Hu San dropped straight onto his butt, looking pale. Too damn brutal, wasn't it? He was beyond grateful that he hadn't resisted back then and had surrendered right away.
Jian Jing moved like a gust of wind, knocking out the two terrified female cultivators with a palm before rushing toward a rock. Jian Lu had warned her someone was hiding there.
Jian Dan pulled back her fist, realizing she might've gone overboard. She never expected the Xianyuan energy she'd channeled into the strike would be so destructive. Just one punch and she'd sent a body cultivator to his death.
"That's 'cause you're a body cultivator too. He might've been a body cultivator, but he hadn't truly shed his mortal shell yet. He was still just a cultivator. And that bracelet of yours isn't ordinary. If it can handle Xianyuan energy being channeled into it, the materials must be rare. Both together, no wonder you hit that hard. But you should ease up a little next time."
Liu Chuan had felt the ripple of Xianyuan energy. When he saw it came from his partner, who was attacking so ruthlessly, he realized she hadn't expected this outcome either, so he quickly sent her a voice transmission.
"I didn't tell you? I refined this bracelet myself. In a desolate dead zone inside a purple-grade secret realm, I found a chunk of Blackstone. I used that as the main material and added some other things too."
That left Liu Chuan stunned. He never thought the Obsidian Bracelet would share the same origin as him.
On the other side, Jian Jing cut down the male cultivator hiding behind the rock, then kicked Hu San who was still on the ground and whispered, "Get up, someone's coming."
Hu San snapped out of his daze. He jumped up, grabbed his sword, and charged at the incoming guards.
Jian Dan swept her gaze around the cave and noticed something suspicious beneath Mao Wu's seat. Just as she was about to investigate, Yu Linhai rushed in.
Seeing the cave already under control, he let out a breath of relief and said, "There was a signal flare outside. Your comrades must've been discovered. We'd better hurry."
"Let's go back them up."
"And put on masks. The mist outside hasn't cleared yet," Yu Linhai reminded.
He was already wearing one. Jian Dan rummaged through Mao Wu's storage ring, found a silver mask, slipped it on, and dashed out of the cave.
Jian Jing and Hu San also found masks, and together they followed Yu Linhai.
Outside, Jian Mao's group had already struck. By the time the flare went up, three enemies had already fallen beneath their blades. Wu Siyuan and Jian Chun, following Jian Mao's orders, charged straight at the sentry post where four men stood guard.
Those guards immediately dropped their defense barrier and began organizing a counterattack. They'd already noticed the two figures charging through the mist.
Jian Mao arrived right after and frowned. The guards had a defensive barrier. He regretted not leaving someone behind to sabotage it before. If he had, they could've stopped the shield from coming down.
"Senior Brother, do we go in by force?"
"We have to. If we don't, Jian Lu and the others will be in danger!"
"I've got a Thunder Orb!"
Wu Siyuan pulled out a black orb the size of a pigeon egg. It was refined from condensed tribulation lightning. Its destructive power was no joke.
Jian Mao winced. These things were rare, once used it was gone forever. Using it just to break a shield was a painful waste.
Normally, a shield like this would only take a few swings to break. But right now, none of them were confident they could do it fast enough. The longer they dragged it out, the greater the risk for the people inside.
Just as Jian Mao was about to nod, Kuang Dao, who'd been carefully watching, suddenly shouted, "Zūnshàng, look! The barrier, it's changing!"
Sure enough, the shield flickered, then vanished completely. Jian Dan, dressed in green and wearing a silver mask, waved them over.
Jian Mao charged through the gate, the others right on his heels.
Inside, sixteen cultivators used the terrain to surround Sister Jian Jing, Hu San, and Yu Linhai.
Jian Jing fought fiercely, sword flashing as she cut her way through the encirclement. Hu San just dodged desperately, while Yu Linhai focused on holding back enemies to keep them from noticing Jian Dan's movements.
As soon as Jian Mao's group broke through, Jian Dan lowered the barrier once more, trapping everyone inside. This time, it was a closed hunt. At the same time, the green mist over Green Meadow Lake began to thin.
With her sea of consciousness open, Jian Dan directed everyone with voice transmissions, while she herself punched her way into the fray. By the time the mist faded completely, ten enemies were dead and six were captured alive.
Jian Mao's group finally regrouped with Jian Dan and the others. After exchanging quick updates, they breathed a sigh of relief.
Hu San was truly convinced now. Seven people had dared to storm another gang's lair, and they'd won. He gave up all thoughts of escaping. Maybe following these people would give him a real chance at getting out of here alive.
"Everyone, it won't be long before the two scouting teams return. That's at least twenty people. You'd better get ready." Hu San's reminder was timely.
Jian Dan gave him a look, then nodded. She understood.
"I'll interrogate these six, see if we can get fresh information."
Jian Chun sheathed her sword, gestured to Kuang Dao, and together they dragged the prisoners behind a rock wall to question them separately.
Wu Siyuan stood silently behind Hu San and Yu Linhai, clearly ready to strike if they tried anything.
Jian Xu returned to the gate, watching for movement outside and checking the strength of the barrier to see how much it could withstand.
Jian Dan flicked her sleeve and released Xiao Yue. She hadn't let him out earlier because the mist was toxic.
Xiao Yue somersaulted through the air and landed, only to see the battle was already over. He stared at her with wide eyes.
"There was poison in the mist earlier, so I kept you in. Now I need you to help Senior Brother Jian Xu guard the entrance. When those twenty come back, that's your time to shine."
Hearing that, Xiao Yue wagged his tail, pleased, and bounded off to Jian Xu.
Jian Jing gave Jian Mao a quick rundown of what had happened inside. Then they all gathered to discuss their next move. Hu San and Yu Linhai were brought along too. Now they were firmly tied to the Heavenly Sword Sect team.
"Hu San, when their people come back, you'll talk to them. Tell them Mao Wu's been killed by your boss. If they want independence, give them some loot and let them leave. If they want to join, let them. But if they're dead set on revenge, then let them come."
Jian Dan spoke while blowing lightly on her dainty fist.
Hu San glanced at the male cultivators nearby. Since no one objected, it was clear they agreed with the ruthless woman's idea. He could only nod and say, "If you're worried they'll avenge Mao Wu, don't be. They'll never do that. At most, they'll hesitate between joining us or forming their own faction."
"Oh? So Mao Wu wasn't very popular, huh?"
Jian Jing had just finished updating Jian Mao and cut in with the question.
"That's right. He only ruled because he was a body cultivator with decent sword skills. He bullied everyone in the outer ring. Our squad fell into his traps twice, lost too many people, so we avoided him. But in the end…"
They'd still been wiped out.
"Alright, cut to the point!"
Jian Dan snapped.
"Yes. The two scouting teams never joined him willingly."