AZI Volume 4 Chapter 8

*Siiii!!!* a giant tear in the fabric of time and space is torn open behind the members of the Ashen River Hall, and from within this rift—

"…"

"…"

Numerous figures, all dressed in hooded jackets and full-faced masks emerged.

"Tch. Figured as much."

Rather quickly, the members of the Ashen River Hall increase by an exponential amount, and before anyone realizes it, much of the area—on the opposite side of the oasis, is filled with their numbers.

Confidence restored, Shao Tianming and Wang Yongning says—

"Surnamed Long, I think you're better off compromising a bit."

"We have your side completely outnumbered."

Hearing these words, the expressions of those behind Long Hua darken.

Seeing so many of their numbers, Chen Lan inwardly heaves a sigh of relief, while thinking—

(Under these circumstances, not even anc…- Surnamed Long will be able to do anything, right?)

Having not expected this, Long Hua inwardly frowns, and lowers the fishing rod, while thinking—

(A tool capable of ripping through the fabrics of time and space? Hmm.)

Bringing his calabash out of the storage pouch, Long Hua takes a drink before glaring at Shao Tianming and Wang Yongning, while making a rough count in his head.

(Around 120 people on their side, while our side has around 35…)

If looks could kill, both Shao Tianming and Wang Yongning would have died more than 40 times by now, causing the two to think—

(What the hell, under these circumstances—he can still put on a glare like that?)

(This surnamed Long has nerves of steel…)

"…"

Shifting his glare towards Chen Lan, Long Hua suddenly smiles, as he rises off the stool. It's rather obvious to everyone that this is not a smile filled with good intent, as he remarks—

"The mortal world originally didn't have things like monsters, demons, devils, and ghosts; all creatures of evil intent—such as the Four Perils; they were ultimately forced to manifest as a result of human actions, or so some say."

"…?"

"Uh?"

Hearing this strange remark, Shao Tianming and Ye Chen blinked their eyes in an odd manner.

"…"

Sensing a bad premonition, Chen Lan immediately turns towards the members of the Ashen River Hall, but before he could even take two steps forward—

"…"

Raising his right foot, Long Hua throws out a kick aimed at Chen Lan's back—sending him towards the Ashen River Hall's group.

*Boom!* blasting forth like a missile, Chen Lan ends up knocking several individuals—who were in his path of traversal, into the dimensional rift with him.

Lowering his leg, Long Hua says—

"If you think that I could be bullied with mere numbers, you're welcome to try it."

Having said this, Long Hua takes out a spirit herb cigar, and lights it, while adding—

"You're free to do whatever the hell you want with the oasis, just don't come bothering me. Otherwise, I don't mind accepting a few more descendants."

Regardless of how bad the situation is, Long Hua figured—that his focus should be to regain as much spirit Qi, in as little time, as possible.

"What kind of attitude is that…?"

"Who the hell is that guy?"

Almost immediately, those who had just arrived—looked to Shao Tianming and Wang Yongning, with the intent to ask for an explanation as to what the situation was.

(The hell kind of lungs does he have? That cigar won't even last a minute…)

(Is this bastard still human? Wouldn't a normal person think to backoff in a situation like this?)

Spitting out what remains of the cigar, Long Hua steps on it, and grinds it beneath his foot before turning around.

Pushing his way through the crowd, Long Hua distances himself from everyone else.

Upon separating from the crowd, Long Hua begins to set up a tent, and the moment it's completed, he enters without sparing the others another glance.

Inside the tent—

(Ai, *-laoban, sometimes a person needs to compromise. Instead of putting on such a strong front, why not act a bit softer?)

"Piss off, Qie."

Ignoring the Tai Xuan Emperor, Long Hua takes out his last two spirit herb cigars, along with an ashtray, and begins to smoke them.

Puffing a smoke, Long Hua remarks—

"Whoever goes soft—when the odds are against them, is a tortoise, the sort that only knows how to hide in its own shell."

(You say that on the outside, but aren't you panicking on the inside?)

"I'm dead tired...…"

(Not surprising, considering everything that's happened.)

Heaving a sigh, Long Hua takes out a self-heating rice set.

Setting everything up, he waits for it to cook—while contemplating his next move with his eyes closed.

No matter what, he refuses to be a beggar.

If he wants something, then he either needs to be able to steal it, or make it so that the owner would be willing to gift it to him.

Standing outside of the tent—

"Long-shao."

The Tai Xuan Emperor uses her vessel to call out to Long Hua.

"Enter."

Without opening his eyes, Long Hua grants his permission for entry.

...…

Away from Long Hua's tent, Shao Tianming announces—

"Right, listen up. Be extremely careful when grabbing a treasure. You all see that corpse over there? A portion of the water turned into a scythe, and reaped its head off. Separate yourselves into roles. One person is tasked with grabbing the treasure, and the others are tasked with defending them. We'll try grabbing one to start off with, and adjust from there—if our numbers are able to handle multiple grabs at a time."

Having said this, and sending people on their way, Shao Tianming turns to Wang Yongning, and asks—

"What are you thinking of?"

"Hmm. I'm wondering if the rest of the outer domain ruins are going to be like this as well."

"…That's just nightmare fuel."