Chapter 583: Escape

Anyone, anyone moving quickly, pauses for an instant when attacking another, transferring power—and that pause gives Obi-Wan Kenobi an opening.

He thrust his lightsaber with all his strength, determined to kill Superman Clark, even if it meant dying.

Boom!

The hilt shattered; the lightsaber bounced off Superman Clark the moment it struck him, and due to Obi-Wan Kenobi’s force, the broken hilt slammed into Clark’s body, bursting apart with a crash.

“How is this possible?” Obi-Wan Kenobi’s pupils contracted in disbelief; Hancock’s physical strength had already surpassed his imagination, but he never expected Clark’s body to be several times stronger.

At least the lightsaber left wounds on Hancock’s body—but on Clark, it left not even a mark.

In an instant, Obi-Wan Kenobi’s heart turned to ash. If leaving Hancock alive meant Luke still had a chance by hiding, then with Clark alive, Luke had no chance at all.

Because Clark’s super vision and super hearing could perfectly monitor anyone—even if Luke hid, he would be found. For Luke’s sake, he had to kill Clark.

But now, he had failed.

“Even if I die,” he gazed at Superman’s incoming fist and suddenly felt its speed was painfully slow, as if time around him had frozen.

“I must protect Luke—not just for the promise I made, but for the hope of the Jedi.”

“Skywalker Luke.”

Thud!

A figure shot in and stood before Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Crack!

The sound of fist meeting flesh rang out, but Obi-Wan Kenobi felt no pain—he looked closely and saw Ye Nan standing before him.

Just now, when Superman Clark lunged at Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ye Nan had intervened, using his own body to block Clark’s punch.

“Perfect opportunity.” Obi-Wan Kenobi’s eyes lit up; one hand pointed at Superman Clark, then grabbed Ye Nan and hurled him backward, following after him.

Superman Clark clutched his chest; he felt something pressing against his heart—his internal organs were far more fragile than his skin and muscle.

“Damn it.” Superman Clark watched Obi-Wan Kenobi retreat, and two beams of super heat vision shot from his eyes, piercing through Obi-Wan Kenobi’s shoulder.

“Finally completed the mission.”

…

On the hovercraft, Obi-Wan Kenobi, seeing no enemies pursuing, finally exhaled in relief.

“Good, they didn’t follow.”

Obi-Wan Kenobi stared at his shoulder, at two blood-filled holes the size of eyeballs—the flesh and tissue had been vaporized the instant the laser pierced through.

Gag!

Ye Nan spat out a mouthful of blood, his face pale and ghastly. “Superman Clark—he defied my orders to protect Hancock.”

His order was to wound Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke. In his mind, Superman Clark was level-headed. If anything went wrong, it would be Hancock’s fault—he had repeatedly warned Clark to act. Yet Clark disobeyed, letting Hancock strike instead.

If Hancock had succeeded in capturing Obi-Wan Kenobi, that might have been acceptable—but Hancock failed. Hancock was ensnared by Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Force, triggering Clark’s rage.

Unaware of the truth, Clark unleashed his full strength in that punch—if it had landed on Obi-Wan Kenobi, Obi-Wan Kenobi would have been dead.

With no choice, Ye Nan had to intervene himself, blocking Clark’s furious punch for Obi-Wan Kenobi—the cost was spitting blood.

“Thank you,” Obi-Wan Kenobi murmured, but his eyes held doubt.

Superman Clark moved at incredible speed; Ye Nan was just an ordinary human—he couldn’t possibly have tracked Clark’s attack trajectory and rushed forward to block it. From this sequence, Ye Nan’s speed was certainly no slower than Superman Clark’s.

“This Ye Nan… isn’t simple at all. Princess Leia, you sent him here—did you even know his abilities?” Obi-Wan Kenobi sighed; the situation was growing more complex.

The insect race, the Imperial Army, other factions—all three entangled on this planet, yet every spacecraft here had been destroyed; escaping this vortex was impossible.

“Are you alright?” Luke supported Ye Nan, then glanced at Obi-Wan Kenobi’s wounds, his face dark with fury. “Those two are truly despicable.”

“Luke, you’ll have to carry us through the coming time,” Obi-Wan Kenobi said seriously. “I’m injured and can no longer fight. Ye Nan is the same.”

“I can do it.” Ye Nan staggered to his feet, a flicker of resolve on his face.

Thud! Ye Nan collapsed again, sweat pouring from his forehead.

“Did I misjudge him?” Obi-Wan Kenobi sighed inwardly. “Don’t push yourself.”

After a pause, Obi-Wan Kenobi added: “You must heal. Only when healed can you contribute in future battles. You don’t want to meet Princess Leia as a useless wreck, do you?”

Pain twisted across Ye Nan’s face, as if he struggled with a terrible choice.

“Yes, Brother Ye Nan—I’m here. I’ll make sure nothing happens.” Luke joined in, adding “brother” after seeing Ye Nan’s actions throughout their journey; his simple heart felt genuine admiration.

“Alright.” Ye Nan slowly uttered the two words, then closed his eyes, as if deaf to the world outside.

“Luke, let’s first hide at your uncle and aunt’s house, get some medicine for our wounds, then vanish into the wilderness.” Obi-Wan Kenobi said.

“Why go into the wilderness?” Luke understood and agreed with hiding at his uncle and aunt’s—but why go further out?

From Obi-Wan Kenobi, he learned of the insect race, and that their current weakness stemmed from incomplete evolution—currently only in an early stage. Once they evolved further, their danger would multiply.

“Because of the insect race’s evolution,” Obi-Wan Kenobi said gravely. “After evolving, they’ll produce stronger insects that can help us block our enemies.”

“Oh.” Luke murmured, then fell silent.

Soon, the hovercraft arrived at Luke’s uncle and aunt’s home—but the place was already in flames.

“What happened?” Luke stared, face ashen, body trembling.

Ye Nan opened his eyes, saw the scene, and frowned. He activated his super ventriloquism to contact Superman Clark.

“Clark, did you attack Luke’s hometown?”

“No,” Superman Clark replied.

“Not you? Then has another faction intervened?” Ye Nan’s brow furrowed deeply.

Judging from the scene, it was unlikely to be the insect race. Clark denied involvement—so the only conclusion was another faction had stepped in.

“Who could it be? Why attack Luke’s hometown?”

Obi-Wan Kenobi was equally confused.

Compared to Obi-Wan Kenobi’s inexperience, Ye Nan had far more experience; while Ye Nan consulted Clark, Obi-Wan Kenobi had already ruled out Clark and his kind.

“I smell gunpowder in the air—could be the Imperial Army or another faction,” Obi-Wan Kenobi thought.

Seeing Luke charging forward, Obi-Wan Kenobi called out: “Luke.”

When Luke turned back, Obi-Wan Kenobi sighed helplessly. “Let’s go.”

They had no choice—the destruction was recent; the enemy could return at any moment, and they’d be trapped.

Both he and Ye Nan were incapacitated; relying solely on Luke was too dangerous.

Luke paused only briefly, then charged forward again.

“Do you want your uncle and aunt in heaven to worry about you?” Obi-Wan Kenobi roared. “I know them well—they loved you deeply. If they knew their deaths led to yours, they’d grieve endlessly in heaven.”

Luke froze. He didn’t turn, but from his trembling body and the occasional tear dripping from his legs, it was clear he was weeping.

“Luke, you’re a good boy. You won’t make your uncle and aunt suffer, will you?” Obi-Wan Kenobi sighed again. “Let’s go. Make the right choice—in front of your uncle and aunt.”

“Why?” Luke turned, tear tracks still visible on his face.

“Because the enemy could return at any moment.” Obi-Wan Kenobi paused. “Ye Nan can’t move well, I’ve lost my fighting ability—you can’t risk all three of us for your own pride.”

“Don’t forget—your father’s and your uncle and aunt’s killers haven’t been avenged.”

Luke fell silent, then finally nodded. “I’ll follow you.”

Obi-Wan Kenobi’s face lit up with joy. “Good. Let’s leave at once.” (To be continued.)