"Yang... did we end up in the wrong place?"
Suddenly confronted with the scene before her, Chen Qiaoqian felt a twinge of fear in her heart.
Han Yang squeezed her slightly cold hand, comforting her, "Don't worry, I'm here."
She nodded obediently, feeling reassured.
Indeed, even if they couldn't survive, dying with the one she loved was a blessing in itself, so there was nothing to panic about.
The two of them pressed forward, one behind the other, heading deeper into the cave.
The cave seemed bottomless, and after walking for the time it takes a stick of incense to burn, they still hadn't reached the end.
Moreover, apart from the corpses, there was no sign of any Demonic Beasts.
This calmed Han Yang considerably. By the faint light from the fire starter in his hand, he took the opportunity to examine the surroundings.
It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "pawread dot com".
"Hmm? Is that... the Three-eyed Spirit Flower?"
His nostrils twitched as he caught a peculiar scent. Han Yang looked to the left with some surprise, spotting a small blue flower on the damp rock wall three or four yards away.
If it weren't for his practice of the Nine Revolutions Star Technique, which enhanced his senses, he would have never noticed it.
Chen Qiaoqian asked curiously, "Is it very valuable?"
"Not exactly precious, but it is quite useful to me right now."
With a light leap, Han Yang plucked the blue flower, "This thing can help me open meridians and acupoints when I enter the Bone Refinement Stage."
Chen Qiaoqian nodded, half-understanding, and was about to ask more when suddenly, a cold laugh echoed behind them.
"Kid, you really know how to run."
Zhang Tiexuan, staggering slightly, held a steel blade upside down, grinning menacingly at Han Yang and Chen Qiaoqian.
Behind him, two other black-clothed men split to the left and right, completely blocking the cave entrance.
"Yang..."
"Hide behind me."
Chen Qiaoqian's face turned pale as she instinctively retreated behind Han Yang.
With a cold glint in his eyes, Han Yang clenched his fists tightly, his bones creaking.
One at the Bone Refinement 4th Stage, and two at the Bone Refinement 3rd Stage.
Even though these three had been severely injured by the Iron Flame Beast, the gap in cultivation was too vast, and Han Yang dared not be careless.
"Second and Fourth, go."
With a wave of Zhang Tiexuan's left hand, the two black-clothed men charged at Han Yang with their blades.
Han Yang sidestepped into the gap between them.
After shifting his steps, a cold gleam flashed in his eyes. His hands suddenly reached out, grabbing the second one's wrist.
He sank his waist, stepped forward twice, and used their own momentum to fling the second one away.
However, the opponent landed on the cave wall, then flipped backward, and although his steps were unsteady, he still landed back on the ground.
Zhang Tiexuan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"No wonder Old Six and Old Seven were killed by you. At such a young age, you have impressive combat skills. But..."
His voice paused, and a crimson gleam appeared in his pupils.
His entire body shot forward like a cannonball, the sharp blade slashing down towards Han Yang, "Today, you will die without a doubt."
A trace of crimson flashed across Han Yang's face.
In the next moment, his hands moved like lightning, striking out swiftly.
It was still... the Cloud-reaching Hand.
"Daring to take on the boss's blade, you must have a death wish."
Seeing this, Old Four stepped back, a mocking smile on his lips.
They seemed to have already envisioned the scene of Han Yang being cleaved in two, blood spraying everywhere.
But in the next instant, their gazes froze.
Clang, clang.
Two crisp sounds rang out as Han Yang's hands struck the blade, forcing it to veer off course.
The strike missed its mark.
"How is this possible?!"
Zhang Tiexuan's pupils contracted, his voice filled with shock.
A mere Body Tempering martial artist had blocked his strike?
He was at the Bone Refinement 4th Stage.
Han Yang's body trembled uncontrollably. He lifted his head, a cold, proud smile on his lips, "Forcing me to burn my vital essence, you all can go to hell."
He could have dodged the fierce strike.
But he couldn't retreat.
If he did, Qiaoqian behind him would fall within their attack range, and by then, it would be too late for regrets.
Listening to his words, Zhang Tiexuan's anger surged, veins bulging on his forehead.
"Foolish brat, once I kill you, I'll enjoy the little girl behind you and sell her to the Red House to pay off debts."
The steel blade in his hand glowed with a cyan aura, bringing a sharp gust as it slashed down towards Han Yang.
The blade edge drew closer.
A fierce glint flashed in Han Yang's eyes.
He stepped to the left, choosing to meet the blade with his left arm.
Swish.
The steel blade mercilessly struck Han Yang's arm.
But to Zhang Tiexuan's shock, the blade that could cleave a rock slipped upon contact with Han Yang's arm, losing most of its force.
Even so, the blade still cut into flesh, and crimson blood quickly soaked Han Yang's clothes.
However...
It seemed Han Yang had anticipated this outcome.
He didn't even flinch, and during the opponent's moment of hesitation, he charged forward, delivering a fierce punch.
"Heavenly Gang Burst."
His right fist struck like thunder, hitting Zhang Tiexuan's chest instantly.
"Ah..."
Zhang Tiexuan released the blade, knocked back by the immense force.
Blood seeped from the wound on his chest.
The Iron Flame Beast's final desperate attack had nearly torn out his internal organs, and now, another heavy blow, blood flowed from all his orifices.
He collapsed, motionless.
"Boss, are you... are you okay?"
Old Two and Old Four were startled, not knowing what had happened.
"To the underworld, together. Heavenly Remnant Blade."
With a fierce expression, Han Yang drew the steel blade still hanging from his left arm and slashed at them like lightning.
A crimson glow mixed with the blade, making it strike like thunder, capable of cutting through an army.
The two instinctively raised their blades to block.
But though he was just a Body Tempering martial artist, the power of this strike was like a mountain pressing down.
Clang, clang.
The steel blades broke, and then, the blade light flashed, turning the two into four pieces.
Unstoppable.
Even in death, they couldn't understand why this kid suddenly erupted with such power...
Thud.
The blood color on Han Yang's body vanished in an instant.
He collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.
At this moment, he didn't even have the strength to move a finger.
The final punch and slash had drained all the power from burning his vital essence.
"Yang!"
Chen Qiaoqian didn't bother wiping away her tears, rushing to Han Yang's side, gently wiping the blood off him.
"I'm... fine..."
Han Yang grinned, about to offer some comforting words.
But the next moment, his expression suddenly turned grim, and he struggled to lift his head, his gaze towards the cave entrance filled with immense gravity.
He sensed a powerful presence rapidly approaching from the cave entrance...
Who could it be?
A Demonic Beast?
Or... a martial artist hunting him down?
...
Proofreader: Peter Pan