Chapter 20: Live Broadcast

Ding Chunqiu was now utterly speechless, able only to glare furiously at Crane in the Clouds. He had no idea where that wretched old Wuyazi was at this moment. Yet Crane in the Clouds still imagined he could hand him over to Wuyazi—what a laughable delusion.

Meanwhile, the disciples of the Stars Sect, having witnessed even their formidable master defeated and wounded by Crane in the Clouds, were seized by terror. Their legs buckled, and they all collapsed to their knees, pleading for mercy.

“Great Hero Crane, spare us!”

“It was all Ding Chunqiu’s doing—he forced us!”

“If you let us go, we swear we’ll turn over a new leaf!”

Crane in the Clouds turned his gaze to Azalea. “Miss Azalea, I leave these people to your discretion.”

With that, he seized Ding Chunqiu from the ground and strode out of the inn.

Hearing themselves consigned to Azalea’s judgment, the disciples’ faces turned ashen. Her ruthlessness was at least the equal of Ding Chunqiu’s, if not greater. Yet, clinging to a last shred of hope, they began to beg her for mercy.

Much to their surprise, Azalea, upon seeing Crane in the Clouds depart with Ding Chunqiu, immediately dashed after him without a word.

Only when Azalea’s form vanished at the forest’s edge did the disciples finally breathe again. The joy of surviving washed over them in an uncontrollable wave.

“Brother Crane, Brother Crane, wait for me!” Azalea called out.

She knew Crane in the Clouds was a master, but she hadn’t expected his skill to be so profound—carrying the helpless Ding Chunqiu, yet moving with undiminished speed. As Crane in the Clouds was about to disappear from sight, Azalea called out urgently.

Hearing the commotion behind him, Crane in the Clouds stopped and glanced back in puzzlement as Azalea, breathless, caught up.

“Miss Azalea, is there something else you need?” he asked.

Azalea caught her breath, her eyes fixed on him. “You saved me. I must repay you by staying at your side.”

“That’s unnecessary. I merely couldn’t bear to see a beauty’s life cut short.”

With that, he performed a light step, his figure swiftly receding into the distance.

Three hours later, as dusk began to fall, Crane in the Clouds halted in a secluded woodland, a look of resignation on his face. He tossed Ding Chunqiu aside with no gentleness.

Thud!

Ding Chunqiu’s body collided with a large stone. A sharp pain spread instantly, twisting his face into a grimace as he glared at Crane in the Clouds with a hatred that threatened to consume him.

Given the chance one day, I will tear you limb from limb to appease the hatred in my heart.

Yet, though he was a master of poisons, even he was powerless against the somber fragrance of Nirvana used by the Elite Hall of Western Xia.

So, for now, Ding Chunqiu could only curse inwardly; there was nothing else he could do.

Crane in the Clouds gathered some branches, lit a campfire, and sat down with closed eyes as if awaiting something.

The Celestial Chess Game would soon begin—he needed to hurry there, unravel the riddle, and then present Ding Chunqiu as a gift to Wuyazi.

Ordinarily, the plot should not be this complicated, but Crane in the Clouds’ reputation was so notorious that he had to be cautious.

If he failed to arrive in time, he would find a way to reclaim the seventy years of inner strength Wuyazi had transferred to Xuzhu.

Ding Chunqiu would then become the scapegoat, bearing the blame for everything.

Afterward, if he killed Ding Chunqiu to avenge Xuzhu, the abbot of Shaolin would surely be grateful.

With Shaolin speaking on his behalf, his words would carry much more weight.

Considering this, he almost hoped he would miss the Celestial Chess Game—it was the only way to maximize his gain.

Rustle, rustle.

Subtle footsteps interrupted his thoughts.

He opened his eyes slowly, looking toward the source of the sound.

Time to consider how to shake off this shadow—Azalea.

As the thought passed, Azalea emerged before him, her hair leaf-strewn, her clothes soiled and disheveled.

“Thank goodness for the firelight, or I would have lost my way in the forest,” she said, sitting down naturally beside him.

“Miss Azalea, I’ve made myself clear. Why do you insist on following me?”

“I don’t care. Wherever you go, I’ll go too. I’m not leaving you.”

Crane in the Clouds studied her, a trace of amusement at the corners of his mouth. “So you intend to offer yourself to me?”

Azalea caught the predatory glint in his eyes; to him, she was a lamb awaiting slaughter.

“So what if I do?”

She met his gaze, unflinching.

The next instant, he was in front of her.

In the blink of an eye, their bodies pressed close together.

A warm rush of breath brushed her delicate earlobe; her cheeks burned crimson, her breath came short and quick. She tried to push him away.

Crane in the Clouds anticipated this, seizing her wrists and pinning them behind her back.

His other arm circled her slender waist, so supple it slipped easily through his grasp like a water snake.

The softness beneath his hand sent a shiver through him, and his gaze upon her was charged with desire.

Seeing that hungry look, Azalea’s heart trembled; she dared not struggle further.

Her face twisted in pain, tears welling in her eyes. “Brother Crane, you’re hurting me. Let go, and I’ll serve you properly, won’t you?”

Her voice was as soft and sweet as honey—enough to melt his heart.

With acting like that, she could win an award.

“If I let you go, you’ll just run,” Crane in the Clouds replied, unmoved, bringing his face closer to hers.

Azalea tried to pull her head back, but with both hands restrained, she had nowhere to go.

She could only watch helplessly as his lips pressed against hers.

In that instant, her tears spilled like broken pearls, rolling down her cheeks.

Ding Chunqiu watched it all unfold. The tales of Crane in the Clouds’ lecherous ways were true, but he hadn’t expected such formidable martial skill—Azalea was little more than a sheep delivered to a tiger’s maw.

After a long while, their lips parted.

Crane in the Clouds wore a look of deep satisfaction.

Azalea glared at him, her gaze full of resentment.

“I gave you a chance—you insisted on coming to me. I’m no saint; I won’t refuse a beauty delivered to my door.”

She was left speechless by his shamelessness.

Crane in the Clouds laughed and released her. Azalea jumped back, rubbing her reddened wrists and eyeing him warily.

“Don’t worry, I won’t engage in any more... intimate exchanges in front of the old man and grant him a live show.”

Though Ding Chunqiu didn’t quite grasp his words, the meaning was all too clear.

If you find me an eyesore, should I just leave?

Suddenly, a shadow flickered past Crane in the Clouds’ eyes, swift as a ghost.

By the time he reacted, it had already leapt several meters away.

“Look out!” Crane in the Clouds shouted, pushing Azalea to the ground.

In that instant, a flash of white glimmered in the darkness and slashed down with deadly force.