Hidden Shadow – CH 185
by MTL TranslationChapter One-Hundred-Eighty-Five: Shattered
An Jiu stood between the two men, using her sword for support, when she heard Chu Dingjiang say, “Sound Killer!”
She turned to look. Within two zhang, the mist had dissipated, revealing a figure in red robes shrouded in varying shades of fog, like a figure in a painting rendered in ink wash.
The same coldness, the same aloofness, but those delicate, refined features were entirely different from Master Mo’s.
For some reason, An Jiu suddenly felt a sense of relief. Subconsciously, she did not want Mei Ruyan’s deep affection to be in vain. Perhaps for Mei Ruyan, Master Mo’s life was a good thing, but for An Jiu, an outsider, that affection was more meaningful than Master Mo’s life itself.
“How about we gamble with her?” The man called Sound Killer looked at An Jiu, his words laced with amusement.
Chu Dingjiang’s figure flashed, already beside An Jiu. “Compared to the previous generation, you have truly disgraced the name ‘Sound Killer.'”
Sound Killer was a title appearing only briefly, with only two generations in total. The first generation of Sound Killer was Master Mo; this person was the second generation.
Chu Dingjiang did not know Master Mo, but everyone knew of Sound Killer’s arrogant and domineering presence. That person seemed to stand on a cloud, preferring to kill targets with overwhelming force, even if the opponent’s skill surpassed his own.
“Old friend, we’ve known each other for quite some time, yet you speak of such misunderstanding; it truly chills my heart!” The person chuckled, unmoved by Chu Dingjiang’s words. “Remove your protective aura and withstand my flute music for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn; otherwise, the gu planted in her body will devour her flesh and blood.”
He laughed, his eyes seemingly able to hold a pool of water, a faint crimson tinge appearing at the corners, a strange, eerie feeling suddenly arising. “Look, I understand you very well; I know you value this woman highly.”
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An Jiu felt a tearing pain in her arm as the two small snakes, their tongues flicking, coiled around her arm, moving with her pain.
Qiu Yuntong was not present, and An Jiu did not recognize the two snakes, but she vaguely guessed they were interested in the gu within her body.
Chu Dingjiang did not speak, yet the mist that had previously kept him at bay slowly approached from behind, making him appear, like Sound Killer, leaning against the vast mist.
“Be careful,” Sound Killer said, placing his flute to his lips.
A whimpering sound arose, a clearly beautiful melody, but within it was a piercing shriek, maintaining the same high-pitched tone. An Jiu’s head throbbed, her ears throbbed, and the two small snakes coiled tightly around her, also appearing to be in great pain.
Chu Dingjiang suddenly pulled her into his arms, his warm hands covering her ears, a gentle, sun-like current quickly enveloping her entire body.
The piercing shriek vanished, leaving only the flute melody.
Without the flute’s interference, the small snakes slowly relaxed, their attention quickly drawn back to the gu within An Jiu’s body.
The pain spread to her neck. Two small snakes flashed red in their eyes and bit down hard on the bulges on either side of An Jiu’s neck. A moment later, they yanked violently.
Snakes usually swallow their prey whole, not bite off pieces. It might not be able to tear out the thing inside, An Jiu thought. This gu was moving upwards from her arm, heading towards either her brain or heart, which would be even more troublesome. The snakes had not bitten her earlier, so she did not know where the gu was. Now was the perfect opportunity! She thought, drawing her dagger and swiftly slicing off the two pieces of flesh.
Blood sprayed out like rain, staining Chu Dingjiang’s face.
The neck was a vulnerable spot with many blood vessels; An Jiu’s two cuts were practically a life-or-death struggle.
“What are you doing?!” Chu Dingjiang exclaimed in shock, immediately pressing several acupoints to temporarily stop the bleeding. Distracted for a moment, the sound of the flute suddenly became shrill, like a sharp blade piercing his ear, and a trickle of blood slowly flowed down his ear.
Seeing this, An Jiu cried out urgently, “The gu must be removed!”
Chu Dingjiang could only hear the high-pitched, piercing voice, but he understood An Jiu’s meaning. His inner energy surged; he released An Jiu, and his longsword, seemingly unsheathed, appeared. He moved like an arrow released from a bow, instantly closing in on Sound Killer.
A powerful gale whipped Sound Killer’s black hair and red robes, making them flutter wildly. The sword tip was still an inch from his forehead. As it drew closer, the gale cleaved his brow, and a drop of blood slid down his nose.
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The red glow at the corner of Sound Killer’s eyes grew larger and larger, finally becoming as vibrant as a peach blossom.
He retreated hastily, the thick fog behind him surging up, making him seem to melt into it.
Suddenly, Chu Dingjiang’s target vanished. He immediately sheathed his sword, and in the blink of an eye, An Jiu had disappeared.
Although this Sound Killer’s martial arts skills were not particularly impressive, and he lacked the powerful killing intent of his predecessor, the fact that he had repeatedly escaped from Chu Dingjiang showed he possessed considerable ability. His escape techniques were unparalleled in the martial arts world.
“Ah Jiu?” Chu Dingjiang called out.
“I am here.”
Chu Dingjiang’s ears were ringing, but he still heard her. They were less than ten chi apart; he followed the sound to her.
“Let’s go quickly.” An Jiu’s face was pale, one hand clutching her neck, the other reaching for his hand.
A flash of cold light, and Chu Dingjiang’s sword was already piercing “An Jiu’s” chest!
“An Jiu” let out a bitter laugh. “What a ruthless man!” Facing the face of his beloved woman, this sword strike was still so decisive and ruthless!
As the body fell, another voice called out to him, “Chu Dingjiang.”
This voice came from below, sounding weak, but the tone was unmistakably An Jiu’s.
Chu Dingjiang crouched down and touched the Dragon-Subduing Bow in An Jiu’s hand.
An Jiu lay on the ground, hearing someone impersonating her. She struggled to draw the bow, preparing to shoot the person who made the sound, but Chu Dingjiang had seen through the ruse.
Chu Dingjiang took some wound medicine and bandaged her neck, then carried her on his back.
An Jiu did not refuse, resting her chin on his broad shoulder and closing her eyes to adjust herself. The familiar warmth seeped through her clothes, and she murmured, “How do you know I am real?”
Since the person dared to impersonate her, they must be very skilled in disguise and imitation.
“Not at all.” Chu Dingjiang listed the flaws one by one. “First, her every movement exuded a subtle grace, which you lack; second, her chest was fuller, clearly larger than yours; third, you lost so much blood, I noticed your weakness when I supported you; it is unlikely you were in that state.” An Jiu, once she lost too much blood, would be weaker than someone with internal energy. Those people did not know An Jiu was a pure external cultivator, so their imitation naturally had such a glaring flaw.
“And the most important point,” Chu Dingjiang said, “she took the initiative to shake my hand; you would not.” The surrounding mist slowly dissipated.
An Jiu felt the breeze and opened her eyes. “The formation is broken?”
“Seeing Sound Killer appear and the mist recede, I guessed he was the core of this formation.” Chu Dingjiang looked around; the others were all in a sorry state, with only seven out of ten remaining.
With Chu Dingjiang and blue-fire crossbows, this formation could not trap them. Sound Killer’s appearance was merely to hold Chu Dingjiang back, allowing important people or things in the mansion to evacuate.
“Rest here for a moment, then follow me and fight your way out,” Chu Dingjiang ordered.
“Yes!” the crowd replied in unison.
This meant retreat, but no one was excited, because they knew there was an even bigger battle waiting outside.
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