They were in a bad situation. Retou Meng was at the seventh subrealm of the Asura Realm. If you compared his cultivation to someone the same age from a larger sect or nation, he would come up lacking, but it was very good for a small nation like the Shang Kingdom. Wu Jian’s father had been at the ninth subrealm of the Asura Realm and he was well into his forties.

Not only did they have Retou Meng to contend with, but they had several others as well. None of them wore the robes of the Burning Flame Sect. They must have been the Qing Province’s mercenaries. She had studied up on them. Many mercenaries had loose morals and would take any job provided they were paid. Since she couldn’t sense their cultivation, it meant they were all at least first subrealm Asura Realm cultivators.

“Retou Meng, you scumbag! Are you trying to start a war with the Shang Kingdom?!” screamed Yin Wuhan.

“Start a war?” Retou Meng rubbed his smooth chin before grinning. “You know something? That’s not a bad idea. The Shang Kingdom is weak. It is the weakest of the thirteen nations. Why shouldn’t I start a war and take it over? I’m sure my master wouldn’t mind.”

Retou Meng had always been arrogant and overbearing. He was the most powerful core disciple of the Burning Flame Sect and grew up being told he was talented and had a bright future ahead of him. Was it any wonder he thought himself the center of the universe? He had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Everything he wanted, he got. If he couldn’t get it, he would simply take it. That was how he had been taught.

The Burning Flame Sect is becoming arrogant because their cultivators are stronger than most of the Imperial Families cultivators. The only reason they haven’t attacked is because of the Imperial Family’s ties to the Heavenly Sword Sect.

“You’ll never be able to get away with this,” Hou Jingshu decided to try diplomacy first. “The Heavenly Sword Sect won’t stand for a small sect like the Burning Flame Sect usurping the Hou Family’s position.”

“Oh, I’m sure they won’t mind, especially since I don’t plan on removing the Hou Family. I’ve simply decided to join it,” Retou Meng said with a grin.

Hou Jingshu narrowed her eyes. “I already said I’m not marrying you.”

The arrogant man shrugged. “You say that like I care. You might not want to marry me now, but once I have you in my grasp, I will train you to be obedient.”

“You sick fuck,” Zheng Yawen snarled.

“Call me what you want. The only reason you whine like that is because you lack the power to stop me.” Retou Meng shrugged as though he was past caring. Then he looked at his mercenaries. “Kill those four, but leave that young woman to me.”

“Sure. Sure. Just don’t forget to pay us. The Crimson Sand won’t let you off lightly if you try to scam us.”

“Don’t worry. You’ll get your money.”

The eight mercenaries split into groups of two and attacked Hou Jingshu’s bodyguards. The sound of battle echoed around Hou Jingshu as she and Retou Meng stood several chih away from each other.

Wu Yong already had his sash in hand. He used it to fend off the attacks from the two mercenaries, deflecting their swords with a quick flick of his wrist. As he deflected one sword, he wrapped his sash around it, yanking it from the grip of his enemy, and swung it at the other man. The second mercenary blocked the attack. Wu Yong would have continued, but the person whose sword he had stolen released a blast of chi from his fists. A giant sphere of flames forced the young man to leap away. The sword in his sash fell, and the mercenary caught it before he and the other man resumed attacking.

Yih Wuhan and Zheng Yawen were faced with similar threats, though it looked like they were both evenly matched with their opponents despite being outnumbered. The mercenaries likely had a lower cultivation than her bodyguards. That didn’t mean they could let their guard down. They were still outnumbered, and depending on how high their opponents’ cultivation was, they could still lose if they became careless.

“I always knew you were a disgusting snake, but I didn’t think you would betray your nation,” Hou Jingshu said as she summoned her spear. She twirled it in her hand, then spread her feet apart and adopted a wide combat stance.

Retou Meng smirked. “Why shouldn’t I betray it? What has the Shang Kingdom done for the Burning Flame Sect? Nothing. We are the ones who protect your borders. It is through our blood, sweat, and hard work that your kingdom remains safe.”

“That’s a lie. The Heavenly Sword Sect—”

Retou Meng interrupted her. “The Heavenly Sword Sect doesn’t give a damn about your tiny nation. Do you think they care about you just because you pay a yearly tribute? They can be easily bought off if someone is willing to pay more than what you pay them. The only reason they still protect you even now is because no one has bothered to seriously attack us yet… but that will change in time. The Shang Kingdom might not be wealthy, but it’s a beautiful and fertile land. I’m sure quite a few nations want to invade it.”

Hou Jingshu bit her lip. He was right. Several countries were eying theirs. The Shang Kingdom was weak and lacked many cultivation resources, but their land was incredibly fertile and perfect for farming.

Food was and always would be a commodity people needed. Cultivators might not need to eat as much as normal people, but they were in the minority. More than ninety percent of the Xiao Continent’s population was made of regular people. Non cultivators. They needed food to survive. This naturally meant other nations who were lacking in fertile lands capable of sustaining their populations would look toward the Shang Kingdom like ravenous animals eying prey.

“Do not conflate the issue at hand,” Hou Jingshu said. “Even if the other nations are eying my kingdom, it is not like they have done anything in the past several hundred years. Your sect has not given it's blood or sweat in the defense of my nation. Your sect is barely a hundred years old. The Hou Family has existed for over a thousand years and weathered many storms. We are the ones who have sacrificed ourselves for the Shang Kingdom, and I’ll not have a peon like you demean all we have done with your over-inflated, egotistical opinion.”

Retou Meng clicked his tongue. “Talking to you is useless, I see. Fine then. I won’t use words to fight. I’ll simply subdue you, but don’t worry, I won’t harm that luscious body of yours. I still need you to bear my children.”

Hou Jingshu didn’t even have time to express her revulsion before Retou Meng threw out a hand thrust. Powerful flames erupted from his hand, taking the shape of a bird of prey. The earth was scorched where the flames passed.

Gritting her teeth, Hou Jingshu’s eyes glowed fiercely as she channeled chih into her spear, sharpening the blade before she swung it upward. The flames were split in half.

“Hah! It looks like you’ve gotten stronger! But that won’t be enough to beat me! You’re only a half-step Asura Realm cultivator! What can you do against me?!” Retou Meng grinned as he continued firing flames at Hou Jingshu, forcing her to dodge instead of counter. There were far too many projectiles for her to cut through like that first one.

Hou Jingshu realized that she would never win like this. Of course, she already knew the situation was hopeless. Retou Meng’s cultivation was too high for her to contend with. Perhaps she would have been able to win if he was only a few subrealms above her, but he was a whole seven subrealms, and she still hadn’t fully stepped into the Asura Realm.

“Hssss!”

Several flames struck her in the thighs and shoulders. She hissed in pain but didn’t stop moving. She danced across the ground, putting all of her concentration into dodging and deflecting as many flames as she could.

“Ha ha ha ha! Dance! Dance for me!” Retou Meng laughed. “You’re quite graceful! I think I’ll have you dance like this whenever I’m not getting you pregnant!”

The man’s disgusting remarks continued, but Hou Jingshu ignored him. He was trying to rile her up. He wanted her to be so distracted that she made a mistake. She wasn’t about to let that happen.

I can’t keep dodging like this. I have to do something!

But what could she do? He had her boxed in. She couldn’t help her bodyguards, who were finally beginning to struggle against their opponents. She couldn’t move forward. There was literally nothing she could do in this situation…

I suppose… I’ll just have to take a few hits.

She didn’t want to do this, but she really had no choice.

Hou Jingshu stopped moving and poured all of her chi into her body. She felt the rapidly circulating chi spread through her meridians like a tightly condensed tornado. Her skin began glowing a bright golden color and the image of scales appeared on her skin. They were translucent and barely visible. She hadn’t come close to mastering her current cultivation method, but she hoped this would be enough.

Retou Meng’s eyes widened and he began throwing even more fire at her, but Hou Jingshu merely gnashed her teeth together and weathered the storm. Flames slammed into her body and exploded. Each time she was struck, one of the translucent scales disappeared. However, the flesh underneath remained unharmed.

She soon reached the man. Hou Jingshu didn’t stop and thrust out her spear. Retou Meng dodged, but he was not fast enough to avoid it completely, and he screamed in shocked agony as a gash appeared on his side.

He didn’t have time to stop the blood from leaking out as Hou Jingshu spun on the balls of her feet and swung her spear. Retou Meng grimaced as he leaned back, just barely avoiding the attack. Hou Jingshu continued with her swing, spun around again, and swung her weapon down.

Retou Meng was unable to dodge in his unstable position, and thus her spear slammed into him with the full force of her strength. He was, sadly, able to defend against her spear’s blade. However, the attack was so fierce that he was slammed into the ground. Gastric fluids leaked from his mouth as the attack struck his chest and stomach. The ground beneath him cratered, cracks forming along the surface. He looked like his eyes were about to roll up in his head.

Hou Jingshu was not about to relent. She raised her spear and aimed the weapon at his heart. Yet before she could impale him, Retou Meng’s body exploded with chi so hot it was like fire. Hou Jingshu screamed as the scalding hot energy struck her. She leapt backward to avoid taking more damage, but her face and arms were burnt, and even her clothes were smoldering.

Retou Meng climbed to his feet, slowly but inexorably. Hou Jingshu wanted to attack him. However, the intensity of the flames surrounding him prevented her from getting close. As he stood up fully, the man glared at her with a look so vicious she took several steps back before she realized what she was doing.

“You bitch,” he growled. “I’ve been trying to play nice this whole time. I tried so hard not to hurt you too badly, but it seems you want to force my hand. Since you’re so intent on acting belligerent toward me, let me show you the difference between us.”

Hou Jingshu had no time to respond. Retou Meng blasted off the ground, flames spewing from his feet. He was before her before she could blink.

He’s become so fast!

Hou Jingshu was forced to use her spear to block his punch. The loud clang of his fist slamming into her spear echoed around them. She skidded across the ground from the force of his attack. Her arms were shaking and her hands felt numb.

He’s gotten stronger too?!

Flames coated Retou Meng’s fist as he raced forward, attacking her with a relentless barrage of punches. He didn’t rely on any kicks. That was fortunate. Hou Jingshu would not have been able to defend against more attacks. Even so, his punches flowed on, seemingly endless, and she was forced back after each hit.

Hou Jingshu did not give up. She knew what awaited her if she lost. She fought back with everything she had.

It was not enough.

“Aaaah!”

She was unable to fully defend against Retou Meng’s attacks. Her guard broke, and his fist slammed into her chest. She coughed up blood as she was sent to the ground. It felt like her ribs had broken with that single attack. She pressed a hand to her chest as Retou Meng loomed over her.