Chapter 67: Chapter Twenty-Six [Lanruo Temple] (Part 2)

Hu Xiaotian rushed in panic, recalling something, he first held his breath, then helped Murong Feiyan up, gently patting her face; she lay limp in his arms, unresponsive.

Hu Xiaotian felt alarmed; the worst part was he didn't know whether the poison was in the food or something else in the brazier, when outside came the neighing of a swift horse.

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought, "Not good," someone must have come; there was no time to rescue his companions. He looked around; the only hiding spots were under the offering table or behind the Buddha statue. He thought hiding could only be temporary; the monks would surely search upon noticing his absence. The only plan was to feign unconsciousness to get through. So he held his breath, gripped a dagger hidden in his sleeve, and lay beside Murong Feiyan.

Four monks appeared in the side hall, led by the lame monk Wuxing. After entering, someone rushed forward, covered the brazier, and carried it out, showing the brazier likely held a bewitching drug.

Wuxing glanced at the six on the ground, hehehe coldly laughing: "This little girl looks not bad, Old Four, take her to my meditation room; Old Two and Old Three, you take the others to the backyard and throw them off the cliff!"

Hu Xiaotian heard clearly, silently cursing the wicked monk's viciousness; his premonition seemed correct— the name Lanruo Temple was inauspicious, though there were no female ghosts or Black Mountain Old Demon, there were plenty of murderous monks for profit.

The first lifted was Hu Xiaotian; he tried to relax his body, fearing they'd notice something odd, soon he was carried into the porch; confident he'd left the side hall, he then dared to breathe cautiously.

Two monks carried Hu Xiaotian to the backyard; he dared not open his eyes, being carried back into the wind and rain, one monk couldn't help complaining: "Boss is so unfair— why does he always get the pleasure while we bear all the hardship?"

Another monk sighed: "Don't say it, who let them be strong? We can't beat them, we just have to obey." The two carried Hu Xiaotian to the temple's back gate; one set him down, the other went to open the back gate.

Hu Xiaotian knew the opportunity must not be lost, never to come again; he furtively felt for the hidden dagger, but saw the young monk right before him, though he apparently hadn't noticed him, instead gazing at the other monk going to open the door.

Hu Xiaotian suddenly sprang up, lashing out with a lightning-fast stab that struck the opponent's heart; he knew human anatomy well, though he had never killed, his strike was ruthless and precise—not from innate cruelty but from having no choice; in Lanruo Temple he was certain there were four monks, while on their side five of the six had been downed, including the strongest, Murong Feiyan. Facing four to one, he had no confidence; even two to one, he lacked sufficient confidence.

A person's combat strength isn't merely martial power; it also depends on scheming, wisdom, and timing. Though Hu Xiaotian lacked martial skill, his mind was extremely calm, he did not panic in danger; he had been waiting for this opportunity, and once it appeared he would strike immediately without hesitation.

Pu! — the dagger entered between the monk's left chest second and third ribs, accurately hitting his heart; the monk erupted in a heart-rending scream. Hu Xiaotian hesitated not a moment, after insertion he swiftly withdrew the blade and charged like a tiger released from its cage toward the monk going to open the door.

Hearing his companion's miserable cry, that monk panicked, turned around, saw Hu Xiaotian gripping a gleaming dagger lunging at him; in the emergency he didn't think further, reaching out to grab Hu Xiaotian's right wrist holding the dagger, attempting to barehandedly seize the blade.

Hu Xiaotian's plan had been perfect: first stab to kill the nearby monk, then silently rush behind the door-opening monk and slit his throat while off guard. But plans change; he never expected the monk to scream so earth-shatteringly before dying; when he heard the cry, Hu Xiaotian realized he lacked experience— he should have covered the man's mouth to prevent alerting his companions.

The monk heading to close the door was tall and broad-shouldered, thick-waisted; seeing his companion felled by Hu Xiaotian's single stab, he was also terrified, his reaction speed extremely fast; he immediately rushed forward to grapple with Hu Xiaotian, seizing his right wrist in an attempt to wrest the dagger away. This monk possessed immense brute strength; although Hu Xiaotian had been training, his physical strength still could not match the opponent's.

The monk grabbed Hu Xiaotian's both arms, roared loudly, and with all his strength pushed him backward; Hu Xiaotian also struggled to resist, but being weaker, he was pushed back step by step. As the saying goes, great size brings no loss of strength; the monk shoved him like a bulldozer, pushing Hu Xiaotian back repeatedly, his back striking the large tree behind; originally the tree shade had sheltered them from much rain, but the impact caused water droplets on the tree to splash down with a "wa!" sound, drenching both to the bone; Hu Xiaotian lifted his foot to kick the monk's groin, but the monk blocked it with his leg.

The monk gripped Hu Xiaotian's right wrist and twisted it desperately; at the same time, his bald head leaned back then slammed hard into Hu Xiaotian's forehead— clang! — the blow made Hu Xiaotian see stars, as if five or six little chicks were circling above his head; this monk must have practiced iron head skill.

Before Hu Xiaotian could recover, clang! — another blow, he was left dazed and dizzy; fortunately he was shorter than the opponent, otherwise that bald head striking his face would likely have broken his nasal bone.

Hu Xiaotian relied solely on willpower to sustain himself; at a life-or-death juncture there could be no slackening— if he let out a breath now, not only would his own life be forfeit, but his companions would likely all suffer as well.

The monk's head leaned back again, ready to repeat the trick; Hu Xiaotian silently cried, "Heaven dooms me!"— if struck by this blow he'd either die or faint; he had no alternative, and with a pu! he spat out a mouthful of water he had been holding for a while, which turned out quite impressive.

The monk, sprayed in the face by Hu Xiaotian's water, was momentarily stunned; this third time he failed to strike in time— in a life-or-death struggle, even a tiny detail can decide victory or defeat; if the monk struck Hu Xiaotian again with his head, Hu Xiaotian would surely lose all combat ability; but the monk's momentary bewilderment from the water spray gave Hu Xiaotian a precious breath, and he roared, charging forward with a headbutt just like the monk.

Using his own method against him, it wasn't that Hu Xiaotian was clever, but that this guy truly had no other option; likewise using a headbutt, Hu Xiaotian hadn't practiced iron head skill, but after being struck twice by the monk his head had gone numb from pain, he seemed ready to go all-out to perish together; he aimed at the monk's nasal bridge. The monk never expected Hu Xiaotian to actively headbutt him— bang! — he struck squarely; Hu Xiaotian, slightly shorter than the monk, hit squarely on the monk's nasal bridge, blood spraying everywhere.

The monk, in pain, instinctively loosened his grip slightly; Hu Xiaotian seized the moment to free his hands, viciously stabbing the dagger toward the monk's throat; the monk again grabbed Hu Xiaotian's wrist, twisting it inward, the dagger's tip aimed at Hu Xiaotian's chest, pressing down slightly; at that instant Hu Xiaotian's freed left hand lashed out at the monk's neck, a cold flash appearing between his fingers— it was a sharp blade he had concealed; the blade sliced across the monk's right neck side, severing his carotid artery, a jet of blood spraying from the monk's neck.

Hu Xiaotian, caught off guard, was sprayed with blood all over his head and face.

The monk clutched his neck, trying to stem the blood with his fingers, but it continued to jet from between them; he shuddered in terror, his legs going limp as he knelt, strength draining rapidly with the blood flow, he fell face‑down with a thud. *****************************************************************Seek Three Jiang Ticket!

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