In the woods, Xiuhe flickered swiftly between the trees, sword in hand, Sword Intent and Killing Intent entwining around her.
"Zhang Ergou..."
"You two worthless fools dared to follow me? You're asking to die..."
"Xiuhe, you fucking... bitch!!"
Zhang Ergou, lucky to be alive, was both furious and terrified. But anger had not clouded his judgment. He was already wounded, and Xiuhe had ambushed and killed his companion. If he stayed, death was certain. He turned and ran for the edge of the woods.
But Xiuhe had anticipated that move. She twisted in midair and swiftly cut him off, then sent a flash of Sword Light slashing at him without a word.
Horror seized Zhang Ergou. He stumbled back again and again, but still could not evade that razor-sharp Sword Light.
The Sword Light flashed past.
Zhang Ergou's head rolled onto the ground, his eyes still open in death.
Those successive bursts of power seemed to have taken a heavy toll on Xiuhe as well. When she stopped, she did not sheathe her sword. She simply stood there, breathing lightly.
Just then.
She suddenly sent a flash of Sword Light slashing behind her.
Compared with her ambush on Zhang Ergou and his companion, this strike came even more abruptly and cut even more fiercely. It carried Winter Sword Intent cold enough to chill the bones.
Pale Sword Qi spread more than thirty meters behind her.
In an instant.
Frost swept across the woods within that thirty-meter span.
The bitter cold swiftly froze the plants until they withered.
Insects lay frozen stiff on the ground, a sight both beautiful and deadly.
Yet Xiuhe's face darkened.
"No one?"
"Still no one?"
"How is that possible?"
Xiuhe muttered under her breath, seemingly unable to believe it. Then she straightened, a cold gleam in