Chapter 84 - 81: Wind and Snow Pursuit
Chapter 84: Chapter 81: Wind and Snow Pursuit
Wang Yuangang grew increasingly frustrated. Realizing he couldn’t catch Fang Yue, he suddenly roared.
"Stop right now, or I’ll go to Da Liushu Village and slaughter your entire family!"
The words were despicable, but brutally effective.
Just as he’d hoped, Fang Yue froze for an instant.
But the next moment, Fang Yue reversed his course and resumed his flight.
’If you want to kill my family, then I’ll just have to kill yours first!’
A chill settled in Fang Yue’s heart. He didn’t know why Wang Yuangang and his nephew were here.
One of them was injured and unconscious, and the other’s face was swollen like a pig’s head from a punch.
But they had made their murderous intent crystal clear, and their actions showed they wouldn’t rest until he was dead.
Now, the man was even threatening his family. How could Fang Yue possibly endure that!
’Tonight, I can’t just escape. I have to find a way to kill Wang Yuangang.’
’If I escape tonight, he’ll be at my home tomorrow.’
’My parents, my brother, my sister... would they be able to escape?’
’I have to kill him.’
~~~~~~
The night grew deeper, and snow began to drift down again.
It was pitch-black, so dark you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.
"Where did he go? He just vanished."
Wang Yuangang followed the tracks into a mountain hollow. But just around a bend, he lost Fang Yue’s trail.
"Hmph. You’re lucky to be alive. You might escape today, but your family won’t escape tomorrow. Come on out, and I promise I won’t touch them."
Wang Yuangang’s eyes scanned the area like a hawk’s. Since he couldn’t find Fang Yue, he’d try to lure him out with words.
Of course, his promise to spare Fang Yue’s family was a lie.
When he decided to strike, he was always thorough, tearing out the problem by the roots.
However, Wang Yuangang was destined to be disappointed.
If his target had been some reckless fool or an impulsive, hot-headed youth,
then his words might have been enough to make Fang Yue walk right into his trap.
But Fang Yue, having lived two lives, was not about to believe the words of a villain.
After shouting for a long time with no response,
Wang Yuangang spat a few more curses, vowing to slaughter Fang Yue’s entire family, then turned and headed back toward the ruined temple.
A moment later, only the biting north wind howled in the mountain hollow.
"He’s really not here? Looks like he got away!"
With a dark expression, Wang Yuangang doubled back. His departure had been a feint, an attempt to flush Fang Yue out of hiding.
When still no one appeared, he finally believed that Fang Yue had actually managed to escape.
He could do nothing but leave, seething with resentment.
’Looks like he’s really gone this time.’
Just then, Fang Yue burst out from a snowdrift.
He had buried himself under the snow, having anticipated Wang Yuangang’s feigned retreat with his own hunter’s caution.
In his years of hunting in the mountains, he had seen every kind of cunning prey imaginable.
Compared to them, Wang Yuangang was still a step behind.
’His retreat wasn’t decisive or clean. He clearly had no intention of giving up so easily.’
’Now, it’s my turn.’
Fang Yue’s eyes were grim, brimming with killing intent.
He immediately began climbing the small mountain nearby. He needed to get back to the ruined temple before Wang Yuangang.
Wang Yuangang would never guess that the ruined temple was right on the other side of this very mountain!
~~~~~~
The snowflakes grew larger.
They were just like the legendary snowflakes of Yan Mountain, said to be as large as woven mats.
The flickering fire was about to die out when Wang Teng groggily opened his eyes.
"Uncle... water... I need some water," he rasped.
His voice was hoarse and weak, but there was no response.
Wang Teng was about to look for his uncle when he saw a face he never wanted to see again—a person who had no business being here.
"Fang... Fang Yue, you—"
He couldn’t get the rest of the words out. In the next instant, his world went black, and he lost consciousness.
~~~~~~
"Hm? The fire’s out."
"Damn it! Fang Yue and his whole family deserve to die! Just you wait, I’m going to slaughter every last one of them."
As he stepped back into the ruined temple, Wang Yuangang saw that the bonfire in the main hall had died down, leaving only a few glowing embers.
A cold wind gusted relentlessly into the hall.
His nephew, Wang Teng, was injured. How could he possibly withstand this bitter wind?
If his nephew’s injuries worsened because of this, he would tear Fang Yue limb from limb.
Worse, the blanket covering Wang Teng had mostly slipped off.
Seeing this, Wang Yuangang didn’t bother with relighting the fire.
He rushed forward to pull the blanket back over his nephew.
But just as his hand touched the blanket, preparing to pull it up,
he saw ’Wang Teng’ suddenly roll over. A cold gleam of light shot violently toward him.
The attack came from right under his nose, at point-blank range.
Even a man like Wang Yuangang felt a bone-deep chill.
Fortunately, his reflexes were superb. In a flash, he twisted away, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow.
At the same time, he threw a punch.
SHLICK.
The sound of metal tearing through flesh rang out.
His attacker, in turn, took the full force of his punch and was sent stumbling back seven or eight steps.
"It’s you?!!!"
"Fang Yue, what did you do to Wang Teng?!! Hand him over now, and I’ll spare your life!"
Wang Yuangang could now see clearly. His ambusher was none other than Fang Yue, the man he thought had escaped.
He didn’t understand how Fang Yue had gotten back here before him.
But if Fang Yue was here, then where was his nephew, Wang Teng?
Where was his nephew?
"COUGH, COUGH. Old man, you pack a mean punch. Heh. You want to know where your nephew is? Cut off one of your own arms, and I’ll tell you!"
A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of Fang Yue’s mouth. Wang Yuangang’s punch had been hasty, but to ensure his own attack landed a grievous wound, Fang Yue had taken the blow head-on.
He was injured, but not seriously.
The physical fortitude from passing the Three Martial Arts Gates, combined with his Copper Skin and Iron Bones Talent, made his defenses far superior to those of an ordinary Martial Artist at the same level.
Besides, Wang Yuangang’s punch had been rushed. Factoring in his earlier exertion, the man’s strength was far from its peak.
The force of that punch was probably just over thirty-six hundred pounds.
It was stronger than his own power, but not by an overwhelming margin.
Now, with Wang Yuangang stabbed and bleeding steadily, it was only a matter of time. If this dragged on, the man would surely die.
"Hand over Wang Teng, and we can call it even."
Wang Yuangang’s glare was so venomous he looked like he wanted to eat Fang Yue alive, but for Wang Teng’s sake, he restrained himself.
"I’m afraid that’s not what Master Wang is truly thinking. If I hand over Wang, you’ll just kill my entire family. Who would I turn to for justice then?"
Fang Yue was unmoved. He would never believe a scoundrel like Wang Yuangang.
"My previous offer still stands. As soon as Master Wang cuts off his own arm, and I feel safe, I will release Wang."
"Hmph. It seems there’s nothing left to discuss. In that case, I’ll just kill you and find Wang Teng myself."
Wang Yuangang knew he couldn’t let Fang Yue control the situation completely, otherwise both he and his nephew would die here tonight.
’No matter what, I have to capture him first. I refuse to believe he won’t talk then.’
Ignoring his own injury, Wang Yuangang attacked without hesitation.
This time, however, his attack lacked its earlier ferocious, killing intent.
He wanted to capture Fang Yue alive.
The wind from his fists was fierce and domineering.
"It seems Master Wang is determined to throw his life away."
Fang Yue let out a theatrical sigh and attacked as well.
Tyrannical power coursed through his body, transforming into a raging torrent that erupted from his fist.
The two immediately clashed, and for a moment, they were evenly matched.
Wang Yuangang appeared formidable, but he was suffering from a deep stab wound. It wasn’t in a vital area, but with no time to treat it, attacking so recklessly only made the bleeding worse.
Just then, however, he felt a numbing sensation spreading from the wound.
At first, he paid it no mind, but it gradually began to spread throughout his body.
Finally, his speed faltered. He was a step too slow.
Fang Yue’s fist slammed into him, sending him flying.
"You... despicable... you used poison—"
The force of the punch scattered his strength. He could no longer fight off the creeping paralysis, and his body went limp.
"Perhaps Master Wang has forgotten—I’m a hunter. When you’re hunting prey, you use whatever tools you have."
Fang Yue smiled faintly. Without giving Wang Yuangang another chance, he closed in and ended Master Wang’s life.