"Brother Zhuo… you're back?" Xue Ningxiang was so weak that her eyes were now dead voids. But she forced herself to show a smile, to ease everyone's minds. They all knew she wasn't long for this world.
Hum~
Zhuo Fan released his Discerning Field. He shook for a moment and gnashed his teeth.
"Ning'er's essence…" Zhuo Fan's hands tightened, "How long?"
Chu Qingcheng spoke dully, "Three days…"
Taking a deep breath, Zhuo Fan closed his eyes. He felt something warm flowing down his face.
Once essence left the body, it had to be returned in maximum one day for the person to be saved. With three days passing, even if he had the power to return it, he couldn't save her.
Xue Ningxiang understood his pain and smiled, like everything would be alright, "Big brother Zhuo, you said you'd come for me five days later. You didn't lie to me. You came back."
Xue Ningxiang struggled to raise her hand, the Thunder Ring flickering on her finger, "Big brother Zhuo, you held our promise."
Listening to her faint and concerned voice, Zhuo Fan still kept his eyes shut. He was afraid that after looking at her, he wouldn't be able to take it, his heart giving in to the flooding emotions.
Then Zhuo Fan forced those impulses down, achieving calm. He opened his tranquil eyes, his voice plain, "Ning'er, I was late. I…"
"Big brother Zhuo, it's alright. You weren't late. To me, today is the fifth day." Xue Ningxiang said to him, "Big brother Zhuo, will you touch your ring to mine and fulfill our promise?"
Zhuo Fan drew closer to the weakened girl, showing his flickering Thunder Ring.
Xue Ningxiang could not see, but the sound reaching her ears made her show a smile, "Big brother Zhuo, I know you must be feeling guilty, but it wasn't your fault. I believe you were just as taken by their schemes as we were by their ambush. I do not blame you. They even said they came to kill me for you. I am happy. This proves big brother Zhuo cares about me the most for them to pay attention to a girl like me."
Tightening his hands, Zhuo Fan fell silent, but his eyes exploded in rage.
"Brother Tianyang, didn't you want to touch rings as well? What are you waiting for? I don't have much time. I still long to hear our three rings flicker." Xue Ningxiang smiled at Xie Tianyang.
Xie Tianyang's heart was consumed by grief, tears flooding his eyes as he touched his ring to the other two.
The three Thunder Rings let out a bright light and intense crackling. Xue Ningxiang closed her eyes, at peace, "I wish we could return to those days in the Allbeast Mountain Range…"
Pa!
Xue Ningxiang's hand slacked. She was gone. But there was no pain or regret on her pale face.
It was impossible for anyone who died from a scattered soul to show such an expression. Because the agony of having one's soul ripped to pieces would twist their face into a horrifying visage.
But not Xue Ningxiang, she only showed content.
Even Zhuge Changfeng, Leng Wuchang and Dugu Zhantian beyond the National Elemental Stone showed a reaction. They had never seen such a pure and innocent girl.
It was a true loss for her to suffer such a gruesome death.
Zhuge Changfeng sighed, "No wonder the kid is so touched by this girl. She is a true rarity."
"An evil soul will always look for pure souls to lean on for comfort. But once the pure soul leaves, the evil soul would find itself alone and maddened. No one can prevent it." Leng Wuchang caressed his beard. His sigh showed compassion, but the glint in his eyes spoke another truth.
Zhuge Changfeng eyed him coldly, "Sir Leng, when playing with an angry beast, beware not to get mangled yourself!"
"Ha-ha-ha, it's fine Prime Minister. The most feared are the cold and calculating beasts. While rampant ones are mere brutes, easy to handle." Leng Wuchang showed a crafty smile.
Zhuge Changfeng shook his head and sighed looking at Zhuo Fan, "Kid, how could you fall so easily to their games…"
Xue Clan Head and patriarch were paralyzed watching Ning'er leave this world. Luo Yunchang rushed to help them, although just as overwhelmed with grief.
Xue Gang and Xue Lin wailed by Ning'er's side.
Xie Tianyang panted, his eyes red, his sword clenched in his hand, "Zhuo Fan, Huangpu Qingtian is waiting for you at the earth exit. Let's go together and avenge Ning'er!"
"That's suicide. You're walking into a trap. Here we have the water exit and we can win the Esoteric Debate as long as we return to Dragon Cloud City." Zhuo Fan's eyes never strayed from Xue Ningxiang. He was calm, his eyes an endless abyss.
Xie Tianyang's vein popped on his forehead and he glared at him, "Bastard, is that all you have to say? Ning'er died because of you and that's all you can think of? Are you a cold-blooded animal?
"That's exactly what I am. Haven't you figured that out yet?" Zhuo Fan deadpanned, "My objective is to win the Esoteric Debate. The human cost is irrelevant. Entering Beast King Mountain means you've assumed the risk of dying. There is no one you can blame for the choices you make…"
"Bastard!"
Xie Tianyang's swing sent Zhuo Fan flying as he raved, "I don't care how you treat others, but Ning'er died because of you!"
Zhuo Fan picked himself up, blood trickling from his lips, yet his tone was as flat as before, "As I've said, after coming to Beast King Mountain, you have no one else to blame for your fate. But this girl… shouldn't have come. She was too weak."
Xie Tianyang was shuddering, his eyes flashing with bloodthirst. Chu Qingcheng and her girls looked at Zhuo Fan with no little reproach and blame.
[Has this man become dead inside? How can he say such cruel things, now of all times?]
Long Xingyun was the only one who nodded, "Brother Zhuo is right. The Esoteric Debate is fraught with danger and no one can guarantee one's survival. The top priority is unchanged, to leave this place as soon as possible. Brother Zhuo, I heard you snatched the fourth Brimming Sacred Pill. Don't forget your brothers and leave us one as well."
"I will." Zhuo Fan nodded.
Whoosh!
Xie Tianyang had had enough, his killing intent spiked, his eyes bloodshot and his sword pierced for Zhuo Fan, "Bastard! I knew this was all a diversion. You threw us along as bait while you went for the Brimming Sacred Pill. You killed Ning'er!"
"What? That's… Flowing Space's Nine Forms. Stop, Tianyang!"
Xie Tianshang cried for him in panic. For him to use Flowing Space's Nine Forms on Zhuo Fan, he was fully intent on killing him.
[They were as close as brothers, so how did it come to this…]
He was too late. Xie Tianyang's attack shot for Zhuo Fan, who merely laid on the ground.
When the sword attack was upon him, a mere flash of golden light from his eye blinked it out of existence. He then popped behind Xie Tianyang and struck his neck.
Boom!
Xie Tianyang laid in a meter wide hole, out cold.
The shock was palpable on everyone's faces.
They knew of Zhuo Fan's power, but hearing about it and seeing it for themselves were two different things. The second young master of Sword Marquise Abode was dealt with in one blow.
Xie Tianshang cupped his hands, "Brother Zhuo, please forgive my reckless brother…"
"No need. We're leaving." Zhuo Fan's hand flashed and two blue crystals sank into the water exit's groove.
The water exit then released a light pillar towards the heavens.
Zhuo Fan pointed, "The array is open, let's move."
At Zhuo Fan's invitation, Xie Tianshang and the others breathed easier. He carried his brother, while Xue Gang took his sister's body. They passed through the light and arrived in Dragon Cloud City.
At the familiar sight, they all relaxed as if they had escaped hell.
Zhuge Changfeng smiled, "Sir Leng, by the looks of it, the savage beast hasn't gone mad. In fact, he handled everything with exceeding calm."
Leng Wuchang frowned as his eyes were skeptical, [Was I wrong?]
Chu Qingcheng came to Zhuo Fan, but didn't walk through the exit, "Zhuo Fan, I was wrong about you. A cold and ruthless man like you isn't worthy of a woman's love."
Zhuo Fan just stood there.
"Darling, you…" Xiao Dandan shook her head in disappointment then went away as well.
Dong Xiaowan's group merely sighed before following.
They were the winners, but nobody felt like one. The prevalent mood was glum and despondent.
The only one left was Chu Qingcheng. She walked to the array without sparing him a second look. But then she caught sight of the bloodstains on the ground and was stunned.
Looking closer, Zhuo Fan's hands were so tightly clenched, his nails had dug into his flesh and blood trailed between his fingers.
Zhuo Fan had the Diamond Body. Just what kind of power did he wield to even harm himself?
Chu Qingcheng cried, "Zhuo Fan, you…"
But Zhuo Fan pushed her through the pillar and she found herself back in Dragon Cloud City.
Chu Qingcheng was worried sick now, looking at the water National Elemental Stone. She shouted at the cold Zhuo Fan beyond the veil, "Zhuo Fan, what are you doing?"
A pity the array only worked one way…
No one could make sense of Drifting Flowers Edifice lord's outburst, why was she so distraught.
It was soon made clear however.
Zhuo Fan pulled the keys and threw them away.
His bloody hands spread, his body shivered, his eyes were bloodshot as lightning crackled. All that was heard was his roar, "Ning'er!"
The rage had been held back long enough and it now consumed his mind…