A Battle of Wits

"It really is a sorcerer..." Li Chunfeng looked astonished. After pondering for a moment, he guessed, "Is it because of the story Granny Wang told?" Zhang Yuanqing nodded. "In Granny Wang's story, that sorcerer was a helper hired by Squire Zhao who subdued the evil woman gouging out people's hearts and livers. Following normal logic, the sorcerer is a figure stronger than both the blacksmith and Squire Zhao. The instance wouldn't pit the evil faction against the strongest boss right off the bat." Granny Wang's story and Xu Xiu'er's account corroborated each other. In Granny Wang's story, the demoness dug out people's hearts and livers, and Squire Zhao brought in a sorcerer to exorcise her. In Xu Xiu'er's version, Granny Wang's son and Squire Zhao conspired to murder Yinyang Sanren's descendant. The common thread was that both groups were dealing with Yinyang Sanren's descendant. The difference lay in their motives. The sorcerer likely existed in reality as well. If Squire Zhao and Granny Wang's son had been capable of dealing with that poor woman by themselves, they would have acted long before; Granny Wang's story wouldn't have featured a sorcerer at all, and she would have fabricated a different tale instead. Of course, before the Spirit Realm prompt appeared, all of this had merely been Zhang Yuanqing's speculation. Furthermore, he finally understood whose handiwork the arrangements in Granny Wang's house were. It was the sorcerer! "That sorcerer must be a Witch Doctor," Queen said suddenly. Zhang Yuanqing glanced at her; she had caught on as well. After confirming Xu Xiu'er wasn't the curser, hearing the Spirit Realm prompt, and recalling Granny Wang's story, if she still hadn't figured it out, her status as a Level 3 Water Ghost would truly have been for nothing. Li Chunfeng said, "To be able to set up curses, he is definitely a Witch Doctor. But Yinyang Sanren's descendant could also use curses. Looking at it that way, was Yinyang Sanren also of an evil profession?" Queen shook her head. "No one knows Yinyang Sanren's true identity. Other guides mentioned that the townsfolk said Yinyang Sanren could call wind and summon rain, as well as command blazing fire to drive off bandits. Now with curses added into the mix... it's most likely the power of props." "Speaking of which, how come the official database doesn't have a guide for the storyline we took?" Huode Xingjun had always assumed that the Five Elements Alliance's official database ought to have collected every Spirit Realm instance. Queen explained, "There is an immense variety of Spirit Realm instances in the Transcendent stage. For many people, from the Transcendent stage to the Saint stage, they might not even enter ten Transcendent instances in total. Some have only entered two instances and are already Level 2." *A telltale sign of a woman being interested in a man is constantly bringing him up when she speaks...* Guan Ya cast another glance at her glamorous, striking female colleague. Thinking this, she turned her head to look at Yuanshi, only to find him looking down in contemplation. *The storyline the Demon Lord took should be the exact one we're on now. That's why in his post-game analysis, he thought the instance had a hidden quest. It was obvious enough that even I could deduce it... But that lecher had already lost his chastity to Widow Xu and killed the cat corpse, so he didn't trigger the hidden quest...* *Besides, I finally understand why the Yinyang Town instance has multiple 'routes.' Each team's overall strength varies, and encountering the cat corpse and Widow Xu's storyline would likely wipe out most squads. Thus, different routes correspond to teams of different strengths...* While he was deep in thought, Li Chunfeng said, "Before heading to the town center, I think we should arrange our tactics. Don't worry—arriving a few minutes early or late won't affect the big picture." Given the difficulty of this instance, the final boss clearly wasn't something either side could finish off in just a few minutes. And due to the three-way standoff, Li Chunfeng believed that if they didn't show up, the evil faction most likely wouldn't dare push the boss either; nobody wanted to be attacked from behind. His suggestion was approved by team leader Zhang Yuanqing. "Chi'ou is out of commission now. Guan Ya, Queen, how much combat strength do you two have left?" Queen checked her condition. "Around seventy percent." She wasn't injured, but like Chi'ou, her vitality had been severely drained. The diluted Life Essence had compensated for most of the deficit; otherwise, she would have had thirty or forty percent at most. Guan Ya was a different story. The gunshot wound on her leg had stopped bleeding and was slowly healing, but the most troublesome thing about injuries was that the wound and pain impaired mobility, severely affecting combat. "Physical skills fifty percent, ranged output unchanged," she calmly offered her calculated conclusion. *Chi'ou is crippled, reducing the team to six. Li Chunfeng is a Scholar—that tiny bit of stamina buff might as well make him a cripple in the eyes of evil professions... Guan Ya is our 'sniper.' The ones on our side who can truly face the evil professions head-on are only four... Lili Yuanshangcao is a Level 2 Wood Demon, at most acting as support...* Zhang Yuanqing analyzed rapidly in his mind. Li Chunfeng had clear self-awareness and said, "I can stay by Guan Ya's side. A sniper needs a protector. When necessary, I can also take over sniping duties. Heh, I have no confidence in close combat, but I've practiced marksmanship. I'm proficient with most firearms." Zhang Yuanqing looked toward the melancholy, quiet youth. "Can you shoot?" Lili Yuanshangcao shook his head. He was a wild Spirit Realm walker. In a country with strict gun control, he had no channels or connections to practice shooting privately, and Wood Demons received no talent buffs in marksmanship. Zhang Yuanqing then took out the Burst Pistol and handed it to Li Chunfeng. "Take this prop. It has decent firepower. You and Guan Ya will be in charge of ranged output." Everyone's eyes immediately locked onto the large-caliber handgun. Li Chunfeng took it in shock. After checking the item information, he was thrilled. "What a powerful prop!!" Judging by Li Chunfeng's reaction, the prop Yuanshi Tianzun handed out was exceptionally strong. And he had just lent it out so casually... The others felt a wave of curiosity and envy, marveling at Yuanshi Tianzun's generosity. The reason Zhang Yuanqing lent the Burst Pistol was that he would definitely have to engage and pin down the evil faction head-on, which meant close-quarters combat. Under those circumstances, already wearing the Ruffian Boxing Gloves, if he also held a Fire Master profession handgun, it would very likely give him the impulse of "I want to take on ten at once," causing him to recklessly charge into the evil faction. That would be courting death. Zhang Yuanqing then took out the straw doll and handed it to the Earth Monster, Chi'ou. "In a moment, stay out of sight. Hide at a distance and use this prop against the evil faction." Using the straw doll required several seconds of preparation time, making it hard to deploy in melee. Giving it to Chi'ou was effectively putting unused potential to work. Chi'ou took the straw doll, and after reading the item information, his expression was even more exaggerated than Li Chunfeng's. "Th-this..." The skinny youth was stunned. *Is this a prop I can use? I've never touched such a high-end prop in my entire life...* *He gave out another one! Just how rich is he? I want one too...* Queen, Huode Xingjun, and the others stared blankly at their leader. "No more," Zhang Yuanqing waved his hands hurriedly. *Makes sense. Having handed out two props in a row, he probably has at most one left for himself. There's no way he has more in reserve!* His teammates showed understanding. *The Ruffian Boxing Gloves grant me agility, the Sharp Eyes let me anticipate enemy attacks, the Bloodthirsty Blade is a lethal melee weapon, and the Demon-Subduing Pestle's purification counters Bewitching Demons and Illusionists. These four melee divine weapons cannot be lent out. The red dancing shoes are a core prop, the Red Bridal Veil is a life-saving prop, the Disguise Ring has no combat utility, and as for the Heavenly Toad Censer—would it poison myself or the enemy?* *I really don't have any more props.* Li Chunfeng happily stowed the prop and said, "Yuanshi, Huode Xingjun, and Queen will face the enemy head-on. Lili Yuanshangcao will provide support and look for openings to strike. Guan Ya and I will handle ranged output. As for Chi'ou, use the straw doll at your own discretion based on its abilities." *** The town center. The river wound along, dividing the open clearing in the center into two halves. This clearing in the center of the town was normally used by the townsfolk for drying grain, gathering, holding events, and trading. Beside the somewhat rapid river, there was also a stone platform for washing clothes. A figure clad in a black robe stood in the middle of the clearing, head tilted up, bathing in the sunlight, seemingly relishing the feeling of seeing daylight once more. He had been trapped in this town for ages, and this endless period without sunlight was enough to drive anyone mad. In an alley by the southern clearing, Little Doubi stealthily poked his head out, his dark, glossy eyes warily scanning the surroundings. Further inside, Zhang Yuanqing and his teammates had their backs against the wall. He whispered: "The sorcerer is spacing out in the open. For now, no sign of the evil faction. Li Chunfeng guessed right—the other side is being sneaky. Hmph, trying to sit back and watch the tigers fight. The evil faction really is despicable." *Aren't we thinking the exact same thing though?!* Huode Xingjun thought to himself. "Let's wait a bit longer then," Queen said cautiously. On the other side of the clearing, also in an alley. A gaunt middle-aged man leaned his back against the wall, peered outside cautiously, and pulled his head back. He returned deeper into the alley, finding his companions along a moss-covered path paved with stone slabs and river pebbles. "Those orthodox brats are insidious; they haven't shown their faces," the gaunt middle-aged man suggested. "Should we ignore the sorcerer for now, hunt them down, and finish them off first?" A three-way standoff was the most stable balance. No one wanted to be cannon fodder, and everyone wanted the other side to be the cannon fodder. The youth missing a left ear snorted coldly. "At a time like this, it comes down to patience. Let's hope there's a Fire Master among the orthodox faction." The man in the sharp suit shook his head. "Even if there was a Fire Master, he's probably dead already; they rarely make it to the end. Right now, it's all about patience." Li Xianzong pondered for a moment and said, "Wait a bit. Only the most patient can be the hunter. Let me think of a way." Time ticked by minute by minute. "Fuck, I can't take it anymore! Let's just do this!" Huode Xingjun's last shred of patience ran out. Li Chunfeng and Lili Yuanshangcao each held down one of his shoulders. "Endure, you must endure!" Li Chunfeng warned. Zhang Yuanqing murmured, "Wait a little longer. We need to be hunters, not prey. If you really can't keep your cool, we'll pull back and search for traces of the evil professions." At this moment, Guan Ya analyzed: "Remember the description in the guides? The team that arrives at the square first gets a reward. The Spirit Realm prompt just now told us to slay the sorcerer to initiate the final battle. In other words, whoever kills the sorcerer gets the reward." Zhang Yuanqing looked across the group and said, "I have an idea." *** "Insta-kill the sorcerer?" The gaunt middle-aged man stared at Li Xianzong in disbelief. "Are you sure we can insta-kill the big boss? Based on the blacksmith's and Squire Zhao's combat strength, this sorcerer is very likely in the Saint stage. Even if he's only Level 4, he's still a Saint!" "Did you forget about this?" Li Xianzong flipped his palm, revealing a steel needle stained with dried blood before everyone's eyes. The youth missing a left ear recalled the prop's information, and his eyes lit up. "It can kill the sorcerer! Even if it doesn't, it will grievously wound him. With our combined strength, swiftly putting down a heavily injured Saint will be no problem. Don't forget, Li Xianzong has killed a Saint before." "In a moment, I will release mist to obscure the orthodox faction's vision. Stay close to me, and we'll finish this fast," Li Xianzong said. "Before that, however, give me a few minutes." With that, he stepped aside, put on a filthy, foul-smelling overcoat, dropped to both knees, pressed his palms together, and prayed: "Let me slay the sorcerer, let our plan succeed... Let me slay the sorcerer, let our plan succeed..." *A Saint-stage prop of the Witch Doctor profession...* The gaunt middle-aged man looked on with greedy eyes. *** "Take out the sorcerer before the evil faction can react and claim the reward..." Li Chunfeng mused. "That's not a bad plan, but the difficulty is immense." Zhang Yuanqing explained with measured confidence, "Judging by the difficulty level of Yinyang Town, the sorcerer is most likely a Saint. If he were in the Transcendent stage, he'd only end up getting humiliated by us in turns. Well, Level 4 Saint at most; if he were any stronger, both sides would end up getting humiliated by him in turns, which violates the balance mechanism." "If we join forces and make targeted preparations, striking with preparation against an unprepared foe gives us a huge chance of victory. Mm, I have a prop that can purify a Witch Doctor's curses, though it's not very effective against toxins." Lili Yuanshangcao immediately spoke up, "I have antidote pills that can weaken toxins." Guan Ya pondered and said, "I can provide covering fire. Even if he's a Saint, taking my bullets will leave a mark." Chi'ou chimed in hastily, "I can use the straw doll to curse him. It might not be fatal against a Witch Doctor, but it will disrupt him." Li Chunfeng added, "The pistol Yuanshi gave me has armor-piercing effects. I'll support Guan Ya's shooting." After a quick discussion, the team finalized their battle plan. Zhang Yuanqing said in a deep voice: "Move!" *** "Move!" Without even taking off the overcoat, Li Xianzong gripped a butterfly knife in one hand, held a wooden box in the other, and led his teammates charging out of the alley. Right at that moment, the second he burst out of the alley and into the sunlight, Li Xianzong suddenly saw another group of people rushing out diagonally opposite him! *Damn it, those evil-faction bastards came out?!* *Fuck, the orthodox-faction brats came out too?!* Caught completely off guard, both sides froze, skidding frantically to a halt. Each had the exact same sensation: after plotting so hard to ambush their enemy, they found the enemy was ambushing them too.