Sharpening The Knife Doesn’t Delay The Cutting of Vegetables With The Bow[eSports]: Chapter 103

103. Pursue and Attack.

He Ye: “Strange, why is WET going after Dream Ghost’s players? Do they think these two Dream Ghost players are Chen Xingran’s teammates?”

Echo: “That seems to be the case. From WET’s perspective, the Dream Ghost team members appeared alongside Chen Xingran, and there are three of them in total. Following the usual strategy, having the support take out the wounded Demonic Blade and sending the remaining three teammates to snipe the other two seems like the right call.”

Zhi Zi: “Unfortunately, this play is just serving ZMD on a silver platter…”

“Xiao Nan, go in and revive Luo Bai.”

Yang Yunche’s voice came through the team chat.

Outside, Dream Ghost and WET were already locked in combat, leaving no one to pay attention to Xiao Nan. From WET’s perspective, Luo Bai’s three teammates were outside, so they didn’t bother guarding Luo Bai’s soul mound inside the building. As a result, Xiao Nan easily snuck in from the side and began reviving Luo Bai’s soul mound.

Yang Yunche initially didn’t allow Xiao Nan to support Chen Xingran for this very reason. If four people showed up in front of WET, they would immediately realize it was a full team, making it much harder to fool them.

Meanwhile, Dream Ghost’s other two players had also arrived, joining the fray.

“What’s going on? Weren’t you chasing a wounded Demonic Blade in golden armor? Why are you suddenly fighting a full team?”

“No idea!”

Dream Ghost’s Vodoo was just as baffled: “They’ve been lying in wait all along. As soon as they saw us, they rushed over… Damn it, I’m controlled! Help me break free!”

WET was fighting well when they suddenly noticed two more players joining the fight from outside, teaming up with the Vodoo and the Windseeker in front of them. What was initially a 3v2 quickly turned into a 4v3, leaving the WET players momentarily confused.

What’s happening? Where did these extra two people come from?

The four opponents in front of them were clearly from the same team, so who was that Demonic Blade earlier?

WET’s team captain had a sudden realization: “This is bad, we’ve been tricked.”

But it was too late. Inside the building, Luo Bai had already been revived by Xiao Nan. With one piece of armor and his self-healing skills, Luo Bai’s health quickly shot back up to a safe level.

Seeing Luo Bai’s avatar light up again, Chen Xingran stopped toying with WET’s support and got serious.

*Clang!*

WET’s support player, brimming with confidence, had believed he could easily take down the wounded Demonic Blade in golden armor. However, in the next moment, the Demonic Blade’s spear technique changed abruptly—from calm and measured, it suddenly transformed into a fierce, lethal storm. What had seemed like ordinary strikes now came at him with the ferocity of a raging tempest, each thrust aiming directly for vital points!

What’s happening?!

The change was so sudden that WET’s support couldn’t react. Chen Xingran’s shift in spear technique completely threw him off balance. With lightning speed, Chen Xingran executed a powerful center-thrust spear strike, knocking aside the support’s sword before delivering a deadly blow to his shoulder like a venomous snake striking its prey!

Playing possum?

WET’s support finally realized something was wrong. He sensed danger, but seeing Chen Xingran’s low health, he thought one or two more strikes would finish him off. The kill was within reach, and WET’s support believed he could secure the point.

Gritting his teeth, he decided to gamble, ignoring the incoming spear. Instead, he lunged forward with his sword, intending to trade blows and secure the kill!

*Clang!*

Chen Xingran’s gaze never wavered. With a light shake of the spear in his hand, the tip of the spear, which had already been thrust forward, instantly retracted. The entire process flowed seamlessly, without a hint of hesitation. Then, with an elegant turn, he deftly dodged the incoming sword strike.

He knew his health was low, and trading hits with this support would be a losing battle.

After the swift turn, Chen Xingran didn’t retreat. Instead, he followed through with the movement, crouching down while spinning. The purple spear traced an arc in the air, and with the twist of his body, he unleashed a powerful, sweeping attack behind him.

Grand Sweeping Horse Strike!”

At that moment, WET’s support had his right hand gripping the sword, elbow bent upward, with his arm and sword forming a straight line in a standard fencing stance, his weight shifted upwards. Chen Xingran’s sweeping strike, while dodging the sword edge, struck the support’s lower body. With a dull thud, the spear knocked the support’s legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground!

“Beautiful!”

Echo on the commentary desk couldn’t help but shout, “That sweep was flawless! WET’s player Li Zimu had no chance to react, and his balance was completely broken!”

He Ye nodded in agreement: “Chen Xingran is remarkably calm. With such low health, not only did he not run, but he also countered with a turnaround strike. Is he too confident in his abilities?”

Echo: “Confidence is a given. It’s clear that Chen Xingran was baiting with his low health, luring the opponent into pursuing him. He wasn’t fighting seriously before. Now that his teammate’s soul mound has been revived, this is when he starts to truly show his strength! …He’s attacking again! After knocking the opponent down, this time he’s going for a downward smash with his spear!”

After knocking the opponent down with the sweeping strike, Chen Xingran used the spear’s shaft to push off the ground and swiftly stood up. His spear whirled around, as if wielding a giant axe, and came crashing down with the force of splitting a mountain!

*Bang!*

From a vantage point above, Yang Yunche fired two precise shots with his musket, hitting WET’s support squarely in the head, sending out two bursts of blood!

The timing of these shots was perfect. WET’s support, upon seeing Chen Xingran’s spear crashing down, instinctively tried to roll away, but the two bullets hit him, dealing critical headshot damage. In addition to increasing the damage, the headshot also inflicted a brief stun. Though momentary, it was enough to rob him of the best opportunity to dodge the spear strike!

-410!

Although it wasn’t a fully charged half-moon strike, the solid hit still dealt over 400 damage with the high-quality purple spear. Coupled with Yang Yunche’s two shots, WET’s support’s health was now on the brink of collapse!

“MD ¹, this Demonic Blade is insane!”

WET’s support immediately called out for help from his teammates: “Look over here! Help me out!”

However, his teammates were locked in an intense fight with Dream Ghost’s four players and couldn’t come to his aid. Before he could get any support, Chen Xingran’s spear was already striking again, giving him no time to catch his breath.

Like an inescapable curse, Chen Xingran’s spear traced one graceful arc after another through the air. His spear technique was fluid and unrestrained. While other professional players’ spear moves were easy to predict, Chen Xingran’s style was entirely different. Each swing of his spear was a mix of reality and feints, making it impossible to guess where the next strike would land. The spear tip, shaft, and even the butt of the spear could become lethal attacks. Amidst the flurry of spear shadows, his opponent had no idea where to defend, let alone how to counter.

Chen Xingran switched to the Dragon Wielding Technique. His shoulders remained perfectly level, and just as WET’s support was about to rise, his spear pierced forward in a straight line, as swift and relentless as a torrential downpour, striking directly at a vital point!

Another high-damage number floated up. WET’s support wanted to dodge, but under Chen Xingran’s relentless barrage, there was nowhere to escape.

Panic surged through his heart.

…This guy’s spear?!

Chen Xingran’s spear techniques were highly distinctive. The participants in this match from the third and fifth groups were all well aware that the two powerhouse teams, ZMD and Shen Tang, were competing. As a result, nearly every team had carefully studied ZMD’s playstyle beforehand, and they had conducted a comprehensive analysis of Chen Xingran, the newly-rising assault player.

Facing Chen Xingran’s unorthodox spear strikes and the nearly soul-piercing spear intent coming at him, WET’s support finally realized who his opponent was.

“F*ck, this is Chen Xingran!!”

WET’s support now understood why he couldn’t mount any defense. Earlier, when Chen Xingran had engaged him, his spear techniques were so subtle and ordinary that they appeared no different from any other player’s, leading WET’s support to dismiss the idea that this could be ZMD’s assault player. But then, in the blink of an eye, Chen Xingran’s spear momentum changed dramatically, as if he’d become a completely different person. With just a few strikes, he had brought WET’s support’s health down to a critical level. Even the dullest mind would have realized by now.

“What?!”

“That Demonic Blade is Chen Xingran?!”

Upon hearing the support’s cry, all of WET’s players were stunned, immediately sensing trouble.

WET’s captain reacted quickly, tanking some damage to break through Dream Ghost’s encirclement, charging toward their support’s location.

But he was still one step too late.

Before WET’s captain could arrive, Chen Xingran merely glanced back at him, his hand never slowing, as he delivered another spear thrust.

It was swift and precise, straight in and out, with force concentrated at the spear tip. Like a pen piercing through a sheet of thin paper, it pierced through the support’s throat!

“Hngh…”

WET’s support’s eyes widened, completely unable to avoid the locked strike from Chen Xingran’s spear. The thrust was lightning-fast. Before he could even raise his sword, a numbness spread through his throat, and his body fell backward.

ZMD scored a point!

With the kill secured, Chen Xingran’s Ghost Blade skill instantly refreshed. Without a moment’s hesitation, he activated the skill, his figure dissolving into an afterimage as he vanished from the spot.

“F*ck…”

WET’s captain lost sight of him. He scanned the area but couldn’t spot Chen Xingran and had no idea which direction he had flashed to. Frustrated, he cursed over voice chat and incredulously asked the support, “How long has it been? He was low on health, and you still got counter-killed?”

“Don’t blame me ah, Captain!” 

The support was equally frustrated. “His spear is terrifying as hell. I couldn’t do anything!”

WET was a first-tier team, and the support’s swordsmanship should have been solid enough. Against other professional players, he could have withstood several rounds, and even if he couldn’t win, he could have held out until reinforcements arrived. But unfortunately, his opponent was Chen Xingran.

“We can’t win this. Fall back.”

Now was not the time for blame. WET’s captain, staring at their fallen support’s soul mound, gritted his teeth and issued the retreat order.

Their tank immediately used a skill to cover the remaining two players as they retreated. Having lost a member already, their chances of winning a head-on fight against Dream Ghost’s four players were slim, especially with ZMD lurking nearby. It was clear that WET had lost their chance to be the last team standing in Huntian City.

Commentator He Ye: “Looks like WET is planning to retreat. The tank is using a shield to cover the retreat of their teammates. Seems like they’ve decided to abandon their support.”

Zhi Zi: “Even if they wanted to help, they couldn’t. ZMD was able to turn the tables and take the opportunity to revive Luo Baibai, but WET clearly doesn’t have the same chance.”

【WET’s support player is pretty strong, yet he didn’t even stand a chance?】

【I told you, there’s no way Chen Xingran’s swordsmanship could be that weak. He was definitely faking it earlier.】

【Pretending to lose, luring WET’s support, and blending in like he was one of their own… That’s insane! Who came up with this strategy?!】

【Who else? It’s gotta be that sneaky Yang Yunche!】

【I thought ZMD was in trouble and that Luo Baibai was going down for sure… But they managed to turn it around. No question, ZMD is amazing!】

【Chen Xingran is way too confident! With that little health, he didn’t run but even turned back to fight the support head-on, and the craziest part is he counter-killed him!】

【His spear techniques are so overwhelming… Even through the screen, it feels terrifying.】

Echo shook his head. “WET’s idea to retreat makes sense, but the problem is… they might not be able to get away.”

In Huntian City, surrounded by predatory teams, losing a core support player was a fatal blow for WET. On top of that, the remaining WET members were in poor condition. In a three-versus-four situation, two of their players already had broken armor. To the other teams, they looked like walking points waiting to be claimed.

Chen Xingran, using Ghost Blade, dashed to the rooftop, then leaped twice more, stepping on the eaves to reach Yang Yunche’s high vantage point. He dropped a purple longbow in front of him.

Yang Yunche raised an eyebrow. “Looted that from the support’s bag?”

“Yeah.” Chen Xingran nodded. “I only had time to grab a bow, didn’t check the rest, but there didn’t seem to be anything valuable.”

He said it casually, but from the moment he speared WET’s support through the throat to the moment WET’s captain arrived to help, less than half a second had passed. Within that tiny window of time, he had managed to disengage with Ghost Blade, evade pursuit, and still loot the bag… 

Pretty quick hands.

Yang Yunche chuckled, switching out the white bird rifle in his hand for the purple bow. He glanced at Luo Baibai’s status.

At that moment, Luo Baibai’s health was fully restored, and he had switched to blue armor. Over voice chat, he asked, “They’re retreating, Captain. Should we chase?”

WET’s remaining three players were running toward the outskirts of Huntian City, pursued closely by Dream Ghost’s four members. Yang Yunche squinted slightly and said, “Follow them.”

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Translator Notes

1. Ma de – f*ck[↩]