Chapter 166 (2/2)

”Go on, keep pus.h.i.+ng yourself,” Nan Xun said angrily. ”You never know to put your safety first.” With a scowl, he led Jun Huang to a chair and put a pill in Jun Huang's mouth. Only then did the poison in Jun Hunag's system quiet down.

Jun Huang closed her eyes, her breaths shallow. She started to calm the erratic energy in her body. Nan Xun stood by her side, blocking others' curious looks without bothering Jun Huang.

The medicine took some time to circulate through her body. Jun Huang spat out some tainted blood. She felt better now. Her face was less pale.

She was far from fully-recovered, however. After all the poison had acted up only a moment ago, and she had taken a hit directly. She tightened her jaw and forced her pain down. Even Nan Xun didn't know exactly how serious she had been hurt.

The referee called out for her to take the stage. Nan Xun was going to stop her, but Jun Huang insisted. She refused to let her weaknesses show.

Nan Xun sighed in resignation. He asked his guard to get some water for Jun Huang. She took a gulp and got to her feet.

Sharp pain shot through her chest as soon as she stood up. Jun Huang took a deep breath to steady herself. Seeing Nan Xun's concerned look, she forced herself to give him a smile before walking toward the stage.

This time, her opponent was a woman in Taoist clothing. The dress danced in the wind like a puff of smoke. Jun Huang looked at the woman with calm eyes and bowed slightly in greeting. Her sword shone brightly in her hand. She did not raise it.

The Taoist woman used a horsetail whisk as her weapon. She scoffed, a cold glint flas.h.i.+ng through her eyes. With a careless apology, she lunged at Jun Huang. Jun Huang narrowed her eyes and slashed at the woman with her sword, but the blade was caught by the whisk.

Jun Huang pursed her lips, trying to recover her weapon to no avail. She kicked at the woman, but the woman had antic.i.p.ated her move. She sidestepped before Jun Huang's kick could land on her and struck at Jun Huang with her palm.

The strike was powerful. Jun Huang could feel the killing intent even from a distance. She had no choice but to abandon her sword and stepped away.

The woman came at Jun Huang with insistent attacks. Jun Huang was able to counter the first few hits, but gradually her steps started to falter and her vision blurred.

The woman seemed to have decided to stop toying with Jun Huang. With a knock of the woman's whisk, Jun Huang was flung into the railing. She threw up a mouthful of blood.

The audience looked on in shock. Nan Xun was downright panicking. He leaped onto the stage and kicked the woman away before she could make another killing move. He stood before Jun Huang, looking down at the woman with chilly gaze. ”The duel is meant to be a friendly fight. Why did you so cruelly try to kill your opponent?”

The woman was unable to say anything after getting kicked by Nan Xun. She looked at Rong'er reflexively, which made Rong'er's heart seized up in panic. When Rong'er looked toward the stage, however, Nan Xun had already knelt down to pull Jun Huang into his arms. He didn't even care to look at her.

Possessed by anger, Rong'er let out a cruel laugh and ran up to the stage, disregarding the odd looks the audience cast. She looked at Jun Huang, who was lying against Nan Xun's chest, and mocked, ”I didn't expect the gentleman to be this weak. I thought you were better than others! But this is all you've got! Why didn't you accept defeat earlier? That would spare you the pain.”

”Enough!” Nan Xun growled. Rong'er crossed the line again and again. He had never known any woman this repulsive. ”I don't know what you're trying to achieve by insulting my friend, and I don't care. You? You may dress well, but underneath your skin is an ugly beast. May our paths never cross again in the future!”

Rong'er was stunned silent. In her sect she was the most cherished disciple. And yet the man she liked was so harsh to her. Her eyes were br.i.m.m.i.n.g with tears, but it only made Nan Xun even more resentful.

Jun Huang lost conscious suddenly. Nan Xun froze. He only let out the breath he had been holding after taking Jun Huang's pulse. Without sparing Rong'er another glance, Nan Xun gathered Jun Huang into his arms and walked away, leaving Rong'er staring after them with her teeth clenched.

A venomous glint flashed through her eyes. It was all she could do to stop herself from losing it in public. She went back to her master and said that she wanted to fight Jun Huang in the next match. She would like to see how Nan Xun would react once she defeated Jun Huang.

Nan Xun had never been this scared. He carried Jun Huang back to the inn in a rush. The clerk was shocked to see the state Jun Huang was in. This young man was still his graceful self in the morning, he thought. What has happened to put blood on his robe? The contrast between the blood and the turquoise fabric was horrifying, and yet it added a grotesque beauty to Jun Huang's pale face.

In this state, she was so terribly beautiful.

”What – what happened?” the clerk quickly recovered and shouted after Nan Xun. ”Should I get a doctor?”

Nan Xun paused and glanced at Jun Huang before turning around. ”Please, and be quick!”

The clerk rushed outside the inn. Not long after, the doctor was led in. Under Nan Xun's intense scrutiny, the doctor nervously took Jun Huang's pulse. He let out a relieved sigh and said, ”This wo – gentleman is injured in his back, but fortunately his bones and tendons weren't damaged. What caused him to lose conscious was the poison in his body. It ran through his body at a quicker pace because of his exertion. Otherwise he isn't that badly hurt. However… he doesn't have a lot of time left. Let him rest. He'll wake up in a day or two.”

Afterwards, the doctor took his medicine kit and followed the guards out.