Chapter 32: Formidable Opponent

Jiang Xiaomu let out a cold snort:

"Granny Tooth has committed countless evils; today is her death day! If you're sensible, surrender willingly, and perhaps I'll spare your life!"

Hei Guapo's eyes were icy, showing no trace of fear:

"If you want to kill my adoptive mother, you must first get past me!"

After she spoke, she flashed her form, and her long sword thrust toward Jiang Xiaomu's throat like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.

Jiang Xiaomu had been prepared; he sidestepped to dodge, then with a backhand chop of his long sword, aimed straight at Hei Guapo's waist.

Hei Guapo gave a slight sneer, flashed again, and narrowly dodged Jiang Xiaomu's attack.

Jiang Xiaomu secretly marveled; this Hei Guapo's martial arts were indeed unfathomable.

The two traded blows, their sword lights crisscrossing, stirring up gusts of strong wind.

Although Jiang Xiaomu had boosted his combat power with the medicine and manuals provided by the system, Hei Guapo's internal energy cultivation was profoundly deep, and her wielding of the long sword reached a miraculous level, for a time actually suppressing him completely.

"Ding!"

With a crisp sound, Jiang Xiaomu's long sword was knocked aside by Hei Guapo's long sword; a strong internal force transmitted along the blade, numbing his tiger's mouth.

"Kid, your kung fu is still a bit green!"

Hei Guapo gave a sinister chuckle, her long sword lunged again, each strike aiming straight at Jiang Xiaomu's vital points.

Jiang Xiaomu kept retreating, his heart filled with extreme anxiety.

Just as he was about to be unable to hold on, the system's alert tone suddenly sounded in his mind:

【Target weakness detected, three cun below the left rib!】

Jiang Xiaomu's spirit was lifted, a glint flashing in his eyes.

This time, he did not choose to clash head-on, but feinted a move, shifted his body to avoid Hei Guapo's blade, and simultaneously thrust his long sword like lightning, aiming three cun below her left rib.

Hei Guapo obviously did not expect Jiang Xiaomu to suddenly change his move, and the attack's position was so tricky.

She couldn't dodge in time, was pierced by Jiang Xiaomu's long sword, and let out a muffled groan.

Fresh blood dripped from the sword tip, staining Hei Guapo's clothes red.

"You..."

Hei Guapo stared at Jiang Xiaomu, gritting her teeth.

Jiang Xiaomu let out a cold snort:

"I've said it before; today is your death day!"

He was about to press the advantage and thoroughly finish off Hei Guapo's life,

Suddenly, a powerful force burst from within Hei Guapo's body, sending him staggering back several steps.

Jiang Xiaomu's heart jumped; he hastily retreated, warily eyeing Hei Guapo.

All that could be seen was that Hei Guapo had become extremely unsightly.

"You think you can defeat me just like that?"

"Even if I die today, I'll drag you down with me!"

A strange qi emanated from Hei Guapo's body, making the surrounding air feel heavy.

A sense of foreboding rose in Jiang Xiaomu's heart,

He quickly circulated his internal energy, hoping to resist this strange force.

However.

Still, he felt this force making it hard to breathe.

A strange smile curled at the corner of Hei Guapo's mouth, her body began to **, like a balloon about to explode.

"Go die!"

A piercing shriek rang out, her body instantly burst apart, turning into countless black fragments that shot toward Jiang Xiaomu like a rainstorm.

Hei Guapo's anguished cry echoed through the valley.

The pervasive dust and smell of blood made Jiang Xiaomu's stomach churn; he staggered a few steps, then spat out a mouthful of fresh blood that stained the armor on his chest.

Although Jiang Xiaomu's physique had far surpassed that of ordinary people and he wore armor forged from refined steel, Hei Guapo's dying frenzy still made his internal organs feel as if they had been smashed by a huge hammer.

The shockwave made his ears ring, his vision blurred, and his body went numb to the point of nearly losing consciousness.

"General!"

An anxious shout rang out, and a stout arm timely steadied the swaying Jiang Xiaomu.

It was Xiong Kuohai.

Jiang Xiaomu took a deep breath, suppressed the sweetness of blood rising in his throat, and waved his hand to indicate he was fine.

"I'm fine," he said in a low voice, striving to maintain composure.

As a military commander, he could not show the slightest weakness before his subordinates, lest morale collapse and the consequences be unimaginable.

Xiong Kuohai eyed him dubiously, his pale face and blood-stained armor making him doubt Jiang Xiaomu's words.

But the authority in Jiang Xiaomu's gaze made him swallow his doubts.

"General, this demon woman—"

Xiong Kuohai pointed at the bloody mess on the ground, his tone tinged with lingering fear.

"Hmph, mere trickery," Jiang Xiaomu snorted coldly,

"Clean up the battlefield; leave no one alive!"

The battle quickly ended; the remaining bandits, under the officials' encirclement, were routed, throwing away their armor and weapons as they fled, crying for their parents.

The valley returned to tranquility once again.

Jiang Xiaomu, forcing himself to stand, surveyed the battlefield.

Cutting the grass without removing the roots, it will grow again when the wind blows.

He understood this principle.

So we must make sure everyone dies completely.

Especially the mastermind behind the black widow who made him so miserable—Granny Ya Zi.

"Report, General, the bandits have been completely wiped out!"

A soldier stepped forward to report.

"Where is Granny Ya Zi?"

Jiang Xiaomu asked in a low voice.

"Subordinate… I haven't found any trace of Granny Ya Zi!"

The soldier's voice trembled slightly.

Jiang Xiaomu's heart sank, and an ominous premonition welled up.

"Could she have escaped? This old hag is full of tricks; if she gets away, there will be endless trouble." He immediately ordered: "Seal all exits, dig three feet deep if you must, and find her for me!"

The soldier departed with the order, and Jiang Xiaomu stood alone in the valley, gazing at the corpses littering the ground and the shattered weapons, his thoughts myriad.

Granny Ya Zi's disappearance made him uneasy.

The matter… seems it won't end so simply.

"Cough cough…"

Jiang Xiaomu coughed up another mouthful of blood.

"Boss! How are you?"

Xiong Kuohai's rough voice carried a hint of panic as he grabbed Jiang Xiaomu, who was swaying on the verge of collapse.

Jiang Xiaomu waved his hand, wanting to say something, but found his throat blocked, only able to emit a hoarse sob.

"Damn that old thief Ya Zi!"

Jiang Xiaomu cursed him bitterly in his heart.

"Found her?"

Xiong Kuohai's face darkened, he shook his head,

"No, that old thief is extremely cunning; he's probably already escaped."

"Escaped?!"

Jiang Xiaomu's eyes widened sharply.

He could no longer hold on, his vision went black, and he collapsed straight down.

Xiong Kuohai panicked, scooped up Jiang Xiaomu, and sprinted madly toward the military camp.

When Jiang Xiaomu awoke again, he found himself lying on the bed in the tent,

He struggled to sit up, but discovered he had no strength at all.

"Boss, you're awake!"

Xiong Kuohai's delighted voice came from beside the bed.

"Water…"

Jiang Xiaomu's throat was dry and smoking, he painfully uttered a single word.

Xiong Kuohai quickly poured a cup of water and carefully fed it to him.

Jiang Xiaomu gulped it down in one breath, feeling a bit better.

"That old thief Ya Zi…"

Jiang Xiaomu recalled the fellow who had thwarted his efforts, and his anger surged.

"Boss, don't get angry yet, heal your wounds first," Xiong Kuohai advised,

"That old thief may run, but he can't hide forever; sooner or later we'll catch him."

Jiang Xiaomu closed his eyes.