RPDPHW Chapter 44

Blood splattered onto the tree trunks, dripping onto the ground.

Even Zhong Shujin and Lin Ziyan, who were engaged in the fierce battle, were stained with warm blood.

For a moment, this land transformed into a battlefield of carnage.

A cruel and bloody battlefield.

Neither of them were merciful, and they killed without hesitation. Every strike of their sword and spear is aimed at their opponent’s vital points.

Although this was their first time fighting side by side, their cooperation was surprisingly seamless.

The Tang Sect disciples at the front fell one after another.

And the two beauties on the field were still wreaking havoc.

However, at that moment, a melodious tune drifted from the Fourth Elder’s location, reaching the ears of everyone present.

The eerie flute music gradually spread from there, penetrating the deep darkness of the Black Wind Forest.

It made people involuntarily feel a chill in their hearts.

As Gu Qingyin, hiding behind a tree with Shan Wenshu, was still pondering the meaning of the flute music, Shan Wenshu exclaimed.

“Oh no, it’s the Serpent-Driving Tune!”

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingyin finally realized.

Without time to ask Shan Wenshu how she knew so much, Gu Qingyin immediately reached for her bag.

Unfortunately, Gu Qingyin searched for a long time but couldn’t find what she was looking for.

This time, she hadn’t brought any flute-like instruments with her, a real oversight.

Gu Qingyin knew some Serpent-Driving Tune, but without an instrument at hand, she couldn’t compete with the Fourth Elder.

“Will this do?”

As Gu Qingyin frowned in regret, Shan Wenshu had already handed her a jade flute.

“Yes!”

Gu Qingyin simply responded, immediately taking the jade flute from Shan Wenshu, placing it on her lips and playing.

One flute, one xiao, facing each other across the battlefield.

One to lure the snakes, the other to drive them away.

The fighting on the field became even more intense with the aid of the flute and xiao.

However, this Serpent-Driving Tune is not easy to play. The most basic requirement is to use internal energy to support it.

Not to mention that Gu Qingyin’s Serpent-Driving Tune was also learned from a stolen secret manual from the Tang Sect, so her familiarity with it was naturally not as good as the Tang Sect’s. Just from her not-so-deep internal energy, she couldn’t compete with the Fourth Elder, who had profound internal energy.

“Pfft.”

Under the deliberate suppression of the Fourth Elder’s flute music, Gu Qingyin hadn’t finished her tune when her internal energy surged like a tide. She couldn’t hold on and spat out a mouthful of blood.

The xiao stopped, but the flute continued.

“Qingqing!”

Although Zhong Shujin was fighting fiercely on her side, her peripheral vision was still focused on Gu Qingyin’s direction. Seeing Gu Qingyin spit blood, her feet uncontrollably took two steps towards her.

If Lin Ziyan hadn’t intervened in time to block the person who was attacking Zhong Shujin, Zhong Shujin would have been injured.

After catching her breath, Gu Qingyin quickly wiped the blood from her mouth and nodded towards Zhong Shujin, giving her a reassuring look.

It was as if she was telling Zhong Shujin that she was fine.

Fortunately, Zhong Shujin only lost her focus for a moment. After that, she stopped being distracted and continued to fight alongside Lin Ziyan.

Gu Qingyin picked up the jade xiao again, but just as she was about to put it to her lips, Shan Wenshu stopped her hand.

“It’s too late, don’t waste your energy,” Shan Wenshu said with a heavy expression, “They’re here.”

The rustling sound had already begun. Gu Qingyin knew what was coming.

At this moment, Gu Qingyin felt as if a giant stone was pressing down on her.

Her heart was heavy.

What to do? Those things, Ajing would be terrified of them.

While Gu Qingyin was still pondering, Zhu Junzhe, standing beside the Fourth Elder, whispered, “Sect Master’s guess was right. It seems that the one who stole the sect’s secret manual back then must be her! Uncle, please continue here. I’ll go capture her alive!”

The Fourth Elder didn’t stop playing his flute, he just nodded slightly.

With the Fourth Elder’s permission, Zhu Junzhe began his action. While the two women were still entangled with the sect disciples, he used their momentum to leap into the air and quickly attacked Gu Qingyin on the opposite side.

Gu Qingyin, who was lost in thought, suddenly saw someone attacking her. She quickly pushed Shan Wenshu aside and used the jade xiao in her hand to block the sword that was about to land on her.

Fortunately, the jade xiao was also an extraordinary object, not inferior to such a sharp weapon, making it easy for Gu Qingyin to use.

However, Gu Qingyin had just been injured by the flute music, and now she was facing the deceased Grand Elder’s favorite disciple, while also having to worry about Shan Wenshu, who she had pushed aside. It was naturally very difficult for her.

She then reached out and wrapped her arms around Zhong Shujin’s neck, allowing Zhong Shujin to hold her as she rose and fell.

“Zhu Junzhe! Don’t you dare underestimate yourself! You can’t just touch my people!”

With a few movements, Zhong Shujin had already grabbed Gu Qingyin and kicked Zhu Junzhe to the ground, stepping on his chest with her foot. She coldly shouted.

The coldness in her eyes seemed to strip people bare.

But her hand remained on Gu Qingyin’s waist, holding her tightly in her arms.

Zhu Junzhe, lying on the ground, turned his head and spat out a mouthful of blood. He tried to push the foot off his chest, but no matter how hard he pushed, the foot remained firmly in place.

He felt that Zhong Shujin’s immense anger was more suffocating than the foot on his chest.

This was the first time he had truly experienced the terror of this female demon. Never before had he felt such fear.

This was the first time he had been so close to the edge of death.

“Heh, what a big mouth!” A cold arrow shot through the air, aimed at Zhong Shujin’s heart. At the same time, Tang Shifeng’s voice rang out, “Grandmaster Zhong, you wouldn’t dare think that you could run wild in our Shu region as if it were your Blood Flame Sect, would you?”

Disturbed by Tang Shifeng, Zhong Shujin hadn’t had time to take Zhu Junzhe’s life before she was forced to grab Gu Qingyin and move to the side, narrowly avoiding the cold arrow.

Looking up, she saw Tang Shifeng standing on his horse, covered in dust. Behind him were the Tang Sect reinforcements.

The original thirty or so people in the forest had increased to over a hundred.

Although there were already a dozen or so Tang Sect corpses on the ground, the dense crowd still looked quite intimidating.

Just moments ago, Zhu Junzhe, who had been lying on the ground, had already been carried away by someone when Zhong Shujin looked down again after scanning the enemies.

At the same time, Lin Ziyan had pulled Dan Wenshu over, regrouping with them.

“This is bad—look over there.”

A massive wave of venomous snakes was slithering toward them from behind.

The sight of them made Zhong Shujin’s scalp tingle instantly.

The once-dignified and fearless Leader Zhong was now biting her lower lip, trying to suppress the tremors running through her body.

Even so, Gu Qingyin could clearly feel her tension.

She gently pulled down the arm wrapped around her waist and held Zhong Shujin’s hand tightly, speaking with unwavering seriousness, “Ah Jin, I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”

At that moment, blood still lingered on Gu Qingyin’s lips, making it evident that her condition was worsening. Zhong Shujin’s heart ached at the sight, unwilling to let her expend any more energy. She quickly bit her lip and forced herself to stay firm, responding through gritted teeth, “I’m not afraid. Don’t worry—I’ll get you out of here!”

With that, she raised her saber and pointed it in Tang Shifeng’s direction, roaring, “Tang Shifeng! If you’ve got the guts, come down here and fight me fair and square! Resorting to such lowly tricks—what kind of hero does that make you?”

“Lowly tricks?” Tang Shifeng chuckled, taking a few steps back with his men before calling out loudly, “The girl beside you—her underhanded methods far surpass ours! Why don’t you survive the snake pit first, and then we’ll see how impressive your saber skills really are?”

Within moments, the four of them were no longer surrounded by Tang Sect disciples but by a writhing mass of snakes, all moving under the influence of an eerie flute melody.

Seeing the open space around them shrinking, Lin Ziyan was about to call Zhong Shujin to charge out together when she realized Zhong Shujin’s legs had already gone weak with fear.

Lin Ziyan: “…”

This person could kill without blinking, yet she was afraid of *these* things?

“A-… Ayin… It’s fine… Don’t worry… I-I can handle this…”

She was *terrified*, yet she was still trying to comfort Gu Qingyin?

If the situation weren’t so dire, Lin Ziyan would have burst into laughter.

Unfortunately, now was not the time.

She was tense too—one arm wrapped around Dan Wenshu, the other gripping her spear as she locked eyes with the surrounding snakes.

For some reason, they hesitated at a five-step distance, unwilling to come any closer.

Then—

“Ayin! Are you crazy? Stop it, now!”

Zhong Shujin’s panicked cry rang out.

Lin Ziyan turned sharply, only to see Gu Qingyin slicing open her own wrist with Zhong Shujin’s Yanling Blade.

Bright red blood dripped down, drop by drop.

And the snake swarm, which had been advancing under the enemy’s control, suddenly shrank back at the scent of her blood.

A restless disturbance spread through the horde.

Gu Qingyin looked up at Zhong Shujin and gave her a pale smile, reassuring her, “My blood contains all sorts of poisons and medicines—it’s exactly what they fear the most! Don’t worry, I won’t let them get anywhere near you.”

Zhong Shujin stared intently at Gu Qingyin’s wrist, her eyes already turning red.

She would never let Ayin’s blood be shed in vain today!