The Great Purge 2

"Why?" Jiabulin's trembling voice was full of confusion.

"Winner takes all. I lost, and I don't want to cling to life on my enemy's mercy. If you let me go, wouldn't that put you in a difficult position, Senior?" Niya smiled faintly, her face pale.

"And I don't want to go back. Death is the best solution. I'm already satisfied to die by your hand, Senior."

Niya's body went limp and collapsed into Jiabulin's arms. He caught her, his face filled with pain and bewilderment. Niya was still smiling, even though she was about to lose the strength to keep her eyes open.

Just as Jiabulin fell to his knees, holding Niya and reminiscing about everything they had shared, a young voice rang out beside them. To Jiabulin, that same voice sounded like salvation; to Niya, it was the devil's whisper.

"Lord Jiabulin, there are several auxiliary Soul Masters with powerful healing Soul Skills in my team. Could we take the prisoner Niya into our custody and treat her? After all, Lord Hals's orders are to bring him a living Niya. I don't suppose you'd object, sir." Shi Jisheng approached slowly with a group of Enforcers. Another group closed in as well, surrounding Jiabulin and Niya and keeping a wary eye on them.

"Fine, um..."

Jiabulin was about to agree when he felt Niya's body make a faint, feeble struggle in his arms. He stopped speaking.

Jiabulin looked down at Niya, his expression pained and conflicted. To him, Niya was a friend and a junior. In fact, if he hadn't already become involved with Xiong Yiyi, he might really have fallen for Niya. On the other hand, Lord Hals had helped both him and Xiong Yiyi and had even saved his life. He was also a member of Spirit Hall, and Lord Hals was an elder of Spirit Hall. Niya was a traitor to Spirit Hall, so in every respect, he should hand her over to the Enforcers. But...

Shi Jisheng looked at Jiabulin's conflicted expression. His face darkened for an instant, then returned to a smile. With his hands behind his back, he secretly signaled the Enforcers to prepare for battle. Their target was Jiabulin. At the same time, they were to send someone to find Lord Hals...

Shi Jisheng narrowed his eyes, then stepped forward and asked gently, "Lord Jiabulin, could you hand the prisoner Niya over to us? This is Lord Hals's order."

"..."

Seeing Jiabulin's silence, Shi Jisheng let his smile fade and slowly took five steps back. He raised his right hand, ready to bring it down the next moment.

"I agree. I agree to hand the prisoner Niya over to you, but..." Jiabulin looked up at Shi Jisheng, who was slowly lowering his hand. "I want to come with you to see the Holy Maiden and Lord Hals."

Shi Jisheng smiled. "No problem. You can come with us to see Lord Hals. Now, step away from the prisoner and let us take over."

Jiabulin froze, then listlessly lowered Niya from his arms and gently laid her on the ground. He turned his head, forcing himself not to look at the pain and accusation in Niya's eyes.

Shi Jisheng paid no mind to whether Jiabulin was suffering. He waved his hand, and a female Soul Master stepped out from among the Enforcers behind him. She raised her hand and released her Martial Soul.

The female Soul Master's Martial Soul was a thick book. She controlled it to hover above Niya, and the fourth and fifth Soul Rings behind her flashed one after another. A vibrant green glow spilled from the book and enveloped Niya. Before their eyes, the wound in Niya's abdomen slowly healed.

As if he had thought of something, Shi Jisheng narrowed his eyes and said mildly, "Someone, cripple her limbs. Don't heal them."

The female Soul Master nodded. The green glow avoided Niya's limbs and focused on her torso.

A short, thin male Soul Master darted out from among the Enforcers. With a flash, a dagger appeared in his hand. In the blink of an eye, he had plunged it deep into Niya's hands and feet, then slipped back into the crowd and vanished.

Only then did Jiabulin, who had been standing there in a daze, realize what had happened. He charged at Shi Jisheng in a fury, but the Enforcers quickly stepped in front of Shi Jisheng and blocked him.

"What are you doing? With me here, are you still worried she'll escape?" Jiabulin's face was furious.

Shi Jisheng didn't look at Jiabulin, who was being held back by the Enforcers. He continued speaking in a mild voice, though his words weren't quite so respectful:

"It's always best to have several safeguards in place. Perhaps it's precisely because you're here, sir, that I should be concerned."

"You..."

"Oh," Shi Jisheng said, looking at Jiabulin's furious expression with a smile. "Don't misunderstand. I meant I'm worried she might take her own life."

Ignoring Jiabulin, who was still arguing with the Enforcers, Shi Jisheng turned to look at the wound on the ground, now almost healed. Hidden from view, the corner of his mouth curled into a scornful smile.

"Oh," Shi Jisheng said. "That will do. It's getting late. We should return and report in."

"Yes." The female Soul Master nodded, put away her Martial Soul, and rejoined the group. Without needing any further instructions from Shi Jisheng, two Enforcers stepped forward and hauled Niya up from the ground like a corpse, holding her between them.

Shi Jisheng breathed a little easier, waved casually, and turned to leave. The Enforcers followed behind him. Seeing them go, Jiabulin, who had just begun to calm down, hurried to catch up.

Bibi Dong's room

Bibi Dong lay on the bed in a simple nightdress. She lifted its hem, revealing a wound at her waist so deep it showed bone. Beneath Hals's hood, his face flickered with both heartache and anger.

Bibi Dong turned her head away from Hals, but a faint blush was clearly visible on her fair cheek, spreading down her slender neck as well.

Hals had no healing skills, but that didn't mean he had no way to treat Bibi Dong's injuries. With a casual wave of his hand, a wisp of soul drifted out of the Lantern and landed on a nearby candlestick. It flickered twice, then ignited into a flame that glowed a faint green.

An invisible Soul Essence filled the room. Just one breath of it made her feel clear-headed and alert. Curious, she turned to Hals and asked, "Hals, what is this?"

"It's Soul Essence, Master. It's the substance produced when a soul burns and breaks apart. It has a powerful enhancing effect on living beings' souls." As he spoke, Hals raised his hand and held it above the wound. Green flames ignited in his palm, and the Soul Essence in the air gathered toward it as if drawn by an unseen force.

The flames remained confined to his palm, and only the flesh there burned away.

Bibi Dong shuddered at the sight. She shook her head and asked softly, "Does it hurt?"

Hals shook his head and loosely cupped his hand. Soul Essence flowed ceaselessly into Bibi Dong's wound. "I'm used to it, Master."

Bibi Dong was about to say something when her wound began to itch and tingle. She looked down and saw it healing at a terrifying speed.

Bibi Dong's eyes widened. How could it heal so quickly...?

"How did you do that?" Bibi Dong carefully extended a finger and poked the wound, which had already faded to a faint pink mark. She asked curiously.

The flames in Hals's hand went out. He drew back his palm, but his eyes remained fixed on Bibi Dong's lovely face.

His hoarse voice sounded softly.

"My Martial Soul can control souls. After reaching the seventh ring, every time I advanced a level, I gained a deeper understanding of my Martial Soul. Through those repeated insights, I discovered that when a person's body is injured, the corresponding part of their soul also develops a wound. Conversely, when the soul is treated and restored, the missing part of the body slowly grows back. And when the soul grows stronger, your cultivation ability improves as well."

"So that's why you've always cultivated so quickly?" Bibi Dong realized.

"Yes." Hals was still looking at Bibi Dong. "But from now on, it'll be much slower. After breaking through to the eighth ring, gaining insight with each level becomes extremely difficult. I'll have to take it one step at a time."

"Mm."

The color had just faded from Bibi Dong's face, but now she blushed again.

The atmosphere grew more and more intimate.

Then someone suddenly knocked on the door.