Chapter 12

Holding the long, heavy saber, which carried the frenzied power that erupted from fear, trembling, and terror, Cheng Yong was about to be struck down with the force of a single cleave that could split Mount Hua.

Cheng Yong raised his palms, one in front and one behind, ready to clash with the saber and send it flying. His martial arts were far superior to Meng Qi's, and his eyesight was equally sharp, allowing him to time his move perfectly. However, as he raised his iron palms, he felt a sharp pain in his left chest, causing the flow of blood to increase and his movements to hesitate. His palms became momentarily weak, and the saber broke through, aiming for his face.

A seasoned warrior, Cheng Yong remained calm in the face of danger. He fell backward with the momentum of the saber, rolling away from Meng Qi's attack. Meng Qi, lacking combat experience, hesitated for a moment and did not pursue the advantage, missing the opportunity to attack Cheng Yong as he rolled on the ground.

Halfway through his roll, Cheng Yong pressed his palms to the ground, resembling a toad, and suddenly kicked backward and upward with his right foot, aiming for the imaginary enemy's heart.

This was his secret move, which had helped him turn the tide in many battles after being forced to roll. He intended to use it again to end the fight.

His right foot met nothing but air, and Cheng Yong used the momentum to jump up. He saw the young monk with rosy lips and white teeth hesitating, looking like a novice who had never been in a real fight.

"Damn it!" Cheng Yong cursed inwardly. His secret move had failed because the opponent was a novice and had missed the chance to pursue. This left him frustrated. After the series of intense movements, he felt his chest wound worsening, the blood flowing more, and a sense of exhaustion. Golden stars appeared before his eyes, and he felt as if darkness could engulf him at any moment.

"I can't let this continue. I need to treat my wound first," Cheng Yong thought. Despite the reckless and impulsive effects of the Heart-Seizing Pill, he still retained his rationality. Otherwise, the controlled leaders of various sects would have been seen through long ago.

He knew that if he didn't treat his wound, he would likely fall into a coma from severe injuries within a few breaths, becoming easy prey for the young monk.

Just as he was about to tear off a piece of his clothing to bandage his wound, he heard the young monk let out a low growl of dissatisfaction and step forward, swinging the saber again.

"Damn it, why didn't you pursue me just now?" Cheng Yong had no choice but to muster his strength and engage Meng Qi, trying to end the fight quickly so he could treat his wound.

Jiang Zhwei sat on the ground, leaning against the stone door. She watched as Meng Qi, like a mad tiger, swung his saber faster and faster. Though his technique was unrefined, the length and power of the saber gave him an advantage. Cheng Yong, severely injured, saw a significant drop in his martial arts skills and was slow in his movements, unable to find an opening to close in on Meng Qi.

"Chaos beats the master..." Jiang Zhwei thought of this old saying and then called out, "Slash upward diagonally!"

Though she had been hit in the lower abdomen and was weak, her keen eyesight from opening her Eye Aperture allowed her to see the flaws in Cheng Yong's movements. Since Cheng Yong was moving slowly, she could "guide" Meng Qi. Otherwise, in a high-level battle, the opportunity would be missed before she could even speak.

Meng Qi swung his saber wildly, feeling like a master as he forced Cheng Yong to keep his distance. "This must be the Chaotic Wind Saber Technique..." Meng Qi thought, feeling slightly proud. Of course, he knew it wasn't the Chaotic Wind Saber Technique but rather the "Chaotic Chopping Saber Technique." If Cheng Yong hadn't been injured, Meng Qi would have been killed long ago.

"Slash upward diagonally." Suddenly, Meng Qi heard Jiang Zhwei's voice. However, being in his first real combat and lacking experience in working with Jiang Zhwei, he couldn't immediately translate what he heard into a thought and then a quick action. He continued to swing horizontally.

Cheng Yong, naturally, also heard Jiang Zhwei's voice. He crouched and lunged, aiming for Meng Qi's abdomen.

A flash of the saber, and blood spurted out. Cheng Yong clutched his left arm and stumbled backward, rolling away.

Then, he jumped up, glaring at Meng Qi. His lunge had been directly onto Meng Qi's horizontal saber, severely injuring his left arm.

"What about the 'slash upward diagonally'?" Meng Qi, looking innocent, met his glare and said, "I'm sorry, I was too slow and let you down."

Cheng Yong, enraged, spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Ha ha." Jiang Zhwei, holding her abdomen, laughed until she almost convulsed. "I knew it! Even if I die with the little monk, I'll die laughing!"

Cheng Yong, filled with anger, pointed his right hand at his chest a few times, stopping the blood flow. Though the wound was too deep, and this was only a temporary solution, he knew it would burst again in ten breaths, possibly leading to his death. But he couldn't afford to wait. If he continued to tangle with this hateful little monk, he might die from exhaustion or anger!

Seeing Cheng Yong's actions and the expression of deep enmity on his face, Meng Qi's smile faded, and his heart sank. He realized that the next move would be a matter of life and death.

A heavy pressure enveloped him, and he instinctively stepped forward, raising his saber for a vertical chop.

Jiang Zhwei stopped laughing, leaning against the stone door, trying to stand to help Meng Qi. However, the dantian, the source of qi, was severely injured, and she couldn't gather her scattered true qi in a short time.

After temporarily stopping the bleeding, Cheng Yong stepped forward, his injured left hand below and his right hand drawing a half-circle, ready to grab Meng Qi's saber.

Meng Qi, sensing the danger, used all his strength to change the vertical chop to a diagonal slash, avoiding Cheng Yong's right hand. However, Cheng Yong's left hand pressed against the saber, and the force pushed Meng Qi back several steps.

Taking advantage of the situation, Cheng Yong pressed forward, his palms repeatedly breaking through Meng Qi's saber movements. Meng Qi was in grave danger. If Cheng Yong hadn't been wary of the sharp saber and couldn't afford another severe injury, Meng Qi would have been killed by now.

"No, if I keep delaying, I'll definitely die!" The sense of extreme danger and the shadow of death struck Meng Qi's heart, making his eyes slightly red. His saber continued to swing wildly, but his mind was racing.

"Why didn't I learn saber techniques?" Meng Qi knew that if he had mastered saber techniques, he could have held out until Cheng Yong's injuries worsened or Jiang Zhwei recovered. But now, he could only swing wildly. He felt a deep sense of frustration.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration came to Meng Qi, and he remembered Cheng Yong's attempt to grab the saber.

He gritted his teeth, his eyes wide, almost splitting his eye sockets, and raised his saber for another vertical chop, as if ready to die with Cheng Yong.

Cheng Yong sneered inwardly, his right hand drawing a circle and his left hand moving up to grab the saber. Meng Qi, having used all his strength, had no power left to change his move.

Cheng Yong's palms clamped down on the saber, and just as he was about to pull it away, he felt nothing but air. He lost his balance, staggering, and saw the little monk take two steps forward, his left fist striking out.

The moment Cheng Yong grabbed the saber, Meng Qi had released his right hand, abandoning the saber!

Taking advantage of the opening in Cheng Yong's chest and abdomen, Meng Qi lunged forward, using the "Black Tiger Heart Snatching" technique from the Arhat Fist with his left hand.

Pang! Meng Qi's left fist struck Cheng Yong's left chest wound, causing it to burst open, and blood spurted out, covering Meng Qi's face and body.

Cheng Yong made a choking sound, his hands gripping the saber, and he stumbled back, looking at the blood-covered Meng Qi with a look of disbelief and shock.

"Did I really get killed by a little monk who only knows how to swing wildly? By someone with such mediocre martial arts?"

Plop! Cheng Yong fell backward, dust rising around him, his eyes wide open, unable to accept his fate.

"Ha ha ha ha." Meng Qi laughed wildly, all his fear, tension, and trembling pouring out. Covered in blood, he looked particularly fierce. "I may not know saber techniques, but I know fist techniques! Surprised?"

After his wild laughter, Meng Qi panted heavily, feeling utterly exhausted.

"Little monk, you've broken the vow of speech. How can you call yourself 'old'?" Jiang Zhwei, relieved that the enemy was gone, teased him, but she couldn't bring herself to say the word "old."

"Surviving a great calamity, the Buddha will be happy and won't blame me," Meng Qi said, feeling relieved. "How are you, Miss Jiang?"

Seeing him about to turn his head, Jiang Zhwei quickly stopped him. "Don't worry about me. Pick up my sword and strike his forehead to prevent a fake death and sudden attack."

Jiang Zhwei had been taught how to handle such situations.

Meng Qi nodded, stepping back a few steps, his eyes fixed on Cheng Yong. He picked up Jiang Zhwei's sword and cautiously approached Cheng Yong, striking his forehead from a distance.

The sword pierced through the forehead, and Meng Qi finally relaxed. Cheng Yong was dead, beyond any doubt!

Jiang Zhwei, now able to comment, said, "Little monk, you have great potential. In your first real combat, you could calmly and sharply grasp the situation, set a trap, overcome your fear, and switch from the saber to a fist to deliver the fatal blow. You might become a great master one day."

"Heh heh." Hearing the praise from the skilled Jiang Zhwei, Meng Qi smiled foolishly, feeling a bit proud. "I guess I'm not a fool when it comes to martial arts!"

At that moment, the blood on the ground began to move, forming words:

"Jiang Zhwei and Meng Qi have saved Cheng Yong from the control of the Heart-Seizing Pill, completing a side quest. Each is rewarded with ten good deeds."

Is this possible? Meng Qi and Jiang Zhwei looked at each other, both thinking the same thing: killing someone is also considered saving them?

But upon reflection, being controlled by the Heart-Seizing Pill was indeed worse than death!

"Our previous analysis was a bit off. How are we supposed to find allies now?" Jiang Zhwei frowned. "Maybe we don't need allies?"

Meng Qi, puzzled and troubled, asked, "What's the point of this side quest then..."

"Maybe it doesn't have a point." Suddenly, Jiang Zhwei exclaimed, "Oh no, Sister Qi!"