The Demon Lord and I: Frenemies - Chapter 19

The white mist in the forest grew thicker, steadily approaching the battlefield.

Amid swirling clouds and smoke, a figure flashed-it was Chu Bingxiao, blood streaming from his wounds. The loss of blood blurred his vision and dulled his hearing; he had to untie the Red Cord from his waist and tightly bind his left hand to his longsword, lest he lose his weapon in a moment of weakness.

The battle had dragged on, even the Wind Howl Giant Beast was growing restless. The giant bird, led by the cultivator before it, was drawn into the southern woods. It ignored the mortals and other cultivators in the town, intent only on seeking revenge against Chu Bingxiao for the wound to its claw!

The pale green butterflies dissipated, transforming into a gentle rain. Large raindrops pattered down, striking the wings of the Wind Howl Giant Beast.

Chu Zaishuang, borrowing the power of her Sleeve Arrow, hoisted herself up to the treetop, hiding in the shadow of thick branches. From above, she watched her elder brother’s figure not far away. His Cloud Water Robe was stained red with blood from a life-threatening wound. Time and again, he was knocked away by the beast’s wings, yet he forced himself to rise and fight again, like a pine tree unbowed by the storm.

Suppressing her anxiety, she held her breath and focused, carefully scanning the Wind Howl Giant Beast. Aside from its beak, claws, and wings, she saw no trace of any magical artifact.

That left only one possibility: the artifact was unfortunately attached to an ordinary Wind Howl Beast. It hid among the vast flock, appearing and disappearing near the Wind Howl Giant Beast, boosting its cultivation.

She had no way to kill the giant beast; for now, her only option was to save the game.

If she could capture the Wind Howl Beast with the artifact, the giant bird leader would revert to the Four Leaves Initial Stage, greatly easing the pressure on Chu Bingxiao.

As long as they held out until reinforcements from the sect arrived, both could escape and weather the crisis safely.

However, the sky was filled with Wind Howl Beasts like rolling black clouds; looking out, she couldn’t spot the artifact at all. They clustered around the Wind Howl Giant Beast, sometimes forming a wall of birds to shield their leader from the murderous aura of the Shuo Yu Technique.

Xiao Shi exclaimed, [There are too many! I can’t see a thing!]

“You search one side, I’ll search the other. We’ll split up,” Chu Zaishuang said. “Artifacts have a range-just watch the giant bird’s surroundings. It must be close by.”

At that moment, Chu Bingxiao, like a broken log, was struck and thrown back, his blade shattering instantly. The Wind Howl Giant Beast raised its sharp claw, poised to crush him, eager to snap his spine-yet he narrowly dodged.

In the tree, Chu Zaishuang’s eyes widened. She covered her mouth, not daring to make a sound, forcing herself to stay still. If she rushed out now, it would be suicide, wasting her brother’s efforts.

Suddenly, memories of hunting birds in the snowy childhood flashed before her eyes.

In a world of white, Chu Bingxiao brought a bamboo basket, propped up with a stick tied to a string, scattering grain below, then hid with her to wait for prey.

She was always impatient, pulling the string before the bird reached the center.

“Shuang’er, you’re pulling too soon-you’ll scare it away.”

“But it’s about to finish the grain.”

“It’s precisely at times like this that you need patience.”

You had to wait until the bird let down its guard before pulling the string, or you’d only startle it.

Yet now, the one who once spoke those words had become the bait beneath the basket, in grave danger.

Below, the Wind Howl Giant Beast was in no hurry to kill Chu Bingxiao. Instead, it toyed with him, confident now that the cultivator had lost his sword, savoring the final hunt.

Spirit Beasts are half a stage stronger than cultivators of the same rank. Now at the Five Leaves Initial Stage, the Wind Howl Giant Beast faced Chu Bingxiao at the Four Leaves Mid Stage. That he had lasted so long was already a miracle.

Amid the wind stirred by the flock, a faint bell sounded above the forest, ethereal and elusive.

Chu Zaishuang tilted her ear, scanning repeatedly toward the source of the bell. Her gaze swept past the dense wings, and finally, with Xiao Shi’s guidance, she spotted the Wind Howl Beast bearing a bell.

A fine ring was clasped around the bird’s ankle, with a glowing bell attached. Though tiny, it rang out clearly. The Wind Howl Beast was petite, always hiding behind its companions, occasionally fluttering its wings to ring the bell again.

She locked onto her target, adjusting her Sleeve Arrow, waiting for the right moment.

The bell rang in a certain rhythm, indicating the artifact had a time limit. It would periodically approach the leader to boost the Wind Howl Giant Beast’s cultivation, and there would always be a moment when it descended.

This was a risky move-if she seized the bell, she would surely be attacked.

The best outcome: she succeeded and both survived. Next best: she succeeded but traded herself, pecked full of holes by the flock, yet saving Chu Bingxiao. Worst: she failed and both perished here.

She could only succeed-failure was not an option.

Closer, just a little closer.

At last, the Wind Howl Giant Beast launched a killing blow at Chu Bingxiao. The Bell Bird dove down, ringing its bell to boost the leader’s cultivation.

This was the moment!

A sharp arrow shot toward the Bell Bird. The hunter, who had waited so long, struck at her target among the flock, but other Wind Howl Beasts swooped in to block her attack!

But Chu Zaishuang was prepared. She threw with all her strength, using the Cloud Brocade Rope attached to the arrow to entangle the Bell Bird, activating the mechanism of her Sleeve Arrow, and gripped the rope with both hands, pulling it back!
The Sleeve Arrow whirred as it retracted, dragging the Bell Bird backwards through the air. The little creature struggled desperately, but it was futile; it was about to fall into her grasp.

Countless Wind Howl Beasts swooped down in panic, pulling the Bell Bird upward, engaging in a tug-of-war with Chu Zaishuang at the other end of the rope, trying to rescue their captured companion. They pecked and bit frantically at the Cloud Brocade Rope, hoping to break through the layers of restraint, unwilling to surrender the Bell Bird.

In the chaos, the Sleeve Arrow suddenly made a crisp snap, as if it slipped downward, and happened to get caught by the Ringing Bell Ring.

If the stalemate continued, the rope would eventually be broken. Chu Zaishuang noticed the arrowhead had hooked onto the ring; she pulled with all her might but couldn’t get it loose. Resolutely, she leapt down from the treetop, hoping to use her own weight and momentum to snatch the Ringing Bell Ring.

With a tremendous force, the Bell Bird was dragged downward. Sensing the ring slipping, it let out a mournful cry.

The flock erupted into chaos, attacking from all directions.

[They’re coming!]

Before her feet touched the ground, Chu Zaishuang was knocked over by flapping wings, a red mark slashed across her cheek. Amidst the flurry, she clung tightly to the Cloud Brocade Rope, swaying violently in midair as the birds collided with her. She shouted, “Move aside!”

In the damp mist of rain, the Rippling Water Technique and Golden Lightning Technique burst forth together, droplets crackling with electricity scattering everywhere, striking down the first wave of attacking birds!

She had been diligently practicing her techniques lately, reciting them until they were second nature. She cast spell after spell, activating the Sleeve Arrow mechanism again, determined to pull off the Ringing Bell Ring. The force of the rope pulled her upward, bringing her ever closer to the terrified Bell Bird and the Ringing Bell Ring within reach.

The flock surged like waves, undeterred by the numbing Golden Lightning Technique, charging in wave after wave. They even used long ropes to hoist Chu Zaishuang into the air, trying to force her to let go of the rope.

[All the Wind Howl Beasts are here. If we keep casting spells like this, our spiritual energy won’t last long!]

“There’s still the Cloud Water Robe!”

Chu Zaishuang squeezed her eyes shut, fearing the birds would peck them blind. Ignoring the Wind Howl Beasts’ attacks, she followed Xiao Shi’s guidance, climbing upward by instinct. The Cloud Water Robe was sturdy; as long as she wasn’t critically injured, she could hold out a while longer.

Not far away, Fei Wanghuai followed the trail of Soul-Guiding Silver, peering through gaps in the foliage to spot the black dot suspended in the air-it was Chu Zaishuang. Unable to stop the massive black cloud of birds, she was tossed about by their onslaught, yet still climbed upward, albeit slowly.

He didn’t understand why he had come back, nor why his heart was pounding so fiercely, like a blazing fire. But none of that mattered now.

Faster, faster.

In the air, amidst the birds’ attacks, Chu Zaishuang finally reached the peak, unleashing all the strength she had accumulated. She swiftly and decisively sliced through bird claws with her arrow, even at the cost of cutting her own palm.

Blood splattered, pain seared her palm, but she gripped the Ringing Bell Ring tightly, and in an instant, its spiritual energy faded away.

“One for one.”

Surrounded by black feathers, she stared at the sharp beaks rushing toward her, feeling herself lose control and begin to fall, guessing at her ultimate fate.

Though she had seized the Ringing Bell Ring, being dragged into midair meant her survival depended purely on luck.

On the other side, the Wind Howl Giant Beast sensed the loss of spiritual energy. It no longer cared about Chu Bingxiao, spreading its wings with all its might, hoping to reclaim the Ringing Bell Ring from Chu Zaishuang before time ran out. The artifact’s effect was limited; it was still at the Five Leaves Initial Stage, but couldn’t hold out much longer and would soon revert to the Four Leaves Initial Stage.

“Shuang’er!”

Whether at the Five Leaves Initial Stage or the Four Leaves Initial Stage, Chu Zaishuang was no match.

Chu Bingxiao’s bones were broken; he lay on the ground, struggling to rise, but could only lift his blood-soaked left hand. In his palm, blood beads gathered, carrying unstoppable force, shooting toward the Wind Howl Giant Beast flying away from him!

The Blood Arrow Technique could only be used once-it had to kill with a single strike!

In an instant, hurricane winds, wings, blood beads, blades of grass, and sharp claws flashed before her eyes. She wanted to fire the Sleeve Arrow again to hook a branch, but the enraged Wind Howl Giant Beast charged at her, ignoring the blood-arrow attack from behind, intent on killing her on the spot.

Falling and the threat of death should have been terrifying, yet for some reason, her mind was calm and unafraid.

As long as her brother was safe, it didn’t matter-she was useless anyway. No matter how you looked at it, sacrificing the weak to save the strong meant this game was won.

At the moment of impact, the expected shattering of bones never came. Instead, towering blue flames erupted in the dense forest. These were not ordinary scarlet tongues of fire, but icy blue in color-mysterious blue fireballs leapt and scattered sparks with each blow, like dazzling fireworks set off by mortals in the sky.

The Soul Fire Technique could intercept the Wind Howl Giant Beast’s charge, but couldn’t burn through the claws of a Five Leaves Spirit Beast. As the giant bird’s cultivation faded, it let out a hoarse cry and slashed its claw straight at the two before it!

The next moment, the Blood Arrow Technique followed, striking just as its cultivation waned, instantly piercing the massive bird’s head!

Blood sprayed everywhere, like plum blossoms on snowy ground, leaving patches of crimson. A familiar faint fragrance lingered as she crashed into a warm body, landing safely thanks to his embrace, only to smell a strong scent of blood.

A single claw from a Five Leaves Spirit Beast was far beyond what a novice disciple’s body could withstand; in an instant, the pure white Cloud Water Robe was soaked in blood. Even someone as resilient as Fei Wanghuai could only stifle a groan in the agony of being torn, his brows furrowing tightly.
She had anticipated many outcomes, but not the scene before her eyes.

When she saw clearly who had shielded her from the deadly claws, for the first time, she revealed panic, her gaze trembling as she asked:

“Why?”

Fei Wanghuai had actually come. But he had no reason to return, he shouldn’t appear in this game, shouldn’t stand before her.

She had guessed that lives would be at stake, but she hadn’t guessed it would be his life.

At some point, that heavy aura of death faded; he was still burning like fire, but now it was a cold, ice-blue flame, making him appear even more otherworldly amidst the vivid pool of blood.

“No reason.”

A mocking smile curled at his lips, just like when he used to chide her for being too talkative, always throwing out so many questions for no reason.

The ghostly blue flame was falling, and as his vision blurred, the handsome youth in white also collapsed.

Before his consciousness sank into Chaos, he gave his actions a conclusion: foolish, childish, and naive. But none of it mattered anymore.

Perhaps one day, he would have to kill her, but it shouldn’t be now, shouldn’t be today.

The Rosa Multiflora of Wangchuan River had withered; its frail branches fell upon her shoulder, leaving only a lingering fragrance and faint traces.

Amidst the thunderous beating of wings, all the Wind Howl Beasts, leaderless after their chief’s death, were in a frenzy like headless flies. They rampaged, stirring up whirlwinds that forced the cultivators on the ground to keep their heads down.

Chu Zaishuang couldn’t see where her brother was. She could only pull the half-conscious Fei Wanghuai close, waiting quietly on the ground for the raging storm to pass. The three of them were exhausted, able only to wait for help-perhaps other new disciples, perhaps rescue from the Lotus Flower Sect. Fortunately, the Wind Howl Giant Beast was dead, so there was no immediate mortal danger.

But Chu Bingxiao and Fei Wanghuai were gravely wounded and likely couldn’t hold out much longer. If she had been the one struck, she would probably have died on the spot.

In the long torment, a point of white light pierced the sky. As spiritual energy swept out, thousands of birds were shattered to dust. The overwhelming pressure spread, even more terrifying than the Wind Howl Giant Beast, instantly erasing all Spirit Beasts in the forest.

A rift split open out of nowhere, and a male cultivator hurriedly stepped through. With sword-like brows and star-bright eyes, his gaze was resolute. His long hair was tied with a jade crown, and he wore the solemn outer robe of the Sect Leader, anxiously surveying the surroundings.

Chu Zaishuang saw who it was, and light burst forth in her apricot eyes.

“Father!”