Chapter 714: Defeat But Not Kill
Translator: Timothy_ Editor: GlobeGlotter
“Xia-Qianbei, we’ll split his gold cheques evenly. His metal essence will be yours; we’ll each take a set of chi stones. If you don’t need anything else from him, I’ll take the leftovers. Of course, I’ll leave the big-bearded man himself to you.” Qi Qichong knew Xia Chongyan probably hated Ye Mo intensely, so he was already planning the spoils.
Xia Chongyan sneered. “Fine, as long as I can personally kill that idiot.”
“Of course, even if that woman is ugly, hehehe!” Qi Qichong laughed. No matter how ugly a woman might be, she would suffer if she offended Qi Qichong.
Meanwhile, Ye Mo knew that of the four, only the great heaven master posed a real threat. The others were no match for him. He only needed to ambush the great heaven master; the rest would be easy targets.
“Xiaoyun, continue on the chariot for a while, then wait for me.” Ye Mo looked at the approaching dawn, knowing their attack was imminent.
“En.” Mu Xiaoyun trusted Ye Mo implicitly.
Ye Mo silently jumped from the chariot and hid by the roadside. He remained motionless, knowing any movement would reveal his chi signals to the great heaven master.
“Elder Ming, Xia-Qianbei, let’s attack.” Qi Qichong addressed the middle-aged man beside him and Xia Chongyan.
“Okay, let’s attack.” The others nodded and accelerated towards the chariot.
The middle-aged man, a great heaven master, was the fastest. He passed Ye Mo, and in that instant, Ye Mo sprang out, his flying sword a white streak piercing the great heaven master’s heart from behind.
The moment Ye Mo moved, the great heaven master sensed the chi wave and the chilling premonition of death. He instantly recognized the ambush and tried to evade the sword.
But Ye Mo could kill a great heaven master under normal circumstances; this was a sneak attack. With his flying sword’s speed, even the great heaven master couldn't dodge.
The sword chi exploded in the great heaven master’s heart, instantly killing him.
Seeing their strongest man dead, Ye Mo rejoiced. He’d hoped to wound him heavily before killing him, but the man’s carelessness—chasing the chariot without caution—was his undoing. This served as a reminder to never underestimate an opponent and to always be vigilant.
Blood spurted from the middle-aged man’s back as he crashed several meters away. This shocked the remaining three, who stared at the big-bearded man in disbelief.
“You’re asking to die!” Xia Chongyan reacted first, charging at Ye Mo. He seemed to have forgotten the man was a great heaven master, assuming his death was merely a result of the ambush. Even with a great heaven master ambushed, how could he have been so easily killed?
Ye Mo sheathed his flying sword, feeling no pressure against a half-step great heaven opponent. He picked up the middle-aged man’s curved sword.
Clash! Clash! —Soon, Xia Chongyan’s metal whip was severed into pieces, and he was terrified. If he still didn't realize he was no match for the big-bearded man, he was a fool. The enemy was far stronger; he couldn't resist during their clash—no wonder he'd killed a great heaven master.
Xia Chongyan abandoned all thoughts of pride and anger, fleeing. But as he turned, he felt a cold sensation in his left shoulder. His entire left arm was cleanly severed.
Devastated, Xia Chongyan ran. Ye Mo didn’t pursue him, instead jumping to kick the earth-level cultivator accompanying Xia Chongyan in the chest. The man, also attempting to flee, was instantly knocked unconscious. By then, Xia Chongyan had disappeared.
Qi Qichong’s face paled. In moments, their great heaven master was dead, and Xia Chongyan had lost an arm and fled.
Never before had the young master of a first-grade sect felt so close to death. As Ye Mo approached, his face went white. He wanted to beg for mercy, but his teeth chattered uncontrollably.
Although a black-level peak martial artist, his power stemmed from pills, and he lacked combat experience. He was helpless.
“You can’t kill me, I’m the young master of the Gemini Sword Sect, please forgi-” Before he could finish, Ye Mo knocked him out with a kick.
Ye Mo collected the attackers’ gold cheques, picked up the earth-level cultivator’s curved sword, and plunged it into the great heaven master’s wound, pinning Qi Qichong to the ground. He then carved “Forgery” into the ground beside the great heaven master before leaving.
By then, Mu Xiaoyun arrived.
“Xiaoyun, these men tried to kill us, so I dealt with them,” Ye Mo explained, fearing Mu Xiaoyun would be frightened.
Mu Xiaoyun grabbed Ye Mo’s arm, shaking her head. “Ye babe, I’m not scared.”
Ye Mo admired Mu Xiaoyun’s courage—most women would be terrified by such an event.
Ye Mo picked up the earth-level man, taking Mu Xiaoyun on his flying sword to Hang Shui City, where he landed.
Ye Mo woke the earth-level man, pointing at the stalls outside the city. “I’ve sealed your meridians. Unless I unseal them, you will die. I need you to buy me a set of fighter’s clothes from that stall. Do it quickly, and if you try anything, you won’t see the sun set today.”
“Yes, Qianbei, I understand. Will you be able to-”
“Hurry up! You have no right to question me. Keep talking, and you won’t be going anywhere,” Ye Mo threatened, moving to attack.
The earth-level man, no longer daring to hesitate, quickly bought the clothes and returned.
Ye Mo nodded, satisfied, before turning the earth-level man and the clothes to ash. He then took Mu Xiaoyun to the Blue Sea Hotel invisibly.
Though she didn’t understand her husband’s actions, Mu Xiaoyun didn’t question him.
At daybreak, Ye Mo and Mu Xiaoyun resumed their normal appearances and left the hotel. Ye Mo didn’t eat with Mu Xiaoyun but went to seek news instead.
Ye Mo had done this because he knew that even if he hadn't been involved, killing all four would make them suspects. He’d defeated them, but spared Xia Chongyan, leaving him to suffer the consequences.
As Ye Mo and Mu Xiaoyun left the hotel and reached Hang Shui Square, they saw many people gathered, discussing something.
“Brother Mo, over here!” Liu Lei called from a breakfast shop.
Ye Mo quickly entered with Mu Xiaoyun.
“It seems Brother Mo has found lodgings.” Liu Lei was pleased to see Ye Mo.
Ye Mo nodded. “Yes, we’re at the Blue Sea Hotel. There were no closer options.”
“Not bad, the Blue Sea is a good place.”
Ye Mo immediately asked, “Brother Liu, what are these people talking about?”