The situation grew particularly strange. Originally alone, Zhang Yi, with just a few words, managed to pull Ji Xiu and Lu Yuqi into his camp.
The man and woman, having each obtained a leaf from the treasured herb, now carried clear hostility in their eyes, casting frequent glances at Ji Xia.
Ji Xia lowered his head, deep in thought, as if struggling to accept the unfolding events.
Zhang Yi's towering three-zhang ape form looked down at the five others in the clearing as if they were mere insects. His features, while bearing the primal traits of an ape, still retained traces of human resemblance, as if his human face had been layered with dense ape fur.
With a mocking gaze, Zhang Yi addressed Ji Xia:
"Insect, Pang Shixie has followed me since I was thirteen. Though I often beat and berate him, he was still my man. You killed him, so naturally, you must pay the price!"
He gestured toward Zhao Wu and Fan Zhu.
"Do you still expect these two to help you?"
As he spoke, a strand of spirit energy extended from Zhang Yi's body. Out of nowhere, a jade blade appeared, swiftly slicing two herb leaves from the treasured plant. The leaves floated in front of Zhao Wu and Fan Zhu, hovering in mid-air.
"I've always admired virtuous and righteous people. Since you two are unwilling to attack Ji Xia, your high sense of morality has earned my respect. Consider these two leaves gifts from me. Take them and leave."
Zhang Yi's mocking tone turned menacing:
"But if either of you dares to help this insect, I'll crush your skulls and bring the wrath of the Yuanling tribe upon your families. Even your Da Fu Kingdom won't escape unscathed!"
Ji Xiu and Lu Yuqi's faces darkened at Zhang Yi's actions. They had to attack Ji Xia to earn their leaves, but Zhao Wu and Fan Zhu only needed to avoid involvement to claim theirs. It was clear they had been slighted.
Zhao Wu looked at Fan Zhu, then at Ji Xia, who remained silent. Finally, with a sigh, he reached out and took the leaf hovering before him.
Fan Zhu raised her eyebrows while Ji Xiu and Lu Yuqi sneered in contempt. Ji Xiu opened his mouth to mock Zhao Wu, but before he could, Zhao Wu flipped his wrist, and a surge of spirit energy reduced the leaf to ashes in an instant.
Scattering the ashes to the ground, Zhao Wu bowed to Ji Xia.
"Brother Qin Ji, today's events are my fault. I owe you a great debt. I wanted to help you and uphold my honor, but I cannot bring calamity upon my family. However, I refuse to profit from injustice. I hope you can forgive me."
Ji Xiu burst into laughter.
"Brother Zhao Wu, how foolish! To destroy such a treasure over honor—what sense does that make?!"
"Zhang Yi wants to kill Qin Ji. Even if you and Fan Zhu help him, he won't survive today. To throw away such a treasure for the sake of a dead man's honor—how absurd!"
Zhao Wu, still young and hot-blooded, was incensed by Ji Xiu's words.
"Ji Xiu, that leaf was tainted with wrongdoing. You and I may have fought often back in Da Fu, but I beg you now—take your leaf and leave. Don't harm Brother Qin Ji."
Ji Xiu sneered.
"Zhao Wu, the boundless wilderness is filled with greater injustices than ours—acts far more terrifying. Do you plan to right them all? You're too naïve! In this world, weakness itself is a crime. We, from the weaker races, have no right to speak of justice!"
"As for injustice—what does it matter? If it can make me stronger, I'll embrace it!"
Meanwhile, Fan Zhu let her spirit energy rise, reducing her own leaf to ash without a word.
Lu Yuqi snorted coldly.
"Fan Zhu, your family head has slain countless people, leaving mountains of corpses in their wake. And now you're posturing? For whom, exactly?"
Fan Zhu remained expressionless, not sparing her a glance.
"I'm not doing this for Ji Xiu, if that's what you're asking."
Lu Yuqi's expression turned icy.
"One day, I'll rip that mouth of yours off."
Fan Zhu smiled coldly, her eyes brimming with killing intent.
The tensions between the four Da Fu elites were palpable, with icy walls separating them, growing ever more frigid.
Zhao Wu and Ji Xiu continued to bicker, their argument escalating in volume.
Zhang Yi observed the scene without intervening, his gaze fixed on Ji Xia. His eyes brimmed with cruelty, as though watching a doomed beast in its final struggles.
At last, Ji Xia raised his head. No longer silent, he tidied his robe and stepped forward.
"Ahem… Everyone, please calm down. I have something to say."
His voice was drowned out by the argument, making no impact.
Sighing, Ji Xia raised his voice:
"Please, stop fighting!"
The two paused, but upon seeing it was Ji Xia, they resumed their quarrel, treating him as if he didn't exist.
Ji Xia's face darkened.
"Why is it that no one in this wilderness listens to reason?"
Anger flared within him, and he bellowed with spirit energy:
"I SAID, STOP FIGHTING!"
The shout echoed, shaking leaves from the trees. Zhao Wu and Ji Xiu fell silent, startled. Even Zhang Yi appeared intrigued, curious about what Ji Xia had to say.
Satisfied that he had their attention, Ji Xia scanned the crowd and smiled warmly.
"Thank you for listening. I have a suggestion for everyone."
Zhang Yi, amused, waited for Ji Xia to continue, enjoying what he assumed to be futile resistance.
Bowing courteously, Ji Xia spoke with a grin:
"My idea is simple: Zhang Yi, Ji Xiu, and Lu Yuqi—you leave behind all your valuables, and I'll grant you a whole corpse."
The clearing fell utterly silent.
Zhang Yi seemed to ponder the meaning behind Ji Xia's words, while Ji Xiu and Lu Yuqi exchanged incredulous looks, their faces filled with ridicule.
Lu Yuqi laughed derisively.
"Are you so scared you've lost your mind?"
Ignoring her, Ji Xia continued.
"Concerned about the herb, are you? Simple. Once you're dead, the herb will naturally be mine."
Ji Xiu covered his face in exasperation.
"Is this fool seriously arguing with himself? Has fear truly unhinged him?"
Zhang Yi finally spoke, his tone icy.
"I've had enough of this. Though you are amusing, I'll no longer waste time."
The ground cracked beneath Zhang Yi's feet as he loomed over Ji Xia, his ape form emanating suffocating pressure.
"I'll crush your skull with my own hands!"
Ji Xiu and Lu Yuqi began channeling spirit energy, their divine seals glowing faintly as they prepared to strike.
Yet Ji Xia showed no fear. His eyes narrowed as he reached into his robes and drew out a pair of scissors.
Infused with spirit energy, the scissors radiated an overwhelming aura, wrenching free from Ji Xia's grip to hover in the air. They grew larger and larger until they matched Zhang Yi's ape form in size.
Ji Xia's smile deepened. Pointing at Zhang Yi, then at Ji Xiu and Lu Yuqi, he calmly commanded:
"Dragon's Whisker Shears—kill!"