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Chapter 248: Still More Fighting
Jin Xian hesitated. She turned back and looked at Hui, then vanished. A black blur raced toward the sect below.
The disciples shed held back charged toward Hui. The lotus beast ignored them, too busy fighting the disciples in front of her. Hui backed away as they charged. He glanced over his shoulder, then raced for the Starbound Peak disciples. I need some front-liners between me and the battle. Jin Xian is checking on Xixing and Sis Mei, so in the meantime, Ill go stick close to Li Xiang and the sword cultivators!
You arent getting away! A whip snapped around Huis ankle, yanking it off his sword.
Hui wobbled and began to fall. He kicked his sword up with his other foot and caught it in his hand, holding himself up by his arm instead of his foot. Glaring down at the whip, he whirled around and slashed at the whip holding his ankle.
His sword bounced off. The whip sat there, untouched, not so much as a mark on its surface.
Ah, dammit! Im no sword cultivator! Dont ask this Hui to do the impossible.
The whip-wielding female cultivator smirked and yanked her whip backward. At the same time, green lightning shot down the length of the whip.
Hui stopped floating and dropped. His weight fell on his ankle, pulling the whip taut and flipping him upside down. As the lightning reached him, he slashed at his own foot, severing it at the ankle.
Lightning crackled up his leg. Numbness bit to the bone, a crawling ache, as if a thousand ants wriggled under his skin. Ignoring it, Hui swapped to his plant form and began to regrow the foot. To his relief, bone reformed, and the flesh closed in around it.
I couldnt be sure it was going to heal but its better than getting hit with that lightning attack! If the full attack had hit me I wouldnt be alive right now!
Even still, he plummeted. Hui trembled as he fell, using his own qi to coax the lightning to shiver over his body, while keeping it from actually attacking his flesh. Look, Im dead. Stop attacking me. This lightning has already killed me, see?
Harrumphing, the whip-wielding cultivator plunged after him. She lashed out with her whip again, aiming for his waist. This time, theres no escaping!
Her whip spun home. Hui jolted to a halt. She yanked her whip back toward herself, retrieving him. Before you die
A ghoul stared back at her, then lunged at her throat. She screeched and jumped back, but the ghoul latched on. Dull teeth scraped uselessly at her tough skin, not enough to break through her veins.
Pathetic. She slammed her hand down and crushed the ghouls head.
Still dropping, under where the ghoul had been, Hui made a short gesture. The ghouls robes flew open at the chest, revealing one of the vibration-based talismans hed learned from Zhu Diyu. Ripples spread directly into the whip-wielding cultivator, and voids opened up inside her body, directly devouring her flesh. She screamed as her body twisted, limbs contorting, then shook itself apart in a horrible shower of blood and gore.
Hui slipped his sword back under his feet and zoomed upward once more, his robes briefly brushing the tops of the trees before he recovered. Internally, his heart shook a little. Ive never used that talisman with the intent to kill at that close range before. I wasnt expecting
Focus, Hui. These cultivators are trying to exterminate my sect! If I dont attack with everything I have now, theyll kill me! To protect my small life I have to fight. I have to kill. As much as I dont like it, I have no option!
He took a deep breath and drew another handful of talismans. I still dont want to kill, but but!
You!
A bolt of light shot across the battlefield toward Hui. Hui casually flew on, only to find the beam of light followed him. Resigned, he activated a few barrier talismans and stood atop his sword, coolly waiting for his opponent to reveal themselves.
Tang Fei appeared out of the beam of light, her cute face twisted into a cute scowl, fist bared. Her other hand ended in a lump of dead, silver metal. Master says youre the most likely one to have hurt me, Xiao Hui!
Not me, Hui said, waving his hand. Im a weak, useless cultivator who cant hurt a fly. Ask anyone.
Tang Fei gritted her teeth and slammed her fist into his barriers. They shuddered, but held. You murdered Shang Chaya seconds ago! You cant fool me. Take me seriously and fight like a man!
Negotiations have broken down. Hui sighed, flicking a dozen talismans into his hand. Tang Fei, I have treated you with respect as an opponent this whole time. Not once have I acted with less than full seriousness.
Youve refused to fight me, you coward. Afraid to fight a girl? Tang Fei replied, jabbing her finger at him.
Hui bowed. Im afraid to fight in general, Elder Sister. Male or female has nothing to do with it.
Thisyou openly admit to your own cowardice? I refuse to believe a coward could defeat Shang Chaya, she snarled.
He bowed again. My apologies, Elder Sister. It is truly unfortunate. If Id realized, er, my own strength, I wouldnt have
Tang Feis face reddened. She hauled back her fist and punched again, again, again. One after another, the barriers shattered. With each punch, she shouted, You disgrace her?
Er, Tang Feier, you arent being very cute right now Hui tried.
Her face burned, red as a beet. Light glowed from her eyes, and she reared back, hauling in a breath. Twelve Zodiac Punches, Tiger!
Claws raked into Tang Feis back at the same moment that her punch slammed down onto Huis barrier. His barrier shattered, and he went spinning head-over-heels, blood spurting from his mouth. At the same time, Tang Fei screamed, her back arching in pain. She reached over her shoulder and came back with a handful of goopy black flesh. She screamed again, wide-eyed.
Jin Xian stood over Tang Feis shoulder, licking her bloodied hand. A smirk played over her lips as she reached out mentally to Hui. Along with a ravenous hunger, a message transmitted across the link, a feeling of safety.
Hui closed his eyes for a single moment. Theyre safe. Thank goodness.
His eyes opened, and a decisive light burned therein. Hui reached out his hand, recalling his sword from his feet to his hand. His sword slammed into his palm, and he hung there, dangling from one arm. Come to think of it, this is way more sensible than standing on the sword.
He cleared his throat and waved dismissively. Jin Xian jumped away from Tang Fei. Tang Fei, I need you to answer one question from me. When you attacked Li Xiang did you do that of your own will?
If not, I dont need to kill her here. If so, then
Tang Feis face distorted. Li Xiang? Whos that? Oh, that ugly sword cultivator?
Hui waited patiently. Theres no point getting worked up. Li Xiang can defend herself from such petty insults.
She scowled, crossing her arms. Needles are totally uncute.
Someone forced you to attack? Who? Whoever it is, will die. Even if it takes me centuries to do it, no matter what depths I need to fall to, theyve signed their death warrant.
For less than the time it takes a spark to fly off a flint, Tang Feis eyes flicked upward. Then she pursed her lips and looked aside, ignoring him.
Hui followed her glance to Gui Delun, so far above, facing off against the Sect Master. In the battle between the two, the Sect Master could not push back Gui Delun. If anything, it was Sect Master Lan who was pushed back.
Huis gaze darkened. I understand, Elder Sister.
You understand nothing! Tang Fei shouted, charging at Hui, fist already drawn back.
