Chapter 112: Wounded

Jiang Puti did not look back, nor was there any room to do so. Regardless of the outcome, their fate would likely be defined by a single word: death.

If he could inflict harm upon the enemy before he died, thereby reducing the casualties among the righteous disciples, why not do it? He had no grand ambitions; he possessed only one conviction: to protect his sister and ensure she did not suffer the slightest harm. That was what a man ought to do. He lunged with a fist toward Qian Hui, but she merely offered a cold, mocking smile, dodging with graceful ease. She drove a switchblade into his arm like a bolt of lightning before darting away.

To compete with Jiang Puti in brute strength was unwise, so Qian Hui intended to break him down bit by bit. Like a raging lion, Jiang Puti, drenched in blood, exhausted his strength to attack her. However, Qian Hui’s prowess far exceeded his, and she refused to engage him head-on. After retreating several meters, she pulled a yellow talisman from her robes and chuckled.

"Heaven and Earth without limit, power of Wood, bind his body—Command!"

The talisman slammed onto Jiang Puti and shattered, transforming into emerald vines that wrapped tightly around him. These vines were covered in small, inverted triangular thorns that shimmered with a purple hue, clearly indicating they were laced with lethal poison. No sooner had the vines coiled around him than he collapsed to the ground with a thud, his life hanging in the balance.

Jiu'er had been locked in a struggle of pure force against the hulking puppet. Though they appeared evenly matched, Jiu'er was at a disadvantage; the opponent possessed no consciousness and knew only how to attack, feeling no pain even as its body was battered and broken. Zhang Shouzhen’s Green Dragon Blade of Exorcism shattered repeatedly against those dark, heavy fists, unable to hold back the onslaught.

"Ah..."

A cry of pain echoed from below. Zhang Shouzhen looked down to see Jiang Mingyue kneeling beside his physical body. A switchblade was embedded in her shoulder, blood gushing from the wound, just before Qian Hui kicked her away. Above his physical body, however, hovered an ancient, rustic mirror, emitting a black-and-white Taiji diagram that shielded his vessel. Despite Qian Hui’s relentless assault with talismans, the Taiji diagram flickered but refused to dissipate.

That Jiang Mingyue had used such a treasure to protect his body while leaving herself defenseless—even suffering a stab wound—stung Zhang Shouzhen deeply. Consumed by fury, he let out a roar toward the heavens!

"It seems I must kill you little girl after all. Only when you die will this treasure cease!"

Qian Hui’s expression turned savage as she moved toward Jiang Mingyue. Zhang Shouzhen, ignoring his struggle with Xin Quan, leaped down and returned his soul to his body.

Down below, Zhang Shouzhen snapped his eyes open. He thrust his broken sword toward Qian Hui, piercing through her palm. Shocked and enraged, she scrambled backward; she had never expected Zhang Shouzhen to return to his body so suddenly and strike while she was off guard.

However, Zhang Shouzhen was still too inexperienced; he had only wounded her hand, not her heart.

Xin Quan glanced coldly at Zhang Shouzhen and flicked a yellow talisman. It exploded in mid-air, transforming into a bolt of black lightning that shot toward his chest. The speed was so great that he had no time to dodge.

"Boom!"

Zhang Shouzhen leaned slightly, but the black lightning struck his shoulder. The smell of burnt flesh filled the air as his shoulder was reduced to a bloody mess, the skin scorched away. He collapsed to the ground, staring at Xin Quan with bitter resentment before locking his gaze on Jiu'er.

"Jiu'er, run! Run away! Avenge me one day!"

Jiu'er shuddered but ignored the command. She reached for the Yin-Yang Umbrella on her back and hurled it toward Zhang Shouzhen. The umbrella unfurled in mid-air, and a dense shroud of ghost energy formed a light screen, enveloping them both. Jiu'er let out a sharp, low growl. Enduring a blow from the puppet that dislocated her shoulder—a hit that would have shattered the body of any ordinary person—she stared at the creature with crimson eyes, grabbed its head, and squeezed with all her might.

"Boom!"

The head exploded, and the hulking puppet fell to the ground, reduced to a wooden doll as it began to burn.

Jiu'er limped toward Xin Quan, radiating killing intent, showing not a hint of fear. Zhang Shouzhen was stunned; Xin Quan was an elder of the Heavenly Demon Sect, and even a casual puppet of his possessed such immense power. Xin Quan himself was formidable beyond measure. How could Jiu'er, a mere mid-level Iron Corpse, stand a chance?

"Jiu'er, come back!"

Zhang Shouzhen struggled to his feet, though one arm had gone numb. As he spoke, he vomited a mouthful of blood, swaying as if he might fall at any moment.

"A mere Iron Corpse, yet quite capable, it seems."

Xin Quan’s expression remained unchanged. He flicked his hand again, and a dense swarm of yellow talismans flew out, each transforming into black lightning as they surged toward Jiu'er.

"Xiao Ling, leave me! Go save your master!"

Zhang Shouzhen looked up at the Yin-Yang Umbrella above. The umbrella wobbled, and a childlike voice piped up, "I can't. Master told me to protect you."

"Boom!"

The black lightning detonated upon Jiu'er. Her body turned pitch black, her skin shredded, and she collapsed. Zhang Shouzhen’s heart felt as though it were being seared; he coughed up more blood, his body trembling violently. He scanned the area—few were left standing.

The Yin-Yang Umbrella flew down and landed beside Jiu'er, instantly enveloping her in dense ghost energy.

"Speak! What is your relationship with the Li family? Where did you get that Taiqing Lightning Talisman!"

Seeing the umbrella fly away, Qian Hui walked over to Zhang Shouzhen and struck him across the face. His cheek swelled instantly, leaving him dizzy. Qian Hui grabbed him by the throat and hoisted him into the air. Looking at the remaining righteous disciples, she shrieked, "Speak! Whoever knows his connection to the Li family, I will spare his life!"

Aside from Jiu'er, who here knew Zhang Shouzhen’s true identity? The righteous disciples glared at Qian Hui with intense fury.

"Cough... Senior Xin Quan, you have violated the agreement. Was it not settled that once we broke the Nine-Direction Ghost Child Soul-Seizing Array, your evil sect would withdraw from Di Long High School? What is the meaning of this? Do you intend to start a war with the righteous path?"

Jiang Mingyue clutched her shoulder wound. She had not pulled out the switchblade, knowing that doing so would only cause more blood loss.

Xin Quan paused, thought for a moment, and then grinned. "Yes, you are quite right. We do not wish to start a war with the righteous path. And I have not violated the agreement, have I? Since you broke the formation, have I killed a single righteous disciple? Taking a few things is hardly excessive."

"Then how do you explain Qian Hui’s actions? Tell her to let Shouzhen go!"

Jiang Mingyue glared at Qian Hui with her wide eyes.

"Qian Hui is not a disciple of our Heavenly Demon Sect, so I have no control over her. She belongs to the Qian family, and the Qian family and the Li family are blood enemies."

Xin Quan waved his hand and chuckled. He had only wounded the righteous disciples, not taken their lives, so he had not broken the agreement. Besides, the rules had never forbidden hurting people or seizing property.

"You have quite the audacity. Is he someone you can harm?"

An incredibly cold voice approached from the distance. A shimmering silver hand pierced through Qian Hui’s chest from behind, clutching her beating heart. There was not a drop of blood on that silver hand. With a single squeeze, the heart was crushed to pulp. By the time she realized what had happened, she was already dead.