"Stop!" A loud voice shook the bamboo forest as it resounded through the area. "This is a misunderstanding! I am Soaring Tiger Sect's master. My comrades from the seven system-allocated sects, please stop!"
"Our target for gathering in this place is just one person. We did not come here to be your enemies! Please allow us to preserve some dignity…"
His words were slightly effective.
When Soaring Tiger Sect stopped attacking, the people from the four sects also gradually lowered their weapons. They had already left one hundred corpses behind them.
'Let's see what he wants to say…' quite a number of people thought.
Soaring Tiger Sect's master looked at the corpses that lay strewn on the ground, and his heart clenched in pain. He s.u.c.k.e.d in a deep breath, then cast a dark glance at the unfamiliar faces of the elites who remained safe while they withdrew from the crowd.
He wrapped his fist in his palm while he cried out loudly, "Some time ago, we had more than one hundred and eighty brothers who went to clear the royal mausoleum, but in the end, a despicable sc.u.m deliberately set us up, and all of our people died because of Ninja King's clone. I believe that all of you are witnesses…"
The crowd did not say anything.
The thirteen staff-using monks, Ouyang Qing and his group, as well as the people from Emei Sect and Beautiful Robes Faction instantly wore disapproving expressions when they heard his words. They had vaguely understood the meaning behind Soaring Tiger Sect master's words.
When he saw that the situation was not right, the sect master gave up on fighting against the four sects and chose to escape from the disaster while also getting rid of Happy, huh?
When they heard Soaring Tiger Sect's words, they could not help but laugh.
"Who would actually have the ability to do so?"
Thunderous Battle said nothing for a while. He cast Happy a glance and smiled at Little North. "Who else can it be? Do you think there is someone else who can do that?"
"No way."
Little North turned his head around and looked at Happy's face.
Happy smiled faintly. He did not answer, but his gaze when he looked at the source of the voice became colder and more scornful.
'They're letting go of the big fish to capture the small fish, huh. Soaring Tiger Sect master's tactic is good, but unfortunately…'
Soaring Tiger Sect master's voice spoke again. "My friends from the four sects, you can leave without worry!"
He paused for a moment, then the bald sect master walked out of the crowd. His face was filled with killing intent, and his cold gaze landed on Happy. "But this one has to die."
"What a load of bull!"
One Circle glared at him and lifted his greataxe. He was prepared to hit the bald sect master.
The people from the four sects quickly showed their stance on the matter too.
"Ridiculous! You want to let us leave?"
"Hmph!"
"I wonder who's letting go of who now?"
"Boss Happy. With just one sentence from you, we can help you destroy everyone here!" There might not be many people left in Wudang Sect, but they were very fond of Happy, and they admired him a lot as well.
Ouyang Qing even used his qi to mock the bald sect master.
"Soaring Tiger Sect's master, your words are rather ridiculous. You were the one who wanted to kill the people from the six sects. Now that you see that the situation is not right, you intend to retreat? And you want to fight against one person with so many people? I, Ouyang Qing, cannot watch this!"
"That's right! We of the thirteen staff-using monks also want to experience just how strong Soaring Tiger Sect is!"
"We of Emei Sect will fight together with all of you!"
The people from Soaring Tiger Sect said nothing, but their expressions changed.
The expression of Soaring Tiger Sect's master became even more unpleasant. He did not think that things would progress like that.
However, since he had already said those words, he could only grit his teeth and carry on!
His gaze turned cold, and his words became dark. "If that's the case, you've already made your decision to fight with this person and act against Soaring Tiger Sect, huh?!"
Before he finished speaking, the people from Soaring Tiger Sect rallied their forces again. They lifted their weapons while filled with killing intent. Their numbers still gave Soaring Tiger Sect a certain advantage. They could also deliver psychological pressure.
"Thank you, my fellow companions."
At that moment, Happy walked to the empty center, wrapped his fist in his palm, and saluted the people around him. When he spoke, his words reached the ears of everyone in the area.
"Since Soaring Tiger Sect has decided to cause trouble for me, I will not have you take such a risk with me. I will tell you that I can still handle this fight. My companions, I have received your kindness! If there is a chance in the future, I will certainly invite all of you to a drink! But now…" He paused for a moment before his tone changed. "Please take a step back for the time being and give me some space. Weapons have no eyes, and I don't want to hurt any of you."
"Alright!"
When Soaring Tiger Sect's master heard Happy's brave words, he did not give him any chance to change his mind.
"You're a straightforward person! My friends, you heard him! It is now time for Soaring Tiger Sect to fight against him alone, so please, those who are not involved in this matter, do take a step back." As he spoke, he swept his gaze over Little North and Thunderous Battle.
He was very wary of those two people!
If he had to fight against the three at the same time, he might suffer a great loss.
"What are you looking at?!"
Little North widened his eyes, and he decided to be frank with his words when confronting the sect master.
"What's wrong, you managed to force the others away, and you're thinking about making both of us leave too? I say, don't you think that you're too shameless for a sect master?! You're actually thinking about having hundreds of people fight against one person?! What would your dad say if he saw this?! He'd be really disappointed in you!"
"Hmph!"
When he noticed that the four sects had cast him scornful and mocking looks, the expression of Soaring Tiger Sect's master turned very sour.
Right when he was about to give the order to attack, Happy spoke in an airy voice, and his clearly articulated words shocked all the people.
"Little North, Big Brother Thunder, please take a step back as well."
Soaring Tiger Sect's master was stunned speechless.
Before he could put on a delighted face, he heard the powerful swordsman ask Happy in a very calm tone, "Are you really intending to fight alone? It's pretty tiring…"
He did not have a single hint of worry in his voice. Little North also had a slightly disappointed look on his face, which was like an invisible shadow that instantly gripped the sect master's heart.
'What's going on?!'
They had hundreds of people surrounding a few people, so no matter how he looked at it , it was a guaranteed death for the other party, but their words and demeanor showed no signs that the person with the golden light was about to die.
He s.u.c.k.e.d in a sharp breath, but he still retained his composure. Soaring Tiger Sect's master placed his fist in his hand in slight unease and said grimly, "Alright! Your courage is indeed admirable. Regardless of what the result of this battle is, once it is over, we will definitely not come and cause trouble to you again! Please tell us your name!"
"Happy!"
Once he said those two syllables calmly, the area fell silent. The bamboo forest rustled, and a faint breeze caused the blue hero's bandana around Happy's head to flutter.
"As in, H-A-P-P-Y."
Chapter 293 - Return to the Murong Clan
[Horrid Luck! Gang in World of Martial Arts Tries to Rob Sect Killer]
The red, eye-catching headline appeared straigh
t at the first page of the forum in South China Martial Arts Ranking Board. The post contained a battle replay that showed Soaring Tiger Sect master's dazzling bald head and tattoo as well as his livid face while Soaring Tiger Sect members dressed in uniform fled in large groups.
It was B.u.t.t Shaker who narrated the entire process with great emotion.
Soaring Tiger Sect had gathered together a large group of people to lie in wait so that they could rob the people who went into the royal mausoleum, but in the end, they were caught off guard by the four sects' counterattack. Later, the sect master came up with an idea to use the "mysterious man" to escape the situation, but it resulted in Happy's classic act of spelling his name coming into being.
To that, Bum said that "it was clear that Soaring Tiger Sect's master did not check his almanac before he came out today." In the end, the sect master called out a retreat, and that was how the would-be robbers left in misery.
The entire event was narrated by B.u.t.t Shaker in such a manner that it sounded hilarious.
However, the story which had been created as a joke during Beautiful Robes Faction's faction operation for their other faction members so that they could have a laugh, swiftly caught attention. After less than an hour since it was uploaded to World of Martial Arts' official website, it became a hot and sensational topic.
Soaring Tiger Sect, B.u.t.t Shaker, and One Circle became famous.
Happy's fame also rose once more.
Naturally, the official website had not reuploaded the post to their website because of Happy's fame nor because of the epitome of a fight in which the side with fewer numbers won over the side with greater numbers. Instead, they did to expose the royal mausoleum to countless players.
Also, the royal mausoleum was a map in which many players had to work together to clear it. The whole affair was incredibly difficult and challenging, but the drop rate that was even higher than in Fox Cave was extremely enticing.
Besides that, Ninja King and the high-grade puppets that had appeared briefly in the other battle replays also attracted many of the large guilds' attention. Hence, once the map was introduced, those with great talent gathered together for the rare opportunity. Royal mausoleum quickly replaced Fox Cave and became the next most famous spot to farm treasures!
*****
Happy did not join in the fun again, and neither did Beautiful Robes Faction.
While the treasures in the royal mausoleum were very tempting, their trip there had allowed them to truly understand the dangers inside. Ninja King's clone, Ninja King, and the general puppets were simply not monsters they could fight against.
The four sects had stood on the same front, which was the only reason they managed to last until the end without any danger despite all the threats they faced. If the three other sects had not been eliminated, they might have run into a large problem during the second level and had been killed by Ninja King. Hence, Beautiful Robes Faction did not activate the quest to head to the royal mausoleum again.
*****
Happy made best use of his time and returned to Gusu City!
When entered it with his blue robes, he found that the streets and sights had not changed. However, the people there seemed to have forgotten about the young man who had once stood supreme above all in Gusu City—Blue-robed Noble Sword User, the eldest senior brother of the Murong Clan.
Happy smiled faintly. He did not mind that at all.
When he first came to Gusu City, his in-game character was still young. He had gone through his childhood and adolescent years there. Right then, he was already a man who was six-feet tall.
Besides, Gusu City was a place where dressing up in a learned and refined manner was the trend. There were many people who were dressed in blue or green robes. Everyone looked very handsome and elegant. The city gave off the atmosphere of a city of scholars. Because of that, it was only natural that no one recognized him.
"Boss, is this where the Murong Clan is located? Not bad, haha, there're so many beautiful ladies here…"
When Little North walked forward, he would occasionally cast flirtatious glances at the beautiful ladies near him, but all of them just treated him like he was off his rockers. They rolled their eyes and went into the distance, but the kid did not learn from his lesson and had a great time.
Since he was eager to get back, Happy did not waste any energy to entertain Little North. He walked in front and moved through the streets. Soon, he arrived in front of Murong Clan's mansion.
"Wow! It's so stylish!"
When they arrived outside Murong Clan's door, Little North and Thunderous Battle looked up at the same time with shock.
'This is the Murong Clan?!'
"Aside from the disciples, no one else may enter the Murong Clan. Big Brother Thunder, do you mind taking a stroll around the city with Little North first? Once I'm done over here, I'll come to you. How does that sound?"
"Alright!" Thunderous Battle and Little North naturally knew that an aristocratic family was not a normal sect. They had a lot of taboos, and people were not allowed to enter it as they pleased to admire and walk around the place, so he readily agreed to Happy's request.
Once Happy composed himself, he flung the bottom half of his robes and walked into the Murong Clan with his head held high.
There were quite a number of men and women who seemed to be Murong Clan disciples at the door. When they saw an unfamiliar face walk in, they stood where they were and watched. There were even some who frowned before they looked toward the butler, who was commanding a group of outer clan disciples who had just joined the clan to do work.
They had personally witnessed the old butler, who seemed amiable but was actually stern and old-fashioned, throw around a dozen players out to the streets in a day.
The young man whom they had never seen before had entered the Murong Clan very recklessly, so he would probably be unable to escape a tragic fate.
The group smiled and stood around in preparation to witness the butler's Flowing Clouds Sleeve.
However, when the butler looked over, whatever happened next was out of their expectations!
The stern, old-fashioned, and old butler's eyes lit up when he saw the unfamiliar man who walked into the Murong Clan with his head held high. He smiled, which he did almost never, and took the initiative to put down the item he had in his hands before he walked over.
The Murong Clan's inner and outer disciples sensed the abnormality within the old butler. They looked over and sized up the newcomer as they tried to guess his identity.
Once he took two steps forward, Uncle Rong placed his forearm against Happy's before he appeared to Happy's left with flickering shadows. His fingers moved like lightning to seize Happy's shoulder.
The sudden change and the series of swift and dazzling skills made many Murong Clan disciples unable to react.
Whoosh!
What Uncle Rong seized was the afterimage Happy left where he originally stood. Happy smiled faintly and appeared to Uncle Rong's left. He raised his arm and blocked Uncle Rong's lightning fast sweeping blow at the opportune moment.
Thud!
At the same time, he formed his left hand into a claw. He had decided to use Dragon Capture straightaway to seize Uncle Rong's fist, which was hidden under his sleeve. He chuckled and said, "Uncle Rong, it has been a long while! You're still as fit as a fiddle!"
Uncle Rong froze for a moment before a brilliant flash shone in his eyes. An astonishing might instantly spread out from his body, and he easily freed himself from Happy's palm with a lightning-fast punch. He stared at Happy's face and left hand before he let out a faint gasp of surprise.
"Not bad, boy. What skill was that just now?"
"Dragon Capture," Happy answered with a smile.
Happy had decided to reveal his killing move because Uncle Rong was an NPC, his elder as well as his respected teacher who taught him many things. He would not suffer any disadvantages by revealing his strength to him.
; Chapter 294 - Carrots, Rabbits, Fallen Rain
"Dragon Capture, to capture dragons with dexterous hands. Not bad!" When Uncle Rong heard Happy's answer, he stroked his beard and fell into contemplative silence. He nodded and smiled. "Not bad. While you were away from the clan, your martial arts did not fall into decline. You have not let down the lady's hopes."
"With you and the lady teaching me, there is no way I would dare to be negligent."
Then, Happy's tone changed. He looked at Uncle Rong with an awkward expression and said, "But there is something for which I will have to ask you and the lady to punish me."
"Oh? What is it?" Uncle Rong smiled, looking very amiable. His expression left the Murong Clan disciples dumbfounded. They thought that they had to have woken up wrong that day, because the stern, old-fashioned, and old butler was actually being extremely cordial to a player! What exactly was going on?
"Two months ago, the clan asked some of us youngsters to protect the tribute headed to Beijing, but in just a few days, we lost the tribute…"
"Oh, that's a small matter." Uncle Rong shook his head and laughed. "They told me about this once they came back. We of the Murong Clan can still afford to lose something as small as that. Besides, the clan did not put too much hope on you during that time. We just wanted to let you brats go through some trials. As for the dignity we lost? Hmph! You will have to earn it back in the future…"
"I understand, Uncle Rong!" With that, one of Happy's burdens fell off his shoulders.
"Go to the backyard and look for the lady. Once she knows that you're back, she will be happy." Uncle Rong waved his hands and turned around without hesitation. He then barked at a few newbies who stood not too far away from him.
"What are you doing? Are you watering the flowers or trying to drown them, you idiots!
"Why are you standing around like fools! Do you think you're the emperor or something?! Hurry up and go draw water from the well!"
As Uncle Rong rebuked them, the group of newbies instantly wanted to cry. 'Look at the difference in treatment! Look at this bias! It's so unfair!'
Sword Among Us c1-1268 Page 151
