Meanwhile, the snake skin constricting Ban Xia and Xuan Ye grew tighter. Ban Xia’s back felt like it was about to snap, and the crushing force left her gasping for air. Xuan Ye, despite his efforts, couldn’t create enough space for her to breathe. Their bodies were pressed so closely together that her forehead rested against his chest, her lungs nearly devoid of air as she drifted into unconsciousness.
“Useless!”
A voice rang out from above, cold and cutting. The word was clearly directed at Chi Xue.
A tall, elegant figure appeared, his long cloak billowing dramatically in the wind. His entrance exuded an effortless cool, unmistakably marking him as none other than the world’s most handsome ghost, You Huang.
“Useless. Every single one of you is useless,” You Huang said with disdain, spitting to the side before leaping upward, his cloak obscuring the moonlight as he seized the Moonlight Blade.
Chi Xue, sitting on the ground nursing his bruised backside, paused mid-page-turn in his book. His eyes widened in shock as he stammered, “Y-you’re an Asura! What are you doing with my clan’s sacred weapon? Even if you’re an Asura, you’re still a spirit. Don’t you care about living?!”
“You think I want this?” You Huang scoffed as he landed gracefully, dropping to one knee with an effortlessly cool pose. “I’m only doing this because you’re too useless to hold it yourself.”
“Huh?” Chi Xue blinked, still processing, but before he could react further, You Huang gripped the blade with one hand and drove it straight toward Xuan Ye’s face.
The Moonlight Blade, sacred to the demigod clan, could banish all evil spirits. As Chi Xue had said, even an Asura like You Huang, though immensely powerful, was still a spirit and not immune to its effects.
The moment the blade pierced a fraction of an inch into the snake skin, it began to tremble violently, its radiant glow scorching You Huang’s hand. The searing light burned through his palm, blackening his arm to a near-charred state.
“Stupid blade, useless blade! I’m saving your master—don’t you understand?” You Huang growled, gritting his teeth as he forced his arm to steady. With a powerful thrust, he pried open a tear in the snake skin.
Xuan Ye’s face emerged, pale as death. After several moments, he finally exhaled a breath, gasping out, “Cut it—below—get her out!”
“You’re awfully bossy,” You Huang muttered with a scowl. “Fine, I’ll cut it. But only because I clearly owe you from a past life—or maybe every life.”
With a snarl, he braced himself and pushed the blade downward, pouring all his spiritual power into keeping it steady. He managed to carve a long tear in the snake skin, finally freeing Ban Xia.
She and Xuan Ye tumbled free from the suffocating trap, collapsing together. Xuan Ye, unable to move, still cradled Ban Xia protectively in his arms as though holding the most precious treasure in the world.
The snake skin dissolved into a cloud of red mist, dissipating into the wind.
Chi Xue’s backside still ached, but he scrambled to his feet and rushed over to You Huang, grabbing his charred hand and bursting into tears. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you… thank you for saving our Ya Jin!”
You Huang winced in pain, his arm trembling. Before long, his burnt hand snapped off entirely with a loud “crack,” hitting the ground and shattering into blackened fragments.
Chi Xue stared in stunned silence at the dismembered limb. His eyes darted between the fragments on the ground and You Huang’s remaining arm, his mouth agape.
“That’s what happens from holding the blade for just a moment,” You Huang said, his tone dry despite the pain. “Half my arm’s been burned to a crisp.”
“I-I… I didn’t mean for this to happen,” Chi Xue stammered, his legs trembling.
“Doesn’t matter if you meant it or not—you’ll have to pay for it,” You Huang snapped, glaring at Chi Xue’s arm. “I think your arm will do. It’s not as handsome as mine, but I’ll make do.”
“M-my arm?” Chi Xue stammered, on the verge of tears, his lips quivering. “If… if you can attach it, then… then I’ll give it to you.”
“What?” You Huang burst into laughter. “Say that again—I didn’t quite hear you.”
Chi Xue’s lips quivered even more, and he pouted, unable to repeat himself.
"Ignore him," Xuan Ye finally spoke, his voice low and clearly directed at Chi Xue. "He’s an Asura. His severed arm can regenerate. Check your book if you don’t believe me. For now, come here and help Miss Ban up."
Chi Xue responded with an “Oh,” quickly moving to separate Ban Xia from Xuan Ye and helping her sit upright against the gravestone.
Xuan Ye remained immobile, his eyes lowered, his breathing shallow and labored, as though even that simple act required immense effort.
Ban Xia, however, recovered her strength quickly. She rubbed her aching back, her voice sharp with anger. “What about that snake? Are we just going to let him escape? The thing I hate most in this life is men like him—bullying women. What does he think he is?!”
“He won’t escape,” Xuan Ye replied calmly. “I marked him. No matter where he goes, even to the ends of the earth, he can’t hide.”
“Then when you recover, we’ll go together and finish him.”
“You don’t need to go. There’s no need to take unnecessary risks.” Xuan Ye’s tone was still soft and measured, but there was no room for argument.
“Fine,” Ban Xia said with a cold smile.
At the base of Mount Mao, Su Yun’s voice was soft, but her delight was evident. “You’ve finally brought back a woman.”
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