Chapter Sixty-Nine: Recite a Spell

The chief of Feiyun Fortress, Shi Jianduan, engaged in a fierce battle with the Twin Demons of the Northern Desert. After only a dozen moves, he was already on the losing end.

At this point, Shi Jianduan realized he was no match for the Twin Demons. He shouted, “Stop!” and, taking advantage of their momentary distraction, leapt aside.

“Both of you possess formidable martial skills; I am not your equal. The woman in the cave, Madam Luo, is yours. Take her as a token of friendship. I have urgent matters and must depart. Until we meet again!” With that, Shi Jianduan clasped his hands in farewell and turned to leave, inwardly muttering that Madam Luo was merely a woman he had seized when she was off guard. If the Twin Demons wanted her, so be it; his own life was not worth risking over a woman.

Seeing Shi Jianduan flee in disgrace, the Twin Demons burst into hearty laughter.

The tall, skinny one ducked into the cave and carried out Luo Dafeng. “Big brother, this woman’s backside is rather pale…”

Xiao Ding glanced at the tall man and saw Luo Dafeng in his arms, her clothes disheveled, her lower body exposed. Clearly, Shi Jianduan had not managed to dress her properly.

“The Flower of Shuzhou, indeed quite a specimen, hahahaha…” The short, stout one laughed lewdly.

The tall one placed Luo Dafeng beside the Taoist nun, and the two began to tear at the clothes of both women.

The nun merely sobbed, offering no resistance; it was apparent her acupoints had been sealed.

Luo Dafeng cursed wildly, but to no avail.

Witnessing this, Xiao Ding could no longer remain hidden. He was about to rush out and intervene when another sound echoed from the forest.

“Villains, stop right there!”

With a thunderous roar, a burly, bearded man burst from the woods. Xiao Ding recognized him at once—why had he come as well?

The newcomer was none other than Sun Dasheng, the second chief of Feiyun Fortress.

“Who are you, daring to interrupt the business of us Twin Demons of the Northern Desert?” the tall one asked, flustered.

“I am Sun Dasheng, the second chief of Feiyun Fortress, known as the Mighty Vajra. You must be the infamous Twin Lust Demons of the Northern Desert?” Sun Dasheng evidently knew of their notorious reputation.

“Heh, we just chased off one chief, and now another arrives. How amusing…” The short one chortled.

“Our chief Shi has already left?” Sun Dasheng asked suspiciously.

“He couldn’t beat us, so he handed over Madam Luo and fled…” the stout one replied with a grin.

“Enough nonsense. If you’re looking for your chief, get lost and stop wasting our time…” the tall one said impatiently.

“I’ll leave, provided you release these two women,” Sun Dasheng declared, pointing to Luo Dafeng and the little nun lying on the ground.

“Hahahaha, are you dreaming? Have you ever seen a woman escape once she falls into our hands?” the stout one mocked, as though Sun Dasheng were terribly naïve.

“In that case, I must ask for your guidance!” Sun Dasheng said, swinging his jujube-wood club and launching himself at the Twin Demons.

Unfortunately, despite his loud bravado, Sun Dasheng’s skills were little better than Shi Jianduan’s. After only a dozen rounds, the tall one struck his acupoints with his Judge’s Pen, rendering Sun Dasheng’s body numb and limbs weak. He collapsed with a thud, groaning in pain.

The stout one leapt forward, raising his short halberd to strike Sun Dasheng’s throat…

Sun Dasheng squeezed his eyes shut in terror, thinking his life was over—how humiliating to die at the hands of two lechers.

“Hey, wait a moment…”

Just as the stout one was about to bring down his weapon, a voice spoke from behind him.

Both demons started in surprise, quickly turning and stepping back, weapons raised defensively.

Behind them stood another tall, strapping man, younger than the rest, hands clasped behind his back, smiling at them.

The two exchanged glances, silently calculating. This newcomer had approached silently, unnoticed even by the keen-eared stout demon—a clear sign of a martial master. They would have to be cautious.

“Who are you? What do you want?” the tall demon demanded coldly.

It was Xiao Ding. He had crept out of the cave when Sun Dasheng began fighting the Twin Demons, hiding behind a large stone at the entrance, watching events unfold. Seeing Sun Dasheng defeated and about to be killed, Xiao Ding had no choice but to speak up and step out from behind the stone.

“I’m just passing by, here to watch the excitement. Please, continue…” Xiao Ding said, walking forward with a cheerful smile, hands behind his back.

The Twin Demons, unsure of Xiao Ding’s background, were already unsettled by his silent appearance. Now, seeing his casual demeanor, they involuntarily retreated two steps.

They had no idea Xiao Ding had been hiding there the whole time, rather than arriving later.

Xiao Ding saw their retreat and immediately understood—they knew nothing about him and assumed he was a martial expert. How amusing!

Feigning bravado, Xiao Ding strutted forward with exaggerated steps, saying with a grin, “Don’t mind me, I’m just here for the spectacle…”

“Who are you, and why are you here?” the two demanded, still retreating and wary.

“I told you, I’m just passing through…” Xiao Ding replied, now standing by the two women on the ground. He looked them over and exclaimed, “Not bad, not bad! Both are quite attractive. I think you two should hand them over to me. As for the bearded fellow, do as you please with him…”

At this, Luo Dafeng spat angrily, “Little pervert!”

The little nun stopped crying, her tearful eyes staring at Xiao Ding in bewilderment.

Sun Dasheng, lying nearby, shouted, “You scoundrel! With such wickedness, you’re doomed to the deepest level of hell!”

“Do you know who we are? Have you not heard how formidable we Twin Demons are?” the tall demon demanded coldly.

“Oh, so you’re the Twin Demons of the Northern Desert! No wonder you’re so ugly. I doubt your martial arts are much better—being so ugly, what good skills could you possibly have…” Xiao Ding replied, grinning and rambling nonsensically.

“So you insist on opposing us?” the tall demon’s eyes flashed with malice.

“Not at all, I’m just negotiating. If you hand over these two women to me, the bearded man is yours to do with as you wish,” Xiao Ding said, feigning seriousness.

“If you want to take someone from our hands, you’d better prove you have the skill!” With that, the tall demon gripped his Judge’s Pen, ready to charge.

“Wait, wait!” Xiao Ding quickly interjected, thinking to himself that he couldn’t even defeat Sun Dasheng, let alone the Twin Demons.

“What else do you want to say?” the tall demon asked icily.

“I’m actually doing you a favor. With your mediocre martial arts, I don’t even need to fight; I could simply recite a soul-summoning incantation, call forth soul-devouring ghosts, and have them suck away your spirits. But, seeing as you’ve lived this long, if you turn from evil and do good deeds to accumulate virtue, perhaps you could make up for your past misdeeds…” Xiao Ding continued his wild rambling, but the tall demon had lost his patience.

“Enough nonsense! Let’s fight and settle this!” he growled, advancing.

“If you’re so eager to die, let me show you an incantation…” Xiao Ding said, pretending to recite a spell.

The Twin Demons, curious, paused to see what trick Xiao Ding was up to.

After chanting a string of gibberish, Xiao Ding suddenly pointed behind the Twin Demons and exclaimed, “Look, the soul-devouring ghost has arrived…”