Chapter 235: Chapter 120: Mist Marsh, Cyan Snake Demon, Cao Yan in Peril, Crushing Bai Nan

But less than an hour had passed when—

THUD!

A dull thud mixed with the crisp crack of breaking bones. Two figures, spattered with black mud, were thrown from the valley entrance like broken sacks, hurtling straight toward Cao Yan!

It was the two youths who had volunteered to stand watch!

Cao Yan’s pupils shrank. With a quick shift of his feet, he rushed forward, catching both of them securely in his arms.

Bloody foam continuously frothed from the youths’ mouths, staining their chests red. Their eyes were filled with pain and resentment, yet their gaze toward Cao Yan also held a hint of apology.

Rage flashed in Cao Yan’s eyes. He swallowed hard, suppressing his emotions, and pulled a small ebony bottle from his robes. With a trembling hand, he tipped out two gleaming white pills—

—a secret healing medicine from the Cao Family, never to be used lightly.

But one of the youths suddenly reached out and gripped his arm tightly. His breath was faint as a thread, his voice broken. "Senior... Senior Brother Cao... don’t... don’t waste the medicine... I’ll... I’ll repay your kindness... in the... next life..."

Before he could finish, his arm dropped limply like a puppet with its strings cut. His eyes quickly dimmed, the last spark of light extinguished as he breathed his last.

The other youth couldn’t even manage a single word. He only had the strength to look at Cao Yan one last time before his head tilted to the side and he slumped lifelessly in his arms.

Behind him, the crowd cowered back in the wet mud, huddling together in a corner. If someone’s foot was stepped on, they only dared to let out a muffled grunt, lacking even the courage to look up.

Cao Yan held the still-warm bodies of the youths, his eyes turning red.

An indescribable mix of grief, indignation, and self-blame washed over him.

’It was my fault. I let these two go stand watch, and now they’ve met this end.’

He slowly knelt and gently laid the two youths in the mud, carefully using the corners of their robes to wipe the blood from their faces.

As he stood up, he raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the huddled crowd behind him.

The hundred or so people had all seen what happened. The last flicker of light in their eyes seemed to have been snuffed out by the wind, leaving only boundless despair and numbness that enveloped them like the valley’s mist.

Some of the more fragile-minded disciples could no longer bear it, their legs giving way as they collapsed into the mud, letting out suppressed sobs.

The sounds of crying echoed in the dead-silent valley, mingling with the damp mist to create an even more desolate atmosphere.

Cao Yan turned back around, showing them his broad, blood-stained back.

He tightened his grip on the Flaming Dragon Saber. His voice was hoarse but firm and resounding. "As long as I, Cao Yan, have a single breath left in my body, I will get you all out of here!"

The moment he finished speaking, the sound of several extremely light footsteps came from the valley entrance.

They made a faint rustling sound on the wet stones as they slowly approached.

It was a sound that tightened one’s heart, like the hiss of a venomous snake.

The light at the valley entrance suddenly dimmed as several figures blocked the only exit.

Their shadows fell across the wet mud, covering the entire valley like a giant net.

The two men in the lead were dressed in white, their auras as chilling as ice in the dead of winter. They were the two Mortal Transformation masters from the Moon Worship Sect.

Standing beside them was Bai Nan, the Hall Master of Seven Stars Castle’s Red Flame Hall.

Bai Nan wore a triumphant, savage grin, his eyes fixed on Cao Yan like a hungry wolf.

Behind him followed four Incense Masters from the Entering the Realm of Strength, each with a hand on their saber hilt, their murderous gazes sweeping over the people in the valley!

"Cao Yan, let’s see you try to escape this time!"

Bai Nan laughed smugly, his voice dripping with mockery. "You’re heavily injured and we have you trapped in this dead-end valley. You’re like a turtle in a jar! If you know what’s good for you, surrender now. You might suffer a little less!"

But Cao Yan suddenly laughed, a note of grim resolve in his voice.

He gently ran the fingers of his left hand across the blade of his Flaming Dragon Saber.

The blade was still stained with blood, and his touch left a faint streak across it.

Cao Yan spoke coolly, his tone filled with disdain. "A defeated foe like you has the gall to say that?"

"You!" Bai Nan’s mouth twitched, the killing intent in his eyes flaring as the veins on his saber hand bulged.

But just then—the Flaming Dragon Saber in Cao Yan’s hand suddenly let out a thunderous hum. The dark patterns on the blade lit up, wreathed in his remaining Primordial Qi!

Ignoring the sharp pain from the wound on his shoulder and neck, he shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, charging straight for Bai Nan!

Having suffered at Cao Yan’s hands before, Bai Nan didn’t dare to face the attack head-on.

He immediately slipped back, shouting urgently to the Moon Worship Sect masters beside him, "Quick, stop him!"

The two Moon Worship Sect masters responded, stepping forward. A pale blue Cold Qi gathered in their black-gloved hands. Before their palms even arrived, a bone-chilling cold radiated from them as they struck at Cao Yan from the left and right!

In that critical moment, something unexpected happened!

A white shadow suddenly shot out from the shade of the rock wall, moving as fast as a wisp of white smoke—it was the Snake Demon who had been hiding nearby!

Her palm, enveloped in dense Demonic Power and glowing with a faint Cyan Light, struck one of the Moon Worship Sect masters squarely in the back!

"PUH!"

Caught completely off guard, the Moon Worship Sect master stumbled three steps forward and violently spat out a large mouthful of blood!

Seizing the opportunity, Cao Yan pushed off hard with his foot, surging forward. Following the momentum of his turn, he swung his Flaming Dragon Saber in a ferocious slash!

SWISH!

A dark red glint of saber light flashed, accompanied by a sharp whistle as it cut through the air. A bloody arm flew up in a spray of gore, landing in the mud with a THUD. Fresh blood instantly stained the black mire around it. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Although the Moon Worship Sect master who had been struck by the Snake Demon managed to dodge Cao Yan’s fatal blow, his left arm was severed at the shoulder. He screamed in agony, clutching his wound as he staggered backward!

Bai Nan and the other Moon Worship Sect master were both stunned. They retreated several steps, staring warily at the Snake Demon and Cao Yan with eyes full of apprehension.

"You beast! How dare you interfere in the affairs of my Moon Worship Sect!"

The Moon Worship Sect master was both shocked and enraged.