Chapter - 57 Two Killers In the Tempest (13) (1/2)
”It is done, my little…sister”, he mumbled, ”hurry, flee…before you…”
”I am going to avenge you”, she croaked.
”I will miss you, my little sis….little sister. I…I cannot take care of you anymore…..” and with those last words Chen Xuanfeng died.
”Good brother… I will miss you too! Don't leave me!”
Han Baoju, Han Xiaoying and Quan Jinfa, taking advantage of the first glow of the pre-dawn, rushed to the attack.
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Mei Chaofeng had not only lost her vision, but she felt her head spinning from the poison's effects. While training in the 'Nine Yin White Bone Claws' the spouses had, for about ten years, absorbed arsenic acid in small quantities regularly. They neutralized the toxic effects with their internal energy. Using this dangerous method was the only way that Chen Xuanfeng had found to increase their internal and external strength. With time, Mei had been partially immunized against poison; otherwise the poisoned projectiles of Ke Zhen'E would have killed her long ago.
She defended herself so ferociously that the Freaks didn't even manage to reach her and were repeatedly put in danger. Han Baoju was beginning to get angry. He thought to himself, ”If we can't manage to overcome her on a three against one basis, and even worse, she's injured and blind, what a blow to the reputation of the 'Seven Freaks of Jiangnan'!” He then attacked more furiously with his whip, focusing on trying to hit her back. Han Xiaoying and Quan Jinfa, noticing their enemy staggering, also increased the vigor of their attacks. Just as it seemed they would carry the day against her, a storm arose and dark clouds covered the sky again. Suddenly, the mixed violent gusts of wind and rain blinded them again. The three Freaks dropped to the ground to protect themselves. Much later, the storm abated and the moon again showed from behind the clouds. Han Baoju jumped to his feet and uttered a scream of frustration; Mei Chaofeng and the body of Chen Xuanfeng had disappeared. What greeted him was the sight of his severely injured friends lying on the ground. The small head of Guo Jing slowly appeared from behind some rocks. Everyone was soaked to the bone.
The three uninjured survivors rose to take care of the injured. Nan Xiren had a broken arm, but fortunately no internal injuries. Ke Zhen'E and Zhu Cong, whose neigong was powerful, were not too affected either, even though they had been hit by several strokes from 'Copper Corpse'. However, Zhang Ahsheng had been hit two times by the 'Nine Yin White Bone Claws' and also received a deadly stroke to the head. He was conscious but his life was on the line.
Seeing him close to death, the Six collapsed in sadness, especially Han Xiaoying who knew very well that the Fifth brother had been in love with her for a long time. But she was a bit of a tomboy, enjoying martial arts above all else, and had little to do with matters of the heart. Zhang Ahsheng, for his part, laughed it off the whole time; they had never admitted to any feelings. Thinking of how he had thrown himself under the enemy's claws to protect her, she hugged Zhang sobbing.
Zhang Ahsheng's plump face was normally cheerful and smiling. Even now he smiled slightly and his big hand softly caressed Xiaoying's hair. ”Don't cry”, he said to her trying to comfort her. ”Don't cry. I am alright.”
”Fifth brother”, she said while hiccupping back her sobs, ”do you want to marry me?”
Zhang gave a silly laugh, causing the pain from his injuries to make him suffer badly, and he began to lose consciousness.
”Fifth brother”, she continued, ”I assure you that I already consider myself your wife… I won't ever marry anyone else. After my death, we will remain together for eternity.”
”Seventh sister”, mumbled Zhang, ”I have not taken good care of you… Me… I am not worthy of you…”
”You always took very good care of me”, she sobbed. ”I always knew it…”
With his eyes full of tears, Zhu Cong asked Guo Jing, ”When you came here, was it to learn martial arts from us?”