Chapter 89: Counterattack

A few clusters of green struggled to grow in the desert, yet they could not escape the hungry mouths of the Gobi antelopes and vanished in an instant.

Plants were scarce on the Gobi, and animals living here had strong limbs, powerful running abilities, and were adept at long migrations; otherwise, they could not survive by finding enough food.

Among these animals, the Gobi antelope was a standout.

Standing beneath the weathered rocks opposite these patches of green, Meng Qi paused to catch his breath and regulate his energy. Suddenly, a feeling stirred in his heart, his brows furrowing deeply. He continued forward, using the elegant and swift Feng Shen Leg Technique to dash deeper into the Gobi.

Since opening his acupoints, the Zu Qiao point between his eyebrows seemed to have become even more refined, his Yuan Shen strengthened, and his spirit extended outward. Though still not matching masters like Duan Xiangfei and Cui Xu who had unlocked their secret spiritual treasures, he had surpassed others like Han Shi. He now possessed a subtle sixth sense, which might be right or wrong, but could not be verified.

Under these circumstances, Meng Qi dared not stop to verify whether his premonition was correct. He could only repeatedly change direction and accelerate according to this feeling, trying to escape the pursuit of An Guoxie, the “Bald Vulture.”

Logically, the vast desert, his greatly enhanced strength after opening his acupoints, and his extended spiritual perception should have already left An Guoxie, who had not anticipated this, far behind. Yet, An Guoxie chased him like a vulture circling in the sky, feeding on carrion, “looking down from above,” impossible to shake off!

“Indeed, there are no wrong nicknames, only wrongly given names,” Meng Qi sighed inwardly. Over the past day, he felt An Guoxie drawing closer and closer, giving him no chance to catch his breath. He had also lost his way, unable to determine his location on the Gobi. If he accidentally entered the dens of beasts or monsters deep within the desert, he would likely perish without a trace.

Of course, Meng Qi also had basic knowledge. At night, he could use the stars to determine directions and return to Liusha Gathering, as his master had taught. The only issue was needing to distance An Guoxie far enough so he could not interfere. Once he returned eastward through Liusha Gathering, An Guoxie, having lost his home advantage on the Gobi, would definitely be unable to track him again—”Feng Shen Leg” combined with “Huan Xing Da Fa” was indeed a great choice for escape.

If he couldn’t escape back to Liusha Gathering, Meng Qi still had other options: similarly distancing An Guoxie and then waiting for a common sandstorm in the desert. When flying sand and stones erased all traces, An Guoxie would absolutely lose his trail, at most deploying Batu’s bandits to conduct a wide search. However, ordinary bandits were nothing to Meng Qi, as long as he was careful, there would be no problem.

“How can I distance him far enough?” Meng Qi pondered while running.

He had another hidden concern: the only dried rations he had for snacks were already exhausted. Lighting a fire to roast meat would completely expose his position, so continuing to flee would mean eating raw flesh and blood from animals like antelopes, which would certainly not be a pleasant experience.

Meng Qi’s character contained a fierce and determined side. In situations like the Yin Huang Fortress, facing Cui Xu, he had been able to overcome his fear of death and launch desperate attacks. Therefore, after thinking for a while, he came up with a plan.

“I must turn around and bite An Guoxie back fiercely, forcing him to keep his distance or even seriously injure him, making him wary of mutual destruction and deterring further pursuit.”

Setting up an ambush during escape and counterattacking was an effective way to deter pursuers. Meng Qi was not arrogant enough to think he could truly defeat or kill An Guoxie, since the difference between opening two acupoints and nine acupoints was still significant. Even if Jiang Zhimei were here now, she could probably only use “Jian Chu Wu Wo” to fight An Guoxie to a mutual draw, perhaps gaining a slight advantage.

“Then that’s settled. He doesn’t know I’ve opened my acupoints, nor does he know I have ‘She Shen Jue.’ I’m sure I can give him a ‘surprise’… If I had the ‘Bao Yu Li Hua Zhen,’ I might really wound him seriously, forcing him to flee on his own.” Meng Qi quickly made a decision, then added with self-mockery, “Sigh, I always thought I’d be the wise and resourceful Zhiduoxing, teaching An Guoxie a lesson with my intelligence. Who knew I’d still have to rely on martial arts and sword techniques? Have I really become just a brute?”

Despite the self-mockery, he began searching for suitable terrain to counterattack and escape.

……

Gravel covered the ground, and gullies crisscrossed the area—this was where underground streams approached the surface, eroding the land before turning downward again to flow far beneath the earth.

In the center of these gullies, an overflow from the underground river formed a large puddle. Many Gobi animals came here to drink and quench their thirst, feeding on nearby plants. Predators also stealthily approached, planning to “feast” heartily.

When “Bald Vulture” An Guoxie arrived here in pursuit, he saw exactly this peaceful scene. He frowned slightly, his eyes glinting with light as he examined the surroundings, passing through numerous obstacles without missing any detail. Yet he only found traces of Meng Qi’s previous stop, failing to spot his current whereabouts.

His ears twitched, clearly hearing the sounds of wind and water, seemingly able to detect every creature’s movement. However, the antelopes’ calls and other animals’ drinking and chewing sounds interfered with the faintest sound sources, making it difficult for him to distinguish immediately.

His nose twitched, and various “images” of smells—moist water vapor, fragrant plants, and the pungent musk of antelopes—emerged in his mind. Indeed, there was Meng Qi’s scent, faint yet present, as if he had stayed here for quite some time.

He stepped forward to inspect the traces more carefully, but the Gobi animals, startled by his approach, neighed loudly and scattered in panic, disrupting his senses.

“If I had opened my Zu Qiao point and extended my spirit, I wouldn’t have disturbed these fools!” An Guoxie inwardly cursed, his desire for the young monk’s martial arts manuals growing even stronger.

Thud, thud, thud—several antelopes ran past An Guoxie.

Suddenly, a flash of swordlight erupted without warning from beneath an antelope’s belly, slashing toward An Guoxie!

Only at this moment did the intense killing intent erupt, filling An Guoxie’s vision and overwhelming his senses.

It wasn’t only familial love, romantic affection, or brotherly loyalty that could break one’s tranquility; greed, fear, anger, and hatred could equally shatter serenity forever!

Meng Qi “sacrificed himself,” burning his essence and blood, causing “Duan Qing Jing” to evolve into something different from before.

He held nothing back, revealing all his hidden cards because, knowing An Guoxie was aware of this sword technique, anything less than full effort would fail to seriously wound him—even though Meng Qi had opened his acupoints. The gap in strength was simply too vast. An Guoxie had already opened sensory acupoints like eyes, ears, and nose, while Meng Qi could only temporarily deceive him with “Huan Xing Da Fa.” Once he attacked, An Guoxie would sense it immediately and have time to react.

Therefore, a normal “Duan Qing Jing” couldn’t seriously wound him, nor could a second strike after using “She Shen Jue.” Either don’t act, or strike decisively!

His eyes locked onto An Guoxie, filled with an unyielding determination!

The swordlight was cold and sharp, brimming with killing intent.

“Those who haven’t opened their acupoints by twenty should be dragged out to feed the wolves!”

“Those who lose in battle must sever an arm themselves.”

“If you can’t kill your loved ones, then end your own life!”

“Dare to question the Patriarch? Throw them into the snake pit to enjoy the joy of being devoured by countless snakes.”

Previously witnessed scenes suddenly surfaced, like tiny arrows of fear piercing An Guoxie’s heart, making him terrified and willing to do anything to please the Patriarch!

Amidst infinite fear, An Guoxie seemed to see his younger brother’s eyes again—those eyes were pure as blue gems, as if saying, “Brother, I don’t want this nightmarish life. You live on for me.”

“Ahh!”

An Guoxie screamed piercingly, half due to the lingering fear from the Patriarch’s haunting presence in his midnight dreams, and half from the intense pain spreading from his neck down to his chest and abdomen.

His entire skeleton emitted cracking sounds, his body twisting strangely, like a boneless creature, a monstrous being made of sand, gathering with the wind and dispersing with it.

This was the “Kuang Sha Shen Gong,” which allowed his body to transform into sand. He had just begun to master it!

The jie dao (a type of Buddhist knife) slashed again, cutting open An Guoxie’s lower neck and chest, but afterward, it felt like striking sand, unable to deliver a decisive blow.

An Guoxie blocked the fatal strike. His right hand rose, striking Meng Qi’s jie dao with force.

Clang!

The jie dao, forged from hundred-refined steel, instantly snapped in two, flying sideways. Meng Qi held the remaining half, flipped like a sparrow hawk, and landed at the edge of a ravine.

“It’s impolite not to reciprocate!”

Meng Qi smiled politely, then, under An Guoxie’s astonished gaze, leaned backward, falling into the ravine.

After regaining his breath, An Guoxie’s wounds writhed. Cautiously, he approached the edge of the ravine and discovered a hidden underground river below, its water clear and winding into the depths of the earth, while the bald monk had already vanished with the current.

“He actually opened his acupoints!” An Guoxie gritted his teeth, saying that although this strike hadn’t taken his life, the sword intent had invaded his body, leaving deep wounds and serious injuries.

This was absolutely beyond the capability of someone at the Qi Accumulation Stage!

This bald monk had actually managed to open his acupoints while fleeing—an unexpected feat. Moreover, he had cultivated techniques like “She Shen Jue”!

An Guoxie gazed at the quietly flowing underground river, hesitating to jump down in pursuit. The ravine’s end plunged deeper underground, where the terrain was complex and confined, close to water sources, convenient for ambushes and disadvantageous to himself. Coupled with his current severe injuries and uncertainty about how long the monk could sustain himself after burning his essence and blood, recklessly pursuing might result in his demise within the underground tunnels.

For a master with all nine acupoints opened to die at the hands of a novice who had just opened his first acupoint, for a powerful figure ranked thirty-sixth on the Renbang (Personage List) to perish so humiliatingly—it would provoke endless ridicule!

“Hmph, don’t think you’ve escaped!” An Guoxie muttered with rising hatred. “I know this terrain well. What about you?”

He pressed several major acupoints, took out some pills, swallowed them, and after a brief period of recovery, began sprinting toward the next exit of this underground river according to his memory.

“I refuse to believe I can’t intercept you! If you don’t emerge at that exit, then die underground. The next exit is very, very far!”

The underground river twisted and turned. After burning his essence, the bald monk couldn’t last long. If I head straight on the surface, I might not fall behind!

This was the advantage of terrain in the elements of timing, situation, and geography!

…

Meng Qi floated up and down in the water, constantly bumping into protruding rocks. If not for the automatic protection of Jin Zhong Zhao, he would have been severely injured all over.

But he still felt terrible. After the effects of “She Shen Jue” faded, his body turned icy cold, and an inner weakness overwhelmed him, as if he were about to fall seriously ill.

Gradually, light emerged from the darkness. Meng Qi knew he had reached the next exit. Struggling, he crawled out of the underground river.

He dared not continue downstream, because with his current physical condition, he could not endure—it would only lead to death underground.

Shivering, Meng Qi struggled to climb up the ravine, shook off the water, and rushed toward nearby weathered rocks, intending to rest briefly before heading back to Liusha Gathering.

Just as he sat down, sudden clapping sounds echoed in his ears—clap, clap, clap.

“You’re strong. Among those who’ve just opened their acupoints, you’re the strongest I’ve seen. Just now, you nearly killed me,” An Guoxie said, his face pale, a smile on his lips, his chest wound still hideously open and not fully healed.

“And you’re clever. The only problem is that this is the Hanhai Desert, my territory on the Gobi.”