Chapter 20: Another White Lion!
“Those madwomen riding white lions?”
A year ago, in the ruins of the Immortals in Liaodong, it was precisely the white-lion riders who repeatedly put the two into peril.
Yet, as they spoke, the roar of white lions grew steadily closer.
“Fifth Master... what are you... talking about? What madwomen?”
Long Zhu was just beginning to recover from her shock but found the sudden approach of the white lions' roars strange once more.
“No time to explain, Dai Longmei.”
“Do you trust me?”
Dai Longmei looked into Lily’s large jade-green eyes.
The white-lion roars grew louder in their ears.
“Zhuzi, stay close to me. Don’t let those white-lion riders catch you!”
Gritting his teeth, Dai Longmei pulled Lily into his arms.
“Hey! Stop... don’t hold me like that... I—”
“When have I ever cared about that, girl? If they catch us, it’ll be the end of us!”
Dai Longmei vaulted onto the swift horse, Chasing Wind.
“Whoosh!”
A phantom arrow zipped past, barely missing Chasing Wind’s ear.
The horse’s mane caught fire from the ethereal flames, causing it to whinny sharply.
Quickly, Dai Longmei focused his energy to extinguish the blaze.
“Immortal!”
On the hillside where they had arrived, dozens of white-lion riders stood solemnly.
“Hand over that fox!”
Solna, mounted on a towering war lion and shouldering a greatsword, arrogantly surveyed his prey once more.
“If you want her,”
Dai Longmei nodded subtly to Long Zhu beside him.
Though still shaken, the young wolf understood and tightened his grip on the little wolf’s abdomen.
“You’ll have to come and take her yourself!”
“Giddy-up!”
Chasing Wind and the little wolf shot forward like arrows released from a bowstring.
Hooves thundered, kicking up patches of moss and grass.
“Pursue!”
“Don’t let them escape! Chase!”
Solna roared furiously, leading his band of white-lion sisters in pursuit.
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”
Phantom arrows rained down like hailstones.
Long Zhu had seen the wolf clan’s devastating volleys before but never arrows imbued with strange blue energy.
“Oh my, why is there blue energy on these arrows?”
“Can you see it?”
“Fifth Master, of course I can. What kind of sorcery are these witch women using...”
Just then, a white lion, pacing with powerful strides, charged toward them.
“Die!”
A white-lion rider swung a longsword, aiming directly at Dai Longmei.
“Sword, come!”
With a jade sword in hand, Dai Longmei pressed Lily close with his left arm and swung his sword with his right, parrying the slashing blow.
Instantly, the phantom energies clashed, the blades tearing into each other and igniting fierce ethereal flames.
“Rrrip!”
The deep blue phantom energy on the jade sword radiated pressure that even reached Dai Longmei’s hand.
This madwoman’s energy cultivation surpasses mine!
Gritting his teeth, Dai Longmei poured all his energy from his dantian.
Following the method taught by his master—when facing a formidable foe, one must gather energy at the point of contact before unleashing full power!
No matter the exhaustion now.
Dai Longmei concentrated all his strength into his right hand.
The jade sword flared with blazing phantom fire.
“Break!”
The sword lunged forward, infused with Dai Longmei’s entire phantom energy.
With one strike, it knocked the white-lion rider’s sword from his hand.
“What?”
The white-lion rider, who had arrogantly deemed his phantom energy level superior, panicked instantly.
Struck by the jade sword like lightning on his arm—
“Shing!”
Despite the iron armor, the rider’s arm was severed immediately!
Screaming, the rider fell from his white lion.
The fierce beast below swiftly turned, protecting its master.
“Well struck!”
Though still embarrassed to be held in Dai Longmei’s arms, Lily couldn’t help but cheer.
“There’s more!”
Long Zhu exclaimed.
Dozens of white-lion riders closed in from both sides.
Their mounts, white war lions, swept forward like gusts of wind.
More phantom arrows rained down upon the two.
“Zhuzi! Watch out! Dodge! Dodge!”
Dai Longmei urged Chasing Wind onward, swinging his jade sword to deflect the incoming arrows.
Long Zhu struggled to evade the phantom-imbued arrows.
Without the ability to manipulate phantom energy, he relied solely on his excellent reflexes to dodge the searing arrow storm.
“Hey, this kid can’t use phantom energy even though he’s following such a powerful phantom warrior?”
“Hey, I’ll help out Jade Little Brother.”
“Swish!”
Another arrow shot toward Long Zhu’s nape.
“Damn these guys!”
Ignoring the strange voice in his head, Long Zhu drew his jade sword and blocked the arrow with the blade.
The phantom arrow struck the sword, instantly igniting phantom flames.
“Shing!”
The blue flames, which should have spread to Long Zhu’s body, were extinguished by a wave of phantom energy.
“Oh my! There’s immortal energy on me now!”
Like Dai Longmei, Long Zhu was now enveloped in jade-colored phantom energy, though its luster was somewhat dimmer.
“Ah, that’s more like it~”
The voice faded from Long Zhu’s mind.
“Fifth Master, look at me…”
“Hey, Fifth Master, you have it too?”
Dai Longmei paid no heed to the curious Long Zhu.
His jade sword struck like a fierce serpent, thrusting toward another white-lion rider charging them.
The rider’s armored spear blocked the sword’s tip, sparks flying as the phantom flames flared.
“You won’t escape!”
The white-lion rider leapt from his mount, attempting to knock Dai Longmei and Lily from their horses.
“Fifth Master! I’ve got this!”
Long Zhu spurred forward, swinging his sword to strike the white lion.
“Huh?”
“How do I use this energy?”
“Dantian energy, heart-guided~”
“Eh?”
“Forget it, forget it, I’ll help you, kid!”
In an instant, jade energy thickened around Long Zhu’s sword.
“Ha!”
He swung his sword down, piercing the white lion’s right eye.
The lion howled in pain, rolling onto the ground.
The rider, unprepared to channel energy to protect himself, tumbled with his mount.
The madwoman crashed her head on a large rock, breaking her neck.
“Haha, look, Fifth Master! I can use this energy now too! I’m an immortal just like in the paintings! Haha!”
“Why does your wolf brother look so silly?”
Lily tilted her head, eyeing Dai Longmei.
He smiled awkwardly.
“Run for your life, you silly wolf!”
Dai Longmei swung his sword left, blocking another white-lion rider’s slashing blow.
“Clang! Clang! Shing! Shing!”
The two rode forward, using their horsemanship to wield their jade swords, fending off white-lion riders charging from both sides.
Though the white-lion riders’ combat skills rivaled those of Dai Longmei and Long Zhu, and their phantom energy should have been stronger—
Every strike was blocked by Dai Longmei and Long Zhu.
Several rounds of clashes echoed with the clangor of metal on metal.
“Watch out!”
Lily spotted a familiar figure.
Captain Solna, clearly displeased with the stalemate, urged her powerful male lion forward.
The great beast roared fiercely, bearing down on Dai Longmei.
Her greatsword swung like a massive mountain-cleaving axe aimed at Chasing Wind’s head.
“Hmph! Not while I’m here!”
Though still unaccustomed to this body, its owner was evidently a powerful phantom warrior.
The remaining white phantom energy inside resembled that of the old true god, just as pure.
Perfect for Lily to wield.
Dantian energy, heart-guided!
A pure phantom energy orb condensed within the little fox’s delicate mouth.
“Whoosh!”
The orb shot forth like a bullet, striking the great war lion’s neck.
Though protected by a neck guard, the phantom orb caused the lion to wail in pain.
The lion slowed, and Solna’s thunderous strike cut through empty air.
Watching Solna left behind, furious, Lily burst out laughing.
“Nyah-nyah-nyah, can’t hit me, you crazy madwoman!”
“It’s not safe yet, Miss Lily. Don’t be so quick to celebrate.”
“But these people are right on our tail, Fifth Master. Where can we be safe?”
“Children, go to Jade Temple on Long Mountain. I’ll be waiting for you there~”
A familiar voice echoed simultaneously in Dai Longmei and Lily’s minds.
“Master?”
“Old man?”
They spoke in unison.
Only then did Dai Longmei realize that the “True God old man” Lily mentioned was his own teacher.
“Ah? Wait, why is there another old man talking in my head?”
Long Zhu patted his furry wolf head, blocking another arrow with his sword.
The true god did not respond to his student and the girl.
He simply repeated the words:
“Go to Jade Temple on Long Mountain! I’ll be waiting for you there!”