Repaying with Death in Another's Stead

Jiang Huai Great Marsh.

A hundred li south of Jiangchuan County, in the Deep Water Area.

Boom! The earth thundered, and fish schools fled in panic.

Thick brown mist billowed and poured forth, stirring up silt throughout the riverbed. Before the obstructing haze could disperse, a dragon's roar exploded. Two white water dragons broke through the mud and sand, coiling as they emerged.

Crack, crack, crack! White light spread outward. The water dragons encircling them froze in midair in an instant, their sharp fangs vivid and lifelike.

Long E Ying raised a hand and pointed.

The ice dragons shattered, like Rupert's Tears with their tails pinched off and their entire bodies crushed to powder. Ice crystals filled the sky, glimmering with a dim, chilling light as they formed diamond-shaped ice spikes and shot forth!

Hiss! The White Ape sucked in a cold breath, raising a hand to shield its head as it clearly felt the stinging pain of sharp blades grazing past its body.

Severed hairs drifted through the water.

More ice spikes pierced into its body, bone-chillingly cold. The spreading frost was like mottled rust growing inside a mechanism, stiffening joints that should have turned with nimble ease.

Amid the pain, golden light soared.

Ice shards battered the surface of its body, ringing out with the clamor of metal striking metal. Yet before the White Ape could roar and rush out of the storm of ice shards, a broad flash of white light swept past. Endless frost spread, freezing everything for several li around into an icy domain!

Cold! The leaping White Ape froze in midair, unable to stop shivering. Its knotted muscles strained without end as it struggled desperately before the frost could fully invade and its limbs froze stiff.

Bang, bang, bang.

The golden light grew ever