"Urgh—"
Guang Xing let out a muffled groan of pain.
Yet he had no time to inspect the wound on his left shoulder. He hurriedly flashed toward Gai Ci, who was closest to him.
For the flying sword that had severed his arm had already traced an arc through the air, completed its turn, and shot straight at his face once more.
Clang!
A crisp clash of metal rang out.
The golden-tin Buddhist staff suddenly swept in, knocking away the flying sword that had come within a few zhang of Guang Xing.
Guang Xing narrowly escaped disaster.
His face still pale with lingering fear, he ducked behind Gai Ci.
Gai Ci, meanwhile, looked toward the direction from which the three flying swords had come.
Three figures slowly emerged from the gale-force winds.
Their height, build, attire... even their faces were exactly identical, as though they were incarnations refined by the same person.
Gai Ci's gaze darkened abruptly, her expression turning grim.
"Qishan Three Evils!" Gai Ci shouted sharply. "You have quite the nerve, daring to make a move against my Gai Family. Are you not afraid that my Gai Family will level Qishan and scatter your cave abodes to the winds?"
The five members of the Gai Family had originally intended to use the Heart-Demon Flower to stir up some commotion and lure Song Wen into taking the bait.
They had not expected to attract three formidable foes instead.
"We naturally have no wish to become enemies with the Gai Family. But treasures within a secret realm have always belonged to those fated to obtain them. Yet Master Gai Ci uses power to oppress others. That is hardly the conduct of the righteous path."
One of the Qishan Three Evils spoke.
He dove straight down, pouncing directly toward the Heart-Demon