Chapter 895: Chapter 740: Snatching

Xu Shuo couldn’t quite understand why this man, after evading so many times, suddenly decided to confront him head-on this time.

But the purpose of his journey was crystal clear.

To assassinate Wald XVIII!

If killing him outright proved impossible, then the plan was to draw blood first and regroup with allies later for another attempt.

After all, Xu Shuo did quite enjoy the Pope’s Character Card. If he could obtain it, that would naturally be preferable; it would also be a pity to leave the side quest unfinished.

Thus, Wald XVIII had to die.

But it didn’t need to happen tonight.

This was his plan prior to tonight.

Yet after discovering Wald XVIII’s methods, Xu Shuo reconsidered. Perhaps it’d be best to figure out a way to eliminate him tonight.

Leaving him alive…

Would be…

Unwise.

He emerged from the Dark Stealth.

The dark golden knightly attire he wore remained pristine, save for the bloodstains on his hand, which betrayed no sign of disarray.

Xu Shuo lifted his hand, lightly licking the blood from his palm, his gaze ambiguous as he looked at Wald XVIII opposite him. “Did you use this thing earlier to locate me?”

He wasn’t referring to tonight’s fight.

But rather the inexplicable attack he encountered at the border of the Eastern Continent.

Wald XVIII smiled faintly at his words.

The thick book materialized in his hand once more, appearing out of nowhere, flipping in and out of his grasp.

Such behavior…

Most likely made it a mystical contract item.

“In battle, it’s better not to let your attention waver.”

Wald XVIII chuckled softly.

As his voice fell, a stream of glowing runes instantly coalesced at his fingertips. The ethereal runes shattered mid-air, dispersing into an array of marble-like light points that surged towards Xu Shuo’s position.

However, the moment the runes began to break, Xu Shuo already stepped back, evading instead of bracing against the attack, disappearing decisively into the shadows.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

The marble-like light points shot into the walls with tremendous speed, their powerful impact piercing right through them.

But they failed to strike their target.

Wald XVIII flipped his hand, stowing the book away before gripping the dagger now in his hand. He scanned his surroundings cautiously, his footsteps moving swiftly towards an intact streetlamp on the roadside.

As he neared the streetlamp, a shadow suddenly darted from behind its post, slicing through the glow as it charged at him!

Swish!

Wald XVIII immediately spun around, reversing his grip on the dagger and stabbing it forward. However, the figure attacking him abruptly halted their rush, as if someone had pressed pause, freezing their body mid-motion before retreating a step and flicking a silver needle outward.

The dagger thrust missed, and Wald XVIII’s other hand shot forward, snatching three silver needles in his grasp.

He didn’t pursue the attacker.

Because the moment the charge was halted, one of the figure’s feet remained submerged in the shadows beneath the streetlamp’s base. After throwing the silver needles, they disappeared instantly.

Wald XVIII stood under the lamp’s glow, frowning as he opened his left hand to inspect the silver needles.

He rubbed them lightly, and the three needles disintegrated into nothingness.

No discernible power could be felt from them.

They truly seemed like ordinary silver needles.

But throwing them so often–what purpose did it serve?

Even if one managed to pierce his eye, these needles wouldn’t be able to blind him outright. Moreover, there wasn’t even an opportunity for them to hit.

Resorting to minor tricks…

Was he really relying on minor tricks?

Wald XVIII scoffed mockingly.

He stood beneath the streetlamp, its magical glow spanning over a meter in diameter, positioned right at its center, ensuring he had time to react no matter which direction his opponent attacked from.

The next moment, Wald XVIII sensed movement behind him. But as he swiftly turned, the attack came from the side.

Clang!

Weapons collided, ringing sharply.

Xu Shuo wielded a fruit knife, a blade far weaker and shorter than Wald XVIII’s dagger, which snapped instantly upon impact.

No matter, though–Xu Shuo had another fruit knife in his left hand.

As Wald XVIII’s dagger sliced through the broken fruit knife and angled toward Xu Shuo’s face, Xu Shuo tilted his head, using his left hand to lift, grazing Wald XVIII’s wrist.

Simultaneously, the dagger left a red gash along Xu Shuo’s cheek.

After the strike, Xu Shuo retreated outside the lamp’s glow.

But this time, Wald XVIII pursued him, slashing downward and severing a tuft of silver hair near Xu Shuo’s temple, watching as the figure faded into the darkness below.

The severed silver hair fell to the ground, rapidly losing color and turning brittle.

Wald XVIII glanced down at it briefly, then quickly turned his gaze toward the wall across the street.

The youth’s figure emerged from the shadows near the wall.

Xu Shuo raised his left hand, which bore a gash at the wrist inflicted by the blade, bright crimson blood streaming down and soaking the pale gold bracer.

He pulled out a silk handkerchief, pressing it carelessly against the bleeding wound, then looked toward Wald XVIII.

Noticing his movements, Wald XVIII arched an eyebrow and grinned.

“Finally figured it out?”

“Double return?”

“No, it’s triple return.”

Wald XVIII toyed with the dagger in his hand, then pointed its tip toward Xu Shuo, smirking. “Which hand hurt me? Leave that hand behind.”

Xu Shuo remained silent, his serene gaze fixed on him. Once the wound on his wrist healed, he discarded the handkerchief.

The first time he was injured…

He hadn’t been attacked directly by Wald XVIII at all.

This proved his opponent’s methods were on the mystical side.

Earlier, Xu Shuo’s Fin Needle had pierced Wald XVIII’s palm, leaving a puncture wound about one millimeter deep. Thus, the “return” he received was that of a laceration opening on the palm.