Chapter Seventy-Five: The Wheel of Fortune Turns

The two sisters driving suddenly collided with something and instinctively brought the car to a halt.

Upon closer inspection, it seemed they had hit a living person, who was now twitching ceaselessly on the ground. They could not tell if it was a zombie. The elder sister gripped the steering wheel tightly and said, "What should we do? Let's just plow through. It might be a trap."

The younger sister, frightened, clung to her sibling. "What if it's a real person? We've never killed anyone before!"

As they wrestled with indecision, the body abruptly moved, twisted, and sprang upright. With a grotesque smile, it leapt to the car window and said, "Oh my, you hit me—what should we do about that?"

The eerie expression sent the sisters into a panic. Screaming, they desperately pressed the gas pedal.

***

Wu Jue, walking with Xiao Han, suddenly heard discordant cries ahead. They exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Could the sisters be in trouble?"

Xiao Han chuckled, "Who knows? If they keep doing wrong, they'll get what they deserve. If a zombie bites them, it's their own fault."

Wu Jue replied, "It's not good to gloat over others' misfortune. Perhaps they've encountered enemies of the Heavenly Punishment Clan. Next moment, it could be us."

"Then let's pick up the pace and see what's happening," Xiao Han said, quickening his stride.

With the power of the Mirror Hero, Xiao Han accelerated, carrying Wu Jue over a thousand meters in an instant. They arrived just as the two women trudged dejectedly along the road, which made Xiao Han laugh.

Carelessly, they dropped from the air, nearly falling, which startled the sisters.

The younger sister, clutching her elder, exclaimed, "Someone fell from the sky!"

The elder pretended to be calm. "What's there to fear? It’s just those two from before. Look carefully!"

Wu Jue steadied himself and asked, "What’s the matter? Did your car break down again, or did you run into trouble?"

Xiao Han, impatient, strode forward. "No need to ask—they tried to trick someone again and lost out. Now they’ve even lost the car, haven’t they?"

At this, the elder sister puffed out her chest and scoffed, "You two, always getting duped, still want to act tough with us? You know nothing! We ran into a murderer. Luckily, I was quick-witted and escaped. Or do you want to give it a try?"

She then brandished a pistol, aiming it at Wu Jue and Xiao Han. Wu Jue glanced at it, pressed his palms together, and smiled, "Your gun has no bullets; you can’t scare us."

The younger sister was startled, and Xiao Han darted forward, snatching the gun from the elder's hand. "Now what? You fell for it too. So tell us—what happened?"

The two sisters were stunned; they'd thought Wu Jue was formidable, but Xiao Han proved even more capable. The elder winked at her sister, clearly plotting to use their beauty to their advantage.

Wu Jue saw this and shouted to Xiao Han, "Tie them up!"

Xiao Han immediately understood. Circling the sisters twice, the Eight Trigrams Mirror on his chest emitted a beam of light, forming ropes in midair that bound the girls securely, seating them on the ground.

Now, no matter how they struggled, they couldn't break free. One complained desperately, "What’s going on? Let us go—what are you planning?"

"What are we planning?" Xiao Han grinned. "You dared tease both the master and me—what do you think we should do?"

He pressed the gun to the elder sister's chin, making sport of her.

Wu Jue snorted, signaling Xiao Han to restrain himself. Xiao Han then withdrew the gun, saying smugly, "The master is compassionate. I won’t bully you. Now, what did you do with our car?"

The sisters, as if conspiring, clenched their teeth and remained silent, resisting passively.

Wu Jue thought to himself, These girls are obstinate, and looked up to the sky, saying casually, "The sun is harsh. Xiao Han, let’s find some shade. As for these two, they’ll have to fend for themselves."

Xiao Han clapped, "Great idea. Let’s keep moving. Soon enough, some zombies or lunatics will show up and give them a taste of their own medicine."

The two prepared to leave, but the younger sister, frightened, called out, "Don’t go! Let us go, and we’ll tell you everything. Sister, just be honest. What more could they do? That guy was terrifying!"

The elder scolded her, "Don’t say a word! We’ll die before we tell them. Let them suffer ahead!"

Wu Jue realized they were deliberately piquing his curiosity. These girls were cunning. He conferred with Xiao Han, "Let’s go see for ourselves."

Xiao Han gathered mirror light, preparing to depart. The sisters, seeing the duo unmoved, grew truly anxious and shouted, "Wait! Aren't you scared? We ran into a revolting fellow, his face painted like a demon. He was vicious beyond words! If you go now, you'll regret it."

A painted face—a fiend!

Wu Jue and Xiao Han suddenly thought of someone: the Painted Face, the escapee from prison. They’d heard he had ambushed Huron and Tell, then escaped. How had he surfaced again?

"You mean the Painted Face?" Wu Jue stopped and asked. "If you met him and survived, you’re lucky. He’s extremely dangerous—a condemned criminal."

Before anyone could reply, Xiao Han shaded his eyes, peering ahead, "Here it comes—a car is approaching. Let me see who it is."

He shone his chest mirror, which reflected the image of a car—the very one Wu Jue had lost earlier. At the wheel was a madman with a grotesque smile painted on his face, laughing maniacally.

"Such a fine toy—I can’t leave it behind. Girls, your master has returned. Just wait for me!"

He had come back for the sisters.

Hearing the Painted Face's voice, the younger sister burst into tears. The elder cried out, "Aren’t you letting us go? Let’s face him together—aren’t you afraid?"

Xiao Han sneered, instantly appearing in front of the car, slipping inside in a flash. Painted Face saw a blur, thinking he'd hit someone, only to discover an old acquaintance beside him.

"Stop the car, Painted Face." Xiao Han’s fingertip emitted a cold gleam, pressing against the villain’s temple. "It’s been a while; time for a reunion."

Painted Face, startled, then erupted in wild laughter. "Old friend! I’m thrilled!"

He stomped on the gas and wrenched the wheel. Xiao Han was jolted, nearly thrown against the window, but managed to transform into a ball of mirror light and shot back outside.

Wu Jue charged forward, grabbing the car by the front and hoisting it into the air, wheels spinning madly. Painted Face laughed inside, "Wu Jue, at last we meet again! Let’s have some real fun this time!"

He accelerated, spewing exhaust from the rear, then flung open the door and leapt out.

Wu Jue, wielding his divine power, hurled the car toward Painted Face’s hiding spot, smashing it in front of him and forcing him back. Xiao Han seized the opportunity, capturing Painted Face. "Now are you scared?"

Painted Face grinned, perhaps deranged, tugging at his bowtie. "Impossible! How could I crack so soon? The game has just begun!"

With a sudden hiss, a cloud of smoke sprayed directly onto Xiao Han’s face.

The cycle of fortune turns—Chapter Seventy-Five of Divine Martial Arts in the Apocalypse, now complete!