The night was as cool as water, and in the forest, the two factions were still in a standoff.

Ci Hu’s group looked smug.

Ying Chuan, on the other hand, frowned tightly as Yun Sheng’s fingertips brushed over the Beast Language Ring.

Even if the people of the Bai Ren Sect handed her over, Yun Sheng would not blame them, after all, they had only met by chance. Helping her out of the forest was one thing, offending the Wanyan Sect because of her was another.

Whoosh—

The sound of a cold arrow piercing flesh echoed, and immediately, the scent of blood permeated the surroundings of the camp.

Ci Hu’s face twisted in agony as he gasped, clutching his arm that had been hit by an arrow, and became furious.

"Ying Yue, you little wench! You dare to ambush me!" Ci Hu hadn’t expected Ying Yue to suddenly release an arrow.

"Hmph, this is my answer. I may not like this woman, but I despise the Wanyan Sect even more," Ying Yue’s actions surprised Yun Sheng a bit. Originally, she was prepared to summon gold coins and deal with a few people, but she temporarily abandoned that idea.

Who would have thought that at such a critical moment, Ying Yue would choose to protect her?

Ying Chuan breathed a sigh of relief. Though his junior sister was arrogant from a young age, her heart was ultimately good.

"Since that’s the case, don’t blame us for being impolite. Brothers, get them! Tie up those two women together," Ci Hu’s sinister intentions were evident. He made a signal, and immediately a Light Mage appeared beside him.

With just a few chants, Ci Hu’s arm, which had been hit by an arrow, stopped bleeding immediately.

Oh no, the other side actually brought a Light Mage along.

The Netherworld is different from other places; here Light Mages are extremely rare, and who knows where Ci Hu found one.

Ying Chuan and the others were already outnumbered by Ci Hu’s group, with Ci Hu being the only one among them at the Middle-level Martial Saint, while the rest were at the Martial Arts Sect level.

On the side of the Bai Ren Sect, both Ying Chuan and Ying Yue were formidable, with Ying Chuan having advanced as a Martial Saint for years and Ying Yue being both a Magic Archer and at the Early-stage Martial Saint and a Sky Mage.

But if the other side had an additional Light Mage, it would be a different story.

"You, step aside and don’t get in the way," Ying Yue had already been injured, but she could only grit her teeth and pull Yun Sheng behind her.

Yun Sheng rolled her eyes, realizing these people treated her like a burden.

Ying Yue had a bad temper, but her aim was excellent. She drew an arrow and infused it with a faint green Magic Power from the bowstring.

With a flick of her fingers, several arrows charged with the power of Wind Blade shot out, aiming directly at the Light Mage.

Experienced martial artists and mages know that in group battles, the first target to kill is the opponent’s Light Mage.

"Bo Bo, although this woman is a bit ugly, she’s quite clever," Bo Bo the sheep poked out its pink head, its black bean eyes observing around.

Yun Sheng’s eyes glimmered as she observed the duel between Ying Chuan and Ci Hu.

Ying Chuan’s swordsmanship was also formidable as streams of fiery fighting spirit emanated from his blade, entangling with Ci Hu.

Ci Hu let out a furious roar, a "king" character appearing on his forehead, and his arm suddenly swelled to double its size as he roared like a tiger, the roar aggressive and powerful.

Ying Chuan dodged continuously, and the roar crashed into a tree, breaking it instantly.

Just then, Ci Hu’s foot slipped, a sharp pain stabbing up from his foot, abruptly halting his roar before he could see what was beneath him.

The direction of Ying Chuan’s blade suddenly shifted, becoming even sharper, and the shadows of the blade layered, slicing towards Ci Hu.

The cold edge of the blade sent a chill through Ci Hu’s heart.

Ci Hu, who dared to walk around the East Wei Gate area, naturally had his abilities. He let out a shout, releasing fighting spirit like a dart.

With a bang, it struck Ying Chuan’s large blade, causing a numb sensation in his hand and throwing the blade off its path, grazing Ci Hu’s cheek, leaving a scar an inch deep.

A scream echoed from behind them. The Light Mage, under Ying Yue’s sniping, was shot through the chest with several arrows.

The disciples of the Bai Ren Sect stepped forward, and with one slash, the hand that held the Magic Wand flew off, rolling into the bushes.

Ci Hu glanced down again, realizing there was a finger-sized bloody hole in his foot, the bloodhole penetrating both way with endless bleeding, clearly not caused by an ordinary Earth Spur.

During his fight with Ying Chuan, both moved swiftly, yet someone managed to accurately ambush him amidst the chaos. Could it be someone in the dark helping the Bai Ren Sect?

Was it a Dark Mage?

With furious eyes, Ci Hu already began to show signs of retreat.

Little did he know that it was Yun Sheng, observing from the sidelines, who ambushed him with Dark Thorn.

It was no wonder, for neither the Bai Ren Sect nor the Wanyan Sect would think that a light punishment criminal could use such powerful Dark Magic.

"Ying Chuan, Ying Yue, don’t get cocky. Tonight must be your lucky night, with a master secretly aiding you. Once we return to Jimo County, you’ll see," Ci Hu shouted, waving his hand, and the Wanyan Sect people retreated like the tide, quickly exiting the forest.

"A master secretly assisting?" Ying Chuan and Ying Yue watched as the Bai Ren Sect’s people retreated, their expressions easing, but recalling Ci Hu’s words, something felt off.

Especially Ying Chuan, who noticed that just when the two sides were deadlocked, Ci Hu had clearly shown a flaw, allowing him to seize the opportunity.

Ying Yue’s keen eyes swept around, finding no sign of any master, her suspicion within as her gaze lingered momentarily on Yun Sheng and the Bo Bo sheep on her.

However, she quickly retracted her gaze after a blink.

All along, Yun Sheng hid behind her, and Ying Yue would never believe that a light punishment criminal, who had only killed ten people, could have the capability to ambush a villain like Ci Hu.

"Hmph, those who underestimate the dear master’s decision will regret it," Bo Bo sheep snorted.

"It’s getting late, everyone rest well. Tomorrow morning, we have to continue deeper into the forest," Ying Chuan tallied the casualties, finding it much better than expected.

But just as Ying Chuan was instructing everyone to return to their tents to rest, a coldness flashed through Yun Sheng’s heart.

Whoosh—

From the pitch-black bushes, something suddenly flew out.

Ying Chuan, quick-eyed and swift, swung his blade, and as it turned out, a severed hand lay on the ground, unmistakably the Light Mage’s hand that had been cut off earlier. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Everyone stared at it, the campfire revealing it had turned black-purple, most of the flesh gnawed away.

Behind them, the bushes emitted rustling sounds.