Chapter 265: You Don’t Even Deserve to Die by My Hand

Chapter 265: You Don't Even Deserve to Die by My Hand

Wang Ergou was stunned by that slap.

He had already figured out Xu Lu's background; Xu Lu was merely someone with impressive lightness skill but mediocre martial arts.

He couldn't even handle his own vibrating inner energy!

How could he possibly deserve to land such a slap?

Yet every single move he made was anticipated by the other.

It was clear that his every move had been completely saw through, leaving him at a disadvantage at every turn.

That final slap was especially deliberately planned, utterly detestable.

The mocking laughter around him was like daggers to his ears, each sound stabbing into his heart.

He knew he would lose today, but he never expected to be defeated by such an unknown nobody.

For a moment, anger surged in his heart, and bold evil thoughts filled his mind.

He suddenly looked up at Xu Lu, who was still laughing:

"If I don't kill you today, I'll never be able to get rid of the hatred in my heart!!!"

Lowering his center of gravity, he prepared his stance and forcefully circulated a breath of inner energy, his fists churning as fierce winds swirled around his arms.

With a sudden step forward, the wind howled as it was torn apart, and tremendous force wrapped around his fists fiercely charged forward.

Xu Lu's pupils suddenly shrank.

He immediately dodged, but as soon as the thought arose, he found there was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

It was as if the punch covered every possible angle, sealing off every possible dodge.

As he was at a loss, a deafening sound erupted, like an ancient bell's resounding chime from the ages past.

A giant golden bell illusion engulfed him.

Just as he was astonished, Wang Ergou's fist, wrapped in wind and thunder, charged forward.

Bang!!!!

The enormous sound echoed out.

Xu Lu, seeing the fist approach, instinctively squinted his eyes.

Yet through the slits of his eyelids, he could still see Wang Ergou's look of utter shock as his fist hit the illusion, unable to move forward an inch.

Though Wang Ergou didn't know where the golden bell illusion came from, in his rage, how could he care about such details?

His inner energy surged as he made a desperate gamble!

For a brief moment, the golden illusion quivered slightly.

The next moment, a massive force rolled over him like a tidal wave, and before he could react, he heard a crack. His arm bones broke, with broken bones piercing through his flesh. A powerful force swept through his meridians.

Blood spurted from his mouth, and he was sent flying backward.

He fell to the ground, confusion still lingered on his face. Suddenly, he wanted to struggle to his feet, but found he was already seriously injured.

There was no way Xu Lu could have done this on his own. Angrily, he shouted:

"Su Mo... Su Mo!?"

Su Mo gently shook his head, paying him no mind.

But Yang Xiaoyun sneered:

"So, Wang Ergou, I never expected Wang Dingsheng was the one who used the Diamond Thunder Fist. So, Wang Dingsheng, is 'Ergou' also your name?"

He hadn't used his family's martial arts in his previous attacks.

It was only in his fury that he resorted to his signature skills, which Yang Xiaoyun immediately saw through.

This was not just any unknown Wang Ergou.

He was the one and only Wang Dingsheng, wielder of the Diamond Thunder Fist!

It seemed this man had quite the history.

It was said that Wang Dingsheng hailed from East City and had entered a temple at a young age, learning a set of Buddhist martial arts.

As he grew older, he no longer wished to live the life of a monk, preferring the chaos of the mortal world.

However, this would mean his martial arts would be stripped away.

In the end, he chose to flee, changing his name and entering the jianghu under a new identity.

But he did not dare to linger in East City, and hurried all the way to a place in the southwest.

However, even so, he was still pursued by experts from his sect, and what happened afterward remains unknown to outsiders.

It is only known that after this person had disappeared for a while, he reappeared with his fist technique greatly improved.

In the end, he earned the name of Vajra Wind-Thunder Fist.

At the time, he was quite famous.

But for some reason, at the height of his power, he suddenly retired and vanished without a trace.

Some say he was captured by his sect and taken back to East City.

Others claim he met his enemy and was killed on the road.

In any case, there are many theories, but this person has been missing for about four or five years now.

Who would have thought that he would reappear, and right here in Jinyang City!

And he used the name 'Wang Erdou' to challenge Su Mo.

When Wang Dingsheng heard Yang Xiaoyun reveal his background, his expression grew even darker, and he glared at Su Mo:

"You... such formidable protective divine power!

"Today's defeat is due to my inferior skills... kill me."

Su Mo shook his head gently:

"Creatures like cats and dogs aren't even worthy of dying by my hand."

Just after saying this, he felt it didn't sound very good...

The words didn’t sound like something an upright person would say, and there was a sense that such a declaration was setting himself up to get slammed.

But since the words were already out, he couldn't be bothered to take them back.

This left the people around him wide-eyed in astonishment.

The arrogance of the top expert from the Eastern Wastes was clear!

Indeed, Su Mo hadn't even made a move. He merely protected those around him and had already put Wang Dingsheng in a life-or-death situation.

A person like Wang Dingsheng truly didn’t deserve to die by his hand.

For a moment, there was a buzz of conversation all around.

It was foreseeable that this phrase would spread across the jianghu in no time flat.

At this point, Su Mo couldn't take back his words even if he wanted to, so he simply offered a fist salute to Zeng Wangwang:

"Leader Zeng, I have urgent matters to attend to, so I'll be on my way.

"When I have the opportunity, I will personally come to visit."

"No trouble at all, no trouble," Zeng Wangwang replied.

Zeng Wangwang snapped out of it, hiding all traces of emotion in his gaze, but for a moment, he found himself unable to find the right words.

He could only watch as Su Mo and his group marched off.

Wang Dingsheng still wanted to cause trouble, and as people passed by him, he used his only uninjured arm to grab Zhen Xiaoxiao's ankle.

He intended to stop the large man, but the next moment, the large man dragged him forward several steps.

Already seriously injured, this ordeal left him in unbearable pain, but it was only his stubbornness that kept him holding onto Zhen Xiaoxiao's ankle.

Zhen Xiaoxiao, sensing something, looked down and nodded slightly before suddenly kicking:

"Off you go!"

With a whoosh, Wang Dingsheng sailed over the crowd and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Zhen Xiaoxiao shielded her eyes and scanned the crowd, but with so many people, she couldn't tell if she'd hit anyone or anything else.

She sighed inwardly, grateful that this wasn't the Ziyang Escort Agency. If something broke, it broke. At least the boss wouldn't cut her rations.

In the blink of an eye, Su Mo and his group had vanished, but the discussions among the onlookers continued to buzz.

The flattering expression on Zeng Wangwang's face disappeared, and he stood there, his brows furrowed, not knowing what he was thinking.

……

……

Nowadays, Su Mo naturally no longer needed to stay in a basic room.

Three deluxe rooms were available, and Su Mo took one for himself, Yang Xiaoyun and Zhen Xiaoxiao shared another, and Hu Sandao and Xu Lu took the last one.

On the way to the inn, Xu Lu found something to talk about.

She had been chattering with Hu Sandao for half the journey.

Zhen Xiaoxiao, on the other hand, obediently entered her room, waiting for dinner.

Su Mo sat down with Yang Xiaoyun.

"This Wang DingSheng today, his arrival seems somewhat suspicious," said Su Mo.

"Let's get straight to the point," Yang Xiaoyun replied, since they were alone in the room.

Su Mo smiled and didn’t hurry to respond, calmly pouring tea for both of them.

He pushed a cup towards Yang Xiaoyun, who carefully took a sip after inspecting it.

Then she heard Su Mo say:

"What happened today really wasn’t a coincidence.

"Zeng Youwang is the fourth leader of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance and also the city lord of Jinyang City.

"He’s in a powerful position and shouldn’t be underestimated.

"Yet, his posture today was so low that it was almost humiliating. He even almost wanted to kneel before me. Can you believe it?"

Yang Xiaoyun nodded, having noticed the same thing.

But this made it even stranger:

"Even though you’re now known as the top expert in the Eastern Wasteland, Zeng Youwang shouldn’t lower himself to this extent.

"After all, he is the fourth leader of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance.

"Even if he’s not as skilled in martial arts, it’s not enough to make him kneel.

"He’s not just representing himself, but also the Fallen Phoenix Alliance behind him.

"Unless... you were the grand leader of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance, there would be no possibility of this happening."

"Exactly."

Su Mo’s fingers gently rubbed against the teacup as he smiled slightly and took a sip.

"In that case, who do you think would be the happiest?"

"Wei Ruhan?"

Yang Xiaoyun instinctively thought of the name.

"He’s always wanted to leverage the Fallen Phoenix Alliance to boost his own standing and drag you into it.

"Although we want to rely on the Fallen Phoenix Alliance, it’s definitely not in this manner."

"Unless you actually marry Wei Ziyi, this deal is absolutely not worth it.

In time, the world will know that you have taken over the Fallen Phoenix Alliance, but in reality, you are still merely an outsider. You won’t be able to touch anything within the Fallen Phoenix Alliance, and yet when they have issues, they can justifiably use you to deter troublemakers.

So, it’s clear that the person who benefits the most from this move is none other than Wei Ruhan."

Su Mo nodded:

"Xiaoyun is absolutely right."

Yang Xiaoyun felt relieved hearing this but then furrowed her brow:

"Something still feels off."

She couldn’t help looking at Su Mo, only to see him wearing a mischievous smile, which frustrated her.

Su Mo had no choice but to wipe the smile from his face and said:

"What feels off is that you’re underestimating Wei Ruhan.

"From the beginning, he has never made an issue of the matter between me and Young Miss Wei.

"So why would he suddenly make such a move at this moment and ruin the goodwill I have towards him?

"Although the outside world is abuzz with rumors about the matter between me and Young Miss Wei,

"the Fallen Phoenix Alliance is more informed about this situation than the outside world.

"They know it’s not as the rumors claim.

"At this juncture, Wu Wangyou suddenly making this move is actually a scheme to create discord.

"If I were to turn against Wei Ruhan, the fragile balance of power that Wei Ziyi has barely achieved would collapse in an instant."

Yang Xiaoyun was taken aback. "But… but isn’t this the surface situation? Actually…”

She didn’t finish her sentence, but both of them knew that when it came to the Fallen Phoenix Alliance, there was actually no suspense left at this point.

From a stance perspective, Wu Wangyou’s move would benefit Wu Daoyou and Hua Qianyu.

But the problem is, Wu Daoyou and Hua Qianyu are Wei Ruhan’s people.

At this point, the Fallen Phoenix Alliance is on the verge of unification, with only one step left.

So, doesn’t this move seem rather inexplicable?

Su Mo gently twirled his teacup:

"This is Wei Ruhan’s game.

"Actually, up until now, I’ve always been very curious.

"Why, when Wei Ruhan already had the upper hand, did he continue to conceal things, creating a tense atmosphere.

"Now I get it. The fish he’s trying to catch is actually within the Fallen Phoenix Alliance.

"But this fish is deeply hidden, constantly stirring up trouble and keeping Wei Ruhan on edge."

"In the past, Wei Qifeng met a tragic demise on the banks of the Heng River, and Wei Qixiong vanished in the vast Ice Plains. The third child choked on an egg and died...

"It is highly likely that all of this is connected to this 'fish.'

"If Wei Ruhan cannot capture and eliminate this fish before his own death,

"He will surely die with unresolved regrets.

"The reason why this fish is causing such a stir within the Fallen Phoenix Alliance is for the sake of the four cities, three rivers, and two bays.

"But now, regardless of whether Wei Ruhan acknowledges it or not, the matter between Young Miss Wei and me has already been widely discussed by many. People are quite interested in the nature of our relationship and my journey to East City."

As he spoke these words, he furrowed his brow, sighed, and continued,

"Regardless of the truth, people will naturally assume that I am a strong supporter behind Wei Ziyi.

"Before this trip, I went to visit Wei Ruhan at the City Lord's mansion to express a certain stance.

"It's about personal relations, nothing else.

"Wei Ruhan is actually quite pleased with this situation. Although he harbors other ambitions, for the time being, everything is perfectly aligned.

"Considering the current state of affairs in the Fallen Phoenix Alliance, no one will hold any objections to this.

"After all, the overall situation within the Fallen Phoenix Alliance has already been determined.

"The only one who wishes to prevent this from happening is the fish that Wei Ruhan is trying to catch."

Upon hearing this, Yang Xiaoyun finally realized:

"Wei Ruhan is concealing the true situation, and only a handful of people know the truth.

"He even kept Wei Ziyi in the dark, all to catch this fish.

"To make the other side think there is an opportunity.

"And only then would they have the audacity to stir up trouble?"

Su Mo nodded gently. By now, he had pretty much figured out Wei Ruhan's game and could anticipate the moves this man would make next.

He softly tapped his finger on the table:

"Old Wei's bait is a bit too harsh.

"But by a stroke of fate, the fish has now revealed itself.

"In my opinion, we don't need to wait months for the alliance leader meeting in the Fallen Phoenix Alliance.

"There will likely be a resolution before we even return to the alliance. By the time we get back, this matter will be settled.

"Well, tonight let's pay a visit to this Zeng Youwang."

"Should we take him down?"

Yang Xiaoyun's eyes lit up at the suggestion.

Su Mo, however, couldn't help but laugh wryly: "Old Wei has been fishing his whole life, and finally, this fish has bitten the hook. He was hoping this fish could lead him to the whole school.

"But if you bash it to death with a stick, what's to be done?""

"Ha ha ha."

Yang Xiaoyun couldn't help but laugh, "These old hands, with their twisted minds, really make one's head spin. It would be much cleaner and more straightforward to just take action."

"Do you think Wei Ruhan doesn't want to?"

Su Mo shook his head gently, "The pain of losing a son, the hatred for plotting against his foundation—this old man is almost driven mad by it all.

"But he still holds back his anger, persisting in this game until now, all to find the true mastermind and vent his pent-up rage."

"That's true..."

Yang Xiaoyun nodded, then asked, "If so, why are we visiting Zeng Youwang?"

"Of course, to make him believe that he has already achieved his goal."

Su Mo smiled, "What we need to do tonight is to chat casually. But whenever Wei Ruhan or Wei Ziyi is mentioned, we should avoid the topic altogether.

"The attitude is what matters; if we say too much, it won't be convincing enough."

Yang Xiaoyun nodded immediately, figuring that whatever Su Mo said was right.

"As for Wang Dingsheng..."

Su Mo furrowed his brow, "I suspect it's not just a coincidence.

"He probably has nothing to do with Zeng Youwang, but... he might be connected to someone else."

"Who?"

"Head Manager."

Su Mo said with a smile:

"Since he’s chosen to hide his identity, he’s obviously not looking to make a name for himself by challenging me.

"However, his martial arts skills are quite strong. Besides, with no reputation, if he suddenly attacks and we exchange a few blows, it won’t look good once word gets out.

"The fact that the number one expert of the Eastern Wastes is having a back-and-forth fight with someone named Wang Ergou.

"If that gets out… my reputation might not be as intimidating anymore.

"And because of that, people who were scared of your reputation will start thinking they can challenge you.

"Yang Xiaoyun suddenly realized. 'The great manager has already made his move!'

"Su Mo gave a slight nod.

"So what do we do now?"

Yang Xiaoyun tightened her grip on the Dragon's Spear.

"Have you been keeping an eye on Xu Lu?"

"What about him?"

Yang Xiaoyun froze for a moment. "On the way over, he was still bragging with Hu Sandao. By the way, why did he suddenly go quiet halfway through?"

Su Mo gave a slow shake of his head.

"He’s already gone to find Wang Dingsheng.

"It’s not just that I’m not killing him because he doesn’t have the qualification to die by my hand, but more importantly...

"How could I just casually kill a fish that’s already on the hook?

"I’ve got to figure out where this fish came from and whether there are more fish still hiding in the dark.

"Otherwise, wouldn’t it be a waste of their kind intentions?"

Yang Xiaoyun nodded repeatedly, reminded of a phrase:

"You’re as sly as ever."

"..."