THE VILLAIN's APPRENTICE ✔

12 🗡 Poison Blood Curse

When Madame Lian's maidservant told him that Da Xia went ahead in the pavilion, never had Yong Jie expected that the scene that would welcome his sight was an unknown man strangling her. Seeing Da Xia in such situation stirred something inside him, and his body instantly moved like a primal beast that had been provoked. His heart was aching at the mere sight of the little maiden suffering, and he couldn't contain the rage that rose up from his core.

"You hurt Da Xia," he repeated in a chillingly calm voice. "For that, you must die."

The warrior who was just standing in the middle – surrounded by Flaming Rock sect – seemed to blur in their vision as he moved in an unimaginable speed that almost seemed impossible to be followed by the naked eye. Before Tao Yi could back away, the enraged warrior was in front of him again, his blade bursting out mercilessly. The other disciples tried to jump in, but two fireballs were conjured by their opponent and swept through them. Fortunately, their leader was an 'awakened' one in initial state and in an instant, the fireballs were extinguished.

The Flaming Rock sect disciples tried to overwhelm Yong Jie with their number, but the warrior's peculiar fighting style made things difficult for them. His attacks were unrelentless, and his vicious aura instilled terror in their hearts. The warrior was unshakeable, deadly, and dangerous, an opponent that was both frightening and awe-inspiring.

When Tao Yi tried to capture Da Xia again, all hell broke loose. There was something sinister and threatening that permeated the air, as though they had invited the wrath of a powerful being.

Yong Jie unleashed a ferocious growl, terrifying those who heard it, and hurled a fireball at Tao Yi's face. Tao Yi tried to extinguish the fireball with his qi, but to everyone's surprise, the fireball didn't flicker and slammed on their leader's cheek, burning his skin. The smell of burnt flesh was carried by the light breeze as Tao Yi scrubbed his cheek with his hands while screaming in pain, his sword discarded on the ground.

The disciples stopped their attacks and came to aid their leader. Yong Jie rushed forward, intending to strike again, and the fearful disciples guarded Tao Yi, holding their swords up with trembling hands. Before the warrior could cut them, however, they saw a blur of a figure and suddenly, a man wearing conical straw hat appeared before them, facing the warrior. The man was wearing a humble clothing with rough fabric, and he stood there while clasping the scabbard of his sword with his left hand.

"Yong Jie," the man mumbled simply. To their astonishment, the warrior stopped. His sharp glare was still directed at them, but he relaxed his stance and lowered his sword.

"Older Brother, they tried to kill Da Xia!" the warrior erupted angrily. "Please do not prevent me from seeking their deaths."

The Flaming Rock sect disciples stiffened and maintained their guard while the man glanced behind him and stared at the girl still slumped on the ground nearby. He then brought his gaze back at the furious warrior.

"They are from the Flaming Rock sect, younger brother. Killing them will not benefit you."

There was a deafening silence that followed. The young warrior did not respond but stared stonily at his senior sect brother, his eerie stillness like a raging storm hiding behind the calm clouds. It was then that Wan Zhou understood that his sect brother would eliminate anyone who threatened Da Xia regardless of the consequences.

However, as his senior, he couldn't let the younger man sacrifice his future. Killing the Flaming Rock sect disciples would incur the animosity of the prominent sect located at the capital where the imperial military exam would be held. It was something that Wan Zhou should prevent.

He turned around and faced the small group of Flaming Rock sect disciples.

"Greetings, gentlemen," he cupped his hands and bowed slightly at them. "This humble man's name is Wan Zhou." He then straightened up and looked directly at the group leader who was still holding his cheek which was slightly burnt. "May I inquire why you tried to kill my younger brother's maidservant?"