Chapter Fifty-Two: The Mantis Strikes First

A single arrow shone with brilliance.

It’s difficult to describe the magnificence of Tuoba Yu’s arrow. The bow—a weapon typically shrouded in secrecy and darkness—now appeared resplendent and aboveboard, radiating an almost regal glory. One arrow, dazzling and grand, filled the air with awe.

Song Leizhou, facing such an arrow, stood his ground with a forceful presence. He refused to yield, and would not retreat.

After releasing that arrow, Tuoba Yu set down his bow. No one noticed the subtle trembling of his fingers.

Arrow against man.

Song Leizhou threw his head back and roared to the sky. His spirit alone was as mighty as a thousand troops, their horses thundering across a chaotic battlefield. He clenched his fists over his chest and collided head-on with that dazzling arrow. If there was no room for retreat, then he might as well fight with his back to the river. In that instant, Song Leizhou’s aura transformed, his spiritual cultivation breaking through to a new level.

“To place oneself in a land of death and then find life—so it is,” Sand Emperor praised. “I fear Tuoba Yu’s killing arrow will miss its mark.”

“Sand Emperor, you could just claim that warrior for yourself. It would be a shame to waste such a hero,” Scarlet remarked.

Just then, a handful of sand drifted down, hovering in midair before twisting into the shape of a hand. Four fingers curled into a fist, leaving only the forefinger wagging side to side.

“Come on. If you want to say no, do you have to make it so complicated?”

“Putting on airs,” the ghostly man Jiuyou sneered with disdain.

The Sandman did not reply, only opened his mouth to say, “Never forget your cultivation, no matter when. Otherwise, if your teammates surpass you, it’ll be embarrassing.” His words lagged oddly behind his mouth’s movement. At the end, the hand transformed into an eyeball, which cast a very human glance at Jiuyou, the look precisely mirroring Jiuyou’s earlier expression.

Jiuyou wore a ridiculous face, brimming with anger yet feigning calm. He said coolly, “You won’t even reveal your true form in front of me, and you dare talk about surpassing me?”

Scarlet, who had provoked the whole exchange, now sat in the front row, watching the two men with interest. He knew a bit of their history: Jiuyou and the Sandman had once been on the same team, with Jiuyou as captain and the Sandman joining later. In one campaign, Jiuyou’s mistake nearly wiped them all out, only for the Sandman to turn the tide—though there were plenty of twists along the way.

In the end, the team, by unanimous vote, expelled Jiuyou. Jiuyou, ashamed, held no grudge against his teammates, but he did resent the Sandman for not intervening sooner, believing the Sandman’s delay cost him his captaincy. Their animosity only deepened over time.

After the arrow’s brilliance faded, Song Leizhou still had not retreated a single step, though his clothes were already in tatters. His arms, stripped to the bone, bore bloody grooves where the arrow had grazed him.

“Exhilarating!” Song Leizhou shouted.

“Well done,” Tuoba Yu replied, admitting he had underestimated his opponent.

“Now, it’s my turn to leave you with a shadow!” Song Leizhou roared. Ever since Tuoba Yu forced him to retreat with that arrow, it had haunted his dreams like a nightmare. But now, with that obstacle gone and new strength surging within him, he was finally free.

Song Leizhou surged forward, fists raised in a charging stance. Tuoba Yu lifted his great bow, preparing to fight at close range.

Still as a crescent moon, swift as a full moon, the bowstring shining like moonlight. It was not a battle but a dance—graceful and elegant. Meanwhile, Song Leizhou’s fists thundered, accompanied by his roaring shouts. For a time, neither could gain the upper hand. The others on both sides paused as if by unspoken agreement, ready for any unexpected development.

Scarlet crouched nearby, face twisted in indignation. “A bowman who won’t shoot and insists on fighting hand-to-hand!”

“He’s even using the Crescent Moon Dance—Tuoba Yu must be getting serious,” Jiuyou observed.

“I really don’t get this guy. Is it worth it?” Scarlet shook his head, baffled.

“Everyone has their obsessions. Otherwise, what do people like us live for?” Jiuyou replied, with a sigh almost audible beneath his words.

“That guy’s not just obsessed; he’s possessed. When it comes to anything about his sister, he can’t let it go. Just look at how many merits he spent on that master-servant bracelet. With so many merits, imagine how many treasures he could have traded for.” Scarlet’s tone was equal parts resentment and sympathy. “And now he’s just asking for trouble again.”

“How has he even managed to survive?” Scarlet muttered.

“And yet he has,” Jiuyou said with a hint of awe.

“So who do you think will win?” Scarlet asked.

“Where one rises, the other falls. It’s impossible to say,” Jiuyou answered.

“How boring,” Scarlet sighed. He tossed a pearl into the air, caught it deftly, and stood. “I’ll go check on my client.”

Turning into a cloud of red mist, Scarlet drifted toward Li Suizhu. Jiuyou, eyes fixed on the battlefield, suddenly remarked, “You’re the one who lives the most interesting life.”

“Little sister, look—no one’s watching you now. Why don’t I take you and run?” Scarlet grinned broadly.

“You must be blind.” Betrayed before, Li Suizhu was in no mood for jokes. She shot a glance at Zong Shen, making her meaning clear.

Scarlet glanced carelessly at Zong Shen. “He’s all but finished. As for this arrow—” he reached out and lightly grasped, and the white-feathered arrow fell to the ground. “See? Now you know how capable I am.” His face radiated smugness.

“Took advantage of someone’s weakness,” Li Suizhu sniffed, turning her gaze back to the fight.

Scarlet chuckled, unembarrassed. “I took your deposit, so I have to do something practical. Maybe that Sand Emperor can help your friend. Looks like your boyfriend’s in some trouble.”

“Really?!” Li Suizhu’s face lit up.

“Of course.” Scarlet smiled, rubbing his fingers together. “Give me three more of these pearls, and I’ll handle it for you.”

Li Suizhu eyed him warily. After being tricked once, it was hard to trust again.

“All right, all right, just kidding. You’re so earnest—it’s hilarious,” Scarlet laughed.

Li Suizhu replied with a cold chuckle.

“Hey!” Scarlet waved wildly at the Sandman. A pile of sand gathered into human form. “What do you want?” the Sandman rumbled.

“Nothing much. Just stretching my legs,” Scarlet replied shamelessly.

“Oh, don’t go—don’t be so impatient!” Seeing the Sandman about to leave, Scarlet quickly called out.

“What is it, then?”

“It’s nothing serious. Just keep an eye on that kid.” He jerked his chin toward Wu Yue.

A sandy eyeball floated above Wu Yue’s head, making Li Suizhu tense.

After a moment, the Sandman intoned, “His soul is lost. Without the nourishment of the soul, his body is like duckweed without roots—he’ll wither soon.”

“Did you hear that? His soul’s gone. Hey, where are you going? Wait up! Do you need an escort? A bodyguard?” Scarlet’s voice trailed after her.

Li Suizhu had already turned away. “I’m going to get your soul back. It must be in that tunnel. Wait for me—promise me you’ll wait.” Zong Shen, beside her, looked utterly indifferent, as if to say, “Go wherever you want—I don’t care.”

Scarlet shouted after her, but didn’t move his feet.

“Stop her,” Song Leizhou’s companions were about to act, but Scarlet inadvertently blocked their path. “Who says I don’t do my job? I’m famous for fair prices and honest service,” Scarlet muttered. “Life—such a tedious, interesting torment.”

ps: I want three updates tonight...