Chapter 47: Preparing Another Trap For Ye Fan
The plaza erupted in a deafening roar as Wang Li’s Yin-Yang Annihilation slammed into Ye Fan’s Five Elements Convergence shield. The air itself seemed to crackle under the strain, a chaotic vortex of raw energy tearing through the plaza.
Dust and debris were flung skyward in a swirling maelstrom, momentarily obscuring the combatants from view.
Ye Fan, caught in the epicenter of the explosion, bore the brunt of the attack. The Five Elements Convergence had done its job, absorbing most of the Yin-Yang energy’s destructive force. But even the combined might of all five elements couldn’t completely negate it. A wave of searing pain ripped through him, sending him crashing to the ground.
He groaned, pushing himself upright through a haze of dust and disorientation. The world spun around him, his vision obscured by the swirling debris. He lashed out with a furious gust of wind, clearing the dust and revealing a scene of utter chaos.
The platform where the Ouyang Family stood moments ago was a smoking ruin. Guards lay scattered around, groaning in pain or worse. And most importantly, Wang Li and his cohorts – Xiangyi, the rescued aunts, and the bribed commanders – were nowhere to be seen.
Fury boiled within Ye Fan. He had been outsmarted, outmaneuvered. The carefully orchestrated trap had backfired spectacularly, leaving him with nothing but dust in his mouth and a gnawing sense of defeat.
He stalked towards Ouyang Ke, the flamboyant third son who lay sprawled on the platform, clutching a bloody wound on his stomach. “The Slave Detection Compass,” Ye Fan snarled, his voice laced with barely contained rage. “Give it to me.”
Ouyang Ke, pale and sweating from the pain, whimpered weakly. “W-why? Where are you going?”
“That’s not your concern,” Ye Fan snapped, his patience wearing thin. “They’re gone. The array is down. There’s nothing you can do now with those injuries. Just give me the compass and I will pursue them.”
Ouyang Ke’s bravado crumbled under Ye Fan’s cold gaze. With a trembling hand, he fumbled in his storage bag and produced a delicate, ornately carved compass. “Here,” he whimpered, thrusting it towards Ye Fan.
Ye Fan snatched the compass, his lips curling into a satisfied smirk. Infusing it with his spiritual energy, he watched as the needle spun rapidly before settling on a point in the western direction. A snort of satisfaction escaped his lips. They were headed west. A good start.
None of the Ouyang guards dared to come with him.
Their attention was focused on their injured young master, a cacophony of worried shouts rising as they hurriedly transported him away to receive medical attention.
With a final glare at the deserted plaza, Ye Fan launched himself into the air, soaring westward with renewed purpose. He wouldn’t let Wang Li or Xiangyi slip through his grasp this time. And especially not the two women, Wang Yaqi and Wang Ruyan. Not this time.
He had a twisted plan brewing in his mind, a plan that involved Xiangyi’s “alluring body” as he so crudely phrased it. The thought sent a shiver of anticipation down his spine, a dark counterpoint to the burning anger that fueled his pursuit.
Meanwhile, Wang Li, his chest heaving and sweat stinging his eyes, emerged from the dust cloud on the outskirts of the plaza. The escape hadn’t been easy. His Yin-Yang Annihilation technique had taken a toll on his reserves, leaving him drained and vulnerable. But they were still alive. That was all that mattered.
He quickly gathered the remaining loyal commanders. Several were injured, but none were incapacitated.
“We need to move,” he declared, his voice hoarse. “The Ouyang Family will regroup soon. We head west, to the border of the Broken Sword Kingdom.”
The commanders, relieved to be alive, nodded in agreement. Together, they melted into the chaos, disappearing into the labyrinthine streets of Tiexue City.
High above, soaring through the sky, Xiangyi held onto her aunts tightly, her powerful Spiritual Energy forming a protective platform beneath their feet. Relief and exhaustion warred within her. They had escaped the Ouyang Family’s clutches, but the ordeal had left them drained.
“Xiangyi,” croaked Wang Ruyan, her voice weak from exertion. “Where are we going?”
“Straight ahead,” Xiangyi replied, her gaze fixed on the horizon. “Li has a safe house near the Broken Sword Kingdom border. We’ll rest there, recuperate, and then…” Her voice trailed off, a glint of steel flickering in her eyes. “Then, we make them pay.”
Wang Yaqi, her face etched with a grim determination, nodded in agreement. They may have been slaves for years, but that spark of defiance, that yearning for freedom, still burned brightly within them. And now, with Wang Li and Xiangyi by their side, they finally had the power to fight back.
At this moment, Wang Xiangyi had to grit her teeth as she channeled her spiritual energy, urging it to propel them forward. Despite being a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, her flight speed was hampered by the burden of carrying both aunts.
A nagging worry gnawed at Xiangyi. How far were they from safety? How long would it take for the Ouyang Family to regroup and pursue them?
Just as doubt began to creep in, a familiar figure emerged from the haze in the distance. Relief washed over her as she recognized Wang Li and the remaining commanders. They had managed to escape the chaos and were now catching up.
She steered herself and her aunts towards them, a weary smile gracing her lips.
They regrouped in a secluded clearing, the urgency of the situation momentarily replaced by a wave of exhaustion. Wang Li, his face etched with concern, rushed to his aunts’ side.
“Are you alright?” he asked, his voice laced with worry.
Wang Yaqi and Wang Ruyan managed weak nods, their faces pale from the ordeal. “We’ll be fine,” Wang Yaqi rasped. “Just need some rest.”
Xiangyi, catching her breath, finally addressed the elephant in the room. “The Ouyang Family…” she began, her voice trembling slightly. “They branded our aunts. Slave seals with trackers. They can still find us.”
Wang Li’s eyes narrowed into steely slits. “So that’s how they planned to track us.” He stroked his chin thoughtfully, a plan slowly forming in his mind.
“Li,” Xiangyi pressed, sensing his hesitation. “You need to remove those seals! Now!”
Wang Li surprised her by shaking his head. “Not so fast, Xiangyi,” he said, his voice calm despite the simmering rage in his eyes. “This could actually work to our advantage.”
Xiangyi’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Advantage? How?”
A grim smile played on Wang Li’s lips. “Think about it. With Ouyang Ke injured, most of the Ouyang Family guards will be preoccupied. The only one likely to come after us is Ye Fan, maybe with a small group of reinforcements.”
Xiangyi’s eyes widened in realization. “You’re saying… we set a trap?”
“Exactly,” Wang Li confirmed, a glint of determination in his gaze. “We have the element of surprise, a decent location, and most importantly, we’re not alone.”
He gestured to the commanders, their faces grim but resolute. “These guys may not be at the Nascent Soul Realm, but with their combined power… well, let’s just say Ye Fan might be in for a nasty surprise.”
Excitement bubbled within Xiangyi. The humiliation, the pain – it all fueled a burning desire for revenge. “Alright, Li,” she said, a fierce grin splitting her face. “Let’s do this. What kind of trap do you have in mind?”
Wang Li chuckled, a dark, dangerous sound. “Something simple, but effective. The Cloud Sword Array.”
Xiangyi, familiar with the basic formations, nodded in approval. The Cloud Sword Array, while simple to set up, packed a devastating punch. By channeling their spiritual energy into the array, they could unleash a barrage of ethereal swords, capable of inflicting serious damage even on Nascent Soul Realm experts.
With renewed purpose, Wang Li and Xiangyi set to work, their movements practiced and efficient. The commanders, briefed on their roles, positioned themselves at key points within the designated area. The air crackled with anticipation as they channeled their spiritual energy, weaving it into the intricate patterns of the array.
As the final rune flickered to life, a sense of accomplishment washed over Xiangyi. They were ready. They were waiting.
The wait, however, was shorter than expected. A figure emerged from the distance, a lone speck against the vast expanse of the sky. It was Ye Fan, his face contorted in a mask of rage and determination. But to their surprise, he was alone.
Xiangyi exchanged a surprised glance with Wang Li. They had anticipated a small group, not a solo mission. But hey, beggars can’t be choosers. A single target was a lot easier to handle than a swarm.
“Looks like someone’s impatient,” Wang Li muttered, a hint of amusement in his voice.
“Let the games begin,” Xiangyi countered, a fierce light gleaming in her eyes. They had a trap waiting, and Ye Fan was about to walk right into it.
