Yuanjing raised an eyebrow. “Low cultivation, just an unorthodox sorcerer.”
Lu Zheng chimed in, “Weak blood energy. Either a poor technique or mediocre talent.”
…
In the Liu household’s courtyard, the old woman faced the martial artist, her expression unchanged, a chilling smile on her lips. She tapped her cane, and the shadows beneath the eight men began to twist.
The night was clear with a bright moon and sparse stars. The eight stood still, so when their shadows started writhing, they noticed immediately.
“Trouble!”
“Be careful!”
“Fall back!”
Panic gripped them as they tried to retreat.
But despite their intentions, their feet seemed rooted, unable to move an inch.
Only the leader was unaffected. Instead of retreating, he charged forward, twin water-splitting spikes appearing in his hands, thrusting at the old woman. “Release them!”
She tapped her cane again. The legs of her shadow twisted and stretched, forming two shadow snakes that coiled around the leader’s shadow.
Bound by the shadow, the leader felt as if two massive pythons had wrapped around him, his body tightening, his speed dropping sharply.
As he prepared to unleash his blood energy for another push, the old woman spoke coldly, “Look at your men. If you don’t want them dead instantly, don’t be rash.”
The leader whipped his head around. The shadows of the other seven raised their hands, gripping their own necks. The men, unable to move, bulged their eyes, struggling to breathe, as if choked by invisible hands.
“I don’t follow your martial world rules,” the old woman rasped, sneering. She turned to the slightly open window. “Dear girls, don’t fear. I mean no harm, just arranging a marriage.” Her face wrinkled into a smile. “My grandson, fair and honest, is a perfect match for you sisters.”
“Pah! My sister said your grandson’s an idiot!” Liu Qingquan’s voice came from the window.
“An idiot’s good. An idiot has a true heart. I’ll treat you well, unlike these men who’d sell you to underground brothels, a living hell.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Liu Qingquan muttered. “You’re all bad. Big Brother Lu will beat you dead.”
The old woman ignored the mention of “Big Brother Lu,” assuming he was just some burly neighbour with eyes for the sisters.
Turning back, she smirked at the leader. “Still want a share?”
The leader shook his hands, making the shadow snakes tremble. The old woman raised her cane, and the snakes reverted to her shadow’s legs.
“Hmph, we yield. Release them, and we’ll leave!”
She grinned, tapping her cane. “Get lost!”
…
The courtyard fell silent as a grave. The seven men remained frozen.
The leader glared at her. “What are you playing at?”
Her expression didn’t shift, but her eyes narrowed, sweat beading on her forehead. She tapped her cane again, formed hand seals with her left hand, muttered an incantation, and struck the ground once more.
“Thud!”
“Caw—caw—caw—” Night crows took flight.
Nothing happened. The seven men grew paler, their eyes glazing over, clearly unable to breathe.
“Release them!” the leader roared, charging at her.
Her eyes flashed with panic. She tapped her cane, her shadow’s legs turning into snakes again, coiling around the leader. “I undid the spell!”
“Then what’s happening?” The leader’s blood energy surged, pushing through the snakes toward her.
“Stop!” she snapped. The other seven’s shadows stretched, their hands grabbing the leader’s shadow.
The next moment…
“Thump!”
“Thump!”
Seven thuds rang out as the seven men in the courtyard collapsed, lifeless.
“You killed them!”
“Not me!” Her eyes widened. “There’s someone else!”
“What?” The leader’s eyes blazed with rage, unconvinced.
As the seven died, their shadows vanished, freeing the leader. His spikes flashed, blood energy blazing like a furnace, charging at her.
Her face twisted. She slapped her cane, which sank into the ground, merging with her shadow into a dark dragon that coiled tightly around the leader.
“Unorthodox filth, break!” The leader’s blood energy roared, resisting the dragon, inching toward her.
She stood firm, forming seals again. Her shadow’s limbs became four snakes, wrapping around the leader.
One dragon, four snakes, and he was completely immobilised.
“Come out!” she shouted, scanning the surroundings. “Which rat is toying with me?”
The unseen foe had controlled the seven men and framed her, proving their skill. Now wasn’t the time to kill the leader; they might need to join forces.
Seeing her reaction, the leader paused, still surging with blood energy but glancing around.
In the guest room, two pairs of crescent eyes peered through the window crack, scanning the courtyard warily.
“Clap! Clap! Clap!”
Soft applause came from the side gate connecting the front and back courtyards. A man in plain clothes, with an unremarkable face, stepped out.
“I hoped you’d kill each other, saving me trouble and sparing you pain. Why play smart and force me out?”
“It’s you!” The old woman’s eyes narrowed.
The leader didn’t know him, but she did—the man from the morning, carrying the demented old man.
“Where’s your father? Abandoned or killed?”
The man smiled faintly. “He was my father for three days. His life’s blessings are spent.”
“Hmph!” She snorted, dispelling her shadow spell and turning to the leader. “Your enemy’s here. What are you waiting for?”
The man from the morning shook his head, sighing. “A big shot’s thug and an unorthodox sorceress. You’ve got good taste, but a woman of such merit isn’t for you to covet.”
Her eyes sharpened. The dragon and four snakes surged forward, while the leader’s weapons flashed, leaping into action.
“Shadow to Dust, Release!” Her spell backfired, and she spat blood, staggering back.
“Blood Return, Reverse!” The leader felt his blood surge backward, coughing up blood and collapsing.
…
“Go in peace…”
The man shook his head, sighed, and pointed at the old woman.
Her face twisted. The shadow dragon lunged forward, claws bared.
“Bang!” A soft explosion, and the dragon shattered. The cane reappeared, splintering into pieces.
She seized the chance, her form twisting, merging into the shadow cast by the courtyard wall under the moonlight.
But after two steps, she froze. Her face contorted, eyes bulging, veins popping, body rigid. She opened her mouth to scream but made no sound.
“Thump.” She collapsed, dissolving into a puddle of foul-smelling ooze.
“Hmm, her soul lingers? Such strong obsession, but alas…”
The man flicked his finger. A faint, piercing wail echoed, and the courtyard fell silent.
The leader’s pupils shrank. Ignoring vengeance, he kicked off, leaping toward the wall.
“Suck!”
He grunted, hurling his spikes at the man.
“Disperse!”
The force faltered, the spikes falling midair, but the leader reached the wall, glaring back before preparing to leap.
“Freeze!”
His eyes widened, his face—no, his entire body—turned deathly pale. His chest suddenly bulged.
“Boom!” His chest exploded, blood spraying, his broken body tumbling back into the courtyard.
…
The man turned to the guest room. The window slammed shut, and the room fell silent.
He smiled but froze, noticing mist spreading through the courtyard.
This wasn’t night fog!
“Someone else!”
Several cyan lights descended. A figure leapt from the side roof, sword flashing with three sword flowers, Baiyun sword energy enveloping the man.
“Southern Border sorcerer, I’ve waited long enough!”
“Baiyun Temple’s Taoist? Why are you here?” The man’s eyes darted, scanning around.
No one else… this would be easy…
He flipped his palm, revealing a string of beads glowing with golden light, blocking Yuanjing’s sword energy.
He sneered. “Just you? You dare… wait!”
He noticed a distortion in his beads’ golden light nearby.
“Illusion?!”
He roared, retreating sharply, channeling true energy into his eyes, scanning around. The surroundings shimmered, and a young man in a green robe was within seven feet.
“Die!”
“Blood Return, Freeze!”
Lu Zheng felt his blood surge, gathering toward his heart.
“Slash!”
He roared, blood energy surging, barely suppressing the spell’s effect. A tiger phantom roared, slashing at the man’s chest.
But the man’s beads glowed, shattering the tiger phantom.
“Dual cultivation? A century of practice?” The man was surprised but sneered again. “I kill prodigies like you. Die!”
“Blood Return, Freeze!”
“Bone-Clinging Curse!”
“Death Lure!”
“Junior Brother, retreat!” Yuanjing shouted, his sword thrusting wildly, stirring courtyard mist toward the man.
“Lu Lang!”
“Big Brother Lu!”
“Lu Lang!”
“Young Master Lu!”
Several doors burst open. The Liu sisters, Old Man Liu, Mrs. Liu, and even the two old servants rushed out.
To avoid being exposed by the Liu sisters, Lu Zheng had cast an illusion over the courtyard, only dispelled when the man saw through it, revealing himself.
But just as he appeared, he faced this dire situation, drawing the entire Liu family out.
No time to wonder why every Liu family member emerged, Lu Zheng glowed with golden light, the Golden Light Curse rapidly depleting. Two eerie curses began affecting him, his true energy resisting as he stepped back.
But… he was now within five feet of the man!
“Supreme Infinity, Three Pure Ones’ Command, Hold!”
