But the viper python, already harboring a death wish, squeezed out its last bit of strength. With its burly frame, it bear-hugged the Daoist's body head-on.

Its legs, as firm as bedrock, were rooted to the ground, vowing to never let the Daoist break free.

An opportunity!

Ruan Tian and Ruan Di's eyes lit up. They slammed their hands into the ground and shouted, "Bind!"

The fish tattoos on their backs radiated a misty red light, drawing blood from their bodies.

The scarlet blood flowed along their arms, penetrating the earth,

Extending all the way to the Daoist's feet,

Turning into a shipwreck chain as thick as a child's arm, binding the Daoist's feet.

"Xiao Shusheng!"

Ruan Tian shouted hoarsely.

"Got it!"

Xiao Shusheng's eyes widened. He frantically waved his blood-stained fingertips, completing the final stroke of the talisman in mid-air, roaring, "Push the two qi, blend into one truth. Yin and yang transform, a roar of lightning! Lightning, come!"

In the high sky, gloomy thunderclouds churned restlessly. Suddenly, a narrow bolt of lightning, as thin as a pen tip, descended, destroying and tearing apart the roof of the dilapidated temple, striking directly on the Daoist's head.

Boom!

The broken temple roof was blown away entirely. Countless broken bricks and tiles splattered like a torrential rain on the surrounding mountains and forests, startling thousands of birds and beasts.

Rolling thunder echoed vibrantly in the dilapidated temple.

From the sheaths in front of the two maids, two sword shadows suddenly leaped out.

In the fleeting flash of lightning, they shot out, circling the Daoist's body as if alive, before floating back to their original positions,

Gently and steadily falling into their sheaths.

When the dust settled, Xiao Shusheng, his eyes bloodshot, finally saw everything in the dilapidated temple clearly.

The viper python's burly frame still stood in the middle of the temple.

The skin all over its body was cracked and charred black. Its neck was completely broken, its head connected to its body by only a layer of skin and bone.

And the Daoist it had embraced was similarly charred black.

His crane cloak was reduced to ashes.

His already gaunt, emaciated body became even smaller and weaker.

More strikingly,

Two deep sword marks remained on the Daoist's body, located on the neck and abdomen respectively, deep enough to see bone.

These were left by the flying swords controlled by the maids.

Huff, puff, huff, puff.

Xiao Shusheng's lungs made a sound like a broken bellows. His mind echoed with alternating buzzing noises.

Every part of his body was demanding that he lie down immediately and rest.

"I-is it...over?"

Xiao Shusheng asked in a low voice, swallowing.

No one answered.

After a while, Ruan Tian, who was hiding in the corner of the dilapidated temple, threw a dart, bypassing the viper python's body and hitting the charred head of the short-haired Daoist.

Thud.

The head, with sword marks remaining on its neck, fell in response, rolling several times on the ground before finally stopping next to a broken brick, covered in dust.

Dead.

Without a doubt, the thunder technique Xiao Shusheng had stolen from a prestigious sect had killed the short-haired Daoist.

"...."

Xiao Shusheng sat down on the ground with a thud, no longer caring about his refined image, panting like a donkey.

"Not easy... finally killed him."

Wu Hu, hiding behind the maids, shook his head and sighed with a frown, "This Ximenzi Daoist's vitality is like that of a cockroach. You have to cut off his head to be sure he's dead."

"You!"

Ruan Tian ran over in three steps, grabbed Wu Hu's collar, and lifted him up, roaring, "You still have the face to say that! If you hadn't been discovered by mere mortals for killing and taking infants, and gotten yourself thrown in jail,

Would we have needed to break into the prison?

Would we have provoked Daoist Ximen?

Yun He Weng, the Yi Ye Qing sisters, the viper python brothers...did they have to die?"

"Calm down, calm down."

Wu Hu, suspended in mid-air, quickly waved his hands, trying to stabilize Ruan Tian's emotions. "It's no use getting angry at me now. The dead can't be brought back to life.

Even if you kill me, it won't bring Yun He Weng, the Yi Ye Qing sisters, or the viper python brothers back to life.

If you ask me, we should first collect their bodies, give them a grand burial, and then go to Luzhou to carry out the Saint's plan.

You have to learn to consider the bigger picture."

"I'll take your bigger picture and shove it up your ass!"

Ruan Tian roared, about to punch Wu Hu in the face.

"Stop!"

The maid frowned, her voice filled with unquestionable authority, "Wu Hu is right. That Ximenzi Daoist almost wiped you all out just now with his external martial arts.

If he hadn't been arrogant and hadn't used Daoist magic,

Xiao Shusheng's thunder technique might not have been able to kill him.

Wasn't it said that Ximenzi Daoist was traveling with several of his fellow disciples?

It was already unwise to provoke him before.

If you waste any more time here, waiting for his fellow disciples or the Goose City Martial Virtue Guard to come, none of you will be able to escape."

Ruan Tian clenched his teeth, his fingers gripping Wu Hu's collar turning white.

The other maid glanced at him faintly and said in a low voice, "Let go of Wu Hu. He's very useful for the Saint's plan."

"But..."

"The Saint White Lotus Society will continue to raise Yun He Weng's surviving relatives. Yi Ye Qing and the viper python's corpses will also be buried."

The maid interrupted, "Now, let him go."

Ruan Tian pursed his lips, and at the signal from his younger brother Ruan Di, reluctantly released Wu Hu's collar.

Thud.

Wu Hu landed on the ground, exhaled a breath of stale air, and patted his chest, relieved, muttering, "Why so fierce? Scared the hell out of me."

He shook his head, a smile returning to his face, and cupped his fist at the maids with a smile, "The ladies are wise and martial, discerning right from wrong.

I wasn't avoiding battle just now, but selectively preserving our strength, conducting a strategic transfer, observing from the rear, and providing opinions and suggestions.

In the future, I will definitely learn more from Bai He Weng and the others, and be brave and good at fighting.

As the saying goes, the road to the emperor is full of vicissitudes. One day, I will be unparalleled in battle, abandoning fame and fortune on the battlefield, and willingly replace myself for the White Lotus..."

"Shut up!"

The maid's eyes slanted, her face as cold as ice, "I will truthfully report this matter to the Saint. Whether you can redeem yourself in Luzhou and offset your merits and demerits depends on you."

Wu Hu nodded with a smile, his attitude very humble, "I understand. I will definitely do a good job, work overtime voluntarily, work hard without complaint, and strive to get promoted and get a raise as soon as possible, marry a rich and beautiful woman, and reach the peak of my life."

Seeing this, Ruan Tian sighed silently in his heart.

Together with his younger brother Ruan Di, he walked towards the entrance of the dilapidated temple,

With a feeling of shared sorrow, he collected Bai He Weng's body and took Yi Ye Qing down from the wall.

When they were collecting the short-haired Daoist's body, Ruan Di seemed to have discovered something.

"Huh?"

Ruan Di touched the short-haired Daoist's charred head, rubbing his fingers back and forth on the Daoist's black, cracked cheek, his expression changing slightly. He asked Ruan Tian in a low voice, "Brother, this head...why does it have two layers of skin?"