Urban Martial Saint

The Great Lord Nalan Jingwei and the Executioner Scholar, along with three others, had scattered in this forest, standing at different spots while chasing each other. However, catching up wasn’t such an easy task.

At this moment, a group of people dressed in black had gathered at the mountain peak. These people were all in tight outfits with their faces covered, making it impossible to see their appearances—they were dressed like ninjas from Japan.

This group was the Iga-ryu ninjas. Within them were the Third Elder and the Seventh Elder, while leading them was an older figure slightly taller than the rest, who was undoubtedly the Great Elder among them.

Seeing the three people scattered below in the forest, the Great Elder squinted slightly and said in a low voice, ”The opportunity is here. They are all dispersed; now is when their strength is at its weakest. Use the Escape Technique to trap Nalan Jingwei and prepare to seize the opportunity!”

”Yes!” the ninjas immediately responded. Among them, the Third Elder murmured, ”What about Nalan Jingwei? Should we kill him?”

The Great Elder replied sternly, ”This person’s strength is extremely strong; it’s not easy to kill him. Don’t waste time. Our target is the Gold Silk Armor and those two people. No need to rush to kill!”

Everyone nodded immediately and quickly descended the mountain from both sides. These ninjas were extremely fast, and it wasn’t long before they rushed into the forest. Undoubtedly, these ninjas were all peak masters.

In fact, these Iga-ryu ninjas had arrived here long ago. However, they hadn’t been in a hurry to make a move and had been observing in the shadows. Because when they arrived, they had noticed the people from the Sword Saint Sect and Nalan Jingwei and the Executioner Scholar. If they had made a direct move, they would have faced resistance. Although Iga-ryu had seven peak masters here, in a chaotic battle, if the opponents united, they wouldn’t gain much advantage. So, they simply didn’t rush to act and had been waiting for the opportune moment.

After the people from the Sword Saint Sect retreated earlier, Nalan Jingwei and the Executioner Scholar led the Great Lord into this mountain and then scattered, leaving only Nalan Jingwei with two hostages and the Gold Silk Armor. At this moment, the Great Elder ordered the action, as it was indeed when their strength was the weakest. With only Nalan Jingwei left, it was naturally easier to deal with.

Nalan Jingwei, holding the two hostages and the Gold Silk Armor, pursued the Executioner Scholar. After running for a while, he hadn’t found the Executioner Scholar, but the surroundings made him feel somewhat cautious. Nalan Jingwei couldn’t help but slow down, his intuition telling him there was some danger in this forest. Yet, he couldn’t sense anything, nor did he know what was going on, just a vague feeling of impending crisis.

Precisely because of this sense of crisis, Nalan Jingwei dared not proceed further. He gradually slowed his steps, vigilantly observing his surroundings. After a moment, he suddenly shouted loudly, ”Executioner Scholar, Executioner Scholar!”

Nalan Jingwei’s inner strength was profound, allowing his voice to carry far. If the Executioner Scholar heard, he would surely know there was danger and would immediately return to assist him.

However, after shouting twice, there was no response from the surroundings. While Nalan Jingwei was bewildered, unsure of what had happened to the Executioner Scholar, a sudden alertness arose in his mind, and almost instinctively, he sidestepped two paces. Just then, a shadow appeared out of nowhere, rushing past where he had stood moments ago. A cold gleam flashed—a blade had slashed through. Had Nalan Jingwei not shifted those two paces, the blade would likely have cleaved him in two.

Dodging this strike, Nalan Jingwei’s face changed dramatically, and he spoke in a stern voice, ”Wo Country’s Ninja?”

The shadow slowly turned its head to look at Nalan Jingwei, sneering, ”Nalan Jingwei, you have quite a wide range of knowledge to recognize my identity at a glance!”

This voice was the Third Elder from earlier.

Nalan Jingwei’s expression changed again. While watching the Third Elder, he vigilantly scanned his surroundings, speaking sternly, ”I’ve never had any enmity with the Wo Country’s ninja. Why are you ambushing me here? And what have you done with the Executioner Scholar? Why hasn’t he responded to me?”

”Hmph, since you know we’re ninjas from Wo Country, you should understand our Escape Technique,” the Third Elder coldly replied. ”Nalan Jingwei, the environment around you has already been sealed by us. Not only can’t your people get out, but even your voice can’t carry out. I advise you to hand over the Gold Silk Armor and those two people quickly, or don’t blame us for being ruthless!”

”Lockdown?” Nalan Jingwei sucked in a cold breath. He certainly knew the methods of Japan’s ninjas. This so-called escape technique indeed originated from Huaxia’s Qimen Dunjia, but it underwent some enhancements from Japan’s ninjas, so they claimed this as their own escape technique. The lockdown through escape techniques basically involves releasing Inner Strength outside, forming a Protective Aura or the like. When several Peak Masters join forces to unite their Gang Qi, it creates a closed space, trapping people within it, not only blocking people’s movements but also their voices. Truly formidable. No wonder his shouts received no response from the Executioner Scholar because his voice couldn’t get out.

”What? Don’t believe it?” The Third Elder sneered, ”If you don’t believe it, you can try shouting a few more times!”

Nalan Jingwei certainly did not disbelieve. With no response from his first shout, he realized something was wrong, so shouting again was futile. He glanced around, quietly searching for the ninjas hiding in the shadows, then said in a deep voice, ”So, it turns out you are also here for the Gold Silk Armor, huh? Hmm, you are very patient indeed. Waiting until we both suffer heavy losses to make your move!”

The Third Elder sneered, ”You Huaxia people just love internal strife, and of course, we won’t stop you. It’s quite amusing to watch dog-eat-dog, isn’t it?”

Nalan Jingwei’s expression turned cold as he glared at the Third Elder, saying in a deep voice, ”Hmm, even if you lock down this place, what then? These Peak Masters have locked down this area, but that doesn’t mean I can’t break through. Besides, even though my voice cannot get out, they also can’t make a move against me. With just you alone, do you think you can take me on?”

”Who said I’m alone!” The Third Elder sneered, ”Nalan Jingwei, do you think we’d come unprepared to deal with you? Let me ask you again, will you hand over the things and the hostage? If not, don’t blame us for being ruthless!”

”Hand over?” Nalan Jingwei sneered and said, ”If you want the Gold Silk Armor and the hostage, you can try, but it just depends on whether you have the skill to take them!”

Nalan Jingwei spoke, suddenly grabbing Wen’er and lifting her up, shouting loudly, ”Even though you have more people, don’t forget, the hostage is in my hands. If I kill her, the method to find the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master will be lost. So, I advise you all to cooperate, because if I accidentally crush her, then everyone will indeed end without anything!”

The Third Elder hesitated for a moment, not expecting Nalan Jingwei to use this method to threaten him, putting him in a difficult position. They came with so many people because they were determined to obtain the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master. They had the method to open it and the Famed Instrument, which was all they needed after finding it. Now the Gold Silk Armor is within easy reach, but the method to find the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master is with Wen’er. If Nalan Jingwei really killed Wen’er, they’d come for nothing.

Seeing the Third Elder remain silent, Nalan Jingwei knew he had won his gamble; these people indeed dared not let Wen’er die. Thus, he breathed a sigh of relief, grabbed Wen’er, and shouted, ”What’s it going to be? Do you want her alive, or do you insist on fighting me? If you want a fight, that’s fine, too. I’ll count to three. If you don’t let me out, then I’ll kill her first, and everything will be lost! One! Two!”

Nalan Jingwei was confident, hence his aggressive manner, counting aloud immediately after speaking. Watching the Third Elder’s changing expression, he knew his plan was effective and laughed, ”This is the last count! Are you going to back off, or should I kill her? Think carefully, I’m about to count…”

Before Nalan Jingwei finished speaking, his expression suddenly changed as a figure appeared beside him. The person appeared so unexpectedly that when Nalan Jingwei felt it, the person had already appeared and grabbed his wrist. Although Nalan Jingwei’s other hand was gripping Wen’er’s neck, his strength couldn’t reach her after his wrist was caught, rendering him unable to kill Wen’er.

Moreover, what shocked Nalan Jingwei most was the person’s strength. The grip on his wrist prevented Nalan Jingwei from breaking free; clearly, the person’s skill was above his. Shocked, Nalan Jingwei instinctively swung Ye Jun at the person.

As he struck, the black-clad person also grabbed the other wrist, shouting, ”Let go!”

Nalan Jingwei felt two strong forces seize his wrists, the powerful grip made it impossible for him to hold on, and both the people in his hands were snatched away.

The black-clad person grabbed Ye Jun and Wen’er, tossing them directly to the Third Elder, then lunged at Nalan Jingwei once more. Having suffered earlier, Nalan Jingwei now knew the black-clad person’s skill was surely no less than the Great Lord’s. In a real fight, he could hold out for a while, but with unknown Peak Masters lurking nearby, how dare he waste time here?

Thus, he paid no mind to Ye Jun and Wen’er nor did he dare engage the black-clad person, instead turning to flee, eager to dash out of this place. But, as the Third Elder said, the surroundings were already locked down by force. As he turned to escape, it felt like he ran into an invisible wall, stopping him in his tracks.

(Still owe a chapter, will make it up tomorrow.)