"We're almost there! Almost there!" Ye Chen could just make out the sunlight on the water's surface, and the weight in his heart began to lift.
"Where are you going?"
The sudden voice made Ye Chen's heart leap into his throat again.
He looked back. Sand Monk was staring at him with a murderous gaze.
"Gulp!" Ye Chen swallowed with difficulty.
"Looks like I won't be able to avoid a fight today." Ye Chen drew the Dragon Slaying Sword from his waist and took several deep breaths. His strength had just reached a new level, and he hadn't had a chance to test it against anyone yet. Sand Monk would make the perfect whetstone.
Ye Chen was both frightened and excited. He had no idea if he was strong enough to take Sand Monk down.
"Ye Chen, go back first. Sir, I'm the one you're after. Could you let this young man go?" Tang Sanzang stepped forward. Ye Chen was genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected the monk to stand up for him.
Had the old monk finally seen the light after Ye Chen had chewed him out that night? Ye Chen smiled faintly, but he didn't back down.
"Let him go? Dream on. Every year, tens of thousands of people cross my Quicksand River. Go ask around and see how many make it out alive.
"That trick of yours, luring the tiger away from the mountain, was quite something. Too bad you came up just a little short. That tiny mistake is going to cost you your lives!"
Thinking about how that monkey had toyed with him made Sand Monk seethe. He raised the Crescent Shovel, and the river's sand began to gather around him.
"Master, please wait over there for a moment." After making sure Tang Sanzang was safe,