Instant Kill - Volume 6 - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

All Marked Warrior Adepts are strong; they have superior fighting skills because of the Rune Energycultivation . Their bodies are also emblazoned with strength-enhancing Marks . They can certainly attack with impunity .

(Note: Okay, this is where I get confused . I’m not sure this time if the FuZhou the author is referring to the Artificer class or an Energy related to Runes/Spells being absorbed . In this instance, I’m guessing he refers to the energy instead of the class . I’ll try to backtrack to the first few chapter later, but for now I’ll use Rune Energy until I find the correct term or find a cooler name . Kindly share if you have thoughts about this FuZhou . )

Huo Bao’s presence as a Marked Warrior Adept was imposing . With matchless strength, he opted for a direct attack .

In response, Guo Shier moved slightly sideways and let the punch in . He then quickly stretched out his hands to seize Huo Bao’s wrist, pulled hard, and tripped him with his outstretched foot .

Huo Bao flew and fell on all fours .

Bang! (falling*)

He hit the floor hard . This got him angry . He was about to stand up when he heard someone shout, “Be careful!”

As it turned out, Guo Shier has rushed to Huo Bao’s side to attack his turning face with a knee dash . Huo Bao felt Guo Shier’s knee crashing directly into his head . Before he could process what just happened, he found himself laying on the ground again .

While Huo Bao was trying to recover from the dizzying hit, Guo Shier quickly pointed a sharp knife on his neck . “You lose!”

Confused, Huo Bao looked at the dagger . “That doesn’t count! You’re shameless!” he complained .

“Oh, tell me—why do you say I’m shameless?” Guo Shier replied, putting the dagger away .

Huo Bao got up . “You dare not fight me!”

“What, am I stupid?” Guo Shier said, half laughing . Why would I exchange hits with you? You’re Marked Warrior Adept—an inherently combat-type profession . I will surely be defeated in a head-on exchange . But with my method, didn’t you lose?”

“That doesn’t count!” cried the Huo Bao . “That’s not counted! Let’s try again! ”

Luo Jie nor Qi Nanshan didn’t say anything . They couldn’t conceal the amazement in their eyes .

Ying Mo was dumbfounded . He certainly could see that Huo Bao was riled up . Guo Shier’s moves were really weird and seemed to have been set up like a trap—a trap that Huo Bao fell for . The moves were clean and tidy . They were skillfully executed . He couldn’t wait to see how Guo Shier would deal with Huo Bao again . No—now was not the time to interfere .
Hong Shi and Chen Bing couldn’t hide their amazement, either . They didn’t expect Guo Shier to win . As for Chen Hong, she was all for Guo Shier . She didn’t only applaud—she also cheered . “Shier, come on! Knock over Little Bao!”

Winning have Guo Shier a burst of confidence . “Bring it on!” he dared his opponent, laughing .

Not this time, Huo Bao thought as he raised his hands for the next match . He was still in disbelief .

Guo Shier sprang up first, taking advantage of his rival’s inattentiveness . He suddenly rushed towards the warrior’s chest, expertly angling his feet to obstruct his legs .

Huo Bao sneered as he felt Guo Shier slam into his chest . He was planning to step back and smash him down, but he never thought that he would trip from his obstructing foot . He fell on the floor, flat on his buttocks .

Guo Shier once again used a knee dash on Huo Bao’s face . The warrior was momentarily disoriented . Before he knew it, he was feeling a cold dagger being pointed under his jaw .

“You lost again!” declared Guo Shier .

Huo Bao shouted angrily . Unbelievably, he was knocked down twice in row . It was too hard to swallow . He felt like a fool falling for his opponent’s tricks .

Guo Shier proudly put away his dagger and pulled up Huo Bao . Grinning, he cheekily said, “Do you submit?”

Huo Bao howled . “I’m not submitting . You’re too insidious!”

Guo Shier didn’t expect that answer . He took a step back . “Okay, then . Let’s go again!”

Huo Bao was going crazy . He didn’t want to let Guo Shier achieve victory by ‘cheating . ’ He refused to submit and wanted to continue fighting .

His goal was to show Guo Shier that Marked Warrior Adepts were powerful .

As for Guo Shier, all he wanted to do was fight Huo Bao a few times to test if he can destabilize a Marked Warrior Adept’s body . If Huo Bao’s strength proved too overwhelming to shake with his skills, then he would stop—there was no sense in continuing the fight .

Fortunately for him, he defeated Huo Bao in succession . He felt relieved .

Now he had the confidence to confront the warrior head-on .

Huo Bao held back his tears . Strength was his identity . He has always possessed superior vigor even as a child and never imagined that he would ever lose in his field of expertise . How could he accept this? The fact that Guo Shier only had rudimentary knowledge in martial arts made the situation even more embarrassing .

I have to be more careful this time, he thought . After all, he already lost twice . Although Guo Shier used the element of surprise—a tactic that he considered ‘cheating’—it was still his fault that he fell for it . He was careless .

Guo Shier called out him . “Come on! Come on!”

Stepping forward, Huo Bao stared intently at his challenger, who seemed indifferent—even relaxed .

He didn’t know why, but a sudden surge of anger went straight to his forehead . He almost burst into tears .

This time, he did not spring out as usual . Instead, he slowly controlled his swelling anger and anxiousness, determined not to mess up . His plan was to slowly apply direct pressure on Guo Shier .

Meanwhile, Guo Shier looked as stable as Mt . Taishan . He stared seriously at Huo Bao, but deep inside, he really wanted to laugh . He thought that Huo Bao looked funny, grinding his teeth and looking all vicious .

It was obvious—Huo Bao was hell bent on winning .

He suddenly rushed forward to trample Guo Shier, immediately took two steps to cross the distance between them, then let out a punch .

Guo Shier couldn’t possibly trick me this time, Hu Bao thought . This punch contained all of his strength .

Guo Shier knew he would not survive this hard punch . His bones would not be able to handle it . He swiftly reacted, stretching out his hands gently upwards, his palm resting on Huo Bao’s arms, while turning his body slightly sideways and stepping away from the strike zone . With minimal effort, he let his opponent punch empty air .

Huo Bao had some foresight this time, though . He had a plan in case this punch failed .

So he suddenly twisted his waist, pulling back his punching arm . And like a steel whip, it drew an arc towards Guo Shier .

But Guo Shier’s instincts took over . He ducked forward, out of Huo Bao’s attack range . He dodged the blow with minimal movement and just went opposite Huo Bao’s rotation .

The next few minutes showed a battle of juxtapositions . Huo Bao’s wild and violent attacks strongly contrasted with Guo Shier’s graceful ducking and dodging . Each burst of full-on strength was effortlessly evaded using precise sidesteps .

Huo Bao kept attacking, but none of his hits landed where he wanted .

He knew that once his strength was depleted, he would have no room to maneuver . And true enough, in less than 10 minutes, he was panting like a dog, wheezing with each breath . His exhaustion was evident .

Guo Shier’s combat strategy was very simple: He wanted to drain the opponent’s physical strength .

Huo Bao, after all, only recently advanced to Marked Warrior Adept and had not learned efficient ways of attacking . Most of his moves were straightforward punches that required strong physical exertion .

Guo Shier has long figured out some of the flaws of the Marked Warrior profession . With the dodging techniques that he learned from his previous life, he had no problems skillfully deflecting Huo Bao’s attacks with minimal effort .

When it became evident that his opponent was worn out, Guo Shier launched an attack .

Huo Bao nearly fell on his face .

Disappointed and tired, he sat on the ground and cried .

Guo Shier was suddenly dumbfounded . He walked to Huo Bao’s side and sat down .  “Bao-zi, what are you crying about?”

The spectators did not speak—they were just looking at the two .

Luo Jie smiled slightly, while Qi Nanshan looked bit unhappy .

As for Ying Mo, he had never been more stupefied . He couldn’t figure out how an Artificer beat a Marked Warrior Adept in a physical exchange .  What was going on?

“I have no use,” cried Huo Bao . “Even you can beat me . ”

Guo Shier was dismayed . ”Should I lose, then? Why—because I am not a Marked Warrior Adept?”

“That’s right,” said Huo Bao . “Wu wu . ”  (crying sounds) “You… I… Wu wu, this is too embarrassing… ”

Cold sweat started to come out of Guo Shier . “Do you know why you lost?” he asked .

“I don’t know why I lost!!” replied Huo Bao . This time he could no longer say that Guo Shier was shameless, because from start to finish, he was fighting one on one with him until he got exhausted .

Chen Bing, Hong Shi, and Chen Hong sat down with their fellow warrior . The all reached for Huo Bao’s shoulder to comfort him .

Guo Shier smiled . “Little Hong, give him a handkerchief . ”

Chen Hong grinned and took out a silken handkerchief . She passed it to Huo Bao and said, “Stop crying, you big man . Wipe it off . ”

Huo Bao turned purple due to embarrassment .

“Losing is nothing to be feared,” Guo Shier said . “”What is terrible is the absence of confidence . What is terrible is not knowing why you lost . ”

He then went on to lecture Huo Bao .

“You lost because of three reasons . First, you lost because of carelessness . You underestimated your opponent . Second, you lost because you were unconvinced instead of analyzing why you just failed . And finally, you lost because you only applied physical strength without a strategy to back it up . ”

Huo Bao just sat silently .

Guo Shier continued . “Use your head when you fight, especially if you have not advanced to a Grandmaster level,” he said sincerely . “Your strength is still very weak . Maybe you have this power to suppress me . But if you meet someone stronger than you, how will you deal with it?”

Huo Bao let the words sink in . He wiped out his tears and said, “Shier, I was wrong . ”

Guo Shier smiled and patted him on the shoulder . “When I win against you… you don’t lose face because we are partners . Regardless of winning or losing, this has nothing to do life or death . But outside, winning or losing is dangerously connected to your life . ”

Huo Bao, now convinced, was finally open to suggestions . “Shier, I couldn’t figure it out . Why can’t I hit you?”

“Idiot, I don’t want to get hit!” Guo Shier chided him . “Of course, I’ll try to avoid your punches . I’m not stupid . You’re a Marked Warrior Adept, and I know that your strength is greater than mine . Your skin is thick and able withstand my blows . If I don’t dodge, I’ll be dead, won’t I?”

Everyone couldn’t help but laugh .

Huo Bao smiled bitterly . “I felt bad that I couldn’t even hit you—not once . Ugh!”

Qi Nanshan joined the discussion . “Shier, what else can you do that I don’t know? I was surprised to see that you can overcome a Marked Warrior Adept . Where did you learn these skills?”

Guo Shier smiled . “You can win fights with sharp eyes and nimble hands . What’s so strange about that?”

Luo Jie, sensing what Qi Nanshan was getting at, stepped in . “Da-Shan, don’t even think about it . You cannot fight Shier,” he said .

Qi Nanshan chuckled . “Why, old timer? Are you protecting your precious apprentice?”

“I am not guarding him–I’m protecting you,” Luo Jie replied, smiling . “Be careful when you’re speaking with Shier . You might anger him . ”

Qi Nanshan laughed . “Alas,” he said . “What a pity!”

“Pity what?” asked Luo Jie .

“Unfortunately, Shier doesn’t have the potential to be a Marked Warrior Adept,” Qi Nanshan said, clarifying what he meant .

“But even without the potential to be a Marked Warrior Adept, if Shier exercises seriously, his fighting ability will be very strong,” Ying Mo said .

“If Shier and Bao-zi had a real life and death struggle, I’m afraid Bao-zi can’t even get a hit,” Luo Jie said .

Huo Bao knew that Luo Zhan’s evaluation was accurate and fair, but he complained, anyway . “Uncle Luo, I’m not that bad!”

“Bao-zi, just accept that Luo Zhan is right,” Qi Nanshan quipped . The moment Shier held the Rune Dagger on your neck, you were done . Guo Shier’s real attacks were hidden behind all the teasing . ”

“That’s too much,” Guo Shier interrupted . Don’t batter him anymore . I believe that after this battle, Bao-zi will make great progress . ”

Appropriate setbacks were okay . But Guo Shier didn’t want to make Huo Bao completely lose his confidence . That was not his purpose .

Qi Nanshan laughed . “Bao-zi is not so fragile . He’s just confused . He’ll work hard again soon . ”

Luo Jie hesitated . “Shier I have no objection if you want to acquire Marked Warrior Adept skills . But your main focus should be on being an Artificer . ”

“Master, don’t worry” Guo Shier replied . “I just have some ideas for a Mark Warrior Adept practitioners . Hehe! In addition, I also want to be able to exercise my body . As for the direct fights, don’t I have two Grandmaster level followers?”

“Wait, you have ideas?” Qi Nanshan asked . “Let’s hear it . ”

Guo Shier started to hesitate . He couldn’t possibly show off in front of a Marked Warrior Grandmaster—someone who has experienced countless battles, with an extremely rich fighting experience . Who was he to be talking about ideas? All he had was a recollection of martial arts dodging skills from his previous lives . After all, he is not Marked Warrior Adept practitioner .

“Hehe! Grandpa Nanshan, I don’t have much to say now,” he politely replied . “The idea is not mature enough . Anyway, master, why are you guys here?”

Guo Shier didn’t dare to continue on the topic and quickly change the subject . Truth be told, he did not know what to say .

Qi Nanshan let it go for now . “The West Rune Sect’s trade fair started” he said . “We came over so we can all go together . ”

“Everybody tidy up, quickly,” Luo Jie ordered .

“What is a trade fair?” asked Guo Shier .

“You can trade some of your unwanted Runes there,” his master replied . But if you want to look for something good, just follow me to the Grandmaster level trading grounds . That’s where you’ll find some really rare items . ”

Everyone quickly cleaned up and followed Luo Jie outside .

Guo Shier still used the carriage while other people rode their horses towards the trading grounds .

After sitting for half an hour inside the carriage, Guo Shier started to hear commotion outside . As they got nearer their destination, the noise got louder and louder . The hoofs of the horses and the voices of the crowd created a lively atmosphere .

In addition to the West Rune Sect and the North Rune Sect, a handful of individuals from the South Rune Sect also participated in this trade fair .

Bulk transactions were organized by the Sect Chamber of Commerce Faction . They mainly dealt around each sect’s specialty . While they handled the sale of general and luxury goods, they did not involve themselves with the personal trading of practitioners .

Practitioners had specialized exchange locations of their own . And for Grandmaster level transactions, the West Rune Sect opened a separate special venue .

Guo Shier didn’t know that Beast Caster Grandmaster Ou Chu—the grandmaster he defeated—was a well-known figure in the West Rune Sect . He was also unaware that Ou Chu would be participating in the Grandmaster level trading grounds .

When Guo Shier got off the carriage, Luo Jie said to him, “We’ll look into the Grandmaster trading grounds first . We might find something interesting . Hehe! Then later, we can look around the general market outside . ”

In accordance with the rules of the Grandmaster level trading venue, only Grandmaster level practitioners can get in, regardless of their class or identity . Each Grandmaster can bring two people to enter .

“We have enough slots,” Luo Jie said . “Everyone can go in . ”

Luo Jie himself had three Grandmaster level followers while Guo Shier had two . As each Grandmaster can bring two of people into the venue, and they had a total of seven Grandmasters . They can therefore take fourteen people inside, which was more than enough for their group .

(Note: Huh seven? I guess they’re counting Guo Shier as a Grandmaster . )

“Shier! Guo Shier!” someone said .

Guo Shier was surprised to see two people that he knew in the crowd .

“Oh, it’s An Bilan and An Biyun! Can I help you with anything?”

An Bilan came to Guo Shier’s side while holding her little sister’s hand . She said, “Shier, can you help me?”

Guo Shier wondered . “What’s the matter? Please tell me . Oh by the way, this is my master…”

But before he could finish introducing his master, Luo Jie turned to both of the girls and appeared to know both of them .

“Little Lan, little Yun, why are you not with your master?” Luo Jie said .

An Bilan quickly smiled . “Grandpa Luo! Hello! My master went in with two clan businessmen . Um, Shier, do you have extra entry slots?”

Guo Shier nodded, “Yes we do . ”

Luo Jie gestured with his hands, “Let’s go in together . ”

Just then, another person called .

“Shier!”

It was Wu Qing . He suddenly ran over and said, “Wait up, little brother Shier! Do you have an extra place in your group?”

Guo Shier couldn’t help laughing . “Yes, yes . Do you want to go in?”

Wu Qing breathed a sigh of relief . “Of course I want to go in! Little brother, please take me with you . This is a rare opportunity . ”

“Then let’s go in together . ”

Wu Qing thanked him .

Countless people from the West Rune Sect wanted to enter the Grandmaster level trading hall, but the two-person-per-master rule limited their opportunities . The Inner Door management was extremely strict—there was no getting around the law . You needed to know a Grandmaster-level individual to get a chance to see what was inside .

(Note: I’ll start using Inner Door, so that term can be used for sects, clans and schools)

Luo Jie entered the venue with a line of people . An Bilan and her sister both thanked their group, then turned away to find their master Chen Zhizhong . Wu Qing also went his own way, as he seemed to have a group of his own .

Outside the venue, there was a sea of people looking for a chance to get in . In contrast, the trading hall was quiet . After all, there were only few Grandmaster level professionals . A Sect Faction generally had no more than fifty Grandmasters . This included the old men from the Inner Door who lived in seclusion .

The Grandmaster level trade fair attracted all the Grandmasters of the West Rune City . There were also a lot of foreign Grandmasters, including nomadic Grandmasters wandering the grasslands . The fair gathered a nearly a hundred of top-level masters in total, each one bringing two guests . There were almost three hundred people present .

The service staff of the West Rune Sect Inner Door was composed of two hundred people . A dozen big businessmen who were willing to spend a lot of money were also invited . But the only way these merchants could ever purchase anything from the trade hall was if no Grandmaster was interested in it . Not only that—they also needed permission from the auction master .

The rules say that each Grandmaster has the right to auction three items . The right to auction can also be transferred to someone else . Since there were seven Grandmasters in Luo Jie’s group, they can auction a total of twenty-one items .

Grandmasters don’t bid on items with Rune money since money means nothing to them . What they do is exchange their goods with other items .

Guo Shier had his own goal . He wanted Spirit or Ancient level Glyphs . If he could acquire ten pieces of Spirit Glyphs and adsorb them in his Innate Rune Orb, he could advance into a beginner Artificer Grandmaster .

But Spirit Glyphs and Ancient Glyphs were rare in this world . True Treasure Glyphs and True Spirit Glyphs—which are more valuable—are even harder to find .

Luo Jie got seven number plates . He smiled and said, “Oh, we have seven auction opportunities . Hehe! Who wants to take part?”

Guo Shier got excited . “I’d like to participate!”

“What are you going to do?” his master asked him .

“I have something to auction!”

“Really? Do you have anything good to auction?”

Guo Shier proudly answered . “I have the blood of an Earth Dragon Variant . I want to exchange it for a Spirit Rune . Of course, if there is an Ancient Rune, that would be better . Hehe!”

Within the Secret Realm, Guo Shier was able to acquire a great quantity of blood from an Earth Dragon Variant . The raw materials from that Earth Dragon Variant even caught the fancy of the mysterious Li Ran . Guo Shier himself has no ability to use the blood, so he wanted to exchange it for a Spirit Glyph .

Luo Jie smiled bitterly . “Ah, you’re recklessly wasting this heavenly material . ”

Qi Nanshan laughed . “Let him learn from his own mistake . Aside from the blood of the Earth Dragon Variant, what else do you have?”

“I intend to take out three bottles of blood—a bottle from a Marked Bear, a bottle from an Earth Dragon Variant, and a bottle from the Marked Insect Variant, the Emerald Blade Mantis . Each bottle would contain an ounce of blood . I will only exchange for a Spirit or Ancient level Glyph . Hehe!”

Luo Jie can’t help but laugh while scolding his apprentice . “You little black sheep! Ah, never mind and just use it the way you want . It’s not that many anyway . Since I’ve given them to you, you can exchange it for the things you want . ”

Guo Shier was elated . “Thank you master . You are always good to me . ”

His horse fart flattery always works like a charm .

Luo Jie laughed . “The things that you’re taking out are very rare treasures . Be careful not to lose too much on your exchanges, okay?”

“Don’t worry, master . I have a sense of how much they’re worth . In fact, many of us don’t know how to process the materials from the Marked Insect Variant’s body . Keeping it would also be a waste . Why not see if there’s an Insect Smith Grandmaster from the South Run Sect this time? Hahaha! That would be interesting . ”

Qi Nanshan chuckled . “Old timer, you see? Shier is a sly little fox and wouldn’t be at disadvantage . ”

Luo Jie handed Guo Shier a number plate, plate number 37 .

Luo Jie asked, “Who else wants a number plate? Ying Mo, are you interested?”

“I’m a pauper,” said the Ying Mo with a chuckle . “I have no use for the number plates . ”

The venue was within a very large indoor space . Hundreds of people have come inside, but it still looked empty .

There were multiple circles within the grounds with three sitting mats within them—one red mat and two black behind it . The Grandmaster would take the red sitting mats while his followers take the black ones .

As Luo Jie and the rest entered the venue, several Inner Gate disciples acted as guides and showed them to their corresponding cushions .

The people were lead to sit according to their number . Guo Shier sat on the left side of his master Luo Jie . Qi Nanshan sat on the right, and behind him is Chen Hong and Huo Bao . Ying Mo and Luo Zhan sat at the back rows with Chen Bing and Hong Shi .

Gradually, more and more people entered the venue .

Rune Smith Grandmaster Qian Ziwang also came with his group . They said hello to Luo Jie before sitting down .

Guo Shier met several acquaintances in the venue, but far less than his master’s .

Many Grandmasters have come to greet Luo Jie . Guo Shier noted that the majority of them were Marked Warrior Grandmasters and Beast Warrior Grandmasters . Very few of them were in the Artificer Grandmaster profession .

A coquettish woman walked to the center of the hall and gave the drum a few slaps . She said, “Please be quiet! The Grandmaster level trading will start now . ”

Guo Shier curiously asked, “Who is this person?”

Luo Jie squinted his eyes . “This person is a Grandmaster…”

Translator: Glasses TangGu
Editor: M