Chapter 32 of 100

Chapter 32

6 min read1,574 words

Deng Pu felt that he could collapse at any moment, his vision began to darken, and waves of fatigue washed over him. His thoughts became hazy, and he bit his tongue hard, the intense pain making him slightly more alert. He looked up and saw a sickly flush on Zuo Lixing’s originally pale face, which gave him a glimmer of hope. His opponent, severely injured, was also on the verge of collapse. Otherwise, Zuo Lixing could have easily crushed him instead of being in a stalemate. Whoever could hold on longer would win in the end.

This hope instantly gave him a surge of strength. With a muffled groan, he managed to push Zuo Lixing’s hands up a bit. Above him, Zuo Lixing laughed lightly, and the pressure from his hands increased. Deng Pu’s legs could no longer support the immense force, and with a thud, he knelt on the ground. His raised fists were only an inch away from his head.

He’s going to die! Deng Pu suddenly felt a sense of regret. When he crossed the threshold of the ninth level, he was full of confidence, feeling that the world was his to explore. Even the title of Grandmaster seemed within reach in his lifetime, especially since he was only in his early forties. To reach the ninth level at such a young age was not a common feat across the continent.

But today’s battle with the Grandmaster-level Zuo Lixing made him realize that the gap between the ninth level and Grandmaster was far greater than he had imagined. A severely injured, nearly dying Grandmaster could still overwhelm him effortlessly, leaving him powerless to resist.

Dying at the hands of a Grandmaster was a kind of honor, especially since this Grandmaster would not live long after killing him. Deng Pu felt his consciousness gradually fading.

He just wanted to hold on a bit longer. If he could drag Zuo Lixing down with him, it would be even better.

His knees gradually sank into the ground, and he was almost at his limit.

Just as his vision went black, he heard a sharp cry from Zuo Lixing. The pressure on his head suddenly vanished, and Deng Pu shot up into the air like a cannonball. The immense force left him in great discomfort, with no point of support. In mid-air, he spat out a large mouthful of blood.

He didn’t understand why Zuo Lixing suddenly gave up. In the air, he saw Zuo Lixing’s figure darting through the dense forest like a ghost, each appearance accompanied by a scream or a spray of blood.

There were people in the forest. They must have quietly approached while he and Zuo Lixing were battling. Who were they?

With a thud, he landed heavily on the ground, supporting himself with one hand and spitting out more blood. The frustration in his heart eased a bit. He circulated his internal energy, and this time, his internal injuries were much more severe than when he fought Guo Jiuling. But surviving under Zuo Lixing’s hands was a great relief.

Zuo Lixing seemed to have forgotten about Deng Pu. His figure continued to dart in and out of the forest, and the screams continued.

Deng Pu stood up and stared at the battle in the forest. No, it wasn’t a battle, but a one-sided massacre. These people were definitely not his own, nor could they be from Qin. Li Shuai had only sent him to capture Princess Zhao Hua, and Li Shuai’s word was sometimes more powerful than the emperor’s. No one would dare oppose his arrangements, not even the Bians. So who were these people?

With a thud, a corpse flew out of the forest and landed heavily in front of Deng Pu.

Deng Pu suddenly turned around. Behind him, a slender man in black stood under a tree. Although Deng Pu’s strength was greatly diminished, his perception was still sharp. Looking at the black-clad man and the dead body at his feet, Deng Pu asked in a deep voice, “Who are you?”

“General Deng, my name is Shu Hui,” the black-clad man smiled. “You should be grateful, shouldn’t you? If I hadn’t shot Zuo Lixing with a needle, you would be a corpse like my subordinate right now.”

Deng Pu understood. Now he knew why Zuo Lixing had suddenly given up. He had been ambushed by this man. It was laughable that a Grandmaster of such stature could be taken down by a sneak attack. If Zuo Lixing hadn’t been severely injured from his earlier battle with Li Zhi and then exhausted by fighting him, this man would have had no chance.

“Who are you?” Deng Pu asked again, “What do you want? What is your purpose?”

The man chuckled, looking at Zuo Lixing’s figure darting through the forest. He shook his head in admiration. “The power of a Grandmaster is truly formidable. Today, I’ve seen it. Even a severely injured and poisoned Grandmaster can still be so powerful. In the future, if I encounter such a person, I’ll run as far as I can.”

“Your companions are being slaughtered,” Deng Pu reminded him. “Even if Zuo Lixing is severely injured, it won’t be hard for him to kill them all.”

“No problem. I have plenty of such subordinates,” Shu Hui said indifferently. “I sent them to this area to be killed by Zuo Lixing. I didn’t expect a single poison needle to take down a Grandmaster. Each kill costs him a bit of strength. For a severely injured and dying Grandmaster, every bit of energy spent increases our chances of success, doesn’t it?”

“Us?” Deng Pu looked at him coldly. He suddenly realized that Shu Hui was standing in the shadow of a nearby tree, but the moving shadows made it impossible to lock onto his figure. He was shaken by this skill.

“Of course, us. Although I have many subordinates, they can’t withstand Zuo Lixing’s attacks. In the end, we have to solve the problem ourselves. Neither of us alone can match Zuo Lixing, but together, we can surely defeat him.” Shu Hui smiled.

“Why should I team up with you?” Deng Pu looked at him warily.

“I just saved your life. Can’t you consider me a friend?” Shu Hui laughed.

“Sometimes, saving someone is to harm them. If you don’t tell me your purpose and your background, I can’t trust you. I dislike people who hide their true intentions, and I don’t like dealing with such people. If possible, I’d rather fight Zuo Lixing to the death.” Deng Pu said coldly.

Shu Hui clapped his hands and laughed. “Truly a soldier’s spirit. If your second brother, Deng Fang, heard this, he would beat you up.”

“You know my second brother?” Deng Pu was surprised.

“A brief encounter, but your second brother and I are the same kind of people, aren’t we?”

“You are an enemy of my second brother. He would crush you like an ant.” Deng Pu sneered.

Shu Hui nodded seriously. “You’re right. Your second brother, Deng Fang, crossed the ninth-level threshold ten years ago and is indeed much stronger than me. Even you, in a one-on-one fight, could easily defeat me. But someone like me wouldn’t fight you openly. Just like your second brother, despite his high skills, he also likes to operate in the shadows.”

Deng Pu was speechless, unable to respond. Shu Hui seemed to know his second brother well, describing his character accurately. But despite this, he still hadn’t revealed his background.

Unsolicited kindness is either deceit or theft. Deng Pu was a straightforward person and firmly believed in this truth.

The coughing in the forest sounded again, and Deng Pu’s heart trembled. He turned to see Zuo Lixing slowly walking out. His originally clean clothes were now covered in blood, and his hands were dripping with it. Clearly, he was truly enraged, and his brutality far exceeded Deng Pu’s imagination.

“Eighty-seven people,” Shu Hui smiled. “In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, he killed eighty-seven people. But he’s truly at the end of his rope. General Deng, if you don’t team up with me, we might both be killed by him. The choice is yours!”

As he spoke, he tapped his waist, and a soft sword sprang out, writhing strangely in the air. Deng Pu sighed, bent down, and picked up a long spear from the ground. He held it in front of his chest, focusing his mind and preparing for the battle.

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