Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing in Peril! Hua Mulan Saves the Two Girls with Her Swords!

(Zhu Zhuqing artwork)

Zhu Zhuqing silently surveyed her surroundings, a trace of gravity appearing on her cool face.

She shook her head, her lips pressed tightly together. She had no answer either.

Just then, three men who had likewise failed to find their way through the forest, all of them cursing under their breath, happened upon them.

The three had come after hearing about the King's Hall, hoping to try their luck, and they were currently full of complaints.

Yet when they saw the breathtaking beauty and graceful figures of the two girls before them,

greed instantly flared in their eyes, and they completely cast aside their original purpose of seeking the King's Hall.

"Well, well! Two little sisters, judging by the look of you, you got lost, didn't you?"

The bald man at the head forced what he believed was a friendly smile and stepped forward to strike up a conversation.

"What a coincidence. We know how to get to the King's Hall. Just follow us brothers, and we guarantee we'll get you there safely!"

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged a glance, each seeing doubt in the other's eyes.

But they were alone and helpless, while these men spoke with such certainty. They seemed to be among their few remaining hopes.

After hesitating for a moment, the two silently followed them.

The three men walked ahead with their arms around one another's shoulders, suppressing their excitement as they whispered filthy words too vile to hear.

"Damn, heaven really has opened its eyes! These two little girls are absolute treasures!"

"That skin is so tender, you could squeeze water out of it. So white it's dazzling!"

"Especially the one in leather—her figure... incredible! I've never seen anyone this hot in my life!"

"Hehehe... looks like we turned disaster into fortune! Once we find a nice spot..."

When they reached a sunken stretch of forest where the trees grew especially thick, the light was dim, and the place was nearly cut off from the outside world,

the three exchanged knowing, lecherous looks and suddenly stopped.

This place was hidden enough. It was the perfect place to make their move!

Zhu Zhuqing's sharp senses instantly caught the abrupt shift in the atmosphere. The undisguised malice coiled around her heart like an icy venomous snake.

"Rongrong, be careful!" she shouted in a low voice, abruptly pulling Ning Rongrong behind her.

The three men turned around, the false smiles on their faces vanishing completely.

What replaced them was naked, nauseating lust and greed.

"What are you hiding for, little beauty?"

The bald man licked his lips and advanced step by step.

Without hesitation, Zhu Zhuqing instantly lowered her body, like a spirit cat that had sensed deadly danger, entering a combat stance!

With Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul Possession, a ghostly glow appeared in her eyes, her fingertips sharpened, and two yellow hundred-year soul rings swiftly rose beneath her feet, radiating a fierce aura.

"Oh? So you're a little wildcat with some skill!"

The bald man sneered, utterly unconcerned.

Another man, skinny and tall as a bamboo pole, stepped forward with a vicious grin. As he activated his Soul Power, three yellow and two purple soul rings appeared—he was actually a Soul King!

"Little girl, don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit! Be obedient, and you'll suffer less!"

Zhu Zhuqing's heart sank sharply. A Soul Grandmaster facing a Soul King was already an enormous gap, not to mention the other two watching like tigers!

She knew full well that she was no match for them, yet a resolute fire ignited in those cool eyes.

She had already prepared herself to fight to the death and perish with them!

Even if she died, she would never suffer such humiliation!

Ning Rongrong hid behind Zhu Zhuqing, her face pale with fright. Yet her young mistress's pride made her force herself to remain calm as she snapped fiercely despite her inner weakness.

"Y-you... what are you trying to do? Do you know who I am?"

"I'm the young mistress of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect! If you come any closer, I'll have Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone chop all of you into pieces and feed you to dogs!"

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

Rather than being frightened, the bald Soul Emperor grinned viciously. His Soul Power erupted around him.

Three yellow and three purple soul rings suddenly lit up, and the powerful pressure of his Soul Power crushed down upon the two girls like a mountain!

"Hahaha! I don't care what sect you're from! In this godforsaken place where the heavens won't answer your cries and the earth won't answer your calls, even if you were the Pope's daughter, you'd still have to submit today! Scream your throat raw—it won't help!"

"Rongrong, I'll hold them off. Run! Go find someone!"

Gritting her teeth, Zhu Zhuqing shouted in a low voice. Her body leaned slightly forward, already prepared to launch a surprise attack and create an opening for Ning Rongrong.

"You want to run? Too late!" the bald Soul Emperor roared, the fourth soul ring on his body blazing brightly!

"Fourth Soul Skill, Iron Grille Fence!"

His Martial Soul was a control-type iron fence.

Just as Ning Rongrong turned to flee, several cold, hard iron bars gleaming with metallic light abruptly burst from the ground beneath her feet.

They instantly formed a sturdy cage, trapping her firmly in place!

"Ah! Let me go! Father! Grandpa Sword! Grandpa Bone—save me!"

In despair, Ning Rongrong clutched the icy bars, tears spilling from her eyes as she let out a shrill cry for help.

The three men laughed lewdly and closed in step by step like hungry wolves stalking their prey.

"Go ahead, scream! Scream as hard as you can! Who could possibly come save you in this godforsaken wilderness? Hahaha!"

Just as the bald Soul Emperor's filthy hand was about to touch Zhu Zhuqing, at that critical instant—

"Sorry, but we just met and already have to say goodbye!"

A cool, powerful woman's voice tore through the air like thunder, shattering the deathly silence of the forest!

It was followed by a peerlessly sharp crimson sword light that seemed capable of tearing apart space itself.

It streaked across the air at a speed too fast for the naked eye to follow!

"Void Split Slash!"

The sword light flashed like lightning and vanished in an instant!

The three criminals did not even see who had come. They only felt an irresistible sharp force sweep through their bodies.

Then their vision went black, and without even a groan, they collapsed to the ground and completely lost consciousness.

The powerful shockwave left by the sword energy also sent the barely holding-on Zhu Zhuqing and the terrified Ning Rongrong's blood and qi churning. Both fainted.

Only then did the attacker's figure come clearly into view.

She wore practical crimson leather armor that outlined her agile physique.

Her fiery red hair was tied into a neat, high ponytail that fluttered gently in the wind.

She held a pair of strangely shaped short-hilted swords, their blades flowing with a cold gleam. Dashing and heroic, she carried the awe-inspiring righteousness of a battle-hardened general between her brows.

She was Hua Mulan, responsible for routine patrols in the outer region of the King's Hall.

She swept a glance over the three scum lying unconscious on the ground.

Then she looked at the two girls who had collapsed nearby. Her heroic brows furrowed slightly, tinged with pity.

"To think such scum would commit evil here. They've stained this mountain forest. Poor little girls, did these bastards frighten you into fainting?"

She smoothly sheathed her swords, stepped forward, and effortlessly hoisted Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing onto her broad, sturdy shoulders, one on each side.

"I'll take them back to the Inner Hall and settle them in first. It's too dangerous to leave them in this wilderness. Who knows if there are wild beasts around, or something even worse."

"The Venerable One has always been kind. He shouldn't blame me for meddling."

Though Hua Mulan was renowned for her bravery and strength and known as the "Blade of Legend," her heart was in truth gentle and kind.

She had taken in many injured or abandoned stray cats and dogs at her residence in the Inner Hall, so naturally, she could not stand by and watch girls in distress die.

At that moment, Kai, who was patrolling on the other side of the back mountain of the King's Hall, inexplicably sneezed loudly.

Confused, he rubbed his nose and looked up at the clear sky. "Strange, who's talking about me?"