At the corner of the alley.
The curtain of rain was like a screen, making the night look even thicker.
Ji Ning's face was as pale as paper, covered in blood, as he stumbled forward in flight.
A bone-deep wound gouged his left shoulder, the flesh torn open, blood dripping down his arm into the muddy water—a horrifying sight.
His black sword was long gone, leaving only an empty scabbard swaying at his waist as he ran.
A figure trailed leisurely behind him like an old fox playing with its prey.
Luo Changming walked with his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes narrowing as he watched the stumbling figure ahead:
'Almost there... Once we pass the South Street Archway, we'll be in the Outer City. That's when I'll send you on your way...'
Ji Ning gritted his teeth, his feet feeling as heavy as lead, his heart sinking into an abyss of ice.
He could not run anymore.
The blood from his wound flowed faster, and his stamina was rapidly draining away in the rainy night.
Luo Changming behind him was like an insurmountable mountain, pressing down on him until he could barely breathe.
'Am I... going to die here?'
Just as the thought arose...
“Whoosh!”
From the side.
A figure tore through the curtain of rain, bursting out of the alley at thunderous speed!
The sudden turn of events instantly drew the attention of both Ji Ning and Luo Changming.
Shen Xiuhan's gaze swept past Ji Ning and locked onto Luo Changming in the shadows. Wild joy erupted in his eyes as he yelled at the top of his lungs:
“Lord Magistrate!”
The booming shout shattered the silence of the rainy night.
Luo Changming's face instantly turned as dark as a pot's bottom, and killing intent surged within him like a tide:
'The little beast... Is he that temporary retainer of the Ji family? Throwing his life away. Perfect, I'll slaughter you both together!'
Just as Luo Changming's murderous intent flared, he heard Shen Xiuhan roar in a rushed voice:
“Lord Magistrate, save me! Chenjian Dock has breached the city! Old Demon Duan is right behind me!”
“Hmm?”
Luo Changming's eyelids twitched. His eyes narrowed into thin slits as he peered warily into the depths of the alley Shen Xiuhan had come from.
“Thud, thud, thud...”
Leisurely footsteps cut through the curtain of rain as Duan Xiao stepped out of the dark alley, expressionless like a death god from the underworld.
Whoosh!
The moment he appeared.
Luo Changming spun around and darted into the depths of the alley without looking back, causing the joy that had just surfaced on Shen Xiuhan's face to instantly freeze.
Luo Changming...
He just ran away like that?
Duan Xiao stopped, a mocking smirk curling on his lips as his gaze turned icy:
“I don't know what method you used to lead me to them... but with your petty intellect, did you really think you could play the game of using a borrowed knife, or driving a tiger to devour a wolf?”
With that said,
Duan Xiao looked toward the deep alley where Luo Changming had fled, his voice carrying a cold chuckle:
“Rest assured, these two will absolutely not survive the night!”
The deep alley was dead silent, save for the sound of heavy rain pelting the cobblestones.
There was no response, but Shen Xiuhan already understood the deeper meaning behind it.
The moment Luo Changming saw Duan Xiao, he realized Shen Xiuhan's intention to use him against Duan Xiao.
Thus, the County Magistrate retreated without hesitation, leaving the stage to them.
This retreat was clean and decisive, but it also carried a hidden meaning:
'I will grant you, Duan Xiao, a favor by pretending you never entered the city tonight. In exchange, you must take action for me and eliminate Ji Ning as well!'
And Duan Xiao had clearly understood.
Thus, returning the favor, he threw that promise of “will not survive the night” into the empty alley.
The two Huajin experts did not exchange a single word or bow, yet within half a breath of meeting, they had tacitly sealed this deal.
Shen Xiuhan pursed his lips, fished out an elixir, and stuffed it into the weak Ji Ning's mouth, unable to help but sigh quietly:
“In the end... one must never underestimate the heroes of this world!”
Duan Xiao had obviously heard him. He smiled carelessly, stepping through the mud as he strolled toward them.
Shen Xiuhan took a deep breath, his Anjin force surging as he prepared to rise and fight to the death...
But his wrist was suddenly grabbed by a pale, icy hand!
In the muddy water, Ji Ning looked haggard, but his eyes shone with a terrifying light. He leaned close to Shen Xiuhan and whispered in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz:
“I have a spiritual embryo precious armor gifted by the Family Head, called the 『Mystic Tuo Armor』. Sealed inside is the precious light of a Tier Four Precious Beast, the 'Black Tuo Beast', which is enough to withstand a single strike from a Huajin expert. I'll block him. Whether you stay or run... is up to you!”
The torrential rain poured down like a waterfall, tearing his weak voice into near-audibility.
Shen Xiuhan's pupils shrank. He nodded slowly, then pulled the grounded Ji Ning up to support him.
Leaning on each other, they exchanged a glance, then turned to look at Duan Xiao, who stood ten paces away.
As if sensing the killing intent thickening in the air,
Duan Xiao stopped in his tracks.
He looked at them, intending to mock them for banding together like ants, but the faint, throbbing pain from the three severed fingers on his left hand made it impossible for him to laugh.
“Kill!”
Ji Ning roared. His body transformed into a black shadow as he trampled the puddles, lunging at Duan Xiao.
His right hand was raised high, his knuckles bulging. Carrying a resolve of burning his bridges, he struck ruthlessly at Duan Xiao's chest!
『Heart-Crushing Palm』!
“Overestimating yourself...”
Duan Xiao let out a cold snort through his nose and casually raised his right palm.
In an instant!
Thick, condensed, dark-yellow true qi erupted from his palm, carrying a shrill wind howl as it struck downward!
『Rock-Solid Mountain-Inquiring Palm: Ridge-Cleaving』!
The palms drew close!
The moment they were about to connect, a ruthless gleam flashed in Ji Ning's eyes, and he retracted his palm without hesitation!
At the same time, his clothes burst apart. The armor underneath suddenly erupted with dense gray light, transforming into a phantom beast shadow that lunged forward to meet Duan Xiao's palm strike head-on!
This near-suicidal behavior made Duan Xiao's vigilance spike.
His ears twitched slightly, and he instantly detected Shen Xiuhan lurking behind Ji Ning, waiting for an opportunity.
“Using someone as a shield for a desperate struggle...”
Duan Xiao's vigilance faded, a cruel sneer playing on his lips.
He no longer held back his right palm in the slightest. His true qi erupted violently as he struck down without mercy!
“Boom!”
The airwaves surged!
The curtain of rain within several yards of them was completely blown away!
The gray light protecting Ji Ning instantly cracked all over, then violently shattered!
He let out a muffled groan and spat a stream of blood as his body was sent flying. He crashed heavily into the brick wall of a nearby courtyard. With a loud crash, the bricks collapsed, burying him beneath them, his fate unknown!
And in the very next breath after Ji Ning was sent flying, Shen Xiuhan struck!
『Hanlin』 was like a furious dragon breaking free from its shackles, unleashing a sword hum loud enough to pierce clouds and shatter stone.
The tip of the sword swept through the wind and rain, pointing straight at Duan Xiao's throat!
“Struggling on your deathbed!”
Duan Xiao showed a look of disdain and once again raised his palm violently.
Earthy yellow light condensed in his palm like solid rock, forming a natural shield of true qi that slammed forward to meet the sword blade!
『Rock-Solid Mountain-Inquiring Palm: Monolith』!
The instant sword and palm collided!
A resonant hum rang out, and an blinding, indestructible white light suddenly shot out from the blade of 『Hanlin』!
The moment the white light touched the yellow light, it was like a hot knife through butter, shredding the dark-yellow true qi in Duan Xiao's palm to pieces!
The contempt on Duan Xiao's face instantly froze, turning into sheer horror. He was so shocked that his voice cracked as he spoke:
“Sword-glow?!”
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