The stench of the capital sewer felt like it had solidified, clinging to the throats of anyone walking through it, impossible to spit out.
Pandana stepped on the slick stone slabs, the Swamp Moon silently unfolding behind her, its dark green light cutting a slit through the darkness ahead.
She softened her steps, like a water snake slinking through the mud.
She could feel Kaxiu was just ahead.
The Swamp Ring on her right ring finger pulsed with a faint warmth, as if reminding her of the prey’s location.
Though the sewage in the air was still utterly foul, to Pandana’s nose, she could detect the scent of blood hidden within.
“It’s that bad…”
‘He’s hurt that badly…’
She didn’t sympathize with Kaxiu; she just wanted to find and kill him as fast as possible.
Dongfang Jiang had pushed his energy to the limit to save Yisela and chase after Kaxiu.
He didn’t have much lifespan left to begin with, and this only made things worse.
At that thought, Pandana tightened her grip on the Swamp Moon’s rim.
The dark green light dimmed a few shades, almost completely merging into the darkness.
A fork appeared ahead.
On the left passage wall, there was fresh blood.
“I found you.”
Pandana placed her finger on the bloodstain.
She infused a portion of Swamp Energy into it, and guided by the energy, she quickly locked onto Kaxiu’s position.
“That’s really impressive…”
Watching Pandana so easily track down Kaxiu, Xi couldn’t help but murmur in admiration, while pulling out her camera to snap a picture of Pandana.
Pandana ignored Xi and just followed the blood trail to continue the pursuit.
Seeing this, Xi immediately hurried after her.
After rounding two corners, they finally found Kaxiu in a dead end.
The silver-haired young man who had once been so arrogant, who had controlled the Valen Ring and nearly destroyed the Badan Family, was now leaning against the wall, his face as pale as paper.
His right hand was severed at the wrist, the stump charred black—a sign of using Sun Energy to forcibly cauterize and stop the bleeding.
His left arm was also gone, only half of the upper arm remaining, his clothes soaked with blood.
His legs were still there, but one thigh had a horrifying through-and-through wound, revealing the wall behind it.
“Dongfang Jiang… Yisela…”
Kaxiu closed his eyes, muttering these two names indistinctly, his tone filled with overwhelming hatred but also a deep sense of helplessness.
The Valen Ring’s backlash had already manifested on him.
His body, once healed, was now riddled with holes.
“Just wait… when I find the next ring… I’ll make you…”
“Make us what?”
Pandana stepped out of the darkness, the Swamp Moon floating beside her.
Its dark green light cast her shadow long on the wall.
Kaxiu looked at Pandana.
She appeared to be just a moderately attractive mage, a girl who normally wouldn’t catch his eye.
But when he sensed the energy radiating from Pandana, identical to Dongfang Jiang’s, the corner of his mouth twitched upward.
He forced a breath and glared at her fiercely.
“You’re… Dongfang Jiang’s people, aren’t you?”
“Dongfang Jiang? Who’s that?”
Xi kept filming while probing Kaxiu, but Kaxiu ignored her.
He quickly summoned several beads, each no bigger than a fingernail, and scattered them like petals in a windstorm, attacking both Pandana and Xi.
“Full Moon Moment.”
Pandana didn’t rush at Kaxiu’s attack.
Her lips parted slightly as the Swamp Moon entered its full moon mode, emitting a light that formed a massive shield, protecting both her and Xi.
The shield blocked all of Kaxiu’s desperate attacks, while Pandana’s barrier barely changed.
She switched the Swamp Moon’s attack mode, and the original ring transformed into a bow.
“Waning Moon.”
Pandana retaliated.
Her hand drew back on the Swamp Moon, and she fired dozens of arrows made of energy in rapid succession.
The arrows flew straight toward Kaxiu.
Kaxiu tried to say something, but every arrow struck him.
His eyes locked onto Pandana and Xi, but Pandana paid him no mind.
She finished him off with one final arrow.
The arrows pinned Kaxiu into the wall.
To ensure he died cleanly, Pandana detonated the swamp arrows, and a surge of energy exploded inside his body.
And just like that, Kaxiu died on the spot.
“Whoa, that was cool, Pandana.”
The camera Xi had brought captured the spectacular moment.
The perpetrator of countless crimes, the wielder of the Valen Ring, had finally paid the price for his actions.
“By the way, when we found Kaxiu, he was already badly injured. So who was it that wounded him?”
Pandana was about to answer Xi’s question when Xi seemed to figure something out, shouting Dongfang Jiang’s name.
“That’s right, it was him! Woo-woo-woo, to be able to cripple the Valen Ring’s controller like that, he really is something.”
“Pandana, what’s your relationship with Dongfang Jiang?”
Xi looked at Pandana, the corner of her mouth curling up as she eagerly asked.
“I’m his Guardian.”
“Ohhh! Can I meet him? This is big news! If I can interview Mister Dongfang, I’m sure I can get back to the newspaper.”
As a news professional, Xi was indeed sharp.
She quickly came up with a plan.
“I’ll only arrange an introduction. Whether Mister Dongfang agrees to your interview is up to him.”
Fritz Xi heard Pandana relent and nodded repeatedly.
Meanwhile, Pandana contacted Dongfang Jiang through her ring and told him about killing Kaxiu.
“Are you hurt?”
Hearing that Pandana had fought Kaxiu, Dongfang Jiang asked nervously.
Pandana felt a warm glow inside at his concern.
“Of course not. Kaxiu was hit hard by the Valen Ring’s backlash. I didn’t have much trouble killing him.”
“Good. I’ll send you my location. Let’s meet at Yisela’s house. Leave the cleanup to Duke Yigenaxiu. He knows this stuff better than we do.”
After speaking, Dongfang Jiang was about to end the call, but Pandana mentioned Xi’s matter.
Dongfang Jiang looked at Yisela, who shook her head, signaling she had no objection.
“Alright, I’ll agree to the interview. Bring Miss Fritz to the Badan Family Mansion.”
“Okay.”
After ending the call with Dongfang Jiang, Pandana looked at Xi.
Xi had already heard the result.
She rubbed her hands together, brimming with confidence.
“Thanks for the help, Pandana! If this works out, I’ll split the manuscript fee with you~”
Pandana looked at the delighted Xi, scratched her head with a bit of embarrassment, and said, “Sure.”