Chapter 128

I had already said before that there was a two‑meter‑wide stream ahead of us, and the paper‑soldier troop was surging toward us from the opposite hill. So although I was nervous when I first saw the paper men, after the tension eased I gradually calmed down, because I knew that paper men weigh a thousand jin in water and could not possibly cross the stream.

However, what happened next completely overturned my worldview.

The surging paper‑soldier troop first paused for a moment at the stream's edge opposite us, then, like stacking arhats, they climbed onto each other's shoulders and built a human wall over two meters high.

The paper men we see now are much larger than those we encountered in the hall, though still shorter than an ordinary person, the difference is negligible.

I was wondering why they were building such a tall wall when, suddenly, the wall plummeted straight down and formed a paper bridge across the stream.

"Pangzi, quick, cast the flying‑sword incantation, add the Huaguang fire seal, and send it out!" Seeing the paper men about to cross the bridge, I shouted at Pangzi, who was gripping the copper‑coin sword. We had already grasped the eeriness of these paper men; if they really managed to cross, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"I beseech the flying‑sword deity, descend to patrol the world between heaven and earth, let all who harm us fear not, minor rite offering the flying sword, slay demons and evil leave none…" Pangzi reacted quickly; after my shout fell, he pinched the finger seal, invoked the sword‑commanding incantation, and added a layer of Huaguang fire seal atop it.

Having clashed before, we knew these paper men feared fire and ignited upon contact, so I told Pangzi to add a fire seal.

"Why hasn't it been sent out yet!" After Pangzi had readied the copper‑coin sword, he furrowed his brow and stood there like a wooden log, motionless.

Pangzi frowned, shook his head slightly, then turned his sword finger and twisted two copper coins off the copper‑coin sword, shooting them out like hidden weapons.

The heated copper coins traced an arc in the air, landing at the bridge's center with a puff; sparks spread rapidly across the paper bridge, and both the bridge and the paper men upon it were utterly reduced to ash, scattering over the bridge.

"This paper‑soldier troop isn't that bad," Yuan Qiu said, curling his lip, unconvinced. Earlier we were scared witless by the tiny paper men in the hall; now, upon first seeing these big, mysterious paper men, we were almost tense enough to suffocate.

Fortunately, we knew these paper men feared fire and immediately thought of a countermeasure.

"It's not over yet…" Pangzi gripped the copper‑coin sword and shook his head solemnly.

Yuan Qiu said dismissively, "What's not over? The paper men have already scattered, you're just too nervous, Brother Pang."

Having said that, the next instant Yuan Qiu's mouth opened wide enough to fit an egg, his face tightened again, he shouted "Holy shit!" at the opposite bank, then quickly ducked behind Pangzi.

At the stream's edge opposite us, the paper men erected another human wall, about to build another paper bridge.

Everyone's faces changed abruptly, but Pangzi remained calm and composed, unhurriedly pinching the sword seal, he blasted the copper‑coin sword apart with a palm, then clenched the fragments in his palm, first scattering a few onto the paper bridge, then he thrust his right hand forward and flung the rest hard toward the opposite bank.

The copper coins fell like chaotic cherry blossoms among the paper‑soldier troop opposite the stream, and they landed precisely at the center; the fire spread rapidly from the center outward, instantly igniting a raging blaze in the paper‑soldier army.

"We're finally safe." I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead, gave Pangzi a thumbs‑up, and couldn't help praising, "You're awesome! You even predicted this!"

By now I finally understood Pangzi's hesitation and intent: he had earlier guessed that burning the paper bridge was merely treating the symptom, not the root, so he acted decisively, scattering the copper‑coin sword to attack.

Pangzi fell silent for a long time, then let out a loud "ah!" and, before everyone, beat his chest and stamped his feet in remorse.

"Damn it, I'm such an idiot, I actually flung the whole copper‑coin sword away. These are all premium emperor coins, each worth over a hundred bucks."

After beating his chest and stamping his feet in regret for a long time, Pangzi looked at me pitifully and said in a mournful tone: "Hai Sheng, I originally wanted to save some money, who would have thought these damned paper men would be so numerous, making me toss out one coin after another. Wah wah, I'm such a prodigal son, spending over twenty thousand on a single fight… no, it's twenty‑three thousand three hundred eighty‑eight, and there are a hundred and eight copper coins on the sword." After his lament, Pangzi counted his losses on his fingers.

Me: "……" Well, Pangzi, you've thoroughly defeated me again.

"All right, all right, quit your blubbering; after we're out of danger I'll reimburse you." Fan Wuchang walked over and consoled the dispirited Pangzi.

"Really…" Pangzi instantly jumped up as if injected with chicken blood, ecstatically gazing at Fan Wuchang. After Fan Wuchang nodded again to confirm, Pangzi suddenly rubbed his hands together and gave a sheepish grin.

"Um… Brother Chang, I forgot to mention something."

"What is it?"

"Actually I remembered wrong," Pangzi said, rubbing his hands and lowering his head in embarrassment: "The copper‑coin sword I just used wasn't forged from 108 coins but from 216 coins. Right, I now recall it's 216 coins. That comes to forty‑seven thousand seven hundred seventy‑six bucks."

"Let me give you a discount—I'll take an even forty‑seven thousand seven hundred seventy, no change." Pangzi sighed: "Who made us so close?"

Pangzi's demeanor made it seem as if Fan Wuchang had taken full advantage.

Fan Wuchang's face shifted like a Peking opera mask several times, then he let out a heavy sigh and admitted defeat.

At this moment, Comrade Xiao Fan finally realized that pretentious lowlifes are not only base but also extort money left and right.

The scene of Pangzi and Fan Wuchang's tussle had everyone trying not to laugh, and the heavy atmosphere, after being eased, finally relaxed considerably.

After the crisis passed, everyone prepared to detour around this hill and leave via another small path.

However, just as we were about to leave, a thunderous boom erupted from the cave entrance, followed by flying stone fragments, and a slash of silver light shot out at high speed.

A silver flying sword shot straight at Silijing's chest at breakneck speed; seeing her face turn deathly pale, she seemed about to meet her demise.

Its target was Chen Zheng, but Silijing stood at the rear of the group, so when we came to, we saw this scene.

Roar… A blindingly fast figure flashed past the crowd, darting to Silijing's front and blocking the sword with flesh and blood. Immediately came the sound of blade entering flesh, a puff, and the sword plunged deeper into the already‑pierced meat.

This happened in an instant; only after everyone regained their senses did they finally see clearly the figure standing before Silijing… who else could it be but Pangzi?

"Pangzi……

"Dead fatty"

"Brother Weiqiang……

Exclamations rose and fell, and everyone rushed toward Pangzi.

"Pangzi, are you okay?" I clumsily embraced him; the silver flying sword had sunk three cun into his chest, just a hair's breadth from piercing through.

"Where's Jingjing? Is she hurt?"

No one expected that the first thing Pangzi said upon opening his eyes would be an anxious inquiry about Silijing.

"Weiqiang, I'm not hurt, I'm fine!" Silijing helped Pangzi up, her expression mixed with an inexplicable complex emotion.

At that moment, Chen Mo, who was supporting Pangzi's other side, also gave him a complex look, struggled briefly, then silently released his clenched grip.

Seeing everyone's worried expressions, Pangzi gave a dry cough twice and said, "I'm fine; I just used jida, my body is hard as rock, that flying sword could never pierce it."

A flicker of confusion crossed Pangzi's eyes: "Right, where's that flying sword?"

"It's still stuck in your chest," I said, pointing at his chest.

Pangzi looked at his chest, laughing through tears, and said, "No wonder it hurts so much! Hai Sheng, help me pull it out."

"All right… bear with it," I said, placing my hand on the hilt, gathering my strength, and yanking the silver sword outward.

With a puff, the silver sword left Pangzi's chest, blood gushed out like a spring, frightening me so I hastily flung it away, chanted a hemostasis spell, and covered the wound with the "Great Golden Blade."

Meanwhile, the flying sword I had tossed aside writhed on the ground twice, then shuddered back into flight midair; its blade held not only a chilling gleam but also a layer of eerie, luminous blood‑red.

Everyone's faces changed, and Fan Wuchang staggered forward, drawing his blade to guard Pangzi.

Just as everyone focused and braced against that eerie flying sword, sudden gunfire cracked from the cave entrance, followed by countless figures filing out of the secret passage.

These people included foreign mercenaries in bullet‑proof vests and gangsters in suits wielding guns; upon emerging, they immediately surrounded us tightly.

Not long after, a scarred man wearing red leather armor and long boots slowly walked out from the cave entrance; the mercenaries and gunners unconsciously made way for this peculiarly dressed man.

"Long time no see, Southern Heavenly King." The man gave Chen Zheng a grin, the long scar on his face twitching slowly, his tone cold, his eyes flashing with killing intent.