Meanwhile, back near the spring, Yun Sha lay still, her body resting on the soft ground. The gentle breeze stirred the leaves above her, and birds chirped in the distance.
Suddenly, her eyes snapped open.
She bolted upright, her breathing erratic as pain surged through her head. Her right hand instinctively clutched her forehead, and with her left, she grabbed the clothes beside her to cover her bare body.
Her mind spun in confusion.
Why does my head hurt so much? What happened...?
Fragments of memory came rushing back—flashes of the kiss, the warmth, the blurred voice of Zhen Huan. Her face turned pale.
No... Did he... did he do something to me?
Her eyes widened in horror as she scanned the area. There was no sign of Zhen Huan.
But what caught her attention next was a few dried drops of blood near where she lay—scarlet against the mossy earth. She froze, her mind quickly jumping to the worst conclusion. She didn't check who's blood it is.
Her lips trembled, and her eyes welled up with tears.
That bastard... He took advantage of me and ran away...
Tears spilled down her cheeks as a mix of shame, rage, and confusion overwhelmed her. She clenched the fabric around her tightly and stood up.
"I trusted you," she whispered bitterly, her voice trembling.
With a flick of her hand, she dressed herself in the blink of an eye, her spiritual energy flaring faintly as she gathered her garments around her body. Her eyes turned to the sky, a dark glint settling in their depths.
You did wrong, Zhen Huan. I will find you... and when I do, I'll make you pay.
Just as she turned to leave, a wave of panic struck her.
She paused.
Her hands slowly went to her belly, her fingers trembling as they rested there.
What if… what if I'm got pregnant?
Her eyes widened, and fresh tears blurred her vision. The pain in her chest grew heavier, as though the entire sky was pressing down upon her shoulders.
But before her thoughts could spiral further, a noise echoed from the right side—deep roars, distant but fierce. The sound of spiritual power clashing.
She quickly wiped the tears from her face and turned her head toward the sound.
What's happening over there?
Without hesitation, she ran toward the noise—tears still glistening in her eyes, fury and fear burning within her heart.
Meanwhile, near the foot of the mountain, Zhen Huan stood tense and focused, his body squarely facing the enraged Thunder Tiger.
The beast let out a furious roar that shook the forest. From its mouth, arcs of lightning burst forth, crackling wildly in the air. Thunder rolled with its cry, and its eyes burned with fury. Its massive fangs surged with lightning as it lunged toward Zhen Huan like a streak of wrathful energy.
Zhen Huan quickly brought his sword up, bracing it with both hands to block the oncoming attack.
This beast has completely lost it. It's going to tear me apart if I hold back.
Thunder Tiger clamped its jaws down onto Zhen Huan's blade, the thunder surrounding its fangs hissing against the steel. But the moment the beast's fangs touched the sword, its body shuddered.
Something in Zhen Huan's sword—its aura, its power—caused a violent reaction.
The beast immediately released the weapon and leapt backward, its paws skidding through the dirt. Its legs shook beneath it. Tremors raced along its limbs.
Zhen Huan narrowed his eyes.
What happened just now? Did my sword suppress it?
Thunder Tiger snarled, then reared back. It began to condense a terrifying amount of thunder qi in front of its maw. The energy pulsed and flashed, wild and destructive—like a storm being born in the belly of a beast.
Zhen Huan took a deep breath. He couldn't afford hesitation anymore.
"No choice," he muttered. "I have to use it."
He shifted into a practiced stance, gripping his sword diagonally with both hands. His body lowered slightly, his gaze locking onto the target.
"Inferno Slash First Form—Mountain and River Slash!" he roared.
From the blade, a blazing arc of fire erupted—a searing crescent of molten light that scorched the air as it flew. It carved its way through space with deadly speed and explosive heat.
At that exact moment, Thunder Tiger released its condensed energy. A beam of pure thunder qi shot forward, tearing through the air like a bolt of wrath from the heavens.
Far away, Yun Sha was dashing from treetop to treetop, racing toward the mountain where the battle cries had echoed. Just as she neared the ridge, she sensed it—two terrifying energies clashing head-on.
She froze for a second on a branch, her eyes wide.
That energy... It's incredibly strong. Who's fighting there?
Without wasting a breath, she leapt forward, the wind whipping past her as she made her way toward the battlefield.
Back at the base of the mountain, the two devastating attacks collided mid-air.
The result was apocalyptic.
A massive explosion shook the entire valley. The mountain trembled violently, cracks splitting its sides. A shockwave burst outward, flattening shrubs and ripping leaves from trees. Dust and energy billowed into the sky like a volcanic eruption.
Zhen Huan staggered, his sword buried halfway into the ground as he used it for support. His hair was disheveled, and a trail of blood ran from the corner of his mouth. His body trembled, but he remained standing.
Across from him, Thunder Tiger had dug its claws deep into the earth to keep from being blown away. Its fur was scorched, its breathing ragged, and its massive body swayed.
Both man and beast stood, battered and drained, locked in a silent standoff beneath the scarred sky.
Suddenly, Zhen Huan's Inferno Slash cleaved through the Thunder Tiger's thunder beam with unstoppable force. The flaming arc, fierce and unrelenting, tore through the last of the beast's energy and shot straight toward its massive form.
The Thunder Tiger, still struggling to stay upright after the clash, lifted its head just in time to see the burning crescent racing toward him. A flicker of realization passed through its fierce eyes—there was no time to move, no chance to defend.
In a single breath, the arc sliced through its thick neck. The beast's head was severed cleanly and crashed to the earth with a heavy thud, rolling to a stop beside the wounded Sky Lion. The Thunder Tiger's massive body remained standing for a moment, before collapsing in silence.
Just then, a familiar violet glow shimmered before Zhen Huan's eyes. A translucent system window appeared in front of him, glowing faintly in the fading smoke.
System Prompt:
You have successfully killed a Thunder Tiger – Rank 1, High-Tier Beast.
XP Points Granted: 350
Current XP Points: 350
Zhen Huan exhaled slowly and looked toward the settling dust.
So... my slash really broke through that thunder attack. That's good... but still, that beast fought well. It feels wrong, somehow.
As the air cleared, the decapitated head of the Thunder Tiger came into view beside the Sky Lion. Zhen Huan's grip on his sword tightened.
Now to finish the other one.
He stepped forward, slowly approaching the injured Sky Lion with determination in his eyes.
But before he could reach the beast, a figure burst through the trees above, leaping from a high branch and descending with sword in hand.
A flash of water-blue light accompanied the slash.
Yun Sha landed mid-air and activated her Water Cutting Art, her expression furious, cheeks burning red. Her voice rang out with fury and pain.
"You bastard! I'll capture you and torture you for the rest of your life! How dare you take advantage of me and run!"
A sharp arc of water energy surged through the air toward Zhen Huan.
Startled, Zhen Huan jumped back just in time, the attack exploding against the ground where he'd stood moments before. Dust and water sprayed upward as he landed in a defensive stance.
He stared at Yun Sha, confused and stunned.
Why is she attacking me? What's going on?
"Hey! Have you lost your mind? Why are you attacking me?"
Yun Sha landed a few paces away, her sword gleaming in her hand, her eyes wild.
"You bastard! How dare you run away after what you did!" she shouted.