Chapter 5: Killing with a Borrowed Knife

Remaining inconspicuous is his consistent principle of action; should he unfortunately attract trouble, he must extinguish the flames as quickly as possible while they are still just beginning to ignite

Bang!

Boom

It is I, Long Bufe, who you consider a great hero. Little do you know that my "Blood Transformation Palm" specifically erodes internal energy. Once your entire blood is transformed by me, you, this so-called greatest hero of the righteous path, will become nothing more than a dried corpse

Jun Tianxie contemplated and concluded that the only solution was to completely eradicate the influence of the "Underworld" within "Xiangyi City," and it was imperative that no one else be aware of his involvement.

At this point, one cannot help but express a sense of lamentation akin to that of a fallen hero.

The original Tian Fang exclaimed: "It is the 'natural enemy' Long Bufe! How could he know about this place?"

The crisp sound of cracking bones, symbolizing death, echoed sharply

Original Tianfang "Oh!"

Dugu Ji is indeed wary of how much strength Long Bufeiy has recovered, which is why he used words to incite Yuan Tianfang, who has a deep-seated grudge against the latter, to be the first to take the field. However, the power of the 'natural enemy' far exceeds his imagination, as Yuan Tianfang was tragically killed in a single encounter with his opponent, while Long Bufeiy's true strength remains unfathomable

Yuan Tianfang, however, could not heed his elder brother's words and laughed heartily, saying, "With such a sissy gesture, he won't be able to catch my—" Before he could finish speaking, his palm and claws had already made contact.

Next, we shall await the grand performance to commence

Du Guji's eyes flashed with a fleeting hint of murderous intent, and he said lightly: "Isn't it better to flee far away and escape from the government?"

The battle within the arena is in full swing, while outside the factions, the mastermind behind this conflict is leisurely hiding in a safe haven, quietly observing the situation unfold. This aligns perfectly with the saying, "Sitting on a high mountain to watch the tigers fight." This conspirator is none other than our primary protagonist, Jun Tianxie.

As soon as Yuan Tianfang saw Long Bufe, a profound killing intent flashed in his eyes, and he said with hatred: "Is it really you? Long Bufe! Today, I will tear you to pieces to avenge the hatred of that year"

The one who truly wishes to betray the "Underworld" is Dugu Ji, not Tang Juan. However, if he were to take Tang Juan along on his journey, or if she were to betray him out of impulse, his chances of escaping would be significantly reduced. Therefore, for his own sake, Dugu Ji must eliminate Tang Juan.

As I expected, the people of the 'Underworld' still employed that tactic

Tang Juan's face displayed an expression of utter shock, as if she could not believe that her superior would do such a thing

That one strike caused Yuan Tianfang to take a full year to heal from his injuries. From that point on, he harbored a deep-seated hatred for his "natural enemy" Long Bufeifei, yet he also feared him to the core

Long Bufeiy only felt his blood being drawn into the opponent's body like a breached dam. Blood is the foundation of qi; with the loss of blood and qi, his power drastically diminished, and he lost the ability to repel Dugu Ji. This is the formidable aspect of the latter's "Blood Dissipation Hand"; once it adheres, it must continue until death.

As their palms met, surprisingly there was no explosive sound of energy transmitted; instead, Longbu Fei felt a strange and malevolent sticky force within his opponent's power, which seemed to draw the blood from his own meridians. A jolt ran through his heart as he recalled a notorious evil technique from the Demon Sect, and he exclaimed, "Blood Dissolution Palm? You are 'Blood Dragon' Dugu Ji!"

Tang Juan jumped out of bed and put on her clothes. Seeing Yuan Tianfang still dazedly lost in thought on the couch, she anxiously stamped her foot and scolded, "Fifth Brother! What are you daydreaming about? Hurry up and get dressed!"

In the original text, a mixture of fear and hatred flickered in Tian Fang's eyes, though fear predominated. He nodded and said, "I would never mistake his voice; it must be 'Tian Di' Long Bufei without a doubt."

Upon seeing Long Bufeis impressive skills and aura, Dugu Ji immediately recognized that the visitor was a master unlike any he had encountered in his lifetime

Gazing at the entrance of the branch that had become a ruin, Jun Tianxie revealed a knowing and sinister smile on his face

After the other party revealed their identity, apart from surprise, Dugu Ji felt even more suspicion and doubt. Why did Long Bufei know about the "Underworld" assassination plan against him? How did he find his way here? These mysteries were like a thorn, lodged in his heart and impossible to remove

He felt no regret over Tang Juan's death; the law of the jungle, where the weak are preyed upon by the strong, has always been the unyielding principle of survival in the demonic sect

A fleeting glimmer, barely perceptible, flashed across Du Guji's eyes as he casually inquired, "If you have any ideas, just speak up and let me hear them. At this point, is there anything that cannot be said?"

Long Bufeiy's pair of tiger-like eyes fixed intently on Dugu Ji, exuding a commanding presence that surged towards the latter like waves crashing against the shore, yet remaining silent, rendering the onlookers hesitant to act recklessly

Long Bufeiyin took a deep breath, at this moment he had completely suppressed his injuries, and shouted: "If you want to take revenge for him, then come! After all, none of the people here today will leave alive!"

Boss ... ... for ... ... why ... ...

Only regretting that he is now injured more severely than Long Bufei, the latter's aura at this moment is even more fixated on him as the sole target. Any slightest movement, even issuing orders for a siege, would provoke a thunderous strike from Long Bufei. Even though he knows he must not miss this golden opportunity to allow Long Bufei to regain his strength, he can only watch helplessly as the opponent intimidates his own people, nearly causing Dugu Ji to explode with rage.

Tang Juan in his arms trembled, unable to believe, and said: "Is it really Long Bu Fei?"

Jun Tianxie originally intended to use "Break Prison" to accomplish this task for him, but now with Long Bufeiy, who could be more suitable than the "Natural Enemy" for "killing and silencing"? With Long Bufeiy's strength, he should be able to easily force the people within the branch to a desperate situation. Next, it is a matter of waiting to see whether the person in charge will resort to the "final move" that Jun Tianxie hopes he will use

Unfortunately, Tang Juan could not hear the words spoken in Jun Tian's heart. After hesitating for a moment, she finally spoke: "You know better than I do about the methods of the lord of the manor. His creed is to show no mercy to the defeated. Since death is inevitable, it is better to... it is better to..."

Tang Juan also seemed to tacitly avoid the topic, being selfish and self-serving, which is inherently characteristic of the demonic sect.

Jun Tianxie thought to himself: "Don't say it! Once it's said, it's all over!"

Spit out a mouthful of fresh blood and retreat.

A trace of sinister amusement flickered across the gloomy, withered face of Dugu Ji

Dugu Ji sighed, saying: "I understand your concerns, but I am not necessarily in a much better position than you. The Fourth has yet to return, and it is likely that his situation is dire. In just one day, two of the Seven Beasts have been expelled. As the leader, even if I can escape the death penalty, I cannot avoid the punishment of living."

With a start, the expression shifted from fear to ferocity.

The two individuals emerging from the ruins are Dugu Ji and Tang Juan. At this moment and in this place, they no longer possess even a trace of the demeanor characteristic of masters from the Demon Sect

A shadow shot up from the rubble, moving at such speed that it was barely visible to the naked eye, accompanied by a slightly breathless long howl, and in an instant, it vanished from Jun Tianxie's line of sight

Having spoken, he lunged forward with a speed comparable to that of a wild wolf hunting its prey, his hand transforming into a claw aimed directly at the chest of Long Bu Fei, seemingly intent on earnestly fulfilling his promise

Dugu Ji shook his head and said: "The current situation regarding the books has exceeded our control. We can only report this matter to the lord and see how he decides on it"

Long Bufeifei was provoked to genuine anger by the despicable tactics of Dugu Ji, and he forcefully summoned his profound energy, channeling his internal strength into his arms, simultaneously twisting in the opposite direction

Long Bufeiy also turned to look at Yuan Tianfang and said in a deep voice: "Three years ago, I let you off the hook, but I didn't expect you to remain unrepentant. Today is the day of your reckoning."

Due to the events surrounding "Daoyehua," Yuantian Fang has already listed him as a target to be eliminated without delay

Feeling that the simultaneous appearance of the two beasts from the "Underworld" in the small "Fragrant City" was suspicious, Jun Tianye left the residence of the "Charming Fox" Yang Jing and wandered around the streets, searching for what he believed he might find. Indeed, whether it was his good fortune or the misfortune of the people from the "Underworld," he unexpectedly encountered someone he was overjoyed to see upon returning to the inn—his "Arch-Nemesis" Long Bufe!

Come on

What about the "natural enemy" Long Bufe? Was he also "sacrificed" by Jun Tianxie’s schemes?

A hearty and resounding laughter erupted, causing the lime on the walls of the secret chamber to rattle and fall, fully demonstrating the profound skill of the person.

Jun Tianxie gazed thoughtfully in the direction where the figure had disappeared and remarked, "Goodness, their skills are comparable to those of the dead old ghost from twenty years ago. Truly deserving of the title of the new generation's hope in the righteous path."

Dugu Ji knew that today's matter would not end well. Taking a deep breath, he gathered his strength, and when his palm turned a deep crimson, he shouted: "Dragon Step, come receive my palm!"

Unreasonable matters must be shrouded in mystery

The laughter of Yuan Tianfang had not yet ended when it turned into a wail of sorrow

Tang Juan's eyes flashed with a dangerous glint akin to that of a venomous snake as she coldly remarked, "Is there even a need to mention this?"

With a bloody aura, the palm wind surged forward with the might of thunder and lightning towards Long Bufei. It was only at this moment that the latter realized he was facing an opponent worthy of his serious attention, and he laughed heartily, saying, "What difficulty is there in receiving your palm?"

Long Bufei cast a glance over the crowd, his gaze reflecting an unwavering confidence in absolute victory

As soon as Long Bufeiy entered the branch, he was discovered; in fact, it would be more accurate to say that he was "deliberately" discovered.

Jun Tianxie naturally followed behind Long Bufeifei, watching him enter the hidden door, and then hearing the furious shouts and sounds of fighting that followed, truly wanting to laugh from the bottom of his heart

The two guards of the evil faction felt a whirlwind sweep in from the entrance, followed by the appearance of an extraordinarily heroic man, radiating an aura of righteousness, resembling a celestial being, standing before them.

Jun Tianxie smiled triumphantly in his heart, for he did not see Yuan Tianfang's figure, which could confirm that this trouble had been permanently eliminated

Dugu Ji snorted and said: "Useless!"

I never expected that such a massive explosion could not bury Long Bufe. What should we do next

Only Dugu Ji knows that although Long Bufei can force him back, it is not without cost; now is the time to strive for a moment to regulate his breathing and recover.

The demonic arts emphasize harming others for one's own benefit, and "Blood Dissolution Hand" is a particularly representative martial art within this realm. If Long Bu Fei had recognized Du Gu Ji's identity upon arrival, he would certainly not have chosen the foolish option of a direct confrontation, which is precisely the outcome that the latter has deliberately cultivated. "Demonic Dragon" Du Gu Ji's rise to the position of leader among the Seven Beasts is attributed not only to his martial prowess but also significantly to his cunning.

Once everyone had left completely, Jun Tianxie emerged from his original hiding place, his gaze faintly carrying an inscrutable sense of confusion

As the stalemate continued without resolution, his two sworn siblings, the "Demon Wolf" and the "Green Snake" among the Seven Beasts, finally arrived upon hearing the commotion

He knew that Long Bufeifei was not dead, but had also sustained serious injuries. With the decisive battle against the third in the world approaching in a month, there was an added layer of concern.

Yuan Tianfang collapsed to the ground, blood oozing from his facial features, bringing an end to his sinful life

Dugu Ji exclaimed in astonishment

The question is not which individual, but rather which "organization" possesses such significant power within "Xiangyi City" that it can simultaneously suppress both the government and the populace

Long Bufeixiu's reaction to receiving the letter was indeed as he had anticipated; he immediately dashed out of the inn, disregarding the astonished gazes around him, and headed straight for the location mentioned in the letter

Tang Juan, upon witnessing the tragic death of Yuan Tianfang, exclaimed in shock and anger: "You dare to kill Fifth Brother? Long Bufe, we from the 'Underworld' will never let you off easily!"

Tang Juan felt a chill run down her spine at the thought of the cruel methods employed by the Demon Sect to deal with failures, and said, "In order to repay the esteemed Lord of the Manor, then..."

He spent only a few taels of silver to have a servant deliver a letter to Long Bufe, and he had naturally instructed beforehand that his identity must not be revealed. The content of the letter was quite simple; it indicated the secret entrance to the "Underworld" branch. At the end of the letter, the signature was "Break Prison".

Tang Juan, being young, found her attachment to life to outweigh her fear of the rules of the court. After a brief internal struggle, she could not help but say to Du Guji: "Elder... Elder brother, since returning is also a dead end, why don't I... we simply..."

Having spoken, she exerted her strength through her five fingers. Tang Juan let out a mournful groan, blood oozing from the corner of her mouth, and thus she perished.

In this case, even though Long Bufe's injuries have not yet healed, he still possesses the strength to eliminate every person in this branch.

This "accident" caused Jun Tian to be unable to contain his delight, and he quickly associated it with the gathering of masters from the "Underworld" in the city, which must be related to Long Bufei. Even if it is not, the conflict between the foremost hero of the righteous path and the demonic sect is inherently irreconcilable, and coexistence is absolutely impossible

He felt no inner guilt over the death of Yuan Tianfang; those of the demonic sect are heartless and devoid of loyalty, severing all ties with kin, let alone mere brothers bound by verbal oaths.

The Demon Gate organization has always been known for its secrecy, and it has established mechanisms that can destroy all secrets in times of crisis. Jun Tianxie calculated that the combined strength of the members within the branch might not necessarily be a match for Long Bufeiy alone. In the end, the main evil within the branch had no choice but to resort to self-destructive explosives, leading to a mutual destruction with the latter.

Yuan Tianfang's complexion suddenly turned as pale as death, for the owner of that voice was someone he would recognize even in ashes, a person he both feared and hated.

Due to the influence of his upbringing, Jun Tianxie became accustomed to the selfish and unscrupulous practices of the demonic sect from a young age. Tang Juan met her tragic end at the hands of her opponent simply because she could not match the insidiousness of Dugu Ji.

In this case, how could a palm strike devoid of any power possibly withstand Yuan Tianfang's "Wind Rending Tooth Kill"? While everyone believed that Long Bufeifei was merely making a desperate struggle, only Dugu Ji changed color in alarm and shouted, "Old Five! Do not clash with his palm!"

Tang Juan's expression changed several times, and she hesitated to say: "I... I think... Third Brother... should know that I had no choice in doing this."

Dugu Ji replied expressionlessly: "In the face of betrayal, there is only one path—death. If it must be done, let it be by my hand, rather than by the hand of the one you hold dear."

Dugu Ji said resentfully: "However, the other brothers in the branch have sacrificed because of this, and this debt must be accounted to Long Bufe. "

Is it possible that the boss really...?

Such a significant event has occurred, yet not a single official or soldier from the city has come to handle the situation, and there are not even any onlookers to witness the commotion. This is utterly unreasonable

Dugu Ji suddenly felt that his unique blood transformation technique was as if it had been thrown into a void, empty and without any force, with nothing to absorb. Following this, two immense forces twisted his body as if wringing out a wet towel, causing all his internal organs to suffer injury, and he opened his mouth to exclaim, "Wow!"

Jun Tianxie could only think of one answer, "Break the prison"

Tang Juan heard the sounds of the fight above growing more intense and anxiously said: "If it really is Long Bufe, the boss might not be able to handle it alone. We need to hurry up and help!"

As Long Bufeiy opened his mouth, the originally dense and formidable aura suddenly revealed a slight gap. Taking the opportunity, Dugu Ji shouted loudly: "Long Bufeiy has been struck by my 'Blood Transformation Palm'; he is now merely a paper tiger. Lao Wu, Lao Qi, do not let this guy leave alive!" Upon hearing this, Yuan Tianfang cast aside his last shred of hesitation and laughed heartily: "So it was just a show to frighten people! Long Bufeiy, today I will personally dig out the heart of this arch-nemesis hero and feed it to the dogs!"

However, at this moment, the owner of this voice is none other than the genuine "archenemy" Long Bufei

Dugu Ji's eyes shot out an incredibly profound and resentful light, and he said with hatred: "What a magnificent Dragon Step! I, the 'Underworld', vow to never coexist with you!"

Everything is within calculation

Jun Tianxie waited in place for a considerable time, equivalent to half a tea session, before two disheveled "people" finally crawled out of the ruins with great difficulty

Thus, when Jun Tianxie mentioned the name of Long Bufei in "Daoyehua", Yuan Tianfang was so shocked and lost his usual composure. Although it was later proven to be a false alarm, it nonetheless exposed the scar that had long been hidden in his heart, leading him to feel a profound sense of humiliation.

Three years ago, Yuan Tian was committing crimes in the area of "Pingyuan Lake" when he unfortunately encountered Long Bufe. Initially, the former did not regard this so-called top expert of the righteous path, known as the "Nemesis," with any seriousness. However, once they engaged in combat, he realized the truth of the saying, "A person's name, a tree's shadow." Long Bufe's martial arts skills were profound, far beyond his imagination. In just ten moves, Yuan Tian was completely outmatched and was struck in the chest by Long Bufe's palm. Fortunately, he managed to escape with his life just in time.

Yuan Tianfang looked towards the direction of Dugu Ji with a terrified expression, yet he forgot the great taboo of not being distracted during the match. Before the latter could issue a warning, Long Bufeiy had already flashed to Yuan Tianfang's back, delivering a simultaneous strike to his temples with the move "Double Winds Piercing Ears".

Jun Tianxia cursed under his breath: "Fool! After all, it was still said out loud"

After killing Tang Juan, Du Guji used his internal energy to roll the sand and stones on the ground, smashing her corpse into pieces, making it impossible to investigate the original cause of death. Once he had completed all the work to eliminate the evidence, Du Guji, with a black silhouette that evoked ominous associations, plunged into the uncertain distance

Damn you, outsider! Do you think such trivial tricks can bring me, Long, to my demise? You are not worthy of that!

Moreover, by killing Yang Jing under the circumstances of "self-defense," he has formed an irreconcilable deep enmity with the "Underworld." If this is discovered, Jun Tianye will never have a peaceful night again in the future

Yet he did not mention at all how his subordinates and Long Bufei struggled with all their might, while he took the opportunity to ignite the explosives with Tang Juan, resulting in only the two of them escaping the disaster

Before the two could react, Long Bufe's palms moved, and an irresistible force sent them crashing against the wall, rendering them unconscious.

Is there a traitor within the government?

However, that sound did not reach anyone's ears

The deafening sound of an explosion came from behind Jun Tianxie, with sparks and debris flying in all directions, causing significant damage to the surrounding houses and residents. Only Jun Tianxie remained unscathed, having taken refuge behind a barrier in advance.

Tang Juan's delicate face still bore the fear of having narrowly escaped death. She placed her hand on her chest and said, "I never expected that with so many of us working together, we still couldn't match him. It came to the point where the boss had to resort to detonating explosives to perish together. Fortunately, we were able to timely hide in the escape passage."

Why has there been no response for so long? Is everyone dead?

The only possibility that Jun Tianxie could conceive was that someone had already discerned everything happening here, deliberately preventing anyone from approaching, with the aim of ensuring that the "Underworld" and Long Bufeifei would suffer mutual destruction, ideally leading to their complete annihilation.

You have mobilized your forces, is it not to assassinate me, Long? Now I have come to your doorstep voluntarily; let us see what masters from one of the three major powers of the Demon Sect, the 'Underworld', can contend with me, Long!

One can only blame Tang Juan for being too foolish

Ah—! That damn—Long Bufeiyou—!

Long Bufeilian's expression was grave, his lower body completely still, though it was unclear whether he was unwilling to move or simply unable to do so. It was only when Yuan Tianfang's claws were poised to strike at the city that he finally made a move, extending his right palm lightly to meet the ten fingers of his opponent.

Jun Tianxie cursed inwardly, thinking that Dugu Ji was still deceiving Tang Juan until his death

In this way, the influence of the "Underworld" within "Fragrant City" collapsed in just one night, and no one would know that this was merely the scheme of a sixteen-year-old boy

Turning around, I struck back with a palm

What was I thinking? I thought there were bargains to be had, not realizing that I was being used by my own people as a tool to test how much of my strength I had recovered. You foolish and brainless thing, you are not worth mourning!

Tang Juan trembled slightly and said, "Boss... I have... no other choice..."

Turning the hand brings forth clouds, while reversing it brings forth rain

This time we have many people, even the boss is here. Long Bufeifei dares to come and provoke us without knowing the consequences, we will make sure he cannot leave!

Long Bufeiyu's words further solidified Du Guji Xing's determination regarding that "final move". He shouted, "Alright! Seventh Sister, let us go together and avenge Fifth Brother!"

The sound of the impact startled the meditating "Blood Dragon" Dugu Ji, who flew out from his chamber and encountered Long Bufe in the narrow passageway.

It is very good; I have no choice but to do this. I hope you, Seventh Sister, can understand.

Dugu Ji turned his head away, not looking at Tang Juan's face. After pondering for a moment, he said: "You also know how severe the punishment for traitors is in the residence, to the extent that they might even send the third brother to personally hunt you down. Is that acceptable to you?"

Just as the moment arrived, in the instant their palms met, Long Bufeiyou's right palm suddenly accelerated a hundredfold, sinking and flipping with extraordinary skill. He deftly seized Yuan Tianfang's wrist pulse, causing the latter's originally fierce and brutal internal energy to find no outlet for release, ultimately backfiring and harming himself. His arm meridians burst, and blood sprayed out from the capillaries, forming a mist of blood.

Long Bufeis speech struck Yuan Tian with the force of thunder, "Boss, he—? Impossible! But if it were true, Long Bufeis power has not yet recovered, then why doesn't the boss take action himself?

Tang Juan had no time to contemplate the meaning behind Du Guji's words when the latter's actions were already faster than his speech, as he turned around and struck heavily at her dantian with his palm

On Long Bufeina's magnificent and unmatched face, the pallor gradually deepened due to excessive blood loss. Could it be that a great hero of his generation is destined to perish here today

His purpose in extracting Tang Juan's words was merely to find a justification for his own actions