Time seemed to have been paused at that very moment.
All that remained on the rooftop was the howling wind and the clearly audible beating of their hearts.
"Thump, thump, thump..."
Lin Yan could feel it: if the wisp of condensed true qi at his fingertips advanced just one more inch, it could easily pierce Hisoka's skull and shred his brain.
Hisoka could feel it too: if the playing card in his hand, infused with Hardening, advanced just one more inch, it could effortlessly pierce Lin Yan's chest and tear his heart apart.
Each held the other's life in his hands.
Yet neither advanced that final inch that would decide life and death.
After a long while, Hisoka broke the silence first.
He slowly withdrew the deadly playing card.
The madness and resolve on his face gradually faded, replaced by a complex smile mingling regret with pleasure.
"Hehehe... How delicious..."
His voice was a little hoarse.
"Killing you now would be such a waste."
He looked at Lin Yan, the murderous intent gone from his eyes. In its place was a trace of appreciation, as though he were admiring a priceless treasure.
"I've only just cracked open this apple of yours and caught a whiff of the fragrance inside."
"Gobbling it down just like that would be the greatest possible insult to fine food."
"You're not 'fully ripe' yet."
That was the reason he gave for stopping.
Lin Yan slowly withdrew his Sword Finger as well.
The Gengjin Sword Pellet hovering behind Hisoka's head also became a streak of light and flew back into his sleeve.
His face was somewhat pale.
That use of Spirit-Shaking and the lethal trap at the end had drained almost all his divine sense and true qi.
He was already at the end of his