Volume 4 Chapter 33 (1/2)
Book 4 Chapter 33 – Ji Xiaoqin Awakens?
Surrounded on all sides, Li Yiming was bathed in blood, yet stood proudly. Deep gashes and puncture wounds ran across his back and torso, but his eyes still shone with unsatiated bloodl.u.s.t. With the addition of Xue Mei, Li Yiming struggled even harder against the attacks of his opponents.
His stamina and energy exhausted, Li Yiming should have collapsed long ago. but his desire to fight grew stronger than ever. The white of his eyes were dyed scarlet, and joining the sparks around his limb was an ebony light. This gave Li Yiming the appearance of a demon, which deterred his opponents, despite his injuries and his heaving chest.
”This…This guy…” Man Dao looked at Li Yiming in shock and stuttered. His blade was planted into the ground in front of him, and he used his sole remaining hand to tend the gaping wound on his left shoulder. When Xue Mei had entered the fray, he took advantage of a brief opening and tore three wide gashes on Li Yiming's thighs. But he was too slow in backing off and paid a heavy price for it; Li Yiming caught him by the wrist and ripped off his left arm.
”Just keep him trapped and we'll wear him out.” Xue Mei reminded her companions. She could see that Li Yiming had little time left, and it was not wise to trade a life to accelerate the coming of the end.
In the main bedroom on the second floor, Ji Xiaoqin was still in a coma. Tian Yan stood by with a confused expression as she scrutinized Ji Xiaoqin with her silver pupils.
After Xue Mei left, Tian Yan slowly made her way towards Fu Bo again. However, when she opened the door to the bas.e.m.e.nt, she was greeted with an empty room. Disappointed, her thoughts strayed to Ji Xiaoqin, who was captured alongside Fu Bo. 'If Fu Bo has been rescued, then surely she…'
Tian Yan rushed towards the second floor, hoping to confirm Fu Bo's safety. Upon opening the door, she was stunned at seeing Ji Xiaoqin unconscious and her heavenly karma completely filled up.
For as long as Tian Yan could remember, her life had revolved around the experiments related to artificial heavenly karma. Tian Yan knew right away that Ji Xiaoqin was about to climb the Stage of Ascension and become a guardian. Tian Yan fished out her communicator immediately and sent a message to Bing Shuai. However, since she was blind, she did not notice the strange, glowing stone on Ji Xiaoqin's neck.
* * *
”You know?” After Bing Shuai left, Li Huaibei turned towards Stargaze, his sword still ready for battle.
”Don't look at me like that… We have the same goal in mind.” Stargaze smiled and dispelled the light around her.
”This kid is too important to let anything happen to him.” Li Huaibei eyes were affixed on Stargaze, his stare interrupted by the occasional glance at Fu Bo. ”Is he the reason why you made me come to Hangzhou?”
”Yes, and you completed your end of the bargain. I believe I also upheld my end of the deal just now, didn't I?”
”So… The deal is done.” Li Huaibei slowly his the sword. The aura around him intensified further.
”As I said, you don't have to be so guarded. I know what kind of person you are. We truly have the same objectives in mind, it's just that I'm able to see further down the road.”
Li Huaibei hesitated. Stargaze had indeed a reputation for being a spectator, often opting to remain neutral, which was strangely similar to Fu Bo's role.
”Your little friend's life is in peril. Are you sure you don't want to go back?” Stargaze looked at the center of the city.
LI Huaibei's gaze followed and he wavered once again. 'With Bing Shuai on his way back, Li Yiming …'
”If you're that worried, why don't I go back with you? I'm also interested in this Ji Xiaoqin. Has someone truly succeeded in creating a guardian? Bing Shuai seemed to believe so.” Stargaze raised Fu Bo's body and traced a runic glyph in the air. A translucent light bubble appeared and enveloped Fu Bo.
Li Huaibei seemed to have found his resolve. He nodded at Stargaze and flew toward the Guo villa. A smile appeared on Stargaze's lips and she followed close behind.
* * *
It did not take long before Bing Shuai arrived home. After a quick glance at the battlefield in the courtyard, he showed up in Ji Xiaoqin's room.
”So?” Bing Shuai asked hurriedly when he saw Ji Xiaoqin's unconscious body on the floor.
”She… she…” Tian Yan turned around with her face frozen in shock.
”You said that she awakened?” Bing Shuai saw Guo Xiang, who sprawled on the floor, and disgust flashed past his eyes. He turned back toward Ji Xiaoqin.