Published: July 12, 2025
Chapter 49: Trap within a Trap
Just as the two sides were about to make contact, Han Li slightly twisted the sword blade in his hand, tilting it by just a fraction of an angle. It was a very subtle change, barely noticeable, yet to Doctor Mo’s eyes, it was a monumental shift.
Doctor Mo suddenly saw a bright flash before him, as if a dozen dazzling white lights had suddenly appeared. The brilliance was overwhelming, shining directly into his eyes without any shielding.
Alarm bells rang in his mind: “Not good!” He hastily stepped backward and shut his eyelids tight. But it was already too late. The white light had instantly pierced through his eyelids, leaving no chance to react.
Immediately, Doctor Mo felt a burning sensation in his eyes, followed by intense soreness. Tears streamed uncontrollably, and without the luxury to wipe them away, he struggled to open his eyes and look out. All he saw was a blinding white haze—he couldn’t even make out the shape of objects, only vague, ghostly outlines.
At that moment, a mix of shock and anger surged in his heart. How could he have been so careless as to fall for the opponent’s trick again?
But Doctor Mo was no stranger to the martial world. With years of experience dealing with danger, he was quick to respond. While retreating step by step to create distance and buy time, he retracted his palms and waved them fiercely in front of his body. Relying on his demon silver hand, which was impervious to blades and spears, he shielded the vital upper body.
He resolved firmly that until his vision returned to normal, he would never launch an offensive move. Every attack had to wait until he could see clearly, lest he fall into that cunning kid’s trap once more.
By now, any prior underestimation was completely gone. The battle with Han Li was no less hazardous than the life-and-death struggles he’d faced against fierce rivals in his youth.
Though he couldn’t see Han Li’s movements clearly, Doctor Mo pricked up his ears and focused intently, trying to discern the opponent’s next move through sound.
He vaguely caught sight of a figure swaying in front of him. Then came a sharp, piercing sound accompanied by a chilling gust of wind, rushing straight at him from the front.
Despite Han Li’s assassination attempt, Doctor Mo felt no panic. Instead, he was quietly pleased.
Han Li’s methods were still somewhat naive. Had he sneaked up silently from the side, Doctor Mo might genuinely have been troubled. But to brazenly attack head-on? That was nothing to fear. After all, he had long mastered the skill of detecting movements through sound. Whether it was a direct stab from a short sword or even a slender embroidery needle, he could hear it distinctly.
Doctor Mo heard it clearly but deliberately slowed his movements, leaving a small opening in front of him. Sure enough, the sudden attack shifted direction and slipped through that gap, aiming straight for his throat.
A sinister smile crossed Doctor Mo’s face. His right hand, which had been waiting patiently, suddenly moved like lightning, grabbing the sword blade tightly, fearlessly holding the sharp edge of the short sword.
Han Li clearly sensed trouble and fiercely tugged the short sword back and forth, but under the control of the demon silver hand, Doctor Mo’s grasp was unyielding—no movement at all. It was all wasted effort.
A touch of pride rose in Doctor Mo’s heart, but he dared not relax even for a moment. Fearing Han Li might realize his trick and slip away, he disregarded his still blurry vision and unleashed full force with one hand. He yanked the short sword toward his side, aiming to pull Han Li forcibly over and then personally subdue him.
Yet, to his shock, the sword suddenly felt weightless, as if it were nothing at all.
He was stunned. How could the blade he was clearly holding become so light all of a sudden? Even if Han Li had let go, it shouldn’t have floated so freely.
Before Doctor Mo could figure it out, a sharp sound tore through the air a few inches before his throat. It seemed that a slender, pointed object was speeding toward him at an extraordinary velocity. Before it even arrived, the rush of air caused a slight stinging pain at his Adam’s apple.