The two Kairagi were much larger than Lu Kuang, black vapor rising from their bodies. The blades in their hands crackled with purple lightning and blazed with crimson flames.
Even one Kairagi was hard to fight. Two were bad enough, but both of them were max level!
"Take this blade!"
Whoosh!
In an instant!
Fire and lightning erupted in midair as the two Kairagi left streaking afterimages behind them and slashed down at Lu Kuang.
Clang!!!
A sharp metallic clash rang out. Xiu Yuan had blocked them with his spear, brilliant sparks spraying wildly from its shaft.
"So heavy..."
Boom!!!!
A shallow crater blasted open around Xiu Yuan. His feet sank deep into the ground, and his hands trembled around the spear.
"I can't move..."
As the two Kairagi pressed down with ever greater strength, a bead of cold sweat formed on Xiu Yuan's forehead.
"Flame Flash Body Flicker!"
Xiu Yuan vanished on the spot. When he reappeared, he was above the spear, and he immediately put away the weapon lying horizontally beneath him.
With the resistance suddenly gone, the Kairagi pitched forward under their own momentum.
Xiu Yuan pressed his fingertips against their abdomens.
"Inch Punch!"
His open hands clenched into fists, unleashing terrifying force across a distance of just one inch.
Boom!!!!!!
A muffled grunt rang out as the two Kairagi shot away like missiles, smashing through tree after tree. They slammed into the ground and bounced back up, skipping across it five or six times like stones across water before gouging out a long trail.
But the instant they flew away, Xiu Yuan stamped hard against the earth, turned into blazing flames, and gave chase, leaving a trail of sparks behind him.
The two Kairagi had barely risen when Xiu Yuan reached them with his spear in hand.
"Goodbye."
Whoosh!
He swept his spear straight across their heads.
"One slash is all I need!"
Xiu Yuan's hair stood on end. His eyes darted sideways, catching sight of another lightning Kairagi wielding a sharp blade!
But he had already swung his spear, leaving almost no time to pull it back!
He spun sharply, putting his body behind the spear.
Clang!
Thud!!!
"Grandpa!!!" Hu Tao cried out in alarm, her eyes wide.
Xiu Yuan was blasted away. Blood rose in his throat as he hurtled like a missile into a large tree. The impact battered his spine, and a mouthful of blood sprayed out like splashed ink.
"Damn..."
"Let me test my blade on you!"
Without giving him even a moment to catch his breath, a second flame Kairagi rushed in for the kill.
Xiu Yuan hurriedly pulled himself free of the tree.
Whoosh!
He had barely escaped the trunk when the Kairagi sliced the massive tree clean through.
Xiu Yuan immediately put distance between himself and the Kairagi, shouting, "Stay back!!"
His expression had turned utterly grim, his face shrouded in gloom.
Four max-level Kairagi.
Two lightning, two flame...
It couldn't get any worse.
He might have stood a fighting chance before, but now he was practically facing certain death!
Xiu Yuan glanced back at Hu Tao. She had a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide, tears even clinging to their corners.
Despite the pain wracking his body and the blood welling from his mouth, he still gave her a confident smile.
I can't let Little Tao worry.
That was Xiu Yuan's only thought at that moment.
"Do I have to use that move...? But... its backlash is irreversible."
While Xiu Yuan hesitated, the four max-level Kairagi charged at him!
"Grandpa, dodge!!!!"
Seeing her grandfather standing there motionless, Hu Tao hurriedly stepped out.
A crystal-clear tear spilled from her eye.
"Release: Torch Dragon Flame Dance."
Boom!!!!!!
A terrifying blaze surged into the sky, dazzling against the darkness of the night.
At that moment, a large contingent of Millelith rushing toward them noticed the sight.
Everyone in Liyue Harbor turned to gaze into the distance.
It was a dragon beneath the heavens!
A dragon formed from blazing flames!
The attacks of all four Kairagi stopped against the enormous dragon's surface.
The sight left Hu Tao utterly stunned.
She stared at Xiu Yuan in disbelief, as though she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"Die."
Xiu Yuan spoke slowly.
The Torch Dragon instantly unleashed an enormous blast of dragon breath, engulfing all four Kairagi.
All four max-level Kairagi were annihilated!
Not one remained!
The Torch Dragon then vanished completely into the air.
Xiu Yuan glanced at the bright red Otherworldly Flower that had appeared on his chest, his brow creasing slightly.
Then his usual smile returned, and he walked toward Hu Tao.
"Well? Your grandpa's pretty impressive, isn't he?" Xiu Yuan said with a rather boastful air.
Hu Tao had yet to recover from her shock. Her watery eyes stared blankly at Xiu Yuan.
Then tears welled up in them.
"Grandpa, you scared me to death!"
She threw herself into Xiu Yuan's arms and began to sob, looking just like a distressed kitten.
"There, there~" Xiu Yuan gently stroked her soft hair, soothing her in a warm voice.
"Waaah..."
"It's all right now. It's all over..."
The Millelith arrived afterward. Once Xiu Yuan explained what had happened, they took the matter very seriously and promised to investigate it thoroughly.
Xiu Yuan and Hu Tao returned to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Still shaken, Hu Tao went to sleep early that night.
It wasn't until Xiu Yuan sensed movement in the middle of the night and opened his eyes that he discovered Hu Tao had crawled under his covers again.
Ever since discovering that sleeping in a coffin was quite comfortable, Hu Tao had often slept in one.
It had been a long time since she had last crawled into his bed in the middle of the night.
"What's wrong, Little Tao? Were you frightened?" Xiu Yuan asked, looking at her wide-open eyes.
"Mm... a little..." Hu Tao murmured, looking into Xiu Yuan's eyes.
"It's all right. Grandpa's here. I'll protect you. Go to sleep," Xiu Yuan reassured her softly.
Before you continue