Chapter Two Hundred Sixty-Three: We Are Partners in Justice

Within the formation.

Young Master Sang cast a sidelong glance at the group behind him.

The people from the caravan should have been just a step away.

However, when he looked back now, every person seemed to be worlds away, visible but utterly unreachable.

It didn’t seem like there was any life-threatening danger, just a simple entrapment.

Young Master Sang tried to move a few steps on his horse, but distance seemed to have lost all meaning; no matter how he moved, he didn’t get any closer.

Interesting.

Sang silently murmured, “Nian Nian.”

“A barrier like this, using a bit of spatial law, is considered a top-tier trapping technique for this world,” Nian Nian said as she slowly revealed herself, the pleats of her skirt gently swaying beside Sang.

“If you need my expert service to break the formation, I’ll give you a friendly rate of 20% off—2,000 points!” She adjusted her glasses, her gaze teasingly fixed on him.

“…Can’t you give me a better deal?”

“20% off isn’t friendly enough?”

“Most people start their friendly rates from 50%. Come on, Nian Nian, cut me some slack.”

“You wish! 50% off isn’t a friendly rate—it’s a love rate!”

Sang’s eyes lit up. “Well, that’s simple then! Nian Nian, I like you.”

“I don’t like you. Silly host. Scram.”

Nian Nian’s response was calmly blunt.

Sang could only pout, planning to explore the formation first. If he really couldn’t break it, he might as well bite the bullet and spend some points on Nian Nian’s services.

Just as he was thinking this, the space in front of him suddenly rippled like the surface of water, slowly undulating.

In the next moment, an elderly general in gilded armor walked slowly into the formation.

“Kid, you’re trapped in this formation now.”

General Huang spoke with his usual arrogance: “If you want to get out, you’ll have to beg your master for mercy.”

Sang looked at him and then at his back.

“Where are your teammates?”

“Heh, with an old man like me holding the fort, I can watch you all futilely resist. I don’t need anyone’s help.”

“To put it simply, you came in here to act tough and offer your head.”

Sang helplessly raised his hand, slowly pointing to his forehead: “Sure. Guess you really think I’m an idiot, huh?”

At the moment his fingertip touched his forehead.

The light around him vanished abruptly.

A fierce and cold fanged mask slowly covered his entire face from his fingertip. A menacing, oppressive atmosphere swept over the space in an instant.

In just a few breaths.

Standing before General Huang was no longer a young man in a hooded cloak.

Instead, a ghostly figure emanating a sinister aura and gripping ghostly green flames appeared.

General Huang squinted his eyes in vigilance: “Oh?”

“There are plenty of tricks up your sleeve. But do you really think you can scare me this way?”

He also slowly extended his hand, a gilded dragon-tailed bow in his left hand, and a golden broadsword with a phoenix head in his right.

“I’ll see if you really have what it takes.”

“…Do as you please.” Sang lifted his hand, and the Dream Jun Sword gathered and scattered like petals in his palm, emitting a faint sword chirp.

“However, now that you’re in here—”

“I suggest you prepare to stay forever.” His smile beneath the mask was unusually eerie.

——

——

Outside the formation.

At the tea stall, Xiang Zimo remained calmly sipping his tea.

A few minutes ago, General Niu had approached him, filled with frustration and anger, asking quietly if he could head home early.

“I see there aren’t any Crossing Tribulation Stage experts among this crowd. With my master and General Huang holding the fort, it’s clear I won’t need to step in,” he had said.

“By the time we return to discuss rewards, all my contributions will count toward my master’s achievements.”

Initially, Xiang Zimo had reservations about such a last-minute retreat.

However, one, the current situation felt a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut; it didn’t seem like General Niu would be necessary.

Two, he had overheard part of General Niu’s conversation with his wife in the woods not long ago.

…Imagine being out on a constant campaign and hearing that your wife and fellow brothers were having a blast at home, hosting concert after concert.

Anyone would have their blood pressure skyrocketed!

Considering there might be an extra reward, Xiang Zimo generously and considerately said, “You’re too kind, General Niu. Family matters are indeed important. By the time you finish handling your affairs, we should likely have wrapped things up here too.”

General Niu gratefully looked at Xiang Zimo, bowing deeply: “Master’s great kindness, I will definitely repay it in the future!”

“But there’s one thing, as a friend, I must remind you, Master.”

General Niu lowered his voice: “Never underestimate the battlefield. That man somehow saw right through my family matters at a glance. His methods are quite similar to the divination techniques of the national master’s astrology.”

“You must be careful, Master.”

Xiang Zimo nodded.

He had also been pondering this.

This demon cultivator should be meeting General Niu for the first time, right?

Yet, upon first meeting, it was as if he could foresee General Niu’s private matters, even knowing that his soft spot was his wife at home.

Such seemingly omniscient abilities, Xiang Zimo had only seen in his own teacher, the National Master of the Holy Kingdom.

“I wonder what secrets this man might hold?” A hint of intrigue bubbled up in Xiang Zimo’s heart.

When the moment arrived and his opponent was begging for mercy inside, he’d casually ask him about it.

…

But speaking of which.

General Niu left, and General Huang entered to oversee the formation.

Only Xiang Zimo was left alone, with no one to drink tea or chat with.

How boring! Xiang Zimo sighed.

This mission was far easier than he had imagined.

Before he came, he had envisioned many scenarios where the other side wouldn’t obediently enter the formation and had prepared several backup plans.

But the reality was that the other side had nearly entered the formation without resistance. It was almost unbelievably smooth.

Once in the formation, it was truly a case of divine intervention being impossible.

And in the personnel configuration, he didn’t see anyone who could threaten him at higher levels. He had thought he would at least encounter a few Crossing Tribulation Stage masters.

Ah, indeed, when Master Xiang acts, it’s all too easy! With a smug grin, he sipped his tea.

Suddenly, he felt a shadow stretching before him.

A wave of life-and-death crisis awareness made him spin around and shout angrily, “Who?!”

Whoever could sneak up quietly beside him had to be at least Crossing Tribulation Stage.

Or perhaps, an old-school one!

However, when he realized this, it was already a moment too late.

In the instant he turned, a heavy blow had viciously smashed into his face.

The force of the blow was tremendous, almost shattering his jawbone, blood gushing forth.

Luckily, driven by instinct, he summoned all his spiritual energy to protect himself and activated many of his protective talismans.

After rolling on the ground for two rounds, he finally managed to get up in anger.

“Numbskull… who dares sneak attack this master?!”

Standing in front of him were two figures entirely clad in black, even their heads covered in dark hoods, only their eyes and mouths visible.

“Hmph, who are we?”

“We are partners in justice! Specializing in punishing scoundrels like you!”