National Guardian's Gone and We're Done

In an instant,

the courtyard, which just moments ago had been filled with laughter and boisterous celebration,

fell silent as if an invisible hand had pressed a mute button.

All the noise stopped abruptly, and a deathly quiet spread like a surging tide.

Only the bonfire

would occasionally let out the abrupt CRACKLE of burning wood,

like a startling thunderclap in the dark, briefly shattering the silence.

With every crackle, a few glittering sparks would eagerly leap out,

tracing faint yet glaring lines of light through the air.

Then, as if losing all their strength, they would fall limply to the ground, instantly swallowed by the merciless darkness,

leaving behind only a faint wisp of smoke as proof they had ever existed.

"How am I supposed to know if you’re telling the truth?"

Sparrow had been comfortably nestled in his chair,

leisurely enjoying some delicious roasted meat, but the relaxed expression on his face instantly froze over, replaced by a grim frost.

He slowly straightened his back, his movements slightly stiff, as if every muscle resisted the uneasy act of standing.

He then took cautious steps, moving closer and closer to Qu Yuxiu,

until he was right in front of him, where he slowly crouched down.

Sparrow’s gaze was like two sharp steel blades piercing straight into Qu Yuxiu, his eyes filled with scrutiny and doubt, and his voice was low.

"On this matter, I have absolutely no reason to deceive you.

Chu He and I are mortal enemies. I came here specifically to target him.

But who could have expected that Chu He would be so treacherous and cunning, with no sense of Martial Arts integrity whatsoever?

He actually stooped to ambushing me from behind.

If not for his shameless actions, how could I have ended up in such a miserable state?"

As Qu Yuxiu spoke with impassioned words,

he became too agitated to control himself. His eyes instantly bulged,

like two bronze bells about to burst, filled with fury and indignation.

Then, his expression twisted as if wrenched by an invisible hand.

A tide of terror washed over his face.

His gaze shot past Sparrow in a panic, fixing on the space behind him,

as if a Demon capable of devouring his soul was hiding there.

"What’s wrong with you?"

Seeing this, Sparrow frowned instinctively.

Doubt grew wildly in his heart like weeds.

He knew that Qu Yuxiu was in a desperate situation.

’He’s probably making up this lie to trick us into helping him escape. He’s just trying to survive.’

"Enemies!"

Just as Sparrow was struggling to make sense of the confusing situation,

the other Werewolves were instantly activated as if by a mysterious force,

and leaped to their feet in unison like coiled springs.

Their backs arched high like small, erupting volcanoes, their muscles tensing

and bulging like hard rock.

The wildness and power hidden beneath their human forms were now unleashed like a raging flood.

One by one, the Werewolves snarled, baring their chillingly sharp fangs,

letting out a continuous series of low, intimidating howls.

The sounds echoed through the frighteningly silent courtyard like the roars of demons from Hell, chilling one to the bone.

As if struck by lightning, Sparrow spun around to look behind him.

At some unknown point, a man and a woman had appeared there, standing quietly.

Both looked young,

with postures as straight as pine trees and an extraordinary, almost otherworldly air about them.

Yet they also radiated a mysterious, inscrutable aura.

"He... He’s Chu He."

A blush of embarrassment flashed across the face of Qu Yuxiu, who was still lying on the ground.

He was mortified that Chu He had seen him in such a pathetic state.

But the embarrassment vanished in an instant,

quickly replaced by a surge of vengeful glee. As if grasping a lifeline, he shouted the warning.

Hearing this, the members of the Werewolf Clan

froze as if struck by lightning, the hair on their bodies standing on end as if a powerful electric current had shot through them.

Their hearts filled with shock and terror,

their minds echoing with the legends of Chu He.

The powerful being who seemed to have walked straight out of a myth,

the legendary figure whose name alone made countless dark forces tremble in fear,

had actually appeared before them without any warning,

like a phantom.

This sudden turn of events

threw their minds into chaos. Their bodies seemed paralyzed, unable to move.

Only the sound of their own hearts, pounding from extreme tension,

could be heard, beating like a frantic war Drum in the silent courtyard.

"Hmph. You really know how to spin a yarn, kid,

slandering me behind my back, accusing me of a sneak attack,

and brazenly claiming I have no martial integrity. What utter nonsense!"

Chu He’s face was a mask of exasperation and contempt, his eyes looking at Qu Yuxiu as if he were an arrogant clown.

He stared straight at him, making no attempt to hide his disdain.

"You have already lost the firm and resolute heart required of a true expert.

From now on, on your path of Martial Arts cultivation, forget about making any progress.

You will likely only sink deeper into the mire, stagnating or even regressing."

Xia Chengli’s expression was stern, her tone bone-chillingly cold, like a fierce winter wind howling past.