INARTICULATION (MLM/MxM/M4M ORIGINAL)

Epilogue

The loose fabric of his robe rippled with the strong breeze that swept over the streets of Dong Nan, threatening to take Xun Jie's person into the air.

It was the only noise filling the kingdom for the longest time. There had been several members of the Daoist Militia standing nearby, but solely for the protection of the royal family. Had they been fighting alongside Xun Jie, the battle would likely have been won in less time than what had been spent already.

But of course, to partner with a beast as arrogant and proud as Xun Jie would be to partner with a monster. No man of God would want to be seen as low a devil as Xun Jie.

And despite their lack of support, he was holding the demon lord off well. Well enough to keep the demon from destroying the palace, but just barely as they fought by the demonic qi-dense steps leading to its entrance.

All sorts of energies were roiling in the air, infecting the spiritual flow of those Daozhong on standby and only strengthening sword glares and blows shared by both adversaries to the kingdom. Among those Daozhong stood two worthy figures. Those two alone would have had a better shot at defeating Demon Lord Heng'e if not for her superior presence of qi.

They had once been young soldiers wishing to fight alongside Xun Jie. In a situation like this, one would think they would jump into battle in his aid.

Yet those times had long passed.

His grip nearly slipped from the hilt of Baihu. Thinking about such an item only brought a sorrowful thought: this sword had been here and held by his hand for a longer time than those two had ever considered Xun Jie a friend.

He took a gamble with their relationship just as he was about to with Baihu.

Xun Jie lunged forth, gathering all qi surrounding his person to set another energy blast in the direction of the demon lord. The sound of shattering glass resounded in the air, accompanied by inhumane screeching and a weakness in his footing.

The once stable ground seemed ready to collapse, or his demonic instinct felt as if it was soon to disappear.

So, with one more step ready to be taken, he lunged forth again, landing another blow on the glass orb that was Heng'e's third eye.

The next sound wasn't a screech of terror, but one which had been overruled by his flapping robes again.

He was falling through the ground, swallowed by a dark and overwhelming sense of nothingness.

Looking up, he saw the demon lord falling down the same hole, not too far above him, yet not making much of an effort as a means of escape.

Baihu, the tiger, had fallen from the grasp of this noble soul. This great hero, who fought to end the demonic disputes at Dong Nan, had dropped his pride. He let it slip away after landing a final blow on the heart of that demon lord and was swallowed by a void that relieved him of his duties and the infamous title, THE TIGER OF JIAO XIANG PALACE.