The young monk's eyes darted around, his silence and worried expression deepening Gongsun's unease. Gongsun felt a throbbing headache as he surveyed the chaotic surroundings, realizing the gravity of the situation. He quickly approached a nearby villager, asking with concern,"Have you seen A-Lai? Do you know where he is?"
The villager hesitated for a moment before pointing towards the fourth floor."Most of the survivors are on the fourth floor!"
Elderly Gongsun's expression darkened as he thought,"First, we need to eliminate potential threats." Frowning, he addressed the two monks with a stern tone,"What are you planning to do? Will you leave on your own, or should I force you out?"
A flash of anger and suspicion crossed the young monk's face."You old pervert, what right do you have to drive us away?!"
Before Elderly Gongsun could respond, Little Fly's grandfather descended from upstairs, raising a hand to prevent further conflict."Wait! Oh, it's just a misunderstanding!"
Elderly Gongsun looked at Little Fly's grandfather with confusion."Misunderstanding? What kind of misunderstanding?"
"They are from the Abbot of Moon Lake, here to protect A-Lai. They didn't know you are A-Lai's master. Now is not the time for internal strife."
With this new information, the middle-aged monk's gaze softened, his previous anger replaced by apology."I'm sorry, Master Gongsun. I misunderstood you. I was entrusted with protecting A-Lai and should not have blamed you."
Gongsun nodded in understanding."I see. Where is A-Lai now?"
Just then, a villager upstairs shouted,"I can't believe it! Where's A-Lai? He vanished right before my eyes!'
"Where is A-Lai?" The students looked around, worried.
The beautiful girl awoke, her eyes wide with shock. They had been so close in the fight, and then, in an instant, he vanished before her eyes. A-Lai's spot was empty, as if he had never been there. Her fingers still felt the warmth of his blood, the lingering touch of his presence. This couldn't be a dream!
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In the dense forest, a burly man sprinted forward, carrying the unconscious A-Lai under his arm. His heavy, hurried steps kicked up dust and dry leaves, his muscles shining in the sunlight like a wild beast. His cold, determined gaze showed his unshakable resolve.
Behind them, the pale-faced Lord Gong watched him leave, a cruel glint in her eyes. She quickly set traps on the ground with practiced ease before disappearing into the forest.
This sudden turn of events caught the attention of more viewers. The livestream was now one of Sebastian's hottest shows. The stream was buzzing with activity, with strange cosmic spectators watching from all corners—some huge, others oddly shaped. To Earthlings, they might be gods, demons, or alien visitors. The difference was only in their names. Since Earth's surrender in the last cosmic war, Earthlings were seen as primitive—backward and ignorant.
These viewers occasionally made low, buzzing sounds, as if talking or judging. For them, the stream was not just entertainment but a show of curiosity and superiority. Some eyes sparkled with interest, while others were cold and indifferent. It seemed that no matter the circumstances, raising a weapon in resistance, even if it led to defeat, preserved one's dignity; surrendering meant becoming a laughingstock, without honor.
Mr. Kim began addressing Caron with respect."Mr. Caron, what do you think—who is responsible for A-Lai's kidnapping?"
"Mr. Kim, our tracker has been monitoring the area, and it's clear that internal conflict has erupted among the Earth's natives. And the focus of their strife is our star. It's just like the Earth saying,'The mantis stalks the cicada, while the yellow sparrow waits.'"
"Mr. Caron, are you saying our next wager has already begun?"
"One could say that. I understand some dear brothers lost their fortunes tonight. I didn't expect there would still be over a hundred survivors among the villagers, especially this boy who's like a tenacious cockroach. So let's see if his luck holds this time."
"Well said, Mr. Caron. Let's keep our eyes on the two groups. Currently, A-Lai's master and two warrior monks are in close pursuit."
Gongsun ran swiftly while shouting,"Little monk, did your master mention why the demon clan suddenly attacked?"
The middle-aged monk, catching his breath, replied,"Master Gongsun, this attack is said to be from the demon clan because a prodigious young demon has emerged. If this boy devours the Buddha's child at sixteen, he will gain supreme power and lead the demon clan to revival!"
Gongsun's beard bristled with anger."Who believes such nonsense?"
"If you grew up hearing such nonsense, you'd take it as the only truth!"
"Damn it!" Gongsun cursed, then thought,"What's the demon boy's name?"
"Ye Tong!"
Ye Tong, a cold youth in black attire, stood atop a high tower like a nail driven into the sky. His white hair whipped wildly in the gale, resembling silver serpents. His ruthless gaze, like a sharp blade, focused on the approaching burly man with no trace of emotion, only endless coldness.
Around the high tower was scorched earth, encircled by stone walls. Essentially, it was a massive crater with dense forest above. The burly man reached the edge of the crater and, with a powerful throw, hurled A-Lai into the abyss. Amid the howling wind, A-Lai slowly began to awaken as the effects of the sleeping drug began to wane. The burly man showed no concern for the boy's fate, as if A-Lai were an insignificant pawn.
Ye Tong did not return to the tower but descended from it, leaping from level to level with the grace of a mountain goat, landing deftly on the ground. Every movement was filled with power and elegance as he sprinted towards the direction where the boy had fallen, moving with the speed of a black lightning bolt.
As A-Lai slowly regained consciousness in mid-air, he quickly adjusted his breathing and assumed the Vajra posture. With the rhythm of his breath, he seemed to generate upward force, growing stronger until he gently floated down to the ground like a falling leaf. His body was flexible and stable, his gaze resolute and sharp.
The scorched crater, with a two-kilometer radius, became a natural arena. In the center of the crater, the fates of the two youths intertwined, with only one able to emerge alive. Ye Tong's steps were steady and powerful, while A-Lai's breath was deep and even. The two were about to engage in a deadly battle on this dark land.