Hui flew at top speed into the wilderness. Away from the city. Away from Li Xiang. I want to be as far as possible, so he doesn’t even think to connect me to the city or anyone inside it!

And, if I can get far enough, maybe I can…

He gazed at the distant horizon and sped up, passing some of his qi to Gu Tian so Ying Lin could keep up.

If Han Qin doesn’t come… then… then, I guess… I’ll just head back home? If he doesn’t show up, then I’ll know he can’t infinitely create clones, or rather, I’ll be sure that he’s either run out of clones or close enough to running out that he doesn’t want to attack me in any and every situation, without a guarantee that he can kill me for sure.

Mmm, if he doesn’t come, maybe I’ll double back and help Li Xiang. If nothing else, there’s likely third-stage cultivators for Ying Lin to gain battle prowess from. Although her cultivation speed is incredible, she has almost no battle experience. If she faces a normal third stage right now, I’m worried that she might be overwhelmed by their strength.

Though on the other hand, I guess it worked out for Master…

Quickly, the other cultivators fleeing the city thinned out, each individual or group arcing off toward wherever safety existed for them. Some carried children or their own personal treasures, while some simply fled for their lives, whether on foot, shuttle, or sword. Once they reached a certain distance, a few turned back and watched the city, arms crossed. Hui snorted under his breath. Waiting to see who comes out on top, then swoop in and snatch your share of the loot? Not a bad idea.

“Master, do you have a plan? You never let me stay before,” Ying Lin said.

“I have… an idea. I wouldn’t call it a plan, yet,” Hui replied. He patted the beating stick on his hip thoughtfully. The bell let out a quiet chime. Before it could reach Ying Lin, Hui waved his hand, dispelling it. Not yet.

Ying Lin nodded. “I’ll wait and see, then!”

Although, that is an issue. How will I keep Ying Lin from… Hui shook his head at himself. The sound-deadening technique! If I reverse it, turn it inwards… In Hui’s current state, overburdened by mental energy, altering the spell barely took a moment’s thought. He grew a few leaves and scribbled the sound-deadening talisman on them, then handed them to Ying Lin. “I might have to use a technique that could damage you as well, Ying Lin. If that’s the case… please use these on yourself. They’ll act as defensive talismans.”

Ying Lin nodded. “Understood!”

“And these as well,” Hui said, handing over a stack of barrier talismans. He paused a moment, thinking, then handed her a few ice talismans. “These will attack, if you get backed into a corner. And—”

Ying Lin put her hands up. “Master, any more and I’ll lose track of which are which!”

Hui nodded. He took a deep breath. “And of course, if you can’t get to me for me to send you to safety, flee. Leave me behind. I’ll find you, whether with this clone or another.”

“Of course. But Master will beat him,” Ying Lin replied, confident.

“Ah, that… I wouldn’t be too certain,” Hui said. Confidence is the true mind-killer. As soon as one becomes confident, the battle is already lost, because it means you aren’t making adequate preparations! Face every battle as life and death! The tiger uses all his strength to hunt the rabbit!

And Han Qin, most definitely, is no rabbit.

Hui took a deep breath. He turned his head, constantly swiveling. Han Qin could come from any direction. Anywhere at all. Constant vigilance!

The sky crackled. A sharp snap rang out, and a rift appeared in the blue. On the far side, Hui glimpsed the interior of a dark, stone castle, and then Han Qin roared out of the darkness, his face twisted in fury.

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“No tricks. This time, you’re mine!” he howled.

“No tricks,” Hui agreed. Hmm, this time, I think I’ll use my bell to disorient him, hit him with a few talismans, then… should I use that opportunity to play dead and try the new soul-burning technique?

And that’s if I can’t reach my goal. To catch a thief, set a thief. To meet a mysterious, murderous senior…

Han Qin’s lip twitched. Without any further introduction, he leaped toward Hui. Fire burned behind him, and two giant burning wings flapped. Space warped, and he appeared at Hui’s side, his hand already curved into a claw. “You’re mine!”

“Senior, this small Hui already has many suitors. I can’t give my heart away to just anyone,” Hui responded, twisting easily out of the way with his overcharged-on-qi body.

Ha, that’s right. Because we already gave our heart to Gui Delun! Rogue laughed.

Healer sighed deeply. Are we trying to rend his heart, or our own?

Even if we tried to rend our heart, we couldn’t, because we don’t have it, Mortal pointed out helpfully.

Nice! I knew you had it in you. High five, Mortal! Rogue called.

Hui scowled. I’m fighting Han Qin, here. Can the peanut gallery shut up for a second?

Han Qin’s burning wings flapped again. He appeared on Hui’s other side, his fingers faintly smoking. Before Hui could react, his hand darted in and carved out a section of Hui’s stomach.

Giving Han Qin the handful of plant flesh, Hui slapped a wood talisman on Han Qin’s chest. Han Qin reached at it, his eyes narrowed, but too slow. Wood materialized around him, trapping him in a block.

“This elementary trick…” Han Qin flexed his muscles, and the wood shattered.

In that moment, however, Hui drew his beating stick. Slapping a sound-deadening talisman onto his own chest, he smashed the beating stick into Han Qin’s side. Jostled by the blow, the little bell rang merrily.

Han Qin’s brows twisted, and his lips moved, shouting something. Inside the sound-deadening technique, Hui heard nothing.

Mmm, that is unfortunate. Lots of fighters give away their moves by calling them out, after all! I’ll have to learn to read lips… or train until I can withstand the bell’s toll!

He swung the stick again. Han Qin jumped back, but dodging didn’t keep the bell from ringing. Han Qin winced and clapped a hand over one of his ears. The other, still twisted in a claw, turned about mid-swing and aimed for Hui’s stick instead.

I’m not letting you take my precious beating stick so easily, Senior! Hui cried silently. He twisted his body in the way and shook the stick again, focusing on the bell more than on hitting Han Qin. Although… even if he did… the stick part is a bonus. The real prize is the bell!

Han Qin’s hand changed directions instead, aiming for Hui’s torso. Hui darted back, leaping on the rear end of Moonlight Cutter’s hilt with both feet. The blade flew up, standing vertically before Hui, and sliced into Han Qin’s hand as it struck toward Hui.

Han Qin’s lips moved again. Hui watched closely. I have no idea what he’s saying. At a guess, he’s probably shouting something like “why aren’t you running?” or “don’t you usually play dead, coward?” Ah, easy! He nodded. “You said no tricks, right?”

Han Qin snarled. He started shouting, his whole face contorted in anger.

“Ah, I bet he can’t hear me, either,” Hui mused. “Or… can he? I reversed it, so…”

Fire burned all around Han Qin. He gnashed his teeth and gestured, leaping back. Hui followed him, jiggling the stick the whole way. Han Qin gestured wildly, and an illusory vermillion bird appeared around him. It flew forth, charging down at Hui.

Hui flared his qi and darted in. He raced at Han Qin, reaching out to grab the other man by his robes. Han Qin flinched back, but too slow, not expecting the aggressive move. Hui lifted the beating stick and smacked it into Han Qin’s head. A loud peal rang out from the bell.

Sometimes, offense is the best defense! Han Qin wants to make long-range, high-power magical attacks. If I keep him in close quarters and beat him with my stick, I’ll be able to keep stacking the debuff from the bell and distract him from casting his spells at the same time.

It’s the fault of this damn heart-demon of mine… but maybe it isn’t so bad right now! The old me would never have thought of this plan.

The vermillion bird slammed into Hui, burning up his delicate plant body. Hui rebuffed it by circulating qi under his skin, so that, though the surface of his body burned, his inner body and core remained sound. He smashed down on Han Qin again and again.

At last, Han Qin staggered, pressing a hand against his ears. Hui’s eyes widened. The bell has taken effect. It’s my chance!

He darted off, speeding away. The wind rushed past. Smoke streamed behind Hui as the fire on his body flickered out. Han Qin raced after him. He gestured, and a huge hand made of fire reached after Hui. Full of qi, Hui simply sped up. He darted left and right, evading the hand’s grasp. The hand moved clumsily, almost drunk.

Was it always this easy to deal with Han Qin? Or is the bell’s debuff that strong? Well, that and being so full of qi… Hui turned ahead, pushing on. But there’s something I have to do. More important than defeating Han Qin!

He sped up again, putting his all into speed. Hui folded down toward his sword, streamlining his body. He turned into a beam of light and shot off toward the horizon.

Han Qin snorted. “Your cheap tricks are worthless. I’ll kill you this time, for certain.” He sped after Hui. The air itself hummed as he left.

Left in the dust, Ying Lin blinked after the both of them. Did everyone forget about me? That’s a good thing when it comes to Han Qin, but Master…!