The Human Emperor (1-200)

C83: Spectre Steps

“Not good!”

Wang Chong’s previous action of tossing sleeping gas pellets has already left her wary. Despite her skills and courage, she subconsciously backed away. At the same time, her palm struck out and with incredible might, she warded off the ‘hidden weapons’ in midair.

“He got me again!”

Upon realizing that nothing happened with those ‘hidden weapons’ that he shot out, the assassin was incensed. She was already outwitted once when Wang Chong presented her with the Wootz steel sword just a moment ago, and this time, she was deceived yet again with the antidote of the sleeping gas pellet. How could the black-clothed female assassin tolerate such humiliation?

Wang Chong’s martial arts meant nothing to her, but yet, he was slippery as though a loach.

“If I were to allow you to escape from me, I should just kill myself now!”

Seeing that Wang Chong was about to leap out of the window as though a cat, the female assassin swiftly threw 3 one chi long daggers straight toward the window, sealing Wang Chong’s path of escape.

(one chi -> 33.3cm)

If Wang Chong were to charge out forcefully, he would surely be struck by those daggers.

At the same moment, the female assassin’s body blurred. Her speed abruptly increased several folds, and countless distorted and blurred shadows appeared in midair. Reminiscent of a spectre flitting through space, she immediately caught up with Wang Chong.

Ching!

Her sword tore through the darkness, falling straight toward Wang Chong’s neck.

“Spectre Steps!”

Wang Chong was taken aback. He finally understood how she managed to avoid the sentries and bypass Arloja and the other experts’ detection.

Since it was impossible to escape through the window, Wang Chong immediately huddled his body with a ‘Dragon Coiling its Body’ to stop his movement. At the same time, he executed the Celestial Steps and counterattacked with his Wootz steel sword!

Klang!

The crisp sound of metal echoed in the darkness. In a split moment, the female assassin’s sword was cut into two. The sharp sword tore through the other party’s sleeves, leaving behind a narrow wound on the other party’s white arms.

Before Wang Chong could dismember the other party, peng! An arm struck Wang Chong’s chest, and the massive strength sent Wang Chong flying backward. He crashed heavily into the wall and spurted a mouthful of blood. Severely wounded, his face was pale as a sheet of paper.

“What a sharp sword!”

In the darkness, the female assassin raised her arm to look at the faint cut on her arm. Her gaze fell upon the Wootz steel sword in Wang Chong’s hands and a hint of fear flickered across her eyes:

“I’ve heard that the number one swordsmith in the world has appeared in Great Tang, but I’ve never believed that rumor. Seems like you’re the one. ——Let me ask you, are you able to craft this sword?”

The female assassin flicked her wrist, and a xuan paper appeared in her hands. On it was the 7 chi long narrow sword which Wang Chong drew a moment ago.

After an intense fight, the female assassin didn’t continue to pursue Wang Chong. Instead, she asked about the seemingly unimportant blueprint instead. If it was anyone else, they would have definitely found the sight inconceivable.

But that wasn’t the case for Wang Chong.

Looking at the three cone-shaped daggers, Wang Chong’s mind was in turmoil.