Chapter 625: She Can't Be Targeted

The leader snorted and said, "Our aim is to kill Yun Yang. We have no grievance against Shangguan Lingxiu! Don't you get it?"

The assistant replied angrily, "I see this even more clearly than you do, but the situation now is that brute force can't take Yun Yang down any time soon. If Shangguan Lingxiu is taken as a bargaining chip, it would certainly speed things up greatly!"

The leader sighed softly; looking at his assistant's furious gaze, he knew that he had to explain the entire scenario.

"The current situation obviously shows that Shangguan Lingxiu knows that she can't escape. At the same time, she doesn't want to either - because she knows that once she moves, whether she can actually flee or not, her movements will affect Yun Yang's focus. If she did escape, Yun Yang would not be able to confirm that she'd be safe, and he would be worried. Is this right?"

"Yes."

"Since Shangguan Lingxiu can't escape, Yun Yang can only be assured if he keeps her within his field of vision. Then, keeping her here will instead be the main reason Yun Yang can't leave! Do you understand?"

The leader was frustrated. "Do you think that Yun Yang really can't break free of this siege given his cultivation base? I would dare to say that if he intends to leave, he will, at most, pay the price of slight injuries. He can leave anytime he wants. Do you doubt anything I am saying?"

"Uh..."

To have reached the Dao realm, the assistant was not a foolish man. He could discern that Yun Yang would have left long ago if he wanted to break the siege, given how he was only at a disadvantage when there were a dozen men attacking him. In other words, there must be something he could not let go of here and the only plausible suggestion was none other than Shangguan Lingxiu.

"What sort of outcome do you want to create by attacking Shangguan Lingxiu? To make Yun Yang aware that there's only death should he be distracted? That one death is better than two? Then for him to resolve to break free? Will you be able to stop him if that was truly the case?" asked the leader.

"Would he really care that much?"

"Put yourself in his shoes. If it were you, of course, you would try your best to protect those around you under the premise that you can ensure your own safety. However, what if you have also fallen into a critical state of life and death? Will you protect them with your all?" The leader said furiously, "Can't you use your brain? Is your brain only for display purposes ?"

The assistant was struck with a sudden realization. "So Shangguan Lingxiu can't leave, neither can she die. She can only remain here. As long as she's here, Yun Yang won't flee, isn't that right?"

"Why must you state the obvious?"

"Still, what if we hold Shangguan Lingxiu hostage?"

"It looks like you're really as stupid as a pig! I've heard that even pigs can fly if the timing is right; I can see for myself today!" The leader continued in anger, "We're clearly here to kill Yun Yang. If we were to capture Shangguan Lingxiu at this point of time, guess what Yun Yang will do immediately?"

The assistant coughed and answered, "Escape! Only when he leaves will it be possible for him to save Shangguan Lingxiu in the future. If he falls for the bait, only death awaits the both of them."

"That is correct. If we target Shangguan Lingxiu, with the girl's temper, she may even commit suicide upon realizing that she can't escape! By then, can you stop Yun Yang?"

"Uh..." That could very well happen.

"I see that you're clear now; do you still have questions?" The leader's eyes were on the battlefield. "I really don't wish to be bothered about you right now."

"I understand your point in not targeting Shangguan Lingxiu," the assistant sighed but thought of a new problem at once, saying, "Nonetheless, why doesn't Shangguan Lingxiu initiate an escape? She can run away. Once she does, Yun Yang won't have additional worries to distract himself."

The leader was choked with rage, watching his assistance like he was looking at a fool. "If she can leave, if she's able to, would she not? If she really does want to leave, will you let her go?"

"She knows that she's unable to escape. That is why she stands there and doesn't partake in this battle that exceeds her range of ability, but still maintains a certain degree of spontaneity. This lady is waiting, having the same idea as Yun Yang. If Yun Yang dies, she won't be able to live, but if their support troops arrive, both of them will be able to survive!"

"This is an extremely smart, wise and tough lady. To threaten or to distract her will be futile against the both of them! The current situation is the best scenario, do you understand?"

"Er..."

The assistant rolled his eyes, realizing that he was indeed as dumb as a pig, but he refused to admit such a fact. Wracking his head to find another topic, he asked, "Since they have relief troops... why aren't you joining the fight to finish this off as fast as possible?"

The leader heaved a long sigh and said, "I must change an assistant once I go back. If it can't happen, I'll request to be switched to another group... I've f*cking had enough. Why the f*ck do I have a brother-in-law like you? A pig is a pig, a pig with a high cultivation base is still a pig... Argh!"

His sigh brimmed with unspoken frustration. 'You can be a fool, you can be stupid. However, how can you be so terribly stupid to this extent!'

He was utterly speechless.

The assistant did not reply for a long while, but he had something he dared not say, "Do you f*cking know who my brother-in-law is? If I'm a pig, what does that make my sister? What is my brother-in-law sleeping with? Do you f*cking dare to say that I'm a pig and stupid? How much better are you now?"

On the other side of the battle, Yun Yang was thoroughly drenched in sweat, panting and heaving.

Just as the masked leader had said, Yun Yang would have left long ago if he wanted to. He could not; if he did, Shangguan Lingxiu was doomed. Yun Yang would never abandon Shangguan Lingxiu and escape alone, especially when he was confident that he could push through until help arrived. After all, he had left plenty of clues along the way. He believed that relief would arrive as long as he continued to persevere.

The masked men in black knew about this as well, thus they would only toil harder.

In spite of this, Yun Yang's mystical Qi supply was endless, far stronger than anyone's expectations. Logically, Yun Yang's mystical Qi should have been expended a long time ago when faced with such frequent and pressured attacks. Even if he were to act cautiously, an expert of third or fourth to even fifth or sixth level in Dao realm would have exhausted their mystical Qi a long time ago!

Yun Yang, oddly, had pushed through.

Everyone present thought it was unbelievable. Not only had Yun Yang held on, he still managed to muster an occasional counterattack and cause substantial damage to these assassins. This was even more inconceivable.

Although they saw that Yun Yang was growing more fatigued - sweat drenching him as he panted harshly and his expression was turning pale, the wounds on the killers were growing in number as well. They were also growing exhausted. After all, they were made from flesh and blood!

The saber in Yun Yang's hand left tiny open gashes on the black-clothed assassins. It was not that he did not want to cause further damage, it was that the time gap left for him could only leave injuries of such extent. If he had exerted more force, it would have placed him in an irreversibly grave state.

However, Yun Yang had seized every opportunity he had been given to deal damage to the killers. As long as he got to attack, he would complete the charge with a tremendously skilled technique.