Han Xu’s words were cut short as Su Ling had already drawn her Tang knife.
Su Ling walked towards Han Xu, her voice icy cold. “Everyone, return to the castle. Don’t watch.”
These nine words spoke volumes about Su Ling’s stance.
Gu Shangse watched Su Ling’s retreating back. He shook his head at Sister Na and the others who were about to speak, then turned and headed towards the castle himself.
As he left, Jiang Jiang and the others looked at Su Ling before also turning to follow Gu Shangse.
Su Ling’s aura was too powerful. The closer she got to Han Xu, the heavier the oppressive feeling and the thick aura of killing intent became.
Han Xu narrowed his eyes slightly. He took a few steps back, watching Su Ling’s relentless advance. “I advise you to stop. Don’t force me to act.”
Su Ling didn’t reply. With a swift movement, she brought her knife down towards Han Xu’s left shoulder.
*Clang!* The Tang knife struck Han Xu’s left shoulder, but it didn’t slice off his entire shoulder as expected.
Su Ling’s Tang knife fell, hitting Han Xu’s left shoulder, yet there wasn’t the slightest trace of injury.
Han Xu blocked Su Ling’s Tang knife. He looked at her with contempt. “Save your strength. Your knife can’t hurt me.”
He possessed the gold ability, which allowed him to protect himself with his power the moment damage was about to occur.
His entire left shoulder was currently protected by his ability, which was why Su Ling’s knife had no effect on him.
Seeing that Su Ling couldn’t harm him, Han Xu became quite smug.
Su Ling retracted her Tang knife and sheathed it back into the umbrella she carried on her back.
Then, she gathered her phoenix fire in her palm, transforming it into a bow. As she drew the bow, a fiery arrow appeared in her hand.
The bowstring was drawn, and the fiery arrow shot towards Han Xu.
Although Han Xu managed to dodge this time, he was still grazed on the arm by the fiery arrow.
He looked down. The grazed area seemed to be burning?
He didn’t know if it was his imagination, but he didn’t have the focus or energy to care at the moment.
Because he realized his ability offered no protection against Su Ling’s fire bow and arrow.
Thinking of this, Han Xu looked behind Su Ling. “Jiang Jiang—”
He tried to create a diversion to distract Su Ling, but his only response was another arrow shot by Su Ling.
The arrow directly pierced Han Xu’s calf. Han Xu staggered, falling to one knee. His calf bled profusely, flames licked at the wound, and agonizing, bone-piercing pain spread throughout his body.
The arrow that had pierced Han Xu’s calf circled back into Su Ling’s hand.
Su Ling retrieved the arrow and, without a word, shot another at Han Xu. The arrow left the string, heading straight for Han Xu’s heart.
Seeing that he couldn’t dodge, Han Xu directly raised his hands to catch the fiery arrow.
“Ah—”
A pained scream rang out. Han Xu’s hands failed to catch the arrow.
The arrow passed through his hands and lodged into his chest. Because his hands had intercepted it, reducing its momentum and damage, the arrow penetrated his skin but didn’t hit his heart.
Even so, it was more than enough for Han Xu to bear.
Su Ling’s phoenix fire was under her control, and she could decide whether it continued to burn upon contact with people or objects.
According to Su Ling’s wishes, it was, of course, meant to continue burning.
Han Xu, in excruciating pain, knelt on the ground with his other knee. He trembled as he raised his hands, watching his hands, which had touched Su Ling’s arrow, being engulfed and consumed by flames.
Not only that, but the area around the arrow lodged in his chest was continuously burning outwards.
The flames that touched him, which should have extinguished, did not. They continued to burn.
Han Xu quickly realized the gravity of the situation. His opponent intended to burn him alive!
With that thought, Han Xu ignored the flames spreading from his burning hands to other parts of his body. Enduring the heart-wrenching, searing pain, he looked at Su Ling. “Why are you doing this to me? I have no quarrel with you. I only followed your younger brother.”
Su Ling approached Han Xu with the flaming bow in hand, looking down at him from above.
“Revenge for a past life, paid in this one. Sunlight has been waiting for you below for a long time. It’s time for you to meet!”