Otherworldly Merchant

Although Chuyi had told me to do nothing and just watch the fun, I couldn’t stand it. Holding the Invisible Needle, I aimed it at Yi Zhangqing and screamed, “If you move, you will end like Ryuzawa Ichiro!” 

As soon as I said that, One-Armed Dragon’s voice arose. “Qing, don’t worry. Do what you want. I want to see who can threaten you!” 

He walked toward us. His face was fierce. “It’s a one-on-one match. Since you’ve joined the competition, you will have to follow the rule. Kid, can’t bear to do that?” 

“You…” I couldn’t snap back at him. My face turned red. 

He wasn’t wrong. Yi Zhangqing didn’t do anything against the rules of the match. However, I didn’t know what Chuyi wanted to do! 

While I was still thinking, Yi Zhangqing groaned. The Ghost Cutter flew out of her hand. It turned into waves of cold lights that swarmed toward Chuyi from every direction. 

I wanted to use the Invisible Needle to help him, but One-Armed Dragon grabbed my arm. I couldn’t get rid of his grip no matter how hard I tried to wiggle out of it. Time seemed to stop moving at this moment. Chuyi hadn’t done anything while the cold light from the Ghost Cutter was approaching him. 

“No!!!” Seeing Chuyi about to get hit, I screamed.

At this moment, Chuyi suddenly slumped on his knees as his wounds were too severe. Although it helped him dodge most of the cold lights, many beams had hit his stomach. Chuyi spurted blood, then fell to the ground. He didn’t move an inch after that. The bronze whip in his hand was released from his grip. It rolled far away. 

“Good job, Qing! You’ve done a great deal to our Longquan Villa!” 

One-armed Dragon laughed while hurling me away. “We got that tough lad. You’re next!” 

I didn’t mind him. I wanted to get up to help Chuyi. Strangely enough, I couldn’t muster any strength. It seemed all my bones had softened. I couldn’t accept this! If I couldn’t move, Chuyi would die! 

Yi Zhangqing looked at Chuyi and spat with disdain. “Is he done already? I thought he was tougher!” 

She got up and walked forward as she wanted to pick up the bronze whip. But right at that moment, something unbelievable happened. The bronze whip on the ground suddenly floated up and pierced through Yi Zhangqing’s stomach! 

It happened in the blink of an eye. When I pulled myself together, Yi Zhangqing had a hole as big as a bowl in her belly. Her internal organs spilled through the hole. Blood streamed down rapidly. 

“What… What h-happened…” 

She couldn’t believe her eyes. Her hands tried to put her internal organs back into her belly, but it didn’t work. She fell to the ground and convulsed. A moment later, she stopped moving. 

One-Armed Dragon, who was so happy a moment ago, was stunned. It took him a lot of time to get a hold of himself. He walked forward and scooped Yi Zhangqing into his chest. He screamed and cried his lungs out. 

“Merciful Buddha! Merciful Buddha!” 

Zen Master Baimei’s voice came from behind. He brought his palms together in front of his chest. He closed his eyes and shook his head. Then, he came to pull me up.

I hurriedly picked up the bronze whip. “Zen Master Baimei, what happened?” 

“Chuyi knew he couldn’t control the bronze whip. Moreover, he was ambushed by Yi Zhangqing. If he pulled back and forth with her, he would have lost. That’s why he chose the most dangerous method, fusing with his weapon!” Zen Master Baimei said in a deep voice.

I was surprised. Fusing with a weapon was a very special technique. To make it simple, it was like sending one’s soul to the weapon, becoming one with it for a short moment. Just a moment ago, the bronze whip had struck with its best force and pierced through Yi Zhangqing’s body; it was a good example of how the technique worked. 

However, only a master with great attainment could do this as there were many bad consequences. For example, the user’s soul could receive a backlash from the otherworldly item. The other possibility was that the fusion couldn’t create the desired effect. If the user was careless, his soul could perish. 

Besides, the most difficult requirement to use this technique was that a human couldn’t just extract his soul out of his body. It seemed Chuyi hadn’t reached such a level. That was why he didn’t dodge Yi Zhangqing’s attacks. He had deliberately tortured his body to help his soul leave his flesh. 

I knew that Chuyi would sacrifice his life for me and that he had always utilized his talents to help me, but I had never thought that he would use this method to fulfill my wish. 

I was bewildered for a long time. Then, I turned to Zen Master Baimei and asked coldly, “You knew he would do that... Is that why you let One-Armed Dragon come here to stop me? He was here to ensure that Chuyi’s plan would proceed smoothly, right?” 

“Right,” admitted Zen Master Baimei in a low voice. 

I raised my hand, about to hit him. However, before my hand reached his face, I stopped. My eyes turned watery. While shivering, I managed to say, “Damn it! There will be no next time!” 

Then, I placed the bronze whip on Chuyi’s lap. I lifted him and carried him outside. Zen Master Baimei followed me quietly. Suddenly, One-Armed Dragon, who was crying crazily, got up and ran after us. He looked at me with bloodshot eyes and spoke through his gritted teeth. “Leave him here, and I won’t kill you later.” 

This was the time I felt the most danger since I had entered Fengdu. The bosses of the Ghost Market could scare us because they could rule over our lives, but if one didn’t care about their life, this rule didn’t apply. 

Although we were the archenemy, I understood the feelings One-Armed Dragon had for Yi Zhangqing. 

Humans weren’t immovable trees. Who could be heartless for his whole life? Just a moment ago, Yi Zhangqing and One-Armed Dragon were ridiculing me and Chuyi. Who would have thought that the situation would change so much after that? 

We couldn’t avoid grudges and karma, especially while working as otherworldly merchants. So, I wouldn’t give Chuyi to him. 

Still, I wasn’t happy to see One-Armed Dragon in pain.

I answered him with a dark face. “One-Armed Dragon, you just reminded me of the rules. Do you still remember them?” 

“Damn you! If Qing lost fairly, I wouldn’t have stopped you! How did she die? HOW DID SHE DIE?!” 

One-armed Dragon had tears rolling down his face. After roaring, he couldn’t speak anymore. He grunted and gasped for his breath like a wild animal. 

“Chuyi’s attack was rather special. But it wasn’t against the rules, was it?” 

Then, I ignored him. They were my enemies. If Yi Zhangqing hadn’t died, Zen Master Baimei and I would be the ones crying right now. 

One-Armed Dragon screamed behind me. I felt a wave of murderous aura hit my nape. Zen Master Baimei immediately wielded his mala beads. 

Right at this moment, a red light appeared above our heads. I heard both Zen Master Baimei and One-Armed Dragon scream behind me. 

When I turned around, I saw them on the ground. The bewitching voice of the Demon King resounded.