Bloodshed and Life-or-Death Struggle

"Bang! Splurt!"

With a deafening bang, Fang Mu was caught off guard by Huihai's sudden ambush and sent flying by a single strike of his monk's staff.

After crashing down in the distance, he could not help licking his throat before spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"You've truly surprised me. One bizarre method after another—you've made me more and more interested in you."

"Perfect. I'll use Soul-Searching to sift through your memories and see what secrets you're hiding."

Huihai was covered in wounds, and blood was still spraying from the hole in his chest.

Yet he seemed unable to feel the pain. With a cold laugh, he walked toward Fang Mu, his face filled with murderous intent.

The monk's staff that Huihai had used to ambush Fang Mu had shaken his internal organs, leaving him gravely injured.

Watching Huihai slowly approach, Fang Mu cursed inwardly, That old pervert had his chest pierced straight through and still hasn't died?

"You want to kill me? Then you'll pay the price. Even if I die, I'll strip a layer of skin from you."

Supported by his clone, Fang Mu rose to his feet, madness gleaming in his eyes.

He knew there would be no peaceful resolution today. In that case, he could only fight for his life.

As Fang Mu let out a furious roar, his blood and qi surged throughout his body, and wave after wave of terrifying aura spread in every direction.

A pair of pitch-black Bat Wings unfurled, poised to beat at any moment and launch a sudden assault.

Bone Spur rapidly grew from Fang Mu's left hand, covering his entire arm with spikes of bone.

The vines spreading and growing from his right hand transformed into serpents that writhed and danced.

Fang Mu drove his Black Pupils to their utmost limits, and threads of dark light actually began to flicker within them.

Huihai, who had been walking toward Fang Mu, could not help stopping in his tracks. Looking at Fang Mu, who resembled a lone wolf preparing to fight to the death, he felt a trace of apprehension.

Huihai waved his hand, sending a burst of force shooting toward the monk's staff Fang Mu had thrown onto the ground.

As the strips of cloth wrapped around it shattered, a monk's staff gleaming with golden light was revealed.

Huihai was somewhat taken aback. He had not expected the object wrapped in Fang Mu's cloth strips to be a monk's staff.

When he saw the staff's true appearance, his expression changed drastically. He looked at Fang Mu in alarm and suspicion as he demanded, "Where did you get this monk's staff?"

"Someone gave it to me. I didn't want it, but he insisted on forcing it into my hands!"

Fang Mu replied calmly. His vigilance and movements, readying himself for an imminent counterattack at the cost of his life, did not slacken in the slightest.

Huihai kept his eyes fixed on Fang Mu, trying to determine whether he was lying.

But he was disappointed. Fang Mu was far too composed, showing not the slightest trace of guilt.

It seemed that what he had said was true, which was why he could appear so calm and unruffled.

Seeing that Fang Mu did not seem to be lying, Huihai hesitated for a moment.

He weighed the gains and losses, considering whether to strike a killing blow and judging the consequences of doing so against what he might obtain.

In the end, Huihai reined in his murderous intent and revealed a gentle smile. Pressing his palms together, he said, "Amitabha!"

"Envoy Fang, there's actually no need for us to fight to the death."

"We are both men of standing. What happened before was merely a misunderstanding. How about we each lower our weapons and make peace?"

"Uh..." Fang Mu stared intently at Huihai and could see that he seemingly had no intention of attacking again.

Fang Mu also wondered suspiciously, What standing do I have? Why don't I know about it myself?

Huihai had clearly chosen to stop fighting only after seeing the monk's staff.

This made Fang Mu suspect that Huihai had misunderstood something. Could he have mistaken him for the little monk Wuying?

But whatever the reason, if he could avoid fighting for his life, Fang Mu felt it was better not to.

Earlier, he had thought that old schemer Huihai was at most a First Rank Realm expert. Although he had been wary, he was not without confidence in killing him in a counterattack.

He had never expected that the old schemer had concealed his cultivation and was actually an Innate Realm expert. That was what had caught him off guard.

"I know your identity. I know that you are Shen Shi. You don't mind?"

"I don't mind! So long as Envoy Fang doesn't go around spreading it!"

"I killed two of your subordinates in Qingliu Town. You don't blame me?"

"No matter. They were two insignificant underlings who could never amount to anything. Dead is dead."

"I know you came to Qingzhu City to search for something. You're not going to kill me to silence me?"

"..."

Listening to Fang Mu fire off question after question, even Huihai's cultivated composure nearly failed him, and he almost lashed out in fury. Seriously, is he ever going to stop?

"Envoy Fang, we became acquainted through a fight, but you're an intelligent man."

"When dealing with intelligent people, there's no need for so many twists and turns. How about we each take what we need?"

"May I ask, Master, how exactly we are to each take what we need?"

Fang Mu finally steered the conversation back on course. This would determine whether the hostile relationship between the two of them could ease.

"This poor monk wishes to ask Envoy Fang to help me with something. Once it is done, I will naturally offer a generous reward."

"Envoy Fang may make any request you have. If it is within my abilities, I will not refuse."

"What do you want me to help with?"

Hearing Huihai's words, Fang Mu asked warily.

"The answer this poor monk seeks lies in the Jade Faced Gentleman's memories, and in the envoy's memories as well. Why pretend not to know?"

Huihai stared meaningfully at Fang Mu, hoping to obtain the information he needed from him.

Fang Mu was silent for a while before looking at Huihai. "You may be disappointed. The Jade Faced Gentleman didn't know much either."

As soon as he finished speaking, Fang Mu transmitted a strand of mental information through Xixi's vines.

Huihai did not dodge. After the vines touched him, he received a message.

"Damn that Jade Faced Gentleman! After investigating for so long, he only dug up this little scrap of surface-level information."

Somewhat vexed, Huihai could not help cursing under his breath. After falling silent for a moment, he looked at Fang Mu.

"This poor monk would like to ask Envoy Fang for help. Go to Heaven Prison and find the Black Tree Demon. I wish to obtain the information I seek from it."

"Once I have the information, I will leave immediately and cause the envoy no trouble. I will also provide suitable compensation. What do you think?"

"Master should know that with my identity, there's no way for me to enter Heaven Prison."

"No matter! I believe Envoy Fang will find a way. This poor monk will also secretly assist you."

Fang Mu stared at Huihai, knowing that it would be difficult to refuse him. After considering the matter again and again, he finally agreed.

"Master, may I ask you one question?"

"Envoy, there's no need to be polite. We can now be considered allied friends. I will not begrudge you anything I can tell you."

"How did you cultivate this body of yours? How can you still be alive after your heart was pierced through? Is this a clone?"

"Oh? It seems the envoy knows quite a lot."

"That's right. This body of mine is indeed only a clone. So even if Envoy Fang kills this clone of mine, it would be of little significance."

Hearing Huihai's words, Fang Mu could not help tugging at the corner of his mouth.

That old schemer was truly sinister. He had actually made himself a clone while hiding the main body God-knew-where, in some remote nook or cranny.

"If I may be so bold, Master, why does this clone of yours possess independent thoughts?"

"That is inconvenient to tell you, Envoy Fang. You only need to know that everything my clone experiences and sees can be sensed by my main body."

"Your clone isn't bad either. It's just somewhat crude. If someone were to possess it, it would become a bridal dress for another."

"Mine is different. Not only does this clone possess the soul force of the Innate Realm, it also contains a large number of restrictions."

"Even if it encounters an opponent it cannot withstand, it still has a way to perish together with him."

Watching Huihai turn around with a kindly smile and step out of the dungeon, Fang Mu could not help feeling a chill in his heart.

Huihai's words carried a double meaning. One was a warning not to scheme against his clone, or Fang Mu would die horribly.

The other could be considered a kind reminder: Fang Mu needed to protect his clone properly, lest someone else possess it and use it as a bridal dress.