SES Chapter 159 Part 1

Chapter 159

Yiwansan’s throat felt dry as dust, and he slowly edged backward one step at a time.

Maybe it was Luo Ren’s last message — “Almost there.” — that gave him some confidence. He was nervous, sure, but not to the point of panic.

If Luo Ren said he was almost there, then he must be almost there. All Yiwansan had to do was stall for time — whatever it took. Dirty tricks, shameless tricks, anything that worked.

He forced a crooked grin, the muscles under the bandages on his face trembling uncontrollably.

“Qingshan, don’t be rash,” he said, voice cracking. “Everything can be discussed — we can talk this out!”

“You’re getting married today, aren’t you? Where’s your bride? Has the wedding feast finished yet?”

Qingshan didn’t answer. His cold eyes locked on Yiwansan as he stepped closer and closer.

Yiwansan stumbled — his foot caught on a coil of rope hanging from the old well’s windlass.

When he looked up again, Qingshan’s face was twisted with fury, about to strike.

In desperation, Yiwansan roared, “Stop right there!”

Qingshan froze for a second — and actually did stop.

“Do you even know who I am?” Yiwansan barked.

Qingshan frowned, squinting at him, uncertain. “Who are you?”

Yiwansan held the silence for a few seconds, just long enough for Qingshan to grow impatient and suspicious, before finally replying:

“I’m a friend of your cousin, Cao Tudun! Is this how you treat your cousin’s friend? Where’s your manners—”

As expected, Qingshan realized he was lying. With a guttural snarl, he lunged forward.

Yiwansan turned and bolted.

He’d barely taken two steps when he heard the wind hiss above him. Instinctively, he ducked — Qingshan flew right over his head, grabbed his shoulders midair, and landed squarely in front of him, blocking the way.

Yiwansan skidded to a halt. His shirt tore, his shoulders burned with pain, and Qingshan turned back toward him, a feral grin twisting his face.

Damn it! Where was Luo Ren? He knew Yiwansan couldn’t fight — and certainly not against someone like Qingshan, possessed by a xiongjian!

Yiwansan’s knees were shaking. The electric baton in his trembling hand flickered erratically. Step by step, he backed away until his calves hit the edge of the well.

In that single distracted moment, Qingshan was already on him — one hand clamped his shoulder, the other seized his throat, shoving him backward toward the open well.

Yiwansan’s feet left the ground. His back slammed hard into the wooden frame of the windlass. Qingshan’s face loomed closer, distorted and deadly.

It’s over. I’m dead.

I never should’ve come. Now I’m gonna die for nothing.

To hell with it — if I’m dying, I’ll make sure he bleeds too.

Cornered, Yiwansan’s street-honed fury exploded to life. He clawed, bit, kicked, and yanked at Qingshan’s hair. The windlass creaked and groaned under their struggle — seconds from breaking apart—

Then Yiwansan’s hand caught hold of a loose rope end.

Finally, a weapon!

I’ll strangle you myself!

Even with Qingshan’s hand crushing his throat and his vision going black, Yiwansan managed to loop the rope around Qingshan’s neck and pull with everything he had.

There was a sudden crack — the wood gave way.

The support beneath them vanished, and they plunged into the well.

After falling a few meters, their drop suddenly stopped, and Qingshan’s grip on his throat loosened.

What’s going on? Did Luo Ren make it in time?

Yiwansan opened his eyes and, by the faint light from a flashlight that had fallen near the rim, saw Qingshan’s face right in front of him.

Qingshan was braced against the well walls, hands and feet spread wide. A rope was wound tight around his neck — the same rope Yiwansan still clutched.

At that moment, Yiwansan must’ve looked like a giant pendant hanging from Qingshan’s neck, swaying inside the narrow shaft.

In Qingshan’s eyes flickered something Yiwansan had never expected to see — fear.

What’s he afraid of? It’s just a well.

Then Yiwansan’s gaze dropped to the bottom — to the black, gleaming water below.

A thought hit him like lightning.

The Xiongjian… it’s afraid of water!

Ha! You’ve got a weakness after all!

Renewed with wild strength, Yiwansan yanked on the rope with one hand and smacked Qingshan hard across the face with the other. Then he pulled his hair, twisted his ear, and kicked him viciously.

As long as Qingshan’s hands and feet were pinned to the walls, Yiwansan could hit wherever he wanted. Who knew what would happen if Qingshan managed to climb out again?

Qingshan’s eyes were bloodshot with rage. If it were just him, he could’ve escaped easily — but with a full-grown man hanging from his neck, and getting attacked on top of that, even he was slowed.

The rim of the well was just within sight when his eyes darkened with murderous intent—

Then, not far away, a voice shouted: “Yiwansan? Yiwansan!”

It was Yan Hongsha!

Yiwansan’s heart leapt with relief. He felt like he’d suddenly been filled with a ton of energy. He had never been so happy to hear her voice.

“I’m here!” he bellowed back.

Finally! Backup’s here!

He couldn’t just hang there like a helpless idiot — he had to do something heroic, let Luo Ren see how a man who “can’t fight” could still take down a xiongjian!

So I’ll swallow a little water. Big deal. I grew up by the sea!