Volume Two: The Devil’s Game Chapter Twenty: The Gale-Following Squad

A splash.

Lu Yi surfaced, and at once he noticed something drifting beside him. One glance was enough to brighten his expression, and he promptly took it into his inventory.

“Looks like that lump of iron isn’t getting back up. Let him cool off at the bottom for a while.”

As he spoke, he tapped his earphone. “Are you still with me, viewers? This thing shouldn’t be broken, right? The description did say it was waterproof, with an ultra-long battery life.”

Black Phosphorus: “Streamer, you’re evil. The Warden was so heavy, and after all that trouble reaching that spot, you even kicked him once more. Heehee.”

“I’m a Husky, Actually: Honestly, this move felt so satisfying to watch. I’ve got this strange thrill in my heart. I really want to go kick him myself.”

Phoenix: “Streamer, impressive. Was this part of your plan too?”

“Yandere Fairy: Streamer, you’re so wicked. I feel like I’ve found my kindred spirit. I’m a little tempted, what do I do?”

“Sweetheart Yiyi: Streamer, you’re too bad. Looks like the Warden has no way out now. Could it be he has to stay underwater until the next time you ride your blade?”

Lu Yi shook his head. “Sigh, this wasn’t even my doing. I kept telling him that chasing me would lead nowhere. This outcome is already pretty good. If he were the sort who could chase me for half an hour, he’d have to stay in the water ten more minutes.”

Black Phosphorus: “Streamer, that was so rude. I love it.”

Black Phosphorus gifted Streamer Lu Yi 100 pairs of roller skates.

“I’m a Husky, Actually: Streamer, aren’t you afraid the Warden will dig up from underwater like before? Doge.”

Lu Yi climbed back onto the broken bridge and continued, “Afraid of what? Let him dig. He’s probably still stuck in the mud right now, maybe not even able to move his legs. By the time he tunnels his way out, two hours might already be up. Might as well wait for the next blade ride.”

When he finished, his expression changed. That tiny shift was immediately caught by the sharp-eyed viewers in the stream.

“Handsome but Nasty: Streamer, what did you notice? Why did your expression change just now?”

Lu Yi gave a dry laugh. “Nothing. My clothes are just soaked through and clinging to me. It’s a little uncomfortable.”

Black Phosphorus: “It’s fine, just change. We won’t sneak a peek. We’ll watch openly.”

Yandere Fairy: “Exactly. Don’t be shy, streamer. Heehee.”

“I’m a Husky, Actually: Come on, streamer, loosen up and let me look. Let’s compare physiques.”

Lu Yi’s face darkened. He glanced around, silently cursing the cameraman, who knew where, and then stepped off the wooden bridge and left the area.

What Lu Yi did not know was that his actions had been seen not only by the viewers in the stream, but by another person as well: Ma Yan.

Following the direction he had already mapped out in his mind, Lu Yi pressed onward. If he found any unopened chests nearby, he would open them on the way. Soon eight minutes had passed, and a streak of light rose in the distance.

“Oh? Looks like the lump of iron shot up from the bottom.”

He said it with utter insouciance.

Black Phosphorus: “Streamer, want to go find him again?”

A great many viewers echoed the same suggestion. Lu Yi shook his head. “No hurry. I’ll set the stage first and give him a little surprise.”

The streak of light swept across the horizon, then plunged straight toward a certain place. Before the dust even settled, the Warden’s roar came booming from within:

“I am finally out! You wretches, come at me and let me sacrifice you to my blade!”

Ge Wendong and the others looked on in a panic.

“Captain, he was chasing us less than twenty minutes ago. How is he back again now?” Wang Ge said softly, clutching his bow beside the captain.

At Wang Ge’s words, the other members of the Gale Squad also looked grim. They all recalled the humiliating scene from before.

It turned out the place where the Warden landed was not far from them at all, so it was only natural that he immediately launched an assault on their position.

Though the Gale Squad had not been doing anything while the Warden was occupied, they had still observed him for some time. They found that the trial-takers chased by the Warden were all running in utter disarray, unable to protect themselves properly. In their hearts, the Warden’s menace had risen several notches.

But then, quite suddenly, there appeared Lu Yi, this oddity among oddities. The Gale Squad watched him and the Warden locked in an embrace, watched him get knocked senseless and end up in the Warden’s grasp, watched him escape again, and even run with the Warden in tow for half an hour. Seeing all this, their view of the matter unconsciously changed.

If Lu Yi could survive against the Warden alone, then what was there for a whole group of them to fear? As a result, they naturally grew contemptuous. When the Warden descended, they did not flee; instead, they stood there and criticized him to his face.

With that kind of temper, the Warden naturally struck back without mercy.

The Gale Squad responded with no less vigor. But just as Lu Yi had expected, the more force they used to oppose the Warden, the faster his combat strength climbed.

At first, the Gale Squad applied a slowing effect to the Warden. Although Wang Ge’s ordinary attacks did little damage, they still kited him with easy laughter.

Who would have thought the Warden would suddenly unleash a charge skill? If not for the shield fighter stepping in, they would have suffered casualties. But even more shocking was the blade qi he unleashed.

Then, all at once, he gained tremendous resistance to negative effects. How could the Gale Squad dare continue fighting? They could only scatter and flee in all directions. Compared with Lu Yi’s effortless, almost leisurely performance, this scene could only be called a textbook case of a team wiping out in style.

While they were fleeing, they ran into Jade Toad, who was also on the run. For the sake of safety, they placed a debuff on Jade Toad.

Suffering that debuff, Jade Toad then encountered the Warden in a strengthened state, and naturally ended up in the Warden’s grasp as well.

“Run! You still want to fight?” Ge Wendong barked, and the entire Gale Squad broke into full retreat.

“You vermin.” The Warden sprang into the air and smashed down into the center of the formation.

“Deng Yuqi!” Ge Wendong cried out in alarm.

“I’ve got it.” Yang Tonghua immediately shoved Deng Yuqi aside and raised his shield to meet the Warden.

The Warden’s great blade stabbed straight into the tower shield. Yang Tonghua let out a dull groan, then was hurled backward by the monstrous force. In midair, his shield split cleanly in two.

“Die for me!” The Warden glared at Deng Yuqi, the nearest target, and swung his blade from below to above, drawing out a dazzling arc of light.

“Aaah!” Ge Wendong roared in fury, leaping up with his greatsword to smash into the Warden’s blade.

The blade qi and the energy on the greatsword collided at once, blasting Deng Yuqi, who stood nearest, clear off his feet.

“Heh.” The Warden gave a cold laugh. The armor on his arm suddenly swelled larger.

Ge Wendong had originally been relying on his skill just to barely contend with the Warden. Now that the Warden’s strength had increased yet again, Captain Ge quickly fell into a disadvantage. His greatsword was knocked flying, and with the weapon gone, the long blade continued its unstoppable descent toward him.

“Captain!” Amid the cries of his teammates, Ge Wendong’s aura abruptly changed, clearly indicating that his innate talent had been activated. He dodged with greater agility, but still a fraction too slowly.

At the very last instant, an arrow entwined with wind-element power slammed into the Warden’s blade, causing it to stall for a brief moment before continuing to rise.

Using the opening created by his teammate, Ge Wendong finally escaped with his life. He retreated several steps and seized the greatsword embedded in the ground.

The Warden twisted his neck and looked at Wang Ge. “So it was you who spoiled my good deed just now.”

“That’s right.” Wang Ge had already drawn his bow to the full. Threads of wind-element energy gathered upon the arrow. His fingers loosened, and the arrow screamed toward the Warden.

“Tch.” The Warden waved his left hand and caught the arrow outright. With a sudden squeeze, he crushed it to pieces.