novelraw Chapter 279 - 278: Liu Wushuang: Even If I Self-destruct, I Won’t Go Back with You
Chapter 279 - 278: Liu Wushuang: Even If I Self-destruct, I Won’t Go Back with You
An earth-shattering roar spread for thousands of miles, like a long, rolling peal of thunder!
Jianghai Martial Arts Academy, Tengfei Building.
BOOM!
Waves of sound blasted outward, shattering glass.
The teaching building’s support structure shook violently under the immense pressure. The ground trembled as if in an earthquake, and dust showered down, blanketing the floor.
In an instant!
The eardrums of every student nearby ruptured, blood gushing from their ears. Fear spread like wildfire through the crowd.
"Everyone, don’t panic!"
Inside the academy, several Postnatal Realm teachers guided the students, beginning an orderly evacuation from the area to avoid being caught in the Celestial Venerable Realm expert’s oppressive aura.
It hadn’t even been a month since Meng Tianxuan’s last visit, and the memory of that day was still seared into the minds of every Jianghai City citizen.
Rows of houses had collapsed, and even citizens several kilometers away had been affected.
Now, a familiar scene was playing out once again.
A battle between Celestial Beings!
They had to get far away to be safe!
The teaching building filled with the sound of frantic footsteps. As the students of Jianghai Martial Arts Academy fled, the scene descended into chaos. Cries and shouts filled the air; no one wanted to stay behind.
And at that same moment, in a top-floor office...
CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
The oppressive aura shattered the teaware, scattering porcelain shards across the floor. Elder Li stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at Meng Tianxuan in the sky. His brow was knitted tightly as he murmured:
"Why did he come here, and at a time like this..."
"Teacher, Meng Tianxuan must have come for Liu Wushuang."
Li Zixuan stood beside Elder Li, her brow furrowed. "Elder Wushuang is currently guarding the Scripture Pavilion on the back mountain. As the Venerable Alliance Leader, Meng Tianxuan is definitely here because of the Elder’s departure from the alliance."
"Alas, what can we do now?"
Elder Li let out a long sigh at her words, his expression growing grim.
It was one thing after another.
Meng Tianxuan’s arrival was too sudden, and the Star Martial Police Bureau’s forces were currently scattered, with no time to spare for Jianghai Academy.
Besides, this was a conflict between two Venerable Realm experts. Even if the Star Martial Police Bureau dispatched its forces, they couldn’t possibly interfere.
"Xuanxuan, ask Young Friend Qin..."
At this thought, Elder Li said gravely, "See if he can help. Ask him to get some more elders from the Heaven-Blasting Gang to come hold down the fort. If those two start fighting, our academy will be destroyed..."
"Yes, I’m contacting him now."
Li Zixuan nodded, took her phone out of her pocket, opened her contacts, found Qin Yang’s number, and dialed.
After a few rings, Qin Yang picked up.
"Hello? Senior Brother?"
Li Zixuan clutched her phone and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking up at Meng Tianxuan. "Something’s happened at Jianghai Academy! Are you..."
"Don’t panic, Junior Sister. I already know."
Qin Yang’s voice came from the other end, cutting her off. His tone was as calm and steady as ever. "Meng Tianxuan is back at the academy, right?"
"Yes... What should we do, Senior Brother?"
Li Zixuan said worriedly, "He seems to be causing trouble for Elder Wushuang. I think he wants to drag him back to the Venerable Alliance... Elder Li was hoping you could ask a few more elders from the Heaven-Blasting Gang to come and intimidate Meng Tianxuan."
"Understood. I’ll handle things from here."
Qin Yang comforted her in a soft voice, "An elder from the Heaven-Blasting Gang is already on his way. With his status and strength, he’ll definitely be able to intimidate Meng Tianxuan. You and Elder Li should focus on evacuating the students first. Don’t let any innocent people get involved."
"Only one?"
Li Zixuan froze. "Will that be enough? Last time, didn’t you send over a dozen elders...? Will the elder who’s coming be in danger?"
’Meng Tianxuan is a Celestial Venerable, not someone an Earth Venerable can match!’
"Don’t worry."
On the other end of the line, Qin Yang just chuckled. "This elder is no ordinary person. He can handle it. You two should focus on your own safety for now."
With that, he finished.
"Okay, right... We’ll be careful."
After receiving Qin Yang’s assurance, Li Zixuan nodded, let out a sigh of relief, and then hung up the phone.
’Now that an elder from the Heaven-Blasting Gang is coming to help, the situation should be salvageable. And judging by Senior Brother’s tone, this elder’s status must be extraordinary. He sounds like an important figure in the Heaven-Blasting Gang!’
’I wonder who it could be?’
Li Zixuan looked up at Meng Tianxuan in the sky, a flicker of anticipation in her eyes. ’Another Martial Uncle I’ve never met before...’
"How did it go, Xuanxuan?"
Seeing her hang up, Elder Li couldn’t contain his anxiety and hurried a step forward to ask, "What did your Senior Brother say?"
"Someone’s on the way."
Li Zixuan put down her phone and said softly, "Senior Brother said an elder is on the way. He wants us to clear the area and not cause any trouble."
"That’s good."
Elder Li nodded upon hearing this. "The students should be mostly clear by now. We just have to wait for..."
Just as he was speaking...
WHOOSH!
A fierce wind howled outside the window once more!
"Liu Wushuang! Get out here! Stop hiding!"
Meng Tianxuan circled high in the air, his gaze falling on the academy’s buildings. "If you’re going to make me come find you, then I’ll just have to tear these buildings down, one by one, until you show yourself!"
As he spoke, he raised his hand, gathering Star Force until streams of light danced at his fingertips. He took aim at an empty building nearby.
"I’ll give you ten breaths!"
.....
"That madman!"
Inside the Scripture Pavilion, Liu Wushuang saw this and could no longer sit still, bursting out with a curse.
’I can’t hide!’
’I just wanted to lie low here.’
’I didn’t want a confrontation.’
’But if I let Meng Tianxuan start destroying buildings...’
’If the Scripture Pavilion gets destroyed, the urgent task Qin Yang gave me will be ruined!’
’This is absolutely not what I want to happen!’
’Meng Tianxuan, you truly are a shameless villain.’
Thinking this, Liu Wushuang gritted his teeth and walked out of the Scripture Pavilion. He stepped outside and flew up toward Meng Tianxuan. He had barely reached the sky when Meng Tianxuan immediately noticed him. He dispelled the energy gathered in his hand and nodded with satisfaction:
"I knew it. This is the only way to make a turncoat rat like you show its face."
"Alliance Leader, what are you doing here?"
Liu Wushuang unslung the Profound Bow from his back, nocked an arrow, and glared at Meng Tianxuan, his expression grim. "I’ve already left the Venerable Alliance. I’m no longer one of your men. Why must you pursue me relentlessly?"
"Oh? Left?"
Meng Tianxuan frowned, looking Liu Wushuang up and down, his brow furrowing deeply. "When did I ever agree to let you leave?"
"What do you mean?"
A corner of Liu Wushuang’s eye twitched ominously. "When I left the Venerable Alliance, I left behind all the Spirit Treasures and resources I had accumulated from the alliance over the years. I returned everything to you. We owe each other nothing. Meng Tianxuan, what more could you want?"
"Hmph! In your dreams."
Meng Tianxuan said coldly, crossing his arms and looking down on him with contempt. "Who ever said that to leave the Venerable Alliance, all you had to do was return the Spirit Treasures?"
"..."
"Then what else do you want?"
Liu Wushuang drifted back half a step, wary. "Do you really intend to hunt me to the death?"
As he spoke, he glanced around.
’With Meng Tianxuan’s arrival, a crowd of citizens has already gathered to watch. Under the public eye, a sanctimonious bastard like him will want to maintain his facade.’
’He probably wouldn’t dare to kill me in public.’
’At least...’
’He wouldn’t do it right in front of everyone...’
"Heh, no need to be so tense. I’m not some heinous villain."
Meng Tianxuan said indifferently, waving his hand. "However, it’s too naive of you to think you can just leave the Venerable Alliance like this. We supported you for so many years... Your achievements today are all thanks to the Venerable Alliance!
If you want to leave the alliance, I won’t stop you, but..."
As Meng Tianxuan spoke, his eyes narrowed, and his tone suddenly shifted:
"Your current Venerable Cultivation was given to you by the alliance. Cripple it yourself, and all matters will be written off."
"Cripple my Cultivation?!"
As his words landed, Liu Wushuang stood dumbfounded. He stared down at the Profound Bow in his hands. ’Cripple my Cultivation? For someone who practices Cultivation, how is that any different from cutting off my own arms and legs?’
"You’re full of shit!"
Liu Wushuang snapped back to his senses and retorted furiously, "You told me yourself back then! That after joining the Venerable Alliance, I could come and go as I please, without any restrictions!
You... Meng Tianxuan, how dare you go back on your word?!"
The moment the words left his mouth, lightning flashed through the churning black clouds. The very Natural Law of the area was affected, triggering a widespread anomaly.
The atmosphere instantly dropped to a freezing point!
"I’m going back on my word?"
The Venerable Alliance Leader’s voice was ice-cold.
He pointed one hand to the sky and one to the ground, saying:
"In the Venerable Alliance, my word—Meng Tianxuan’s word—is the law! What ’freedom to come and go’ bullshit! I will give you one last chance. Return to the alliance or cripple your own Cultivation! Choose!"
"In your dreams!!"
Hearing this, Liu Wushuang could no longer hold back. He roared in fury, raising the Profound Bow in his hands. His fingertips hooked the bowstring, the arrowhead aimed straight at Meng Tianxuan.
"I already left the Venerable Alliance! Why would I ever go back to consort with a craven, life-clinging cur like you!?"
With that, he let his fingers fly, releasing the string.
Immediately.
HUMMM!
The bowstring trembled!
An arrow shot forth, its white fletching tearing a visible scar through the air.
RUMBLE!
The arrow tore through the void, leaving a ravine of fractured space in its wake. It then split into two, then four... continuously multiplying until it became a sea of projectiles.
In the blink of an eye, a rain of countless arrows formed, blotting out the sky as it shot toward Meng Tianxuan!
"You actually dare to strike at me?"
Meng Tianxuan’s brow twitched, but he showed no sign of panic. He simply raised a hand, palm facing outward, and reached for the sky-blotting rain of arrows.
The next moment.
BOOM!
A colossal hand materialized.
Shockwaves erupted around the arm, blooming like an immense lotus as it moved to crush the rain of arrows.
The gap between Venerables is enormous and cannot be bridged by techniques alone. The sky-blotting rain of arrows fell, and in just an instant, it was all gathered in Meng Tianxuan’s palm.
With a light squeeze.
CRUNCH!
All the arrows shattered!
A shower of shattered arrow fragments rained down toward the ground.
"Give up, Liu Wushuang."
Meng Tianxuan brushed the splintered remains from his palm and clapped his hands together. "With your pitiful, ant-like strength as an Earth Venerable, you couldn’t beat me when you were in the alliance, and you certainly can’t beat me now! Without the Venerable Alliance, you’re just a stray dog. No one will ever take you in!"
"In your dreams!"
Liu Wushuang spat out a mouthful of blood, his expression crazed.
Forcibly channeling his Star Force just now had caused a significant backlash, but he still gritted his teeth and held on. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and roared back:
"I, Liu Wushuang, would rather die than return with you."