Urban Martial Saint

The man in white didn’t hesitate at all, taking two steps forward to stand before the Elder Brother. The Elder Brother lost all hope, closed his eyes, and released his hand. With a loud boom, a cloud of smoke instantly engulfed the two of them.

In the distant mountains, Shijia and the Joyous Monk observed the battle unfold from start to finish.

”Oh my!” the Joyous Monk exclaimed lightly, saying, ”They’re surely goners now. This close-range explosion could blow someone to bits!”

Shijia chuckled and said, ”I bet he’s not dead. Care to wager with me?”

”What would I bet with you?” the Joyous Monk pouted, saying, ”Can I ever win against you?”

”I’m not talking to you...” Shijia glanced behind the Joyous Monk and said, ”Old Man Nalan, isn’t it boring hiding there by yourself? Come down and make a bet to liven things up.”

”Old Man Nalan?” The Joyous Monk immediately frowned, looking around. However, there was no one around. Who was Shijia talking to?

”Hahaha…” A loud laugh came from afar, followed by a figure leaping from the edge of the cliff, slowly descending in front of the two like a giant kite. This was none other than one of the Five Unmatches of the World, Prince Nalan from the Capital!

Upon seeing Prince Nalan, the Joyous Monk’s expression changed instantly, his eyes filled with vigilance and hostility. The grudge between him and Prince Nalan was deep, and he always wore such an expression whenever they met.

”The master is indeed no ordinary person!” Prince Nalan ignored the Joyous Monk completely, walking straight in and smiling, ”I had just climbed up from the foot of the mountain, and the master immediately kicked a stone beside him. Seems like you’ve long noticed me.”

”At first, I thought it was a big rat climbing up. Then I heard the heavy breathing, thinking it couldn’t be a rat. Furthermore, that breathing rhythm is clearly the unique Internal Cultivation Methods of your Nalan family, so I guessed it was you, old fellow.” Facing one of the Five Uniques, Shijia remained his usual carefree self, saying, ”So, what do you say? Up for a bet?”

”Since the master has spoken, then let’s have a small wager.” Prince Nalan glanced at the swirling dust and smiled, ”What does the master think? Is that man in white dead or alive?”

”I think he’s alive,” Shijia said frankly.

”Oh?” A trace of surprise flickered in Prince Nalan’s eyes because, in his view, the man in white was certainly dead. After all, such a close-range explosion could blow a person to pieces. Even someone of Prince Nalan’s strength couldn’t withstand such a bomb; how could the man in white possibly survive?

However, looking at Shijia’s confident demeanor, Prince Nalan couldn’t help but feel a bit doubtful. Could the man in white really survive such an explosion? How was that possible?

”Hey, are you going to make the bet or not?” the Joyous Monk said impatiently, ”The dust is about to settle. Don’t tell me you want to wait until the result is out before betting?”

Prince Nalan contemplated for a moment and said, ”Since the master thinks he’s alive, I can only say he’s dead.”

Prince Nalan’s way of speaking was very skillful, indicating to Shijia that he chose the man was dead because he had no other choice. So even if he lost the bet, he would be choosing after Shijia, and couldn’t be blamed.

However, he was facing Shijia now, and Shijia was not the kind of person to be courteous. Completely ignoring Prince Nalan’s words, he waved his hand and said, ”Alright, it’s settled then. What are we betting?”

Prince Nalan frowned slightly, knowing that Shijia was thick-skinned, but he hadn’t expected him to be this shameless. Despite what he said, Shijia still insisted on betting. How could there be someone like this?

”What is it the master wants to bet on?” Prince Nalan asked calmly, but inside, he was extremely wary of Shijia. Since Shijia could act so shamelessly, he could no longer be polite with him. Any more pleasantries, and he might find himself at a disadvantage.

Shijia smiled and said, ”Let’s bet that your Nalan family cannot step into Fusang Country for the next thirty years!”

Prince Nalan’s expression changed, looking warily at Shijia, and said, ”The master knows I plan to enter Fusang Country?”

”What’s so strange about that?” Shijia looked at Prince Nalan and said, ”I not only know about your plan to enter Fusang Country, but I also know the greatest secret of your Nalan Family. Young Nalan, I’ve lived so many years and experienced so many things; do you think your family’s little schemes can fool me?”

Prince Nalan was not young either, among the Five Unmatches, he was half a generation older than the others. Yet, in front of Shijia, who called him a ’young fellow,’ he could not refute a single word. He had heard of Buddhist Shakya when he was very young, and even then Shijia’s reputation was quite formidable. This meant Shijia was at least over two hundred years old, whereas he was not yet ninety. In front of Shijia, he truly counted as a junior.

”It appears the master knows everything.” Prince Nalan chuckled slightly and said, ”Since that’s the case, the master should know that my Nalan Family is determined to accomplish this matter!”

”Man proposes, but heaven disposes. There are others plotting this, not just you. What you know, others know too,” Shijia whispered softly, ”Be careful that you might try to steal the chicken only to end up losing the rice. Break off the last branch of the Aisin Gioro Clan, and you will become the biggest sinner of this race!”

Prince Nalan’s face turned cold, his hands unconsciously clenched into fists, staring fiercely at Shijia in front of him. He didn’t expect Shijia to know so much, and this was indeed the greatest secret of the Nalan Family.

Seeing Prince Nalan in such a state, Joyous Monk also clenched his fists immediately, vigilantly watching Prince Nalan, ready to act at any time.

Shijia appeared carefree, glancing up and down at Prince Nalan, and said, ”Young fellow, you don’t have to be so tense. I won’t get involved in your affairs, and I won’t tell your family’s secrets to anyone else. Whatever happens, I’m just a neutral party, and I won’t side with anyone. I’ll just give you some advice, it’s up to you whether to listen, but I absolutely won’t harm your family’s affair!”

Prince Nalan slowly released his fists. He held a half-trusting, half-doubting attitude towards Shijia’s words, but he didn’t dare attack Shijia. Having been famous for such a long time, Shijia had long become a mythical figure in people’s legends. After all, he had lived over two hundred years; even though Prince Nalan considered himself to have good strength, he did not dare to challenge Shijia lightly. Who knew how powerful this two-hundred-year-old demon really was?

”Hearing you say this, I feel relieved!” Prince Nalan’s mouth flashed with a faint smile and said, ”The world is chaotic, and the hardest thing is to remain neutral. The master has such poise, and I respect it deeply!”

Shijia said, ”There’s no need for you to flatter me with useless words. I said I’d remain neutral, so neutral I shall be. You also don’t need to track me anymore; wanting to silence us both is not so easy!”

Prince Nalan’s heart trembled. He never expected Shijia would see through him so thoroughly. He indeed came to Shenchuan City intending to ambush Shijia. Ever since Shijia said something at Shen Family Manor last time, he suspected Shijia knew the greatest secret of the Nalan Family, thus harboring a desire to kill him.

This time coming here, it was his first time getting close to Shijia, aiming to test Shijia’s strength deliberately. He hid beneath the cliff, thinking that if Shijia couldn’t discover him, then Shijia’s strength must be lacking, and he would strike and ambush Shijia. However, in reality, Shijia discovered him, which meant killing Shijia was basically impossible, so ultimately he chose to give up. But Shijia had long seen through his intentions, leaving him astonished and more uneasy inside.

”The master must be joking.” After a brief moment of shock, Prince Nalan immediately forced a smile and said, ”I admire the master most of all, why would I act against the master? This time I came only for one word from the master. Since the master is willing to remain neutral, then I am relieved.”

Having said that, without waiting for Shijia to speak, he immediately turned to the distance and said, ”Master, look, the result is out.”

Prince Nalan was a clever man too, knowing Shijia would surely mock him with words, so he directly changed the topic. Meanwhile, where the explosion happened several moments ago, the dust raised by the explosion was slowly settling down, finally revealing the scene at the spot.

The eldest on that side, who set off the hand grenade, had already been blown to pieces, no need to mention that. What truly attracted everyone’s attention was the man in white. The man in white lay on the ground, his body stained with red from blood. However, his body wasn’t shattered by the grenade, remaining intact, unexpected by all.

All three of them were staring at the man in white, lying on the ground, yet not knowing whether he was dead or alive. Prince Nalan and Joyous Monk both felt that after such an explosion, the man in white shouldn’t survive.

”Seems a bit odd.” After watching for a moment, Joyous Monk suddenly exclaimed.

Prince Nalan also saw the abnormal situation; the man in white used to be lying on the ground. But, at this moment, a lot of blood surprisingly gathered around him, all the blood from those five people flowed to him, forming a blood pool around him, with the man in white exactly in it.

”What’s happening?” Prince Nalan also exclaimed slightly; this was too astonishing. How could the blood flow over there?

”He certainly didn’t die!” Joyous Monk became excited, rubbing his hands and looking at Prince Nalan, and said, ”Old Nalan, you’ve lost, haven’t you!”

Prince Nalan didn’t respond to Joyous Monk’s words, only staring firmly at the man in white. After soaking in the blood pool for about ten minutes, he unexpectedly stood up from the pool. Judging by his appearance, it seemed he wasn’t injured, walking steadily away from the location.