Chapter 38: The Emotionless Blade

“Why is Sister Rou’er fighting with someone?”

Ahoge Dragon had gone to great lengths to trick Gudou Toutian into coming along.

She had wanted to enjoy Gudou Ritien’s graceful and alluring dance moves.

Upon their arrival, however, they found a large crowd gathered tightly.

In the center, Xing Rou’er was locked in combat with a wolf-tribe youth who had ash-blue hair and a scar across his face.

Assisting the wolf-tribe youth from behind was a black-and-white-haired girl, none other than the little princess, Yue Yi.

It was to her that Gudou Toutian had confessed his feelings not long ago.

“Two against one!”

Ahoge Dragon felt a surge of injustice on Xing Rou’er’s behalf.

“That is Tailang from the Night Wolf Tribe. The Night Wolf Tribe and the Glimmering Moon Royal Family are very close. Little Ahoge, you must be careful if you ever encounter them.”

Mao Yuxia, who had been following Ahoge Dragon, meticulously introduced the wolf-tribe youth to her.

The Night Wolf Tribe. Finally, all members of the Four Great Families were present.

It was rare to see members of the Night Wolf Tribe in the Imperial Capital, as they were stationed year-round at the border.

Even their offspring were raised from a young age to fight and kill enemies on the battlefield alongside their parents.

Tailang appeared to be no older than fifteen or sixteen.

Compared to most people here, he was indeed very young, yet his strength had already reached three stars.

Moreover, he exuded an aura reminiscent of Gudou Toutian from a few days prior; it seemed he only needed a small catalyst to break through.

Ahoge Dragon, however, paid no mind to any of this, propping her chin on her hand with a disgruntled expression.

“Ugh… hurry up and finish! I want to watch dancing, who wants to see this?”

“Little Ahoge, battles don’t end so easily. These two are clearly here to test Xing Rou’er’s abilities. They won’t stop until they force out one or two of her techniques.”

“Little Ahoge, let’s watch carefully! We might encounter them later. During hunting activities, there’s often a need to contend with others.”

Mao Yuxia stared intently at the unfolding battle.

Believing her own combat skills to be lacking, she resolved to memorize the enemy’s attacks, hoping they might prove useful once the hunt began.

“Ugh… what’s the big deal! Sister Rou’er can effortlessly defeat a five-star Blood Elf without them even having a chance to retaliate. These two are nothing!”

Did Ahoge Dragon not understand Xing Rou’er’s true strength? She simply felt utterly disdainful.

“Meow! Easily defeat a five-star Blood Elf! Little Ahoge, are you sure you’re not mistaken?”

Hearing this, Mao Yuxia’s tail stiffened in alarm, and she poked Ahoge Dragon, utterly incredulous.

“She’s incredibly strong!” Gudou Toutian nodded, recalling how he had challenged Xing Rou’er two days prior after capturing a Blood Elf.

He had been defeated beyond all complaint.

“Sister Rou’er, hurry up! They’re just a female toad and a little puppy, aren’t they? You can easily deal with them.”

“Finish it quickly! We still have a dance to watch later!”

“Growing impatient, Ahoge Dragon shouted her urging.”

Her obnoxious and insulting words instantly drew the gazes of many onlookers.

They wanted to see which ill-mannered, reckless fool dared to insult their adorable little princess here.

Upon seeing her, ‘Oh ho~~ it’s that incredibly obnoxious lizard monster!’

Never mind, never mind. This fellow even dares to provoke the Empress; she’s not someone to mess with, not someone to mess with.

“That lizard monster! This princess… this princess will skin her alive!”

‘A female toad, what in the world? Princess Yue Yi has never been insulted like this before!’

“Princess, do not be angry. Engaging her now would be a loss if the Empress were to punish us.”

Tailang restrained Yue Yi, who was about to erupt, his eyes glowing with a sinister green light as he fixed his gaze on Ahoge Dragon, like a predator sizing up its prey.

“It’s my imperial brother’s plan… Hmph! You’d better succeed!”

Yue Yi gnashed her teeth in fury, yet she also believed that Ahoge Dragon and her companions were doomed.

Her imperial brother’s plan was flawless; she would simply let this foolish creature revel for a while longer!

Thus, she turned her gaze to Xing Rou’er, a flicker of anger still burning in her heart.

She would vent all her frustrations on her!

“You wish to end this quickly? Very well then! This princess will now unleash her full power; I refuse to believe you can block it all!”

“Tailang! Prepare to activate your demonic runes!”

“Princess, using this move now will affect our hunting tomorrow.”

Tailang thought Yue Yi had gone mad! Why use such a powerful ultimate move in a sparring match?

“Less chatter! The moment we arrived here, the hunt began! Show this princess your most formidable strength!”

Yue Yi completely ignored him, continuing her commands.

Tailang, too, could only resign himself.

With a resounding “Awooo~~,” he howled like a wolf king at the moon above.

A silvery-white demonic rune appeared on his forehead.

The rune expanded, absorbing the moonlight.

Simultaneously, the rune covered his entire body and his wolf claw magical artifact.

This was the same principle as Yao Yueli’s demonic runes; they could enhance a person’s strength.

Different races experienced varying effects from their demonic runes.

The Night Wolf Tribe’s demonic runes allowed them to absorb the moon’s power and convert it into their own strength.

Furthermore, a silvery-white armor formed on the surface of their bodies.

However, the moonlight that night was not particularly bright, and Tailang’s absorption was slow.

Sometimes, when obscured by clouds, it became unusable.

“Moonlight! Blind them all!”

Yet, in the next instant, Yue Yi clasped her hands before her chest. Half of her silvery-white hair billowed, then coalesced into a dazzling crescent moon.

This was an innate ability of the Glimmering Moon family. Her hair formed a crescent moon, releasing a silvery-white light that not only allowed Tailang to absorb it.

Moreover, Xing Rou’er, looking at the blinding moonlight, felt a headache begin to throb.

This was a mental attack.

Incidentally, Ahoge Dragon had also awakened mental magic after absorbing a moon crystal.

However, mental magic was exceedingly rare, and Yao Yueli had yet to procure any for Ahoge Dragon.

“Little Ahoge? Are you dizzy? I feel so awful, meow~~”

“Mmm mmm mmm~~ Who am I? Where am I?”

Mao Yuxia supported Ahoge Dragon, realizing that Ahoge Dragon was also swaying precariously, no better off than herself.

This moonlight was undoubtedly an area-of-effect attack, and an incredibly powerful one at that; a significant portion of the onlookers clutched their heads.

If even the residual effects caused such agony, one could only imagine the immense damage Xing Rou’er must be suffering, directly struck by the moonlight like a laser.

Tailang, now fully charged, had transformed into a silver figure.

His speed was astonishing, reaching Xing Rou’er in an instant.

He swung his wolf claw magical artifact, but she raised her sword to block.

However, Tailang swiftly darted behind Xing Rou’er, intending to stab his weapon into her back.

Nevertheless, Xing Rou’er maintained her composed demeanor, merely experiencing a slight headache.

She could certainly endure it.

Still, this Tailang actually intended to deliver a fatal blow.

She decided she couldn’t let him succeed.

“Sword Manual, Sixth Page: The Emotionless.”

Xing Rou’er stood motionless as Tailang’s attack struck her body with perfect precision.

Yet, what did he hit?

Something incredibly hard. Was this truly a human body?

Tailang had grown up fighting on battlefields.

After freezing for less than a tenth of a second, he moved again, thrusting his weapon towards her side.

Yet, the result remained the same.

“Don’t bother, you cannot break my defense. Sword Manual, Third Page: Every Blade Strikes Cupid!”

Xing Rou’er simply swung her sword, clashing with Tailang’s magical artifact with unerring accuracy.

Tailang felt as if he had been struck by a meteor, sent flying a considerable distance.

Like the Dugu Nine Swords of the Gudou family, it was an incredibly domineering strike!

“Your Sixth Page of the Sword Manual, it enhances defense, doesn’t it! Cough, cough, cough!”

Tailang scrambled awkwardly to his feet from the ground.

Though he had lost, forcing Xing Rou’er to reveal this technique felt like a victory.

“No, it’s complete defense.” Xing Rou’er shook her head, not at all bothered, but rather corrected him.

“Complete defense? Are you even human?!”

Yue Yi couldn’t believe it; how could such an outlandish sword manual exist?

Xing Rou’er gazed skyward, her eyes as serene as the bottom of a well, and softly said:

“Sword Manual, Sixth Page: The Emotionless.”