Chapter 208
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Chapter 208: Night Watchman Shen Qingzhe
Instructor Hong’s pupils suddenly contracted as he quickly reached out to grab Baili Pangpang, who was about to fall into the tunnel. With his other hand, he drew his sword and thrust it hard into the nearby rock wall to stop their descent.
Shen Qingzhe also drew his sword and stabbed it into the rock wall, but his body was too weak – the blade only penetrated a third of the way, and his whole body tilted downward, seeming unlikely to hold for long.
Ma Yitian, who was covered in blood with one arm severed, stood vertically on the rock wall, coldly smiling at the three of them before suddenly freezing.
Where was that boy?
He looked up and down again, confirming there was no sign of Lin Qiye in the tunnel, his heart filled with confusion.
Before the Fire Vein Earth Dragon spat its fireball, he had used his ability to leave the cave, flying forward underground for a long while. When he realized the explosion hadn’t occurred, he puzzledly turned back and flew back into the cave.
That’s when he discovered that both the Fire Vein Earth Dragon and everyone else were gone!
Confused, he didn’t know what had happened here, but he quickly noticed a new tunnel that had appeared above and guessed they must have used it to head toward the surface. He rapidly pursued upward, trying to hunt down Lin Qiye.
But when he arrived here, he found Lin Qiye wasn’t present at all, leaving him completely bewildered.
Shen Qingzhe frowned and was about to speak when Baili Pangpang’s eyes shifted and he quickly spoke first:
“Seven Nights… he’s dead.”
“Dead?!” Ma Yitian was stunned. “How did he die?”
“The Fire Vein Earth Dragon knocked him into the lava… he was burned to death.” Baili Pangpang stared intently at Ma Yitian, speaking with seven parts grief and three parts sorrow. “What did Lin Qiye do wrong? Why did you have to kill him?! Damn it, damn it!!”
Seeing Baili Pangpang’s sudden outburst, Instructor Hong was first stunned, then played along by glaring at Ma Yitian with a fierce expression, as if wanting to cut him into a thousand pieces!
Ma Yitian raised an eyebrow. “Then how did you survive? Why didn’t the Fire Vein Earth Dragon kill you? And what’s with this tunnel?”
Baili Pangpang: …
“Actually, the Fire Vein Earth Dragon thought we looked friendly, so it let us go and even opened a path for us to return.” Baili Pangpang said with a straight face.
Ma Yitian stared at Baili Pangpang before breaking into a cold laugh. “You think I would believe such nonsense?”
As his words fell, half his body transformed into black light and merged into the rock wall beneath his feet. Immediately after, the surrounding rock walls seemed to come alive, surging wildly!
Dozens of solid rock spikes suddenly burst forth, stabbing directly at the three of them!
However, when he attacked, he deliberately avoided the vital points of Shen Qingzhe and Baili Pangpang, while truly attempting to kill Instructor Hong.
“I lost one Divine Agent proxy – even if I return alive, there won’t be a good outcome. But if I can bring back the young master of the Baili family and that genius, perhaps I can still make up for it…”
Ma Yitian’s face was filled with madness!
The sharp rock spikes appeared very suddenly and in very tricky positions. Even though the exhausted Shen Qingzhe tried his best to dodge, two spikes still pierced his right leg. The intense pain made his face deathly pale, but he kept biting his teeth, not making a sound.
As for Baili Pangpang who was being held by Instructor Hong, just as the spikes were about to pierce his body, a tremendous force transmitted through his arm. Instructor Hong’s body flickered with blue light, and like Spider-Man, he pulled Baili Pangpang back and forth between the two wall surfaces, narrowly avoiding most of the spikes.
Only a few spikes that Instructor Hong couldn’t dodge in time grazed his cheeks, leaving several deep bloody gashes.
“You need to lose weight!” Instructor Hong was struggling to pull along someone weighing nearly 200 jin, making his movements much slower as he jumped between the vertical wall surfaces.
Baili Pangpang’s face reddened, but he wasn’t idle. He reached into his pocket and pulled out [One to Three Thousand], sending a rain of sword light flying toward Ma Yitian with a swing!
With half his body merged into the rock wall, Ma Yitian gave a cold laugh. Hundreds of rock spikes burst forth in front of him, precisely blocking all the sword shadows while completely sealing off their upward path.
“My Forbidden Domain allows me to merge with the surrounding environment. In this extreme environment, you can’t defeat me.”
Ma Yitian’s body sank further into the rock wall. The originally circular tunnel suddenly constricted, while spike after spike burst forth, as if wanting to impale the three of them alive in this narrow space.
Instructor Hong narrowed his eyes and calmly said: “He was already seriously injured before. Now he’s just putting up a last struggle. If we attack with full force… we might still be able to defeat him!”
Baili Pangpang and Shen Qingzhe nodded simultaneously, their gazes more serious than ever before.
At this moment, it was truly a matter of life and death.
This narrow tunnel was destined to see only one side survive.
“Tsk—!”
Shen Qingzhe’s sword tilted even more, and he was almost falling into the tunnel. Without any panic, he gently raised his other hand and snapped his fingers hard toward the top!
BOOM—!!
A violent explosion erupted in the narrow space, shattering the numerous rock spikes above their heads. The scorching heat wave nearly roasted Instructor Hong and Baili Pangpang alive, but they didn’t hesitate at all, seizing the opportunity to strike!
Instructor Hong’s body blazed with blue light. He first threw Baili Pangpang upward with force, while he himself nimbly bounced between the two rock walls, moving upward like lightning!
Baili Pangpang took a deep breath, took out a black ring from his pocket, and black light surged to form a blade which he gripped and swung at Ma Yitian.
[Soul-Breaking Blade]!
Ma Yitian grinned maliciously, the rock wall beneath him violently churning to form a giant hammer that smashed toward the black Soul-Breaking Blade!
The corners of Baili Pangpang’s mouth curved slightly upward.
The next moment, the giant hammer passed through the Soul-Breaking Blade as if it were nothing, heavily striking Baili Pangpang!
At the same time, the Soul-Breaking Blade passed through all the rock formations in front of Ma Yitian, leaving a deep sword mark on his chest!
The Soul-Breaking Blade only harmed the soul, ignoring physical defenses.
Struck by the giant hammer, Baili Pangpang violently coughed up blood and was smashed into the rock wall behind him, the huge impact immediately knocking him unconscious.
With such a disparity in combat strength, Baili Pangpang could only use this mutual destruction strategy to create an opportunity for Instructor Hong.
“AHHHHH—!!”
Ma Yitian, his soul wounded, turned pale. The pain from his soul filled his mind, making his consciousness blur as he howled in agony.
At this moment, Instructor Hong’s figure flashed in front of Ma Yitian, his eyes wide with fury, his body blazing with blue light as his fists rained down like raindrops!
BOOM—!!
Ma Yitian’s body was beaten into the rock wall, his mind dazed. Instructor Hong didn’t stop, prying him out of the rock wall and delivering a heavy uppercut!
Then, he pulled his sword from the rock wall, leaped up, and stabbed it into Ma Yitian’s chest like lightning!
Finally, another heavy punch!!
BOOM—!!!
Covered in wounds with his chest pierced, Ma Yitian sprayed blood as his body was punched straight down the tunnel by this blow, falling into what seemed like an endless shaft…
Down there were rolling lava and flames.
After completing this series of lightning-fast moves, Instructor Hong’s figure quickly bounced between the two wall surfaces, grabbing both the unconscious falling Baili Pangpang and the nearly sliding Shen Qingzhe.
With one person on each shoulder, Instructor Hong gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, and used all his strength to bounce between the walls in a Z pattern, quickly moving up toward the top of the tunnel.
Without Baili Pangpang’s elevator, he could only use this most basic method, but carrying two people made it very difficult even with Instructor Hong’s enhanced elasticity.
But he had no choice.
These two were both his soldiers, and he couldn’t lose either one!
Carrying the two on his shoulders, Instructor Hong continued moving upward by bouncing for over two minutes, his muscles aching terribly while the blue light flickering around his body grew increasingly faint.
How far was it to the surface?
Instructor Hong didn’t know.
Since he started bouncing while carrying two people, his energy didn’t allow him to spare attention to calculate the distance. He put everything into his feet.
Jump! Keep jumping! Can’t stop!
If he stopped, all three of them would die!
Just then, in the seemingly endless dark tunnel below their feet, a glimmer of fire light appeared.
Heat waves rushed up from below, causing both Instructor Hong and Shen Qingzhe to freeze and look down.
In the pitch-black deep tunnel, a surging fire tornado rose like an erupting volcano, filling the narrow rock walls and rushing upward at an alarming speed. Wherever it passed, the surrounding rock walls seemed to melt and collapse into the bottomless cave.
Like a roaring fire dragon opening its fierce jaws, wanting to swallow everything.
But they all knew it wasn’t a fire dragon, because at the top of those flames was a familiar face.
It was Ma Yitian’s face.
“Die die die die die… if I’m going to die, I’m taking all of you with me!!” The fiery face of Ma Yitian only had half remaining, but it was still incredibly fierce as he stared fixedly at the three above, his eyes full of madness and hatred!
How is this possible?
Shen Qingzhe’s eyes were full of disbelief – his heart had been pierced, how could he still be alive?!
Instructor Hong’s expression turned grim as he said in a deep voice: “His mental energy waves are completely chaotic… he must have taken some kind of drug to forcibly extend his life.”
“This mad dog!!”
Instructor Hong’s legs trembled slightly from fatigue. Looking at the rapidly approaching fire tornado below and the quickly collapsing rock walls, his heart sank completely.
Ma Yitian was determined to take them down with him. Even if Shen Qingzhe could extinguish these flames, he couldn’t handle the extremely high-temperature lava they contained. This lava would melt the surrounding rock walls, causing the tunnel to collapse…
Without footholds, the three of them could only fall back into the cave and perish in the lava.
Now, there was only one way.
Before the berserk fire tornado reached their section of the tunnel, they had to kill Ma Yitian first, letting the flames and lava he had merged with fall back into the cave.
Instructor Hong looked at the increasingly close fire tornado below, his heart already made up. He pulled out his sword from his waist and deeply embedded it into the rock wall.
Then he pulled out Shen Qingzhe’s sword and similarly thrust it into the rock wall.
The two swords created a foothold on this completely vertical rock wall.
“Lin Qiye’s black light that pierced through to the surface was very obvious. The other instructors will surely arrive quickly to rescue us… You stay here with Baili Tuming, two swords should be enough to support both your bodies.”
Instructor Hong placed Baili Pangpang’s body on the two swords deeply embedded in the rock wall and calmly said to Shen Qingzhe.
Shen Qingzhe frowned. “What are you planning to do?”
An instructor should do what an instructor must do. Hong instructor replied calmly.
Shen Qingzhu narrowed his eyes without speaking.
Instructor Hong took a deep breath, as if thinking of something, his lips curled slightly upward.
“No need for sadness or guilt. For us instructors, dying with dignity in front of our own soldiers is the best end.”
Instructor Hong slowly closed his eyes and reached for his chest…
Being interrupted earlier by that kid Lin Qiye was a bit annoying, after all it’s rare to have a chance to be cool.
But unexpectedly, a second chance came so quickly.
Still, it’s a bit regrettable…
Instructor Hong sighed in his heart.
Suddenly, he froze in place.
His hand searched his chest, and after a moment, he looked down in confusion…
“Where’s my insignia?” Instructor Hong was dumbfounded. He clearly remembered putting the insignia in his clothes’ inner layer!
The corners of Shen Qingzhu’s mouth turned slightly upward.
He gently bent down and took off the black ring from the unconscious Baili Pangpang’s hand…
Then leaped off the straight blade!
The fierce downward wind mixed with heat waves made his blood-stained black military coat flutter. In his right hand, a familiar insignia gleamed brightly.
When Instructor Hong saw this, his pupils suddenly contracted!
When did he…?
Suddenly, his body trembled as he recalled when Shen Qingzhu’s hand had brushed past him while he was using his blade as a support on the rock wall…
He…
Instructor Hong stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the figure falling into the fire tornado.
The hot wind blew through Shen Qingzhu’s hair. Looking at the increasingly bright flames before him, he slowly closed his eyes and spoke calmly:
“I said I didn’t want to see anyone else sacrifice themselves today…”
“Hong Hao, I never liked you, not since entering the camp, but I have to admit… you’re a good instructor.”
“Good people shouldn’t die.”
Clang!
With a light sound, a thin silver needle ejected from the side of the insignia. Shen Qingzhu gripped it tightly and forcefully stabbed it into his own body.
Then his aura began to surge wildly!
Pool realm, Peak Pool realm, River realm, Peak River realm…
His fingers lightly stroked the surface of the black ring. Under the infusion of his peak River realm spiritual power, a huge black soul-breaking blade over two meters long appeared in his hand!!
The soul-breaking blade – he had used it before, borrowed from that fat guy…
Ah right, he had told him that if they couldn’t eliminate the entire [Believers], he would have his ashes sunk into the sea…
Damn it, he said that was if he made it out alive this time. That fat idiot wouldn’t forget and dig up his corpse to scatter the ashes in the sea, would he… if so, his ghost wouldn’t let him off!
Oh, forgot… unless something unexpected happens, there probably won’t be a corpse left this time.
As Shen Qingzhu watched the fire tornado with Ma Yitian’s face draw closer, he smiled self-mockingly.
Well, being buried in the same mountain as his brother doesn’t seem too bad either.
In the howling wind and flames, Shen Qingzhu raised the soul-breaking blade high in his hand… and swung down with all his might!!
The black blade instantly split the flaming face in two. Under Ma Yitian’s expression of extreme pain and hatred, his final soul form was completely destroyed, his face disappearing within the flames.
Soul and body both destroyed!
That figure in the black military coat also fell into the surging flames.
“Shen Qingzhu!!!!” Instructor Hong roared with red eyes toward below, “You defied me in training! You defied me in assessments! Now when it’s my turn for a heroic sacrifice, you still have to steal the show from me!”
“How did I train such a rebellious soldier?!!!”
“Fuck!!!”
Instructor Hong’s voice was loud, echoing through the narrow passage like rolling thunder.
But Shen Qingzhu could no longer hear it.
Endless flames licked at his body. Everything around him seemed to fade into deathly silence, with only the pain searing his body.
Seems like someone’s cursing at me… damn, who dares?
If I get the chance, I’ll definitely give you a good beating.
But… probably won’t have that chance anymore.
The [Believers] haven’t been eliminated, and I never became a true powerhouse. What’s the Night Watchmen team in Beijing like? Are they ridiculously strong? Come to think of it… I didn’t even make it to the Night Watchmen’s oath ceremony.
Heh, after all this, turns out I’m not even a Night Watchman.
These regrets can only remain regrets…
Damn it, at least die with dignity, in the way of a Night Watchman…
Wonder if my oath counts?
…
In the raging fire, the charred Shen Qingzhu suddenly opened his eyes and smiled.
Almost forgot, I’m Shen Qingzhu. What fucking rules… if I say it counts, then it counts!
In the endless red flames, he opened his dark, cracked lips and silently roared:
“I, Shen Qingzhu, swear under the red flag of Great Xia…”
He tightly gripped the insignia in his hand. Even though his palm was half carbonized, he showed no sign of letting go. The flames licked at the shining words on the back of the insignia, glowing brilliantly.
“If darkness falls…”
…
In the passage, the flames continued to spread.
Even though Ma Yitian was dead, the surging flames still rushed toward the narrow passage under inertia. Instructor Hong released his palm covered in bloody fingernail marks, gritted his teeth and carried the unconscious Baili Pangpang as he jumped upward.
…
“I shall stand before tens of thousands…”
…
Instructor Hong lifted his aching legs again and again, bouncing between the rock walls on both sides. The surging flames below moved extremely fast – even though he was using all his strength, the distance between them was still shrinking.
His body was trembling, but he absolutely could not stop moving.
He had already watched one of his soldiers die before his eyes, the other one… must not die!
…
“Blade toward the abyss…”
…
The surging flames were now only a meter away from Instructor Hong’s figure. The dancing tongues of flame almost touched their bodies. Instructor Hong didn’t look down, but stared fixedly at the hole above, his whole body’s veins bulging!
…
In the flames falling into the cave.
The no-longer-human-shaped Shen Qingzhu slowly closed his eyes. His hand gripping the insignia completely lost feeling and slowly opened…
“Blood stains the sky!!”
Boom!!!
A sudden resonance rang out through the entire underground world. In that instant, all the air in the cave and passage was sucked away, and all the flames vanished instantly.
In this vacuum world, Shen Qingzhu’s carbonized body fell heavily to the ground. The melted and collapsed rocks fell like rain from the sky…
Rumble!!
With the resonating sound, the entire underground cave was completely buried, and everything returned to silence…
In the dark, silent world,
Only a thin jade piece glowed with faint light.
He gripped the insignia tightly in his hand. Even though his palm was mostly carbonized, he showed no sign of letting go. The flames licked at the shining words on the back of the insignia, glowing brilliantly.
“If darkness falls…”
…
In the passage, the flames continued to spread.
Even though Ma Yitian was dead, the surging flames still rushed toward the narrow passage under inertia. Instructor Hong released his palm covered in bloody fingernail marks, gritted his teeth and carried the unconscious Baili Pangpang as he jumped upward.
…
“I shall stand before tens of thousands…”
…
Instructor Hong lifted his aching legs again and again, bouncing between the rock walls on both sides. The surging flames below moved extremely fast – even though he was using all his strength, the distance between them was still shrinking.
His body was trembling, but he absolutely could not stop moving.
He had already watched one of his soldiers die before his eyes, the other one… must not die!
…
“Blade toward the abyss…”
…
The surging flames were now only a meter away from Instructor Hong’s figure. The dancing tongues of flame almost touched their bodies. Instructor Hong didn’t look down, but stared fixedly at the hole above, his whole body’s veins bulging!
…
In the flames falling into the cave.
The no-longer-human-shaped Shen Qingzhu slowly closed his eyes, his hand gripping the insignia completely lost feeling and slowly opened…
“Blood stains the sky!!”
Boom!!!
A sudden resonance rang out through the entire underground world. In that instant, all the air in the cave and passage was sucked away, and all the flames vanished instantly.
In this vacuum world, Shen Qingzhu’s carbonized body fell heavily to the ground, while melted and collapsed rocks rained down from above…
Rumble!!
With the resonating sound, the entire underground cave was completely buried, and everything returned to silence…
In the dark, silent world,
Only a thin jade piece glowed with faint light.
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