Not far from the village, beside a river, a white toad crouched on the bank like a beast waiting for prey, ready to pounce on it and tear it apart at any moment.
It was called a toad only because it looked like one. Aside from the fact that it was indeed poisonous, the name carried no other meaning.
However, dealing with it would probably not be easy for Xiao Yun. Leaving aside how much swordsmanship she had learned from the General and how well she had practiced it, her timid personality alone made her completely unsuited for combat.
"--"
The roar of the Honkai Beast was not a toad's croak. Instead, it was a roar unlike anything heard from most other Honkai Beasts. It carried a hint of intimidation, meant to frighten its prey and make it easier to swallow. The effect was exactly as it had intended. Xiao Yun first stopped in her tracks, then stood there for several seconds before raising her sword and charging forward.
"Bang!"
Its tongue, like a long whip, lashed toward Xiao Yun and struck her waist. Fortunately, Xiao Yun had prepared for the attack. She raised the longsword in her hand and held it vertically before her, barely blocking the blow.
That one strike alone sent Xiao Yun flying backward a considerable distance, and a violent tremor of pain shot through her hands. If she had taken the blow directly, her spine would probably have broken.
"Tsk!"
The longsword landed on the Honkai Beast's body, producing only a shower of sparks and accomplishing nothing. It was not because Xiao Yun lacked strength. She had practiced swordsmanship with her father since childhood, and she was much stronger than boys her age. How could her lack of strength be the reason she could not