A Good-for-Nothing

226. Hoist by His Own Petard (II)

Translator: Dragon Rider

Without any verbal communication, He Zheng and Chen Qianlin simultaneously wielded their swords. For the first time, the sword-light of the Sharpness Sword blended with that of the Shadow Sword, but as though acting on their own will, they each turned into a couple of beams of light and criss-crossed one another, forming a giant net which netted the black gas.

“Out!” Zhao Fei boomed and with that the thunderbolts that the Quadruple Orientation Mirror had taken in were unleashed, entwining themselves with the sword-light of the Sharpness Sword and the Shadow Sword. He Zheng and Chen Qianlin exchanged glances and then wielded their swords at the same time, directing mixture of sword-light and lightning at the target. Sensing danger, Wu Fangshuo who was now in the form of a cloud of black gas, immediately tried to make his escape, but it was already too late. The demon-binding circle was not meant to rid him of demonic Qi but to lock him up in an enclosed space.

They could vaguely distinguish Wu Fangshuo’s face in that cloud of black gas. He was roaring constantly. A flash of sword-light intertwined with lightning shot at him and instantly halved Wu Fangshuo’s face made of black gas. He let out an anguished cry and the black gas turned into a handsome young man. It was the soul of Jiang Shuanglin who had died not long ago.

After another sword strike, Jiang Shuanglin’s face conjured from black gas disappeared completely amid glaring lightning.

“SHIT!” stormed the black gas furiously.

From the black gas emerged a number of faces of different people: crafty-looking middle-aged men, bright-eyed kids, unsophisticated girls, and plain-looking middle-aged women. Dozens of souls that had been harnessed by Wu Fangshuo turned into black gas. There was no telling how many people Wu Fangshuo had killed since his degeneration.

Plumes of black gas were dashing against every inch of the inside of the demon-binding formation, but no matter how hard they tried impacted on it, they were unable to break out of it, as though they were trapped in a circle. They were roaring hysterically, seeming to still have part of their own consciousness left. He Zheng and all the others heard their cries for help which dripped bitterness, resentment and hatred.

Such roars, if heard by weak-willed people, would instantly reduce them to vomiting blood.

He Zheng and Chen Qianlin were the closest to them. In these circumstances, both of them were not in very good state, blood flowing from the corners of He Zheng’s mouth, as if the roars were causing them physical damage.

“Shut your stupid mouths!” snarled He Zheng sourly.

“Let’s make this quick.” He Zheng and Chen Qianlin exchanged looks and immediately understood each other.

He Zheng wiped the blood from the corners of his mouth and with that the two of them started brandishing their swords rapidly. The ferocious demonic Qi and the souls of its victims, as though having come to know what the two of them were going to do, yelled even more shrilly and desperately, and started dashing against the demon-binding formation more violently, too.

It’d never occurred to Zu Zhichong that Wu Fangshuo had this in him. He had been maintaining the demon-binding formation all along. A drop of cold sweat slid down from his forehead.

He Zheng and Chen Qianlin were cooperating with each other. With every sword slash, a thunderbolt struck a soul which then dissipated. Even cultivators couldn’t survive these thunderbolts, let alone these souls that had been harnessed by demonic Qi.

Under the concerted attack of him and Chen Qianlin, the cloud of demonic Qi became smaller and smaller. Eventually, it formed a human figure. The black gas was still trying to retain control of Wu Fangshuo’s body.

“WU FANGSHUO! WAKE UP!” stormed He Zheng, dealing the final blow to the target. The sword was swung straight at the dwindling demonic Qi. In that instant, all the lightning the mirror contained was unleashed and hit that cloud of black gas squarely in the middle.

A shriek of despair was heard, which was so piercing that it almost broke the eardrums of everybody present. After the lightning disappeared, the dark clouds dispersed and the sky returned to normal. He Zheng leaned on his sword to keep from falling, panting heavily.

The last plume of black gas lifted and with that Wu Fangshuo fell to the ground like a log.

His eyes had regained its usual clarity, but he was uncontrollably spitting out blood one mouthful after another. After resting for merely a second or two, He Zheng quickly ran up to Wu Fangshuo and pulled him to his feet.

The demonic Qi had been destroyed. This time around, the Human Devil had really been eliminated thoroughly.

Having been rid of the Human Devil’s possession, Wu Fangshuo managed to recover his consciousness.

“Wu Fangshuo, are you okay?” He Zheng watched Wu Fangshuo vomiting blood profusely, dumbfounded.

“I’m so–sorry… He Zheng… I failed you.” The half of Wu Fangshuo’s face that used to be covered with black veins had returned to normal, regret and shock washing over his ordinary face.

“Stop talking!” He Zheng’s eyes felt somewhat hot. He’d never had this kind of feeling before, having to watch his companion die right in front of him.

“I… deserve this. I have only myself to blame… I should’ve…(Cough)… died some time ago.” Pasty-faced, Wu Fangshuo forced a smile at them.

Even Chen Qianlin was saddened by the sight of this scene.

“After my return from the Mi–Millenary Islands Lake, I fe–fell prey to demonic Qi… (Cough)… I went to Coastal City and killed a man named Feng Ma… (Cough)… I searched his memories and… and found that the entertainment firm he worked for was recru–recruiting young trainees…” Wu Fangshuo’s voice was very feeble, but he still struggled to hold He Zheng’s hand, his clear eyes full of guilt. “Te–Tell Supt. Li that… that someone has been providing… providing food for a very powerful demon in Coa–Coastal City.

Tho–Those young people were sent there to be his food. Pre–Previously, Feng Ma hoodwinked them into going somewhere… on the pretext of secret training…”

Wu Fangshuo’s breathing was getting weaker and weaker. With a faint smile at the corners of his mouth, he said, “I’m sorry… I can no longer fight… by your side.”

After this remark, Wu Fangshuo’s voice trailed away to nothing, his hands limply hanging down, his whole body motionless.