Baili Wanwan raised her little head, a confident smile blooming on her face, her small dimples almost intoxicating. "Wanwan's water control is amazing!"
Before she finished speaking, Wanwan had already turned around and rushed back, her speed far exceeding that of her two older brothers.
When I came to my senses, only her voice was still echoing around me.
Wanwan rushed back home, the mountain wind at dawn stinging her cheeks and eyes, but her short, small legs refused to stop.
The wild grass along the mountain path was waist-high with sharp leaves. As Wanwan ran quickly, the grass cut through the leaves like tiny, swaying knives, leaving small, bloody cuts on her bare face and the back of her hands.
It's getting closer! It's getting closer!
Wanwan could already see the flickering firelight and hoarse voices not far away, and as they drew closer, she heard the sound of swords clashing.
At this moment, the small wound on Wanwan's calf, which was bleeding, stung painfully when the wind blew. Wanwan frowned and had no choice but to shuffle forward, one step at a time.
At this moment, Xiao Qi and his guards were back to back resisting the bandits' attack.
The bandits were all fierce-looking, each holding a large knife in one hand and a torch in the other. The torches, crackling in the wind, reflected their hideous and menacing faces, making them look like little devils in the mountains looking to capture someone and take them back to their lair.
The guard's sword was chipped, and there were some small scars on his face. He gripped the hilt tightly, pressed against Xiao Qi's back, and stood in a defensive stance with his legs in a horse stance, showing no fear.
Xiao Qi had no weapon, only a piece of green bamboo that had been sharpened into a point by his sword.
The lush green bamboo was full of life, but its tips dripped blood, and in the firelight, the crimson blood flowed down the noble bamboo.
At this point, both sides were clearly exhausted and stopped attacking, entering a phase of demonstration and observation, much like cats fighting.
The bandits surrounded the two men, circling around them, seemingly trying to confuse them.
Xiao Qi's hands were sweating from the intense fighting. He tore a piece of cloth from his clothes and wrapped it around his hand, gripping the green bamboo, which he used as a weapon, even tighter.
Seeing this, the bandits began to brandish their knives, preparing for an attack.
"superior!"
With a loud shout, the bearded man and several bandits around him immediately rushed towards Xiao Qi. Xiao Qi exerted force with his wrist, and Qingzhu seemed to come alive, nimbly striking down the bandit in front of him.
Seeing this, another thug swung his knife and chopped down. A crisp cracking sound rang out, and a section of the bamboo was instantly cut off. However, this action also removed the dulled tip, creating a sharper and more pointed edge.
Xiao Qi pushed forward with the momentum, and the tip of the green bamboo easily pierced into the muscle of the bandit.
"ah!"
The bandit clutched his bleeding wound and fell backward.
"Brother Xiao!"
The crisp, melodious sound pierced through the clash of swords and rushed into the ears of the master and servant who were fighting fiercely.
The guards and Xiao Qi turned their heads at the same time and saw Wanwan standing outside the encirclement, looking ready to rush in.
The crackling heatwave distorted her small, curved figure, and Xiao Qi thought he was seeing things for a moment when he saw her.
"Don't come any closer!!"
Xiao Qi and the guards shouted at the same time.
Seeing that the two were distracted, the other bandits thought they had an opportunity and hurriedly charged at them with their knives raised and shouting.
Just as they were only a foot away from the two men, a loud "thump" was heard, and the men who had just rushed forward were thrown away by an invisible force.
Xiao Qi looked up and saw a curved mermaid pearl floating in the air.
The bead was emitting a soft blue light, and its surface rippled with water patterns, as if there was a surging ocean inside.
Meanwhile, in the distance, Wanwan was stretching her little hand into the void, manipulating the mermaid pearl above her head.
The mermaid pearl sensed Wanwan's call, and the blue light became brighter and clearer. A jet of water surged out from it, like a vibrant dragon. After circling in the air for a while, it overturned all the bandits surrounding the two.
The bandits were puzzled, only feeling that an invisible force was protecting the two people in the encirclement. For a moment, they dared not approach, cautiously swinging their knives and retreating to a greater distance, but still refused to leave.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Wanwan rushed in and stood next to Xiao Qi.
Her small face was covered with tiny cuts from the plants she had run through. Xiao Qi's eyelids twitched when he saw it. "How did you get hurt?"
Wanwan touched her face inexplicably before realizing what was happening. She was a little surprised herself, then smiled brightly, "It's okay, Wanwan doesn't feel any pain."
The little girl laughed as if no one else was around, not as if she were in a circle of people, but as if she were enjoying the night view with Xiao Qi.
Xiao Qi sighed helplessly, not blaming her for acting rashly, but simply shielding her behind him, his defensive posture becoming even more tense.
"Stay behind me and don't make any sudden moves."
Xiao Qi gave instructions.
"good."
Wanwan agreed, but still took out a stream of water from the mermaid pearl and transformed it into a water dragon.
This action naturally did not escape Xiao Qi's notice. He looked back, shook his head silently, and then got back into character.
"I refuse to believe I can't handle a little brat!"
The bearded leader was both anxious and furious, his beard twitching with each movement. "Everyone, perk up! Whoever catches a few of them will be richly rewarded! Get them!"
Several bandits rushed forward in response. Xiao Qi gripped the green bamboo in his hand, about to fight them off one by one, when Wanwan suddenly pulled him behind her. With a quick grab of her small hand, a water dragon descended from the sky and carried the bandits into the air.
The bandits who were suddenly lifted into the air screamed in alarm, while the rest of the bandits stared wide-eyed at the struggling figures in the air, too shocked to move.
Seeing this, Wanwan loosened her grip again, and the water dragon also released its hold. The bandit in the air immediately rolled down like a boulder, collapsing to the ground in pain.
"What are you standing there for! Get them!"
Seeing his men hesitate and dare not step forward, the bearded man was instantly enraged. After shouting, he also raised his knife and charged towards Wanwan.
"Watch out!"
Xiao Qi lightly touched the ground with his toes, blocking in front of Wanwan. With a flick of his wrist, Qingzhu blocked the greatsword that was about to strike him down. With another movement, the bearded man was struck straight in the chest, staggering back a few steps and spitting out a pool of blood.
"Are you all useless?! Attack them all at once!"
The bearded man was furious, and blood flowed onto his beard, causing it to congeal into clumps.
The others looked at each other, still not daring to step forward. The bearded man, furious, clutched his chest and cursed, "Anyone who doesn't step forward will be executed right now!"
Upon hearing this, the crowd surged forward.
This time the speed was much faster. Wanwan controlled the water, the guards wielded the swords, and Xiao Qi resisted. Even with the three of them working together, they were quickly at a disadvantage.
Wanwan was physically weak and showed obvious signs of fatigue after a few rounds, but she could not just cower under Xiao Qi's protection.
She came back despite everything just to protect Brother Xiao!
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