518: Blood Marrow Orchid

Supported by Bi Yao, Su Han dragged his weary body, moving step by step towards the edge of the bamboo forest.

An unusual scent, a mixture of burnt and bloody smells, permeated the surroundings.

The bamboo stalks, scorched and broken by the demon fire, emitted faint crackling sounds in the evening breeze.

Just as they were about to leave this devastated area, Bi Yao's steps suddenly halted.

"What's wrong?" Su Han noticed her rigidity and asked in a low voice.

Bi Yao didn't answer, merely looking ahead with a pale face.

In the dark depths of the bamboo forest, seven or eight pairs of eerie green lights, like ghost fires, had appeared at some unknown point and were silently closing in on them.

Hiss hiss—

A grating friction sound arose, accompanied by the subtle rustling of bamboo leaves being crushed.

Three slightly smaller Bloodscale Lizards, also covered in dark red scales, slowly slithered out of the shadows.

Their crimson tongues flickered in and out, their vertical pupils fixed on the fallen lizard king's corpse, then shifted to the exhausted Su Han, their eyes gleaming with greed and ferocity.

Evidently, they had tracked them by the bloody scent of their deceased kin and the previous commotion.

"This is bad..." Su Han's heart sank. He instinctively tried to grip his Qinggang Sword, but his arms were weak and limp, his Spiritual Qi almost depleted. He could barely stand, relying almost entirely on Bi Yao's support.

Bi Yao shielded Su Han behind her. Though her fingertips trembled slightly, she unhesitatingly drew a slender soft sword from her Storage Pouch, its blade shimmering with a faint blue watery glow.

"Don't come any closer!" Her voice held a trace of tremor, yet it was exceptionally firm.

One of the Bloodscale Lizards seemed to lose patience. It suddenly let out a hiss, its thick hind legs pushing off the ground, charging directly at the seemingly unthreatening Bi Yao with a gust of 腥風! Its speed was extremely fast!

"Be careful!" Su Han cried out, trying to push her away, but he himself stumbled.

Bi Yao's eyes sharpened. The calmness honed by years of gathering herbs and Alchemy overcame her fear in this critical moment.

She knew she couldn't confront it head-on. With a twist of her slender waist, she gracefully sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the lunge of its sharp claws.

At the same time, she flicked her wrist. Instead of a direct thrust, the soft sword coiled like a venomous snake emerging from its lair, its tip accurately aiming for the Bloodscale Lizard's eye!

The Bloodscale Lizard hadn't expected this seemingly weak human woman to possess such agile skill. It instinctively tilted its head and closed its eyes.

"Clang!"

The sword tip grazed the hard scales of its eyelid, sending sparks flying. It failed to penetrate but successfully repelled its first attack.

However, the other two Bloodscale Lizards had simultaneously flanked them from both sides, their gaping jaws revealing dagger-like fangs, aiming to bite Bi Yao's neck and Su Han's calf respectively! Their coordination was remarkably tacit.

Su Han gritted his teeth, forcing the last trace of meager Spiritual Qi into his legs. He abruptly pushed Bi Yao aside, then used the 反推力 to roll backward.

Tear!

Although he avoided a vital spot, Su Han's already torn clothes were ripped by the lizard's claws, and several deep, bone-visible gashes appeared on his waist. The intense pain almost made him faint.

"Su Han!" Bi Yao cried out in alarm. Seeing her beloved injured, her eyes instantly welled with blood.

She suddenly grabbed a handful of dark purple powder from her Storage Pouch. This was a self-defense poison powder she had concocted from highly toxic purple violet flowers and paralyzing vine pollen, originally prepared for collecting Spiritual Plants that had symbiotic poisonous insects.

"Take this!" She shrieked, forcefully scattering the poison powder at the closest charging Bloodscale Lizard.

The poison powder hit its face, and the Bloodscale Lizard immediately let out a painful and enraged hiss. Its movements visibly stiffened, and it repeatedly shook its head, scratching at its mouth, nose, and eyes. Clearly, the poison powder had a strong irritating and paralyzing effect on its mucous membranes.

Opportunity!

Bi Yao didn't hesitate for a moment. Her body moved with her sword, the soft sword shimmering with a watery glow as it thrust directly at the Bloodscale Lizard, which had exposed its vulnerable throat due to discomfort.

Pfft!

This time, the sword tip successfully pierced the relatively soft throat area. Though not deep, the intense pain made the Bloodscale Lizard completely insane, and its thick tail swept towards her with a whistling sound!

Bi Yao quickly pulled back her sword and retreated, but was still grazed on the shoulder by the tail's wind. She let out a muffled groan, staggered back several steps, a sweet taste in her throat, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of her mouth.

Of the remaining two Bloodscale Lizards, one was entangled with its temporarily blinded companion, while the other once again lunged at Su Han, who had almost lost the ability to move!

A look of determination flashed in Su Han's eyes. He knew he could no longer hide.

He slammed his palm on the ground, using the force to flip over. Instead of retreating, he actively charged towards the pouncing Bloodscale Lizard, his Qinggang Sword not thrusting, but with his last ounce of strength, he precisely inserted it into the Bloodscale Lizard's wide-open mouth!

"Roar!!!"

The Bloodscale Lizard's biting motion instantly froze. The sword blade was wedged behind its sharp teeth. Though not fatal, it greatly restricted its biting ability.

It furiously thrashed its head, trying to dislodge the sword, while Su Han clung desperately to the hilt, his entire body swaying left and right. Blood gushed from his wounds, and his consciousness began to blur from exhaustion and blood loss.

"Now! Bi Yao! Its eye!" Su Han roared hoarsely, his voice cracking.

Bi Yao suppressed the intense pain in her shoulder. Seeing the opportunity Su Han had created at the cost of his life, tears blurred her vision, but her movements were as swift as lightning.

Disregarding the other Bloodscale Lizard, which had regained its sight and was attacking from the flank, she poured all her strength into the soft sword, her body transforming into a faint blue streak, shooting directly towards the right eye of the Bloodscale Lizard that was locked in a stalemate with Su Han!

That sword strike gathered all her worry, fear, anger, and resolve! (End of Chapter)