However, after Barren Murderer was attacked by Dragon Hides in Pool, it was impossible for him to recover within a short period of time. His qi was in chaos, and his organs were damaged. He also did not have a quiet place to regain his strength.
When the area suddenly became quiet and the zither notes vanished, Barren Murderer, who had been busy executing Undying King of Abyss Art to circulate his qi and heal his injuries swiftly opened his eyes.
What he saw in front of him was the face of a cold man who had half his face covered by an incomplete silver metallic mask.
"Vice Hall Master Barren."
Barren Murderer s.u.c.k.e.d in a deep breath and gritted his teeth. "Silver, I will definitely return the 'kindness' you did to me today one hundred fold!"
It was as expected of one of the three monsters of Class One Hall. Even when he was forced into a corner, he did not forget to make himself look murderous and ferocious.
Silver Wolf was like an iron tower. He looked down at Barren Murder, who lay on the ground unmoving and in a pathetic manner. He did not say anything, but raised his hand. His right palm quickly turned red in front of Barren Murderer's eyes as if it was lit on flames.
All martial arts' power was reduced once they lost the support of qi. Silver Wolf used his Red Flame Palm to evaporate qi and reduced Barren Murderer from his half black and half white state back to a normal person. Then, he easily killed him.
At that moment, Happy was still on the roof, sweeping the clouds and wind. His attacks and the dragon roars allowed him to fight fiercely against A'da and A'er, who were two Inaction Realm martial artists.
When Happy saw that Silver Wolf and Wind Chimes had ended their fight, he forced the two great fighters back without hesitation and shouted loudly, "Let's go!"
Silver Wolf and Wind Chimes quickly packed up their things and, without another word, jumped up to charge toward the city gate.
Killing people inside the city would definitely bring imperial court after them. If they did not leave right away, then when the elites from Beijing came to attack, they would not be able to fight back even if they chose to stand together!
Aside from the Four Divine Constables from Six Doors, the Azure Dragon Commander, White Tiger Commander, Vermillion Bird Commander, and Black Tortoise Commander from Embroidered Uniform Guards, along with the eunuchs from Eastern and Western Depot, who had perfected Sunflower Manual, there were also many elites in the palace. If any of them came, the group would suffer heavy consequences.
Happy tapped against the ground, and he, Silver Wolf, and Wind Chimes, along with Thick Sword and Iron Sword, who protected her in the dark, quickly met up with each other. The five people rushed to the city gate beneath the city guards' arrows.
Boom!
Happy threw a full-powered punch. The howling great dragon violently pushed aside the soldiers at the city gate and sent the people off their feet.
Wind Chimes followed closely behind him with a slightly pale. She had one hand on the zither while the other plucked the strings. Dense waves of sound blades spread out like raindrops.
Boom!
The countless archers at the city gate did not even have the chance to attack because of the sound blades. They cried out in pain and were cut down to pieces by soundless sound blades.
The group rushed out of the heavy encirclement without any danger and went out of Beijing.
Under countless players and city guards' gazes, the group swiftly vanished from everyone's sight, even that of A'da and A'er.
*****
Dream Clouds and Blood Robes had incredibly dark and sour looks. When they found Barren Murderer's corpse, Dream Clouds discreetly hid her fists—her knuckles were white from how tightly she clenched them—in her sleeves. She then raised her chin and looked around her with a fierce gaze.
There were many players who had stayed in the area to watch the scene, and all of them put away their pleased looks because of Class One Hall's misfortune. They hastily avoided Dream Clouds' eyes.
In their eyes, Beijing's city was a safe zone, and it was fine even if they offended someone, but not too long ago, Happy used the truth to teach them a lesson.
Even if they were in the city that was governed by the emperor himself, they might not be safe.
More than one thousand people had been killed, but Happy, Zhou Zhiruo, Silver Wolf, and Wind Chimes left safely under the city guards and Embroidered Uniform Guards' eyes. If anyone showed their delight over Class One Hall's disaster right then, who knew whether Dream Clouds would vent her anger on them.
"How many of our own died?" Dream Clouds' tone was cold and stiff.
Blood Robes did not speak. The person who answered was a Class One Hall member who survived by a stroke of luck. He had a sour look, and his expression was slightly complicated.
"We sacrificed more than nine hundred of our people. Actually, nearly half of them died in Happy's hands. The others as well as Vice Hall Master Barren died in Silver Wolf and Wind Chimes' hands."
"Silver Mask Duke and Demonic Sound Duchess…" Dream Clouds' eyes shone with a cold glare. "Very well…"
"Vice hall master, Happy and the rest are not too far away right now."
That one sentence from the person who spoke caused Dream Clouds and Blood Robes eyebrows to twitch at the same time.
"Got it." Dream Clouds' expression was not very good.
Blood Robes found an excuse to send that person away, then he turned to Dream Clouds. "If Barren Murderer had not attacked, even if our reputation was tarnished slightly, we wouldn't have reached this state."
Dream Clouds remained silent. She knew exactly what Blood Robes wanted to say.
Barren Murderer had taken unauthorized action and sent people to intercept Happy, but in the end, he did not manage to kill him and just died himself, along with nearly one thousand of their people. Even though Barren Murderer and the one thousand members' deaths were not fatal to Class One Hall, who had sixty thousand elites, it was Beijing, and it was the core of Class One Hall's strength.
With this sort of thing happening in their backyard, it was the same as Happy slapping them in their faces.
If they did not handle the aftermath well, the event would deal a huge blow to Class One Hall's reputation, and it would be a hindrance toward their future development.
Before, if someone mentioned that Class One Hall was the largest sect in World of Martial Arts, nine out of ten people who heard it would believe it. But in the future, if someone mentioned it again, nine out of ten people would mention what had happened in Beijing!
"Since they killed people in Beijing, Embroidered Uniform Guards and the people from Six Doors will definitely take action. Ruyang Mansion and the Eighth Prince might also send assassins. Langye knows the imperial court the most. Have him search for information.
"While they still haven't left Changjiang to head north, we must kill one or two of them. Even if we can't kill Happy, it'll be good if we can kill Silver Wolf or Wind Chimes. No matter what, this time, we have to launch a full-scale attack regardless of the cost!" Dream Clouds said firmly.
Blood Robes nodded and quickly released messenger pigeons.
But what Blood Robes and Dream Clouds did not expect was that Langye would reject Class One Hall's request in his reply. In fact, he used the fact that Happy had been able to invade Beijing and escape from it with his life intact as a reason for why he did not want to provoke him. Also, he needed to rethink the matter about him forming an alliance with Class One Hall.
Happy's actions had destroyed Langye's overconfidence toward Sky Penetrating Tower. For the first time, he understood that the golden brand of the three young masters of Beijing was not that solid of a shield.
Chapter 498 - One Emperor’s Secret?
Bad news travels faster than good news.
The deaths of Vice Hall Master Barren Murderer and one thousand Class One Hall members while they tried to kill Happy in their nest, along with the news of Happy leaving with Silv
er Wolf and Wind Chimes swiftly spread through World of Martial Arts.
Class One Hall's reputation fell.
What left people even more stunned, however, was that more than one thousand people of Class One Hall died at a ferry that was less than thirty miles south of Beijing.
Happy had not attacked even once in that fight.
Wind Chimes relied on her demonic zither whose sounds spread through the ferry! The agitated zither sounds came at the people with the force of an avalanche. Sound blades and water blades met up together to become a God of Death that harvested lives. Wind Chimes completely controlled the entire battlefield.
As for Silver Wolf, he created the legend of Red Flame Palm on the water. The people from Class One Hall got to find out what it meant to be surrounded by ice and fire at the same time.
After that battle, the trio did not feel any sense of urgency and leisurely went into the closest city. There, at the speed of lightning, they destroyed a Class One Hall branch. They even left behind a letter.
[If you bother us again, we'll destroy another one of your branches!]
It was a pity for Class One Hall. They had attacked for the sake of their reputation, but not only did they fail in their attack, their whole foundation was shaken.
Countless people who played World of Martial Arts talked about it on the forums of the official websites!
When Happy, Silver Wolf, and Wind Chimes worked together, who could possibly fight against them? Wind Chimes could sweep through the entire battlefield with her demonic zither, while Silver Wolf and Happy were top-class players with great skills.
Silver Wolf was incredibly great at fighting, and his Red Flame Palm had the amazing function of evaporating the enemy's qi, while Happy was a symbol of the top-class fighters in World of Martial Arts. Regardless of whether Class One Hall wanted to mobilize all their forces to kill them or to send their elites for revenge, it was impossible for them to succeed.
If they really made the three angry, the trio would attack everything along the way, and the forces of power that Class One Hall had set up to the north of Changjiang as well as the territory they took over there might experience a very devastating purge.
Of course, that was just rumors among the players.
After the trio left Beijing, they headed south. Even though they were relaxed, they did not travel at a leisurely pace, as if they were on a holiday.
Wherever the trio went on their horses, they attracted a lot of gazes from other players.
Happy was still dressed in normal robes and had a Bamboo Hat over his head, which was the typical getup for a martial artist. Silver Wolf did not change his silver mask covering his face, and he looked as cold as ever.
Wind Chimes had her demonic zither placed horizontally on the back of her horse. She looked as if she was prepared to attack her enemies at any moment. Her eagerness was not hidden at all.
"I've played this game for so long, but today is the most I've enjoyed myself! It was so exciting!" Wind Chimes' excitement had still not vanished. She talked nonstop on her horse. "I heard that no one has dared to kill people in Beijing before. When they did so, they were captured by patrolling city guards and brought to justice. I didn't expect that we'd be alright even after we killed so many people. We actually managed to escape!"
"Those people were not strong enough. You should be careful in the future when you walk in cities," Happy explained carefully.
If anyone said that another would need to be careful in cities, they would definitely be criticized, but when those words came from Happy's mouth, it sounded much more convincing. Wind Chimes had an expression that said she believed him and Silver Wolf also nodded quietly.
"By the way, I believe that Dream Clouds should have sensed our determination after we destroyed a Class One Hall branch as a warning. She should not take the risk to send anyone to attack us now."
Silver Wolf might have been talking to Happy, but he did cast a sidelong glance at Wind Chimes with worry. "Wind Chimes, since we have nothing else to do right now, it's best that you put away your zither and casket. They're too eye-catching."
"But what if the people from Class One Hall find us? Those who don't know about it might actually think that we're cowards," Wind Chimes answered boldly.
She was an honest person, and she did not hide her d.e.s.i.r.e for the people from Class One Hall to chase her so that she could fight to her heart's content again.
Happy and Silver Wolf smiled wanly at each other, feeling a little resigned.
'This girl might seem weak, but there's a violent streak hidden in her that doesn't lose to a man's. It's no wonder then that she inherited Six-fingered Demonic Zither's legacy. She's basically a mini witch. Oh well.'
The two men did not have the energy to persuade Wind Chimes. It was just as she said. When they moved together, Class One Hall did not have the ability to successfully attack them, unless Dream Clouds, Blood Robes, and Zhou Yu came themselves, were able to gather up all the people from Class One Hall on a short notice, and were prepared to sacrifice two thousand or more people, including Dream Clouds, Blood Robes, and Zhou Yu themselves.
Happy believed that Dream Clouds would not stake everything to do something so crazy that will reward her with so little.
Happy was unlike the people from Chivalry Sect. There were a few sacred medicines in the main storage within Mu Clan, and if they really decided to fight to the death, not only would Class One Hall not be able to kill him, they would also bring about their own end.
When Wind Chimes saw that the duo kept silent, she could not help but search for a topic. "By the way, Big Brother Happy, Big Brother Silver Wolf, if we form a party in the future, do you think that we'll be invincible?"
"You stupid girl, stop putting yourself on a pedestal. Happy is already invincible even if he's not with us."
Silver Wolf was very familiar with Wind Chimes. He knew that she was a lively girl who was not petty, and he was not worried that she would be affected by his words.
"That's right. Big Brother Happy still hasn't lost once. Even those in Inaction Realm can't do anything to you. You've long since become invincible."
When Happy heard her words, he could not help but think a certain back belonging to a certain person who gave him a lot of pressure. When he remembered his promise to that person, he was unable to control himself but feel solemn.
"Invincible, heh…" Happy scoffed in a self-deprecating manner before he slowly closed his eyes. "There are still plenty of elites in the world."
Silver Wolf instantly noticed that Happy's mood had changed. He frowned slightly and soon came to a realization.
"I wonder if even the three of us would be able to defeat One Emperor…"
When Happy said those words, Silver Wolf and Wind Chimes tugged the reins of their horses at the same time. Shock as well as puzzlement appeared on their faces.
Silver Wolf reacted very quickly, and his tone instantly became grave. "You met One Emperor?"
Wind Chimes' eyes went wide until they looked like saucers. They spoke of her inability to believe what she had heard.
She thought Happy was the strongest person in the game, and there was no one else who could stand up to him. Her impression had been further strengthened after the battle in Beijing, because she had personally witnessed Happy charging into Ruyang Mansion and saving Zhou Zhiruo from four great martial artists to escape Beijing.
"Silver Wolf, do you still remember saying that people who have fighting skills in real life will have a great advantage in the game compared to normal people like me?"
When Silver Wolf noticed the grave and serious expression on Happy's face, he slowly and somberly nodded. "That's right, aside from those who know some close-quarters combat skills like us who came from special forces, there are also those who are martial artists in real life. They're the same as us.
"There are also top-class mercenaries who wander about the land. They know about the vital parts of a human body much mor
e clearly than a normal person, and their fighting instincts are also stronger.
"I don't know which category One Emperor belongs to, but if you think that you and I can't win against him even after we work together, then he should be in the second category!"
Silver Wolf sighed in a serious manner. "This sort of person doesn't lack money, and it fits One Emperor's situation. It explains why he wouldn't join any organization or get close to anyone during the start of the game."
Chapter 499 - Going up Shaolin Temple Again
"When you put it that way, it's logical. But you mentioned that One Emperor is one of the top-class mercenaries, and that top-class mercenaries are much stronger than the current martial artists. Why did you say so?
"I've seen those who really know how to fight. Even though they aren't the strongest, I've seen top-class mercenaries you mentioned, and I've even fought against them before."
Wind Chimes, who originally liked talking nonstop, did not say a word and just listened to Silver Wolf and Happy's conversation. Her sparkling eyes were wide as they stared at the two men without blinking.
She did not expect that the duo would have such a deep understanding of the game. She also did not expect that Silver Wolf, who was a man of few words and very cold, would be a very powerful person.
But just when she reached the peak of her excitement from the conversation, Silver Wolf turned his head around and cast her a glance. He swiftly stopped speaking and looked forward again. "There are some matters that will be better if I talk to you personally about them. If word gets out, it'll be very troublesome."
Happy nodded.
But when the duo showed great understanding toward each other and stopped talking, Wind Chimes got worked up, because she was engrossed in the topic.
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