Chapter 533: Target Change
"Pegasus" closed the distance from a hundred meters away in just a few strides, arriving just in time to see Qian Wu walking out of the prison.
"Oh my, my, 'Twin Blossoms'..." Pegasus stopped, reached out and patted her own waist. "Old, useless now. I almost arrived late..."
"Not late. You're just in time." Qian Wu spoke with neither humility nor arrogance.
"Well then... it's time to honor what we agreed upon yesterday, isn't it?" Pegasus glanced at the two young men following behind Qian Wu, her wrinkled face breaking into a smile as she asked, "Either hand them over, or I activate 'Pegasus's Moment.' So those two... which one is the 'Great Resonance'?"
Qian Wu reached into his pocket and pulled out an old cigarette case, taking out a cigarette and putting it between his lips. Luo Shiyi stepped forward two paces to light it for him.
"Pegasus." Qian Wu exhaled a cloud of smoke and replied with a cold laugh, "I'm not handing anyone over. When will 'Pegasus's Moment' begin?"
"What...?" Pegasus was momentarily stunned, feeling as if she had been toyed with. "'Twin Blossoms'... are you joking with me? Do you know how many people will die in the 'Land of the End' if I activate 'Pegasus's Moment'?"
"I know." Qian Wu held the cigarette between his teeth, shoved his hands into his pockets, and slowly walked forward a few steps until he was right in front of Pegasus. He said to her, "Pegasus, what do you think the chances are... that the 'Great Resonance' hasn't awakened yet? If you activate 'Pegasus's Moment,' could you possibly catch him in it?"
"Wouldn't catching him be the best outcome?" The wrinkles on Pegasus's face slowly smoothed out as she revealed an ugly smile. "If he dares to 'Resonate' during 'Pegasus's Moment,' I will appear before him in an instant and take him to see 'Tianlong.' Then my mission will be accomplished."
"I see..." Qian Wu nodded after hearing this and took another step forward.
In the distance, Qi Xia was already feeling tense. Qian Wu was close enough to grab Pegasus, but he had yet to make a move. He must be wary of something as well.
Come to think of it, if he failed to catch Pegasus on the first try and she dodged, killing her would become an impossible fantasy.
"Qian Wu, since that's the case, our deal is broken." Pegasus shook her head helplessly. She looked like nothing more than an ordinary old lady, yet her words always sent chills down one's spine. "Since you didn't cherish this opportunity, I have no choice but to go on a killing spree."
"Fine." Qian Wu nodded. "Go ahead, then."
The moment the words left his mouth, Qian Wu violently spat out the cigarette in his mouth, sending it flying straight into Pegasus's face. A wave of searing heat struck her, and her eyes closed for an instant.
Within half a second, she sensed something was wrong and hurriedly reached out to grab Tianhu. But just as her aged hand was about to touch Tianhu, Chou Ershi frowned, and a fierce gale erupted on the spot.
Caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, Pegasus hesitated for a moment. In that instant, Qian Wu stepped forward and firmly seized her wrist.
At the same time, a massive bell toll echoed from afar. "Twin Blossoms" no longer suppressed his "Resonance" and unleashed it completely.
"Now!!" Qian Wu shouted.
From behind him, Luo Shiyi on the left and Chou Ershi on the right simultaneously drew daggers from their waists. One aimed at the spot behind Qian Wu's heart, the other at the carotid artery on the left side of his neck. They stabbed without hesitation.
Their eyes were resolute and unyielding. Anyone watching would think they were trying to kill a mortal enemy.
They knew that no matter whose blade pierced Qian Wu's body, Pegasus, who stood before him, would surely die along with him.
This would be the first declaration of war from a "Participant" to a "Zodiac."
But just as their daggers were a mere centimeter away from Qian Wu, a sudden gale far more powerful than Chou Ershi's swept in. The force of the wind was so fierce that it knocked everyone off balance, sending them stumbling in all directions.
Even Pegasus and Tianhu could barely keep their footing.
In the distance, Qi Xia watched this scene unfold, his brow slowly furrowing. He knew the plan had failed.
The treatment of "Heavenly-rank" and "Human-rank" was truly worlds apart. The "Divine Beast" would not wait until the "Heavenly-rank" was fully killed before showing itself. It had already intervened the moment they felt the murderous intent.
When the gale subsided, Qian Wu, Luo Shiyi, and the others stood up, only to find that between them and Pegasus stood a woman with hair trailing down to the ground. It was unclear when she had appeared—it was as if she had been standing there all along.
"I am 'Xuanwu.'" The woman spoke slowly. "You are about to commit a foul. Drop your weapons and prepare to be slaughtered."
Qi Xia, Qiao Jiajin, Chen Junnan, and Saturday were all watching through the gap in the iron prison gate. The scene before them was utterly terrifying.
Both sides had three people, but their auras were completely different.
Qian Wu was flanked by "Forget Sorrow" Luo Shiyi and "Gale Force" Chou Ershi.
But standing across from them were "Xuanwu," "Pegasus," and "Tianhu."
Which "Participant," no matter who it was, could possibly kill their opponents in such a situation?
"Tsk... There's no way to win..." Saturday's lips trembled slightly, and a look of despair crept onto her face. "Pegasus's Moment is going to be activated no matter what. We need to get ready to run for our lives..."
"No..." Qi Xia squinted his eyes and said, "There's still one last chance... if Qian Wu can think of it..."
Qian Wu stared at the ice-cold woman before him and swallowed nervously.
"Heh... 'Xuanwu'..." He struggled to calm himself. Now that he had committed a foul and angered this woman, there was no escape no matter what.
In that case... was there any other way?
Behind him, Luo Shiyi and Chou Ershi showed no fear either. They had already anticipated this outcome the moment they stepped out of the prison gates. Even if Qian Wu had successfully killed "Pegasus," as accomplices, they could not have escaped "Xuanwu's" punishment.
After a few seconds of silence, a thought suddenly struck Qian Wu. This might be the only option now...
Without backing down, he took another step forward.
"Xuanwu, I want to kill you."
The moment he said this, Luo Shiyi and Chou Ershi both turned their gazes to Qian Wu's back.
That was it. The possibility of killing "Pegasus" was now zero. So what about the possibility of killing "Xuanwu" instead?
"Kill me...?"
Xuanwu raised her pale gray hand and parted the hair covering her face just enough to reveal a single icy eye.
Even with only one eye visible, Qian Wu could clearly see the barely contained anticipation in that gaze.
"Fine... Excellent... Come and kill me..."
In the distance, Qi Xia was gripping the doorframe with all his strength.
Would the structure of the "Land of the End" change from today onward?
This bizarre "assassination" was about to begin. Would it bring "hope" or despair to everyone?
Qian Wu let out a breath, bowed his head slightly to Xuanwu, and then slowly extended his hand toward her, like a gentleman inviting a lady to dance.
"Xuanwu... forgive my impertinence. Entrust your life to me." Qian Wu said in a low voice.
Xuanwu listened, nodded, and without hesitation reached out her own hand to gently grasp Qian Wu's.