Chapter 28: Passing! Elder Sword

"Elder Sword!" Fang Yu picked up her sword, quickened her pace, and ran toward him.

"Elder Sword! Are you alright?" Fang Yu helped him up.

The Elder’s expression seemed to have aged, his voice low and weary: "I am fine. Help me up so I can heal my wounds."

Fang Yu set down her sword and supported him. A flicker of resolve crossed the Elder’s eyes. With trembling hands, he touched the area around the wound on his left arm as lightly as a dragonfly skimming the water. A pale blue glow seeped from his fingertips, slowly wrapping around the shocking gash. The air seemed to fill with the scent of medicine mingled with spiritual energy; the blood at the edges of the wound began to congeal, ceasing its frantic flow. He closed his eyes, his breathing heavy and strained, yet a thin barrier of spiritual energy gradually formed around him, as if he were racing against time to preserve the volatile life force within him.

Fang Yu stood by, anxious yet afraid to disturb him, gripping her sword tightly, her gaze burning with intensity.

Yufan stood tall, his eyes sharp as a hawk’s, scanning the black-robed figures who looked bewildered by his sudden declaration. Sunlight filtered through the sparse clouds, dappling his resolute face and lending him an unquestionable air of authority. He stood up slowly, his robes fluttering in the wind. Every step was steady and powerful, as if he were treading upon the very hearts of those watching, causing the noisy square to fall instantly silent.

He brushed the dust from his robes with a proud, defiant gesture, then fixed his gaze firmly upon the Sect Master of the Refining Sect, his eyes filled with both majesty and scrutiny.

Yufan’s voice was not loud, but it carried clearly across the square with undeniable resolve: "You seek me. All this enmity should be borne by me alone. They are innocent. Let them go, and I will give you the answer you seek."

The Sect Master of the Refining Sect curled his lips into a cold sneer. Moving like a phantom, he teleported before Yufan and locked his right hand around Yufan’s throat like an iron vice. The force was so great that Yufan’s face instantly flushed crimson, his eyes widened, and a choking, struggling sound escaped his throat. The air around them seemed to solidify, and the breathing of those watching grew heavy.

At this critical moment, Fang Yu lunged upward. The tip of her long sword hummed with vibration, gathering all her strength and her desire to protect the Elder. With a shout, she sprang forward like an arrow released from its bow, charging at the Sect Master. The blade’s light sliced through the air like a bolt of silk. With a deafening "Bang!", the tip of her sword struck the impromptu spiritual barrier the Sect Master had erected, sending visible ripples of energy surging outward.

The Sect Master wore a mocking smile. Facing her unstoppable strike, he did not dodge; instead, he gave his right hand a light twist, using Yufan’s body as a shield. At the same time, his spiritual energy surged, instantly forming a crystalline barrier that glowed with a faint, deep purple light, reminiscent of ancient stars. It held Fang Yu’s desperate blade-light firmly at bay.

"Bang!" The collision between the sword and the shield erupted in a blinding flash. The air seemed to tear, emitting a thunderous roar. Fang Yu felt an indescribable force rebound from the blade, numbing her hand and sending her stumbling back several paces. The very ground beneath her cracked under the impact. She gritted her teeth, steadied herself, and kept her gaze fixed with unyielding light.

The Sect Master chuckled darkly, "You mere mortal, what qualification do you have to negotiate with me?"

Yufan barked, "Do you not wish to know what is inside the tower? If I die, you will never know! I know you came for the secrets of the tower, and I have long known you arranged for those people to watch me!"

Hearing this, the Sect Master’s expression changed abruptly, a flicker of ruthless greed crossing his eyes, as if Yufan had struck a nerve. He tightened his grip; Yufan’s face turned even redder from asphyxiation, veins bulging on his neck, but his eyes remained bright, filled with defiance and mockery.

"Hmph, you think this can threaten me?" The Sect Master sneered, his voice low and dangerous, as if from the depths of the abyss. "I have my own ways of discovering the secrets of the tower. As for you, you are merely a pawn in my plans." As he spoke, his fingers moved slightly, and a surging tide of spiritual energy gathered in his palm, ready to deliver a fatal blow.

The Elder slowly stood up. Every step was heavy, yet permeated with unquestionable determination. Fang Yu rushed forward to support his arm, her eyes full of worry: "Elder, you..." Before she could finish, the Elder interrupted her.

"Stay back. This is a formidable opponent; you cannot handle him alone." His voice was weak but carried an authority that could not be defied. He swept his gaze toward the two figures in the tense standoff, calculating his next move.

Fang Yu’s face turned pale, her lips trembling. She wanted to say more, but the Elder’s stern gaze stopped her. "Listen to me, back down!" His voice was low and powerful, acting like an invisible force that suppressed the panic in her heart.

Though the Elder’s stance was unsteady, his eyes shone with unwavering resolve. He pushed Fang Yu’s hand away and stepped forward. Each step seemed to tread upon an invisible weight, yet remained remarkably steady. Sunlight shone through the clouds, casting a golden glow upon his weathered face, lending him a sense of solemnity and sacredness.

Yufan’s struggles grew more violent. His eyes were wide, reflecting the cold, ruthless face of the Sect Master and the expressions of fear and concern from the crowd. He gathered all his strength, forcing out broken, intermittent words: "If I... die... you... will... never... truly... know... the... secret!" Each word seemed to consume the last of his vitality, accompanied by the bulging veins in his neck, making it a tragic sight.

Every word from the Elder acted like a heavy hammer upon Fang Yu’s heart, stirring ripples of agony. She clenched her fists until her nails dug into her palms, but the pain was nothing compared to her inner torment and helplessness. Tears welled in her eyes, but she stubbornly held them back. She knew how small she was, and that against such a powerful enemy, any rash move would be a meaningless sacrifice.

Yufan’s struggles grew weaker, but this only strengthened the Elder’s resolve. He drew a deep breath, and the remaining spiritual energy within him seemed awakened by this moment of determination, flowing toward his palms. A look of finality flashed in his eyes—a commitment to justice and a reverence for life.

The Elder’s body swayed like a leaf in an autumn wind as he was struck by the massive, surging wave of energy released by the four black-robed men. In that instant, the air seemed to be sucked away, leaving only piercing whistles and explosive roars. He stumbled, then his knees hit the ground with a heavy thud. Like a dead tree caught in a gale, he was knocked down by the combined power of the four. He fell to his knees in the dust, every breath accompanied by violent coughing. Fresh red blood spilled from his lips, staining his robes and the trembling hands of Fang Yu.

Fang Yu let out a cry of alarm, tears shimmering in her eyes. She rushed toward him, ignoring everything else. Her hands trembled as she supported his back, trying to use her own strength to hold up the hero who was about to fall. Her voice was choked with sobs, yet remarkably firm: "Elder, hold on! We cannot lose!"

The sunlight seemed to lose its warmth, casting only a cold light that rendered everything around them pale and powerless.

Fang Yu knelt beside the Elder, her eyes full of reluctance and resolve. She gripped his calloused hands tightly, trying to pass her own warmth and strength to him. Her voice was choked, yet filled with unwavering conviction: "Elder, you cannot fall. We are the guardians of justice; we cannot give up here!"