A Way Out at Death's Door

A black lance pierced Qin Muchu's shoulder. He gripped it with both hands, refusing to let it drive through his body. Agony tore through every nerve. His vision darkened in waves, and blood poured from wounds all over him, swiftly staining the ground beneath his feet red.

"Muchu, no!" Xiao Wu's eyes widened as she watched Qin Muchu, drenched in blood, stand between her and the attack. Her pupils trembled violently. She was about to rush forward when Qin Muchu forced out the last of his strength to speak. "Xiao Wu, run. Hurry."

"No!" Tears filled Xiao Wu's eyes, but she walked toward Qin Muchu, one determined step at a time.

"Run! Don't let my death... be for nothing..." Qin Muchu's voice grew weaker and weaker, as though he might give out at any moment.

Yet Xiao Wu did not falter. She came slowly to Qin Muchu, cupped his face in both hands, and gazed tenderly at the boy who had always protected her. Memories flashed before her eyes.

When they were six, she had met him for the first time. He had given her a cultivation method and the best life he could. She had asked why he treated her so well. He had said nothing.

When they were seven, she had gone home with him. He had given her a Soul Tool to conceal her aura. He had said it was a gift his family gave to a future bride. That day, she had blushed.

When they were eight, he had accompanied her to the Star Dou Great Forest. He had told her his greatest secret and helped her improve her Soul Ring. He had said he trusted her. He had also said he wanted to see the sights along the way with her.

Today, they were eleven. He had stepped in front of her and protected her with his life. He had told her to run.

She wiped the blood from the corner of Qin Muchu's mouth and gently embraced him. "Fool. What meaning would my life have without you?"

Qin Muchu's voice was almost too faint to hear. "Live... avenge me..."

Xiao Wu buried her face against his neck and shook her head. "If you die, what meaning would revenge have? If we can't escape, dying together isn't so bad."

Qin Muchu used the last of his strength to hold Xiao Wu tight and sighed helplessly. "You..."

"Tsk, tsk. What a touching sight." The Puppet's voice sounded behind them again. "Then I'll grant your wish and send you on your way together."

Powerful energy surged toward them once more. Xiao Wu slowly closed her eyes, a faint smile touching her lips.

At least, at the very end, she was with him.

Just as the black mist was about to strike them both...

"Fifth Soul Skill: Angel Holy Sword!"

Holy radiance bathed the earth. A golden sword-light, bearing the power to purify all evil in the world, struck the black mist.

There was none of the collision they had expected. Where the mist met the sword-light, it melted away like snow before the sun. In an instant, it had vanished without leaving so much as a black trace.

"Holy power?" The Puppet started and whipped around toward the voice. A tall woman with four wings, silver-white armor, and long golden hair descended slowly from the sky. Two middle-aged men with formidable auras followed behind her.

The newcomer was Qian Renxue. Holding her holy sword, she said coldly, "I sensed your evil aura three years ago, but I couldn't find you in the end. Now that you've appeared again, I won't let you escape. Die!"

"Quick, split up and run!" the two Soul Saint-level Puppets roared. The eight Puppets immediately fled in different directions.

"Still trying to escape? Now that you've appeared, you're staying. Sixth Soul Skill: Angel's Roar!" Qian Renxue had been ready. The moment they tried to flee, she struck. Qin Muchu's mental attacks might have had no effect on these Puppets, but her Soul Skill carried a holy aura. The instant it hit them, the six Soul Emperor-level Puppets screamed.

Behind Qian Renxue, Porcupinefish Douluo and Snake Lance Douluo locked onto the two Soul Saint-level Puppets and stepped forward together. In the blink of an eye, each had caught his target. With a single light grab, they immobilized the Puppets who had seemed so powerful moments before and forced them to kneel before Qian Renxue.

Qian Renxue held her holy sword and looked down at the eight Puppets wreathed in black mist. Sacred golden light streamed steadily from the blade.

"To think we hid for so many years, only to fall here today because of two brats! I won't accept it! Master, Jin Yi can't complete the task you gave him!" the lead Puppet howled bitterly. Holy power steadily purified the black mist around him, exposing his metallic body.

Qian Renxue slowly raised her holy sword, her voice cold and unwavering. "Evil cannot triumph over good. All evil in this world must face an angel's judgment." As her words fell, the sword descended in a gentle stroke. Dazzling golden light burst forth, and the Puppets' energy was utterly purified. All that remained were six humanoid metal bodies.

Only after dealing with every enemy did Qian Renxue put away her sword and turn toward the two slumped on the ground. Qin Muchu was nearly unconscious. He could barely remain seated even with Xiao Wu supporting him. Blood still seeped from his wounds, while black energy corroded the meridians within his body. His aura was so faint she could scarcely sense it.

Qian Renxue crouched. A speck of gentle golden light gathered at her fingertip, settled on Qin Muchu's wound, and entered his body through it.

The wounds blackened by evil power healed at a visible pace. The black energy that had burrowed into his body was slowly purified as well. By the time Qian Renxue withdrew her finger, the wounds had finally stopped bleeding, and Qin Muchu's complexion had improved.

"You're lucky, kid," Qian Renxue said softly. "The evil energy had nearly reached your organs. A moment later, and not even a god could have saved you."

With Xiao Wu's help, Qin Muchu stood and bowed to Qian Renxue. "I'm Qin Muchu. Thank you for saving my life, miss."

"Mm." Qian Renxue nodded, studying the two youngsters with an unusual look in her eyes. "For children so young, you held out against them for an astonishingly long time. Your talent is truly extraordinary. Which family are you from?"

Qin Muchu exchanged a glance with Xiao Wu before answering. "Xiao Wu and I are both orphans. We have no family. We study at Shrek Academy now."

"Shrek Academy?" Qian Renxue was surprised. There was an academy on the continent capable of nurturing talents like Qin Muchu and Xiao Wu? Why had she never heard of it?

"It's just a small academy. Its headmaster is Flender, the Four-Eyed Cat Owl, one of the Golden Iron Triangle." Qin Muchu saw no reason to hide it. Anyone could learn that much with a little investigation; concealing it would only arouse suspicion.

"I see." She knew of the Golden Iron Triangle, but there was no way a Soul Saint could have trained two such dazzling talents. They must have relied on sheer talent and relentless cultivation to reach this point. "Would you two be willing to join Spirit Hall?"