Stranger Danger

There was three meters of distance between Tao Chong and the Moon King, but for a Trueman like Tao Chong? Three meters might as well be three centimeters.

In just the blink of an eye, Tao Chong appeared in front of the Moon King and threw a punch.

The Moon King did not move. Instead, it was the three women on the bed who leaped to their feet and blocked Tao Chong’s attack with their water sleeves[1].

All three women were Half-Step Truemen. Their water sleeves joined together to form a web that protected the Moon King from all sides.

Unfortunately, their web was not enough to block the full-powered attack of an enraged Tao Chong. His punch easily shattered it into pieces.

The next moment, Tao Chong unclenched his fists and launched a palm strike.

It looked like one attack, but three sickening cracks entered everyone’s ears. All three women’s chest caved in as they crashed into the walls and threw up a copious amount of blood.

“You dare dirty my house? How dare you.”

The Moon King hadn’t batted an eyelid despite Tao Chong’s sudden attack, but now, he seemed quite angry. A crescent suddenly appeared inside the pavilion, curved like a scythe and shining like a dream.

“Argh!”

The clean moonlight melted Tao Chong’s flesh and blood like they were candle wax. As the Trueman let out a scream of pain, the smoldering rage and uncontrollable bloodthirst in his eyes suddenly disappeared into nothing.

“W-What? What did I do?”

Fear, shock and confusion overcame Tao Chong’s features. It was because he had no idea why he had suddenly attacked the Moon King. One moment he was talking with the Moon King, and the next, he suddenly felt uncontrollable bloodlust toward the Moon King as if he was the sworn foe who slew his entire clan. That was why he had thrown himself at the man with reckless abandon.

In reality, that couldn’t be any more wrong. Not only did he share no grudge against the Moon King, they had cooperated quite a few times in the past, all of them ending with happy results.

With that in mind, what in the hells possessed him to strike the Moon King with the intent to kill?

Right now, immeasurable fear was clutching Tao Chong in a vice grip because he knew the Moon King was as strong as he was ruthless. Practically no one who offended him had ever met a good ending.

It made sense. If the Moon King wasn’t strong and ruthless, then he wouldn’t have become the most influential man in Moon Bay.

Right now, Tao Chong had had the misfortune of experiencing just how powerful the Moon King was. The moonlight was suppressing his true qi and spirit and making him feel like a raft trying to weather a thunderstorm in the sea. To say that he was helpless would be an understatement.

“Mercy, Moon King! Mercy! It’s all a misunderstanding!” Tao Chong hurriedly begged for his life.

“Misunderstanding?” The Moon King casually swirled his wine and disturbed the reflection of the moon within. “You killed my servants, dirtied my house, and even made an attempt on my life. Misunderstanding?”

“It really is a misunderstanding! I came here to talk business with you! I bear you no ill will! Please!” Tao Chong begged urgently while trying his best to shield himself from the moonlight. It was useless though. Even with his newfound power, his flesh was slowly but surely melting under its silver radiance.

“Is that so?” The Moon King sneered. “When you pass onto the afterlife, remember that my killing of you is a misunderstanding as well.”

As soon as he finished, the moonlight immediately intensified in power. Half of Tao Chong’s body melted into bones just like that.

“Argh! Tao Chong, you bastard!”

At a critical moment, a bloodcurdling scream and curse suddenly erupted from behind Tao Chong’s head. At the same time, the painted skin sewn to the back of his head started crumbling inch by inch. Tao Chong’s flesh had stopped melting as well. RâŊö฿ЕȘ

This was the “Skin Painting Soul Sealing Technique”’s ability to transfer damage. Originally, Tao Chong meant to use it against Ye Qing, but he hardly had the option to conserve his trump cards at this point now, did he? He could worry about his loss after he survived this crisis.

After he transferred the damage he was receiving to his painted skin, Tao Chong let out an angry roar and set off his true qi and spirit. Once he had broken free of his restraints, he immediately turned tail and escaped.

It was clear that the Moon King was determined to kill him, and the man was infamous for his ruthlessness and lack of mercy. Negotiation was off the table from the moment he made up his mind to kill someone, so he could only escape. Only then he might have a sliver of a chance of surviving.

Unfortunately, Tao Chong had just reached the entrance when a walking cane suddenly appeared in front of him. It had appeared so suddenly and without a trace it was almost as if the walking cane was there from the very beginning. He just did not notice right until the moment he was about to run into it.

Stunned, Tao Chong spun around and tried to back away from the cane. However, every time he took a step backward, the walking cane would advance a step forward. No matter how well he dodged or how fast he retreated, the walking cane was always in front of him. No, it was worse. The walking cane was slowly but surely getting closer!

“Pwack!”

Tao Chong’s pupils contracted into pins. The next moment, the walking cane pierced his forehead and turned his brain into goo—

Or did it? At the last possible moment, the painted skin behind Tao Chong’s head exploded into bits. Half of his face was ripped off as well, leaving behind a bloody and gory mess.

Tao Chong had taken a lethal blow, but he survived because he executed the “Skin Painting Soul Sealing Technique” again and transferred it to his painted skin. Of course, this also meant that the painted skin he had nurtured for years was completely destroyed, and his mind suffered a grievous blow as a result.

He was still alive though. No cost was too much so long as it kept him alive.

Tao Chong reacted decisively. Knowing that the main entrance was barred from him, he charged toward the nearest window and jumped out into the open.

When he landed on the ground and looked around though, he froze and turned as pale as a ghost. It was because he saw armed warriors standing on the fake hill, the pond, the walls, the rooftops, everywhere. They were all wearing silver outfits, and they were all looking at him like he was already dead.

He was a bird in a cage, a fish in a net. Not even a celestial or a Buddha could save him now.

Legend had it that the Moon King commanded an army of suicide warriors named the Silver Moon Guards. They were orphans the Moon King handpicked for their extraordinary martial talent and raised into powerful, fearless warriors through all kinds of secret arts and medicine from a young age. They were absolutely loyal to the Moon King, and they were one of his most powerful trump cards.

Five years ago, a famous Trueman stage swordsman named Liu Qingfeng and titled the “Reaper’s Wall” had barged into Moon Bay with the intention of slaying the Moon King. Without ever showing his face to his would-be assassin, the Moon King had dispatched just one hundred Silver Moon Guards to slay him.

Sure, nearly none of his Silver Moon Guards had survived the battle, but Liu Qingfeng the “Reaper’s Wall” was a champion on the Earth Champions Ranking. He should have been untouchable by all but another champion of equal footing, but he wasn’t.

Since then, the Silver Moon Guards became a local legend. In fact, the biggest reason the Moon King went from a relative nobody to the uncrowned king of Moon Bay was his Silver Moon Guards.

Tao Chong knew at first glance that the guards blocking his way were the infamous Silver Moon Guards. He believed that he was a stronger Trueman than most, but he wasn’t delusional enough to think that he was better than Liu Qingfeng. If even the one they called the “Reaper’s Wall” could not survive the Silver Moon Guards, then how could he possibly do better? Not to mention that he was seriously injured right now.

Despair rapidly colored Tao Chong’s eyes. Tigers blocked his way, and wolves were nipping at his heels. He knew then he would not see another sunrise.

“How did it turn out like this? Just how?”

It was as if something had drained away his qi, essence and spirit in an instant. Tao Chong’s eyes looked unfocused, and despair filled his face.

He came here to talk business. This should never have happened.

Tao Chong regretted his decision then. If he hadn’t run away from Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou, if he hadn’t come to Moon Bay, he would still be alive. He might not have his freedom, but being a slave was still better than being dead, no?

Right! Ye Qing!

Suddenly, realization struck Tao Chong like a lightning bolt. His eyes slowly widened as he recalled the young man’s bizarre and anomalous techniques.

Is it him? Is he the one who made me attack the Moon King?

The more Tao Chong thought about it, the more it made sense. Logically, it should be impossible for Ye Qing to manipulate him in any way. After all, the young man must have left the Six Livestocks Market just a moment ago, and he was far, far away from where they had entered the martial sanctuary. Even so, Tao Chong was certain—almost inexplicably so—that Ye Qing was the mastermind behind it all.

1. A reminder, but water sleeves refer to white silk extensions to the cuff of garment sleeves used in Chinese opera. ☜

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