The evening light was poor, and for fear that those hidden in the shadows couldn't see clearly, what shone wasn't just a blade but also sandalwood gold.

The glow of the sandalwood gold illuminated Xun Lingyin's face clearly.

The sword was drawn, and a man had fallen; Shi Chun didn't believe anyone could still misunderstand the situation.

The people lurking in the shadows finally realized something was wrong, fearing their target might get away, they all suddenly revealed themselves.

Chao Zhilin of the Su Yuan Sect, alongside Mao Zhong and Zhu Ze from Yuanjian Palace, descended from above, forming a "品" shape as they surrounded Shi Chun and his two companions in the middle.

Upon recognizing that it was indeed Shi Chun and others, Chao Zhilin landed and was about to attack.

"Brother Chao," Mao Zhong urgently shouted, simultaneously making a pushing hand gesture to stop his impulse,"Below the sword is Junior Xun."

The sword Shi Chun held pointed exactly at Xun Lingyin's throat, with the sandalwood gold illuminating the hint of a smile on his own face, a look that dared them to try and see whether his sword was faster, or if they could strike first.

Of course, the smile also concealed a murderous intent, one that Chao Zhilin had seen before. At this moment, conspiring with those of Yuanjian Palace in this ambush, it was unnecessary to say more – the unfortunate event had truly unfolded, that bastard Hu Yan had really betrayed them.

Seeing a hostage taken immediately upon their arrival, Wu Jinliang chuckled and asked, "Just three people to ambush us?"

He knew of Shi Chun's right eye's superpower, and his question was directed at Shi Chun.

To outsiders, it might seem like he was belittling Chao Zhilin and the other two.

Shi Chun grunted affirmatively in response.

Just three people—this settled Wu Jinliang's nerves a bit, and he chuckled again, the back of his broadsword thumping against his shoulder, conveying an uneasy sensation.

Shi Chun put away the sandalwood gold and, under the watchful eyes of everyone, calmly bent down to pull Xun Lingyin back to his feet, the edge of the blade never leaving the neck of Xun Lingyin.

It was clear they were using a hostage to make threats.

Chao Zhilin really didn't want to be threatened and take action directly, nor could he disregard the face of Yuanjian Palace, but he couldn't help exploding angrily, "What the hell is Hu Yan playing at, he said three people were enough, three were enough, can't he understand that?"

It was nearly an outright insult of idiocy; they were perfectly ambushed here, and yet they had inadvertently delivered a hostage right into their hands, allowing themselves to be caught in a vulnerable spot—what sort of nonsense was this?

Whether or not to succumb to this threat, he had already made a decision in his heart. If it could be resolved, then resolve it; if not, he would take action, as he had no concern for Xun Lingyin's fate, nothing was more important than silencing them right now.

Whatever blame he'd incur, he could bear it afterward; in any case, they couldn't let Wang Sheng and others escape.

Zhu Ze called out, "Junior Xun, are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Shi Chun helped answer, then whispered in Xun Lingyin's ear, "Brother Xun, do you think they care about your life or death?"

As he spoke, a short blade dropped from his sleeve into his hand, blade upwards, placed under Xun Lingyin's armpit, threatening everyone, "Gentlemen, please back off and let us pass, or else I'll start by severing one of his arms."

Although the words were threatening, they carried an indifferent, teasing tone, almost playful.

Xiang Laner, who was subconsciously standing back to back with Wu Jinliang, couldn't help but look back at him, trying to discern whether his nonchalance was just an act or genuine.

After all, this scene of holding a hostage was not unfamiliar to her.

Mao Zhong exclaimed, "You dare!"

Swoosh! With a flash of the blade, blood spurted out.

There was nothing he didn't dare to do; the short blade had instantly severed Xun Lingyin's left arm at the shoulder, the pain causing his face to twitch uncontrollably, leaving him unable to move or speak.

An arm was lost just like that; his inner desolation was beyond words, knowing that with the conditions in the West Pole, there was no way to reattach it. He was maimed.

"Stop!" Zhu Ze's shout was too late.

"You!" Mao Zhong was both shocked and furious.

Shi Chun raised the short blade to Xun Lingyin's throat, withdrawing the right hand's sword and placing its edge under Xun Lingyin's crotch, "I've always found the Su Yuan Sect displeasing to the eye, and you know it. Expecting you to capture Chao to save your junior brother, I reckon you wouldn't do it. In your eyes, your junior brother's life is not worth risking yours, am I wrong?

Let's make the terms lighter. If any of you just gives Chao a resounding slap, I'll release your junior brother. Otherwise, I'll sever one of his legs. One slap for one leg—fair trade, right?"

The words were still so casually spoken, even somewhat languid.

But they made Xun Lingyin shiver with fear, as he looked at his two senior brothers with a glimmer of hopeful expectation.

Yet his two senior brothers looked at Chao Zhilin instead, not actually with the intention to slap him, but because Shi Chun's bizarre rhetoric had scrambled their thoughts.

Chao Zhilin sneered, "Don't listen to his nonsense. Brothers, be clear-headed; he will not release your junior brother."

Shi Chun replied, "Whether I will release him or not, trying is the only way to know—it's just a slap."

This was not about a slap; it was clearly nonsense, perhaps a ploy to buy time. Chao Zhilin decisively said, "Brother Mao, Brother Zhu, brother Xun cannot speak or move; a glance tells me he has been poisoned and is beyond save. It is not because you didn't rescue him, but he is already dead. I will vouch for both of you afterwards!"

Zhu Ze and Mao Zhong were terrified.

"This is your fellow sect brother!" Shi Chun's cold laugh rang in Xun Lingyin's ears like a nightmare seizing the soul.

Without hesitation, his hand flickered with blade light under the moon, and blood was flung out.

Xun Lingyin's leg collapsed to the ground, blood pouring out, the pain almost making him faint, and the despair and agony in his eyes were indescribable.

This scene made Mao Zhong and Zhu Ze's teeth ache in empathy.

"Take it for your own protection."

Immediately after his strike, Shi Chun casually pushed Xun Lingyin toward Xiang Laner behind him.

The reason was none other than Xiang Laner being the weakest in cultivation among them. With a hostage to protect herself, she could last until their fight was over.

Xiang Laner was unceremonious, quickly hooking her claw around Xun Lingyin's throat and dragging him in front of her as a shield.

As a hostage was taken, Shi Chun called out, "Get moving!"

He waved his knife, pointed in a direction, and charged out.

Wu Jinliang immediately raised his blade and followed, the two not aiming to spread out, but rather rushing towards Chao Zhilin together, hoping to join forces and eliminate one opponent first.

Unexpectedly, Chao Zhilin did not play into their hands but suddenly leaped up, soaring over the heads of the two rushing towards him, and directly lunged at Xiang Laner.

His intention was simple—to avoid Mao Zhong and Zhu Ze being wary of harming their own, fearing that if he got entangled, Xiang Laner might use the hostage to escape.

Therefore, he decisively acted to be the villain himself, intending to directly kill Xun Lingyin, thus freeing Mao Zhong and Zhu Ze to deal with Wang Sheng and Gao Qiang.

Naturally, he could also take out Xiang Laner in the process.

Not a single captive could be left alive; they all had to be dealt with!

Both Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang were shocked, not expecting Chao Zhilin to pull such a move, truly underestimating the heroes of this world. They instantly realized Xiang Laner's life was in danger, knowing her Initial Martial cultivation couldn't possibly block Chao Zhilin of the High Martial Upper Realm.

The two panicked and turned around, but a single misstep was already too late to correct.

Mao Zhong and Zhu Ze were also shocked, instantly realizing Chao Zhilin's intentions, and neither had expected Chao Zhilin's first move to be to kill one of their own.

They wanted to shout out to stop him but felt as if something was stuck in their throats, unable to cry out.

Then, as if they hadn't seen anything, both focused on Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang and rushed towards the two.

Xun Lingyin was injured and under control, but not yet dead. His basic monk senses were still intact. Seeing his senior brothers' reaction, a bleakness flashed through the eyes filled with pain.

Chao Zhilin's actions took everyone by surprise, startling almost everyone.

Only the typically taciturn Xiang Laner seemed unfazed, listening to the location of the sounds, slightly tilting her head to watch as someone leaped at her, responding with calm, cold eyes.

As Chao Zhilin hurtled through the air with his sword aimed at her, she seemed to feign movement while restraining Xun Lingyin.

Chao Zhilin only felt a blur before his eyes, his target seemingly shifting, but remaining in the original spot. Not caring about the details, he thought to kill first and ask later. His fierce sword swung down, perfectly striking the target, piercing through both.

But he felt no satisfaction of a hit; there was no substantial feeling of a strike, as if he had hit nothing, and his mind was thrown into chaos. It was as if something had blinded him, his vision enveloping in darkness.

He was indeed covered by something; his whole body had plunged into a cloak, Xiang Laner's motley cloak sewn from miscellaneous pieces of clothing.

He charged headfirst into it, his face covered as he passed through.

Xiang Laner, still holding Xun Lingyin, seemed to be in the fog, or perhaps she had never moved. With an understated side-step, she narrowly avoided Chao Zhilin's charge, the wind raising her hair and veiling her cold, frowning face.

At some point, her cloak had been removed.

Her free hand also moved, seemingly raising lightly to deliver an elbow strike to the side-stepped Chao Zhilin, striking him squarely in the back. With a spring of her elbow, she followed with another palm strike to his back.

Two thuds resonated, like consecutive cannon shots.

Chao Zhilin, who had just pulled off his cloak, thickened his neck as a rush of blood spurted out, and he flew out with bulging eyes, his sword slipping from his grasp.

As he was flung midair, he was suddenly dragged back.

He was entwined by a dragon or python-like black mist, the other end held by Xiang Laner, who with a gentle tug sent him flying towards her.

Struggling within the entanglement, his flailing hand fell into Xiang Laner's five claws.

Her five fingers twisted abruptly, like twisting hemp, shredding Chao Zhilin's hand from palm to arm, spraying blood along the way. The gruesome process left no blood on her, and her hand reached casually to Chao Zhilin's neck, grasping the back of it like she was holding a dog, pushing him to kneel before her.

The frantic and unwilling Chao Zhilin could never have dreamed such a turn of events. He tried to struggle but was filled by the black mist coiling around him, which entered his mouth and nose. His body trembled as his eyes rolled back, and eventually, his head bowed, he lay subdued at Xiang Laner's feet.

The black mist that trapped him silently slipped into Xiang Laner's sleeve, vanishing without a trace.

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