Chapter 83: Sunflare (II)
Even though the Demon Hunters didn’t present much of a threat, it was better to kill them now than leave them alive to create trouble later. The water supernatural elected to clear the field first, then take Li Hao inside for shelter. Even if it was Sunflares dueling each other, ice crystal covers could easily take care of the ensuing ripples. He himself was a Darkmoon, so he ought to be able to protect himself.
Liu Yan flung a vicious glare at Li Hao and grabbed Wu Chao before running off. “Retreat!”
She was pulling back!
“They’re dead meat!” Li Hao hastily said when the supernatural wanted to give chase. “We should hide first. It’s actually better that they run or you’d have to worry about them attacking you inside the crystal cover…”
Time was of the essence and though he didn’t know where the two powerhouses were, the scarlet shadow hadn’t died too far away. He would be in a thorny situation if he was delayed due to fighting Liu Yan.
The water supernatural was indeed a bit suspicious, but the shadow was also truly dead! And while his power was restricted inside an ice crystal cover, it was nothing a Slayer could withstand. Li Hao posed no threat whatsoever, the organization was all too familiar with him!
Though the young man studied martial arts by Yuan Shuo’s side, he knew only the basic New Book of Five Styles after two years. He possessed no offensive capabilities whatsoever and it was only these two days that he came in contact with the supernatural.
Li Hao’s every move and gesture was conducted under the organization’s watchful eye. Their records logged his improvements in the Five Styles. He might have reached Slayer of Two or Three at the most!
The water supernatural couldn’t be bothered to take such a weakling into account. The kid wouldn’t be able to kill him even if he stood there without moving.
The supernatural put everything out of his mind and ignored the Demon Hunters. Closing the door after entering the warehouse, he swiftly ran further in. It was one thing if Li Hao didn’t mention the ice crystals. Now that the supernatural knew about them, he could sense them. Wherever his mysterious power was blocked from probing further was naturally where the ice crystals were.
They quickly reached the rear of the warehouse where a small shipping container was isolated. That should be it!
The supernatural didn’t sense anything amiss after warily scanning the premises. He didn’t care about explosives buried in the ground. Those guys weren’t capable enough to detonate explosives right beneath his nose. Even if they did, they would all die and take Li Hao with them.
It was better to take cover first!
“Are you sure you saw two people?” he said coldly as he pushed the young man into the container. “You’re a lucky one to still be alive. Thankfully you are, or I wouldn’t know how to explain myself. Don’t dream of someone coming to rescue you, Li Hao. Even if there’s a Sunflare from the Night Watchers outside, they’ll understand this time that when it comes to the supernatural, even they are only mundanes. They cannot measure up to the truly mighty supernatural organizations!”
The two fully entered the container. There was indeed a thin layer of ice crystals over it—specifically meant to resist supernatural energy. They provided almost no physical barrier, but mounted a daunting defense to mysterious power.
The water supernatural was inherently opposed to these things, but walked inside after some thought. This material was highly effective against mysterious power, but seeing as he was standing next to them, he could break them at any time. Even if Liu Yan and the others came back, it was a second’s worth of work to smash them.
He wouldn’t have any problems then, other than possibly being unable to withstand the aftershocks of two dueling powerhouses.
“Vice Captain Liu!” Chen Jian couldn’t help but raise when they left the vicinity of the warehouse. Were they really leaving? What about Li Hao?!
Liu Yan stopped and looked worriedly at the structure in the distance.
“It’s fine.” She set her jaw. “He wants to do so. Darkmoons are more difficult to handle than we expected! It’s too hard for us to take the enemy down in a frontal assault without the chief being here. The kid… probably wants to lure him into the ice crystal cover and ambush him when his powers are restricted!”
She grasped Li Hao’s intention when he didn’t resist being taken captive. He wanted to lure the enemy to the appropriate spot and then ambush him!
Liu Yan didn’t want to consider how dangerous that might be. Darkmoons, even somewhat restricted, were not an existence that the young man could manage. The exchange earlier helped the team understand that they wouldn’t be able to kill the guy even by working together.
Inside the shipping container.
The water supernatural was on high alert and kept his ears cocked for a disturbance, but all was quiet!
Nothing disrupted the night.
He looked skeptically at Li Hao. Had the kid really come across a fight between two super powerhouses?
The young man jumped when he saw the gaze trained on him. He quickly threw away the gun at his waistband. “Don’t be mistaken, I didn’t intend on shooting!”
He quickly threw both hands in the air. “Seriously! Search me if you don’t believe me! Also, I don’t know what the sword of the Lis is, but I have a short sword on me. I don’t know if it’s that sword… You can have it if you want it!”
The sword of the Lis?
The supernatural blinked, his thoughts hadn’t wandered in that direction at all. This was the item that the organization wanted! Right, isn’t it on this kid?
Growing agitated, he stalked over to Li Hao. The young man raised his hands high in return and was the very picture of biddability. He didn’t dare move and pointed to his stomach with his chin, worried about the enemy killing him.
“The sword’s by my stomach. I don’t know if it’s what you guys want, but can you spare me if you take it? I’m just a mortal. There’s nothing in it for you guys if you kill me. I can even work for you! My teacher’s Yuan Shuo—he’s a very strong Sunderer!”
“Hah!” snorted the supernatural with equal parts sarcasm and contempt. He felt the area by Li Hao’s stomach—it did indeed bulge. There was a weapon there!
The sword of the Lis?
The supernatural took out the short sword that Li Hao had looted from the martial master and held it in his hand. This was when fear gripped the young man. What if the guy had seen the weapon before and recognized it?
Thank goodness he seemed to be assessing it cautiously and indicated nothing amiss.
“The sword of the Lis?” The perplexed supernatural toyed with the sword. So this was what the organization wanted? It was so ordinary—there was no mysterious power in it that he could sense.
Well, that was to be expected. It’d flown under the radar before because it was so ordinary; it would’ve long been discovered otherwise. The supernatural hefted it and suddenly asked, “Are you sure this is the sword of the Lis?”
“I don’t know!” Li Hao quickly said. “I really don’t! I didn't even know the saying until a few days ago! This is the only item in my family that might have something to do with that sword… Here, I’ll show you where there’s a small line of writing on it. Maybe it’s what you guys are looking for…”
The man studied it carefully but didn’t see anything. Is the kid lying? Or do I really not see it?
He walked over with the sword; Li Hao remained with his hands high in the air. The supernatural smirked with amusement. What a nice little boy. Too bad you’re still going to die! The organization wants your life in addition to the sword!
“Point the hilt at me… I’ll show you… Ah forget it, I won’t move, so don’t misunderstand…”
Who the hell cares if you move or not? I wouldn’t be worried of you doing anything even if you don’t have your hands raised.
The impatient supernatural drew closer. After some hesitation, the young man put a hand down and pointed at the hilt.
“Right there, take a close look. You can see writing there…”
The man subconsciously looked at the handle… and sensed something in the next second. Was that… a third hand he saw? Was he seeing things?
No! There really was a third hand!
The Hand That Brings Back Life!
Li Hao had used the same technique on the Sunderer and now repeated this very useful technique from his teacher. It might be less effective on women, but for men… Whether it was supernaturals or martial masters, their defenses were the weakest down there. The key thing was that it really hurt when the area was crushed!
It was unbelievably painful!
Those who weren’t men could not understand how even an accidental bump would leave one howling on the floor.
Within the ice crystal dome, supernatural power was suppressed to its weakest. There was plainly none protecting the crotch.
Balloons popped, eggs cracked, and bubbles burst. Such sounds rang in the shipping container.
The supernatural subconsciously lowered his head, then sobbed like any mortal would. He fell to his knees!
His mysterious power started drifting away!
Li Hao swiftly grabbed the sword that the other had taken, stabbing downward. Not at the throat or brain, but the shoulder!
“AHH!” screamed the supernatural. Pain and more pain!
Nothing stopped Li Hao’s blow and the blade sank into flesh. He… could see.
Indeed, this was his greatest ace. He could see mysterious power, so he could see where it was the thinnest and easiest to pierce through. The enemy’s heart, throat, and eyes teemed with energy. None of that had dispersed. If he attacked those spots, he might be harmed by backlash instead.
Most mundanes, even martial masters, would think to attack these vital points first. Li Hao refused!
Stony ruthlessness glinting in his eyes, the young man stabbed the blade into an unprotected shoulder. The blade ripped downward and carved off an entire arm off the supernatural!
The overwhelming agony further dispersed the enemy’s power.
Li Hao continued with a strike at the waist!
“AHH!!” The supernatural screamed again and again, also with disbelief that Li Hao’s every stroke attacked him where his defenses were weakest. His remaining hand could not be spared for his crotch anymore. It barely managed to blossom with power and condense a blade of water.
Even though his manhood was crushed, his arm severed, and his waist bleeding profusely, he still had enough fight left to swing at the young man’s head!