The rooftop had fully collapsed at this moment, with a terrifying hollow gouged through its central section by sword energy. Qian Ye stood at the epicenter, sword pointing upward into the heavens but his expression strange and uneasy.
“What, it’s you two?”
“We were worried leaving you alone, so we came to cover you,” Ji Tianqing piped up eagerly.
Qian Ye didn’t suspect anything untoward, simply nodding and replying, “Then mission completed. Let us be off.”
With one swift leap upward, Qian Ye flew past Ji Tianqing and Li Kuanglan toward city’s edge. Both silently exchanged glances before falling slightly behind.
Deliberately allowing a gap to form between Qian Ye and themselves, Li Kuanglan condensed his primal force into a threadlike beam and said quietly, “Is this secret method of yours was meant to easily fool those weakling gods? Now just look at that bloke – does even one bit of him resemble divine general rank, much less scream the word ‘god’?”
“You again! If not for you drawing attention we wouldn’t be cornered like this.” Ji Tianqing frowned.
“Well what am I then? You think beating me is somehow beneath your skills?”
“That’s because I’d definitely kick your ass.”
“Well good – later today let’s settle that somewhere. One on One.”
Meanwhile Qian Ye, seemingly oblivious to rising hostility behind him, sped rapidly outward. Not bothering conceal himself in least way from countless observing gazes, eyes widened with bewilderment, calculating glares and the whole spectrum. Closer yet. A wall would shortly lie between him and wild open plains.
From afar and unknown locations across the field Ji reignited that hidden enchantment cloaking their forms so that from observers’ eyes they might’ve vanished altogether. Behind Qian Ye stretched only open sky, albeit with occasional distortions flickering at the very air.
Just as he was nearing the city’s defensive rampart, an inexplicable shiver ran along each follicle of Qian Ye’s hair as instinctual dread gripped him! In his mind’s peripherals a dim trace of a speeding dark primal bullet streaked forth impossibly.
Accuracy matched speed in uncanny perfection — Qian Ye couldn’t evade this strike in the least, no matter reaction. With little choice in timing save to react in the most desperate fashion, he reversed ‘Dongyang’ with his hands graspping both handle and sword flat as shield before him.
Then burst an unexpected column of dark flames blossoming across the sword ‘Dongyang’, rising as some twisted floral shape. Simultaneously Qian Ye crashed onto the walls of the city below him, falling painfully to his knee, blood pouring violently from his gaping mouth.
Magnitude and power beyond belief!
Qian Ye’s hand ran lightly along Yang’s edge drawing forth black flame onto his fingerlet, letting unnatural fire smolder there. Darkness that pristine could only be tied to one person’s influence – this assailnant was Aidin. A familiar antagonist, though his arrival to the neutral land had surprised even Qian Ye.
The bullet had struck as close to perfect as could be expected for someone now wielding Marquess-grade capability. Not long had passed since last they met in mistforest duels and games of cat and mouse. Qian Ye gazed toward where those rifle traces had sprung from. His eyes smoldered with fire anew, remembering their past dance of death in the Mists’ heartlands long past.
A shadow leapt suddenly from otherwise empty wastelands beyond city perimeter – streaking faster than thought like bolt from the clear blue. His figure vanished almost as quick to further distances.
Aidin, decisive character he kept his usual clarity: missing critical injury in his attempt at Qian Ye told its full tale – the only wise move was retreat without hesitation nor sentimentality. Back through those dense fog-wood mists he had always understood that once Qian Ye cornered you into closed-range melee range the dangers became extreme.
As Qian Ye perceived his opponent vanishing over distance he understood pursuit at this juncture would fail. Longtime or not, Aidin retained his former unpredictability and stubborn danger.
At midpoint midleap, without turning fully nor stopping entirely, Aidin sent forth a final parting wave in the vaguest direction of this eternal rival; the very act of which said so much: Pride still ran alongside strength.
That final gesture might’ve gone unanswered but a sudden ethereal primal coil burst out thinness of air – lashing round Aidin’s figure and bringing instant halt. It coiled into constrictions so tight as to emulate some serpentine monster preparing snap bones to dust.
The attack came out from nowhere. With a sharp yell – a snapping cracking noise resonated within Aidin’s figure at every point his rib structure was compromised, and before any thought could form he summoned black fires to blaze violently from within him, incinerating constraint away in instants.
This infernal mastery inherited from deep abyss ran among top echelons throughout the Nevernights’ dominion – proving true its place at that exact moment.
And yet worse came swiftly as the previous bindings burned through – an incoming ice-cerulean gleam struck across airspace toward Aidin’s position. Desperately swiping knife to ward away the sword essence’s aftershocks, Aidin spat another mouth of blood. “Qian Ye, you dishonorable wretch!!” And away he fled amidst clouds, glimpsed briefly again only to vanish altogether across the open terrain.
Rising slowly upright, Qian Ye turned, meeting the two figures trailing behind him. Aidin’s timing was perfection: striking at exactly optimal moment, one blow failed — immediate escape executed flawlessly, denied Qian Ye any chance. But the last thing this ambush artist could ever foresee: more hidden figures lurked behind Qian Ye’s own position. That exposure led directly to secondary barrage from both Ji and Li.
Though struck only across space, did not their might stand incomparable against common opponents? Ji held enemies fast while breaking their defenses – forcing Aidin directly toward Li Kuanglan’s followthrough onslaught. Confrontation came unceasing with both attackers, and Aidin broke, compelled to flee bloodily beaten.
Wounds thus suffered likely ran deeper than Qiehye’s.
Watching him depart, Qiayne wrinkled brows deeply. Even amidst conflict with Warchief’s pack he couldn’t recall pressure this heavy.
Because Warchief at last stood only himself — all other companions, regardless their numbers simply no longer equalized against Qian Ye’s sword. But Aidin differed. He descended a distinguished vampiric house rife with might. With all that innate talent plus current prowess on display now, there was zero possible expectation him acting here alone in this region. There should surely lie a waiting network of backup from back home within their neutral lands domain.
Ji T and Li K finally reached Qiehye’s perch where he’d regained strength rapidly. Relief washed over once seeing stable breathing patterns returned.
“That was one damn powerful Vampire-Lord though – Who exactly is he?” Ji began question anew. “Aidin? I first fought alongside him during Murkwood expeditions?”
“The very name! He’s the damn blood-born that nearly collapsed my house?” Ji’s words triggered icy glacial countenance shift inside Li K at moment.
It was deep disgrace inside family memory. Even mighty clan P li considered an elite clan structure with ambitions seeking Noble Clans status itself — yet they, and numerous noble clans united with P-lians failed comprehnsively in battle against this lone vampiric prodigy. Entire expedition’s armies fell in Murkwoods to him — losses had been terrible.
Though expedition willingly participated, seeking rewards attached to the legendary mist-pearl; it did not alter hard truth – many嫡系sons were slaughtered outright while representing P-li as home territory’s protector. Thus came outcry and blame onto P family for allowing so much bloodshed within its own backyard.
At the height of these noble house protests P elders forced Qian ye’s departure under veiled pretenses. This event soon unraveled fully to public scrutiny. In mist forests only Qian Ye could have countered Aidin’s inclemence. With Qian Ye driven off, nobles focused entire wrath and shame unto the P lineage.
Under Empress Qi situation made impossible full scale family war – still behind doors came condemnation and sabotage – delaying countless projects, trade restrictions, even entire collaborations being canceled outright, creating severe losses. Therefore, for members within Li clan nothing inspired greater rage and loathing than Aidin’s very name itself – hatred for him might have exceeded hatred of Qiehye.
Li clenched sword hilt tightly with expression grim and darkly contemplative, clearly planning pursuit. However Qiehye interposed Dongyang before moving further, shaking his own head silently. “It is already far too late — chasing him further now likely leads straight into prepared trapping net.”
Eyelash twitching in fury but unable refute completely, Li still asked through grit teeth, “Since when did Li Kuanglan become scared of hunting any foe?”
Before even further plead Qiehye attempted from side angle Ji interrupted teasingly, “Now now, big brother Li – what would empress-in-waiting think about you acting up?”
The sound of that one name triggered abrupt falloff in Li’s previously defiant demeanor – realizing it far too late; Ji already convulsed with amusement uncontrollably.
Murmuring curse beneath breath Ji momentarily burned within rage, hand on edge to release fury through duel but as glances met with Qiehye observing silently, he finally relinquished grip entirely.
Understanding how far jest could safely be pushed she curbed laughter mid-torrent, so that no genuine escalation resulted further.
Rubbing temple with palm Qiehye finally exhaled loudly, redirecting them, “For now, head toward Nanqing. We’ll strategize our next. With Aidin here, who knows whom might follow behind from Ebon?”
Both nodded readily. And with those parting sentiments three took direction toward South Qing land.
In observation tower city’s ruined courtyard stones and shattered roof tiles burst suddenly – a figure of a cat leapt from ruins in mid-leap. Seemed like serious injuries had failed entirely affect him.
He moved debris aside to check the conditions of his followers. This band of four men had average talents, able at most to beat basic mercenaries and hired muscle. But in contrast, they failed to withstand the pressure of Qiehye’s domain technique.
Even with barely lingering breath inside their chests their conditions already reached dying stage as countless broken bones crisscrossed. Seeing no real recovery options left, their fighting effectiveness likely forever diminished upon survival, a simple task now lost.
Seeing such, the leader exhaled through nose sharply before delivering swift fatalizing foot-stike across chest area of one henchman. His heart crushed instantly without slightest hesitation.
Three who still breath in terror, screamed for lives with desperate pleas. But with total indifference his left foot pressed into each beating rhythm till all were equally crushed into death. Then he took one deep breath to calm spirit, murmuring aloud to self,
“I don’t nourish helpless worms,” as if reaffirming ancient oath.
He raised a glance toward Qiehye’s distant flight before chuckling softly. The tone bore an edge of irony not missed easily.
Falsely assuming clever escape, hadn’t that fool unknowingly taken the bait already?
Southward toward Qing territories within its heartland city of ‘Nanqing City,’ construction of new ‘Shadow-fire’ HQ almost entirely complete save minor details – while at its corner four isolated cottages erected separately to shelter key personnel within inner circle. But as of present most lay barren with earth exposed in most parts. Some barely managed outlining vague forms for decorative floral displays. Among these homes, only one distinctly differed.
Here in middle of this cottage resided scenery depicting tranquil watertown of delicate feminine hues – utterly rare among harsh landscapes typical for East Sea regions of Nanqing’s dominion’s boundaries.
By still pond at this garden’s edge a figure reclined on bamboo-laid chaise longue — slowly rocking himself with ease. Fan in hand fluttered lightly between fingers as sunlight played gently over his half shut eye-lids creating image exuding tranquility. Missing only melodic whistle to enhance already blissfully undisturbed repose.
Gate rustled, creaked as Qian Ye crossed the threshold into the inner grounds.
At his approach, every beautiful tableau trembled with invisible distortion before breaking down into revealing underlying reality – walls cracked, dirt ground and simple unpainted architecture. This illusionary landscape created through powerful dominion forces under master’s precise guidance had once nearly crossed illusion into reality, so vivid in presentation so difficult distinguish true landscape from fabricated.
A slight furrow crossed Qian Ye’s forehead. It remained uncomfortable walk within someone’s illusions even momentarily.
Without ceremony he unleashed his golden aura flickered over him like living flame – instantly causing the fabricated scenery to melt away into real world as sunlight on snow, dissipating illusionary scenes completely into nothingness under touch of golden bloodfire.
Compared to normal dawnlight-infused dominion techniques, this goldenblood fire exhibited an unusually potent counter-effect capable even of dispelling thousand-swan’s domain. Its dominance evident against illusions like this one.
Walking across the lawn towards reclining form beside him Qieye grabbed the lounging man by lapel, demanding, ‘you are definitely living in luxury while we battle through dangers.”
Smiling, Song Zining brushed away Qian Ye’s grasp with one flick from folded fan.
“Hey, one needs to keep cultivating, yes?” he quipped mirthfully. “Only by constantly practicing, even small details, does illusion grow powerful enough to fool all eye-witnesses.”
“Not debating your illusions tonight,” returned Qiand with firm expression. “Night’s people have also infiltrated here.”
“Neutral cities have many dark race participants – I see few surprises in numbers,” he replied, still relaxed but curiosity stirring slowly.
“That is different. It’s emissary from Ebonland itself, not locals. Remember how he nearly crushed J family into ruins?”
A look of deep gravity crossed his familiar mellow face as comprehension hit home:
“House Aidin descended from vampiric noble families? If he arrived in Observance City as you say… dangerous.”
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