Unwithered

The black flame then turned into tiny sparks and were sprinkled all around the two demons. They had no heat and even felt a little cool on the skin. Even the grass wasn't affected, so the two demons didn't think much of them. They then tried to brush the sparks away to get to Li Qingjun.

However, the black sparks that couldn't even burn the grass burst into flames when they made contact with their arms. Excruciating pain ran up their arms and spread to their entire bodies, and the feeling wasn't much different from what they felt when they were in the demon-refining formation.

They shrieked and exerted their demon energy to force the black flames away from their arms along with the flesh that had been touched by the fire. Blood splashed everywhere.

Night Wing clapped her hands and chuckled. "I smell cooked meat!"

But deep down, she felt quite sorry.

This was the heavenly fire of winged snakes and was one of her natural talents, although she had inherited too little of her bloodline to demonstrate its true power. But the regrettable result was mainly because of her still-healing injuries. Otherwise, the fire would've been a lot more effective. What a pity.

By then, Li Qingjun's spear had almost reached the demon eagle's face.

Common sense told her that eagles were snakes' natural enemies. Li Qingjun didn't know about winged snakes, but she had involuntarily chosen to attack the eagle first.

Night Wing turned her head and smiled at Li Qingjun. She then disappeared, and when she re-emerged, there was a dagger in her hand and she knocked herself into the wolf demon. It was true that she only had the strength to stop one demon, and she might not be able to fight for very long. If her injuries worsened again, she would be doomed…

Although there were two on each side, Night Wing knew perfectly well that they weren't a match for the two demons. Li Qingjun was dauntless because of her ignorance, but Night Wing knew better.

She didn't even know why she would choose to make such a foolish move with the reckless princess. Her instincts should've told her to flee at once.

"Maybe I am a dumb snake."

The demon eagle tilted his head to dodge the incoming spear. He then casually smacked the blade away, and the impact made Li Qingjun spin around on the spot. She had to step sideways to steady herself, and a realization frightened her.

"He's so much more advanced than me…"

From the corner of her eyes, she could see the wolf fighting Night Wing. They were moving so fast that all she could see were two flitting shadows. She couldn't make out any of their specific movements.

The difference in the capabilities between her and a demon of the Transformation Stage was unimaginable.

"So, I'm only holding Night Wing back."

She had only wandered off for a split second, but the eagle's claw was already at her throat.

Li Qingjun quickly made three steps backwards and struck out her spear again. Streaks of silver light emerged from the tip of her spear and formed a dragon, which flew out with a roar.

As she activated her internal energy, something at her waist lit up.

"Clang!"

The demon eagle made three steps backwards as well and looked astonished. "Where did that strange power come from?"

But he didn't have time to think. Li Qingjun's spear was moving so fast that he was out of breath. She was much more skillful than he was, and with that strange power to suppress his demon energy, he had to take her seriously.

He took another few steps back to get away from Li Qingjun's advancing spear. He then raised an arm and howled into the air.

A strong whirlwind materialized, sending sand and rocks into the air. The wind came at Li Qingjun like sharp blades, and when she turned her spear horizontally to ward it off, the impact made a metallic sound. A few steps away, several soldiers waiting in the shadows screamed, probably from being injured by the wind.

Li Qingjun quickly spun her spear in the air in a windmill motion, and the clinking sounds never seemed to end. She couldn't help but break into a cold sweat, because this wind worked like countless blades, and every one of them was sharp enough to kill.

No mortal man can defeat a demon like this! Even my brother couldn't fight them off that easily!

The eagle had closed in, and he aimed at Li Qingjun's abdomen with his fist.

Li Qingjun had no time to react and cursed under her breath.

But the anticipated pain never happened. A spiked club arrived with a whooshing sound, as if a giant rock was smashing down. The eagle raised an arm to fend it off, and the spiked club doubled back. Someone then ran toward them, caught the club, and struck down at the eagle's head.

Everything was done in one smooth motion.

Qin Yi had finally arrived.

The intimidating energy of the spiked club forced the eagle to step back, and the wind weakened a little.

"Qin Yi!" Li Qingjun was elated to see him and said loudly, "You're back!"

Qin Yi cried out, "Watch out!"

Before he could say another word, a grey shadow quickly snuck upon Li Qingjun and hit her lower back.

The demon wolf had finally gotten away from Night Wing and attacked Li Qingjun.

"Damn it!" Qin Yi forced the demon eagle back and went to help her when he hesitated.

Li Qingjun stumbled forward and spat out a mouthful of blood, but blinding colorful lights came out of the jade pendant. When it made contact with the demon wolf, it cried out in agony. His human appearance immediately disappeared and it turned into a giant wolf, howling at the sky.

Night Wing came at him from behind and stabbed her dagger right into its buttocks.

The howling became even more forlorn and the wolf shook violently, sending Night Wing flying backwards and smashing into a wall which then collapsed, burying Night Wing underneath.

Li Qingjun spat out the blood clogging her chest and steadied herself. She didn't even have time to catch her breath before she raised her spear, ripped through the wind blades, and stabbed the tip into the demon wolf's mouth.

The colorful lights came back. This time, they were in the wolf's mouth and went through its head. The wolf was killed instantly.

Terrified, the demon eagle stopped fighting Qin Yi. It then turned back into an eagle and tried to fly away. It had no idea how things could've turned around so fast, nor did it know what that colorful light was.

"Li Qinglin is said to have a powerful jade pendant, but why is it here?"

Black sparks blocked its way, and it halted abruptly. Turning around, it saw a black shadow charging at it like a streak of black lightning.

The eagle was furious. "Are you going to kill us off? Aren't we all fellow demons?"

Night Wing materialized in midair, all covered in dust. Resting her hands on her waist, she said, "Have you only known me since yesterday?!"

Qin Yi looked up at Night Wing to find her covered in blood as well. It hadn't been easy for her to fight the demon wolf and her injuries seemed to be getting worse, but she had forced herself to keep fighting.

Without another word, he drew out his club and leaped up with Li Qingjun, who had raised her spear.

Meanwhile, arrows were shooting up at the sky as well.

The eagle shrieked, and its feathers fell all over the ground.

…

Qin Yi kicked the two dead bodies and whispered, "That was close."

Li Qingjun happily took his hand. "You were back right in time. Without your strike, they would've taken me."

"Do you know how weak you are now? Are you going to act recklessly in the future again? I told you to stay in the formation, but you just wouldn't listen." He might've been telling her off, but it certainly didn't sound like it. Instead, he wiped away the blood on the corner of her mouth and whispered, "I'm so glad you're alright…"

They then started kissing. Covered by dust and blood, Night Wing crouched down in the corner, wrapped her arms around her knee, and remained motionless.

"By the way." Qin Yi moved away from her a little and asked, "Why do you have your brother's jade pendant today? That was a great help."

"My brother says those who want to kill him have already taken the pendant into consideration, but it'd be a surprise if I had it. He was right. It worked."

Qin Yi suddenly remembered what Li Qinglin said once: "Silk flowers are just as pretty, but they won't wither."

He had gone into his enemy's den without his treasure but had left it with his sister instead.

Be it his confidence or affection or the belief that Nanli needed Li Qingjun, he had done what he promised he would do.

A soldier arrived just then and shouted, "Mr. Qin, His Royal Highness needs your help at the Eternal Temple."

Li Qingjun wanted to go with him, but Qin Yi stopped her. "Your injuries are quite severe, so stay here with Night Wing and get some rest. I'll go have a look."

Li Qingjun hesitated a little, but she knew that she would only become a burden if she went with him, so she took off the jade pendant and handed it to him. "Take this. Donghuazi has been working on that place for years. God knows what strange tricks he has there."

Qin Yi tooked the jade pendant. Turning around, he saw that the fire was still surging in the temple. He took a deep breath. Today was going to be the day when he ended an obsession.