Clean Sweep! . . .
At this very moment, Zhao Pingtian and Liu Changjun had successfully concluded their engagements on the battlefield outside. With great haste, they proceeded to rejoin the group within the confines of their shelter.
Upon their entry, the initial sight that met their eyes was a grim tableau of lifeless forms strewn across the floor in a macabre arrangement.
Their gazes chanced upon the scene where Cha Eun Xiao had vanquished the final adversary. In awe, they bore witness to this flawless display of carnage, which sent a shiver down their spines.
Cha Eun Xiao had ingeniously employed his own life as a bait to ensnare and eliminate the last black-clad foe. His dexterity allowed him to dispatch one foe using his bare hands while employing a short sword to pierce the heart of the other assailant.
The extent of his control over the situation was nothing short of extraordinary. Given his remarkable abilities, Cha Eun Xiao could have comfortably prolonged the skirmish and emerged victorious against both adversaries.
He was undoubtedly aware of this fact, yet he had chosen to embrace an extreme approach, undoubtedly motivated by a desire for expeditious action. Procrastination was not part of his plan.
Meanwhile, on the opposing side, Ning Biluo was embroiled in a fierce struggle against Hua Liushui.
Cha Eun Xiao's needles continued to whiz through the air, with some of them embedded deeply into the walls. Ning Biluo's swordsmanship resembled a graceful serpent gliding through water, skillfully neutralizing the adversary who had once been a formidable figure two decades prior.
The airborne needles posed a constant distraction to Hua Liushui, preventing him from devoting his full attention to his duel with Ning Biluo. They continued to clash, with no clear victor emerging, a testament to Hua Liushui's formidable skills.
Observing this, Zhao Pingtian and Liu Changjun exchanged glances, a tacit understanding passing between them. They resolved to abandon their observation of Ning Biluo's combat and hastened their entry into the inner chamber of the Second Prince's residence.
"The master's directive is clear; no survivors this time," Zhao Pingtian muttered, his voice a firm reflection of their obligation.
Ye Xiao, for his part, remained at the periphery, a smile gracing his countenance. He refrained from engaging in the battle and kept his hands concealed within the recesses of his sleeves, where two concealed knives awaited. Should the need arise, these blades would execute the final, decisive blows.
His intention was unequivocal: to eliminate the old man and save his loyal friend.
In a sudden turn of events, Song Jue emitted a contemptuous sneer as he entered the fray, bearing visible marks of battle upon him. He emanated an aura brimming with murderous intent. Observing the ongoing battle, he unleashed a resounding shout, soaring into the air with his sword held high, determined to deliver a crushing blow to Hua Liushui's head.
Before his strike, Song Jue maintained a stoic silence, unleashing a formidable sword attack, imbued with an overwhelming force.
A mere few moments earlier, Hua Liushui had succeeded in dispelling the airborne needles and felt a brief respite from his prior anxiety. While the needles themselves weren't exceedingly potent, their accompanying venom had instilled a deep-seated fear in him. Their unpredictable trajectories had kept him on edge. Hua Liushui, now confident in his one-on-one confrontation with Ning Biluo, let down his guard.
Yet, as he began to feel a semblance of relief, a relentless and overpowering force bore down upon him. This force exuded an aura of ruthlessness and formidable might.
It was a ferocious onslaught, one that Hua Liushui dared not underestimate. In response, he shouted and wielded his sword with every ounce of strength, determined to fend off the impending mortal blow.
The result was a deafening clang, resonating through the chamber, akin to a titan's hammer striking an unyielding steel surface.
As Cha Eun Xiao defended himself, a sudden cry escaped his lips, and blood began to flow from all seven of his facial orifices, staining the ground beneath him in a gruesome spectacle. He further expelled a stream of blood, which splattered onto the floor in a crimson arc.
His physical form underwent an abrupt and harrowing transformation, his stature halved in an instant as though he had been forcefully driven into the ground, much like a nail by the forceful strike executed by Song Jue. Astonishingly, with a single strike, Song Jue had shattered the once-renowned master, rendering him incapacitated.
The sheer ferocity of this sword blow left Ning Biluo stunned. His gaze remained fixed upon Song Jue, his mind grappling with the revelation that the steward of the House of Cha harbored such unparalleled power.
Steward Song, observing Ning Biluo's astonishment, wore a satisfied grin, seemingly relishing the reaction.
Meanwhile, Song Jue himself found his mind awash with inquiries. He couldn't help but ponder how Cha Eun Xiao had managed to recruit a cadre of formidable assassins. What method had been employed to amass such a formidable group in such a short span of time?
In a sudden twist of events, Hua Liushui, whose body had been forcefully pinned to the floor, expelled blood once more. He had endured a devastating blow. Suddenly, he reached for a red sphere clutched within his right hand and swallowed it with haste.
This impulsive act caused a swift resurgence of color in his complexion, and he let out a resounding shout as his body was entirely lifted from the ground. With astonishing swiftness, he made a beeline for the exit, his actions unfolding with such celerity that none could react in time.
Or so it seemed.
His destination was not the door but rather Bing-Er, who stood in the same direction. He believed that by either escaping this place or capturing Bing-Er, he could secure his survival. He maintained unwavering conviction that not even Song Jue, the formidable adversary who had incapacitated him, could prevent his success.
In a fit of fury, Song Jue and Ning Biluo leaped into action, pursuing Hua Liushui's rapid advance. Cha Eun Xiao, clutching his flying knives, was poised to join the pursuit.
Yet, at the very brink of Cha Eun Xiao's impending assault, a sudden tremor overcame Hua Liushui. He cried out in a manner akin to one possessed, collapsing to the ground in an almost lifeless manner.
His voice was laden with despair as he uttered, "What... What is happening?"
While Hua Liushui had been in the midst of his headlong dash toward Bing-Er, the young woman suddenly turned and fixed her gaze upon him. In a startling turn of events, her eyes transformed, their previously vibrant hue giving way to an abyssal darkness, resembling inky voids radiating an icy chill.
A mere glance from those obsidian-like eyes seemed to unleash an inexplicable, otherworldly spiritual power that penetrated Hua Liushui's consciousness. In an instant, a searing headache seized his mind, causing it to feel as though it were on the verge of explosion.
His heart, too, momentarily ceased its rhythmic beating, leaving him in a state of paralyzing terror. For reasons unbeknownst to him, an unexplainable dread surged within, rendering him motionless, incapacitated by fear.
He collapsed to the ground, his cultivation powers seemingly failing to engage any form of defense. His impact with the floor was forceful, resulting in a dislocated waist bone. Moments elapsed before he released a harrowing cry, with frothy spittle emanating from his mouth.