Chapter 013: Counterattack

The wild smile on Shen Aofan’s face grew ever more arrogant—useless trash, he would kill her today! The blade slashed toward Shen Duo, its edge keen and merciless. Yet, as danger drew near, Shen Duo became all the more calm. In her previous life as a female armed police officer, she had raced along the border of life and death countless times, even wrestled for time with the Reaper himself. As long as it was not yet the end, she knew she must not give up!

Summoning every ounce of her strength, Shen Duo desperately dodged to the side, evading the arc of the falling blade.

The mercenaries watching held their breath, eyes fixed unblinking on the stage. Lei Hang’s palms were already slick with sweat. In this hair’s-breadth moment, time seemed frozen.

Just as everyone believed Shen Duo would be unable to escape Shen Aofan’s powerful strike, her body twisted into an uncanny arc, narrowly avoiding the blade. She switched her longsword from right to left hand in a flash, thrusting it toward Shen Aofan’s abdomen like lightning.

The sound was so faint it was almost inaudible, but the mercenaries’ eyes widened in shock—they had never expected such a reversal. Shen Qing watched from the stage, stunned, and cried out, “Fan’er!” Without thinking, he tried to rush onto the challenge stage, but was flung back by a flash of silver light, landing sprawled and humiliated on the ground.

Before the duel began, both sides had sworn an oath: unless both acknowledged the end of the challenge, the match was protected by a covenant of heaven and earth—no one could interfere!

Stiffly, Shen Aofan lowered his head. Seeing the longsword piercing through his abdomen, his body trembled slightly. He glared at Shen Duo, eyes full of hatred. “You… you…”

Shen Duo sneered, yanked her sword free, and crimson blood spurted, staining the hem of her black robe. Her icy gaze fell upon Shen Aofan. “Admit defeat. You’re gravely wounded. If this continues, it’ll only get worse for you.”

As Shen Duo withdrew her blade, a wave of agony and unwillingness crashed over Shen Aofan, nearly overwhelming him. His eyes blazed with resentment. It must have been luck! How could a useless waste, someone who couldn’t even gather spiritual energy, possibly defeat him—how could it be!

Standing tall on the challenge stage, sword in hand, Shen Duo now reigned as the victor. The mercenaries below cheered wildly, shouting their satisfaction. Someone who used underhanded means and still lost—he deserved it!

Shen Aofan’s eyes were bloodshot, his ears ringing with insults. He was used to bullying his way through Luo City, never had he suffered such rejection and humiliation. Throwing caution aside, he seized his blade again, hacking at Shen Duo with wild, erratic swings.

The effects of the potion that had temporarily boosted his level were waning; now, only a faint green aura of spiritual energy lingered around him, while the energy flowing from his palms had returned to its original white. This attack was nothing compared to the one before.

Shen Duo watched him coldly, a chill smile on her lips. She had already warned him—if he refused to listen, he had only himself to blame. Since Shen Aofan was determined to kill her, she would show no mercy. She was no saint, especially in a world that respected only strength.

With a flick of her sword, she effortlessly dodged Shen Aofan’s clumsy attack. Her blade danced with graceful arcs, dazzling to the eye. Suddenly, the sword’s path shifted, slicing toward Shen Aofan’s shoulder.

He had no chance to evade such a swift and merciless blow. As he tried to dodge, the point of Shen Duo’s sword had already pierced his flesh, sending a dull ache through him. Shen Duo then raised her knee, aiming to strike his wounded abdomen and deliver a finishing blow.

But Shen Aofan instinctively doubled over, trying to shield his belly. He was already taller than Shen Duo, and this sudden crouch put her knee squarely into his groin. By the time Shen Duo realized, it was too late to pull back.

A wretched scream tore from Shen Aofan as he clutched himself and fell to his knees, his great blade spinning across the stage.

Below, the male mercenaries winced, a few unconsciously glancing down and squeezing their legs together. Shen Duo’s victory was fair, but did she really have to use that move? Wiping the cold sweat from their brows, they secretly resolved to be extra cautious around her in the future.

The female mercenaries were already roaring with laughter, shouting out, “Shen Duo, you’re amazing! You’re my idol!”

“Ninth Miss, let’s drink tonight—no one gets to go home sober!” and so on.

Shen Duo’s cold face masked her embarrassment. She hadn’t meant to hit Shen Aofan there—he had bent over at the wrong moment, and she hadn’t had time to change her attack. The outcome was his own doing. As the saying goes, the rot at the top spreads downward. If Shen Aofan couldn’t have children in the future, so be it—better that than passing on his poison to the next generation!

Shen Qing stared at the unfolding scene, his face mottled with rage and disbelief. Shen Aofan was his only son, born to him in middle age after three elder sisters. He had counted on this precious son to carry on the family line, and now—

“Fan’er, Fan’er, my Fan’er!” he howled. Shen Duo—this useless girl—he would never forgive her!

“Shen Aofan, just admit defeat already!”

“Do you think you can still fight?” the mercenaries jeered, Shen Duo having won them all a measure of vindication today.

Clutching himself, Shen Aofan was unable to speak for the pain, insults ringing in his ears. Never had he suffered such humiliation. Hatred for Shen Duo flooded him as he looked up to see her standing tall and proud. But he had no strength left. Shen Aofan was no fool. He lowered his head, cursing Shen Duo a thousand times in his heart before finally speaking: “I concede!”

The silvery light and intricate patterns of the covenant faded away. Shen Qing immediately rushed forward to scoop up Shen Aofan, but then, in a sudden turn, he flung a green-glowing palm at Shen Duo.

It all happened too fast—the mercenaries were still lost in joy, no one noticing what was unfolding onstage. Shen Duo herself hadn’t expected Shen Qing’s shameless sneak attack. He was a nine-star Grand Illusionist. Earlier, Shen Aofan had barely reached the level of a low-rank Grand Illusionist with the help of drugs, and even that had been difficult enough for her to handle. Now, faced with a high-star Grand Illusionist, she had no chance to defend herself. The green orb of terrifying energy sped toward her—she was unwilling, but powerless. She had underestimated him and given Shen Qing this chance!

In that split second, a teal orb of light hurtled from the side, intercepting Shen Qing’s green energy with even greater speed. The two orbs collided with a crackling explosion, then the teal orb tore through the green and shot toward Shen Qing. Hugging Shen Aofan, he twisted aside just in time to avoid the blast.

Lei Hang darted to Shen Duo’s side, shielding her behind him, his voice thunderous with anger: “City Lord Shen, don’t go too far! This challenge was at your demand. Your son’s fate is his own doing!”

Shen Qing’s face darkened, the situation having spiraled far beyond his expectations. If he had the power, he would not have spared Lei Hang either. But he was only a nine-star Grand Illusionist, not even a Spirit Illusionist, no match for Lei Hang, let alone the rare Sky Illusionist experts of the continent present at the Blazing Flame Mercenary Camp. With years of cunning behind him, he was no stranger to patience.

Ignoring Lei Hang, he fixed his gaze on Shen Duo: “Ninth Miss, I’ll remember this humiliation. Be careful in the future—don’t let yourself fall into my hands!”

Shen Duo met his vicious glare without flinching. “I’ll be waiting.”

Shen Qing’s face was livid as he hoisted Shen Aofan and left to a chorus of jeers from the mercenaries.

They shouted after the retreating father and son, disgusted by their shamelessness: not only did they resort to despicable tactics during the duel, they even tried to ambush her afterward. If Shen Duo hadn’t won today, she might not even have survived. People like that were nothing but scum!

Watching Shen Qing’s departing figure, a fierce desire to grow stronger welled up within Shen Duo. Danger had come so close—so close that she had nearly lost her life again. If not for Lei Hang’s intervention, she would surely be dead!

*—*—*

The new book is climbing the charts. All kinds of requests—starry-eyed, looking to everyone.