CHAPTER 124: 124- SCAR-LIP [4] (BONUS)

Fang Lian, unaware of what the others were thinking or perhaps simply unconcerned, acted first.

Without a word, she released the Tyrant Light Sword: Second Form – Star Form.

Five blazing beams of radiant energy arced out, converging with deadly precision into a perfect, burning star.

It whistled through the air, heading straight for Scar-Lip.

Sensing the lethal intent in the technique, Scar-Lip’s eyes widened.

In a flash, he bit down on a pill hidden in his molars and swallowed.

The effect was instantaneous.

His muscles bulged grotesquely, veins pulsing with unnatural strength as his body swelled to twice its size.

A crimson aura burst from his skin as he roared, raising his crescent axe high.

"Cut through the heavens!" he bellowed.

But Fang Lian did not flinch. Her face was expressionless, her gaze calm as the blazing star struck his axe—

BOOM!

A violent shockwave rippled outward, kicking up a storm of dust and rock.

Scar-Lip was launched backwards like a ragdoll, tumbling through the air before crashing into the ground with a thunderous impact.

She didn’t hesitate.

Drawing her sword, Fang Lian soared forward in a streak of silver light, riding her qi without reserve.

In one fluid motion, she landed beside the downed bandit leader and, with a single thrust, drove her blade clean through his neck.

There was no hesitation. No second guesses. She ended it right there, swift and quick.

His body twitched once and then stilled.

Fang Lian stood, withdrawing her sword without a flicker of emotion.

Her blade bloody stained.

She turned toward Fang Ruì.

"Elder Fang Ruì," she said softly, as if she hadn’t just slaughtered a man seconds ago.

"It’s best if you rest. I’ll make sure none of the bandits leave here alive."

Even as she spoke, Fang Bong had finally joined the fray, grimacing but still striking down one of the fleeing enemies with a half-hearted grunt.

The rest of the bandits, seeing their leader fall so easily, lost all courage.

"He’s dead! Retreat! Run!"

They broke ranks, abandoning weapons and comrades alike as they scattered across the plains.

But Fang Lian had no intention of letting them go.

Her figure flickered, once, twice, thrice.. like a mirage on the battlefield.

"Mirage Step. Mirage Step. Mirage Step."

Over and over she used the first form of Swift Step footwork, blurring through the bandits faster than they could cry for mercy.

Each step left another corpse.

Each breath brought another flash of steel.

She didn’t spare a single one.

To the young Fang clan cultivators watching in stunned silence, it wasn’t valor they saw.

It was butchery.

The way her sword moved, the way her eyes never wavered, the way the fallen piled up behind her without remorse, it was too much.

In that moment, Fang Lian no longer looked like a clan disciple.

She looked like a demon.

And somewhere behind her, someone whispered the word that had been hanging on all their tongues.

"... she’s nothing like the clan head....."

Fang Lian stepped lightly over the bloodstained earth, her sword still in hand, but her expression calm, as if the chaos moments ago had been no more than a passing breeze.

Her eyes, steady and unblinking, swept over the battlefield.

One... two... three...

She counted as she walked.

By the time her steps slowed, she reached the last body, number twenty-seven.

She halted.

"Good. All accounted for," she murmured under her breath, sheathing her sword in a fluid motion.

A faint glow shimmered across her eyes as she turned her senses inward.

Her dantian pulsed steadily. Half my qi reserve remains. Not bad.

Her brow furrowed slightly. Strange.

Elder Fang Ruì only used her qi a few times, and yet she burnt out so quickly. Was it nerves? Or something deeper? She let the thought drift as her eyes moved toward the elder’s still form.

She approached calmly.

"Elder, do you need healing?"

Fang Ruì blinked, still seated against a broken cart wheel, her breathing uneven and her expression dazed.

She was staring at Fang Lian, not with fear, but something closer to awe.

Her eyes, wide and shimmering with disbelief, remained locked on to Fang Lian as if trying to convince herself the scene hadn’t been an illusion.

"That star..." Ruì breathed, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"You actually manifested... a perfect Star Form..."

Fang Lian said nothing and instead, she simply turned her head, expression cool and unreadable, and called out, her voice cutting clean through the stillness.

"Lin Hao."

The merchant jumped where he stood and ran forward like a child summoned by the headmaster.

"Y-Yes, Senior! How may I be of help to you?" he said, bowing deeply, his voice tight with nervous reverence.

Lian arched a brow and let out a soft giggle, amused by the stark shift in tone.

Indeed, she thought. In this world, strength reigns supreme.

"Bring me some first-aid supplies," she said lightly, almost teasing.

"And gather the injured here. No delays."

"Yes! Right away!" Lin Hao turned and bolted like his life depended on it.

Lian returned her gaze to Fang Ruì, her expression softening.

"Elder Fang Ruì—"

"Just Ruì," Fang Ruì interrupted, exhaling slowly.

"I prefer it. And besides... with that display, it’s only a matter of time before you’re made an elder too."

Fang Lian laughed again, light and honest this time.

"I’m still not quite there yet," she said with a tilt of her head. "But... I’ll consider it. Since we’re friends now, Ruì... you can call me Lian’er."

Ruì gave a weary smile and nodded. "Lian’er it is."

Then she leaned back against the wheel, letting her eyes close for a moment. "I’m drained, physically, emotionally. I’ll leave the group in your hands for now. If that’s alright."

Fang Lian grinned, stretching her arms slightly.

"I’m okay with that," she replied. "You’re making my job easier. I can’t believe elders usually work in such roundabout manners."

Ruì chuckled hoarsely.

"That’s the secret art of age and experience... mostly paperwork and headaches."

Fang Lian raised a brow, then grinned. "If that’s really true, then this old grandma right here should’ve gone extinct years ago."

The two stared at each other for a beat, then burst into laughter, the sound light and genuine, echoing off the blood-stained stones.

For a moment, amid the carnage and ash, it was as if they were just two girls teasing each other after a spar.

And perhaps, in that instant, that’s all they needed to be.

(6/9 BONUS)