Chapter 144
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The sound was annoying beyond frustration. He swept his sword again, but this time its power wasn’t as great. Under the red light, the evil spirits and demons were only pushed back a few steps and quickly closed in again. They were eager to feast on this rare opportunity of a body.
Could it be that he would perish here before becoming the head of the bureau? Wu Bingtian felt somewhat unwilling. Exhausted, he leaned on his sword. The sword light could no longer stop the relentless onslaught of the monsters. He was like a glowing, fragrant food, tempting the creatures to devour him even if it meant their own destruction.
Another swing of the sword, but this time the sword light was much weaker. The monsters were no longer afraid. The ones in front were just eliminated by the sword energy, and the ones behind came rushing forward with a roar.
A black shadow covered his head. Wu Bingtian weakly raised the long sword in his hand. His chest was heaving, his body weary and feeble, yet his heart was beating fast. His mind was in chaos. He closed his eyes, allowing his overwhelming frustration to surge through his heart. He thought to himself that this time he had failed, but even if he became a ghost, he would tear Otowa apart.
A wave of heat rushed toward him, but the excruciating pain of being devoured by countless demons didn’t materialize. Through his half-closed eyelids, he could feel the heat and light that could penetrate even the thinnest skin, compelling him to open his eyes. Before him was a bright scene, and all the monsters were vanishing under the light.
Two figures approached slowly.
At first, they were just blurry silhouettes, but gradually they became clearer, and the person in the lead was tall and familiar.
“Long Shen!”
“Boss Wu!” It was Li Ying’s voice.
Wu Bingtian had never been so ecstatic before. He sincerely welcomed Long Shen’s arrival.
When the two of them were in the Special Administration Bureau, they clashed many times. Just because Long Shen had the appearance of a hermit and seemed detached from worldly matters, it didn’t mean he wouldn’t compete with Wu Bingtian. Outsiders often thought that the head of the bureau didn’t do anything, and that Deputy Director Wu had the upper hand. In reality, the Special Administration Bureau operated under a system of checks and balances among the three of them. Wu Bingtian had also been suppressed by Long Shen on numerous occasions. Putting that aside, in terms of assigning tasks to the new recruits this time, the two of them had clashed repeatedly.
But that was internal strife, and chaos among their ranks didn’t matter. Now facing a formidable enemy, Wu Bingtian was on the verge of death. When Long Shen suddenly appeared, how could he not be overjoyed? Even someone who had resigned themselves to death wouldn’t resist such a result if they could avoid dying.
“How did you get in?” Wu Bingtian asked breathlessly.
“We killed Yamata no Orochi, tore through the enchantment, and came to your location,” Long Shen replied succinctly, with Li Ying appearing behind him.
“The legendary Yamata no Orochi?” Wu Bingtian was shocked by the words.
“Most likely. That demon beast has eight heads and eight tails. To completely kill it, all the heads and tails must be dealt with simultaneously,” Li Ying said, his face covered in bloodstains, looking even more disheveled than Wu Bingtian.
He didn’t want to recall the fierce battle they had just experienced. In order to simultaneously sever the eight heads of the giant snake, while Long Shen unleashed eight sword lights, Li Ying had to simultaneously summon eight talisman fires to burn the eight fragmented bodies, preventing their regeneration. Normally, Li Ying would grit his teeth and bring forth the eight talisman fires, but at that moment, he was heavily injured to the point where he couldn’t even use a sword. He had to almost spit out his own blood to summon the eight talismans.
Due to the light, Wu Bingtian didn’t have the intention to look at Li Ying closely. Otherwise, if he had observed carefully, he would have noticed that Li Ying’s steps were unsteady and his complexion was pale, relying solely on the medicinal pills brought by Long Shen to sustain himself. He had consumed hundreds of thousands, even millions, worth of pills from the black market. Compared to the Shangqing pills Dong Zhi had eaten, they were nothing.
“It seems that the enchantments are connected!” The two deputy directors met, and upon hearing the account of Long Shen’s experiences, Wu Bingtian immediately drew a conclusion.
“Let’s get out of here first and then discuss. Do you still have the energy?” Long Shen asked.
“I lost my arm, but I can use talismans. You can clear the way with your sword, and I’ll cover the rear with talismans,” Wu Bingtian said, sheathing his sword on his back and taking out talisman slips from his pocket. “How about Li Ying?”
Li Ying said ashamedly, “My actions may be slow.”
After all, he had suffered serious injuries and couldn’t even lift a sword, which would also affect the efficiency of his talisman usage.
Wu Bingtian didn’t waste time with unnecessary words and couldn’t spare the effort to comfort him. “Then you stay in the middle and don’t leave our protective circle.”
Long Shen said, “Otowa is observing us with a mirror. He should know that we have arrived.”
Wu Bingtian grinned. “I’ve already broken that thing. He can’t monitor us now!”
Long Shen nodded. Upon hearing these words, he no longer had any concerns. He swung his sword and slashed the countless demonic qi in front of him. In an instant, a myriad of mournful cries echoed from all directions, filled with despair and anguish. There were the cries of children and the pitiful pleas of women, but the three of them remained unaffected, steadily advancing step by step.
Wu Bingtian was at the end. His missing arm didn’t limit his movements. With his remaining intact hand, he pulled out talisman slips, chanted incantations, and the papers turned into a large number of armored soldiers that rushed towards the demonic qi.
Li Ying stood in the middle, guarding with talismans. Whenever he detected demonic qi approaching, he would burn them with talisman fires. Long Shen cleared the way in front, and with his sword light, he swept through the air, obliterating any trace of demonic qi. After breaking through the mirrored space, rescuing Li Ying, and killing Yamata no Orochi one after another, his grip on the sword remained steady and his gaze unwavering. Even the radiance of his sword and the aura it emitted were unmatched. Li Ying followed closely and realized that he had no idea where Long Shen’s physical limit lay. This man’s strength was truly terrifying.
“There’s no use killing them like this. The demonic qi will just circulate endlessly!” Wu Bingtian couldn’t help but speak up.
“Boss Wu, Boss Long just discovered a gap in the enchantment. We need to go there now!” Li Ying explained.
Wu Bingtian’s spirits lifted. “Where is it?”
Long Shen: “Not far.”
Within this enchantment, time became meaningless. Wu Bingtian didn’t even know if he had been here for an hour or two, a day or two. But he knew that his “not far” and Long Shen’s “not far” certainly had a significant difference. After walking for a while, Wu Bingtian’s remaining hand started to feel a prickling pain, a sign of extreme exhaustion. Even the efficiency of using talismans had greatly decreased. Wu Bingtian had to speak up.
“Boss Long, how much farther?” he asked.
Long Shen chuckled lightly.
The laughter wasn’t loud, but both Wu Bingtian and Li Ying heard it.
“I didn’t expect the patience of Boss Wu to be so poor.”
Li Ying was surprised that Long Shen could speak in such a teasing tone.
Wu Bingtian replied indignantly, “You try losing an arm and see. I’ve already exerted every ounce of strength I have!”
After all, they had been partners for many years. Upon hearing Long Shen’s relaxed tone, Wu Bingtian knew that the exit of the enchantment was not far away. As expected, right after he finished speaking, Long Shen shouted, “Break!”
The syllable felt substantial as it hammered on the eardrums of the other two.
Since Wu Bingtian happened to be speaking at the time, the nauseating sensation from the vibrations was greatly reduced for him. However, Li Ying wasn’t so lucky. His ears buzzed, and the sound directly pierced into his heart, causing him to immediately spew a mouthful of blood.
“Open your mouth.”
Hearing Long Shen’s voice, Li Ying instinctively opened his mouth, and a pill passed through his tongue and into his throat. The burning sensation in his chest instantly subsided.
“Oh, this is Boss Long’s private stash!” Wu Bingtian keenly observed.
Li Ying had originally wanted to ask for the name of the pill, but upon hearing those words, he silently swallowed his question. He put on an innocent and clueless expression, afraid that even if he sold himself, he still wouldn’t be able to repay the debt.
Of course, Long Shen didn’t ask him for it either. With that shout, the surroundings were instantly illuminated, and the curtain of darkness fell, replaced by flickering lantern lights and white mist.
Li Ying squinted his eyes and examined for a while before realizing that the flickering lights were actually lanterns, and the white mist was formed by humanoid evil spirits.
“Boss Long!” He turned his head towards the voice and saw Tang Jing, the director of the East China Branch, and Yu Buhui.
Everyone had finally reunited. Li Ying was very excited, and he also saw the joy on Wu Bingtian’s face.
“How are you all?” Wu Bingtian asked as the five of them quickly gathered together.
“We’re fine!” Tang Jing replied. He then noticed Wu Bingtian’s empty arm, and his voice faltered.
“Don’t get distracted. Breaking the enemy is the priority!” Long Shen seemed to sense his emotional fluctuations and reminded him in a deep voice.
One corner of the Eight-Directional Bhavacakra Formation connected to Wu Bingtian’s enchantment. With the enchantment broken and the Bhavacakra shattered, the power of the formation greatly diminished. Tang Jing and Yu Buhui’s spirits soared, taking the opportunity to make a move and eliminate two Prajna* entities.
*Often translated as “wisdom”, “intelligence”, or “understanding”.
However, Li Ying could no longer hold on. He stumbled and fell forward, but Long Shen’s keen eyes and quick hands grabbed him and gently sat him down on the ground.
“He’s dying,” Wu Bingtian said as he glanced at Li Ying.
No one considered Li Ying weak. In the situation where Ding Lan had already died, his ability to hold on until reinforcements arrived was no easy feat. Although there was the reason that Otowa Yasuhiko wanted to use him as bait, even if it were someone else, they probably wouldn’t have been able to fight their way out alongside Long Shen and Wu Bingtian.
“Don’t move, close your eyes and rest. We’ll handle things here,” Tang Jing quickly said.
Li Ying sat down cross-legged, nodding weakly.
At that moment, three white tigers leaped into the scene, roaring and pouncing towards everyone. Tang Jing caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye and noticed a slender figure.
“It looks like Eiko Kitaichi!”
Wu Bingtian was shocked. “Didn’t she suffer severe injuries and fall into a coma?”
Tang Jing sneered and briefly explained the situation. “Fujikawa brought his apprentice back to life with demonic qi, but Eiko Kitaichi ended up killing him.”
Anyone who saw Fujikawa’s fate would understand that they had brought it upon themselves. It remained unknown whether Fujikawa would regret his attempt to profit from others*.
*Plotting to skin a tiger (与虎谋皮) Metaphor referring to when someone tries to take advantage of a powerful or dangerous person or entity, often with the intention of benefiting from their resources or influence.
No onmyoji could summon more than two shikigami at the same time, but Eiko Kitaichi could. The reason she was hailed as the genius girl of their generation was precisely because of her outstanding performance in onmyoji techniques. However, she had now become a puppet of Otowa Yasuhiko, a beautiful girl devoid of expression, manipulating three shikigami to coordinate with the Bhavacakra Formation, intending to trap Long Shen and the others inside.
Just as everyone was fully focused on breaking the formation, Tang Jing heard a familiar voice say, “Follow me!”
The figure of Ming Xian then leaped into the formation, his expression anxious, urging Tang Jing and the others.
“I know the flaws in the formation, follow me!”
Tang Jing’s heart trembled, filled with uncertainty. He reached out to grab him, and Ming Xian made no resistance, allowing Tang Jing to tightly grip his arm, though he only furrowed his brows slightly.
“Otowa injected demonic qi into my body, but I still retain a part of my original consciousness. However, I don’t know how long I can hold on. Quickly follow me out before I completely lose my sanity.”
Tang Jing subconsciously took a few steps with him before remembering to turn his head and look at the others. It was during these short steps that he suddenly realized the special place Ming Xian held in his heart.
The once carefree and worldly Tang Jing, who dismissed everything in the world, found an exception in Ming Xian. He was a thorn in Tang Jing’s heart. This thorn wasn’t lethal, but it pricked his flesh constantly, causing him pain.
When Tang Jing turned his head, Long Shen furrowed his brows slightly, giving him a glance without saying anything. With the situation urgent, Yu Buhui didn’t have time to think much. Seeing Tang Jing following the other person, he quickly followed suit.
Sure enough, Ming Xian was well-versed in the formation. He led them towards one of the rooms in the courtyard. It seemed ordinary, but the Prajna Entities and shikigami did not catch up with them. They seemed to encounter an invisible enchantment and became stagnant in a certain place, only roaring and glaring at them with resentment.
The courtyard seemed small, but they had been walking for quite a while. Li Ying was starting to struggle, so Yu Buhui directly carried him on his back. Wu Bingtian, despite missing an arm, seemed to be in good spirits and didn’t need assistance from others.
“Wait,” Long Shen suddenly spoke up.
Naturally, everyone stopped in their tracks. Ming Xian suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, splattering it onto the lantern he was holding, causing the candlelight to dim slightly.
“Ming Xian!” Tang Jing exclaimed in shock, just managing to support his weakened body.
In the flickering light, he suddenly saw a faint smile on Ming Xian’s blood-stained lips. “Ming…”
The next moment, Tang Jing felt a sharp pain in his chest. He lowered his head and saw Ming Xian’s hand inserted into his body; his fingers were covered in blood. Drops of blood fell to the ground, mixing and intertwining with the blood that Ming Xian had sprayed earlier. It was unclear whose blood was whose.
The incident happened in the blink of an eye. By the time Wu Bingtian and Yu Buhui realized something was wrong and tried to intervene, Ming Xian’s figure had already disappeared from the spot, reappearing several meters away, still holding half of Tang Jing’s heart.
With half a heart, could a person still survive?
Tang Jing didn’t know. At that moment, he thought that, as a spirit that had taken human form, perhaps he could indeed survive. The cries of his other companions echoed in his ears, but those voices gradually grew distant from Tang Jing. He didn’t even know that he had fallen to the ground, only feeling a sharp pain in his chest, accompanied by a faint chill, as if a body that had just been heated was submerged in icy water during the harsh winter months.
I’ve really messed up this time. All those lighthearted thoughts have gone to the dogs. Tang Jing self-mockingly thought.
Until a finger touched his brow.
Tang Jing regained some clarity and opened his eyes to see Long Shen in front of him. “I’m fine…” Tang Jing tried to speak but coughed up more blood. He struggled to prop himself up. “All the enchantments are connected. Otowa deliberately lured us here for an ambush.”
No further explanation was needed. Everyone understood. Otowa had never shown himself, using Li Ying as bait to make Ming Xian appear. It was all part of a bigger trap to eliminate them all at once.
As soon as those words were spoken, a tremendous upheaval occurred all around them. The ground cracked, and the sky turned a fiery red. Lightning flashed and thunder roared within the clouds. The floor tiles rose into the air, swirling like a vortex in the center of a hurricane. Suddenly, everything came to a halt, and sharp edges flew toward them.
Ming Xian, who had been watching them from a distance, gradually became blurred.
“That’s the exit!” Wu Bingtian shouted.
“Yu Buhui, take them out!” Long Shen left those words behind and leaped into the air.
His speed was astonishing, merging with the sword light in mid-air. Li Ying couldn’t even see what he had done before the fragments of bricks and stones suddenly stopped and converged into a tidal wave rushing towards Ming Xian.
A path was opened!
“Let’s go!” Yu Buhui carried Li Ying in his left hand and held onto Tang Jing with his right hand. They followed behind Long Shen, with Wu Bingtian in front.
Ming Xian narrowed his eyes, seemingly surprised that his plan to capture them all had been disrupted by Long Shen. He waved his hand, and Eiko Kitaichi leaped from behind, accompanied by the Prajna Entities and shikigami, pouncing towards Tang Jing and Li Ying, who were the most severely injured among the group.
No matter how powerful Yu Buhui was, he couldn’t attend to both of them.
Li Ying felt a chilling sensation coming from the back of his head. It was dense and bone-piercing, freezing his neck and preventing him from turning to look. His body felt incredibly heavy, and he couldn’t lift his limbs. Li Ying knew that it was the pressure emitted by the approaching demon. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t be affected, but now he could only become a burden to everyone.
Just as he was about to grit his teeth and let Yu Buhui give up on him, Tang Jing’s movements were faster than anyone else’s. He swiftly turned and moved towards the back. As his palm flipped, a dazzling radiance poured out from between his fingers, freezing both the Prajna Entities and shikigami in their tracks. They howled and disintegrated into ashes.
Tang Jing spat out a mouthful of blood. Li Ying glanced at it, only to see a faint golden hue. He couldn’t help but be startled. Tang Jing had already collapsed.
Li Ying didn’t know what the radiant light Tang Jing had used to kill the enemies was, but Ming Xian saw it clearly. The ancient mirror was capable of warding off evil, and it was Tang Jing’s true body’s mirror light. He had pushed Tang Jing to the point of severe injuries and powerlessness, forcing him to reveal his true form as a last resort.
Only Eiko Kitaichi was unaffected by Tang Jing’s radiant light. After a brief pause, she flew towards Li Ying, who was defenseless. Yu Buhui acted swiftly, blocking Eiko Kitaichi’s path and engaging her in a fight within the vortex.
“Take them out first!” Yu Buhui shouted.
Wu Bingtian heard the command, but he only had one hand. He gritted his teeth and carried Tang Jing on his back, while his hand grabbed Li Ying and led them out. However, Ming Xian was waiting for them outside.
Ming Xian smiled slightly at Wu Bingtian and said, “Director Wu, you look so tired.”
Upon closer inspection, his smile only covered half of his face, while the other side remained cold and expressionless. In the dim light, his eyes seemed to be red. Wu Bingtian’s hair stood on end from his smile.
Even though Wu Bingtian believed he could deal with Ming Xian, he wasn’t confident that he could handle both Ming Xian and protect Li Ying and Tang Jing at the same time. However, Ming Xian didn’t give him much time to think. As soon as the words were spoken, Ming Xian made his move.
Meanwhile, Long Shen remained alone in the formation. After clearing the path for the others, he didn’t rush to leave. He descended from the sky and thrust his sword into the broken ground where the tiles had been destroyed. With a loud explosion, a massive shockwave spread outwards from the connection between the sword and the ground.
Regardless of friend or foe, everyone was involuntarily flipped over and thrown out, except for Long Shen, who firmly held onto the sword handle without wavering. Eiko Kitaichi and Ming Xian were impacted by the sound waves, crashing into the pillars and then falling to the ground. The others didn’t fare much better. Yu Buhui stabilized himself by plunging his sword into the ground, reaching out to grab Li Ying, preventing him from becoming a flying brick. However, Tang Jing wasn’t as fortunate. He was also lifted into the air and slammed forcefully into a wall. The impact reverberated through his internal organs, and the intense pain in his chest and abdomen made him realize that his injuries had worsened.
Tang Jing smiled wryly. Seeing Ming Xian reaching for the back of Li Ying’s head, he could only muster the strength to stand up and intervene.
A powerful radiance erupted from the connection between the sword and the ground. It was the starting point of all enchantments and the end of all entanglements. Long Shen’s target had always been Otowa Yasuhiko!
The hurricane caused by the burst of light destroyed the entire courtyard. All the dark creatures were exposed under the intense light, howling and screaming as they scattered in all directions. However, they were eventually swept up by the incoming hurricane, torn to pieces, and completely obliterated.
Eiko Kitaichi struck Yu Buhui’s shoulder with her palm, and the demonic qi immediately corroded his flesh, revealing a charred wound. Yu Buhui winced in pain, but he retaliated by kicking Eiko Kitaichi, sending her flying backward. At that moment, Eiko Kitaichi was engulfed by the hurricane and drowned in the brilliant light.
Yu Buhui quickly realized that the entire space was being torn apart by the intense light. Starting from Long Shen’s feet, a deep rift extended rapidly, like a gigantic invisible hand tearing the cracks open.
“The Seven-Star Longyuan Sword is indeed well-deserved of its reputation!”
At the end of the rift, a figure appeared within everyone’s sight. The person was short and hunched, gradually approaching amidst the intense light. He was dressed in traditional Japanese clothing, bearing all the characteristics of an old-fashioned Japanese individual. With deep facial lines and a stern countenance, he didn’t stand out among the crowd. However, at this moment, all eyes were focused on him.
Otowa Yasuhiko, who had been hiding behind the scenes, finally revealed his true form.
With an undisguised gaze of admiration and greed, he carefully scrutinized Long Shen from head to toe. “My spiritual companion, there’s no one with your heroic bearing and pride. Director Long, can you tell me the secret of your tremendous power?” Otowa Yasuhiko didn’t look at anyone else; his gaze was firmly fixed on Long Shen, seemingly unable to look away.
Long Shen ignored his question and coldly asked, “Where is Ding Lan’s soul?”
“The Seven-Star Longyuan Sword should possess such magnificence!” Otowa Yasuhiko exclaimed in admiration. However, his brows furrowed soon after. “The aura emanating from Director Long is something I have never seen in Ming Xian. In my presence, he can only behave like a dog, obediently bowing his head. I’ve wondered countless times which link went wrong, causing him to not only lack the charisma of Director Long but also repeatedly betray me.”
Upon hearing these words, Tang Jing couldn’t help but let out a sarcastic laugh.
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The sound was annoying beyond frustration. He swept his sword again, but this time its power wasn’t as great. Under the red light, the evil spirits and demons were only pushed back a few steps and quickly closed in again. They were eager to feast on this rare opportunity of a body.
Could it be that he would perish here before becoming the head of the bureau? Wu Bingtian felt somewhat unwilling. Exhausted, he leaned on his sword. The sword light could no longer stop the relentless onslaught of the monsters. He was like a glowing, fragrant food, tempting the creatures to devour him even if it meant their own destruction.
Another swing of the sword, but this time the sword light was much weaker. The monsters were no longer afraid. The ones in front were just eliminated by the sword energy, and the ones behind came rushing forward with a roar.
A black shadow covered his head. Wu Bingtian weakly raised the long sword in his hand. His chest was heaving, his body weary and feeble, yet his heart was beating fast. His mind was in chaos. He closed his eyes, allowing his overwhelming frustration to surge through his heart. He thought to himself that this time he had failed, but even if he became a ghost, he would tear Otowa apart.
A wave of heat rushed toward him, but the excruciating pain of being devoured by countless demons didn’t materialize. Through his half-closed eyelids, he could feel the heat and light that could penetrate even the thinnest skin, compelling him to open his eyes. Before him was a bright scene, and all the monsters were vanishing under the light.
Two figures approached slowly.
At first, they were just blurry silhouettes, but gradually they became clearer, and the person in the lead was tall and familiar.
“Long Shen!”
“Boss Wu!” It was Li Ying’s voice.
Wu Bingtian had never been so ecstatic before. He sincerely welcomed Long Shen’s arrival.
When the two of them were in the Special Administration Bureau, they clashed many times. Just because Long Shen had the appearance of a hermit and seemed detached from worldly matters, it didn’t mean he wouldn’t compete with Wu Bingtian. Outsiders often thought that the head of the bureau didn’t do anything, and that Deputy Director Wu had the upper hand. In reality, the Special Administration Bureau operated under a system of checks and balances among the three of them. Wu Bingtian had also been suppressed by Long Shen on numerous occasions. Putting that aside, in terms of assigning tasks to the new recruits this time, the two of them had clashed repeatedly.
But that was internal strife, and chaos among their ranks didn’t matter. Now facing a formidable enemy, Wu Bingtian was on the verge of death. When Long Shen suddenly appeared, how could he not be overjoyed? Even someone who had resigned themselves to death wouldn’t resist such a result if they could avoid dying.
“How did you get in?” Wu Bingtian asked breathlessly.
“We killed Yamata no Orochi, tore through the enchantment, and came to your location,” Long Shen replied succinctly, with Li Ying appearing behind him.
“The legendary Yamata no Orochi?” Wu Bingtian was shocked by the words.
“Most likely. That demon beast has eight heads and eight tails. To completely kill it, all the heads and tails must be dealt with simultaneously,” Li Ying said, his face covered in bloodstains, looking even more disheveled than Wu Bingtian.
He didn’t want to recall the fierce battle they had just experienced. In order to simultaneously sever the eight heads of the giant snake, while Long Shen unleashed eight sword lights, Li Ying had to simultaneously summon eight talisman fires to burn the eight fragmented bodies, preventing their regeneration. Normally, Li Ying would grit his teeth and bring forth the eight talisman fires, but at that moment, he was heavily injured to the point where he couldn’t even use a sword. He had to almost spit out his own blood to summon the eight talismans.
Due to the light, Wu Bingtian didn’t have the intention to look at Li Ying closely. Otherwise, if he had observed carefully, he would have noticed that Li Ying’s steps were unsteady and his complexion was pale, relying solely on the medicinal pills brought by Long Shen to sustain himself. He had consumed hundreds of thousands, even millions, worth of pills from the black market. Compared to the Shangqing pills Dong Zhi had eaten, they were nothing.
“It seems that the enchantments are connected!” The two deputy directors met, and upon hearing the account of Long Shen’s experiences, Wu Bingtian immediately drew a conclusion.
“Let’s get out of here first and then discuss. Do you still have the energy?” Long Shen asked.
“I lost my arm, but I can use talismans. You can clear the way with your sword, and I’ll cover the rear with talismans,” Wu Bingtian said, sheathing his sword on his back and taking out talisman slips from his pocket. “How about Li Ying?”
Li Ying said ashamedly, “My actions may be slow.”
After all, he had suffered serious injuries and couldn’t even lift a sword, which would also affect the efficiency of his talisman usage.
Wu Bingtian didn’t waste time with unnecessary words and couldn’t spare the effort to comfort him. “Then you stay in the middle and don’t leave our protective circle.”
Long Shen said, “Otowa is observing us with a mirror. He should know that we have arrived.”
Wu Bingtian grinned. “I’ve already broken that thing. He can’t monitor us now!”
Long Shen nodded. Upon hearing these words, he no longer had any concerns. He swung his sword and slashed the countless demonic qi in front of him. In an instant, a myriad of mournful cries echoed from all directions, filled with despair and anguish. There were the cries of children and the pitiful pleas of women, but the three of them remained unaffected, steadily advancing step by step.
Wu Bingtian was at the end. His missing arm didn’t limit his movements. With his remaining intact hand, he pulled out talisman slips, chanted incantations, and the papers turned into a large number of armored soldiers that rushed towards the demonic qi.
Li Ying stood in the middle, guarding with talismans. Whenever he detected demonic qi approaching, he would burn them with talisman fires. Long Shen cleared the way in front, and with his sword light, he swept through the air, obliterating any trace of demonic qi. After breaking through the mirrored space, rescuing Li Ying, and killing Yamata no Orochi one after another, his grip on the sword remained steady and his gaze unwavering. Even the radiance of his sword and the aura it emitted were unmatched. Li Ying followed closely and realized that he had no idea where Long Shen’s physical limit lay. This man’s strength was truly terrifying.
“There’s no use killing them like this. The demonic qi will just circulate endlessly!” Wu Bingtian couldn’t help but speak up.
“Boss Wu, Boss Long just discovered a gap in the enchantment. We need to go there now!” Li Ying explained.
Wu Bingtian’s spirits lifted. “Where is it?”
Long Shen: “Not far.”
Within this enchantment, time became meaningless. Wu Bingtian didn’t even know if he had been here for an hour or two, a day or two. But he knew that his “not far” and Long Shen’s “not far” certainly had a significant difference. After walking for a while, Wu Bingtian’s remaining hand started to feel a prickling pain, a sign of extreme exhaustion. Even the efficiency of using talismans had greatly decreased. Wu Bingtian had to speak up.
“Boss Long, how much farther?” he asked.
Long Shen chuckled lightly.
The laughter wasn’t loud, but both Wu Bingtian and Li Ying heard it.
“I didn’t expect the patience of Boss Wu to be so poor.”
Li Ying was surprised that Long Shen could speak in such a teasing tone.
Wu Bingtian replied indignantly, “You try losing an arm and see. I’ve already exerted every ounce of strength I have!”
After all, they had been partners for many years. Upon hearing Long Shen’s relaxed tone, Wu Bingtian knew that the exit of the enchantment was not far away. As expected, right after he finished speaking, Long Shen shouted, “Break!”
The syllable felt substantial as it hammered on the eardrums of the other two.
Since Wu Bingtian happened to be speaking at the time, the nauseating sensation from the vibrations was greatly reduced for him. However, Li Ying wasn’t so lucky. His ears buzzed, and the sound directly pierced into his heart, causing him to immediately spew a mouthful of blood.
“Open your mouth.”
Hearing Long Shen’s voice, Li Ying instinctively opened his mouth, and a pill passed through his tongue and into his throat. The burning sensation in his chest instantly subsided.
“Oh, this is Boss Long’s private stash!” Wu Bingtian keenly observed.
Li Ying had originally wanted to ask for the name of the pill, but upon hearing those words, he silently swallowed his question. He put on an innocent and clueless expression, afraid that even if he sold himself, he still wouldn’t be able to repay the debt.
Of course, Long Shen didn’t ask him for it either. With that shout, the surroundings were instantly illuminated, and the curtain of darkness fell, replaced by flickering lantern lights and white mist.
Li Ying squinted his eyes and examined for a while before realizing that the flickering lights were actually lanterns, and the white mist was formed by humanoid evil spirits.
“Boss Long!” He turned his head towards the voice and saw Tang Jing, the director of the East China Branch, and Yu Buhui.
Everyone had finally reunited. Li Ying was very excited, and he also saw the joy on Wu Bingtian’s face.
“How are you all?” Wu Bingtian asked as the five of them quickly gathered together.
“We’re fine!” Tang Jing replied. He then noticed Wu Bingtian’s empty arm, and his voice faltered.
“Don’t get distracted. Breaking the enemy is the priority!” Long Shen seemed to sense his emotional fluctuations and reminded him in a deep voice.
One corner of the Eight-Directional Bhavacakra Formation connected to Wu Bingtian’s enchantment. With the enchantment broken and the Bhavacakra shattered, the power of the formation greatly diminished. Tang Jing and Yu Buhui’s spirits soared, taking the opportunity to make a move and eliminate two Prajna* entities.
*Often translated as “wisdom”, “intelligence”, or “understanding”.
However, Li Ying could no longer hold on. He stumbled and fell forward, but Long Shen’s keen eyes and quick hands grabbed him and gently sat him down on the ground.
“He’s dying,” Wu Bingtian said as he glanced at Li Ying.
No one considered Li Ying weak. In the situation where Ding Lan had already died, his ability to hold on until reinforcements arrived was no easy feat. Although there was the reason that Otowa Yasuhiko wanted to use him as bait, even if it were someone else, they probably wouldn’t have been able to fight their way out alongside Long Shen and Wu Bingtian.
“Don’t move, close your eyes and rest. We’ll handle things here,” Tang Jing quickly said.
Li Ying sat down cross-legged, nodding weakly.
At that moment, three white tigers leaped into the scene, roaring and pouncing towards everyone. Tang Jing caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye and noticed a slender figure.
“It looks like Eiko Kitaichi!”
Wu Bingtian was shocked. “Didn’t she suffer severe injuries and fall into a coma?”
Tang Jing sneered and briefly explained the situation. “Fujikawa brought his apprentice back to life with demonic qi, but Eiko Kitaichi ended up killing him.”
Anyone who saw Fujikawa’s fate would understand that they had brought it upon themselves. It remained unknown whether Fujikawa would regret his attempt to profit from others*.
*Plotting to skin a tiger (与虎谋皮) Metaphor referring to when someone tries to take advantage of a powerful or dangerous person or entity, often with the intention of benefiting from their resources or influence.
No onmyoji could summon more than two shikigami at the same time, but Eiko Kitaichi could. The reason she was hailed as the genius girl of their generation was precisely because of her outstanding performance in onmyoji techniques. However, she had now become a puppet of Otowa Yasuhiko, a beautiful girl devoid of expression, manipulating three shikigami to coordinate with the Bhavacakra Formation, intending to trap Long Shen and the others inside.
Just as everyone was fully focused on breaking the formation, Tang Jing heard a familiar voice say, “Follow me!”
The figure of Ming Xian then leaped into the formation, his expression anxious, urging Tang Jing and the others.
“I know the flaws in the formation, follow me!”
Tang Jing’s heart trembled, filled with uncertainty. He reached out to grab him, and Ming Xian made no resistance, allowing Tang Jing to tightly grip his arm, though he only furrowed his brows slightly.
“Otowa injected demonic qi into my body, but I still retain a part of my original consciousness. However, I don’t know how long I can hold on. Quickly follow me out before I completely lose my sanity.”
Tang Jing subconsciously took a few steps with him before remembering to turn his head and look at the others. It was during these short steps that he suddenly realized the special place Ming Xian held in his heart.
The once carefree and worldly Tang Jing, who dismissed everything in the world, found an exception in Ming Xian. He was a thorn in Tang Jing’s heart. This thorn wasn’t lethal, but it pricked his flesh constantly, causing him pain.
When Tang Jing turned his head, Long Shen furrowed his brows slightly, giving him a glance without saying anything. With the situation urgent, Yu Buhui didn’t have time to think much. Seeing Tang Jing following the other person, he quickly followed suit.
Sure enough, Ming Xian was well-versed in the formation. He led them towards one of the rooms in the courtyard. It seemed ordinary, but the Prajna Entities and shikigami did not catch up with them. They seemed to encounter an invisible enchantment and became stagnant in a certain place, only roaring and glaring at them with resentment.
The courtyard seemed small, but they had been walking for quite a while. Li Ying was starting to struggle, so Yu Buhui directly carried him on his back. Wu Bingtian, despite missing an arm, seemed to be in good spirits and didn’t need assistance from others.
“Wait,” Long Shen suddenly spoke up.
Naturally, everyone stopped in their tracks. Ming Xian suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, splattering it onto the lantern he was holding, causing the candlelight to dim slightly.
“Ming Xian!” Tang Jing exclaimed in shock, just managing to support his weakened body.
In the flickering light, he suddenly saw a faint smile on Ming Xian’s blood-stained lips. “Ming…”
The next moment, Tang Jing felt a sharp pain in his chest. He lowered his head and saw Ming Xian’s hand inserted into his body; his fingers were covered in blood. Drops of blood fell to the ground, mixing and intertwining with the blood that Ming Xian had sprayed earlier. It was unclear whose blood was whose.
The incident happened in the blink of an eye. By the time Wu Bingtian and Yu Buhui realized something was wrong and tried to intervene, Ming Xian’s figure had already disappeared from the spot, reappearing several meters away, still holding half of Tang Jing’s heart.
With half a heart, could a person still survive?
Tang Jing didn’t know. At that moment, he thought that, as a spirit that had taken human form, perhaps he could indeed survive. The cries of his other companions echoed in his ears, but those voices gradually grew distant from Tang Jing. He didn’t even know that he had fallen to the ground, only feeling a sharp pain in his chest, accompanied by a faint chill, as if a body that had just been heated was submerged in icy water during the harsh winter months.
I’ve really messed up this time. All those lighthearted thoughts have gone to the dogs. Tang Jing self-mockingly thought.
Until a finger touched his brow.
Tang Jing regained some clarity and opened his eyes to see Long Shen in front of him. “I’m fine…” Tang Jing tried to speak but coughed up more blood. He struggled to prop himself up. “All the enchantments are connected. Otowa deliberately lured us here for an ambush.”
No further explanation was needed. Everyone understood. Otowa had never shown himself, using Li Ying as bait to make Ming Xian appear. It was all part of a bigger trap to eliminate them all at once.
As soon as those words were spoken, a tremendous upheaval occurred all around them. The ground cracked, and the sky turned a fiery red. Lightning flashed and thunder roared within the clouds. The floor tiles rose into the air, swirling like a vortex in the center of a hurricane. Suddenly, everything came to a halt, and sharp edges flew toward them.
Ming Xian, who had been watching them from a distance, gradually became blurred.
“That’s the exit!” Wu Bingtian shouted.
“Yu Buhui, take them out!” Long Shen left those words behind and leaped into the air.
His speed was astonishing, merging with the sword light in mid-air. Li Ying couldn’t even see what he had done before the fragments of bricks and stones suddenly stopped and converged into a tidal wave rushing towards Ming Xian.
A path was opened!
“Let’s go!” Yu Buhui carried Li Ying in his left hand and held onto Tang Jing with his right hand. They followed behind Long Shen, with Wu Bingtian in front.
Ming Xian narrowed his eyes, seemingly surprised that his plan to capture them all had been disrupted by Long Shen. He waved his hand, and Eiko Kitaichi leaped from behind, accompanied by the Prajna Entities and shikigami, pouncing towards Tang Jing and Li Ying, who were the most severely injured among the group.
No matter how powerful Yu Buhui was, he couldn’t attend to both of them.
Li Ying felt a chilling sensation coming from the back of his head. It was dense and bone-piercing, freezing his neck and preventing him from turning to look. His body felt incredibly heavy, and he couldn’t lift his limbs. Li Ying knew that it was the pressure emitted by the approaching demon. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t be affected, but now he could only become a burden to everyone.
Just as he was about to grit his teeth and let Yu Buhui give up on him, Tang Jing’s movements were faster than anyone else’s. He swiftly turned and moved towards the back. As his palm flipped, a dazzling radiance poured out from between his fingers, freezing both the Prajna Entities and shikigami in their tracks. They howled and disintegrated into ashes.
Tang Jing spat out a mouthful of blood. Li Ying glanced at it, only to see a faint golden hue. He couldn’t help but be startled. Tang Jing had already collapsed.
Li Ying didn’t know what the radiant light Tang Jing had used to kill the enemies was, but Ming Xian saw it clearly. The ancient mirror was capable of warding off evil, and it was Tang Jing’s true body’s mirror light. He had pushed Tang Jing to the point of severe injuries and powerlessness, forcing him to reveal his true form as a last resort.
Only Eiko Kitaichi was unaffected by Tang Jing’s radiant light. After a brief pause, she flew towards Li Ying, who was defenseless. Yu Buhui acted swiftly, blocking Eiko Kitaichi’s path and engaging her in a fight within the vortex.
“Take them out first!” Yu Buhui shouted.
Wu Bingtian heard the command, but he only had one hand. He gritted his teeth and carried Tang Jing on his back, while his hand grabbed Li Ying and led them out. However, Ming Xian was waiting for them outside.
Ming Xian smiled slightly at Wu Bingtian and said, “Director Wu, you look so tired.”
Upon closer inspection, his smile only covered half of his face, while the other side remained cold and expressionless. In the dim light, his eyes seemed to be red. Wu Bingtian’s hair stood on end from his smile.
Even though Wu Bingtian believed he could deal with Ming Xian, he wasn’t confident that he could handle both Ming Xian and protect Li Ying and Tang Jing at the same time. However, Ming Xian didn’t give him much time to think. As soon as the words were spoken, Ming Xian made his move.
Meanwhile, Long Shen remained alone in the formation. After clearing the path for the others, he didn’t rush to leave. He descended from the sky and thrust his sword into the broken ground where the tiles had been destroyed. With a loud explosion, a massive shockwave spread outwards from the connection between the sword and the ground.
Regardless of friend or foe, everyone was involuntarily flipped over and thrown out, except for Long Shen, who firmly held onto the sword handle without wavering. Eiko Kitaichi and Ming Xian were impacted by the sound waves, crashing into the pillars and then falling to the ground. The others didn’t fare much better. Yu Buhui stabilized himself by plunging his sword into the ground, reaching out to grab Li Ying, preventing him from becoming a flying brick. However, Tang Jing wasn’t as fortunate. He was also lifted into the air and slammed forcefully into a wall. The impact reverberated through his internal organs, and the intense pain in his chest and abdomen made him realize that his injuries had worsened.
Tang Jing smiled wryly. Seeing Ming Xian reaching for the back of Li Ying’s head, he could only muster the strength to stand up and intervene.
A powerful radiance erupted from the connection between the sword and the ground. It was the starting point of all enchantments and the end of all entanglements. Long Shen’s target had always been Otowa Yasuhiko!
The hurricane caused by the burst of light destroyed the entire courtyard. All the dark creatures were exposed under the intense light, howling and screaming as they scattered in all directions. However, they were eventually swept up by the incoming hurricane, torn to pieces, and completely obliterated.
Eiko Kitaichi struck Yu Buhui’s shoulder with her palm, and the demonic qi immediately corroded his flesh, revealing a charred wound. Yu Buhui winced in pain, but he retaliated by kicking Eiko Kitaichi, sending her flying backward. At that moment, Eiko Kitaichi was engulfed by the hurricane and drowned in the brilliant light.
Yu Buhui quickly realized that the entire space was being torn apart by the intense light. Starting from Long Shen’s feet, a deep rift extended rapidly, like a gigantic invisible hand tearing the cracks open.
“The Seven-Star Longyuan Sword is indeed well-deserved of its reputation!”
At the end of the rift, a figure appeared within everyone’s sight. The person was short and hunched, gradually approaching amidst the intense light. He was dressed in traditional Japanese clothing, bearing all the characteristics of an old-fashioned Japanese individual. With deep facial lines and a stern countenance, he didn’t stand out among the crowd. However, at this moment, all eyes were focused on him.
Otowa Yasuhiko, who had been hiding behind the scenes, finally revealed his true form.
With an undisguised gaze of admiration and greed, he carefully scrutinized Long Shen from head to toe. “My spiritual companion, there’s no one with your heroic bearing and pride. Director Long, can you tell me the secret of your tremendous power?” Otowa Yasuhiko didn’t look at anyone else; his gaze was firmly fixed on Long Shen, seemingly unable to look away.
Long Shen ignored his question and coldly asked, “Where is Ding Lan’s soul?”
“The Seven-Star Longyuan Sword should possess such magnificence!” Otowa Yasuhiko exclaimed in admiration. However, his brows furrowed soon after. “The aura emanating from Director Long is something I have never seen in Ming Xian. In my presence, he can only behave like a dog, obediently bowing his head. I’ve wondered countless times which link went wrong, causing him to not only lack the charisma of Director Long but also repeatedly betray me.”
Upon hearing these words, Tang Jing couldn’t help but let out a sarcastic laugh.
The sound was annoying beyond frustration. He swept his sword again, but this time its power wasn't as great. Under the red light, the evil spirits and demons were only pushed back a few steps and quickly closed in again. They were eager to feast on this rare opportunity of a body.Could it be that he would perish here before becoming the head of the bureau? Wu Bingtian felt somewhat unwilling. Exhausted, he leaned on his sword. The sword light could no longer stop the relentless onslaught of the monsters. He was like a glowing, fragrant food, tempting the creatures to devour him even if it meant their own destruction.Another swing of the sword, but this time the sword light was much weaker. The monsters were no longer afraid. The ones in front were just eliminated by the sword energy, and the ones behind came rushing forward with a roar.A black shadow covered his head. Wu Bingtian weakly raised the long sword in his hand. His chest was heaving, his body weary and feeble, yet his heart was beating fast. His mind was in chaos. He closed his eyes, allowing his overwhelming frustration to surge through his heart. He thought to himself that this time he had failed, but even if he became a ghost, he would tear Otowa apart.A wave of heat rushed toward him, but the excruciating pain of being devoured by countless demons didn't materialize. Through his half-closed eyelids, he could feel the heat and light that could penetrate even the thinnest skin, compelling him to open his eyes. Before him was a bright scene, and all the monsters were vanishing under the light.Two figures approached slowly.At first, they were just blurry silhouettes, but gradually they became clearer, and the person in the lead was tall and familiar.Long Shen!Boss Wu! It was Li Ying's voice.Wu Bingtian had never been so ecstatic before. He sincerely welcomed Long Shen's arrival.When the two of them were in the Special Administration Bureau, they clashed many times. Just because Long Shen had the appearance of a hermit and seemed detached from worldly matters, it didn't mean he wouldn't compete with Wu Bingtian. Outsiders often thought that the head of the bureau didn't do anything, and that Deputy Director Wu had the upper hand. In reality, the Special Administration Bureau operated under a system of checks and balances among the three of them. Wu Bingtian had also been suppressed by Long Shen on numerous occasions. Putting that aside, in terms of assigning tasks to the new recruits this time, the two of them had clashed repeatedly.But that was internal strife, and chaos among their ranks didn't matter. Now facing a formidable enemy, Wu Bingtian was on the verge of death. When Long Shen suddenly appeared, how could he not be overjoyed? Even someone who had resigned themselves to death wouldn't resist such a result if they could avoid dying.How did you get in? Wu Bingtian asked breathlessly.We killed Yamata no Orochi, tore through the enchantment, and came to your location, Long Shen replied succinctly, with Li Ying appearing behind him.The legendary Yamata no Orochi? Wu Bingtian was shocked by the words.Most likely. That demon beast has eight heads and eight tails. To completely kill it, all the heads and tails must be dealt with simultaneously, Li Ying said, his face covered in bloodstains, looking even more disheveled than Wu Bingtian.He didn't want to recall the fierce battle they had just experienced. In order to simultaneously sever the eight heads of the giant snake, while Long Shen unleashed eight sword lights, Li Ying had to simultaneously summon eight talisman fires to burn the eight fragmented bodies, preventing their regeneration. Normally, Li Ying would grit his teeth and bring forth the eight talisman fires, but at that moment, he was heavily injured to the point where he couldn't even use a sword. He had to almost spit out his own blood to summon the eight talismans.Due to the light, Wu Bingtian didn't have the intention to look at Li Ying closely. Otherwise, if he had observed carefully, he would have noticed that Li Ying's steps were unsteady and his complexion was pale, relying solely on the medicinal pills brought by Long Shen to sustain himself. He had consumed hundreds of thousands, even millions, worth of pills from the black market. Compared to the Shangqing pills Dong Zhi had eaten, they were nothing.It seems that the enchantments are connected! The two deputy directors met, and upon hearing the account of Long Shen's experiences, Wu Bingtian immediately drew a conclusion.Let's get out of here first and then discuss. Do you still have the energy? Long Shen asked.I lost my arm, but I can use talismans. You can clear the way with your sword, and I'll cover the rear with talismans, Wu Bingtian said, sheathing his sword on his back and taking out talisman slips from his pocket. How about Li Ying?Li Ying said ashamedly, My actions may be slow.After all, he had suffered serious injuries and couldn't even lift a sword, which would also affect the efficiency of his talisman usage.Wu Bingtian didn't waste time with unnecessary words and couldn't spare the effort to comfort him. Then you stay in the middle and don't leave our protective circle.Long Shen said, Otowa is observing us with a mirror. He should know that we have arrived.Wu Bingtian grinned. I've already broken that thing. He can't monitor us now!Long Shen nodded. Upon hearing these words, he no longer had any concerns. He swung his sword and slashed the countless demonic qi in front of him. In an instant, a myriad of mournful cries echoed from all directions, filled with despair and anguish. There were the cries of children and the pitiful pleas of women, but the three of them remained unaffected, steadily advancing step by step.Wu Bingtian was at the end. His missing arm didn't limit his movements. With his remaining intact hand, he pulled out talisman slips, chanted incantations, and the papers turned into a large number of armored soldiers that rushed towards the demonic qi.Li Ying stood in the middle, guarding with talismans. Whenever he detected demonic qi approaching, he would burn them with talisman fires. Long Shen cleared the way in front, and with his sword light, he swept through the air, obliterating any trace of demonic qi. After breaking through the mirrored space, rescuing Li Ying, and killing Yamata no Orochi one after another, his grip on the sword remained steady and his gaze unwavering. Even the radiance of his sword and the aura it emitted were unmatched. Li Ying followed closely and realized that he had no idea where Long Shen's physical limit lay. This man's strength was truly terrifying.There's no use killing them like this. The demonic qi will just circulate endlessly! Wu Bingtian couldn't help but speak up.Boss Wu, Boss Long just discovered a gap in the enchantment. We need to go there now! Li Ying explained.Wu Bingtian's spirits lifted. Where is it?Long Shen: Not far.Within this enchantment, time became meaningless. Wu Bingtian didn't even know if he had been here for an hour or two, a day or two. But he knew that his not far and Long Shen's not far certainly had a significant difference. After walking for a while, Wu Bingtian's remaining hand started to feel a prickling pain, a sign of extreme exhaustion. Even the efficiency of using talismans had greatly decreased. Wu Bingtian had to speak up.Boss Long, how much farther? he asked.Long Shen chuckled lightly.The laughter wasn't loud, but both Wu Bingtian and Li Ying heard it.I didn't expect the patience of Boss Wu to be so poor.Li Ying was surprised that Long Shen could speak in such a teasing tone.Wu Bingtian replied indignantly, You try losing an arm and see. I've already exerted every ounce of strength I have!After all, they had been partners for many years. Upon hearing Long Shen's relaxed tone, Wu Bingtian knew that the exit of the enchantment was not far away. As expected, right after he finished speaking, Long Shen shouted, Break!The syllable felt substantial as it hammered on the eardrums of the other two.Since Wu Bingtian happened to be speaking at the time, the nauseating sensation from the vibrations was greatly reduced for him. However, Li Ying wasn't so lucky. His ears buzzed, and the sound directly pierced into his heart, causing him to immediately spew a mouthful of blood.Open your mouth.Hearing Long Shen's voice, Li Ying instinctively opened his mouth, and a pill passed through his tongue and into his throat. The burning sensation in his chest instantly subsided.Oh, this is Boss Long's private stash! Wu Bingtian keenly observed.Li Ying had originally wanted to ask for the name of the pill, but upon hearing those words, he silently swallowed his question. He put on an innocent and clueless expression, afraid that even if he sold himself, he still wouldn't be able to repay the debt.Of course, Long Shen didn't ask him for it either. With that shout, the surroundings were instantly illuminated, and the curtain of darkness fell, replaced by flickering lantern lights and white mist.Li Ying squinted his eyes and examined for a while before realizing that the flickering lights were actually lanterns, and the white mist was formed by humanoid evil spirits.Boss Long! He turned his head towards the voice and saw Tang Jing, the director of the East China Branch, and Yu Buhui.Everyone had finally reunited. Li Ying was very excited, and he also saw the joy on Wu Bingtian's face.How are you all? Wu Bingtian asked as the five of them quickly gathered together.We're fine! Tang Jing replied. He then noticed Wu Bingtian's empty arm, and his voice faltered.Don't get distracted. Breaking the enemy is the priority! Long Shen seemed to sense his emotional fluctuations and reminded him in a deep voice.One corner of the Eight-Directional Bhavacakra Formation connected to Wu Bingtian's enchantment. With the enchantment broken and the Bhavacakra shattered, the power of the formation greatly diminished. Tang Jing and Yu Buhui's spirits soared, taking the opportunity to make a move and eliminate twoPrajna* entities.*Often translated as wisdom, intelligence, or understanding.However, Li Ying could no longer hold on. He stumbled and fell forward, but Long Shen's keen eyes and quick hands grabbed him and gently sat him down on the ground.He's dying, Wu Bingtian said as he glanced at Li Ying.No one considered Li Ying weak. In the situation where Ding Lan had already died, his ability to hold on until reinforcements arrived was no easy feat. Although there was the reason that Otowa Yasuhiko wanted to use him as bait, even if it were someone else, they probably wouldn't have been able to fight their way out alongside Long Shen and Wu Bingtian.Don't move, close your eyes and rest. We'll handle things here, Tang Jing quickly said.Li Ying sat down cross-legged, nodding weakly.At that moment, three white tigers leaped into the scene, roaring and pouncing towards everyone. Tang Jing caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye and noticed a slender figure.It looks like Eiko Kitaichi!Wu Bingtian was shocked. Didn't she suffer severe injuries and fall into a coma?Tang Jing sneered and briefly explained the situation. Fujikawa brought his apprentice back to life with demonic qi, but Eiko Kitaichi ended up killing him.Anyone who saw Fujikawa's fate would understand that they had brought it upon themselves. It remained unknown whether Fujikawa would regret hisattempt to profit from others*.*Plotting to skin a tiger Metaphor referring to when someone tries to take advantage of a powerful or dangerous person or entity, often with the intention of benefiting from their resources or influence.No onmyoji could summon more than two shikigami at the same time, but Eiko Kitaichi could. The reason she was hailed as the genius girl of their generation was precisely because of her outstanding performance in onmyoji techniques. However, she had now become a puppet of Otowa Yasuhiko, a beautiful girl devoid of expression, manipulating three shikigami to coordinate with the Bhavacakra Formation, intending to trap Long Shen and the others inside.Just as everyone was fully focused on breaking the formation, Tang Jing heard a familiar voice say, Follow me!The figure of Ming Xian then leaped into the formation, his expression anxious, urging Tang Jing and the others.I know the flaws in the formation, follow me!Tang Jing's heart trembled, filled with uncertainty. He reached out to grab him, and Ming Xian made no resistance, allowing Tang Jing to tightly grip his arm, though he only furrowed his brows slightly.Otowa injected demonic qi into my body, but I still retain a part of my original consciousness. However, I don't know how long I can hold on. Quickly follow me out before I completely lose my sanity.Tang Jing subconsciously took a few steps with him before remembering to turn his head and look at the others. It was during these short steps that he suddenly realized the special place Ming Xian held in his heart.The once carefree and worldly Tang Jing, who dismissed everything in the world, found an exception in Ming Xian. He was a thorn in Tang Jing's heart. This thorn wasn't lethal, but it pricked his flesh constantly, causing him pain.When Tang Jing turned his head, Long Shen furrowed his brows slightly, giving him a glance without saying anything. With the situation urgent, Yu Buhui didn't have time to think much. Seeing Tang Jing following the other person, he quickly followed suit.Sure enough, Ming Xian was well-versed in the formation. He led them towards one of the rooms in the courtyard. It seemed ordinary, but the Prajna Entities and shikigami did not catch up with them. They seemed to encounter an invisible enchantment and became stagnant in a certain place, only roaring and glaring at them with resentment.The courtyard seemed small, but they had been walking for quite a while. Li Ying was starting to struggle, so Yu Buhui directly carried him on his back. Wu Bingtian, despite missing an arm, seemed to be in good spirits and didn't need assistance from others.Wait, Long Shen suddenly spoke up.Naturally, everyone stopped in their tracks. Ming Xian suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, splattering it onto the lantern he was holding, causing the candlelight to dim slightly.Ming Xian! Tang Jing exclaimed in shock, just managing to support his weakened body.In the flickering light, he suddenly saw a faint smile on Ming Xian's blood-stained lips. MingThe next moment, Tang Jing felt a sharp pain in his chest. He lowered his head and saw Ming Xian's hand inserted into his body; his fingers were covered in blood. Drops of blood fell to the ground, mixing and intertwining with the blood that Ming Xian had sprayed earlier. It was unclear whose blood was whose.The incident happened in the blink of an eye. By the time Wu Bingtian and Yu Buhui realized something was wrong and tried to intervene, Ming Xian's figure had already disappeared from the spot, reappearing several meters away, still holding half of Tang Jing's heart.With half a heart, could a person still survive?Tang Jing didn't know. At that moment, he thought that, as a spirit that had taken human form, perhaps he could indeed survive. The cries of his other companions echoed in his ears, but those voices gradually grew distant from Tang Jing. He didn't even know that he had fallen to the ground, only feeling a sharp pain in his chest, accompanied by a faint chill, as if a body that had just been heated was submerged in icy water during the harsh winter months.I've really messed up this time. All those lighthearted thoughts have gone to the dogs.Tang Jing self-mockingly thought.Until a finger touched his brow.Tang Jing regained some clarity and opened his eyes to see Long Shen in front of him. I'm fine Tang Jing tried to speak but coughed up more blood. He struggled to prop himself up. All the enchantments are connected. Otowa deliberately lured us here for an ambush.No further explanation was needed. Everyone understood. Otowa had never shown himself, using Li Ying as bait to make Ming Xian appear. It was all part of a bigger trap to eliminate them all at once.As soon as those words were spoken, a tremendous upheaval occurred all around them. The ground cracked, and the sky turned a fiery red. Lightning flashed and thunder roared within the clouds. The floor tiles rose into the air, swirling like a vortex in the center of a hurricane. Suddenly, everything came to a halt, and sharp edges flew toward them.Ming Xian, who had been watching them from a distance, gradually became blurred.That's the exit! Wu Bingtian shouted.Yu Buhui, take them out! Long Shen left those words behind and leaped into the air.His speed was astonishing, merging with the sword light in mid-air. Li Ying couldn't even see what he had done before the fragments of bricks and stones suddenly stopped and converged into a tidal wave rushing towards Ming Xian.A path was opened!Let's go! Yu Buhui carried Li Ying in his left hand and held onto Tang Jing with his right hand. They followed behind Long Shen, with Wu Bingtian in front.Ming Xian narrowed his eyes, seemingly surprised that his plan to capture them all had been disrupted by Long Shen. He waved his hand, and Eiko Kitaichi leaped from behind, accompanied by the Prajna Entities and shikigami, pouncing towards Tang Jing and Li Ying, who were the most severely injured among the group.No matter how powerful Yu Buhui was, he couldn't attend to both of them.Li Ying felt a chilling sensation coming from the back of his head. It was dense and bone-piercing, freezing his neck and preventing him from turning to look. His body felt incredibly heavy, and he couldn't lift his limbs. Li Ying knew that it was the pressure emitted by the approaching demon. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't be affected, but now he could only become a burden to everyone.Just as he was about to grit his teeth and let Yu Buhui give up on him, Tang Jing's movements were faster than anyone else's. He swiftly turned and moved towards the back. As his palm flipped, a dazzling radiance poured out from between his fingers, freezing both the Prajna Entities and shikigami in their tracks. They howled and disintegrated into ashes.Tang Jing spat out a mouthful of blood. Li Ying glanced at it, only to see a faint golden hue. He couldn't help but be startled. Tang Jing had already collapsed.Li Ying didn't know what the radiant light Tang Jing had used to kill the enemies was, but Ming Xian saw it clearly. The ancient mirror was capable of warding off evil, and it was Tang Jing's true body's mirror light. He had pushed Tang Jing to the point of severe injuries and powerlessness, forcing him to reveal his true form as a last resort.Only Eiko Kitaichi was unaffected by Tang Jing's radiant light. After a brief pause, she flew towards Li Ying, who was defenseless. Yu Buhui acted swiftly, blocking Eiko Kitaichi's path and engaging her in a fight within the vortex.Take them out first! Yu Buhui shouted.Wu Bingtian heard the command, but he only had one hand. He gritted his teeth and carried Tang Jing on his back, while his hand grabbed Li Ying and led them out. However, Ming Xian was waiting for them outside.Ming Xian smiled slightly at Wu Bingtian and said, Director Wu, you look so tired.Upon closer inspection, his smile only covered half of his face, while the other side remained cold and expressionless. In the dim light, his eyes seemed to be red. Wu Bingtian's hair stood on end from his smile.Even though Wu Bingtian believed he could deal with Ming Xian, he wasn't confident that he could handle both Ming Xian and protect Li Ying and Tang Jing at the same time. However, Ming Xian didn't give him much time to think. As soon as the words were spoken, Ming Xian made his move.Meanwhile, Long Shen remained alone in the formation. After clearing the path for the others, he didn't rush to leave. He descended from the sky and thrust his sword into the broken ground where the tiles had been destroyed. With a loud explosion, a massive shockwave spread outwards from the connection between the sword and the ground.Regardless of friend or foe, everyone was involuntarily flipped over and thrown out, except for Long Shen, who firmly held onto the sword handle without wavering. Eiko Kitaichi and Ming Xian were impacted by the sound waves, crashing into the pillars and then falling to the ground. The others didn't fare much better. Yu Buhui stabilized himself by plunging his sword into the ground, reaching out to grab Li Ying, preventing him from becoming a flying brick. However, Tang Jing wasn't as fortunate. He was also lifted into the air and slammed forcefully into a wall. The impact reverberated through his internal organs, and the intense pain in his chest and abdomen made him realize that his injuries had worsened.Tang Jing smiled wryly. Seeing Ming Xian reaching for the back of Li Ying's head, he could only muster the strength to stand up and intervene.A powerful radiance erupted from the connection between the sword and the ground. It was the starting point of all enchantments and the end of all entanglements. Long Shen's target had always been Otowa Yasuhiko!The hurricane caused by the burst of light destroyed the entire courtyard. All the dark creatures were exposed under the intense light, howling and screaming as they scattered in all directions. However, they were eventually swept up by the incoming hurricane, torn to pieces, and completely obliterated.Eiko Kitaichi struck Yu Buhui's shoulder with her palm, and the demonic qi immediately corroded his flesh, revealing a charred wound. Yu Buhui winced in pain, but he retaliated by kicking Eiko Kitaichi, sending her flying backward. At that moment, Eiko Kitaichi was engulfed by the hurricane and drowned in the brilliant light.Yu Buhui quickly realized that the entire space was being torn apart by the intense light. Starting from Long Shen's feet, a deep rift extended rapidly, like a gigantic invisible hand tearing the cracks open.The Seven-Star Longyuan Sword is indeed well-deserved of its reputation!At the end of the rift, a figure appeared within everyone's sight. The person was short and hunched, gradually approaching amidst the intense light. He was dressed in traditional Japanese clothing, bearing all the characteristics of an old-fashioned Japanese individual. With deep facial lines and a stern countenance, he didn't stand out among the crowd. However, at this moment, all eyes were focused on him.Otowa Yasuhiko, who had been hiding behind the scenes, finally revealed his true form.With an undisguised gaze of admiration and greed, he carefully scrutinized Long Shen from head to toe. My spiritual companion, there's no one with your heroic bearing and pride. Director Long, can you tell me the secret of your tremendous power? Otowa Yasuhiko didn't look at anyone else; his gaze was firmly fixed on Long Shen, seemingly unable to look away.Long Shen ignored his question and coldly asked, Where is Ding Lan's soul?The Seven-Star Longyuan Sword should possess such magnificence! Otowa Yasuhiko exclaimed in admiration. However, his brows furrowed soon after. The aura emanating from Director Long is something I have never seen in Ming Xian. In my presence, he can only behave like a dog, obediently bowing his head. I've wondered countless times which link went wrong, causing him to not only lack the charisma of Director Long but also repeatedly betray me.Upon hearing these words, Tang Jing couldn't help but let out a sarcastic laugh.
