"Mimic..." Zhao Jiansheng barked.

"And me!" A second Mimic burst out—its upper body a shark's—and lunged, massive blood-red maw snapping toward the Sword God's torso!

Zhao Jiansheng ducked, dodging the bite. He kicked the half-shark creature hard, then retreated several steps in one fluid motion.

"Miss! Are you alright?!" Xi Wan appeared just then, shrieking at the sight of Yeping pinned to the wall.

"Don't touch me, Xi Wan—it's silver! Check on Xiaobai first!" Yeping yelled urgently.

"Silver?! Great White Shark Bing, fall back! You pull it out!" Xi Wan called out. She rushed to my side—I lay unconscious, drenched in blood—and quickly forced another of those small pills down my throat. "The wounds are too deep..." she murmured.

Great White Shark Bing yanked the silver sword from Yeping's shoulder. Coldsmile kept his icy gaze locked on Zhao Jiansheng.

"Southern District's infamous Rank 10... Phantom Black Panther," Zhao Jiansheng identified Coldsmile instantly.

"And me! Rank 31—Great White Shark!" Great White Shark Bing roared, still gripping the freshly pulled silver sword.

Zhao Jiansheng didn't even spare him a glance. His focus stayed razor-sharp on Coldsmile.

"Xiaobai!" Freed, Yeping ignored her own injuries. Weakly stumbling to Xi Wan's side, she crouched beside me. "How bad is it?"

"Critical, but not fatal. The neck wound missed the artery. He lost a lot of blood... but the medicine's working. The cuts are closing fast," Xi Wan reported.

"Good..." Yeping exhaled in relief. Suddenly, her own pain hit her. She slumped against the wall, glaring at the Sword God.

"I held back," the Sword God stated flatly.

"Miss, what shall we do with him?" Coldsmile asked Yeping, his face grim.

She stared at my blood-soaked, unconscious form. Her expression darkened, as if wrestling with a painful choice.

"Let him go."

"Miss?"

"Miss?" Coldsmile frowned.

"He's wounded now... but if he fights desperately..." Yeping's voice strained. "I won't watch anyone else die today."

Coldsmile fell silent. He knew the truth: even Yeping couldn't overpower this man alone. He and Shark Bing might win a fight—but the cost? Uncertain.

"You still want more? Get out!" Yeping snarled at Zhao Jiansheng.

"Return my sword. Then I leave," the Sword God demanded, hand outstretched.

"You—!" Great White Shark Bing bristled, ready to charge.

"Don't! Give it to him!"

Grumbling, Shark Bing obeyed Yeping. He tossed the silver sword over.

Zhao Jiansheng caught it smoothly. His Black Sword vanished into his sleeve; the white blade slid back into his waist sheath. "That boy's name?"

"Li Xiaobai! Remember it!"

Zhao Jiansheng said nothing. His eyes swept over each of us—cold, assessing—before he turned and vanished into the night.

"Farewell, until next time~"

"Yes... until next time. Then, you die," Yeping whispered fiercely under her breath.

Darkness swallowed Zhao Jiansheng whole.

"This is our tragedy," Yeping murmured suddenly to everyone. "Humans rule this world. Kill one Sword God, and a thousand more will hunt us. But us? Just... one, two, three, four, five..." Her voice cracked. "Only us."

Silence answered her.

"Xi Wan, take Xiaobai back to the Shadowless Abode first. Coldsmile, Shark Bing—you're dismissed. I owe you both." Yeping pushed herself up from the wall. Xi Wan moved to support her.

"I can walk," Yeping waved her off sharply.

"But—"

"He's hurt worse!"

"We can help carry him," Coldsmile offered.

"No. Watch for Zhao Jiansheng doubling back. He's injured, but not helpless."

"Understood. Shark Bing—move out!" Coldsmile and Shark Bing melted into the shadows after the Sword God.

"Let's go home."

Xi Wan supported me as we left the park, Yeping clutching her bleeding abdomen. Dawn would erase all traces of the battle—as if nothing ever happened.

---

Days later. Shadowless Abode.

I woke after sleeping a day and a half straight. Every inch of me was swathed in bandages except my face. My neck was tightly bound. Blood bags—donated, I guessed—hung beside the bed, dripping into my veins. (I’d never known my blood type.)

By the next day, I was already walking. It terrified the whole household.

Now, wrapped like a mummy, I sat on the sofa with Ye Xianer watching *Dog’s Here* on the kids' channel.

"Xianer, is this dog really that interesting?" I asked the little girl beside me.

"Mhm!" She didn’t tear her eyes from the screen.

"Do you have to watch it all afternoon?" I sighed. It’d been days of this same show.

"It’s good~"

"You say that every time..."

"Mhm~" She hummed lazily.

I ruffled her hair playfully and headed for Yeping’s room.

"Big brother messed up my hair again, Sister Xi Wan~" Xianer’s sleepy complaint followed me.

*Knock knock.*

"Enter." Yeping’s voice came from inside.

I opened the door—and froze. Her room was starkly simple: wooden floors, a white bed, a desk, a bookshelf. Impeccably tidy.

But my eyes? Locked onto her legs. She sat at the desk in black-rimmed glasses, a cropped tank top, and ultra-short lounge shorts. One elegant leg crossed over the other, swinging gently. A bandage wrapped her midriff, hiding her waist.

Honestly? I had zero defense against those legs. My gaze kept drifting downward.

"Hmph. Did I say you could come in?" She turned, frowning when she saw me.

"I knocked!"

"Had I known it was you, I wouldn’t have answered." She turned back to her desk.

"...Sorry." I stood awkwardly by the door.

"Well? Spit it out."

"Just... checking if your wounds healed." I forced a smile.

"Still breathing. Unlike you—up and bouncing around already."

"...Right."

"...Go."

"Okay, I’ll—"

"Wait. That day... thank you. For saving me." Her voice dropped low, but clear.

"No problem. Just... doing my part."

"Mhm. Now get out!" She whipped her head away. Her ears flushed pink.

*Heh.* I grinned, closing the door softly behind me.

"Big brother! Fix my hair!" Xianer whined the moment I entered the hall.

"Ask Sister Xi Wan. I’m going for a walk." I messed up her hair again.

"If you keep messing with Xianer’s head, she’ll get dumb~"

"Nah. Xianer’s too smart for that." I headed for the door.

"Sister Xi Wan! I’m taking a walk—be back soon!"

"Huh? Oh—your wounds aren’t fully healed! Hurry back; I need to change your bandages!" Xi Wan called after me.

Stepping onto the Sky Terrace, I thought: *I haven’t returned to my tiny room in days. They’ve been kind—especially Xi Wan, nursing me like family.* Gratitude warmed me. *This city finally feels like home...*

*Heh. One day, I’ll make us real family.*

Evening walks became my habit—anything to escape *Dog’s Here*. (Turns out it’s just endless reruns.)

The familiar path felt different tonight. A woman in white leaned against the wall ahead, stumbling forward.

*Drunk this early?* I thought. *Not my business.* I quickened my pace to pass her—

*Thud.*

I glanced back. She’d collapsed in a heap, struggling weakly to rise.

*Sigh.* My stupid hero complex flared. *Can’t ignore a woman in trouble.* (Men? Absolutely not.)

"Miss? Are you alright? Need help?" I crouched beside her.

"Water... please..." Her voice was soft, refined.

"Let me help you up—"

"Okay..."

As I reached for her arm, she jerked her head up. A grinning white mask covered her face.

*What the—?!* Before I could react, she sprayed something into my eyes. Not pepper spray—this made my mind foggy, heavy...

"Huh?" She sprayed again. And again.

Darkness swallowed me whole.

The Newborn Arc - End