"Make your move!" Ming Zhi Tian commanded.
The Five Divine Swords attacked instantly! They stabbed Ying Fan from behind, striking his neck, wrists, and ankles.
Fei Jiang swung his sword in a flash, "Eight Barrens of a Thousand Thorns!"
Knowing he was doomed, Ying Fan gripped his torch and used all his might to throw it. "If I die, I'll take you all with me!"
"Not good!" Fei Jiang had just managed to strangle Ying Fan, but the torch was about to hit the ground.
Ming Zhi Tian punched out, shattering the torch into fragments, extinguishing the flames.
A wisp of ash fell to the ground and suddenly reignited!
Ming Zhi Tian roared, "Go!"
Without time to think, Fei Jiang and Ming Zhi Tian instinctively burst through the roof to escape.
Hua Ru Xian and Hua Ru Hua were stunned for a moment, followed by an explosion!
With speed faster than instantaneous, fire engulfed the entire building!
By the time the two women had flashed out, they found some of their hair burnt. They were covered in soot and their clothes were tattered, looking utterly disheveled.
This was the first time they had appeared so disheveled since leaving the mountain. It had never happened before, and likely would only happen this once.
Ming Zhi Tian and Fei Jiang, along with the two women, fled Wan Ping Mountain Villa together. From the mountainside, they watched helplessly as flames shot into the sky, reducing the entire estate to ashes.
They were powerless to do anything. They could only watch, as the instant inferno had nearly consumed them as well, and there was simply too much white phosphorus and oil.
By the time they reached safety, the raging inferno had already consumed more than half of the mountain villa. Even if they had brought water to extinguish the flames, it would have been useless. Moreover, there were only four of them, and Wan Ping Mountain Villa spanned acres. They couldn't possibly save it all, and the unfortunate servants could only perish with the estate.
Ming Zhi Tian looked at Hua Ru Xian and Hua Ru Hua. "Are you two alright?"
The two women shook their heads one after another, lowering their heads in shame. They had always acted as the dignified phoenixes in front of Ming Zhi Tian, but what were they now? Drowned rats? Wild chickens? Or roasted chickens? How embarrassing.
Fei Jiang glared at Ying Fan with hatred. "Damn him! He wanted to drag us down with him even in death. I should have killed him sooner."
Ming Zhi Tian placed a hand on his shoulder. "Forget it. Fate is like this, and neither you nor I could have changed it."
Fei Jiang suddenly knelt. "Thank you, Young Master Ming, for your help in killing that beast Ying Fan. Otherwise, I might not have avenged myself."
Ming Zhi Tian stepped forward to help him up. "What are you doing? Get up and speak."
Fei Jiang shook his head. "Please hear me out. From this day forward, I, Fei Jiang, am your subordinate, Marshal Ming. If you wish me to live, I will obey without question. If you wish me to die, I will suffer a thousand cuts without a frown! Please, Marshal Ming, accept me!"
Ming Zhi Tian was delighted. He thought, "Marshal Ming? That sounds pretty cool."
"Get up. From now on, you are my Fei Jiang, Ming Zhi Tian's Fei Jiang."
Fei Jiang rose. "I obey!"
Ming Zhi Tian looked down at the ashes of Wan Ping Mountain Villa. "Fei Jiang, Wan Ping Mountain Villa is gone. Do you still want to go back?"
Fei Jiang shook his head. "Marshal Zhuo... no, my great revenge is achieved, I have no regrets. From now on, Marshal Ming, you are my home. Wherever you go, I will follow, through heaven and earth. In life, I am your man; in death, I am your ghost."
Ming Zhi Tian nodded. "Well said. I have never had a loyal subordinate before. You will be that person from now on."
Fei Jiang performed a military salute with his fist to his chest. "Thank you for your affirmation, Marshal Ming!"
"Fu fu fu..."
Fei Jiang's entire body was infused with spiritual energy. Ming Zhi Tian took a step back. "Hm? Are you about to break through?"
Fei Jiang nodded, then gathered the dispersed spiritual energy with both hands and channeled it back into his body, successfully advancing to the fourth level of the Divine Might Realm!
Ming Zhi Tian sighed with emotion. "With Fei Jiang by my side, it's like having an army of a hundred thousand soldiers!"