Chapter Ninety-One: Surrounded by Many, Yu Shang Stands Alone Against Them

Although the contest you are about to face has nothing to do with me, we have all gone through more than enough hardship together. Since you are all now on the same side, I suppose I must follow the majority. I may as well join the excitement. If I stood by and watched from the sidelines, that would hardly look proper, would it?” Xing Mi-shuang said with a light laugh.

Her words made it sound as though her presence would have little influence on the coming contest. Yet Yu Shang knew very well that, as a descendant of that exalted master, she must possess her share of wondrous secret arts. Though true energy could not be used in this sunless, ghostly place, there was no telling whether anything here could truly restrain her. In any case, her joining them only lowered Yu Shang’s chances of victory still further.

“Lan Wu, what do you choose? I think both of us care deeply about Xiao Yin’s safety. You wouldn’t want him to take such a reckless risk, would you?” Ignoring the others, Yu Shang turned to Lan Wu, whose face was filled with hesitation, and asked. He knew that only this little girl’s thoughts would align with his now. They both could not bear to see Xiao Yin suffer any needless harm.

Yet why was she so torn when he asked her? Had she not always opposed Xiao Yin’s proposal? Why, then, did she now wear such an incomprehensible expression? Was even this last ray of hope going to turn against him? No, it could not be. She cared so much for Xiao Yin that she would never stand by idly and watch him walk to the edge of the cliff without dragging him back in time.

“You are right. I really do not want Xiao Yin to take this risk. But what good will it do to think that way? Since he is determined to do this, what else can I do besides support and encourage him? Must I really join forces with you to deal with him?” Lan Wu looked at Yu Shang, her brow faintly furrowed, and asked in a voice heavy with sorrow. She did not want the man she loved to endanger himself either, but she understood that whatever she said now would be useless.

“What is wrong with the two of us joining hands to deal with him? We are not trying to take his life; we are trying to save him! If the two people closest to him do not stop him and try to persuade him, then his final end will surely be a tragic one. Call it me easing my conscience if you like, or call it a sincere concern for Xiao Yin’s safety. In any case, I absolutely cannot sit here and wait while they act as they please!” Yu Shang said with rising agitation.

“Yu Shang, your resistance now is nothing but a struggle before death. Without the Divine Sword of the Source, you are no match for these people at all. Rather than forcing myself for a conclusion I can already foresee, only to turn against Xiao Yin and let a rift open between us, it would be better to relax and support him. Even if the ending is not as we hope, what does it matter?” Lan Wu drew a deep breath and said slowly.

Though her words were so calm, Yu Shang still heard within them a trace of helplessness, and an understanding of the two men whose stance differed from theirs. It turned out that, all along, the person who saw through matters most clearly was Lan Wu. Since there was no longer any power to change a settled fact, perhaps it was better to let nature take its course. Who knew? Another strange encounter might yet be waiting for them.

“Lan’er, thank you for your understanding and support. But right now, I still want you to believe in me. Believe that after this, I will stand well before you once more. You have to know, I am not so easy to bring down! The road between us is still a long one, and I will not allow myself to leave you alone in this world!” Looking at the woman who belonged to him, Xiao Yin spoke from the depths of his heart. Truly, he was grateful to have such a wonderful partner, one who embraced and understood this willful version of himself.

“Why has it suddenly become so cold in here? This old man is shivering like mad! Little snake, if you are going to say such uncomfortable things again next time, warn me in advance so I can prepare myself. That way I will not end up feeling so miserable, just like now.” A teasing voice drifted lazily from the corner. No need to look; it could only be that irreverent old dean.

In truth, the old man’s words sounded as if he were mocking the lovers, but one could not fail to hear within them a yearning for such feelings. He too was a tragic soul. After finally finding the woman he truly loved, she died in a sudden calamity, leaving only him and their newborn daughter to struggle bitterly on in this world.

Yet when he was finally ready to lay down all hatred and raise his daughter in peace, the girl ran away with the very villain who had killed her mother. In the end, she even gave birth to a child who should never have come into this world. Caught between kinship and vengeance, he ultimately chose to raise that child, but he could never quite bring himself to love her as a grandfather should.

Could there be anyone more sorrowful than he? Perhaps everyone carries a grief too deep to speak of, but few would tear open their own wounds and lay them bare before others the way he did. No wonder he envied these young people so much. Yes, they had also endured many trials, but at least there were still people beside them who cared for them. Even that alone was enough to make him envious beyond measure.

“Hmph, I cannot be bothered with you. When this is over, I will have a proper talk with you, Dean!” Xiao Yin shot a huge glare toward the corner and then flashed his signature roguish grin. This old fellow truly loved stirring things up and never thought twice about how serious the situation was. He really did know how to test one’s patience.

“I must say, you have all made this far too simple in your minds. Things will not proceed so smoothly. I have a feeling that something unexpected may well arise during the process. In any case, no matter what happens, I will fight alongside you to the end and prevent that regrettable accident from occurring!” Yu Shang said with unshaken resolve. Clearly, his stubborn temperament could not be moved by anyone.

In truth, Yu Shang had been worrying all along about the familiar yet chilling sensation he had felt before entering the gate of the Divine Tree. He had a bad feeling that whoever came here had sinister intentions and meant to do something wicked. Though he had racked his brain, he still could not figure out who that person was, but he knew that the one might truly have come for him.

That person’s aim was to wait for the right moment, seize him in one blow, and perhaps even take his life. Even now, Yu Shang could not forget how intense that thick, bitter resentment had felt. It seemed this person and he must have some deep and irreconcilable hatred between them, or else such loathing would never have been directed at him.

The reason Yu Shang did not want to speak of it was that he did not wish to alarm the snake before striking, nor did he want to disturb that old fellow and see what schemes he might be harboring. That old man could not possibly have failed to notice that, besides the few of them, there was another seeker in this treasure vault. Yet why he had not dragged that person out, Yu Shang could not quite understand.

In any case, the danger in this ghostly place was no less severe than the danger of the contest itself. He could not afford to win the match only to drag everyone into trouble and give that ill-intentioned person an opening. Especially Xiao Yin, who was willing to risk his life to deliver spiritual essence for him. He could wrong anyone in the world, but not him. To Yu Shang, the best plan now was to stand firm and respond to all changes with constancy.

“With the old dean here, what have we got to fear? No matter what, it seems you will not change your mind. In that case, brat, do not blame us for ganging up on you!” Xiao Yin led the others as they rushed toward Yu Shang’s position. It seemed an intense battle was inevitable here.

Though everyone got along quite well, once they fought one another, they would not go easy. In their eyes, a contest was a contest. No matter how it ended, it should not damage the bond between them. But if someone deliberately held back during the fight, then the matter would be different.

They would see it as a naked insult to their abilities, an insult to the very spirit of the contest. So once they entered battle, they would no longer care about anything else. They needed only to focus on defeating their opponent. In combat, injury or even maiming was unavoidable, but even if someone did get hurt, no one would blame another for it.

For the meaning of the contest lay in their care for one another. If any scars were tragically left behind, then let them serve as proof of friendship. Proof that whatever they did was for each other, and that wherever they might be, their hearts still turned toward one another. Such affection was indeed enough to make anyone envious.

Now, back to the matter at hand. In a flash, the others all drew their swords and charged toward Yu Shang at great speed. Even those without weapons rushed forward barehanded, refusing to be outdone. As for Yu Shang, he stood there like a spectator, motionless, as if deliberately waiting for them to arrive.

But just as they were about to reach him, Yu Shang suddenly shifted to the side, causing every one of them to lunge into empty air. His speed was astonishing. If this had been a speed powered by true energy within him, the others would not have been so shocked. But now they were no different from ordinary people and could not draw on the power within them at all.

And yet Yu Shang, under these conditions, was not the least bit slower than he had been at the height of his cultivation. That was truly inconceivable to everyone. Xiao Yin, however, was not especially surprised. It was as though everything that had just happened had already been within his expectations. That was indeed the case. He had watched Yu Shang grow up, and how could he not know what sort of abilities that brat possessed?

This brat had never allowed a single flaw in his cultivation. Others focused only on refining their inner realm and neglected the outer foundation, but this brat insisted on doing the opposite of everyone else. He first made his inner cultivation flawless, then turned to strengthen the outer. That was the main reason his progress lagged behind those of his peers. But time had proven that this method was indeed useful.

Though his cultivation did not seem especially formidable on the surface, once one fought him, it became clear that even without cultivation, he was a dangerous and ruthless character, relying solely on his techniques and physical toughness. Xiao Yin had to admit that this brat was indeed clever, never blindly following the steps of others, but instead finding a cultivation path of his own.

Then Xiao Yin smiled at Yu Shang, who had already slipped to the side, and gave the others a meaningful glance. The rest immediately understood, and in a flash formed a ring around Yu Shang, sealing him within it so tightly that not even a drop of water could escape. After that brief mishap, everyone finally understood that when facing an opponent like Yu Shang, they must never underestimate him. Otherwise, not only might they lose to him in a careless instant, but the consequences would likely be grim beyond measure.