The demoness’s laughter grew even more coquettish. “Oh, Daoist, you’re quite the comedian. Who lives and who dies, that’s yet to be decided.”
Even as she spoke, her figure remained motionless, but I suddenly felt the ground beneath my feet grow soft.
Looking down, my heart froze in terror. The earth had turned into a swamp, and several hands emerged from the mire, grabbing hold of my legs.
“Mas—”
Before I could finish my cry, Xiao Yi Han plunged his sword into the ground. A resonant hum filled the air, cleansing the demonic energy. A brilliant frost-like light swept through the earth, severing the hands holding me. Pained wails echoed from the swamp as the light surged forward, striking the demoness.
Her expression turned grave as she raised a hand to block the attack, but the force sent her staggering back several steps before she managed to steady herself.
The ground returned to normal, and I regained my footing. Seeing the demoness’s stunned face, I couldn’t help but look up at Xiao Yi Han. He was still smiling lazily, as if nothing had happened. “Now, tell me again—who lives and who dies?”
It was then I realized…
My master had such power.
I wasn’t the only one shocked. The demoness’s seductive smile faltered, and her tone abruptly changed. Bowing slightly, she pleaded, “Oh, Daoist, spare me! This little demon was blind and foolish to offend you. I’ll immediately break the array and escort you and the young lady out. Please, grant me mercy.”
Xiao Yi Han, unmoved, replied, “Break the array first, and then we’ll talk.”
The demoness hesitated briefly before reaching into her chest and pulling out a pendant. Clutching it tightly, she began chanting a spell.
The surrounding atmosphere shifted, and I thought the array was being undone. I had just started to relax when I felt a cold grip on my neck. A hand had emerged from the ground behind me, clutching my throat and cutting off my breath before I could utter a sound.
Just as I thought it was the end for me, Xiao Yi Han’s sword swept over my head, severing the arm holding me. The demon let out a shrill scream as the arm vanished, but the force dragging me backward remained. I toppled straight into the swamp, which now teemed with eerie, ghostly hands reaching out from the depths.
My heart raced in panic, but in that moment, Xiao Yi Han pulled me into his arms.
At the same time, a cold laugh sounded from behind him. The demoness, somehow, had slipped past us and was now right at Xiao Yi Han’s back.
I watched helplessly over Xiao Yi Han’s shoulder as the demoness raised her blade, aiming to strike his back with lethal force.
My heart clenched, my pupils contracted, and in that split second, every spell I had ever learned flashed through my mind. With two fingers pressed together, I summoned the sword at my waist. It leapt from its sheath and blocked her strike just in time. But my inner strength was too weak; while I managed to deflect her attack momentarily, I couldn’t stop it completely.
A sharp “crack” rang out as my sword shattered. What followed was the sickening sound of flesh tearing as her blade found its mark. Blood splattered across my face.
I stood frozen in shock.
Xiao Yi Han didn’t seem to feel the pain at all. With a single leap, he moved me to another spot. A flash of light surrounded me, and suddenly, I was encased in a protective barrier.
Everything happened so quickly I had no time to react. Xiao Yi Han, smiling proudly, pinched my cheek as if nothing had happened. “Good disciple,” he said, almost smugly, as if he were genuinely proud of me.
But I hadn’t even managed to block the demoness’s strike properly—I had let him get hurt.
Without another word, he turned and vanished from my sight, reappearing almost instantly to engage the demoness in combat.
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