Section 147: The Cornered Beast Strikes Back

In the deathlike silence, only Ling Xu’s murmur drifted through the gentle breeze.

“Teacher, I... I did it...”

Like a wooden post, Ling Xu collapsed with a thunderous crash, sending up a cloud of dust.

Tang Tian was startled and tried to rush toward him, but his legs gave way, and he fell flat on the ground. His whole body felt hollow, utterly devoid of strength. His face struck the earth, and a sharp pain shot through him.

Damn it!

“He’s fine! He’s only exhausted.” Mu Lei’s voice came from where Ling Xu had fallen.

Tang Tian relaxed. Lying facedown on the ground, he could not be bothered to move.

They had won? They had really won!

With his dirt-smeared face pressed against the ground, Tang Tian let out a foolish chuckle. He did not know how to describe what he was feeling, nor how to celebrate this hard-won victory. He no longer had even the slightest strength left.

“Eee-ah! Eee-ah!”

A familiar cry sounded beside his ear. Tang Tian opened his eyes.

Ya Ya?

At some point, Ya Ya had rushed right in front of his face. Waving its little arms, it babbled excitedly, its tiny features alight with emotion.

“Ya Ya, you really ought to start learning how to talk...” Tang Tian said weakly.

Ya Ya suddenly seized a handful of Tang Tian’s hair. Its little cheeks puffed out round as balls, and its tiny eyes opened as wide as they could. Tang Tian’s body was actually dragged into motion, but—

“Ow, ow, ow!”

“You little bastard, let go!”

“Idiot! The collar! Pull me by the collar!”

“I told you to pull my collar... ow!”

Tang Tian’s entire face went white with pain. Clutching his hair, Ya Ya dragged him step by step toward Gu Xue.

For such a tiny body, Ya Ya possessed far more strength than Tang Tian had imagined. After dragging him a few steps, it began to trot.

“Eee-ah!” “Ya-ya!” “Eee-ah!” “Ya-ya!”

Like a towman pulling a boat, Ya Ya chanted in a rhythmic cadence as it hurried along, dragging Tang Tian rapidly toward the ruins. When it passed a broken stone, Ya Ya nimbly leaped over it. Poor Tang Tian’s head struck the rock and sent it skittering away with a bang.

Countless golden stars spun before Tang Tian’s eyes.

That little bastard...

Ya Ya moved astonishingly fast, scarcely slower than Mu Lei.

Before many people had even realized what was happening, Ya Ya had dragged Tang Tian back.

“Ya Ya, go drag those two corpses back too,” Tang Tian whispered.

Ya Ya stood in front of his face, tilting its little head in confusion.

“They have soul cores.” Tang Tian gave it a look that clearly said, You know what I mean.

Ya Ya’s eyes instantly shone like stars in the night. With a sharp little squeal, it vanished.

The next moment, it appeared beside Hua Sha’s corpse. Its tiny hands seized the body, and it set off at a full sprint, dragging Hua Sha toward Hua Rong.

When it reached Hua Rong, it grabbed him with its other hand, then lowered its head and sprinted back.

Dust billowed everywhere. Ya Ya dragged the two enormous bodies, each completely disproportionate to its own size. Its cheeks were puffed round, its eyes stretched wide, and it looked as though it were exerting every ounce of strength in its little body.

Yet from that tiny frame, Tang Tian sensed an unstoppable, overwhelming force. He could only stare in stunned amazement.

At an astonishing speed, Ya Ya dragged Hua Sha and Hua Rong back to the ruins. Then its little body flopped onto the ground, belly to the sky, panting desperately.

“Are you all right?”

Gu Xue’s concerned voice came from above. She knelt on one knee and bent over to examine Tang Tian’s body.

“I’m fine...” Tang Tian forced a smile. He felt Gu Xue’s hands helping to peel away his tattered clothes.

When Gu Xue saw Tang Tian’s back, her face instantly went white. She covered her mouth, and mist gathered involuntarily in her eyes.

Tang Tian had endured more than twenty blows from Hua Sha’s mace with his bare back. Though the Peacock Armor had protected him, he had still been injured.

There was not a single intact patch on his back. It was covered in bruises of every shade. Bloodied holes the size of thumbs were scattered everywhere, some already scabbed over—the wounds left by the spikes on the mace.

“Ha, it looks frightening, doesn’t it? It’s really not that serious. They’re only minor injuries. They look worse than they are. A few days of rest and I’ll be fine.”

Lying on the ground, Tang Tian was surprisingly unconcerned.

Gu Xue steadied herself. The suffering she had endured during this period had made her grow rapidly. She had begun to understand that sorrow and despair would do nothing to improve her situation.

She took out a jar of ointment she had never possessed before and began applying it to Tang Tian’s wounds, though her technique was clumsy.

Tang Tian felt a cool, soothing sensation across his back. After the battle, the tension in his nerves finally loosened, and exhaustion and fatigue surged over him like a tide. Before long, Tang Tian fell asleep.

Suddenly, Mu Lei sprang to his feet and glared angrily at the distant street.

* * *

“They won... Those two actually won...”

Someone clutched his head in both hands, staring blankly at the scene. His face was pale, as though he had been terrified.

His panicked, disoriented voice sounded especially harsh in the silence.

Yet no one spoke. Every person held their head and stared in disbelief at the ruined street.

The Hua brothers had actually... actually been killed by two unknown nobodies...

The dazzling blue and silver radiance from that instant still lingered on their retinas. The brilliance of that moment was like a pair of light blades stabbing into their fragile hearts, leaving behind a deep and indelible mark.

But those were the Hua brothers...

Names that had drifted through legend.

Whether they worshiped them, revered them, or feared them, no one could deny their strength. Every person present had believed without hesitation that this would be a battle of overwhelming disparity.

Tang Tian and Ling Xu had not possessed the slightest chance of victory—not even in theory. The only thing anyone had been interested in was how long they could hold out, and what dazzling performance the Hua brothers would display.

But...

The outcome of the battle left everyone dumbstruck and utterly speechless.

Gu Wu stood there like a fool and stammered, “He... he won...”

At that moment, Gu Anxiong’s face was ashen, his hands and feet ice-cold. He had not wanted the Grand Elder to obtain Gu Xue, but the result before him was even more difficult to accept.

If the Grand Elder obtained Gu Xue, it would merely strengthen one branch of the family in the future. But the conflict between Gu Xue and himself could never be reconciled.

With Gu Xue having two people to assist her, there could be only one outcome for him and his branch—

Death!

No! Absolutely not!

He had exhausted every ounce of effort and spent a full twenty years climbing to this position. How could he simply die so easily?

A hint of madness surfaced in Gu Anxiong’s eyes. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Gather everyone. We’ll take advantage of this moment and kill them!”

Gu Wu was shocked by his words. “Are you insane? They were able to kill the Hua brothers...”

“Shut up!” Gu Anxiong roared furiously, like a beast driven into a corner. “Once they recover, we’re the ones who will be doomed! Do you think Gu Xue will spare you?”

Gu Wu’s face went white.

“Go! Gather everyone!” Gu Anxiong’s killing intent was unmistakable. “They killed the Hua brothers and are already at the end of their strength! This is when they’re at their weakest. Da Wei, keep Mu Lei occupied! If we don’t kill them today, every one of us will die! I’m going to find the Grand Elder now. If he doesn’t want to die, he’ll have no choice but to join forces with us!”

Gu Wu and Da Wei both turned pale.

“Go!” Gu Anxiong suddenly bellowed at them.

The two men came to their senses and hurried away.

Before long, the Grand Elder’s men began mobilizing as well. He understood that he had completely offended Gu Xue and Ling Xu this time. If he did not take the opportunity to eliminate them, he would certainly die.

In Black Mountain City, no one could stand against Tang Tian and Ling Xu.

With Gu Anxiong and the Grand Elder joining forces, countless martial artists began appearing at the end of the street.

They came in a dark, surging mass, like a rising tide.

This was their only chance—the only chance they had to survive.

* * *

When Mu Lei saw the martial artists continuously emerging at the end of the street, his expression changed instantly. He understood the Grand Elder and Gu Anxiong’s intention almost at once.

They wanted to turn the tables while Tang Tian and Ling Xu were still weakened!

Damn it!

He recognized several familiar faces. They were all experts under Gu Anxiong and the Grand Elder, racing wildly down the street. Every face was twisted with savagery.

The two allied factions were throwing out every last card they possessed.

Gu Xue’s face went white. She could see the enemy’s determination clearly.

This was their final strike.

She did not lose her composure. Instead, she suddenly shouted, “Uncle Mu, take them away!”

Mu Lei immediately understood, but...

Looking at the approaching martial artists, their faces filled with madness and brutality, he felt his heart sink.

Miss, these people have gone insane! If they fail, they’ll vent their desperation and fury on you...

“Uncle Mu!” Gu Xue shouted with all her strength.

Her eyes were filled with determination, as though something were shining within them.

Mu Lei clenched his teeth, then lunged toward Tang Tian.

Gu Xue breathed a sigh of relief. What she had feared most was Uncle Mu hesitating at this moment.

Her gaze settled on Tang Tian, who lay facedown on the ground. For some reason, warmth spread through her heart. She felt no fear, only relief.

She knew that these people had gone mad. If she fell into their hands, she would suffer terribly.

And yet, a serene smile quietly appeared on her beautiful face.

I still hope you can live...

How could a godlike young man die here?

You have such lofty ideals. You still have to find your Qianhui...

It is only a pity that you will never see me awaken my bloodline...

Thank you, Tang Tian.

Her soft murmur drifted through her heart like a breeze.

Mu Lei rushed to Tang Tian’s side like the wind. The instant his hand touched Tang Tian’s body, a voice sounded beside his ear without warning, and a towering figure appeared behind him, blocking out the light above.

“Don’t touch him.”

Mu Lei had heard that voice before.

It belonged to Tang Tian’s soul general.

The light before Mu Lei dimmed as a shadow enveloped him. His body stiffened, and he turned around in horror.

A tall, ancient-looking bronze figure stood there, blocking out the sunlight. Its deep, icy bronze sheen carried the murderous aura and smoke of an ancient battlefield. Having crossed countless ages, it had now set foot upon this land.

Clang. Clang.

The Sabertooth Tiger’s heavy metal feet turned and struck the ground. Like ancient war drums, they began to sound, one slow beat after another.

It walked to the line Ling Xu had drawn.

To be continued.