The child’s innocent and unfiltered words caused a surge of warmth in Zhong Xiong’s chest. Deep inside, a long-buried impulse seemed ready to break free—threatening to overcome his logic and composure.
This rising emotion felt both unfamiliar and deeply familiar, leaving him momentarily speechless.
But his thoughts didn’t linger long. They were quickly drawn back to the battle raging before him. As his eyes took in the countless sword flashes in the air, reason once again took control.
As two more people joined the group near the child, there was a sharp “crack”—Zhan Zhao’s flagpole had snapped once again!
Though this ordinary flagpole could temporarily fend off Mo Dao and the swords of the Xiang Yang royal guards, it couldn’t withstand the pressure of internal force.
Zhan Zhao seemed to have anticipated this outcome. With a swift gesture, a gust of wind flew past, and another flagpole leaped into his hand.
The Iron Blood Guard leader beside Zhong Xiong, observing Zhan Zhao’s movements, said in a low voice, “This is the last flagpole.”
Zhong Xiong, deep in thought, replied, “If this one breaks too, I can’t imagine how those trapped in the array will escape. Mo Zhenren’s strategy is indeed a flawless one—designed only to win, never to lose.”
The Iron Blood Guard leader asked, “Does the master mean—”
Zhong Xiong explained, “The brilliance of this plan lies in its specific design to target people like Zhan Zhao. For individuals like him, the lives of commoners are more valuable than their own. If he wants to cross the West Bridge Ferry, he must traverse the Eye Charm Array. The poison of the array will inevitably react with the ‘One Glance Bond’ in his body. Those trapped within the array won’t have a chance to survive. If he retreats from the ferry, more reinforcements will soon arrive. And even without them, Mo Zhenren could use the lives of the trapped civilians as leverage. Truly, this is an excellent strategy.”
The Iron Blood Guard leader frowned. “But Mo Zhenren didn’t anticipate Zhan Zhao using this method to break the Eye Charm Array. Once all the trapped civilians escape his control, Zhan Zhao can still rely on his Crane Ascends to the Heavens technique to cross the ferry. At that point, it would be no different from releasing a tiger back into the mountains.”
Zhong Xiong nodded slowly. “I imagine Mo Zhenren has already considered that possibility.”
A strange expression flickered in Zhong Xiong’s eyes. He continued, “If Zhan Zhao intends to rescue everyone from the array, this final flagpole cannot break.”
His statement was suddenly interrupted by the innocent voice of a child.
“Mom! Mom! Grandpa and the others are leaving—come with us quickly! If the man in black can’t hold out, that bad guy will come back!”
Beside the child stood a woman, her eyes fixed nervously ahead. Without looking back, she replied absentmindedly, “You go with Grandpa. I’ll wait here for Xiao Mao.”
Zhong Xiong glanced over and realized that, amidst the frenzied battle, only one person remained in the Eye Charm Array—a child, struck dumb with terror, unable to speak.
Zhan Zhao let out a long, ringing laugh. The flag unfurled and swept upward, his right hand driving his sword to once again repel Mo Dao. With a wave of his left hand, Zhan Zhao propelled himself upward into the air.
Their movements crossed like streaks of light!
In that moment, the child’s small body was caught up in the flag, lifting him out of the Eye Charm Array.
But just as this daring rescue unfolded, golden glimmers flashed in the air. The dazzling brilliance of Apricot Blossom Rain bore down relentlessly on the child. Suspended in midair, the boy had no way to avoid it.
His mother couldn’t suppress a cry of terror.
In the nick of time, the flagpole suddenly shattered!
In an instant, the thin pole splintered into dozens of shards of varying lengths. The sudden loss of force caused the child’s body to plummet, but this unexpected descent miraculously allowed him to evade the deadly Apricot Blossom Rain entirely.
“That was the final flag.”
With it, Zhan Zhao saved the child. That last flag finally rescued the last person.
Now, all that remained in his hands was his sword—a radiant, shining blade like autumn water.
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