Seeing potential saviors, the fleeing woman cried out, "Help me!" her voice desperate as she saw Bai Yu and Elder Jian standing in the path. With her last reserves of strength, she stumbled towards them, managing to reach just behind Elder Jian before her eyes rolled back and she collapsed, unconscious, succumbing to her injuries and exhaustion.
The four pursuers came to an abrupt halt a short distance away, their expressions hardening as they saw their quarry had found unexpected obstacles. Shen Mo, the youth leading them, scanned Bai Yu and Elder Jian, his eyes narrowing as he recognized the Bai Clan attire Bai Yu wore.
A contemptuous sneer spread across Shen Mo's face. "Well, well," he shouted out, his voice dripping with arrogance. "If it isn't some trash from the Bai Clan playing hero in the woods!" He gestured dismissively towards the unconscious woman. "That bitch found a Grade 3 monster core – a Fire Lion core, no less! I want it, but the slut had the audacity to try and run away with my prize!"
His blatant admission of greed and his derogatory language towards the woman made Bai Yu's eyes turn icy. Bai Yu looked at Shen Mo coldly. He didn't waste words. "Scram," he stated, his voice low and dangerous. "Or you will die here."
Shen Mo laughed, genuinely amused by Bai Yu's threat. "Die? You?" He waved a hand dismissively towards his guards. "Forget the pleasantries. Guards, kill these two interfering fools and snatch that woman and the core!"
The three Shen Clan guards, all seasoned Martial Masters, didn't hesitate. Their expressions grim, they surged forward, Qi flaring, intending to overwhelm Bai Yu and Elder Jian quickly.
Elder Jian moved instantly, stepping protectively in front of Bai Yu and the unconscious woman. His calm demeanor vanished, replaced by the sharp focus of a veteran warrior. He looked intently at his opponents: three Mid-Stage Martial Masters and one... no, Elder Jian corrected his initial assessment as the lead guard unleashed his full aura, one Late-Stage Martial Master. A formidable team. Without a word, Elder Jian drew his Spirit Grade sword, its blade humming with power, and charged forward to intercept them. A fierce battle immediately broke out, the clash of Martial Master Qi and weaponry echoing through the forest clearing.
While they fought, Shen Mo turned his attention solely to Bai Yu, a predatory glint in his eyes. "Looks like I'll be your opponent, Bai trash," he said with a cruel smile, clearly underestimating Bai Yu based on his perceived age and perhaps outdated reputation. "Aren't you worried about that old man over there dying? He's outnumbered, you know."
Bai Yu unsheathed his saber, its blade steady despite the tense situation. "Don't worry about him," Bai Yu replied calmly, his gaze locked onto Shen Mo. "An Elder of the Bai Clan is, at the very least, at the Peak of the Martial Master Realm."
Shen Mo's arrogant expression faltered for a split second. "What? He's an Elder?" he cried out, realizing his assessment of Elder Jian might have been drastically wrong. If the old man was truly Peak Martial Master, his guards were in serious trouble. This realization added urgency to his actions. "Damn it! I need to end this quickly then! I'll kill you first!"
Shen Mo unsheathed his own weapon – a sleek, well-crafted longsword. With a furious roar, he rushed at Bai Yu, his Late Stage Qi Refining power surging through the blade as he launched a swift, piercing attack.
"Clang!"
Bai Yu met the strike with his saber, the impact jarring his arm. He immediately tried to flow into a counter-attack using the principles of the Flowing River Saber Arts.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
Steel clashed against steel four times in rapid succession as they exchanged blows, both utilizing their respective clan techniques. Qi flared between them. After the brief, intense exchange, they separated, each taking a step back to reassess.
Bai Yu steadied himself, looking down briefly at his saber hand, which was trembling slightly from the force of Shen Mo's attacks. Shen Mo's Qi was denser, his raw power noticeably higher due to being two stages ahead.
He's strong, Bai Yu acknowledged internally. But not unbeatable. Gritting his teeth, determination flooding his golden eyes, Bai Yu pushed past the slight tremor. "I can do this," he muttered under his breath, gripping his saber tighter. With a sharp exhale, he charged at Shen Mo again, initiating the next phase of their duel.