With a bang, Lu Yin appeared above Xia Jiuyou and struck down at his head with his palm. Xia Jiuyou coughed up blood again. That blow had cost him most of his life.
The Nine Body Separation Technique gave its practitioner nine lives. Lu Yin wasn't trying to kill him; taking one of those lives would accomplish nothing. If he wanted to, he could end Xia Jiuyou right now, but killing him wasn't the goal.
Xia Jiuyou knelt on one knee, his arm trembling as he struggled to hold himself up. He barely managed to keep a sliver of awareness. He knew what Lu Yin was trying to do: beat his consciousness into dissipation so Xia Luo could merge with him. He would rather die than let Xia Luo have his way.
"Brother Jiuyou, your hand is hurt." Between half-consciousness and awareness, Xia Jiuyou saw a child approach. It was his younger brother—his own little brother, so adorable, gazing up at him with such admiration.
Another child came over. He looked exactly like Xia Jiuyou: it was Xia Jiuyou as a boy.
"Your hand is hurt? Let me blow on it."
"Thank you, Big Brother."
A girl came up behind Xia Jiuyou. "Little brother, come on. Let's sneak out and play. I heard people outside call us the Dark Three Giants. How funny is that?"
Young Xia Jiuyou blinked. "The Dark Three Giants? What does that mean?"
"It means we're powerful. How about we go bully someone?"
"No, Sis. Don't bully people."
"Hey, who taught you to be so kind?"
"Brother Jiuyou, the Refining Nether Palm is so hard to learn."
"Brother Jiuyou, I'm hungry."
"Little brother, your big sister will spar with you."
"Isn't that Brother Jiuyou? He's amazing!"
"Brother Jiuyou is amazing!"
In the blink of an eye,