Comprehending Myriad Techniques as Woodcutter

’How did he still catch up?’

Xie Yuan’s heart sank.

Lu the Third’s eyes swept over the two of them. He chuckled.

"So this pretty boy is Miss Yun’s lover. No wonder she couldn’t bear to let go."

The woman stepped in front of Xie Yuan. Hearing this, she flung his hand away and raised her palms, facing Lu the Third.

Lu the Third grinned.

"Why make things so difficult?"

He slashed with his blade, and a massive beam of saber energy engulfed the entire forest.

The woman took a single, shifting step. It looked as if she had barely moved, yet she easily dodged the beam. With another step, she crossed several dozen feet, her palms glowing as she struck toward Lu the Third’s chest!

Lu the Third snorted coldly. He flipped his blade around and smashed the pommel toward the woman’s palms.

BANG! A loud crash echoed as a shockwave of energy rippled through the woods. Lu the Third didn’t move an inch, but the woman was forced back a step.

But she executed a profound footwork technique, flashing to Lu the Third’s side once more. She unleashed a chain of palm strikes, blanketing her foe.

Xie Yuan watched the two clash, their movements so fast he could barely follow them.

Miss Yun’s Body Technique was unpredictable, her footwork incredibly profound. It seemed somewhat similar to the Eight Trigrams Mountain-Shaking Fist, also containing the principles of the innate eight trigrams. For a moment, Lu the Third couldn’t decipher it and was forced onto the defensive.

He watched for only a few moments before deciding to leave. He couldn’t get involved, and staying would only make him a liability.

Both fighters saw Xie Yuan turn and run. The woman nodded in silent approval, but a glint appeared in Lu the Third’s eyes.

He feinted with his long blade, then suddenly slashed in Xie Yuan’s direction, unleashing a crimson beam of saber energy.

The woman was startled and instinctively moved to block it, only to see the attack suddenly change direction and shoot straight for her.

It was a trap!

Caught off guard, she could only manage to bring her palms back to defend. She was struck head-on by the beam of energy and sent flying, spitting a mouthful of blood in mid-air.

The woman landed on her feet, her chest heaving as she coughed uncontrollably. Seeing Lu the Third pressing his advantage and closing in, she gritted her teeth, and her figure shot backward, instantly vanishing into the woods.

Xie Yuan glanced back and saw two figures chasing each other away in the opposite direction. A flicker of worry crossed his mind.

But when he turned back, he hadn’t gotten far before that red light rushed before him in the blink of an eye, cutting him off!

Lu the Third’s face was grim. He said coldly,

"Now she’s really gone for good. Looks like she abandoned you."

Seeing this, Xie Yuan’s expression changed slightly.

Lu the Third walked toward him step by step and bellowed,

"Speak! How do you two know each other! Where would she run to!"

Xie Yuan’s brow furrowed. He shook his head.

"I don’t know."

"You don’t know? Then you can die!"

Lu the Third shot out a hand and grabbed Xie Yuan by the neck.

Xie Yuan felt an iron-like grip around his neck. He was completely powerless to resist, his face turning beet red.

"Weren’t you so arrogant just now?"

Lu the Third said, his face contorted with malice.

"I admit I was a little loud earlier..."

Xie Yuan managed to squeeze out the words.

"It was just a joke. Senior, my master really is from Prajna Temple, you see..."

He did his best to circulate the Golden Bell Shield technique, and a very faint golden light appeared on his skin.

When Lu the Third saw this, he raised an eyebrow and his grip loosened slightly.

"The Golden Bell Shield? You’re really the disciple of a Buddhist master?"

"Yes, yes, yes... Do you think I still have a chance?"

Xie Yuan nodded repeatedly.

"If you’re a disciple of Prajna Temple... letting you go isn’t out of the question."

Lu the Third grinned, revealing a set of yellow teeth.

"But, as I recall, Prajna Temple doesn’t accept lay disciples.

"You motherfucker, you’re still trying to fool me?"

Seeing the murderous look on Lu the Third’s face, Xie Yuan quickly said,

"My master has ties to Prajna Temple, that’s how I was able to learn the Golden Bell Shield."

"A Buddhist master, huh... Hmm..."

Lu the Third nodded, seemingly lost in thought.

Xie Yuan’s heart began to beat rapidly—THUMP THUMP THUMP. Seeing Lu the Third’s pensive expression, his own mood rose and fell with uncertainty.

After a long moment, just as Xie Yuan was staring intently at him, Lu the Third suddenly turned his head, looked at him, and grinned.

"You think you have a chance, don’t you?

"You really think I’m afraid of some master? Even if your master was on the Flying Dragon List, I’d still kill you. Once I’m in the desert, who’s going to find me!

"You son of a bitch, you like playing tricks, don’t you? Go on, keep trying!"

Lu the Third hoisted Xie Yuan up, a cruel smile on his face.

Xie Yuan’s heart plummeted to the depths of despair. His neck was gripped tightly, the pressure increasing, and he couldn’t move.

Just as Xie Yuan’s face was turning from red to purple and Lu the Third’s grin was widening, the man’s movements suddenly froze. He tilted his head slightly, and his ears twitched.

WHOOSH...

It seemed the sound of rushing wind was approaching.