Xiao Yue lunged at Mi Ji. He raised his twin axes in defense, the blades dark with a faint red glow. He swung them in a flurry so dense they formed a wall of steel, clashing again and again with Xiao Yue's claws and throwing sparks into the air.
Xiao Yue wasn't worried. With Jian Dan backing him, and since he'd already fought against Mo Xi whose natal weapon was also a mountain-splitting axe, dealing with Mi Ji was child's play. He shifted his angles constantly, pressing harder with each strike, never losing the upper hand.
Not far away, the Mó Yuè Zhǎn spun at high speed, circling the seven cultivators that had surrounded Jian Dan. After a swift round, the weapon shrank back into a glimmer of light and returned to her earlobe. In the next instant, the seven attackers froze in place, still holding their postures mid-strike, as if petrified.
Jian Dan remained seated gracefully, her bright eyes drifting toward Lady Di and her people, who hadn't moved a step.
Lady Di's heart pounded. Thank heavens she'd stopped her squad from acting recklessly. Otherwise, they'd be the ones lying there lifeless right now.
The Mó Yuè Zhǎn whispered into Jian Dan's mind, complaining, "I just recovered some strength, stop making me do all the work! Let Mò Xī handle something too!"
"You've done well. I won't need you again for now," she replied with a smile. "This battle only needs to be quick and decisive, to shock the others. If it weren't necessary, I wouldn't trouble you."
Satisfied, she turned her gaze back to the fight. "Xiao Yue, stop dragging it out!"
Mi Ji had been forced into a deadlock, unable to advance. Hearing the female cultivator's clear voice, he glanced toward her, and in that single instant of distraction, his attacks faltered. Xiao Yue seized the opening. A claw flashed like lightning, cutting deep and splattering blood across the ground.
The seven cultivators who had been frozen around Jian Dan collapsed lifelessly at that same moment. Mi Ji stiffened, stunned for a breath, before his vision went dark. The last thing he saw was the massive Moon Howl Wolf striding back to the woman in green. Unwillingly, he closed his eyes forever.
"Hu San."
The instant Jian Dan spoke, Hu San leapt out. He hadn't taken his eyes off the fight for a moment.
"Fairy Lu, what are your orders?"
"The smell of blood bothers me. Clean it up. Don't waste anything useful."
"Yes, I'll handle it right away." Hu San rubbed his palms eagerly and rushed toward the corpses. He had plenty of grudges against these people. Now, he was the one laughing last.
Xiao Yue, proud of his contribution, trotted back to Jian Dan, looking for praise.
"Not bad," she said, stroking his furry head. "Next time be cleaner. If you drag it out, his allies might arrive, and that'll be troublesome."
Xiao Yue nodded. He knew she was right. He'd only toyed with Mi Ji because the Mó Yuè Zhǎn was nearby as backup.
Finally, Jian Dan rose to her feet, her gaze falling on Lady Di. She didn't speak, just smiled faintly.
Lady Di instantly bowed, her squad following her lead. "We greet Fairy Lu. Our squad's willing to join your team, as long as you don't send us in as cannon fodder."
Jian Dan nodded slightly. "Don't worry. We don't use other people's lives to pave our own path."
Lady Di clasped her hands. "Then I'll obey Fairy Lu's command."
Hu San had finished his work and respectfully presented a pile of storage belts. Jian Dan swept them with her divine sense, pulled out a storage ring—Mi Ji's—and tossed it to Lady Di.
"This will be your reward for joining us. Consider it today's harvest."
Lady Di blinked, stunned, before quickly accepting it. Inside were the spoils of both squads: a complete flying centipede carapace, a spider sac, and three broken artifacts.
"Thank you, Fairy!"
Jian Dan's generosity reassured her. At least their effort today wasn't wasted.
"Fairy Lu, about my two sisters…" Lady Di ventured carefully.
Jian Dan rose and walked toward the gatehouse, Xiao Yue padding at her side. Hu San gestured for Lady Di's group to follow. He didn't dislike her—after all, she'd protected her people even under Mao Wu's hand.
Back then, she'd tried to join their team, but Qingmian had refused, fearing Mao Wu's wrath. Hu San had disagreed with that decision. Better to strengthen themselves than to keep hiding. Now, fate had brought them together anyway.
Lady Di let out a breath of relief and followed him inside.
At the gatehouse, a white-robed male cultivator stood smiling warmly, his curved brows giving him an approachable look. Lady Di didn't dare slight him, so she bowed quickly.
Jian Xu, recognizing the five men and five women, understood why Jian Lu had taken them in. He let them pass with a grin, then lowered the protective barrier behind them.
Two female cultivators who'd been waiting rushed over to Lady Di, their faces alight with both relief and grief.
"Lady Di!"
"Are you alright?"
"Mao Wu, that beast… we almost fell into his hands!"
The younger one shivered with lingering fear, her eyes darting toward the woman in green.
"Lady Di, Mao Wu's been killed by these people, was it… for us?" the older woman asked softly.
"Not entirely," Lady Di admitted. "Mi Ji's squad was destroyed too. Fairy Lu's strength is overwhelming. That's why we joined her."
Her squad reunited, they spoke in low voices, but none dared wander.
Meanwhile, Jian Dan was explaining the situation to Jian Mao and Jian Chun.
"Senior Brother, these people have been here longer. They know the surroundings, and we'll need them. That's why I allowed them to join."
"They're the ones Hu San said were forced under Mao Wu," Jian Chun noted.
"Exactly. And Mao Wu wronged them, so they had a grudge. We arrived just in time to save their sisters. At least they won't resent us."
Jian Mao smirked. "Even if they do, they'll have to see if our swords let them act on it."
"Senior Brother, relax. This Junior Sister just wiped out a whole squad alone. They won't dare think otherwise," Jian Lu added with a laugh in her eyes.
"Don't tease me. Their numbers were double ours. A show of strength was necessary, nothing more."
As they spoke, Jian Jing came running out of a cave in the cliffside, eyes bright with excitement. He leaned close and whispered, "Mao Wu wasn't simple. There are treasures inside. Come, you have to see this."
The three exchanged glances, then Jian Dan called out, "Hu San, settle Lady Di and her squad. Once the cave's sorted, have her join us."
"Yes, Fairy Lu."
At that moment, Wu Siyuan and Kuang Dao also emerged from the cave. Jian Mao quickly assigned them to stand guard. Then he signaled to Jian Xu in the distance before heading into the cave with the others.
Xiao Yue wagged his tail once at Jian Dan, then flopped down at the entrance, his massive body blocking the way as a silent sentinel.