Calamity Messenger-Chapter 96 - 76: Jiang Shi’s Departure (Second Update)

Chapter 96: Chapter 76: Jiang Shi’s Departure (Second Update)

The only one who didn’t put on an act in front of Chen Liexia was the disheveled Jiang Shi. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Although she survived the world-ending Thunder Blade Arc, the right half of her body was charred black and was obviously crippled. Even with her exceptional combat talent, she couldn’t completely evade the attack from a Foundation Establishment powerhouse.

Even if she could defeat four Third-Turn Messengers and instantly kill thirty-six soldiers of the Divine Strategy Camp, she was still no match against a Foundation Establishment powerhouse.

"No chance." Jie Yuan Shao’s voice trembled, and when Jiang Shi was truly in danger, she couldn’t help but worry for Jiang Shi: "She should have run faster... It’s over."

Shang Xinlei tightly hugged Qian Gongyu, but her own legs went limp. However, Qian Gongyu wasn’t as reckless as she imagined, nor was she so fearless of death. Upon seeing Chen Liexia, her residual beast instincts incessantly urged Qian Gongyu to flee immediately.

Facing a terrifying existence that could easily snuff out one’s life, both humans and beasts cannot remain rational.

Except for Jiang Shi.

"Heh."

Everyone was filled with fear; they couldn’t fathom why Jiang Shi was able to laugh out loud—even a madman should know fear in the face of the might of a Foundation Establishment powerhouse, right?

"Prison-Suppressing Thunder King, Prison-Suppressing Thunder King..." Jiang Shi laughed so joyously that tears were about to fall from her eyes. Even Qian Gongyu had never seen her with such an audacious smile. She pointed at Chen Liexia and laughed: "You, a mere Fourth-Turn Messenger, dare to call yourself the Prison-Suppressing Thunder King? Hahaha, funny, funny!"

The oppressive aura from Chen Liexia withdrew but somehow felt even more terrifying, like a thunder ready to strike. His voice was calm as he earnestly responded: "I also think the title Prison-Suppressing Thunder King is exaggerated, but people exalt and praise me, so inevitably I took some pride and accepted this title, hoping one day to live up to it. You’re the first to dare to point this out. Lin Chuan said you’re extraordinarily gifted, steeped in pride, and not a bit wrong."

Jiang Shi stopped laughing and said, "It seems that someone capable of a Foundation Establishment Fourth Transition is unlikely to be trash."

"Though I don’t know what secret you’re hiding or your background, you will spill it all out." Chen Liexia glanced around: "As the cost of your insubordination and the murder of the Court’s Left Cavalry Guard, Zhou Ye, and Chen Linchuan, let’s start by crippling your limbs."

Before the words were finished, the broadsword had already swung down. Qian Gongyu and the others couldn’t help but close their eyes, unable to bear witnessing the bloody scene to follow.

However, the sound that reached their ears wasn’t of flesh and blood shredding, but rather a resonant ’gong’ as if a giant bell had been struck.

Chen Liexia’s broadsword stopped in front of Jiang Shi, halted by a golden protective shield enveloping her completely. She held a board in her left hand, with two grandly written characters engraved on it.

Return.

Shang Xinlei felt a stirring in her heart, vaguely recalling that the rightmost peculiar item among the three options in Jiang Shi’s treasure box earlier was indeed a token—could it be this item?

But hadn’t Jiang Shi chosen the Secret Technique Book already?

"Return?"

Perhaps Jiang Shi’s mocking smile was too provocative, for Chen Liexia’s voice suddenly turned cold, and the fury already burning within him was evident: "Do you think this token will ensure your safety?"

"Let me show you what Fourth Turn, what Foundation Establishment truly means!"

In an instant, countless bolts of lightning struck down, and the entire grassland transformed into a scene of catastrophe, with Chen Liexia as both the executioner and the emissary of calamity! Wielding his broadsword, he summoned both thunder and fire, with a tempest of myriad bolts crashing down!

In this moment, everyone understood why his moniker was the Prison-Suppressing Thunder King.

Truly worthy of the name, everyone marveled.

But gradually, all eyes shifted from the Prison-Suppressing Thunder King to the unwavering golden glow before him. Despite the unreserved onslaught from the Foundation Establishment powerhouse, which gouged the ground three feet deep, the golden light remained unscathed and even floated mid-air without the slightest shift!

The thunderbolt ceased, the lightning dissipated, and Chen Liexia halted.

He looked at Jiang Shi with a grave expression, "What is this object?"

"Return Order, it allows me to return to a safe place. While the Return Order is in effect, not even Immortal Gods could shake me the least bit," Jiang Shi calmly stated, "So, farewell here."

Shang Xinlei, Qian Gongyu, and Jie Yuan Shao felt a sense of foreboding, understanding that Jiang Shi’s words were directed at them.

Farewell, Mansu Forest Land.

Farewell, my comrades.

"Having narrowly escaped, it’s best if you never set foot in Liang Kingdom again." Chen Liexia said coldly, "Liang Kingdom has no room for lawless outlaws."

"If I ever set foot in Liang Kingdom again, I will ask you once more," the golden light around Jiang Shi grew more radiant to the point where no one could see her silhouette, only hear her last words:

"Will you stand against me?"

The golden light transformed into a streak merging with the night, and the Mansu Forest Land returned to tranquility. Everyone blankly watched this scene, as if trying to deeply etch the figure of that woman into their memories.

Renowned in Mansu, defying Third Turn, provoking Foundation Establishment.

She passed like a meteor, yet the lives of many present were forever changed because of her.

"What are you dawdling for?" Chen Liexia sternly said, "Hurry and treat the wounded, and gather the corpses?"

Everyone awoke as if from a dream, and the camp resumed its usual busyness. Jie Zilong and Shang Yue wanted to discuss matters with Chen Liexia, but seeing him gazing at the stars while gripping the broadsword tightly, they understood that the heart of the Prison-Suppressing Thunder King was not at peace.

...

...

Meanwhile, at the Ping City Military Camp a thousand miles away.

While eating, Ye Si suddenly stood up, donned his helmet, picked up his weapon, and headed to the stable, with soldiers from his team quickly following, "Team Leader, where are you going so late?"

"To pick someone up."

"Oh, for something like this you just need to tell us, we can——"

"I must go personally, there’s no need for you to go."

"No way, the Team Leader can’t go alone?"

Therefore, they reached the camp gate, and before Ye Si could speak, the soldiers commanded the guards to open the gate. Departing the camp at night was clearly against military regulations, but since the visitor was the well-favored Ye Si, greatly admired by Commander Gai, the guards didn’t want to stir trouble and opened the gate.

In Ping City, Ye Si moved slowly on horseback, causing impatience among the soldiers, who didn’t dare speak up. Upon exiting the city gate, Ye Si urged his horse into a gallop, carrying a torch, they rode down the highway. Someone curiously asked, "Leader, who are you picking up? Is it your parents?"

"A friend."

"A friend from your hometown? How strong are they?"

"Stronger than me."

Stronger than the Team Leader? The image of a mighty, rugged Northern Border man with a leopard’s head and eyes, standing eight feet tall, flashed through everyone’s minds. They wondered if the Secret Realm Madman was about to become a duo now?

They soon reached an abandoned village near Ping City, dismounted following Ye Si, and by torchlight, they instantly saw Ye Si’s ’friend’ as they stood beside him.

It was hard not to see, after all, a beauty of unparalleled elegance, half-torched and bathed in blood, appearing in a desolate abandoned village was more dazzling than moonlight.

The two met without exchanging words. The beauty seemed gravely injured, her movements faltering. Ye Si draped a coat over her and carried her to the warhorse. The soldiers witnessing this couldn’t resist whistling and teasing, but upon receiving a glance from Ye Si, they fell silent and shut their mouths.

Nonetheless, they were greatly puzzled when Ye Si helped the beauty onto the warhorse and then went toward another horse, "Gao Liuhun, I’ll ride with you."

Clearly, the beauty couldn’t ride a horse, which made her speed average, prompting Ye Si to lower his speed and ride alongside her. The other soldiers, observing from behind, felt their curiosity nearing a burst.

They signaled using their eyes to Gao Liuhun, who reluctantly asked, "Team Leader, why... don’t you ride with your friend?"

They expected to hear reasons such as the beauty’s high status, her engagement, her being the Team Leader’s sister-in-law, or rumors that the Team Leader would turn bestial when around women, but Ye Si’s reason was far more absurd than they’d imagined.

"She needs to practice riding skills."