Chapter 37: A Night Raid on the Eight Sects

With the plan for a night raid on the Eight Great Sects finalized, the Demonic Sect immediately dispatched a hundred highly skilled disciples to accompany the Left and Right Protectors out of the valley.

As midnight approached, the inky sky held neither moon nor stars. Gusts of fierce wind swept through, carrying faint, swirling howls.

The atmosphere was profoundly solemn, truly a night where the moon was dark, the wind high, and murder was afoot.

Just before their departure, Ji Wushuang personally came to the sect gates to see them off. He leaned in, gazing into his beloved disciple’s eyes, and earnestly instructed, “Be careful. If you are injured, do not let anyone approach you rashly.”

“Your disciple understands. Master, please rest assured and await my return,” Shui Jingxuan replied with a light, clear laugh, his demeanor utterly relaxed, as if he didn’t consider the young masters of the Eight Great Sects a threat at all.

Ji Wushuang smiled along with his disciple, watching him walk away until he was out of sight.

Wolf Girl bowed to Ji Wushuang before soaring through the forest. Occasionally, she cast a profoundly complex gaze at her junior brother.

Every time they ventured out for training, her master would reiterate the same instructions, just as he had now, and her junior brother would invariably reassure him.

Initially, she hadn’t thought much of it, but having gained a slight understanding of worldly affairs and especially after the last incident, she now comprehended.

Her junior brother held such immense importance in her master’s heart, and she was merely a foil.

While Wolf Girl’s thoughts drifted, the group had already stealthily approached the Eight Great Sects’ encampment. From a distance, they could see the orange-red bonfires flickering in the wind, and a faint scent of smoke and dust reached their noses.

“Stop!” Wolf Girl leaped onto a branch, gesturing to the sect members behind her. “I’ll sneak in first. You will breach the outer perimeter. Remember, be cautious. Don’t alert them prematurely.”

Instead of responding, the sect members collectively looked towards the Left Protector.

“Senior Sister, it’s very dangerous for you to go in alone. Why don’t I accompany you?” Shui Jingxuan smiled faintly. “As for the perimeter, let Azhuang and Black Tiger lead the charge, shall we?”

These two were his chosen future Left and Right Protectors of the Demonic Sect, and now was naturally the time to give them an opportunity to prove themselves.

Without waiting for Wolf Girl’s reply, the sect members immediately clasped their hands and pledged, “We shall obey the Left Protector’s command.”

These individuals usually followed Shui Jingxuan’s every command. Seeing Wolf Girl usurp his task, they felt a subtle indignation.

Furthermore, Wolf Girl was typically free-spirited, aloof, and lacked the sense of responsibility expected of a member of the heterodox faction, earning their disdain. Even as the Right Protector, they refused to show her any deference.

Wolf Girl had intended to shake off her junior brother, but he had cut her off. Seeing that the sect members completely disregarded her orders, her expression stiffened. Ultimately, she could not act alone. She merely nodded and murmured, “Alright, then let’s go in.”

Both figures soared towards the camp with extreme speed, like two fleeting afterimages. Moments later, they landed silently on a towering tree beside the encampment.

Inside, the elite disciples remained completely oblivious, still gathered around the bonfire, eating, drinking, and chatting boisterously.

The most animated among them were a group of young Wudang disciples, each vying to speak, describing how they would deal with Wolf Girl, specifically which moves they would use to kill her. The other seven sects chimed in, and the crowd burst into laughter at the height of their excitement.

Due to her aversion to constraints, Wolf Girl often ventured out of the valley with her wolf pack, killing members of the Eight Sects whenever she encountered them.

Unbeknownst to her, her reputation as the ‘demonic woman’ had spread far and wide. Shui Jingxuan, however, focused on martial arts and rarely left the sect except for necessary training. Thus, despite his exceptional martial prowess, he remained an unknown figure to the Eight Great Sects.

Listening to the unbearable insults below, Wolf Girl’s face grew stern, and killing intent gradually coalesced in her eyes. Noticing Zhuo Yihang’s absence from the crowd, her heart eased slightly. She reached for the long whip coiled around her waist, preparing to strike.

“Wait a moment longer. Let’s see if anyone else arrives,” Shui Jingxuan whispered through a secret sound transmission, stopping her. ‘If we are to act, we should wait until the male lead makes his appearance. Only then will there be a proper show. If I remember correctly, Zhuo Yihang will soon arrive, heavily intoxicated.’

Upon hearing this, Wolf Girl, thinking that Zhuo Yihang could appear at any moment, immediately released her grip on the long whip.

Sure enough, just as a Wudang disciple was gesticulating wildly, describing how he would hack Wolf Girl into mincemeat, Zhuo Yihang arrived, swaying, reeking of alcohol, and carrying a longsword.

Hearing the disciple’s insulting words, he was enraged.

He fiercely hurled his longsword to the ground before them, where it pierced the earth three inches deep with a ‘clink,’ startling everyone.

“Zhuo Yihang, have you lost your mind? Master made you the commander, and not only do you shirk your duties, but you come back completely drunk? What do you think you’re doing?” He Luhua, Immortal Baiyun’s daughter and Zhuo Yihang’s senior disciple sister, stood up and shrieked.

“What do I think I’m doing? I want to ask you what you think you’re doing? Why must we kill the heterodox faction? They are human, just like us!” Zhuo Yihang leaned crookedly against a pillar, his eyes hazy with intoxication, his words slurred as he questioned them.

“Because they are the heterodox faction, they deserve to die! Those not of our kind are sure to have different hearts—I shouldn’t have to teach you this principle!” He Luhua retorted sharply.

Shui Jingxuan pointed at Zhuo Yihang, transmitting a secret message to Wolf Girl.

‘Alright,’ she thought, ‘if my junior brother develops a good impression of him, he might not strike a fatal blow.’ She was about to echo his words when her junior brother suddenly chuckled softly, then swiftly flew into the camp.

He landed, hands clasped behind his back, and laughed aloud, “Haha, ‘those not of our kind are sure to have different hearts’—I’m returning that phrase to you, completely unchanged. Because you are Central Plains people, therefore—”

“It’s you! You truly are a member of the Demonic Sect! And that young lady? Did she come too?” Seeing the youth, Zhuo Yihang’s eyes lit up. He stepped forward and asked.

Wolf Girl had intended to respond to his question but immediately froze, a faint sense of trepidation rising within her. Righteous and demonic factions were irreconcilable. Could she truly kill him?

“What young lady?” He Luhua seized Zhuo Yihang’s arm and demanded fiercely. When Zhuo Yihang disgustedly shook her off, she knew this was not the time for jealousy.

Her face full of malice, she looked at Shui Jingxuan and spoke disdainfully, “What kind of nobody are you? To dare challenge our Eight Great Sects alone? You have a death wish!”

“Whether I have a death wish, we’ll find out after we fight,” Shui Jingxuan raised an eyebrow, drew the sword from his waist, and pointed it at Zhuo Yihang, slowly speaking,

“You are Wudang’s senior disciple, Zhuo Yihang, correct? I hear you are an unparalleled sword genius. Take up your sword and spar with me. Do you dare?”

‘No!’ Wolf Girl stood rigidly in the tree, screaming inwardly.

“Do you even deserve to challenge my senior brother? Attack him, dismember him!” He Luhua laughed scornfully, commanding the Wudang disciples behind her.

Five men responded, drawing their swords and fiercely attacking Shui Jingxuan. Zhuo Yihang knew the youth’s martial arts must be formidable.

He reached out to stop them, but due to his drunkenness, his movements were sluggish, and he was a step too late.

“Mere ants daring to provoke me. Your courage is commendable, so I shall grant you a quick death.” Shui Jingxuan sneered, lightly flicking his sleeve, and unleashed a palm wind.

The five men were instantly sent flying, spitting blood, landing several feet away. Their eyes rolled, their heads lolled, and they immediately breathed their last.

In an instant, five elite Wudang disciples were annihilated. The youth’s movements were effortless, requiring no exertion, demonstrating the extraordinary level of his martial arts.

‘Even Senior Brother Zhuo might not be able to withstand him,’ the disciples of the Eight Sects collectively thought, their faces showing signs of retreat.

He Luhua was horrified, but driven by a surge of ferocity, she still charged forward. Before she could even get close to the youth, she was easily sent flying by him.

She landed on the ground, disheveled, spitting blood, looking utterly wretched—a stark contrast to her previous arrogance.

Had Shui Jingxuan not recalled that Wolf Girl would be injured by her sneak attack, subsequently carried away by Zhuo Yihang, and develop a relationship in the water cave, he would have already turned her into a corpse.

“Don’t hurt them. I’ll fight you.” Seeing his fellow disciples slaughtered, Zhuo Yihang gritted his teeth, seized his sword, and lunged at the youth.

The two clashed with a clang, exchanging several dozen blows in an instant. Zhuo Yihang’s brows were tightly furrowed, his face grim, and his sword-wielding wrist trembled from the opponent’s powerful internal energy.

Yet, the youth smiled with an air of nonchalance, his sword light flashing with the ease of a leisurely stroll.

Seeing that Senior Brother Zhuo was clearly outmatched, the disciples of the Eight Sects wanted to help, but suddenly, many members of the heterodox faction emerged from the camp, raising their blades and ferociously hacking at them.

Wolf Girl’s face showed anxiety, still hesitating whether to descend, but then she saw Zhuo Yihang being relentlessly pressed by her junior brother, almost losing his ability to parry.

In the camp, Shui Jingxuan’s eyes turned cold. He raised his sword and sliced off a few strands of Zhuo Yihang’s forehead hair, teasing,

“You’d better pay attention. I’m getting serious now. Soon, it will be your head I cut off, not just your hair.” With that, he curled his lips, his smile particularly wicked.

Wolf Girl could no longer hide. She raised her whip and swiftly moved towards the two, positioning herself in front of her junior brother. “Junior Brother,” she said coldly, “let me handle him.”

‘Finally out!’ Shui Jingxuan sighed inwardly. He nodded at Wolf Girl, then deftly turned and went to fight elsewhere.

“Young lady, it’s you!” Seeing Wolf Girl, Zhuo Yihang’s expression was greatly agitated. He pointed to his own nose and asked, “Do you still remember me? We met in that cave that day.”

Wolf Girl remained expressionless, offering no reply.

“Young lady, I don’t want to fight you. We shouldn’t be killing each other.” Zhuo Yihang loosened his grip on his sword.

Wolf Girl fixed her gaze, raising her whip and stating fiercely, “You are a Central Plains person, so I must kill you! Hold onto your sword!”

With that, she swiftly attacked Zhuo Yihang. Each move seemed ruthless, yet she left three inches of leeway.

Zhuo Yihang quickly brandished his sword, but only defended, unwilling to attack. One fought, one evaded, and they quickly moved deeper into the dense forest.

He Luhua, who had been constantly observing her junior brother’s movements, noticed the unusual atmosphere between the two upon their meeting and quietly followed them.

Casually dispatching the ‘ants’ around him, Shui Jingxuan looked in the direction the three had gone, his brow slightly raised. He mused, ‘After tonight, Wolf Girl will betray the sect. My gleaming golden homestead will finally be within my grasp.’

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