Chapter 256: The Design
The battle between Bald Monk and Mo Shan by the forest continued.
Bald Monk couldn't defeat him, nor could he escape; he had thought his life was near its end.
Yet after a few more exchanges, he was surprised to realize that this Demon Hunter hadn't tried to kill him.
The mysterious cultivator using strange spells in secret had only restrained him, not struck to take his life.
It seemed these two had no intention of killing him.
Bald Monk exhaled in relief, but immediately felt both shame and anger.
They were toying with him!
Neither killing nor releasing him, it was as if hunters were amusing themselves with prey.
It was complete mockery and humiliation!
"This is outrageous!" Bald Monk roared.
He refused to sit idly by, alternately using talismans and feigning weakness, trying every trick to escape.
But no matter how many chances he seized, he was always stopped by Mo Hua's Water Prison Technique, his efforts instantly rendered useless.
Before Mo Hua's Water Prison, all his scheming was futile.
Bald Monk was both shocked and furious.
Who exactly was this hidden cultivator?
Every move he made was under their control, leaving no chance of escape.
Amid his shock and anger, doubt gnawed at him:
"Why, at this point, do these two not kill me? What do they want?"
After struggling with Mo Shan for some time, he caught sight of two more figures in the distance—Zhang Lan and Lu Hui.
A chill ran through Bald Monk:
"Damn, now I really can't get away."
Mo Hua's eyes brightened in the forest.
Having restrained someone like Bald Monk with the Water Prison Technique, he had grown familiar with it after several tries, even finding it a bit boring.
Chasing prey repeatedly could become tedious.
He had been waiting for Lu Hui, and now the prey had finally arrived.
Mo Hua smiled slightly.
Zhang Lan and Lu Hui had searched the mountains for some time. Seeing Mo Shan battling Bald Monk, they immediately quickened their pace and, in a few flashes, caught up.
The three formed a pincer, surrounding Bald Monk.
Despair crossed Bald Monk's face, and he shouted angrily:
"You dogs of the Dao Court Division, must you kill without mercy?"
Zhang Lan cursed: "Aren't you stating the obvious? You beast, you should've died a long time ago!"
Bald Monk's face twitched.
Lu Hui narrowed his eyes and asked: "Bald Monk, tell me, did you abduct Young Master Kong?"
Bald Monk frowned. "What Young Master Kong?"
"Half a month ago, did you raid a merchant caravan?"
"I've raided so many caravans, how do I know which one you mean?"
Lu Hui twitched. "Then I'll ask this, what did you do to the cultivators after raiding the caravan?"
A sinister smile twisted across Bald Monk's lips. "Depends if they were male or female. Kill the men immediately, toy with the women before killing them."
At this point, he couldn't escape anyway.
His crimes would be punished by the Dao Court Division, so there was nothing to hide.
Lu Hui's heart sank; if this was true, Young Master Kong had likely been killed without even a chance to announce himself.
Zhang Lan said: "Let's act, capture him and question him at the Dao Court Division."
He conjured a Water Sword Technique with two fingers, moving straight toward Bald Monk without wasting words.
Lu Hui drew his sword, aiming for Bald Monk's heart meridian.
Mo Shan, remembering Mo Hua's instructions, pretended to be fatigued and delayed his strike.
The circle formed by the three immediately had a flaw due to Mo Shan's feigned slowness.
Bald Monk, experienced in combat, instantly detected the opening, his face lighting up with joy.
Originally, he was certain to die, or at least fall into the Dao Court Division's hands, but Mo Shan's misstep gave him a chance.
Dodging Zhang Lan's Water Sword, clashing with Lu Hui once, he used the momentum to retreat, spotting the gap between the three. With desperate use of Wind Escape Technique, he flashed out of their encirclement.
Even after escaping, Bald Monk was cautious.
He feared the hidden cultivator would still restrain him with magic.
But then he realized the hidden cultivator hadn't moved or used the strange spell!
"A perfect opportunity!"
He grinned, eyes gleaming, and bolted, wind swirling around him, leaving a shadowy afterimage.
Lu Hui clicked his tongue, displeased, glared at Mo Shan, and then activated his own speed, chasing after Bald Monk.
Bald Monk had killed Young Master Kong, so he could not escape.
Zhang Lan looked at Mo Shan curiously.
In his experience, Mo Shan was battle-hardened and wouldn't make such a basic mistake.
Then he noticed Mo Shan give him a subtle look, glancing toward the fleeing Lu Hui.
Zhang Lan's eyes widened, and a evil smile crept onto his lips.
At the same time, Mo Hua emerged from the forest.
The three exchanged a glance, understanding each other, then all dashed toward Bald Monk and Lu Hui.
Lu Hui, fully sprinting, cursed in his heart:
"Three people surrounded this bald monk, and he still managed to escape! These demon hunters are utterly foolish."
Yet this worked to his advantage. As long as he caught up to Bald Monk, restrained or killed him, the credit would be his.
He would complete the Dao Court Division's mission and avenge Young Master Kong.
The Dao Court reward was certain, and the Kong family would also be grateful.
Fueled by determination, Lu Hui chased harder.
Meanwhile, Mo Hua and the others tailed from afar, neither joining Lu Hui nor distancing themselves, letting Bald Monk escape a little.
If Lu Hui lost the chase, Mo Hua would kindly ask Zhang Lan to guide him.
With Mo Hua's Divine-Sense tracking, Bald Monk had no chance of truly escaping.
And so, Lu Hui pursued, Bald Monk fleeing, over half an hour.
Finally, Lu Hui intercepted Bald Monk, engaging him in combat.
Mo Hua and his companions stayed at a distance.
Exhausted from battling Mo Shan and then sprinting, Bald Monk was near collapse.
Lu Hui's spiritual power had also been drained, but he was far stronger than Bald Monk.
Yet he wondered why Bald Monk, with such agility, could never escape.
There was no time to ponder; he had to subdue him quickly.
After over ten intense exchanges, the outcome became clear.
Lu Hui's sword pierced Bald Monk's shoulder.
Kneeling halfway, Bald Monk knew he was finished. Resentful, he swung a blade at Lu Hui's chest.
But he knew his strength was spent; the strike would miss.
Lu Hui merely sneered.
The attack was harmless; a step back would let him evade effortlessly.
Lu Hui shifted to retreat—but then, in the distance, Mo Hua's eyes flashed coldly. With a light motion, a chain of spiritual energy shot out, freezing him in place!
Mid-step, Lu Hui suddenly couldn't move, panic surging through him.
Before he could react, Bald Monk's blade struck his chest.
The sword broke through his soft armor, slicing into his chest, blood gushing instantly.
(End of Chapter)