Chapter 154: Pursuit and Kill

Chapter 154: The Hunt

Trees stood like spears, their crowns sharp as blades, pointing toward the great moon, murderous intent chilling.

In the pitch-black forest where hands could not be seen, Zhao Qingxia staggered, his body marked with bloodstains, new blood dripping and layering over the still-liquid old.

The pale-faced young man grimaced, "Old Ma, what time is it now? I feel kinda sleepy."

"Don't talk to me about that, that country bumpkin is dead. Now if we just shake off that scar-faced one, we'll be safe."

The red eyes in the helmet transmitted Ma Wangye's anxious voice, "Brat, you mustn't sleep."

"Alright, stop yelling. I was just kidding, but I really need to catch my breath. If I keep running, I'll bleed out."

Zhao Qingxia silently swallowed the blood rising to his throat, leaned against a large tree, and slowly slid down to collapse on the ground.

"Old Ma, where are these people from? Have you figured it out?"

Ma Wangye snorted coldly, "Who else? The Chuan Yu gambling syndicate!"

"So sure? How did you know?"

"Didn't that country bumpkin you punched shout 'Er Tiao'? Didn't you hear that?"

"That's strange. How did the Chuan Yu people find us? We only contacted them once. It must be..."

"You guessed right. We were definitely sold out by someone in the organization."

Ma Wangye roared, "Those bastards, instead of working honestly, they're playing tricks with me. I'll make them eat their own asses!"

Zhao Qingxia, rarely angry, spat out a curse, "Sew their birds into their mouths and let them eat them forever!"

It was no wonder they were so angry. After all, Tian Zhi Hui, as an ancient and secretive organization in the Mo Jia sequence, advocated 'universal love and non-aggression, practicing chivalry to end wars,' and internally required mutual aid among members, surpassing the Pao Ge Hui's 'If you have no clothes, share them with your children.'

Therefore, in Tian Zhi Hui, being betrayed by one's own was extremely rare.

In hundreds of years, it had happened only a few times, and each time was used as a typical case for new members to study repeatedly.

Ma Wangye and Zhao Qingxia never imagined they would one day become victims, made into a new case to warn others.

Zhao Qingxia was silent for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Old Ma, who do you think sold us out?"

"Can't be sure. This time I contacted the 'Mo Gong' squad in the organization; everyone there is suspicious."

Ma Wangye guiltily said, "It's my fault. I shouldn't have asked them for help."

"Haha, Old Ma, you have your moments too."

Zhao Qingxia joked, then changed the subject, "But speaking of which, it's been half a day with no movement. Do you think they've already shaken off that scar-faced one?"

At this moment, the forest was only filled with the eerie sounds of wind through the treetops, no other movement.

As Zhao Qingxia spoke, he suddenly heard Ma Wangye's shout, "Get out of the way!"

He instinctively rolled to the side; the next second, a crackling sound of breaking wood echoed above his head.

A cold light split the tree trunk, cleaving toward Zhao Qingxia's head!

Pfft!

The blade split the tree, and though Zhao Qingxia dodged in time, his left arm was sliced off a large chunk of flesh.

"Damn, this is tough."

Zhao Qingxia pushed off with one hand, leaped up, gazed at the extremely bright eyes in the dark, and took a slow breath.

The pungent smell of mud mixed with blood rushed into his nose, clearing his dazed mind from excessive blood loss.

"Damn, without some music, it just doesn't feel right."

Zhao Qingxia shook his head with a laugh, stepped forward, and his body surged ahead. His right leg, protected by Mo Jia armor, became a black shadow, sweeping high toward Er Tiao's head.

Clang!

Er Tiao crossed his blade to block the leg shadow, his left hand swinging a venomous punch toward Zhao Qingxia's legs.

The young man's ferocity rolled across his face; his body suddenly tilted back, his left foot stomping on Er Tiao's left wrist.

With both feet in the air, he used his hands as feet, his body spinning like a wheel, legs sweeping continuously in front.

For a moment, the forest echoed with dense clanging sounds, like rain pounding leaves, unceasing.

"Mimetic martial arts?"

Er Tiao sneered, a hint of disdain in his eyes, "How long can that broken Mo Jia armor support you?"

Buzz.

The mechanical heart's buzzing was particularly piercing; Zhao Qingxia's eyes narrowed instantly. Without hesitation, he pushed with both hands, his whole body like a released arrow, shooting toward the opponent's jaw.

Clang!

A crisp sound.

Zhao Qingxia's heart sank as he saw the opponent's left hand placed before his throat, the palm's flesh torn, revealing cold steel bones, actually blocking his kick with one hand!

"Old Ma"

The big man's eyes shone with a strange intensity, blandly saying, "Without the Mo Jia armor's support, your fancy moves are useless."

Bang!

Er Tiao's fingers clenched, veins bulging on his muscular arms, and he hurled Zhao Qingxia away.

Zhao Qingxia's waist and back crashed into a tree trunk, he bounced off, and immediately coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, spraying it in front of him.

The trembling tree behind him shed large leaves, covering the young man's hunched shoulders, as if to bury him here.

"Surrender, and you don't have to die now."

"Want to catch me alive?"

Zhao Qingxia grinned, revealing blood-stained teeth, his gaze defiant, "Dream on, you bastard."

Slap!

Er Tiao stepped forward, gripped the knife in reverse, and swung the back of the blade to send Zhao Qingxia flying again.

"Surrender, and you don't have to die now!"

The man's tone was stiff, repeating the same words, but his blade-wielding hand didn't stop.

Slap!

Zhao Qingxia just stood up when another blade strike hit his cheek, causing him to spray blood mist into the sky, staggering backward.

With blood-soaked palms supporting the tree trunk, Zhao Qingxia endured the intense pain, shaking as he stood upright.

"Dare to humiliate me? A month ago, I could kill someone like you with one hand."

"Putting on airs."

Er Tiao sneered again, raised the blade, but suddenly the dazed Zhao Qingxia charged at him once more!

He was seeking death!

Er Tiao saw through Zhao Qingxia's intent, standing motionless in place.

Until the leg shadow attacked, he suddenly stepped forward, shoulder pressing, elbow pushing, his shoulder smashing into the middle of the leg shadow!

A crisp crack echoed, and Zhao Qingxia's right leg armor shattered, his knee twisting outward as he was violently struck, sending him tumbling backward.

"Mmm."

A searing pain tore through his right leg; Zhao Qingxia clenched his lips tightly, letting blood spill across his chest without uttering a single agonized cry.

"You little brat."

At that moment, a voice long silent finally spoke again.

Yet in Zhao Qingxia's ears, it was so weak and weary.