Chapter 70 — Ambush

The two understood; with a shift of their bodies, they immediately rushed toward the fray—but almost at the same instant, Song Dayi and Tian Lingsu moved to meet them.

In truth, the situation tonight was unfavorable to the righteous path. Everyone had thought that those gathering in this desolate place were merely a small remnant of the demon cult; unexpectedly, not only had so many come, but even some old demons who had been in hiding for a century had emerged into the world.

Song Dayi was anxious. Seeing himself entangled by the demon cult again, he wanted to throw all his strength into finishing off these fiends and breaking free; but no sooner had he struck than a dim red light came flying at him from the side. Song Dayi hastily caught it on his immortal sword, and his heart sank sharply.

The evil aura from the Red Demon Eye passed through the "Ten Tigers" immortal sword and attacked him in an instant. Song Dayi's cultivation was deep, and he could naturally withstand it, but at the same time he sensed that this demon's cultivation was truly not low—perhaps even above his own.

By now Tian Lingsu was already locked in combat with the beautiful woman. Du Biyan watched from the side for a while and saw that the big-eyed demon's arts were formidable and his senior brother was struggling; he charged in to join Song Dayi, two against one. The old leader stood where he was, the Red Demon Eye continuously shooting out red light full of evil aura, and holding his own against two opponents without losing ground.

Meanwhile, in the distance, Liu Gao had rushed to the wild dog's side, and together with the wild dog he turned on Zhang Qingyue.

But Zhang Qingyue was, after all, not the old leader who had cultivated for many years; before long he felt the pressure. The wild dog, reinforced, was greatly heartened and laughed loudly: "Stinking brat, once you fall into my hands today, you'll see how your Grandfather Wild Dog deals with you!"

Zhang Qingyue had bitterness he could not voice; he felt the pressure ahead growing heavier and heavier, but he could only grit his teeth and hold on, hoping his two senior brothers and his senior sister would finish off the other fiends soon and come to help. In truth, ever since he had grasped part of the meaning of the "Heavenly Book" in the Black Stone Cave, his cultivation had imperceptibly advanced another step; but first, the time since his realization was too short and his practice insufficient; second, he could not use the Buddhist "Great Brahma Prajna" before this crowd; and last and most important, tonight he had after all been defeated by the Blood-Sucking Old Demon. Though his injuries were not serious, in this fierce struggle, as time wore on, his body gradually began to disobey him.

Looking at the other battles, Tian Lingsu and the beautiful woman were evenly matched, soaring high and darting low, both of them lovely in appearance, their graceful figures flitting about—a fine sight, but she could not come to help for some time yet. As for Song Dayi and Du Biyan, they were tightly entangled by the old leader and could not break free; though they saw their youngest junior brother's situation growing dire, the dim red lights kept shooting at them, and in their urgency they could not extricate themselves—indeed, both nearly got hit by the red light for their distraction.

Zhang Qingyue was gradually forced backward by the wild dog and Liu Gao; sweat beaded on his forehead, he gasped for breath, and even his footwork grew disordered. He Dachuan lay on the ground, frantic with worry, knowing that if no help came, in a matter of moments his youngest junior brother would die at the hands of these two demons.

The disciples of Dazhu Peak had always been close, and everyone had always been fond of Zhang Qingyue, this honest youngest junior brother. Now He Dachuan clenched his teeth and forced himself to stand, drew out his treasure meaning to lend his junior brother a hand; but before he could even work his hand seals, the evil aura within him surged back up, his head swam, stars flashed before his eyes, and with a thud he collapsed again.

Zhang Qingyue heard the sound, turned to look in the midst of battle, and was immediately shocked. He cried out in alarm, "Fourth Senior Brother!"

But in that brief moment of distraction, the treasures of the Wild Wolf Daoist and Liu Gao struck at the same time. Zhang Qingyue could not react in time and barely raised the black-iron staff before him; with a great booming "Boom!", the wild dog and Liu Gao were violently shaken, but Zhang Qingyue himself was sent flying and crashed heavily to the ground.

The Wild Wolf Daoist laughed loudly and rose with Liu Gao into the air; the fang in his hand and Liu Gao's treasure struck down from above, and it looked as though Zhang Qingyue's life would be taken. In the distance, Tian Lingsu, Song Dayi, and the others cried out in dismay, but they could not reach him in time; as they watched Zhang Qingyue about to die there, He Dachuan had already turned his head away, unable to bear the sight.

Suddenly, a blue light flashed through the forest, and a ring of light blue as water rippled suddenly outward, illuminating the place in an instant.

He Dachuan was overjoyed and cried out involuntarily, "Lu—"

Before he could finish, that figure came tearing through the air like an arrow loosed from a bowstring. Lu Xueling came riding her sword, her face cold as frost, but in her bright eyes were reflected the blue radiance of the Divine Sword of the Heavenly Dipper before her, as though giving off a blazing flame that burned without cease.

The wild dog and Liu Gao were greatly shocked: the blue light that had just been far away was upon them in an instant, and by the look of it, it seemed to carry the matchless momentum of splitting heaven and shattering mountains, of no return until death. Comparing the two, their own lives were naturally dearer; almost in unison they recalled their treasures and together moved to block the Divine Sword of the Heavenly Dipper.

"Boom!" Sand flew and stones scattered; the nearby trees in the forest swayed violently, and leaves fell in a flurry. The wild dog and Liu Gao were sent flying backward, landing right behind the old leader.

Amid the leaves swirling through the air, Lu Xueling's figure gradually emerged, standing beside Zhang Qingyue. Her face, perhaps from the violent recoil just now, was especially pale.

Zhang Qingyue looked at her, and saw that in the night her beauty was still stunningly lovely, like a lily blooming proud and alone in the depths of darkness. And within that clear, cool beauty, he faintly glimpsed a trace of tenderness.

"Thank you," Zhang Qingyue said in a low voice, forcing down the feeling that had suddenly leaped in his heart.

Lu Xueling shook her head and said quietly, "Back when I was in danger at the bottom of the Abyss of the Dead, you saved me in just the same way. Why say such things?"

Zhang Qingyue was taken aback, and for a moment did not know what to say; he nodded silently. Lu Xueling gazed at him and suddenly gave a faint smile.

It was a smile amid the falling leaves! Zhang Qingyue saw it, and it was as though in the night, for him alone, the ice and frost had melted away.

Zhang Qingyue suddenly shook his head, not daring to look at Lu Xueling again, and gripping the black-iron staff he charged toward his senior brother, who was fighting the old leader. Lu Xueling stood behind him, watching his back; after a moment's silence she followed, and took on the wild dog and Liu Gao, who were about to come up and block the way.

With Lu Xueling joining the fight, the situation on the field changed at once. Her cultivation was already very high, and after escaping the Abyss of the Dead she had advanced further still; moreover, she held the divine weapon Tianya. Liu Gao and the wild dog, two against one, were actually getting the worse of it.