Chapter 821 : Don't Ask for Death and You'll Live (4)
"Tasks assigned to me by my Lord will definitely be carried out properly. After the match tomorrow, I will continue to spread more rumours and I can guarantee my Lord that you will not be disappointed." Zhao Xun said cautiously.
The black robed man nodded, then he immediately turned and left.
After Zhao Xun watched respectfully as the man left, he finally sighed in relief, while at the same time, his heart leapt with joy.
Once the matter was concluded, endless luxuries and riches with a bright future awaited him!
Filled with high anticipation, Zhao Xun hummed a tune as he made his way back to the academy's inn. The delight on his face did not look like what someone who was about to face a strong adversary should be showing and his fellow disciples from the same academy began to whisper among themselves about it. Almost everyone was guessing the Zhao Xun must have received the "Crown Prince's benefits" and was going to forfeit his match tomorrow, and that was the reason he was being so carefree and relaxed.
As the night grew deeper Zhao Xun happily went back into his room and was intending to have a night of good dreams before he continued to carry out that man's orders. But when he pushed his room door open, he found the room pitch dark. He had not had time to light the candle yet but the room suddenly filled with candlelight when someone lit it.
Under the glow from the candle, Zhao Xun suddenly saw that several unfamiliar youths had appeared in his room!
"Who are you guys?" Zhao Xun asked in shock, staring at the youths in his room.
"It seems you do not recognise me." A delicate youth sitting on a chair said as he raised his eyes to look at the nervous Zhao Xun. Her brow lifted and a youth standing by the side of the door immediately shut it tight.
"What do you want?" Zhao Xun asked when he saw that the door was closed, and he tensed as he put up his guard. He looked at the youths a little more carefully and he realised that the people in his room were dressed in the Zephyr Academy's uniform!
"You are from the Zephyr Academy?" Zhao Xun immediately asked them.
"To be more precise, I am your opponent for tomorrow's match." The delicate looking youth said, as he glanced briefly at Zhao Xun.
......
Zhao Xun was surprised a moment as he looked at the small sized fourteen or fifteen year old looking youth in front of him, and his eyes suddenly showed shock. "You are Jun Xie! ?"
Jun Wu Xie nodded.
A bead of cold sweat rolled down from Zhao Xun's forehead. He looked at the other three youths in the room and could make a good guess at their identities.
"May I ask for what purpose has Young Master Jun come here to look for me on this night?" Zhao Xun was fighting to remain composed. He was not familiar with the people from the Zephyr Academy and at the moment when he realised that he was supposed to face Jun Xie in his next match, he had been worried. But after having been approached by the Lord, he no longer had any misgivings. But he had not expected that on the night before the match, Jun Xie would actually appear right before him!
"It's nothing. I am just here to ask if you will be taking part in the competition tomorrow." Jun Wu Xie asked softly, her eyes not showing the slightest ripple of emotion.
When Zhao Xun heard those words, he immediately smiled. He had wondered what it was all about. So, he was just asking about tomorrow's match!
The Zephyr Academy's performance had been outstanding in this year's Spirit Battle Tournament and with the exception of Jun Xie who had not fought a single battle, the others all possessed astounding powers. All the way from the first round, Jun Xie had advanced without having to lift a finger even though Jun Xie was the youngest and most green contestant in this year's Spirit Battle Tournament. Zhao Xun had heard that was because Jun Xie shared a rather strong relationship with the Crown Prince. Zhao Xun only knew that Jun Xie was the youngest contestant but as Jun Xie had not fought a single time, he did not think that Jun Xie possessed much power on his own but only knew the other three youths in his room were rather strong.
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Chapter 822 : Don't Ask for Death and You'll Live (5)
"So it is about this. Young Master Jun, please rest assured. For tomorrow's match, I will definitely not turn up, and Young Master Jun can continue to advance to the next round." Zhao Xun began to relax. From what he could see, Jun Xie will not reject an offer so advantageous to him.
Although the Lord was the one making the arrangements to convince him to forfeit, but wouldn't Jun Xie be glad to know that he would be able to advance unhindered as well tomorrow? Jun Xie must have thought that the Crown Prince was the one arranging everything for him and he had specially come all the way here tonight to ask whether his opponent would show up tomorrow for the tournament.
"Oh?" Jun Wu Xie asked, as an eyebrow raised up.
Zhao Xun laughed and continued to say: "It's the Crown Prince's wish and I will implore Young Master Jun to kindly accept it." The Lord had left instructions, that no matter who he was telling it to, he must say that Lei Chen was the one responsible for all these arrangements and Zhao Xun had naturally not dared to forget that.
"So you're telling me that this is all arranged by the Crown Prince?" Jun Wu Xie asked Zhao Xun, seemingly unmoved.
Zhao Xun nodded, but in his heart, he despised Jun Xie slightly. At such a young age, the boy had actually dared to come take part in the Spirit Battle Tournament and had even encountered such luck! It did not matter who was responsible for all of this but the fact was that Jun Xie was able to avoid facing any strong opponents and still advance effortlessly through the tournament which was just incredible and unbelievable luck, and JUn Xie should be feeling very glad about it.
Jun Wu Xie slowly picked up a cup of tea from the table at her side and took a tiny sip. Her gorgeous eyes lowered then and her lips parted slightly to call out: "Dumb Qiao."
"Here!" Qiao Chu who had been standing quietly at the side stepped forward.
"Hold him." Jun Wu Xie said softly.
Zhao Xun had not even had time to react when he saw the figure of Qiao Chu suddenly flashed before appearing right beside him. He had not even moved the slightest and Qiao Chu's leg had already swept out and kicked him behind the knees!
A wave of excruciating pain swept over him!
Zhao Xun's legs immediately gave out and he fell straight into a kneeling position before Jun Xie. He wanted to struggle to stand up but Qiao Chu's hand had already closed over his shoulder in a strong grip, holding him down helplessly on the ground.
......
"You!"
"One more word and I'll rip your tongue out." Jun Wu Xie slowly raised her eyes and her gaze were like two icy daggers as they pierced through Zhao Xun's body.
Zhao Xun was completely stunned as Jun Xie's terrifying pair of eyes locked onto him. Jun Xie's words had driven fear into his heart and when he wanted to retort, he saw that Fei Yan who was standing just beside Jun Xie had already drawn a dagger in his hand, its razor sharp edge gleaming in the low candlelight, and he quickly swallowed back the words that had been on the tip of his tongue.
[That kid wasn't kidding!]
[He is deadly serious!]
Cold sweat ran down Zhao Xun's face and he looked nervously at Jun Xie. Although he did not think Jun Xie would be a match for him but the powers of the others from the Zephyr Academy were well known to him. Just drag anyone of the others and they would be a blue level spirit and they were not what a powerless and weak orange spirit like him would be able to stand up to!
"You have the guts to set me up then you better be prepared to suffer the consequences. Do you think I am really so dumb?" Jun Wu Xie's brow raised up as she stared at the pale faced Zhao Xun, her voice so cold it sent chills running through him.
"I..... I..... did not....." Zhao Xun gulped loudly and not knowing why, the tendrils of fear began to creep into his heart.
The pair of eyes colder than empty wells looked as if they looked through his soul and all his lies had nowhere to hide.
"Who asked you to forfeit?" Jun Wu Xie then asked.
"It's the Crown Prince....."
Before Zhao Xun was able to finish his sentence, Qiao Chu who was holding him down immediately sent a punch to smash right on his face, and Zhao Xun's entire cheek immediately swelled up, an entire half of his face all puffed up!
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Chapter 823 : Don't Ask for Death and You'll Live (6)
The cry of pain had not even spilled out from Zhao Xun's mouth and Qiao Chu already had his hand over Zhao Xun's mouth. Zhao Xun's face immediately flushed red as the agony tore at him.
"Don't make me ask another time." Jun Wu Xie looked at Zhao Xun without the slightest tinge of sympathy, her eyes filled with a terrifying chill.
Qiao Chu slowly released his hand and Zhao Xun found that the hand that was gripped on his shoulder had shifted position and it was now clasped over his neck. The fingers flexed and Zhao Xun knew that Qiao Chu would only need to exert a bit of his strength and his neck could be snapped off easily.
Zhao Xun had never been put under such threat. He was a disciple from an ordinary academy and they were only used to stopping their battles at the first hit that landed in their friendly sparring matches, and today was the first time he had felt that Death was hovering so close to him!
He was frantic as he looked at Jun Xie who was sitting straight backed in her chair, the sliver of disdain in his heart had quickly turned into fear. Not even in his dreams would be have dreamt that the one kid that everyone in all the academies had classified as a douchebag, and had relied entirely on the Crown Prince to advance in the tournament, could be so vicious and merciless!
"You..... What do you want from me? This place is filled with disciples from the Hua Wan Academy, don't tell me you will really dare to kill me here? If you really do that, it will only be much worse for you tomorrow at the match!" Fear had turned Zhao Xun's body cold, but he still did not dare to speak the truth. If he spoke a single word about it, even if Jun Xie spared his life, the Lord would never let him off.
"You are welcome to try me." Jun Wu Xie shrugged as she spoke, not shaken in the least by Zhao Xun's threat.
Zhao Xun was about to say something moor but Jun Wu Xie had no patience to hear his nonsense. She nodded to Qiao Chu and his hand clasped around Zhao Xun's neck suddenly tightened!
It was just for one moment! Zhao Xun's face was now green, struggling desperately as he tried with everything he could to try to pry off Qiao Chu's hand. But his tiny bit of strength was not able to move Qiao Chu in the slightest.
"If not for that bit of use we have for you, you would already be dead now." Jun Wu Xie said staring coldly at the deathly pale Zhao Xun. She had not made any moves before this because she had not been sure how harsh the Emperor would be in his methods against Lei Chen. But that did not mean she would forever stay silent and allow herself to be used as a pawn continually.
If he had the guts to set her up, he should be well prepared to face Death up close!
Zhao Xun's face had turned purple over that deathly pale and his four limbs were twisted up in agony as they struggled in vain. His eyes were wide and both his hands were clamped in a deathgrip on Qiao Chu's sleeve, his eyes filled with hopelessness.
......
"Let him go." Jun Wu Xie said just before Zhao Xun was about to suffocate to death.
Qiao Chu released his grip.
Fresh air rushed into his chest once more as Zhao Xun lay in a heap on the floor coughing violently. The agonizing feeling that death almost had him just the moment before choked him so badly that tears and mucus were smeared all over his face. He cared not about it in the least as the mind numbing fear wrecked incessantly at his entire being. He struggled to lift his head as he fearfully looked at the apathetic figure sitting upon the chair. He did not hold the slightest doubt that the next time he dared to avoid answering directly, Jun Xie would not hesitate to have Qiao Chu kill him!
"I..... I do not know who he is..... He came to me after the drawing of lots finished. He..... he asked me to forfeit the match in the next round, and wanted me to hint to everyone around me that this was all the work of the Crown Prince..... I really do not know who he is! Everything I said is the truth!" Zhao Xun was crying as he spoke, tears mixing with mucus all over his face, a real wretched sight.
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Chapter 824 : Don't Ask for Death and You'll Live (7)
Zhao Xun was really afraid. He had never seen such a tyrannical youth, one that allowed absolutely no room for any manoeuvring, so harsh that one did not dare conceive any other deviant thoughts or inclinations.
"Speak." Jun Wu Xie's cold voice said.
Zhao Xun shivered and immediately spilled everything he knew.
It was revealed that Zhao Xun had met the black robed man the same night he had finished his draw for his next opponent while on his way back to their Academy's allocated inn. That man had ordered a few men to have him abducted and he had not clearly stated his identity. The man had then told Zhao Xun that as long as he did what he was told, Zhao Xun would be able to gain everything that he wished for.
"He did not tell me who he was and told me to only address him as Lord. I saw that he wore good quality clothes, and moreover..... his subordinates were highly powerful. He then wanted me to spread rumours against the Crown Prince and I thought that he should be holding a rather high post as well....." Zhao Xun said honestly, too terrified to harbour any thoughts of subterfuge. He had initially been suspicious of the black robed man's identity as not many people in the Yan Country possessed the capability to go against the Crown Prince afterall. But when he found out that his fate would end in the same manner as the previously murdered contestant if he did not adhere to his orders, Zhao Xun did not dare probe anymore into it.
"He had said, if I do not do as what he had ordered, I can forget about walking out of the Yan Country alive! I really did not dare defy him!" Zhao Xun said still in tears.
Jun Wu Xie did not give him any reply and merely lowered her eyes as she thought over all that Zhao Xun had said. Zhao Xun's answer had been rather close to what she had guessed. If the culprit's intentions were to use the Spirit Battle Tournament to drag Lei Chen off the horse, his mentality should be highly similar to the Qi Kingdom's previous Emperor. With Zhao Xun's humble status, he would not have met the mastermind directly. Hence, the Lord that Zhao Xun had mentioned was probably just a henchman of the person at the top.
"Brother Hua." Jun Wu Xie called suddenly.
Hua Yao stepped forward from the side.
"Have you taken a good look at his countenance?" Jun Wu Xie asked, pointing at Zhao Xun on the ground.
Hua Yao turned and carefully scrutinized Zhao Xun once over before he turned back around and said: "I have."
Jun Wu Xie slowly nodded and turned to look at Zhao Xun once more, and her cold chilly voice sounded.
......
"You can die now."
Zhao Xun was shocked and he hastily tried to get up. "I..... I have told you everything..... I have revealed all that I know..... Why..... You cannot..... cannot kill....."
Zhao Xun had not had time to finish his sentence when Qiao Chu who was standing behind him suddenly clasped his hands over his chin and over his head and gave a mighty twist!
A sharp crack sounded and Zhao Xun's neck had been effortlessly snapped in two.....
Zhao Xun slipped limply onto the ground into a motionless heap. Even upon the moment of his death, he still had not realised how merciless and vicious Jun Wu Xie could become, who had order for his life to be extinguished without the slightest hesitation.
"Tsk tsk. Little Xie, you wanted him killed just like that, so how should be handle the situation from here?" Qiao Chu asked, rubbing at his chin as he stared at the motionless heap before him.
Jun Wu Xie's eyes narrowed. "I don't like being framed like this."
Instead of wasting time having to deal with trash like that, it would be easier to just kill them off, clean and easy.
Qiao Chu shrugged. Jun Wu Xie's show of resolute determination to unhesitatingly rid herself of her enemies here made Qiao Chu think back to Jun Wu Xie's "gentle" and passive demeanor back at the Zephyr Academy then. Those guys back at the Zephyr Academy must have been piously burning their joss sticks.
"Since the opponent is not giving us a way out, then we do not have to show them any mercy. I would really like to see how will emerge victorious this round." Jun Wu Xie said coldly. Since they had already formed an alliance with Lei Chen, and the Yan Country's Emperor was continuing to play in such a manner, she was only too willing to tangle with him!"
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Chapter 825 : Don't Ask for Death and You'll Live (8)
The silence before, had just been because the matter had not affected her. But that position had changed and Jun Wu Xie's stance and actions on the matter had evolved as well.
"Cough, what are we going to do with the body?" Qiao Chu asked, clearing his throat, lighting a pair of candles for the Yan Country's Emperor in his mind. He might not know much about many things, but he had heard from Fei Yan that Jun Wu Xie had been intricately involved in the regime change of the Qi Kingdom.
One Qi Kingdom, one Qing Yun Clan, and in addition to those, the Zephyr Academy. Jun Wu Xie's "outstanding achievements" had been nothing short of absolute brilliance and the Yan Country's Emperor could very well fall to become another one of Jun Wu Xie's "achievement portfolio".
Jun Wu Xie took out a white porcelain bottle and tossed it to Qiao Chu.
"Sprinkle it over the body."
Qiao Chu nodded and he went on to sprinkle the unidentified powder over Zhao Xun's body. In a blink, the corpse was quickly rotting under the white powdery substance bit by bit. Even the bones were not spared and within some short minutes, an entire dead body that was just lying on the ground had been turned into a bloody and watery puddle. Jun Wu Xie took the basin of clean water in the room and poured it over the ground, quickly rinsing off the light traces of blood that was left completely.
With the matter resolved and almost finished, Hua Yao got his hands on a suit of the Hua Wan Academy's uniform in Zhao Xun's room and the companions quietly left the place the same way they came.
Early the next morning, the Spirit Battle Tournament began their next round of matches and disciples from the various academies started out early to make their way to the respective arenas. The Hua Wan Academy still had three disciples who made it to this round of the competition and the three had initially wanted to wait for Zhao Xun before the made their way out but they did not see any sign of him even after waiting for a long while. They went to Zhao Xun's room to knock and there was no answer and they were just thinking it to be rather strange when they suddenly remembered that Zhao Xun had returned late last night and he had clearly demonstrated that he would not be taking part in today's competition. When they recalled who Zhao Xun's opponent was today, the youths then gave up and left.
They were thinking that Zhao Xun must have accepted the Crown Prince's offer and given up on the tournament.
That kind of a situation was no longer strange.
The number of people in the first battle district had reduced by quite a number and compared to the bustling and crowded scene from before, the atmosphere in the arena was now a lot more relaxed. The youths who had gone there early were warming up and preparing themselves for their upcoming matches. They had exchanged views and pointers they had picked up over the last few rounds and had gotten familiar with each other while they chatted among themselves.
The battle stage area was still a clamour of noise but when a tiny figure appeared before the doors of the first battle district, the entire arena immediately fell silent. All their eyes had unconsciously turned to look at the small and petite figure entering the arena.
......
"What is he here for?" Some youths said with disgust as they stared at Jun Xie walking into the arena. In the last few rounds since the beginning of the tournament, Jun Xie had not even battled once as his opponents had all forfeited in every round. That had caused the disciples who had battled tooth and nail in every one of their battles to get where they were at to be highly displeased.
"Is he just going through the motions? He knows he will not have to battle anyway."
"Isn't his opponent today Zhao Xun?"
"That's right. I was drinking with Zhao Xun last night and he had already told us that he won't be showing up today. Even by thinking through the toes, anyone would know that a certain someone must have gone crying to His Highness, the Crown Prince and asked the Crown Prince to deal with his upcoming opponent. What luck! People like us will not be able to swallow that kind of fortune." Several youths said, talking loudly in scorn. There were both people who envied Jun Xie and there were those who held him in contempt.
And within the crowd there, Qu Ling Yue's face was creased up in a frown, looking worriedly at the figure of Jun Xie who was slowly walking into the arena.