Chapter 81: Dead End

Chen Xuanfeng's knees went soft and he knelt on the ground, crawling two steps on his knees to Mei Chaofeng's side, trembling as he held Mei Chaofeng in his arms.

"Ruohua, Ruohua... Ruohua.", his throat felt blocked, and with all his strength he could only squeeze out these few words; at the last moment, he called Mei Chaofeng by her real name.

The first "Ruohua" was complete despair after confirming Mei Chaofeng had stopped breathing.

The second "Ruohua", just two short words, permeated a grief that could make one suffocate and make the soul scream.

The third "Ruohua" represented his regret, perhaps regretting leaving Peach Blossom Island back then, perhaps hating his own powerlessness, watching the person he loved most die before his eyes, and this hatred soon found an outlet.

He looked up at the few archers hidden in the dense forest, his eyes bloodshot, his teeth grinding, put down Mei Chaofeng in his hands, leaped into the air, and pounced toward the forest.

The archers shot arrows again; Chen Xuanfeng, now fearless of death, pounced over, waving both hands to deflect the arrows before him. Several arrows hit his body but were blocked by his tempered muscles and bones, while several others, clearly powerful, pierced directly into his body.

Chen Xuanfeng seemed not to notice; with arrows hanging from his body, in the blink of an eye he was about to reach the archers.

At this moment, a whistling sound was heard in the air. Niu Wanrou, who had been waiting nearby, smashed her two copper tongs down toward his head and face. From the side, two short spears shook out spear flowers and stabbed straight at Chen Xuanfeng's ribs. Compared to Niu Wanrou's fierce strength, Lu Zhiyi's attack was more cunning and vicious.

Even with his strong tempering, Chen Xuanfeng dared not take Niu Wanrou's copper tongs head-on. He suddenly turned in mid-air to avoid the tongs, then clenched both hands into fists and struck the short spears squarely.

Lu Zhiyi felt his hands shake violently, almost unable to hold his spear, and staggered back several steps.

Niu Dajie's double tongs missed, and her body unconsciously moved forward two steps, leaving her side and back completely exposed before Chen Xuanfeng.

Their battlefield martial arts excelled at charging into battle on horseback; fighting martial artists on foot was bound to be a disadvantage. Especially since neither was skilled in lightness skill, after one missed move they could not change position, exposing openings all over their bodies.

Chen Xuanfeng's lightness skill was superb. He lightly tapped the ground with both feet, flipped in mid-air, and arrived behind Niu Wanrou. The Nine Yin White Bone Claw was about to strike Niu Wanrou's back.

At this moment, Yu Xiaowu waved both hands, shooting out more than ten flying knives. But Chen Xuanfeng at this moment no longer cared for his life, gathering all his energy. Even if he let flying knives pierce his whole body, he had to kill Niu Wanrou under his claws first.

Seeing Niu Wanrou had no more luck, amidst the sound of flying knives breaking the air, two completely different hidden weapons shot rapidly toward him. Not a sound was made, covered by the other flying knives, like a poisonous snake in the black night suddenly spitting out its tongue.

Chen Xuanfeng was now determined to kill Niu Wanrou and felt nothing about these two hidden weapons. Just as he was about to land a fatal blow, the two hidden weapons shot directly into his eyes.

At the same time, a long whip lashed over and locked one of his hands; his other hand was struck by an iron pole. A sturdy figure charged straight at Chen Xuanfeng in mid-air, and a heavy object smashed into his right leg.

Chen Xuanfeng's two claws had just touched Niu Wanrou, only managing to tear her clothes. His eyes were immediately blinded by the hidden weapons, and his left hand was heavily struck by the iron pole, nearly breaking on the spot.

His body was also knocked several meters away by that sturdy figure, and his right knee was smashed directly by the heavy object.

If he had not been so intent on killing, nearly mad, and completely disregarding his own safety, he would not have been ambushed by so many people. Unfortunately, in the clash of intent against the unprepared, Chen Xuanfeng now suffered multiple severe injuries, blinded in both eyes, leaving two streams of black blood. The hidden weapons were clearly poisoned.

Despite such severe injuries, Chen Xuanfeng did not scream, only letting out a few muffled groans. He was knocked to the ground, struggled to stand, and could no longer attack. Instead, according to the remembered position, he crawled bit by bit toward where Mei Chaofeng lay.

Niu Wanrou had just nearly died under the Nine Yin White Bone Claw. Despite her straightforward nature, her face was bloodless. She retreated several steps to Lu Zhiyi's side. Another seven figures gathered together and walked up to Chen Xuanfeng.

These seven were precisely the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan. The two hidden weapons were Flying Bat Ke Zhen'e's Poison Caltrops. In the original work, they blinded Mei Chaofeng's eyes; this time, they hit Chen Xuanfeng instead.

The whip entangling one of Chen Xuanfeng's hands came from Horse King God Han Baoju. The iron pole was Southern Mountain Woodcutter Nan Xiren's personal weapon. The one who knocked Chen Xuanfeng away was Laughing Maitreya Zhang Asheng, skilled in hard qi. The one who broke Chen Xuanfeng's right leg was the bustling-market hermit, the all-golden-haired one, with his counterweight.

Miaoshou Shusheng Zhu Cong and Korean Swordswoman Han Xiaoying stood beside Ke Zhen'e and did not join the attack.

As fellow local snakes of Jiaxing, the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan were somewhat acquainted with Lu Zhiyi. Especially Horse King God Han Baoju, who traded horses year-round and had some business dealings with Lu Zhiyi.

The Seven Freaks of Jiangnan went to the Jin Kingdom to search for Li Ping but failed. After briefly returning to Jiaxing, Lu Zhiyi came to their door. Upon hearing of the encirclement and suppression of the Black Wind Twin Demons, Ke Zhen'e, who was naturally hateful of evil and had an irreconcilable feud with Chen Mei, immediately agreed.

This time, for the encirclement and suppression of the Black Wind Twin Demons, Wu Chengyu mobilized most of his forces.

The martial artists recruited by Lu Chengfeng, Lu Zhiyi and other Yue Family Army Descendants, Qu Lingfeng, and the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan, also located in Jiaxing.

Besides not using the forces of his own Wu Clan, there were also Beggar Sect disciples from Jiangnan. Because they were too mixed in quality, for safety's sake none were recruited. All who could come did come, determined to succeed in one battle and give the Black Wind Twin Demons no chance to flee to Mobei.

By now Mei Chaofeng was already dead, and Chen Xuanfeng had no ability to resist. Tonight's encirclement and suppression plan was a complete success.

"Bronze Corpse Chen Xuanfeng, back then you and Iron Corpse killed my elder brother Ke Bixie and blinded my eyes. Today Mei Chaofeng is dead, and you meet the same end as me. Truly, karmic retribution is not slow. Now, do you have any last words?"

Ke Zhen'e fiercely struck his iron staff against the ground. His words, filled with bone-deep hatred, also carried a hint of glee.

Chen Xuanfeng completely ignored them. The Seven Freaks of Jiangnan were never in the eyes of Peach Blossom Island disciples. Tonight, if not for being surrounded and ambushed repeatedly, he and Mei Chaofeng could never have been hurt by these people. His eyes held only those three, fellow Peach Blossom Island disciples.

"Qu Lingfeng, Lu Chengfeng, Wu Mianfeng, come out for me.", his eyes could not see, and after being poisoned he had little time left to live.

After a sigh, Qu Lingfeng came to the field leaning on two crutches. He had just arrived when Chen Xuanfeng was being severely wounded and knocked away. Although he harbored sky-high hatred for Chen Mei, seeing Mei Chaofeng dead and Chen Xuanfeng near death now, he could not help but feel some sympathy.

Following Qu Lingfeng's arrival was Wu Chengyu. He was not the previous incarnation; he never considered himself a Peach Blossom Island disciple, even if he once had been. So Wu Chengyu did not have Qu Lingfeng's lamentations.

Now he only felt joy in his heart. After more than two years of transmigration and many schemes, he had finally captured the Black Wind Twin Demons. From this moment on, Wu Chengyu had finally changed the original story's development for the first time.

Qu Lingfeng did not know how to speak. Wu Chengyu had a thousand thoughts in his mind. The field fell into silence.

Only now did Lu Chengfeng arrive in a sedan chair, leading his people to the scene all at once.

(Chapter End)