137 It was embarrassing (1/2)

In the north, the cultivators have finally broken through Xinlie's wall for good.

With the majority of the She-Wolf General's troops finally slain and her city doused with poisonous fumes, she was driven into a corner. Her beloved demons have fought to their dying breath and honorably laid down their lives in the heat of battle.

Even as they rode through the gaping holes in the city walls, she smiled. Pride was about her visage with dark laughter. ”I hope you're happy, Dage. I bought you all the time I could.”

They circled around her with their tall white steeds. Not a flicker of fear was present in her golden eyes. She met them with her back straight and chin held high. Though she was cornered now and only death awaited her, Hui Siran couldn't help but feel she had won.

The row of white horses parted, making way for a tall white-robed young master. He was almost matched with her in height but was just a little shorter.

”She-Wolf General,” he addressed her. His eyes spoke of exhaustion and yet the smile on his lips was easy. If Hui Siran was to die at least she could die by the hands of someone handsome.

Not too bad, she thought with a smirk. ”That is I.”

”I am-”

”Huamian-jun. I know.”

”And you are a very commendable general,” the cultivator said as he stepped closer.

Hui Siran could laugh at the tense expressions on the faces of the men and women that surrounded him. She shrugged casually but pride was brimming upon her expression.

”Thanks. But you have won now. My life ends here, my schemes have been exhausted and my men and women are dead.” She chuckled, kneeling down before him.

Liu Suye scratched the back of his neck, his casual expression finally pulling down into a frown, ”I don't really feel like the victor here. You led us around in circles by the nose.” Though he was looking down on her now, he felt nothing but admiration for this woman. It was hard to raise his sword and level it against the curve of her neck.

Privately, he wondered if there was yet another trap lying in wait. In the end, their victory was barely a victory at all. Led into a trap and caught up in skirmishes against an army of only a fraction of the demon's forces, how could anyone celebrate this victory with pride?

Liu Suye understood this well and readily admitted that he had lost to this woman's leadership, her cunning and even her courage. His wrist stiffened, unwilling to deliver the finishing blow. He knew that he had to.

Hui Siran's shining golden eyes slowly fluttered closed. There was no tension in her shoulders so anxiety or fear to be scented upon her person. She was satisfied with her life and accomplishments.

”Go on, Huamian-jun! Let's get it over with and you can get on with your celebrations.”

Liu Suye drew in a deep breath, his sword raised, but it did not come back down.

A large thundering boom was heard overhead, a shock wave that shook the ground below and ruptured their eardrums. Hui Siran's eyes flew open as she looked up.

A shadow descended from the sky, wedging itself between Hui Siran and Liu Suye.

Huamian-jun startled, his sword caught between the claws of a tiger demon. The cultivators all drew their swords at the same time, surrounding the strange newcomer that fell down from the heavens.

Chu Mirong grinned widely, unafraid. ”Hold your horses you damned fools!” She laughed with her head tilted back, ”I'm not here to make war.”

”Chu Mirong,” Hui Siran's voice was raised in surprise.

It'd been year since she last cause sight of her friend! But such as it was, with the Chu Clan traveling between continents and refusing to join forces with Hui Ziwang's cause.

”Why are you here? Did you come to die with me?” Siran's voice was light, casual, even, but the question was asked in seriousness. Alone, Chu Mirong was only going to be slain by the cultivator's swords.

The tiger girl rolled her eyes, ”Who do you take me for?” She laughed and held out her arms. ”Back up, everyone! My darling is going to make an appearance soon!”

No one understood what she was talking about but another loud boom sounded overhead. The horses reared up, neighing in complaint. There was another shadow that appeared above and tumbled downward without Chu Mirong's grace.

A rogue cultivator plopped right down into the tigress's arms. He- no she, groaned from dizziness. Though the woman was clothed in men's garbs her voice was definitely feminine, ”I really can't stand those weird portals.”

”Don't complain, we have work to do here,” the tigress giggled and pressed a kiss against the rogue cultivator's temple before unceremoniously dropping her on the floor like she was nothing better than a useless piece of junk.

The masculine rogue cultivator whined, something about domestic abuse before finally rising to her feet.

Liu Suye thought there was something strikingly familiar about her features but he couldn't quite pinpoint what. At this point, he could only raise his brow up in interest and confusion. The other cultivators were stiff from alarm but he put up a hand, telling them to lower their swords. The development was a weird one, for sure, but two people plopping out of the sky wasn't going to change the tides.

”What is this all about?” Huamian-jun asked, head tilting.