novelraw Chapter 197 - 131: Chance Encounter (2)
Chapter 197 - 131: Chance Encounter (2)
At this moment, walking on the street and looking at the busy people coming and going, there was an inexplicable sense of envy in my heart.
They know why they are busy, but I don’t... the family feud was avenged, but life has no aim anymore.
Just when I was wallowing in self-pity, a startled shout came:
"No, let me go!"
Xia Wanshuang was instantly invigorated, raised her head to look, and saw several beggars surrounding a dirty girl.
Some inspected her up and down, while others reached out to grab her hair.
Although the girl tried hard to dodge, the encirclement was so small that she accidentally bumped into one of the beggars, causing him to laugh loudly and push her to another beggar.
Soon followed was a string of obscene words.
As a woman, how could Xia Wanshuang tolerate such a scene, she was furious.
In two swift strides, she arrived in front of them, did not draw her sword from its sheath, but only lifted it to flick a beggar who was reaching out to touch the girl’s bottom, making that beggar fly away.
’Ouch’ was the cry that hadn’t had time to be uttered, Xia Wanshuang’s sword momentum swept across, spinning another beggar around in two circles.
With this move, two of the three beggars were already on the ground, beginning to cry in pain.
The remaining beggar was no longer daring to act rashly and quickly retreated two steps:
"Auntie, spare me!"
"Scram."
Xia Wanshuang’s face sank, flinging her sleeves, and the beggars were immediately profoundly relieved, fled headlong.
They rushed so hurriedly they didn’t even care to pick up their begging bowls.
Seeing them all gone, Xia Wanshuang then looked at the girl:
"Miss, you..."
Before she could finish the sentence, the girl suddenly turned and ran away.
The girl’s run left Xia Wanshuang dumbfounded. Worried that the girl might be in danger alone outside, she decided to follow her.
After all, Xia Wanshuang possessed martial arts, whereas the girl was just an ordinary person. Following behind, the girl was completely unaware.
After a while, she found the girl running desperately out of the town, glancing back repeatedly with panic in her eyes.
At first, Xia Wanshuang thought she had been discovered, then she felt the girl’s gaze wasn’t on her.
"Is there someone else pursuing her?"
As soon as this thought arose, she felt a rush of gang wind fly past, turning her head sharply, she saw a tattered figure rushing towards, swiftly reaching the girl and reaching out towards the back of her neck.
"Stop!!"
Startled, Xia Wanshuang had no time to think, raised her hand and shot the sword sheath directly at the Shenmen Acupoint of the person’s wrist.
"Huh?"
The person seemed bewildered, raised his right arm and shook his sleeve, flicking the sword sheath aside.
Xia Wanshuang exerted strength in her foot, took the opportunity to grab the girl’s wrist, pulling her behind herself, exposing the sword’s edge:
"In broad daylight, to attack a weak girl, who exactly are you?"
The ragged figure stood firm and suddenly lifted his head.
His mottled white hair, an aged face, and a pair of murky eyes revealed a hint of madness.
Yet, what was most striking was a red tumor at his brow.
It looked like a blood-colored horn, appearing hideous and eerie.
The moment Xia Wanshuang saw the tumor, her heart instantly chilled:
"Mad Beggar Ling Beichen!!"
Her heart was somewhat bitter.
Out of nowhere, why did she encounter this lunatic?
Rumors about this person have circulated in the martial world for a long time, being one of the few demons in the South Ridge.
His face and form, anyone mingling in the martial world for a couple of years, must have heard.
She looked again at the shivering girl behind her, immediately understanding the situation, and gritted her teeth:
"In a moment, I will hold him off, quickly run... but, his martial arts far surpass mine, how long I can hold him is uncertain. Whether you can escape, will depend on your cultivation and fortune.
"Run northwards, there’s Luochun Manor, once you arrive there..."
As she spoke, an image of the face of the wild saber Young Master emerged inexplicably in her mind.
She hurriedly shook her head, feeling inexplicably ridiculous.
His voice somewhat resembled that of the Night Emperor, but after all, only a fleeting encounter, why would she remember him without reason.
The girl heard these words, suddenly stunned, shook her head quickly:
"No... you and I are strangers; I can’t let you die for me for nothing."
Xia Wanshuang was momentarily stunned, couldn’t help but laugh bitterly, truly a kind-hearted soul.
I’ve heard that Ling Beichen specifically targets good young women... it seems it’s not just a rumor.
Ling Beichen’s gaze wandered between Xia Wanshuang and the young girl. Suddenly, without warning, he spread his five fingers, and Sword Intent naturally flowed between them, followed by a raise of his hand.
Whizz, whizz, whizz, several strands of Sword Qi immediately flew over.
Xia Wanshuang had no time to say anything else and pushed the young girl away:
"Go!!!"
As the words fell, she twisted her long sword, and with a ’ding’ sound, Sword Qi collided with the long sword, making a tangible sound.
Xia Wanshuang’s face changed drastically. Just from this contact, she felt the strong force wrapped in the opponent’s Sword Qi, making her arm numb; the gap between them was truly immense.
The second wave of Sword Qi was about to come right behind... she couldn’t block it, couldn’t dodge it!
I’m going to die!
"Huh?"
A voice of surprise echoed, but the closed-eyed, resigned-to-death Xia Wanshuang didn’t meet the second wave of Sword Qi.
Surprised, she opened her eyes to see a man in white, surrounded by an aura of serenity, standing in front of her, though she had no idea when he arrived.
He clasped his hands together and uttered a Buddhist phrase:
"Amitabha Buddha, might you be the Mad Beggar Ling Beichen?"
Xia Wanshuang was stunned. This man was clearly not a monk, so why was he reciting Buddhist scriptures?
She hurriedly said:
"Ling Beichen has long gone mad, why would he converse with you?"
"Correct."
The young man nodded, as Ling Beichen had already made another move.
His figure was like a galloping horse, his hands spread wide, and strands of Sword Qi entwined between his arms, flying with the momentum of his palms.
This Sword Qi did not travel in a straight line; its angles were tricky, its weight varied, and it was marvelously profound, like an exceptionally remarkable Sword Technique.
The energy preceded the sword, intentions hidden within the Qi, far surpassing ordinary Sword Techniques.
The young man’s face immediately became serious, as he grabbed the Buddhist beads from his neck, quickly winding them between his hands.
He continuously chanted scriptures, and as he clasped his hands together, the Buddhist beads wound tighter.
A surge of hot energy emanated from him.
Xia Wanshuang couldn’t help but step back. Observing the young man again, she felt as if a great sun rose behind him.
The great sun shone brightly, the light dazzling.
The young man spread his hands, and the Buddhist beads shattered instantly, each enveloped by refined Pure Yang Inner Power.
The Buddhist beads met the Sword Qi and erupted with a fierce explosive sound.
Bam, bam, bam, bam!!
Ling Beichen let out a sudden scream, as the young man turned around and said:
"Apologies."
With that, he grabbed Xia Wanshuang and the girl’s shoulders, leaped up, and dashed towards Luochun Manor.
Xia Wanshuang felt the scenery around her swiftly receding, as this person, carrying two people, was even faster than her using Lightweight Technique alone.
He looked so young and gracefully out of this world, with such impressive Martial Arts skills, yet why had the Martial World never heard of him?
After running for several miles, the three hid within a mountain hollow. The young man looked up, and as Xia Wanshuang was about to speak, he quickly raised his index finger:
"Shh... don’t make a sound."
As he spoke, he held the young girl’s wrist, channeling Inner Strength to help her control her breath.
Xia Wanshuang did not dare delay and immediately controlled her breathing.
Sure enough, Ling Beichen’s figure hurriedly passed by, heading in the direction of Luochun Manor.
Only after he went far did Xia Wanshuang release a large sigh of relief.
She stood up and cupped her hands towards the young man:
"Thank you, young hero, for your rescue. I am Xia Wanshuang, may I ask your esteemed name?"
"You’re welcome, Miss. I am... oh no, I am Zuo Wenchuan, a disciple under Master Celestial Nether of Guangzhao Temple on Thousand Sun Mountain.
"In the tense moment earlier, I was impolite, I hope you two ladies won’t mind."
Xia Wanshuang suddenly understood.
Master Celestial Nether and Master Night Tan were both renowned experts in South Ridge.
She immediately cupped her hands and said:
"Pardon my disrespect, so you are a disciple of Master Celestial Nether, no wonder your Martial Arts are so formidable.
"If not for encountering Young Hero Zuo today, the consequences would have been unimaginable."