502: Chapter 67 Lotus 502: Chapter 67 Lotus Wood rafts and boats, all stopped at the heart of the river, water rippling, a breeze suddenly arising.
The invisible killing intent diffusing in the wind.
Yuan Jimo was in no hurry to take action.
He watched as Que Qi and a group of spies from the Imperial City Department departed, as the small boat disappeared into the far end of the river fog…
He didn’t have much time left, for the Purple Green Treasure Ship moved swiftly, and Jun Mountain and Miao Zhen could break free at any moment.
If he wished to handle everything perfectly, there was no time to waste.
“I don’t quite understand.”
Yuan Jimo stared seriously at the black-clad youth before him.
His eyes held a mix of admiration and confusion.
“Xie Zhen…
you’re merely a single Grotto Heaven…”
Yuan Jimo whispered, “By what right do you dare to meet with me alone?
Do you not know that I am here to kill you?”
From the Imperial City to Qu River.
The journey took the delegation ten days.
The Imperial City Department waited and watched for ten full days.
Yuan Jimo seemed at ease, spending his days in teahouses, listening to music leisurely.
But in reality,
he was closely monitoring everyone related to Xie Zhen—
Qi Lie and Huang Su left the Imperial City individually, going in opposite directions to the delegation.
No other Yin God Venerables of Da Sui Sword Palace departed from their sect.
He had considered nearly everything.
Even the Snow Master of Fangyuan Square was within his surveillance scope.
Yuan Jimo knew that this was not a one-sided hunt; the roles of hunter and prey could change at any moment…
Xie Zhen and he were of the same kind; that night on Yong’an Street was destined to end with a life-and-death battle between them.
“Life and death are trivial matters.”
Xie Xuanyi spoke softly, “You wish to kill me, I wish to kill you.
This meeting is only proper.”
A hint of hesitation mixed into the deep killing intent in Yuan Jimo’s eyes.
He did not understand.
Why could this man with the surname Xie remain so composed even now?
Was this a ruse?
No…
Xie Zhen wasn’t that kind of person.
“You don’t have to pretend.
The Imperial City Department has been monitoring you for ten days.”
Yuan Jimo said coldly, “Your two martial uncles, all are within the sight of the Imperial City Department.
Chen Jingxuan, Jiang Qihu, the Snow Master…
all your acquaintances who could be here, not one is beyond my control.”
“Oh?”
Xie Xuanyi smiled, “Venerable Yuan, don’t you think that’s quite a coincidence?”
Yuan Jimo frowned; a cold glint passed between his brows.
A coincidence?
Prompted by Xie Zhen’s words, he realized…
everything was indeed too coincidental.
This carefully constructed hunt proceeded smoothly at every turn.
When he sent Imperial City Department spies to monitor “important individuals,” he had actually harbored thoughts of giving up.
If just one Yin God Venerable’s whereabouts had been uncertain, the hunt would have been called off immediately.
Yuan Jimo was cautious.
But…
the opportunity this time was too good to miss.
It took him ten days to confirm that the powerhouses behind Xie Zhen were all too busy to intervene, which led to these probes on Qu River.
“So…”
Yuan Jimo felt like he was hearing a ludicrous joke, “You intentionally drove them away?
You also want to kill me…
are you serious?”
The river wind suddenly surged.
Once again, silence fell between them.
This time,
Xie Xuanyi responded with a single word.
“Yes.”
With that word, the smile on Yuan Jimo’s face abruptly froze, and his expression turned to one of fear.
The surging river, in this moment, seemed to freeze.
The raft was lifted by the wave, and Xie Xuanyi, who had been at a lower position, was raised up a zhang high by the wave…
This elevation, neither too high nor too low, perfectly allowed him to look down upon the black-armored man before him.
As their gazes met, Yuan Jimo’s previously calm Heart Lake encountered an intense sense of foreboding in an instant.
Why?
Why was he, facing Grotto Heaven Realm’s Xie Zhen, feeling fear?
Qi Lie, Huang Su, Snow Master…
No…
They were far away, even if they were present, they couldn’t evoke such fear in him!
Zhao Tongtian?
No, not him either!
This Law Enforcement Officer of Da Sui Sword Palace was the person most strictly watched by the Imperial City Department.
A formation was deliberately set in Ren Shou Palace targeting Zhao Tongtian.
Using the grand formation, the Imperial City Department could monitor the movements of Yang Gods inside the territory of Da Chu.
He dared to set up an ambush on Qu River precisely because he had already confirmed the stable whereabouts of all the eight directional Yang Gods.
When all other possibilities were excluded, only one remained.
Yuan Jimo subconsciously raised his head, locking eyes with Xie Zhen.
In the next moment, an extremely dazzling brilliance erupted from the latter’s forehead.
It was a lotus flower.
A lotus…
incomplete, yet still dazzling!
“Pure Yang Sword Intent?!”
Yuan Jimo guessed the answer, but it was already too late.
His face contorted as he let out a shrill scream, desperately retreating while reaching out his palm, trying to grasp the life-saving Jade Talisman he wore.
“Sss-ah!”
Xie Xuanyi, his robes fluttering, had an indifferent expression.
He pointed with two fingers.
A stream of Sword Qi instantly slashed through!
Yuan Jimo’s arm, reaching for the Jade Talisman, was severed cleanly!
“Ah…”
Yuan Jimo’s face twisted with pain, unable to scream out, he hurriedly reached out with his other arm, still attempting to seize the talisman.
The second strand of Lotus Sword Intent followed in swift succession.
Both arms were cut off.
Xie Xuanyi did not hold back deliberately; sparing the heart yet severing the talisman’s connection was the only true solution.
Yuan Jimo had spent ten days studying how to kill Xie Zhen.
During these ten days, Xie Xuanyi too pondered on how to neatly kill Yuan Jimo.
Before leaving the Imperial City, he had laid out the plan to lure Yuan Jimo into showing himself.
He convinced Qi Lie and Huang Su to stay away from the Imperial City, not to follow the delegation.
He persuaded the Snow Master to constantly shadow Chu Yin, never to escape the Imperial City Department’s surveillance, even at the risk of personally abandoning “Qian San’s” protection.