Chapter 316: Escaping Tribulations

Chapter 316: Escaping Tribulations

The elder two Fu Clan siblings raced toward the banquet hall, streaking toward it atop a beam of sword light. Hui ran a hand over his face and activated the snakeskin technique, taking on Han Qins face. He glanced at Ying Lin. Let me do the talking.

Understood. Ill act injured, Ying Lin replied. She crouched slightly, pressing a hand to her chest, and put on a pained expression.

Good, good. She shows promise! Hui thought approvingly. He put on a frightened expression and raced toward the incoming sword beam.

As they grew closer, the sword beam slowed. Fu Suyin stared at the two of them, Huis robes stained in his own blood from the battle, Ying Lin pale and strained. What happened?

Eld ahem, the banquet hall, it hurry! Theres more injured, I had to Fu Liyu, shes still Hui turned back toward the banquet hall, terror written across his face.

Fu Suyin paled. Fu Liyu! She streaked toward the banquet hall, taking her brother along with her.

The second she left, Hui accelerated in the opposite direction, blasting as far from the Fu Clan and their banquet hall as he could.

In the distance, thunder rumbled. Lightning blasted from the sky. Bai Xues aura rushed out from the area, strong enough for Hui to sense even at this distance. From a totally different direction, a set of sword beams rushed toward the lightning tribulation.

There they are!

Bai Xue, your mother is so worried!

Young Master, stop running off!

Bai Xue will be fine. Even if the Fu Clan suspects her, they wont be able to do anything with so many members of the Bai Clan there. Similarly, the Fu Clan cant kill the girls to destroy the evidence if Bai Xue and the Bai Clan are around. Its time for this small cultivator to vanish.

In the long term, Han Qin might come back for Fu Liyu after all, he spent decades preparing her for this role. Ive stolen his array, so it might be over, but I dont know why he chose her for the array in the first place. She might be the only one who can work for whatever hes doing.

Her mother died in childbirth, the array Ill be honest, I didnt notice much special about Fu Liyu. But then again, I had no idea about the Heaven character on my hand, either. Hui looked at his right hand and flexed it, still uncomfortable. Han Qin might be able to see things I cant.

If Han Qin really is a clone, isnt it possible that his main body is much stronger? Even in my case, Im slightly weaker, and Im, in essence, an entirely separate creature with its own powerful life force that Ive simply coopted as my clone. Then

No, no, Hui, dont get too scared. Its fine. He wouldnt have allowed me to ruin his plans if he had much agency in the real world. If he is stronger, and thats assuming he is, hes probably in a situation like Senior Chen Wuyas, where he can project some, but not all, of his power into the main world.

Its still a dangerous man to make my enemy, but at least Im not under immediate threat of death. I should ask Chen Wuya if he knows anyone like Han Qin the next time I see him. Its no guarantee, but he might know if Han Qin is a powerful senior from the previous generation.

Besides, its entirely possible that Im overthinking, and hes dead!

Right. Yeah.

Hui hurried on, quickly putting distance between himself and the banquet hall. He glanced at Ying Lin and swallowed nervously. I can die, even truly dieor this clone can, anyways. Ying Lin is still too weak to survive a second encounter with Han Qin, especially if he comes back with a vengeance. I should send her to another clone, where he wont be able to follow.

Can I send living things through the tree-node?

The responsible voice hed come to recognize as the miracle healer sounded in his ear. Lets start small. Send me a spirit chicken.

In response, the rogue cultivator laughed. Youre just hungry.

Youre in a tough spot, kid, a dry voice sounded.

Hui whirled. Reaper! Its been so long since Ive seen you ah, but thats a good thing!

She stood there in all white, pure black hair flowing on a breeze only she could feel. She shook her head. Looks like its the end of the line for you, this time. Ah, man. Could you die in a less annoying way?

Lessannoying? Hui asked.

The paperwork for remnant souls is worse than youd ever believe, and you dont even fully qualify as a remnant soul. Were going to have to make up a whole new form for you. You know what that sounds like to me? She sighed deeply, sitting in midair to rest her chin on her hand.

Uhm unpaid overtime? Hui asked cautiously, familiar with the inner workings of a black business.

If you understand, then dont cause so much trouble for me! the reaper complained.

Er, Elder Sister, I Im about to die, Hui said, not sure how to apologize for dying.

I know, she grumbled. Standing up from her seat on the air, she swished her hand and summoned a white sword from midair. Will you come willingly, or do I have to convince you?

Willingly, willingly! Hui cried.

The hand clenched. Hui returned to reality as it closed around him, this time with killing force. He played dead the second it touched him, simultaneously activating his snake skin to drop free, but to no avail. The spatial forces locked down the world around him, and he couldnt breathe, let alone move.

How long how long? Until, until its the second time now, the second failure! Dammit! Han Qin growled, intensifying his attack. Stopgetting in my way! Everyone, this whole world, stop it! All I want, all I wantbut you wont! These misguided Heavens, this misguided world

Burning power raced through Hui, burning him from the inside out. His blood boiled, his flesh cooked. He tried to heal himself, but the fiery power burst his meridians, then ruptured his dantian. There was no escape.

Ah I should really figure out how to fake destroying my cultivation. And full bodily destruction! Wait, what if I could use the snakeskin to create an entire fake body? Like I did with the ghouls, but without needing to carry around ghouls. Andandand

Hui closed his eyes, and then there was only him and the reaper, in a monochrome world.

He looked at his destroyed body as it turned to dust, then at the reaper. Ive Ive got so many new ideas on how to fake my death. This experience was practically an enlightenment for me. Cant you look the other way?

The reaper shrugged. Afraid not. Actually, collecting your soul fragment before he destroys it is against the rules, but my Master has taken an interest in you. She swished her sword, and Hui vanished.

How dare you! He was mine! Mine! You arent allowed to interfere, Underworld dogs! Han Qin shouted.

The reaper tapped her sword against the hand. Although Han Qin couldnt see her, he could feel the icy blade against his flesh, and the sure promise of the afterlife it granted.

Allowed to interfere? Who allows the Lord of the Underworld to interfere? the reaper asked coldly.

At that, the hand went still. You

Two strands of purple-gold lightning flashed down around them, targeting both Han Qins hand and the reaper. The reaper glanced up. The lightning halted an inch above her head. With a snort, she vanished.

The lightning mercilessly struck Han Qin. His hand flinched back, a black scar appearing on its thumb joint, then vanished, the spatial distortions settling in its absence.

From an empty stretch of sky, a shredded snakeskin fluttered to the ground.