time he saw Jiang Wang, he still had to force himself to smile.

He felt this was simply the greatest humiliation!

Just as he considered killing Jiang Wang right here.

He turned back and discovered that Jiang Wang could no longer run.

He had collapsed onto the ground as though utterly drained.

Looking at Ao Yin as it came before him, he panted, "Can we make a deal? Don't play this game of you chasing and me running. You'd better just kill me directly."

The Monster nodded. Humans with such requests were rare, and it felt it ought to satisfy him.

Whoosh!

A sudden sound of something cutting through the air rang out.

Two flying swords shot in from the end of the alley.

They nailed themselves directly into Ao Yin's forehead.

The Green-robed Cultivator and White-robed Cultivator hovered in midair.

The latter dove down. The explosive crack of air was deafening as he drove a fist viciously toward Ao Yin's head!

A dull bang sounded.

Its claws scraped along the wall, and its advancing footsteps did not pause in the slightest. Ao Yin's head merely tilted a little.

The White-robed Cultivator twisted at the waist and, taking advantage of the motion, pulled one flying sword from the Monster's head. Borrowing the momentum, he swung an even more powerful, heavy strike.

The surging aura directly shattered both walls of the alley.

Yet the White-robed Cultivator's face instead turned deathly pale.

Ao Yin was completely unscathed.

Ao Yin raised its other arm. Its metal claws extended, and the thick fog gathered in the alley instantly scattered. A gust of sinister wind swept through, accompanied by a thunderous roar. All the way to the end of the alley, a trench a chi deep was carved into the ground!

Smoke billowed. The White-robed Cultivator flew away like a kite with its string cut, crashing heavily to the ground.

Jiang Wang coughed violently. Seeing the horrifying scene created by the Monster's casual lift of a hand, he was utterly aghast.

Secretly swallowing a mouthful of saliva, Jiang Wang raised the Long Night Saber with trembling hands. But the trench had left almost no ground in the alley on which to stand.

Though his legs felt as heavy as though filled with lead, Jiang Wang still forced himself to retreat.

"Mr. Jiang!" The Green-robed Cultivator landed before Jiang Wang. "This Monster is absolutely not something my brother and I can handle. Though it is shameless of us, we can only ask Mr. Jiang to act."

Jiang Wang gave an embarrassed smile.

He dearly wanted to refuse.

Su Lingyi returned at this moment and sneered, "Senior, I'm afraid you are mistaken. This Young Marquis is nothing but trash. I was deceived by him as well. I do not wish for Senior to lose face because of him..."

Before he could finish speaking.

Ao Yin's roar rang out.

Rumble!

Both walls collapsed completely. Billowing smoke surged into the sky, drawing the searching gazes of certain people in Hun City.

When the thick smoke gradually dispersed.

The Monster's tall, slender figure was especially conspicuous amid the ruins.

The Green-robed Cultivator grabbed Jiang Wang's arm and retreated into Qixia Street.

Su Lingyi, meanwhile, rushed out of the alley in a thoroughly bedraggled state.

"Mr. Jiang..." The Green-robed Cultivator looked at Jiang Wang, his brows deeply furrowed. Jiang Wang looked rather wretched at the moment, and doubt had arisen in his heart as well.

Ao Yin leaped high into the air, then crashed down heavily before Jiang Wang and the others from the ruins of the Pinglan Street alley.

A terrifying aura rushed straight at them.