Chapter 269: Why Do You Laugh?

“Golden Guard Zhao, I know the Demon-Banishing Bow on your back comes from the Hunling Immortal Sect.”

“But while it may work against ordinary demons, that may not be the case for me.”

“I, Hei Shui, have always valued harmony, so I advise you not to wade into these troubled waters…”

“Of course, if you insist on exchanging blows with me, I’d be happy to oblige.”

Hei Shui’s tone was neither fast nor slow, carrying a hint of warning.

It was as if, in his eyes, a so-called Demon-Slaying Enforcer was nothing worth worrying about.

Feeling slighted, Zhao Li, already fuming with anger, slammed the table and shouted, “Come! I’d like to see how many of my arrows you can take without dying!”

Hei Shui lifted his teacup with a smile and said, “Go ahead, Golden Guard Zhao. I’ll give you three chances. After three moves, it’ll be my turn.”

“Arrogant!” Zhao Li took a few steps back, drew his bow into a full crescent, and unleashed his full momentum. In his fury, he fired three consecutive arrows!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

With a sudden explosion, three deathly arrows radiating dazzling silver light shot forth like roaring dragons, charging straight at Hei Shui!

Yet, faced with such an overwhelming assault, Hei Shui didn’t even blink. With a mere flick of his sleeve, the three unstoppable “silver dragons” vanished without a trace, as if they had plunged into the sea.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk…”

“You fired three moves in a row, yet you’re even weaker than I imagined.”

As he spoke, Hei Shui beckoned behind him.

Seeing this, the cart-pulling man immediately understood. He reached into his robes and retrieved a clay jar, removing the lid.

A swirl of black smoke coiled up, and once again, Yang Wang’s soul emerged into the “light.”

The moment he saw the number of golden blade embroideries on Zhao Li’s chest, along with the gleaming silver bow in his hands, Yang Wang instantly recognized his identity!

“Demon-Slaying Enforcer! Lord Zhao!”

“Lord Zhao, did my brother send you to rescue me? I’m Yang Wang!”

Seeing the four chang ghosts standing behind, the now nervous Yang Wang immediately floated before Zhao Li and shouted, “It’s them! They’re all evil spirits!”

“Lord Zhao, hurry and kill them!”

“Shut up!” Zhao Li snapped at Yang Wang’s rambling, his expression stern as he turned to Hei Shui and asked gravely, “What is the meaning of this?”

Hei Shui smiled. “Technically speaking, you’ve already used up your moves, but I don’t want this to end so soon…”

“I’ll give you an opportunity: If you personally shoot this Golden Guard’s soul, I’ll allow you one more attack.”

“Oh, and there are still two Golden Guards alive in Four Corners Town. If you personally kill them as well, I’ll grant you an extra move for each life taken.”

Hearing this, Yang Wang was momentarily stunned. But as soon as he recalled the enforcer’s feats, he immediately cursed at Hei Shui.

“You son of a bitch! Did a donkey kick you in the head?”

“Do you have any idea how many demons Lord Zhao has slain?”

“And you dare say you’re giving him a chance? I swear, you must have a death wish—”

Whoosh!

A flash of light streaked by.

Yang Wang’s soul disintegrated completely before he could finish his sentence, dead beyond salvation…

“Brutal!”

“You humans always say we demons are ruthless… But honestly, you’re far crueler than us!”

Hei Shui sighed with an air of mock sympathy and said, “There are still two left. Want to finish them off as well?”

“How do I get to them?” Zhao Li asked, his expression unchanged.

With a wave of Hei Shui’s hand, two figures clad in Golden Guard brocade robes instantly appeared outside the pavilion.

“Look, I even caught them for you.”

Not far away, Yang Wei and another Golden Guard were still bewildered as to how they had suddenly arrived in this picturesque location.

Before they could make sense of their surroundings, they turned their heads—only to see Zhao Li already drawing his bow, aiming straight at them!

“Lord Zhao! You—”

Before Yang Wei could finish his sentence, two sharp arrows had already pierced through his and the other Golden Guard’s skulls at lightning speed!

With that, of the six Golden Guards who had come to Four Corners Town, only Zhao Li remained.

Clatter!

Hei Shui picked up the teapot and poured Gu Ning’an and Temple Keeper Huang each half a cup of tea before continuing, “Alright, you have three more chances now. I hope you make good use of them—after all, you exchanged three of your comrades’ lives for them.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Li’s face turned terrifyingly dark. He raised his longbow, stepped into a solid stance, and placed his hand on the bowstring. Forcing himself to draw the Demon-Banishing Bow even further than a full crescent, his veins bulged at his neck like thick, coiled earthworms.

Boom!

The arrow shot forth like a crack of thunder—so fast that even the four chang ghosts couldn’t track its trajectory!

Yet their master merely flicked his sleeve with a casual wave. “Not bad this time,” Hei Shui remarked, before nonchalantly sipping his tea.

For the second arrow, Zhao Li once again gathered power for a long time before releasing it, but just like the first, it was effortlessly neutralized.

Before releasing his third arrow, Zhao Li coldly asked Hei Shui, “External Agents—there are still quite a few of them in Four Corners Town. If I kill them, can I exchange their lives for more chances to attack?”

At those words, everyone—except Gu Ning’an—was momentarily stunned.

Then, a chorus of utter contempt fell upon Zhao Li!

Temple Keeper Huang outright cursed, “You son of a bitch, you really are an animal!”

“Where’s that arrogance you had when you were acting tough with me earlier?”

“Not only did you just kill your own subordinates, but now you’re turning your sights on the External Agents?”

“Calling you shameless would be a damn compliment!”

Ignoring Temple Keeper Huang’s insults, Zhao Li simply repeated, “Kill the External Agents—can I trade their lives for another move or not?”

“Tsk, tsk.” Hei Shui clicked his tongue, lifting his teacup, then setting it down again as he scrutinized Zhao Li, who still had the semblance of a respectable man despite his actions.

After a long pause, Hei Shui finally responded, “As far as I know, this gentleman here is also an External Agent… And yet, you’re saying this right in front of him—doesn’t that seem a little inappropriate?”

Zhao Li replied indifferently, “He counts too. If you agree, I’ll kill him first.”

Pfft!

A crisp laugh suddenly rang out!

Turning toward the source, they saw that it was the Lustful Ghost, a voluptuous woman, covering her mouth as she chuckled.

Hei Shui asked, “Lustful Ghost, why do you laugh?”

The woman bowed slightly and replied, “Replying to the Black King, I just thought of something amusing.”

Hei Shui raised an eyebrow. “Oh? What is it? Let’s hear it.”

The woman smiled and said, “It’s just that this Golden Guard Zhao wants to trade the gentleman’s life for another attack. I find that hilarious.”

Hei Shui’s gaze grew thoughtful. “Oh? Are you saying that Golden Guard Zhao is overestimating himself?”

The lustful ghost nodded. “Precisely.”

Zhao Li’s face was a mask of forced restraint, but being mocked so blatantly by master and servant alike, he was already barely holding back the urge to kill. His voice grew icily sharp.

“Spare me the humiliation and just give me a straight answer. Yes or no?”

Hei Shui let out a long sigh and said, “Sir, my apologies… This wasn’t my idea—it’s just that he insists…”

“Ah, well, since you’re so determined, I’ll make the trade with you…”