Grandmaster Longyue merely regarded Yue Qingtian with the gaze one reserves for an imbecile, a cold sneer on his lips.
He thought to capture him alive so easily, and even declared it publicly.
Even if he could not escape, could he not simply take his own life?
But finding himself encircled, Grandmaster Longyue knew his chances were slim indeed, and could only retreat.
Originally, he had hoped to slay more elites while withdrawing, but the opponent's weapons were far superior to his expectations.
He had already expended too much energy just to sever their weapons.
Yue Qingtian pressed closer, feigning ferocity but with a grave expression.
His twin iron halberds were close to breaking, liable to snap at any moment, and his soft armor likely couldn't withstand a full-force strike.
Even if he managed to exhaust the enemy's strength, unless he could subdue him with overwhelming force, the man might despair and commit suicide.
Moreover, Grandmaster Longyue's robes clearly bore the raised outline of armor beneath. He must be wearing a treasure armor.
"Treasure armor?"
Yue Qingtian suddenly recalled something and beckoned to the shadow guard captain behind him.
"Disperse and bring that thing here!"
The shadow guard captain understood. He retrieved a round, dark object from his satchel, a fuse still attached.
After handing the tinderbox and the black sphere to Yue Qingtian, the captain whispered, "He might also have poison concealed in his mouth..."
Yue Qingtian pondered this. He tucked the twin iron halberds under his arm, took the sphere and tinderbox, and walked over.
Grandmaster Longyue frowned, unsure of Yue Qingtian's intentions. He simply continued to retreat, hoping to reach the cliff edge a hundred paces to the southwest.
There was a river there, allowing him to escape by leaping off the cliff.
These shadow guards, armed with ropes, had already formed a net behind him, determined to prevent Grandmaster Longyue's escape.
But Grandmaster Longyue believed he could sever these ropes with a single strike.
The shadow guards to the southwest, sensing Grandmaster Longyue approaching, became extremely vigilant.
They were ordered to kill this dangerous old monk, but Yue Qingtian insisted on capturing him alive, leaving them in a quandary...
"General Yue, perhaps it's best to kill him..."
The shadow guard captain was about to suggest this when Yue Qingtian had already ignited the fuse on the sphere with the tinderbox.
Halfway through the fuse burning, Yue Qingtian crouched down and, as if bowling, hurled it in Grandmaster Longyue's direction.
Grandmaster Longyue had intended to swat the sphere away with his blade, but seeing Yue Qingtian's rolling throw, he felt a flicker of unease and dared not be careless.
Watching the sphere roll to a stop behind Grandmaster Longyue, Yue Qingtian took a long saber from a shadow guard and roared as he charged.
Grandmaster Longyue was about to cleave Yue Qingtian in two, blade and all, when a sudden explosion erupted behind him.
Flames accompanied by a formidable blast wave sent Grandmaster Longyue tumbling to the ground, face-planting.
"Is that the smell of burning sulfur?!"
Grandmaster Longyue felt his blood churn and stars dance before his eyes. He scrambled to his feet, disoriented and alarmed.
Sulfur had always been expensive, unaffordable for ordinary people, let alone used for burning.
In this instant, he finally understood what Liang Xiao's "Heavenly Thunder" was!
It had something to do with the sulfur he often used to create illusions!
He had to get this news back to the sacred land!
Thoughts flashed through Grandmaster Longyue's mind. Before he could recover, Yue Qingtian had closed in, his roar like thunder, his saber descending like a storm, enveloping him.
Dazed and his mind in chaos from the blast, Grandmaster Longyue desperately wanted to cleave Yue Qingtian, saber and all, in two. But Yue Qingtian, abandoning his fierce, direct assault, now used his saber for slashes rather than chops.
Yue Qingtian's saber strikes were less forceful. Even after multiple clashes with Grandmaster Longyue's treasured blade, it didn't risk being violently severed.
Under the astonished gaze of the shadow guards, Yue Qingtian finally knocked Grandmaster Longyue's treasured blade aside with a single strike. He then used the flat of his saber to smash forcefully against Grandmaster Longyue's forehead.
Grandmaster Longyue felt his vision go black. Then, a blow to his neck from Yue Qingtian sent him into unconsciousness.
The shadow guards snapped back to reality and rushed forward, checking Grandmaster Longyue's mouth for poison before tying him up securely and binding his mouth with cloth to prevent him from biting his tongue.
"General Yue has formidable skills..."
The shadow guards chuckled dryly.
Yue Qingtian's weathered face flushed slightly. "The Marquis often teaches that all's fair in war. I merely followed suit. Is that not reasonable?"
The others paused, then nodded, recalling Liang Xiao's familiar, unscrupulous demeanor. They wisely steered clear of the topic.
After all, capturing this man alive was of great significance. Martial ethics could wait...
"This old monk's leg is injured from the blast. Tend to it."
The group emerged from the dense woods with Grandmaster Longyue, much to the astonishment of Ren Changfeng and the others.
"This scoundrel is ruthless and likely wouldn't care about his own life. How did you manage to capture him alive?" Qin Xun asked, bewildered.
The shadow guards coughed a few times. "Please don't ask..."
Yue Qingtian mumbled, "I have many methods... If you wish to vent your anger, you can slap him a few times, but do not kill him."
Qin Xun shook his head. "It would only dirty my hands."
The group then escorted Grandmaster Longyue to the capital.
Inside the carriage, Ling Jianxing praised, "Mr. Undercover has rendered a great service!"
Qin Xun smiled bitterly. "Before I reached adulthood, I had already taken over five hundred lives. I know my sins are grave, but I am merely atoning for them. How can I claim credit..."
Ling Jianxing mused, "At the time, you had no choice. Now that you have returned from the wrong path, it can be considered making amends."
Qin Xun shook his head. "The only reason I remain alive, not rushing to see my mother, is because I still have residual value. Fame and fortune are as fleeting as clouds to me. Great Hero Ling, you need not persuade me further. I have a clear understanding of my future."
Ling Jianxing could only nod helplessly, sighing for a long time.
At Honglu Temple, Liang Xiao and the others were greatly surprised when they received the news.
"How did you capture him?"
The shadow guard delivering the message chuckled dryly. "We employed some rather dishonorable tactics..."
Liang Xiao was in a good mood and couldn't be bothered with the matter of honor. He asked again, "Was the Heaven-Shaking Thunder of any use?"
The shadow guard fell into a brief silence, hesitant to speak.
Liang Xiao understood and, with a knowing glance, left Honglu Temple, heading straight for an inn in the city.
When Qin Feng received the news, he was also greatly surprised. He sent someone to report to Mu Cheng, then accepted the invitation to the inn.
In the deep courtyard of the inn, Grandmaster Longyue, already bound, was further secured to a stone chair, unable to move.
Yue Qingtian, looking smug, examined Grandmaster Longyue's treasured saber and armor in his hands.
Liang Xiao had given him the entire set.
"I never would have imagined that such a burly man would be from the Izumo Kingdom," Qin Feng sighed.
Grandmaster Longyue was of similar height to Liang Xiao, approaching Yue Qingtian's stature, and powerfully built.
Liang Xiao, his face grim, stared at the man who had murdered his father, seated on the stone chair. He removed the cloth gagging him.