Lady Yun, You Run First

Li Jinshui was figuring out how to slip away without anyone noticing.

That woman surnamed Yun was lying inside. She was badly wounded, yet still putting on airs. He didn't want to stay another moment.

But he didn't dare make a run for it openly—if that woman really had some trump card that would take them all down with her, he'd be done for.

He had to find a chance to slip away quietly with Monkey and Er Gou while she wasn't paying attention.

He was still thinking it over when the burly man suddenly ducked into the cave, his face pale.

"Chief Li! We've got trouble!"

Li Jinshui's heart tightened. "Talk."

The burly man lowered his voice. "A squad of Di soldiers just arrived outside. At least twenty of them, and they're searching this way! Looks like they're combing the mountain!"

Li Jinshui's mind raced.

Combing the mountain?

Twenty Di soldiers?

They could beat them, but that would give away their location.

And if they attracted even more...

He made up his mind at once and signaled to Monkey and Er Gou.

The two immediately understood and quietly edged toward him.

Run.

They had to run.

Before they were discovered, they'd slip away through the back of the mountain and leave the others to fend for themselves—

"Stop."

A weak yet icy voice came from behind him.

Li Jinshui's heart sank.

He turned and saw Yun Ruoxi leaning against the rock wall, hobbling out.

Her face was frighteningly pale, and cold sweat covered her forehead. But her eyes were still as haughty as ever.

"Lady Yun, you..."

Yun Ruoxi cut him off. "I heard. Twenty Di soldiers."

Li Jinshui said nothing.

Yun Ruoxi stared at him and said, each word distinct, "Let them come in. We'll ambush them. Kill them all."

Li Jinshui froze.

An ambush?

He glanced at the wounded soldiers in the cave—seventeen of them, fewer than ten fit to fight, and all of them only at the seventh or eighth layer of Body Forging. He could hold his own, but what if they alerted a larger force...?

"Lady Yun, that's too risky," he said. "What if they have reinforcements..."

Yun Ruoxi looked at him coldly. "Are you telling me what to do?"

Li Jinshui swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.

Yun Ruoxi continued, "These Di soldiers are combing the mountain. Sooner or later, they'll find us here. Better to strike first than wait to die. Kill them all and hide the bodies, and we might live a few more days."

She paused and glanced around at the soldiers in the cave, then fixed her eyes on Li Jinshui.

"You'll take them and set up the ambush. I'll command from behind."

Li Jinshui looked at her deathly pale face, at her broken leg, at the way she could barely stand.

Command from behind?

What was she going to command from?

The ground?

He was cursing her up and down in his head, but all he said was, "All right."

Yun Ruoxi nodded faintly, leaned against the rock wall as she hobbled back, then closed her eyes against the boulder.

Li Jinshui watched her retreating figure, gritted his teeth, then turned to rally the others.

"You all heard her. Get ready to ambush them."

A quarter of an hour later.

A squad of Di soldiers entered the woods.

There were twenty-three of them: two in the early stage of Inner Strength, one in the middle stage, and the rest at Body Forging. They spread out as they walked, using their blades to push aside the brush and cursing under their breath.

Li Jinshui hid behind a large tree, watching them as he quickly calculated his next move.

Once they entered the encirclement, he'd take out the two Inner Strength fighters first. The rest would be easy.

Closer.

Closer still.

Thirty paces.

Twenty paces.

Ten paces—

"Attack!!!"

He burst from behind the rocks, the Black Iron Blade flashing like a black bolt of lightning as it cleaved straight at the leader, an Inner Strength fighter in the middle stage!

The Di soldier was startled and hastily raised his blade to block!

"Clang!"

Sparks flew. The man staggered back three steps, his palm web splitting open!

"Enemy attack!!!"

The Di soldiers erupted into chaos!

But Li Jinshui's blade was faster!

He unleashed the White Tiger Blade Technique at full force, its blade-light as white as snow. One strike followed another, driving the Inner Strength fighter backward!

"Ahhh..."

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The ambushing soldiers charged out from every direction, their battle cries shaking the heavens!

Screams, shouts, and the clash of weapons blended into one!

The longer Li Jinshui fought, the fiercer he became. In his hands, the White Tiger Blade Technique reached its peak. With every strike, another man fell!

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Suddenly, one of the Di soldiers pulled something from inside his robe and hurled it into the sky—

"Whoosh—bang!"

A firework exploded overhead, its red light blindingly bright.

Li Jinshui's pupils contracted.

Damn it, a signal!

His hand moved faster than his thoughts. He cut down the Di soldier who'd launched it, but it was already too late.

That firework could be seen for dozens of miles.

A streak of light shot into the sky and exploded overhead!

Fireworks!

A signal!

Li Jinshui's expression changed. He cut down another Di soldier, but it was already too late.

The firework blazed across the sky, bright enough to be seen for dozens of miles.

"Kill them quickly! As soon as we're done, retreat!" he shouted.

The remaining Di soldiers were soon wiped out.

But Li Jinshui didn't stop. He looked up at the sky—

In the distance, several dark specks were rapidly growing larger.

Pulse-Opening Realm!

Three of them!

"Retreat! Move!" He turned and ran back.

But after a few steps, something suddenly occurred to him, and he looked back.

In the direction of the cave, a purple figure was sneaking out from the other side.

Yun Ruoxi.

She was running.

Alone.

Li Jinshui's mind raced.

She was so badly injured. Could she even get away?

Those Pulse-Opening Realm fighters had come because of the fireworks. If they saw her, who would they chase?

The corners of his mouth lifted ever so slightly.

Then he took a deep breath and shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Lady Yun! Go on ahead! We'll stay behind and hold them off!"

His voice was loud enough to carry through the entire forest.

In the distance, the three dark specks clearly paused, then changed direction and raced after the purple figure!

Yun Ruoxi whipped around and glared at Li Jinshui from dozens of yards away.

Her face twisted beyond recognition.

Anger, fear, and venom all churned together, making her look hideous.

Li Jinshui waved to her from afar, his face brimming with righteous devotion.

"Don't worry, Lady Yun! We won't let the Di catch up with you!"

Li Jinshui shouted again, "Go! You're in the Pulse-Opening Realm. Your life matters more than ours! We'll hold them off! Run!"

His voice echoed through the mountain valley, ringing clear in everyone's ears.

Yun Ruoxi opened her mouth, as if to say something, but the three dark specks were already closing in.

She clenched her teeth and turned to run!

Hobbling and stumbling, she fled for her life into the depths of the forest!

The three Pulse-Opening Realm fighters flew right over Li Jinshui's head without even glancing at them, heading straight after the purple figure.

Soon, fierce fighting echoed from the distance, mixed with Yun Ruoxi's screams.

Li Jinshui stood where he was, listening to the sounds. The righteous devotion on his face slowly faded, replaced by a meaningful smile.

Monkey ran over, panting. "Jinshui, aren't we going to save her?"

Li Jinshui glanced at him.

"Save her?"

He turned and walked in the opposite direction.

"Let's go."

Monkey and Er Gou froze for a moment, then hurried after him.