Selfless and fearless
Chapter Sixty-Seven: Sacrificing One's Life
“Little girl,” the man in the black robe suddenly said, “if you don’t move aside, you’ll die along with my traitorous disciple.”
He said this in a very sarcastic tone, even raising his voice. His shrill voice sounded somewhat ridiculous, but with the "drug man" approaching step by step, I didn't feel like laughing at all.
I gripped the blood-stained longsword in my hand even tighter, my palms sweating profusely. The blade pointed diagonally at the bluestone slab, its cold light reflecting off my tense face. Only one thought remained in my mind: I must not retreat! Mr. Tao was still behind me; if I retreated, he would have no way out.
Upon seeing this, the man in the black robe chuckled inappropriately. His laughter sounded like the hooting of a night owl, so piercing that it sent chills down one's spine: "Fine, little girl, if I tear you apart, it will be Dong Chu repaying the debt it owes me, even if it's just a small amount... Let me, this child, pull out your teeth and tear your mouth apart first!"
Before I could finish speaking, the "drug man" suddenly let out a hoarse growl, and its massive body lunged at me! It was much faster than I had imagined, and the stench it brought with it hit me in the face. Its dark eye sockets and gleaming white teeth and bones magnified in front of me in an instant, as if it would devour me in the next second.
My heart tightened; I knew I couldn't take it head-on. I pushed off with my feet, using the slippery surface of the tiles to slide quickly to the side and backward. The "Medicine Man's" large, fan-like hand grazed my sleeve and slammed onto the ground with a dull thud, cracking several spiderweb-like fissures into the bluestone slab!
What astonishing strength! I was horrified; my hand trembled from the impact, and my arm was still shaking uncontrollably. Before I could regain my footing, the "drug man" had stiffly turned around, his other hand sweeping out like an iron whip. I had no choice but to duck again, and simultaneously swung my long sword upwards, aiming with all my might at its elbow joint—perhaps that would work?
"when!"
A deafening clang of metal clashing echoed through the courtyard. The blade seemed to strike ancient iron, and the immense recoil surged through the blade. My already injured hands could no longer withstand the force; the longsword flew from my grasp, spinning in the air before crashing down several steps away with a clang, embedding itself in a crack in the paving stones with a buzzing sound.
It’s over!
I froze, watching as the "drug man's" empty eye sockets locked onto me once more. His massive fist was raised high, dark red bloodstains clinging to his fingers, the stench of decay almost suffocating me. Just then, at this critical moment, a cold, sharp shout suddenly boomed like thunder:
"Monster! I am your opponent!"
A figure moved with lightning speed, carving a path through the fierce swordplay—it was Yuanzi! The curved blade in her hand gleamed with a cold light, and with the momentum of her charge, she drew a bright arc, the blade as precise as if it had been tempered by a cold star, slashing straight at the "medicine man's" knee!
"when!"
The moment the blade struck the "drug man's" joint, sparks flew half a foot high. The kite's wrist strength was astonishing; the blade actually embedded itself in the flesh of the "drug man's" knee, causing the massive creature to abruptly halt its movements, its knee sinking uncontrollably.
The "Drug Man" let out a furious growl, its empty hand lunging towards the Iris. The Iris reacted swiftly, leaping backward and landing steadily beside me, her curved blade still gripped tightly, her dark green eyes fixed on the "Drug Man."
I lunged forward, gripped the knife again, my chest heaving violently. Only then did I have a chance to glance at Lan Feiyu—although she hadn't yet escaped her entanglement, she was now a little closer to me.
In that instant, the man in the black robe's expression darkened, and he raised his hand, letting out another sharp whistle. The "medicine man" seemed to be infused with new power, and lunged at us once more.
With gritted teeth, Yuanzi charged out again, attempting to slash at the "drug man's" joints once more. However, the "drug man" seemed to have become alert, and his movements were even faster than before. Before I could even see his movements clearly, Yuanzi was forced to jump back to dodge. As soon as she regained her footing, she was forced to the side by the "drug man," putting her in grave danger.
Just as I was about to draw my knife and rush forward to help, Mr. Tao's weak but clear voice suddenly came from behind me: "Stab its nape! There's a piece of cartilage at the base of the 'medicine man's' skull! It's a vital spot that wasn't hardened during the refining process!"
I turned around abruptly and saw Mr. Tao propping himself up slightly on his elbows. Blood was still trickling from the corner of his mouth, but his finger was pointed firmly at the back of the "drug man's" neck: "Its eye sockets and joints can be injured, but not killed! Only that piece of cartilage... is the fatal spot!"
Before she could finish speaking, a muffled thud came from ahead. Yuanzi had been forced back by the "medicine man's" punch, her back nearly slamming into a pillar, her clothes fluttering in the wind. The monster pressed closer, its massive body like an impenetrable black wall, pinning Yuanzi down on the veranda. Its broad back was taut, revealing not even the slightest opening to strike her soft skin.
My heart leaped into my throat. Mr. Tao said there was only one chance, but between me and the "drug man" were Xie Kun's close associates, who were locked in a fierce battle. They parried with their knives, and the crisp sound of the blades clashing formed a dense net that made it impossible for anyone to pass through easily.
Just as I was sweating profusely and frantically searching for a breakthrough in the chaotic battle, a clear shout suddenly pierced the noise, carrying a do-or-die determination:
"Xi'er, let's go!"
It's Lan Feiyu!
I turned sharply in the direction of the sound and saw her, disregarding her own safety, forcefully ramming her injured right shoulder into an opponent in front of her! The man, caught off guard, stumbled, creating a narrow passage for me, barely wide enough for one person to pass. But Lan Feiyu herself, due to the violent impact, instantly turned deathly pale, staggered, and another enemy immediately seized the opportunity, his curved blade aimed straight at her face!
"Yu'er!" I exclaimed in surprise, and without thinking, I rushed over to help her out of the predicament.
"Don't worry about me! Go now!" she roared with all her might, her voice trembling slightly from exhaustion, but her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, like a burning flame, full of unquestionable trust and urging.
At that moment, I felt a surge of heat in my chest, and all my hesitation and fear vanished in the roar. I gritted my teeth, channeled all my strength into my legs, my fingertips turning white from gripping the knife hilt so tightly, and like an arrow released from a bow, I charged recklessly towards the massive, unguarded back of the "medicine man," following the path of life that Lan Feiyu had cleared for me with her body!
The moment I started my charge, the man in the black robe pierced the night sky with his sharp whistle. He had clearly sensed my intention; the whistle was urgent, like a death knell!
The "drug man" shuddered, his stiff neck suddenly snapping back, and his large hand, carrying a foul stench, slapped towards my face! My heart tightened, and I abruptly changed direction, using the momentum to slide half a foot to the side, barely grazing the hand that whistled through the air; my fingertips could even touch the rough flesh of the "drug man's" palm.
Now!
I gripped the long knife tightly, twisted my wrist, and stabbed down along the curve of the "medicine man's" neck—with a "splat," the blade precisely pierced the protruding cartilage, and dark red blood instantly splattered onto the back of my hand, scalding hot.
...That was still a living thing...
The thought had barely crossed my mind when I heard the "medicine man" unleash a deafening roar. His massive body trembled violently, and his hand, which had been reaching for me, missed its mark, but still managed to strike my side with its remaining force. I felt an immense force strike me, and my body flew out like a kite with a broken string, my back slamming heavily onto the bluestone slab with a dull thud, as if my internal organs had shifted.
The longsword slipped from my hand and fell to the side. My vision blurred, and the sounds of the chaotic battle and the screams of the "medicine man" became indistinct. In a daze, I saw the "medicine man" stagger and fall heavily to the ground, where he remained motionless.
My body felt as heavy as lead. I wanted to turn around and look at Lan Feiyu, but I didn't even have the strength. The shadow in front of me grew thicker and thicker until I was completely enveloped in darkness.
I don't know how much time passed. It felt like I was floating in a bottomless, dark body of water, my limbs being pulled down by an invisible force, even my breath carrying the icy chill of the water. After struggling for a long time, a faint sense of awareness finally surfaced. At first, I heard a blurry buzzing in my ears, like countless flying insects fluttering their wings nearby, then it gradually became clearer, turning into suppressed, extremely soft sobs. The crying was intermittent, mixed with the occasional sound of wind passing by the window, as fine and fragmented as rain pattering on withered lotus leaves, or like cotton wool soaked in water, wrapped in an unyielding sorrow, slowly seeping into my heart.
I struggled to pry open my heavy eyelids. As soon as my eyes were slightly open, blinding light flooded in, making me squint instinctively, and tears uncontrollably spilled from the corners of my eyes. After a while, my vision slowly focused, and a tear-streaked face came into view—it was Lan Feiyu.
She sat by my bedside, half-leaning over, her elbows propped on the edge of the bed, her palm gently resting on the back of my hand that was exposed outside the covers. Her eyes were swollen like walnuts, her long eyelashes were wet with tears, stuck together, and a crystal teardrop clung to the tip, about to roll off with the slightest tremor. Traces of tears covered her face, some already dried, leaving faint marks, others still glistening. When she saw me open my eyes, she froze for a moment, then her usually spirited eyes suddenly burst with an indescribable joy, but this joy was quickly overwhelmed by newly gushing tears.
"Xi'er...you're finally awake!" Her voice was still hoarse, choked with sobs from crying. Her fingertips trembled slightly as she stroked my cheek, her movements as gentle as if afraid of breaking fragile porcelain. "You've been unconscious for a whole day and night, thank goodness...thank goodness..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but gripped my hand tighter, tears dripping from her chin onto the back of my hand, warm to the touch.
I looked at Lan Feiyu's reddened eyes, wanting to speak, but found it difficult to even move my lips. I could only stare at her, my eyes filled with unspoken questions—How was the melee? Was the man in the black robe captured? Are Mr. Tao and Yuanzi alright?
Lan Feiyu seemed to see through the anxiety in my eyes. She gently wiped away the tears on my cheek, her fingertips brushing against my skin with a soft touch. Her voice softened even more, as if she were soothing a frightened child: "Xi'er, don't worry, everything is alright. Your brother... the reinforcements from King Xinan have arrived..."
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