Chapter 1320: It’s Easier To Take A Life If You Spare Them Some Face

It was at this moment a massive, pale white paper doll appeared behind Ghost Taisui. It wore an eerie, anomalous smile on its face as it punched Ghost Taisui on the back.

The boundless night shuddered without a sound, and a muffled grunt and a spit of blood escaped Ghost Taisui’s lips. His silhouette slowly turned solid, and he reappeared in White Bone Monastery once more.

At the same time, a bell appeared above the giant ghoul’s head. It swayed a little, but no sound came.

That was fine though. After all, the world was swaying, and yin and yang plummeted into chaos.

The grandest sound doesn’t sound like much; the greatest sights are usually seamless. Just like that, the ghoul disintegrated bit by bit into primal chaos.

The bronze bell was still descending and getting bigger by the second. A loud thunk later, the entire White Bone Monastery was trapped inside the bell.

Ye Qing smiled at Ghost Taisui and said, “Leaving already? Since you’re already here, you might as well take a seat.”

Ghost Taisui paid him no attention though. Instead, he looked at a certain point in space and said, “Papersmith? You dare to ambush me, but not show your face?”

Papersmith did not show his face. He remained hidden in the darkness.

“It’s fine, Old Zhang. Show Ghost Taisui your face. Just think of it as you fulfilling his last wish.”

“As you wish, young master,” Papersmith responded indifferently as he stepped out. “I told you I’ll come for you, Ghost Taisui. And now, I am here!”

“

Young master?

” Ghost Taisui never finished listening to Papersmith’s words because the appellation “young master” alone stole all of his attention. “W-What is your relationship with each other?”

At first, he thought that the duo were joining hands to defeat him. He also thought that Papersmith was the mastermind of this plan, and Ye Qing the support. That was why he hadn’t even looked at Ye Qing besides the beginning. But now, it looked like he was mistaken.

“That’s simple. I am the servant, and he is my master,” Papersmith answered.

“You are the

servant?

” Shock and disbelief filled Ghost Taisui’s eyes. “And he is your

master?

How is this possible?”

“Why not? If you can submit to that vermin who calls himself a celestial, why can’t I submit to my young master? Actually, scratch that, I do not want to compare masters with you. That will only besmirch the honor of my young master.”

Papersmith cracked a smile on his honest-looking face. He seemed very pleased with Ghost Taisui’s reactions. “Allow me to tell you another secret. Young master’s the mastermind behind what is befalling you today.”

“Ahem... low profile, Old Zhang! A wise man keeps a low profile, understand?” Ye Qing coughed twice. “Besides, you’re utterly embarrassing him. What was that saying again? We should respect the deceased. He’s a dead man walking, so we should give him some face, don’t you think?”

“You make sense, young master.” Papersmith nodded and shut his mouth.

“It was you?” Ghost Taisui ignored their banter and looked at Ye Qing abruptly. “It was you who did all this?”

“It is I,” Ye Qing admitted.

“No, that’s impossible. I refuse to believe it.” Ghost Taisui shook his head disdainfully, though the unease peeking through his features betrayed his true feelings.

“Nothing is impossible. If I can screw you over once, what makes you think I can’t do it twice?” Ye Qing remarked in an indifferent tone. “Oh, I guess that isn’t right. This is one long scheme from the start until the end. You just didn’t know you were being screwed until now.”

“What do you mean?” Ghost Taisui looked confused.

“You didn’t think it was a coincidence that Xiahou Zun, Wan Lingxiao, and Long-browed Divine Monk just happened to appear at East Radiance Mountain and ambush you and Xuanyuan Kun, did you?”

Ye Qing smirked. “No, it was no accident. I’m the one who invited them over. I’m also the one who told them you are in cahoots with Xuanyuan Kun.”

“It was you? It was you all along?!”

Ghost Taisui’s eyes looked like they might pop out of their eye sockets, but he shook his head immediately and said, “No, that’s not right. How do you even know that the celestial sovereign is still alive? Not even Xiahou Zun and his allies know, so how could you? You’re lying!”

“I don’t get it. Just because they’re unaware doesn’t mean that I’m unaware as well.”

Ye Qing said matter-of-factly, “Case in point. I knew you would be here, but they don’t.”

“I don’t mind telling you how I deduce it all. It all began from you wanting to capture me alive.”

Ghost Taisui exclaimed in disbelief, “That’s it?”

“Isn’t that enough?”

Ye Qing countered, “I offended you, so you’re going to kill me. If that was your reaction, then I wouldn’t have any questions whatsoever. However, you were going to capture me alive at all costs. At all costs! That is very strange, isn’t it?”

“After ruminating it over, I decided that there is only one person who needed to capture me alive for his purpose: Xuanyuan Kun. Naturally, Xuanyuan Kun must be alive, and you must have colluded with him.”

“Assuming that my deductions are correct, you will definitely appear during the heroes’ arena. You will definitely keep me alive. You will never allow another to get their hands on me first.”

“After that, you know what happened. I contacted the three Sages so that they can catch you like a fish.”

Ye Qing’s smile grew wider. “Of course, it would be ideal if they could kill you there and then. It would save me a lot of trouble.”

“If they failed, it didn’t matter either. I am perfectly happy with tackling the two of you myself. After all, even if the two of you managed to escape, there is no way you can do it unscathed. You would also contact your subordinates as soon as possible because you are desperate to recover. So, all I need to do is to wait for you to show up at your headquarters.”

“Oh right, you’ve probably figured it out already, but Sunlao Taijun, Taoist of Sleep, and the rest of your little gang? They’re all mine now.”

“Do you understand now, Ghost Taisui, Xuanyuan Kun?”

A few breaths of silence later, Ghost Taisui spoke up, “Interesting. Interesting. I must admit that I’ve underestimated you.”

The Sage had stopped looking panicked and afraid, however. Instead, his voice had become regal, dignified, and inviolable.

Clearly, Xuanyuan Kun had taken over.

“We meet again, celestial sovereign.” Ye Qing did not seem surprised by his appearance.

“Yes, we meet again.”

Xuanyuan Kun’s voice was as deep as the sea, but as still as dead water. “You’re good. You have what it takes to become my disciple and inherit my mantle.”

“I can take you in as my disciple, teach you the celestial ways, aid you in forging your Way, and become as long-lived as the sky itself. Are you willing?”

“Haha! Haha! Hahahaha[1]!” Ye Qing burst out laughing.

Xuanyuan Kun frowned. “Why are you laughing?”

“If I remember correctly, that’s more or less what you said to me back at the Kunlun Ruins, and I had accepted your proposal at the time.”

Ye Qing taunted, “But what happened? You tried to take over my body immediately. Now, you are trying to repeat the same trick? Do you really think I’m as foolish as the idiot you’re possessing right now?”

Xuanyuan Kun said evenly, “I admit I made a mistake back at Kunlun Ruins, but now, my offer is sincere.”

“With your intelligence and your talent, you will surely become a Sage in a year and reach the pinnacle of the martial way in three years. You will become invincible.”

“When it is time, you will become the master of all under the heavens. You will become a god on earth. The warriors will sing your name in the

jianghu

, and the citizens will pray to you in temples. You will be remembered for all eternity.”

Xuanyuan Kun’s tone was plain and matter-of-fact. That was what made it sound like he was wholly sincere. Be it Sunlao Taijun, Taoist of Sleep, or even a Sage like Papersmith, they all felt excited and hopeful on Ye Qing’s behalf.

1. Yeah I would burst out laughing too if I was Ye Qing. ☜