บท 121: Flying Cat Valley
Of course, I would not be so ungrateful as to ignore her entirely; however, Yan Tianhong's demeanor was notably frosty. Fortunately, she had never shown me any warmth, and I could tolerate her icy attitude. "Do you need anything? Can I assist you in any way?" Yan Tianhong appeared somewhat haggard, her ever-present five-foot-long blade gleaming as brightly as ever, yet her clothing was somewhat disheveled, as if she had just emerged from a grueling battle.
"Hmph! You can't be of any help; step aside!" Being dismissed by a girl was somewhat embarrassing, but I had always regarded Yan Tianhong as a friend. If it were the Wolf King or Jack speaking so, I would have surely kicked them aside to teach them a lesson about maintaining decorum.
Having successfully passed the fifth level of the Demon-Sealing Mercenary Corps training camp, my strength had indeed increased somewhat; perhaps I could be of some assistance.
When I first arrived on Demon Island, I was grateful for your gift of the Sandstorm Card and your guidance on what to do. If there is an opportunity for repayment, I would be more than willing to lend a hand.
Only then did Yan Tianhong cast a glance my way, coldly stating, "I am here to duel with someone; I don't require any interference."
A duel?
While I could not intervene, I could at least provide support to prevent the other party from resorting to underhanded tactics.
The prospect of a fight ignited my enthusiasm; since entering Demon Island, I had grown increasingly aggressive, despite not being particularly fond of physical confrontations in reality. Yan Tianhong showed no sign of rejecting my eagerness, instead casually remarking, "If you wish to watch the spectacle, then follow along; I have no time to wait for anyone!"
"I just had a hearty meal, so I could use the opportunity to digest; I'll keep up with you!"
Jokingly, I walked alongside Yan Tianhong, who remained as frosty as ever.
Her athletic attire was somewhat dirty, with several rips, and I had no clear understanding of her true strength. However, she had been on Demon Island longer than I had, so it was reasonable to assume she was not inferior to me. Moreover, at the French headquarters of the Demon-Sealing Mercenary Corps, the beautiful officer who had escorted me to the teleportation array had spoken of her with great admiration, which only heightened my anticipation and curiosity regarding Yan Tianhong's duel.
I wondered who it was that she was set to duel. I assumed I would not have the chance to be the hero rescuing the damsel in distress, but if a chaotic brawl ensued, I would certainly stand by her side, perhaps winning some favor in the process. I initially thought that the duel was not far off, but to my surprise, after leaving the Demon Island Grand Hotel, she immediately summoned a rugged off-road jeep. I awkwardly climbed into the vehicle with her, and we drove for nearly five hours before finally stopping in a valley.
The valley was already bustling with people, clearly divided into two factions. Yan Tianhong's arrival did not attract much attention, as individuals continued to stream into the valley.
It turned out that two violent groups were preparing for a confrontation. I decided to remain cautious to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
I had confidence in my combat abilities, but these were individuals who had lived on Demon Island for a long time; I had not yet become so arrogant as to consider myself invincible, dismissing others. I dutifully followed behind Yan Tianhong, listening to the chatter among her faction, gradually piecing together the situation. Both groups had obtained the same spatial card—Flying Cat Valley.
The conflict arose from a struggle for control over this valley, resulting in this grand negotiation, which had a high likelihood of devolving into violence. After Yan Tianhong exited the vehicle, she approached a group of six individuals who appeared to be core members. Both factions had a loosely organized structure, but the leaders were evident; Yan Tianhong's group clearly held the most authoritative presence among the six.
Upon her arrival, a handsome young man with a demeanor I found rather distasteful flashed a sycophantic smile and exclaimed, "Tianhong, you're here! Just in time; we were about to confront the Four Directions Group. Your presence at least gives us a threefold increase in our chances of success."
I had intended to join this core group, but an icy glare from one of the members effectively barred my entry. As I instinctively attempted to bolster my combat strength, I suddenly realized that at least fifteen energies were locking onto me. It was an intricate and profound sensation shared among martial arts experts. The true energy of these fifteen individuals surged with formidable intensity, weaving into a colossal energy field that constricted my breath. My latent energy felt like explosive fuel ignited, surging from my dantian and coursing through my body.
This confrontation seemed utterly futile; although the silver symbols on my hands offered no warning, I suppressed my burning fighting spirit and took a step back. I chose to retreat, and those energies vanished without a trace, leaving me with no opportunity to discern the direction from which my enemies had emerged.
I glanced up at the individual who had obstructed my entry into this core team.
He was a young man with gray eyes, his expression lifeless and devoid of vitality. His opulent attire seemed to drape over him like a sculpture, failing to enhance his imposing presence, instead resembling a sophisticated shroud of decay. The fifteen energies were evidently his subordinates. I repressed the urge to draw my skeletal war spear and summon the skeletal knight legion, quietly turning to leave.
Hmph, the situation is beyond my control; this is their territory, and if conflict arises, no one would come to my aid.
Yan Tianhong did not glance back, which left me feeling quite disappointed. It was only when I wandered to a less crowded area that I began to take note of the valley around me. This valley, known as Flying Cat Valley, derived its name from the peculiar small magical beasts that thrived here—wild flying cats with membranous wings. These cats resembled ordinary domestic cats, appearing in various colors such as calico, pure white, black, and tabby, their wings adding an extra layer of charm to their appearance.
In reality, these flying cats possessed an attack power that rivaled even the fierce Night Ladies. If not for the multitude of people gathered here, these small magical beasts would have launched a collective assault long ago.
The valley was now populated by two to three thousand individuals, with Yan Tianhong's faction slightly outnumbering the other, though their members appeared quite diverse, seemingly divided into numerous small groups.
Conversely, the opposing Four Directions Group was distinctly divided into four factions; while there was some discord, they were far more united than Yan Tianhong's side.
Suddenly, my communication card vibrated, and upon checking, I was mildly surprised to find a message from Snooker.
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