Chapter 23: Fierce Battle

Yang Yuxiang let out a cold laugh, drew the long saber at his waist, leaped down from his wooden horse, and waved his hand, saying, “Go!”

The three split into two groups. Two Heiyi Wei lunged toward Lin Xue, while Yang Yuxiang charged at Zhang Zongnian.

Zhang Zongnian thought to himself that today he was doomed to die. He gripped his long sword in his left hand and faced his enemy head-on, his face full of grim determination, ready for the fight to come.

His cultivation was at Qi Refinement Third Level Complete, the very peak of the Qi Refinement Early Stage.

He had no idea what Yang Yuxiang’s cultivation was, but as a Heiyi Wei of the Demon-Slaying Bureau, he was at least a Qi Refining Middle Stage expert.

Although Zhang Zongnian excelled at swordsmanship, the gap between their levels was laid bare.

At his best, he could not match such an opponent.

Let alone now, when he was gravely injured, his dominant right hand for wielding the sword broken.

Facing Yang Yuxiang, he knew that he likely would not last even a single round.

But even if it meant death, he would draw his sword and use whatever meager strength he had to resist the humiliation the powerful Yang Family inflicted upon him!

Looking at Yang Yuxiang’s face, twisted with murderous intent, and at the long saber gleaming with cold light, Zhang Zongnian seemed to see his own neck about to be mercilessly cut off.

He thought to himself: My death is nothing to regret, I only hope I won’t drag Miss Lin Xue down with me.

If I die quickly enough, with me gone, perhaps Miss Lin Xue will no longer be burdened, and she may yet escape.

He only felt sorrow that his aging mother at home would be left uncared for.

The kindness of her raising him—he could only hope to repay it in the next life.

Just as Zhang Zongnian was about to lift his sword to face Yang Yuxiang, a flash of white light appeared—a splendid long blade flew toward him, landing blade-first in the ground before him, the blade trembling, and at the same instant, a shield of wind formed and instantly surrounded him completely.

Yang Yuxiang’s long saber slashed down fiercely upon the Wind Shield, but it bounced right back.

Both Zhang Zongnian and Yang Yuxiang were momentarily stunned.

Zhang Zongnian recognized the blade stuck between them—it was the Wind-Slaying Treasure Blade.

He looked toward Lin Xue, and saw that the weapon in her hand had already switched to Xuesha.

It was she who had activated the Wind Shield of Zhanfeng, throwing it over and protecting him within.

A wave of emotion surged in Zhang Zongnian’s heart.

Even in such a perilous moment, Miss Lin Xue had still thought of his safety, doing her utmost to protect him.

He was an officer of the Demon Slaying Division, and now, while his own colleagues desperately tried to take his life, a Zhujing Yaojing was instead racking her brains to save him.

This world—what an irony.

He knew he was nothing but a burden now. Even if he went out, he would only make things worse, so he stayed inside the shield, watching Lin Xue face off against two Heiyi Wei with her delicate frame, filled with worry for her.

Yang Yuxiang narrowed his eyes and looked at Lin Xue with interest.

This little demon has nimble skills, seems to have some real ability.

If he could capture her as a spirit pet, she’d be a fine fighting helper.

And at night, she could warm his bed.

This demon girl had a slim figure, narrow waist and long legs—serving in bed would be a delight.

He needed to figure out a way to capture her alive.

He cast a contemptuous glance at Zhang Zongnian inside the Wind Shield, thinking: What’s so good about this piece of trash? At such a critical moment, that little demon still split her attention to protect him.

Could the two of them be lovers?

This good-for-nothing really does have good fortune with women.

He glanced at Zhang Zongnian, then at Lin Xue, and suddenly felt a surge of heat in his heart.

Yang Yuxiang had a dark hobby, was notorious for his depravity, always relying on his family’s power to force decent women to submit, making their husbands watch, satisfying his twisted desires.

Now, thinking Lin Xue and Zhang Zongnian were a couple, he once again harbored vile thoughts.

Narrowing his eyes, he stared back and forth at Lin Xue and Zhang Zongnian, imagining unspeakable scenarios, his gaze growing ever more heated.

He hugged his saber, stopped making any moves, and just stood to the side, watching Lin Xue fight his two subordinates.

The two Heiyi Wei charged at Lin Xue.

Lin Xue activated Zhanfeng’s Wind Shield and threw it, protecting Zhang Zongnian, and only then could she breathe a little easier.

In Li Jia’ao Village, this Wind Shield had blocked several attacks from the Demoness, so it should be able to protect Zhang Zongnian for a little while.

That was all she could do for him.

Once the Wind Shield was broken, she would have no way to care for him.

Gripping Xuesha tightly, her footwork was like the wind—nimble and light—dodging the attacks of two sabers, spinning agilely, and ending up behind the two Heiyi Wei.

She fixed her eyes on the nearest figure and thrust Xuesha with all her strength.

Nine Swords of the Gale!

An unending stream of sword strikes poured toward that exposed back like a mighty river.

The Heiyi Wei heard the sharp wind of the sword rushing up behind him.

He sneered, darted forward, easily dodged the first strike, and snorted in his heart: Just a little demon at Body Tempering Middle Stage.

Demons have no master, no guidance in cultivation techniques, they just rely on brute strength and have no technique when fighting.

This little demon girl might know how to use a sword, but it must be from watching others and copying a few moves at random. How dangerous could she be?

Once I use the Monster-Subduing Solar Saber taught by the Demon-Slaying Bureau, I’ll have her beaten in no time!

But before he could steady himself, the second sword strike followed close behind.

He dodged again, grudgingly praising in his heart:

This little demon’s not bad, her sword art actually looks like something.

But that’s all.

Once I turn around, a single slash will finish her!

But then came the third strike, and the fourth.

The Heiyi Wei’s face changed.

He realized these sword strikes stuck to him like maggots to the bone—impossible to shake off.

And each strike was faster than the last. He had no chance to turn and counterattack, only able to dodge in panic.

But before he could steady his stance, a new strike came again.

By the fifth strike, the sword tip was already touching the back of his head.

Feeling that icy sharpness on his skull, his hair stood on end.

He couldn’t dodge any longer. If he kept running, the next sword would be in his brain.

He thought so, but his feet continued forward all the same.

If he stopped, he’d die on this sword for sure.

The sixth sword came in a flash.

The Heiyi Wei felt utter despair as the cold sword pierced the back of his head, ran right through his brain, and the tip emerged from his forehead.

His vision went black and he collapsed to the ground.

Before he lost consciousness, he felt a sliver of relief.

At last, it’s over. No need to fear that terrifying seventh sword.

“Defeated a Qi Refinement Fifth Level cultivator, gained experience: 100 points.”

Lin Xue drew Xuesha from the black-clad man’s head as quickly as possible.

She’d poured everything into those six strikes, finally seizing the chance to take down one Heiyi Wei first.

Now, only two opponents remained.

Beside her, the other Heiyi Wei finally had time to turn and slash at Lin Xue.

Lin Xue twisted her waist, narrowly dodging the saber.

The Heiyi Wei’s eyes gleamed fiercely, swinging his sharp blade, performing an authentic set of Monster-Subduing Solar Saber techniques, each swing fierce and swift.

Lin Xue used nimble movement skills to evade again and again, patiently searching for a chance to counterattack.

This Heiyi Wei looked like a close-quarters expert—his attacks were ferocious, his composure steady, not a single flaw in his stance.

Yang Yuxiang simply stood to the side, eyes narrowed, watching her fight, not making a move, his intentions unknown.

While fending off the Heiyi Wei, Lin Xue also had to keep one eye on Yang Yuxiang, in case he suddenly attacked and caught her off guard.

She felt a pang in her heart—her cultivation was still too low, and she knew too few techniques.

Facing several Qi Refining Middle Stage opponents at once was truly exhausting.

If only she could break the restriction on Xuesha.

If she could unlock its seal and unleash a ghostly wail, she could delay the Heiyi Wei’s attack and follow up with a combo of strikes.

She regretted not opening Yu Changfeng’s Storage Pouch earlier.

If there had been some powerful technique inside, she wouldn’t be in such a passive state. Perhaps things would be easier right now.

Zhang Zongnian, staying within the Wind Shield, watched Lin Xue’s fierce battle with the Heiyi Wei. While he worried for her, he was also deeply shocked:

How does Miss Lin Xue know my sect’s exclusive Sword Art of the Gale?

And her mastery of the technique was so skilled, it was clear she had practiced for years.

He’d joined the sect as a child, trained hard for fifteen years, and had always been proud of his swordsmanship.

Now, compared to Miss Lin Xue, he was like an apprentice just starting out.

Could Miss Lin Xue have some connection to our sect?

He stared at Lin Xue, his mind full of questions.

At that moment, Lin Xue used her footwork to evade the Heiyi Wei’s savage slash and finally found a chance to strike back.

The last slash from the Heiyi Wei was too forceful, the momentum leaving a brief opening.

Lin Xue seized the moment, demon power surging, and once more unleashed the Nine Swords of the Gale.

A relentless torrent of sword strikes burst forth like splattered ink.

The Heiyi Wei’s expression changed. He held his saber, blocking left and right.

In an instant, they exchanged several blows, sparks flying.

Lin Xue was delighted to find that the enemy’s saber had begun to chip and crack.

This Heiyi Wei’s saber was just a common weapon.

So she targeted his blade, striking it again and again.

Finally, after a few more blows, with a loud crack, the saber in the Heiyi Wei’s hand snapped under the relentless force of Xuesha.

He was dumbfounded.

The next moment, Lin Xue’s Xuesha pierced his throat.

The Heiyi Wei clutched his neck, staggered back a few steps, and collapsed.

Before dying, he glared at Yang Yuxiang with deep resentment, dying with his eyes wide open, as if demanding to know why Yang Yuxiang hadn’t stepped in, why he just stood by and watched.

Those hate-filled eyes gradually dimmed.

“Defeated a Qi Refinement Sixth Level cultivator, gained experience: 120 points.”

Lin Xue paused, panting softly.

She felt her left arm and left leg starting to go numb again.

She didn’t know how far the Corpse Poison on her arm had spread by now.

But she couldn’t spare the time to roll up her sleeve and check.

There was still an enemy on the field.

She gripped Xuesha tightly, looking toward Yang Yuxiang, who stood with arms folded, eyes narrowed, watching her like he was enjoying a show.

She was puzzled—why had this man let her kill his two subordinates without stopping her, and made no move to attack Zhang Zongnian either?

She couldn’t guess his motives.

Yang Yuxiang, with a broad smile, began clapping and said, “Wonderful, wonderful! You little demon, you really do have some skill. Little demon, let me ask you, are you willing to recognize this officer as your master, and become my own bed-warming spirit pet?”