As the formation dissipated, the group found themselves in a narrow dead-end alley. Only a single corpse lay nearby, with snow creeping through the cracks in the walls.
Chu Dingjiang’s spiritual power was no longer constrained. After three hours of continuous fighting, the seven survivors looked haggard. Chu Dingjiang fared slightly better, while An Jiu and Sun Dixian suffered the heaviest injuries.
An Jiu had lost too much blood, and Sun Dixian’s internal energy was nearly depleted.
“My lord,” Sun Dixian gazed at Chu Dingjiang with tear-filled eyes. “I can’t go on. Please, leave me behind.”
She was gambling, betting that Chu Dingjiang wouldn’t abandon her. An Jiu also seemed close to collapse, and Chu Dingjiang clearly wouldn’t leave her. If he abandoned only Sun Dixian, the others would lose faith in him.
Before Chu Dingjiang could respond, An Jiu opened her eyes and looked at him. “I think she’s done for too. Someone who’s lost their will only holds us back. Let’s dump her.”
Her tone suggested discarding trash.
Sun Dixian secretly gritted her teeth but kept her voice weak. She turned to An Jiu pleadingly, “Sister, you seem at your limit too. Let’s keep each other company.”
“Who are you to decide?” An Jiu coldly replied without looking at her. “My limbs still work. A useless person like you doesn’t get to choose whether I stay or go.”
Hearing these sharp words, Chu Dingjiang felt oddly pleased. He gently tapped the back of An Jiu’s head. “Watch your language. We’ve come this far together, sharing life and death. At this point, we should stand united!”
His words were reproachful, but everyone could hear the underlying tenderness.
An Jiu glanced at him sideways, then looked away.
After resting for about 15 minutes, Chu Dingjiang checked the sky outside. “It’s getting late. We must leave before dawn. Let’s move.”
They were in a residential area next to a private dock. To outsiders, these looked like legitimate businesses. If someone discovered the bloodbath at daybreak, they would immediately become wanted criminals.
Being detained by local authorities during a mission would be seen as incompetence, and the Crane-Controlling Army wouldn’t intervene.
The group rose, checked their equipment, and followed Chu Dingjiang out.
Lou Mingyue handed the crossbow to An Jiu. “You should keep this.”
An Jiu’s arm had been damaged by the Gu poison. Though the pain was negligible to her, it wasn’t as functional as a healthy arm. The crossbow would make movement easier.
Sun Dixian remained silent, quietly moving closer to Qiu Yunran as they set out. Qiu Yunran’s martial arts skills weren’t high, but his body was full of poisons. Even against eighth or ninth-rank experts, he could hold his own. Earlier in the mist formation, Sun Dixian had survived only because she was with him.
On the eve of dawn, darkness blanketed the world as snow fell thickly like a curtain.
The group followed Chu Dingjiang out of the narrow alley.
As they stepped out, a sudden hail of arrows descended upon them.
The dense arrowheads glinted coldly in the night. The group’s pupils dilated as they watched the snow-like curtain of arrows closing in!
Chu Dingjiang’s spiritual energy exploded outward. The arrow storm shattered against the energy flow, remnants raining down from above.
The group followed behind Chu Dingjiang, their progress unimpeded even by such an intense arrow barrage.
The attackers, realizing this, ceased their arrow assault.
Dozens of black-clad figures blocked the ten-foot-wide street.
The formation in the area seemed altered or damaged. As An Jiu reached this point, her spiritual sense could detect about 20 feet around her. What alarmed her was that even the weakest among these dozens of opponents was at least seventh rank! They were likely similar to the assassins who had wiped out the Mei clan, their internal energy artificially boosted by drugs. However, these men’s eyes gleamed with awareness, and their internal energy appeared remarkably stable. They would be far more troublesome than those “half-finished” products!
After a brief standoff, at Chu Dingjiang’s command, Su Yunzhu and An Jiu’s crossbows erupted with dazzling blue light.
Three figures from Piaomiao Villa flickered, dodging the bolts and closing in on An Jiu and Su Yunzhu in an instant, aiming to seize the crossbows.
Chu Dingjiang forced them back with a palm strike.
The assassins seized the opportunity to swarm forward. Five or six surrounded Chu Dingjiang, separating him from the other six.
Li Qingzhi’s eyes were bloodshot, his muscles nearly bursting. He roared, “Where the hell did all these eighth and ninth-rank bastards come from?!”
Lou Mingyue’s lips were tightly pressed, her body radiating killing intent. Each sword strike was more vicious than the last, fueled by deep hatred.
Sun Dixian was overwhelmed after just two exchanges, retreating step by step. Fortunately, she was back-to-back with Qiu Yunran, receiving some protection and avoiding collapse for the moment.
An Jiu and Su Yunzhu faced the most challenging situation. Armed with crossbows, they became prime targets for the assassins. Su Yunzhu’s skills were limited, and An Jiu was still recovering from her earlier injuries. They were quickly forced into a corner.
An Jiu’s face was pale, her brow furrowed. Each crossbow only held ten bolts. Lou Mingyue had used one earlier, leaving nine. Trapped in this desperate situation, when better to use them than now?
In a split second, An Jiu raised her crossbow and fired at every enemy in sight. Blinding light erupted, seemingly turning even the sky white.
Blood exploded, spraying into the air. The mist-like blood dyed the falling snowflakes red, creating a curtain of crimson snow.
The crossbow’s power was so great that even nearby allies like Qiu Yunran were thrown back several yards, coughing blood.
Blood staining her vision red, An Jiu suddenly lost control of her emotions.
With the crossbow bolts spent and enemies still advancing, An Jiu discarded the weapon and drew dual swords for close combat!
Her killing intent was almost tangible, its pressure making those around her bristle.
This batch of Piaomiao Villa assassins had more stable enhanced abilities than before, but at the cost of their independent will. Their sole objective was to eliminate the intruders! Even so, facing this blood-soaked woman, their throats tightened involuntarily.
An Jiu’s mental instability unleashed her body’s full potential, her spiritual power reaching unprecedented levels.
In her eyes and mind, only one word remained: Kill!
Only killing could bring release. Only killing felt right!
Realizing the crossbows were empty, six or seven Piaomiao Villa assassins converged to attack.
Over ten enemies raised their swords simultaneously.
An Jiu crouched slightly, then sprang up like an eagle soaring to the clouds. Her dual swords swept around her, radiating murderous energy.
As one assassin’s sword neared her chest, An Jiu’s body flickered, avoiding the blade. She lunged forward, her lips curling into a smile as she sliced his throat.
Before he could react, his sword continued its programmed path.
An Jiu spun, her dual swords shattering his blade.
She faced the remaining black-clad figures, baring her snow-white teeth, which were instantly stained red by the bloody mist.
“Ahhh!” Su Yunzhu, witnessing An Jiu’s fighting frenzy and seeing enemies closing in, began firing her crossbow wildly.