Legend of The Young Master

Chapter 117: Flying Serpent!

Jin, unarmored but undeterred, loaded his crossbow. Once the bolt was in place, he took his position behind Jia, eyes narrowed and ready for what was to come.

When everything was prepared, Wuyi, who was standing at the center front of the warriors with the Red Daoist, transformed into a shadow and disappeared. His horse had already been taken away by Dong. Now, only the Red Daoist remained at the center as the leader of all units, while the remaining Qi warriors stood behind him.

This was not new to the group; they had witnessed it before. They were told that the Red Daoist never allowed Wuyi to participate in life-or-death battles. Once the battle began, no one would be able to find Wuyi. Using some mystical art, the Red Daoist would hide the Young Master.

The first time this happened, some men thought Wuyi was a coward. However, Yun Ming explained that it was Wuyi's Dao protector, the Red Daoist, who simply wouldn't allow him to fight under such circumstances.

Moreover, the Red Daoist was the strongest cultivator in the faction; even the Qi masters could not face him. The group had come to accept this arrangement. They knew that with the Red Daoist present, they could face any danger. However, his appearance also signaled that the threat they faced was far from ordinary; some deaths were inevitable.

Wuyi had also been clear from the beginning: he would never lead them in battle, and if they considered him a coward for it, they were free to leave the faction. However, he doubted they would, as they were deeply loyal to him, especially the older members.

He had also taken time to talk to new recruits and promising Qi initiates, using the Statue of Harmony to make their inner consciousness loyal to him.

There were a few who had not had any interaction with Wuyi; these were the lowest in the group. They might not know him, but they were loyal to their group leaders, and all the group leaders were loyal to Wuyi.These initiates were told and believed that the young master was a true and wise leader.

Another reason no one was surprised when Wuyi disappeared was that they all believed that while Wuyi was the brain and leader of the faction, the Red Daoist was actually the true muscle of their faction. They would rather have the powerful Red Daoist in front of them when facing strong enemies, than their young master, who seemed fragile by comparison

As they moved forward, tension escalated, each warrior's senses heightened. Their vision narrowed to the slits in their masks, and their breaths, warmer than the surrounding air, filled the confined space. The taste of fear was palpable. Facing demonics was always difficult, no matter how prepared.

Through the narrow openings of their masks, the forest seemed to stretch endlessly, its green darkness deepening. The wind had ceased its whispering; even the birds and insects had gone silent. Jia's breathing sounded like a blacksmith's bellows at full tilt, a cacophony in the otherwise quiet forest.

Wuyi, concealed by the shadows cast by surrounding trees, observed the scene from atop a high branch of a large tree, far removed from the impending battle.

Wuyi rarely went on missions; if he went on missions, they would be hidden missions, so he would not take Jia with him. So, it was Jia's first time in such a situation. There was no turning back; they were all committed to facing whatever came their way.

And so, they waited, each man's senses razor-sharp, each heartbeat a drumroll in the silent forest. The Red Daoist stood at the forefront, an unyielding bulwark against the unknown.

Wuyi had faced many demonics throughout his journey, but none had concerned him before, as he could handle them himself.

This was the first time a demonic was powerful enough to require the presence of his faction's Qi warriors, as well as the presence of his Statue of Valor.

After the Yuanjing incident, aside from the Statue of Valor, Wuyi had never summoned his other statues again, deciding to keep them as a trump card.

While Wuyi contemplated from above, down below, his warriors shuffled uneasily in their line, their eyes darting through the dense foliage surrounding them.

The Red Daoist stood alone in front with his large halberd. Qi masters and adepts gripped their heavy spears, swords, and axes, shifting their weight from one foot to the other. Qi Initiate Crossbow warriors aimed their weapons, fingers twitching near the triggers. Some Qi Adept Longbow warriors held their bows at the ready, waiting for a clear target to appear.

Holding a hundred-pound weight bow at full draw was a feat no man could sustain for long.

Wuyi could sense fear among his men but also faith in the Red Daoist who led them. Situations like this, where the group faced enemies that seemed unbeatable, arose rarely. But whenever such a situation did occur, the Red Daoist always arrived on time to aid them and cleared the enemies as effortlessly as cutting cabbages in farmland.

The Red Daoist stood still.

Wuyi briefly wondered if the creature they faced experienced the same physical sensations of sweat and the urge to relieve itself that some of his warriors were feeling, but he quickly dismissed the thought; this was no time for idle musings. The tension in the air was becoming thicker, almost suffocating

The forest was eerily silent; no birds sang, no leaves rustled.

Suddenly, Baijian's voice shattered the silence. "Flying Serpent!" he shouted.

A massive black creature burst forth from the trees, lunging at the Red Daoist. Its long, narrow head filled with back-curved teeth, and scales so dark they appeared black, polished to an oily sheen. It moved with astonishing speed, and as it emerged, a wave of palpable terror emanated from it, freezing Wuyi's attendant Jia in his tracks.

Jin's crossbow twanged. The bolt found its mark, and the creature let out an ear-piercing screech that echoed through the forest. The Red Daoist, unfazed, maneuvered his massive halberd. The beast eyed him warily, then charged. As it closed the distance, the Red Daoist swung his halberd with deadly precision. The blade struck the creature's neck, sending it crashing into the trees.

The warriors behind gasped at the power of the Red Daoist.