Chapter Forty-One: Chaotic Battle

Taking advantage of the moment when the man in black was momentarily distracted, Che Wuyou swiftly extricated himself from the man's grasp. He retreated along the length of the sword that had pierced his body, wrenching himself backward. With a soft sound, blood sprayed out like fine rain, painting a tragic crimson against the dusky night sky. Clutching his chest, Che Wuyou staggered back another step before collapsing heavily to the ground.

The man in black huffed coldly, paying no mind to whether Che Wuyou lived or died. He casually thrust his sword toward Che Wuyou’s throat, his anger palpable. If it hadn’t been for Che Wuyou, he would have already succeeded in assassinating Liu Lanzhi.

Liu Lanzhi’s nerves tightened to the extreme as she saw Che Wuyou fall and the man in black ruthlessly strike again. He was far too close for anyone to intervene—even someone whose cultivation surpassed his by a whole realm. She knew all too well the deadly skill of the man in black; such effortless attacks were his specialty. Was there truly no change in fate? Was Wuyou destined not to escape this calamity? You gave me hope, only to destroy it just as I grasped it—how cruel and merciless.

Though she knew rescue was futile, Liu Lanzhi instinctively rushed toward Che Wuyou. Yet among all present, she was the farthest from him; if Che Wuyou were killed, she wouldn’t even reach the side of Hongshun and Hongtao…

The man in black’s action triggered a chain reaction—Liu Lanzhi moved, and Hongtao followed suit. Seeing the man in black daring to kill right in front of him, Hongtao was furious. He hurriedly raised his sword and charged toward the assailant. He had to exert himself now, for he sensed someone nearby was monitoring his every move; he needed to appear especially valiant.

Hongshun had already regarded Hongtao as the protector of these two youngsters. Watching Hongtao rush toward the man in black, he couldn’t simply let him succeed, so without hesitation, he too raised his sword and chased after Hongtao. Yet Hongtao, in his desperate sprint, was so fast that Hongshun couldn’t immediately catch up.

Hongshun cursed inwardly, thinking, “Damn it, is it really necessary to risk your life like this? You’re a master of the Returning Origin realm, yet you’re recklessly charging for the sake of a mere disciple at the Qi Refining stage—even at the cost of serious injury…”

In truth, Hongshun didn’t realize that Hongtao had no intention of fighting so desperately. But seeing the supervisor ‘rushing with all his might toward the man in black,’ Hongtao grew anxious, feeling compelled to risk grave injury to reach the man in black first. Since the supervisor sent by the sect leader was ‘doing his utmost,’ how could Hongtao afford to slack off? He had to be even more diligent and reach the man in black faster. Otherwise, if the supervisor later reported to the sect leader that he’d failed to rescue in earnest, things would be dire indeed.

The man in black was startled by the aggressive momentum of the two newcomers. Judging by their movement, both were at the beginning stage of the Returning Origin realm—and both were fighting with unprecedented fierceness, determined to protect Che Wuyou. The man in black racked his brains but couldn’t fathom why a mere disciple at the Qi Refining stage would warrant such protection from two masters. If they were trying to save Liu Lanzhi, he could understand; but to protect Che Wuyou—this was incomprehensible.

Instinctively, the man in black could have easily finished Che Wuyou with another thrust. Yet, he hesitated. Both opponents were formidable, and among masters, “better to miss a move than lose initiative.” He could certainly kill Che Wuyou with a single strike, but doing so would forfeit a rare advantage. Moreover, these two Returning Origin masters were risking everything for this boy; if he destroyed their hope, who knew if he wouldn’t provoke their wrath entirely? Being on par with him, they’d be terrifying in desperation. Even if he managed to slay them both, he wouldn’t escape unscathed. All for a mere disciple—such recklessness wasn’t the mark of a true man. Besides, Che Wuyou was gravely wounded and might not survive anyway.

With this thought, the man in black decisively abandoned Che Wuyou; after all, Che Wuyou’s fate was hardly a priority for him. He didn’t shy from their aggression, stepping forward to meet them. Forming a sword seal with his left hand, his right flickered with sword light as he abruptly lunged at Hongtao, who was at the forefront.

This move was called “Crossing Lock of the Great River.” Though his sword was aimed at Hongtao, he had several hidden follow-ups prepared, poised to shift and block Hongshun, who was close behind. It was a common technique in Jizhou, ideal for facing multiple opponents. Yet in the man in black’s hands, this ordinary move exuded a unique elegance, inspiring silent admiration for such mastery—the transformation of the mundane into the miraculous.

Hongtao barely reached the man in black, and seeing the sword light flare so fiercely, he realized how much power was packed into such a standard move. He felt a lack of confidence, but having sprinted so quickly, retreat was no longer an option. As the man in black’s sword thrust continued to build momentum, Hongtao couldn’t shake the feeling that defending with all his might would end poorly. Yet to attack head-on, he felt uncertain. But now the arrow was nocked and must be released—he had no time to deliberate. Gritting his teeth, Hongtao thought, “Damn it, I’ll risk it. We’re both at the Returning Origin stage; I don’t believe you can best me.” With a roar, he raised his sword and slashed downward in fury…

The man in black, poised and rested, already possessed a cultivation superior to Hongtao. Seeing Hongtao forsake defense and attempt to seize initiative, engaging him head-on, the man in black couldn’t help but disdain him. “You’re old enough, yet lack even a young girl’s keen intuition. All you’re doing is squandering the true energy of the Returning Origin realm, handing me an opportunity.”

He could have seized this chance to incapacitate Hongtao in one move. Yet, mindful of Hongshun lurking behind, ready to strike, he knew that if he finished Hongtao, he’d likely be wounded by Hongshun’s attack…

The man in black’s sword paused ever so slightly as he sidestepped Hongtao’s fierce blow, then thrust forward, his sword piercing Hongtao’s chest. Without waiting for the force of his strike to dissipate, he ignored Hongtao’s retreat and swiftly shifted his sword toward Hongshun. His transitions were swift and precise, his grasp of danger exquisite—a true master of swordsmanship.

Hongshun, chasing after Hongtao, had intended to ambush him, but he hadn’t anticipated the man in black’s cunning tactics. Nor had he expected the man in black to abandon Hongtao and turn to face him…

Though Hongtao was seriously wounded, he still had enough strength left to fight, but was thoroughly intimidated by the man in black’s brilliant swordplay. For a long moment, stunned, he watched the man in black relentlessly press the ‘supervisor’ with a ferocious assault.

With Hongtao spectating, the man in black faced Hongshun one-on-one without reservation, fully displaying the intricacies of his sword art. Hongshun suffered miserably under his attack, his body covered with sword wounds, blood soaking through his clothes in no time.

Hongshun was incensed, having never suffered such a humiliating defeat—assaulted so ruthlessly and inexplicably. Yet skill could not match skill; anger was futile. Unable to endure further, he shouted at Hongtao, “Damn it, aren’t you going to help? Why are you just standing there?”

By now, Hongshun’s hatred for the man in black eclipsed all else. Where before he’d intended to kill the two youngsters, now his sole focus was to destroy the man in black—this infuriating foe who’d mercilessly beaten him. Killing him was the only way to quell his rage.

Hongtao was startled to hear Hongshun’s voice—confirming his suspicion that the sect leader had sent Hongshun to supervise him. “Damn it, does the sect leader still trust Hongshun?” Though Hongtao was troubled, he dared not remain on the sidelines and quickly joined the fray.

With Hongtao’s participation, the man in black was forced to restrain himself. After all, contending with two masters of equal realm was no simple task. Fortunately, both Hongtao and Hongshun were badly injured, making things somewhat easier for the man in black; even so, he gradually began to lose ground.

Hongtao focused mainly on keeping the man in black occupied, but Hongshun, enraged, fought with reckless abandon. “Is it fun to beat me down? Do you enjoy it?” He ignored his wounds, attacking the man in black with wild ferocity.

The man in black inwardly lamented—his fears realized, as Hongshun’s suicidal assault left him hard-pressed. Unless he paid a terrible price, he could not hope to kill both opponents outright; but if he did, it would only benefit Liu Lanzhi in the end.

As for Liu Lanzhi, she had no energy to spare for the chaotic skirmish nearby. She could only press desperately upon Che Wuyou’s wound. Yet Che Wuyou seemed to have lost all consciousness, his blood gushing uncontrollably. It was impossible to staunch it with mere hands.

Tears fell drop by drop onto Che Wuyou’s face and body. “Wuyou, hold on. As long as you wake, your senior sister will promise you anything—I only want you to live.”