Chapter 33 (2/2)
There were two loud sickening crunches and down came Zhuo Wuhen’s two arms. Blood poured from his wounds like a geyser as he screamed in agony.
“And your legs.”
There came another two projectiles that severed off Zhuo Wuhen’s legs. Blood splattered horribly everywhere. The crowd watching the gory spectacle stirred uneasily and nervously as screams filled the air. Some of the people from the North Mountain gang began running out of the Gorge.
Never had Lil Ruo ever witnessed such butchery and carnage. Her face had gone pale with panic, her body trembling. Xiao Chen covered her eyes hastily, saying, “See no more!”
Ye Fei took a step towards and crowd and ordered, “Take him away and throw him into the ravines. Let’s see if he’ll be able to survive.” A few of his minions strode forth and lifted Zhuo Wuhen, now barely clinging to his life, and his severed limbs away.
Dazed with fear, no one dared utter anything. Not even the sound of one’s breathing could be heard. Ye Fei hissed wickedly, “From this day forth, the North Mountain gang will exist no more! Your dues are hereby increased to two Spirit Stones each month!” He then cast an evil look at the group of new disciples.
Xiao Chen felt a jolt of panic, What a strong murderous aura! That deadly glare! He is coming for me!
Having long swept by fear, all colors had left the three princes’ faces. None of them, with the rest of the dozens of new disciples behind them, dared to heave a breath.
Leading his men close behind, Ye Fei came over. Ye Shaochong was trotting along behind too; his injuries almost fully healed. As they came closer to the new disciples, Ye Shaochong snarled, “On your feet, all of you!”
The dozens of new disciple all rose immediately obediently with their heads kept low.
“Hand over all your Spirit Stones! You will all pay three Stones starting from this month! I’ll have a finger of yours if you are short by one; an arm if you’re short of two!”
No one dared make a sound in the face of Ye Fei’s overwhelming presence as they hurriedly emptied themselves of all their Spirit Stones. One of the new disciples risked a look up at him, begging pitifully as with a quivering voice, “Err… I have used up my Stones for last month… Can I pay up with the rest next month…”
“You may…” Ye Fei replied coldly.
“Thank you so much…” The disciple said. However, he had barely finished when a kick sent him meters away, spewing blood incessantly.
“Try….” Ye Fei growled, ending his sentence.
Xiao Chen cracked his knuckles but Prince Zhao immediately held his arm.
Ye Fei turned and stared furiously at him, “Are you Xiao Chen?”
Xiao Chen shot back coldly, “I am…” The two words had barely left his lips when he felt a strong force striking him into his abdomen, sending him crashing into a tall white birch tree which broke in half.
“Young Master!” Lil Ruo cried, badly shocked and distressed. She immediately sped to him. Xiao Chen spat a gulp of blood and pushed her away. Through the pain, he gasped, “Leave now!”
Ye Fei hissed wickedly, “Leave? None will be leaving here alive!” He took a step closer to the wounded Xiao Chen. Lil Ruo immediately threw herself before her Young Master; her arms stretched wide to shield him vainly, crying, “Go away!”
With a flail of his sleeves, Ye Fei sent another blow at her. Knowing that Lil Ruo, who was hardly a Cultivator with enhanced physical strength, would never be able to survive a strike so brutal, Prince Zhao dove forward to protect her, shouting, “Sister Lil Ruo!” The blow struck him with a loud bang.
“Arghhh…” Prince Zhao crashed heavily to the ground, motionless. Through his bloodied mouth, he murmured subconsciously, “Father…”
His eyes then closed shut.
Xiao Chen’s eyes almost burst out of their sockets with rage. Yet he was still incapacitated by the blow that Ye Fei had landed on his dantian. Screaming with terror, Princes Qi and Yan immediately rushed forward.
“Heh heh! Xiao Chen! To Hell you go!” Ye Shaochong screamed as he lunged forward, seeing his chance to stab Xiao Chen when the latter is motionless.
“Ahhh!” Xiao Chen yelled as he mustered all his spiritual powers. The sight of Prince Zhao, looking lifeless and dead, filled him with rage and resolve. The sky shook suddenly. It was the unmistakable roar of a dragon. The golden silhouette of a dragon coiled around his arms and struck at Ye Shaochong with a colossal bang, throwing him off his feet as the latter spat a mouthful of blood.
In that very instant, Ye Fei chanted some incantations and conjured a sword out of thin air. He directed the sword with his powers, sending it like an arrow at Xiao Chen’s throat. The ferocious stroke tore through the air, threatening to snap at Xiao Chen’s neck like a venomous serpent. But what would have been Ye Fei’s triumph stopped short with a loud clang. The tip of his sword stayed three inches away from Xiao Chen’s neck, not being able to move any further for it was Xiao Chen’s hand which had held its blade.
Blood trickled down one drop after another from the tip of the sword. Xiao Chen’s veins were swelling under his skin that they looked like they could burst anytime. Intense pain was all over him as if he was on fire. He had used the forbidden technique of the Mystic Cyan Sect, the Immolation Spell of the Three Elements!