Su An gave a few choked sobs, and handed a cloth bag to Jiang Chao Ge. He held Jiang Chao Ge’s hand, “Big Brother, take care!”
Jiang Chao Ge patted him forcefully, “Take care.”
Under the watch of Su An, the two took advantage of the night to run towards the east door of Hu An City.
Meng Sheng said: “Can the manager of the pawn shop really draw people towards the harbour? What if he really planned to help you get out of the city?”
“The probability that he betrayed me is more that 70%. Even if he really wanted to help me get out of the city, setting sail when the whole city is under curfew, he definitely can’t have the final say. As long as he finds other people to help, this matter will be impossible to conceal. There are plenty of people that want the reward Prince Shu offered. The harbour definitely already has people lying in wait for us.”
Meng Sheng took a deep breath, “This plan of yours is too daring. Can we really escape?”
Jiang Chao Ge shook his head: “Do all we can, listen to fate. Old Meng, if I can’t escape, don’t worry about me. Think of a way to escape yourself. Based on the point that I can pick up Zhi Xuan Sword, Prince Shu also won’t kill me for a short while. You are different.”
Meng Sheng was silent for a while, then nodded.
Hu An City had six city gates, two big four small. The East Gate is one of the city gates with the largest flow of people and was heavily guarded. Right now, because Yu Ren Shu was hunting for them in the whole city, pedestrians on the street were rare. Every individual that enters or exits the city must accept a strict inspection.
Jiang Chao Ge glanced at Meng Sheng, “Old Meng, it’s up to you.” He opened the bag Su An had prepared for him, tipping all the contents of the bag onto the ground with a crash. It was actually hundreds of bone sculptures with all shapes and sizes.
Meng Sheng sighed: “I have never summoned this many beast spirits at once before.” He closed his eyes and concentrated, taking a deep breath. That pile of bone sculptures simultaneously emitted a white light. Suddenly, cattle, hunting dogs, sheep and horses ran out one after another from the spirit tool. The few pedestrians on the street were all scared stiff and fled to either side in succession.
Those hundreds of spirit tools have turned into hundreds of domestic animals and for a moment, they moved like wild animals. Although they didn’t have the power of ten thousand stampeding horses, it was chaotic enough. They charged around violently on the street, and ran towards the East Gate under Meng Sheng’s control.
This move was originally tested when Meng Sheng helped him leave the outer gates of the imperial capital. Jiang Chao Ge wanted to make Yu Ren Shu think that they were playing an old trick and concentrate people at the harbour and the East Gate. But they would escape the city through a small gate at the side. As long as it can delay them for half an hour, it would be enough for them to escape.
After releasing a hundred spirit beasts, Meng Sheng’s complexion became slightly pale.
Jiang Chao Ge used his spiritual power and summoned a horse. He recalled that when he’d just arrived, seeing Yu Ren Shu do such a thing made him feel extremely surprised. He didn’t expect that in less than three months later, he also possessed this strange ability, even if it was very weak.
He pulled Meng Sheng onto the horse. The two ran into a small alley towards a nearby side gate.
The side gate was before their eyes. The dozen or so guards that kept watch at the gate saw them rushing towards them and had long since taken precautions, each suddenly revealing weapons and there was also some people who summoned two Earth grade spirit beasts.
Meng Sheng said: “Little Jiang, you haven’t seen my spirit beast yet right?”
Jiang Chao Ge smiled: “Let me broaden my horizons today.”
Meng Sheng kicked the sides of the horse, vaulting off the horse, simultaneously unsheathing a sharp sword. He shouted: “The name of this sword is Broken Soul, my spirit beast is a…. Rhinoceros!” He had barely finished speaking when a white light flashed faintly. A huge, pitch black creature out of thin air in the air. Meng Sheng’s falling body just happened to land on its body!
Jiang Chao Ge stared at it. That was a rhinoceros shaped wild beast even bigger than a fully grown elephant. It’s head was similar to a pig yet it had three sharp horns. It’s legs were similar to that of an elephant yet it only had three legs. However, the single leg at the front was as thick as two hind legs added together, making it very fast when it ran. This wild beast was strange and ferocious and weighed quite a few tones. The ground shook in accordance to its steps. When the guards saw it, their faces changed abruptly.
After being dumbfounded, Jiang Chao Ge began to roar with laughter: “Old Meng, you really are something!” He roared with the imposing manner of a rainbow: “People who give way won’t be killed!”
The two Earth grade spirit beasts rushed over under the encouragement of spirit weapon users. But the volume of those two ape shaped spirit beasts were significantly smaller than the rhinoceros. They were ruthlessly knocked away as soon as they neared the rhinoceros.
Meng Sheng flipped down from the body of the rhinoceros, stabbing towards an enemy. Swords collide on the battlefield, colliding into ice cold sparks, yet that sword seemed to have additional strength, actually colliding ruthlessly with enemies.
Jiang Chao Ge recalled the horse and took out the Zhi Xuan Sword on his back. Although he could only hack, cut, stab and pick, fighting with all he had, had always been one of specialities. Ever since he transmigrated into this awful place, he had always repressed his feelings of resentment and anger. Right now he just happened to have an opportunity to vent his feelings.
A guard rushed towards him. Jiang Chao Ge felt sweat appear in the palm of his hand that held the sword. He walked forward several steps, his arm seemed to have a sort of intention. Having long since memorised the moves he repeated thousands of times, he brandished Zhi Xuan Sword and cut across horizontally.
The guard raised his sword to block, yet there was a power that oozed from Zhi Xuan Sword. The guard flew out more than ten metres like a kite that had lost its string.
Jiang Chao Ge looked at the sword in his hand, extremely surprised. This couldn’t possibly be his strength. At least, it couldn’t be the strength of his previous self.
“Everyone be careful! That’s a Heaven grade spirit weapon!”
Jiang Chao Ge really wanted to be like Meng Sheng, able to summon a big, all rounded powerful rare beast at once. Unfortunately, right now, he could only summon a red bean.
However, he must still be imposing enough. He put on a serious expression, eyes as sharp as hawks, glaring fiercely at the guards. When he was around ten years old, he threatened to hurt and kill everyday on the road, training a entire outer mask of courage. It also allowed that vicious air around him to be deeply buried in his marrow. Once released, it definitely wasn’t bearable for ordinary people. He said coldly: “People who give way, won’t be killed!”
The faces of all the young guards had changed. They were already fearful of the power of Heaven grade spirit weapons from the start. This man was both imposing and alarming and with the addition of the rhinoceros charging around violently, their morale had already failed them.
Meng Sheng stretched out a hand to Jiang Chao Ge, “Get on!”
Jiang Chao Ge borrowed his strength and jumped, sitting on the back of the rhinoceros.
With a wave of Meng Sheng’s long sword, an invisible force flew out, ripping one Earth grade spirit beast ahead into two halves. Although a spirit beast wouldn’t die again, the blood that sprayed out wasn’t ambiguous at all, filling the whole sky with a bloody mist. No one ever dared touch them again. The rhinoceros rushed them out of the city gate with one move.
Jiang Chao Ge’s heart beat extremely fast. He grabbed the thick coarse hair of the rhinoceros, almost getting jolted off of it several times. He was very concerned with how the rhinoceros could keep its balance with one front leg and two hind legs. But seeing as it running faster than a horse, it was obvious that he was overly anxious.
Jiang Chao Ge was faced with the wind and yelled near Meng Sheng’s ear: “Where are we going?”
Meng Sheng said: “I plan to go to the north. I have friends there.” He paused and said anxiously: “If we can escape.”
“The rhinoceros is so fast, Yu Ren Shu shouldn’t be able to catch up for a short while.”
Meng Sheng shook his head, “Last time, I specially researched Zheng in the Rare Beast Records. Zheng’s are extremely fast. I also don’t know how fast it actually is. I hope that we don’t get an opportunity to know.”
After fleeing for more than two hours, Meng Sheng’s spiritual power somewhat couldn’t keep up. The waist of the two also hurt like it was about to fall apart. They were on a comfortable horse after all. Being on a rhinoceros, one needed to use the strength of their arms, waist and legs all the time in order to ensure they wouldn’t be thrown off.
The speed of the rhinoceros began to slow, Jiang Chao Ge said: “Should we summon a horse?”
Meng Sheng shook his head, “Horses are too slow.”
Jiang Chao Ge looked at Meng Sheng’s tired face and felt very tormented in his heart. He could serve Zhi Xuan that little brat, helping him wear clothes and hats. In order to reach his goal he could bow and submit or stand tall, yet he could not accept that he was weak in all respects and needed to receive other people’s protection, especially being protected by that of an old man over 60 years old. For him, it was like he couldn’t get anything to eat himself and had to rely on woman support him. It simultaneously made him feel even more shameful and also that he feel profoundly short of Meng Sheng, “Old Meng, it’ll probably be very hard for you to return to the house in Hu An City in the future.”
Meng Sheng sighed and nodded.
“Old Meng, if it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have caused this much trouble in the first place. What I, Jiang Chao Ge, owe you will definitely be repaid within my remaining life.”
Meng Sheng’s body stiffened and turned around to glance at Jiang Chao Ge. He moves his lips, wanting to say something but then hesitated. In the end, he still opened his mouth and said: “Little Jiang, you’re not completely a good person but you’re also not a bad person. If we didn’t meet under such circumstances, we will definitely become friends.”
Jiang Chao Ge felt that what he said was somewhat strange, but he didn’t have the time to think more deeply about it when a strange screeching sound traveled through the air. That sound was ear piercingly sharp, making people’s hair stand on end.
Meng Sheng’s expression changed significantly. The two looked up. A huge bird flew across in the pitch black night, the round full moon casting light across its shadow. One could faintly make out that it was a snakelike rare beast, but it had grown four wings.
Meng Sheng released spiritual power with all his might. The speed of the rhinoceros was somewhat frantic. They rushed through the forest, even Jiang Chao Ge was afraid to open his mouth to ask. He feared that as soon as he divides his attention, he will be thrown off but even if he didn’t ask he also knew if it was foe or friend. Could it be Prince Shu’s people?
That huge bird flew closer and closer, lower and lower. When Jiang Chao Ge realised that it’s wingspan was more than 30 metres, he felt a unprecedented fear. The body of that huge bird was like a huge python, a long tongue flicking out of its mouth with six feet four wings. The black scales on its body seemed very cold and ferocious in the moonlight. He roared loudly: “What is that!”
Meng Sheng didn’t have time to answer his question at all and only controlled the rhinoceros to continuously flee in the forest, evading that huge bird.
The huge bird flew over the forest. It’s speed was originally extremely fast, but because its body was huge, its speed was affected by the low undergrowth and temporarily couldn’t overtake them.
Jiang Chao Ge lifted his head to look, and vaguely caught sight of someone on the huge bird yet he was unable to see clearly. He once again shouted loudly: “Old Meng, what the hell is that?!”
“Fei Yi, Heaven grade spirit weapon.”
Jiang Chao Ge’s heart tightened, “What type of person is the spirit weapon user!”
“I don’t have time to speak rubbish with you!”
Jiang Chao Ge lifted his head again and only saw the Fei Yi climbing higher and swiftly flying forward a few hundred metres, surpassing them. Then, a shadow of a person jumped down from the Fei Yi. That man threw out a flying claw, seizing a thick branch and with a swing of his body, the claw loosened, his entire person swung towards them.
Jiang Chao Ge pulled out Zhi Xuan Sword, waiting for the man to swing over so that he could slice him in half across the waist.
The man once again threw out the flying claw, yanking the chain fiercely. The flying claw tightened, stopping his body. He relied on only that flying claw, flying through the forest as if he had grown wings. And that Fei Yi remained in the sky, cooperating with him from afar, eventually giving them no way of escape, trapping them beside a small river.
The Fei Yi landed not far from them. The man also swung over from the forest. The Fei Yi stretched out a claw, catching the man steadily and placing him on the ground.
The face of the rhinoceros was ferocious, emitting heavy snorting noises from its nose yet it’s three legs instinctively moved backwards. Jiang Chao Ge could feel its fear.
Meng Sheng shouted angrily: “Shen Yan Sui!”
“Old man Meng.” Shen Yan Sui removed the cloth on his face, revealing a thin face. His eye sockets were deeply set, gaze gloomy and sinister. One could tell at a glance that he was not to be messed with, “Didn’t think it would really be you.”
“How did you find it here?”
Shen Yan Sui smiled coldly, “How I know, there is no need to tell you. Is that the Other World Person? Other World Person, come with me. I promise to keep you alive.”
Jiang Chao Ge said coldly: “Who are you?”
“I am the left general of the Ming Yin Association, Shen Yan Sui.”
“Ming Yin Association?”
Shen Yan Sui narrowed his eyes, “Don’t tell me you don’t know the Ming Yin Association?”
“Do I have a reason I must know?”
Shen Yan Sui laughed out loud and said: “That old man by your side, is a traitor of the Ming Yin Association.”
Meng Sheng snorted coldly, “I’m not a traitor of the Ming Yin Association, I’m a planted agent.”
“Yes, you are truly friendly when you help the Other World Person. Sir Chief treated you without belittlement, you actually cheated away a Heaven grade spirit weapon. Now you want to play the same trick again and cheat away this Heaven grade spirit weapon to your organisation?”
Jiang Chao Ge was startled but he wouldn’t be randomly provoked by others and only said: “I’m not interested in the grudges between you, but I definitely can’t go with you.”
Shen Yan Sui smiled: “What? You don’t believe? Doesn’t this old man do such small favours? Letting you trust him, teaching you how to cultivate your spiritual power yet not allow you to form a contract with the spirit weapon?”
Jiang Chao Ge’s face changed slightly, “Forming a contract?”
Meng Sheng looked towards Jiang Chao Ge, “Don’t listen to him sowing dissension. You definitely can’t go with him. He only needs to bring your Zhi Xuan Sword back to Ming Yin Association, then he will kill you.”
Jiang Chao Ge had already become vigilant. He realised that he might have neglected a concept. No, it should be said that Meng Sheng deliberately did not tell him, that is what Shen Yan Sui said about forming a contract. Meng Sheng once said that a contract could only be formed between a spirit weapon user and a Heaven grade spirit weapon if their spiritual awareness was compatible. He had always that since he was compatible with Zhi Xuan Sword, he was already considered the spirit weapon user of Zhi Xuan. However, according to Shen Yan Sui’s statement, forming a contract was obviously a specific procedure, and he had yet to complete it.
Shen Yan Sui said coldly: “I won’t kill a spirit weapon user that is compatible with a Heaven grade spirit weapon, but today, I will eliminate a pest for the Ming Yin Association!” He shouted, “Ying Ji, I’ll leave that rhinoceros to you!”
That Fei Yi let out the laugh of a human, voice magnificent yet revealing a deep coldness, “Such thick skin, don’t know if it’s tasty or not.” As it was talking, it had already flew upwards, throwing itself at the rhinoceros.
Meng Sheng took out Po Hun Sword. Jiang Chao Ge hesitated briefly, and ultimately still lifted Zhi Xuan Sword. No matter how much Meng Sheng was open to doubt, he also could not trust a stranger.
Shen Yan Sui didn’t care much about Meng Sheng and Jiang Chao Ge at all. With a shake of Ying Ji Claw in his hands, the interlocking mechanism on the chain was activated. That flying claw rose and fell like the spine of a snake, sharp claws flying towards Meng Sheng.
Meng Sheng blocked with his long sword. Ying Ji Claw caught onto the blade of the sword. Shen Yan Sui gave a tug and the chain became dead straight, the flying claw tightened, hooking firmly onto the blade of the sword. The two were deadlocked for half a second. Meng Sheng cut down with his sharp sword, slicing at the chain. That chain was only as thick as two fingers yet it was indestructible. Shen Yan Sui borrowed that power and twisted, winding the chain around the sword. He pulled backwards with a sudden force. Meng Sheng grasped the sword with both hands, resisting, face bright red.
Jiang Chao Ge naturally wouldn’t miss such an opportunity, lifting the sword and slicing towards Shen Yan Sui. Shen Yan Sui turned his body and avoided it, forced to release Ying Ji Claw. As soon as Po Hun Sword was free from its shackles, Meng Sheng once again launched an attack. The long sword became a blur of sword sparks, stabbing towards Shen Yan Sui.
On the other side, the battle between two rare beasts was fierce and savage. The body of Ying Ji was no less than three times that of the rhinoceros and it could also fly. Although the fur of the rhinoceros was coarse and thick, faced with a millennium old rare beast of a way higher grade than itself, both its heart and body was afraid. In addition, Meng Sheng’s spiritual power was not of help. The rhinoceros was far from being an opponent to Ying Ji. After no more than a few moves, it’s eye was gorged out by Ying Ji’s sharp claws. At the same time, the sharp horn of the rhinoceros also stabbed into the scales of Ying Ji. Ying Ji roared with anger, and with a pull of its sharp claws, practically half of the rhinoceros’s face was utterly scratched. Ying Ji waved its sharp claws, tearing at the body of the rhinoceros. That scene was like a ferocious beast preying on prey, bloodstains flying everywhere.
Meng Sheng had no choice but to take it back. Although spirit beasts could not die, actually it also couldn’t be injured. As long as he had spiritual power, the spirit beast would always be at its best. But now, his spiritual power was of no help. He really did not have the heart to watch his spirit beast continue to be tortured.
As soon as the rhinoceros was taken back, Jiang Chao Ge knew that their loss was imminent. Ying Ji was already flying towards them, yet they had no strength to defend against it.
Meng Sheng was still battling with Shen Yan Sui. Jiang Chao Ge lifted Zhi Xuan Sword, facing Ying Ji directly. His arm shook slightly. Faced with a rare beast as large as a whale, how could he have any chance of winning?
Unexpectedly, Ying Ji did not rush to attack him and instead tilted its head to the side and said curiously: “What type of spirit beast is it? Feels so strange.”
Jiang Chao Ge said: “Its a unimaginably powerful spirit beast.”
Ying Ji hissed, flicking its tongue out confidently, “Call him out. I have to see how powerful it actually is.”
Jiang Chao Ge said coldly: “He doesn’t think it’s worth battling with you, I am enough.”
Ying Ji narrowed a pair of sinister snake eyes, “Yan Sui, can I eat humans?”
“No, keep him alive. His spiritual power is very weak and is unable to summon spirit beasts. You just have to capture him.” Shen Yan Sui flew up, body flitting between the tree trunks. Then he released the flying claw, attacking Meng Sheng from the sky.
Ying Ji began to laugh heartily, “As it turns out, your spiritual power is too weak, you can’t even summon it.” He gave a long loud cry and flew towards Jiang Chao Ge. Those four wings caused wind, blowing Jiang Chao Ge to the point that he trembled with terror. He felt that he was most likely crazy. If he could run, he would definitely turn tail and run.
Ying Ji’s sharp claws stretched towards Jiang Chao Ge, soon about to grab Jiang Chao Ge with one move.
Jiang Chao Ge gave a loud shout, lifting his sword and stabbing forwards. Ying Ji didn’t pay attention at all that that one stab. His whole body was covered with hard scales. Spirit weapon users with weak spiritual power couldn’t possibly harm him even if they were using a Heaven grade spirit weapon.
But the other thing he didn’t expect was, Jiang Chao Ge suddenly poured all his spiritual power into the sword. The sword sliced downwards, exerting all his strength. Ying Ji suddenly felt a huge pressure attack him. That pressure did not come from the strike of Jiang Chao Ge but rather from the sword itself! Ying Ji’s heart became frightened. Faced with such pressure, he felt a unprecedented sense of unfamiliarity. It was like there was something hidden in that sword, giving him a feeling of powerlessness. For a moment, he was seized with terror and did not evade. That one strike from Jiang Chao Ge had already chopped off a finger!
Ying Ji gave a angry roar, yet his body retreated backgrounds uncontrollably. The instant he was touched by the sword, that invisible pressure was magnified several times, making his heart feel fearful. He was unable to understand, why would the same Heaven grade spirit weapon as him produce such… fear?!
Shen Yan Sui obviously also didn’t think that Ying Ji would get injured. Jiang Chao Ge’s spiritual power was not only weak, his combat power also seemed weak. How could he possible injure Ying Ji? In his moment of distraction, Meng Sheng lacerated his arm with his sword.
Shen Yan Sui jumped away quickly, angrily: “Ying Ji, what’s going on!”
Ying Ji’s voice was somewhat confused, “This isn’t right, this isn’t right! ”
Jiang Chao Ge also didn’t think that he would really be able to injure the huge bird, but he poured out all his spiritual power at once. This time, he was so tired he could barely lift the sword. He forced himself to control the shaking in his arm, and forced himself to bluff: “I said it before, it is something you cannot imagine!”
Ying Ji’s golden snake eyes were filled with a complicated feeling. He said once word at a time: “What. In. The. World. Is. It!”
Jiang Chao Ge shouted out the answer Zhi Xuan gave him in a loud voice, “You’re not qualified to know!”
“Ng ah…..” a pained cry could be heard.
Jiang Chao Ge’s body stiffened. He turned his head abruptly and saw Shen Yan Sui’s flying claw seize the hollow of Meng Sheng’s shoulder. That chain became dead straight. The flying claw squeezed tighter and tighter, ferociously sinking into the flesh.
“Old Meng!”
Jiang Chao Ge rushed over, lifting the sword and striking at the chain. Shen Yan Sui retracted the claw, ruthlessly tearing out a chunk of flesh from Meng Sheng’s shoulder!
Fresh blood gushed forth.
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Fei Yi/肥闖 the appearance of this strange monster like snake differs depending on legend and place. This book refers to the legend that says it has four wings, six feet and seeing it means there is chaos. In other legends it’s said to have one head and two bodies, while others say it’s similar to a quail with a yellow body and red lips, eating it is said to cure leprosy and kill parasites in the body. So… basically this monster snake can bring chaos or be the greatest cure you could ask for… Chinese mythology is strange I know, I agree.
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