Chapter 1005: [Water and Fire Ruthless] (Part 2)

Hu Xiaotian's words had just fallen when he already rushed toward the four people; this attack was launched without any sign, even Yan Nujiao, who was beside him, did not anticipate it. Hu Xiaotian intended to strike when they were unprepared, to hit first and strike hard, eliminating them all before they could finish forming their attack formation.

Four long whips were activated almost simultaneously; although their speed was fast, Hu Xiaotian's movements were faster. Before their attack could take shape, he had already slipped into their ranks, and with a lightning-fast Tiger Subduing Dragon Seizing Hand he gripped one person's throat, with a crack breaking their cervical spine.

The three attackers obviously had not expected Hu Xiaotian's speed to be so great; the surviving three frantically waved their long whips to entangle Hu Xiaotian. As the whips were whipped, flames rapidly spread along them, the three long whips resembling three fire dragons, spitting fire tongues as they wildly danced toward him.

Hu Xiaotian grabbed that person's corpse and used it as a weapon to meet them head-on; the burning three whips wrapped around the corpse. Seizing the opportunity, he closed in on another and delivered a heavy punch to the person's back. With Hu Xiaotian's current skill, a full-force punch like that could not be resisted; the punch made the person spit out blood wildly, and it was clear they could no longer survive.

Yan Nujiao took out a phosphorus fire bomb from her waist, seizing the moment when they were off guard, and smashed it onto the surviving person's body. The phosphorus fire bomb burst into fierce flames, but scales around the person's body isolated the fire; covered in blazing flames, he lunged at Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian had just taken down two people in succession when this person suddenly charged at him. Although Hu Xiaotian's martial arts far surpassed the opponent's, he was wary of the phosphorus fire on the opponent's body. As he prepared to dodge, he suddenly heard Yan Nujiao behind him shout, 'Catch!' She threw over the Eyebrow Knife that Hu Xiaotian had snatched from FengXingyun's hand; earlier, Hu Xiaotian had left the knife with her for safekeeping because he needed to look after Xue Lingjun.

Hu Xiaotian snatched the Eyebrow Knife and, with a backhand, swung it. The blade struck the opponent's neck; the phosphorus‑fire‑covered assailant was instantly beheaded, a still‑burning head rolling out with a gurgling sound.

Even after losing its head, the burning torso kept charging forward. Hu Xiaotian lightly tapped the Eyebrow Knife on the corpse's chest to halt its momentum, then retreated backward, avoiding the spreading flow of fire that scattered when the body fell.

A spark of flowing fire clung to the Eyebrow Knife, blooming like a flower at the tip of the blade.

Of the four ambushers, only one remained alive; he stared at Hu Xiaotian, his face full of panic, turned and tried to flee. Hu Xiaotian shook the Eyebrow Knife in his hand, internal energy vibrating the blade and producing a humming sound. The spark of flowing fire suddenly shot up, flying toward the fleeing ambusher; though the fire's speed could not match Hu Xiaotian's activation, by the time the fire arrived Hu Xiaotian was already behind the opponent. He thrust the knife into the opponent's back, the tip protruding from the chest. The ambusher gazed at the bright blade tip emerging from his front chest, raised his hands slightly, and without uttering a word collapsed limp to the ground.

The phosphorus fire on the river surface gradually died out. The air was filled with a scorched smell. Hu Xiaotian pulled the Eyebrow Knife from the corpse, returned to Xue Lingjun's side, and whispered, 'Let's go!'

Yan Boguang witnessed Hu Xiaotian successively taking down four attackers. He grew even more fearful of him, knowing that to escape alive tonight he had to rely on Hu Xiaotian's help, and silently followed behind them.

Yan Nujiao said, 'They definitely do not include Du Tianhuo among them.'

Yan Boguang said, 'Perhaps he didn't come this time.'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'Maybe he has been observing us from the shadows all along; these people are merely sacrifices he used to test our strength.'

Upon hearing this, Yan Boguang felt a chill despite the heat; he could already see the lights of a distant village lighting up, and hope of escape sprang up in his heart: 'The lit place is Liang Family Village; if we reach there we should be safe.'

Xue Lingjun did not know what had happened today and had no time to ask; the urgent matter was to escape the danger, everything could wait until they left. After her mind gradually cleared, she suddenly recalled something very important—she should call for reinforcements, how could she have forgotten such an important thing? Xue Lingjun stopped, took out the Five-Colored Cloud-Piercing Arrow she carried, lit the fuse, and raised her arm high, pointing toward the night sky.

Accompanied by a sharp whistle, a golden light like a comet shot straight into the night sky, exploding in the dark night with a bang! A burst of colorful fireworks blossomed in the night sky.

Hu Xiaotian and the three others looked up at the night sky, gazing at the five‑color firework; Yan Nujiao softly praised, 'How beautiful!'

Xue Lingjun caught her breath and said, 'My subordinates will see this firework and know I am in danger; they will come to rescue me in the shortest possible time.'

Hu Xiaotian nodded; among the Da Yong envoy this time there are many experts, and after receiving Xue Lingjun's distress signal they will certainly gather experts to come here and help.

Yan Boguang asked, 'What should we do next?'

Xue Lingjun said, 'Wait for rescue!'

Yan Boguang exclaimed in astonishment, 'Isn't that just waiting to die? What if that Water and Fire Ruthless catches up to us?'

Hu Xiaotian whispered, 'The Eldest Princess is right; rather than blindly fleeing, it's better to wait here for rescue, and I think he should be nearby.'

A light that flickered on and off flashed not far away, catching Hu Xiaotian's eye; it should be a firefly, its pale green light blinking like a photon sprite in the darkness, like a star in the sky. On the river surface, among the thickets, points of light rose one after another, forming before them a beautiful, dreamlike scroll.

Hu Xiaotian recalled the night he and Long Xi Yue fell into the Hollow Valley; they had seen such a scene then. After the smoke cleared, the sight was tranquil and serene, making one's mood relax involuntarily.

A night wind blew, bringing a mist of rain; the fireflies' light did not dim because of the mist but became much brighter.

Hu Xiaotian only then realized something was wrong; the firefly lights gradually drifted toward them, gathering in twos and threes, and the firefly lights turned into flowing fire.

Hu Xiaotian swung his sword, infusing it with internal energy that rolled up a fierce gust, blowing the flowing fire backward. The flowing fire swayed a bit, then quickly regrouped; tens of thousands of firefly lights coalesced into a mass, quickly forming a fireball about a foot in diameter, spinning as it pursued Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian's expression grew solemn as he covered the retreat of the other three, moving downstream along the riverbank.

The fireball pursued them leisurely from behind, like a rolling snowball growing larger and larger; its size quickly increased to over a zhang, resembling a blazing sun that illuminated everything around as brightly as daylight.

Wherever the fireball passed, trees and grass instantly ignited.

At this moment the sky began to rain again; the few of them dared not linger and desperately ran down the mountain. Yan Boguang shouted loudly, 'Solitary Mountain Temple! It's right ahead—we can take shelter there.'

Hu Xiaotian looked ahead and saw a small temple appear—no doubt the Solitary Mountain Temple Yan Boguang mentioned. Looking back, he saw the fireball's diameter had expanded to an astonishing two zhang. He told Yan Nujiao, 'You take them ahead first; I'll deal with this fireball and come right after.'

Yan Nujiao nodded, and together with Yan Boguang she escorted Xue Lingjun at full speed toward the Solitary Mountain Temple.

Hu Xiaotian plunged the Eyebrow Knife into the ground, picked up a millstone‑sized rock nearby, aimed at the blazing fireball and hurled it with force. The rock struck the fireball, which instantly shattered into a sky‑full of firefly lights.

Now the trouble grew worse; seeing the specks of firefly light spreading across the sky to surround him, Hu Xiaotian hastily grabbed the Eyebrow Knife from the ground, leapt into the air, and already saw the three approaching the temple gate. He dove down from above, arriving ahead of them, reached the temple door first, and shoved it open.

Xue Lingjun, Yan Nujiao, and Yan Boguang filed in through the temple door; Hu Xiaotian entered last, and together with Yan Boguang they shoved the door shut. Yan Boguang peered through the crack and saw the large fireball re‑condense, hurtling fast toward the door, and he cried out, 'Oh no, the fireball, the fireball is coming again…'

Hu Xiaotian shouted, 'Make way!' The two hastily stepped to the sides of the gate; at that moment the fireball reached the door, struck it with a boom, firelight scattering in all directions, the huge fireball turning into countless streams of flowing fire, and the temple gate and surrounding walls instantly fell into a sea of flames.

In a short time the entire courtyard walls of Solitary Mountain Temple were ablaze. Yan Boguang stood in the courtyard, watching the flames rise outside, his face drained of color as he muttered, 'It's over, it's over; this time we'll be burned to death inside.'

Xue Lingjun and Yan Nujiao also lost color in their faces; Hu Xiaotian remained the calmest, comforting everyone: 'Don't panic, the fire won't spread here in a moment; if we hold out a little longer, reinforcements might arrive.'

At that moment a cold voice sounded: 'Hu Xiaotian, I see where you could still flee to?'

Everyone turned to look, and saw on the roof of the Mahavira Hall the Blade Demon FengXingyun standing arrogantly; the night wind lifted his black cloak like a dark flag fluttering in the wind, his body ramrod straight and motionless, his whole person emanating an unmatched sharpness, like a drawn sword.

FengXingyun's gaze fixed on the Eyebrow Knife in Hu Xiaotian's hand; this long blade, a source of his pride, had beheaded countless renowned masters, and now the sword that symbolized his honor and dignity lay obediently in Hu Xiaotian's hands.

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought, 'Not good'; the Water and Fire Ruthless Du Tianhuo had not yet appeared, while the Blade Demon FengXingyun had already tracked them and rushed ahead. Facing two top experts, he had no confidence of victory, yet his expression remained composed; he gave a half‑smile and said to the murderous‑looking FengXingyun, 'FengXingyun, do you still have any shame? I've taken your sword, yet you cling on shamelessly—do you really think I wouldn't dare to kill you?'

Third Update delivered; still owe five more! Tonight we'll try to add another update! (To be continued~^~)