Chapter 369: A Tiger on the Plains

The Fifth Floor Master forced a smile, his lips trembling. "I'm fine, don't worry. Even if I have to sacrifice this old body of mine, I will protect the three of you."

"I trust you, Fifth Grandpa!"

Little Tuantuan nodded firmly, seeming to have complete faith in the Fifth Floor Master.

Liu Ming and Gao Qiang, however, wore expressions of deep worry.

The Fifth Floor Master was already severely injured. If he continued to flee with them in tow, he would eventually be completely spent and die in Emperor Heaven Valley.

Liu Ming asked in a low voice, "What if... what if we let the Fifth Floor Master escape on his own?"

"That's what I was thinking too!"

Gao Qiang nodded in agreement.

He and Liu Ming were too weak. By staying with the Fifth Floor Master, they were just a burden and couldn't help at all.

If the Fifth Floor Master fled alone, he might have a chance to survive.

But before the two could finish their discussion, the Fifth Floor Master spoke angrily, "Hey, what nonsense are you two talking about?"

"Senior, we were just thinking..."

Liu Ming had just started to explain their thoughts when the Fifth Floor Master cut him off. "I heard what you two were saying. Let me tell you straight, I will never abandon you to escape by myself."

"But it's the only way right now," Liu Ming said, unwilling to give up.

The Fifth Floor Master waved his hand. "Don't try to persuade me anymore. Even if we are to die, I must be the first to fall."

He wasn't the kind of heartless person who would abandon his companions to save his own skin.

If he were, he would never be able to show his face in the Drunken Immortal Tower again. He'd have no place there, and he certainly wouldn't be able to face Su Mo.

Gao Qiang sighed. "Alas... Fifth Floor Master, why must you be like this?"

"Because you are Su Xiaoyou's friends," the Fifth Floor Master said. "Protecting you is how I can repay Su Xiaoyou. He is the only one who can save our Drunken Immortal Tower right now."

"Well..." Liu Ming hesitated, then said, "Since you insist, Fifth Floor Master, we'll stick with you. If worst comes to worst, we'll all die together."

"Let's go. We need to find Su Xiaoyou."

The Fifth Floor Master forced himself to his feet. He had just leaped into the air, preparing to use Flying in the Sky, when he plummeted back down.

THUD!

The Fifth Floor Master slammed heavily onto the ground. His whole body convulsed as if struck by lightning, and he spat out a large mouthful of black blood.

"Children, I can't hold on any longer. You're on your own now. You... COUGH COUGH... you have to run for your lives."

The Fifth Floor Master said in despair.

He desperately wanted to protect them and deliver them safely into Su Mo's hands.

But now, he truly couldn't go on.

Liu Ming moved to help the Fifth Floor Master up. "We'll support you as we walk."

The Fifth Floor Master refused. "That's too slow. You should go on ahead. I'm afraid these old bones of mine will be laid to rest here today. When you see Su Xiaoyou, don't forget to tell him to avenge me!"

"If we're going, we're going together!"

Liu Ming said stubbornly.

Gao Qiang said with a smile, "Fifth Floor Master, just a moment ago you said you would protect us and die with us. Why are you going back on your word now?"

"I'm not going back on my word. I just really..."

The Fifth Floor Master said with a sigh.

As they were arguing, a cold sneer suddenly echoed from the distance. "Well, well, Fifth Floor Master. You're quite the fast runner."

"Oh no, the people from the Haoyue Sect have caught up!"

"And the Cangxuan Sect!"

The faces of Liu Ming and Gao Qiang drained of color. They quickly turned to look in the direction of the voice and saw more than a dozen figures rapidly approaching from the distance.

The Fifth Floor Master despaired.

He was injured and couldn't even manage Flying in the Sky. Facing over a dozen experts from the Haoyue Sect and the Cangxuan Sect, there was no escape.

"Fifth Floor Master, weren't you running so fast? Get up and keep running."

"Keep running? Heh, I bet he can't even use Flying anymore."

"Don't be fooled by his usual high-and-mighty act. Right now, he's probably weaker than an ant. Even I could crush him."

The disciples from the Haoyue Sect and Cangxuan Sect taunted the Fifth Floor Master mercilessly.

The Fifth Floor Master's face was filled with indignation.

Usually, these people would respectfully call him "Senior" over and over again. Now, they were mocking him, saying he was less than an ant.

'This is so damn infuriating.'

'A tiger forced onto the plains gets bullied by dogs!'

The Fifth Floor Master stared at an old man in black robes among the crowd and said, "Chu Yulong, if you've got any guts, give me a quick death. Just kill me."

"You want a quick death? Isn't that simple?"

Chu Yulong walked up to the Fifth Floor Master and said with cold arrogance, "Right now, you're no different from a dead dog. I could kill you with a single finger."

"Elder Chu, wait!"

The middle-aged man beside him stopped him, grabbing Chu Yulong's arm.

Chu Yulong looked at the middle-aged man coldly and demanded in a chilling voice, "What are you doing, Yue Mountain? Don't tell me you want to save this old fool?"

"Heh heh, I wish I could tear him to pieces and scatter his ashes to the wind. Why would I save him?"

Yue Mountain sneered.

Chu Yulong asked, confused, "Then why are you stopping me from killing him?"

Yue Mountain said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "Killing him like this would be letting him off too easily. Why don't you hand him over to me? I have over a thousand ways to torture him to death."

"So you want to torture him!"

Chu Yulong chuckled. "I've long heard that the people of your Haoyue Sect are incredibly cruel, that you torture your opponents until they wish they were dead. They say your methods are comparable to the torments of the eighteen levels of Hell, exceptionally ruthless and vicious. It seems I'll get to broaden my horizons today."

"Just you watch!"

Yue Mountain sneered. "First, we'll hang this old fool up and cut out his tongue. That'll stop him from screaming his head off and attracting some powerful Demon Beasts to cause trouble for us!"

"Cut out his tongue?"

A chill ran down Chu Yulong's spine.

'It seems the rumors were true. These bastards from the Haoyue Sect really are cruel. They want to cut out the Fifth Floor Master's tongue right from the start.'

'Torturing someone until they're half-dead, but not even letting them scream.'

'This method... it's too cruel.'

The Fifth Floor Master's heart went cold.

Yue Mountain took out a sharp dagger and licked his lips. "Men, pry this old bastard's mouth open. I'm going to perform the punishment myself and cut out his tongue."

"You bad guys, don't you dare hurt Fifth Grandpa!"

Just then, Little Tuantuan suddenly stepped forward, shielding the Fifth Floor Master.

Yue Mountain said impatiently, "Where did this little brat come from? Scram, or I'll cut out your tongue too."

With that, Yue Mountain raised his foot and stomped toward Little Tuantuan's chest.

Liu Ming and Gao Qiang's faces instantly changed.

If that kick landed, Little Tuantuan would surely explode on the spot.

At that critical moment, the Fifth Floor Master burned his heart's blood, erupting with his final ounce of strength to shield Little Tuantuan.

BANG!

The Fifth Floor Master was sent flying several dozen meters, spraying blood from his mouth. "Yue Mountain," he choked out, "you can harm anyone else, but you cannot touch this girl."

"You tell me not to touch her, so I won't?"

Yue Mountain sneered.

The Fifth Floor Master said weakly, "This little girl has a Fragrance-Devouring Body."

"What? She has a Fragrance-Devouring Body?"

Yue Mountain stared at Little Tuantuan, his face filled with delighted surprise.