Chapter 374: Certain Death

Chapter 374: Certain Death

The ambush came out of nowhere, catching everyone off guard.

One moment, the young man was just an unremarkable deckhand on the ship, and the next, he suddenly lunged to snatch the box.

Outside the door, Wang Chengying was apologizing to Ding Luo, while the three black-clad figures hesitated to enter the room ahead of them.

Unexpectedly, Su Mo and his group had already stepped inside first.

Now, with this incident unfolding, they were powerless to intervene.

Just as the young man was about to seize the box, a piercing shriek resounded.

His expression twisted in alarm as he felt a sharp, throbbing pain in a pressure point under his armpit, accompanied by an overwhelming sense of dread.

His gaze snapped to one of the three youths at the door—a woman.

Though she held nothing in her hands and merely extended twin fingers, the razor-sharp intent of her aura was more terrifying than any divine weapon.

"Fine technique!"

The young man barked and immediately slashed his palm forward.

His strike surged like ocean swells, relentless and overwhelming, with a force both profound and layered, seemingly endless.

Yang Xiaoyun was momentarily taken aback. In the next instant, needle-thin glints of energy swirled around her fingertips, swirling into a vortex.

*Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!*

Three rapid strikes—her fingers pierced through the threefold palm force, arriving right before the man.

The young man’s visage twisted in alarm, and he no longer dared to hold back.

Gritting his teeth, he channeled his qi into his palm, abandoning all thought of the box.

His only goal now was to decide victory here and now.

*Clang!*

A metallic clang echoed as Yang Xiaoyun’s fingertips met the man’s palm.

Though they appeared to collide, a closer look revealed her fingers still hovered a fraction away—what truly clashed was their qi.

The two forces raged against each other, their shockwaves rippling outward in layers.

Instantly, the room bore the brunt of their clash. Brushes rolled off tables, chairs and desks shuddered violently, and account books flapped like storm-tossed leaves under the force, pages flipping wildly.

The worst off was Wang Chaosheng. He stood even closer to the duelists than Su Mo and Wei Ziyi.

Buffeted by the opposing qi, he felt his already wrenched spine on the verge of snapping entirely.

The old man made a snap decision.

He knew neither the deckhand nor the woman would likely care about his mere discomfort.

Without hesitation, he rolled on the spot and flattened himself against the ground to avoid being blown apart by the force of their palms and fingers.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, he saw the two abruptly separate.

Yang Xiaoyun took a step back, her stance wavering slightly.

The attendant, however, tumbled several times within the confined space before barely sticking the landing.

He raised his head to look at Yang Xiaoyun:

"Impressive skills, girl! Your martial arts are extraordinary. For someone so young to possess such skill is truly rare.

"Why throw your life away today?

"Have that boy beside you hand over the box in his possession, and I can guarantee your safety. Otherwise, this won't end well for you."

Su Mo didn't even acknowledge his words, merely opening the box casually and retrieving a deceptively plain book.

On its cover were four large characters: "Poison Dragon Alchemy Scripture."

Having finished speaking, the man expected Su Mo and the others to hesitate and consider his offer.

To his surprise, Su Mo was preoccupied with opening the box.

He flew into a rage:

"That's not for your eyes!"

Wang Chaosheng, seeing Su Mo flipping through the book, couldn't help but speak up:

"Chief Escort Su, are there any prescriptions to restore vigor and potency?"

"..."

Su Mo's mouth twisted, feeling that whenever the old man Wang Chaosheng spoke, the mood took a crude turn.

Meanwhile, Yang Xiaoyun drew one segment of her Dragon Abyss Spear from the bag behind her.

The room was too cramped for the full spear, making it impractical to wield.

Holding the spear section, she couldn't help but grimace at Wang Chaosheng's words, even considering taking advantage of the upcoming fight to help Wang Chengying take out the trash first.

Of course, it was just a fleeting notion.

The next moment, she shot forward, the silver spear segment driving straight toward the attendant's chest.

The attendant, already enraged, snarled:

"You're courting death!!!"

As he spoke, he crossed his hands, coiling his stance before surging forward.

Though Yang Xiaoyun only held one segment of the Dragon Abyss Spear, her "Eight Wastes Cloud-Piercing Spear" technique was second nature.

Even without a weapon, her two fingers alone could unleash the spear's power—much less with one in hand.

Yet wielding just this segment wasn't the same as using the full spear.

Here’s the refined translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

The techniques took on a more flexible and versatile quality, with powerful, heavy moves transforming entirely into unpredictable techniques like 'flicking,' 'thrusting,' and 'lifting.'

The divine dragon soaring in the heavens, once merely glimpsed through the clouds, now seemed to morph into a serpent, twisting and turning with lethal fangs.

The man was no pushover either.

His palm strikes were masterful—his hands moved like lightning, sometimes delivering overwhelming force, other times soft as flowing water. His attacks were relentless, their power surging like tidal waves.

So the two clashed within the confined space of the study.

Yet their mindsets couldn’t have been more different.

Since marrying Su Mo, Yang Xiaoyun had rarely fought.

Everyone knew she was Su Mo’s wife, the beloved of Donghuang’s top martial arts master. Who’d dare challenge her casually?

While others might act casually around Su Mo, they treated her with reverence, as if she were a revered idol.

In all of Sunset City, only Wei Ziyi could match her in a few exchanges.

But due to Wei Ziyi’s condition, their fights never lasted long. After a brief exchange, they’d stop—Yang Xiaoyun feared disrupting her yin-yang energy balance and causing complications.

Thus, she’d been dying for a real fight.

She’d hoped that entering the South Sea would bring encounters with pirate crews, letting her battle to her heart’s content.

Yet the first pirate ship they met had already been slaughtered.

The second crew had been lively at first, but after Su Mo captured them and shared a meal—poof—all dead again.

Only now had she finally found a real challenge.

With Su Mo showing no intention of intervening, how could she not seize this chance to let loose?

The more she fought, the more exhilarated she became. The Great Upper Xuan Scripture within her flowed relentlessly, her techniques growing ever sharper.

Her opponent, however, wasn’t enjoying this at all.

His goal aboard this ship was the Poison Dragon Alchemy Scripture.

Just as he was about to claim it, these uninvited meddlers had appeared.

Helpless and fuming, he clawed at his hair in frustration.

He wanted to shake her off quickly, but her techniques were so sharp that not only was she no easy foe, but one misstep could finish him in a blink.

This was absolutely ridiculous!

Though disguised as a deckhand, he was no common laborer.

He was a seasoned veteran, yet here he was, forced into retreat by an unknown young wife. If word got out, how could he live this down?

Now, he couldn’t afford distractions, focusing entirely on countering Yang Xiaoyun’s attacks.

Yet her spear techniques followed a refined and traditional style—devastatingly sharp.

Her qi flowed unbroken, far purer than his own.

He couldn’t help but marvel inwardly—where the hell did this master come from?

How could someone so young have such pure and profound cultivation?

As this thought arose, he grew even more cautious, though occasionally stealing a glance at Su Mo. He nearly cried out in frustration—in just this short time, that damn brat was nearly done reading the *Poison Dragon Alchemy Scripture*!

"Heads up!"

Yang Xiaoyun’s warning suddenly rang in his ears.

Instantly, he realized the attack was already upon him.

A split-second distraction, and Yang Xiaoyun had unleashed "*Dragon Sweeps Its Tail*."

With a full spear, this technique would sweep across all directions with overwhelming force.

But now, wielding only a third of its length, it was like a serpent’s venomous fang—flipped casually and stabbed straight toward his throat.

The move was ruthless, yet warning the opponent was the chivalry of the martial world.

The man tensed, suddenly taking a deep breath.

As the air filled his lungs, a thunder-like crackling burst forth from his throat and throughout his body.

The next moment, his muscles and bones swelled, ripping his shirt to tatters.

Yet even so, he was too slow to block Yang Xiaoyun’s strike.

In that split second, he twisted his head and bit down on the spear tip.

*Clang!*

Talk about iron teeth!

Before she could react, his palm shot toward her chest.

If she refused to let go of her spear, this strike would surely land.

Yet just as the palm force was about to hit her, an unseen force stopped it cold.

The attack couldn’t advance an inch!

"Nice move! Hell of a palm strike!"

Yang Xiaoyun laughed heartily, lurching forward. A sharp *whum* rang out as her qi exploded outward in all directions.

Blindsided, her opponent was sent flying.

Before he could land, Yang Xiaoyun’s spear was already upon him—the silver point driving straight for his heart.

With a snarl, he raised an arm to block. The spear tip pierced through, but he didn’t falter. Kicking off the ground, he shot backward.

As he retreated, he hurled a volley of hidden blades at Yang Xiaoyun.

As she deflected the storm of steel, he turned and fled.

Here's the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

Not only was he losing ground against a young wife, but he'd also been wounded in the process.

If the others were to attack together, his purpose today wouldn't be to seize the *Poison Dragon Alchemy Scripture*, but to hand-deliver his head to them.

What's more, even without being outnumbered, just facing *Yang Xiaoyun* alone meant his life hung by a thread if the fight continued.

Thus he whirled around and crashed through the window, making his escape.

*Yang Xiaoyun* blinked in surprise, her eyes flickering with disappointment:

"If I were you, I wouldn't have jumped out the window."

Sure enough, a voice came from outside:

"Get back in."

The voice belonged to *Fu Hanyuan*.

Ever since arriving outside the study, *Su Mo* had posted *Fu Hanyuan* by the window.

At first he'd been clueless, but when the ruckus inside began, he understood why.

Under normal circumstances, if *Fu Hanyuan* went toe-to-toe with this guy, his odds would still favor victory.

Unfortunately, this time *Fu Hanyuan* cheated—he ambushed him.

The man had been laser-focused on the *Poison Dragon Alchemy Scripture* at first.

Later, all his attention had been on dueling *Yang Xiaoyun*.

It never crossed his mind that old *Fu* would be lying in wait outside.

Just as he leaped out, a palm came smashing down without warning, connecting flush.

He tumbled back into the study, feeling a bone-deep chill so intense his eyebrows nearly froze.

But his gaze turned glacial, sharper than the cold in his body:

"You... you're from the *Dragon King Hall*?"

*Fu Hanyuan* jumped in through the window and did a double take:

"Huh?"

*Su Mo*, who seemed to have just finished reading the scripture, glanced at the man, weighing something.

Without comment, he turned to *Yang Xiaoyun*:

"Get your fill?"

*Yang Xiaoyun* curled her lips. "Meh. I'm still rusty with the short spear. Had I used my long spear, old *Fu* would've been sidelined."

This wasn't an excuse—pure truth.

Short spears and long spears differed completely.

Take that *Divine Dragon Swings Its Tail*: with a long spear, combined with *Yang Xiaoyun*'s inner strength and the weapon's momentum, it generated extra force. Should an opponent try biting it, even steel jaws would leave them spitting teeth across the floor.

But now it was blocked by the opponent in this manner, who even countered with a palm strike.

If not for obtaining the seventh layer of the Yixuan Divine Art, the Indomitable Heavenly Aura, from Jun Luo, which protected his body and allowed him to counterattack unexpectedly,

this fight would’ve taken thirty to fifty more moves to gain the upper hand.

"Yang Xiaoyun’s really something else."

Wei Ziyi stepped forward with a smile:

"And she's only getting stronger. I can’t even compare."

"You and your silver tongue."

Yang Xiaoyun shot Wei Ziyi a playful glare before smiling:

"Once you’re done with your business, your martial arts will likely far surpass mine."

Wei Ziyi sighed softly: "Who knows when that’ll be."

After the small talk, Su Mo placed the Poison-Dragon Alchemy Scripture back into its box.

Wang Chaosheng also climbed to his feet, ignoring the man lying on the ground suffering from the Frostflame True Qi, and instead looked at Su Mo:

"Find anything good?"

"There are no energy or potency elixirs, President Wang. I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."

"..."

Wang Chaosheng froze for a moment before letting out a long sigh:

"Ah, forget it. Just getting my daughter back safe is enough."

Su Mo gave a low laugh, only then turning his gaze to the man on the floor:

"Greetings, friend. I am Su Mo. Mind telling me your name?"

"..."

The man glanced at Su Mo and suddenly sneered:

"Hiding... behind women... then striking from the shadows... pathetic.

"Worthless trash...

"Who... gives a damn who you are?

"You don’t... deserve to know."

"Oh?"

Yang Xiaoyun and Wei Ziyi both narrowed their eyes at him, their eyes burning with murderous intent.

The Frostflame True Qi’s chill was nothing compared to the coldness in these two women's gazes.

The man shivered under their glare.

Su Mo just smirked: "Fair point..."

Just as he was about to speak again, a voice suddenly came from behind:

"This man is called Zong Ming..."

Everyone turned—it was the black-clad man who had spoken.

Frowning deeply, he scrutinized the figure on the ground before glancing at Yang Xiaoyun and Fu Hanyuan.

Suppressing his fear, he said solemnly:

"In his early years, this man was active throughout the South Sea—a top-tier wandering hero.

"Known in the martial world as 'Tidal Wave Palm,' named for his mastery of the Thirty-Six Forms of Tidal Wave Palm.

"He dominated the South Sea, hunting pirates and claiming bounties from merchant guilds.

"He was at the height of his fame.

"But all that changed when he decided to assassinate Yin Xiaoyu.

"After that battle, the martial world assumed he'd died on her ship.

"Yet somehow, he survived.

"Not only survived—he became one of Yin Xiaoyu's right-hand men.

"Following her, he did every wicked deed imaginable—killing, plundering, spreading fear and tyranny. His cruelty knew no bounds!

"Who'd have thought he'd lower himself to pose as a lowly deckhand on our ship today."

[Paragraph break]

Zong Ming looked up at the black-clad man and sneered, "Heh... Well if it isn't... Poison Hand Ouyang Qing.

"No wonder... no wonder you know... my past...

"At this point, enough talk...

"Now that I'm in your hands... do with me as you will...

"But... everyone who's laid eyes on the Poison Dragon Alchemy Scripture...

"Today, all present... will die!

"Especially... especially you!!!"

He glared at Su Mo: "You're a dead man—no one can save you now!!"

Su Mo nodded: "So this 'Demoness of the Four Seas' plays quite the game.

"On one hand, she poses as some ordinary woman to wed Old Man Wang.

"On the other, she kidnaps his daughter to smoke out the Poison Dragon Alchemy Scripture.

"Even plants men aboard... But what I can't figure is—how did she know the scripture was sure to be on the ship and not in some dockside warehouse?"

He shook his head: "Ah, forget it—no point asking you."

"Might as well go ask Miss Yin directly."

"We'll just need to trouble you for a moment—please accompany us on this trip, Brother Zong."

Hearing this, Fu Hanyuan immediately reached out and yanked Zong Ming to his feet.

His Frostflame True Qi wasn't something to be taken lightly. Zong Ming had taken the full brunt of it, and despite his profound internal strength, he was now completely immobilized.

Fu Hanyuan tossed him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.