CH 162

Chapter 162: Lian Xiang

The object in his hands falls to the ground unnoticed as the young man abruptly snaps his head around towards the northern city wall. In the distant horizon, one can see silver rays of light rushing up towards the sky.

"Something went wrong," Lian Xiang states lowly.

"Lian Xiang, what's the matter?" Mo Junfan walks up to him and inquires.

This person has always faced everything head-on with a calm and collected attitude, no matter the event. Right now, however, his face is distressed. Clearly, whatever happened is an extremely serious matter.

"’He’ was met with an accident. I need to go out of the city." With a wave of his hand, golden light seeps out and congeals into a jian. Not waiting for Mo Junfan to respond, he pushes off the ground, leaping high into the air.

"Lian Xiang!!" Staring after the departing figure, Mo Junfan knows he cannot catch up. "Dammit!"

Treading lightly in midair, every step leaves behind a golden lotus that disperses into a shower of sparks. Lian Xiang's speed is extremely fast, reaching the northern wall in no time. With the horde coming back, the sound of gunfire and artillery barrage rings out once more. Dodging the hail of fire, his hands move through a few signs. A golden swastika is carved into the ground, wiping out a large portion of the undead, reducing it to a more manageable amount. His figure flashes again, speeding towards the horizon.

He made a mistake. A very big mistake.

In the safe zone a few days ago, he had already felt 'his' spiritual signature moving back and forth. However, he thought he might as well wait until the tidal wave of undead has been dealt with before meeting 'him'. He ought to have met the other party as soon as he felt 'him' nearby!

Anxiety floods his eyes as this thought surfaces. Lian Xiang pushes himself to go further, faster…

In the middle of the dense forest, a purplish-red shadow darts around, leaving grating laughter in its wake.

"Hahaha…how ironic…you share such a deep, mutual love…but it is because of you that I managed to stab him through the chest…"

"Shut up!!" Brilliant streaks of silvery light burst forth as Huo Zaiyuan growls in rage. "Return him to me!!"

"Heehee…what can you do even if I return him to you? Long Zhanye is already infected with evil energy. He will transform into a zombie. Don't tell me that as a Taoist practitioner, you are willing to do something taboo like keeping a zombie as your lover? Hahaha…"

"Shut up!!"

As he becomes more agitated, his spiritual energy grows increasingly chaotic. Drawing as much power from his reserves as possible, his speed increased ten-fold as he charges towards the purplish-red streak.

The two beings collide heavily, crashing through several tree trunks before slamming onto the ground, rolling a few times before coming to a stop.

Both arms wrapped tightly around the gradually cooling body, Huo Zaiyuan slams harshly into a tree. Even as excruciating pain roars through his entire being, he refuses to let the person in his embrace go. He cannot. He will not.

"Zhan…Zhanye…" Clenching his teeth to smother the groan of agony, Huo Zaiyuan whispers and he gazes down at the man in his arms. Handsome face deathly pale from blood-loss, the faint puffs of breath seeping out feebly from between his lips indicate that he is still alive. Blood continues to run non-stop from the five holes in his shoulder and chest, but it isn't scarlet in colour. Instead, it is inky black, showing that Zhanye is already infected by the virus.

The evolved zombie that was formerly Cheng Mingcheng drags itself up from where it was slammed into the ground by a furious Huo Zaiyuan and slowly saunters over. Seeing the Taoist practitioner hugging Long Zhanye tightly to his chest, it throws its head back and roars with laughter. "Hahaha…it's no use. He is already infected by my evil energy. Very soon, he will become a zombie just like me. The strongest one in existence…hahaha…"

"I said, shut your mouth!!" Huo Zaiyuan growls, not even bothering to look at it. Flicking his left wrist, he gathers a large sphere of pure spiritual power, injecting it between Long Zhanye's eyebrows. "I will definitely not allow him to turn into a zombie. Even if I destroy my cultivation base, I will definitely not let you have your way!!"

Once evil energy makes its way to the victim's brain through their bloodstream, it will cause brain death. Afterwards, the energy within the body will overtake the basic bodily functions, turning the victim into a walking corpse. As long as he prevents the evil energy from reaching Long Zhanye's brain, he can ensure the man will not transform for a short while. Huo Zaiyuan is well aware that he has used up quite a bit of spiritual energy already, but he cannot do nothing. He is unwilling to see this remarkable man become a walking corpse, a mere puppet for someone else…

"Is that so? Such a shame…I wouldn't let you have an opportunity to do so." Sharp claws extending once more, a formidable amount of evil energy envelops Cheng Mingcheng.

Huo Zaiyuan has never encountered an undead possessing this much power.

With a roar, Cheng Mingcheng springs towards Huo Zaiyuan. Its goal is only to obtain Long Zhanye. Huo Zaiyuan's mere existence grates on its nerves. It can't fathom why…why would this person be able to possess all of Long Zhanye's love? Why would this person be able to obtain such a high cultivation and spiritual power? If it tears this person to shreds, Long Zhanye will be its own. It will be the ultimate winner!

One arm circled around Long Zhanye to support his limp body, the other hand placed on his forehead, unceasingly injecting pure spiritual power in an attempt to disperse the evil energy within. Even if he wishes to, Huo Zaiyuan cannot hope to evade Cheng Mingcheng's attack. But Liu Ying is not about to let its master die like this. With a resounding ‘clang’, the silver jian blocks the black claws.

The burst of power from two opposing forces clashing pushes Liu Ying and Cheng Mingcheng a few meters away from each other.

"Do you think a jian possessing a spirit will be able to stop me? Wishful thinking!" Cheng Mingcheng snarls and the evil energy he exudes spikes again before attacking Huo Zaiyuan once more.

Without the slightest hesitation, Liu Ying meets it head on, successfully block the strike.

Huo Zaiyuan wants to protect Long Zhanye, and the sword spirit wants to protect Huo Zaiyuan. In Liu Ying's eyes, Huo Zaiyuan is an extremely important person that cannot be replaced.

The collision of the undead's large evil energy clashing with Liu Ying's own formidable power results in a huge explosion that manages to snap a few of Cheng Mingcheng's sharp claws. One is thrown away, breaking more trees while the other shoots up into the air, rotating a few times before morphing back into its spiritual form. The small spirit falls to the ground with a thud, tumbling to a stop before Huo Zaiyuan.

"Lui Ying…" Looking at the small, bruised spirit, a teardrop leaks out the corner of Huo Zaiyuan's eyes.

"Chi -- (Don't cry, I'm all right.)" Lifting its head with difficulty, sorrow and self-blame appear on Liu Ying's face as it sees Huo Zaiyuan's tears.

Once again, this happened. Just like that time. Yet again, he is unable to protect him…

"Haha…what now? Huo Zaiyuan, do you have a second spirit sword hidden away somewhere?!" Getting back on its feet, Cheng Mingcheng laughs manically. Although a few of its claws were blown apart and it is covered in injuries, it is an unfeeling zombie. Thus, this is nothing more than an annoyance. "Just be good and quietly receive death!!"

Cheng Mingcheng attacks for a third time, remaining claws aiming for Huo Zaiyuan's heart.

Gaze locked onto the undead, Huo Zaiyuan doesn't move or attempt to dodge, merely continuing to inject a stream of energy into Long Zhanye's body.

Is this how it will all end…?

Just as his life hangs by a thread, a large presence drops from the sky above, striking Cheng Mingcheng away before it can touch Huo Zaiyuan. An image of Buddha meditating in the middle of a lotus carved into the hilt of the sword, a golden blade strikes deep into the earth.

Staring at the jian before him, Huo Zaiyuan raises his head to see a youth approaching in mid-air, a hand placed before his chest in prayer, soft chants falling from his lips.

"You are…"

"I am Lian Xiang. I apologise for arriving so late." Dropping lightly to the ground, he condenses a sphere of spiritual energy and injects it into Huo Zaiyuan's body.

Although the Art they practise is different, with one a Taoist and the other a Buddhist, the two are exceptionally harmonious. Huo Zaiyuan feels his own reserves replenishing rapidly even as he continues sending more into Long Zhanye. The green tint on the unconscious person's face gradually recedes, returning to the deathly pale colour of a blood-loss victim.

"My power cannot fuse with yours like our energy can since we practise different Arts. This is all the assistance I can provide. Lock the evil energy within his body somewhere first. We can plan out next step once we get to a safer location." Lian Xiang advises, beads of sweat gathering on his brow. After expanding quite a bit of energy to rush here, and after injecting more into Huo Zaiyuan, he himself is running low. If they slip up even a little, the two of them will be in big trouble.

"Un." Although he hasn't got the faintest clue about other arts besides Taoist Arts, he is aware that what this youth did for him was rather risky. If their spiritual nature were incompatible, Lian Xiang could have severely harmed himself. Raising his hand, Huo Zaiyuan draws a rune in the air.

"Stop getting carried away, you two cannot escape from here!" Cheng Mingcheng is truly infuriated now as he pounces towards Huo Zaiyuan and Lian Xiang.

"Fu Hua! Liu Ying!" Lian Xiang's sharp voice rings out.

The golden jian rises from the ground, joined by Liu Ying who reverted back to its sword form not too long ago. One silver and one gold streak revolve around each other, melding together to form a large, dazzling spear of light that shoots towards Cheng Mingcheng.

"Ahh -- "

An agonised wail resonates through the forest as the Fu Hua hacks off both arms and Liu Ying pierces it through an eye.