Hua Xianle

Chapter 78:

The head of the tortoise emerged from the massive shell, revealing itself to be almost snake-like. Its roar shook the entire cave as it charged toward the shore. Wangji, Zixuan, and Zhuliu all stood their ground, everyone else retreating in a manic fashion. The only reason Mingjue wasn’t with those standing ahead was because of Xichen on his back.

Wen Chao, upon realizing what he was standing on, began to scream and thrash. Ironically, he also began to cling to Hua Ying, ignoring that the boy had been holding him hostage less than a minute ago.

“GET ME OFF THIS THING!! WEN ZHULIU!! SAVE ME!!”

The noise alerted not only the Core Melting Hand but also the massive creature as well. Quickly, Hua Ying dragged his hostage off of the tortoise and onto another islet (a real one this time) on the lake. He then spun around and threw Wen Chao at the approaching Wen Zhuliu, making sure that his core remained intact while also getting rid of the dead weight clinging to him.

With Hua Ying and Wen Chao no longer on its back, the tortoise was now fair game for the archers. Wei Ning grabbed the silver collar on his neck, the metal melting and shaping itself into a bow. He drew it back, arrows made from his spiritual energy forming from it. He fired, alongside the Wen Archers, but none of them could penetrate the beast’s shell. Those that managed to hit its snake-like neck only managed to piss it off and make it howl.

Hua Ying twirled Suibian in his hand, forming an ornate bow of his own. He prepared to fire on the creature, but that’s when he heard a cry from the shadows. Looking behind him, his blood boiled at the sight of two Wens forcing Luo Qingyang to her knees. One of them had her by her hair, forcing her to look up as Wang Lingjiao loomed over her.

“Hold her!” the woman ordered, heating the branding iron until it was glowing. “This will teach you to stay in your place, slut!”

“Mianmian!”

Hua Ying fired at the servants, hitting one of them. A third just took the fallen one’s place and the prince knew he had to act fast. He prepared to run, but someone was much faster. There was a rush of movement as someone charged at Wang Lingjiao, getting between her and Mianmian. There was the unmistakable sound of burning flesh, then a cry of pain.

“Zixuan!” Luo Qingyang screamed.

Sure enough, Jin Zixuan stood between the two women, the branding iron burning through his cheap, borrowed robes and searing the flesh of his chest. By some miracle he remained standing, the branding iron tumbling from the whore’s fingers to reveal a perfect Wen brand on the Jin heir’s chest.

Hua Ying saw red, his bow morphing into a pestle club as he charged at Wang Lingjiao. He struck her with all his strength, catching her in the stomach and sending her flying backward. She cried as she fell, her sobs pulling Wen Chao from his panic.

“Jiaojiao!” he shouted, turning to Wen Zhuliu with a furious expression. “Why are you just standing there?! Save Jiaojiao this instant!”

Listening to his superior's orders, Wen Zhuliu immediately bolted toward Wang Lingjiao as the tortoise began to let out an angry roar.  The beast advanced towards its prey, which turned out to be the Jin Wangji had kicked into the cave wall. Something truly had broken when they hit because they remained limp as they were eaten. Then, the beast turned its attention to the rest of them.

Wen Zhuliu assessed the situation as quickly as he could, determining that they were hopelessly outmatched by the creature. The numbers they would lose in an attempt to slay the thing was not worth the reward, especially with Wen Chao and Wang Lingjiao in the line of fire. He and the rest may have been expendable, but his Master and his mistress were not.