Chapter 321: Master!

Chapter 321: Master!

"Jun Luo!"

Wan Yutang’s expression turned grim as he tried to get down from Wan Zangxin's back.

However, Wan Zangxin held firm, wrapping the chains binding Wan Yutang around his own chest.

Li Xuechun’s sword rang out as he drew it, but after glancing at it, he had little faith in it.

Earlier today, he and Wan Yilan had been captured by Jun Luo.

He had indeed fought back, but this man's martial arts shared the same origin as his own.

Jun Luo knew his techniques inside out, leaving Li Xuechun completely helpless before the fight was even finished.

Now, even with his sword in hand, he doubted he stood a chance.

Xu Lu, meanwhile, raised his one-legged bronze weapon—a bit too heavy—before finally resting it behind his back. He glared warily at Jun Luo, who had already approached, and barked:

"Stop right there!"

"Hmm?"

Jun Luo glanced at Xu Lu. "Given the distance between us, killing you would take just a thought.

Even if I stop now, how would that make you safer?"

"..."

Xu Lu pondered for a moment, then decided the man was just bluffing. He spat in disdain:

"Nonsense! Do you even know who my master is?"

"Oh?"

Jun Luo seemed intrigued. "Do tell."

"My master is none other than the Eastern Wasteland's Number One, Su Mo of the Ziyang Escort Bureau in Sunset City!

If you let us go today, I might put in a good word for you before him. Who knows? He might just let you live.

But if you keep harassing us, once my master arrives, he’ll make sure you beg for death in vain!"

He wasn’t bluffing. In Xu Lu’s mind, Su Mo truly had the power to make someone endure living hell.

In the past, Xu Lu had feared Su Mo more than he respected him.

But as he spent more time with him, fear faded, giving way to respect.

Yet, the memory of Su Mo casually poisoning others, leaving them in torment between life and death, remained vivid.

Hearing this, Li Xuechun was startled: "Chief Escort Su has a disciple your age?"

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

Xu Lu immediately took offense. "I’m his student, not his kid. Why can’t I be this old?"

Li Xuechun pondered it and had to admit he had a point.

Wan Yutang listened in amazement.

Along the way, he had heard the name Su Mo more than once.

But he had no clue who this person really was.

However, he did know that this person seemed to have saved his son’s life.

Now his successor was here too, so he quickly said:

"Young man, since you are the successor of this hero, you should not recklessly throw your life away here.

Go get your master—quick!"

Xu Lu’s lips twitched—as if he didn’t want to leave?

If he could leave, he wouldn’t even be here with Wan Yilan.

Besides, the way back was blocked now—even if the path were wide open, the twisting paths of the Endless Prison were so confusing that he wouldn’t know the way even if he tried to leave.

"Ha ha ha!"

Jun Luo burst into laughter, shaking his head lightly:

"I’ve laughed more today than in years.

If any of you make it out alive, I advise you not to linger in the martial world. You’d do better as stage actors—you’d surely reap great rewards."

As he spoke, his gaze turned to Wan Yilan, and he sighed softly:

"Lan'er, come to me."

"Shimei?"

Li Xuechun frowned and immediately looked at Wan Yilan.

Today had been one big confusing mess for him.

He and Wan Yilan had learned their martial arts from the same source—both were taught by Great Hall Master Wan Yutang.

The moves this guy used to grab him came from the same school—just way stronger.

At the time, he had already suspected this man’s identity.

Then Madam Wan said those things to him.

That got him thinking, and now, seeing the tone and attitude with which he spoke to Wan Yilan, it all made more sense now.

But right now, this guy’s words were anything but trustworthy.

So he couldn’t help but look at Wan Yilan with worry.

Wan Yilan had caught every word, and her mind was a storm.

Now she got it—so many things.

Finally, she saw why her parents never really gave a damn about her.

"These two men are both consumed by ambition, why would they care about just a daughter?"

She also understood why Wan Zangxin left last time without even facing her.

Otherwise, how could she have been left in the dark by them all this time?

Today, Wan Zangxin and his father reunited, their emotions were complicated, but how could Wan Yilan, now knowing the truth of her origins, stay unaffected?

Yet, as she looked at Jun Luo before her, who wouldn't even show his real face, she gently shook her head.

"Hm?"

Jun Luo glanced at her, his brow slightly furrowed: "Why won't you come? Oh, I get it—you don’t know who I am. I am your father."

"When you were little, wasn’t it your favorite thing to sit on my lap? I’d bounce my knee, and you’d laugh, so innocent and delightful, melting my heart."

"Now that you’ve grown up and found a man you love, have you pushed your father away?"

"Hm... You like this Wan Zangxin, don’t you?"

"Haha, he once thought you were his blood sister, but that wasn't true at all."

"You are the child of me and Madam Wan, while he is the son of Wan Yutang and that lotus-picking girl by Qing Shui Lake."

"There’s no blood relation whatsoever between you two. If you wish to marry, I'll allow it."

"Ah?"

Wan Yilan was stunned, never imagined she'd hear such words from Jun Luo. Even though she knew she shouldn’t believe a single syllable of what he said, she couldn’t help but feel a spark of hope in her heart: "You... Are you telling the truth?"

"Of course it’s true."

Jun Luo smiled. "But before that, you must promise me one thing."

"If you agree, I might even let everyone here live today."

"These two father and son have reunited today, and they’ll have plenty of time to strengthen their bond in the future."

"I’ll even allow you to marry Wan Zangxin. As for Wusheng Hall, do you think I ever truly cared for it?"

"I’d gladly hand it back without hesitation."

"What do you say?"

"..."

Wan Yilan furrowed her brow. "What do you want me to do?"

"Hahaha."

Jun Luo burst out laughing. "It’s simple. Just be with your senior brother for one night, and I will give you everything you want."

"That's bullshit!"

Li Xuechun, hearing this, was immediately furious.

Jun Luo shot Li Xuechun a glare:

"Is that any way to talk to your master?"

"Master?"

Li Xuechun let out a loud laugh. "You think you can call yourself my master? My master is Wusheng Hall's hall master Wan Yu Tang, not some nobody like Jun Luo!"

"You’ve had a sharp tongue since you were little, but you can't stay defiant forever."

Jun Luo gave a slight shake of his head, ignoring Li Xuechun, and turned his gaze back to Wan Yi Lan:

"Lan’er, I meant every word I said. Are you willing?"

Wan Yi Lan stole a glance at Wan Zang Xin and noticed he was also looking at her, but the way he looked at her only irritated her:

"After all this time apart, is that all you have to say?"

"Ah?"

Wan Zang Xin faltered, lost for words, then stammered:

"I... I just don’t know how to say it."

"Sigh... No matter how bad things get, you should still confide in me.

"We swore our lives to each other—was that just empty words?"

"Of course not!"

Wan Zang Xin nodded immediately.

"If it’s real, then nothing should come between us."

"Now it turns out we’re not even siblings.

"But even if we were... you should have told me, and we could have found a way together.

"We could’ve changed our names or run away together.

"At least you shouldn’t have left me behind."

As she spoke, she pulled two things from her robe.

They were two iron tokens.

One read "Eternal Bond," the other "Shared Heart."

She placed the one inscribed "Shared Heart" into Wan Zang Xin’s hand:

"Don’t you dare lose it again."

"...I—I panicked, okay?"

Wan Zang Xin sighed. That night, he’d seen Wan Yi Lan call out Su Mo, meaning to kill him.

He knew she could train for a hundred years, and she’d never stand a chance against Su Mo.

As it turned out, her scheme never even got started before Su Mo saw right through her.

Killing was just a pipe dream.

Yet who would have thought that after Su Mo left, she actually wanted to end her own life?

This couldn’t stand!

At the time, with nothing else at hand, he could only throw out the Matching Hearts iron token to put out the fire.

But the problem was...

Once the Matching Hearts token was revealed, his cover was blown.

And he had yet to uncover the truth about his origins, nor did he know the true nature of his relationship with Wan Yilan.

Under such circumstances, if exposed, how could he face Wan Yilan in the future?

Distraught, he wandered blindly into the back hills.

As a result, they caught him.

Yet unexpectedly, this blunder turned out to reveal his true origins.

Now, as he accepted the Matching Hearts token, he felt a soft, slender hand gently take hold of his.

"Zangxin... I’ve failed you," Wan Yilan said softly.

"I couldn’t give in to him. I only want to grow old side by side with you.

"But because of this, our lives may end here... Will you hate me for being selfish and short-sighted?"

"Ha!" Wan Zangxin laughed heartily, booping Wan Yilan’s forehead playfully.

"If you had agreed, I would have blamed you instead.

"In this life, you’re all I need!

"Who cares if we die early or late?

"Now, I’ve found my father, and I have you by my side..."

At this point, he turned his gaze to Jun Luo before him, and his spirit surged.

"Now, I want for nothing!

"Today, we fight like hell—let’s see if fate bends our way!!"

"Well said." Li Xuechun immediately nodded. "Win or lose, live or die—it’s all down to skill."

Xu Lu looked at one, then the other, looking utterly lost.

They had their vendetta, but him? What was his stake?

Snagging that damn one-legged statue for no reason—how’d he get dragged into this mess?

It really was Zhen Xiaoxiao who framed me!

But since things have come to this, there's nothing to be done but say:

"Fellows, I've only just joined the sect, and my skills are weak. Let me engage in a drawn-out battle to create an opening for you."

The group glanced at Xu Lu, only to see him lightly tap the ground—his figure blinked out of sight.

Looking up again, he was already in front of Jun Luo.

Jun Luo, who had been watching coldly until now, shook his head slightly and made a grasping motion.

Yet, in the next moment, the figure before him vanished abruptly, leaving him stunned. When he looked up again, he saw Xu Lu pointing two fingers together, aiming for his Baihui Acupoint?

Unacceptable!

He swiped upward with his palm, thinking that since the opponent was midair, no matter his skill, how could he possibly dodge in midair?

But to his surprise... Xu Lu actually could!

His grasp found only air again.

Xu Lu, who had been above him moments ago, somehow appeared behind him without warning.

Without turning his head, Jun Luo slammed his palms down with a resonant *hum*—the *Yi Xuan Celestial Aura* surged forth.

Xu Lu's fingers struck the *Yi Xuan Celestial Aura*, feeling as though they had sunk into a bog-like grip, unable to move even slightly.

Moreover, a rebounding force crept from his fingertips toward his own body.

His feet shifted rapidly, his figure zigzagging through the passageway, yet his fingers remained trapped.

Jun Luo chuckled:

"Remarkable qinggong, but... you’re not my match yet."

As he spoke and was about to reach out again, Xu Lu suddenly blurted out:

"Master!?"

Master?

Su Mo is here!?

Jun Luo's heart tightened—this startled him badly.

But when he turned around, there was no trace of Su Mo behind him.

The next moment, Xu Lu bellowed:

"Hurry and attack! I can only distract him—I’m outmatched!!"

Both Wan Zangxin and Li Xuechun were gaping at Xu Lu’s *qinggong*.

Truly, he appeared in front one moment and flitted erratically behind the next, darting unpredictably in all directions.

They were so awed by the sheer mastery of his movement that they failed to act.

Now, hearing Xu Lu's desperate cry, they mentally kicked themselves for their negligence.

Then they all attacked at once.

Two swords and a pair of bare hands shot toward him in a flash.

Jun Luo flew into a rage:

"After raising you, I was willing to spare your life. Yet you dare join them in trying to kill your own father?

"How dare you!!!"

He thrust out a palm, unleashing a violent gale through the tunnel.

Wan Zangxin, the strongest of the three, wielded the Tianquan Cleansing Heart Sword, further enhanced by the techniques of the Eternal Night Valley. Layers of sword energy coiled and shot straight at Jun Luo.

But as the palm wind erupted, the sword energy was instantly scattered in all directions with a whoosh.

The scattered sword strikes clanged endlessly against the tunnel walls.

The tunnel echoed with explosions!

Though startled, Wan Zangxin kept his cool. He steadied himself, sword arcing through the air, and lunged forward at an impeccable angle.

Jun Luo lifted a palm, his hand blurring into afterimages, and in an instant, he seized the broken blade in Wan Zangxin’s grip. Just as he tried to yank it free, a flash of sword light suddenly slashed toward him.

"Ungrateful brat!"

Jun Luo snorted coldly. He grabbed the broken blade and flicked it up—clang!—deflecting Li Xuechun’s strike with Wan Zangxin’s own sword.

At that moment, Xu Lu lunged at him again from behind.

Meanwhile, Wan Yilan’s palm strike was already nearing his chest.

But Jun Luo didn’t even flinch. With a stomp of his foot, a shockwave of inner force blasted outward.

Xu Lu and the others were hurled back, stumbling from the force.

Yet they charged again, attacking with everything they had!

Jun Luo sneered:

"Enough of this!!"

He still needed Wan Yilan and Li Xuechun—killing them wasn’t an option.

Xu Lu’s agility made him hard to catch.

He wanted to finish Wan Zangxin first, but the others kept getting in his way, forcing him to hold back.

Now, though, his rage boiled over. He slammed both palms down—whoosh!

Yi Xuan Celestial Aura manifested once more, a shimmering barrier of qi wrapping around him.

His mastery of the Yi Xuan Divine Art even surpassed Yang Yizhi’s. As the Yi Xuan Celestial Aura rippled, the very air seemed to distort.

Two swords, a palm, and two fingers—all were halted by the impenetrable barrier.

His eyes flicked over his attackers. Then, with a burst of inner force, power exploded outward.

Wan Zangxin took the full force head-on, being the first one sent flying by the power.

With a thunderous crash, he slammed into the opposite wall, coughing up blood.

Next was Xu Lu, but his body twisted gracefully midair before landing lightly. His feet shifted rapidly, taking over a dozen steps backward, skillfully dissipating the force.

Meanwhile, Wan Yilan and Li Xuechun suddenly felt a powerful vacuum-like pull from the Yi Xuan Celestial Aura. In the next moment, they were inexorably drawn into Jun Luo’s grasp.

He grabbed both their throats, then turned to see Xu Lu recklessly charging at him again.

Jun Luo said with a cold nod:

"You truly deserve death!!"

Like a persistent fly, Xu Lu's relentless dodging grated on his nerves.

But as Jun Luo kicked out, Xu Lu used his leg as a springboard, darting forward and jabbing a finger at Jun Luo’s forehead.

After a brief pause, Xu Lu cried out triumphantly:

"I hit it!!"

"Hit what?"

To Xu Lu's astonishment, Jun Luo spoke, leaving him gaping in disbelief.

His Qiankun Acupoint Technique had clearly struck the *Yintang* acupoint—so why was Jun Luo unaffected?

During that split-second hesitation, a devastating kick connected with Xu Lu’s chest.

Though he relied on his lightness skill to evade, the force still sent him hurtling backward.

With a loud thud, his body crashed into the wall. Jun Luo frowned—the sound seemed... wrong.

Almost as if there had been two impacts?

But there was no time to ponder. He stepped forward, determined to crush Xu Lu.

Yet Xu Lu suddenly looked past him, his face brightening with hope as he shouted:

"Master!?"

"Fool—trying the same trick again?"

Jun Luo barked a mocking laugh. "Even if your master were here today, he couldn’t save you!!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

A voice suddenly came from behind. Without turning, Jun Luo immediately summoned the Yi Xuan Celestial Aura. But the moment it formed, a titanic force blasted him.

He was sent flying, crashing hard into the wall. His grasp came up empty—Li Xuechun and Wan Yilan were gone.

Looking up, he saw a young man standing before Xu Lu, hauling him to his feet.

Li Xuechun and Wan Yilan flanked him.

Jun Luo’s eyes widened in shock:

"Impossible..."

The young man turned his gaze toward him and nodded slightly:

"You must be Jun Luo."