Chapter 366: Chapter 364: The Young Master Offers His Head, Again the Young Master Offers His Head
"My plan is called ’The Prince Offering His Head!’"
Le Yu surveyed the surrounding forest to ensure no one was eavesdropping. He touched the metal badge in his pocket, confirmed it was safely tucked away in a steel box to block communication, and leaned against a big tree, slowly speaking.
"It doesn’t sound like a proper conspiracy." Niruo said.
"I’ve already reached an agreement with the other Sword Sheaths. I promised them I would lure you to a remote place and then team up with them to surround and kill you," Le Yu said, "Although your strength is exceptional, faced with an ambush from multiple Sword Sheaths, you might not even survive the first encounter."
Having mentally prepared himself beforehand, Niruo wasn’t angered by Le Yu’s words, just like Wu Dalang after hearing Pan Jinlian confess there was poison in the potion. Instead, he relaxed, believing the other party had genuinely had a change of heart and stood on his side.
It seems forgiving him was the right move. Otherwise, during the fight, he might have led him into an ambush. At least Jin Le Yin didn’t annihilate him, and Niruo couldn’t help but feel a bit grateful towards him.
Moreover, this plan aligned with Niruo’s understanding. He knew very well that he had become a thorn in the side of the Sword Sheaths. If Jin Le Yin united with others to take him down, they would surely be eager to comply.
Niruo asked, "So, what do you plan to do?"
"Counter their strategy with our own, ’The Prince Offering His Head.’" Le Yu made a slicing motion on his neck: "As long as you are severely injured and out of the game, the Sword Sheaths’ understanding will collapse on its own. By then, when they start fighting each other, it will be our chance."
Niruo frowned, "Me, severely injured and out?"
But soon, he relaxed and understood: "You mean we act out a scene?"
"Exactly," Le Yu nodded heavily: "You pretend to be defeated by my ambush, unable to continue fighting, or even escape severely injured, then the other Sword Sheaths will naturally stop focusing on you!"
"But the Shuangli Palace exam..."
"Do you trust me?" Le Yu suddenly asked, "If you trust me, hand over the ones cheating on your side for me to protect."
Niruo did not answer, just looked at Le Yu calmly.
"After you leave the scene, I will continue uniting and dividing among the Sword Sheaths, letting them fight each other until they are all too injured to fight anymore. By then, it will be your time to reap the rewards," Le Yu said, "But those Sword Sheaths won’t act without assurance. If you aren’t severely injured and out, they won’t go all out on each other. Instead, they’d prefer to unite first to take down you, the ’Number One Sword Sheath.’"
"The key to my ’Prince Offering His Head’ plan is offering your ’head.’ Only this can lead to endless infighting among the Sword Sheaths. If you don’t trust me, this plan can’t be discussed, because the one being offered must trust the one offering."
Niruo was silent for a moment, then evaluated, "A dark yet bright conspiracy. Impressive that you thought it up."
"Because ’The Prince Offering His Head’ is my signature move."
Le Yu folded his arms and laughed, "Half a year ago, using this move, I sacrificed my brother-in-law Zhengwu to win Zhengwei’s trust; a month ago, I used the same trick to sacrifice Zhengwei and brought back endless funds to Yanjing."
"Interesting, so will you become material in your own class?" Niruo actually knew about Le Yu’s elective course: "The Eight Wonders of Silver Blood?"
"Though using myself as a subject seems strange, yes, next week in class, I’ll use myself as a blueprint to let students know just how despicable I once was," Le Yu said, "If you’re interested, you can audit my class, ’The Legendary Life of Le Yin of the Three Wonders of Silver Blood.’"
Niruo: "If we meet without red eyes by then, I’ll accompany the Shuangli Palace to attend the lecture."
"So," Le Yu raised an eyebrow, "you’re willing to trust me?"
"You have what it takes for me to trust you once," Niruo said, "Even if you deceive me, the worst I’ll lose is Shuangli Palace failing in the Eye of Omniscience exam. There will be chances to reclaim later; but if you don’t deceive me, I might be able to eliminate the other Sword Sheaths, then just focus on a final showdown with you."
"High risk, high reward. If Shuangli Palace knew I didn’t partake in such a gamble, she’d give me hell afterward," Niruo chuckled, "She loves taking risks. You’re right, I lack her big-picture vision... She would seize every opportunity to end the war early, whereas I only want to achieve local victories."
"If you deceive me, I’ll seek the punishment from Shuangli Palace. When we meet again, we’ll be enemies, as always. Anyway, I’ve seen enough of the fickleness of the world, the warmth and coldness of human relationships, that I might not even get angry."
Niruo tossed something to Le Yu, who saw it was a flare.
"But if you’re not just putting on a show to deceive me," Niruo said, "then I’m looking forward to seeing how you’d summarize your life into a dramatic tale in class."
"Then anticipate it, for my life has been more thrilling than any drama."
Le Yu put away the flare, strode forward, raised his hands to the sky, spread his ten fingers as if holding a cup, his eyes glowing with a crimson brilliance, his whole body gleaming, appearing ghostly and wild.
In the rare instance of having an immobile, resilient target, Le Yu decided to use Niruo to practice Jin Le Yin’s ultimate trump card, the forbidden ultimate move of the Blood Drinking Eight Rice Flow...!
...
...
Boom!
As a resounding explosion echoed through the forest, people near the Nightmare teaching building saw a burst of blood light from the trees. Birds took flight in terror, leaves quivered and fell, as if gods and demons were clashing!
The waiting Mie Tangya did not hesitate and immediately used the Lingxu Step to move quickly towards the forest, only to see a blood-soaked Jin Le Yin emerge.
Before Mie Tangya could speak, Le Yu, with half his face covered in blood, lifted his head and said, "Niruo has been backstabbed and severely injured by me, next to leave the scene is you, Mie Tangya!"
"Wha—?"
Mie Tangya didn’t even have time to say a word before Le Yu pounced over, his speed more swift, his form more elusive!
Though unsure of Jin Le Yin’s intentions, Mie Tangya immediately surrounded himself with triple layers of Light Armor, shouted, and flew into a sky full of spear shadows, clashing head-on with Jin Le Yin!
Liaoyuan Combat Technique: Falling Star Charge!
However, right upon engagement, Mie Tangya felt an overwhelming pressure.
He’s strong!
Jin Le Yin has become so strong!
His speed, explosive power, and reaction time had all ascended to a new level, and just after a few rounds, Mie Tangya was forced back repeatedly, even pushed into the small forest!
Mie Tangya didn’t know that Le Yu was currently in perfect combat form. After biting Niruo’s blood, the passive skill of Blood Drinking Eight Rice Flow was fully activated, all of Le Yu’s attributes had greatly increased, and his Ice Blood Physique suppressed the mental distortion and madness caused by "Blood Drinking," naturally overpowering Mie Tangya!
Even Le Yu, a master of prudence, believed himself to be number one below the Integration and Mastery stage, showing the confidence Blood Drinking Eight Rice Flow had instilled in him!
Zhen Combat Technique: Sunflower Triple Strike!
Le Yu seized an opening, landed three consecutive hits, sending Mie Tangya sprawling on the ground, then swiftly pinned him down and whispered, "Niruo has been outwitted and left the scene. Now, on the surface, only you and I remain among the Sword Sheaths, almost all others have gone into hiding. If this continues, we’ll undoubtedly be the first ones ambushed to death by them!"
"The plan now is to have you severely injured and leave the scene, then I’ll incite in-fighting among the Sword Sheaths, wait patiently for the right moment, let you come out and reap the benefits, then we will settle the score between us, that’s the plan!"
"You don’t have the intelligence to incite in-fighting, this crucial task can only be entrusted to me, you’re responsible for getting injured and leaving... Brace yourself, I’m going to strike!"
"Ah!? Eh!? Me!?"
The fifteen-year-old Mie Tangya was bewildered, unable to process Le Yu’s words in time, watching helplessly as Le Yu raised a fist the size of a cooking pot. He neither dodged nor defended, all he could do was cry mournfully while raising glowing arms shielded by Light Armor against his chest, pitifully saying:
"Y-you, take it easy..."