Uncle Qin, in a last burst of energy, tightly gripped Huangfu Jingchen’s hand and whispered, "Run, survive!"

"This dream wasn’t too bad. Under our hands, the Antong Three Ghosts, you still want to run? Still want to live?" The Antong Three Ghosts laughed, their sinister, chilling laughter making one’s skin crawl even in broad daylight. Moreover, their voices were identical, their height the same, and each was tightly covered up, making it impossible to tell who was laughing, who was speaking.

The Super First-class expert glared at the Antong Three Ghosts: "You... why didn’t you... rescue me?"

If these three had come earlier, he wouldn’t have been sliced in half by that soft sword.

At this moment, although he was still standing, he knew very well that only a small patch of skin at his right waist connected him; if he moved slightly, his entire body would separate from the legs.

This terror, desperation, knowing he was doomed yet unwilling to die, caused the Super First-class expert to almost collapse.

The Antong Three Ghosts coldly said: "Didn’t you say you didn’t need us? Of course, we wouldn’t spoil your good deed. If you succeeded, why would our brothers need to step forward? Useless thing!"

The expert’s eyes widened in rage, screaming desperately: "Help me... help me..."

The Antong Three Ghosts laughed heartily and said, "So noisy!"

Using this cheerful tone to speak words of contempt, suddenly, one of them leapt into the air, moving like a phantom, and kicked the expert.

"Ah!" In a short scream, the man’s body finally separated from his legs. But having been sliced at the waist, he didn’t die immediately. He cursed angrily, "Antong Three Ghosts... even as a ghost... I won’t let you... go..."

The Antong Three Ghosts laughed heartily: "We fear you not while alive; how could you still trouble us when dead? Waste, bringing so many to kill a few people, even bringing yourself down with them, alive or dead you’re a waste. But thanks for your effort all this time, it saved us quite a bit of trouble."

Though these three seemed to chat and laugh in arrogance, they were actually continuously watching Huangfu Jingchen and the Hidden Guard.

At this point, Huangfu Jingchen was already exhausted, and the Hidden Guard was already at the end of his strength. Whereas Uncle Qin, only had his last breath remaining.

Originally thought killing the Super First-class expert would lead to survival, but who knew the opponents had another trick up their sleeves, the cruel and bloodthirsty Antong Three Ghosts!

Huangfu Jingchen tightly gripped the sword in his hand.

The Hidden Guard tensed his body too.

At this moment, it seemed all hope for survival was gone, but to simply wait for death could not be allowed.

The Antong Three Ghosts exchanged glances, one said: "Quickly finish this?"

Another said: "Play around a bit longer!"

Another: "Kill them, make it easy!"

The first spoke again: "Third Brother, go ahead! You’re younger, haven’t had as many chances to kill as us! Need more practice."

The Third Brother said: "I’ve killed 143, you guys just five or six more than me!"

"If you kill these two, we’re still ahead by three or four!"

The Third Brother resignedly said: "Fine, I’ll kill!"

His body leaped up, as if sizing up the situation in mid-air, then a glimmer slashed towards the Hidden Guard’s neck.

The Hidden Guard was actually quite skilled, had it been at his peak, he could fight these three, but now, covered in wounds and after such a fierce battle, facing this attack, he moved but clearly couldn’t avoid the strike.

The Hidden Guard knew this was futile, a determination flashed in his eyes.

However, the anticipated blade didn’t come; instead, a force pulled him aside, followed by the clashing sound of swords.

It turned out Huangfu Jingchen, in a blink, suddenly intervened, saving the Hidden Guard.

Huangfu Jingchen didn’t have much strength left, but he could never stand by and watch someone die!

Uncle Qin’s final weak and hoarse words: "Go... go..."

After that, there was no sound anymore.

Huangfu Jingchen knew Uncle Qin was gone.

Sadness and anger mixed within his heart, his eyes blood-red, holding the soft sword, standing in front of the Hidden Guard, blocking the Third Brother.

Not sure if it’s the First Brother or Second, one mocked: "Third Brother, you couldn’t even pick up the dead fish with barely a breath left on the riverbank? You want to surpass us?"

These words stoked the Third Brother’s fury, he sinisterly said: "I’ll tear them to pieces!"

The second strike came again.

Huangfu Jingchen’s soft sword blocked his attack once more.

"Wow, this pretty boy has some skill!"

Even though Huangfu Jingchen was now covered in blood, his face unrecognizable, these three had been watching close by, so they knew what Huangfu Jingchen looked like before.

"All together, all together, lest we miss our chance!"

They said, and instantly all three charged forward.

Huangfu Jingchen’s soft sword immediately had to fend off attacks from both sides.

The Hidden Guard, protected behind Huangfu Jingchen, tightly gripped his weapon and joined the fray. He was meant to protect the Princely Heir, not for the Princely Heir to protect him.

This battle was almost entirely one-sided.

The Antong Three Ghosts played around, occasionally slashing the Hidden Guard, leaving marks on Huangfu Jingchen. The Third Brother cruelly said, "Guess how much blood is left in them, flowing like this, how long can it last?"

His tone suggested they intended to toy with the two until they bled to death.

Of course, they aimed to destroy Huangfu Jingchen and the Hidden Guard’s mental defense, causing them to collapse in despair.

The Hidden Guard, trained for this, although drained of strength, still held on, without retreating an inch.

Huangfu Jingchen, having faced life and death in the Jianghu before, wasn’t swayed by the Antong Three Ghosts’ words either.

Only their situation was truly dire.

Killing the previous Super First-class expert was sheer luck; these three individually weren’t a match for him, but together they definitely were.

Fortunately, in battle, Huangfu Jingchen controlled the soft sword skillfully, almost like part of his body. Its flexibility allowed for surprising moves, barely fending off the Antong Three Ghosts’ attacks.

But both Huangfu Jingchen and the Antong Three Ghosts knew this was merely a futile struggle.

Huangfu Jingchen felt his strength depleting, vision fading in and out.

Even pursued by seven assassins, gravely wounded, he hadn’t felt as he did now.

The sadness, despair, and unwillingness surged from his heart, only to dissipate...

Indeed, he had become numb, no longer feeling anything. When one is exhausted to the extreme, inner strength drained, yet still facing several strong killers, to not let go of the sword, still resisting, was already his utmost effort.