"Kill!"
With a thunderous roar, Lin Jingyu unleashed the full might of his Immortal Sword.
The blade gleamed with blinding brilliance as it cut through the air. Behind him, the illusion of the Azure Dragon surged forth—majestic, fierce, and imbued with crushing spiritual pressure.
Its body coiled through the sky like a storm, jaws gaping wide as it barreled toward Tian Ling'er.
The sheer force of it caused the surrounding disciples to instinctively retreat, shielding their eyes from the intense light and spiritual wind.
Tian Ling'er's amber silk fluttered like a wounded bird under the pressure. She braced herself, teeth clenched—but even she knew it would be difficult to block such a strike head-on.
Just a few feet away, Qi Hao's eyes lit up with an opportunistic gleam.
Now! This is my chance!
His heart pounded—not from fear, but excitement.
If he could leap in at the last moment, block the dragon illusion, and catch Tian Ling'er in his arms like some romantic hero from a storybook, her heart would surely flutter.
She was naïve, pure, and far too sheltered. A dramatic moment like this might just leave a lasting impression.
Without hesitation, Qi Hao activated his spiritual energy and lunged forward, arms wide, ready to seize the moment—and the girl.
But fate was not on his side.
"You think I wasn't watching you?"
A sudden voice, calm yet biting, echoed from behind.
Before Qi Hao could react, a powerful force slammed into his back.
Bang!
The sound reverberated across the square like a clap of thunder.
Qi Hao's eyes bulged as a crushing palm strike sent him flying forward, tumbling through the air like a broken kite.
Blood sprayed from his mouth mid-flight before he crashed into the dirt with a sickening thud.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Standing where Qi Hao had been, Zhang Xiaofan slowly lowered his hand, his robes fluttering from the residual force of his strike.
His expression was impassive, but his eyes burned with quiet fury.
On the second floor of a nearby pavilion, Tian Buyi watched the scene unfold with a twinkle of amusement in his usually stern eyes.
"Hmph," he muttered, stroking his beard. "Seventh disciple... looks like a gentle lamb on the outside, but inside, he's a cunning little fox."
Su Ru, seated beside him, frowned in surprise. "Xiaofan? That… that was quite vicious."
Tian Buyi chuckled, tapping the window frame. "You see that? He didn't just stop Qi Hao—he did it with perfect timing. He knew exactly what Qi Hao was planning."
Below, Zhang Xiaofan's focus shifted.
Still holding his fire stick, he flicked his wrist.
A beam of vibrant green light burst forth, slamming directly into the oncoming Azure Dragon illusion.
The phantom dragon roared in defiance before shattering into streams of dissipating energy.
Before the last fragment of light vanished, Zhang Xiaofan soared forward like a gust of wind.
In a blur of movement, he caught Tian Ling'er midair and pulled her into his arms, shielding her as they glided gracefully backward to safety.
Their feet touched the ground moments later, and silence fell.
Tian Ling'er blinked, wide-eyed, cradled against Xiaofan's chest.
The warmth of his body, the strength in his arms, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat—it was all so unexpected.
She stared up at him, her face growing redder by the second.
"X-Xiaofan…" she stammered. "Thank you. If you hadn't stepped in, I…"
"You'd be fine," Zhang Xiaofan interrupted gently, smiling down at her. "But I couldn't take that chance."
He slowly loosened his hold but kept one hand on her waist a moment longer. "You're my senior sister—and more than that, you're important to me.
If something happened to you while I stood by... I'd never forgive myself."
Tian Ling'er's heart skipped a beat.
From the side, dozens of Qingyun disciples watched the scene with astonishment—and more than a few jealous glares.
Off in the distance, a groan broke the mood.
"Cough… cough…"
Qi Hao, pale and trembling, pushed himself up from the ground.
Blood streaked his lips, and his spiritual aura flickered weakly. But it wasn't just the pain that gnawed at him—it was the image he had just seen.
Tian Ling'er. In Zhang Xiaofan's arms. Blushing. Smiling.
It felt like someone had stabbed a dagger through his chest—and twisted.
"Pfft!" He coughed up more blood, staggering as he tried to stand straight.
"Big Brother!" Lin Jingyu rushed over, grabbing his arm. "Are you alright?"
Qi Hao waved him off weakly, eyes burning with resentment. He looked at Zhang Xiaofan, teeth clenched.
"Zhang Xiaofan…" he hissed. "You despicable coward.
You sneak attacked me out of nowhere… seriously injured me—for no reason!"
Zhang Xiaofan turned to face him, brows raised in feigned innocence.
"Sneak attack?" he echoed, voice steady. "I call it intercepting a pervert."
The crowd gasped. Even Lin Jingyu's eyes widened.
Zhang Xiaofan's voice grew sharper. "You saw my senior sister was vulnerable.
You weren't trying to protect her. You were trying to take advantage of her moment of weakness."
He pointed his fire stick toward Qi Hao, not aggressively, but with absolute certainty. "If I hadn't acted, who knows what story you'd be spinning right now?"
Qi Hao turned red—then purple.
"I-I wasn't… I was trying to save her!"
"Save her?" Zhang Xiaofan smirked. "Then why didn't you shout her name? Why did you rush toward her quietly, like a snake in the grass?"
Qi Hao's jaw dropped. He floundered for words. "I… I was trying to act quickly!"
Zhang Xiaofan snorted. "You were trying to score points.
And you got what you deserved."
On the second floor, Su Ru stared at the scene with her mouth slightly open.
"Bu Yi…" she murmured. "Did I misjudge Xiaofan all these years? He's not a little honest fool—he's a sly actor!"
Tian Buyi laughed heartily, clearly enjoying the drama. "He's clever. That's good.
You think honesty alone will help him survive in this cruel world?"
He turned to her with a grin. "Besides, I was like that once.
If I hadn't thickened my face a little, how would I have ever wooed you, the most enchanting woman in all of Qingyun?"
Su Ru blushed faintly. "You shameless man…"
"No wonder you favor Xiaofan so much," she added under her breath. "He's cut from the same cloth."
Tian Buyi gave a victorious hum. "Exactly!"
......
Read My other Fanfic :
BTTH : more children I have the stronger i become