Chapter 43: Kucha Part 2

“Different times call for different measures,” Xiao Kun reiterated. “Listen clearly? Old Wu, you take Chaosheng and Hulü Guang and follow the plan. Don’t act rashly.”

“Got it.” Wu Yingzong transformed into human form and left with Chaosheng and Hulü Guang.

The team split up and awaited the signal from A Huang.

Wu Yingzong arrived outside the city. Hulü Guang said, “I’ll scout first.”

Gumo’s city walls were low. With the sudden change in the city, the original Human Race guards on patrol had vanished. Hulü Guang took a few steps to build speed and ran straight over the wall into the city.

“Are you feeling better?” Chaosheng asked worriedly.

Wu Yingzong multitasked: monitoring movements inside the walls, watching for Xiang Xian’s signal, and talking to Chaosheng. He was under high tension and simply nodded.

“Let me check your wounds.” Chaosheng stepped forward.

Yesterday, when charging into the Abyss Divine Palace, Wu Yingzong had reverted to his original form and blocked all the arrows. His shoulders and chest bore many wounds. Fortunately, the giant ape’s thick skin meant the arrowheads hadn’t penetrated deeply, posing no threat to his life.

“It’s fine.” Wu Yingzong stopped Chaosheng from unfastening his collar. They stood in silence for a moment, both with bloodshot eyes.

Seeing Wu Yingzong refuse his touch, Chaosheng’s expression darkened.

“You must be exhausted,” Wu Yingzong said, proactively unfastening his robe and baring his torso. “Stay behind me later. Master… forget it.” He sighed.

Chaosheng examined Wu Yingzong’s shoulders and back. The arrow wounds had healed, leaving red marks that would fade with time. Hearing this, Chaosheng grew unhappy again and said, “Are you worried about Big Brother and the others? Then go help them. Leave this to Hulü Guang and me.”

“No!” Wu Yingzong turned, looking earnestly at Chaosheng. “You’ve misunderstood again, Chaosheng. That’s not what I meant. Sigh!”

“What do you mean ‘misunderstood again’?” Chaosheng looked at Wu Yingzong. He felt that after a certain point, Wu Yingzong had become like a different person.

Wu Yingzong hadn’t wanted Chaosheng to fight, as he had previously been one of the Demon King’s targets. Any mishap would put him in danger. But he couldn’t mention this in front of Chaosheng; having served by Xiang Xian’s side for many years, he had no right to object to such decisions.

Moreover, leaving Chaosheng alone now was even more dangerous, leaving Wu Yingzong in a conflicted mood. His nerves were taut, and Chaosheng’s constant questions only frustrated him further.

As for Hulü Guang, Wu Yingzong no longer viewed him with disdain as before. Now, he didn’t even know what he and Chaosheng were competing over.

“Nothing,” Wu Yingzong said with furrowed brows. He wanted to explain properly but struggled to express his feelings. “Don’t say any more, Chaosheng. Follow my lead later, alright?”

“Fine,” Chaosheng replied.

“Ignore him,” A Huang suddenly said. “He’s just sick, seeking death and courting disaster. Let him suffer a bit, and he’ll behave.”

“What do you mean?!” Chaosheng said.

Chaosheng thought A Huang was referring to him and was furious. A Huang jumped from Wu Yingzong’s shoulder to his, nipping Chaosheng’s ear lightly with his beak. Chaosheng nearly cried out, realizing A Huang meant Wu Yingzong.

“Oh, not me,” Chaosheng said blankly. “But that’s still not right. What’s wrong with him?”

Wu Yingzong’s martial robe draped around his waist, revealing his sturdy, handsome upper body muscles, covered in wounds—red marks from arrows like whip lashes.

“Yes, I’m sick,” Wu Yingzong admitted.

At that moment, Hulü Guang returned and whistled from atop the wall.

“Almost no one inside,” Hulü Guang said. “Let’s go!”

A Huang flew off to report to Xiang Xian. Wu Yingzong extended his hand. Chaosheng hesitated but, as before, took it and climbed onto his back. Wu Yingzong carried Chaosheng, took a few steps to build speed, and leaped onto the wall.

“What sickness do you have?” Chaosheng asked, forgetting his anger after A Huang’s words and showing concern.

“…”

At another spot outside the city gate:

Xiang Xian saw Xiao Kun’s complicated expression and asked, “What are you thinking?”

“I’m wondering,” Xiao Kun said, “how we handled this in the previous life. Has King Mu already anticipated our actions?”

“Even if he remembers, his Demon Person subordinates won’t,” Xiang Xian said.

Xiao Kun replied, “He can guide his subordinates. Think about it: if we redid it and you got the Heart Lamp instead of Hulü Guang, facing Gumo’s fall, what would we do?”

“Of course, kill through the entire city,” Xiang Xian said, “and drive these Demon Persons back.”

Before the words finished, A Huang flew up: “They’re ready.”

“Move!” Xiao Kun said.

Both cast the Shrinking Earth Technique simultaneously, passing through Gumo’s walls. They flipped onto rooftops along the main street and charged toward the royal palace center.

“They’re here,” Mr. Ying said gravely.

The Great Si Ming Flute sounded. The black fire surged, erupting millions of black fire meteors that shot toward the corpses on the ground! The Xiongnu Dry Corpses from a thousand years ago roared and stood up one after another. Yan Yan swapped to a super long saber nearly a zhang long, shook it out with a flourish, and darted out of the palace, trailing black qi as she sped toward Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun!

While sprinting at high speed, Xiang Xian whistled. A Huang shot out countless flame feathers, pouncing onto his back. Xiang Xian unfurled fiery wings and blasted through the long street!

Yan Yan blocked in front of the palace and clashed with Xiang Xian.

“Though they say a short inch is dangerous,” Xiang Xian said with a roguish smile, fists and feet flying as he nearly dove into Yan Yan’s embrace, “isn’t your weapon a bit too long?”

Yan Yan: “!!!”

Yan Yan withdrew in time. The ultra-long blade spun back. Xiang Xian didn’t dodge; he grabbed the saber with one hand and slashed fiercely. Blood burst from his palm. Mimicking Xiao Kun, he performed a Blood Sacrifice with the enemy’s weapon. As he activated Blazing Flame, his blood turned to magma. Under the intense heat, the saber softened red-hot, and he snapped it in half with a sideways palm strike.