I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

At this time, the anti-barbarian group finally achieved a long-awaited new victory.

Another exceptionally short and stocky man, taking advantage of his inconspicuous stature and the fact that he was not easily noticed by the tall Qingdeng, stealthily approached Qingdeng from behind his left side until he was only two steps away from Qingdeng, and then raised his knife to strike!

Out of the corner of Qing Deng's left eye, he noticed a flash of light from behind his left side and quickly dodged away from it.

Although Qingdeng dodged at his fastest speed, the short man's knife tip still grazed Qingdeng's body.

The sharp tip of the knife was pulled vertically down from under Qing Deng's left armpit, making a shallow cut about 3 inches long.

A long-awaited new victory... Before the dwarf who had achieved this victory could even show his joy, he no longer had the chance to do so. Just as he wanted to engage in a head-on confrontation with the short man, Qing Deng launched a sharp counterattack without hesitation. The short man had injured him with a vertical slash, so he would also use a vertical slash!

Like a raging waterfall, the vertical slash shattered the short man's skull into a pile of fragments.

At this moment... this bloody battlefield where life and death were fought suddenly fell into an eerie silence.

No one approached Qingdeng anymore, and no one attacked Qingdeng anymore.

With Qingdeng as the center, everyone retreated backward like waves breaking apart.

Those who were just moments ago optimistically and excitedly thinking, "This guy is finally tired," and "We can finally take the head of this traitor," are now showing expressions of utter fear.

The previously pervasive atmosphere of righteous indignation and righteous vengeance, and the righteous condemnation of traitors, had visibly cooled down considerably.

The swordsman who had orchestrated all of this was swinging his right arm hard, shaking off the blood and grease remaining on his scalpel, then raising his left hand and gently wiping away a few drops of blood that had splattered onto someone's face from a wound.

"What's wrong? Bring it on!"

The swordsman spoke expressionlessly as he quietly readjusted his sword in front of him.

……

……

The countless pillars of fire spewing from the mansion burned down more and more of the ceiling.

The flickering golden flames reveal the terrifying power of nature.

The charred pillars snapped silently, and the unsupported walls and ceilings sank into the flames one by one.

Bright's mansion has begun to collapse under the ravages of the fire.

The flames engulfed the area, causing the luxurious mansion, which had been hosting a lively banquet less than half an hour earlier, to gradually crumble into a pile of rubble.

The leaping flames, the flying sparks, the sweeping heat, the creaking of breaking wood... all of this was almost driving the people in the Bright mansion to the brink of madness.

The raging fire, relentlessly eroding everything around it, was like the scythe in the hand of death.

Driven by this "death scythe," Elodie, Anthony, and the others are now all gathered in a narrow corridor adjacent to the mansion's main gate.

The previous gasps and wails have now been completely shrouded in despair.

Many people now wore resolute expressions—they planned to rush out of the mansion in one go later to try their luck.

Staying in this mansion that is about to burn down means certain death! Escaping the mansion might offer a glimmer of hope.

"Elodie, close your eyes and don't look at anything..."

Anthony gently comforted his precious granddaughter in his arms.

Anthony was one of those who "decided to break out of the mansion and fight for a chance at survival."

"Grandpa, put me down!" Elodie cried urgently. "I can run by myself!"

Anthony shook his head vigorously without hesitation: "No, you can't run! Don't worry, don't let my chubby appearance fool you, I'm very strong! Even if I'm carrying you, I can still run like the wind!"

After saying that, Anthony gave Elodie a gentle smile.

An indescribable sorrow welled up in Elodie's heart... Her long, slightly curled pale gold eyelashes and delicate red lips trembled uncontrollably.

Although Anthony's words conveyed a sense of "we will definitely be rescued," Elodie wasn't stupid; she wasn't foolish enough to be reassured by Anthony's words.

Staying inside the mansion and rushing out... it's just a matter of certain death versus a sliver of hope for survival...

Elodie couldn't help but bite her lower lip tightly with her white upper teeth. She tried to stop her lips from trembling, but it was all in vain.

……

She had finally escaped that person's control.

I had finally managed to leave Europe and come to this unfamiliar, distant country where no one knew me.

Mingming had just escaped death a few months ago.

I have not yet repaid my grandfather for raising me.

I want to make lots of friends.

I want to read more books.

I want to see more of this vast world.

……

Elodie's eyelashes and lips trembled even more violently.

A faint mist rose from her delicate eye sockets.

At that very moment—

"Hey! It sounds like someone's come to our rescue! Someone's fighting those warriors outside!" (in French)

In this era, French is the most sought-after language among the upper class, regardless of which country in Europe it is.

Therefore, almost everyone present could understand the person's shout.

The words "Someone has come to save us" were like a divine message to everyone present.

With a whoosh, the crowd surged toward the mansion's gate.

After a brief moment of shock, Anthony quickly grabbed Elodie and followed the crowd toward the gate.

Upon reaching the door and looking outside, I noticed that the thick, dense clouds that had been pressing down on the sky had largely dissipated at some point.

The moonlight, hazy like a wisp of smoke, pierced through the gaps in the clouds and drifted between heaven and earth.

Elodie blinked a few times, looking blank.

She saw a familiar, tall figure from behind.

He was holding a sword.

The bright moonlight swayed around him as if paying homage to a king.

*******

*******

This book successfully surpassed 100 million words yesterday! *clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap* (applause.jpg)

Yesterday I successfully reached my monthly ticket goal again, so today I'm keeping my promise and releasing another long chapter of 10,000 words!

And then the author has to apologize... the author has to take a day off tomorrow...

The reason for my leave is simple: I want to rest and prepare for the upcoming story writing... Please see the "Author's Note" below for details.

During the past three-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, the author did not rest for a single day... During the day, he had to help out at his father's shop, and at night he still had to write.

The author has been updating with over 10,000 words daily for six consecutive days, including three super-long chapters of 11,000, 15,000, and 13,000 words respectively... The recent plot has basically been "in battle" and "preparing for battle," and sword fighting is the most brain-draining part. These past few days, the author has been thinking every day about what cool new moves and actions to design for Qing Deng, and his brain cells are almost exhausted. To write the rest of the plot well, I think I urgently need a break right now (crying face).

There will be a break tomorrow, and updates will resume the day after tomorrow! Then, starting the day after tomorrow, the author will try to maintain a daily update speed of 1 words to finish writing the final battle of Volume 1!

Chapter 183 Kinoshita Mai Arrives! The Swordsman and the Female Ninja Team Up!

"Eh...?"

When she came to her senses, Elodie's surprise turned into a murmur.

His previously tense expression was now tinged with disbelief, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

The eyes that looked at the figure surrounded by moonlight flickered with surprise and uncertainty.

Is it him?

She couldn't help but ask herself this question. The question had barely crossed her mind when Elodie quickly realized what a ridiculous question she'd asked herself.

Is it that person...? Isn't it obvious at a glance?

This back view... completely overlaps with the back view of the person who saved their family on that long snowy night months ago... how could they possibly mistake it?

Thoughts and consciousness, which had temporarily ceased functioning due to excessive surprise, gradually regained themselves, and the five senses began to clearly perceive the outside world again.

It was only then that Elodie realized that her nose was feeling a little sore.

Just now, when she and her grandfather were almost driven to despair by the relentless fire, perhaps because the young man had once saved their lives, her brain automatically activated in the face of this crisis that plunged her into despair once again, and the image of that young man appeared in Elodie's mind unconsciously.

If only he could come and save them again… Elodie couldn’t help but greedily think this as she recalled the man’s voice and appearance.

Without anyone pointing it out, Elodie herself knew how greedy and unrealistic her idea was.

What kind of coincidence is this? How could he possibly come to save them twice in a row?

Because she had just had such a thought, Elodie was now so shocked and...joyed.

A mix of emotions welled up inside Elodie, leaving her unsure whether to laugh or cry.

Anthony, still holding Elodie, now had a look of astonishment on his face.

His mouth was slightly open, as if he wanted to shout something, but he was speaking incoherently and simply vibrating his vocal cords.

Of all the guests at tonight's ball, only Elodie and Anthony recognized the young man who was fighting with Shinno and the others.

Therefore, the other guests, apart from Elodie and Anthony, now felt only the purest joy of "grasping at a straw."

Although it's unclear why there was only one reinforcement, one thing is certain: this lone reinforcement was holding off the group of ferocious warriors!

Those fierce-looking warriors are currently busy dealing with the reinforcements and have no time to spare for them.

"Run!" (French)

Someone shouted again.

This man's shout was like the starting gun of a running race. With his command, everyone scattered and fled in all directions away from Jinno and the others, like waves breaking apart.

Anthony snapped out of his daze at the sound of the starting gun.

Getting Elodie to safety is the most important task for Anthony right now, bar none.