Obtaining Top Art on Family's Extermination Night

Chapter 342: Chapter 174: Falling into the Trap, Part 2

’I lost the other half when he kicked me...’

’What kind of sword was that? So bizarre.

’And that man is just as bizarre... I can’t figure him out no matter how I think about it.

’But since he let me go, he probably isn’t the one who murdered the villagers.

’He said the person who came to us for help is the real killer...’

As this thought crossed Tang Lie’s mind, he suddenly slapped his thigh.

’Oh no! Doesn’t that mean my martial brothers are in grave danger?!’

At this thought, he could no longer spare a moment to consider whether Fang Shuwen was good or evil. He took a great stride, about to depart.

But as he took that step, he suddenly froze.

He saw a figure hiding behind a tree.

The person’s hiding spot was extremely well concealed. Tang Lie hadn’t noticed him at first. It wasn’t until he started to move and felt a thick wave of killing intent that he realized someone was lying in ambush.

"Fang Shuwen?!"

Tang Lie barked,

"So you weren’t going to let me go after all!!"

A sneer came from behind the tree, and then a man in a conical hat, cradling a single-edged saber, stepped out.

Tang Lie’s eyes widened.

"Who are you?"

"You don’t need to worry about who I am, nor do you need to worry about your martial brothers."

The man in the conical hat said with a chuckle,

"They won’t be in any danger, because they are all witnesses."

"Witnesses?"

Tang Lie was taken aback.

"Witnesses to what?"

"Witnesses to how Fang Shuwen massacred the villagers, and how Tang Lie of the Huiwu Sect bravely risked his life to apprehend the culprit, only to be... beaten to death by the Demon Evil God."

The man in the conical hat said with a smile,

"What do you think?"

"..."

In that instant, even someone as slow-witted as Tang Lie finally understood completely.

"It wasn’t Fang Shuwen who massacred the villagers... it was you!"

"So you’re not completely clueless after all."

The man in the conical hat chuckled.

"I just assumed that, given Fang Shuwen’s temper, you would’ve been a dead man the moment you attacked him.

"But you actually walked out of that village alive... I’m a curious person by nature. Could you tell me, did you not dare to attack him?"

"...You’ve been watching this whole time. Didn’t you see what happened?"

Beads of sweat appeared on Tang Lie’s forehead. Although the man in the conical hat had been speaking cheerfully since his appearance,

a sense of danger was growing relentlessly in Tang Lie’s heart. He felt that the man standing before him was like a venomous snake.

A cold, sinister aura coiled around his spine, winding its way up, as if it would eventually sink its fangs viciously into his neck.

This feeling was completely different from the overt killing intent Fang Shuwen radiated.

Fang Shuwen gave the impression of someone who acted overtly. When he killed, he did so openly and honorably, with nothing dark or sneaky about it.

He was a complete contrast to the man standing before him now.

The man in the conical hat sighed at his words.

"Oh, I was watching, but I didn’t dare get too close.

"You have to understand, that’s *Fang Shuwen* we’re talking about!

"In the entire Jianghu, how many people would dare to get close to a man like that?

"You’d be discovered, dragged out, and beaten to death."

"If you’re so afraid of him, why do you dare to plot against him?"

As he spoke, Tang Lie covertly scanned his surroundings. He had to find a way to escape, but unfortunately, the man’s presence had him completely locked down, leaving no chance to flee.

"As they say, fortune favors the bold."

The man in the conical hat said with a smile,

"Besides, I’m hardly the only one who’s afraid of him, am I?

"More than half the people in the Northern Domain Martial World are afraid of him, and the other half both hate and fear him.

"But it’s for that very reason that his conflict with the Northern Domain will be irreconcilable at the Celestial Martial Grand Assembly."

"Say something I can understand."

’Tang Lie really struggled to understand the convoluted way these people thought.’

’They never spoke plainly, always trading barbs and speaking in riddles.

’If they’re so good at being obscure, they should go debate sutras with monks. What are they doing mucking about in the Jianghu?’

"Fine, fine."

The man in the conical hat burst into laughter.

"Then let me put it in terms you can understand. I’m going to beat you to death and then make it look like Fang Shuwen was the one who did it.

"That way, Fang Shuwen will be like a man with mud in his trousers—even if it’s not shit, everyone will say it is."

Tang Lie’s expression changed. The man’s malicious intent was no longer hidden. He couldn’t waste time looking for an opening, nor could he afford to delay. He pushed off his feet and turned to run.

He wanted to run back toward the village. If he could just get close enough for Fang Shuwen to notice, he might be able to save his life.

However, he had underestimated the man in the conical hat. The man’s Lightweight Technique was far superior to his own.

In the time it took him to simply turn around, the man in the conical hat, who should have been behind him, was now standing in front of him.

The man rolled his shoulders lightly and clenched his fists.

"I’m used to using a saber, but there’s no helping it. Fang Shuwen uses his fists and feet, so... you’ll have to bear with me."

Suddenly, Tang Lie’s eyes shot wide, and he stared at the space behind the man.

"Fang... Fang... Fang Shuwen!!"

The man in the conical hat roared with laughter.

"You may not have much of a brain, but you do have some quick wits.

"But how could Fang Shuwen possibly be here?

"Stop with the petty tricks. I’ll make it quick for you."

"Think so?"

The two simple, unremarkable words instantly registered in his ears.

The man’s laughter died abruptly. It wasn’t just the voice—a hand was now resting on his shoulder.

’It’s Fang Shuwen!’

Without a second thought, the man’s footwork changed. In an instant, his figure flickered like dust in the wind, at once real and illusory.

"Interesting."

Fang Shuwen’s voice was still calm, but the man in the conical hat let out a bloodcurdling scream.