Calamity Messenger

Chapter 194 - 153: The Three Great Guardians

As the saying goes, there are only wrong names, not wrong nicknames. The Blood Phase Bell Skill is not as flamboyant as other Red Name Messengers. He wears an exquisite vermilion and purple robe, with a jade belt hanging from his waist, a black gauze Jinxian Crown on his head, and a pen holder slanted across it, with the tassel drooping. Standing eight feet tall, his appearance is delicate and even Shang Xuanwen pales in comparison. Anyone would think he is a high official who just came straight from the Ministry of Personnel.

But this is not the Ministry of Personnel, and he is not the Chancellor of the Court.

He is just the Great Guardian of Shu Dao Mountain, the king within the Demon Path Evil Land, and an out-and-out Red Name Butcher. No one wants to accept his rule; people merely revere his brutality... Perhaps that can be considered a form of rule.

Yan Qing flexed his fingers, feeling a subtle tension and excitement fill his heart.

He didn’t think Zhong Ji was lying. Although the Blood Phase and Zhong Ji are both Third-Turn Messengers, there can still be a significant strength disparity among Third-Turns.

Just like how the Rabbit Heroine, as a Second-Turn Messenger, had already slain the Military Town Third Transition Helan Que and Demon Path Third Transition Zhong Ji, Jiang Shi had decimated Mansu Forest Land, and the Mouse Monk could battle the Second-Turn Demon King alone. Yan Qing himself is a Second-Turn as well, but can he really be compared with the Rabbit Heroine, Jiang Shi, and the Mouse Monk? The gap between Third-Turns is even larger, as items, secret techniques, and occupational properties can all tip the scales of victory.

But Yan Qing still had an unplayed card—the Bingzi Pepper Forest and eight White Iron Straight Sabers had already been transferred to the Rabbit Heroine’s warehouse. If needed, he could throw out the eight White Iron Straight Sabers at any time, and experience the full glory of Bingzi Pepper Forest.

Or rather, he hoped that the Blood Phase would force him to the point where he must use this card.

In the past, the greatest problem with activating Heaven-Covering with Bingzi Pepper Forest was the high cost, requiring the consumption of eight weapon tokens and eight consecrated Spiritual Jades. In Mansu Forest Land, it was precisely due to this concern that Yan Qing didn’t let Jiang Shi fully unleash the power of Heaven-Covering.

But now it was different. Yan Qing had money!

Now he was holding a hammer, and everyone else looked like nails!

Helan Que hadn’t forced out Bingzi Pepper Forest, Zhong Ji didn’t either. Yan Qing hoped that the Blood Phase would be a worthy opponent.

Yan Qing stared intently at the screen displaying the Blood Phase, not missing a single movement. But in the blink of an eye, the Blood Phase had disappeared from his position, leaving only a vague blood shadow in view!

So fast!

The Rabbit Heroine immediately leaped to the left to dodge, and a longsword entwined with dark red black mist thrust out from behind, grazing past the Rabbit Heroine’s shoulder. If Yan Qing had chosen to jump back earlier, he might have been directly pierced through by the Blood Phase!

Zhong Ji’s Blood Phantom was already unbelievably fast, but the Blood Phase was even faster. It’s difficult to capture his figure even face-to-face. In the Asura Battlefield, their style was one of the most popular ones at its peak, relying purely on high-speed to instantly kill other players. If you couldn’t react quickly, you’d die, making their weaponry like a divine instrument for crushing the competition.

However, this style demanded so much from players, requiring them to be under twenty to have the necessary reflexes. If players were a bit older and couldn’t react in time, they’d essentially end up diving into the enemy ranks like food delivery.

But players merely control game characters; in reality, people actually rush in themselves. How did the Blood Phase manage to run behind the Rabbit Heroine and attack in less than 0.3 seconds, even initiating a direction change?

Clang! The Rabbit Heroine turned to counterattack, and the Blood Phase swung his sword to block. Their two swords tangled in the air, and the Blood Phase suddenly exerted force to parry the Seven-Star Sword away, but his own sword also flew into the air!

Abandoning the sword? No!

The Blood Phase, having lost his longsword, lunged at the Rabbit Heroine with claw-like hands. His ten fingers were fitted with claws that gleamed with black light, clearly Demonic Path Tokens as well!

He owned both the longsword and the claws as Demonic Path Tokens!

The Blood Phase’s attack speed wasn’t faster than Zhong Ji’s, but it was more subtle and unpredictable, leaving Yan Qing struggling to cope. It was at this moment that he suddenly reached out and clamped down on the Seven-Star Sword’s blade, his left hand’s five fingers like an iron clamp, holding the Seven-Star Sword tightly in place!

Like a perfectly timed meeting, the dark red longsword fell seamlessly into the Blood Phase’s empty right hand. At that moment, anyone would think the Rabbit Heroine had only two choices: to abandon the sword or to endure the Demonic Path longsword’s slash, the former delaying time, the latter accepting death.

Even as an opponent, Yan Qing couldn’t help but admire the Blood Phase’s talent. Fist and claw versus longsword are fundamentally incompatible combat systems, yet the Blood Phase somehow fused them into a mysterious and enigmatic combat style. Most would be at a loss upon first encounter, and in Demonic Path combat, losers don’t get a second chance.

Indeed, he was one of the three Great Guardians of Shu Dao Mountain, so let me show you—

Roar!

A tiger’s roar resonated first, followed by the spear’s emergence like a dragon! Within the mountain path, the roar of a fierce tiger suddenly echoed, as a golden, dragon-shadowed Soul-Breaking Spear surged in attack, its grandeur akin to a Celestial God descending to earth!

Even the Blood Phase had to avoid its fierce edge.

With an explosive roar of air currents, the Blood Phase was forced back into the mountain stronghold. He stared coldly at the two ladies outside the gate, a sinister smile appearing on his face. "Good, good, good. No wonder you dare run wild in Shu Dao Mountain; indeed, a mighty dragon never crosses a river easily. Shu Dao Mountain hasn’t seen such scorching new blood in a long time."

"But you shouldn’t have killed my third brother," he said, his claws scraping an awful sound along the longsword’s blade. "I will dismember you for seven days and nights to honor my brother’s soul!"

"I bet one Spiritual Jade that you can’t," the blood-drenched Pharmacist’s Wish said coldly.

"I bet one bitter melon that you can’t either," the Rabbit Heroine echoed.

The Blood Phase’s eyes were filled with fierce light, his red name seeming ready to ignite. Words felt too simple at this moment, as the boiling, violent intent to kill flooded every corner like a tidal wave. Though sunlight shone brightly over Shu Dao Mountain, even across the screen, Yan Qing felt a chilling sensation climbing up his spine.

The battle erupted silently, and the Blood Phase vanished on the spot once again, moving with incredible speed. Rabbit Heroine and Pharmacist’s Wish were ready to face him, thinking of how to dodge... But the Blood Phase was intercepted halfway, like a speeding carriage crashing into a heavy city wall.

Three people appeared on the clearing, with Blood Phase in the middle. His thrusting longsword was blocked by the man with long hair in front, and his shoulder was grabbed by the bald monk behind. There were actually two people in this stronghold who could deal with the speed of the Blood Phase, so naturally, their identities were obvious.

"Upon hearing news of the Heavy Rain Messenger, I immediately rushed over," said the bald monk, whose face was covered in scars, holding a Zen Staff. He glanced sideways at the young girls outside the mansion’s entrance: "Seems like it’s that little layperson upfront?"

"Prajna, Beiyou," Blood Phase said coldly, "As long as you don’t meddle, I will certainly repay you!"

"I have no desire to meddle," sighed the man with long hair, scratching his dirty, paint-filled hair, "But the Heavy Rain Messenger affair is significant. Shu Dao Mountain has painstakingly gained one, and will not allow you to act recklessly."

"Besides, what can you repay?" Prajna laughed, "Your brother is dead, your Four War Generals are dead; you have no one to manage the business in Changle City, it naturally belongs to us now. You don’t intend to offer us what should’ve been ours as a favor, do you?"

"I have no one to manage the business, but there’s plenty who can sabotage others’ businesses," Blood Phase replied sinisterly, "If you don’t let me get revenge—"

"Then die right now," Beiyou said without hesitation, "Without your brother and Four War Generals, I and Prajna are enough to take you down, at worst, we get hurt. Of course, you can flee, indeed no one can catch up to you, but from then on, there’s no seat for you at Shu Dao Mountain."

"You—" Blood Phase’s eyes burned red as he gritted his teeth: "For one Heavy Rain Messenger, you dare to fight me to the death!?"

"Blood Phase, consider the bigger picture," Prajna frowned, "We came to Shu Dao Mountain not to rule this grassland place. Given the circumstances, you should first go collect your brother’s corpse."

"Fuck your mother, if it were yours that were dead—"

"Zhong Ji." Beiyou’s voice suddenly turned cold: "Have I been too generous with you? Do you think this is a request?"

With that, Beiyou reached out to grip Blood Phase’s dark red longsword, letting the blade slice his palm, seemingly oblivious, staring intently into Blood Phase’s eyes. Though it was Beiyou who was hurt, Blood Phase’s face grew uglier by the moment.

"They are the three Great Guardians of Shu Dao Mountain," Pharmacist’s Wish whispered to Rabbit Heroine, her voice tinged with gravity: "Beiyou, Prajna, Blood Phase!"

Previously, Pharmacist’s Wish greatly underestimated these Demonic Messengers. In her mind, only the Military Town Messengers, who bravely fought Secret Realm Demon Fiends, could truly produce strong figures. Those Demonic Messengers who chose robbery as a lifestyle were just bullies.

But both Zhong Ji and Blood Phase had thoroughly overturned her perceptions. Probably because living in a constantly perilous environment, the fighting instincts of Demonic Messengers were as sharp as Military Town Messengers. If the Military Town Messengers were meticulously trained pack wolves, then the Demonic Messengers were solitary hunting leopards. The former were overwhelmingly powerful, but the latter were also cunningly dangerous.

Pharmacist’s Wish knew well that with her current strength, she could only manage Zhong Ji, but against the three Great Guardians of Shu Dao Mountain, all she could do was avoid being a hindrance to Rabbit Heroine.

Clang!

The standoff between the three Great Guardians finally ended, Blood Phase sheathed his sword, leaving a streak of blood from Beiyou’s hand, yet Beiyou didn’t mind at all, resuming his casual stance.

Blood Phase turned his head toward Prajna: "Let go."

Prajna withdrew his hand, and Blood Phase stepped past Beiyou, coming face-to-face with Pharmacist’s Wish and Rabbit Heroine outside the stronghold gate, only five steps apart, nearly within reach to snatch their heads.

Yet Blood Phase remained unmoving, not out of fear, but lacking confidence to instantly kill them. If he actually could, what difference would it make if Prajna and Beiyou weren’t satisfied? Would they contend over a corpse?

Living people have value; no one would pay a price for the dead.

Even he wouldn’t.

His brother was gone, and he had tried killing. By now, Blood Phase also had to weigh his own interests. But he wouldn’t let these two go so easily; he wanted them tormented by fear day and night, wishing they were dead!

"Your luck is good, but it won’t always be this lucky," Blood Phase said coldly, "You better stay alert at all times, whether sleeping, resting, or eating, or else... No one fights for the dead."

Blood Phase saw Pharmacist’s Wish’s face turn extremely ugly, laughing coldly inside. With his ghostly speed, any slight relaxation could become a fatal flaw for them.

Pharmacist’s Wish, though, understood that Blood Phase wished to frighten them, leaving them in constant dread, but it was an open scheme. As long as they stayed within the stronghold, near Blood Phase, they bore his threat.

As for leaving... The previous discussion among the three Great Guardians made it clear: she might leave, but her sister was already an indispensable part of their plan. If her sister dared to leave, then one Great Guardian became three.

The three Great Guardians discussed loudly, to ensure they understood their predicament.

Yet...

Pharmacist’s Wish smirked coldly inside. Her sister had the Return Order, allowing her to return to the Thief’s House, already putting them in an undefeated position from the start; the threat was fundamentally meaningless. Her present expression was deliberately feigned.

At least avoiding a fight with Blood Phase, she felt relieved. The next step was figuring out how to safely withdraw from Shu Dao Mountain—

"Blood Phase, hold on," Rabbit Heroine shelved her sword, hands in pockets: "Your brother wanted to kill me, what’s your compensation?"