Chapter 220 : Tacit Understanding
Chapter 220: Tacit Understanding
Chen Ming’s right shoulder was injured. It was a wound he had inflicted on himself—a piercing wound straight through.
Originally, he thought this would give him an excuse not to make a move. After all, he had only exchanged a few blows with this Liang Qi, at most he could imitate those few moves he had seen. Once he truly fought, his cover would be blown in an instant.
Unexpectedly, Liang Qi’s master, Zhou You, was so ruthless that he still sent him in to scout the way. Zhou must have noticed that his injuries were not as severe as they appeared.
It was evident that within the Demonic Sect, there truly was not much affection between master and disciple.
He followed half a step behind his junior brother Qian Jiu, gripping the hilt of the “Po Jun Sword” while warily surveying the surroundings.
Such a strange place.
The ground, the sky, the surrounding trees, and the manor ahead all gave off an eerie feeling, as though the entire world lacked color. There were only outlines and the blurred shadows of ink wash.
It was as if this entire world was nothing but a black-and-white landscape painting.
Everything here felt chillingly unsettling.
Suddenly, a sense of danger welled up within Chen Ming. It came from behind. He shifted sideways, and already, a pitch-black sword tip had pierced past his chest.
That sword, too, was black-and-white, and when stained with bright red blood, it appeared terrifyingly strange!
“Senior brother!”
Qian Jiu shouted angrily as he swung his saber toward the shadow that had attacked his senior brother.
The shadow kicked out, sending Chen Ming flying. He rolled several times before lying motionless on the ground.
The shadow then blocked Qian Jiu’s saber and knocked him back as well.
“What tremendous strength!”
Qian Jiu was horrified, his hands numb from the shock. His opponent’s strength was beyond imagination.
At this moment, he finally saw the shadow clearly. Like the environment here, it looked as though it had been painted into existence, clad in a guard’s uniform. The ink-stroked eyes were startlingly vivid, radiating fierce killing intent.
“Those who trespass into the manor shall die!”
With that, it lunged at Qian Jiu again, moving as fast as a ghost.
Within just a few moves, Qian Jiu was already flustered and in grave danger. His heart was filled with terror. This thing’s strength was nearly on par with a Second Grade expert.
Was it human or ghost?
Just as Qian Jiu was about to flee, a flash of sword light appeared. That ghostly figure was cleaved in half. Its body collapsed, but no blood spilled out. Instead, it instantly dissolved into two wisps of black mist and vanished without a trace.
Shaken, Qian Jiu turned around and gratefully said, “Thank you, Master, for saving me.”
Zhou You studied the strange world around him with a solemn expression. “This world is indeed different from the human realm.”
Fang Yong, who had entered with him, also spoke, “The laws of heaven and earth here are bizarre. That creature just now—neither human nor ghost—must have been a native lifeform of this realm. Truly strange.”
Zhou Yilan had also entered. She remained silent, her gaze lingering briefly on the fallen “Liang Qi” before she looked away.
Qian Jiu suddenly remembered his ambushed senior brother. He quickly reported, “Senior brother was struck in a sneak attack and gravely injured. I fear…” His voice carried a trace of sorrow.
Zhou You looked toward Zhou Yilan. “Little junior sister, I must trouble you to heal him. After all, he is still your martial nephew. You wouldn’t just let him die here, would you?”
Expressionless, Zhou Yilan still said nothing. She walked over to Liang Qi, placed her hand on his chest, and immediately discovered the severity of his wound. His lung had been pierced—an absolute vital spot. Even with Third Grade cultivation, without treatment, he would be in mortal danger.
She was secretly shocked. This person had struck himself so ruthlessly. That sword had nearly ended his life outright.
White light flared in her hand, and the bleeding stopped instantly.
Zhou Yilan withdrew her hand and said coldly, “Rest for ten days to half a month, and you will recover. During this time, you must not fight.”
Zhou You asked, “Why not finish the treatment, little junior sister, and heal him completely?”
Zhou Yilan turned her face away.
Fang Yong smoothed things over. “This Secret Realm provides no way to replenish vital energy. We do not yet know what dangers lie ahead. Naturally, one must conserve some strength.”
Zhou You let the matter drop and ordered Qian Jiu, “Carry him on your back and follow me.”
“Yes.”
Qian Jiu carried his pale, weakened senior brother and stuck close to their master.
This ghostly place had already revealed a creature comparable to a Second Grade. The deeper they went, the more perilous it would be. Only by sticking with his master could there be any chance of survival.
…
After observing for a while, Zhou You said, “That manor should be the core of this Secret Realm. The demonic sword must be sealed within. Let’s go.”
Fang Yong agreed without objection. Taking the rear, he kept a wary eye out while speaking, “Little junior sister, I’ve missed you all these years. Though Eldest and Second Senior Brother don’t say it, I know they too hold you dearly in their hearts…”
Zhou Yilan replied softly, “So, you had to bring ruin upon my household? Force me into enmity with my husband?”
At the front, Zhou You instantly flared with anger. “We are your true family! I never should have let you marry that Ruan fellow. Otherwise, how could it have come to this?”
Zhou Yilan’s voice was bitter. “If you truly considered me family, you would not have done such things to my husband, destroying everything he had.”
“Why? In your heart, does Ruan Caihong mean more than the three senior brothers who depended on each other with you? What is so good about that promiscuous playboy?”
“You and he are both dear to me. Both sides of the hand are flesh…”
“But it’s not the same. In your heart, that Ruan matters more than us three brothers, doesn’t he? I regret not killing him back then…”
Carried on Qian Jiu’s back, Chen Ming nearly laughed aloud. Of all times, here they were, in such a place, still quarreling over love and relationships.
They were First and Second Grade experts, yet so childish.
Such was the problem with those who cultivated demonic arts—their progress was too rapid, their temperament left unpolished.
“So Zhou Yilan’s life-bound artifact is related to healing. Back then, her role must have been a healer. This restorative power is different from wood element. I wonder what object it stems from.”
“Zhou You’s sword qi earlier was terrifying. His life-bound artifact is likely a divine weapon. Extremely dangerous.”
“As for Fang Yong’s life-bound artifact, I have no idea yet.”
Suddenly, pain wracked his wound, nearly suffocating him. Qian Jiu had leapt up too abruptly, jolting him.
By then, they had entered the manor.
Suddenly sensing something, Chen Ming raised his head. Atop the tallest building of the manor was a sword. It appeared to be an ordinary steel sword, but it stood in stark contrast to the ink-painted buildings.
It was a real sword. The dark-brown hilt and red tassel made clear it did not belong to this world.
Zhou You’s eyes lit up. “There!”
Fang Yong muttered, “The demonic sword left behind by the Ten Thousand Swords Demon Venerable!”
“Who dares trespass into my Sovereign Manor?”
A dozen figures leapt out from the manor, roaring fiercely as they rushed forward, killing intent surging.
“Hmph!”
Zhou You waved his hand, and sword intent shot forth, striking those ink-painted figures. His unstoppable sword intent pierced them through. Their corpses dissolved into black mist, vanishing into the air.
“What terrifying sword intent!”
Chen Ming was secretly shocked. This man was likely even stronger than that “senior brother” of the Blood Demon Sect they had encountered in the Fire Element Cave Mansion.
“How dare you!”
A thunderous voice shook the air.
A tall, middle-aged man in brocade robes appeared. The lines outlining him were sharper and clearer than the others, distinctly different from the ink-painted figures.
The BOSS had arrived!
Chen Ming’s spirit stirred.
To him, this so-called Secret Realm was like a dungeon. The earlier encounters were just small mobs. Now this man was the boss.
Unfortunately, killing those mobs hadn’t dropped any loot.
It seemed this wasn’t truly a game dungeon.
What intrigued him was whether killing creatures here would yield experience points.
But now, gravely injured, he couldn’t test it.
He said to Qian Jiu, “Little Jiu, put me down.”
“But your wound—”
“Cough, cough… I can still walk. Don’t let me drag you down.”
Qian Jiu hesitated, then set him down.
The two watched as Zhou You clashed with the middle-aged man in midair.
This world seemed devoid of qi. Cultivation here was in the body—if it could be cultivated. That man’s physical strength was overwhelming, his speed ghostly. His combat power was equal to a First Grade.
For a while, Zhou You could not defeat him.
After a dozen exchanges, Zhou You finally unleashed his life-bound artifact—a black sword that seemed to belong to this painted world.
Chen Ming saw it and immediately thought, “Not a peerless divine weapon.”
Still, with that sword, the middle-aged man was wounded.
“Strong intruders! Aid me!”
The man’s roar summoned more figures from the manor.
Fang Yong’s expression hardened. “Junior sister, be careful.” He rushed at the three fastest figures and was soon locked in combat.
Expressionless, Zhou Yilan drew her short sword.
“Three elite mobs!”
Chen Ming quickly judged. The three figures fighting Fang Yong had First Grade strength, but weaker than the boss—meaning their health must be much lower.
The rest were small mobs.
He bitterly smiled. To First Grade experts, they were mere mobs. But to him, they were a terrifying threat. Each of these mobs had the strength of a Second Grade, though still inferior to true ones.
What to do?
As one mob lunged at him, Chen Ming gripped the “Po Jun Sword.”
Zhou You and Fang Yong were too occupied to help. Qian Jiu, too, was struggling.
Just as Chen Ming prepared to act, a flash of light pierced through the mob before him.
He turned his head and saw Zhou Yilan retract her short sword. Their eyes met, and he immediately understood. This woman had indeed already seen through his disguise.
Chen Ming steadied his heart. With her aid, at least for now, he needn’t worry about his identity being exposed.