Chapter 290: Layers of Shadow Puppets
Chapter 290: Layers of Shadow Puppets
Fucking lunatic?
Not only is the horse crazy, but the man blocking the road is also insane?
This horse is the first one, and upon seeing someone ahead making a move, it not only remains calm but even wants to charge forward.
And that man blocking the road actually uses his head to ram the crazed horse, and he even wins?
Words couldn't describe Hu Ma's shock at this moment. As the carriage overturned, he had already jumped out, his body sturdy and skilled in martial arts. This sudden turn of events was a true test of his abilities.
Although the horse reared and the carriage flipped over, creating a huge commotion, and the two baskets on the carriage flew off, it didn't affect him. His body twisted in mid-air, and he landed firmly on the ground.
He abruptly raised his head and roared, "Do you have any manners? You're bullying my horse right from the start?"
"Manners?"
The man blocking the road was also slightly startled, then smiled strangely, "I'm about to kill you, and you're talking about manners?"
"How come before you left, neither the Ghost Cavern Li nor Han Womzi warned you to be careful of me?"
"..."
Hu Ma narrowed his eyes, reached for his waist, and said in a low voice, "No, I didn't hear anyone say to take you seriously..."
"The little shopkeeper is not being honest."
Ji Tang glanced at Hu Ma's hand and burst into laughter, "I, Ji Tang, wouldn't be ignored to this extent. They must have reminded you, so let's not waste words."
As he spoke, he stretched out his hand and grabbed towards Hu Ma's head.
At this moment, Hu Ma felt an overwhelming pressure. This man's grasp was powerful and domineering, giving him the sensation that the sky above his head was being covered, as if it had suddenly turned dark.
He had intended to stall for time and wait for Red Wine Miss to make her move, after all, he was just bait, and it made no sense for him to take action personally. But he hadn't expected this guy to be so straightforward, and he didn't have time to think carefully. The hand he had reached towards his waist suddenly shot forward.
He quickly raised it upright.
What he drew from his waist wasn't a sword but a pitch-black ruler.
This ruler was picked up earlier after cleaning up the battlefield, following the encounter with the few demons on Ping Nan Dao. Most of the other items he found were damaged and broken, but this ruler remained intact. So, Hu Ma carefully kept it and even asked Red Wine Miss about its usage.
As the ruler appeared, a strange sensation enveloped the surroundings.
The man's grabbing hand was swift and fierce, making it seem impossible to evade.
But strangely, he missed his grab by a few fingers, only grasping a clump of air in front of Hu Ma.
Taking advantage of the man's missed grab, Hu Ma quickly withdrew.
Using the momentum of his retreat, he drew the serrated knife from his waist with his other hand. Then, with all his might, he strode forward and executed a solid 'Mountain Splitter' move, channeling all his strength into a strike at the man's chest.
"Bang!"
This strike was full of force, but surprisingly, it didn't cut in, and instead, Hu Ma's hand felt a hidden pain.
"Immune to blades and guns?"
Hu Ma's pupils contracted.
Earlier, when he fought the demons on Ping Nan Dao, he had encountered a blade and gun-immune Lord Shou, but that person was from the Fate Gate Sect and had borrowed some kind of secret art to make himself impervious to blades and guns.
Little Hong Tang had jumped onto his neck and immediately broke his secret art, but this man's sensation was completely different. Hu Ma instantly recalled the Drought Fiend he had eliminated, as they shared the same tactile sensation.
This man blocking the road, or rather, Ji Tang of the Beggar Gang, had a sturdier body than that Drought Fiend.
"Artisan Li's ruler?"
It was also at this moment that Ji Tang, having taken the blow, neither dodged nor evaded, and his gaze fell on the black ruler in Hu Ma's hand.
Understanding the reason, he suddenly stomped his foot, and the tremendous force caused the ground to shake, making it difficult for Hu Ma to stand steady. The second strike he had prepared couldn't be executed.
But Ji Tang had already turned and grabbed the overturned carriage, lifting it with his arms. The harness and reins snapped, and with a roar, he raised the carriage high above his head and was about to smash it down onto Hu Ma.
"Not good!"
Hu Ma's heart also jolted in surprise.
This ruler of Artisan Li's could affect people, causing them to misjudge distances and sizes, making it impossible to strike with a blade.
Previously, he had used the Five Thunder Golden Toad Roar to directly shock him to death.
But now, Ji Tang had directly lifted the carriage and was about to smash it down.
Both sides had chosen direct and brutal methods, not caring about small details.
Especially at this moment, Ji Tang's display of astonishing strength made Hu Ma's scalp tingle. He was also a New Year Guardian, but looking at this New Year Guardian, he felt like he was seeing someone from another sect.
Both fierce and wild, with malicious intent soaring, in this direct confrontation, he had encountered someone who could exert such immense pressure for the first time.
Was this the skill of a New Year Guardian after entering the mansion?
"Swoosh!"
Just at this moment, as Ji Tang had just lifted the carriage, one of the two baskets that had toppled over suddenly had its lid pushed open, and a red shadow flew out from inside.
The red shadow gracefully unfolded in the air, revealing a nimble and graceful figure.
She spun in the air, her movements exuding an indescribable beauty. With a graceful extension of her arm and hand, she plunged a silver needle into Ji Tang's back.
"Red Wine Miss?"
Hu Ma was startled. He knew that Red Wine Miss would be following him and would make her move at the crucial moment.
But he never expected that she would emerge from his basket...
Could she have been hiding in his basket all along?
The Deception Sect was so shameless!
Before Hu Ma could fully process his surprise, Ji Tang's vital point on his back was pierced by the silver needle, causing him to erupt in anger. Instead of smashing the horse carriage towards Hu Ma, he threw it to the side and twisted his body, reaching his left hand behind him.
"Hss!"
His hand plunged into the stomach of Red Wine Miss, pulling out a length of intestines.
"Ah?"
The sudden scene startled Hu Ma.
But just as he was about to react, his vision blurred, and he realized that it wasn't Red Wine Miss but a straw dummy wrapped in red cloth. The intestines he had pulled out were also just a bundle of straw.
Despite having her intestines pulled out, she continued to move, reaching out to grab Ji Tang's shoulders, blocking his eyes. Behind her, another shadow suddenly appeared.
"Hss!"
A second silver needle pierced Ji Tang's ribs, and once again, it was Red Wine Miss who had struck.
Of course, it was also a fake.
Hu Ma realized that this was a shadow puppet show from the Deception Sect.
He had seen the Dan Sect use something similar before, but they used human skin, and their puppets weren't as agile as this one. Red Wine Miss had crafted this puppet using red cloth and straw, and it moved with the dexterity of a living person.
"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!"
The red shadow flickered, and from the two large baskets that had fallen from the cart, Red Wine Miss repeatedly emerged.
Each time, she held a silver needle, aiming for Ji Tang's vital points. Her movements were agile yet eerie.
Witnessing this, Hu Ma was amazed. When had his baskets been filled with so many dummies?
More importantly...
...Hu Ma's heart suddenly skipped a beat. "Wait, where's my blood food?"
His baskets had been packed with valuable blood food, even more precious than the Blood Emperor.
When did she replace his blood food with these Deception Sect props?
As he was pondering this, the sound of slicing filled the air. Ji Tang was surrounded by numerous "Red Wine Misses," and his body was pierced by countless silver needles.
Some needles hit their mark, while others missed, leaving countless cuts and peeling away flesh. The seemingly invulnerable Ji Tang was now covered in blood and gore.
But with a muffled roar, his internal organs shook, and his voice thundered like a bell. Unlike Hu Ma, who had trained in special skills, Ji Tang's roar seemed to emanate from within his organs, forcing back the light and fluttering shadow puppets surrounding him.
Then, he crouched down, grabbed a handful of dirt from the ground, and sprinkled it on his bloody wounds. With a low laugh, he scanned his surroundings. "Han Womzi?"
"Don't hide your tail. I knew you'd use this opportunity, borrowing the identity of the Mingzhou Little Shopkeeper, to kill me."
"You've always considered me a thorn in your side. How could you let this chance slip by?"
"But haven't you considered that if you're using this opportunity to take my life, I'd want yours as well?"
"..."
"Did he guess that Red Wine Miss would follow and set up a counter-assassination trap?"
Hu Ma's heart raced as he realized something. He quickly looked around but saw no one, as if there were no ambush.
"Swish!"
Just then, as Ji Tang's laughter trailed off, he reached for his waist and drew a sword. The blade gleamed, sharp as can be, instantly forming a swirling mass of snowy light.
In an instant, the red shadows scattered, and countless "Red Wine Misses" were slashed by the sword's light. Some fell to the ground, while others had their strings cut, leaving almost invisible threads floating in the air.
Wielding his sword, Ji Tang severed the threads and charged towards a large tree by the roadside, his swordplay menacing.
Behind the tree stood the real Red Wine Miss.
Her fingers were wrapped in fine threads, which she had seemingly used to control the puppets in the baskets.
However, with Ji Tang's sword, he cut the threads and, at the same time, located her position.
He closed in and swung his sword.
With a glance, Hu Ma understood that this madman had indeed guessed that Red Wine Miss would use this opportunity to take his life, and he wanted hers in return.
So he had prepared a backup plan, but it wasn't a trap of ambushes; instead, he had brought his sword.
For him, carrying his sword was sufficient preparation.
(End of Chapter)
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