Chapter 121

Huang Rong threw five flying daggers at the sturdy man, her figure swiftly approaching the short, stocky man; the five flying daggers aimed straight at vital points, like venomous bees simultaneously attacking various major acupoints on the short, stocky man's body—throat, solar plexus, both ribs, knees!

The blade light flashed, sealing off all his dodging space, forcing him to wave his short blade into a mass of dark light to protect his whole body, the clinking collisions ringing out in a chorus, sparks flying everywhere!

At the moment the sturdy man was thrown into disarray by the flying daggers, his movements slightly sluggish, Huang Rong had already closed in!

She did not clash head-on with the heavy wolf-tooth club; instead, like a phantom, she lowered her body and slid in, slipping through the opening on his right side, her dagger like a venomous snake's tongue, viciously stabbing his unprotected neck!

"Puchi!"

The dagger sank deep, until the hilt!

The short, stocky man's body gradually lost strength, and with a "thud" he collapsed to the ground, silent.

However, the sturdy man's venomous short blade followed like a bone‑eating maggot!

Seeing his companion fall, his eyes blazed with murderous intent; he recklessly lunged forward, his poison‑treated short blade carving a tricky arc, silent yet lightning‑fast, straight for Huang Rong's chest!

The icy killing intent almost pierced her clothing!

"Whoosh——"

A piercing, ear‑splitting whistle tore the air! It was not the poison blade cutting wind, but the Tang Sword thrown by Li Qingxuan!

His right hand suddenly burst with strength, the blade wrapped in thunderous power, arriving first despite being launched later.

"Pfft!"

A dull thud of the blade entering flesh sounded!

The Tang Sword pierced precisely into the sturdy man's back, carrying his body several meters away!

The sturdy man's eyes bulged; all his ferocity and viciousness were instantly replaced by disbelief and excruciating pain.

Huang Rong threw a flying dagger, which struck his neck; he emitted a gurgling "heh‑heh" as air leaked, his body stiffened abruptly, then went limp like a snake whose tendons had been cut.

Huang Rong did not linger; she touched the ground with her toes, lightly pivoted and retreated, her vigilant gaze sweeping the surroundings, confirming no further threats, then she hurried toward Li Qingxuan.

"Qingxuan, if it weren't for you, I'd be in danger!" Her voice trembled with barely concealed shock and joy.

Walking up to Li Qingxuan, Li Qingxuan extended his right arm to embrace Huang Rong's waist, then lightly patted her back.

After Huang Rong calmed her emotions, the two walked into the camp and searched for supplies within.

Li Qingxuan entered the Shelter, searched item by item, and found a fair amount of basic materials and miscellaneous things, but no food at all.

"Qingxuan, come quick!" Hearing Huang Rong's startled cry and shout, Li Qingxuan hurried toward Ye Xiao's Shelter.

The moment Li Qingxuan stepped into Ye Xiao's Shelter, a foul mix of sweat, blood, and moldy rot assailed his nostrils.

The firelight from the hearth illuminated the inner chamber, where four or five women were curled in the corner's bedding, their wrists tightly bound with coarse hemp rope, leaving deep purple bruises.

Bare skin broke out in gooseflesh from the chill, turning bluish; some bore whip marks or bruises, clearly having suffered inhuman torture.

They stared wide‑eyed in terror, huddled together like a startled herd of deer, their throats stifling sobs, breath held, daring only to fix their trembling gazes on the intruder.

"Beasts!" Huang Rong followed close behind; upon seeing this scene, her eyes blazed with fury that nearly erupted.

She darted forward a step, her dagger flashing cold light; with a few precise "swish‑swish" cuts she severed the ropes, moving as swift as the wind.

"Don't be afraid, we're here to rescue you!" She deliberately softened her voice, yet could not hide the bone‑deep killing intent within.

The freed women instantly went limp; some burst into silent sobs, others curled up, futilely shielding their bodies with their arms, their teeth chattering from the cold.

Li Qingxuan leaned against the doorframe; the motion tugged at his left‑shoulder wound, eliciting a muffled groan as cold sweat beaded his forehead.

He quickly pulled a few garments from his Backpack and tossed them to Huang Rong, saying, "Put these on them," then swiftly turned away.

Huang Rong took the garments and swiftly distributed them to the women for cover.

Her fingertips touched their icy skin, her heart sinking further; as she bandaged them, she lowly urged, "Ye Xiao is dead, this camp holds no threat. Anyone who can move, immediately search for wearable clothing and food!"

Her gaze swept the interior; in the corner lay a few wooden crates, scattered with several filthy leather jackets and hard, dry biscuit crumbs.

A somewhat older woman shivered, pointing toward the nearby door: "There… there is also a cellar… they locked people down below…"

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Li Qingxuan acted on the sound.

He walked to a concealed wooden door above, opened the cellar door, revealing the dark, yawning entrance below.

Without hesitation, he took out a torch and leapt down.

Huang Rong cried out urgently, "Be careful!" but saw his figure already disappear into it.

The torch's flickering halo was instantly swallowed by the thick darkness, barely managing to illuminate the earthen steps beneath his feet.

A stench surged up, far stronger than the odor above, choking Li Qingxuan until his vision darkened and his stomach roiled.

"Cough, cough…" he involuntarily choked twice; he forced his breathing steady, raised the torch, and its feeble light struggled to tear open a small patch of darkness ahead.

The cellar passage was deep but extremely low and oppressive, forcing Li Qingxuan to stoop slightly.

After walking a distance bent over, the view ahead suddenly opened; where the firelight reached, the sight sent tingles up his scalp—about ten to twenty women lay naked on the ground, eyes vacant and numb, as if already dead.

Absolute silence, utter stillness, broken only by the occasional faint crackle of the torch and his own heavy, restrained breathing.

Li Qingxuan's arrival seemed to draw no notice; they simply lay there, motionless.

At that moment, Huang Rong and the somewhat older woman entered.

The torch in Huang Rong's hand instantly illuminated the cellar's horrific state in stark detail.

She sucked in a cold breath, her eyes' fury nearly congealing into substance; she clenched her teeth, emitting a soft "click‑click".

"Compared to them, we're still fortunate!" the older woman's voice trembled.

"They were assigned to all the lackeys to be toyed with at will, constantly insulted and violated; their spirits may have already collapsed!" the woman's voice rang again, filled with deep fear and despair.

In the torch's flickering light, the women lying on the ground were devoid of vitality, their vacant eyes fixed on the low cellar ceiling, their skin coated with grime and frostbite, taking on a deathly ash hue in the firelight, like soulless puppets emptied of their souls.

Huang Rong's breath hitched; a surge of scorching anger rose from her chest to the crown of her head, she clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms, almost drawing blood.

Firelight danced in the depths of her eyes, reflecting her boundless grief and indignation; she lowly growled, "These beasts… they don't even deserve to be called human!"

At the same time, she quickly crouched, pulled off the lining of her own coat, her motions swift yet trembling uncontrollably, and covered the nearest woman with it, but that woman showed no response.

Li Qingxuan stood in the shadow of the entrance, took a deep breath; the icy air mixed with desperation rushed straight into his nostrils, making his stomach churn, yet he forced down the urge to vomit.

The torch's glow cast twisted shadows on the wall, flickering like ghosts, illuminating several rags piled in the corner and scattered iron chains, the chains still stained with dark-red blood scabs.

He flashed a look of reluctance in his eyes, and in a hoarse voice said, "Rong Jie, give them a quick end!"

Before his words even faded, he stepped forward, his boots tapping the ground with a faint sound, each step as if treading on people's hearts.

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