Advancement and Counterattack

The Shepherd Monster was incredibly fast.

Jiang Yan watched and calculated.

It would reach him in three breaths at most.

On the first breath, he slapped the Ice Talisman onto his sword. Red and blue light flickered across his long face.

On the second breath, Jiang Yan slapped the Bodyguard Talisman onto himself.

A fine, film-like current of air clung to his body.

On the third breath, he could clearly see the Shepherd Monster's eyes, swirling like whirlpools of blood, and smell the stench from its nostrils.

Smack!

He pressed down with his left foot and leaned back.

He gathered his strength!

The tremendous power of a peak Martial Apprentice roared within him.

"Come on."

"Come at me! Let's settle this once and for all!"

Jiang Yan had already learned all he could about the Shepherd Monster. It was incredibly fast, and in a battle of attrition, he would surely die.

So, with the Bodyguard Talisman protecting him, he wouldn't dodge or evade.

The instant the talisman protected him from the monster's attack—

He wouldn't be injured, and at the same time, that would be

his one and only chance to strike.

Thud! Thud! Bang!

The monster lowered its head, its sharp forehead horn as fast as thunder and lightning, and rammed into Jiang Yan's chest.

The Bodyguard Talisman burst into flames and turned to ash.

Light flashed across Jiang Yan's body.

At the same time, the sword in his hand glimmered red and blue.

"Die, you beast!"

With a single thrust, he pierced the Shepherd Monster through the eye socket.

The next moment, Jiang Yan was flung into the air. The Bodyguard Talisman had blocked most of the force of the Shepherd Monster's charge, but the rest still sent him flying.

Using its force, he flicked his sword, flinging the monster's dark green blood into the sky.

In midair, Jiang Yan held his sword horizontally before him, ready to block the Shepherd Monster's second attack.

Yet nothing happened.

Bang!

Jiang Yan hit the ground. The earth cracked, and dirt flew everywhere.

He braced himself on his sword, his chest tight and uncomfortable, as though he were suffocating.

He looked up. The Shepherd Monster stood motionless where it was. A bloody hole gaped in its eye socket, and blood trickled out.

Was it dead?

That was impossible. His left hand hadn't reacted at all, and his Weird Value hadn't increased.

The Shepherd Monster was alive, so what was it doing?

Playing dead? There was no point in that.

After recovering a little strength, he raised his sword and cautiously tested it.

Just then, the Shepherd Monster opened its eyes. Endless savagery spilled from its one remaining bloodshot eye.

"Can't move?"

Suddenly, he remembered the Exotic Food on Sheng Fuwu. Could the monster be on the verge of advancing? Maybe it had eaten the Exotic Food, and now its blood and energy were surging as it prepared to advance at this life-or-death moment.

That was the only explanation that made sense.

"Perfect opportunity."

Jiang Yan raised his sword and slowly backed away. After five steps, he saw that the monster was only glaring at him coldly, showing no other reaction.

Jiang Yan turned and sprinted away. He wasn't about to risk his life testing whether a monster in the middle of advancing could move when he wasn't yet facing certain death.

He picked a direction and hurried back the way he had come.

As he retraced his steps, he had astonishingly good luck and didn't encounter a single monster.

He crossed the Yellow Alkaline Land and passed through the dense woods. Only the low Red Willow Forest remained.

Yuyang Village was close.

Passing a pond, Jiang Yan suddenly stopped and walked to its edge. He lowered his head. The water was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting a young man.

He wore black martial attire, a sword at his waist, and his black hair fell in unruly strands. His brows were like swords, his eyes like stars.

After spotting fish in the water and determining that it was safe to drink, he scooped up several handfuls and gulped them down.

The clear water slid into his stomach, and he immediately felt a little more alert. He simply sat down beside the pond, took out a piece of travel bread, tore it into chunks, and stuffed them into his mouth.

He seemed famished and exhausted, in need of rest.

Only after he had eaten the few pieces of travel bread in his robe and regained most of his strength did he stand. He glanced around from the corner of his eye. The low Red Willow Forest was quiet and still. There was nothing there.

"Splash..." Just then, something moved behind him, as if something were about to emerge.

A cold glint flashed in Jiang Yan's eyes. He concealed the Blazing Flames Talisman and Ice Talisman in his hands, then turned around.

Covered in blood, Sheng Fuwu darted out. When he saw Jiang Yan, a flicker of awkwardness crossed his face, but he looked mostly delighted. "Jiang Yan, you're still alive!"

"Chief Sheng, what are you doing here?" Jiang Yan called out too, his face showing an appropriate trace of the fear that came after surviving a disaster.

"I... I was in too much of a hurry when I ran away and got a little lost. That's how I ended up here."

"I want to apologize for my selfishness earlier. I'll make it up to you."

As Sheng Fuwu spoke of what had happened earlier, his face showed both guilt and an open, sincere demeanor.

"There's no need to bring up what happened earlier."

Like a naive young man, Jiang Yan's face flushed red when he heard Sheng Fuwu's apology, as though he were a little embarrassed.

Greenhorn, Sheng Fuwu sneered inwardly.

At the same time, his expression suddenly turned frightened. He stared straight behind Jiang Yan. "Jiang Yan, y-your back..."

He shouted, "I'll save you!"

He took a great stride and reached Jiang Yan's side.

Jiang Yan turned his neck, seemingly distracted by whatever was behind him.

But the tip of his half-lowered sword flicked. It burst through the air, scattering into countless points of silver light like a silver dragon as it shot straight at Sheng Fuwu.

"You son of a bitch. Are you too confident in yourself?"

The long sword, which had been gathering strength for a long time, shot forward in a sudden thrust. In less than a breath, its tip was aimed straight at Sheng Fuwu's heart.

Jiang Yan had plotted this move for a long time. He struck first, leaving Sheng Fuwu no chance to react.

As the sword rose, its violent killing intent locked firmly onto Sheng Fuwu. Every hair on Sheng Fuwu's body stood on end, and his heart thudded wildly. At that moment, the formidable physique of someone in the Body Refining Realm proved its worth.

He arched backward and dodged the fatal thrust.

But although he avoided the fatal blow, he only managed to evade a hit to a vital spot. The sword still pierced the joint between his right arm and torso.

Jiang Yan reacted instantly, twisting his wrist and sweeping upward. Sheng Fuwu's right arm bone snapped, leaving it attached only by flesh. White bone jutted out, and sinews and blood vessels were severed.

He was completely crippled.

Sheng Fuwu made a snap decision. Enduring the dizziness from losing too much blood, he turned and fled.

Behind him, Jiang Yan looked on with scorn.

Clang!

The next instant, Jiang Yan flung his sword. A streak of silver flashed through the air and shot after Sheng Fuwu.

Pfft!

Sheng Fuwu looked down. The sword tip had pierced through him from behind. A thin stream of blood trickled down the blade and dripped onto the grass.

"No!"

Despair filled Sheng Fuwu's heart. The strength drained from his body in an instant, and he collapsed to the ground, unable to struggle any longer.

"You... You definitely weren't a Martial Apprentice who'd just broken through. You definitely weren't."

That kind of strength and speed could only belong to a peak Martial Apprentice.

He regretted it so much. If he'd known Jiang Yan was a peak Martial Apprentice, he would have returned to the Dahe Gang at once. He would have accepted any punishment for framing a fellow sect member, no matter how severe.

That was right. After fleeing, he hadn't gone back to Yuyang Village at all. He had hastily treated his wounds, then waited on the outskirts of the village.

It was almost impossible, but if Jiang Yan and the others somehow made it back alive, Sheng Fuwu would still be guilty of framing a fellow sect member. The punishment was severe. It wouldn't cost him his life, but he would have to pay dearly.

He had been willing to take a chance. He hadn't expected to find Tang Long or Fei Shan, but he had discovered Jiang Yan.

He couldn't figure out how Jiang Yan had escaped, but that didn't matter. If he'd made it back alive, Sheng Fuwu could just kill him again.

He was unwilling to bear the punishment for framing a fellow sect member, and even less willing to have a gifted genius hold a grudge against him.

Pain pierced his bones. He couldn't accept it. One mistake had ruined everything.

He hid the venom in his eyes deep within.

"Jiang Yan, y-you... What are you doing? This is framing a fellow sect member!"

"Enough. Stop pretending."

Ignoring Sheng Fuwu's pain, Jiang Yan pulled out his sword and slashed twice. Sheng Fuwu's legs were severed at the roots.

The intense pain nearly made Sheng Fuwu pass out.

"Chief Sheng, this is the third time today you've insulted my intelligence."

Jiang Yan's gaze was cold.

Hatred showed in Sheng Fuwu's eyes. There was no point saying anything now. He was trapped in a dead end.

From the moment Jiang Yan had drawn his sword, it was clear he had already guessed Sheng Fuwu's intentions. Sheng Fuwu had thought Jiang Yan was inexperienced and could be tricked into letting himself be killed.

What an idiot. Not only had Jiang Yan seen through his intentions, but from the look of it, he had been waiting for Sheng Fuwu to take the bait so he could kill him in turn.

The grudge between them was already set. Surely Jiang Yan didn't want a high-level Body Refining Realm martial artist constantly plotting to take his life.

So Jiang Yan had to be at his weakest now. This was probably the best chance to kill him.

Perhaps the only chance.

Once he understood, Sheng Fuwu closed his eyes and awaited death. Jiang Yan gave him a quick end.

The smell of blood spread. Before long, several pairs of cold eyes fixed on this place.

Jiang Yan didn't touch anything on Sheng Fuwu. He slowly backed away and entered the village.

Behind him, the sound of savage chewing rang out.