"How dare you hit my woman?!" I roared.

Seeing Yeping pinned to the wall, my heart ached. Her face filled with surprise at my sudden appearance, but the moment she heard my words, her expression darkened instantly.

"Hmph!" Sword God grunted. That punch sent him stumbling back a few steps. He regained his footing, half-opening his eyes at me. "You? I spared your life, and you dare return?"

"I may be weak, but I’m no coward!" I shouted. Then I turned to Yeping. "Yeping! Are you okay?"

"Cough~ Why did you come back? Didn’t I tell you to get help?" Yeping called weakly.

"I called them. They’ll be here soon. How can I help you?" I asked anxiously, my heart aching at the sight.

"Pull the sword out," she whispered.

"Okay." I moved to help her. But as I took one step forward, a terrifying killing intent surged from behind me!

I turned around, not rushing to Yeping yet. "Looks like I can’t help you until I deal with him," I muttered, staring at its source.

"You’re no match for him..." Yeping said from behind.

"..." I fell silent. I knew that too well. I’d seen this man’s strength firsthand.

"Hold on... I’m fine. If I can last until Xiwan and the others arrive, we’ll be saved." For the first time, I heard gentleness in Yeping’s voice.

"Be careful."

"Got it~" I waved a hand behind my back. "Leave it to me."

I locked eyes with Zhao Jiansheng. His killing intent had vanished—like a sheathed blade, hidden but sharp.

"Kid, I actually admire you," Zhao Jiansheng said, gazing at the starry sky. "In this era, someone who stands up for others is rare... If you weren’t a monster threatening society, I’d want to be friends." He seemed lost in old memories—a man with a story.

I froze, unprepared for his words. "A monster threatening society... heh. Without that, we’d never have crossed paths."

"Different paths, no shared plans. Time to go!" His expression turned icy. With two broken ribs, he couldn’t drag this out. He was ready to finish me fast.

"I know few expect anything from me," I said, planting my feet firmly. "But I still have reasons to fight! Bring it on!"

"I’ll end this quickly. No mercy... Despair Three Strikes..."

Sword God pushed off the ground, transforming into three streaks of black sword light charging straight at me!

This move again! I couldn’t dodge—I had to take it head-on, or he’d bypass me and reach Yeping!

Awaken, Serpent Eyes! That chilling sensation flooded my body, mixed with fierce excitement. Pain heated my blood. I raised my hands to block the incoming strikes!

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

All three landed—not shallow cuts, but deep bloody holes piercing my flesh!

"Ghh~" I growled from the agony.

"Hm?" Zhao Jiansheng looked surprised. No one had ever taken his move like this. He stopped right in front of me, not bypassing.

I swung a punch straight at his face! "Enjoying the slashing? Let me mess up that ugly mug!" I yelled.

He dodged instantly. His smile vanished, replaced by cold focus. He gripped his sword in reverse and slashed a cross-shaped strike at point-blank range.

"Clang!" My Spider Spikes blocked one slash, but another cut from my shoulder across my chest.

"Cough~" Blood surged up my throat. I spat a mouthful straight at his face.

"You~ seek death!" Sword God snarled, hit squarely. Disgust twisted his face. He was enraged.

Countless sword lights erupted before me—black flashes flickering wildly.

"Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!..." Instantly, my body sprouted countless bleeding holes.

"Ugh~"

"Xiaobai!" Yeping screamed. From her view, she saw only my back. In front, black sword lights flashed relentlessly as I trembled under the assault.

"Clang!" Zhao Jiansheng ended with a powerful reverse slash. Combined with his earlier strike, it carved an X-shaped wound across my chest.

Hit by dozens of strikes, my body was torn apart—especially my chest, a bloody, mangled mess.

"Aaah!" I yelled, kicking his stomach. Weak as it was, my monster strength still landed.

"Still struggling?" Zhao Jiansheng stepped back, staring coldly. Beads of sweat dripped; he was in pain too.

But for me, it was worse. Covered in wounds, only my thick skin and healing kept me alive. Blood loss overwhelmed my brain. Vision blurred. Dizziness crashed over me. I couldn’t hold on—my legs buckled. Eyes unfocused. I slammed face-first to the ground.

"Xiaobai! Xiaobai?!" Yeping cried, helpless. She tried pulling the sword out, but her hand burned and smoked on contact. The entire blade—even the hilt—was silver.

Zhao Jiansheng stepped over my body, glaring at her. "Your turn..."

"Damn it!" She gripped the hilt, smoke rising from her hand, but the sword wouldn’t budge. "Aaah! Move, damn you!" Tears rolled down her face. "Must I watch loved ones die again, powerless like ten years ago?"

Sword God advanced toward her, step by step.

Hearing Yeping’s cry, I snapped out of my daze. I saw her tears! Damn it, my body screamed in pain—I couldn’t move. The only thing I could do...

"Stop!" I grabbed his foot with my barely functional hand.

"..." Sword God halted, looking down coldly. "Let go."

But he saw only stubborn, deep-yellow Serpent Eyes and one bloodshot human eye.

He paused, as if recalling something. Just for a moment. Then his sword turned—he thrust it backward, piercing straight through my back.

"Ah! Kill me, I still won’t let go!" Agony ripped through me.

"Xia... bai?!" I barely heard her trembling voice.

Zhao Jiansheng yanked the Black Sword out. Blood gushed. My grip was shaken off with a flick of his foot. He glanced at me once, then ignored me, walking toward Yeping.

"Bastard! Look at me, don’t walk away!" I roared weakly, struggling to stand.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Jiansheng spun and slashed his sword at my neck... I crashed down again, clutching my neck to stem the blood... Staring wide-eyed at Yeping behind him.

"Huff... huff..." Zhao Jiansheng panted heavily. Broken ribs ached. He squinted at my fallen form, his sword hand trembling slightly. This man... had shaken his decades-old beliefs.

He’d hunted Mimics for years—most were destructive monsters, cancers threatening society’s order.

Zhao Jiansheng stood frozen in thought.

No! My faith cannot waver! The trembling stopped. This scourge must die.

He readied his sword for the final blow.

"Heh heh~" Yeping suddenly wore an eerie smile.

"What are you laughing at?" Zhao Jiansheng stopped, confused.

"Sword God Zhao Jiansheng... You win today," Yeping hissed fiercely. "But someday... we will kill you."

"Still defiant at a time like—" Before he finished, a blur shot toward him from the side.

Zhao Jiansheng reacted instantly, spinning to slash his sword.

"Clang!" The Black Sword clashed with a razor-sharp claw. He focused. Before him stood a half-beastman—black fur covering its upper body and arms, white hair on its head, and curved blade-like claws on its limbs.