“Wu Shen, let’s pretend to fight!”
As Lin Yun spoke, he swung his sword toward Wu Shen, suppressing his strength completely to avoid harming him.
By fighting Wu Shen now, Lin Yun could protect him.
Wu Shen snapped back to reality, meeting Lin Yun’s ‘attack’.
“Lin Yun, how… how could you be with the Heavenly Fire Temple!” Wu Shen, parrying the blow, seemed incredulous.
Lin Yun was momentarily at a loss for words.
Wu Shen’s eyes turned bloodshot, and he growled through gritted teeth, “Lin Yun, do you know the Heavenly Fire Temple is notorious for its evil deeds? Even though I’m not from the Northern Flame Region, I’ve heard of their infamy! Why are you serving them? Why are you aiding their tyranny? This isn’t like you!”
Back when they roamed the borders together, Wu Shen had a very positive impression of Lin Yun, believing him to be a righteous man.
But now, Wu Shen’s perception of Lin Yun was utterly shattered.
“Wu Shen, in the martial world, sometimes we have no choice…” Lin Yun shook his head weakly.
“Lin Yun, my friends, my master, they’re all being slaughtered by your Heavenly Fire Temple! Do you know what kind of grudge this creates for me? Should I still call you brother, or treat you as an enemy?” Wu Shen roared at Lin Yun, tears welling in his eyes.
Lin Yun knew Wu Shen was a man of great loyalty and deep bonds.
If Lin Yun were in his place, watching his friends and master being killed while powerless to resist, he too would go mad with rage.
Lin Yun opened his mouth to speak but found no words.
He desperately wanted to help Wu Shen reverse this tragedy, but in this situation, Lin Yun was utterly powerless to save Thunder Manor’s people.
The battle raged on around them, blood flowing freely across Thunder Manor.
At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before Thunder Manor’s people were completely wiped out.
Some tried to flee, but many death warriors from the Heavenly Fire Temple pursued and killed them all.
“Damn it! Damn it!” Lin Yun cursed through clenched teeth, his emotions suppressed to the breaking point.
How did it come to this?
How did he end up in this position?
Lin Yun knew that pretending to fight Wu Shen would keep others from targeting him, offering temporary protection, but this was only a fleeting reprieve.
Once most of Thunder Manor’s people were dead and Wu Shen remained alive, idle death warriors seeking targets would come for him.
Lin Yun could order the Cold Fiend Army’s death warriors not to interfere, but he had no authority over the other two teams.
What could he do?
Though Lin Yun hadn’t known Wu Shen for long, their time fighting side by side had made them brothers-in-arms.
Lin Yun couldn’t stand by and watch him die.
But even if Lin Yun let him escape, other death warriors would see someone fleeing and pursue to kill.
“Wu Shen, let’s fight while retreating. I’ll find a way to cover your escape!” Lin Yun said.
“Lin Yun, don’t pretend to care. There’s no good in the Heavenly Fire Temple! Kill me. Thunder Manor is finished, what’s the point of living? Better to die by your hand than someone else’s. It’s just fate playing its cruel game.” Wu Shen shook his head in despair and pain.
“Wu Shen, I’m not pretending. You have to live to rise again!” Lin Yun growled through gritted teeth.
“Lin Yun, stop acting. I misjudged you. Kill me.” Wu Shen stopped resisting, closing his eyes to await death.
Elsewhere on the battlefield.
After killing another, Shu Zhen turned his gaze toward Lin Yun.
“Hm? Lin Yun is faking his fight?” Shu Zhen was somewhat surprised.
“Hmph, if you’re going to fake it, I’ll help you out.” Shu Zhen sneered, then charged toward Lin Yun’s position.
Shu Zhen didn’t know why Lin Yun was pretending, but he believed there was a reason, and he intended to thwart it.
At Lin Yun’s location.
“Damn it!”
Lin Yun spotted Shu Zhen rushing over.
Wu Shen stood still, eyes closed, awaiting death. If Shu Zhen struck now, Wu Shen would surely die!
Without hesitation, Lin Yun surged forward, his inner energy erupting, his arms instantly covered in dragon scales. Unleashing his full strength, he swung his sword to meet the attack.
Clang!
The clash of sword and blade sent a powerful shockwave rippling outward.
Though Shu Zhen was at the Third Layer of Heaven, Lin Yun blocked his attack.
“Lin Yun, what’s the meaning of this? You’re stopping me from killing him?” Shu Zhen shouted, questioning Lin Yun.
“He’s my target. Naturally, I won’t let you interfere.” Lin Yun’s gaze narrowed.
“Fine, then kill him now. I’ll watch!” Shu Zhen crossed his arms.
Lin Yun’s eye twitched, knowing this makeshift plan couldn’t last long.
“Lin Yun, kill me.” Wu Shen shook his head weakly.
“Wu Shen, don’t talk like that. You’re my friend, and today, I’ll protect you!” Lin Yun couldn’t hold back his roar.
His outburst drew the attention of many death warriors.
Shu Zhen was stunned, then laughed, “Haha, Lin Yun, you’ve finally spoken your true intentions. You want to protect him, defying the Heavenly Fire Temple’s orders! I can accuse you of battlefield treason and execute you on the spot!”
For Shu Zhen, this was a golden opportunity to kill Lin Yun and avenge his brother, a chance he had long awaited.
He had to seize it!
“Lin Yun, I’ll kill him now. Let’s see if you dare protect him!”
With that, Shu Zhen raised his warblade, its surface gleaming with light, transforming into a massive flame tongue that slashed toward Wu Shen with overwhelming force.
If Lin Yun dared intervene, it would be battlefield treason, giving Shu Zhen the perfect excuse to deal with him!
Lin Yun was fully aware of this.
But without a moment’s hesitation, he stomped the ground and leaped forward.
Green Dawn Sword Art!
His sword’s radiance turned into a blazing light, clashing instantly with the incoming flame tongue!
