Chapter 31: What a Coincidence, I Like Crushing Spirits Too!
The sudden attack interrupted Mu Li and the others' offensive, and all the mercenaries turned their hostile gazes toward the source of the attack.
Who was the bastard that stopped them? Who dared to protect the "poisonous woman"?
"A… Dou Wang level powerhouse?!" Mu Li's face turned pale as he stared at the figure in the sky with black wings on his back, his voice trembling with fear. A powerhouse of this caliber was like a mythical figure to them.
Hemon's face was equally stricken, his teeth chattering. A Dou Wang expert? Why would someone of this level appear here? Why was he interfering in this matter? Could it be… he was connected to Xiao Yi Xian?
If that was the case…
Hemon's feet subtly shifted backward. There was no way he was staying to die alongside Mu Li!
Xiao Yi Xian's lifeless eyes slowly lifted, catching sight of Lu Bu in the sky. A hint of confusion flickered across her gaze, but it was quickly replaced by a look of realization.
That's right. Those were the Purple Cloud Wings, a flying Dou Technique, not Dou Qi Wings.
"Xiao Yi Xian, what happened?" Lu Bu descended, his voice serious. Back when she was by his side, Xiao Yi Xian had been willing to fight back even in the most desperate situations. How had she lost all her will to fight now?
"I… I…" Seeing a familiar face appear, Xiao Yi Xian's eyes reddened. Her lips quivered, and she felt a lump in her throat. Tears welled up uncontrollably in her eyes.
"Uh… uh…" Lu Bu's mouth twitched as he awkwardly stepped forward, wrapping her in his arms and gently patting her back. "Don't cry, don't cry… Just tell me what happened, and I'll make it right."
The mercenaries watching this felt their scalps tingle. This Dou Wang powerhouse had such a close relationship with Xiao Yi Xian?
Damn it. If that's the case, why were you staying in Qingshan Town in the first place? Couldn't you just leave and enjoy your life?
The mercenaries cursed inwardly, their faces betraying envy and resentment. They all thought, We're all from the same town. Why doesn't anyone like us have this kind of luck?
Slowly, they began to shuffle backward, trying to retreat unnoticed. This was a Dou Wang expert. If he decided to hold them accountable for what just happened… even ten lives wouldn't be enough.
Mu Li clenched his fists, his teeth grinding audibly. He had long harbored feelings for Xiao Yi Xian, but now, right in front of him, she was throwing herself into another man's arms?
Mu Li lowered his gaze. Though his heart seethed with fury, he knew this was a Dou Wang level expert someone he could not afford to provoke!
However, in the next instant, a flash of light illuminated the ground, and intricate, mysterious runes suddenly appeared. The mercenaries found themselves immobilized, unable to move a muscle.
Still holding Xiao Yi Xian, Lu Bu's expression darkened. Her earlier state was troubling her spirit had been deeply wounded, and she had nearly broken down completely. It was clear that this wasn't just an ordinary incident; it had left a psychological scar on her.
Lu Bu excelled at fighting, crafting arrays, and refining pills, but acting as a therapist? That was well outside his expertise.
He narrowed his eyes, one arm wrapped around Xiao Yi Xian's waist, the other gently stroking her back in a comforting motion.
After a while, Xiao Yi Xian's breathing began to steady, and her emotions gradually calmed under Lu Bu's soothing presence.
"Feeling better now?" Lu Bu asked softly, wiping the tears from her cheeks with his hand.
Xiao Yi Xian lifted her head from his chest, her face briefly stunned by the warmth of his hand. A flush of red quickly spread across her cheeks as she pushed herself away with her delicate hands.
Lu Bu smacked his lips. She was soft to the touch he already missed holding her.
"You… I… I…" Xiao Yi Xian stammered in embarrassment, realizing her momentary loss of composure. Had she really thrown herself into someone's arms in front of so many people?
"Alright, tell me what happened," Lu Bu gently urged, taking her hand to steer the conversation away from her embarrassment.
"…"
As Xiao Yi Xian recounted the events of the past month, her shy expression gradually faded, replaced by anger and frustration.
Lu Bu frowned as he listened. Something about the whole situation felt off far too coincidental. Especially the recent death it was so convenient that it reeked of a setup. But Xiao Yi Xian, caught in the thick of it and panicked, hadn't realized it.
"Who here is Mu Li?" Lu Bu turned his sharp gaze toward the immobilized mercenaries, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable weight. "Explain what happened."
"Sir…" Mu Li's Adam's apple bobbed nervously, his entire body cold. Xiao Yi Xian's current state was entirely his doing from behind the scenes. If the truth came out, he wouldn't walk away alive.
"Sir, I'll tell you! I'll tell you everything!" Hemon blurted out hurriedly, his words tumbling over each other. "It was all Mu Li's idea it had nothing to do with me!"
"You bastard!" Mu Li's face turned red with rage, and he roared, "Hemon, do you think you can escape unscathed?"
With a flick of his finger, Lu Bu activated the array, and Mu Li's mouth clamped shut, silencing him instantly.
"Speak," Lu Bu commanded, gesturing with a slight nod. "I promise I won't kill you."
Hearing this, Hemon was overjoyed. Without hesitation, he spilled everything like a broken dam, recounting Mu Li's entire scheme in excruciating detail.
As Xiao Yi Xian listened, her delicate brows furrowed tighter and tighter. With every word, her face darkened further. So, everything had been a setup!
By the time Hemon finished, Xiao Yi Xian's expression was icy, her once bright eyes now filled with fury. She glared at both Mu Li and Hemon, her murderous intent palpable.
Lu Bu clicked his tongue. Killing the body and crushing the spirit, huh? This Mu Li was a piece of work. His methods were crude, but undeniably effective.
If Lu Bu hadn't arrived in time, Xiao Yi Xian might not have survived.
A flash of light, and Hemon's mouth snapped shut, but Mu Li felt his own loosen, allowing him to speak again.
"Anything you'd like to say?" Lu Bu asked coldly.
"Where is my father?" Mu Li didn't bother to defend himself. He knew there was no way he could survive this, but before his death, he wanted to know what had happened to his father.
"I know it was the two of you. You killed our Wolf Head Mercenary Group members," Mu Li growled through clenched teeth, hatred burning in his eyes. "What did you do to my father?!"
"You miss your father that much?" Lu Bu sneered, flicking his fingers. The puppet emerged from his storage ring and stood before Mu Li.
"Father!" Mu Li's face went pale with shock. Though the puppet was now pitch black and inscribed with runes, Mu Li recognized his father immediately.
"Kill him," Lu Bu ordered indifferently. "You like crushing spirits through murder, don't you?"
What a coincidence I do too.
The puppet expressionlessly grabbed Mu Li by the neck, lifting him off the ground and dragging him to another corner.
"Bastards! You two won't die in peace!" Mu Li roared, his face flushed red with anger, but the puppet tightened its grip, cutting off his voice entirely.
"What about the rest of them?" Lu Bu turned to Xiao Yi Xian and asked softly.
Hemon's eyes flickered with desperation, his expression pleading. Lu Bu had said he wouldn't kill him surely a Dou Wang level powerhouse wouldn't go back on his word, right?
"Hand over the Wolf Head members to me. Let the others go," Xiao Yi Xian said coldly. Purple gray Dou Qi began to gather in her palms, forming a veil of energy around her body.
Lu Bu chuckled. "Now that's more like it. That's the Xiao Yi Xian I know."
With another flick of his fingers, the array holding those without the Wolf Head Mercenary Group emblem released them. Panicked, they scrambled to their feet and fled as fast as they could, leaving only the Wolf Head members behind.
"They're all yours." Lu Bu deactivated the array and smiled lightly.
"Sir! You said you wouldn't kill me!" Hemon screamed in terror, his face pale. Xiao Yi Xian's aura and Dou Qi veil clearly indicated she was now a Dou Shi. He couldn't even defeat a Dou Shi, let alone one who was also a Poison Dou Shi.
"I won't kill you. But that doesn't mean I won't let someone else do it." Lu Bu's voice was calm. Then, he turned and walked toward the puppet and Mu Li.
Xiao Yi Xian's slender, fair hand was wrapped in purple gray Dou Qi. With a sharp strike, she slammed her palm into Hemon's face.
Boom!
"Ahh! Damn it! Even if I die, I'll take a piece of you with me!"
Bloodied and enraged, Hemon screamed and charged at Xiao Yi Xian, his fists wrapped in gray white rock type Dou Qi, unleashing a fierce strike.
"Hmph!" Xiao Yi Xian's cold snort carried a murderous chill. She raised her arm lightly, releasing several silver needles.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
"Ahhh! Damn you, you wretch!"
The needles struck Hemon's face and eyes with deadly precision. Screaming in agony, he writhed on the ground, blood seeping through his fingers as he clawed at his face, hurling curses as he went.
"Let's see how much more you can curse." Xiao Yi Xian's frosty expression didn't waver as she flicked her wrist. A blue tinted needle flew out, piercing Hemon's throat.
"Ahhh… argh… ughhh…" Hemon flailed, his face turning red as he struggled to speak but could produce no words.
Taking a step forward, Xiao Yi Xian gathered her swirling purple gray Dou Qi into her palm. With a sharp cry, she delivered a fierce strike to Hemon's dantian.
Boom!
A loud explosion echoed as Hemon's body convulsed violently. Blood spurted from his mouth, and his face turned ashen. He collapsed to the ground, limp and lifeless.
Xiao Yi Xian brushed her hands off in disdain, a look of satisfaction flashing across her face.
With Hemon's dantian destroyed, he was now nothing more than a cripple. His life from now on would be worse than death.
Lu Bu nodded approvingly. He had worried that Xiao Yi Xian might show mercy, but it seemed his concern was unwarranted.
In the corner, the puppet relentlessly pummeled Mu Li. His face was a bloodied, unrecognizable mess, his skull cracked, and white bone faintly visible beneath the gore.
"You… I won't let you two off, even as a ghost…" Mu Li rasped, glaring at Lu Bu with endless hatred.
"You're alive now, and I'm not afraid of you. Why would I fear you as a ghost?" Lu Bu sneered. "How does it feel to be killed by your own father?"
"I'll kill you!" Mu Li shrieked, his fury boiling over as he lunged at Lu Bu with all his remaining strength. Those words cut deeper than any blade, breaking what little remained of his composure.
But the one to stop him was, once again, his own father.
The puppet stepped forward, expressionless, its pitch black fist clenching tightly before punching out with terrifying force.
Splurt!
The metallic fist pierced straight through Mu Li's chest. Dark red blood trickled from his mouth as he gasped for breath.
"Just you wait… I'll haunt you, even as a ghost…" Mu Li croaked, his voice fading.
"Don't worry. You won't even get the chance to become one," Lu Bu said coldly.
With a thought, the puppet withdrew its arm, spraying a mist of blood into the air. Then, like a claw, its other hand gripped Mu Li's neck and twisted violently.
Crack!
The sound of snapping bones echoed through the street. Mu Li's lifeless body slumped to the ground, his eyes wide open in eternal disbelief.
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