Gubuta's words chilled Gu Liao to the bone. He turned slowly toward the cold, indifferent light hidden beneath the black cloak, sweat beading on his forehead as if his throat were being squeezed. Fear crawled through him.
"I have a thousand ways to pin you down before you can kill yourself," Gubuta said. "I will make you suffer. My fire seed will make your agony worse than his."
Gu Liao's face went pale. "I… I only want a quick death!" he stammered.
Gubuta's voice was flat: "So you surrender?"
Gu Liao said nothing; his silence was an admission. He had surrendered. He didn't want to be roasted slowly, to be left to gnaw on his own despair.
"Gu Liao, are you crazy? Do you truly think he'll spare you?" Jiang Ling shouted, furious. But the moment she moved, an invisible force hurled her into a tree and grey shackles sprang up, binding her fast.
"Jiang Ling!" A Yao screamed and lunged, only to be held back by Chen Xiao's steady hand.
Gubuta's eyes flicked over the scene. He inclined his head minutely. "Impressive. The Huaxia people have backbone," he said.
Gu Liao's expression soured. Why was he the only one who'd given up? Why did no one else flinch? He told himself he'd done nothing wrong — he'd only chosen not to suffer.
"Go. Finish them. Keep the women alive," Gubuta ordered. "One traitor is enough — we'll extract everything from him later."
Gu Liao stared in dumb, horrified disbelief.
At Gubuta's signal, a wave of awakeners surged forward. "Kill the men, keep the women," they jeered. Black-and-white magic rolled toward the Huaxia group like a ravening tide.
Chen Xiao stepped forward. If this gambit worked, he'd earn favor and maybe snatch a speed talent. If not—he would simply die trying. He moved to the forefront, bright lamp in hand, wind whistling at his back. He planted himself between the tide of magic and A Yao, making his body the shield for the girl beside him.
A Yao's eyes widened. Would Zhou Xun—this Zhou Xun—really do this? The bright lamp's glow carved a small, safe pocket; Chen Xiao braced as the marauding magic struck. The pressure knocked him to one knee.
"Cough," he rasped, breath harsh. He looked at A Yao, intent steady. "A Yao, live well. I promised Zhou Xun I'd take care of you."
Realization and grief struck her like a physical blow. Tears welled. "You're not Zhou Xun… why are you so kind?" she cried. "Why protect me now? Who are you?"
He let no answer soften him. A black spear materialized amid the flood and hurtled in, a jagged bolt of dark intent. Even the bright lamp could not neutralize all of its force. The spear slammed into Chen Xiao and A Yao's refuge, sending him tumbling through the night air. He flipped twice and crashed down beside her.
He grabbed her arm. "Run," he ordered.
She shook her head, sobbing. He held her, face near hers. "Lead everyone to run. I'll hold them. If you don't go, my sacrifice is for nothing. Do you understand?" He paused. "When you get out, forget about me."
He kissed her cheek with the faint, weary air of finality, then straightened. The bright lamp alone shone in his hand. His breathing was ragged, every inhale earned.
"Huaxia comrades — you refused to surrender. You have guts," he called. "Now — follow A Yao and run! I'll hold them back!"
A sudden hush; a massive, resolute figure planted himself before the swarm.
"Did he really say he'll hold them?" someone scoffed.
"Ridiculous! How can one person stop all of us?"
They surged toward Chen Xiao then — a dozen attackers converging in a brutal wave. He held the bright lamp high and invoked [Eight Directions Slaughter]. The lamp's light chewed through attack after attack, dissipating energy that would have torn ordinary people apart. Dozens of powerful spells slammed into him. The bright lamp strained; Chen Xiao "retreated steadily" under the pressure, shoulders trembling, jaw clenched.
"Zhou Xun… you actually did it," someone whispered in awe. "I regret what I said before — you're the bravest among us."
"Report this to Chief Pei and Chief An if we survive!" another vowed between heaves.
"A Yao, go! Don't let Zhou Xun's sacrifice be wasted!"
Through her tears she obeyed, turning to bolt for the rear weak point they'd scouted. The others followed, hearts pounding.
Gu Liao's face twisted between relief and shame as he watched her go. He'd cast off blame and endured the choice — yet now his conscience burned. How could he have fled? Why did the lamp hold? Why did the child protect everyone like that? Zhou Xun… the bright lamp… why was this stranger so unbreakable?
"Did he actually hold them?" muttered a stunned voice. "We hit him so many times — he looks worse for wear, but he's still standing!"
"And why isn't the toxins I planted activating?" another wondered with a growing dread.
Only after A Yao and the others were out of sight did Chen Xiao's posture change. The pale smile that ghosted his lips was almost unreadable. The attackers' initial shock hardened into an ominous premonition.
Chen Xiao rose slowly from his half-kneel. Blood and fatigue marked him, but his eyes were clear as winter.
"Did you enjoy the fight?" he said softly, voice calm as a drawn blade.
"Now… it's my turn."