Chapter 174: A Deliberate Feint, Between Life and Death
’Is the gang’s target this Ice Chilong?’
’Doesn’t seem like it.’
’The Ice Chilong is very strong.’
’The gang only has the Gang Leader, a single Divine Martial Realm expert. Thinking he could kill it one-on-one is far too arrogant.’
’Even if the Gang Leader had Curiosities on him, giving him a bit more confidence... could he really guarantee nothing would go wrong?’
’If the Ice Chilong couldn’t win, wouldn’t it just flee?’
’The key is, if they were going to make a move... why bother bringing a herd of Exotic Beasts over?’
’And what about the captured slaves on the shore? What were they for? Were they hoping to stuff the beast to death?’
The sky in the distance seemed to be changing.
Tang Wen quickly switched to the Brown-tailed Crow’s vision.
It was noon.
The sky above the Cold Pool grew dark.
It wasn’t the dimness of clouds blocking the sun.
It was an inky, pitch-black color.
As if the thickest black paint was swallowing the sky, bit by bit, with slow but resolute speed.
The Brown-tailed Crow began to panic.
Before it could retreat, Tang Wen glanced at the Cold Pool.
The white mist was growing thicker.
It gathered above the Cold Pool.
It formed an enormous serpent of mist.
BOOM!
The Brown-tailed Crow’s vision couldn’t capture what happened.
It was as if two mountains had collided.
Several miles away, on the ground, the Brown-tailed Crow wobbled on its two short legs, nearly losing its footing.
It had no choice but to flap its wings open, struggling to maintain its balance.
The Black Water Gang’s Leader had engaged the Ice Chilong Python Flood Dragon.
The Brown-tailed Crow flew back.
He himself quietly slipped down from the treetop and circled far away.
He held a fist-sized cobblestone cupped in his hand.
His mind raced.
’Right now, the Black Water Gang’s strongest combatant is tied up with the Ice Chilong.’
’If those five men in black really want to cause trouble, now is the perfect chance.’
’The Sixth Grade Gangwu Realm expert is probably also providing support for the Gang Leader.’
’If they strategize well and are fully prepared, they might actually pull it off!’
’But, running into me is just their bad luck.’
Tang Wen smirked. Since he couldn’t get any benefits himself...
...he would just stir the pot first.
A night-like blackness enveloped the stone in his hand.
Visualization, throw.
The stone instantly broke the sound barrier.
But it didn’t immediately create a sonic boom.
The Dark Superpower had taken effect.
It concealed the commotion of the Flying Stone.
A stone cannonball shot out.
Tang Wen didn’t even look back.
He activated his Shadow Nether Step and vanished from the spot in an instant.
BOOM!
The Dark Superpower’s concealing effect wore off.
The stone turned into a Fireball in midair, hurtling toward the five men in black!
"Damn it!"
The leading man in black couldn’t afford to pay attention to anything else.
His Extraordinary aura erupted.
He drew his blade—Instant Slash.
The blade flashed like a streak of white silk.
It directly struck the incoming Fireball.
A deafening roar echoed.
The flaming stone was shattered into countless pieces.
Flames scattered like graceful butterflies, and the forest began to burn.
"We’re exposed! You all retreat first. The Black Water Gang’s experts will be here any second! I’ll lead them away. Proceed according to the backup plan."
After these quick instructions, the leader chased off in the direction the Fireball had come from.
The other four men in black departed in an orderly fashion.
The Brown-tailed Crow, which had long been hidden in the trees, took in their every move.
Tang Wen ran as if the wind were at his feet, not stopping until he had covered twenty *li*.
CAW!
A message came from the Brown-tailed Crow.
Something unexpected had happened.
The Extraordinary in black who had shattered his Flying Stone had run into one of the Black Water Gang’s experts.
The two of them fought as they moved, heading off into the distance.
Meanwhile, the other four men in black had split into two groups, fleeing in completely different directions.
One group of three circled back toward the Cold Pool.
The last one fled toward the Four Seas Camp.
’They haven’t given up on the mission?’
’Three of them are continuing the mission.’
’One is returning to base to report.’
’Follow the three of them!’
The Brown-tailed Crow glided away.
Tang Wen took two steps, then stopped, frowning.
’Something’s not right.’
’In the scene the Brown-tailed Crow just saw... the four men in black were methodically erasing their tracks.’
’Then, they split up and ran.’
’What’s wrong with that?’
’They were surprised, but not thrown into chaos.’
’They clearly had a plan prepared in advance.’
’The men in black numbered five in total: one Extraordinary, four Martial Artists.’
’They knew exactly who they were up against—or rather, who they were trying to take advantage of.’
’The Black Water Gang.’
’So when they were making their plan... there were two possibilities.’
’The first is that they took on this mission with a "let’s give it a shot" attitude, casting a wide net just to see what they might catch.’
’The second is that it was a must-complete mission.’
’If it was the first case, and they were just here to see if they could get lucky... then most of the people in the team should have been disposable pawns.’
’Ready to be abandoned at any time.’
’If that were the case... the moment Tang Wen exposed their position, that Extraordinary should have decisively abandoned the four Martial Artists to save himself.’
’He could have even drawn his blade and killed them to cut his losses.’
’After all, whether in terms of combat power or status... one Extraordinary is worth far more than four Martial Artists.’
’But the Extraordinary in black chose to face the danger himself.’
’He had to have known this was tantamount to throwing himself into a fire pit.’
’The Black Water Gang had at least ten Extraordinaries present today.’
’If that Extraordinary in black were to be tied down by even one of them who arrived in time... he would almost certainly die today.’
’He’s a dignified Extraordinary, not an idiot.’
’It’s impossible he didn’t consider this.’
’This means that, knowing full well what he was up against... he voluntarily gave the hope of survival to the four Martial Artists.’
’So...’
’...they’re playing for real.’
’Their mission is the second possibility—’
’—a must-complete, do-or-die mission?’
’That seems to be the only explanation.’
’The Extraordinary in black used his own life to buy time for his companions.’
’So the trio approaching the Cold Pool could continue their mission.’
’Hmm, still not right.’
’If they were willing to sacrifice an Extraordinary to complete the mission... then why did one of the Martial Artists run off?’
’In this situation, there’s no need to send a report.’
’If they make it back alive, that means the mission is complete.’
’If no one makes it back, the mission has obviously failed.’
’So, I should be chasing that lone Martial Artist who ran off!’
’He’s probably the real problem!’
Tang Wen changed direction and gave chase like a lightning bolt.
The Martial Artist’s footprints were clearly visible on the ground.
Suddenly, his heart tightened.
His intuition screamed danger.
The next second...
...a half-man-high tree trunk exploded violently.
Iron nails and steel balls shot out.
’Is this a Shi Lei?’
’Shi Lei are produced in Sanlian City.’
’According to Bai You Ruo, it’s a type of gunpowder weapon, and only a small number have made it out of Sanlian City.’
’Its lethality isn’t trivial. An ordinary Martial Artist could easily be injured by one.’
But the moment it exploded, a blackness instantly appeared on Tang Wen’s body.
TING! TING! TING!
The steel balls and iron nails struck him one after another.
But they didn’t even pierce his skin.
’Is that all you’ve got?’
Tang Wen no longer held back, his feet suddenly accelerating.
A few minutes later, he was hot on the heels of the Martial Artist ahead.
The gap between an Extraordinary and a Martial Artist was even greater than the gap between a child and a special forces soldier.
The Martial Artist ahead turned back, his face full of desperation, and shouted, "Friend, I’m with the Four Seas Commerce Association! Let me go, and I’ll reward you handsomely in the future!"
’Hah? He can’t even come up with a believable lie.’
Tang Wen sneered.
A few breaths later, less than a hundred meters separated them.
At this point, the Martial Artist seemed to give up completely, halting his steps.
However, as he raised his head, his face twisted into a savage expression. "You forced my hand!"
A phantom image rose up.
Every hair on Tang Wen’s body instantly stood on end.
Danger!
This attack was no weaker than a Killing Move from a Veteran Extraordinary!
"Die!"
Running at high speed and locked on by Spiritual Power, Tang Wen had no way to dodge.
...