Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 1019: Chapter 63: Where in the World Is the Path to Immortality? (25)

An encounter like this, it’s a brutally mutual hacking approach… because real battles are not turn-based.

The sound of clashing swords rang endlessly, yet the only remnants lingering in the air were the sparks left from the collision of each side’s weapons.

This speed completely surpasses the dynamic vision that an ordinary human can capture.

Centered around this business vehicle, destruction spread continuously in the street’s surroundings. There were many cracks and gaping holes appearing on the road.

Had it not been a small town, had there not been an absence of traffic early tonight due to a special day, this level of destruction might have already caused chaos outside, right?

Of course, the dense fog played a part in it.

Sitting inside the car was Gongsun Shiyu, his eyes closed, relying on his hearing alone to capture the state of battle between Gongsun Zhishui and the white-haired woman – three minutes had passed.

Their battle was showing a deadlock: difficult to determine a winner… this was somewhat beyond Gongsun Shiyu’s expectations.

Within the Qian Department, and even among the ‘Golden Sword War Generals’, Zhishui was outstanding. His strength was undeniable – even facing a true dragon, it wasn’t truly as weak as it appeared.

Precisely because he understands Gongsun Zhishui’s strength, Gongsun Shiyu regards this white-haired woman with a different view – in strict terms, the Gongsun Clan has already transcended ordinary human concepts, despite still being human, the power they possess is non-human.

This is not the martial arts passed down in China… rather, it seems some ancient Goryeo swordsmanship influences can be seen, while the fighting style leans more toward a fusion of Western sword and insular country swordsmanship.

“The body strength clearly differs greatly from Zhishui… the battle seems to have been nurtured in slaughter, tactile sense is exceptionally acute.” Gongsun Shiyu lowered the car window, observing the golden sparks continuously bursting in the air, “Is it that odd weapon?”

It isn’t impossible, a powerful weapon inherently contains great power, able to grant extraordinary power to its wielder – among these, naturally, China’s Xuanyuan Sword is the cream of the crop.

As one who returned to ancestral roots, having the partial privilege to wield China’s Xuanyuan Sword, Gongsun Shiyu is quite aware of to what extent he can reach aided by a divine artifact.

Four minutes thirty seconds have passed.

The battling parties suddenly halted.

Gongsun Zhishui glanced at his sword-wielding arm – seeing at his raised sleeves, a palm-length wound was now visible.

As for Nero not far off, another cut had been added to her body – a fingertip-length bright red streak on her left cheek.

“Young man, five minutes are almost up, aren’t we continuing?” Nero whistled.

“I apologize, I underestimated you.” Gongsun Zhishui paused in silence before slowly raising the peculiar weapon in his hand again, “Next, I will give it my all.”

“Very much looking forward to it.”

Nero, delighted, assumed a battle stance once more.

But at that moment, within the car, Gongsun Shiyu suddenly said, “Enough.”

At the same time, Gongsun Shiyu stretched his arm out the car window, and a sharp and unstoppable Sword Qi shot out at that moment.

The Sword Qi exploded with terrifying brilliance, sweeping past Gongsun Zhishui in an instant – it was the radiance that seemed to slice through everything!

As the sword light arrived, Nero instinctively swung the Yama Sword to defend – but she was too slow.

Her pupils slightly widened, the sword light swept across her body, effortlessly, severing an arm which fell to the ground.

After severing Nero’s sword-wielding right arm, the sword light flew several meters away, directly slicing through a parked private car by the roadside before gradually dissipating.

Clang.

The Yama Sword fell to the ground, producing a crisp sound, as blood spurted from Nero’s severed arm, and simultaneously, she directly spat out a mouthful of bloody bile.

It wasn’t merely that her right arm was severed; the sword light’s impact even damaged her internal organs.

“Indeed, your power merely comes from this odd sword.” Gongsun Shiyu opened the car door, slowly walked out, “Without the sword’s support, your body is merely slightly stronger than the average person.”

Nero clutched the wound on her severed arm, her disheveled hair covering half of her face.

Gongsun Zhishui glanced at the distant private car sliced open… it seemed there were people inside.

But he merely frowned, not saying anything, he immediately dissipated the ancient sword that flickered with lightning in his hand, then stood behind Gongsun Shiyu.

“This sword is quite interesting, I’m a bit intrigued.” Gongsun Shiyu said indifferently, “Offer it along with the items you stole, and I might let you leave. As for the arm, if you leave immediately, there’s still a chance for reattachment; of course, whether it can function normally depends on your own fate. Consider these as the consequences of your theft.”

“It’s such an infuriating victor’s tone to listen to,” Nero said calmly, her head lowered, “But it’s something inevitable; after all, the loser is me. As the defeated, there’s really no ground to refute…”

“Oh?” Gongsun Shiyu glanced over, “Seems you’re accustomed to the rule where losing equals losing everything.”

“Probably, like this much?” Nero stretched out her blood-stained palm, daintily measuring a small distance between her index finger and thumb.

But her face was pale, her lips stained red by blood, and the blood from the severed arm continued to flow… this short period’s blood loss was already substantial.

“A personality flaw, perhaps…” Gongsun Shiyu frowned slightly, then said indifferently, “Offer the items up, talking further merely wastes your time.”

Seconds later, Nero spat another mouthful of blood, her entire body bending over, finally collapsing to the ground in pain.

Her expression was extremely anguished, to the extent that numerous green-tinged veins surfaced on her face.

Nero’s pupils seemed dimmer at the moment.

She struggled to retrieve something from the inner pocket of her clothing… it was a flat box.

But her body appeared out of control, the box was not firmly held, falling… the flat box opened, spilling many capsules.

Nero instinctively reached out to grab.

However, at this moment, Gongsun Shiyu also stretched out his hand in the Void, a formless force promptly carried these capsules to his hand.

Nero’s grasp missed, her complexion paled further, she raised her head, seeing the figures of Gongsun Shiyu and Gongsun Zhishui ahead becoming increasingly blurred… suddenly, Nero collapsed directly onto the ground, her body twitching uncontrollably.

“Could it be some kind of mysterious illness?” Gongsun Zhishui furrowed his brow at this moment.

Gongsun Shiyu glanced at the capsules in his hand and said, “Go ahead and take both the items and the people with you. I’m somewhat interested in the origin of this sword.”

Gongsun Zhishui nodded and proceeded towards the collapsed Nero.

Unexpectedly, just as he was about to reach Nero, something seemed to rush rapidly towards him from both the left and the right.

Gongsun Zhishui frowned, discovering that the things rushing towards him were two peculiar Blackhounds… Their eyes glowed with an eerie green light, making them look rather sinister.

The two Blackhounds bit into Gongsun Zhishui’s legs from either side, hindering his movement.

Gongsun Zhishui let out a cold snort, and a flash of white flame surged from his body, instantly repelling the two Blackhounds. They were flung back but disappeared abruptly in midair, replaced by two torn talismans.

Meanwhile, a young man with dyed blonde hair and holding a Black Wooden Sword appeared beside Nero… Mo Mo.

“Are you an accomplice of this woman?” Gongsun Zhishui furrowed his brow again… Judging by his technique, he seemed to be a descendant of the Yin-Yang Dao.

However, there were several families in China proficient in using the powers of Yin-Yang and the supernatural, making it difficult to deduce this young man’s origin for the moment.

“Not an accomplice, just happened to cross paths once,” Mo Mo said, glancing at the unfocused Nero, also furrowing his brow… Just a day ago, this dangerous girl was having a meal with him in a small diner.

“Crossed paths?” Gongsun Zhishui seemed to be assessing the credibility of this statement, “And yet you come to her rescue… Is it a sense of justice?”

“Speaking of justice, this woman’s hands are also stained with blood, perhaps to the extent that she wouldn’t be missed. But…” Mo Mo shook his head, “But you all aren’t any better either.”

“Do you even know where we come from?” Gongsun Zhishui said indifferently.

Mo Mo, however, responded with a grim face, “I don’t care where you come from… I just know that none of you show any mercy, even to innocent passersby. The person behind you just sent a family of three from that car on their way with a single Sword Qi… Don’t you realize that? Do you know… they might have been on their way home, perhaps with elders waiting for them at home… waiting for them to have a reunion dinner, a year’s wait, a lifetime… and you wiped them out with one sword strike?”

“They’re just expendables that aren’t even qualified for reincarnation,” Gongsun Shiyu said indifferently, “This woman stole our items, I’m merely retrieving them, don’t meddle in our affairs… Zhishui, get rid of him.”

Gongsun Zhishui nodded, flipping his palm as a Longsword crackling with lightning slowly emerged from his hand, “Thunder is the nemesis of the Yin-Yang, supernatural, and ghostly ways… You’d better leave this place of trouble soon.”

Immense pressure…

Even Nero, who was already knocked down, once instilled great terror in Mo Mo, and the man in front of him was equally powerful enough to draw with Nero… As for the man behind him, he just injured Nero to the brink of death with a single Sword Qi.

Cold sweat trickled down Mo Mo’s forehead and neck… Indeed, he shouldn’t be involved in this matter, but before rationality could take control, his body was already moving.

Especially after witnessing the moment the sword light cleaved through the private car, the moment the family of three on the car were torn apart… This was what he had seen as he followed the sound in the dense fog.

“It seems you don’t intend to retreat, then there’s no helping it.” Gongsun Zhishui slowly wielded the ancient sword in his hand, “Let’s settle this with strength then.”

Unable to win… even the hope of escape appeared rather faint.

Despite this, Mo Mo gritted his teeth, holding tightly onto the Black Wooden Sword in his hands, his entire mana fluctuating as he faced Gongsun Zhishui.

One sword strike came.

The unmatched killing intent instantly made Mo Mo’s hands stiff… He recalled that whether before descending the mountain or while cultivating on it, he had never engaged in a battle of this magnitude—not even once, except for a trial bout with Young Master Baihu Huang Baifu, and that was merely experimental in nature.

Confronting life and death, this was the feeling… Facing a true God Slayer, his resolve turned out to be so fragile.

Mo Mo bit the tip of his tongue hard, struggling to move his arm, blocking Gongsun Zhishui’s sword with the wooden sword.

But then came Gongsun Zhishui’s second swift sword slash!

Couldn’t block it… could only dodge it!

The thought of retreating surged in Mo Mo’s mind. However, at that instant, Gongsun Zhishui suddenly retracted his sword, not only halting his attack but even leaping back, creating some distance between himself and Mo Mo.

At that moment, Gongsun Zhishui wore a serious expression and suddenly spoke in a deep voice, “Who is this powerful being?”

These words were directed at me… No, behind me!

Mo Mo abruptly turned around, and standing behind him was the most beautiful face he had ever seen.

A lavish black and white maid outfit, an eternally serene and tranquil smile… the maid from the senior shopkeeper’s establishment.

“It’s you… how come…” Mo Mo was so surprised that he was at a loss for words.

“We meet again, Mr. Mo Mo.” The maid smiled slightly at this moment, “Could you please step aside for a moment?”

Mo Mo was momentarily taken aback, then quickly realized something, and hurriedly stepped aside, clearing his body. You Ye smiled and nodded, as if in gratitude, then walked past Mo Mo, approaching Nero.

Unbeknownst to him, Nero was already holding a Black Card in her hand.

Her lips moved slightly, murmuring intermittently.

“Kill them… or take me away safely… either option will do… there’s currency in the box… take as much as you need… if it’s not enough… you can take mine too…”

The transaction request of a Burning Black Card holder had to be fulfilled… as a proxy of the shop manager, the maid couldn’t refuse this kind of request.

“I understand, dear guest,” the maid nodded slowly, then waved her hand to temporarily stop the bleeding from Nero’s severed arm.

Only then did she turn to Gongsun Zhishui and Gongsun Shiyu further behind, saying calmly, “Gentlemen, for certain reasons, I need to take this young lady away, is that acceptable? If this matter can be resolved peacefully, it would be greatly appreciated.”

“It seems these past few days, quite a few uninvited guests have arrived near Mount Tai.” Gongsun Zhishui waved the ancient sword in his hand, “However, I have my own orders to follow, and I need to take this woman away… regardless of your so-called reasons.”

“I understand the situation,” the maid smiled slightly, “Just so happens my mood isn’t the best today, so perhaps it’s a minor outlet.”

Beneath that nation-toppling smile, an overwhelming terror descended upon the road in an instant.

In a moment, the surrounding dense fog was incinerated by a black flame born of the Void…