In the eerie silence, the battle began. Zhu Zi and the professor engaged the three lesser demons in a flurry of punches, kicks, and magical attacks. The sounds of their combat reminded Xiao Jie that he needed to join the fray, but he felt confused. Though he had newfound strength, he wasn't trained in martial arts or combat techniques, leaving him unsure of how to engage without disrupting the rhythm of the fight. Thus, he stood back, observing the battle, waiting for a chance to strike.
The Firebrand commander, Jiaming Laijiaer, moved toward Yue Nan Nan, launching his first attack. With a height over 1.9 meters and a solid build, he was as large as Zhu Zi, yet incredibly agile. He lunged at Yue Nan Nan, throwing a punch toward her chest, but she quickly sidestepped, dodging the blow. He spun, following up with a knee aimed at her abdomen. Yue Nan Nan exhaled sharply, jumping backward to avoid the attack. As the Firebrand commander prepared to launch another assault, Yue Nan Nan countered with a beam of energy as thick as a wine glass, shooting from her palms toward his head. Her timing was impeccable, striking just as he moved in for an attack. It was no wonder she was called the "Goddess." Yet, Jiaming Laijiaer wasn't to be underestimated. He twisted his body and jerked his head to the side, narrowly avoiding the energy beam, which sliced through the smoky haze surrounding him. Though he evaded the attack, the beam hit one of the lesser demons forced into position by the professor, instantly reducing it to a pool of black-purple blood.
"Divine Light, damn it! This girl has some serious power!" Jiaming Laijiaer exclaimed in shock, leaping into the air. The Divine Light technique was a deadly skill taught to Yue Nan Nan by her master, Chongxu Daozhang. It was a combination of Western incantations and Eastern sacred light, designed to be a potent weapon against otherworldly beings. It was said that only the four Firebrand Lords could withstand a direct hit from it. Xiao Jie was amazed by what he saw. If a normal person took a hit like that, they wouldn't stand a chance. This explained why the first demon Yue Nan Nan had killed had perished instantly. The other two remaining demons flew up to join the Firebrand commander, murmuring among themselves.
"Professor, are you alright?" Yue Nan Nan shouted, concerned about the older man's safety.
The professor had been injured, with four deep scratches on his left shoulder, likely caused by one of the demons' claws. His face showed signs of pain. Each Firebrand Angel carried an invisible layer of hellfire, a perpetual punishment they endured for their rebellion against God. Though they were in the human world, they couldn't escape their torment. This same hellfire made their attacks more dangerous.
The three demons in the air began to act. The two lesser demons moved to Jiaming Laijiaer's side, placing a hand on each of his shoulders as if to help him gather strength. A menacing energy field surrounded them, creating a ten-square-meter zone of protection.
The professor, sweating profusely, warned the others, "They're about to unleash their Hellfire Punishment. I haven't faced a Firebrand commander directly before, but this technique summons the flames of Hell itself. Even though these aren't lords, the combined power of three demons can call forth enough fire to burn down an entire village. You should run; I might not be able to keep up. I'll stay behind to cover you."
The professor's grim expression suggested a looming disaster. The Firebrand Angels had an energy field that made it nearly impossible to approach them. Jiaming Laijiaer continued chanting incantations, though the energy barrier muffled the sound. Yue Nan Nan and Zhu Zi, unwilling to abandon the professor, prepared for the worst.
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Just when it seemed like they were facing certain death, a burst of energy shot from behind the professor's group, surging toward the three demons in the sky. The energy was a dazzling array of lightning bolts, each as thick as a wine glass. The sheer number of lightning bolts was astonishing, shooting from behind them and from the high heavens. The relentless lightning strikes lasted for a full thirty seconds. Under the onslaught, the three Firebrand Angels burst into a flash of spectacular light, then vanished without a trace.
The first to recover from the shock was the professor, who turned to look at Xiao Jie, his gaze filled with gratitude and joy. Yue Nan Nan and Zhu Zi also turned to face him.
Xiao Jie laughed, walking toward them. "I told you I had three powers that were too dangerous to show off. I guess it didn't take long to demonstrate them! Ha ha ha!" He had a habit of tapping his friends on the chest when feeling proud of himself, and this time was no different. He turned to tap someone on the chest, only to realize it was Yue Nan Nan. He was surprised at how soft it felt, like hitting a water balloon. Out of curiosity, he glanced over to see why.
What he saw was a beautiful yet terrifyingly red face. At the same time, he felt the piercing stares from the other two. What had he done? Despite the embarrassment and awkwardness, he couldn't help but feel an urge to tap or touch that spot again. How inappropriate! Even Xiao Jie was disgusted with himself.
"He's doomed," Zhu Zi thought to himself.
"How do we clean up this mess?" the professor wondered, clearly concerned.
"I didn't mean to. Really! This time, I really didn't mean to," Xiao Jie stammered, his apology feeling weak and inadequate.
"Zhu Zi, can you and Xiao Jie clean up the courtyard? I'll tend to the professor's wounds," Yue Nan Nan said, leading the professor back inside.
Zhu Zi gave Xiao Jie a mischievous smile. "Alright, let's get to work, little brother. I don't know what fate awaits you, but I'll pray for you."
As they cleaned the courtyard, Xiao Jie couldn't help but think about his earlier misstep. "I just patted a young lady's...you know, in front of two men. What was I thinking?" He raised his left hand, looking at the back of it, as if trying to find an answer.
"Xiao Jie, we've got a problem. That Quanpeng guy is gone. Looks like you didn't kill him after all," Zhu Zi shouted.
Xiao Jie looked around and saw that Quanpeng had vanished. They had assumed he was dead, but somehow he had escaped during the chaos. "A traitor, a scumbag who sides with demons," Zhu Zi muttered.
"Forget it; we might not be able to catch him now. Let's focus on what's next. Let's check on the professor," Xiao Jie suggested.
"Good idea, let's go inside," Zhu Zi agreed, heading indoors.
Xiao Jie followed, suddenly feeling uneasy as he remembered his earlier blunder. There was no turning back now—they were all in this together. He'd have to face the music.
"Professor, how's your wound? Should we go to the hospital?" they asked almost simultaneously, one out of concern, the other partly to distract from the earlier mishap.
The professor replied, "I'm fine. Yue Nan Nan treated and bandaged my wound. Don't worry about it, it's nothing. But now that you're back, Xiao Jie, call your father—don't let him worry. Also, you should stay here tonight. I have something I want to discuss with you."
Xiao Jie said, "Okay, but...uh..." He stuttered for a moment, unable to finish his sentence, and took the phone from the professor to call his father.
The professor turned to Yue Nan Nan and said quietly, "Young people sometimes get carried away. No one means to do something wrong, and I believe in his character. Let it go, okay? Let's just move on."
Yue Nan Nan nodded hesitantly.
Even Zhu Zi was surprised; he'd never seen the famous Goddess Yue Nan Nan accept an insult without retaliation. This was a first. Maybe even the most powerful figures have a weakness. Perhaps Yue Nan Nan had met her match.