630: A Short Stalemate

A Short Stalemate

"It's both Bai Meng and Yao Lu... and it looks like most of the others have run off", she thought. 

Aside from her, a few others remained, all of them intent on taking the fairy away. There was the hooded figure from before, Zhan Jun of the Penumbra Merchants, and several others. At Ming Yue's level of cultivation, she knew where they all were. 

"There are most likely multiple exits so perhaps, this is a good time to kill them all."

With a plan in mind, she made her move, looking at Zhan Jun. 

"Aughh, we can't leave like this! We have a deal to fulfill! We must get that fairy at all costs, now go!" 

Within his private room, Zhan Jun called for his guards to join the fight whilst he cowered behind the furniture. After all, he was a merchant, not a fighter and despite his sad appearance, the guards did as he told them to. 

As they left him alone, he peeked out from his hiding spot, watching the fight. 

Both Bai Meng and Yao Lu were at each other's throats, fighting to kill one another. The cracking of the whip echoed through the arena as she made it nearly impossible for him to get close. But this was just the start, none of them were using their full strength just yet. 

Even then, the thin merchant couldn't help but be filled with glee. 

"My guards should be surrounding them soon enough. They might not be as strong as them but I doubt those two are going to be working with each other so quickly.", he thought, "Heh, if those two fight each other to exhaustion, I'll be the one to gain everything."

The plan was set for him, he just had to wait and watch for everything to unfold. 

However, he furrowed his brows, peeking out even further as he tried to get a better view of the stage. 

"Where are they? Where are my guards?" he muttered to himself. 

There were over a dozen of them and yet, no sign of any of them. He could only see Bai Meng and Yao Lu fighting it out in the crumbling arena. 

"This is..."

An ominous feeling crept up his spine as the merchant leader felt that something was amiss. He suddenly turned to flee, leaving the private room as quickly as he could. It wasn't safe here, that was obvious. 

But as he placed a hand on the door and pulled it open, an arrow suddenly pierced it, thrusting straight into his chest. 

"Urgh." 

He groaned, looking down at the arrow as a hand came and pulled it out, leaving through the hole it made. Zhan Jun leaned forward, trying to support himself on the door, still trying to leave this place. Pulling it open, he fell down to the floor as his strength left him. Blood pooled around his body as he looked out into the corridors.

His eyes widened in shock as he saw the bodies of his guards on the ground, blood was splattered all throughout the walls. 

"No, my guards... who would do this?" 

Gasping for air, his eyes darted around before landing on a shadow of a figure he did not recognize.

"Who is that?" 

All he saw was a hooded figure wielding a black bow in their hands. Unfortunately, he died before he could see their face. As for the hooded figure, they looked back at Zhan Jun before scoffing and leaving without a trace. 

Moments later, someone else arrived. 

"What? Someone was here before me?" 

None other than Ming Yue, she walked into the corridor, seeing the dead bodies scattered throughout it. There was a bit of surprise on her face as she turned around, looking in the path that led to the stage. 

"That hooded person... it must be them..." she thought, "But who could it be?" 

There were only so many people that Ming Yue knew. But soon enough, an idea soon dawned on her. 

"Someone who uses a bow and is in Red Lotus Country... Xuan Yin?" 

Thinking of her old friend, it seemed possible. After all, only those two had come into close contact with the Fairies of the Nuwa Clan. And if that weren't enough, the both of them had been to the Forgelord's workshop and had seen the chestplate from before. 

"It has to be her, who else could it be? But if she is here, why? Is it because of the fairy?" she wondered. 

"Mm, there isn't enough time to think, I'll find out one way or another."

Knowing this, Ming Yue left the area, no longer caring about what was left of the Penumbra Merchants. Instead, she flew out into the arena where the battle had come to a still. 

It was no longer just Bai Meng and Yao Lu but several others, all of whom glanced on both sides, waiting for one of them to make a move. The hooded figure was there as well, readying an arrow on their bow. 

None of them noticed Ming Yue, who watched from a distance away. 

"So then, I'm guessing that there are a few people who aren't afraid of my name."

Yao Lu narrowed his eyes and he looked at them. Rather than grinning, there was a frown on his face, not expecting things to get complicated. 

"Why would I be afraid of a clown like you? Do you think that a member of the Phantom Mountain Group would fear you?" 

The one responding to him was Zhi Xun along with the other three members of their group. All four of them had their weapons out, waiting to strike. 

"The Phantom Mountain Group? Do you think you four have a chance at all? This bitch, Bai Meng, has better odds than you."

Yao Lu sneered at them, pointing his axe towards them. 

"Shut it you clown, what makes you so sure that I'll lose to you? I've yet to reveal all of my cards." 

Bai Meng glared at him, cracking her whip once more. Even then, he just laughed out loud.

"Do you think that matters? The auction is just a taste of what is going to happen, I've practically rigged the entire valley to collapse on itself! What plans do you have that not even the destruction of Mist Valley can stop?" he revealed. 

Her glare only grew fiercer as she heard what he said.

"You wouldn't dare." 

He met her glare with a playful look of his own. 

"As I said before, if I can't have it, no one can." 

With such a warning, the others looked at each other, not knowing whether he was bluffing or not. Nevertheless, someone made a move. 

"Heh, so be it."

Pointing their bow upwards, the hooded figure revealed themselves as they raised their arms, looking in the direction of Yao Lu. As they did, Ming Yue recognized her immediately.

"I was right! Xuan Yin!" 

But before she could do anything, the archer let an arrow loose, shooting it right into the very center of the ceiling. It was a single arrow, embedding itself into the cracks but doing not much else. 

Everyone else just looked at her incredulously before Yao Lu just laughed at her. 

"Are you a fool? What is a single arrow going to do?" he asked. 

Xuan Yin just chuckled before saying one word.

"Burst."

The arrow suddenly erupted and the arena began to collapse! Its destruction was inevitable. Everyone looked up before running, evading the incoming debris. However, Yao Lu still ran for the caged fairy but another arrow came, grazing his arm. 

Xuan Yin rushed after him, doing her utmost to take the fairy away from him. Gritting her teeth, she tried to catch up to him, shooting one arrow after another but she was too far away. She wasn't going to make it. 

But Ming Yue could.1

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