Both Qin Lie and Liu Qiuxue shuddered when they heard Qin Yunxiao’s scream, and seeing him pierced through the chest by an arrow sent them into complete disarray. They immediately abandoned the pursuit of Ye Jingyu and the others, rushing toward Qin Yunxiao with desperate speed...
Before Qin Yunxiao’s body could hit the ground, Liu Qiuxue caught him, pouring a surge of powerful True Essence into him. Qin Lie stood anxiously beside them...
“The heart was missed, but the arrow grazed the sternum, and the arrow’s energy has injured the heart meridian. He needs immediate treatment,” Liu Qiuxue stated after examining Qin Yunxiao’s condition internally...
Hearing her words, Qin Lie let out a slight breath of relief and said, “Return to the manor at once. Young Master’s life is paramount...”
Liu Qiuxue said nothing more, helping Qin Yunxiao up as they sprinted towards the rapidly approaching riders. Truthfully, when Qin Yunxiao had ordered them to intercept Ye Jingyu and the others earlier, both felt a flicker of relief. After all, Qin Lie was seriously wounded, and while Liu Qiuxue’s ‘Angry Flower’ bloom had managed to injure Bing Ming, she knew it had only scraped the surface; moreover, her own True Essence was depleted, and pursuing further was uncertain if they could survive...
Now, having a justifiable reason to cease the chase after Ye Jingyu’s group brought them immense relief, their running speed surpassed even Ye Jingyu’s by several times...
Ye Jingyu had initially been unwilling to let such a golden opportunity slip, especially knowing the presence of so many Grandmaster experts around Qin Yunxiao, which meant killing him later would be incredibly difficult. However, seeing the riders speeding toward them in the distance forced him to retreat...
It was fortuitous that Hu Yanqi’s arrow had been fired, preventing the two Grandmasters from continuing the chase and buying them ample time to flee. He could only hope that arrow had completely eliminated that scoundrel...
Thinking this fiercely, he didn't hesitate underfoot, pushing forward continuously with Xue Hengzhi at his side...
After sprinting for three or four li, Ye Jingyu and his group finally halted. This wasn't by choice, nor was it because the injuries sustained by Xue Hengzhi and the others were so severe they had to stop. It was because a group of people—a hostile group—had appeared ahead, blocking their path...
It was at this moment that Xue Hengzhi slowly began to regain consciousness...
“Yue Youqun...” Seeing the man leading the hostile party, Ye Jingyu’s face turned ugly. It wasn't just him; Ying Xiaoxiao beside him also showed a look of rage...
The man was none other than Yue Youqun, the one who had ambushed Ye Jingyu from behind with a sword strike previously. Since that incident, he had practically vanished from Yunjing, making his appearance here completely unexpected...
Now, Yue Youqun wore a placid smile, and in his hand, he held a blood-soaked bundle, appearing particularly sinister...
“Heh heh, General, your life is truly resilient. That last sword strike couldn't finish you. In admiration of your formidable life force, this time, I’ve brought you a grand gift,” Yue Youqun said lightly, tossing the bundle forward. It landed on the ground, the white cloth spreading out to reveal its contents...
A human head. Inside the bundle was a gruesome, severed head...
“Old Wolf Lei?” Upon clearly recognizing the face, Ye Jingyu was shocked. He genuinely hadn't expected that Old Wolf Lei, whom he had only recently brought under his command, would be killed by the opposition...
An irrepressible fury surged within him. Looking at Old Wolf Lei’s eyes, which remained wide open in death, Ye Jingyu’s own eyes turned blood red...
He had promised Old Wolf Lei that he would avenge him, but before he had even managed to kill a single disciple of the Heavenly Gang Sect, Lei was the one killed. What did his promise amount to? Was it worthless?
Towering killing intent erupted from his body. The innate True Qi within him surged uncontrollably, ready to attack regardless of the cost, but Xue Hengzhi, standing behind him, seized him...
“One Great Grandmaster, four Grandmasters, and seven Innate Martial Masters. Do not throw your life away needlessly,” Xue Hengzhi said, his body ragged and his face pale, utterly exhausted, yet he held Ye Jingyu firmly...
Bing Ming observed the white-haired elder next to Yue Youqun with a cold gaze. Judging by the elder’s powerful aura, he had long since reached the Great Grandmaster realm—likely a hidden elder of the Heavenly Gang Sect. As for the four men behind him, they were all in the Grandmaster realm, while Yue Youqun and his fellow disciples were masters of the Innate realm...
With their current weakened state, they would have stood a chance against such a force before their injuries, but now, it was impossible...
Thus, Bing Ming remained cautious, his mind constantly scheming for a strategy to break the siege...
“Bing Ming, you take Ye Kid and go. Leave this to me...” At this critical juncture, Xue Hengzhi suddenly spoke up...
“Hmm?” Bing Ming blinked, then turned to see the resolute look in Xue Hengzhi’s eyes, instantly understanding his intent. Xue Hengzhi knew he was severely wounded and that escaping would only make him a liability; it was better to stay and fight the enemy to the death, thereby at least securing a sliver of survival for the others...
“No, if we go, we all go together,” Ye Jingyu replied, having understood the meaning behind Xue Hengzhi’s words, refusing to agree...
Not just him, but even Lin Xiaoyi, the weakest among them, showed a look of firm resolve...
“None of you will leave,” the white-haired elder next to Yue Youqun scoffed. The four Grandmasters behind him stepped forward, positioning themselves in four directions to surround Ye Jingyu and the others in the center...
Seeing their maneuvers, Xue Hengzhi merely smiled faintly. Ying Xiaoxiao, carrying Ye Longyi, Lin Xiaoyi, and Hu Yanqi all became tense, their gazes fixed on the four flanking figures. Based on their overwhelming auras, escaping alive seemed impossible for them; perhaps Elder Xue was right—they needed to do everything possible to save Ye Jingyu...
As for Ye Jingyu, his expression was solemn as he faced the enemies before him. Even though his injuries were grievous and his spirit severely traumatized, his eyes were blazing with formidable fighting intent, completely devoid of fear or any thought of self-preservation...
The Heavenly Sovereign Blade in his hand hummed softly, his innate True Qi continually circulating, and his killing intent was unleashed without reservation...
If there was to be a fight, then let it begin...
“Forgive me, Ye Kid...” Just then, Xue Hengzhi, standing behind Ye Jingyu, suddenly thrust a finger out, striking Ye Jingyu’s back heart directly. This instantly immobilized Ye Jingyu, and his expression twisted in shock and alarm...