Chapter 273: Heh, you're on fire!

When... when did this person get behind me?

As a villain who only showed up after about a thousand words, Heibai clearly hasn't grasped the current situation.

However, his rich combat experience tells him that when unsure what to do, it's best to keep a low profile and pretend to be an expert, at least to intimidate the opponent.

So he didn't act rashly; instead, without even turning his head, he spoke in a calm, deep voice.

"Who are you?"

""

Ji Ming strained to hold back saying the almost reflexive "I'm your dad," and instead spoke in the same deep tone.

"I'm a riddle person."

Hearing that, the assassin leader let out a low chuckle.

"Can we talk?"

The Mysterious Merchant also smiled.

"I'm afraid not."

"I think we can."

"I think we can't."

"Really can't?"

"Really cannot."

In the small meeting room appeared two black-and-white hidden dragons and phoenix chicks; let alone the jittery merchants, even the well-informed players were dumbfounded.

This behavior of masked people shouting nonsense at each other is just like those terrible low-budget superhero movies, or rather, due to lack of funds, preparing to use long dialogue scenes to cut special-effects costs.

We're bored, let's bite a lighter for the family—your act is totally lame… aren't you really gonna bite it, bro?!

"Since you don't want to talk, then…"

Those long-winded trash talks were just a stall to relax the enemy's vigilance; just as the two were chatting and getting into it, the previously deep-voiced Heibai suddenly snapped his head around.

"... Then let's not talk!"

At the same time, a scorching flame burst forth from beneath his mask, hot and rolling like an angry dragon, accompanied by a wave of heat sweeping the whole hall as it surged toward the Mysterious Merchant's face.

"This isn't biting a lighter—you're straight-up biting a flamethrower!"

But before the flame could reach its target, it was blocked solidly by a shield styled like the Deep Forest, showing the opponent had anticipated his stalling and prepared accordingly.

Therefore, although with the current temperature Heibai could melt that standard shield with a bit more effort, in the next second he felt his gut suffer a heavy blow.

Moreover, this wasn't a physical punch, but an internal one!

I don't know how they did it, but right now that spot hurts like crazy, as if a knife is wildly stirring inside.

There was no time to close the passage; the chaotic, rampant airflow completely blasted it open and rushed out eagerly.

In short!

Pffft~~~. jpg

Although, due to forgetting lunch and still not having eaten dinner, this fart is relatively clean—it didn't instantly turn the victim into a naked man or a werewolf like the previous victims of the Fart Technique…

Cloi: How long has it been since I reformed, you damn old man? Why are you digging up my black history from who-knows-how-long ago? Are you never gonna stop?!

Tsk……

But the sudden release of gas from his lower half disrupted the supply to his upper half, and just as the flame spray inevitably ceased, a long-charged heavy punch slammed hard into his face.

By the time Heibai registered the pain and prepared to struggle, his face had already taken four solid blows, landing in a four-direction, up-and-down tiger-like flurry.

By the time Heibai reacted to the pain and was about to struggle with all his might, his face had already taken four solid punches, striking him in all directions with a fierce, tiger‑like wind.

Although it only burned for a few seconds, in the already heated-up warm air, the surrounding merchants and players all shouted aloud.

However, the merchants' shouts were out of fear; as a bunch of non-professional ordinary people, they now cared neither for negotiation nor for face.

Amid the clamor they surged toward the exit like a pack of black rats clutching their heads, but because too many tried to get out and the doorway was too narrow, they all ended up jammed there.

Meanwhile, the players' excited shouts, full of thrill, prompted them to immediately open their livestreams, wanting to capture the wondrous sight of the Mysterious Merchant battling the Milk Cow Assassin.

Before, they only ever got beaten up by the newbie village boss; now they finally see the boss beating someone else—awesome, they had to record this moment!

I used to be the one taking the newbie village boss's beating; now I finally see the boss beating someone else—awesome, I have to record this moment!

After being hit by relentless heavy punches that turned his world upside down, Heibai shoved forward with all his might, finally pushing the mysterious person before him away.

But the chair under his butt was just an ordinary wooden piece—how could it withstand such force?

Both hind legs snapped right there, causing him to flop onto his back with a thud, overturning as he fell to the ground.

What's worse, as the fourth punch landed, Ji Ming—who hadn't intended to go for the blade—had already shifted his fist to a claw, grabbing Heibai's mask, planning to yank it off as he retreated.

Originally, as one of Heibai's most important pieces of equipment, the head covering that hid his face was extremely sturdy; at Ji Ming's personal strength, there was no way he could pull it off.

But who asked Heibai, in his panic, to exert great force to help him, producing a one-plus-one-greater-than-two effect, causing the otherwise decent high-strength material to tear apart completely?

Thus, as Ji Ming retreated three steps, he happened to grab that black leather mask of his, still muttering under his breath.

"You like wearing a mask, huh? Well today I'll pull it off so everyone can see if you're really a head‑shaver or just… headless… pffft."

"You laughed, didn't you? You just couldn't help laughing, right?!"

Case closed: why has the so‑called Heibai, ever since showing up in Sunlight City, never revealed his true face?

"—because he's a bright pink lizard, his scales even tinged with sakura white!"

Moreover, because his face took repeated heavy blows, the few edges that could have remained were hammered into swollen arcs, making him look literally like a puffy pink blob.

And because his face was repeatedly hammered, the few remaining sharp edges were hammered into swollen curved surfaces, so now it literally looks pink and puffy.

Like a dubbed groundhog letting out a helpless rage‑filled shriek, Heibai's mouth again surged with flame.

The Purple General definitely can't do that; it's obvious he isn't an ordinary lizardman but a fire‑affinity flame lizardborn who can spit fire naturally!

If this were real life, 'fire breath' would actually be a pretty useless superpower—spending huge amounts of energy for barely any damage is a truly foolish move.

If it were in reality, "fire breath" would actually be a very useless superpower; expending massive amounts of energy to gain a negligible amount of damage is truly a foolish move.

But in a fantasy world, magical energy, whose versatility is almost on par with electricity, yet can coexist within the human body, solves every problem.

Therefore, Heibai can instantly spew a flame twenty meters long and nearly a thousand degrees hot; its roar and power are truly at the level of a flamethrower.

Unfortunately, the recent ambushes were easily nullified by Ji Ming with a single shield, so an attack that shakes forward from such a distance could not possibly affect him.

He simply lifted his foot and dodged the scorching blaze, letting stray sparks skim his hem without leaving any trace.

He evaded it, but the person behind him suffered terribly.

The merchants never expected the mighty Heibai Lord to appear so dignified; they crowded near the doorway, stunned, and when the flame surged, they lacked the reflex to dodge, forced to take the blow with their faces.

The flame swept over them; though it was at the tail end of a powerful bolt and not enough to sear a person alive, their hair ignited, and Master Tony Powder instantly burned them into bald, ghost‑shaven heads.

Originally, Ji Ming came here after spotting a newly spawned thirty‑something level BOSS in a player's fresh base; considering their current strength, he knew they couldn't contend, so he decided to come and shake things up.

He didn't expect the opponent to be so agitated, to fight to the death; that left him with no options.

When Heibai subconsciously halted his flame spray after accidentally injuring his own people, Ji Ming's right hand twitched, and a steel bead about five centimeters in diameter appeared in his hand.

"You like spitting, huh?"

"You like burning, huh?"

"Then I'll block you right now!"

With precise throwing, the gaping hole became a perfect target; the steel bead fit snugly, and as Heibai ceased spitting, his throat muscles involuntarily contracted.

Completely sealing it off.

Spitting fire is great, but Heibai's vision was blocked by the flames, so he had no idea what was happening.

Spitting fire is fine, but Heibai's vision was blocked by the flames, so he had no idea what was happening.

He only felt a sudden foreign object in his throat, hurriedly clutching his neck as the extremely vicious man before him coughed violently.

"Don't think that because you look pink I won't kill you, Heibai. Actually, my group and your assassin organization have a little feud."

Ji Ming hadn't forgotten the guy hired by An De Lu, but instead of seeking revenge on that little chick,

he chose to strike directly at their boss.

So in the next instant he activated a light blade and thrust it straight at the opponent's heart.

Yet as an assassin, even at such a disadvantage Heibai did not give up struggling; he activated the true killing ability he relied on for survival.

After a burst of magical fluctuation, the man who had been hunched over trying to vomit vanished into thin air.

"Invisibility? I thought you were a real assassin; why are you just a petty back‑stabber?"

Ji Ming didn't expect that pink thing could pull off such a stunt; he was still pondering whether to use the Fart Technique for a universal detection, when a chilling seep came from behind.

In the next instant, a flash of white appeared there; if it weren't for his rapid movement prompted by a bizarre omen and the reliable talisman armor shielding his back, he would have truly felt flesh tearing open.

Even so, the blade still scraped a harsh metallic screech against the armor, then vanished amid faint flickering sparks before Ji Ming could counterattack.

Unfortunately, this sunny, cheerful ability of invisibility has existed for a long time; many Sun‑Moon families that have had numerous important beings assassinated have long developed countermeasures, such as those of the Holy Light Church…

It has always been Ji Ming, using the Breath‑Holding Talisman and Suggestion Technique to conceal himself, eating, drinking, taking and stealing right under others' noses; he didn't expect to be outmaneuvered today by another invisibility user.

Unfortunately, this bright and open ability of invisibility has long existed; many families of the Sun Moon, who have assassinated numerous important beings, have already devised countermeasures, such as those of the Holy Light Church…

As a golden light, hidden behind a mask, flashed in Ji Ming's eyes, and under the illumination of the Saint's Judgment, he instantly saw Heibai, his expression gleeful like a monkey, stealthily stealing like a dog.

However, he didn't strike outright; he intended to torment Heibai body and soul, venting on the so‑called "obstacles" that Heibai had once killed.

Consequently, after several subsequent clashes, Heibai grew increasingly frantic, unaware of what was happening; attacks that should have landed cleanly kept ending in mishaps.

It wasn't that the mysterious figure suddenly punched, perfectly striking his cheek, nor that he tossed the water jug from the table, splashing himself with hot water that, while not lethal, still burned his face.

He began to doubt himself, wondering if that guy could see him, but quickly denied it.

"Impossible! I walk the shadows at great cost, studying unknown evil gods; how could anyone uncover me so easily?"

The fact is, aside from the first time, his attacks grew increasingly cunning and elaborate, yet he still couldn't make contact with the mysterious person's body even once.

Instead, he kept getting punched and splashed with hot water, and finally was burned by some unknown acidic liquid with a howl, nearly exposing himself from the shadows.

Impressive, what kind of other‑worldly ninja is this? Even after damage‑inflicting potion splashed onto his face, he remained silent.

Yet even after such severe injury, the lizard seemed only able to continue stealthy assassinations, with no new skills emerging.

Indeed, fire‑spitting, invisibility, high stats, plus great endurance and timing control; combined, they're enough to hunt down many masters.

It's not that they're too weak; it's just that a being like me is too bizarre—one must learn to be tolerant.

At this moment, the merchants in the conference room had all fled, and some of the remaining players also chose to leave.

As for those who stayed in the room, they politely withdrew far away, fearing that watching the spectacle would cause their death‑level drop, thus giving them ample combat space.

Seeing that it was almost over, Ji Ming, when Heibai launched his next attack, extended his arm and seized the opponent's throat.

The steel bead had actually been expelled by Heibai's throat muscles, but he kept it in his mouth to avoid making a sound.

Feeling the immense force on his neck, his eyes and face were filled with disbelief.

Reaching his hand into Heibai's embrace, Ji Ming pulled a necklace off his neck,

"Hehe, pitiful little lizard, there are many things I can see, such as this…"

Reaching into Heibai's chest, Ji Ming pulled a necklace from his neck,

the necklace bore a circular pendant carved from human bone, depicting an exaggerated, snarling skull‑deer head.

—An old friend; that's a Wendigo.

Ji Ming hadn't expected to see Lao Yang Tou here; feeling a "so it's you" moment, he couldn't suppress a delighted laugh.

"It seems this old infiltration runs deep; I didn't expect you to be His follower?"

Such words, as if meeting an old friend, made Heibai's eyes widen, and he asked haltingly,

"You… you recognize the Shadow Lord? Who are you to Him?"

"I am the one He should kneel and welcome."

The question‑mark mask gave a faint smile.

【120】 "I am the one He expects to kneel before."

【121】 With that, a massive surge of righteous qi rushed from his limbs into his right fist; the golden‑coated, mighty iron fist roared out, striking Heibai's soft belly.