Qin Wuyan’s gaze swept over the four individuals before him—Fazheng, Lin Jingyu, Zeng Shushu, and Li Xun. With his discerning eyes, he naturally recognized that these four were extraordinary talents. If it came to a true test of their cultivation, he would likely not fare well against them.
However, the myriad of peculiar and sinister methods practiced by the Poison Sect gave Qin Wuyan an upper hand. Controlling a swarm of Dead Marsh Ants and with countless poisons at his disposal, he remained unafraid. His expression was calm, and in this confrontation, he seemed to have the advantage.
Zeng Shushu, known for his quick thinking, felt a headache brewing. As he stared at the horrifying Dead Marsh Ants, a putrid stench wafted towards them. He turned to his companions and whispered, “What should we do? Fight or retreat?”
Li Xun frowned but remained silent. In his usual character, he would never back down, yet the ferocity of the Dead Marsh Ants had left a lingering fear in his heart. Despite his prowess, killing over a hundred ants with his own strength, the endless tide of monsters had shaken him.
Fazheng pondered silently, while Lin Jingyu suddenly spoke up, “I think we can fight. These Dead Marsh Ants are not being kept as pets; they are under the control of this heretic. If we can subdue him, we can win.”
Fazheng nodded, agreeing with Lin Jingyu’s words. “Brother Lin makes a good point. What about you two?”
After a moment of thought, Zeng Shushu responded, “Lin is right. Plus, if we, the four of us, retreat from a single person, it would be too embarrassing.”
As the three turned their gazes to Li Xun, who was the most promising talent of the Flame Sword Valley, pride welled within him. He could not back down now, especially after Qin Wuyan summoned so many ants. Faced with the expectations of his companions, he declared, “Fight!”
Fazheng nodded and proposed, “We’ll split into two groups. Brother Li and Brother Zeng, please hold off the ants for us. Lin and I will take on Qin Wuyan. Agreed?”
The three men nodded in unison.
While they strategized, Qin Wuyan, standing at a distance, was also deep in thought. He had underestimated Li Xun’s strength, who managed to kill nearly a hundred Dead Marsh Ants alone. The other three also seemed formidable, especially Fazheng, whose reputation was renowned.
The Prajna Heart Circle, imbued with the power of Buddhism, had even made the ants instinctively avoid the golden light. This level of cultivation was no small feat.
Just as he pondered how to counter these four, a flash of gold appeared as the Prajna Heart Circle was retracted. The four charged towards him, causing the ants to stir.
Qin Wuyan, rather than being alarmed, was pleased. With a laugh, he produced a small black iron flute and began to play a low, eerie melody. The ants, as if receiving a command, lunged towards the four.
Li Xun and Zeng Shushu, prepared for this, stepped forward and unleashed their spiritual treasures, fending off the first wave of ants. However, their arms ached from the recoil. Li Xun, having fought these creatures before, took it in stride, but Zeng Shushu was shocked by their ferocity.
They held their ground, while Lin Jingyu and Fazheng transformed into beams of light, charging forward. The Dragon Slaying Sword cast a blinding green light, pushing back the darkness and striking at Qin Wuyan.
Impressed by the attack, Qin Wuyan used his flute to control the ants, while wielding a dagger that emitted a clear radiance, deflecting Lin Jingyu’s strike.
Fazheng, recognizing the dagger, said, “‘Sever Yearning’?”
Qin Wuyan, impressed, confirmed, “Master Fazheng truly has a keen eye. It is indeed ‘Sever Yearning Divine Dagger’!”
Fazheng joined Lin Jingyu, and without haste, he said, “Such a divine weapon in the hands of a man of such talent, yet he strays from the path. Why not return to the righteous way?”
Qin Wuyan laughed, his face showing a faint purple aura, and recited:
“Beauty distant, yearning bitter,
Many intentions, hard to convey.
A decade’s love, a century’s journey,
Not severing yearning, I cannot bear to look away.”
With a sudden burst of light, the Sever Yearning Dagger outshone the Dragon Slaying Sword, and Qin Wuyan, full of pride, declared, “You see me lost in the dark path, yet I see your heart entangled. Is your path the only path, and mine a mere sea?”
Fazheng smiled and, ready to assist Lin Jingyu, heard the latter’s resolute voice, “The myriad paths of the world are one. The righteousness of the Dao resides in the hearts of all. You are evil, and I am justice. I shall vanquish the demons!”
With a roar, the Dragon Slaying Sword surged forward, its blade cutting through the light, unleashing a rain of sword energy towards Qin Wuyan.
Forced to dodge, Qin Wuyan momentarily lost control of the ants. Zeng Shushu, panting, shouted, “Fazheng, stop trying to save him! Help us!”
Fazheng sighed and launched the Reincarnation Pearl, forcing Qin Wuyan to summon more toxic creatures. The battle raged, and as Qin Wuyan prepared to retreat, he was suddenly interrupted by a shout from Zeng Shushu, “Senior Sister Lu, intercept him!”
Startled, Qin Wuyan saw a blue light emerging from the darkness. Confident in his defenses, he raised his dagger, but the blue light struck him, causing him to spit blood. He hastily released more venomous creatures and fled, vowing revenge.
The battlefield fell silent, and the ants, now leaderless, became more aggressive. The group struggled until a blue light appeared, pursuing a green light. The two figures vanished, leaving the group in confusion.
In the deep night, the forest was silent, and the wind carried a mournful tune. The green light, followed by the relentless blue, darted through the darkness. The blue light, wielded by a beautiful woman, halted before the green, and the two figures faced each other.
“Are you well?” the green figure asked, smiling bitterly.
The woman, Lu Xueqi, did not answer, her lips pale from biting them. Her hand, holding the Celestial Blade, trembled slightly.
“You did not kill me,” she said, “Why did you save me ten years ago?”
He looked into her eyes, which shone like silent flames. “Ten years ago, why did you protect me, regardless of the cost?”
She gazed at him, her heart pounding. The long-repressed feelings, now ignited, burned fiercely. She lowered her sword, and as the rain began to fall, she looked up at the sky, her hair fluttering in the wind.
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