The wind blew through the bamboo forest, emitting a rustling melody throughout the area. Mayor Du stood blankly, watching the blood flowing from Lim Yuehai's left chest, his face frozen in horror.
"You..." Guo Baiyu gritted his teeth, his voice laced with fury. He stared coldly at Mayor Du, unable to comprehend the act.
The gray wolf, despite his own mortal wound, quickly moved behind Lim Yuehai, holding her in his arms. He pressed down on Lim Yuehai's wound, but her blood continued to gush out, uncontrollably. The gray wolf screamed in pain, a guttural sound of despair.
Lim Yuehai murmured, grasping for air, "Bai...Bai...Bai...yu...." She stretched out her hand, a desperate plea. Guo Baiyu held her hand tightly. "Save my child... please tell Peizhi to help...me...raise my...child..."
Guo Baiyu held her hand tightly and said, his voice filled with urgency, "Don't say that you will be fine. I will take you home. We are going home together."
Lim Yuehai stretched out to touch the gray wolf's face with her right hand, a final tender gesture. She murmured, "I forgive you. Thank you for loving me..." Her hand slowly slipped from his face, her last breath escaping.
The gray wolf screamed in pain, a heartbroken howl, and started crying, tears mixing with his own blood. He grabbed the knife embedded in his abdomen. He then stabbed himself four more times, choosing to follow her in death. He fell backward, holding Lim Yuehai tightly in his arms, their bodies intertwined in a tragic embrace.
"I'm sorry, Yuehai," Guo Baiyu said, his voice thick with sorrow. He took the knife from the gray wolf's hand and, with a heavy heart, lifted Lim Yuehai's dress. He carefully cut Lim Yuehai's abdomen, took out a tiny baby boy, and gently handed the baby to Guozhao Zhiqiang, fulfilling his promise. He pulled her dress down, took off his outer robe, then wrapped it around where he had cut Lim Yuehai, trying to preserve her dignity. The baby looked like a normal human baby except for his two-pointed ears and the striking irises of a wolf.
Guo Longtong woke up after being knocked out cold, groaning. He reached inside his robe and then pulled the firework string. A single flare flew directly up into the clear sky, a signal for help. He didn't know what had happened. He saw Lim Yuehai and a gray wolf lying in blood on the ground, and Guo Baiyu was soaked in blood. He quickly jumped off the porch, heading towards Guo Baiyu, his mind reeling.
"Baiyu! Are you injured?" Guo Longtong asked frantically.
"No," Guo Baiyu replied, shaking his head. "How about you?"
"That bastard Du Aiguo hit me. I was hit so hard, my upper chest still hurts," Guo Longtong grumbled, rubbing his shoulder. He looked down at the gruesome scene. "Yuehai... is she still..."
Guo Baiyu shook his head, his face grim.
Lim Peizhi met up with the Huang sisters. When they saw the signal flare, they were already heading down to Bamboo Spring.
"That's Longtong," Huang Hongse said, recognizing the signal.
"I hope it's not for something silly," Huang Yueliang mused, ever practical.
"He is with Ping'an, maybe they have found Yuehai," Lim Peizhi said, his heart pounding with a mix of hope and dread. "Let's head down."
Lim Peizhi and the Huang sisters headed towards Bamboo Spring. When they were close to the gate, they saw Mayor Du standing at the gate, still holding his bow.
"Longtong, have you found Yuehai?" Huang Hongse shouted, her voice filled with urgency.
The three friends rushed to the gate, dread building in their hearts.
When Lim Peizhi reached the gate, he stopped abruptly. He felt that his whole body was weak, as if all of his energy had been taken away. He stared at the lifeless body of his twin sister. He felt that his soul was half dead, utterly shattered. He walked towards her slowly, his steps heavy. He walked behind her and held her in his arms, tears shedding drop by drop. Then he started crying openly, a raw, primal wail of grief.
"Peizhi, I'm sorry," Guo Baiyu said, kneeling down beside him, his voice full of pain. "I promised her to save her child. She wants you to help her raise the child."
The four generals with the law officers showed up to a gruesome scene, their faces aghast.
Li Luli stood up, a deranged laugh escaping her lips. "Ha...Ha...Ha... Lim Yuehai! He is mine! He belongs to me! Ha...Ha...Ha..." She laughed hysterically, pointing at the dead wolf spirit. "All these times he has escaped from you. He came to be with me. He is mine. Not yours."
"You shut up!" Lim Peizhi shouted angrily, his grief turning to rage. He stood up and slapped Li Luli severely, causing her to fall to the ground, silenced. He saw the arrow, still dripping with flesh and blood, stuck to the bamboo pole. He bent down and picked up his sister, then walked slowly towards the front gate, carrying her precious cargo.
"Zhiqiang, it is wrong to leave his body like this," Guo Baiyu said, referring to the wolf fairy.
Guozhao Zhiqiang took out a paper talisman and placed it on the dead wolf's body. Then, the wolf's body was lit up in flames, consuming it respectfully.
When the group of friends walked out of the gate, Lim Peizhi, with his sister in his arms, turned around to face Mayor Du.
Lim Peizhi stared at Mayor Du with fierce, bloodshot eyes, his face contorted with hatred. He gritted his teeth angrily and said, his voice low and menacing, "Mayor Du, when my army reaches your city gate, I will show no mercy."
Mayor Du knew that the army of Waterfall City was the fiercest army known by many. Even Capital City did not dare to invade them. No, hunters would dare to stand by his side if they knew that the Guozhao Hunters would stand with Lim Peizhi. To add more to the assault, the Guozhao Hunters could call Horseman Land's soldiers to assist. The Guozhao Hunters could easily send out their army of fairy to attack his people. His city would stand no chance to fight them.
"Peizhi, I was wrong. I didn't intend to kill Lady Lim," Mayor Du said, his voice hollow with despair. "A life for a life. No one is to avenge for my death, and no harm will come to Peizhi. This is my last order as the mayor." He drew his sword and, without hesitation, slit his own throat, falling dead.
The group of friends walked out of the gate, leaving the scene of tragedy behind.
"Peizhi, you bring Yuehai back," Guo Baiyu instructed. "Ping'an chased after the criminal alone."
"I will wait for you at the dock," Lim Peizhi replied, his voice flat with grief, confirming the meeting point.
Guozhao Zhiqiang gently handed the baby to Huang Yueliang, who cradled it carefully.
"Baiyu, be careful," Guo Longtong grunted in pain, still recovering.
"You too," Guo Baiyu said. He turned to Huang Hongse. "Hongse, he is injured. When you return to the city, ask the doctor to check him."
Ping'an whipped Tanlan left and right, her whip cracking through the air. He dodged all the attacks of her whips and went straight to her, his movements swift. He grabbed her by the throat with his right hand, squeezing tightly.
"Surrender," Tanlan hissed, his voice raspy. "Just say yes."
A talisman landed right on Tanlan's right hand, striking him. Tanlan screamed in pain and threw Ping'an to the ground, releasing his grip. When Ping'an was struggling on the ground, trying to breathe, Zhao Renshu drew his sword and attacked Tanlan.
After a while, Ping'an caught up with her breathing. She sent her three swords now multiplied and began to attack Tanlan with Zhao Renshu, a coordinated assault.
It was difficult for Zhao Renshu to conjure the magic circle spell, because Tanlan did not stay in one place long enough for him to cast the spell. Tanlan had been constantly teleporting, making him an elusive target. Then, he suddenly appeared in front of Ping'an, grabbed her neck, and pinched it tightly again, trying to choke her.
"I have no patience anymore," Tanlan snarled. "Say yes!"
Ping'an, severely choked, gasped, "Swords surround!" Her three swords doubled to fifty swords, and the glowing swords surrounded Tanlan, trapping him.
Zhao Renshu immediately cast the magic binding circles. There were two magic circles, one appearing from above and the other appearing from below, encasing Tanlan. Tanlan screamed in pain as the magic clamped down on him. One of Ping'an's swords severed Tanlan's hand, causing him to drop his weapon. Ping'an grabbed the hilt of the sword, and the sword drew her out of the magic binding circles, pulling her to safety.
Zhao Renshu flew on top of the magic circle. He put his hands together with his eyes closed, focusing. "Close," he commanded.
The magic circle slowly fell, collapsing inward. Flames rose, consuming Tanlan, and he screamed in pain, turning him into ashes. A pearl floated directly on the right-hand side of Ping'an, a condensed essence. She used her fist to hold the pearl inside, then reopened her fist, and the pearl was gone, absorbed.
Zhao Renshu walked up to her; his face filled with concern. He asked angrily, "How is your neck?" He saw three red fingerprints on her throat. "I forbid you to chase after these criminals by yourself!"
"You arrived on time," Ping'an said, her voice raspy, a faint smile.
"I arrived on time this time," Zhao Renshu lectured Ping'an, "What about the next time? Or the next time after the next time?"
"Alright, I will listen to you, I am wrong," Ping'an conceded, knowing he was right. "I am just worried that he will escape, and it will be difficult to find him."
"No matter what the situation, you can't hunt down criminals by yourself!" Zhao Renshu said madly, his voice firm. "Am I making myself clear?"
"Yes," Ping'an replied. She smiled at him. "Baiyu, I left Baiyu and Zhiqiang in Bamboo Spring."
"Don't worry, they will be fine," Zhao Renshu reassured her. "I saw a signal, I think that's them."
When Ping'an and Zhao Renshu were close to Bamboo Spring, they met with Guo Baiyu and Guozhao Zhiqiang, who were making their way back.
"Longtong?" Ping'an asked, concerned. "Is he okay? He took a hit for me."
"He will be fine," Guo Baiyu said. He looked at Ping'an, his voice grave. "Yuehai died."
"How?" Ping'an gasped, shocked. "She was fine when I left!"
"She was killed by Mayor Du," Guo Baiyu revealed, his face grim.
"What?" Zhao Renshu exclaimed, his eyes widening. "Peizhi will definitely bring his army here!"
"Mayor Du also died," Guo Baiyu continued, "He committed suicide to atone for his mistake."
"What about the child?" Ping'an asked, remembering her promise.
"He is safe," Guo Baiyu replied. "The child was not of the Du bloodline. The child is a mixture of wolf fairy and human."
"Interesting," Zhao Renshu mused, looking at Guozhao Zhiqiang. "Hey kid, what's with the long face?"
"I wondered whether my parents have the same fate as Lady Lim and the gray wolf," Guozhao Zhiqiang admitted, a thoughtful frown on his face.
"Don't think too much," Guo Baiyu advised gently. "Remember, not all truths are happy."
"Gray wolf?" Zhao Renshu asked, confused.
"Let's go back to the dock," Guo Baiyu said, leading the way. "Peizhi and the others are waiting for us there. I will tell you more along the way."
The masters and their disciple walked back towards the city, leaving the tragedy behind, carrying new burdens and new life.