44 Chapter 44 A Net of Heaven and Earth
Chapter 44 A Net of Heaven and Earth
An old friend—that was someone I truly knew.
Moreover, given Deyuan's age, if we're talking about acquaintances, he should have known Master Qu and Master He for a long time.
Judging from their appearance, their relationship shouldn't be "good"; it should at least be "not very good," or even "very bad"...
Wang Sumo and Bai Cen looked at each other in bewilderment.
They were "old acquaintances" from the same era as the old master and Master He, and these two younger generations of the martial arts world probably could hardly have guessed it.
However, among the predecessors who could withstand the old man's "Cloud Piercing Mountain Breaking Hand," whether good or bad, there are probably no more than ten people still alive in this world.
Just count backwards.
"The Sword of Immortality, the Finger of Soaring to the Sky, the Blade of Snowstorm from the Northern Frontier, the Dust-Sweeping Blade of the Spirit Void, the Eight-Sided Formation-Breaking Umbrella, the Three Styles of Qingcheng, the Ghostly Sorrow of Dongling, the Fist of Blazing Fire and Burning Sand, the Chaotic Hammer of Yaoshan, the Sea-Slaying Technique of Linjiang..."
Bai Cen frowned slightly as he read this.
He did recall a name. Bai Cen looked at Wang Sumo and whispered, "The last one, known throughout the world for the 'Linjiang Zhanhai Jue' (River-Slaying Sea Technique), and feared by all, guess who it is?"
Wang Sumo shook her head.
I was indeed a bit confused.
Bai Cen crossed his arms. Although it was hard to believe, especially since Deyuan was still in this state, Bai Cen sighed softly, "Do you still remember what Old Master Qu and Master He were talking about, about the notorious bandit Liu Henshui they chased together?"
Wang Sumo was surprised, but nodded firmly.
Of course she remembered, and it left a deep impression on her.
Liu Henshui would disguise himself as a street vendor, a Taoist priest, or infiltrate the army. Just when you thought he was seriously injured, he would run away. When he was "in the limelight," he was known as a notorious bandit with his hands covered in blood; when he was down on his luck, he was hunted down everywhere.
This person is difficult to judge.
But he has been extinct in the martial arts world for a long time, and now he is facing Master Deyuan...
Wang Sumo suddenly realized—Liu Henshui was very good at disguise. He could disguise himself as a Taoist priest and infiltrate the army, so he could naturally disguise himself as an old monk.
Wang Sumo finally understood the feelings of the old man and Master He back then.
Even if the other person stands right in front of you and serves you noodles, you wouldn't recognize them!
If Deyuan hadn't taken that blow from the old man, the old man and Master He would probably have had a hard time confirming that the other party was Liu Henshui.
She was hidden so well, she almost blended into the person playing the role...
Sure enough, as the old man withdrew his palm, he gritted his teeth and cursed, "Liu Henshui!"
It was both unexpected and infuriating.
Wang Sumo and Bai Cen locked eyes again. What a coincidence! Liu Henshui, a notorious bandit who had once belonged to a powerful sect and was later hunted down and disappeared without a trace decades ago, and Zhao Tong, a notorious villain, had somehow ended up together.
"We let you escape before, but this time Old He and I won't give you another chance to escape." After Old Master Qu finished speaking, Old Master He didn't say anything, but standing next to Old Master Qu, it was a definite affirmation.
"Amitabha, well said, well said!" Deyuan, or rather Liu Henshui, put his hands together, looked at Lao Qu and Master He with a calm and smiling face, "When did this old monk say that he was going to run away?"
Bai Cen couldn't stand it anymore, "You just said that~"
Deyuan: "..."
Deyuan paused for a moment, as if he remembered, then put his hands together again and said gently, "Times have changed."
Bai Cen couldn't help but laugh, "Quite agile~"
Wang Sumo was speechless: "..."
But Deyuan seemed more relaxed than the old man and Master He. "I don't have much time left. I originally wanted to accompany Benefactor Zhao all the way until my death. I never expected to have the opportunity to see you two again here. I can finally put my regrets to rest."
"No need for further words." Old Master He was, after all, more gentle and refined.
Deyuan nodded to him, “If you two want to take this old monk away, I will not fight back, but please spare Zhao’s life. I was being chased by my enemies and lost both my legs. I was saved by Zhao. In the past few years, Zhao has not known my identity. This matter should not involve him.”
Before Deyuan could finish speaking, Zhao Tong interrupted, "You're talking nonsense!"
Everyone: -_-||
Deyuan had no choice but to turn around, "I told you to watch your words..."
I've said it countless times over the years, my tongue's practically worn out from all the talking, but they just won't listen.
I don't know what kind of personality they have.
Zhao Tong said impatiently, "You old bald monk, do you have enemies?"
Deyuan tried to explain, "These two are different."
Old Master Qu and Master He: "..."
Although it's still unclear what the difference is between the old man and the old master He, Wang Sumo is curious!
Bai Cen was exasperated; whenever it came to watching the excitement, some people's expressions changed.
Now, if you just give her a small stool, she'll sit right in front of Liu Henshui, eagerly listening to all the gossip and excitement.
Zhao Tong finally couldn't take it anymore. "The fish-slaughtering knife hasn't drawn blood in a long time. It's a good opportunity to use them as guinea pigs. Once they're dead, it'll all be the same."
Zhao Tong is results-oriented.
Deyuan cried out anxiously, "Benefactor Zhao, you mustn't!"
Old Qu grew even more impatient, "Liu Henshui, are you getting addicted to this acting?"
"Amitabha, benefactor, this old monk has indeed vanished into nothingness..." Before Deyuan could finish speaking, Zhao Tong had already drawn his fish-slaughtering knife and charged at him.
Wow, so fast!
Bai Cen's eyes almost couldn't keep up; this speed was completely different from Zhao Tong's just now!
Bai Cen suddenly understood: Zhao Tong had clearly not intended to kill earlier; but Zhao Tong now at least had the intention to kill!
Zhao Tong defended Deyuan, who was also Liu Henshui.
They will definitely clash with the old man and Master He.
With the fish-slaughtering knife drawn and Liu Henshui's "River-Slaying Sea Technique" unleashed, it was a two-on-two battle. Both Liu Henshui and Master He were injured. The old man was getting on in years, while Zhao Tong was in his prime. In recent years, they had no rivals in the martial arts world!
If a real fight breaks out, the outcome is unpredictable.
It's also possible that both sides will suffer losses!
But Bai Cen's mind raced, realizing that either the old man or Master He would surely get hurt.
When Master He and Deyuan exchanged blows, both were injured, so their moves were not as fierce, and Master He did not even use a sword; but the fight between Zhao Tong and Master Qu was much more intense.
The fish-slaughtering knife is drawn, sweeping across the land!
Zhao Tong's blade is sharp and piercing; even Uncle Huo would have a hard time dealing with it.
Back then, the Cloud Piercer and Mountain Breaker was a one-man army, and even thousands of troops on the other side were helpless against him.
Putting aside our concerns about the old man and Master He, opportunities to witness such a clash between masters of unparalleled skill are rare in today's martial arts world. Anyone who observes closely can gain profound insights into each move and technique.
"If this fight continues, will the old man and Master He get hurt?" Wang Sumo didn't quite understand, but she knew to ask.
Asking Bai Cen is better than not understanding it herself.
Although Bai Cen had no internal strength, he was still able to carry the old man and Master He all over the mountain even when he couldn't use his internal strength. The fact that the two old men had a hard time catching up with him shows that Bai Cen had some martial arts skills.
Bai Cen definitely understands it better than she does.
Bai Cen told her what he had been thinking, saying that the other side might have a better chance of winning. When masters clash, the difference lies in the smallest of margins, let alone when there are four masters here. Any slight difference could trigger a series of changes.
Therefore, it's hard to say who will win or lose, but it's highly likely that both Old Master Qu and Master He will be injured.
After all, even disregarding Deyuan, Zhao Tong is the number one villain in the martial arts world, the leader of the Rakshasa Alliance, and the Ghost-Slaying Zhao Tong.
This is completely different from Qiu Bairen, and those cats and dogs.
“So, Dong…” Bai Cen hadn’t finished speaking when he saw Wang Sumo turn around.
"Master?" Bai Cen was slightly surprised, but Wang Sumo did not respond or stop, as if what happened here was not so important for the time being.
Bai Cen wanted to chase after him, but he didn't dare to move.
In case something really goes wrong here, at least he still has a small piece of spinach stalk on him.
Yes, they all smell bad.
But if it really doesn't work, he can force himself to swallow it.
The Tao gives birth to One, One gives birth to Two, Two gives birth to Three, and Three gives birth to all things!
Breaking through the limitations of internal energy consumption, although he wasn't confident he could subdue all four of them, he could at least shake them off.
But it's always better to have someone to discuss things with at times like this. Wang Sumo was the only one around. Although she didn't know martial arts, she was familiar with the old man and Master He.
Bai Cen kept glancing back as he watched Wang Sumo calmly ascend the steps to the small courtyard on the first floor of the Bazhen Tower.
Bai Cen had to turn back; if he found something was wrong, he would have to take action. Then he turned back again, and Wang Sumo went directly up the stairs from the small courtyard to the second floor.
Bai Cen: "..."
Bai Cen seemed to vaguely recall something on the second floor.
Could it be...? Bai Cen suddenly understood, realizing what she was about to do.
Sure enough, Wang Sumo opened the railing on the second floor of the Eight Treasures Pavilion, and inside the railing was a crossbow-like object, just like the one that Miss Azhen had taken before, containing the Xuanji Sect's Heavenly Net hidden weapon.
Wang Sumo took out the arrow with practiced ease, aimed, and knew that it was not easy to hit the target at such a distance, but the net was different.
"Little White, move aside," Wang Sumo called out.
Bai Cen quickly dodged. The Heavenly Net can vary in size, but Wang Sumo's Heavenly Net was so vast that if Bai Cen stood within its range, it could potentially trap him as well.
Although Wang Sumo's martial arts skills were not good, she relied on the Eight Treasures Pavilion to travel around the world. Naturally, the hidden weapons in the Eight Treasures Pavilion had all been "diligently learned and practiced" by her Uncle Yu Daozi. It was only after confirming that she could control them that she was allowed to drive the Eight Treasures Pavilion around.
However, since the Eight Treasures Pavilion began its journey in the martial arts world, it has never used the "Heavenly Net" on the second floor against anyone.
But Bai Cen is right, it's worth it. This time, they managed to recruit four top martial arts masters in one go, and their net worth has doubled!
Three, two, one, Wang Sumo held his breath and calmly pressed the mechanism.
With a "whoosh," the Heavenly Net, faster, sharper, and faster than Ah Zhen's previous "Heavenly Net," was shot out.
By the time Zhao Tong and his companions realized what was happening, the inescapable net was already surging towards them.
Old Master Qu and Master He had already been caught in the net once. When they saw the net coming down on them, they knew they were in trouble and ran out!
Who else would throw a trap at them in this place?
Where else could you see this angle besides the second floor of the Eight Treasures Pavilion?!
Once the net was laid down, Old Master Qu and Master He simply stopped struggling, because the more they struggled, the tighter it became!
But they couldn't withstand the other side's struggle!
Liu Henshui seemed to have guessed what this was, and subconsciously struggled a couple of times before stopping, but Zhao Tong did not!
Zhao Tong picked up the fish-cleaning knife and started hacking wildly at the inescapable net. The net would shrink whenever it struggled, and Zhao Tong would continue hacking as it shrank. Finally, the old man, Master He, and Deyuan all yelled at him, "Stop hacking!"
What was just a wide net has now become a cramped space for four people!
[Author's Note]
I've been a bit tired these past couple of days, so I'll only post one chapter today. There's a weekend bonus in this chapter, so remember to leave a comment! It'll be sent out together on Monday.
I'm going to rest now; I have to get up early tomorrow to run between two places.
See you tomorrow! [clasped hands]
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