A Long-Distance Duel

On closer inspection, the two things Tai Zhuonan had thrown were enormous, silver-white spiders. Still in midair, they kept spinning webs, clearly intent on trapping Gao Xu alive!

Gao Xu, of course, wasn't going to sit back and wait for death. He flicked his long sword, tracing an arc of swordlight. With a series of hissing sounds, he sliced through countless strands too fine for the naked eye to see!

The blade quivered lightly, drawing both spiders into its path. In an instant, they were reduced to a bloody mass and sent flying back at Tai Zhuonan.

A brazen provocation!

And that wasn't all. Just as Tai Zhuonan was distracted by the death of his poisonous insects, a Flying Dagger shot out like a ghost and sank into a Miao Tribesman's lower back, draining the last of his health.

Though Gao Xu had no detection skill, he could accurately judge how much health a Miao Warrior had left by observing his physical condition. It seemed almost supernatural, but in truth, it was the instinct and keen eye he had cultivated through countless battles in his previous life.

By now, three Miao Tribesmen had died at Gao Xu's hands. Tai Zhuonan gritted his teeth in hatred, but with his numbers dwindling, he had no choice but to turn and face the bandits surging toward him.

This was when Gao Xu's hiding place proved advantageous. The bandits didn't know who was lurking nearby, but it was obvious from Gao Xu's actions that he was targeting the Miao Tribesmen. Naturally, they weren't about to miss such a golden opportunity to attack from both sides.

The Miao Tribesmen coveted Ghost Yin Mountain as a base and had brought their men there again and again. The feud had become a fight to the death. If the bandits could wipe out all their enemies here and crush their arrogance, perhaps they could enjoy a brief stretch of peace. That was the consensus the bandits had reached after discussing it.

In a one-on-one fight, the bandits were no match for the Miao Warriors. Most were barely clothed and didn't even have a decent weapon, while the Miao Tribesmen had sharp curved blades and soft armor. They held a substantial advantage in both offense and defense.

But even two fists couldn't beat four hands, and even a fierce tiger couldn't hold off a pack of wolves. At least fifteen bandits crowded into this narrow passage. There was no way to dodge the blades raining down on them. The poisonous insects Tai Zhuonan had released earlier had only managed to injure three or four men before they were driven into a corner and hacked to pieces. He was about to face the same fate!

As blood sprayed everywhere, Tai Zhuonan staggered backward and released another Flute Snake, his last one. It flashed green like lightning as it darted toward the bandits.

The poisonous insects could kill with a single bite. However much the bandits hated the Miao Tribesmen, they weren't about to risk their lives. They had no choice but to dodge again, allowing Tai Zhuonan to break through.

By now, this Miao Tribesman leader, a squad-level figure, had lost most of his momentum. All his poisonous insects were dead, leaving him with only a Miao saber for protection. With the bandits on their guard, his poison powder was of little use. Earlier, he had been too proud to retreat. Now, he had no choice but to run!

But at this critical moment, Gao Xu appeared and silently blocked his escape route!

Tai Zhuonan had expected this. He let out a loud shout, and his Miao saber blazed with light as he brought it down. Most of his skill lay in poison, but the Black and White Miao Tribes had been locked in fierce conflict for years. His saber had drunk the blood of several White Miao Tribesmen, and his swordsmanship was no pushover.

So when Gao Xu raised his sword and deflected Tai Zhuonan's Miao saber, the blade's momentum should have been spent. Yet Tai Zhuonan swept it back at an astonishing speed. This second strike was nearly twice as fast as the first, leaving no time to defend. It was his attack skill—Double Slash!

Gao Xu's pupils contracted sharply. This is bad! Fortunately, he had seen countless battles and knew how to keep his head in a crisis. At the last moment, he tossed out the Flying Rainbow Sword, leaned sharply backward, and kicked the hilt with his right foot. As he used the force to retreat, the blade blocked the strike.

Tai Zhuonan never imagined that even his sure-fire blow could miss. Acting on instinct, he channeled his strength into a downward slash, striking the Flying Rainbow Sword so hard that it flew away.

Gao Xu had only retreated halfway when his toes touched the stone wall of the passage. As he spun around, he flung out his scabbard, which met the incoming Flying Rainbow Sword.

Clang!

As the sword slid into its scabbard, Gao Xu spun gracefully and landed lightly on the ground. He gave the weapon in his hand a little shake and grinned. "Thanks for returning it!"

The exchange had happened in the blink of an eye. The Miao leader's underhanded move was enough to make anyone's spine turn cold, but Gao Xu's response was even more dazzling. His movements had flowed together seamlessly. At a glance, it seemed as if an invisible hand had guided the Flying Rainbow Sword, lending him a hint of the legendary grace of riding the wind on a sword.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

"That was incredible. If those uncles from the Shushan Sword Sect had seen that, they'd probably be fighting over who got to take you as a disciple~" Gao Xu took in Tai Zhuonan's incredulous expression and nodded with satisfaction. But before he could strike a pose, a voice from behind made his calm expression change. He turned to look at the fiery-red figure and couldn't help but smile wryly.

"What, surprised to see me?" Lin Yueru tilted her head slightly, enjoying Gao Xu's expression as she tried to suppress her delight. But seeing her bright-eyed, smiling face, one might have thought she was riding Rouge and teasing some self-important young master. She was having a wonderful time~

Their reasons for being pleased were perhaps a little different, but Lin Yueru selectively ignored that. At this moment, she had only one thought: to even the score and thoroughly knock Gao Xu down a peg!

"Impressive! Impressive!" Gao Xu quickly regained his composure and clapped with a smile. "You made a round trip through the central passage and even got into a fight, yet you still arrived right on time. It seems I underestimated your lightness skill, Miss Lin. This contest is still up in the air~"

"What? You think you still have a chance?" Lin Yueru used One Yang Finger to knock down a Miao Tribesman trying to escape. "That makes five. Add this leader, and I've won for sure!"

"Not necessarily!"

"True, a contest with a foregone conclusion wouldn't be any fun~ Come on, don't disappoint me!"

As they traded words, their gazes met and sparks flew. Lin Yueru struck first. With the Yuenü Sword in hand, she darted forward like a great roc spreading its wings and thrust at Tai Zhuonan.

At the sight of an even stronger enemy, despair showed on Tai Zhuonan's face. Just then, a familiar voice speaking Miao suddenly sounded in his ear: "You've disappointed Elder Shi badly. Now, do you want to live or die?"

Tai Zhuonan froze for a moment, then clutched at this last lifeline and cried out in Miao, "I don't want to die! I don't want to die! Sir, save me!"

"Then shift three inches to the left and raise your right leg at the same time. Attack straight ahead, low!"

Lin Yueru was already upon him. Faced with the imminent danger, and hearing the steady, composed voice, Tai Zhuonan instinctively trusted it and hurriedly obeyed.

Lin Yueru had a keen eye. With one quick glance, she saw that although Tai Zhuonan's saber techniques were fierce, his foundation was shaky. He could attack but not defend, and the sword moves she'd used were specifically aimed at his weakness.

Unexpectedly, Tai Zhuonan's movements suddenly became nimble. He not only found the final point of impact amid the dancing sword shadows and dodged the blow aimed at his chest, but also took advantage of her landing, when her footing was unsteady, to kick straight at her. She had no choice but to abandon her follow-up move and dodge.

Lin Yueru let out a surprised cry. Relying on her superior footwork, she slid behind Tai Zhuonan, flourishing her sword into a cluster of blossoms as she stabbed at his back.

Most of Tai Zhuonan's injuries were on his back. Though they were mostly superficial, they bled without stopping as he moved around. If Lin Yueru cut him a few more times, the wounds would compound, and he would be in grave danger!

But Tai Zhuonan seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He turned his waist a beat before Lin Yueru could strike, raised his saber, and brought it down furiously. He unleashed Double Slash, forcing Lin Yueru back.

After a few exchanges, Lin Yueru realized something was wrong. She gritted her teeth and glared at Gao Xu, who had remained standing still the whole time. "You?"

Gao Xu toyed with the Sound Transmitter and smiled. "What, don't you think this long-distance duel is fun, Miss Lin?"

"A long-distance duel?" Lin Yueru repeated the words slowly, her eyes lighting up. "You actually came up with such an outlandish method? Fine! I'll play along to the very end!"

And so, with Tai Zhuonan at its center, a truly unusual contest broke out.