Chapter 616 - 614: Annihilation (Part 2)

Su Qing’s eyes sparkled as she mulled things over, all while keeping a close watch on the activity at the campsite.

Night fell. Arai Kuan had left two men to guard the campfire at the campsite, mainly to ward off the wild beasts of the deep mountains, but also to watch out for other people.

Here in the depths of the Qinling mountains, Sheng Chuanchua didn’t dare set up a Maze or any similar Array. This was mainly because Hua Country had its share of powerful individuals who were rumored to frequent mountains rich in Spiritual Energy. If they set up a Maze and were discovered by such people, it would only expose them.

"Sigh, it’s our turn tonight." The two men on watch sat down next to the fire. Even though it was summer, the nights in the deep mountains were still quite chilly, and the campfire provided welcome warmth. They placed a few flatbreads by the edge of the fire to toast them, chatting idly. "It sure gets cold in these mountains."

"Tell me about it." The other man slapped at his arm. "And the mosquitoes are vicious. I’m covered in bites."

"Sigh, me too."

Just then, a faint gray mist, masked by the darkness, began to drift slowly toward the two men. Mist was common in the mountains, so they paid it no mind.

"Hiss... why do I feel a little dizzy?" one of them mumbled, swaying slightly as he looked toward his companion.

However, he saw that his companion didn’t even have time to reply before collapsing to the ground with a THUD.

Seeing this, the dizzy man’s eyes went wide. ’Something’s wrong!’ he thought. But before he could utter another word, he collapsed to the ground just like his companion.

The gray mist continued to spread toward the surrounding tents. By now, the people inside were all fast asleep, and most of them simply fell into a deep stupor without ever waking.

"Who’s there!" As expected of the Great Elders from two different Yin Yang Master Families, Ye Yue Taishun and Sheng Chuanchua were worthy of their titles. Just as Su Qing had predicted, the gray mist had no effect on them at all. Instead, it put them on high alert. They shot out of their tents and scanned their surroundings warily.

"Brother Shengchuan." Ye Yue Taishun checked on the two men by the campfire and frowned. "We’re under attack."

Hearing this, Sheng Chuanchua took a deep breath, looked around, and called out in a loud voice, "Which friend is passing by? We are merely traveling through these mountains and have no intention of making enemies. If you are willing, why not show yourself for a drink? We can all be friends."

At this moment, Shengchuan Gong did not want to reveal their group’s identity, nor did he wish for any further complications. Harmony was paramount. So, even though he was furious at seeing so many of his people unconscious, he could only forcefully suppress his anger.

Su Qing remained silent, observing the two men from a distance. She had already taken down so many of them, so she didn’t mind leaving a few traces. Thus, her assessment of the two was completely unabashed.

Because of this, Ye Yue Taishun and Sheng Chuanchua could distinctly feel someone sizing them up, they just couldn’t pinpoint the person’s location.

"Friend, it’s always better to have another friend than another enemy," Ye Yue Taishun said loudly, cupping his fists. "I’m not sure how we might have offended you, but I ask for your understanding. Why don’t we share a drink and bury the hatchet, what do you say?"

"And how do you propose we ’bury the hatchet’?" Su Qing asked, slowly emerging from the woods. She looked at Ye Yue Taishun and Shengchuan Gong, her clear, cool voice laced with a frosty edge.

"Young lady, we don’t know how we’ve offended you. Why not tell us, so we can clear up this misunderstanding?" Neither Sheng Chuanchua nor Ye Yue Taishun had expected their midnight assailant to be such a young woman. She looked to be no older than twenty.

However, the two of them knew that for cultivators of their level, a youthful appearance was common for those who had achieved a high level of cultivation. For instance, both Sheng Chuanchua and Ye Yue Taishun were actually around seventy years old, but they looked to be in their early forties.

So, even though Su Qing looked young, they didn’t dare underestimate her. While they spoke in placating tones, they remained secretly on guard.

Su Qing just smiled faintly and said nothing more. With a wave of her hand, several vines shot straight toward the two men.

"The Wood Spirit!" Sheng Chuanchua’s eyes widened at Su Qing’s attack, and he cried out. He then drew his blade and slashed aside the vines rushing toward him. "Young lady, let’s talk this out!" he shouted hastily. "If someone on our side has offended you, just say the word! No matter who it was, we’ll make them apologize to you. How about that?"

"That’s right! It’s better to resolve enmity than to create it," Ye Yue Taishun added hurriedly, equally shocked. He dodged the attacking vines with a few quick leaps backward and called out to Su Qing.

"Then I’d rather create it," Su Qing snorted coldly. Lifting her hands, she sent the branches and leaves of the surrounding trees, as well as the wild grasses and vines, flying into the air to envelop Ye Yue Taishun and Shengchuan. At the same time, tightly gripping a longsword formed from condensed branches, she charged them.

Ye Yue Taishun and Sheng Chuanchua were highly skilled, and Su Qing had no intention of giving them a moment’s respite.

"Damn you!" Countless vines and branches whipped viciously at them. Even with all their skill, Ye Yue Taishun and Sheng Chuanchua couldn’t avoid getting a few scratches. Ye Yue Taishun touched the side of his face and saw his hand come away with blood, and fury instantly blazed within him. "We’ve been nothing but courteous to you, but you’re taking this too far! Do you really think we’re afraid of you?"

"Afraid or not, let’s fight first and talk later," Su Qing’s voice was frigid. Her assault didn’t let up in the slightest. She swung her sharp sword down at Ye Yue Taishun while simultaneously flinging a sharp thorn at Sheng Chuanchua.

"If that’s how it is, then don’t blame us two old-timers for ganging up on you!" Hearing Su Qing’s words, Ye Yue Taishun gritted his teeth and snarled. He immediately took out several paper dolls and threw them at Su Qing. At the same time, he began to shake a bell in his hand. As he chanted an incantation, a faint black mist seeped from the bell and flowed toward Su Qing along with the paper dolls.

As the faint black mist enveloped the paper dolls, they began to multiply—one became two, two became four... Soon, the few small paper dolls had split into a countless swarm. Each one bore a ferocious expression, charging at Su Qing with its mouth wide open. From those gaping mouths, one could almost hear the bloodcurdling wails of ghosts.

An ordinary person would have fainted from fright at such a bizarre scene, but Su Qing was no ordinary person. She had witnessed such techniques before from Ye Yuefeng. However, Ye Yue Taishun’s methods were clearly more profound; he even possessed the ability to make his Illusion Realm tangible.