Volume 1 Chapter 41: Senior Brother: I Surrender

Note: Character Illustration    

Volume 1 Chapter 41: Senior Brother: I Surrender

From his vantage point high above the battlefield, Ye Anping watched as his junior sister deciphered his signal.

A proud grin bloomed across his face.

He slipped the iron whistle back into his storage bag and murmured with satisfaction, “Ahh… As expected of my disciple. Smart, quick-witted, full marks.”

Now that she knew the array’s weak point, breaking it was just a matter of time.

That said… the Seven-Star Spirit-Choking Formation really was no joke.

Even he hadn’t expected Zhuang Hu to go all out with such a powerful setup.

But the formation’s downside?

It made a lot of noise.

That massive pillar of red light just now? Probably visible for a hundred miles. No way the elders waiting at the sect’s main peak hadn’t noticed it.

In other words, Zhuang Hu and the others had, at best, half an hour left.

Once the sect disciples arrived on scene, their options would narrow down to get executed on the spot or get arrested and tossed into the Sky Prison awaiting interrogation.

With Feng Yudie and the others charging directly toward the core of the formation, Zhuang Hu had to have realized that it was time to retreat.

But...

Two of their comrades were already dead.

That kind of loss—the "sunk cost"—was not something “Second Brother” and “Third Brother” would let slide easily. Odds were, they’d try to confront the girls head-on.

Ye Anping rubbed his chin in thought.

Between Feng Yudie and Pei Lengxue, those two guys wouldn’t last long.

But Zhuang Hu…

He was harder to read.

The guy had been silently preparing the formation this whole time, never once showing his true strength.

With the Seven-Star Spirit-Choking Formation backing him up, and no prior display of power, Ye Anping couldn’t gauge his actual combat ability.

If he injured his junior sister—

Nope. Not happening.

Ye Anping stood up and dusted himself off.

Time to lend another “small” helping hand.

But first, he had one last errand to finish.

—To spark a feud between the Profound Star Sect and the Seven Killers Sect, or at least, the Western Region branch one.

Descending from the high ground, Ye Anping made a beeline for the corpses of “Fourth Brother” and “Fifth Brother.”

The stench of blood hit him as he got close, and he instinctively gagged a little, but he forced it down and pressed on.

From his bag, he took out gloves and a face mask, pulled them on, and crouched beside Fourth Brother’s body.

Then, he reached for the man’s storage bag.

Inside was over 200 spirit stones, some low-grade pills, and a few junk books and incomplete manuals…

“…You were broke, huh.” Ye Anping sighed and casually pocketed half the spirit stones.

Then, from his own belongings, he took out the Profound Star Sect protection formation map he’d drawn just yesterday, folded it carefully, and tucked it into the storage bag before returning it to its original place.

He stepped back, folded his hands solemnly, and gave a deep bow.

“Fourth Brother, your Sixth Brother will burn offerings for you later. Please… rest in peace.”

With that done, Ye Anping turned toward the direction of the shattered formation.

The red glow in the sky was dissipating—

Feng Yudie and the others had successfully destroyed the core.

He pulled out a sword he’d only just bought a few days ago, weighed it in his hand, then summoned his flying sword and leapt into the air, soaring straight toward Zhuang Hu’s location.

By the time Ye Anping arrived, “Second Brother” and “Third Brother” were already arguing with Zhuang Hu.

“We can’t just leave, First Brother!” Second Brother shouted. “We can’t let Fourth and Fifth die without payback! Just three Qi Refining brats!”

“I said we retreat!!” Zhuang Hu barked. “The formation was our last trump card. Now that it’s broken, we’re out of time. Once the elders from Profound Star Sect arrive, we won’t be able to escape!”

“It’s not that fast,” Third Brother grumbled. “We still have a shot. I’m with Second Brother—let’s give it one last push. Those two girls may be tough, but one’s injured, and they’re dragging around a newbie who’s barely started cultivating!”

Just then, Zhuang Hu’s expression shifted. He glanced sharply toward a certain direction, his senses alert—

But when he saw who it was, his guard dropped noticeably.

“Sixth Brother? Didn’t I tell you to stay out of sight? Why’d you come here?”

Ye Anping approached casually, his voice calm.

“I’m here to remind you, First Brother. That formation you just set off—it made way too much noise. I’m willing to bet the elders at the sect’s main peak saw it. From there to here? With flying swords, they’ll be here in half an hour tops.”

“…Tch.”

Zhuang Hu grimaced and looked to the others. “You hear that? We’re pulling out!!”

The Second and Third Brother’s eyebrows twitched beneath their masks. Clearly, they weren’t happy with that decision.

But before they could argue more—

A shaky, high-pitched girl’s voice cut through the fog:

“Y-You… y-you really think I-I’ll just let you l-leave?!”

It was loud, sure, but it wavered with nervousness and had absolutely zero intimidation behind it.

All four men turned toward the sound.

And there stood Xiao Yunluo, stepping out from behind a tree, gripping a very long tree branch like a sword. She glared at them, trying her best to look fierce—like a kitten with puffed-up fur.

Admittedly, it was more adorable than threatening.

Ye Anping blinked.

They’re the ones who came to them?

He hadn’t expected that. But seeing Xiao Yunluo walk out alone, he immediately realized what was coming next.

Without a word, he quietly took several steps away from Zhuang Hu and the other two. Just in case.

Zhuang Hu also began to frown—something felt off.

But Second and Third Brother didn’t notice a thing. Their eyes were locked on Xiao Yunluo like wolves spotting a lost lamb.

“Well, well. We didn’t even have to chase you down—you just strolled over to die, huh? Heh…”

Before he could finish—

Two streaks of light—one black, one white—burst out from behind the trees.

By the time Second and Third Brother realized something was wrong, the twin swords were already at their throats.

“Wha—?!”

Two nearly simultaneous sounds of blades piercing flesh.

Shhhk—!!

Heads flew skyward. Bodies crumpled forward.

Second Brother and Third Brother, dead on the spot.

Feng Yudie spat on Second Brother’s corpse with a bloody huff.

“Tch! Everything you did to us just now? We’re returning the favor with interest!”

As for Pei Lengxue—her Senior Brother had once taught her always confirm the kill.

So, even after taking off Third Brother’s head, she didn’t stop. She jabbed her sword into his chest several more times for good measure.

“Finish them off!! My senior brother said you *always finish them off!!” she shouted at Feng Yudie.

“—Huh? Oh—right!!”

Feng Yudie blinked, then quickly copied her, stabbing Second Brother’s corpse a few more times.

With that done, the two girls turned their eyes to the only two still standing:

Zhuang Hu—a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

And Ye Anping—a lowly Qi Refining cultivator who looked like he really didn’t want to be there.

“…One late-stage Foundation Establishment, and one… Qi Refining?”

Feng Yudie narrowed her eyes. She glanced briefly at Pei Lengxue and then raised her sword high.

“Junior Sister, I’ll handle the little one. You go take care of the big guy, then come help me if I’m still alive!”

“…Okay.”

Pei Lengxue gave her a side-eye and nodded softly, raising her sword and locking eyes with Zhuang Hu.

She took a deep breath.

Calmed her mind.

“Let’s go!!”

In the next instant, both girls launched forward.

Pei Lengxue surged toward Zhuang Hu.

And Feng Yudie charged straight at Ye Anping.

“Geh—?!”

Ye Anping’s face twisted in panic. He instantly threw both hands in the air.

“Wait! I surrender!! I surrender!!”

But Feng Yudie didn’t even slow down.

“Surrender?! Too late for that!!” she roared, her sword gleaming in the mist.

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