In the following week after Wu Huan had left for the North, a small battle broke out outside the border. He had been in his carriage when a black-dressed man had slammed down on the roof and plunged his sword inside.
Wu Huan had released a wave of spiritual energy bringing the assassin flying back. The five disciples around him engaged in the battle as soon as the man charged again. However, with a stump of his feet, they flew back roughly.
There was no mistake. The sadistic aura, the mask, the one arm, and the way he began to snicker. "Have you been missing me?"
Peizhi flew forward without so much of a word. It scaped his mask but he dodged away just in time. While he tried to defend against the sword, Wu Huan had gathered a sphere of energy and aimed at him from behind.
The masked man had taken on full force damage because he was blocking Peizhi in front. Despite coughing up blood, he had the time to say a few sentences, "Not bad."
"You're dead," Wu Huan flew up with a kick. He called Peizhi back. The masked man was losing ground. And the disciples didn't dare to distract the young master.
"I was just here to visit you. Heard you're all trained to take that guy back. Tell you what. I've seen him," he grinned when Wu Huan missed a move in surprise. "Regret to say he's not worth the effort!" With a grunt, Peizhi pierced through his stomach and Wu Huan kept attacking him. "He'll die before you even get to station your troop. Took too long for the rescue, eh?"
"Keep talking and I'll cut off your remaining limps."
"Hahaha, as long as it helps you cope with his death."
Wu Huan raised his sword after forcing him on his knees, however before he could land another death blow, he was blown back by a third imposter's strong spiritual energy. Luckily the disciples caught him in time.
The man was clad in an exquisite black rope. His skin was as pale as the sunlight. He had on a similar silver mask but his aura was heavy. "Xiao Li!" he growled. His voice was familiar yet not at the same time. The man pulled the other up by his collar single-handedly. "Care to explain?"
Xiao Li bit his lips both in pain and shock. His horrified expression was obvious under that mask, "Y-young master, I...I only wanted to kill him while he's in my sight."
"What can a cripple like you do other than keeping yourself low? Do you think you should relax around me after that last time?" The man's voice was naturally pleasant and low but his tone could kill by itself. He dropped his subordinate back and turned to Wu Huan.
Something in the young master stirred upon his familiar pair of eyes, but he truly didn't recognize this man or his aura. The man didn't speak as he waved a sign in the air and before long, he and Xiao Li disappeared out of thin air. They had transported.
"Young master, did he just transported? Who is this guy? H-he's not a match for any of us."
Wu Huan brushed his rope and hopped onto Peizhi, "No time to ask questions. We must hurry."
If the bastard was right, Shi Lihua would be dead by next month. Yin Dragon Sect had no intention to use him as a hostage all along. They announced his capture to launch a civil war and kept him only as a joke. All the plans they came up with and the time Shi Lihua had to wait...
Yin Fan was no doubt extremely confident at their defeat.
-
Familiar faces rushed to upon his arrival. Lan Yan Sect disciple wore light red uniforms just like their fury ways of life. They had been anticipating his visit after a year away to Taohua. Wu Huan hadn't expected the warm welcome so he had only nodded lightly to questions and spoke politely while the Taohua disciples waited from behind.
"Wu Huan," the voice caught his attention. A woman made her way towards him. She had long eyelashes and a naturally beautiful smile. "It has been a while."
"Hu Ting. I'm sorry for not visiting."
"There's no need to apologize. I know young master has been busy. Come this way. The sect leader is waiting for you at the Festivity Hall."
The buildings and surroundings still felt the most familiar to him. As he walked with Hu Ting, many memories swiftly flashed across his mind. The Lan Yan's disciples had also peered at him curiously. He used to be cheerful with them.
His uncle had been waiting patiently. He simply poured his tea when Wu Huan greeted. "Take a seat," he muttered after sipping. "How have you been doing at Taohua?"
"Sect leader and master treat me well. Regarding the campaign, I wish to launch it as soon as possible."
Duan Jing stared at him strangely, "From the source, the array has not been completed. If we rush, our plan for these three months will be ruined. I had thought you understood this?"
"On the way here, the masked man had reappeared. I would have killed him if it weren't from the help of another one of his people. I suspect that this helper is the man my master had mentioned during his investigation in the North."
The sect leader clearly didn't need clarification. "He is a powerful foe. Did he not attack you and your group?"
"No. He used transportation magic and took the masked man with him-whom he had called 'Xiao Li'." Wu Huan drank the tea that had now turned cold. Before speaking again, he glanced at the people waiting outside, "The Xiao Li guy had claimed to have seen Shi Lihua. He said he would die by the end of this month. It seems...it seems that Yin Fan has no intention of using him as a hostage all along."
Duan Jing was a calm and collected man just like his master. On the surface, his reactions were always limited but through his actions, he was no less than the most capable and powerful man in the continent. Hearing of Yin Fan's outrageousness, he must have felt undermined because his tea set has gone flying. His disciples outside scurried away from fear. He didn't speak for a while and only sat with a murderous face.
"We only have two weeks left. Please send me there alone next week. I will finish the array before this month ends."
"Alone? Aren't you being too overconfident?"
Wu Huan clenched his fists, "Alone."