With great familiarity, Happy arrived at the door leading to the inner villa. Then, he wrapped his fist around his fist and said to two girls with huge eyes standing at the door.
The two girls were actually trained in the ways of martial arts, and they had long since noticed Happy heading straight to the inner villa. They swept their gazes up and down Happy with skeptical eyes. Then, when they heard Happy's words, their eyes lit up, and one of them turned around before running inside in a show of wisdom.
The other one had her suspicious and questioning gaze fade away as well. "I see, so you're a senior from Shaolin Temple. Please enter and wait at the pavilion."
"Thank you, I will gladly accept your offer." Happy smiled. He knew that Madam Wang must have told these girls about his arrival before, so he nodded immediately and entered the villa under the girls' guidance.
The environment in the inner villa was even better.
There was a natural hot spring near the pavilion, making the pavilion to be surrounded by steam, causing it to look as if it was a place in an immortal's realm, thereby allowing all those who saw it to feel refreshed in spirit.
"It's no wonder why so many disciples from Mantuo Villa are reluctant to leave this place and why so many female disciples fight to enter this place…"
The girl politely brought out some fruits and snacks to serve Happy, and while he tasted it, he enjoyed the scenery. It caused him to feel as if he was not in the world of martial artists, which caused him to be shocked.
"Young man, you are indeed a trustworthy person. You came really quick." Madam Wang was dressed in the attire of a noble lady from the palace, which made her appear to be even more noble and dignified. She arrived in this place while she was accompanied by four maidservants.
Happy got up at the opportune moment. "I have already settled the matter at Gusu City and was prepared to leave, but I am still very interested in the secret within the portrait."
"Young man, why do you insist that there is a secret within the portrait? This is just a portrait I treasured greatly when I was young, and when I see it, it reminds me of someone—"
"There is a pretty good painter in Gusu City, and his skills have already reached the level of a grandmaster. Madam Wang, if you have a need for it, I can pay and ask that painter to copy this portrait for you."
"How preposterous!" The maidservants behind Madam Wang turned red in anger. "Our lady is a woman of great status. Her portrait is not something the likes of you can keep!"
"Madam, there is no need for us to continue wasting our breath with him! Just capture him and seize the portrait. Then, we can throw him into Lake Tai." The maidservants behind Madam Wang took over the conversation in great anger.
The other maidservants were also eager to fight. They walked out from behind Madam Wang and surrounded Happy, looking as if they wanted to take down Happy by force.
The development of the matter had exceeded Happy's expectations. He frowned and cast a glance at Madam, who stood outside the circle the maidservants formed without moving even in the slightest. A hint of surprise showed in his eyes.
This was the first time he triggered such a bad plot.
Logically speaking, since Madam Wang had something to ask of him, she should slowly tell him what the quest was. But up to now, the notification for the quest had still not changed. It still asked him to head to Mantuo Villa to search for Madam Wang and discover the secret behind the portrait.
But Madam Wang was actually already thinking of snatching the portrait by force, which meant that she wanted to seize the quest item that would allow him to trigger the plot. This was something he could not quite accept.
However, the event had taken an unexpected turn, and he had already arrived at this state. Happy could not just back down.
Even though fighting against Madam Wang's maidservants might cause him to be regarded with hostility and animosity by all of Mantuo Villa, this further proved that there was quite the large secret hidden behind the portrait, and he must absolutely not lose the portrait now.
"Thief, we'll give you one last chance! Hand over the portrait and leave Mantuo Villa on your own! Or else, we'll capture you, seize the portrait, and throw you into Lake Tai to feed the crocodiles!"
Madam Wang's maidservants sounded very conceited.
But Happy ignored the threat from the four Inaction Realm maidservants. He redirected his gaze on Madam Wang and stared into her eyes.
"This is why you asked me here?"
Madam Wang stayed silent. A complicated look flashed in her eyes, but she just stood where she was without answering Happy. She also showed no intention of moving forward.
When he saw this, Happy suddenly had a flash of suspicion rise in his heart.
His gaze landed on the four maidservants once more, and it was only then that he noticed that these maidservants were not the same group of maidservants who followed Madam Wang when she visited the Murong Clan.
'Strange… There's indeed something strange about this…'
The maidservants who followed Madam Wang to visit the Murong Clan were naturally the ones who were the closest to her.
At that time, those maidservants were incredibly respectful to Madam Wang and listened to her every word.
Even though the maidservants in front of him followed Madam Wang here, they had been making their own decisions since just now. While Happy could not exclude the possibility of Madam Wang telling them to act this way beforehand, based on Madam Wang's complicated and troubled gaze, along with the maidservants' strange behavior, Happy was still able to see some problems in the situation.
He said nothing.
"Our mistress is a merciful person, and she is not willing to harm you. She just wants to give you a final chance!"
"Thief, have you thought things through?"
The maidservants continued chattering on, and they had none of the elegant and quiet demeanor of those in Mantuo Villa. Instead, they had the ruthless and aggressive air of those from the evil cult.
"Your mistress has not even said anything, and yet you're causing such a ruckus while making your own decisions? Hmph! You have no place to say anything before me and Madam Wang!
"You should be punished!"
Happy had already gained a vague understanding of what was going on. When he said his final four words, he charged forward and instantly drew close to the maidservant who was the last to speak those conceited words at him. He attacked swiftly.
"You—" She was shocked.
Slap!
Before the maidservant could register the situation, she already had the series of attacks viciously crush the true qi she gathered in her body. Her face burned with pain, and she was thrown off the ground. She tumbled out of the area.
"Attack!" Maidservant A had a savage expression appear on her face as she grimaced in pain. She pointed at Happy and screeched without hesitation. "Kill him!"
Maidservant A's murderous words and how the other three maidservants attacked him at the same time unthinkingly caused Happy to be more certain that his assumption was true. Madam Wang's act of not taking any action caused him to feel at ease, and he knew that he could still change the progression of the quest.
However, at that moment, ghastly and chilling sword qi surged out of the four maidservants' hands!
Even though these four maidservants were in Inaction Realm, they were clearly using some sort of sword formation. That ghastly sword qi instantly connected with each other and acted like four walls. Then, with a fierce momentum, they swiftly closed in on Happy from the outside, just like a meat grinder.
"It's a pretty decent sword formation, but a pity, your strength is still too weak."
When he faced the ghastly sword wave that came at him, Happy unhesitantly raised his hand and flung his sword.
Clang!
A clear sword w.h.i.n.e and a black sword glare descended from the sky like a black bolt of lightning. It tore open a black gash on the ghastly, snow-white sword will st
raightaway.
Without sufficient strength, once someone managed to see through the weakness in their skill, the user would be full of openings.
Bang!
One of the maidservants was sent flying horizontally with a pale face. She crashed violently into the rail near the pavilion. With a loud groan, she coughed up a mouthful of red blood, and the floor was a terrifying sight when it was dyed red with her blood.
When the other three stared at Happy, their gazes instantly turned much more shocked and terrified.
Once Happy gained his momentum, he was unforgiving in his attacks. Since Madam Wang did nothing about the situation, he knew that it was because he was still not vicious enough in his attack. His gaze turned cold, and he quickly drew closer to the other three before he executed Dragon Capture with both hands. With neat and quick movements, he defeated the remaining three maidservants while disarming them of their weapons as well.
The four maidservants were injured at the same time. They glared at Happy ruthlessly.
"Thief, you're dead!"
The person who said those words received a merciless slap in the face without mercy. Her face was flung to the side, and her cheek was swollen. Blood gushed into the air.
Happy looked away and finally stared at Madam Wang. "Madam, are you still not intending to tell me what is going on?"
Madam Wang remained quiet for a while before she smiled in anguish. "Someone leaked the information that you have my portrait in your hands, and Yin Weed Faction seeped into my villa. Right now, all of my maidservants are under Yin Weed Faction's control, and even my qi has been sealed. I can only apologize to you for involving you in this."
"Yin Weed Faction?"
Happy was shocked. Then, he tried to investigate what was going on with Madam Wang, and indeed, her qi was incredibly chaotic. He immediately frowned. "If that's the case, Yin Weed Faction came for the portrait, and those maidservants are actually Yin Weed Faction disciples?"
"Indeed."
"But they're just lackeys. There must be someone controlling them behind their backs. I wonder just who is the Yin Weed Faction leader of this operation.
"Please show yourself!"
Happy wrapped his fist in his palm and invited that person to appear.
Right when he finished speaking, a cold snort appeared from everywhere. Happy had no idea where it came from.
"If you know that Yin Weed Faction is here, why aren't you leaving in a hurry? How dare you open your mouth and ask for me? Aren't you a little bit too bold, Shaolin Temple disciple?"
When he heard this voice, Happy's expression instantly turned incredibly dark.
Empress Yin!
Chapter 977 - Never-ending Chase
Even though Happy was slightly surprised by Yin Weed Faction's involvement in this, what he absolutely did not expect was that Madam Wang's portrait would lure Empress Yin personally out. This was an elite at the peak of Myth Realm who had become rather elusive ever since one and a half years ago and lived in seclusion. Right now, she had actually appeared in Mantuo Villa, a place that no one really paid much attention to.
"I didn't expect that you would be here, Empress Yin. I am a Shaolin Temple disciple, Happy. Pardon me for not being able to receive you properly…"
No matter what, Happy was unlike the normal player. Regardless of whether he was in this world or in the other world, he had already fought against Empress Yin before. This was especially true for the other side. He already had a huge grasp of Empress Yin's various ultimate techniques. Naturally, he was unlike the normal person, who would panic and lose their composure when they heard this airy sound transmission technique.
Under Madam Wang's shocked gaze, Happy stood his ground with a natural expression. Once he identified Empress Yin, he remained composed, as if he did not care about Yin Weed Faction's Empress Yin.
A faint tornado suddenly appeared near the pavilion.
Happy's eyes narrowed slightly. He discreetly adjusted his position slightly and faced the black-robed woman who had quietly appeared less than sixteen feet away.
Empress Yin, Zhu Yuyan.
They might both be sect masters, but Madam Wang's temperament and presence were swiftly overshadowed by Empress Yin, just like how the stars would become dim when they were near a bright moon.
"Faction master!"
"Faction master!"
The four Yin Weed Faction disciples prostrated on the ground, as if they were worshipping their god.
Zhu Yuyan did not even look at the four disciples prostrating on the ground. She just stared at Happy with a gaze as cold as ice, and she said, "Hand over the portrait, and I will show you mercy."
The system notification finally rang in Happy's mind in a fashionably late manner.
"Ding!
"Activated quest: Madam Wang in danger!
"The quest requirements are as follows. Lure Empress Yin's attention and get her away from Mantuo Villa for at least one hour.
"Lure Empress Yin away and head to the Murong Clan. Tell the Murong Clan about the news of Madam Wang's plight and request for strong reinforcements to save Madam Wang from danger.
"Once you complete the quest, you can gain the secret contained behind the portrait from Madam Wang herself.
"If you die during the quest, you will automatically lose the portrait and fail the quest."
Once he finished listening to the notifications from the quest, Happy s.u.c.k.e.d in a deep breath after he made a summary of all the things he needed to do, and a faint light shone in his eyes.
"There's no need for so much trouble."
Under Empress Yin and Madam Wang's puzzled gazes, Happy acted swiftly. Sword qi swept through the entire area, and the four Yin Weed Faction women who prostrated on the ground were instantly killed.
They were completely unprepared for that attack, which was why they were killed with just one slash.
Happy attacked with great resolution, however, he also paid quite the price for it.
Even though Zhu Yuyan did not care about her disciples' survival, at the moment Happy attacked, anger appeared in her eyes, and almost at the same time Happy attacked, she pushed one palm against Happy's shoulder.
A huge burst of power charged viciously into his body like a tidal wave.
"Urk!"
Happy grunted. He did not have time to dodge it, and he withstood the full power of the palm strike. The shock was enough to make him fly back horizontally.
"How dare you kill my disciples right in front of me? Fine, I will use your life as compensation for their deaths, and I will naturally retrieve that portrait from your corpse!"
Zhu Yuyan shouted in anger, and her body vanished once more like smoke. She chased after Happy like a shadow while he was still airborne, and a palm strike with matchless power pushed down on him viciously.
The pressure on the entire dimension suddenly became incredibly great, and a suffocating sense of danger filled Happy's mind.
Petite Dragon!
A palm-generated wind swept past his body.
"Hmm?"
Empress Yin gasped in surprise while she was in the air, but she resolutely changed her attack, and that palm-generated wind swept sideways to lock down on Happy, who had been released from the invincible state in Petite Dragon.
Dragon Coil!
Happy repeatedly caused Empress Yin to be surprised.
Her first palm strike missed, and her second palm strike felt as if it struck an invisible wall. Happy's body only swayed a little, and his qi only became slightly weaker while he landed on the rail of the pavilion. With a few light taps, he rushed into the corridor leading to the hotspring, which was surrounded by steam.
"Running?"
Zhu Yuyan will naturally not release Happy. She vanished from where she was like smoke.
Madam Wang was left alone on the spot while she stared at the four Yin Weed Faction disciples' corpses. A hint of surprise and delight appeared on her face.
*****
&
nbsp; Empress Yin, who was behind Happy, was determined to get the portrait. She chased after Happy nonstop, and they charged out of the inner villa one after another. Then, under countless surprised gazes from countless Mantuo Villa disciples, they rushed to the empty martial arts training field in Mantuo Villa.
Even though the quest demanded that Happy bring Empress Yin away from Madam Wang's side for at least one hour so that he can create a chance for Madam Wang to escape from danger, Happy knew that if he left Mantuo Villa, he will definitely die.
Instead of fighting against Empress Yin on a boat, it would be better if he fought against her in a remote and quiet place!
He had Tendon Changing Classic with him, and his recovery ability as well as capability to fight continuously was very strong. Besides, he had a clear understanding of many of Empress Yin's ultimate techniques. He was not without a chance to fight against Empress Yin.
Happy just continued jumping over buildings and running over walls as if he was running on flat ground.
"I'd like to see where you'll go!"
The imposing presence of an elite at the peak of Myth Realm was released completely at that moment, and even her Sky Demon Aura was released to envelope Happy.
Under the great pressure, Happy's Tendon Changing Classic swam through his entire body. At the moment Empress Yin attacked with her palm, he turned around and attacked with his palm at the speed of lightning!
Bang!
Two palms crashed into each other in the air.
Happy was sent flying.
Empress Yin's momentum was blocked for a moment. She could only watch as the distance between her and Happy widened by another dozens of feet, and her gaze instantly turned even colder than before.
"Cunning brat."
Happy accepted the risk of sustaining internal injuries from this exchange of palm strikes and widened the distance between them again. He managed to get himself out of Sky Demon Aura's area of effect and continued dashing forward without turning back.
At the same time, Tendon Changing Classic calmed down the surging qi and blood in his body bit by bit while treating his internal injuries and restoring his qi.
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