Thousand-Jin Dragon Severing Twist, his ultimate technique, was designed to shatter the opponent’s internal energy upon contact, breaking it into countless shards like ice, each infiltrating the enemy’s body. It was a killing blow. Yet during their exchange of internal forces, he himself had been injured!
Zhan Ri Fei still stood tall in the rain. The misty drizzle had soaked him to the bone, and blood continued to flow from his nose, mouth, and back, only to be diluted and washed away by the rain.
Yet his hand still firmly held the boy’s.
And his body still stood as a shield between the boy and the Sun Envoy.
The boy could feel Zhan Ri Fei’s hand growing colder, like ice.
Was it because of the chill of this rainy night? Or because the one holding his hand was already at the end of his strength, his life force flickering like an expiring flame?
The Sun Envoy could sense none of this.
Perhaps, from Zhan Ri Fei’s still calm and composed face, the green-clad man could detect no weakness.
“Even injured, I can still defeat you,” Zhan Ri Fei said slowly, each word deliberate. “Let’s go again. I’ll take your Thousand-Jin Dragon Severing Twist one more time!”
No one had ever survived the Thousand-Jin Dragon Severing Twist.
The technique, a combination of three strikes into a single force, was unmatched in its raw power and dominance. The Sun Envoy could not fathom anyone capable of enduring it twice.
And yet, this black-clad youth, grievously injured, dared to face it again. Was his body made of iron?
For the first time, the lifeless eyes of the Sun Envoy revealed human emotion—fear.
Zhan Ri Fei looked back at him, and in his eyes, there was also a glimmer of emotion. It was a faint trace of mockery.
Who could say this silent confrontation of gazes was any less intense than another form of combat?
The Sun Envoy could not summon the courage to unleash the Thousand-Jin Dragon Severing Twist a second time.
Nor did he have the strength to do so.
His internal energy churned violently, crashing against his organs, threatening to overwhelm him. Several times, he felt the urge to vomit blood.
He had no choice but to retreat, taking the Moon Envoy with him.
To retreat was to admit defeat.
The people of Han Shui Palace had never retreated before an enemy, much like the Sun Envoy’s Thousand-Jin Dragon Severing Twist had never required a second strike.
But now, he wasn’t sure if he could summon the strength to use it again, just as he couldn’t be certain whether Zhan Ri Fei would fail to withstand it a second time.
And his injuries could no longer wait. The Moon Envoy’s condition was even more critical.
He had no choice but to leave.
The people of Han Shui Palace were rigorously trained to weigh risks and benefits. As the Sun Envoy, he understood this better than anyone.
Before leaving, he spat out one final sentence, forced through gritted teeth:
“I will return to find you.”
As his figure vanished into the rain and mist, Zhan Ri Fei let out a soft sigh.
At last, his strength gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, unable to get up.
Blood soaked his back, likely a result of forcibly breaking free from Everlasting Longing. A fragment of the weapon, forged from celestial silkworm threads, was still embedded in his back. This was why, with just a slight movement, the boy had slipped from his grasp.
The boy’s expression had turned chillingly cold. He didn’t move, standing aside with indifference, watching Zhan Ri Fei struggle.
Though Zhan Ri Fei had fought against two opponents to save him, the boy’s small, sharp eyes showed no trace of gratitude or concern. Instead, they brimmed with disdain.
Finally, the boy crouched down, extending a finger toward Zhan Ri Fei’s bloodied back. His finger became stained with blood.
Slowly, he brought his finger to his lips and tasted it.
As though confirming a suspicion, a faint, dismissive smirk appeared on his freckled, gaunt face.
On the ground, Zhan Ri Fei could neither see the boy’s expression nor hear his movements.
Still, he struggled to rise.
–– Because there was something he absolutely had to say to the boy.
The boy, having stood up and prepared to leave, paused when he heard the faint voice of the man lying on the ground.
“Why… why aren’t you leaving? Don’t… don’t let them catch you again. They’re not too injured—they’ll be back.”
The boy had been about to walk away, but upon hearing Zhan Ri Fei’s words, he froze, a flicker of hesitation crossing his brow.
It was unclear how much time passed before Zhan Ri Fei finally managed to sit up, trembling.
When he raised his head, he saw that the boy was still standing there, staring blankly.
His voice took on a sharper edge.
“Why haven’t you left yet?”
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