Chapter 27: Desperate Stand

“You dare to hit my woman?!” I roared.

Seeing Ye Ying pinned to the wall, my heart ached. She was shocked by my sudden appearance, but the moment she heard what came out of my mouth, her face instantly darkened.

“Hmph!” The Sword God let out a low grunt. My punch knocked him back a few steps, but he immediately steadied himself, half-lidded eyes fixed on me. “You? I let you live, and you dare come back?”

“I may be weak, but I’m no coward!” I shouted at him, then immediately turned to Ye Ying. “Ye Ying! Are you alright?”

“Cough… why did you come back? Didn’t I tell you to get help?” Ye Ying’s voice was weak.

“I called. They’ll be here soon. What about you? How can I help you?” I asked anxiously, pained to see her pinned like that.

“Pull the sword out of me,” she said weakly.

“Okay.” I immediately stepped forward to pull the sword, but the moment I moved, I felt a terrifying killing intent from behind!

I turned around, abandoning the idea of helping Ye Ying for now.

“Looks like I can’t help you until I deal with him,” I muttered, staring at the source of the murderous aura.

“You’re no match for him…” Ye Ying’s voice came from behind.

“…” I was silent. I knew that all too well—I had witnessed this man’s power before.

“Hold on… I’m fine. If you can hold out until Xiyuan and the others arrive, we’ll be saved.” Ye Ying’s voice was gentle—I’d never heard her speak like that before.

“Be careful.”

“Got it.” I waved my hand at her without turning around. “Leave it to me.”

I looked at Zhao Jiansheng, and he looked back at me. His murderous intent had vanished, but he was like a sheathed sword ready to be drawn—hidden yet lethal.

“Kid, honestly, I admire you. In this day and age, someone willing to stand up for others—it’s rare. If you weren’t a monster threatening society, I’d actually like to be friends with you…”

Zhao Jiansheng suddenly looked up at the starry sky, speaking to me. I didn’t know what memories he was recalling—a man with a past.

I was taken aback. I never expected him to say such things. “A monster threatening society, huh… Heh, if it weren’t for that, I suppose we’d never have crossed paths…”

“Different paths, no common goal. Time to go!” His face turned cold. With two broken ribs, he couldn’t afford to drag this out.

He planned to finish me quickly.

“I know no one expects much from me. I’m fully aware… but I still have a reason to fight!” I steadied myself, ready for battle. “Come on!”

“I’ll make this quick. I won’t hold back… Despair Three-Strike Slash…” The Sword God kicked off the ground and transformed into three black sword lights, charging straight at me!

This move again! I can’t dodge it! I have to take it head-on. Otherwise, he’ll instantly bypass me and reach Ye Ying!

Awaken Serpent Eyes! The chilling sensation spread through my body, along with the excitement! Pain could ignite my blood. I raised my arms to defend against the incoming sword lights.

“Shink! Shink! Shink!” All three strikes landed. But unlike usual, they didn’t just cut—they pierced three bloody holes in my body!

“Ngh—” I groaned in pain.

“Huh?” Zhao Jiansheng was slightly surprised. No one had ever taken his attack like that. He didn’t bypass me—he stopped right in front of me.

I threw a punch straight at his face!

“Enjoying the slash? Take this, you bastard!” I shouted.

But he dodged in an instant. His smile was gone; his face turned serious. Reversing his grip, he slashed a cross-shaped strike at point-blank range.

“Clang!” Little Spider’s sting blocked one strike, but the other cut from my shoulder across my chest.

“Cough—” Blood surged in my throat. I spat a mouthful of blood at his face.

“You—you’re asking for death!” The Sword God caught the blood full in the face. Disgusted, he was enraged.

Instantly, countless sword lights exploded before me, black lights flickering.

“Shink! Shink! Shink! Shink! Shink! Shink! Shink! Shink! Shink! Shink…” Countless tiny bloody holes appeared all over my body.

“Ugh—”

“Xiaobai!” Ye Ying screamed. From her angle, she could only see my back, the black sword lights flashing rapidly in front of me, my body trembling as I endured the assault.

“Clang!” Zhao Jiansheng ended with a powerful backhand slash, forming an X-shaped wound on my body, matching his earlier strike.

I was struck by dozens of swords. Apart from my head, every inch of my body was mangled, especially my chest, which was a bloody mess.

“Aaaah!” I shouted, kicking him in the stomach, though my strength was fading. Weak as it was, I was still a monster—it had some effect.

“Still struggling?” Zhao Jiansheng stepped back, staring coldly at me with a few beads of sweat. He must be in pain too, I thought.

But I wasn’t just in pain. With all these sword wounds, if not for my thick skin and strong regeneration, I’d be dead. Too much blood loss. The pain overwhelmed my brain. My consciousness blurred, dizziness hit. I couldn’t hold on—I was about to collapse.

My legs gave way, my eyes lost focus, and I crashed headfirst to the ground.

“Xiaobai! Xiaobai?!” Ye Ying cried out. But she was helpless. She tried to pull the sword with her hand, but as soon as her fingers touched the hilt, they were burned, smoking. The entire sword was made of silver—even the hilt.

Zhao Jiansheng looked at her coldly. Stepping over my prone body, he said ruthlessly, “Your turn…”

“Damn it!” She grabbed the hilt, her hand smoking continuously, but the sword wouldn’t budge. “Aaaaaah! Move!”

“Is this going to be like ten years ago, when I could only watch my family die, powerless?” she cried, tears streaming down her face.

The Sword God walked toward her step by step.

Hearing Ye Ying’s cries, I snapped out of my dizziness. I saw her tears! Damn it, my whole body hurt and I couldn’t move. The only thing I could do was…

“Stop!” I grabbed his ankle with the only hand that could still move.

“…” Suddenly tugged, the Sword God had to stop. He looked down at me. “Let go,” he said coldly.

But all he saw were those stubborn, deep yellow serpent eyes and one bloodshot normal eye.

Seeing those eyes, he paused for a moment, as if recalling something. But only for a moment. He twirled his sword and drove it straight through my back with a backhand thrust.

“Ahh! Kill me, but I won’t let go!” It hurt.

“Xiao… bai?!” I barely heard her trembling voice.

Zhao Jiansheng yanked the black sword out, causing a gush of blood. I had thought I was gripping him tightly, but he easily shook me off with a flick of his foot.

He glanced at me, then ignored me and walked toward Ye Ying.

“Bastard! Look at me! Don’t go!” I roared, though my voice was weak. I struggled to stand.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Jiansheng spun around and slashed my neck. Then I crashed to the ground again, pressing my hands to my neck to stop the bleeding, staring wide-eyed at Ye Ying behind him.

“Huff… huff…” Zhao Jiansheng panted heavily. The broken ribs were taking their toll. He squinted at the man on the ground, his sword hand trembling slightly. This man…

Had actually shaken his long-held beliefs.

He had been hunting masqueraders for years. Most were outlaws—monsters bringing only destruction, death, and chaos, malignant tumors threatening human society.

Zhao Jiansheng stood still, lost in thought. No further action.

No! His faith could not be shaken! He stopped trembling. The scourge must not be left alive.

With that, he prepared to deliver the finishing blow.

“Hehe~” Ye Ying suddenly revealed a sinister smile.

“What are you smiling about?” Zhao Jiansheng stopped, puzzled.

“Sword God Zhao Jiansheng… you win today, but one day… we will kill you,” Ye Ying said fiercely.

“Even now you still have a smart mouth—” Before he could finish, a lightning-fast figure attacked from his side.

But Zhao Jiansheng reacted quickly, spinning and slashing with his sword.

“Clang!” The black sword collided with a sharp claw. He focused his gaze—before him stood a half-beastman. Its upper body and arms were covered in black beast fur, its head topped with white hair. Most striking were its arms, ending in razor-sharp claws like curved blades.

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