Chapter 25: Zhao Yan's Defeat and the Mysterious Flying Dagger

"Go!"
Without hesitation, Zhao Yan sprang back, seizing Old Li beside him, and in a flash they darted out of the ruined temple!

He had recognized the man's identity—a fugitive from the sea, a butcher who had slain a hundred souls and amassed a bounty of eight hundred taels upon his head.

Three surges of vital energy—on the high seas, such power was enough to command a ship. What formidable strength was that? Once he struck, there was hardly any chance of resistance!

"Trying to escape?"

The burly giant glared at their fleeing figures and roared, his voice shaking the very temple. In a thunderous eruption of vital force, he hurled a fist forward, wind howling in its wake, covering seven or eight meters in a single bound as his punch crashed forth!

Clang!

Zhao Yan’s blade art was exquisite; with his back turned, he slashed behind him without so much as a glance. The crash that rang out made the meteoric iron saber tremble, and blood spurted from his lips, but his speed only increased, and he shot out of the temple like lightning!

"Fast enough, are you," the burly man grunted, intending to give chase. Yet he hesitated, his expression cold and composed, and stopped in his tracks, abandoning the pursuit.

They were not mere petty bandits.

The burly man, Yu Lie, had once captained a great vessel upon distant seas, leading men on fishing expeditions. But an ill-fated belief in the Sea God had led him to great wickedness.

Once, he had even murdered dozens of sailors, using their blood as a sacrifice to that god.

In the end, he was cast out, a dog with no home, even losing his ship, wanted by many islands, forced to live under a false name, unable to scrape together even three hundred taels, thus turning to robbery and deceit.

This time, he had come to this small island in collusion with the Star Hunters, seeking to infiltrate Qianshan Island and gather intelligence.

Word was, an informant on the island had been killed by a government swordsman, hence their mission.

Such circumstances gnawed at his soul, driving him to madness, yearning to restore his former glory and reclaim all he had lost!

"This trip to Qianshan Island has brought an unexpected delight—a sacrifice of exceptional potential."

Yu Lie turned, eyes settling on the terrified girl.

"Nothing else matters, not even our mission to infiltrate Qianshan Island—it can all be abandoned, as long as the sacrifice is not lost."

"If I offer her, perhaps the immortal behind the Star Hunters will be pleased and grant me an elixir of immortality. When that day comes, I will reclaim everything with my own hands!"

In Yu Lie’s heart, Old Li’s granddaughter was of utmost importance.

"That man is nothing but an official swordsman. Hmph, even if a master who has undergone three surges of vital energy could be summoned, he’d never make it in time. By the time anyone arrives, I’ll be long gone."

Therefore, even as his foe fled, he did not give chase, fearing that if he left the ruined temple, he would fall into an ambush.

Yu Lie was exceedingly cautious.

Though his strength was formidable, a single misstep—a ploy to lure the tiger from its lair—could result in irreparable loss.

...

Elsewhere.

"He didn’t pursue us. It seems he’s realized something."

In the mountain woods, the two men sat together. Zhao Yan’s face was pale, clearly shaken inside and out by that punch. Yet his strength was formidable, and with his meteoric iron blade in hand, his wounds were not grievous.

Disappointment clouded Zhao Yan’s pale features.

He had indeed planned to lure the enemy away. If he could draw off one or two of their number, there might be a chance to rescue Old Li’s granddaughter.

After all, he’d come prepared, carrying a repeating crossbow—an exceedingly rare weapon, borrowed through connections from the authorities.

With such a crossbow, he could slay even a martial expert who had undergone two surges of vital energy—no amount of iron body training could withstand its bolts!

Otherwise, why would such a weapon be a government-controlled military armament?

With this crossbow in Old Li’s hands, there was hope of saving his granddaughter.

But who could have foreseen...

The enemy’s strength was far beyond Zhao Yan’s expectations.

"A master who has undergone three surges of vital energy—a whaling captain’s caliber! Why would such a man be on a tiny island, abducting a village girl?"

Grave concern colored Zhao Yan’s expression.

He sensed something amiss, especially since the Sea God statue within the temple hinted at some deeper meaning, sending chills down his spine.

Beneath that statue, atop the altar, bloodstains marred the stone—no doubt, something living had been sacrificed there!

"Old Li, I fear we are outmatched. The two of us cannot hope to overcome such foes, and they aren’t here for you."

"I suspect your granddaughter is their true target! But what do they want with her?"

Zhao Yan’s voice was grave. "We must return immediately and ask my master to intervene—there may yet be hope."

"How could it come to this?" Despair clouded Old Li’s face.

He was but an ordinary fisherman. Though he’d lived on the island for many years, supporting the young and cultivating some connections, against the likes of these wicked cultists, these supreme experts, he was utterly powerless. His heart was racked with pain, his face aged and drawn with anguish.

...

Inside the temple.

"Did the Star Hunters say when they would arrive?" asked the subordinate known as Flying Rat.

"No telling. The masters have no time to coddle you—wait patiently," Yu Lie replied coldly and deeply.

At his words, the two subordinates dared say no more.

In truth, Yu Lie knew well enough—though he had reported the existence of the sacrifice, such a minor matter would likely warrant only a brief word from the Star Hunters, telling him to bring the offering to some altar in half a day’s time.

Would anyone come in person? How unlikely.

Yet before his men, he always maintained an air of mystery and authority.

Just then—

Yu Lie felt his vision blur. He blinked, but the haze remained. After several breaths, his expression changed drastically and he leapt to his feet.

"There’s smoke—sleeping fumes!"

Swish, swish, swish!

His two subordinates, both far less robust than Yu Lie, were severely affected by the fumes, their reactions slow by more than half a beat.

From outside the temple, two throwing knives shot in like lightning, cleaving through the air with a shrill whistle!

The two subordinates, Flying Rat included, saw the knives speeding toward them and their faces contorted in shock.

Both were experts who had undergone two surges of vital energy. Ordinarily, such throwing knives would have merited only a wary glance, not mortal fear.

But—

These fumes were top grade—even a martial expert would be affected.

And those knives—so swift, so forceful, they shrieked through the air; surely the thrower’s strength surpassed their own by far!

"Damn it!"

Both men were terrified, drawing their weapons and unleashing their vital energy, swinging at the knives in a desperate counter.

Clang!

The blades met their weapons, glancing aside, yet still sliced one man’s shoulder and another’s arm, shattering their grip and drawing blood!

"Such skill, yet you stoop to ambush?" Flying Rat cursed.

"Show yourself!"

Brandishing his long blade, he was on high alert. Yet moments later, his expression twisted with horror and rage.

"The knives are poisoned?"

He should have realized—the force and speed of those knives alone had cowed him, and the sleeping fumes had dulled his reflexes.

Realizing the danger, Flying Rat hurriedly fumbled for a small porcelain vial from his robe.

These men were cunning and ruthless, seasoned marauders of the sea, always carrying antidotes and wound salves.

But at that moment, another shrill whistle cut the air—two more throwing knives shot in!

"Curse it all!" Flying Rat wanted to scream.

Such power in those knives—they made his heart tremble. Yet such a master remained hidden, using sleeping fumes and poisoned blades, never showing their face?

He had no choice but to slash with his long blade, barely deflecting the knife, but as he did, his vision darkened, and black blood oozed from the wound on his arm!

"Such potent poison!"

The two subordinates panicked, scrambling for their porcelain vials to administer the antidote, but in the blink of an eye, another pair of knives shrieked through the air, even faster than before, sending a chill straight to their hearts.