Chapter 81: Old Enemies Cross Paths
Chapter 81: Old Enemies Cross Paths
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Just as the atmosphere grew unbearably awkward, violent whistling tore through the air from afar. Next, two figures—one white, one green—came hurtling toward them. Far behind them, two faint black dots were barely visible.
“Hmm?”
“What is it?”
Tang Bi and the others also caught the sound, frowning as they looked skyward.
“What? It’s her!”
Moments later, Tang Jinbiao seemed to recognize one figure, his expression stiffening slightly.
“It’s her!”
“It’s her!”
Tang Bi and the others’ faces likewise changed, tension flooding their features.
“Ah Hu, hide the Spirit Stones—quick! They mean trouble!”
Once certain of the arrivals, Tang Jinbiao barked at Tang Hu.
“Oh… oh, right!”
Tang Hu blinked, momentarily stunned by Tang Jinbiao’s sudden agreement to hide the stones, then hastily scooped the Spirit Stones off the ground into his Storage Pouch.
“Tang Jinbiao!”
But just as Tang Hu finished, shrieks cut through the air. One figure shot straight toward Tang Jinbiao’s group.
Thump!
“Run, everyone! That she-demon’s here!”
Hearing the voice, Tang Jinbiao’s heart lurched. He yelled for the others to flee.
“Save me!”
However, as they tried to bolt, the woman streaked to Tang Jinbiao’s side and yanked his sleeve.
Rip!
“Goddess, spare me! I’ll never dare it again!”
Tang Jinbiao didn’t even glance back, screaming while running so frantically that the girl ripped a piece from his robes.
“Tang Jinbiao, sa… save… me!”
After Tang Jinbiao ran thirty-some paces, the woman’s voice behind him weakened.
“Huh?”
Still running, Tang Jinbiao furrowed his brow. He hesitated—should he look back?
Ffft!
At that instant, a soft hiss brushed Tang Jinbiao’s ear, followed by a thick killing intent surging toward him.
“Bad news!”
Tang Jinbiao’s heart pounded wildly as he immediately threw himself sideways without thinking, tumbling across the ground to dodge.
“Damn it!”
Somehow, this evasive roll backfired, sending him backward instead. As his mind cleared slightly, he felt an unexpected warmth pressing against his back.
“Tang… Jin… biao… save… me!”
A weak voice reached him just as a cold hand seized his back.
“I…”
Helpless, Tang Jinbiao turned to look behind him. It would have been better if he hadn’t, for at the sight, his heart clenched violently.
The person lying there was indeed Tang Yilin. Yet her face was deathly pale, her breath frighteningly faint, with a trickle of blood at the corner of her mouth. Before he could react, she went limp, collapsing into unconsciousness.
“Damn it! How could they strike so viciously?”
Seeing his goddess Tang Yilin injured ignited a furious blaze in Tang Jinbiao’s heart.
“Ah!”
Thud!
A sudden cry of pain broke the air, followed by a dark figure hurtling toward them.
“Ah Bi!”
Recognizing Tang Bi being flung through the air, Tang Jinbiao leaped to his feet. Lunging forward, he caught her just in time.
“Brother Biao… thank you!”
Tang Bi’s face flushed weakly as she gasped her gratitude in his arms.
“Ah Bi, what happened? How are you hurt already?”
Tang Jinbiao felt a jolt of panic seeing Tang Bi wounded in what felt like an instant.
“Ah!”
Before he could process it, another shadow burst from the dense forest.
“Ah Xing!”
“Ah Xing!”
Both Tang Bi and Tang Jinbiao instantly recognized Tang Xing. Tang Jinbiao dashed forward, intercepting him mid-air.
“Brother Biao… thank you…”
Tang Xing spoke hoarsely, blood staining his lips, his expression clouded with defeat.
“Ah Xing, what just—”
A nameless fury began to boil inside Tang Jinbiao.
“Ah!”
Yet before he could demand answers, yet another figure was flung violently into the open.
…
“Ah!”
After a short while, Tang Hu was also caught and thrown in, following a severe beating. Suddenly, the group that had scattered earlier reconvened in the small clearing, now accompanied by the unconscious Tang Yilin, whose condition was unknown.
Their escape was impossible—a faint restriction enclosed the area within a ten-zhang radius, effectively trapping them.
“Ah Hu!”
Horror flashed across Tang Jinbiao’s face upon seeing Tang Hu hurled back. He quickly stepped forward to catch Tang Hu.
Cough, cough, cough. “Brother Biao!” Tang Hu gasped, his face flushed crimson.
“Ah Hu, what happened? Who did this?”
Alarmed, Tang Jinbiao had been too distracted by Tang Yilin’s state to notice who had injured Tang Bi and the others. Likewise, Tang Bi’s group remained clueless.
“It was Tang Shan!” Tang Hu rasped, his eyes burning with hatred despite the agonizing pain.
“What?”
“It’s actually him!”
The name sent shockwaves through Tang Jinbiao and his companions.
Clap, clap, clap.
“Well, well, long time no see, Brother Jinbiao!”
“Heh heh, Brother Jinbiao!”
“Trash!”
Suddenly, mocking applause and jeering voices echoed from behind the dense thicket.
Thud.
Hearing “Brother Jinbiao,” Tang Jinbiao spun toward the sound.
Three figures emerged from the undergrowth. Leading them was a figure draped in cyan robes, his lips curled in a disdainful smirk. Yet, what petrified them wasn’t his expression—it was the crushing aura of late-stage Foundation Building Cultivation radiating from him. Other than Tang Hu, who gritted his teeth to endure, the rest recoiled several paces.
The man was none other than Tang Shan.
Over the past three months, his Cultivation Level had surged. Strangely, a malicious aura now cloaked his features, chilling all who faced him.
Behind Tang Shan trailed Tang Huaxi and Tang Xingchi, both significantly stronger than before, their cultivation teetering on the verge of Foundation Building.
“So powerful!”
“So strong!”
Tang Jinbiao’s group exchanged terrified glances, retreating instinctively.
“Heh heh, Brother Jinbiao, how I’ve missed you lately!” Tang Xingchi stared at Tang Jinbiao, his face flushed with unsettling excitement.
“It’s you? Why are you here? What do you want?”
Though outmatched, Tang Jinbiao stepped forward, shielding Tang Bi and the others.
“Hmph. Trash,” Tang Shan sneered. “You aren’t worthy to address me. Hand over Tang Yilin. Maybe I’ll spare your pathetic lives if I’m in a good mood.”
Tang Shan snorted disdainfully, acting as if he had never spared Tang Jinbiao a proper glance.
“Heh heh, Brother Jinbiao, I advise you not to meddle,” said Tang Huaxi, whose eyebrows were red, speaking as if urging Tang Jinbiao to read the situation clearly. “We know you’re the boss of these useless fools. Just agree, and they won’t dare object. Hand over Tang Yilin, and Brother Shan won’t make things difficult for you!”
“This…” Tang Jinbiao glanced briefly back at Tang Yilin, who seemed either unconscious or dead. Then he looked at Tang Shan’s trio, radiating smug confidence. Finally, he scanned Tang Hu and the others beside him, all lightly injured now. Hesitation flickered across his face.
“Brother Biao, you can’t hand Sister Yilin over! They’re definitely up to no good!” Tang Hu, who had the highest Cultivation Level in their group, spoke up immediately despite his injuries.
“Yeah, I know!” Tang Jinbiao looked at Tang Hu, then shot quick glances at Tang Bi, Tang Xing, and Tang Bu. He saw Tang Bi, Tang Xing, and Tang Bu involuntarily stepping back several paces, their faces masks of fear.
“Useless trash! Stop wasting my time!” Tang Shan snarled, seeing their retreat, a flash of triumph in his eyes. His tone dripped disdain. “Hand Tang Yilin over now, while I’m still in a good mood!”
“Brother Jinbiao, don’t refuse to know what’s good for you,” urged Tang Huaxi. “Opposing Brother Shan won’t bring anything sweet!”
“Heh heh, Brother Jinbiao!” Tang Xingchi stared at Tang Jinbiao with unnerving excitement on his face.
“Damn it!” Tang Jinbiao felt extremely troubled. He had just meant to go for a casual stroll, only to run into Tang Shan and his group. Bad luck indeed.
He didn’t know why Tang Yilin and Tang Shan’s group had clashed, nor did he care to find out. Leaving Tang Yilin behind against her will, however, wasn’t his nature. Even though they often butted heads, she was still one of the few people he actually knew in this world. It didn’t matter that she was a delicate beauty; even if she looked like Sister Feng, he wouldn’t just abandon her now.
“Hmph? You useless fool. You’re determined to stick your nose in, aren’t you?” Tang Shan’s patience visibly wore thin when Tang Jinbiao remained silent.
“Fool! Don’t waste your hope thinking the Elders will rescue you,” Tang Shan sneered coldly, apparently reading Tang Jinbiao’s thoughts. “We’re already well beyond Tang Family territory. I set up a Restriction out here long ago. No one will notice a thing. Slaughtering a few like you… as long as we hide it properly afterwards, no one would ever suspect us!”
Thud! That statement sent a jolt through Tang Jinbiao. His initial thought had been just that—perhaps someone would notice the disturbance this close to the Tang Family and come investigate.
“Brother Biao!”
“Brother Biao!”
Terror flooded Tang Bi and Tang Bu’s eyes as they looked pleadingly at Tang Jinbiao. Even Tang Hu felt his heart pound with sudden dread.
“Hateful! Damn that Huang Biaozi! Always vanishing when things get dicey!” Tang Jinbiao cursed his unreliable partner inwardly, despairing at the situation.
Crack, crack, crack!
Just then, Tang Shan began slowly advancing, his impatience finally snapping.
“Eek…”
But simultaneously, a faint moan escaped Tang Yilin. She seemed to be regaining consciousness…