Chapter 394: No Gamble Without Absolute Confidence

Smack!

Zhang Chengze suddenly slapped Zhang Chengyong on the head, slapping him awake, astonished and said: "Big brother, why did you hit me?"

As soon as the words were finished, before Zhang Chengze could speak, a flash of inspiration went through Zhang Chengyong's mind, and he suddenly realized: "Big brother, are you blaming me for looking down on myself too much?"

"You know your own strength, I don't know? Don't say you've studied martial arts for over ten years; even if you studied another ten or twenty years, you still wouldn't be a match for them!"

Just as Zhang Chengyong wore a self‑mocking expression, opened his mouth, about to explain that it wasn't that he looked down on himself but that he clearly knew his own limits, Zhang Chengze cut him off and said:

"I hit you to stop you from talking nonsense. What Evil Cultivator? Just because someone controls a Paper Person, you take them for an Evil Cultivator?"

"Don't you forget, they are the benefactor who saved County Magistrate Yu, and they also resolved the monster occupying Shizi Ling for our father, retrieving our father's Mountain God Token."

"Now the Du Family father and son have stolen our father's Mountain God Token; perhaps it was this exalted person who acted, taking control of the Du father and son!"

Saying this, Zhang Chengze paused, glared angrily at Zhang Chengyong, and spoke in an unfriendly tone:

"Have you forgotten all these events? They have done a tremendous favor for our Zhang family, yet you call them an Evil Cultivator—do you still have any conscience?"

"Chengze, what you said is right—this, this, this exalted person has done a tremendous favor for our Zhang family!"

Li Ping nodded and echoed: "We must not judge by appearance!"

"It's my fault, I should hit!"

Zhang Chengyong said embarrassedly.

Zhang Chengze couldn't help but ask: "You say, who exactly is this exalted person? First they saved County Magistrate Yu, then they resolved the monster occupying Shizi Ling, returning our father's Mountain God Token through County Magistrate Yu's hands, then they took control of the Du father and son, and now they've even saved this Fox Demon, not hesitating to clash with County Magistrate Wei and his men!"

Everyone exchanged glances, their faces full of doubt and curiosity.

They were also curious about the identity of the Paper Person.

"Is it an Immortal Official Luo? Or a member of the Luo family?"

Liu Dongzhu held Wang Ping'an, gazing deeply at the Paper Person beside Wei Yuan, as countless random thoughts surfaced in her mind.

Wang Ping'an watched for a long time, saw that the fight between Yu Die and Tang Anzhi was boring, and sent a mental transmission: "County Magistrate Wei, please have your Imperial Attendant stop!"

With his keen eyesight, he could clearly see that, whether it was Yu Die or Tang Anzhi, although they were exerting their full strength in the fight, they still had many reservations; the techniques they used and their attack ranges were mostly not aimed at the opponent's weaknesses.

This isn't a fight at all; it's purely an exchange of combat techniques. If they kept going, even after three days and three nights nobody would get hurt—at most someone would just become exhausted.

Of course.

He could understand why Yu Die and Tang Anzhi were doing this—after all, they had no deep grudge, so there was no need to try to kill each other.

"Yes, yes, yes, I'll call them to stop right now!"

Not hearing the Paper Person's voice in his mind for a long time, Wei Yuan felt panicked and uneasy; added to the threat of the Sword Apparatus at his neck, he constantly worried that he would lose his head. He dared not gamble, for someone like Wang Ping'an, an Evil Cultivator, would not dare to act against a court official like him. Killing a court official would bring relentless pursuit from the court, yet Evil Cultivators mostly violate the laws of Daxia—who knows if he has done something that invites heaven's wrath and public resentment? Already under Daxia's wanted order, adding the crime of killing him would at most increase the bounty on his head.

In his heart he was torn; he had indeed thought of taking advantage of Wang Ping'an's carelessness to launch a sneak attack—even if he couldn't kill Wang Ping'an in return, he could at least escape from his grasp.

But the Sword Apparatus resting on his neck constantly exuded a chill, reminding him at every moment that his life was in Wang Ping'an's control; in the end he dared not stake his life on the odds of a counter‑kill.

Let alone the present chance of even a one percent success rate; even if there were a fifty percent or higher chance of success, as long as it wasn't a hundred percent guarantee, he would not dare to gamble.

Until then, Wang Ping'an's voice sounded again in his mind, and his meaning was clearly open to negotiation; Wei Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly shouted: "Imperial Attendant Tang, Imperial Attendant Tang, hurry up and stop!"

Tang Anzhi, who was fighting Yu Die, grew increasingly grim in expression; his attacks were either blocked or dodged by Yu Die. Although he hesitated because of Yu Die's status, not wanting to offend her to the death—more precisely, not wanting to offend the people behind her—he dared not deliver a killing blow.

Aside from the first few probing attempts, the rest were all-out assaults, at most aiming for Yu Die's vital spots.

Not much time had passed, yet his fight with Yu Die was no less intense, letting him clearly see how formidable she was—no wonder she could rise to the rank of Hundred Commander of the Demon‑Suppression Office.

He had originally thought that Yu Die's promotion to Hundred Commander of the Demon‑Suppression Office was due solely to her background, never expecting her to possess such formidable ability; his jealousy of her in his heart consequently diminished considerably.

Having carefully observed Yu Die's appearance, he saw she was not the type who uses arts to preserve her youth; she was probably only in her twenties, yet she possessed this terrifying cultivation, not inferior to him in the slightest. When he was her age, he had only just stepped onto the path of cultivation; if he had such cultivation and talent, he could not possibly retire in a minor post as an Immortal Official of Qingyang County.

This novel you have reached

No progress for many years!

However.

The next moment.

Tang Anzhi's jealousy, which had originally faded somewhat, suddenly doubled for no reason, and even a hint of killing intent arose.

How could there exist someone in the world whose background and talent, compared to his, are worlds apart, leaving him with nothing comparable when facing them?

Such a person ought not to live in this world.

Just as Tang Anzhi hardened his heart and prepared to deliver a killing blow, he suddenly heard Wei Yuan's shout; instinctively he glanced sideways with his peripheral vision, and was startled to see Wei Yuan standing where he was, the Paper Person that had just rescued Hu Jiushisan standing beside Wei Yuan, holding a Sword Apparatus pressed against Wei Yuan's neck, cursing: "This good‑for‑nothing…"

Pfft!

Before he could finish his words, Yu Die took advantage of his distraction; the sharp Sword Apparatus sliced his upper body, spraying blood and leaving a horrendous wound—had he not reacted in time, even if he hadn't been cut in half by that blow, he would still have suffered serious injury.

"You deserve to die!"

Tang Anzhi's face twisted into a ferocious mask; he could no longer hide the flame‑like killing intent in his eyes. Although he restrained himself out of deference to Yu Die's background, not wishing to offend those behind her, he held back everywhere—yet this stubborn little girl showed no mercy at all; had he not reacted in time, he would have likely been done for just then.

He no longer had any thought of holding back!

(End of chapter)