It's so painful! So hard! So difficult!

Facing such a clear-headed and meticulous enemy, Bai Lin believed that they should not be let go. Although they might not be able to defeat Fei'er and him directly, Bai Lin was not sure of their details or their exact number.

The boss of this area dared to stand in front of Bai Lin and challenge her directly. He might have other tricks up his sleeve and hired other magicians and assassins to wait for Bai Lin to come. If these guys showed up again to disrupt the situation when Bai Lin and her team encountered other enemies, it would be disastrous.

Bai Lin strode forward, pushing off the ground in just a few steps and leaping onto the not-so-high roof. Each step he took broke through the tiles, his steps bold and confident, with no intention of concealing his whereabouts.

Why make such a fuss when they were clearly hunting someone down? The answer to this question is actually very simple.

First, the enemy likely already knew about their comrades' injuries, but they simply didn't know the exact details, such as Fei'er's attack method and exact location. In this situation, as the active attacker, judging by Bai Lin's strength, they would likely choose to retreat temporarily. Therefore, Bai Lin would simply pursue them at full speed. Because whether she pursued them or not, they would retreat anyway.

On the other hand, the reason remained the same. "Provocation" meant to draw the opponent's attention. With Bai Lin's stamina, if she exerted her full power, she could easily outrun a car. Calling her a "humanoid running beast" wouldn't be an exaggeration. If the opponent didn't deliberately hide their tracks or interfere with Bai Lin, and simply ran, they would most likely be caught up by Bai Lin.

After Bai Lin deliberately displayed his speed, the enemy would likely panic. Once panicked, they would try to interfere with Bai Lin, which would reveal more information to Bai Lin and would likely slow them down. Therefore, Bai Lin adopted a tactic of pursuing the enemy with a reckless declaration of war.

As expected, Bai Lin hadn't run a few steps when she noticed a buildup of magical energy. The spells they cast were nothing more than flashes of light and some fire spells. But at this relatively close distance, the flashes couldn't have a significant effect on Bai Lin, who was well prepared. The fire spells were like mosquitoes, only harassing her without causing any harm.

Even if they used their crossbows as a medium and attached spells to them, they would only be directly chopped off by Bai Lin's flaming sword. Bai Lin was too familiar with arrows, and the other party had no advantage at all in this regard.

Smoke bombs, even pots of harmful dust, and other props are becoming more and more common. However, as the enemy continues to throw them, the possibility of exposing their information is also increasing.

After a while of chasing, Bai Lin noticed their linear movement. The remaining few seemed unwilling to disperse, instead retreating along the sides of the street. While this was the right choice to prevent being picked off one by one, it also gave Bai Lin a clearer picture of their movements.

Soon, several props and arrows were launched from nearly the same straight line. Finally, Bai Lin had caught them off guard. With a grin, Bai Lin accelerated once more. She lightly tapped her toes on a flying tile, and she flew out like an arrow.

No matter how well he hid his murderous intent, Bai Lin could clearly see his accumulation of magic power. Like a hungry tiger pouncing on an antelope, Bai Lin descended from the sky and directly overwhelmed a middle-aged man in a sand-colored windbreaker.

The wide-brimmed hat, windbreaker, and business-like black gloves all made the man look very "professional." His hair and beard had turned gray, and his face showed a look of fear.

The dagger and crossbow in his hands fell to the ground. The middle-aged man slowly closed his eyes and raised his hands, as if he had determined his defeat. At this moment, Bai Lin's eyes fixed, and he pressed the man's hands into the ground again.

Under the glove, a ring similar to a magic guide lock was exposed. Although Bai Lin didn't know what it was, he definitely felt a threat from it. It was probably a self-destruct device, so Bai Lin didn't dare to let him continue.

"What's that on your hand? Are you trying to drag me down with you? Is it really necessary to do this for money? Are you also a member of this organization?"

Bai Lin's reason for assuming the man wasn't part of this organization was simple: Fei'er hadn't noticed him. This also meant the man wasn't carrying the scent of Le Tianxiang. This further baffled Bai Lin.

The man's slightly mature lower lip showed a contemptuous smile, and he slowly said to the girl who was pressing on him,

"It's true I'm just paid to do this. And precisely because I'm paid, I have to do my job conscientiously until the very end. If I hadn't dragged you into this, wouldn't you have killed me? But what a shame, you saw through my last trick. In all my time doing this, this is the first time I've encountered such a calm yet fierce counterattack."

Bai Lin frowned. She didn't expect this killer to have such professional ethics. It was a pity that he was just an enemy standing opposite Bai Lin. She replied,

"Your name... never mind. A killer like you wouldn't reveal his or her name or employer's information, would you? I'll just tell you one thing: I won't kill you. The only ones who have the power over your life and death are the officials. Relax and close your eyes."

Chapter 399 Sword of Disaster

The merciless iron fist made the killer fall into a not-so-comfortable sleep. After all, Bai Lin was a very realistic modern person, and she didn't really have much feelings about "respect for the opponent".

While she might enjoy a thrilling battle like Simon, she'd also curse her opponent inwardly due to exhaustion. Her practicality prevents her from being a true knight. Compared to Bai Lin, she has little respect for her opponents.

However, although she didn't have much respect for her opponent, she didn't think this killer was great just because he was very professional. But compared to the two magicians who loved to brag, were very weak, and even gave up without any strategic ideas, Bai Lin felt that these killers were much stronger.

With the comparison, there are naturally differences. Bai Lin secretly admired the killers and stepped into the street again, starting to hunt the next killer.

After the two killers were apprehended, the enemy's firepower was surprisingly weakened. With the combined efforts of Fei'er and Bai Lin, the final result was that they easily uncovered their group.

There were actually three of them in total. While they all wore the same attire and looked similar, they had different styles of facial hair. One had a funny handlebar mustache, one had a full beard, and the other had a smooth lip.

Three people fought with the momentum of seven or eight people, which was quite impressive. If they were given a better environment, they might be able to achieve the same results as Xifa's organization. Bai Lin looked at his opponent who fell to the ground helplessly and shook his head with a hint of helplessness.

In a well-trained group like this, individual abilities are not particularly prominent, which is why they can achieve near-perfect coordination. Therefore, the three of them were able to fabricate false information about their numbers and strength.

But the downsides to this approach are obvious. If one person fails, the remaining two will start to show "gaps." By the time only one person is left, they'll be practically defenseless.

Characters with outstanding personal abilities are quite important.

"...They're quite impressive. After Andel recovers, should we try this kind of cooperation?"

Looking at Bai Lin's drooping face, Fei'er seemed to want to cheer Bai Lin up a little bit, and actually made some suggestions about the team. Bai Lin also glanced at Fei'er, showed a somewhat work-like smile, and replied,

"Well, that's fine too."

Bai Lin stood up easily and was about to continue walking forward when she suddenly froze in place as if struck by electricity. From the unfathomable fog, she suddenly caught a glimpse of a red demon. Its face was covered in fangs, its bones exposed, and its eyes widened with anger, as if it wanted to devour Bai Lin.

Just like Bai Lin, when she first saw Klonostia, she was so frightened that she could only stand there, unable to move.

The fog in the sky had been dyed with an eerie bright red color at some point, as if it had forcibly torn down the dark sky, covering up the daylight. The atmosphere on the entire street became depressing and weird.

With a resounding bell, a vast expanse of fog dissipated in both directions, revealing a massive, crimson sword. It was over sixty or seventy meters long, and the red mist rising from it exuded a murderous intent that devoured human flesh and blood. A parched, hot atmosphere permeated the sky, darkened by the crossbow bolts.

Strictly speaking, the sword that fragmented the mist didn't actually exist, but rather a stream of energy. Rather than calling it a sword, it was more like someone in the distance swinging a sword, creating the sword energy that shattered the sky.

The sword descended so swiftly that even the surrounding birds barely had time to utter a cry before their lives were shattered by the sharp edge. Suddenly, the entire street, as if struck by an earthquake, was riddled with cracks and gradually enveloped by a flood of red light.

A devastating disaster, as the crimson sword plummeted to the ground, permeating the scorched earth. Soon, the entire street looked as if ravaged by war, leaving behind only a vast expanse of ruins where even standing was difficult. Bai Lin and Fei'er were nowhere to be found, not to mention the three stunned assassins; their bodies were likely gone.

More than 60 meters away, a hedgehog-headed man with black hair, black pupils, hair on the sides of his cheeks and a fierce look on his face was slowly raising the knife in front of him with both hands while taking a breath.

His face was angular, giving him the appearance of a fierce, menacing character. He wore a vest-like martial arts uniform, his belt seemingly tied haphazardly. His massive muscles flexed in his shoulders, and his burly build gave him the air of someone not to be trifled with.

The man held a long, not-too-thick sword. A "katana" with a beautiful curve and form—this was his weapon. If Bai Lin were here, he would immediately recognize his sword as being very similar to Yamashita Kanon's. However, his sword seemed a bit darker in color.

The black clogs beneath his feet made a clattering sound. The man who had struck such a blow still seemed to have some strength left in him, clearly a formidable figure. But why had Sakura's warriors come to India?

"Well done, Goro. Thank you for your hard work next. Let's demonstrate our sincerity in front of Lord India."

A man with a prominent haircut, dressed in a kimono, narrowed his eyes and spoke to the burly man. The suit-clad "India Boss" was also standing beside them. Clearly, Sakura seemed to be colluding with India, which was why the samurai had come here.

The ferocious Goro held a piece of green leaf in his mouth. He casually put the knife on his shoulder and replied in a very wild tone,

"Don't worry, I've completely chopped up the street with this blow, and I think I've also eliminated those scumbags."

As Goro had said, this street in India had been completely destroyed by him. The remaining magical energy from his sword continued to evaporate like lava over the "ruins" that weren't even close to being called a street. It continued to surge, refusing to dissipate.

Chapter 400: Life and Death

"By the way, according to Lord India, that adventurer has an incapacitated accomplice, who is lying in a house not far away. To prevent the two adventurers from being alive, they're simply hiding and preparing to strike again..."

Listening to the bald man's words, Goro continued to smile, raising the oversized katana in his hand, which was a full 1.5 meters long. He tensed his muscles and kicked the ground forward. A burst of explosions echoed as his figure disappeared. The next moment, he stood on a pile of ruins several dozen meters away, raising his blade high again.

"Hey, you bastard adventurer. If you don't come out, I'm going to kill your accomplice with this one strike. Of course... if you're already dead, I'm going to put this strike on her head too, hahahahaha!"

An evil laugh echoed through the ruins of what was once called "Street." Dark red steam suddenly rose, surrounding him like a protective barrier. Goro's gaze focused, his unbridled energy infused into the tip of his sword. The sharp aura that pierced the sky devoured and tore through the surrounding mist, soaring into the sky.

The impending strike of his sword carried the aura of a demonic deity unleashing divine retribution. His immense strength seemed to justify his unbridled and sinister nature. Seeing Bai Lin's figure lingering within his sight, he curled his lips in disdain. He took another step forward, hunching his body into the perfect position for a sword swing, perfectly poised for the attack.

Life and death without any narrow cut

The steaming mist immediately vanished, and the moment he swung his sword, it transformed into a terrifying, visible sword energy. It was as if he, with his less than two-meter-tall stature, was wielding a giant sword that could split mountains and seas and shake the universe.

Just as the bell of destruction rang and his attack was about to set off another wave of destruction, a small, inconspicuous round shield rushed forward without hesitation.

At this last moment, Bai Lin appeared just in time! Sharp wounds covered her sides and back, some with traces of freezing, as if she had been treated with ice magic for emergency wound treatment. Her armor was riddled with gaps, and even her beautiful cheeks bore a few cuts.

Did it hurt? Of course it was painful, but she had to take the blow.

When the sword energy struck the shield, bricks and tiles atop the ruins were instantly swept up, and a cloud of dust obscured everyone's vision. Amidst the storm of heat and sharp blades, Bai Lin gritted her teeth. Her eyes widened, and with a roar, she pressed her hands against the shield, her feet arched, and began a desperate resistance against the devastating blow.

The sharp sword energy peeled off her outer armor, pressed straight into her skin, and approached her life bit by bit, but she did not show any sign of cowardice. Instead, she used more strength in her hands.

Isn't it just a matter of taking a blow? The sharp claws of a demon beast, or the miraculous swordsmanship of Yamashita Kanon, which one isn't terrifying? It's just doing what I always do. What's so difficult about that?

Bai Lin's voice seemed to comfort her, supporting her bent front legs as she slowly stood up. With a sudden force, she pushed back the apocalyptic sword energy. It dissipated feebly into the air, revealing the same clear light as before.

The reason Bai Lin took the blow at the last moment wasn't just because she was treating her own wounds, but more importantly, she knew she couldn't possibly take it with conventional means. Only by catching the sword energy and separating it from the blade, without any subsequent support, could Bai Lin resist it.

Countless experiences in battle enabled her to make the most appropriate decisions in a short period of time. Therefore, until the very last moment, she used the "circle" to prevent her opponent from changing his tactics.

Now, despite being covered in wounds, she still had some strength left in her hands. She pushed off the ground and lifted herself up, dangling in the air. Hanging upside down, she used her toes to push against the magic conglomerate Fei'er had created. In her hand, she held the fully formed Dragon Slayer Spear.

She shot out like a missile, instantly reaching Goro with the flaming tip of her spear. Goro's eyes flickered with surprise, but he calmly counterattacked with his sword. He took Bai Lin's blow, and the shockwave turned the exchange into a protracted battle.

In the end, Bai Lin, in mid-air, was defeated due to lack of support. However, she still retained some strength to somersault backwards, gracefully drawing a perfect curve and falling backwards with her spear held horizontally.

As she regained her balance, Goro pursued her, sword in hand, striking Bai Lin's waist with a horizontal slash. Despite her hasty response, Bai Lin retreated with ease, her spear in hand. After several rounds, she unleashed another burst of flame from the tip of her spear, the explosion instantly forcing back Goro's advance. He retreated effortlessly, and the two of them once again distanced themselves.

The two men, standing on the rubble of the still-burning house, faced each other in silence. Goro, who had always been in the upper hand, grinned mockingly again and said,

"Are you stupid? You had a chance of winning if you had taken advantage of the aftershocks of my attack to sneak up on me and launch a surprise attack. Are those companions really more important than your own life? Now, in a head-on battle, you're no match for me!"

Bai Lin, who had been wearing a gloomy expression, suddenly loosened her grip on the gun and pressed it tightly against her cheek, her entire body trembling. As if she had heard the funniest thing in the world, her mouth stretched to her ears. This, combined with her already slightly bloodstained cheeks, made her look utterly terrifying.

Even the ferocious Goro was frightened for a moment when he saw this scene. He asked loudly,

"Is this crazy? Anyway, I can get this easy victory sooner rather than later..."

"You have no chance of winning. When you were chasing me just now, with your magic power and physical strength, you could have survived my flaming attack and taken my life. But you didn't..."

Bai Lin pointed a finger at Wu Lang in front of her, then interrupted him with a few mad laughs. After that, her expression became serious again, and she returned her hand to the gun handle.

Chapter 401: Only Three Moves

"It only takes three moves... for me to end your life." Bai Lin whispered.

"Varied--"

Wu Lang still thought Bai Lin was crazy and didn't take her declaration seriously. But in the blink of an eye, Bai Lin, who had disappeared from the spot, was already in front of Wu Lang. Wu Lang, who had just reacted, quickly raised his knife and attacked Bai Lin.

The first move was a powerful, eye-catching one. An all-pervading aura emanated from Bai Lin's spear tip, striking directly at Goro's face. It was an unreserved blow, and naturally, Goro managed to catch it despite exerting considerable effort.

He swung his blade horizontally, accurately blocking Bai Lin's thrust. But this meant that the only one left to attack was Bai Lin. This was a beautiful "opening statement," completely seizing the initiative.

A little cold sweat trickled down Goro's cheeks, but he still deflected Bai Lin's attack with his strength that was far superior to Bai Lin's. He immediately regrouped and slashed upward at an angle at the fastest speed, his strike colliding with Bai Lin's horizontal swing.

Seeing this, Goro breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he continued to leverage his strength advantage, he could gradually recover from the initial disadvantage. With a superior physical strength, his chances of winning were still very high.

"The one who masters the distance is always the one with the longer weapon, Sakura swordsman."

At the moment of the clash of weapons, Bai Lin's voice rang in Wu Lang's ears. As Bai Lin said, for Bai Lin, she could now easily attack Wu Lang, while Wu Lang would have to take another step forward to hit Bai Lin.

However, Wu Lang was not shaken at all by Bai Lin's words. Instead, he curled his lips calmly again.

Idiot. My own weapon is shorter, do I need you to remind me? The next time I strike, I'll just use all my accumulated sword energy, and make it just an inch longer than your spear, right?

"You just said you could knock me down in three moves? That's ridiculous. It was clearly me who knocked you down in three moves!"

Wu Lang roared, deflecting Bai Lin's sword once again. A dark red mist rose like water and accumulated on his hilt. Meanwhile, Bai Lin had just adjusted his spear to a suitable attacking position, and was clearly a step slower than Wu Lang's sword attack.

Winning is my victory! Wu Lang thought so and swiftly swung his sword. His last memory was of Bai Lin making a very strange move.

Without hesitation, she flung her spear directly onto the ground. The ruins, already damaged and tinged with magical energy, reacted even more violently, overturning a large amount of debris. Goro lost his balance and was sent flying by the impact. Bai Lin, who had initiated this, gently tapped the rubble with her toes and landed above Goro with her bare hands.

Heat and construction dust streamed through Bai Lin's hair. She moved effortlessly through the ruins like a fish swimming in water.

阻断

An attack that blocks another's advance is called "blocking." And now, Bai Lin, aiming to prevent Goro from flying any higher, launched a downward punch. The iron fist, weighing dozens of tons, struck Goro's face, pinning him to the ground. Instantly, Goro's entire body sunk into the ground, his face concave, his life or death uncertain, a sure sign of "never rising again."

Bai Lin dusted himself off, took two steps back, retrieved his dragon spear, then looked at Wu Lang, shook his head, and complained,

"Your swordsmanship is excellent, and your magical power is abundant. If that's the case, how can I truly fight you with martial arts?"

All martial arts require a "fulcrum" to be fully utilized. Simply put, standing on stable ground is the key to optimal performance. Just like Bai Lin, while able to launch powerful leaps with his special fulcrum, in a real close combat, he would still be at a significant disadvantage compared to those on the ground.

A swordsman who lost his "ground" would probably suffer even more than if he had lost his sword. But Bai Lin wasn't a complete martial artist; in most cases, her profession was still an "adventurer." She could adapt to far more combat environments than these swordsmen.

"Why don't you take a break first? You're covered in wounds, and your body can't take it anymore."

Fei'er had already arrived at Bai Lin's side before she knew it. Bai Lin was worried that she might not be able to withstand Wu Lang's blow, so he had sent her to Andel's room ahead of time to wait for her chance. After all, she could only use half of her strength, and it was difficult for her to fully exert her combat power in this kind of magic flow.

Her concerned question was met with Bai Lin's negative answer. After briefly shaking his head, Bai Lin calmly replied,

"No. Although I'm covered in wounds, aside from the pain, they're not too serious and won't affect my movements. Furthermore, the enemy's numbers are probably far greater than we imagined. If we don't charge in all at once, there's a chance they'll be reinforced."

Bai Lin's speculation was certainly not without basis. Since Sakura's warriors had appeared here, and she had also witnessed someone dressed like a high-ranking Sakura official, there was a natural possibility that Sakura was collaborating with the India region.

In this case, unless Bai Lin completely disrupts their coalition, the Kamitlan authorities may not even intervene. Although India and Sakura are small regions, their leaders are not "Crown Lords", but they are all attached to some major forces and are very troublesome guys.

Yamashita Kanon…could she be the one who brought all this trouble? Bai Lin rubbed the back of his neck out of habit, feeling a bit of a headache, and then continued to move forward.

Don't think about it, don't think about it. Even if the odds of winning are slim, so what? Didn't I already figure it out? We can take down this big den just by the two of us?

Bai Lin, thinking this, opened her eyes in vain. The scars covering her body did not in the least diminish the vigor and spirit that shone from her eyes. Slowly emerging from the burning ruins, Bai Lin might not be as sunny as she thought, a hero with a creed saving the world; nor might she be as terrifying as a resentful ghost returning from hell.

But what was undeniable was that her steps were so firm, as if the injuries on her body didn't exist at all. Or perhaps, she had long been accustomed to the scars on her body.

Chapter 402: Struggling Mistakes

4:35 pm, India area, Lita House.

In the pitch-black corridor, people lay sprawled, clutching a variety of weapons. The sound of boots clashing against the ground echoed throughout the cold, silent corridor, like a countdown to someone's death.

The monotonous voice, in this chilly place, cast an extremely terrifying atmosphere. Bai Lin's armored, black iron hand forcefully pushed open a metal door. Hiding under the desk inside, the trembling little pink-haired fat man finally realized that there was no escape. With his back to the door, he trembled, raised his hands high, and slowly stood up.

He turned around. Though still fearful, he was remarkably calmer than before. He took a deep breath, swallowed, bit his lower lip, and, with a frail posture, put on a serious expression as he faced the powerful Black Knight who was about to attack him.

"I heard from your accomplices that you were basically responsible for spreading the Rakuten incense in the India region. Is there anything else you would like to explain?"

Bai Lin's helmet was already badly damaged, with several pieces missing, revealing a portion of her face. But the damage revealed her terrifyingly calm expression. Just like her tone, it was incredibly cold.