In the face of true powerhouses, Yan Shouyi felt an unprecedented pressure.
Yan Nanfei and Changshan, both formidable in their own right, fell one after another. Under the oppressive aura of the middle-aged paper craftsman, everyone felt like underage children, utterly defenseless.
Even the Ghost King Bai Shixi back then was likely no match for this paper craftsman!
Seeing Ling Xiaoxiao preparing to escape with Wang Zhirai, the paper craftsman merely moved his fingers, ordering his black-clothed followers to surround the small cabin.
Upon seeing so many pursuers, Ling Xiaoxiao dared not make a rash breakthrough. She could only retreat with Wang Zhirai behind Yan Shouyi.
"Brother Yan, what do we do now?!" Ling Xiaoxiao asked nervously.
Yan Shouyi gritted his teeth, envisioning a bloody battle ahead.
Moreover, he saw no hope at all, unsure who could appear to help him turn the tide.
"There's no other way," Yan Shouyi said coldly. "Protect Wang Zhirai, we fight them to the death!!"
Two giant paper figures ran towards Yan Shouyi. Yan Shouyi, wielding his Zanpakuto, adopted an offensive defense and met them head-on.
Lin Zhitong, naturally, would not let Yan Shouyi face them alone. She also brought forth her Red God Umbrella to engage, each of them fighting a paper figure, their blades clashing fiercely.
However, such an outcome was clearly not what Yan Shouyi desired. Dealing with two paper figures was already so difficult, and the true mastermind behind it all, the paper craftsman, still stood before the sedan chair, watching with interest.
What was the point of defeating the paper figures?
Once the paper craftsman made his move, none of them would have any hope of winning!
The black-clothed men also attacked Ling Xiaoxiao. But Ling Xiaoxiao was agile and incredibly nimble. Even while carrying Wang Zhirai, she could find openings to dodge amidst the encirclement.
A group of over a dozen black-clothed men failed to capture Ling Xiaoxiao!
"Ada!!"
Long Feicheng and Old Jin, meanwhile, were cowering filthily in a corner. Because the black-clothed men's attention was solely on Wang Zhirai, the two could occasionally sneak in surprise attacks.
The black-clothed men were provoked and dispatched a third of their number to deal with Long Feicheng and Old Jin.
The two realized their predicament. With their abilities, even a third of the black-clothed men could easily defeat them.
With nowhere left to retreat, their backs against the cabin, Long Feicheng had no choice but to pound on the cabin door:
"Wang Jiwan, Uncle Zou! I don't want to disturb you, but we're really at our limit!"
The black-clothed men pushed Long Feicheng to the brink, even knocking his Caiwei Sword from his hand!
Old Jin had even fewer means of resistance. He could only cover his head and crouch on the ground.
At the critical moment, the cabin door burst open, and a cleaver flew out, striking a black-clothed man directly in the chest. The powerful force sent the man flying backward five to six meters!
Wang Jiwan emerged from the cabin, his face grim.
"Endless trouble..." Wang Jiwan revealed two cleavers again, roaring in anger, "You want my life, I'll take yours!! Kill!"
With a shout, Wang Jiwan charged into the black-clothed men. His skills as a赊刀人 (debt-collecting blade wielder) were not to be underestimated. Those black-clothed men with some skill were no match for Wang Jiwan!
In an instant, Wang Jiwan alone forced five to six black-clothed men to retreat. His ferocity far surpassed that of thugs brawling on the streets.
"Wang Jiwan is out, what about Uncle Zou?" Long Feicheng asked anxiously. "Uncle Zou isn't dead, is he?"
"Cough, cough, brat... I'm not dead yet!" Zou Xia Zi's weak voice came from inside the house.
Long Feicheng scrambled into the cabin, saying, "Uncle Zou, a group of unidentified people are outside, and we're no match for them!"
"Bring my Guqin... in!"
"At a time like this, you're still thinking about playing the zither?"
"Enough nonsense, bring it in! Cough, cough, cough!"
Although Zou Xia Zi's request baffled Long Feicheng, he braved the danger and rushed outside to bring the Guqin in.
Perhaps seeing Wang Jiwan, Zou Xia Zi seemed more spirited than before. As he looked now, he seemed to be preparing to play a song.
Old Jin entered and looked at him curiously, then couldn't help but sigh.
The reason Zou Xia Zi could still speak and play the zither was purely a last surge of vitality before death.
When a person experiences such a surge, their imminent death is sealed.
Long Feicheng, however, did not understand what this meant. He couldn't help but ask:
"Uncle Zou, are you really going to play?"
Zou Xia Zi gently stroked the zither. A hint of light appeared in his cloudy eyes, as if he were looking at his beloved woman.
Then, his expression turned grim, and he said, "I shall play a piece... 'Ten Sides Ambush'!"
...
The two giant paper figures were held back by Yan Shouyi and Lin Zhitong.
The middle-aged paper craftsman watched from afar. He noticed that since Wang Jiwan appeared, his men seemed unable to capture Wang Zhirai for the time being.
His patience wore thin.
"Descendant of Lu Ban, disciple of the Lvshan Sect, scion of the Yan family from Kunlun Mountain, Buddhist disciple of Lingyin Temple, disciple of Mount Emei, debt-collecting blade wielder, inheritor of ancient medicine... Today's West Lake in Rongcheng is much livelier than I imagined!"
The paper craftsman spoke again, sneering, "But you ungrateful fools have chosen to stand against me. Do you know the consequences of opposing me, Chu Liang?"
Yan Shouyi, while fighting the paper figures, retorted, "Old man, you're only twenty years older than us. Give us another twenty years, and we'll beat you so bad you'll shit yourself!"
The paper craftsman's face darkened. He had intended to say something harsh, but instead, he was slapped in the face by Yan Shouyi.
Since that was the case, there was no reason to spare them!
The paper craftsman suddenly spread his arms, and countless paper figures poured out of his voluminous sleeves!
The small paper cutouts, originally palm-sized, grew to about a meter tall upon landing, becoming diminutive paper figures wielding weapons.
Hundreds of paper figures surrounded Yan Shouyi and the others. The formation was reminiscent of the monkeys from Mount Huaguo descending to cause trouble.
Enveloped by these paper figures, Yan Shouyi and Lin Zhitong were further pushed into a passive position. They could only fight and retreat, slowly converging with Wang Jiwan and the others.
"These paper figures are too troublesome!" Wang Jiwan shouted. "They don't fear death at all!"
"Burn them with fire!"
Yan Shouyi made a decisive move, unleashing the Heavenly Thunder Fire Control Art. Vast flames descended from the sky.
The last time he dealt with Agong, Agong's paper figures were quite afraid of Heavenly Thunder Fire. Yan Shouyi believed it would be effective this time as well.
However, to his astonishment, after being baptized by the intense fire, not a single one of these paper figures fell!
On the contrary, they were completely unharmed, with contemptuous smiles on their faces, and they advanced further!
"These paper figures are not afraid of fire?!" Yan Shouyi exclaimed, "How is that possible?!"
The paper craftsman behind them roared with laughter, "We paper craftsmen have passed down our skills for so many years, how could we not understand our weaknesses? My paper figures are crafted from gold foil and special techniques. True gold fears no fire. Even if you use Samadhi True Fire, you cannot burn my paper figures!!!"
Upon learning the truth, Yan Shouyi and the others turned ashen.
Wang Jiwan sighed, "No wonder my cleavers felt like they were striking steel against these paper figures... this guy is too strong..."
"Don't lose heart, hold on!"
Yan Shouyi encouraged everyone, "As long as we don't give up, there's a glimmer of hope. If we give up, we're doomed!!"
"Hand over Wang Zhirai, and I'll spare your lives!!" the paper craftsman commanded.
Wang Jiwan gritted his teeth, "They really want my brother..."
Wang Zhirai, held in Ling Xiaoxiao's embrace, calmly observed his surroundings. He seemed completely unafraid.
Yan Shouyi noticed Wang Zhirai's reaction and couldn't help but find it strange.
Didn't Wang Jiwan say Wang Zhirai was a genius?
But Wang Zhirai now showed no concern for the unfolding disaster, appearing utterly indifferent. How could this be a genius? This was clearly an imbecile!
Unless...
Unless he knew that everyone would ultimately be saved, which is why he was so unconcerned?!
But at this point, who could possibly step forward to save them?
Yan Shouyi couldn't figure it out.
Seeing that Yan Shouyi and the others still showed no intention of surrendering, the paper craftsman hardened his resolve and controlled the paper figures to deliver the final blow.
These paper figures were like ants; once they swarmed onto Yan Shouyi and the others, the paper figures behind them would follow suit, devouring them one by one.
However, just as Yan Shouyi and the others were helpless and on the verge of despair.
A burst of intense zither music erupted!
The music was like the howling wind in a bamboo forest, like the violent rain on a lake, like the desperate struggle on a battlefield, like the painful wails from hell!
For a moment, everyone, from Yan Shouyi to the paper figures, was stunned by the music.
The battle paused, but the music continued.
The music was dense and urgent, creating a sensation that countless eyes were watching, that killing intent was approaching from all directions.
It was as if... Ten Sides Ambush!
The paper craftsman frowned. He had long recognized the extraordinary nature of the music and understood that the piece was called 'Ten Sides Ambush'.
But, who was playing?
Suddenly, the music stopped.
But its resonance lingered, circling West Lake, refusing to fade.
Yan Shouyi turned his head, looking towards the cabin, and murmured, "Is that Uncle Zou playing?"
But he was already gravely ill; how could he still have the strength to play?
The next second—
A sharp pluck of strings suddenly rang out, and the cabin exploded instantly, sending debris flying in all directions. Yan Shouyi and the others quickly ducked for cover.
As the dust settled, a black-clothed man was seen sitting inside, his hollow eyes staring straight ahead. He was thin and gaunt, no different from an old man, but his hands, placed on the zither, appeared extraordinarily powerful!
"Who dares to bully my little ones?"
Zou Xia Zi, pressing down on the zither strings with his hands, asked coldly.
[Author's Note]
Only one large chapter updated today. No updates after midnight! Because I've returned to my parents' home, I want to spend more time talking with my parents tonight~