"Your Holiness, I've failed you!"
Zhao Wuji's voice was filled with grief.
He looked utterly bedraggled, his clothes disheveled and even stained with crimson blood.
Qin Xiao asked coldly, "Tell me, what happened?"
His icy killing intent had turned into white mist, taking tangible form as a phantom that bared its fangs and brandished its claws behind him.
Both Zhao Wuji and Liu Erlong felt a chill in their hearts.
"After the advancement round ended, I led Zhu Zhuqing and the others to draw lots, and we drew a bye.
There was no match tomorrow, so they had a rare chance to relax. Zhu Zhuqing, Meng Yiran, and the other girls wanted to look around Spirit City, and I agreed."
At this point, regret appeared on Zhao Wuji's face. "When we reached a shop selling women's clothes, Boss Fu and I waited outside.
But that was when something went wrong. Someone was lying in ambush inside the shop and attacked Zhu Zhuqing, Meng Yiran, and the others. They were caught completely off guard..."
Zhao Wuji could not continue. He slapped himself hard across the face twice.
If he could do it over, he would never have left their side, no matter what.
"What?!" Qin Xiao flew into a rage. He could no longer contain his icy killing intent, and the temperature around him dropped to freezing. White mist appeared with every breath Liu Erlong, Zhao Wuji, and the others took.
"Old Zhao, don't blame yourself just yet. How are they?" Liu Erlong was visibly anxious as well.
Zhao Wuji paused, then hurriedly answered, "Their lives aren't in danger, but they suffered injuries of varying severity. They've been taken to Spirit Hall for treatment..."
Hearing that their lives were not in danger, Liu Erlong secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Qin