“Stubborn fool,” the lead battle spirit muttered, stepping back as the rest of the group slowly moved forward, drawing long whips from their waists. Though the small building was protected by a barrier, it wouldn’t take long for the dozen battle spirits to break through.
Yuan Zhong spread his left hand, the red light in his palm flickering as he sighed. “This grudge just keeps growing deeper…”
He had been ordered to freeze Li Chaoyang, so naturally, the battle spirits wanted revenge. First, they had killed Zifei, then Yuan Zhong had killed the battle spirits who came seeking vengeance. The cycle of killing seemed endless.
As the battle spirits prepared to break the barrier, Yuan Zhong prepared to strike, his left hand ready to pierce the ground. But at that critical moment, he suddenly felt as though his chest had been struck by a massive hammer. A wave of indescribable terror engulfed him from head to toe. His mouth fell open, and a torrent of bright red blood spewed forth.
"…Yuan Zhong," the lead battle spirit spoke in a low voice. "We know your name and birth date, and we have your hair. To curse and kill you would take no longer than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. You are a great monk of the Fox Clan, and if we kill you, the enmity between our clans will never be resolved. Even the Lady doesn’t wish for that. You should surrender."
My name, birth date, and hair... Yuan Zhong wiped the blood from his lips, fury rising in him like a tidal wave. It was Tang Hua who betrayed me!
His eyes, sharp as blades, scanned the distance and found the figure in purple on the other side of the lake. Tang Hua! He didn't leave! He had taken Yuan Zhong’s hair and birth details and was cursing him!
Without a word, Yuan Zhong turned into a flash of golden light and darted back into the building. Behind him, the battle spirits lashed their whips against the protective barrier, the sound ringing like clashing metal.
Yuan Zhong knew all too well the power of a curse. With the victim’s hair or skin as a medium, and knowing their name and birth date, a skilled immortal could make them suffer agonies worse than death in just a few moments. He had angered many people in the past following Elder Ding Xu's orders, and so his name and birth date had always been closely guarded secrets. He even avoided having maids serve him, but now he had been betrayed by his own people.
As Yuan Zhong reached the third floor, he felt a searing flame rise from beneath his feet. His robes ignited, and the cursed fire consumed his body, causing him excruciating pain.
A shimmering golden light emanated from his skin, forming a protective barrier that pushed the cursed flames away. He burst through the door, and Yuan Xiaozhong, who had been startled to his feet, screamed, "You're on fire!"
Yuan Zhong's eyes landed on Tan Yin, sitting cross-legged on the bed. He didn’t say a word as he rushed forward, scooping her up. Startled by the heat of his flaming robes, she flinched, and the next moment, he threw her into Yuan Xiaozhong's arms.
"Go!" Yuan Zhong, now a streak of golden light, dashed back down to the first floor. The battle spirits were still working to destroy the barrier, which wouldn’t last much longer. Yuan Xiaozhong followed, yelling in confusion, "What's going on? Where are we going?"
Yuan Zhong, gritting his teeth to endure the curse’s torment, sat cross-legged and spoke in a low voice, "Hold her tightly. Don’t let go. I’m going to open the death gate—you’ll take her and escape."
"And you?!" Yuan Xiaozhong’s face filled with exaggerated horror. "Are you trying to play the hero? This isn’t some stage play, Da Zhong!"
Ignoring him, Yuan Zhong focused on suppressing the cursed flames that were now spreading over his body. The curse wouldn’t actually burn him to ashes or leave any scars, but the pain of a curse was a hundred times worse than that of ordinary fire. It was for this reason that most immortals wouldn’t use such a vile method, but Tang Hua… Tang Hua had no such reservations.
Yuan Zhong pushed the thought aside, gritting his teeth through the agony as he channeled his immortal energy to summon the death gate. He had no attachments, no one to rely on, but at least he could make sure Tan Yin escaped safely.
The absurdity of the situation hit him suddenly. He remembered how, back in Yandu, she had stepped in front of him, declaring she would protect him. This foolish girl—since when do women protect men?
The death gate, black and ominous, slowly appeared. Unlike the life gate, it was another exit from the cave dwelling, an emergency escape route for when disaster struck. Even Yuan Zhong didn’t know where it would lead—perhaps to a sheer cliff, the depths of the ocean, or even a landscape of burning mountains. But no matter what, it was better than staying here.
Just a few more moments. Give him just a few more moments, and Tan Yin would be safe. He was so close.
Suddenly, there was a sharp crack as the protective barrier around the small building shattered.
Without a sound, several long whips shot through the air. Yuan Zhong only had time to raise a protective barrier around Tan Yin before two whips struck his back, shredding his robes and sending blood splattering everywhere. The air was suddenly filled with a thick, rich scent.
Several battle spirits charged into the building. Seeing two versions of Yuan Zhong—one looking drained and weary, the other trembling while clutching a woman—they hesitated for a moment, then instinctively rushed toward Yuan Xiaozhong.
Yuan Xiaozhong, seeing so many red-eyed figures charging at him, frantically waved his hands. “Wait! Wait! We can talk about this!”
They ignored him. The sharp sound of blades cutting through the air silenced Yuan Xiaozhong’s babbling. He stared at his severed left arm in surprise and gave it a shake, muttering, "…They even attack mechanical men…"
"That one’s a fake," one of the battle spirits said, switching his weapon from a whip to a short blade.
Their orders weren’t to kill Yuan Zhong but to cut off his left hand. However, the hatred between the battle spirits and the Fox Clan ran deep. This man had incapacitated Li Chaoyang for years and killed many battle spirits. Their hatred for him was beyond words. Lightning-fast, one of them swung a blade at Yuan Zhong’s head.
Several dull thunks echoed as the blades sank into a wooden figure that had suddenly appeared, blocking Yuan Zhong. Beneath the wooden figure, someone tightly held Yuan Zhong, shielding him with her body—it was Ji Tan Yin.
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