Chapter 65: The Truth Revealed, A Desperate Counterattack

"Wait..." That voice...
It was actually Zhang San!
That outcast, universally reviled Zhang San!
He staggered out from the shadows, his face pale, yet his gaze exceptionally resolute.
"I know who they are! I know their objective!" He pointed at the masked figures, his voice trembling yet distinct, "They are... the Sect Leader's men! The Sect Leader sent them to seize... the complete Codex of Heavenly Mystery!"
What?!
The Sect Leader?!
My mind buzzed as if struck by a lightning bolt.
No wonder these mysterious people were so familiar with the mechanisms here, and no wonder they were so obsessed with the Codex of Heavenly Mystery!
It turned out that all of this was the Sect Leader's conspiracy!
He actually cried thief to catch the thief, first spreading the rumor that the secret manual had been stolen, and then sending men to snatch it, so he could wipe us out in one fell swoop!
What an old fox!
I felt a chill race from the soles of my feet straight to the top of my head, as if I had returned to those desperate moments of being imprisoned in the sect's dungeon.
He Yunsheng pulled me behind him; his tall figure stood like a wall, bringing me a trace of safety.
He gripped my hand tightly, the warmth of his palm transmitting strength to me.
He looked at Zhang San with sharp eyes, "Zhang San, are you certain everything you said is true?"
Zhang San nodded heavily, his eyes filled with remorse and determination, "I stake my life on it! I heard the Sect Leader talking with them with my own ears!"
The masked leader let out a cold laugh, seeming entirely unconcerned that his identity had been exposed.
"Since you already know the truth, there is even less reason to let you live!" He raised his long sword, the blade pointing straight at us, "Kill them!"
He Yunsheng shielded me behind him, his body tense like a drawn bow ready to fire.
He looked at Scholar Li, his gaze resolute, "Brother Li, today we shall fight side by side and never let them succeed!"
Scholar Li pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose, a determined gleam flashing in his eyes as he nodded solemnly.
The air was thick with tension, like a tight string on the verge of snapping.
I tightened my grip on the dagger in my hand, my palms growing slightly damp with sweat.
I knew that a fierce battle was unavoidable...
"Yunsheng, watch out!" I shoved He Yunsheng hard...
I shoved He Yunsheng hard just as a hidden arrow grazed past his arm, embedding itself deeply into the stone wall behind him!
That was close!
If my eyes hadn't been sharp, Brother Yunsheng would have been hurt!
I roared, "You despicable villains! Do you only know how to play such dirty tricks?!"
The masked leader sneered, "History is written by the victors; why bother with the means? Prepare to die!"
They swarmed forward, every strike lethal.
Although I had learned new moves, two fists are no match for four hands, and I gradually began to struggle.
Yunsheng and Scholar Li were also bogged down in a bitter fight.
Just as I was about to reach my limit, a flash of inspiration struck me, and I recalled a special technique recorded in the secret manual—"Phantom Shadow Tracking."
This technique required immense internal energy, and I had never dared to try it before, but now I had no choice!
I took a deep breath, mobilized all my internal energy, and recited the incantations silently.
Suddenly, my figure blurred, splitting into multiple phantoms that wove back and forth among the enemies.
Dazed and overwhelmed, they could no longer distinguish the true body from the illusions, and their attacks lost their targets.
Seizing the opportunity, I used my dagger to leave marks on them.
"Taste my true power!" I shouted loudly, the phantoms merging back into one as I moved at a speed too fast for the naked eye to capture.
I swept through their ranks like a whirlwind, every blow fatal!
"Good grief! What kind of move is this? This is too overpowered!" I muttered inwardly while fighting.
These masked men were clearly terrified out of their wits by me, their attacks becoming increasingly chaotic and completely devoid of strategy.
Seizing the moment, I kicked their leader flying and snatched his weapon away.
"With just this tiny bit of skill, you dared to come and rob us? Go home and wash up for bed!" I dusted off my hands, looking with disdain at their panicked, disheveled retreat, feeling a surge of secret satisfaction inside.
Although we had won, matters were far from over.
This Codex of Heavenly Mystery was like a hot potato, and I had no idea what kind of trouble it would bring us next.
More importantly, that old fox of a Sect Leader would certainly not let the matter rest...
As I was pondering, I suddenly felt a burning sensation in my chest...
My golden cheat...
It seemed to be guiding me...
I looked in a certain direction, where...
Something seemed to be calling out to me...
I took Yunsheng's hand, "Let's go, let's go take a look over there!"