The Forbidden Ground

The Mad Saber Sect's Forbidden Ground had gone untouched for a full ten years. Today was the first time anyone had dared to trespass, and the disciples were inevitably thrown into a panic. Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Shuo tackled Chen Xian and rescued Sun Daoming, who was on the brink of death.

The disciples guarding the Forbidden Ground formed a line and closed in. Jiang Shuo decided to go all in and sprinted toward the Forbidden Ground halfway up the mountain, with Sun Daoming close behind.

"After them!" Chen Xian shouted, both shocked and furious, then charged out at the head of the pack. He was incredibly fast, rapidly closing the distance between himself and Jiang Shuo.

With Jiang Shuo's abilities, he shouldn't have been running so slowly. But he was saddled with Sun Daoming, and had no choice but to deliberately slow down and bring up the rear. Jiang Shuo resented Sun Daoming, but with a powerful enemy on their heels, they were fellow disciples and had to set their personal grievances aside and face the threat together.

Feeling the danger drawing closer behind them, Jiang Shuo knitted his brows, worry mounting. If things continued like this, the enemy would catch up before they reached the Forbidden Ground. Chen Xian's cultivation was profound. If he caught them, the consequences were obvious.

The torment of a sword hanging over their heads filled both their hearts. The worst part was that they had no way out of their predicament; all they could do was hope to escape by keeping up their relentless flight.

Chen Xian drew closer and closer, until there was no way to avoid him. This couldn't go on. Jiang Shuo's mind raced, a glint flashing in his eyes. Lowering his voice, he said urgently to Sun Daoming, "I'll draw him in. Use the opening to drive him back, or he'll catch us sooner or later."

Sun Daoming didn't want to obey Jiang Shuo's orders, and resistance showed on his face. But hearing the footsteps getting closer, he thought it over briefly and nodded.

Once they had agreed on a plan, the two slowed their pace. Chen Xian, who had been hot on their heels, reached them in an instant.

"Stop right there!" Chen Xian roared. He gripped his saber in one hand, held it level, and swept it across with the force of a thousand troops, aiming to cut Jiang Shuo and Sun Daoming in half at the waist.

Jiang Shuo was ready. He drove off the ground with both feet and sprang upward, spinning once in midair as he leaped toward Chen Xian, skimming close to the blade.

Jiang Shuo suddenly sped up, catching Chen Xian off guard. He had closed in before Chen Xian could react.

"Looking for death!" Chen Xian reacted swiftly, bending his arm to pull back the saber and weaving a glittering web of cold light before him. If Jiang Shuo kept coming, he might not wound Chen Xian at all—he'd be sliced into minced meat first.

At that moment, Jiang Shuo plunged rapidly downward through the air. After avoiding the danger in front of him, he didn't pause, but rolled forward and came around behind Chen Xian, nimble as a monkey.

"Bastard!" Chen Xian's attacks had been evaded again and again. He felt humiliated, fury blazing in his chest, and whirled around to chase Jiang Shuo.

As he turned, Chen Xian saw Jiang Shuo standing still, a sly glint in his eyes. Then Jiang Shuo shouted, as if to remind someone, "Now!"

"Damn it!" Chen Xian's heart jolted as he suddenly remembered that Jiang Shuo wasn't alone—someone else had come with him. In his panic, he had focused all his attention on Jiang Shuo, leaving his back completely exposed. It would be easy for the other man to ambush him.

He never thought he'd be tripped up by two little brats. Though he knew it was already too late, he still circulated his true qi, turned around, and braced himself, ready to counterattack as soon as the ambush struck.

He turned around, but the vicious blow he'd expected never came. There was only silence.

"Hm?" Chen Xian raised an eyebrow. Sun Daoming was nowhere in sight, and he couldn't help looking bewildered. As he puzzled over it, he heard branches rustling in the distance. He looked up and saw that Sun Daoming had already fled far away.

At the sight, Jiang Shuo froze. He had just saved Sun Daoming's life, and never imagined the other man would repay his kindness with betrayal.

The Mad Saber Sect's disciples caught up and surrounded Jiang Shuo in layer after layer. Just as they were about to attack, Chen Xian stopped them with a shout. "Go after that one. I'll deal with him."

"Yes, Senior Brother." Once the Mad Saber Sect disciples had scattered to pursue Sun Daoming, Chen Xian slowly turned around and stared at Jiang Shuo in silence. His eyes blazed, his face was livid, and he was so furious that his whole body trembled slightly. "I never thought that I, the dignified Second Senior Brother of the Mad Saber Sect, would be fooled by a wet-behind-the-ears brat today. Heh... hehehe. You did a fine job."

In his mind, everything that had just happened was part of a plan Jiang Shuo had devised from the start. Not only had he allowed Sun Daoming to enter the Forbidden Ground, but Jiang Shuo had also led him around by the nose.

Jiang Shuo's face was taut as he watched Chen Xian warily, saying nothing.

They were enemies to begin with. Even if he explained the misunderstanding, Chen Xian's desire to kill him wouldn't change.

As for revealing his identity in the hope that Chen Xian might show mercy and let him go, the chances were slim. He had already run amok in the Mad Saber Sect and even trespassed into their Forbidden Ground. His death would hardly be unjust; the Martial World would consider it only natural.