Zijing stepped forward, his movements swift and precise, striking at the shadow that had emerged from behind me. His sword sliced cleanly through the attacker, leaving no room for counterattacks. With a flick of his wrist, he sheathed his sword as if nothing had happened.
I turned to look at him, but he was already by my side, his expression unreadable.
He glanced at me and said softly, “Let’s go.”
I couldn’t argue. Whatever had happened just now, it wasn’t something I could have faced alone.
As the tension in the air subsided, I overheard someone say in a low voice, “Zijing might seem composed, but in reality, he’s been as much a prisoner of his burdens as anyone else.”
She said, “A boundary of light separates the two of you,” and as she spoke, a long streak of brilliance flashed between me and Zijing. The sharpness of the light left a clear dividing line, its radiance spilling across the ground. For a moment, Zijing’s expression grew even colder, and the corner of his lips twitched faintly.
It was hard to tell if his reaction was one of disdain or if he had some deeper emotions hidden beneath that stoic demeanor.
In that same fleeting moment, the girl had already struck three times, each blow aimed precisely at the boundary of light. The sharp cracks resounded, and the barrier shattered like glass, leaving Zijing vulnerable once more.
I watched as the girl’s strikes drained Zijing’s energy, his face pale and tense, each move exact and efficient. He staggered slightly, clearly using every ounce of his strength to stand upright. The sight of his bloodstained clothes and unsteady stance was almost unbearable.
“No!” I thought. I didn’t want to distract him any further, but my instinct to protect him surged uncontrollably, as though my arms could shield him from the impending danger.
I rushed forward, seeing the wounds spreading across his body. He had been injured... yet he still shielded me.
Despite being outnumbered, Zijing’s strength didn’t falter. He held onto me tightly, and though I couldn’t see how he was confronting the enemies around us, I could feel his chest rising and falling rapidly with each labored breath. His blood seeped through his robes, the scent filling the air.
“Stop…” My voice trembled. “Please stop.”
No one listened. Finally, Zijing dropped to one knee. He looked as though he were fading from the world he had once fought so fiercely to protect. I could see the others retreating cautiously, their gazes uncertain, as though afraid of awakening a dormant force. Only the faint wind remained to stir the silence.
She sneered coldly, her blade still aimed at Zijing. I didn’t think—I couldn’t think—and screamed, “I said stop!” I poured all my energy into that desperate cry, my voice almost cracking with strain.
At the same time, a surge of energy burst from me, enveloping my body. My hands clenched into fists as a massive force erupted around me, surrounding me with light. I stood there, trembling, as though something ancient within me had awakened.
The light dissipated, leaving only a faint echo.
“What…?” Zijing’s voice was faint, laced with disbelief.
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