Chapter Sixty: Explosive Arrows

As Ye Chen sprinted at full speed, he quickly saw the edge of the spreading frost trap. He immediately veered away, dodging the encroaching ice and once more pursued the figure in the cloak.

Ah... The distance he’d managed to close with such effort had been widened again.

This was the helplessness of being kited—his opponent could always use various means to keep him at a safe distance.

And Ye Chen, lacking any means of ranged attack, couldn’t help but feel frustrated. Staring at the broken blade in his hand, he muttered under his breath:

“If it really comes down to it, I’ll just throw you like a flying knife!”

The cloaked figure darted and leaped across the rooftops. Glancing back, he saw the young man once again pursuing him with relentless persistence, and a nameless fury welled up in his chest.

In the past, I was always the one relentlessly hounding my prey—never before have I been chased this wretchedly. Do you really take me for a pushover? This is infuriating!

With a sudden slide and turn, he came to a stop.

Holding his breath, focusing his mind, he drew his bow and conjured an arrow, swiftly draining the reserves of power within him.

This was, in truth, his first real attack of the night—and the one that consumed the most of his inner energy.

If the previous shots were more a display of skill and technique, then this was the true use of an ability.

As he conjured the arrow, aimed, and silently cursed:

“Keep chasing, do you? I’m so sick of you dogging my heels—get lost already!”

Ye Chen also saw the cloaked figure in the distance, standing still and aiming at him. For his opponent to halt deliberately and charge up an attack meant the next strike would be no ordinary blow.

His expression grew grave, his mind racing to guess what ingenious move awaited him next—and how he might counter it.

This time, the arrow that formed had a swollen sphere at its tip, a red warning light flashing atop the orb.

It was nothing like the previous arrows; it exuded a distinctly technological air.

As the frequency of the red warning light accelerated, the cloaked figure abruptly released, and the oddly-shaped arrow shot from his bow.

Perhaps because the arrow’s head was so heavy, the cloaked figure had to use a lobbed trajectory, the arrow tracing a crimson arc through the air.

After releasing the shot, it was as if his strength had been drained; he staggered forward. But almost immediately, he steadied himself, eyes fixed on the arrow slicing through the night.

The arrow flew much slower than the earlier ones, yet the cloaked figure’s skill and precise aim still sent it directly along Ye Chen’s path.

Watching the bulky, cumbersome arrow sailing toward him, Ye Chen was first puzzled.

But the warning light flashing at its tip filled him with a sense of imminent danger.

Trusting his instincts, Ye Chen hurled himself to the side, not even considering splitting the arrow with his broken blade.

Just as he hit the ground, a thunderous explosion erupted behind him.

Scorching flames billowed outward, a wave of heat melting the snow from the rooftops.

The shockwave swept outward, carrying heat, slush, and shards of debris.

Ye Chen had no chance to brace himself before the blast engulfed him, sending him tumbling across the rooftop, rolling all the way to the edge.

As he was about to tumble off, he managed to hook a hand on the eaves.

But the searing flames licked at his exposed fingers, the pain shooting straight to his heart—he nearly lost his grip.

Yet Ye Chen gritted his teeth and held on. He knew if he let go and fell, all that he’d fought for tonight would be for nothing.

His insides felt wrenched out of place, a metallic taste rising in his throat, which he forced back down.

The burning pain in his fingers stabbed at his nerves.

“Hiss! Damn, that hurts—you just wait!”

Ye Chen didn’t see the cloaked figure frozen in place after firing the arrow, staring in shock at the explosion’s aftermath.

His eyes, hidden beneath the hood, were a tangle of emotions.

When the fireball faded, a gaping hole had opened in the rooftop, rubble and melting snow pouring into the room below as shouts and cries of alarm rose from within.

The cloaked figure had an urge to check on the casualties inside.

But, after a moment’s pause, his left hand tightened on the bow and he forced himself to turn away.

The blast had been too conspicuous, drawing countless residents to their windows.

It wouldn’t be long before the lazy city patrols arrived.

He could not linger here.

Clinging to the eaves, Ye Chen waited for the heat to subside, then, with a loud yell, hauled himself one-handed back onto the rooftop.

Watching the cloaked figure disappearing into the distance, this time, true fury burned within him.

If before he’d been a snow wolf stalking the drifts, waiting for his prey to slip up before going in for the kill—

Now, he felt as if he had become an enraged tiger!

As Ye Chen passed the gaping hole in the roof, he heard the cries from within—raw, desperate.

Anyone would be shattered if, on a stormy night, their roof was suddenly blown open and loved ones were wounded or worse.

Who could bear such a blow?

Ye Chen hated above all else the kind of fight that harmed the innocent. Life was already hard enough—why should people suffer such calamity?

His rage finally spilled over.

He shouted after the retreating figure:

“If you’ve got the guts, face me in a fair fight! Stop using such dirty tricks!

“Even if I have to chase you to the ends of the earth, I’ll drag you down and grind you into the dust! Damn you!”

The cloaked figure heard the shout and nearly slipped. He’d thought the young man had fallen, but—

Dirty tricks? What dirty tricks have I used… he protested inwardly.

Now, besides marveling at the young man’s swordplay, he was forced to add another line of respect—for his tenacity.

Just now, he’d seen steam still rising from the young man’s hand!

The chase resumed across the rooftops.

The cloaked figure occasionally turned to fire a shot, trying to slow Ye Chen’s advance.

But these were all ordinary arrows; the explosive kind was not to be seen again.

Ye Chen dodged or batted them aside with his broken blade.

Still, the opponent’s archery could not be underestimated.

When Ye Chen tried to cross a cluster of rooftop water tanks, two small arrows flew in and ricocheted between the tanks, weaving a net in his path, forcing him to veer away.

“Damn, how does he have so many flashy tricks up his sleeve?” Ye Chen muttered sourly.

Little did he know, soon he would witness what it truly meant to be dazzled…