Chapter Sixty-Six: Linghu Chong Defeated

As soon as Ren Woxing spoke, the atmosphere instantly shifted.

Dongfang Bubai looked anxiously at Yang Wenhao, desperate to explain herself. Even though she wished for all the men in the world to become neither masculine nor feminine, Yang Wenhao was always the exception. How could she ever want to harm him?

Seeing her like this, Yang Wenhao smiled and said, "There's no need to worry. Back when I asked you for it and you refused, this was what you were afraid of, wasn't it?"

"Yes," Dongfang Bubai nodded, admitting it. She really hadn't wanted Yang Wenhao to take it back then, but now she was no longer inclined to refuse. Of course, she would remind Yang Wenhao thoroughly when the time came. If he made any strange moves, she would not hesitate to act.

"Brother Yang," Linghu Chong started, but the words caught in his throat.

"Linghu," Yang Wenhao looked at him and said, "I actually hope you'd stand on my side."

At these words, both Ren Woxing and Ren Yingying turned to look at Linghu Chong. Earlier, they had tried to persuade Yang Wenhao, but now it was their own turn to be wooed.

"Brother Chong..." Ren Yingying looked at the conflicted Linghu Chong, her face filled with worry.

"Don't worry, Yingying," Linghu Chong grasped her hand and said, "I won't do anything like that."

Hearing this, Ren Woxing and Ren Yingying finally felt relieved.

"I say, have you forgotten? The Sun and Moon Sect already has this place surrounded," Dongfang Bubai said coldly. "Even if you wanted to escape, there’s nowhere to run."

"Dongfang Bubai, don’t be so arrogant," Ren Woxing replied. "With Linghu Chong and me together, we don’t fear you."

"So you mean to leave Yang Wenhao to be dealt with by Ren Yingying?" Dongfang Bubai sneered. "I’ll tell you the truth—Yang Wenhao’s strength even I must admire. How could Ren Yingying possibly handle him?"

The outcome between Yang Wenhao and Ren Yingying was clear at a glance.

"You!" Ren Woxing glared angrily at Dongfang Bubai.

"Old man, there’s no way out for you today. You must die!" Dongfang Bubai’s gaze darkened.

At this moment, the tension was at its breaking point.

Linghu Chong had already drawn his sword, prepared for battle.

Dongfang Bubai, a master of the innate realm, moved with ghostly speed. In the blink of an eye, she appeared before Ren Woxing and struck out with her palm.

Ren Woxing only saw a blur before Dongfang Bubai’s figure was in front of him. His heart skipped a beat. Startled, he raised his hand to parry her attack.

A muffled thud resounded.

Ren Woxing was sent flying backward. Ren Yingying and Linghu Chong hurriedly retreated to his side.

Yet Dongfang Bubai stood where she was, gazing down at Ren Woxing. "Ren Woxing, you’re old. Even without Yang Wenhao’s help, I could finish you all myself."

"Dongfang Bubai… you’ll meet a bad end," Ren Woxing spat blood from the corner of his mouth and, supported by Ren Yingying, struggled to his feet.

"Yingying, Uncle Ren, you two go first. I’ll hold her off," Linghu Chong said, gripping his iron sword and showing no fear as he faced Dongfang Bubai.

"Heh..." Dongfang Bubai sneered at Linghu Chong. "You? Hold me off?"

Seeing this, Yang Wenhao shook his head. Not to mention the current Linghu Chong—even in the original tale, when Linghu Chong had mastered the Five Mountains Sword Techniques and the Dugu Nine Swords, he still wouldn’t be able to hold Dongfang Bubai off. The outcome was decided in a single exchange; there was no point.

But Yang Wenhao couldn’t let Linghu Chong die. If he did, the course of events would be thrown into chaos, and his own task was far from complete.

Just as Dongfang Bubai was about to strike, Yang Wenhao stepped forward. "Dongfang, you go after Ren Woxing and the others. I’ll handle Linghu Chong and meet you later."

"Fine," Dongfang Bubai nodded.

She vaulted to the rooftop, giving chase.

Now, Yang Wenhao and Linghu Chong faced each other.

Linghu Chong managed a bitter smile. "I never thought, Brother Yang, that we would meet like this."

"Nor did I expect you to end up in such a state," Yang Wenhao replied, shaking his head. He’d changed so much, and yet Linghu Chong’s misfortunes remained: colluding with the demonic cult, Yue Lingshan running off with Lin Pingzhi—Linghu Chong’s fate was tragic indeed.

"Come then. Today, let me see your true strength," Linghu Chong said, readying his sword.

"Very well, I’ll oblige you," Yang Wenhao replied. In a flash of light, a silver sword appeared in his once-empty hand.

Linghu Chong was momentarily stunned by this miraculous sight.

"When fighting, you mustn’t be slow," Yang Wenhao warned.

Suddenly, his sword flashed toward Linghu Chong, who hastily dodged to the side. But as he did, Yang Wenhao’s blade suddenly changed direction, pointing straight at him.

Startled, Linghu Chong blocked the cold gleam with his own sword, but Yang Wenhao quickly forced him back.

"Interesting," Yang Wenhao remarked, somewhat surprised by Linghu Chong. It seemed he hadn’t concealed that cave well enough, and Linghu Chong must have learned the sword techniques hidden inside.

Otherwise, with the move just now, the old Linghu Chong would have been easily struck.

But Yang Wenhao had no intention of killing Linghu Chong. If he did, the game would end, and with his mission incomplete, he couldn’t allow that.

So Yang Wenhao decided to finish the fight quickly.

A series of crisp notes rang out.

Linghu Chong’s eyes widened in disbelief as his sword vanished, replaced by an ancient zither.

While Linghu Chong stared in astonishment, the notes Yang Wenhao plucked instantly transformed into phantasmal soldiers charging at him.

Linghu Chong, alarmed, raised his sword to block the oncoming figures, but they kept coming, even from behind.

Despite his improved swordsmanship, Linghu Chong was still no match for Yang Wenhao. The music from Yang Wenhao’s zither could overwhelm even innate masters; for someone like Linghu Chong, merely on the threshold of first-rate skill, there was no resisting it.

Yet, because Yang Wenhao didn’t wish to kill him—only to knock him out—he held back.

Cornered, Linghu Chong unleashed his hidden potential, his sword skills improving rapidly. But with each new wound, he was pushed closer to collapse. His inner strength could no longer support such an intense battle.

The final note of the Nine Heavens Ringing Jade Zither resounded.

Yang Wenhao put the zither away and looked at Linghu Chong, who now lay unconscious on the ground, and sighed.

"Someone, come here!"

A few followers of the Sun and Moon Sect entered.

"Greetings, Elder Yang."

"Take this man away and see to his injuries."

"As you command."

(End of this chapter.)