Chapter 16: One Corpse is Missing
Since Qi Shan had said to hit as much as he wanted, Shen Tang naturally didn't hold back.
Her momentum was overwhelming, and she wielded the "Mother's Sword" with impenetrable speed and gleaming light. Even though the man in black was using a spear and had the advantage of the weapon, he was overwhelmed by her dense and breathless attack rhythm and had to retreat repeatedly.
Thump—
A sword pierced the wall behind the man in black.
Taking advantage of the moment when Shen Tang drew her sword, the man in black roared, abandoned his spear, condensed a gray light into his fist, and punched her in the chest. The gray light was accompanied by a slight popping sound.
Without even a moment's hesitation, Shen Tang raised her hand to meet the attack.
Unexpectedly, the target vanished into thin air!
Before she could stop, she punched a large hole in the wall.
Shen Tang: "???"
no--
Where are they?
Qi Shan smiled faintly and reminded her.
"Young Master Shen, do not lose focus when facing the enemy."
"Did you move the person just now?"
Before Qi Shan could answer, the man in black's face turned so grave it seemed to drip water: "Military incantation, 'Transplanting Flowers and Grafting Trees'?"
To strengthen themselves and avoid being swallowed up, various feudal lords heavily employed scholars and strategists skilled in military formations, tactics, and the art of rhetoric. For over two hundred years, these ruthless individuals devised elaborate schemes using rhetoric, which became an essential course for those who later entered or built their official careers.
However, cultivating literary talent is much more difficult than cultivating martial prowess.
Firstly, mastering the power of words is difficult, and even if one does master it, the effectiveness of its application is unknown. Secondly, the effects of each person's power of words are slightly different, and the situation on the battlefield is constantly changing, requiring strategies to be adapted to the situation. A single oversight can lead to total defeat.
"I never expected that there would be someone who knows good things even in this remote and impoverished place."
Qi Shan tacitly agreed with the man in black's judgment.
The man gave a deep, cold laugh.
"In that case—you are even less likely to be spared!"
when!
Another loud bang!
Qi Shan, about to be pierced in the face by the spear, neither dodged nor flinched. A smile played on his lips as he leisurely watched the black-clad man, whose forehead veins bulged from gathering strength. The tip of the spear was only two feet away from him; any closer and it might have taken his life.
But this short distance has become an insurmountable barrier.
It's difficult to make any further progress.
Shen Tang, who shouldered everything: "..."
While inwardly displaying elegance, she gritted her teeth and said, "Qi Yuanliang, have you had enough? Are you just standing there like an idiot without even trying to get out of the way?"
Qi Shan, of course, is not flustered.
Whether he likes it or not, Young Master Shen will protect him. With this protection, he can pretend to be at ease and occasionally help Shen Tang share some of the pressure.
Overall, it's still in the OB (observation/observation) phase at the edge.
In their second encounter, Shen Tang clearly sensed that the man in black was different from before. Not to mention his strength and speed, his aura was far inferior. Even she was shaken so much that her hands went numb and her chest felt tight, as if this man had undergone a complete transformation in a short period of time.
At this moment, Qi Shan thoughtfully helped her "explain".
"Don't be surprised by his change. This is a martial artist's most common trump card. It forces out all the potential of his martial arts in a short period of time, giving him a tremendous boost. A fourth-rank martial artist can now be compared to a fifth-rank physician. Once the time is up, he will become weak and helpless, at the mercy of others. Just hold on a little longer."
Shen Tang: "..."
Isn't this a desperate measure?
Why didn't you remind me sooner?
The man in black came on menacingly, his killing intent overwhelming. What if she underestimated him and was killed in a single exchange?
Qi Shan observed Shen Tang with a smile: "I see that young master Shen is strong when facing strong opponents and handles things with ease. I'm afraid that speaking up would distract you."
He didn't take the mere fourth-rank official seriously, nor was he worth his attention. He was more curious about this mysterious young master Shen.
This guy is so interesting!
Despite possessing literary talent, she managed to hold her own against a brute in a melee. She was a formidable fighter, even managing to temporarily elevate her martial prowess to the fifth rank using a secret technique.
This is truly against common sense.
If she goes up to the next level, does she also have the ability to fight?
A young man possessing the Imperial Seal, a unique literary talent, and martial prowess comparable to any fifth-rank official, also had close ties to the Gong family, whose property had been confiscated and whose clan exterminated. All of this fueled his irresistible urge to investigate and uncover the secrets behind his actions.
After a hundred moves, the man in black's momentum plummeted, and Shen Tang swiftly and decisively impaled him on the wall with a sword, rendering him unable to move.
"We caught him alive."
Qi Shan said, "No, the person is already dead."
Shen Tang paused in her action of sheathing her sword.
"Dead? How could he be dead..."
The gaze shifted to the man in black, who lowered his head, and dark, foul-smelling blood spilled from his mouth.
It's really dead!
Qi Shan said, "This man is not a bandit, but a suicide soldier. His mission has failed, and death is the only option for him! He can at least have a quick death, but living might not be so easy."
Judging from the situation, his previous judgment was wrong.
The man in black was not with the previous second-class superiors.
It's likely the latter was the real bandit, intending to kill and rob but was beaten to it by the man in black, and unfortunately ran into the two of them.
"An assassin? Who's here to assassinate? Could it be Ah Yan?"
Qi Shan replied listlessly, "Perhaps."
What's the point of killing a mentally challenged person born with a brain disorder?
"Young Master Shen has little experience and naturally doesn't know the dangers of the world. How can you be sure that this brain disease is real? Perhaps this child is cunning and knows how to hide his abilities at such a young age, using his apparent stupidity to protect himself from harm... There are many examples of people who endure hardship and bide their time."
"this……"
Qi Shan: "Young Master Shen gave him three candies earlier, but he refused to eat them and insisted that you eat one first. How can you be sure that his action wasn't a test to get you to taste the poison for him?"
Shen Tang: "..."
She was uncertain: "But he's at most six years old..."
Qi Shan said, "If forced by circumstances, even a six-year-old, or even a two-year-old or a one-year-old, would use their wits to protect themselves."
Shen Tang: "..."
If a six-year-old child can be so cunning, how can a homebody with mild social anxiety possibly get by?
She said, "If that's true, then Ayan's background is not simple."
Even killing a child requires sending out a fourth-class assassin.
That's impressive!
Reason told Qi Shan that things had reached a point where they were done; whether A Yan lived or died was none of his business, and he should extricate himself as soon as possible to avoid getting involved in any scandal. Unfortunately, Shen Xiaolangjun didn't understand him and still wanted to help collect the bodies of the dead in this house.
One by one, the bodies were found and dragged to the main hall.
By feeling the temperature of the corpses, Shen Tang judged that these people must have been missing not long ago, and that the village head of Qianjia Village was calling for people to search for those who died around that time.
"Sigh, eleven lives lost..."
Qi Shan said expressionlessly, "Human life is the most worthless thing in the world. It is so now, and it will be so in the future."
Shen Tang shook his head: "That's not right. If the situation is stable and the law is in order, those who kill without cause will pay with their lives."
Qi Shan was amused by her words.
"There has never been a time of 'stability' in the four directions."
There won't be any now, and there won't be any in the future.
Shen Tang was speechless at his words and couldn't help but retort.
"Mr. Qi has all these skills, yet he never thought of assisting anyone, pacifying the chaotic world? He's just spouting nonsense..."
Qi Shan smiled but remained silent.
Shen Tang was about to gather firewood to clean up the corpses when she suddenly stopped, her gaze turning to the hands of the corpses.
She looked around.
Something's not right.
Qi Shan asked, "What's wrong?"
"One body is missing."
"You mean Ayan? He might still be alive..."
Shen Tang said, "It's not Ayan, it's someone else."
One person is still missing!
_(:з」∠)_ I'm making a painful face when I'm revising this chapter.
Can you guess who the missing person is?
There are clues ahead.
By the way, I'd like to give a shout-out to my friend Bao Bao Zi. If you're interested, you can check out her new book – "The Useless One Starts His Counterattack Today." Today's "useless one" is also making efforts to start his counterattack.
And another thing, Xianggu was fortunate enough to participate in the Honor of Kings' "Wonderful Writing Project". On August 2nd, a story about Gongsun Li created by Xianggu will be released and available to everyone. You can bookmark it first.
P.S.: Please be gentle with your criticism if you're an A-Li fan.
(End of this chapter)
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