Chapter 50: Rapid Reactions

Chapter 50: Rapid Reactions

50

Rapid Reactions

I

Using Spiritual Sight, Hao Zhen could see three human-shaped clusters of spiritual aura drawing closer and closer. Like Lan Yue had said earlier, they werent moving quickly, but instead gradually approaching. Not quite walking, but definitely not running.

Hao Zhen tightened his grip on his sword. He held it in his right hand, in front of him. His left hand, he kept behind his back, out of sight. To his right, Tian Jin and Lan Yue also had their weapons outLan Yue with her fifth-order sword, and Tian Jin with his fourth-order sword. Tian Jin would only use the Radiant Light Sword as a last resort.

It didnt take long for the party of three to reach the clearing, stepping out from the trees into plain sight. At the front, a step ahead of the others, was a young man in plain, unadorned white robes. He had a tall, slender body, and wore his head neatly tied behind his head in a bun. All prim and proper, he was handsome in a scholarly waysomeone whom a brush would suit more than a sword.

As he stared at them from across the clearing, Du Qing wore an expression of confidence and disdain. It was almost the same expression he had shown them in Central Light Square after Bao Yun had left.

Almost.

Hao Zhen narrowed his eyes. Something was off about the way Du Qing looked at them, though he couldnt quite put his finger on it.

Briefly, Hao Zhen shifted his gaze to Du Qings two companions. Like Du Qing, they were both in their early twenties, though the third-level clearly looked younger. They were both clad in thick, expensive-looking robes, contrasting with Du Qings simple, unadorned robes.

The one on Du Qings leftthe third-level redsoulhad a frown on his face, and his posture was guarded. The one on Du Qings rightthe fourth-levelhad one of his eyebrows slightly raised and the edges of his lips curled up.

Neither gave Hao Zhen the impression of a lackey or follower.

To Hao Zhens surprise, the one that seemed to hold Du Qings attention wasnt Tian Jin, but Lan Yue. His eyes were narrowed as he regarded the girl, who glared fiercely back at him. Du Qings inspection of her was cut short, however, as his expression suddenly went blank. The next moment, Du Qing shook his head and murmured something to himself, before looking focusing on Tian Jin.

Hao Zhen frowned. What happened just now

Tian Jin, Du Qing said, his voice cold, and Hao Zhen focused back on him.

Tian Jin held Du Qings gaze, unflinching. Then again, Hao Zhen didnt think Tian Jin could flinch. Du Qing. Tian Jins voice was just as coldif not colderthan Du Qings.nove(l)bi(n.)com

Out of the corner of his eye, Hao Zhen glanced at Lan Yue. Just like in their previous encounter with Du Qing, there was something dark and wicked in her gaze as she looked at the prime disciple.

Hao Zhen wasnt certain which of his two teammates made for a more terrifying enemy.

You Du Qing started to say, before trailing off. Hao Zhen returned his attention to the prime disciple and noticed that Du Qings gaze was on their weapons. The prime disciples frown deepened.

Again Hao Zhen felt like there was something wrong with Du Qings expression. The way his eyes shifted back and forth between Tian Jin and Lan Yue, the way he worked his jaw wordlessly There was a tightness to him. Almost as if he were hesitating.

Maybe

Then, through clenched teeth, Du Qing said, Leave the sect.

Four.

His mind racing, Hao Zhen focused on the two talismans flying through the air to the exclusion of everything else. The moment the two talismans crossed each other halfway through the clearing, he took action. Only vaguely aware of what he was doing, he willed some of the spiritual power encasing his talisman to flow into the matrix inscribed on it.

His talisman flashed.

Five.

A massive explosion rocked the clearing. The ground erupted, sending smoke and dirt skyward in a shockwave that battered Hao Zhen and threw him backward. Swept off his feet, he crashed onto the ground near the trees, a few feet away from his original position. His ears were ringing, and he could vaguely make out the sound of someone shouting something, though he couldnt discern what they were saying or even who was speaking.

Were Smoke? Dirt. All around him. His head throbbed. Sounds What

Focus, Hao Zhen thought through his daze, faintly at first. Focus! he repeated, stronger, sharper, cutting through his confusion.

Grounding himself, Hao Zhen inhaled sharply, painful clarity flooding him. He looked wildly through the cloud of debris hanging in the air, searching for Tian Jin and Lan Yue, or at least to see what was going on in the clearing. Unable to make out anythingthe dust in the air too thickhe hurriedly channeled spiritual power into his eyes. Before he could take proper stock of his surroundings, he caught sight of a flash of red rushing toward him. One radiating aura of the third level of the Red Spiritual Realm.

Hao Zhen froze, then snapped into action. Once again moving faster than he could think, he jumped to his feet and ran straight into the tree line. Even as he ran, he channeled spiritual power into his spatial ring, picked out the desired item in his minds eye with perfect precision, and a barrier talisman appeared in his hand.

Still running, Hao Zhen threw the talisman out behind him, then activated it. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a shimmering barrier of white light coalescing behind him. The next moment, he stepped into the forest proper, and he shifted his attention back forward, to his immediate surroundings.

Hao Zhen didnt slow down his pace, making his way through the undergrowth and around the trees. In his chest, his heart raced. In his head, his mind raced. He didnt know which one was faster. One beating thunderously, the other throbbing like flashes of lightning. He wondered about Tian Jin and Lan Yue. What they were doing, whether they

Focus!

Hao Zhen glanced behind him and saw a glowing red form drawing closer and closer. A plan forming in his head, Hao Zhen came to an abrupt stop. With a thought, another barrier talisman appeared in his hand. Fourth-order, just like the last one. Just in case. In his other hand, a red pellet appeared.

Moments later, his pursuer became visible to his normal sight, Du Qings third-level redsoul helper stepping into his physical field of vision.

Now that they were both physically visible to each other, the third-level similarly came to an abrupt halt, his eyes narrowing, his expression tense. Hao Zhen followed the mans gaze to his own handto the top portion of the talisman sticking out of his tight grasp. Hao Zhen took in a deep breath in an attempt to calm his heart.

Unfortunately, being scrutinized by a higher-level cultivator wasnt exactly conducive to relaxing.

The inner discipleor at least Hao Zhen believed that was the mans rank, unless Du Qing had roped in another prime disciplesimply stared at him, unmoving. Because of the way Hao Zhen was holding the talisman, there was no way to tell what type of talisman it was. Only its spiritual aura, that of the fourth order of the Red Spiritual Realm, could be discerned. And that meant that as the third-level redsoul was concerned, he could be holding yet another fourth-order explosion talisman. He could see the spiritual power gathered in his opponents eyes.

And that was exactly what Hao Zhen wanted. First, Hao Zhen activated Ethereal String Puppetry, then attached an Ethereal String to the inner disciple. Hao Zhen then waved the hand holding a talisman in front of him, as if he were about to throw the slip of paper, and the inner disciple flinched. At the same time, Hao Zhen channeled his spiritual power into the red pellet he was holding in his other hand before throwing out his arm, launching the spiritual beacon towards the outer disciple.

Deactivating Spiritual Sight, Hao Zhen jumped backward just as the beacon exploded in a cloud of red smoke. Tapping into the Ethereal String, Hao Zhen was just about to cause a sensory overload when the man broke out from the spiritual beacon, jumping out of the red cloud. He glared daggers at Hao Zhen, not showing any signs of confusion or blindness. Somehow, he had managed to turn off Spiritual Sight fast enough not to be blinded by the beacon.

Hao Zhen went still. So much for plan A. Inner disciples really were a step above outer disciples.

He clenched his teeth.

Time for the much riskier plan B.