Hua Yan felt the pressure suddenly lessen. Last time, she struggled alone to fend off the attacks with her sword, but this time, someone stood in front of her, shielding her from most of the onslaught.
She couldn’t even see his face, only the dark silhouette of Lu Chengsha’s back, his dark blue headband fluttering, and his incredibly swift swordsmanship. Hua Yan bit her lip hard to keep her tears at bay.
With just a glance, she turned back to deal with her own opponents. The two of them were almost back-to-back.
One person struggling with the sword formation was daunting; two made it less terrifying.
“Lu Chengsha, are you really going to protect this demoness?”
“Do you know how many sects are watching outside? If you put down your sword now, you can still claim you were bewitched by her!”
Lu Chengsha seemed resolute, stating, “Li, Zhen.”
Hua Yan was momentarily stunned but then understood. He was referring to the Li and Zhen positions in the Eight Trigrams Formation. Although she wasn’t proficient in Qi Men Dun Jia, she knew the basics. She immediately matched it to the sword formation and realized he was indicating its weak points.
Naturally, he knew how to break the sword formation of Tingjian Manor.
Without hesitation, Hua Yan attacked the indicated positions. The previously impenetrable sword formation suddenly began to show gaps, like a deflating balloon.
One of the eight opponents angrily shouted, “Lu Chengsha, you’re betraying Tingjian Manor and the righteous path!”
Indeed, the other sects watching outside were also shocked by the unfolding events.
“Is that really a demoness from the demonic sect?”
“Why is Lu Chengsha protecting her? Weren’t we here to kill her tonight?”
“Could the rumors be true? Has he really fallen for that demoness?”
Lu Chengsha seemed oblivious, reporting two more positions.
Hua Yan immediately followed his lead. In no time, the previously formidable sword formation was in disarray. The eight opponents were clearly no match for the two of them individually, relying on their coordination and the intricate sword formation. But now, with the formation failing, they couldn’t hold them back for long.
“Lu Chengsha, how can you be so obstinate? Do you not appreciate the master’s years of careful nurturing?”
“Even if you break our formation, there are many more skilled fighters outside, borrowed from various sects by the master. You won’t escape!”
Before the words were finished, the sword formation was broken.
Lu Chengsha grabbed Hua Yan’s wrist and said, “Let’s go.”
Hua Yan felt a moment of disorientation but followed him without hesitation. Once they exited the elegant seating area, she realized that there wasn’t a single bystander in the inn. It was filled with people wielding swords, all intent on killing her—his grandfather truly wanted her dead.
Lu Chengsha let go of her hand and raised his sword to face the enemies.
Along with the attacks came their voices.
“Lu Chengsha, have you really colluded with the demonic sect?”
“What is your relationship with this demoness that you would protect her?”
“Is he controlled by the demonic sect? Otherwise, why would he do something so outrageous?”
“Disciples of Tingjian Manor colluding with the demonic sect—today, the old manor lord wanted us to cleanse the sect for him.”
“Lu Chengsha of Tingjian Manor, I once thought he was a model disciple of the righteous path. Now he doesn’t uphold righteousness but instead protects a demonic sect demoness. It’s laughable!”
“I always felt he had too much killing intent, just like those from the demonic sect. Turns out I was right.”
Lu Chengsha could ignore these accusations, but Hua Yan couldn’t.
She angrily retorted, “He didn’t! It’s you who are too much! What did I do wrong for you to send so many people to kill me? He just couldn’t stand by and watch!”
“What reason do we need to kill a demoness like you? Haven’t the demonic sect committed enough atrocities?”
Among the crowd, Hua Yan even saw a somewhat familiar, small figure. He also held a sword, pointing it at her, and said viciously, “I can’t believe you are a demoness of the demonic sect. I was blind to acknowledge you as my senior sister. All you demonic sect people deserve to die!”
Hua Yan almost found it absurdly laughable.
Holding her sword, she fought while shouting, “Is this the righteous path? Do you consider this justice? Have you ever seen me kill innocent people? Have you ever seen me commit any evil deeds? Just because I’m from the demonic sect, it’s justified for all of you to ambush me at night? He couldn’t stand it and wanted to protect me—what’s wrong with that?”
Hua Yan’s voice grew louder. “I saved people during the sect wars, I saved people in Migu Town—neither of those incidents were caused by our demonic sect. You all didn’t investigate properly and blamed everything on the demonic sect. What’s the logic in that? And the Yin family, the medical family, it was proven that their deaths had nothing to do with our demonic sect. Did anyone who falsely accused the demonic sect feel any guilt?”
However, her strength was too insignificant.
Her words were like a stone thrown into the sea, only creating a slight ripple. After a brief hesitation, those people said, “Don’t listen to this demoness’s nonsense! The demonic sect people are experts at twisting facts. Even if the Yin family’s case wasn’t done by you, who else could have committed the other two?”
“Weak woman? How are you weak? I see you’re quite a formidable demoness!”
“Stop wasting time talking to her!”
Lu Chengsha led her as they fought their way to the inn’s entrance. Due to his formidable reputation, the others were wary of getting too close. His swordsmanship was fierce and deadly, exuding a powerful aura that intimidated everyone around them.
However, Hua Yan noticed something others didn’t. Lu Chengsha’s movements were becoming slower. Normally, even after fighting for hours, his actions wouldn’t slow down at all.
A sudden pang of anxiety struck her heart. She then heard Lu Chengsha grunt in pain. Someone immediately shouted, “Lu Chengsha is injured! Don’t be intimidated by him! He’s just holding on! Hurry, let’s kill that demoness!”
Hua Yan instantly turned her head, “You’re hurt?”
She knew it! There was no way Lu Chengsha could be unscathed!
Her heart raced with worry. Many took the opportunity to bypass Lu Chengsha and attack her. Before Hua Yan could clumsily defend herself, Lu Chengsha’s sword intercepted, blocking the attacks meant for her.
She smelled blood and saw sweat on Lu Chengsha’s forehead.
He pressed his lips tightly, his gaze stern, as if nothing else mattered but protecting her.
But he was clearly injured.
As she pondered, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a gleaming sword thrusting towards Lu Chengsha’s abdomen from a treacherous angle. The attack was lightning-fast. Before she could even think, her body reacted, and she swung her sword with all her might.
Her sword pierced through the ambusher’s chest, killing him instantly. He fell to the ground, lifeless.
They had fought their way here without killing anyone. This was the first life Hua Yan had taken. In a daze, she realized she had killed someone from the righteous path. The thought only lasted a moment before she snapped back to reality.
There was no time for hesitation.
Lu Chengsha was protecting her, so she had to protect him.
Even if it meant killing.
When she regained her composure, they had already exited the inn.
Outside, it had started to rain. The raindrops fell lightly on the ground, and the sky was dark and gloomy. Thick clouds loomed, ready to unleash a heavy downpour, signaling the impending storm.
Lu Chengsha’s breathing was slightly erratic. He raised his sword, and its speed suddenly increased, his attacks becoming even more ferocious. The surrounding enemies were quickly forced back. Lu Chengsha suddenly said, “You need to go now.”
Hua Yan was momentarily stunned. Rain fell on her face, and she realized she could use her qinggong to escape now, but…
“Come with me!” she shouted.
Lu Chengsha remained silent.
Panic surged in Hua Yan’s heart as she sensed something amiss. “Come with me! What will happen to you if I leave alone? They won’t spare you! You’ll be punished even worse, maybe even killed! Come with me, anywhere!”
Lu Chengsha simply said, “Go quickly.”
Hua Yan was almost in tears. “You promised to go to Qingzhou with me! You can’t break your promise!”
At that moment, a tall, imposing figure suddenly appeared at the end of the small town’s road. The rain formed a backdrop that seemed to magnify his natural intimidation.
“He won’t be going anywhere,” a cold, harsh voice shattered the night.
The rain intensified, merging into streams. The newcomer, holding a sword, had a head of white hair and wore the dark sword robe of Tingjian Manor. His eyes were as cold and merciless as a blade, and his entire being radiated a formidable aura that commanded instinctive submission and respect.
Seeing him, everyone else stopped moving.
“Master.”
“Greetings to the master of Tingjian Manor.”
“Greetings, Master.”
Hua Yan was terrified as she recognized him—it was Lu Chengsha’s grandfather, Lu Zhenxing. He had come personally!
Lu Zhenxing’s black eyes bore into Lu Chengsha. “Chengsha, you have deeply disappointed me,” he said, his voice icy and deliberate.
Hua Yan saw Lu Chengsha’s body tremble. He suddenly turned to her and shouted, “Go now—” his voice more urgent than ever before.
“Where does she think she’s going?”
With a thunderous shout, Lu Zhenxing charged at Hua Yan with incredible speed, far surpassing what one would expect from an elderly man. It was as if he were in his prime, his killing intent and sword energy surging together.
A flash of lightning and a crash of thunder echoed through the night.
Hua Yan instinctively stepped back, feeling an intense sense of danger and fear.
She was wet and cold, shivering slightly. Despite practicing their sect’s renowned Tiancan Sword Technique for nearly half a year, it was only sufficient to handle younger opponents or those like Yin Xiangsi, who weren’t skilled in combat. But facing a true expert was a completely different matter, and her lack of experience was glaringly obvious.
Moreover, the opponent was Lu Chengsha’s grandfather, clearly intent on killing her.
Hua Yan gripped her sword tightly. In the brief moment she hesitated, a dark figure flashed before her, blocking Lu Zhenxing’s path.
“Move aside!” Lu Zhenxing roared.
Lu Chengsha stood firm, gripping his sword, “I beg you, let her go.”
Without wasting any more words, Lu Zhenxing raised his sword. In an instant, the terrifying sound of combat erupted again. This time, Hua Yan could not only hear it but also see it. Both Lu Zhenxing and Lu Chengsha’s swordsmanship were swift and fierce, indistinguishable in the night. The rain blurred their forms as they clashed at incredible speed, merging with the storm’s fury.
Sparks flew with the clashing swords, like lightning illuminating the dark, accompanied by the crackling rain and occasional thunder, striking fear into the hearts of onlookers.
Hua Yan, standing nearby, saw the unprecedented seriousness on Lu Chengsha’s face as the two fought. Their sword strikes shattered a nearby house, collapsing the walls and causing debris to fall amidst screams. The battle continued onto the rooftops, sending tiles flying in the rain, and even the flagpoles of nearby taverns were knocked down, leaving chaos in their wake.
But she could see it—Lu Chengsha was struggling, not like before.
The next moment, Lu Chengsha was struck by Lu Zhenxing, sent flying several yards away. He landed, using his sword to steady himself, carving a deep groove in the ground, and spat out a mouthful of blood, mixing with the rain, forming a pale red pool.
Hua Yan was about to rush to him when Lu Chengsha stood up, seemingly tireless and unhurt, and charged again.
“You’re this desperate because you fear I’ll kill her,” Lu Zhenxing’s authoritative voice came from above. “Stop her.”
This all happened in a flash, their battle too shocking for the onlookers, who now snapped out of their daze and resumed their attack on Hua Yan.
At the same time, Lu Chengsha, panting, said to her, “I don’t know how long I can hold them off. You need to go now.”
Raindrops streamed down his face, and the relentless sound of the rain continued.
Hua Yan raised her sword, “I can…”
Lu Chengsha interrupted, “I won’t go with you.”
Hua Yan was stunned for a moment.
Lu Chengsha shouted, “Go!”
In that moment of hesitation, people from the other sects were already closing in on Hua Yan. Staying there wouldn’t help Lu Chengsha, and since their target was only to kill her, if she left, Lu Chengsha wouldn’t have to fight Lu Zhenxing to the death…
Hua Yan’s mind raced, but she couldn’t hold back her tears.
She choked out, “Lu Chengsha, don’t die. Come find me!”
Before turning away, Hua Yan cast one last glance at him, seeing only the tall, slender figure of Lu Chengsha holding his sword, facing away from her. The heavy rain and flashes of lightning highlighted his black sword robe, soaked and clinging to his body. Alone, he stood, his solitary figure outlined by the lightning, holding back all the incoming attacks meant for her.
In that moment, Hua Yan felt as if she was seeing again the unparalleled warrior from their first encounter.
He said, “Alright.”
Hua Yan used her qinggong and fled at top speed. Behind her, she heard the sounds of pursuit, Lu Zhenxing’s angry shouts, the clashing of swords, and the gradually fading sound of Lu Chengsha’s voice.
The dark sky offered no light, the wind roared in her ears, and the rain fell in heavy drops, sliding down her face. Her vision blurred, the path ahead seemed endless and uncertain. To not let Lu Chengsha’s sacrifice be in vain, she ran with all her might, running and running…
Gradually, she heard no more sounds.
Something felt blocked in her chest, causing pain throughout her body. The rain washed over her repeatedly, drenching her to the bone.
After running a great distance, Hua Yan finally lowered her head and cried out hoarsely.
—
Later, Hua Yan learned that Xie Yingxian had sent people to meet her, but she ran so fast that they couldn’t catch up. By the time they found her, they had to fight the righteous sect before finally rescuing her.
Hua Yan returned with a fever, burning for a whole day before slowly recovering.
She was barely conscious, knowing only that she slept for a long time. When she woke up, she saw Jiang Lan’s gentle and beautiful face. Jiang Lan held a bowl of medicine, saying, “Good, you’re awake. Drink this medicine first.”
Hua Yan numbly nodded.
As the medicine touched her tongue, she felt a bitter taste that made her cough loudly. She said dazedly, “This medicine is so bitter.”
Jiang Lan smiled, “The bitterness means it’s effective. Drink it while it’s hot. Knowing you don’t like the taste, I made some sweet soup. One bowl for the sect master and one for you afterward.”
Hua Yan suddenly remembered the last time she drank medicine. Because it was too bitter, someone had specially brought her honey.
Just thinking about it made her heart tighten. She put down the medicine bowl and asked, “Has there been any news from the Sect Master? What about… Lu Chengsha? How is he now?”
Jiang Lan gently patted her hair and said, “You should rest for now. What the righteous sect did was truly despicable, luring you out to ambush you. Holy Maiden, don’t be so reckless next time.”
Hua Yan softly replied, “He didn’t deceive me.”
Jiang Lan said nothing, continuing to stroke her long hair.
After a moment of silence, Hua Yan drank the bitter medicine in one gulp, letting the bitterness burn down her throat to her chest. She wiped her lips with the back of her hand and said, “Is the Sect Master here? I want to see him.”
Xie Yingxian immediately understood what she wanted to ask.
“You should rest first,” he said, echoing Jiang Lan’s words, “You can’t do anything right now anyway.”
The sect’s doctor had said her long sleep was due to extreme exhaustion, and Xie Yingxian understood perfectly.
Hua Yan lifted her head and said, “I’m fine now.” To prove her point, she stood up and spun around, showing her strength, “I’m completely fine. I can do anything, even kill or set fires.”
Xie Yingxian smiled at her words, “Killing and setting fires aren’t things good people do.”
Hua Yan had anticipated his response.
“Yes, good people don’t kill or set fires, but…” She looked at him with determined eyes, “Sect Master, I don’t want to be a good person anymore.”