Chapter 37 Protecting this priest who is not well-liked by everyone...
Jia Qianyang died soon after.
Jiang Liuyun didn't need to do anything; he simply released his grip, and Jia Qianyang's body fell to the ground like a rag doll.
A squad of Xuanjia cavalry surrounded Jiang Liuyun, their weapons all aimed at the people inside the encirclement, but not one of them stepped forward to strike.
They were somewhat afraid of the short knife in his hands; now that the knife was soaked with blood, the faint blue line on the blade had become even more eerie.
They had witnessed firsthand how highly skilled Jia Qianyang was in magic, yet he too died by this blade.
Jiang Liuyun was unaware of the Xuanjia Riders' fears; he only knew that even if they didn't come to kill him, he wouldn't live much longer. Drawing his heart's blood had exhausted his life force, and it was all in vain. He had never killed anyone in his life, and to be able to take one person with him before he died was already a great achievement.
The dagger slipped from Jiang Liuyun's hand.
Jiang Liuyun could no longer hold on and collapsed straight to the ground. The Xuanjia cavalry swarmed forward, wanting to seize the opportunity to kill him in one fell swoop.
In a corner where no one was watching, a hand picked up a knife from beside a pile of corpses.
"Let go of my father!"
The shout was clear and loud. The armored knights looked towards the source of the sound and saw a white-haired girl emerge from behind the firelight. She had a pair of strange golden eyes and a very pretty face. She was holding a woodcutter's knife that was completely disproportionate to her size, which was obviously something she had picked up. She fiercely declared war on the group of people.
"Otherwise, I'll kill you all!"
One person against a group of people.
The armored knights couldn't help but chuckle. One of the busybodies, seeing her serious expression, teased, "Little girl, an adult's sword is no joke. Be careful not to cut off your own hand."
Upon hearing this, the armored knights burst into laughter, thinking she was just a young girl who didn't know her place.
Unmoved by their sneers, Xiao Jiang charged into the encirclement of the Xuanjia knights, carrying her broadsword.
Seeing that she was truly overestimating herself and coming over there, the soldiers no longer held back. Their orders were to eliminate all traces of her, leaving no one alive. Now that the person who gave the orders was dead, killing one more little girl or one less made no difference. But if someone insisted on courting death, they wouldn't show mercy just because of her pretty face.
A black-armored knight swung his sword at her, a strike powerful enough to cut an adult in two. But she was incredibly fast, managing to dodge the blow just before it reached her face. After dodging, she immediately swung her sword back, severing the soldier's sword-wielding hand.
Seeing that she was indeed quite capable, the remaining armored knights dared not be negligent any longer. Several of them rushed forward and simultaneously brandished their swords at her.
Xiao Jiang used the wood-chopping knife she had picked up to block in front of her. The force of several military knives struck her knife at the same time, but she managed to catch it. For a moment, the two sides were evenly matched.
Only then did the Xuanjia cavalry truly understand the power of the white-haired girl before them. Several elite soldiers from military backgrounds exerted their strength at the same time, yet they could not make their swords advance an inch further!
Xiao Jiang held the knife firmly against the wall, the blades striking each other with a continuous clanging sound. Several nicks gradually appeared on her rough woodcutter's knife, and if the stalemate continued, the knife would probably break.
"Ugh—"
The white-haired girl let out a roar, and with a burst of strength, she knocked several armored knights to the ground.
She didn't take the opportunity to kill the soldiers on the ground, but instead walked towards the people behind them.
Seeing that she made no move, the armored knights, who thought they were about to die, immediately scattered and fled. They were no match for her, and no one dared to overestimate themselves and rush forward again.
The wood-chopping knife was set aside, and Xiao Jiang knelt beside Jiang Liuyun.
"Father," Xiao Jiang called out, but Jiang Liuyun did not respond.
She was terrified and shook Jiang Liuyun's body desperately, "Father, what's wrong with you? Don't scare me, how could this happen?"
Jiang Liuyun was shaken so badly that he coughed up blood. He finally regained some consciousness, slowly opened his eyes, saw his daughter in front of him, and tried his best to force a smile at her.
"Didn't I tell you to leave...? Why did you still come?"
He gave her a potion of bewitching herbs to prevent her from coming to the festival. He sent Qingdai to find her and take her out, but she still came.
Tears welled up in Xiao Jiang's eyes, and she sobbed, "I'm sorry... It's all my fault. I'm the one who ruined Liyue Village. I'm the one who deserves to die."
"So... Qingdai told you everything." Jiang Liuyun weakly raised his hand and lightly brushed it across her face, trying to wipe away her tears. "It's not your fault, it's all... fate..."
If Heaven intends to destroy Liyue Village, no one can stop it.
Xiao Jiang shook his head and picked up Jiang Liuyun in his arms. "No, you won't die. I'll take you to see a witch doctor right now. They will definitely heal you."
Jiang Liuyun waved his hand. There was no shaman left. The people from the temple were all at the ceremony and were probably in grave danger. Besides, in terms of medical skills, he was the best shaman in the village.
He knew he was about to die.
"I'm not leaving... Dad wants to say a few last words to you."
Jiang Liuyun grasped Xiao Jiang's hand and spoke haltingly.
“After I came back, I cast a divination for you… The divination said… you are destined to die.”
"Father originally thought that as long as the priest's blood could be used to summon the gods, Liyue Village would be able to regain their protection."
Just as the legend has been passed down through generations, the mirror was used to summon the gods, who repaired the sky, and Liyue Village returned to peace, and his daughter would not die.
Xiao Jiang looked at his heart, where the blood had already soaked through her priestess robes, but it wasn't visible because of the robes' dark color. She opened her palms and found them covered in blood.
"But it's no use... God has long forgotten... forgotten..."
"Father is selfish. Father can't save everyone. In the end... he can only let Qingdai take you and escape..."
"You need to escape into the mountains and forests... they won't be able to catch you."
"You must live... live to leave Liyue Village... and then forget all of this..."
Xiao Jiang forced back her sobs and shook her head. "No, there must be a way."
She racked her brains and finally remembered the merman who had once shielded her from an attack in the mine. He possessed extraordinary spiritual power and would surely have a way.
But her right little finger remained motionless, no matter how she called out to it, it was as if no contract had ever been formed there.
She didn't wait any longer, picked up Jiang Liuyun, and said, "Let's go together."
“Go…escape to the mountains and forests…” Jiang Liuyun’s voice was already barely a whisper.
Her vision blurred by tears, she gritted her teeth, supported Jiang Liuyun on her back with one hand, and held the wood-chopping knife in the other.
If anyone tries to stop her, she will kill them; if a corpse lies in her path, she will step over it.
But suddenly she saw a hand droop down. She was stunned for a moment and realized what had happened. Jiang Liuyun slid down from behind her uncontrollably.
Xiao Jiang laid Jiang Liuyun flat on the ground and, trembling, extended a finger to place on the tip of his nose.
He was completely lifeless.
"Father! Father—"
No one responded to her anymore.
Xiao Jiang knelt on the ground, her breath trembling. She looked up at the distance, a huge surge of anger engulfing her, almost piercing her chest.
On the brightly lit sacrificial site, almost all the able-bodied adults in Liyue Village who could fight had been killed. The remaining elderly, women, and children were herded into a circle by the Xuanjia cavalry like livestock, awaiting the next round of slaughter.
On what grounds?
By what right do they trample on her homeland? By treating her people like livestock?
The law of the jungle prevails, but does that mean the weak don't deserve to live?
Xiao Jiang stood up, leaning on his machete, and walked step by step toward the encirclement of the Xuanjia cavalry.
She doesn't remember how many people she hurt; she just kept swinging her knife, slashing horizontally, vertically, and sideways...
The already chipped and nicked wood-chopping knife was further chipped and dulled by her hacking. Someone's flesh was torn from the nicks and hung on the blade, blood trickling down in streams. Never before had this farmer's wood-chopping knife stained with so much blood.
Soldiers in black surrounded her like a tide, and the white-haired girl was like a tiny white dot among them. But this white dot carved out her own space, and no matter how turbulent the blackness was, it could not drown her.
Gradually, no one dared to approach her anymore.
They held only knives, staring menacingly at the person in the encirclement—the girl's face was covered in blood, her white hair and burlap clothes were all stained red with blood, making it impossible to tell whether it was hers or someone else's.
Holding that machete, she swung it swiftly and decisively, with unstoppable force, cutting down their soldiers one by one.
The girl who suddenly barged in was like a monster that fell from the sky, a ferocious and inhuman beast. The cold cruelty in her eyes instilled fear in even these seasoned soldiers.
However, if she showed even the slightest weakness or fear, they would pounce on her and attack in droves. The most elite army of the Great Yong Dynasty was like well-trained wild beasts; between beasts, only mutual tearing remained.
Xiao Jiang stood with her sword drawn before the last of her clansmen. If any of the armored knights dared to approach them again, she would mercilessly slash them down. Her mind was a complete mess; all she could think about was wielding her sword and protecting those behind her.
The cries behind them ceased, and the elderly, women, and children of Liyue Village looked at the young girl before them. Their chieftain was dead, their high priest was dead, and their bravest warriors were dead… This priestess, who was usually disliked, had become their last protector. Her slender figure was ruffled by the wind, but her back stood firm like an unyielding mountain.
A cool breeze swept by, clearing Xiao Jiang's overheated mind and body.
Someone was walking towards her from behind.
"Jiang Yuhuo, you are the most amazing person I have ever met."
Wu Hu, holding a knife, walked up to Xiao Jiang and stopped. He imitated Xiao Jiang's posture, holding the knife horizontally in front of him and looking straight ahead.
"But when it comes to protecting Liyue Village, I will not lose to you."
Xiao Jiang's eyes flickered slightly, and a hint of a smile finally appeared in them.
"Okay, I believe you."
More young people emerged from the crowd and stood beside Xiao Jiang, armed with weapons of varying lengths, using these seemingly playful weapons to protect their last remaining family members. They, too, should be brave warriors, fearless and undaunted, like her, not livestock awaiting slaughter, surrendering without resistance.
The armored knights looked at each other, moved by the group of young men who were putting up a stubborn resistance. They had all been young themselves and understood the value of youthful courage.
The leader of the Xuanjia cavalry watched the battlefield from his horse, but did not give the order to launch the final attack for a long time.
His Highness the Crown Prince never issued an order to kill them all. The Imperial Preceptor who ordered the execution of everyone in Liyue Village is dead. They do not necessarily have to kill all of them. When the officials and people of Dayong take over this land in the future, these people will gradually become subjects of Dayong.
While they were hesitating, the leader of the Xuanjia Cavalry suddenly changed his expression.
He could see far from his horse, and after he saw the crowd, a headless corpse slowly stood up.
The "corpse" groped around, picked up a head from the ground with both hands, and pressed it against its own neck. The head moved slightly, then became firmly fixed to the severed neck of the "corpse," with only a clean wound indicating that it had been split in two.
The "corpse" with a head slowly walked towards the crowd.
The leader of the Xuanjia cavalry looked closely and saw that the "corpse" was the chief of Liyue Village who had been killed earlier.
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