The entire field was deathly silent. Everyone had already assumed Chen Xinjie's ending, quietly waiting for Situ Xuan to deliver the killing blow.
But just as his killing intent was about to reach its peak, the brutality in Situ Xuan's eyes suddenly receded, and an even crueller, more tormenting thought flashed through his mind.
Killing Chen Xinjie would be letting him off far too easily.
A traitor like this, who harbored personal feelings and delayed the battle, should not be allowed a swift death. He should suffer every torment, know no peace, and spend the rest of his life worn down by endless agony and humiliation.
Situ Xuan released the hand choking Chen Xinjie's neck and spoke indifferently, his voice piercing through the dead silence of the battlefield.
"Vasha."
The instant his words fell, starlight suddenly flickered across the entire airspace. Fine, dazzling motes of light gathered out of thin air, flowing with the vast, profound aura of the laws of the stars.
A tall, slender figure slowly emerged, treading on starlight. Orange-red hair fell at her sides, and the six-pointed star mark on her forehead shimmered faintly as a gentle, refined aura spread out in an instant. A sweet, tender smile rested at the corners of Vasha's lips, and her gaze fell only on Situ Xuan, her tone soft and delicate.
"I'm here, Xuan."
The moment Situ Xuan saw Vasha, the monstrous fury pent up in his chest eased slightly. His restless battle intent gradually subsided, and his tense body relaxed completely. The suffocating frustration of successive battles, of having someone snatch a rescue from under his nose, and of being betrayed by a subordinate, dissipated by more than half in that instant.
He raised his eyes to Vasha and asked softly, without context.
"Settled?"
Vasha nodded lightly. Her