In Zhu Xian, people start to rise from plundering entries

The setting sun cast long shadows of the three people onto the cobblestone streets of the town at the foot of Bijia Mountain.

The town is small, built against the mountain, and at this moment, wisps of smoke rise from the chimneys, carrying with them a sense of tranquility in the mountains and fields.

However, this tranquility could not dispel the subtle awkwardness and undercurrents among the three.

After finding a seemingly clean inn to stay in, Su Han finally breathed a sigh of relief.

This journey has been even more exhausting for him than dealing with the Shadow Fiend's assassination attempt.

Biyao still smiled charmingly, and Lu Xueqi remained aloof and cold, but the invisible clash of their auras made him, the person in the eye of the storm, feel immense pressure.

Dinner was served in the inn's lobby.

Biyao ordered a table full of exquisite dishes, but Lu Xueqi only ordered a bowl of vegetarian noodles and ate in silence.

During the meal, Biyao kept serving food to Su Han, chatting and laughing as she recounted interesting anecdotes from their journey, trying to keep Lu Xueqi out of the conversation.

Lu Xueqi kept her eyes down, seemingly detached from the situation. Only when she occasionally raised her eyelids did the complex emotions that flashed in her clear eyes reveal that she was not entirely indifferent.

"Su Han, try this. These bamboo shoots are very fresh and tender."

Biyao placed another piece of food into Su Han's bowl.

"Thank you."

Su Han felt a little helpless. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lu Xueqi put down her chopsticks and said softly, "I'm done eating. I'll go back to my room first."

"Junior Sister Lu, are you full already? Why don't you have some more?" Biyao asked with a smile.

"enough."

Lu Xueqi stood up, nodded slightly to Su Han, then turned and went upstairs. Her white figure looked particularly lonely under the lamplight.

Su Han watched her retreating figure and sighed inexplicably.

"What, are you feeling distressed?"

Biyao leaned closer, lowered her voice, and spoke with a hint of cunning and barely perceptible sourness.

"Don't talk nonsense."

Su Han said seriously, "Biyao, Junior Sister Lu... she has a cold and aloof personality and means no harm, you..."

"I know, I know," Biyao interrupted him, pouting, "Your good junior sister is pure and innocent, untouched by worldly affairs."

"Am I the one who talks too much?"

As she spoke, she couldn't help but laugh, though the smile seemed somewhat forced.

It's night, the moon and stars are sparse.

Su Han meditated and regulated his breathing in his room. Although he was not injured in the fight with the Shadow Assassins during the day, his true energy was depleted and he needed to recover as soon as possible.

He activated the Taiji Xuanqing Dao, circulating spiritual energy throughout the body, and his mind gradually calmed down.

However, just as he was about to enter a state of complete absorption, an extremely subtle yet sharp and tangible killing intent, like the forked tongue of a venomous snake peeking out from the darkness, suddenly struck his senses! Almost at the same time, from the next room, a clear and cold sword cry, like the roar of a dragon, rang out—it was Lu Xueqi's Tianya Divine Sword!

At the same time, a wary shout came from the other room.

"There's an ambush!"

Su Han was startled and instantly stopped his attack, his figure shooting towards the window like lightning.

Just as he burst through the window, several dark lights, accompanied by a shrill shriek, pierced through the walls and windows where he had been standing!
Those were crossbow bolts coated with deadly poison, gleaming with a ghostly blue light under the moonlight.

Su Han's figure twisted in the air and landed lightly in the center of the inn's courtyard.

Almost simultaneously, Lu Xueqi and Biyao landed on either side of him.

Lu Xueqi held the Tianya sword in her hand, its azure light flowing like water, reflecting on her icy, pretty face, her eyes sharp as swords.

Biyao put away her usual playful demeanor, and a strange magical artifact called "Heartbreak Flower," emitting a faint white light, appeared in her hand. Her expression was solemn.

Eight figures silently emerged from the shadows surrounding the courtyard.

Unlike the black-clad assassins during the day, these eight men were all dressed in dark red outfits, with hideous demon masks on their faces, revealing only pairs of emotionless eyes.

Their auras were connected, as if they were one, and the murderous aura they emitted was several times stronger than that of the assassins during the day. They were clearly the elite of the Shadow Assassins and were proficient in combined attack techniques.

"Shadow Fiends 'Blood Demons'?"

Biyao's pupils contracted slightly, and she whispered, "It seems the person who bought your life really went all out."

These eight people working together are more than enough to trap and kill an ordinary cultivator.

Su Han's expression was solemn. He could feel that the formation of these eight people had locked onto the three of them, and the surrounding air had become viscous, with an invisible pressure squeezing in from all directions.

"Form ranks, and attack!"

The leader of the vampires gave the order in a cold, hoarse voice, sounding unlike a human.

The eight figures moved simultaneously, not charging directly forward, but using a strange and agile technique to instantly form a dark red encirclement.

They wielded various weapons—knives, swords, hooks, and stabbing weapons—yet their movements were perfectly synchronized. Eight fierce and incomparable killing intents converged into a torrent, like a tangible crimson wave, surging towards the three people in the center!

This offensive was not aimed at one person, but rather covered the entire area, clearly intended to crush them in one fell swoop!
"careful!"

Lu Xueqi shouted, and the Tianya Divine Sword shone brightly. She followed the sword, transforming into a blue streak, and took the initiative to meet the side with the strongest killing intent.

The sword light unfolded like a cascading Milky Way from the heavens, and the icy sword energy instantly tore a gap in the overwhelming blood-red killing intent. It was the opening stance of the Qingyun Sect's ultimate technique, "Divine Sword Thunder Control True Technique." Although it did not summon heavenly thunder, the sword's momentum already possessed the majestic power of heaven.

However, the eight Blood Demons cooperated extremely well. Seeing Lu Xueqi's fierce sword strikes, they did not meet them head-on. Instead, they changed formation, and the other four attacked Lu Xueqi's flanks and back like venomous snakes, forcing her to withdraw her sword and defend herself.

On the other side, Biyao's Heartbreak Flower bloomed with white light, forming a soft light shield that protected her and Su Han.

However, the crimson wave of killing intent crashed against the light barrier, producing a hissing sound. The barrier fluctuated violently, clearly barely holding on. The combined attack of these blood demons was far more powerful than imagined. (End of Chapter)