Chapter 139 - Foe?
Abruptly, someone intercepted his assault. Loong Shen's brow furrowed, but upon recognizing the individual, he broke into a smile, remarking, “I had a feeling it was you.” “So, it's you.”
Additionally, he swiftly countered, launching an assault. Amidst a flurry of sparks, blades, and shadows, everyone managed to withstand Loong Shen's aggressive onslaught. Yet, it was evident that it posed a formidable challenge; his tightly furrowed brow betrayed the considerable effort exerted.
“Your skills seem as sharp as ever!” “I half-expected you to grow indolent and rusty during your confinement.” Loong Shen straightened up, brandishing his sword once more, addressing the man with a grin.
He stood before the man, a smile lingering on his lips. Though he refrained from attacking, there was no indication he intended to cease. The man would have fallen victim to Loong Shen's blade had he let out a sigh of relief.
“And yours, your swordsmanship surpasses mine by far. Back when we trained together, I never wielded such lethal prowess.” The man appeared roughly Loong Shen's age, sporting keen eyebrows and starlit eyes. He was not to be underestimated.
“That was in the past.” Loong Shen retained his smile, his sword still poised.
The man grinned. “Indeed. We were merely foot soldiers back then.”
A fleeting sense of melancholy flickered in the man's eyes, swiftly suppressed. He met Loong Shen's gaze and implored, “He's my companion. For my sake, spare him!”
Yet, as soon as the man made his plea, Xiao Rann, positioned behind him, interjected irritably, “Who's friends with you? His name is Shen.” His reluctance to associate with the man was evident.
“I recall his name is Shen Hsing, always in Ying City's shadow, likely a lackey of Ying City, serving a life sentence,” Loong Shen mused.
However, the intervention of Eagle City's men puzzled me. Historically, Eagle City and I have kept our distances, regardless of circumstance.
“Brother Xiao Rann, you wound me deeply!” “Just last month, we were in the same boat!” “Why this sudden reluctance to acknowledge our bond?” Shen Hsing's tone bore a hint of sorrow beneath his smiling fa?ade, devoid of the loneliness he initially conveyed upon encountering Loong Shen.
As Shen Hsing uttered these words, the few disoriented criminals were taken aback.
“Soap retrieval? With whom? Shen Hsing and Xiao Ranno?”
“Huh? Xiao Rann, didn't you claim you had no partner?”
“Brother Ying's subordinate is Xiao Rann's associate?” “What's happening here?”
…
All eyes swiveled towards Xiao Rann collectively, conveying a silent message of “you've concealed this quite skillfully.” The atmosphere swiftly transitioned from the recent peril to one tinged with humor.
Xiao Rann's lips twitched. Shedding his previous airs of arrogance, he fixed his gaze on the smiling Shen Hsing and retorted, “Kid, spare us the subtle remarks. You were merely retrieving the soap for me from the ground.”
Damn, he detested these perpetually smiling types.
Whatever had occurred between Xiao Rann and Shen Hsing in the past remained a mystery. In any case, Xiao Rann wore an expression suggesting his aversion to Shen Hsing, yet it was evident he wasn't willing to confront him.
“Isn't it the same thing!? Why make a fuss?” “Exactly!” Shen Hsing disregarded the irritation flickering in Xiao Rann's eyes. He slung his arm around Xiao Rann's shoulders, only to be promptly shrugged off. “Don't get close to me, keep your distance.”
What was this kid playing at? It mirrored previous encounters. He leaned in unexpectedly, refusing to budge despite objections, and always with that grin.
The more Xiao Rann pondered, the fiercer his anger swelled. Confronting Shen Hsing's gaze, a hint of menace lingered, yet Shen Hsing shamelessly looped an arm around his shoulder, insisting they were not particularly well-acquainted, then exchanged glances with Xiao Rann's lackeys, implying these two harbored ulterior motives.
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