I Alone Am Enough

It was only after Yu Xiu entered the thatched hut that Fang Jiming, Song Yue, and the others came strolling over from afar.

"Senior Brother Fang, Yu Xiu has already gone inside. We just have to wait for the Shadow Demon to strike, and he'll be dead in an instant." Qin Shu stepped forward respectfully, his manner somewhat ingratiating.

Zhao Zheng and Zhang Yun also came closer, looking a little nervous as they greeted him. "Senior Brother Fang."

Fang Jiming swept his gaze over the three of them and said flatly, "You've done well. Once this matter is settled, you'll get every benefit I promised you."

As he spoke, his attention had already settled on the thatched hut. "Yu Xiu!"

He walked toward the hut at an unhurried pace.

He had waited a whole year. If he didn't see Yu Xiu die with his own eyes, how could he be satisfied?

Song Yue, Yuan Shu, Zhong Yue, and Pang Wei exchanged smiles and followed close behind. "Let's go see how wretched Yu Xiu looks on the verge of death."

"He's probably already trembling in front of the Shadow Demon."

Qin Shu hurried after them, wearing a fawning smile. "Yu Xiu is only at the first Qi Sea stage. I doubt he even has the courage to face the Shadow Demon now."

Their group filed into the thatched hut.

The hut was small, with only three rooms in total. The moment one entered, there was the main room, which could be seen in its entirety at a glance. Two more rooms stood to either side, separated only by curtains of rough cloth.

Now, a young man stood with his back to the others in the main room.

Yu Xiu?

He hadn't gone to find the Shadow Demon?

There were three rooms. If the Shadow Demon wasn't in the main room, then it had to be in one of the two side rooms; a single glance would reveal it.

Yet Yu Xiu stood quietly in the main room, one hand holding a sword, the other behind his back, as if he had been waiting for them for a long time.

Almost at the same moment Fang Jiming and the others entered the hut, Yu Xiu slowly turned around.

His expression was calm. His gaze passed slowly over Qin Shu and the others, then came to rest on Fang Jiming. "I've been waiting for you for a long time. You finally came."

He had never met Fang Jiming, but he had met Fang Jibai. The two brothers looked very much alike.

At the same time, as soon as he said this, Qin Shu, Zhao Zheng, Zhang Yun, and Ruan Fei all turned pale. They had brought Yu Xiu out of the Inner Court, so why did it sound as if he had done it on purpose?

He'd known all along?!

In an instant, a nameless unease rose in all four of their hearts!

He knew I was behind all of this? After a moment of stunned surprise, Fang Jiming suddenly clapped his hands and laughed. "Impressive. You went around in such a long circle and still saw through everything."

After a brief pause, Fang Jiming said frankly, "Then tell me what gave you the confidence to walk into the trap of your own accord.

"Did you contact one of the sect's enforcement senior brothers, or did you get in touch with some elder or steward in the sect to wait for me here?

"The sect's enforcement senior brothers wouldn't be easily persuaded by you. As I recall, you've had quite a few dealings with Elder Liao Jianshu, the elder who guards the library. Is he the one you're relying on?"

At his words, Song Yue, Yuan Shu, and the others behind Fang Jiming were all horrified.

The weakest Inner Court elder was still an expert who had passed three or even all four of the Four Great Passes. If one of them made a move, forget disciples like them, who were still stuck at the Four Ascending Dragon Passes!

Even Fang Jiming, who had already broken through the Four Ascending Dragon Passes and stepped into the first of the Four Great Passes, would be beaten to death in an instant!

Had they failed to set up Yu Xiu, only to be set up by him and killed instead?

Their hearts pounded wildly. The young disciple Yuan Shu, in particular, narrowed his eyes.

Yu Xiu's expression remained calm. "Elder Liao..."

He had barely begun when Yuan Shu suddenly sprang into action. His figure shot forward, five fingers hooking like iron claws as they tore through the air with a shrill whistle, reaching for Yu Xiu's throat. "Grab him! Then we might still live!"

As long as Yu Xiu was in their hands, even Elder Liao Jianshu, the Inner Court elder who guarded the library, would have to hold back for fear of harming him.

At the same moment, Qin Shu and Zhao Zheng reacted with lightning speed and rushed forward with Yuan Shu. Moving at top speed, they lunged at Yu Xiu from either side.

Yu Xiu gave a silent smile. His figure blurred for an instant.

In that instant, a sword rang out with a metallic clang, and a flash of swordlight swept across. But it was fast—far too fast. Even Fang Jiming, whose strength had already carried him into the first of the Four Great Passes, could only vaguely see Yu Xiu draw his sword.

He couldn't make out how many times Yu Xiu had struck or where the blows had landed. He couldn't even see Yu Xiu clearly!

Was that Yu Xiu?! Fang Jiming's pupils suddenly contracted.

Then he saw Yuan Shu, Qin Shu, and Zhao Zheng, who had charged forward, abruptly stop in their tracks and stand there, stunned!

A moment later, three dull thuds rang out in quick succession. When he looked again, Yuan Shu and the other two, who had suddenly stopped, toppled to the ground like golden mountains collapsing and jade pillars falling!

A red line appeared across each of their necks, growing brighter and brighter until blood poured without end.

They were dead! Ruan Fei and Zhang Yun felt their scalps go numb and their hearts turn cold.

Yu Xiu, who had been as docile as a lamb all along the way, and whom they had already considered a dead man, now seemed like an ancient savage beast that had burst free of human skin, baring his fangs and unleashing his murderous aura!

Forget facing him—even standing beside him made their hearts quail!

In the blink of an eye, Yu Xiu had killed three people. Qin Shu among them had even reached the Life Spring stage, the fourth Ascending Dragon Pass!

But how could Yu Xiu do that?

He had only been in the Inner Court for two months. How could he kill someone at the Life Spring stage?

It was impossible. It made no sense!

Yu Xiu held his sword horizontally before him and lightly flicked the blade. A drop of blood lingering on its tip scattered into a crimson mist, while the blade remained bright and clear.

Satisfied, he sheathed the sword and pointed it toward Qin Shu and the other two lying motionless on the ground. "The three of you were in too much of a hurry. You didn't even let me finish."

His gaze shifted to Fang Jiming. "There's no Elder Liao. I alone am enough."

"You..." Fang Jiming's expression turned grave as he looked at Yu Xiu again. "You've entered the Four Great Passes?"

Yu Xiu nodded. Hidden Edge unfurled within his sword heart, and the aura around him, which had seemed no stronger than the first Qi Sea stage, surged—then surged again—rising all the way past the fourth Ascending Dragon Pass, the Life Spring stage, and into the Four Great Passes.

"The first of the Four Great Passes—the Five Viscera stage!" Fang Jiming murmured, his voice graver than ever. "What a Yu Xiu!

"I've waited a year for this day. It seems you... have been waiting a year, too!"

Yu Xiu replied calmly, "If you don't make a move now, you may never get another chance."

Fang Jiming pointed at the others behind him. "They have little to do with this. Let them go, and spare their lives. What do you say?"

Yu Xiu shook his head. "None of you are leaving."

Fang Jiming looked back at Song Yue, Pang Wei, Ruan Fei, and the others behind him. "You see? If I let you go, there's a risk this news will get out. Yu Xiu would have to be a fool to do something like that. So..."

"Why not lend me a hand instead?"

Before his words had even faded, he spun around and appeared behind the others. He casually struck out with his palm, unleashing a mighty force that sent the five terrified disciples hurtling straight toward Yu Xiu.

At the same moment, Fang Jiming drifted backward and darted out of the thatched hut. "Yu Xiu, if I leave this hut, I'll spread the word that you possess a secret treasure that can help anyone enter the Four Great Passes in just three years. Tell me, will you ever know another day of peace?"

By the end, Fang Jiming's face was twisted with malice. "If I die, don't think you'll get off—"

He broke off abruptly and stopped in his tracks. Yu Xiu stood before him, sword in hand, as if he had been there all along.

When had he...

Fang Jiming whipped around, only to see corpses strewn across the thatched hut!

How could he have done it so fast?!