The bushes are moving

"Ugh, could a person be any more predictable? So annoying…" Ying said as he held back the urge to yawn for a second time.

Zhao Ming's laughter was finally starting to die down.

Looking over at Jiang Chu's side, he could see the brown-haired youth's 'lover' staring daggers at the haughty young master, as pointless as it was.

"Oh? But fair lady Xian Shan, why do you stare at me so wickedly? After all, this entire situation is all your fault. Since this trash started courting you, he began thinking of himself as hot sh*t! It is my duty, as someone better than him to remind him of his place in the world." Zhao Ming said with a shrug, to which his mindless lackeys once again nodded in robotic affirmation.

'Spoken like a true disillusioned son of a b*tch…' Ying commented.

'…Well, I guess it's time I took action.' Ying thought as a plan quickly formulated in his head. It was not the most elaborate of schemes, but he believed it would do just fine, considering his opponents.

Rustle Rustle

With a low rustling of leaves, Ying crept through the bushes in the vicinity.

Of course, he could not expect to be completely silent, as such beliefs were but a dream in an actual forest, but he tried to keep as hush as possible.

Supported by the fact that the arrogant young master was far too haughty to pay his surroundings much heed, as well as the considerable distance between them, Ying was confident about not getting discovered…

…Until it was too late.

"How arrogant! Zhao Ming, just wait until we get back to the Sect; I will make sure to report this back to the elders and Jiang's master. Only then will you get the appropriate punishment for this harassment!"

Xian Shan threatened her oppressor, but the youth in question was not even fazed by her words.

Instead—

"Ha! You, report me to the sect elders? What a joke. You seem to have forgotten that my father has the entire Sect in the palm of his hands at this point! He holds great sway over the Sect leader, whilst yours has all but lost his standing in the Sect. You can do me nothing!"

Zhao Ming bellowed with his stuck-up smirk.

He wasn't done talking.

"And besides… What makes you think you will even return to the Sect after this?" Zhao Ming asked, a dangerous glint igniting in his eyes.

From the looks of it, the snotty young master was not the least bit scared to actually go through with what he had proposed.

Of course, he wasn't. Why would he be?

As far as Xian Shan knew, occurrences like this were not rare in the slightest. After all, they weren't on Sect grounds… back here, anything and anyone was fair game.

Aside from that, Zhao Ming had a powerful backer in his father. The revered patriarch of the Leafy Spring Clan, one of the most powerful Clans that were affiliated with the Flowing Sword sect—her Sect.

Rumour even had it that he was as strong as the Sect leader himself, even being the most probable candidate to succeed him!

In a nutshell, they were not ones to be trifled with!

Xian Shan bit her lip. Her bite was so hard that it drew blood from her rosy pink lips. She was frustrated, frustrated at her helplessness and her naiveté.

She knew something like this would happen if she fell in love with Jiang Chu. After all, he was nothing but a mere commoner. A peasant with no name behind him.

Xian Shan knew that with her looks, she was the apple of every male disciple's eye and similarly, the object of every female disciple's envy. That was just how stunning she was within the Flowing Sword Sect.

She even knew about Zhao Ming's fervent love for her, as he had been professing it to her since young. But she also knew of his horrible temperament, his arrogant persona, and his twisted tendencies.

It was a given.

As both their fathers were leaders of prominent families in the sect, the two naturally interacted with each other frequently when they were kids.

But still…

Despite knowing this, she still publicly confessed her unwavering love for Jiang Chu. She simply could not help herself.

As a princess who had received almost everything she wanted on a platter since birth, she was not well versed in hiding her feelings, especially feelings of affection as strong as this.

Even now, despite his pathetic and sorry state—bleeding heavily with an ugly look of great pain plastered on his face—she couldn't help but dote on him.

'Curses! If it wasn't for that thing that happened in the past, then a coward like Zhao Ming would never have dared to harass me like this!' Xian Shan cursed inwardly.

But unfortunately, life was not very considerate of 'what ifs' and 'had beens'

"It is quite tragic for something like this to happen, but what must be done must be done…" Zhao Ming spoke while raising his long sword, obviously looking to finish what he had started whilst ignoring the hateful glares from his wounded prey.

"Any last words? Brother Jiang, Sister Xian."

As the statement reached Xian Shan's ears, she felt herself suddenly get thrust into an inexplicable whirlwind of despair.

She could take up arms and try to defend herself, but she knew that nothing she did would change the outcome.

After all, Zhao Ming himself was a powerful Cultivator. Even at the advanced levels of the 3rd realm of Body Tempering, whereas she was only at the second realm.

The difference between them was far too great.

And that's not to mention the two that stood behind the young master; they too were at a similar level to Zhao Ming, and the three of them together could evenly match an expert at the Fourth realm of Body Tempering.

'Please… If anyone can hear me, please help. Save Jiang Chu from the clutches of this psychopath!' Xian Shan prayed as she lowered her head, tears rushed down her eyes.

"Ugh…" Upon seeing this, Jiang Chu, who had been quiet for a while stirred.

He could have just comforted the weeping figure of his love, hugging her tight as they fell to Zhao Ming's blade.

Being the orphan that he was, Jiang Chu was certain that no one would really care if he died here… Well, there was his master, but even he should move on after a while.

Dying was the simplest option, and if he did what he intended, then at least he would perish while giving his beloved a fond last memory of him. Wouldn't that be the best option?

He was in an ambush situation here, expecting anything else was really just conceit...

If that was the case, it would seem that Fate had run out of luck...

'I won't die here...I'll live. I'll save Xian Shan, and I'll beat the shit out of this bastard Zhao Ming!'

You see, Jiang Chu was the most conceited fool in the world!

"Oraa!" He roared, fighting through the protests from his body. His determination to live, as well as his will to protect blazing like a fire within his teary eyes!

Much to Zhao Ming's shock, Jiang Chu somehow managed to hoist himself up, even slashing his fearsome great sword in his direction. But…

CLANG

Once again, a loud noise erupted as the two blades met in mid-air.

Zhao Ming, being a warrior of considerable prowess, managed to meet the slowed-down attack with just as much force!

Soon, they were locked in a sword bind, with the only way out being a blunt power struggle.

"Humph!"

"Oraaaa!!"

Shing!

Rustle Rustle

Sparks flew as the two pushed, neither willing to give even the slightest semblance of an inch to the other, being fully aware of the repercussions as they were.

Whoever lost here would most likely... No, not likely— definitely.

Whoever lost here, would definitely die.

This was especially so for Jiang Chu, who was not only fighting against Zhao Ming but also against his aching body!

Shing!

Rustle Rustle

'Come o—uack!'

CRACK

A grotesque noise of bone shattering echoed throughout the clearing as Zhao Ming's knee dug deep into Jiang Chu's ribs, breaking them instantly and sending Jiang hurtling to the floor once again with a pained groan.

"Ugh!"

THUD

"HAHAHAHA! You fool! You left yourself wide open!" Zhao Ming laughed haughtily, as he relished the figure of his opponent – who was sprawled on the floor, heaving and retching like there was no tomorrow.

Rustle Rustle

"D-damn! Zhao.. Ming... cheater..." Jiang Chu spat blood, his eyes drilling holes into his oppressor.

"Eh? What's that? I'm a cheater? Well... You are absolutely right! I am a cheater—a very smart one in fact! Hahahaha! You really expected me to fight fair? Get real, BOY, haha!"

Zhao Ming teased in merriment. It was then...

Rustle Rustle

"Hmm?" One of the lackeys, the male, noticed something. A bad feeling swelled up within him and he instantly notified his boss.

"Ugh, Zhao Ming?"

The words interrupted Zhao Ming's laughter, much to his contempt.

"What! What is it?" Zhao Ming clicked his tongue in response, not appreciating being interrupted—he was having sooo~ much fun after all.

"I-it's the bushes, they're…" The youth stuttered, all the while pointing at a small patch of green at the far right of the sizeable clearing...

Rustle Rustle