Can a Scholar Be Called a Villain

Chapter 125: Severing the path of return

Murong Lin raised his head to gaze at Zhang Wen Yuan, wearing a subtle smile as he spoke, “I’ve long admired you, sir.”

Zhang Wen Yuan’s brow furrowed slightly as he continued to listen to the young man’s words, “Today, I’ve come to collect you.”

Before Zhang Wen Yuan could comprehend the meaning behind ‘collect’, the young man’s figure flashed and disappeared from their sight.

What followed was a streak of blade light hurtling towards Zhang Wen Yuan.

The battle had begun!

The transport team and its surroundings were instantly engulfed by the swarm of Blood Bat Locusts. These insects, numbering more than a thousandfold of the soldiers present, beat their wings in unison, creating a hurricane that engulfed the entire area.

Though these soldiers were elite veterans, the sheer overwhelming numbers of the Blood Bat Locusts, creatures that had once devoured an entire hidden realm, left them vastly outmatched.

Confronted with Murong Lin’s blade, Zhang Wen Yuan swiftly waved his arm, summoning a silver-coloured spear that appeared with a flip of his palm.

Behind him, Ma Ji Chang anxiously observed the onslaught of Blood Bat Locusts attacking the soldiers and provisions. He swiftly produced a small array disk in his hands and infused it with his spiritual power.

Arrays began to materialize rapidly – the green Tornado Cloud Array, the blue Vast Waves Array, the purple Nine Heavens Thunder Array, the red Blazing Infinity Array………

Each of these arrays was of a higher Earth grade, and there were even three lower Sky grade arrays that trapped and assaulted the surrounding Blood Bat Locusts.

However, one Blood Bat Locust at the eighth layer of the Sky Reaching realm managed to reach Ma Ji Chang.

Due to its consumption of the Tiger-faced Verdant Python Dragon’s life force, it had temporarily become the strongest among the swarm of Blood Bat Locusts.

Facing Ma Ji Chang, who was only at the fifth layer of the Sky Reaching realm, it engaged in a fierce battle. While one fought to create arrays to subdue the surrounding Blood Bat Locusts, the other used its speed advantage to close in on Ma Ji Chang.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Murong Lin’s blade had already clashed with Zhang Wen Yuan’s spear. Sparks flew as their powerful collision sent shockwaves rippling through the vicinity, lifting trees and dust into the air.

Zhang Wen Yuan, at the seventh layer of the Sky Reaching realm, faced considerable difficulty in contending with Murong Lin, who had reached the peak of the Sky Reaching realm. Adding to the challenge was Murong Lin’s near-perfect mastery of his blade technique, making him an even more formidable adversary.

Murong Lin narrowed his eyes slightly, infusing his nascent Blade Intent into his attack and incorporating the essence of ‘Evil of lifelessness, lawlessness and formlessness’ into the third blade of the Heaven and Earth Blade Art:

“Dark Sky style!”

Upon clashing with Murong Lin’s first strike, Zhang Wen Yuan became acutely aware of his limitations. In response, he summoned a forbidden technique, his complexion paling as he confronted Murong Lin.

Cracks appeared on Zhang Wen Yuan’s form, and an explosion resonated within his chest as fresh blood mingled with fragments of his organs escaped from the corners of his lips.

His strength increased gradually and steadily, and with a resolute gaze, he swung his spear, declaring, “Stand, Fight, Win!”

Although Murong Lin’s form was sent hurtling into the distance almost instantly, he quickly followed up with a flick of his finger, unleashing the 《Heart-Hurting Arrow》.

Even before Zhang Wen Yuan could launch his next attack, he was struck by Murong Lin’s invisible arrow, which pierced directly into his heart.

Zhang Wen Yuan plummeted through the air, his struggles futile as if he sought to gather his strength to rise again. In truth, though, apathy had taken hold of his heart.

He felt an overwhelming sense of sorrow.

His expression shifted through a series of emotions. It began with sheer horror, followed by indignation and resentment at his own powerlessness, then self-reproach and sorrow toward his lord, Chu Ze, and finally, shock as he lifted his head to gaze at Murong Lin.

While these emotions had been induced by Murong Lin’s spiritual skills, they were undeniably emotions that originated from within him.

This only cemented his fear of Murong Lin.

With great effort, he struggled to stand, turning his gaze toward the ration transport team.

The team had suffered significant losses under the relentless assault of the Blood Bat Locusts. Even the elite and valiant Tiger and Leopard Cavalry had lost more than half of their members, not to mention the other Chu troops.

Ma Ji Chang was also grappling with the Blood Bat Locusts, who were posing a formidable challenge. The Sky Reaching realm locust commanded over a hundred Manifestation realm Blood Bat Locusts, which directly confronted the arrays he had created.

At present, he had nearly exhausted the arrays stored in his array disk and was forced to draw arrays on the spot to combat the locusts. However, his speed was far from sufficient.

A bleeding wound adorned his shoulder where a piece of flesh had been torn away by one of the Blood Bat Locusts.

Zhang Wen Yuan turned his head once more, his emotions a turbulent mix of anger and sorrow. However, this time, his gaze wasn’t directed at Murong Lin; it was fixed at a distance, where Chu Ze’s army was positioned.

Kneeling down on one knee, he placed his right hand over his chest and declared, “Your Majesty! This is the last service I can render for you!”

Without delay, he rushed toward Murong Lin after uttering those words. But before doing so, he shouted toward Ma Ji Chang without looking back, “Ji Chang! Stop guarding the provisions! Run, quickly! This person is the mastermind behind everything!”

Zhang Wen Yuan had cleverly deduced this fact upon witnessing Murong Lin’s control over the Blood Bat Locusts. He now knew that these locusts, which had plagued their country, were unleashed by this man.

Therefore, the public’s criticisms and protests against their ruler, His Majesty, had undoubtedly been instigated by this individual.

Even the upheaval and the encirclement of the Demonic Beast Forest’s demonic beasts might have been foreseen by this man.

Fear gripped him instantly.

His fear wasn’t solely because of Murong Lin’s plans and strength but also because a man of such power had chosen to resort to such vicious schemes to ruin Chu.

Glaring at Murong Lin, Zhang Wen Yuan gritted his teeth as he swung his spear and shouted, “Do you know how many deaths you’ve caused?”

During his journey to this point, he witnessed the devastating effect of the Blood Bat Locusts on cities and villages. The once beautiful landscapes had been reduced to desolation and ruin, leaving him filled with a deep sense of hatred.

Zhang Wen Yuan’s hate-filled attack not only drained his spiritual powers but also consumed a significant portion of his blood essence.

“Stand, Fight, Win!”

Murong Lin casually swung his blade in response.

“Everlasting style!”

He smiled at Zhang Wen Yuan while muttering, “Deaths are inevitable for humans. Rather than dying from natural causes, why not die by my hand? It’ll be convenient for me to grow stronger.”

His blade’s light flickered, colliding with Zhang Wen Yuan’s attack and slicing through his clothes. Hints of blood fluttered through the air, falling helplessly to the ground.

The potent Blade Intent slipped into Zhang Wen Yuan’s body, gradually eroding his spirit.

As the strike connected with his form, Zhang Wen Yuan’s expression slowly froze, and in that very instant, he felt eternity.

It was over.

Everything had come to an end.

The army found itself surrounded, trapped with no way out.

Zhang Wen Yuan was overwhelmed by a surge of fury, indignation, and shame, but it was all in vain. He could only raise his head to gaze at the sky as a teardrop rolled down his cheek.

Ma Ji Chang had heard Zhang Wen Yuan’s desperate cry, but he knew that this was not the time to succumb to emotions. Instead, he swiftly made a move to leave.

However, a sudden chill emanating from behind him made him turn his head, and he instantly recognized the piercing light hurtling toward him.

At that moment, he experienced a fear far greater than the dread he had felt from the sky-engulfing Blood Bat Locusts. It was the fear of death.

This strike seemed to have instantly shattered his life force.

Even before his body made contact with the blade’s light, he was sent flying.

The arrays set up around him erupted in a cascade of explosions, disintegrating under the impact of the blade’s light.

Translator’s note

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