Chapter 48: One Move to Defeat the Enemy

Chapter 48: One Move to Defeat the Enemy

Sun Kong heard Wu Baiyun’s grumbling behind him but merely smiled, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he taunted the Wu Brothers.

“I’d dare fight two at once, but you two seem afraid to take on just one?”

Ji Bingyan’s gaze flickered. The tent was vast, and they stood far from the King of Kucha. The Wu Brothers faced the king, while Sun Kong blocked their path.

Wu Qingtian hesitated, then signaled Wu Baiyun to confront the Pipa Princess.

After all, no matter how formidable Li Chaofeng and Ji Bingyan were, their mission was to kill the King of Kucha. Once he fell, Li and Ji would have no reason to hunt them.

Sun Kong reminded the Wu Brothers of their task while eyeing Li Chaofeng. The Nine Manifestations Dragon Fear Lament coiled around Li’s right arm, its dragon-headed whip tip in his grip, the tail claw resting on his shoulder. His left hand clutched a short sword, his expression fierce with battle intent.

Li Chaofeng hadn’t forgotten why he’d come to the desert—to witness duels between martial masters. Observing their fights would help him gauge his own strength. His experience was limited, and without brothers to spar with, he craved real combat. Du Huan was too weak to offer a challenge, but a life-or-death battle would sharpen his skills.

The earlier Flower Transplanting Wood Grafting technique had been a surprise attack, but Sun Kong had deflected it. Still, the black monkey’s strength wasn’t negligible.

Outside, Hu Tiehua would soon finish his foes. If he delayed, the Pipa Princess might eliminate the Wu Brothers. Li Chaofeng had found the perfect opponent. Ji Bingyan would never let him die, but avoiding a fight now would be absurd.

Sun Kong noticed Li’s fiery gaze but showed no concern. He’d merely underestimated the Flower Transplanting Wood Grafting technique earlier, overextending his force. That didn’t mean Li could truly harm him.

“Youngster, don’t think you’ve bested me just because you pushed me back,” Sun Kong sneered.

Li’s face hardened. “But your earlier move was meant to kill me, wasn’t it?”

Sun Kong paused, then grinned. “Of course. In the martial world, it’s kill or be killed.”

Li smiled coldly. “Then killing you now isn’t unreasonable, is it?”

Sun Kong’s face darkened. He clenched his iron hand, knowing the boy left him no choice. He’d hoped to stall with words, letting the Wu Brothers kill the king first. Even if he couldn’t withstand their combined assault, he could retreat.

Yet Sun Kong’s confidence masked unease. Chu Liuxiang had defeated him thrice, and Ji Bingyan, a companion of Chu’s, was no pushover. If he couldn’t handle Ji alone, how could he fight two?

Li’s Nine Manifestations Dragon Fear Lament alone was terrifying.

Ji Bingyan stepped forward, but Li’s sharp voice stopped him.

“He’s mine!”

Ji froze as Li charged like a wild horse, his short sword carving a path through the air—a move from the Emei Sect’s “Flower-Splitting Willow-Brushing.”

Sun Kong blinked. Li’s techniques had been eclectic: Seven-Slaughter Deathbringer from the Tang Clan, Ten-Thousand Mile Sandstorm from the desert, Flower Transplanting Wood Grafting with the Yihua Palace’s subtlety. Now, Emei’s style? He couldn’t fathom Li’s origins.

But this wasn’t the time to ponder. Li clearly sought a deadly duel.

Fight Ji Bingyan first, then come for me!

“Attack!”

Sun Kong roared, lunging at Li with his Sun God’s Claw technique, holding back slightly. Flower Transplanting Wood Grafting excelled against reckless, all-out strikes.

Yet as his claw struck, Li’s short sword shifted instantly, countering with “Duke Zhou’s Offering.”

The move met Sun’s iron claw head-on, as if inviting the blade to sever it. In a flash, the sword sliced his knuckles.

Sun Kong recoiled, stunned. “How do you know Changbai swordplay?!”

But the sword pursued relentlessly, carving a gash into his finger. Blood spurted, two fingers severed.

Li Chaofeng halted, disappointment etched on his face. He’d hoped Sun Kong would at least challenge him. After all, Chu Liuxiang had praised him as a martial master. Yet here he fell in one move.

What about Yao Long Li Chaofeng?

The thought flickered, then vanished. He’d come to watch fights, not test his limits.

Sheathing his sword, he heard Wu Baiyun’s scream. Wu Qingtian clutched his wounded wrist, felled by the Pipa Princess’s blade.

The Pipa Princess’s iron pipa served as both shield and weapon, its hidden mechanisms and sharp neck dismantling the Wu Brothers’ rigid techniques. Though they fought together, she couldn’t finish them both.

Li turned to Ji Bingyan, sighing. “Thought I’d get a real fight. Guess not.”

Ji shook his head, amused. He’d wondered why Li reacted so fiercely to Sun Kong—was it revenge? Turns out it was just a sparring urge.

Yet Li’s moves were all counters. Either he crushed opponents instantly, or they crushed him.

“Surrender! Surrender!”

Sun Kong fell in one move. Wu Baiyun’s face bled from the Pipa Princess’s hidden weapons. Wu Qingtian, wounded and desperate, surrendered.

Hu Tiehua’s laughter echoed outside. Their ambush had failed utterly.

Hu entered, seeing Sun Kong clutching his fingers, Wu Qingtian’s wound, Du Huan’s corpse, and Wu Baiyun’s lifeless body.

“Black monkey Sun Kong? Lost that fast?” Hu mocked.

Sun Kong rolled his eyes, eyeing Li. Changbai swordplay was rare, but Li had mastered techniques from multiple sects.

Clutching his severed fingers, Sun smirked. “Hu Tiehua, let me leave, and I’ll tell you the last assassin’s identity.”

Hu froze, glancing at Ji Bingyan, then Li. His eyes widened. “Kid, that whip on your arm… is it?”

Ji caught on. Damn, Li Chaofeng’s playing it sly.

He hid his identity as Yao Long Li Chaofeng to avoid attention from the Demon Sword Dragon Fang, but why reveal the Nine Manifestations Dragon Fear Lament?

They’d helped Li stay anonymous, yet now he’d defeated Sun Kong in one move. Why hide?

Li nodded, confirming Hu’s shock. “Yes, the Nine Manifestations Dragon Fear Lament.”

“Damn!”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end