Chapter 34: Blood Battle

The old beggar's staff struck Jiang Xiaomu squarely in the chest.

Jiang Xiaomu felt a brutal force surge, his five viscera and six bowels overturning like a river and sea, he crashed heavily to the ground, dust flying.

"Cough—cough—"

Jiang Xiaomu struggled to his feet, a mouthful of fresh blood spurted out, staining the front of his clothes red.

He silently cursed his own carelessness, actually bringing only a few confidants and rashly charging into this dragon's pool and tiger's den.

Now all his confidants are dead in battle, and he himself is severely wounded—truly losing his wife and losing his troops.

"You little brat, still quite tough! Let this old man see how long you can hold out!"

The old beggar gave a sinister smile, tapping his staff on the ground.

Before his words faded, a short-statured old woman appeared beside Jiang Xiaomu like a ghost.

This old woman's face was full of wrinkles, her eye sockets sunken, looking like a desiccated corpse crawled out of a grave.

In her hands, two short daggers flashed with cold light, their blades still bearing specks of blood, clearly having just taken lives.

"Shapozi, go together, quick battle, quick decision!"

At the old beggar's command, Shapozi's short daggers turned into two silver flashes, straight for Jiang Xiaomu's throat.

Although Jiang Xiaomu's strength had greatly increased after taking the Qilin Fruit, that blow had already damaged his viscera, and now facing the two masters' pincer attack, he instantly felt overwhelmed.

He barely swung his blade to block, but felt his palm go numb, almost unable to hold his sword.

"You little brat, surrender your life!"

The old beggar's staff struck again, as if to smash Jiang Xiaomu's head to pieces.

Jiang Xiaomu dodged sideways, and Shapozi's dagger followed close, carving a deep bloodstain on his arm.

In the intense pain, Jiang Xiaomu couldn't help but let out a muffled groan, his stance staggering backward.

"Hmph, deathbed struggle!"

The old beggar and Shapozi pressed step by step, each move lethal; Jiang Xiaomu could only struggle to hold on, seeking a chance to counterattack.

While dodging, he observed the surrounding terrain, looking for an advantage to exploit.

Suddenly, his gaze focused, seeing a pile of rubble not far away.

With a thought, Jiang Xiaomu feinted a move to lure the old beggar and Shapozi into pursuit, then bolted toward the rubble heap.

"You want to run? Not that easy!"

How could the old beggar and Shapozi let him escape easily; they gave chase without letup.

Jiang Xiaomu ran to the rubble heap, tumbled into it, and used the terrain to maneuver against the old beggar and Shapozi.

"You little brat, if you've got guts, come out for a duel; hiding and sneaking—what kind of hero is that!"

The old beggar roared in frustration.

Jiang Xiaomu gave a cold snort:

"Dealing with you two old fogies, why bother with any jianghu righteousness?"

While speaking, he secretly regulated his breath, striving to suppress the surging qi and blood within.

The medicinal effect of the Qilin Fruit was gradually taking effect, and he felt his injuries slowly healing.

"Shapozi, go block him over there, don't let him escape!"

The old beggar directed Shapozi, while he himself waved his staff, prowling around the rubble heap, seeking Jiang Xiaomu's whereabouts.

Shapozi gave a sinister smile, nodded, flickered, and moved to the other side of the rubble heap.

Seeing Shapozi leave, Jiang Xiaomu secretly rejoiced—this was exactly the opportunity he wanted.

Drawing a deep breath, he gathered his internal qi at the sword tip, then burst from the rubble heap, his long blade turning into a cold light, thrusting straight at the old beggar's throat.

"Old fogey, prepare to die!"

The old beggar hadn't expected Jiang Xiaomu to suddenly erupt in attack; he could only hastily raise his staff to block.

"Clang!"

A loud bang, sparks flying everywhere.

The old beggar felt a tremendous force travel up his staff, his palm throbbing with pain, the staff nearly slipping from his grip.

Jiang Xiaomu pressed his advantage, his long blade assaulting the old beggar like a violent storm, each strike lethal.

Caught off guard, the old beggar could only struggle to parry, danger lurking at every turn.

Just then, Shapozi suddenly struck from the side, her two short daggers stabbing at Jiang Xiaomu's ribs like venomous snakes flicking their tongues.

Jiang Xiaomu had to abandon his attack on the old beggar and dodge.

"You little brat, do you think you can escape from our grasp?"

Shapozi gave a sinister smile, her short dagger attacking again.

Jiang Xiaomu's eyes turned cold, his body suddenly leapt up, landing on a large boulder.

From high above, he looked down on the old beggar and Shapozi, a faint cold smile curling his lips.

"Now it's my turn to strike back!"

Before his words faded, he suddenly leapt down from the boulder, his long blade carrying a fierce sword aura, chopping straight at the old beggar's head.

The old beggar hastily raised his staff to block, but it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

The blade's force was like splitting bamboo, accompanied by the sound of shattering bone, sinking deep into the old beggar's skull.

"Old man!"

A sharp cry split the night sky—Shapozi, or rather, she now seemed more like a madwoman.

Facing Shapozi's attack, Jiang Xiaomu remained calm, gave a contemptuous smile, his steps light as a ghost, evading her fierce strike.

His long blade traced a beautiful arc, its edge grazing Shapozi's cheek, drawing a sharp sting.

Shapozi winced in pain, letting out a miserable scream, and waved her curved blade even more wildly, trying to attack Jiang Xiaomu.

However, Jiang Xiaomu's movements were faster and more ruthless than hers.

Although Shapozi was old, her skills were extraordinarily agile; years of jianghu life had honed her into a formidable martial artist.

She waved her blade like the wind, each strike deadly, each move vicious, trying to find an opening in Jiang Xiaomu.

But Jiang Xiaomu was too strong; he was like a leopard, swift and deadly.

Every move he made seemed precisely calculated, his strikes exact, with not a shred of waste.

Shapozi gradually could not hold on, her strength exhausted, and combined with the previous fierce battle, she became utterly fatigued.

"Cough cough…"

Shapozi coughed violently, fresh blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, staining her collar red.

She felt her strength draining rapidly, knowing she would meet her end here today.

Her eyes were filled with resentment and unwillingness.

She wanted to curse Jiang Xiaomu, but she had no strength left.

Jiang Xiaomu seized the moment, chopping off Shapozi's both arms with a single blow, and she let out a heart-rending scream.

"You… you will not die a good death…"

Shapozi collapsed to the ground, on her last breath, her eyes filled with venomous resentment and unwillingness.

Jiang Xiaomu ignored Shapozi's curse, raising his blade and lopping off her head.

He calmly sheathed his long blade, his icy gaze fixed on the corpse lying on the ground.

He slowly squatted down, searching Shapozi's body and pulling out a jade pendant engraved with a strange pattern.

Just then, a gust of yin wind blew through, and the courtyard suddenly became gloomy and terrifying.

Jiang Xiaomu felt a chill behind him, swiftly turned around, but found no one there.