Ying Lin stood on her tiptoes, curious. Li Xiang sliced the blood off her sword and dashed to Huis side.
Chen Xigui held Ya Ai by her throat. He grew rapidly, while Ya Ai shriveled further. At the sight of the interlopers, he laughed. Its too late. You fools
Burning with extra qi, Hui dashed to his side before he could react. He yanked Chen Xigui off Ya Ai and poured his qi into Chen Xigui without relaxing his control over it, forcibly locking down Chen Xiguis qi passages.
Chen Xigui stiffened. He struggled against Hui, but Hui exerted his will, and the qi stopped dead in Chen Xiguis passages. Chen Xigui gasped disbelievingly. Who are you?
Hui glanced down. Zhubi, bite him. Itll make it easier on .
A little white snake wriggled out from Huis sleeve. It reared up and bit Chen Xigui. Chen Xigui struggled, to no avail. With Hui controlling his qi, he had no way to resist as the poison coursed through his veins.
Hui turned to Ya Ai, who laid collapsed on the floor, weak. He held out Chen Xigui toward her. Here. Take from him what he took from you.
Ya Ai lifted her hand. Compared to before, she appeared even more ancient, her bones pressing against delicate, papery skin. Moving to her side, Li Xiang propped her up and put her withered hand on Chen Xiguis chest.
Ya Ai narrowed her eyes. Life qi began flowing from Chen Xigui into her.
No! You cant! Mine, its mine, all mine Chen Xigui protested.
Hui scoffed. You can take from her, but shes not allowed to take from you?
Ya Ai took a breath. With every passing mont, she grew younger, her flesh rejuvenated, her bones stronger. She stood on her own strength, pushing away from Li Xiang. Tipping her chin, she looked down at Chen Xigui as he shrank, growing smaller with every passing mont.
A scowl passed over Ya Ais face. This could have benefitted both of us. By selfishly attempting to take it all from , you have destroyed yourself.
Chen Xigui snarled back, frustrated. Your damn mother is the one who put in this form! All because I dared to favor her sister. Her sister, that whore, was just like the rest, anyways, hardly worth the effort I put in to capture her. And so what if I killed her afterward? Won get so naggy after you toy with them a little. Im doing the world a favor. Honestly, its ridiculous to permanently injure over one woman! Killing you is just retribution for what your mother did to !
Youre the one who poisoned Mother while I was in her womb? The one who put in this state? Ya Ai asked, her face twisting.
You didnt know? he asked mockingly. I suppose you couldnt, if you ca all this way and called beloved. Though even I didnt know until I saw your younger face. You look a lot like your mother, you know. He smiled, shaking his head. Ah, I suppose I had an inkling. It seed too much of a coincidence for us to have perfectly mirrored states.
Ya Ai twisted her hand into his robes. Chen Xiguis qi flowed faster into her, and she rapidly regained her youth. This is sothing you did to yourself.
This is sothing your mother did to , Chen Xigui clarified. If she hadnt reflected my curse technique at the last minute, she would have simply aged and withered away. I thought she got away free and clear, and when I heard she died in childbirth, I thought that was rely karma coming due. To think my curse technique backlashed on her unborn child as she reflected it! How perfect a retribution, after she dared to injure !
Shut up, Hui snarled. He tightened his grip on Chen Xigui. What made you like this? When did you begin to think that this was acceptable? That you were allowed to blatantly kill won without retribution?
Chen Xigui scoffed. He grew smaller with each mont, barely a child in appearance now. If you have to bla anyone, bla the Patriarch. He couldnt stand the sight of . No matter what I did, it was no good. Always treating as lesser than the other elders, refusing to give good assignnts, never praising no matter how perfectly I completed my work. And then he assigned out here, to this slum out in the wastelands. Isnt this the sa as telling that I'm free to do whatever I like, as long as I'm out of his sight?
Hui lifted a lip. Is that all it takes to give up on the world? Pathetic. As Ive always thought, the ntal resiliency of people in this world is too low, far too low!
All because of this damn surna Chen Xigui muttered.
Huis eyes widened. His surna Chen? I know another man surnad Chen. A man who holds a deep grudge. Could it be? Your Patriarch, is his na Fen Long?
Chen Xigui laughed. He closed his eyes. His body continued to shrink, from a child to a toddler, a toddler to a baby. Another mont passed, and nothing remained but a splash of blood.
Hui breathed out. He released his clawed hand and wiped it on the floor. The blood ca off of his palm, but the stifled feeling in his heart didnt dissipate. Even though I was domineering this ti and everything went well, why dont I feel good about it?
Li Xiang put a hand on Huis shoulder. He needed to die. There was no other route for him.
Ya Ai stretched. Younger now, she possessed perfect white jade skin and gorgeous dark hair, her eyes as shiny as gemstones. The pink peony gown fit her appearance perfectly now, gently revealing the curves of her youthful body. She smiled at Hui. Thank you. Ive avenged my mother and and untied a great many heart knots today. Although our small clan has little compared to Chen Xigui, we will do everything we can to assist you, now or in the future.
The sa for , Lu Xubo said, sowhat bitterly. He clenched his fist, but released it. I wish I could have landed the blow myself, but to be here for it
Outside, cultivators rushed by, flying this way and that. So wore the white and dark green of Chen Xiguis guards, but many wore the multicolored robes of those associated with Li Xiangs vigilantes.
Li Xiangs brow furrowed. Why did everyone attack? Everything went well.
Hui coughed. Er, I may have an answer.
Well? Say it! Lu Xubo demanded.
Well, Junior Brother Chen Xigui required everyone have passes to enter the city. Those basses included a scrap of Chen Xiguis personal qi. Once he died, everyone in the city would imdiately know it and thats setting aside whether he personally maintained the barrier. Therefore, those who opposed Chen Xigui knew the mont the threat they hated so much died, and simultaneously, the mont the citys guardian left. Without Chen Xigui, they now have the option to overrun the city, Hui guessed. He shrugged. Think of it as a riot forming after an unpopular dictator dies.
What Elder Brother says is reasonable, Lu Xubo said begrudgingly. He glanced out the window.
If you want to go, then join them, Li Xiang said.
But Lu Xubo glanced at her and hesitated.
I, too, will go. Doubtless there are other guards at the fifth stage who will pose a threat to us, Li Xiang stated. She looked at Hui.
Hui hesitated. I, er, I Im not really the kind of person who goes to riots. Id rather go the other direction. I
I used my full power. In fact, more than my full power. Much, much more than my full power! Shit! I might as well have bead a signal into the heavens!
I, I just rembered, I have sothing urgent to attend to, Hui stuttered.
Lu Xubo frowned. More urgent than this?
Yes, Hui said. Urgent enough that the entire city could end up destroyed if I dont run!
Li Xiang blinked. Hes telling the truth.
Eh eh? Lu Xubo asked, startled.
Hui bowed. Many thanks, seniors. Ill, hopefully, Ill see you soon.
As he turned to go, he paused. He quickly drew a pair of talismans. One for ssages. For the other, he turned his awareness to the node at the back of his mind. At the mont, brimming with energy, even a short glance at his node sent him into a state of enlightennt. He saw the node, the inside and outside of it. The connection. The tree in the distance, stretching golden branches to infinity. All the other nodes, calling out to their clones consciousness as the other Huis headed back to their bodies. His hand worked half-subconsciously, transcribing his understanding to the leaf in the form of talisman marks. Im not sure that this will work, but its worth a try. I can always improve upon it later. As long as Li Xiang has a prototype, there will be so small energy there for to connect to. If my understanding grows enough, I might be able to connect this talisman to the tree network later, even if it doesnt fully function.
And of course, theres always the possibility that it fully functions, and Ill have a node wherever Li Xiang is!
Elder Sister, we might not et again for so ti. Please take these, Hui said, stuffing them in her hands.
Li Xiang nodded. When the ti cos, my vigilantes and I will stand at your side.
Hui nodded. Until then, keep yourself safe and in good health.
With that, he shoved the window open. Ying Lin ran to his side, and together, they jumped out into the sky. Gu Tian unsheathed himself and landed under Ying Lins feet, while Hui drew Moonlight Cutter and stepped on it.
Gu Tian gave Moonlight Cutter a pitying look. To think, he battled a fifth-stage cultivator and never gave so much as a thought to you. I truly pity you.
Ying Lin, stay close. Han Qin could appear from any direction, Hui said. Actually, since Im burning with energy right now, and most of his clones are sixth stage might I be able to defeat him? I have that new beating stick I havent tried out yet
No, no, no, Hui! Dont listen to that heart demon! Who knows what kinds of multifarious and dangerous techniques that man knows? What if he knows a withering curse, like the one Chen Xigui cast on Ya Ais mother? Or any other kind of technique with horrifying lingering effects? No, no. Far too dangerous!
But I destroyed Chen Xigui without really exerting any effort. Right now, Im boiling over with strength. Even if the usual wouldnt dare face Han Qin, the powered-up is a different story.
No, exactly! I should be more aggressive right now! If I successfully scare off Han Qin and make him think Ive grown stronger and beco a real threat, maybe hell stop chasing ! Hui nodded to himself. He turned to Ying Lin.
Ying Lin covered her head with her hands. Master, Im on the verge of a breakthrough. I feel like watching Master battle would be greatly beneficial to right now. Could I stay, at least until an actual threat appears?
Hui hesitated, then nodded, though reluctantly. He pointed at her chest. That disguise technique is also a healing technique. If you find yourself badly injured, remove the snakeskin and your body should heal beneath.
Ying Lin nodded. She bead at him. Yes, Master!
The two surged through the tumult over the city. With all the chaos, no one cast a second glance at a seemingly fourth- and third-stage cultivator escaping the fight. The two of them joined the scrum of fleeing cultivators and flew off into the distance.
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