Chapter 26 - Pang Tianlong Beheaded
As Pang Tianlong thrust his sword, the longsword was wrapped in a layer of red True Qi, directly charging at Gu Hai with a murderous bout of killing intent!
"Song Qingshu, why are you stopping me?" Chen Tianshan asked, staring.
"Don"t worry, Throne Master has not asked you to help him, why are you anxious?" replied Song Qingshu, smiling.
Chen Tianshan glared at Song Qingshu. On another side, Gao Xianzhi was also anxious, but he was too far away.
"An equipment with True Qi attached!? The second level of the Xiantian Stage?" the curly-bearded fellow in the crowd wondered, narrowing his eyes.
Most of the cultivators in the surrounding were staring at Gu Hai, but none of them blocked Pang Tianlong, and none helped Gu Hai. The sword was just too quick; in the blink of an eye, it had arrived in front of Gu Hai.
"Be careful!" the naga shouted, horrified.
The moment longsword arrived, Gu Hai squinted his eyes as his eyes flickered with a bitterly cold glare.
BOOM!
Gu Hai took a step forward, stamping his feet on the ground fiercely. Immediately after, a thunderous explosion so loud that everyone"s heart shook resounded in the mountain valley.
Along with the second thunderous explosion, Gu Hai"s fist landed upon Pang Tianlong"s abdomen, to everyone"s shock.
Too quick and too powerful. With just a punch, Pang Tianlong flew away like a bullet.
AHHHHH!
BOOM!
A deafening explosion rang in everyone"s ear as Pang Tianlong smashed into a nearby stonewall, which collapsed into bits of pieces thereafter.
"What!? That"s impossible!" Song Qingshu cried in sudden shock.
"Throne Master?" Gao Xianzhi"s eyes also went wide.
Everyone knew what Gu Hai"s cultivation was at. He was just in the first level of the Xiantian Stage, and yet, Pang Tianlog was not a match for Gu Hai!? Gu Hai was so fast that Pang Tianlong did not have time to react, and had been punched in the gut and sent flying.
How much power did Gu Hai have, and how fast was he!?
"How could that be? How could he be so fast and so powerful at the first level of the Xiantian Stage?" Chen Tianshan"s eyes also opened wide.
"Junior Brother!"
The congregation of Song Jia Sect disciples suddenly burst into a shout.
"Poof! I-i-it"s impossible, yo-you have just entered the Xiantian Stage, how could you be my opponent!?" In the rubble, the weak and feeble Pang Tianlong looked at Gu Hai in trepidation.
Just a punch was so powerful that Pang Tianlong felt as if his Five Zhang and Six Fu[1] were minced into pieces. In the blink of an eye, he was completely powerless.
Just as the congregation of Song Jia Sect disciples wanted to come over, Gu Hai c.o.c.ked his head and asked, with a cold look in his eyes, "Does the Song Jia Sect want to step in, too? Do you want to be enemies with my Ascendant Hall?"
Gu Hai stared at them with wide-open eyes. Whereupon, the complexion of the Song Jia Sect disciples worsened as they halted their footsteps.
"Impossible, the power behind Gu Hai"s strike was comparable to the third level of Xiantian Stage... No, the power was at the very least comparable to the third level, but, but, he has just entered the first level!?" said Song Qingshu, gawking.
"External strength? Is it because Gu Hai cultivated in external strength? Is it because he had tempered his body with external exercise that his physical strength in the Houtian Stage was incomparably tyrannical!?" Chen Tianshan"s expression flickered.
Among the crowd, the curly-beard fellow squinted his eyes when Gu Hai slammed his foot on the ground; under Gu Hai"s foot, countless stones were crushed into pieces.
"First level of the Xiantian Stage? How did he cultivate in Houtian Stage for him to possess such overbearing physical strength!?" the curly-beard fellow muttered to himself and looked at Gu Hai, eyes flickering with a gloomy light.
Picking up Pang Tianlong"s longsword, Gu Hai walked over to Pang Tianlong, slowly and steadily, as an ice-cold look appeared in his eyes.
Pang Tianlong looked back at Gu Hai in fear. At the beginning, he believed Gu Hai had just stepped into the Xiantian Stage and he would not have any strength, but who would have thought that he would be so powerful? So powerful that he himself actually didn"t have a bit of ability to defend!?
"Senior brothers, please save me, senior brothers, senior brothers!" looking at Gu Hai getting closer and closer, Pang Tianlong shouted out, desperate and afraid.
But at the moment, Song Jia Sect disciples looked at one another before their countenances turned ugly; they dared not take another step.
"Throne Master Gu, please forgive Pang Tianlong"s offense!" a Song Jia Sect disciple begged anxiously.
"You don"t have the qualifications to talk to me. Just a while ago, when he wanted to kill me, why didn"t you say anything then?" Gu Hai said coldly, without turning his head.
"But...!"
"It"s a personal grudge between him and I. If you are going to help him, it will become a grudge between Ascendant Hall and Song Jia Sect. Shut the h.e.l.l up and roll over to a side!" said Gu Hai coldly.
"You!" the congregation of Song Jia Sect disciples was shocked and angry.
But everyone was at the end of their rope; nothing could be done.
"Martial Uncle, please save me, Martial Uncle!" Pang Tianlong begged Song Qingshu in trepidation.
Song Qingshu"s visage changed every so slightly, "Throne Master, all the grudge is just because of this naga. Why for just one naga-!"
"Song Qingshu!"
Gu Hai"s cold voice cut off Song Qingshu"s speech in the middle as Gu Hai c.o.c.ked his head and coldly looked back at him.
Song Qingshu"s expression became a bit ugly. Nonetheless, he still opened his mouth, "Throne Master, Pang Tianlong had a momentary lapse of judgment!"
Gu Hai said, smiling coldly, "Song Qings.h.i.+, just a moment ago, didn"t you say you don"t have the right to control him! Why, do you not have the right to direct him, but you have the authority to control me!?"
"Eh?" The look on Song Qingshu"s face froze.
"You said you can"t be responsible for him, but why can you be responsible for me!?” Gu Hai asked coldly.
Song Qingshu"s countenance once again became uglier, "Subordinate dare not!"
"It"s best you don"t dare. Now stay there and don"t utter any more nonsense!" said Gu Hai coldly.
Having said that, Gu Hai no longer cared about the ashen Song Qingshu and turned his head, looking at Pang Tianlong again.
Pang Tianlong looked at Gu Hai, horrified. He didn"t expect that just a few words of Gu Hai would force his senior brothers to not dare to step forward, and forced his Martial Uncle to not dare save him!?
Only at this moment did Pang Tianlong realized Gu Hai"s terror.
"Don"t kill me, Throne Master Gu, I am guilty of offending you, it"s my fault, I beg your forgiveness, I beg you, please don"t kill me!" screamed Pang Tianlong, horrified.
Pointing the long sword at Pang Tianlong, Gu Hai said coldly, "Sometimes, I, Gu Hai am soft-hearted, but when I saw you torturing this naga, I could not bear to watch. I would do everything in my power to save her; it"s because I don"t want my humanity destroyed, I do want to cherish this humanity of mine. However, often, I am a wolf. I will absolutely never hold myself back to the person who should be d.a.m.ned, I will also not be soft-hearted!"
SPLITCH!
In the blink of an eye, Gu Hai pierced the sword into Pang Tianlong"s head.
"Nooo...!" screamed Pang Tianlong in fear before he could scream anymore.
The congregation of Song Jia Sect disciples was even more anxious. But even if they were extremely anxious, no one dared to step forward until they saw blood and grey matter gus.h.i.+ng out. Now when everyone looked at Gu Hai, they had fear lacing their expressions.
During the war between two kingdoms, Song Qingshu had always looked down upon Gu Hai loftily. Even when Gu Hai became Throne Master, Song Qingshu did not treat him as a threat; after all, Gu Hai"s cultivation was just too weak. However, at this moment, a bout of fear burst forth in his heart.
A few days ago, he had promised the Sect Chief that he would a.s.sa.s.sinate Gu Hai. At this point, he suddenly seemed to have been shaken up. Gu Hai"s back seemed incomparably big, so big that he simply didn"t feel he was Gu Hai"s opponent.
How is that possible!? I must be hallucinating!, Song Qingshu shouted in his heart as he clenched his fists tightly.
Having killed Pang Tianlong, Gu Hai turned around and walked over to the naga. Slowly, he picked her up as his eyes traveled over the crowd of cultivators.
When his gaze fell upon them, most of the cultivators stepped back involuntarily.
"Ha!" A cold smile crept up on Gu Hai"s lips and he gradually started walking towards the crowd.
One by one, the crowd gave way, letting Gu Hai leave.
Gao Xianzhi and Chen Tianshan followed him quickly. As for Song Qingshu, he gazed at Pang Tianlong"s body and an ugly look crossed his face. Biting his lips, he too followed Gu Hai.
At this instance, the naga was in Gu Hai"s embrace. Although she was covered in bruises, she didn"t seem to be feeling any pain. Her eyes became wet as she looked at Gu Hai. She gradually rested her head on Gu Hai"s chest, feeling the chest that had brought her warmth when all was lost.
Gu Hai"s group, the four humans, and a snake-girl gradually walked into the mountain forest, and no one came forward to block them. Gazing at the four disappearing silhouettes, complex emotions appeared in the eyes of the crowd of cultivators.
"Well, it"s just a snake servant. Let"s go, we will head deeper!"
"We are already delayed for such a long time, we should continue to go deeper!"
The hundreds of cultivators soon dispersed as they went to explore the interior of this small world in succession.
The congregation of Song Jia Sect disciples instead gathered around Pang Tianlong"s body.
One by one, their countenances became ugly, but the leader, after having thought for a moment, still chased after Gu Hai together with the group.
In the turning of an eye, everyone had walked away, leaving a group of people dressed in gray robes behind. Altogether they were some thirty people, whose leader was none other than that curly-bearded fellow.
"Throne Master, was that the new Water Throne Master?" a subordinate asked with an ugly look on his face.
The curly-bearded fellow squinted and answered, "It seems he had just been appointed by the Hall Lord!"
"Throne Master, what should we do now?" another subordinate asked curiously.
"There is no need to worry, there will be someone who will help us resolve this!" the curly-bearded fellow said, sneering.
------
Inside a small tent next to a stream...
Before leaving, Gu Hai had stockpiled a lot of things in the small s.p.a.ce within the token. At this moment, he took out a medicine and smeared it gently upon the naga.
"Thank you, benefactor!" the naga said as tears of grat.i.tude flowed out of her eyes.
"You recuperate first! It"s rare for me to be soft-hearted!" said Gu Hai, heaving a sigh.
"Yes!" The naga was also exhausted. She gradually closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Gu Hai left the tent.
Meanwhile, Gao Xianzhi was guarding the tent outside.
"Throne Master, Chen Tianshan and Song Qingshu went to explore the surroundings, and will come back in the evening!" reported Gao Xianzhi respectfully.
"Throne Master, there is something wrong with Song Qingshu. Previously, he didn"t rescue you when you were in danger, and also kicked Throne Master when Throne Master was already down! I am afraid...!" Gao Xianzhi spoke up, worried.
"I know; however, he is also a Water Throne disciple, after all. I need to give him a chance; if he is going to be stubborn, then don"t blame me!" Gu Hai answered, shaking his head.
"Yes!" Gao Xianzhi agreed with a nod.
---
Not too far away from the mountain valley where Gu Hai was staying...
Stood Song Qingshu together with the curly-bearded fellow.
"Earth Throne Master, this is what happened. This lowly one didn"t expect Earth Throne Master to be in the crowd as well!" Song Qingshu said respectfully to the curly-beard fellow.
The curly-bearded fellow asked, looking at Song Qingshu, "Did Song Jia Sect Chief ask you to kill Gu Hai?"
"Yes, but I am a little worried, I don"t know why...!" stated Song Qingshu, feeling a bit embarra.s.sed.
"It seems he has already told you to organize the Song Jia Sect disciples and besiege Gu Hai!" the curly-beard fellow said calmly.
"Ah?"
"Your Sect Chief didn"t tell you? The position of Water Throne Master was perhaps for you to take!" the curly-beard fellow said calmly.
"What? I could be the Water Throne Master? How could that be possible?"
"Surely, he must have told you the agreement between us! The Song Jia Sect would do everything in their power to a.s.sist us, and they will obtain the position of Water Throne Master. Since you have joined the Ascendant Hall, naturally, the Water Throne Master position is left for you. You must know, after you arrived at the Ascendant Hall headquarters and entered your name in the book, what benefits a Throne Master would enjoy, right?" the curly-bearded fellow looked at Song Qingshu with the sliver of a sinister smile on his lips.
Song Qingshu"s eyes twitched madly.
"Think about it yourself; in any case, I will not lose anything. I am not going to say anymore, but remember, I was never here!" the curly-bearded fellow said, staring at Song Qingshu with a cold smile on his lips.
Having said that, the curly-beard fellow went back into the forest and disappeared.
Song Qingshu, on the other hand, stood where he was, the look on his face changing, becoming alternately gloomy and bright.
TLN:
[1] Five Zhang and Six Fu, basically internal organs. Five Zhang (YIN) Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung, Kidney; Six Fu (YANG) small Intestine, Large Intestine, Gall Bladder, Urinary Bladder, Stomach and Sānjiaō.
The reason I am using Five Zhang and Six Fu and not internal organs, because from what I remember, at the very least Five Zhang will be important in the future cultivation.