Chapter 305: Duel!
At the entrance stood an old man in a Tang suit. He had a square face and a unibrow, exuding an imposing aura without a hint of anger. To Zhao Dong's shock, he couldn't gauge the man's depth at all!
Zhao Dong clenched his fists tightly, his gaze wary.
"Zhao Dong, is it?" the old man asked with a faint smile, his powerful aura diminishing slightly.
"How do you know my name?" Zhao Dong's gaze grew even more guarded.
I'm absolutely certain I've never met this old man before! And the fact that he hasn't made a move against me proves he isn't one of Hong Wu's men.
"How I know your name isn't important," the old man said. "What's important is that I have a way to save this woman."
"You... Are you serious!?"
Zhao Dong stared at the old man, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief. A moment later, he narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice, "Senior, please forgive my earlier offense. I beg you to save Yafei. Whatever the cost, I will accept it!"
"There is no need for a cost. However, the poison has already attacked this woman's heart. To save her, you must let me take her away." The old man's tone was neutral, betraying no emotion.
Zhao Dong's expression sank. Take her away? Suspicion flared within him, and he said coldly, "You say you can save Yafei, yet you insist on taking her away. Why should I trust you?"
"Heh, why?" The old man showed a disdainful smile. "Do you have any other choice right now? Besides, if I truly wanted to harm you, I could have already made my move, could I not?"
Zhao Dong's brow tightened, and he was left speechless. He's right... do I even have a choice? I truly can't gauge this old man's power. If he had ill intentions toward me and Xu Yafei, he could have acted by now.
"Young man, make your decision quickly," the old man urged. "If you wait until this woman's soul has completely vanished, not even the gods will be able to save her."
Zhao Dong stared intently at the old man, his heart in turmoil. This elder... can he really save Xu Yafei? I have no other choice.
Finally, Zhao Dong spoke, his voice hoarse. "Senior, I beg you, please save Yafei!"
The old man didn't reply, merely giving a slight nod. He stepped forward to help Xu Yafei to her feet. But just as he was about to leave with her, Zhao Dong's heart skipped a beat, and he moved to block their path.
The old man's brows knitted together. "What is the meaning of this now?"
With reddened eyes, Zhao Dong asked, "Senior, when will you be able to cure Yafei? When can I see her again?"
The old man stopped and gazed toward the distant setting sun. "Perhaps... you will never see her again."
"What!?" Zhao Dong's brow furrowed deeply as he murmured, "No... That can't happen..."
The old man's expression hardened. "One moment you agree to let me take her, the next you refuse. Do you think I'm playing house with you?"
"I don't care who you are! You're courting death!" Zhao Dong's emotions finally erupted. A terrifying murderous intent surged from him as he thrust a palm at the old man's heart.
Zhao Dong held nothing back with this palm strike. The wind howled as his attack descended like a mighty mountain, carrying a world-destroying aura as it shot straight for the old man's face!
"A moth to a flame. You overestimate your own strength!" A cold light flashed in the old man's eyes as he casually waved his right hand.
BANG!
With a deafening crash, Zhao Dong felt as if his palm had struck a steel plate. An immense backlash surged through him. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and was sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground!
Zhao Dong was utterly stunned. My strength is no match for this old man? Just what is his background?
The old man sneered dismissively. "Young man, with your current level of strength, you dare to attack me? If you want to see Xu Yafei again, then you had better cultivate diligently!"
With that, the old man, carrying Xu Yafei, vanished from Zhao Dong's sight.
"Yafei!!!" Zhao Dong cried, his eyes bloodshot as he frantically rushed out.
In that moment, he loathed his own powerlessness. He was powerless to save Xu Yafei and was now forced to watch her be taken away. When he rushed outside, his body shuddered. No one was in sight; the old man had vanished as if he had never been there.
Zhao Dong's eyes were crimson. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud. His heart felt as if it were being torn apart, the pain suffocating him.
Is this despair...? Watching the woman beside me die for my sake, and I don't even have the power to prevent her from being taken away?
His eyes welled up and his nose tingled as the image of Xu Yafei's smiling face appeared in his mind. His heart clenched, and his eyes grew moist...
"Yafei! Wait for me! I will find that old man and bring you back!"
Zhao Dong departed, utterly dejected. His only consolation was the belief that the old man probably wouldn't harm Xu Yafei. After all, with such strength, if he harbored any twisted desires, he could have simply killed Zhao Dong on the spot and done whatever he wanted to her.
Come to think of it, maybe he really can save Xu Yafei.
This was the last sliver of hope he could cling to.
Yafei... I don't believe you're just gone... I don't believe it!
「East Sea Pier.」
In the pitch-black night, Hong Wu stood at the bow of a ship. The distant blast of a ship's horn finally settled his nerves. His eyes were fixed fiercely on the brilliant lights of the distant city, his features twisted with savagery.
"Zhao Dong! You just wait! Once I bring reinforcements from Black Dragon Commerce, I will return with a vengeance and rip your head from your shoulders!"
A subordinate's voice came from behind him. "Boss, the ship is ready. Shall we depart?"
Hong Wu took one last look at the distant city and nodded. "Depart!"
"Yes, sir!"
At the command, the ship slowly pulled away from the harbor, and Hong Wu's heart finally settled. Although he knew the poisoned needle might even take Zhao Dong's life, all that truly mattered was that it would buy him enough time to escape.