888 A Voice (1/2)

Gu Shenwei had to constantly remind himself that there were two people standing in front of him. Apart from Wild Horse, there was also a disciple of the Essence Pavilion hiding somewhere. This was supposed to be a very simple thing to discover, but it was not that simple when he was actually doing it.

Besides the fact that he never opened his mouth, both Wild Horse's movements and expressions were perfectly synchronized with the words being said. Like a legendary ventriloquist, he didn't need anybody else's help at all. After seeing Wild Horse ”talk,”

most people would be involuntarily affected and believe that there was only one person even if they knew very well that Wild Horse was mute.

Shangguan Hong, for one, lost his composure, and stared fixedly at Wild Horse as if he were trying to find out whether he had been stealthily opening his mouth.

”Defeat him. Then you can get start the third task and have a kung fu competition with me,” that voice said.

Gu Shenwei snorted and put the Five Peaks Saber away. ”Sorry. I thought that the third task would be something more challenging. I didn't expect that my opponent would be someone I have already defeated – more than once at that too.”

Wild Horse was no longer the killer with excellent leadership skills that Gu Shenwei remembered. Now, he looked more like a disciple of the Essence Pavilion. His face was stiff and he didn't react to Gu Shenwei's sneer or provocation at all, ”The one you defeated was Wild Horse, but I'm Immortal Peng.”

”Yet another Immortal Peng. I've never heard of a ghost's tongue and body being separated after the ghost reincarnates,” Gu Shenwei said in a more contemptuous tone. ”To be honest, I really feel a little bored with the fact that I have to kill an Immortal Peng every few years. Why don't you two choose another name?”

Shangguan Hong nodded more excitedly and moved closer to the Dragon King. He didn't like Wild Horse or Immortal Peng. The disciples of the Waning Moon Hall were just a little crazy, and their mind was, at its core, not too different from that of normal people. But the disciples of the Essence Pavilion were like devils who lived deep in the mountains. Their presence along was blood-curdling, and it had nothing to do with their behavior or words.

”You should rename yourself 'Bastard.'” Shangguan Hong was as mean as an ignorant teenager who dared to behave boldly under his parents' tacit approval. He didn't noticed that he was greatly enjoying the Dragon King's protection. ” Golden Roc Castle, Old Man Mu, the Waning Moon Hall, the Essence Pavilion – how many masters have you served? You don't even remember your surname, do you? Oh, you've never known what your surname is. And you don't even know what your parents look like.”

”My name is Immortal Peng,” that voice repeated dully. Shangguan Hong's sarcastic words also failed to work.

Gu Shenwei still shook his head. His hands weren't even holding his sword hilt anymore. ”It doesn't matter what your name is. Regardless of if it's Wild Horse or Immortal Peng, you're not qualified to be the third task. If you want to have a kung fu competition with me, then you'll also have to prove your strength.”

That voice fell silent, as if that person felt that the Dragon King's words were very reasonable.

But Shangguan Hong became uneasy. He would rather have a kung fu competition with the Dragon King than fight Wild Horse, who was like a zombie. But he was seldom struck by a flash of inspiration, so he had no choice but to pray that that misfortune wouldn't happen to him once again.

”You want to see my swordsmanship?” Still in sync with the voice, Wild Horse raised the sword in his hand.

”You've even changed your weapon,” remarked Gu Shenwei.

”I haven't. This has always been Immortal Peng's weapon.”

Telling the most obvious lie in a hypnotic way had indeed always been the ”weapon” of all Immortal Pengs. Gu Shenwei had once gotten lost in a confusing maze that Immortal Peng had woven, but now, he just felt that this lie was ridiculous. ”If this has always been your weapon, then you wouldn't have asked me whether I want to see your swordsmanship. You forget that when we fought before, back then it was your head that was separated from its body.”

The voice fell silent again. A flicker of confusion flashed across Wild Horse's face. And for the first time, his expressions were not in sync with the speaker's words. He hadn't seen the scene of the Dragon King killing the dwarf Immortal Peng, so he couldn't communicate with the hidden disciple of the Essence Pavilion telepathically.

”Come out,” that voice said. Wild Horse's expression also returned to normal.

Another person came out from behind a tree. She walked in a stealthy manner, as if she were afraid that she might wake up people who were asleep. But like a child who had just misbehaved and had no choice but to walk to her parents, she had an embarrassed look on her face. ”Dragon King, how are you?”

Han Fen was also holding a sword in her hand. She had not been used to wielding a saber or a sword merely two months ago.

”I'm fine,” Gu Shenwei's tone immediately became easy-going. ”Did you deliver the message to the Master Commander for me?”

”Of course I did,” Han Fen said quickly, hurriedly trying to shift the responsibility. ”But… But… ”

”But what?”

”But the Master Commander is very busy… This… Immortal Peng can… represent her. If you have anything to say, then just talk to Immortal Peng, Dragon King.”

For Han Fen, telling lies was a very difficult and annoying task. From that glum look on her face, even a three-year-old kid could tell that she was lying. But the voice was very pleased. ”The Master Commander and Immortal Peng have the same thoughts. You have to finish the three tasks, Dragon King.”

Gu Shenwei also stayed silent for a while. Standing on the other side, Han Fen was surreptitiously winking and lifting her eyebrows at him as if trying to express something. Compared to her clumsy lies, her expressions were unduly rich, which was why Gu Shenwei didn't understand her at all. In the end, he said, ”Han Xuan lives in my army camp. She likes Han Wuxian.”

Upon hearing the whereabouts of her closest friend, Han Fen didn't show any expected excitement. ”Eek? Hall Leader still hasn't killed her yet? I thought… Alas, she's useless now anyway. Even the Master Commander is uninterested in her… ”

”Immortal Peng asked you to come out not because he wanted you to chat,” that voice said.

Han Fen shut up immediately. She made a few extra expressions and then lowered her head, scribbling on the ground with her sword as if it were a common tree branch.

”Finish the second task. Then Immortal Peng will have a kung fu competition with her to prove his strength,” that voice continued.

Han Fen hung her head even lower without saying anything.

Gu Shenwei fell silent again.