Xiao Yuankui tried to threaten Qing Shuang, but his voice cut off abruptly.
Song Wen had sealed his throat. He could not make a sound.
The sword pierced Xiao Yuankui's left eye.
Qing Shuang felt his skull soften.
The sword in her hand drove straight through his head with little resistance and emerged from the back.
Then Sword Qi surged in every direction, and Xiao Yuankui's head burst apart.
Blood and yellow-white matter splattered everywhere. A wisp of soul emerged as well.
Qing Shuang flicked her wrist, about to stab Xiao Yuankui's soul.
But Song Wen's voice suddenly rang out.
"I still have a use for his soul."
As he spoke, a soul bottle appeared in Song Wen's hand, and he drew Xiao Yuankui's soul into it.
The layer of blood cocoon wrapped around Xiao Yuankui then peeled away and shrank back into Song Wen's body.
Xiao Yuankui's headless remains fell to the ground, already reduced to a dried corpse.
"Dying so easily was too good for him."
As Qing Shuang spoke, she swung her sword and hacked at the corpse several times.
Yet the blade rang against it like iron striking iron. The sword that had just pierced everything in its path could now only cut through the corpse's skin. It could not cleave its bones.
Astonishment flashed through Qing Shuang's eyes.
Before she could think further, Song Wen flicked a finger. A spark landed on the corpse.
As though it had touched oil, the flame roared up and swallowed the entire corpse.
Within a few breaths, the corpse had turned to ash, and the fire died out.
"Qing Shuang, Xiao Yuankui's body has been destroyed. You've had your revenge. There's no need to cling to old hatred. It's time to let it go."
Song Wen spoke with earnest