Xu Ziyan did not join anyone else’s team. His and Xu Zirong’s abilities far exceeded what their cultivation levels suggested, and their teamwork was practically flawless. Adding other people would only have become a burden.
“Fellow Daoist Xu.”
The two brothers had barely flown back onto the archery tower when they heard a voice tinged with delighted surprise.
Xu Ziyan’s expression froze briefly before he recovered. Looking up, he offered a polite but distant smile. “Fellow Daoist Bai.”
Xu Zirong’s eyes darkened, a murderous glint concealed deep within them. That infuriating Bai Hua just would not go away. If Xu Zirong had possessed a suitable method right then, he would have killed him on the spot!
“Fellow Daoist Xu, about the day before yesterday, I…” Bai Hua began apologetically, hoping to explain their earlier misunderstanding.
But Xu Ziyan gave him no opportunity. “It’s all right. Since the matter is over, let’s leave it there. I’m sure Fellow Daoist Bai didn’t mean any harm.” With a nod, he turned and walked toward Jiang Tianxing.
What a joke! He did not care whether Bai Hua’s behavior that day had been intentional or accidental. All he wanted was to keep his distance. Apart from that unfriendly business with the activated protective talisman, Bai Hua had been remarkably cordial to him. But Xu Ziyan was terrified that such friendliness might turn into something more without his noticing. This was one person he absolutely could not afford to entangle himself with.
Xu Ziyan’s determined avoidance of the walking disaster put Xu Zirong in a splendid mood. Smiling, he followed his brother past Bai Hua and did not forget to cast the man a thoroughly mocking look as they crossed paths.
Bai Hua’s eyes darkened as he stared at Xu Ziyan’s back. He did not understand. Even if his Essence-Origin Dao Body had no effect on Xu Ziyan, hadn’t he behaved warmly enough? He bore the man no ill will. Why was Xu Ziyan so cold?
Since awakening the effects of his Essence-Origin Dao Body, Bai Hua had never suffered such a rejection. It only deepened his frustration and strengthened his obsession with winning the man over.
Suppressing his anger, Bai Hua gradually calmed down. Xu Ziyan had made his lack of interest perfectly clear. Perhaps he simply had no desire for romance at present, or perhaps Bai Hua’s particular type did not appeal to him.
Bai Hua pressed his lips together thoughtfully. His current cheerful, outgoing personality was an image he had cultivated to fit into Tianyu Sect. Among his senior and junior martial brothers, that approach helped him get along with most people.
Yet such an agreeable, ordinary persona seldom attracted the attention of exceptional disciples. Take Lin Xiaotian, for instance. If Bai Hua had not happened to go on a mission with him and successfully displayed a pitiful, vulnerable side, Lin Xiaotian might never have felt protective toward him or grown so fond of him.
Unfortunately, Lin Xiaotian still did not like him enough to agree to paired cultivation. Bai Hua also could not destroy the image he had built in the man’s eyes by openly trying to seduce him.
Privately regretting that the disciples currently willing to practice paired cultivation with him were all mediocre, Bai Hua coveted Xu Ziyan’s untouched primordial yang more than ever.
A cultivator’s primordial yang was an extraordinary source of nourishment for Bai Hua. If the fierce spiritual power of a lightning spiritual root like Xu Ziyan’s could merge with his own, it might even allow him to advance two cultivation stages at once.
Frowning slightly, Bai Hua decided to give up trying to approach Xu Ziyan for now. The man had little affection for him, and persistent pursuit might only make Xu Ziyan dislike him even more.
Thinking it over, Bai Hua almost wanted to thank Xu Zirong. With a younger brother who harbored improper feelings toward his elder brother nearby, all the men and women attracted to Xu Ziyan would likely be driven away before Bai Hua even needed to interfere.
Besides, a person like Xu Ziyan would never become involved with his own younger brother. Unless Xu Zirong was prepared to rupture their relationship completely, all he could do was stand aside and watch.
A strange smile crossed Bai Hua’s face as he watched the brothers leave. I’ll let you guard him for me for now. But I look forward to the day your brother becomes one of my lovers.
Xu Ziyan naturally had no idea what Bai Hua was planning. Even if he had known, he would have scoffed.
Others might find Bai Hua impossibly charming, but to Xu Ziyan, he was no match for Zirong in looks, character, or obedience. He can’t compare to Zirong in a single respect! I’m not blind. Why would I ever choose you?
(Hmm? Isn’t there something wrong with the categories he’s comparing? Ah, never mind…)
In any case, compared with Zirong, Bai Hua was a pile of stinking dog dung. Unless Xu Ziyan suddenly lost his mind, he would never have anything to do with the man.
“Patriarch Jiang, how much longer can the formation hold?” Xu Ziyan asked casually.
“If the attacks remain relatively light, it should last at least another three days.” Jiang Tianxing knew the family’s supplies well enough to calculate the estimate immediately.
If the beasts failed to take Wuti City within three days, they would have to retreat unless they intended to lose their entire force. The nearest major city was Fallen Leaf City, under Tianyu Sect’s influence. It was more than ten times the size of Wuti City and, most importantly, housed at least three Golden Core cultivators.
Three days would be enough for those cultivators to receive Wuti City’s signal and reach them as quickly as possible. In other words, Golden Core reinforcements would arrive within three days at the latest.
From the battle just now, Jiang Tianxing had also realized that the demon cultivators leading the attack were at most late Meridian Condensation. If any Golden Core demon cultivator had been present, Wuti City could never have held out this long.
“Go and rest for a while. I’ll have the reserve teams stand guard,” Jiang Tianxing told the brothers. The cultivators who had fought outside the walls had returned, and the survivors were grinning broadly. Even the wounded had difficulty concealing their delight.
Many human cultivators had died, but far more demonic beasts had fallen. The materials and inner cores in their bodies were valuable goods that could be traded for substantial sums.
Life was hard for independent cultivators. Even the Jiang disciples’ regular allowances could not compare with the profits from this battle. Heavier purses helped ease the sorrow of loss. The dead deserved mourning, but the living still had to move forward.
Looking over the returning fighters, Jiang Tianxing felt deeply gratified. Jiang casualties had been relatively light, and several promising younger disciples he had been watching had all returned alive.
If those disciples survived the siege, they would become the Jiang family’s future. Jiang Tianxing was already considering sending them to mid-sized sects for further cultivation.
Reserve troops mounted the walls to watch for the beasts’ next assault. Meanwhile, the cultivators who had withdrawn found spare houses where they could sit and meditate.
Xu Ziyan noticed that Bai Hua seemed to have left and quietly sighed in relief. Then he grew tense again. He had enjoyed the fighting so much that he had almost forgotten he still needed to save Yu Hao’s mother!
This time the beasts had not broken through the west gate and therefore could not slaughter half of Wuti City. The Yu family would have no need to flee in haste. By that reasoning, Yu Hao’s mother should not have been left behind either.
Still, Xu Ziyan worried that Bai Hua’s protagonist’s halo might produce some bizarre twist. What if the Yu family lost its collective mind and suddenly threw Yu Hao’s mother out? He had no objection to Bai Hua rescuing an elderly woman in general, but if that woman was Yu Hao’s mother, he would be very unhappy…
Bai Hua’s status as the protagonist was already troublesome enough. Add the Thousand-Reports Pavilion’s ability to obtain information from almost anywhere, anytime, and… damn it, how was anyone else supposed to survive?
Xu Ziyan made up his mind. He could not allow Bai Hua another chance to strengthen himself. Besides, he had coveted Yu Hao’s ability for a long time. With an opportunity this good, it would be inexcusable not to seize it.
“Come with me,” Xu Ziyan told Xu Zirong.
“Where to?” Xu Zirong looked at his brother curiously. Their cooperation in the battle had put him in a wonderful mood. Though he asked the question, he was already activating his flying sword in preparation for takeoff.
“To save someone,” Xu Ziyan replied mysteriously.
“Save someone?” Xu Zirong paused.
“Come on. You’ll know when we get there. I’m not even sure we’ll reach the person in time.” Afraid Bai Hua might get there first, Xu Ziyan hurriedly pulled his brother onto his flying sword.
Delighted at the chance to be near his brother, Xu Zirong simply put away his own flying sword and took his place behind Xu Ziyan without the slightest hesitation.
Within five seconds, Xu Ziyan regretted that foolish decision…
Why, why had he let Zirong stand behind him just to save a little time? That had to be the stupidest decision imaginable!
Their bodies were pressed extremely close—so close that even through their clothes he could feel the other’s body heat. Wave after wave of hot breath washed over the back of his neck, instantly summoning the memory of the combined attack technique they had just used.
The same scorching breath brushed against his ear; his earlobe trembled faintly under it. The arm wrapped around his waist was slender yet strong, locking him firmly in place so he couldn’t move an inch.
This position was only meant to keep Xu Ziyan from any accidental trembling that might cause the technique to fail while he coordinated with Xu Zirong… but did Xu Zirong really have to hold him this tightly?
What frustrated him most was that after releasing the arrow, he had intended to take half a step forward and put some distance between them. Instead, the other suddenly tightened the arm around his waist, pulling him back just enough that he bumped lightly against him—And in that single bump, his entire body went rigid. Because the solid, undeniable weight pressing against his backside felt entirely, horrifyingly like a man’s…
His mind had gone completely blank, and he had rushed into the demonic beasts to fight. Zirong had followed without hesitation. Xu Ziyan had felt awkward at first, but his brother’s calm, natural demeanor soon left him confused instead…
Had I misunderstood what happened?