Chapter 175: Old Witch, You're Shameless
"Holy shit, Zhou Fan, you're incredible! You even managed to hurt that witch, Vermilion Bird! Keep it up! Try to knock her out, then tie her up and take her back as a concubine. I'll be the first one to support you!" Only now did the others notice the fight between Zhou Fan and Vermilion Bird. Fan, who was being chased all over, rolled clumsily on the ground a few times to dodge an attack before shouting at the top of his lungs.
"You got it, I support you too! Make her your concubine!" Even He Yi, who was normally a man of few words, couldn't help but roar in agreement. The sight of Zhou Fan fighting Vermilion Bird to a standstill, even for just a moment, had clearly thrilled them.
Even if it was an ambush, it was a righteous one!
"A few more of you, go capture those two traitors alive! After I kill the Nether King, I'll interrogate them myself!" Killing intent practically spilled from Vermilion Bird's eyes as she watched the two of them jumping around like monkeys, still taunting her. She issued another command.
Instantly, only twenty people remained behind Vermilion Bird. The other ten had all gone to hunt down Fan and He Yi.
"Vermilion Bird, come on! Let's see if you've improved at all in the last three years. I lost to you three years ago, but today, I'm going to teach you a lesson!" 'I can't believe those two are so fired up,' Zhou Fan thought. 'I almost died just now!'
'If I hadn't reacted fast enough to grab the blade and deflect it, that sword aimed at my chest would have turned me into Swiss cheese by now!'
"Three years, and I still want to rip that mouth of yours right off your face. Get him!" Vermilion Bird stared coldly at Zhou Fan. As much as she wanted to rush over and tear his mouth to shreds, she hadn't lost her composure. She knew he was already grievously wounded; there was no need for her to risk a desperate, all-out fight.
At Vermilion Bird's command, her remaining subordinates rushed forward like a pack of dogs that had just spotted a bone.
"What's the matter, you little scrub? Getting scared? Sending your underlings to die for you? You just wait. Once I'm done with these lackeys, I'm coming to teach you a lesson!" Zhou Fan taunted, swinging his sword and weaving around a tree as he tangled with his enemies.
'I know my last strike looked like it nearly severed her arm,' Zhou Fan thought, 'but as long as it's not completely cut off, it won't be a major handicap for an expert of her caliber—someone even stronger than the Lingling Daoist.'
Feeling the effects of the medicine coursing through him, Zhou Fan noticed his wounds were already beginning to scab over. Even he was astonished by the recovery speed.
With a few swings of his Li Hen Sword, three more men fell. Zhou Fan, using his superior speed, remained completely unscathed.
Vermilion Bird watched, stunned. 'I can't believe that damned bastard has improved so much in just three years!'
'No wonder the Grand Elder of the Witch Race told me to be careful.'
But the thought of the Grand Elder made her frown in annoyance. 'That old codger actually told me not to kill Zhou Fan for the time being!'
'But this foul-mouthed bastard... killing him is the only way to quench my rage!'
She flexed her left arm slightly, feeling it was almost completely healed. With a leap, Vermilion Bird launched herself into the air and swung her sword.
Instantly, an incredibly powerful wave of Sword Qi shot out, spanning dozens of meters as it slashed toward Zhou Fan, who had just cut down another man.
"Son of a bitch!"
Zhou Fan cursed as he saw it coming. He quickly grabbed one of his opponents and, with a powerful heave, threw him into the air.
SQUELCH!
The instant the man was airborne, Vermilion Bird's Sword Qi sliced him in two. Unimpeded, the attack continued straight for Zhou Fan.
With no time to spare, Zhou Fan gripped his sword with both hands and raised it in front of him.
BANG!
With a loud crash, Zhou Fan's body was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string.
He coughed up a mouthful of blood before he even hit the ground.
The crimson blood drifted slowly down through the air, as enchanting and alluring as a plum blossom blooming in the snow.
The moment he landed, Zhou Fan didn't dare hesitate. Forcing himself to endure the excruciating pain, as if his body was about to shatter, he quickly swallowed another Recovery Pill. He rolled backward, swinging his Li Hen Sword to fend off the pursuing men, and cut down two more in the process.
'Sure enough,' Zhou Fan thought, 'experts of their level all have that mysterious energy inside them—Inner Strength!'
He looked up at Vermilion Bird, who was perched on a branch looking down on him. 'It's a shame my own Inner Strength is too meager. I can't afford to squander it like she can.'
"You Old Witch! You fucking fight dirty! A sneak attack? Have you no shame at all?" Instead of retreating, Zhou Fan charged forward, right into the enemy ranks, and started cursing loudly again as if he were the one who had been grievously wronged.