“My Spirit Snake Gang has guarded Border City for over twenty years, fending off more demon beasts for these mortals than I can count.
They are mere ants. What does it matter if I kill a few for sport?
To die at my hands and become part of my collection is their honor.”
Wu Chao’s voice was sinister and cold, like a dark, slimy snake crawling out of the underworld. “Wang Che, you’re being too sentimental. Death is final; that is the law of heaven and earth, and no one can defy it. Your brother is already dead. Why betray me for a ghost?”
“You beast!” Wang Che’s eyes were bloodshot as he glared at Wu Chao. The hatred in his gaze, suppressed for countless days and nights, finally erupted.
Wu Chao’s cold face twisted slightly. “Wang Che, I didn't do it on purpose. I didn't know he was your brother.
How about I make it up to you?
I’ll... I’ll promote you to second leader! Yes! How about that?
As long as you help me kill Zhou Fei, I’ll promote you. Then, in this Border City, you’ll be second only to me and above everyone else. Doesn't that sound much better than whatever Zhou Fei offered you?”
Tucking the glazed jar into his storage bag, Wang Che slowly climbed to his feet and walked toward the spot where Zhou Fei and Wu Chao were fighting.
“Yes, you’re right. Your confidants are all trapped outside. In a one-on-one fight, it’s hard to determine a winner, but two against one is a different story.”
The corners of Wu Chao’s lips curled up, making him look even more sinister. “Exactly. That’s the spirit.”
Wang Che approached the two. “Then you’d better watch out!”
He threw a palm strike toward Zhou Fei with his left hand, but under the cover of his sleeve, his right hand flicked over a dozen dark purple needles toward Wu Chao.
The needles were incredibly fast, seemingly passing through the gaps in the air, reaching Wu Chao in an instant.
They flew straight through Wu Chao’s body and into the distance without meeting any resistance.
Wang Che’s expression darkened.
That wasn't Wu Chao; it was an afterimage left behind because Wu Chao, enhanced by a Swift-Walk Talisman, was moving too fast.
By then, Wu Chao had already appeared behind Wang Che, bringing a palm down toward the crown of his head. “You really are pathetically naive.
Now that you’ve discovered my secret and sided with Zhou Fei, how could I possibly tolerate you? How could I ever trust you again? I played that 'fake alliance' trick years ago. In your next life, you should—”
Before Wu Chao could finish, the bottom of a black pot slammed into his face with a loud bang, sending him flying.
Watching Wu Chao tumble through the air, Zhou Fei pressed his advantage. “Did you think I was just standing here?”
Before Wu Chao could regain his balance, Zhou Fei’s second strike with the pot arrived.
Gu Ningyun had been watching the fight with her divine sense. Seeing Wu Chao being knocked toward her direction, she couldn't help herself.
She had been holding back for a long time, and this opportunity was too good to pass up.
Before Zhou Fei could close in with his black pot, Gu Ningyun sent Wu Chao flying with a kick. “That kick was just self-defense!”
“Who’s there?!”
She chased after him and delivered ten slaps to his face. “He has bad breath, and when he flew over, the smell hit me. I didn't do it on purpose.”
The contract didn't say she couldn't act in self-defense, nor did it explicitly state she couldn't beat Wu Chao. She wasn't going to let a loophole like that go to waste.
“Stop it! Hiss!” Wu Chao was starting to panic.
Zhou Fei caught up. Gu Ningyun ignored Wu Chao’s impotent rage, shook out her wrists, and returned to her post feeling refreshed, blocking the gang members who were trying to rush in.
Wu Chao looked around but couldn't see anyone. Seeing Zhou Fei approach, he roared, “Zhou Fei, do you really want to take it this far?”
His cheeks were swollen, and his voice was cold yet slightly muffled.
Zhou Fei remained perfectly calm. “It’s time for all of this to end.”
“Fine, you forced my hand.” Wu Chao finally regained his footing, dodging Zhou Fei’s attack and pulling out a blood-red pill.
Ever since the disaster at the mass grave, he had made sure to keep an Explosive Flame Pill on him as soon as he returned to the Spirit Snake Gang.
He shoved the pill into his mouth, looked confused for a split second, then quickly began to chew and swallow it.
Perhaps because the pill was too large, he had to thump his chest to get it down.
“Cough, cough, cough...”
Wu Chao’s iron clawed gauntlet pushed aside the black pot and lunged at Zhou Fei, but Zhou Fei dodged.
Zhou Fei gave Wu Chao a look that was half-smile, half-pity, and engaged him in combat once more.
Wu Chao was already severely injured and hadn't recovered. Fighting Zhou Fei for this long had pushed him to his absolute limit.
Before long, Zhou Fei shattered his dantian with a palm strike and bound his hands and feet.
“Zhou Fei, how dare you do this to me!”
Wu Chao curled up on the ground, spitting blood. “Just wait. Once the Explosive Flame Pill takes effect, you’re dead!”
The Soul-Nourishing Flower he had waited twenty years for had been snatched away. His attempt to scheme against Zuo Hu had cost him an arm.
His plan to trap his enemies like rats had backfired, and his sworn brother turned out to be a long-term undercover mole.
His long-hidden secret was exposed, and his attempt to kill Wang Che had been thwarted by a flying black pot.
Decades of plotting, decades of hiding, and his ambition to unite Border City had all turned to ash.
After so many ups and downs and repeated blows, Wu Chao’s mind was starting to slip, and he began to babble incoherently.
Zhou Fei kicked him. “Your dantian is ruined. What use is an Explosive Flame Pill now?”
“Furthermore...” Zhou Fei glanced at Wang Che.
Wang Che said coldly, “Did the chicken blood and flour dough ball taste good?”
“What did you say?” As if finally realizing something, Wu Chao’s eyes widened.
“Ever since Zuo Hu bought an Explosive Flame Pill, the City Lord had me prepare this forgery.
The moment you fled the mass grave, the City Lord sent me a message. You suffered a great loss there, so you were bound to get an Explosive Flame Pill for protection.
But Border City is remote and the marketplace is small; there are no Explosive Flame Pills for sale here. You were heavily injured and needed one urgently. Sending someone to another city would be slower than searching within the gang.
Explosive Flame Pills are expensive, so not many ordinary gang members can afford them. I had already identified the two members who owned one and swapped theirs before you returned.”
Wang Che sneered. “Wu Chao, you are full of schemes and incredibly cautious. Because an Explosive Flame Pill can damage one’s potential, you never touched them.
But what use was all your caution and scheming? You lost because you are a rogue cultivator, undone by your own ignorance.
You didn't even know what a real Explosive Flame Pill looks or feels like. I simply rolled some chicken blood and flour into a ball, coated the surface with a layer of actual Explosive Flame Pill powder, and steamed it in a pot. You didn't even notice such a glaring difference?”
Zhou Fei shook his head. “I also thought you would realize it was fake when you swallowed it, or at least when you were collecting it. My intention was only to buy some time; I never imagined you wouldn't notice at all.”
With that, Zhou Fei ignored him and moved toward Wu Chao’s remaining confidants.
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