Two Wonderful Beauties! . . .
Why would one woman bewilder another? A woman might bewilder another for the man she loved, but she herself could also become bewildered for the same reason.
Xiu-Er pondered this as she stood on the precipice of unleashing her full power, her eyes revealing the turmoil within her heart. "If Wan-Er were here... or Master..." She wore a bittersweet smile and then extended her arms, her words delivered softly, "The phoenix's cry that blankets the heavens and shakes the world. The true fire..."
The fire was on the brink of engulfing her, her body a vessel for cataclysmic power.
In this intense moment, a figure raced towards them from the distance, her voice laden with urgency, as though she were about to cough up blood. "Stop!"
It was none other than Wan of Clouds!
Wan-Er had hurtled forward with the speed of lightning, her very movement creating thunderous rumbles from her sleeves, displaying remarkable strength.
Only those who had nearly reached the Dao Origin Stage could attain such speed.
Wan-Er wouldn't have utilized this profound skill without a pressing reason, which signified the gravity of the situation.
Cha Nantian had never made an inaccurate prediction in thousands of years. When he had declared that Xiu-Er was in trouble, it indicated that she was in great peril.
The two people who cherished Xiu-Er the most—Master Bai and Wan-Er—were desperate to prevent her from releasing the restraint.
And so, Wan-Er sprinted like a bolt of lightning, sprinting for Xiu-Er's life. She sensed Xiu-Er's presence when she exited the city and pressed on, not daring to delay. There was a volatile energy in the air, like an impending explosion.
Having spent countless years together, Wan-Er understood Xiu-Er deeply. She knew that Xiu-Er was in grave danger, and her next move might involve the removal of her restraint.
Thus, before she could close the remaining distance, Wan-Er shouted with all her might, "Stop! Don't do it!"
And then she descended like a meteorite between Xiu-Er and the woman in white.
Her arrival was akin to a spear descending from the heavens.
"Xiu-Er!" Wan-Er's eyes locked onto her beloved friend, and she screamed, "Hold!"
She didn't need to utter any more words. Xiu-Er bellowed, and in an instant, the raging fire that had enveloped her vanished as if it had been extinguished. The fire that had blazed in her eyes flowed back like water, receding deep into her irises.
Then, she turned her head away.
And from her mouth came a series of anguished cries, "Wah! Wahhhh..."
Six times, she expelled blood, painting the ground a vivid red. Wherever her blood touched the earth, it seemed as though it sizzled, leaving scorched imprints.
After the expulsion of blood, Xiu-Er's countenance turned pallid. She trembled, her legs giving way, nearly causing her to crumple to the ground.
"Go to hell!" Witnessing Xiu-Er's torment, Wan-Er's heart ached terribly. She brandished her hand and bellowed, "Destined Sword!"
- Clang! -
A sword materialized before Wan-Er's chest, gleaming with an icy radiance. - Shoot! - It flew into her grasp. She swung the sword, and it transformed into a floral pattern, releasing thousands of frigid sword beams.
Simultaneously, she shouted, "Xiu-Er! Destined Fire Sword!"
The sword beams flashed, poised to strike.
Wan-Er had always been known for her gentleness, but in this moment, her heart thirsted for blood.
She loathed the woman in white and desired her death.
Regardless of whether restrained or unrestrained, both Wan and Xiu held great power. If Xiu-Er couldn't best the woman, then Wan-Er would likely suffer the same fate. However, by fighting together, they could alter the equation.
Although their strength while bound was less than one percent of their unrestrained might, when they combined their forces, they could surpass ten percent of their usual capabilities. Armed with their Destined Weapons, eliminating the woman in white wouldn't prove a daunting task, just time-consuming.
Fighting in tandem, they remembered something Master Bai had once conveyed...
Two magnificent women!
Nevertheless...
"Wait..." Amidst coughs, Xiu-Er's face reddened. She interjected, "Don't kill her!"
Wan-Er found herself taken aback. She turned to face Xiu-Er and questioned, "You... She almost coerced you into removing the restraint, placing your life at the brink of annihilation... And you... You don't want her dead? Why not?"
Coughing persistently, Xiu-Er explained, "She... She knows who we are. She's aware of the consequences. Yet, she persists. She... She did it for her man..."
Wan-Er lapsed into silence.
Perhaps she alone truly comprehended Xiu-Er's sentiments.
[She knows who we are, and thus, she is aware of the cost of her actions today. Nonetheless, she acts without hesitation.
Her motive is simple. Her beloved!
For our own beloved, we do all that lies in our power!
We've endured the punishments, stirred chaos, all for the sake of our beloved!
We would lay down our lives for him!
Time and again, for thousands of years, who could fathom our feelings?]
The woman in white regarded Wan-Er and Xiu-Er with a complex expression. She smiled and remarked, "Lady Wan-Er is here as well. What a surprise. Now that you're both present, why don't you both stay?"
Bing Xinyue maintained her gentle demeanor. "That sounds like a perfect plan. Let's draw a distinct line between the men's concerns and ours. We, as sisters, can sit here and enjoy a pleasant chat. How does that sound?"
Wan-Er's tone was icier. "Feel free to sip whatever beverage you desire. We, however, will stick with tea."
A smile graced Bing Xinyue's lips. "Every journey begins with a first step. Perhaps, after today's tea, you two might find it challenging to depart..."
Indeed, the woman in white was Bing Xinyue.
Cha Xiao had devoted an entire night of arduous labor on her behalf, a gesture that had touched Bing Xinyue deeply. Yet, Cha Nantian was a man of great pride, rendering her unable to express her gratitude directly. Furthermore, her primary concern was her own standing and that of her disciple.
All she could do was silently assist Cha Nantian's departure, avoiding taking any overt actions within Chen-Xing City. Feng Zhiling, aware of her intentions, would undoubtedly intervene, attempting to halt her even though he knew it was beyond his capabilities. His pride and dignity were at stake.
This was why Bing Xinyue chose to intercept Xiu of Heavens outside the city.
The House of the Chaotic Storms' extensive history of bloodshed over the years had been primarily attributed to Xiu of Heavens. With her absence, Feng Zhiling would be spared from a significant portion of his emotional turmoil, reducing the peril he faced.
At least Wan of Clouds possessed a gentle and compassionate nature, unlikely to commit cold-blooded murders.
Bing Xinyue recognized the challenges that lay ahead, yet she persevered nonetheless..