Book 2: Chapter 80: Objective and Subjective

Gu Hai held the crimson saber against Long Wanqing’s neck. This scene shocked the countless cultivators in the surroundings.

“What’s going on? Why is Gu Hai abducting the Elite Hall Master?”

“Isn’t Gu Hai here to rescue the Elite Hall Master?”

“What is he doing?”

The cultivators who climbed out of the rubble could not understand this scene.

Li Haoran showed a sullen expression. The Divine Strategy Battalion disciples also appeared confused. Who could have expected Gu Hai to abduct Long Wanqing?

“Gu Hai!” Li Haoran shouted intimidatingly.

“Back off, Battalion Commander Li!” Gu Hai ordered coldly.

However, Li Haoran remained standing where he was, looking at Gu Hai with chilly eyes.

“Gu Hai, have you gone mad?!” Long Wanqing shouted angrily.

What’s up with me? First, Ding Rui abducted me. Now, Gu Hai abducted me. Do any of you even respect me as the hall master?

“Hall Master, sorry for the offense!” Gu Hai said.

“Humph! Gu Hai, how bold of you! Don’t think that I will indulge you just because you saved me. If you still don’t let go, your earlier contribution of saving me will be wiped out. You will also be assaulting your superior!” Long Wanqing growled.

“Hall Master, you are wrong!” Gu Hai said seriously.

“Huh?”

“I did not save you to accrue merits; this goes for everything I have done up to now. I do not know much about Elite Hall. Why would I risk my life to save you? Accrue merits? No. I am just repaying a debt of gratitude. Since obtaining news of your capture, I have killed my way from the Clear River Sect to the First Song Sect, then to the Dragon Pinning Sect—all just to repay you for the grace you showed in helping me advance to the Innate Realm. I do not need merits or contributions to save you. I do not care about them, either. I only want to deliver you to Venerable Liu Nian’s hands to repay my debt of gratitude. Right now, we are at the last step. Hall Master, please be patient and wait for a while!” Gu Hai said.

Gu Hai’s explanation made Long Wanqing want to both cry and laugh.

“Repaying gratitude? Alright, I acknowledge that your debt of gratitude is repaid. You can let go of me now!” Long Wanqing smiled bitterly.

“No, Hall Master, it is not that I don’t want to let go of you. However, your mind is currently not clear. If I let you go now, you will immediately plunge yourself into a dangerous situation. Then, everything I have done would be for naught!” Gu Hai said.

“My mind is unclear? What are you saying?” Long Wanqing asked, feeling indignant.

“Isn’t that so? Earlier, Ding Rui said that Li Haoran is your mother’s murderer. Whether it is true or not, shouldn’t you at least be slightly wary of Li Haoran? However, you are not. Instead, you listen to everything he says. What are you going to do about your mother’s death?” Gu Hai said.

“I already said it is not Li Haoran!” Long Wanqing insisted angrily.

“What guarantee do you have?” Gu Hai asked.

“Is there a need for a guarantee? My maternal grandfather sent him to protect me. He also saved me before. He cannot possibly harm me. It was just Ding Rui going crazy!” Long Wanqing argued angrily.

“However, he silenced Ding Rui. Don’t you find it strange?” Gu Hai said coldly.

“He lost control!” Long Wanqing said, feeling depressed.

“That is your assumption!” Gu Hai countered coldly.

“Gu Hai, what do you mean?” Long Wanqing shouted.

“I always tell my sons not to take a subjective view when considering matters. One should look at the problem objectively. Right now, you are functioning on subjective assumptions. How are you going to take revenge for your mother’s death like this? Not only will you fail to do that, but you will even put yourself in danger!” Gu Hai said sullenly.

“Why do you take the same tone as Grandfather? Humph! Gu Hai, I am not your child. I do not need you to teach me!” Long Wanqing said, feeling depressed.

“Then, let me ask you this. Do you know who killed your mother?” Gu Hai asked seriously.

“I don’t know. So what?”

“You don’t know? If you don’t know, then why are you certain that Li Haoran is not the murderer? Because he saved you? Or because you adore him?” Gu Hai demanded coldly.

“You!” Long Wanqing got extremely angry.

“Before the truth emerges, anyone could be the murderer!” Gu Hai said.

“I do not need you to bother with my matters! Let go of me!” Long Wanqing shouted.

“Sorry, Hall Master, I can ignore your matter. However, I just need you to wait for a while. When Venerable Liu Nian arrives, I’ll release you. Just wait patiently for a little while more. That’s all I need!” Gu Hai said seriously.

“You! You! You! Gu Hai! I’ll definitely teach you a lesson! You madman!” Long Wanqing ranted.

“I am not crazy; I just don’t trust Li Haoran. Wait for Venerable Liu Nian to arrive. I will apologize and admit to my wrongdoings later,” Gu Hai said.

“Humph!” Long Wanqing snorted angrily, but she was helpless.

As Gu Hai held Long Wanqing, he looked at Li Haoran coldly. “Battalion Commander Li, if you are truly here to protect the hall master, please move back and wait for Venerable Liu Nian to arrive!”

However, Li Haoran did not back off. Instead, he looked at Gu Hai coldly and revealed a faint sneer. “Gu Hai? Gu Hai? When I first heard of you in the Innate Puzzle World, I already hated your name. Now, I realize that you are even more detestable than your name!”

Li Haoran did not back off. Instead, he took a step forward.

“Back off!” Gu Hai shouted angrily with a glare.

Li Haoran revealed a cold smile. “Would you dare to harm Long Wanqing? Would you?”

Li Haoran took another step forward.

Gu Hai’s face sank, and he quickly leaped.

Bang!

Holding Long Wanqing, Gu Hai leaped from a mountain peak to another mountain peak as though afraid.

Far in the distance, the countless cultivators revealed confused expressions. Why does this scene appear so strange?

Seeing Gu Hai retreat, Li Haoran pressed further, taking another step forward.

“You don’t dare to, right? You don’t dare to hurt Long Wanqing. You said that you were repaying gratitude, but you would be repaying gratitude with evil if you injure her. Are you still repaying gratitude then?” Li Haoran said coldly as he flew over.

Bang!

Gu Hai moved back again, jumping to another mountain peak.

“Let go of Long Wanqing. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless!” Li Haoran flew over again, speaking in an icy tone.

Bang!

Gu Hai retreated to a valley.

“You no longer have anywhere to run. Let go of Long Wanqing. Otherwise, I will use this finger to make you sleep in this valley forever!” Li Haoran said coldly.

As Li Haoran spoke, he extended a finger and manifested a finger pointed in Gu Hai’s direction. It seemed like all it would take was a thought, and Li Haoran could instantly pierce through Gu Hai’s brain.

“Gu Hai, let go of me. You are not Li Haoran’s match!” Long Wanqing said anxiously.

“Hall Master, have you noticed yet? Li Haoran is unwilling to take a step back for you!” Gu Hai scoffed.

“Gu Hai, you already have nowhere to run. Since you are seeking death, then don’t blame me!” Li Haoran said coldly.

“Retreat? You thought that I was retreating?” Gu Hai said coldly.

Buzz!

Suddenly, surging fog erupted behind Li Haoran, instantly encasing the few mountain peaks.

“What?” Long Wanqing revealed an expression of shock.

Suddenly, a halberd chopped down from the fog behind Li Haoran.

“I have the strength to pick up mountains, and my might conquers the world!”

A bellow rang out as the halberd swung down with overwhelming might.

“Be careful!” Long Wanqing shouted.

Li Haoran’s expression changed as well. He did not expect an ambush from behind.

With the flip of his hand, the manifested finger disappeared. Then, a golden sword appeared, and he swung it at the sky.

Boom!

The golden sword clashed with the halberd, producing another loud sound. The valley suddenly shook intensely, and shattered rocks shot into the sky and surroundings.

Gu Hai took this opportunity to jump quickly to the edge of the ritual array.

“The Twenty-Eight Line-Pair World Ritual Array?”

“That’s not right. Isn’t Gu Hai still holding on to Long Wanqing? Who is controlling the ritual array?”

“Why is there a Twenty-Eight Line-Pair World Ritual Array?”

Countless cultivators revealed shock on their faces.

The halberd and the golden sword maintained a stalemate as two ferocious auras clashed intensely and kicked up a storm.

——

Inside the fog:

Hundreds of Gu Hai’s subordinates led by Shangguan Hen protected Gu Qin with Gu Qin in the middle.

Gu Qin placed his hand on a Go board carved from spirit stone. He showed a ferocious expression as the evil men took turns sending Veritable Energy into his body.

“Adoptive Father, this child did not come too late, right?” Gu Qin grinned.

Gu Hai had jumped into the distance with Long Wanqing, entering the ritual array.

“You came just at the right time, even faster than I expected,” Gu Hai said with a smile.

“It’s all thanks to a flying ship!” Gu Qin guffawed.

——

“Humph! To think you have time to speak nonsense right before your death!” Li Haoran sneered.

Dazzling golden light erupted from Li Haoran’s golden sword, and its might immediately soared.

Boom!

A strong force pushed back the halberd.

——

“Oh no! Adoptive Father!” Gu Qin called out, his expression changing.

“Place a Go stone at tengen!” Gu Hai shouted.

Clack! Gu Qin placed a Go stone on the Go board.

“I am Xiang Yu. With me, we are undefeatable! Hah!” A giant suddenly materialized in the ritual array.

This giant grabbed the halberd and chopped down with all his might.

Boom!

The huge impact caused the valley where Li Haoran stood to sink. The halberd blocked the golden sword.

“The Twenty-Eight Line-Pair World Ritual Array?” Li Haoran showed a frosty expression.

“Golden Energy! Break!” A bright golden light suddenly burst out of Li Haoran, making him look like a sun instantly lighting up the sky.

Boom!

A loud sound rang out as the large valley exploded, and the surrounding mountains crumbled. The puissant force shattered the halberd and even exploded the Twenty-Eight Line-Pair World Ritual Array.

“Argh!”

The shock wave sent Gu Qin, Shangguan Hen, and the other evil men flying.

Even with hundreds of the evil men operating the ritual array, they could not match a strike from Li Haoran.

The ritual array shattered, and everyone fell near Gu Hai, moaning in pain.

Rage filled Li Haoran’s face as he glared at Gu Hai, who was among the crowd.

“Adoptive Father, this child’s grasp of the ritual array is insufficient. I have embarrassed Adoptive Father!” Gu Qin said bitterly.

“The Twenty-Eight Line-Pair World Ritual Array is only so-so!” Li Haoran revealed an expression of disdain.

Gu Hai’s face turned sullen. He reached for the compressed space in the authority token, wanting to take out Li Qinghe’s snake-covered head. However, he did not know if the snake-covered head could deal with Li Haoran.

“Only so-so? That’s because you have not seen the true Twenty-Eight Line-Pair World Ritual Array!” Suddenly, a voice rang out from behind Li Haoran.

“Ninth Young Master?” Gu Hai raised his eyebrows in shock.

“Battalion Commander, be careful!” the Divine Strategy Battalion disciples in the distance exclaimed.

Boundless clouds and fog appeared behind Li Haoran. Then, a cloud peacock plume feather appeared amid the fog. As the peacock plume feather swept over, it kicked up two strong gales. When the piercing sound rang out, everyone felt fear in their heart.

“The azure plume breaks all techniques! Break for me!”

A cold voice rang out as the peacock plume feather chopped down towards Li Haoran.

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