Chapter 84: Your Whole Family Are Enchantresses

After the mighty blow, the sword saint’s phantom dissipated instantly. Everyone was stunned by such a terrifying strike, and only when Ji Huo finally could hold on no longer—spitting out a mouthful of blood—did they come to their senses.

The two remaining first-rank experts’ eyes lit up. They immediately realized that Ji Huo had somehow suffered a grave injury and could barely suppress it; his aura was plummeting uncontrollably. Without hesitation, the two gathered all their inner strength and launched a combined attack.

Ji Huo, now gravely weakened, tried to dodge, but in that instant, a startled cry came from behind. Turning his head, he saw Xia Ningshang hiding among the trees, fear stark on her face. If he dodged, the girl would certainly be struck. Judging by her current aura, she was barely of the fifth or sixth rank.

His gaze met Xia Ningshang’s, a silent exchange, nothing spoken. In the next moment, without the slightest hesitation, Ji Huo turned and punched out with his right hand. The forces collided; a violent gale roared as the energies exploded.

Ji Huo staggered, his injuries worsening, and the two attackers closed in. One swung a broadsword down with deadly force.

“Clang!”

The blade struck his left hand, then hacked into his shoulder, blood pouring freely. Ji Huo grabbed the broadsword, and before the stunned attacker could react, smashed his palm against the man’s crown, shattering his skull.

At that instant, another sword thrust toward Ji Huo. His right hand shot out, seizing the blade and twisting—shattering it in his grip. With a burst of inner power, the fragments flew backward, piercing the second assailant.

“What—!” The first-rank master was aghast. Even gravely wounded, this man could crush his treasured sword with his bare hand? Was his body that of a monster?

Barely dodging the flying shards, fear now gripped him. But at that moment Ji Huo’s right hand lashed out again—fingers curled like talons—grabbing at him.

“Star-Absorbing Hand!”

His body froze, paralyzed, and a fist met him head-on; death was instant.

“Hahaha! Though wounded, I, Ji Huo, am not so easily matched by the likes of you!”

Ji Huo laughed heartily, blood soaking him, the wound at his chest gushing like a fountain. Yet his disdainful, dominating posture deeply unsettled all the hidden martial artists nearby, making none dare act rashly.

Then, Ji Huo’s eyes closed and he collapsed straight to the ground.

Before he could hit the earth, Xia Ningshang burst from the bushes, caught him in her arms, hefted him onto her back, and disappeared into the darkness.

Several breaths passed before anyone reacted.

“After them! Ji Huo is wounded and near death!”

“If we don’t kill him now, when will we?”

In an instant the crowd surged through the darkness, madly pursuing their quarry.

Carrying Ji Huo, Xia Ningshang soon changed direction, no longer heading for the edge of Tianjue Mountain.

Everyone knew Ji Huo was the son of the Flying Bear, and the White Tiger Army guarded Tianjue Mountain’s boundary. If he reached the border, the White Tiger soldiers would intervene. It was two days’ journey from here to the edge—everyone would assume they were making for the army, and would hunt them along the way. With Ji Huo now critically injured and unconscious, and Xia Ningshang herself not yet fully recovered, their chances of survival were slim. Better to hide in the depths of the Tianjue Mountains.

“Damn it! I’m wounded, not crippled—why did you step in for me?”

Xia Ningshang sped through the darkness, eyes cold, muttering under her breath, “You were stabbed and still tried to play the hero! You know I hate owing favors, so you dragged me into this on purpose! That’s it! You scheming scoundrel!”

Ji Huo’s blood soaked their backs, sticky and warm against her skin. Still, she cursed him as she ran, “Damn man! Damn man!”

“Enchantress! Put him down and I’ll spare your life!”

Two or three figures lunged from the shadows, blades raised for the kill.

“You’re the enchantress! Your whole family are enchantresses!” Xia Ningshang’s brows arched angrily. Cradling Ji Huo’s leg with her left hand to keep him from slipping, she seized a black short staff in her right. With a flick, she tapped the staff three times—the tip erupted with black energy, splitting into three streams that shot toward her attackers.

“Pfft!”

“Pfft!”

“Pfft!”

In an instant, the black energy pierced all three throats; without a sound, blood gushed, and their bodies fell lifeless.

“The Human Emperor’s Sword is over there!”

“After them!”

“I saw light!”

Xia Ningshang wasted no time, carrying Ji Huo deeper into the night. Her gaze dropped to Ji Huo’s waist, where the Human Emperor’s Sword shone with golden light, as clear as a firefly in the dark woods.

In a flash, more than a dozen people blocked their path ahead.

“Damn it! Even if most went for the mountain’s edge, plenty guessed I’d take this route. Or is the sword’s glow too obvious?”

Without pausing, Xia Ningshang charged forward with Ji Huo on her back.

“Stop, enchantress!”

“Wicked woman, if you don’t surrender the Human Emperor’s Sword, don’t blame us for being ruthless!”

They hadn’t even reached her, yet the crowd branded her an ‘enchantress’—so that, should she die, it would be seen as ridding the world of evil.

“Hold on tight!”

Xia Ningshang muttered, not expecting Ji Huo to hear. Yet as the words left her lips, Ji Huo—half conscious—tightened his grip around her slender neck, his ragged breath warm on her skin, making her shiver.

She stiffened, cheeks flushing. “You were awake all along, weren’t you? Always pretending to be so honest, but full of schemes—you’ve set me up!”

No answer came. After a moment’s silence, Xia Ningshang could feel the life slipping from the man on her back; he was on the verge of death, hardly in any state for mischief. Was it just instinct?

Taking a deep breath, she thought: since this fool’s hugging her, at least she needn’t worry about him falling. Even if he did, what was a little bruising compared to his wounds? It might even serve him right!

With that, she no longer hesitated. Gripping the short staff with both hands, she channeled black energy along its length, transforming it into a long, black spear. The weapon’s demonic aura was condensed and stable—unlike when Shi Ya wielded it and black smoke billowed everywhere—it looked no different from a spear of black iron, no hint of its true, sinister nature.

Leaping high, Xia Ningshang somersaulted through the air, the spear tracing an arc of profound movement. With a flicker, the energy gathered into slender, black dragon shapes.

Then, the black spear thrust forward!

A deep, guttural roar echoed as the spear vibrated violently. Dense black energy erupted from its shaft, swirling together to form an enormous dragon’s head, two or three meters tall. Its jaws gaped wide, revealing razor fangs, and its powerful claws tore at the air like a savage beast, lunging straight at the surrounding crowd.

“Watch out!”

“Aaah!”

Those in front were struck first, killed instantly, their life force sucked away by the black mist, leaving nothing but shriveled corpses. The survivors could only stare as the massive, ink-black dragon wound its way through the woods, vanishing in a blink. Trees along its path bent or snapped, the ground torn by its claws, leaving deep scars in the earth.

As the black dragon departed, its tail whipped up a storm, grass and leaves thrashing wildly.

“It drains blood and energy—her arts are demonic! She’s a sorceress for sure!”

“Spread the word—Ji Huo was rescued by a demoness, they’ve fled into the depths of Tianjue Mountain! Gather everyone and search the area!”