The Bonds

The instant He Nu appeared and attacked, Gu Shenwei understood what she intended.

The Death Sutra had a peculiar way of improving one's strength. Its practitioners had to kill a master whose skill matched their own at least once a year, or risk suffering a backlash. The two of them were like mad horses that could never stop running. They knew the finish line was a cliff, but not only could they not stop, they had to keep picking up speed.

For a time, Gu Shenwei had thought He Nu had escaped this bond. Now he saw he had been wrong.

He Nu had always used a sword, but she had woven Moonlight Hall's techniques into her swordplay. Gu Shenwei, meanwhile, had blended swordplay into his saber techniques. Though their paths differed, both methods could delay the backlash. But no matter what, they still needed that fatal strike.

They had encountered many masters, but none could compare with Luo Qibai. He was like a treasure trove, tempting the two Death Sutra practitioners. Whoever killed him would gain an enormous boost.

He Nu's partner was Wild Horse. Gu Shenwei had detected traces of the Death Sutra in Wild Horse's saber techniques. Clearly, He Nu had not taught him the full set of techniques.

The Central Plains men and the Tianshan Sect had fallen for the ruse. Relying on their superior numbers, they chased the ambushers without regard for anything else. Someone shouted along the way, "Quick! Don't let the Dragon King get away!" They had mistaken He Nu, dressed for night travel, for the Dragon King.

Gu Shenwei was following behind the others. Now he understood why this farcical martial contest had attracted so much attention. The two factions in Jade City weren't targeting Old Man Mu and Tu Gou at