Chapter 31: The Uncanny Sword Manual

“Oh no! Sister! Sister! Save me! Get me out of here, quickly! Waaah!”

Ahoge Dragon was overjoyed at the prospect of being rescued.

“You big villain, I warn you to release me immediately, or else I’ll capture you and make you regret it!”

A resounding thud!

“Ouch! Ouch! How could you just drop me like that? I’m going to die from the fall!”

The villain had indeed thrown Ahoge Dragon to the ground, causing her backside to ache terribly.

“Who are you? A mere four-star dares to obstruct me? Heheheh… I shall kill you first!”

The individual who had seized Ahoge Dragon was cloaked in black, their features entirely obscured.

From beneath the folds of his cloak, two blood-streaked arms extended.

“Blood Magic: Blood Sword!”

Two crimson blades materialized abruptly in his grasp.

He lunged forward, eager to engage the black-haired maiden blocking his path in a game of brutal slaughter.

In his estimation, the black-haired girl was merely a four-star magic artifact user, and her demise would be a trivial matter.

Yet, the black-haired maiden remained utterly fearless, her longsword drawing from its sheath with an air of profound composure.

“Sword Manual, Fourth Page: ‘A Raised Hand to Quash the Mortal Coil!’”

The black-haired maiden’s seemingly simple strike appeared utterly nonchalant.

To the Blood Elf’s astonishment, the blood swords he had just conjured with his magic dissolved into a crimson mist and vanished.

“Impossible! How could anyone sever my magical attack?”

The Blood Elf stared in disbelief. What manner of swordsmanship was this? It was far too sinister!

“Sword Manual, Fifth Page: ‘Fury’s Slash for Former Lovers!’”

As the chilling voice echoed once more, an alarm blared through the Blood Elf’s mind.

“Earth Magic: Earthen Wall! Wood Magic: Wooden Armor!”

He swiftly cast two spells in succession; a dull, earthen wall materialized before him.

Simultaneously, a verdant wooden armor enveloped his form.

His physical body was inherently fragile, and a direct strike would prove perilous.

‘A soft thud.’

“Hmm?”

Yet, the black-haired maiden’s sword struck the air a meter away from the Blood Elf, as if merely playing a game.

This left the Blood Elf utterly bewildered. Surely the fifth move ought to be more potent than the fourth!

“Was it just wasted like that? At the very least, it should have impacted the earthen shield!”

“Ahhh! W-what is happening?”

The Blood Elf was about to scoff at the ‘idiot’ before him, when suddenly, his gaze fell upon his own chest, revealing a deep gash.

Had it not been for his wooden armor, such a wound would have been life-threatening!

“Sword Manual, Fifth Page: ‘Fury’s Slash for Former Lovers!’”

The black-haired maiden thrust her sword forward once more, yet again striking only empty air.

To his horror, the Blood Elf watched as large patches of blood seeped from his lower abdomen.

Struck again?

What manner of sword technique was this? It was truly bizarre!

“Damn it, you little girl! How dare you ruin my plans! Just you wait! I’ll return, and I’ll have my revenge!”

The Blood Elf dared not linger; this person’s attacks were far too uncanny, completely nullifying his own abilities.

He took several steps back, his gaze falling upon Ahoge Dragon, who was still struggling on the ground. He intended to seize her and flee.

“Ugh-gah!”

Ahoge Dragon, however, suddenly sprang from the sack, clutching her golden-grade dagger, and thrust it forward.

“Szzzt~!”

The dagger clashed against the Blood Elf’s wooden armor, yet Ahoge Dragon failed to leave even a single scratch.

“Wood Magic: Vine Entanglement!”

“Ahhh!”

Before Ahoge Dragon could even react, she was seized once more.

“Fool, come with me! Heheheh! When I wish to depart, none can escape my grasp.”

The Blood Elf sneered, and, holding Ahoge Dragon, cast another spell.

“Earth Magic: Shrink Ground to an Inch!”

The Blood Elf’s form abruptly vanished.

Ahoge Dragon, however, remained rooted to the spot, having expected to be whisked away herself!

“I severed the wood magic that had bound you.”

The black-haired maiden sheathed her sword and approached with light steps.

The vines that had constrained Ahoge Dragon vanished like popping bubbles, and the sensation of being bound instantly dissipated.

Slumping to the ground, Ahoge Dragon wiped a bead of cold sweat from her brow.

“Phew… that scared me to death…”

“Thank you, Sister! You truly are a good person!”

Ahoge Dragon swiftly expressed her gratitude to the black-haired maiden before her, knowing that without her intervention, she would have been in dire straits.

“Are you the mutated lizard who bestowed the Sword Manual upon Gudou Toutian? Should I address you as Ahoge, or Gudou Juetian?”

It appeared this black-haired sister was acquainted with Ahoge Dragon!

“Heheheh… just call me Ahoge. What’s your name, Sister?”

“Xing Rou’er.”

“Xing Rou’er? What a beautiful name! May I call you Sister Rou’er?”

Xing Rou’er offered no verbal reply, merely a nod of her head.

Ahoge Dragon clapped her hands in delight. She had met another beautiful sister, and a remarkably powerful one at that!

A four-star expert had effortlessly subdued a fifth-level Blood Elf, leaving him utterly powerless.

However…

“Sister? You also know the Heartless Sword Manual! It seems incredibly formidable!”

“I deliberately employed the later sword techniques. It seems the Sword Manual you provided Gudou Toutian was not entirely complete.”

“That ‘kidney-deficient’ man? Of course I couldn’t give him the entire thing outright! How else would I gain advantages from him?”

Ahoge Dragon had no desire to conceal anything from her savior.

“So, you possess the complete version of the Sword Manual.”

Xing Rou’er took another step closer, her face remaining a mask of impassive neutrality.

“The Divine Punishment faction captured you, quite possibly for the Sword Manual you possess. For your safety, I suggest you entrust the complete manual to me.”

“Eh? Sister Rou’er, you don’t have the complete Sword Manual yourself?”

“Only the first six pages,” Xing Rou’er replied, shaking her head.

“I have all ten pages! Heheheh! If Sister Rou’er wants it, I’ll give it to you right away!”

This sister had saved her life, and Ahoge Dragon felt that now was the opportune moment to repay her kindness.

“‘Ten pages…’ Xing Rou’er’s lips parted slightly, a clear sign of her astonishment.”

“Sword Manual, Seventh Page: ‘No Maiden Untouched, Become Divine’; Sword Manual, Eighth Page: ‘Swing Sword to Sever the Divine Self’; Sword Manual, Ninth Page: ‘Sensual Desire…’”

Lacking paper and pen, Ahoge Dragon could only recite the verses aloud.

However, no sooner had she finished two pages than a familiar, frosty voice resounded from behind them.

Yao Yueli, her face etched with fury, strode forward, seized Ahoge Dragon’s arm, and pulled her close.

“Big Sister? What’s wrong?” Ahoge Dragon questioned, utterly bewildered.

“You are the one who obstructed the Bright Moon reinforcements a year ago!”

Yao Yueli’s eyes blazed crimson as she spoke to Xing Rou’er. Ahoge Dragon’s arm throbbed faintly; the grip was incredibly tight!

“You are Yao Yueli,” Xing Rou’er stated blandly, as if devoid of all emotion.

“Why did you do that? Because of you… because of you… all my loved ones…”

“It was a transaction,” she replied with stark frankness.

“A transaction? With whom?”

“I cannot disclose that information!”

“It was the Bright Moon royal family, wasn’t it?”

“I cannot disclose that information.”

“Cannot disclose? Then I shall apprehend you!”

Yao Yueli’s fury reached its zenith. Drawing the Lightning Dragon Sword from her chest, she pointed its blade directly at Xing Rou’er.

“You are not my match.”

In response, Xing Rou’er did not even bother to draw her own sword.

“Whether I can defeat you or not, we shall see once we begin!”

Lightning crackled around Yao Yueli’s entire form, making her appear like a blossoming violet lotus.

“Ugh… Big Sister… no… please don’t… Sister Rou’er just saved me… don’t fight!”

Ahoge Dragon, once again prone to mischief, nevertheless tried her utmost to avert the impending battle.

Moreover, Xing Rou’er’s attacks were so unnervingly bizarre; she feared Yao Yueli would be gravely injured.