Volume Two: Blood on the Bodhi Tree Chapter Two: End-Stage Madness; Even Electrotherapy Might Save You
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PS: The previous chapter has been revised.
“What happened? Did you run into thieves?” Another burly man asked with a frown.
“Haha, look, they're coming…”
The dozen or so armed men seemed as if they had been waiting all along, watching the approaching group with cold, mocking smiles.
Xiao Yan frowned as he looked toward them. The leader’s face was twisted, giving him a menacing appearance.
“Crooked-Face Bandit! They’re from the Demon Heaven Sect!”
The swordsman, too, caught sight of the group ahead and exclaimed in surprise.
The Demon Heaven Sect was notorious in the martial world, infamous for their countless evil deeds; yet it was unexpected to find them resorting to simple robbery today.
“Haha, looks like someone still recognizes me.” The crooked-faced man grinned, raising his broadsword with an air of pride.
“What do we do?”
Everyone looked to the swordsman—the only one in the caravan who knew martial arts.
“Members of the Demon Heaven Sect... There’s nothing we can do…” The swordsman shook his head and continued, “Hand over your valuables and beg for mercy…”
“Weren’t you supposed to be a martial arts master? We paid good money to bring you along… You said back then we needn’t fear anyone we met…” The two men who hired the swordsman grumbled with dissatisfaction.
“I… Sorry, I’m leaving!” The swordsman, his earlier arrogance vanished, gave a brief salute and turned to depart.
...
“Wait!”
At that moment, the crooked-faced man called out with a smile, stopping the swordsman. “How can you be like this? I hate people like you—take the money and don’t do the work! Since you took the money and came here, you’ll die…”
Hearing this, the swordsman turned, staring at the crooked-faced man. “I’m showing respect to your Demon Heaven Sect, don’t think I’m afraid of you!”
In an instant, the swordsman’s entire being radiated inner strength.
Internal Strength Level: Fifteen!
“Oh… Not bad…” The crooked-faced man chuckled softly.
“Ha!”
The swordsman knew escape was impossible now; acting first might still give him a chance. In a flash, he and his sword lunged at the crooked-faced man.
“Bang!”
The crooked-faced man’s own internal energy erupted instantly.
Internal Strength Level: Twenty-two!
He casually raised a hand and slapped the swordsman, sending him flying like a cannonball.
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Immediately after, the crooked-faced man leapt forward, his broadsword cleaving the swordsman in two…
Blood burst in the air…
The caravan’s only hope for salvation—the martial master—was gone in an instant.
The others in the small caravan could barely process what had happened.
The crooked-faced man spoke coldly. “Haha, just as it should be. Take the money, meet me, and you die… Can't let someone’s money go to waste…”
In fact, at the moment the crooked-faced man acted, Xiao Yan had been ready to charge forward, but he was still a step too late.
“Ah…”
The man walking at the front shouted and immediately turned to flee.
“Hahaha…” The crooked-faced man and his followers stood calmly, watching, unconcerned as if the man’s escape meant nothing.
But before the man had taken more than a few steps, a shrewd old man stepped forward to meet him.
“What’s wrong? Don’t do anything rash! These are bandits who kill without blinking! Run quickly…” The man kept shouting, but in the next moment, his eyes widened in disbelief, staring at the old man, his steps halting.
Xiao Yan reached out, wanting to warn the man, but ultimately could do nothing, especially as he was carrying Li Bai on his back…
The old man drew a blade and plunged it into the man’s abdomen; blood flowed down his hand.
“Ah… You…” The man screamed, eyes wide, unable to speak as dark red blood welled from his mouth.
“You…” Another man pointed at the old man and then at the armed bandits, asking, “You’re all in this together?”
“Haha, everyone, don’t try to run. Rest assured, we only want your money! I, King Yan, can guarantee it!” The old man said coldly, “Since money has exchanged hands, I’ll send you to meet the real King Yan!”
“Hehe, King Yan, you still love your games…” The crooked-faced man crossed his arms, laughing, as if waiting for a show.
“Should’ve listened to the wife and stayed home today…” The remaining man muttered under his breath.
The masked young woman in the caravan furrowed her brow, hand resting on her blade, ready to draw at any moment.
Just then, a voice rang out. “Enough! Old man, so your name is King Yan… fitting…”
At the sound, everyone turned toward the speaker.
A flamboyantly dressed young monk carefully set down the bloodied man he’d been carrying, shook his head, and said, “Isn’t it enough? You’ve truly annoyed me. I was just passing through, taking a fool to see a doctor, and now I have to watch you pretending to be tough?”
“Little monk, run… Take the girl with you…” The last remaining man, not a bad sort, was closest to the old man and knew he couldn’t escape, but still hoped the monk could.
After all, even the swordsman had been destroyed instantly; these people were likely true martial masters. The swordsman had said they were from the Demon Heaven Sect—these must truly be ruthless killers.
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“Haha, there’s no escape…” The old man shook his head and slowly approached the monk. “Oh, almost forgot about you. Little monk, you’re quite interesting… You chatted with me the whole way…”
“Heh… I think you’re quite interesting too.”
Xiao Yan’s expression was serious. He smiled slightly and drew a rod from his waist, which in the next moment transformed into a sharp sword.
“Haha, little monk, I thought you were a monk, but it turns out you’re just a performer?” The old man walked over, smiling at Xiao Yan. “But, are you planning to kill me? I like young men with ambition…”
“Hahahaha…”
Suddenly, the old man clutched his belly, laughing wildly like a madman.
Xiao Yan shook his head, carefully assessing the old man, then nodded and muttered words no one else understood: “Late-stage insanity, electrotherapy might still save him…”
“What?” The old man froze, then immediately stopped laughing. “Haha, I remember you said you were a martial arts master, right? Oh, and the one you’re carrying is the top master in the world? How terrifying…”
With that, the old man turned to the armed men. “Top master in the world! Are you scared?”
“Hahaha… Scared to death…”
The men shouted in unison.
“But I’m not afraid…” The old man's face changed, his kindly expression turning fierce.
The old man’s inner energy erupted.
Internal Strength Level: Twenty-two!
A master!
“Heh… You do have reason to be arrogant, but it’s a pity…”
Xiao Yan’s lips curled into a cold smile. His own inner strength slowly radiated forth.
Internal Strength Level: Eight!
“Haha… Eight? Little monk, you’re not even fit to carry my shoes…” The old man sneered, instantly appearing before Xiao Yan, his blade slashing toward him.
The masked woman rushed over, perhaps intending to draw her blade, scoffing, “Ignorant fool, trying to play the hero with such meager strength?”
To their eyes, the swordsman just now was at fifteen layers of inner strength—and was killed instantly. This little monk with eight layers was surely doomed.
But unexpectedly, Xiao Yan merely shifted slightly, and the blade swept past him without a scratch.
PS: No drafts saved; this version has been revised.
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