Chapter 61: Sword Slays Two Villains! Poison Arts!
That fleeting glance just now, the unmistakable feeling of being targeted—she knew she could no longer escape.
Even if she ran now, once he finished Yun Zhonghe, he would pursue her with ease.
There was no escape!
In a flash, she acted. Ye Erniang drew her longsword and charged forth.
Yet she did not rush to aid Yun Zhonghe against Fang Han—her direction was toward Cheng Lingsu and Zhong Ling!
She reckoned these two women must be dear to the man. If she could seize them as hostages, she might force him to hold back. With bargaining chips in hand, she could then find a way to maneuver…
The thought was fine, but after only a few steps, Ye Erniang’s face changed drastically.
She stumbled and fell hard to the ground, unable to keep her sword steady. Her limbs went weak, inner force faltering and broken, unable to gather at all.
Horror rose within her—
Poison! I’ve been poisoned!
But when? How!?
She prided herself on her experience and cunning, yet no matter how she racked her brain, she could not fathom how the poison entered her.
Barely mustering the strength to lift her head, she saw a woman in an indigo-blue dress walking toward her gracefully. That woman’s expression was calm, eyes cool as she regarded Ye Erniang.
“I advise you not to move. Otherwise… survival will be utterly impossible.”
It was Cheng Lingsu. Though not possessing profound inner strength, she was no weakling either. Raised in Yaowang Zhuang, her martial path was steeped in poisons and hidden weapons. Her ear for sound and sense of position were keen. Naturally, she had detected Ye Erniang’s lurking presence.
Seeing her rush toward Zhong Ling and herself, Cheng Lingsu understood her intent instantly. With a subtle use of poison, she had already immobilized Ye Erniang.
Ye Erniang heard this, terror in her eyes. Feeling her strength ebbing away, afraid the venom would reach her organs, she dared not stir.
Zhong Ling, curious as ever, came trotting over. Gazing at Ye Erniang pale and prone on the ground, she asked in wonder:
“Cheng-jiejie, what’s wrong with her?”
Cheng Lingsu’s tone was light:
“Nothing much. She is poisoned. Let her stay quiet.”
Though her words were mild, Zhong Ling inhaled sharply.
When did Cheng-jiejie strike? How did I not notice at all!?
Amazing!
But Cheng Lingsu paid her no mind, her gaze already turned back to Fang Han’s side.
Had Ye Erniang joined Yun Zhonghe, the two might well have broken free, or as she herself planned, seized hostages to force Fang Han’s hand.
But poisoned and helpless, she could do nothing.
Meanwhile Yun Zhonghe, after forcing his qīnggōng to flee earlier, was catching his breath. He thought surely Ye Erniang would aid him once he called.
But when the longsword struck again, no support came.
Rage flared within him!
Struggling to block several more blows, his peripheral vision caught sight of Ye Erniang lying motionless on the ground. His face blanched in horror.
What had happened!?
Was she… already dead!?
Startled, his movements faltered ever so slightly.
Fang Han’s eyes narrowed. What did he care about Yun Zhonghe’s shock? Seeing an opening, he thrust his sword instantly!
Yun Zhonghe had survived so long not by strength of martial arts, but by his unmatched qīnggōng. In truth, aside from a few clashes of weapon against weapon, all else was evasion.
No matter how sharp or fast Fang Han’s sword, if it could not strike, it was useless.
But now—distracted, his body slack—he was pierced clean through!
The blade plunged into his left chest. Yun Zhonghe’s eyes widened, blood gushing from his mouth.
Fang Han twisted the sword, utterly severing any chance of life.
At the same time, his other palm pressed upon Yun Zhonghe’s body—Beiming Shengong (Beiming Divine Art) flared to life!
In an instant, all of Yun Zhonghe’s dissipating inner force was drawn into Fang Han!
Already on death’s doorstep, Yun Zhonghe could not resist. The absorption was effortless. Even had he been at full strength, once Fang Han’s palm touched him, he would have lost his inner force all the same.
In less than two breaths, Yun Zhonghe’s inner force was drained entirely, stored within Fang Han’s Shanzhong acupoint.
Yun Zhonghe’s eyes dimmed, horror frozen within them. He could not fathom dying so, nor the terror of seeing his inner force reversed and sucked away.
【Utterly Vicious】Yun Zhonghe—slain!
Fang Han withdrew his sword, blood spraying across the floor.
Without sparing him another glance, Fang Han stepped lightly toward Ye Erniang. Seeing her whole body collapsed, complexion darkened from poison, he understood Cheng Lingsu’s work.
He praised:
“Lingsu, well done!”
Lowering himself, he placed his palm upon Ye Erniang’s shoulder. Once more, Beiming Shengong stirred, draining her inner force entirely.
Ye Erniang felt her power surge uncontrollably out of her body. Horror struck, she gasped:
“Huagong Dafa! It’s Huagong Dafa!? You—you are…”
But before she could finish, her force was gone, and weakened by poison, she could not even speak further.
“Ye Erniang, the one they call 【Wicked Beyond Measure】, is it?”
Fang Han’s voice was calm. His sword slowly leveled at her heart.
The woman who had slaughtered countless lives now trembled, face pale. Stammering, she begged:
“Yes… don’t kill me, spare me, spare…”
Clang!
The longsword pierced. Withdrawn, blood gushed forth.
【Wicked Beyond Measure】Ye Erniang—slain!
🍃🍃🍃