Chapter 70 — Ambush

Elder Nian's brows knit tightly. He reckoned that many from the Holy Cult had come tonight, and it would likely not be long before someone arrived; if anyone saw that the Blood Refining Hall could not even deal with a few juniors of Qingyun, he feared they would never again have the face to show themselves. He turned and shot a look at the beautiful woman and Liu Gao beside him.

The two understood, and with a movement of their bodies immediately rushed toward the field—but almost at the same instant, Song Dayi and Tian Lingsu moved to meet them.

In truth, the situation tonight was most unfavorable to the righteous path. Everyone had thought that only a small remnant faction of the demon cult was gathering in this desolate place; unexpectedly, not only had so many come, but even some old demons who had been in seclusion for a hundred years had emerged into the world.

Anxious at heart, Song Dayi saw that they had again been entangled by the demon cult; he was just thinking of doing his utmost to finish off these fiends and break free when, no sooner had he struck, a dark red ray of light came flying at him from the side. Song Dayi hastily met it with his immortal sword, and his heart sank abruptly.

The malevolent force from the Red Demon Eye came surging through the "Ten Tigers" immortal sword in an instant. Song Dayi's cultivation was deep, and he could naturally withstand it, but he had also felt at the same time that this demon's cultivation was truly not low—likely even above his own.

By now Tian Lingsu was already locked in battle with that beautiful woman. Du Biyan watched from the side for a while and could see that the big-eyed demon's magic was formidable; their eldest senior brother was struggling, so he rushed up to join Song Dayi and fight two against one. Elder Nian stood where he was, his Red Demon Eye continuously shooting out red light full of malevolent force, and with one against two he was actually not at a disadvantage for the moment.

In the distance, however, Liu Gao had rushed to the wild dog's side, and together with the wild dog he turned on Zhang Qingyue.

But Zhang Qingyue was, after all, not Elder Nian, who had cultivated for many years; before long he felt the pressure. The wild dog, reinforced by a strong ally, was greatly heartened and laughed loudly: "Stinking brat, once you fall into my hands today, you'll see how Grandpa Wild Dog deals with you!"

Zhang Qingyue had hardship he could not voice; he felt only that the pressure in front was growing heavier, but he could only grit his teeth and hold on, hoping that his two senior brothers and his senior sister could quickly finish off the other demons and come to help. In truth, ever since he had grasped part of the meaning of the "Heavenly Book" in the Black Stone Cave, his cultivation had already imperceptibly advanced another step—but first, the time since his comprehension was too short and his practice insufficient; second, he could not use the Buddhist "Great Brahma Prajna" before this great crowd. Finally, and most importantly, tonight he had after all been defeated by the old vampire demon; though his injuries were not serious, in this fierce struggle, as time wore on, his body gradually began to disobey him.

Looking at the fighting around him: Tian Lingsu and the beautiful woman were evenly matched, the two soaring and darting low, both of them quite lovely in appearance, their figures graceful—a fine sight indeed—but to come and help was for the moment impossible. As for Song Dayi and Du Biyan, they were now tightly entangled by Elder Nian and could not break free; though they too saw their youngest junior brother's situation growing critical, the dark red rays kept shooting at them from ahead, and in their urgency they could not get away—rather, both of them nearly got struck by the red light for their distraction.

Zhang Qingyue was gradually forced backward by the wild dog and Liu Gao; sweat beaded on his forehead, he gasped for breath, and even his footwork grew somewhat disordered. He Dachuan lay on the ground, anxious at heart, knowing that if no help came, in but a moment or two their youngest junior brother would die at the hands of these two demons.

The disciples of Dazhu Peak had always been close to one another, and everyone had always been quite fond of Zhang Qingyue, this honest youngest junior brother. Now He Dachuan clenched his teeth and forced himself to stand; he took out his treasure, thinking to give his youngest junior brother a hand, but before he could even summon his spell, the malevolent force in his body surged back up; his head swam, golden stars flashed before his eyes, and with a thud he fell down again.

Zhang Qingyue heard the sound; turning his head in the midst of battle, he was startled at once and cried out in alarm: "Fourth Brother!"

But in that moment of distraction, the treasures of the Wild Wolf Daoist and Liu Gao came striking at him simultaneously. Zhang Qingyue could not react in time; he barely blocked with the black iron staff before him. With a great "boom," the wild dog and Liu Gao were violently shaken—but Zhang Qingyue himself was also sent flying and crashed heavily to the ground.

The Wild Wolf Daoist laughed loudly and rose with Liu Gao into the air; the fang in his hand and Liu Gao's treasure came smashing down from the sky, and it looked as though Zhang Qingyue's life would be taken at any moment. In the distance, Tian Lingsu, Song Dayi, and the others cried out in horror, but they could not reach him in time; as they watched Zhang Qingyue about to die there, He Dachuan had already turned his head away, unable to bear the sight.

Suddenly, a blue light flashed through the forest, and a ring of blue radiance, clear as rippling water, abruptly rippled outward, illuminating the place in an instant.

He Dachuan was overjoyed and cried out involuntarily: "Lu—"

Before he could finish, that figure came cleaving through the air like an arrow loosed from a bow. Lu Xueling came riding her sword, her face cold as frost, yet in her bright eyes were reflected the blue rays of the Divine Sword of the Heavenly Dipper before her, as though giving off a blazing radiance that burned without cease.

The wild dog and Liu Gao were greatly startled; the blue light that had just been far away had in an instant rushed before their eyes, and by the look of it, it seemed to carry the peerless momentum to split the heavens and break mountains, to not return until death. Comparing the two, their own lives were naturally more important; almost as if by common accord, the two of them withdrew their treasures and together moved to block the Divine Sword of the Heavenly Dipper.

"Boom!" Sand flew and stones scattered; the nearby trees in the forest swayed violently, and leaves fell in profusion. The wild dog and Liu Gao were sent flying backward, landing directly behind Elder Nian.

Amid the drifting leaves, Lu Xueling's figure gradually emerged, standing beside Zhang Qingyue, her face deathly pale, perhaps from the violent recoil of the clash just now.

Zhang Qingyue turned to look at her, and saw that even in the darkness of night her features remained stunningly beautiful, like a lily blooming proud and alone in the depths of the dark. And within that clear, cold loveliness, he dimly glimpsed a faint trace of tenderness.

"Thank you," Zhang Qingyue said in a low voice, forcing down the sudden leap his heart had given.

Lu Xueling shook her head and said quietly, "Back when I was in danger beneath the Abyss of the Dead, you saved me in just the same way. Why speak of it?"

Zhang Qingyue was taken aback, at a loss for what to say; he nodded silently, and Lu Xueling gazed at him and suddenly gave a faint smile.

It was a smile amid the falling leaves! Zhang Qingyue saw it, and it was as though in the night, for his eyes alone, the frost had melted away.