Chapter 24 - Mutation
Yang Xie's vision blurred as he slowly regained consciousness, his head still heavy from the overwhelming force that had hit him earlier. However, as his senses cleared, a startling realization struck him.
How did I suddenly reach the fourth stage of Martial Artist?
The last thing he remembered was barely making it past the second stage the night before. Yet now, in an instant, he had skipped two whole stages. It was impossible for him to grasp how this happened. Was this related to Yang Yi's actions the previous night? He had no time to dwell on it, though—he needed to focus on the present.
His eyes scanned the battlefield around him. At first, he had been overwhelmed by the sight of Nangong Ya and the other captives held hostage. But upon a closer look, he saw something unexpected—his Shadow Soldiers were gaining the upper hand.
Yang Xie could see that despite the majority of his summoned warriors being tied up in a standoff with Nangong Ya's captors, the remaining forces had managed to take down several of their attackers. Over a dozen of the masked men in the pig-head masks had already been struck down. The masked leader, the man at the helm of the attack, was taken aback.
No way… How can this boy have such strength? This doesn't make sense.
The leader's mind raced as he attempted to make sense of the situation. Was this truly just his talent?
He'd been keeping tabs on Yang Xie for weeks and knew he was still a beginner in the martial world, yet now the boy seemed to be effortlessly controlling a battle that should have been his loss.
"There's no way… it's impossible for a kid to beat over a dozen of my men in just a few days of awakening. Someone else must be helping him."
The leader's gaze shifted to Nangong Ya, a glimmer of suspicion in his eyes. Could she be harboring a hidden expert from her family? But we've been observing her for months, and there's been no sign of any strange activity. Could there be someone else pulling the strings behind the scenes?
He glanced at his subordinates and gestured for them to proceed.
"We need to move quickly. If we don't act now, everything will fall apart. Use the drug on the hostages. We'll finish this before dawn."
The order was clear—there was no room for error. The mission must succeed.
A Tense Standoff
The masked leader signaled to his men, and they immediately positioned their blades at the throats of Nangong Qing and the others, threatening to end their lives in an instant.
Yang Xie felt a sharp pang of fear. If they take them down now, I'll lose everything.
His gaze hardened. I won't let this happen.
A voice echoed through his mind.
"Master, we are in position. What are your orders?"
Yang Yi. Yang Xie relaxed slightly. He's here. He's come through.
Without hesitation, Yang Xie issued his command.
"Yang Yi, enter their shadows. When I give the signal, strike. Do not hesitate."
"Understood, Master."
Yang Xie took a step forward, hands raised in a gesture of surrender to buy time.
"We'll cooperate. But if you kill any of them, you'll regret it."
His voice was calm, but his heart was racing.
As the enemy appeared to retreat slightly, Yang Xie signaled his remaining Shadow Soldiers to stay hidden and keep watch.
The masked leader grinned smugly, thinking he had cornered his prey.
"You're going to regret this. Don't think for a second you can escape."
But before the leader could make another move, Yang Xie's voice rang out loud and clear.
"Now, Yang Yi!"
At once, the shadows around the enemy began to writhe and twist. In an instant, dozens of shadowy tendrils shot forth, stabbing into the masked attackers.
"Argh!"
A chorus of horrified screams filled the air. Before they could even comprehend what was happening, over a dozen of the attackers were struck down, their heads severed clean from their bodies. Only the leader remained, visibly shaking.
A Leader in Disarray
The masked leader stumbled backward, eyes wide with fear.
"What… what is this?! What kind of technique is this?!"
Before he could even gather his thoughts, Yang Xie's voice commanded once again.
"Don't let him escape. Finish him now!"
Yang Yi and the remaining Shadow Soldiers, like a wave of darkness, surged forward, closing in on the leader.
But this man wasn't ordinary. Despite his sudden panic, he was quick and powerful. His movements were sharp, and his martial prowess formidable. He managed to parry a few strikes and avoid being overwhelmed.
"You can't defeat me so easily," he growled.
However, despite his efforts, it was clear the leader was losing ground. He was starting to wear down.
"Damn you all! I'll make sure you regret this…"
The leader's desperate words were interrupted as he suddenly called out.
"Lord Messenger, help me!"
Yang Xie froze, his heart skipping a beat. "Lord Messenger?"
Who was this person the leader was calling? Could it be another hidden enemy?
Before Yang Xie could react, a figure appeared beside the leader, its presence unmistakable.
The Messenger
The new figure was another man wearing a pig-head mask, but this one was different. His entire body was grotesquely bloated, resembling the very creature he was imitating. His aura was intimidating, and his movements exuded an air of power.
He spoke, his voice deep and mocking.
"What a disappointment. You can't even handle a mere boy."
The leader, barely alive and struggling to keep his composure, immediately bowed.
"Thank you for saving me, Lord Messenger! These shadows—they're far too powerful. I couldn't…"
The bloated figure, who had now been revealed as the Messenger, simply waved his hand dismissively.
"It doesn't matter. I'm here now."
He looked down at Yang Xie, his eyes narrowing with interest.
"So this is the boy. He's the one controlling these shadows… Very impressive. It seems that he's the one we've been looking for."
Yang Xie felt a chill crawl up his spine. This person is dangerous.
The Messenger's eyes narrowed. "This boy has talent, no doubt. But what is his true potential?"
His voice turned cold as he issued an order.
"We need him alive. Do not kill him."
Yang Xie, still struggling to process the situation, couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of dread.
This was no longer just a battle of survival. It was about something far bigger.
End of Chapter 24