145 - I’m Really Not an NPC

In the blink of an eye, the dense swarm of bats was reduced to just a few, which hurriedly flapped away and transformed back into a humanoid figure in the distance. Wen Yu, his face ashen and visibly shaken, anxiously asked the composed young girl in white, "Who exactly are you?" "I've already told you," Yue Ling replied calmly, gently holding her resheathed initial snow sword without intention to repeat herself. Wen Yu's eyes turned stern as he spoke in a low voice, "Since the Red-robed Ancestor has sent a henchman of your strength, it must mean they've discovered something." "Liu Meng!" Wen Yu suddenly called out, "Can you still fight?" With difficulty, Liu Meng stood up shakily and nodded with determination, "Yes!" A red glow emanated from Wen Yu's hands, solidifying into a pair of spiked gloves. He declared resolutely, "Come, you shall not pass through here!" "Liu Meng won't let you through even in death!" Yue Ling's gaze turned icy as she finally lost patience. With a cold voice, she stated, "Since you refuse to report, I'll summon him myself." Wen Yu was startled and asked, "What do you intend to do?" Ignoring him, Yue Ling was about to unleash the technique "Cosmos: Thousand Stars Shatter" to shake the valley when her expression suddenly changed, and she halted. "Hahaha, it seems we've arrived just in time!" Laughter echoed from outside the valley, and the faces of Wen Yu and Liu Meng changed simultaneously. Liu Meng glared at Yue Ling angrily and exclaimed, "You are indeed the Red-robed Ancestor's lackey!" Two figures entered from outside the valley—a remarkably thin one, resembling a skeleton, who showed no change in expression upon seeing Yue Ling, quietly said, "The situation seems to have changed, we should be more cautious." The plump one, with fair skin and a greasy, powdered face, sported a shaved head resembling a monk. He stared at Yue Ling in a daze, drooling unwittingly. Only upon hearing the thin one's words did he snap back to reality, chuckling as he transmitted, "Such a pretty girl, we should indeed be careful. If she bewitches us, it would be troublesome." Seeing the newcomers, A Bi exclaimed, "Tang Hao, Wu Xi, the Broad-Narrow Duo!" Huang Niu quickly asked, "The Broad-Narrow Duo, are they formidable?" "Remember the massacre at Fragmented Moon City? They were the culprits!" Huang Niu gasped, intending to warn Yue Ling, but she glanced at him, signaling him to stay still. Tang Hao's eyes darted around as he laughed and addressed Yue Ling, "Miss, thanks to your timely information, we found the hiding place of the Lord of Yellow Earth." Though he doubted the pretty girl could be much of a distraction, saying so would place her on their side. Refusing them could mean facing enmity from both Tang Hao and Wen Yu. If she didn't wish for death, she would have to comply. Once they dealt with Wen Yu and Liu Meng, they could do whatever they pleased with her. Eyeing Yue Ling's graceful figure and unmatched beauty, Tang Hao's already rosy face seemed to glow even brighter. However, Yue Ling merely smiled faintly and said, "Naïve." Tang Hao was momentarily stunned. Did this girl lack common sense? Could she not see the situation clearly? But if things looked like this, maybe he could deceive her body and mind with his clever methods, making it all the more delightful. He reluctantly smiled and said, "Alas, at this point, we shouldn't bother pretending anymore, right?" As soon as he finished speaking, Yue Ling sensed two beams of deadly intent rising simultaneously from her left and right. Wen Yu and Liu Meng realized that if they didn't immediately neutralize one target, they would certainly be defeated. They exchanged a glance, silently communicating to target the weakest, Yue Ling. In perfect sync, they attacked, each targeting critical points on Yue Ling's body from opposite sides. Sighing inwardly, Yue Ling thought, "Indeed, the dull rock monster’s minions are all fools." Much to their surprise, her form vanished from where she stood. "Not good!" Liu Meng and Wen Yu exclaimed in shock, yet what awaited them was not a cunning counterattack from an unexpected angle. "Swish!" A whistling gust of sword wind struck out diagonally, catching Tang Hao unprepared and forcing him into a clumsy roll on the ground. Damn it! How dare she attack me? Once I recover, I'll certainly teach her a lesson! Yet the piercing blade gave him no respite, remaining pointed closely at his throat as he rolled around, unable to escape. Oh dear, why is this girl so fierce? What a blunder! Tang Hao shouted urgently, "Wait, beautiful lady, hold your hand! I have something important to tell you!" Normally, hearing this would make anyone hesitate for a moment, and that was when he'd strike! However, the sword of the woman in white did not pause, as if she hadn't heard him at all. Now he was genuinely panicking. Could she truly be made of ice? He cried out, "Bamboo Pole, save me!" "Hmph!" Wu Xi, who seemed to be watching idly, snorted with a hint of mockery, "Let's see you pay for your smooth-talking now." With a dismissive glance at Yue Ling, he sneered, "To be forced into this state by a mere girl." With disdain, he casually struck with a palm, the force a silent taunt. Yue Ling, incited by this gesture, directed her right-hand sword at Tang Hao yet prepared her left palm to meet his strike when A Bi's urgent voice echoed in her ear, "Be careful, he uses bone arts!" Yue Ling's pupils contracted, instantly abandoning Tang Hao, swinging her sword defensively. Wu Xi's initially indifferent expression shifted to a concentrated one as his bony fingers shot towards Yue Ling with a sharp sound. "Whoosh!" Yue Ling's horizontal sword intercepted the trajectory of five finger bones. Unexpectedly, the bones seemed intelligent, curved mid-air, evading her sword to target her heart directly. Momentarily unable to dodge, Yue Ling's expression changed, her eyes glinting with starlight. "Space Condensation!" Before her chest formed an invisible air wall, the finger bones collided with it, erupting into five explosive sounds, forcing her back a step with the impact. In haste, she activated her celestial art "Dreamlike Swift," causing dizziness but not significantly detracting from her capacity. Yue Ling felt regretful; how could she be provoked by such a crude tactic? Perhaps a stretch of smooth sailing had led her astray from her usual calm? Firming herself, she refrained from underestimating, speaking in a composed voice to Liu Meng and Wen Yu, "Shall we not work together here?" Liu Meng frowned slightly, seeking understanding, "Feigned weakness?" "Enough with the games," Yue Ling felt a sudden burst of irritation—a surprise to her. What was happening? Liu Meng smirked coldly, "Caught and now enraged?" Given how first impressions last, Liu Meng viewed Yue Ling's actions in a negative light. "Fine, I shall summon that blockhead myself," Yue Ling's eyes glinted with a frigid light, patience now spent. "Sword Form: Thousand Stars Shatter!" Initial Snow soared skyward, the starry river unending! In an instant, under everyone's frightened and disbelieving gaze, the stars descended, the earth crumbled, and Huangshi Valley trembled violently. Wen Yu murmured in despair, "It's over now, if we disturb the Ancestor of Yellow Earth like this, we're finished!" Thinking of the wrathful Ancestor, Liu Meng trembled, pointing accusatorily at Yue Ling with tears of rage, "If we're doomed, you're not escaping either!"