Chapter 197: When I Arrived

Chapter 197: When I Arrived

When you arrived? the guard repeated, slack-jawed.

Whats going on? The second guard stepped out of the forest. He, too, stared at the sight of the ruined garden.

Hui gave them a bashful smile. I dont know what happened. I was just as startled as the two of you. This whole time, Ive been standing here, staring at the garden. Can you believe it? I wonder what happened!

The first guard furrowed his brows. You arent the Gao Trio.

Hui jumped. Oh, shit! Abruptly, he twitched his fingers. The two disguised ghouls jumped up beside him. Hui lifted a sleeve over his mouth and threw his voice.

Haha, what are you saying?

Elder Brother, dont be ridiculous.

The first guard drew his sword. Youre the one whos being ridiculous. Undo what you did to the garden this instant, or perish.

Hui silently circulated his qi, checking his internal state. Another five minutes before I run out of blood. Wordlessly, he raised his hands in a fighting stance. The two ghouls stepped up on either side of him, both of them baring fangs and claws.

Even as he took a fighting stance, Hui snuck a talisman from his ring and hid it in his palm.

The second guard drew his sword as well. The two guards charged at Hui from either side, perfectly in sync.

Hui threw the talisman on the ground and jumped back. The two ghouls charged in, leaping in front of the guards. Swords clashed against the ghouls claws. The ghouls sparred the guards back and forth, but quickly lost ground. Despite being powerful ghouls, they werent a match for the swordsmen. Seeing that, Hui threw out his hand and activated the talisman. Slippery ice spread under the sparring duos feet. The swordsmen fell to the floor, and the ghouls tackled them, biting and clawing.

Sword qi flashed, sharp enough to cut the air. Hui jumped back. A thin scratch appeared on his arm, but the sword qi didnt bite through the crystal.

He raised his eyebrows. Not bad! Instantly, I became this tough. Truly, transmuting the body is far superior to exercising! Apologies, Elder Brother Ding Lao, but this small cultivator is more suited for the magical route than the physical.

The two ghouls fell, cut in half. The swordsmen leaped up, racing at Hui.

Hui flicked his hand, drawing the ghouls toward the swordsmen. Their bodies twitched and lifted off the ground, slamming into the swordsmen from behind. They grabbed onto the swordsmen around the waist.

Whwhat? Ghouls?

Hui took a deep breath. Beautiful.

In the distance, a formation of flying cultivators swooped toward the forest on swords. Hui turned slowly. From the east, a loose conglomeration of cultivators rode beasts of all shapes and sizes. A treasure ship approached from the south, glistening cultivators standing proud at its prow.

The Southern Sect Conference!

Instantly, Hui slapped his forehead, releasing the ghoul skin and collecting it back into his storage ring. He pointed his sword at an angle and blasted off toward the formation of flying cultivators. At a guess, the Southern Sect Conference is made up of the same sects who came to our fighting tournament. If so, then the beasts are Azure Fang. The treasure ship is likely Silk Heart. Which means the sword cultivators are Starbound Sect!

Behind him, the two swordfighters burst through the forests canopy and into the sunlight.

Disguise yourself all you want, demonic cultivator! Well cut you down!

How dare you destroy our garden? As a guest, no less! I knew we never shouldve allowed that demonic scum in!

Ignoring them, Hui hurtled toward the Starbound Sect cultivators. As he flew, he searched the crowd, trying to pick out the leader. Please be there, Master! If its anyone else, please not Lan Taijian!

From amidst the cloud of white-robed cultivators, one frowned directly at Hui. Fierce eyebrows furrowed. Long black hair fluttered on the wind. Lan Taijian crossed his arms and squinted in Huis direction, as if he couldnt believe what he was seeing.

No! Why, Heavens! Hui bemoaned silently. Still, he surged toward the sect. Even if Lan Taijian doesnt like me, surely he wont watch on silently as a foreign sect attacks a Starbound disciple!

Well, he might. But hopefully someone in the crowd will come to my aid!

He began to fall as the burst of qi faded from his sword. Hui pushed more in and soared toward the white-robed cultivators again.

Behind him, the two swordsman surged. One waved his hand, sending out a green bell. He rang it once, sending waves of green energy out over the forest. The other poured all his energy into his sword and sped toward Huis back at top speed.

Hui threw out a pair of barrier talismans. One flew toward the bell, and the other flew at the swordsman. The swordsman slashed, cutting the talisman in half before it could activate. The other burst into a gold bubble, but the first wave of green energy smashed it to splinters.

Huis scalp prickled in fear. I need more powerful talismans! Dammit, this small cultivators talisman formulae are too weak! Ah, why is it always so hard for this small cultivator to cultivate in peace? Its like the world is conspiring against my peace and quiet!

I could have maybe, spent a few more minutes cultivating before I went to deal with the traps but! But, thats justah, Im too concerned about my precious sect brothers and sisters to leave such dangerous traps armed!

He drew a deep breath and reached out toward the Starbound Sect contingent. Elder Brothers! Help! This poor Starbound Sect disciple is about to die!

The green waves from the bell reached him before the swordsman did. It slammed into his back and threw him forward. Coughing up a mouthful of blood, Hui went limp and killed his cultivation. His sword fell, and he plummeted toward the Starbound Sect cultivators. Catch me, my sect! Surely everyone wont abandon a pitiful, small junior like me?