Chapter 143 — Reluctance
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 3 of 7
At the youth's words, the strange sound that rose this time was soft and low, issuing from behind the youth. A moment later, an utterly hideous monstrous head slowly extended from behind the youth's figure.
It was hard to say what animal this monstrous head resembled, but four eyes, each as large as a bronze bell, were set in two pairs on either side of its face; six sharp fangs jutted from its great maw, and saliva dripped ceaselessly from them. Its gray-black skin was covered in coarse, hard nodules. Even the most vicious ghost of human legend could not be as ugly and hideous as this monster.
Qinglong drew a sharp breath!
Taotie's neck seemed exceedingly long, for that monstrous head extended far out from behind the youth and turned, actually reaching around to the youth's shoulder in front of him — and before such a ferocious beast, the youth's expression remained calm and composed.
Qinglong steadied his mind and said slowly, "I never thought such a ferocious beast still existed in this world!"
The youth smiled, reached out, and actually stroked Taotie's head. Fierce as Taotie appeared, beneath the youth's palm it only gave low, crooning growls and nuzzled its head against his hand — had it not been so hideous, it might almost have been a little dog.
The youth glanced at Qinglong and suddenly said, "That woman just now was your companion, was she not? She knew Taotie was hidden in midair, yet she deliberately made you the bait, luring Taotie down so she could escape. You must be furious right now, are you not?"
Qinglong kept his guard up inwardly, but laughed aloud. "That she played me is my own incompetence. I cannot blame anyone else!"
The youth looked at him a moment longer, then nodded. "In that case, die."
The words had scarcely fallen, and no movement of his could be seen, yet the white-boned serpent demon that had been glaring hungrily behind Qinglong suddenly seemed to receive an order. Its great maw gaped wide and it lunged with a single bite.
Qinglong had been on guard all along. Though the white-boned serpent demon struck without warning, he did not panic; instead of retreating, he advanced, charging straight at the serpent, which quite startled the beast.
Seizing the instant the serpent was dazed, Qinglong rushed beneath it, twisted aside to evade the poisonous breath the enraged serpent spewed down, kicked off its white bones, and forcibly shoved the demon serpent's huge body back three chi. At the same time he borrowed the force to shoot skyward, and the clear light in his hand flared forth, instantly laying down six walls of light in Taotie's direction.
Of these two beasts and one man, the one he feared most was still the youth who had never once lifted a hand.
The white-boned serpent demon roared again and again, but could no longer catch up. Just as Qinglong was about to fly into the blue sky and escape the trap, his foot was suddenly seized tight, and his soaring body was caught by a hand. A moment later, a low laugh came from below, and a mighty force surged from that hand. Qinglong felt as though fire blazed through his body, and with a violent shudder he was flung out by that hand against his will.
In midair, his body tumbled and drifted, and with the sound of branches snapping and breaking, the Azure Dragon's body was flung once more into the forest.
Within the woods, the howls and roars of countless demonic beasts rose again.
High in the air, the youth closed his eyes slightly and raised his face to the sky. A wind passed by, setting his bright silk robes flapping and dancing.
From somewhere far off, it seemed as though the roar of a savage beast could be heard as well...
Canglan Mountain, Jietian Peak, the Yuheng Hall.