Dai Mubai's Fury

(Posting this first. The backups for Chapters 54 and 55 were lost; they will be restored later.)

Dugu Yan immediately grew a little interested.

"How about we have a match?"

"You?"

Jiang Nanchen looked Dugu Yan up and down.

She wanted to spar with him?

"Of course. And test the waters. My third and fourth soul skills are both attack-type. I want to see the gap between us."

Dugu Bo was brimming with fighting spirit.

"Isn't the gap already obvious?" Jiang Nanchen spread his hands. They had already fought before, yet she wanted another match now, specifically when he had just broken through.

Zhu Zhuqing's mind went blank. She had never expected him to turn on her so suddenly.

Excruciating pain swept through her lower abdomen. She staggered half a step back, her face instantly turning pale as paper, her voice trembling. "No... you can't be this cruel!"

Jiang Nanchen slowly approached, his footsteps utterly silent on the fallen leaves. His gaze was cold, without a trace of warmth. "Giving you a way to live meant having you pledge loyalty to me. Since you refuse to obey, I'll cripple you myself."

"It's not that I don't want to repay your kindness!" Zhu Zhuqing gritted her teeth in protest. "I just have personal matters to handle. Once I'm done, I'll naturally come find you!"

"I don't have the patience to wait." Jiang Nanchen's tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable dominance. "Even a dog I raise knows to repay kindness. I gave you a way to survive, yet all you wanted was to leave without a word. Anyone beyond my control is a potential threat."

Before his words had even faded, he raised his right hand. A faint golden glow lit his fingertips as he pressed them directly against Zhu Zhuqing's