The Decaying World-Chapter 79 - 74: Cooperation, Part 2
"Mist Chasing Soul!" Seeing the dire situation, the other figure in white had no time to check on Xiang Ying. Instead, she unleashed a full-power palm strike, sending out three palm phantoms that curved from three different directions, homing in on Lin Hui as he was retracting his sword.
These three strikes were the fastest move in the Palm of Enchanting Fragrance repertoire and even had a restrictive effect, using Inner Strength to pull targets in.
But... in the instant before the palm phantoms closed in, Lin Hui had already retreated and drawn his sword once more.
CLANG!
The Feathering Special Effects activated for an instant, and the explosive sound of the Clear Wind Sword erupted once again.
A silver streak of sword light shot forward at a terrifying speed, piercing several meters of air. It stabbed straight through the center of the three palm phantoms, heading directly for the face of the figure in white.
PUFF!
At almost the same time, the figure in white had already crushed a small ball that resembled a hidden weapon.
The ball exploded, releasing a large cloud of thick white smoke. It obscured all vision and was filled with a dense, strange fragrance.
When the sword light met the smoke, the white cloud quickly began to dissipate. However, it had succeeded in forcing Lin Hui to divert his attack, steering the blade away from the densest part of the smoke.
Lin Hui reappeared at the side entrance of the teahouse. He looked back at the surrounding people who had been caught in the spreading smoke.
Waiters, tea masters, and regular patrons—so many people—all began collapsing one by one under the influence of the poisonous smoke. Within seconds, a whole crowd of them was on the ground.
Cries of alarm finally cut through the teahouse music. The crowd began to scream, scrambling to escape through the other exits.
The group of female Baihua Sect disciples rushed forward, forming a nervous circle around the figure in white. They had clearly undergone poison resistance training and were unaffected by the smoke.
"Sect Leader Lin... your Swordsmanship is truly incredible... Is this sufficient?"
The gentle inquiry came from the figure in white, her voice wafting from the smoke.
"Not enough," Lin Hui said flatly. "You’re this weak. What gave you the courage to think you could negotiate with me as equals?"
"Sect Leader Lin, why must you be so aggressive? Xiang Ying and I admit defeat. But the Baihua Sect has more than just two Elders—our Sect Leader is still here! No matter how fast your sword is, you could never defeat her! There’s no life-or-death grudge between us, so why fight to the bitter end where both sides will be grievously wounded?"
the figure in white pleaded helplessly.
"Everything you said is correct." Lin Hui nodded. "But I prefer to speak with those who can actually withstand my blade. Cooperation requires a certain posture. Otherwise, you’d better learn some humility."
Her expression soured at his words.
At this moment, the smoke dissipated, revealing her face.
She was a woman who looked to be about thirty, dressed in a tight white bodysuit that hugged her figure so closely she might as well have been naked. It left little to the imagination, revealing everything it should—and even some things it shouldn’t.
"I am Li Zhaohan, an Elder of the Baihua Sect. Sect Leader Lin, since you’ve already broken through to the Inner Power Realm, why pretend to still be at the Body Tempering stage? Now that Xiang Ying and I have both lost to you, we will naturally follow your lead in this matter of cooperation. We surrender."
The woman’s features were dignified, her voice was gentle and weak, and her posture was utterly submissive. This immediately quashed any desire Lin Hui had to press the attack.
’The defenses of an Inner Power Realm expert are astonishing. I can’t kill them in one hit, which gives them a chance to talk.’
’Now that she’s surrendered so openly, in front of all these people, it’s not good for me to just wipe them out.’
’Unless I dare to kill everyone around here, including the ordinary people in the teahouse and the passersby on the street.’
’Otherwise, if word gets to the Government Office, I’ll be branded a murderer. What about my businesses? My channels for buying medicine? My everyday life?’
’In the Outer City, even when Song Zhanlong was a lone wolf, he didn’t dare to kill Daoist Baohe on the spot during their challenge.’
’No matter what, you have to give the Government Office some face. The bottom line is you can’t just kill people in broad daylight in front of everyone.’
’Of course, if it’s done discreetly, that’s another story.’
However, Lin Hui said, changing the subject and staring at her, "Why would you say I’ve reached the Inner Power Realm? I’m clearly still at the Body Tempering stage."
"Someone at the Body Tempering stage can’t withstand my poison smoke," Li Zhaohan explained gently. "Without prior poison resistance, if you weren’t using Inner Strength to automatically protect your body, Sect Leader Lin, you would have collapsed unconscious the moment you came into contact with it."
"Besides, what kind of Secret Technique could support such a terrifying Sword Speed? If someone at the Body Tempering stage dared to try that, the recoil would snap their wrist on the spot. You must have Inner Strength protecting you."
Lin Hui fell silent. ’She’s right. Under normal circumstances, that kind of Sword Speed isn’t something a Body Tempering practitioner could handle. The problem is, I’m not normal.’
He glanced at the teahouse patrons, who had fled into the distance. Then his gaze fell on two female disciples helping the blood-soaked Elder Xiang Ying out into the open.
Xiang Ying was trembling uncontrollably, terrified by that last sword strike. Upon seeing that Lin Hui was still there, her eyes rolled back in her head, and she passed out.
The massive, bloody gash on her body had nearly sliced her left breast in half. Any deeper, and it would have split her heart, killing her on the spot.
Of course, given her current injuries and the amount of blood she was losing, she wouldn’t last ten minutes unless she used her Inner Strength to staunch the bleeding and someone quickly applied medicated bandages.
Recalling that last sword strike, the other Elder, Li Zhaohan, began to tremble uncontrollably.
’Now I finally understand why Lin Hui dared to go to the Black Dragon Sect and stir up trouble all by himself.’
’Why he was able to scare off one Inner Strength expert after another when they came coveting the Black Dragon Sect.’
’Forget about me, who only broke through to the Inner Power Realm a few years ago. Even if Song Zhanlong were still here, he’d probably have trouble dealing with Lin Hui’s speed.’
"Sect Leader Lin, do you have any further instructions?" Li Zhaohan said in a subservient tone. "As for the cooperation, the Baihua Sect accepts its defeat. I will send someone to Qingfeng Temple to discuss the details. We will absolutely defer to your lead in everything."
"You have the authority to decide that?" Lin Hui asked, his voice low.
"Of course," Li Zhaohan sighed. "The Sect Leader has long given me full authority over this matter."
’That makes sense. Although the Baihua Sect is a bit stronger than the Black Dragon Sect, the Sect Leader is probably the only truly strong one. The rest are just subordinates, much like the old Qingfeng Temple: one Daoist Baohe and three from the Ming Generation.’
’That’s about the limit for a sect like this.’
He looked at the group of pitiful-looking Baihua Sect disciples. He had half a mind to wipe them all out, but they had surrendered so completely that he couldn’t bring himself to act.
He could only let it go.
All he could say was that the two Elders had caved the moment things looked bad. They were just too quick to surrender.
People like that are fine when they have the advantage, but they crumble the moment they run into a real challenge.
But then again, truly stubborn people were a rarity in this world. In such a dangerous age, anyone that bull-headed probably wouldn’t live to see adulthood; they’d have died as a child.
"Whatever." An inexplicable anger rose in him just looking at them. Lin Hui turned and walked away.
He’d come out today hoping for a good fight, but he never expected the Baihua Sect to capitulate the moment he struck back. The whole affair left him feeling thoroughly unsatisfied.
Without a moment’s pause, he headed directly for the Baihua Sect headquarters.
’Regardless, since those two Elders folded so easily, I’ll just go find the Baihua Sect’s supposedly strongest member, their Sect Leader.’
’Before news of this gets back to them, I can use my speed to get there first and have a proper fight.’
’Since we’ve already crossed that line, I might as well eliminate any future trouble. Either beat them into total submission or don’t fight in the first place.’
’The Baihua Sect’s last hope and pillar of support is their Sect Leader. As long as I crush her completely, the entire Baihua Sect will become my vassal.’
’That’s right. A United Sect isn’t an option, so making them a vassal will have to do.’
’A behemoth like the Baihua Sect, with its vast businesses and extensive networks... I’ll rush in, not even give her a chance to react. Beat her into submission first, talk later.’
After asking for directions, he soon reached the northern outskirts of Baisan Town. There, in the distance, Lin Hui saw a cluster of white buildings built against the side of a mountain.
He could vaguely make out the flow of many people moving about within the complex; it seemed quite lively.
A single main road served as the entrance. At its head stood a large black stone, on which the words "Baihua Sect" were painted in white.
No reason to hesitate.
Lin Hui activated his Body Technique, leaving a trail of afterimages as he shot up the mountain path, heading straight for the buildings.
He arrived at a plaza in the center of the complex. After a quick scan, he made a beeline for the largest structure: a six-story stone tower.
"Who’s there!?"
At the entrance to the stone tower, he paused for a moment to survey his surroundings, which was long enough for the female guards to spot him. They immediately began shouting.
"It’s a madman! He’s trying to break into the Sect Leader’s residence!"
"Stop him!"
Seeing this, a group of seven or eight women activated their Body Techniques and rushed at Lin Hui.
SWISH!
But in the next instant, a fan-shaped arc of silver sword light swept past them.
A bloody gash appeared on each of their chests, right over the heart.
Overcome by intense pain, their charge came to a sudden halt. They fell backward, clutching their chests, unable to rise again.
’Seven or eight people down in a second.’ Lin Hui nodded to himself, satisfied with the result.
’This is how speed-based styles work. Win fast, lose fast. The outcome is decided in an instant, so stamina consumption is naturally lower.’
Arriving at the doors of the stone tower, Lin Hui gave them a push. They were locked tight.
He shoved with all his might, but they didn’t budge. With a glance to either side, he leaped, pressed one hand against the eaves, and vaulted lightly up to the second floor.
CRASH! The glass window shattered, and Lin Hui calmly stepped inside.
Inside a room that appeared to be a study, two women sat facing each other, cups of tea in hand. They turned in astonishment at the sound of his entry.
"Excuse me, where might I find the Baihua Sect Leader?" Lin Hui asked the two women with a polite smile.
"I... I don’t know," the woman on the left stammered. "I’m just here to discuss a partnership, I’m not from the sect..."
The other woman reacted differently. Her expression turned instantly foul as she shot to her feet and roared, "Bastard, how did you get up here? Where are the guards? Are they all dead!?"
SWOOSH! With a dull thud, the woman flew sideways as if struck by lightning, crashing into a bookshelf before tumbling to the floor.
She had been struck by the flat of his blade, moving at incredible speed. It had hit her shoulder, and after rolling a few times on the floor, she was unable to rise.
The bones in her shoulder had been shattered by the force of the blow, crushed together. Her face was a mask of agony.
"I hate it when people yell at me." Lin Hui sheathed his sword. Without a glance at the remaining woman, he walked out of the study. Outside, more than a dozen disciples in white were waiting, each holding a black metal tube.
All the metal tubes were aimed at him, held steady.
And behind them, a two-meter-tall mountain of flesh stood, her pale fat jiggling as she looked down on him.
It was none other than the Baihua Sect Leader, Ou Tianrong.
"Lin Hui of Qingfeng Temple?" Ou Tianrong recognized the sect’s attire. In her hand, she held a strip of paper just delivered by carrier pigeon. Its contents described the physical appearance of one Lin Hui, who was attempting to stir up trouble.
Ou Tianrong took in the scene, and her face darkened. "What is the meaning of this, Qingfeng Temple?"
She hadn’t believed he would actually dare to come right to their doorstep, but now...
"Are you planning to declare war on my Baihua Sect?"
"I’ve already made it this far," Lin Hui said with a laugh. "What do you think?"
"Either you die, or I leave. Pick one."
"Heh." Ou Tianrong laughed, though it was fueled by anger. "So no matter what happens, you walk away without a scratch, is that it?"
"That’s right," Lin Hui said, as if stating the obvious. "Because I’m fast enough."
’I prefer it when they’re a bit more aggressive. The tougher, the better. That way, I don’t have to find an excuse to escalate the conflict and settle things with the Baihua Sect for good.’
’Of course, it’s also possible Ou Tianrong’s strength far exceeds my imagination and I won’t be able to defeat her. If that’s the case, I’ll have no choice but to cooperate.’
’After all, she would have proven her strength.’
