Chapter 86: Only a Step Away from Ascension

“What’s happening?” Yun Xuan was startled awake by the shouts and cries of battle outside, turning his gaze toward the door.

The flickering lights cast irregular marks across the threshold. Yun Xuan’s eyes widened as he stared at them.

“Help! Save me…”

“You can scream until your throat’s raw—no one will come to your rescue!”

“No… don’t come any closer…”

A sickening thud.

From the corridor beyond came the desperate pleas of a maid, the mocking laughter of a man, and the unmistakable sound of someone being killed.

“To think a single night’s rest could turn everything upside down… even the City Lord’s manor has fallen to this. Outside must surely be hell itself.” Yun Xuan gripped his novice sword, glancing at Bai Xue and Bing Xue. They couldn’t harm humans, but that didn’t mean humans couldn’t harm them.

“Eleven hours remain. Summoning the Demon Wolf Erha will be my last resort. Is this some kind of test?” Yun Xuan strode to the door and kicked it open.

The door burst apart with a resounding crash, startling the two bandits standing guard. Before they could react, bullets struck them down.

Yun Xuan surveyed the scene. Only four maids remained, their hands and feet seized by bandits. The outer guards were already dead, and twenty-three bandits crowded the hall.

“Bai Xue, Bing Xue, strip them of weapons and clothing!” Yun Xuan took a deep breath, his chest tight with excitement. His hands trembled—not with fear, but exhilaration.

Perhaps his time in that small village had already begun to forge the spirit of a warrior within him.

Gunfire echoed—bullets from two weapons cut down the enemy.

“Kill him! Go—” The leader’s command was cut short as a bullet struck him in the head.

White Snow and Ice Snow swept through the crowd like specters, shattering every weapon with their guns and swords. The bandits’ armor and clothing fell in tatters, yet their skin remained unscathed.

“Congratulations, Host, for reaching Level 5! Reward: Level 5 Gift Pack!” The cat-eared girl’s melodious voice chimed in his mind.

Fatigue vanished instantly, replaced by a surge of strength.

“Open it!” Yun Xuan muttered, never pausing his assault.

“Congratulations, Host, for receiving three Bronze Summon Cards. Ninety percent chance of lasting one hour, ten percent chance of permanence. Using them together summons characters from the same world.”

“Bronze Summon Cards?” Yun Xuan didn’t use them immediately. After dispatching the twenty-three bandits, he approached the four maids.

“Run for your lives. I can’t help you.” Yun Xuan sighed.

“Thank you… thank you.” The four maids shielded themselves and fled into the inner courtyard.

Yun Xuan entered a room, three Bronze Summon Cards appearing in his hand. He tossed them onto the floor.

“Summon!” Yun Xuan spoke.

“Odd Jobs—Shinpachi Shimura reporting!”

“Odd Jobs—Kagura reporting!”

“Woof!”

Before Yun Xuan stood two people and a large white dog.

“So it’s you.” Yun Xuan regarded the trio, noting the hour-long countdown above their heads.

“Since you summoned us, Odd Jobs will resolve all your problems,” Shinpachi Shimura adjusted his glasses, his expression cold.

“Come with me. Let’s eliminate every villain.” Yun Xuan smiled.

These two appeared in their film incarnation—five years older, their strength at its peak.

Bronze Summon Cards, yet such power? Was it because of the limited duration?

…

With Odd Jobs at his side, Yun Xuan dismissed Bai Xue and Bing Xue. Bing Xue’s last combat session was a trump card; Bai Xue’s had been wasted in the village.

Yun Xuan, the two companions, and the dog rushed toward the City Lord’s inner courtyard. Passing the gate, he saw the bodies of the four maids he’d just released.

Inside, the fish pond was stained crimson with the blood of guards and bandits.

“Is this hell? Or war?” Shinpachi Shimura frowned.

“No, it’s slaughter.” Yun Xuan shook his head. Yes, it was one-sided annihilation.

“Yun Xuan?” A voice called out.

Yun Xuan halted, looking at the man slumped beside the corridor, leaning against a door.

“Steward Qin? What happened here? What’s become of Nine Star City?” Yun Xuan crouched beside him.

“Nine Star City is finished… The City Lord has been killed. Over ten thousand soldiers stationed outside are probably fighting with forces from the Nine Cities alliance. There’s a secret passage in the room behind me—the City Lord’s family escaped through it. You should use it to flee.” Steward Qin’s voice was weak; a longsword had pierced his abdomen.

“Steward Qin… thank you. But I still have a task to complete.” Yun Xuan rose.

Steward Qin said nothing more, his breaths growing faint.

“Didn’t expect anyone left alive. They’re truly worthless.” From the opposite corridor, voices echoed as Yun Xuan and his companions were surrounded by a group of black-clad figures.

The leader, a black-clad woman, strode toward Yun Xuan.

“Kill!” Yun Xuan charged her.

“How laughable—a mere martial apprentice dares act so bold.” The woman vanished, reappearing before Yun Xuan.

Clang! Shinpachi Shimura shoved Yun Xuan aside, their swords clashing.

“She’s not someone you can handle,” Shinpachi gritted his teeth.

“A warrior at her peak? Too bad—she’s still a step short of my martial master’s realm.” The black-clad woman wielded a short sword, smiling at Shinpachi.

“Go!” Yun Xuan commanded without hesitation.

The black-clad henchmen closed in, but before they could reach him, Yun Xuan and Kagura opened fire.

Bullets struck the black-clad figures, leaving wounds but merely disrupting their formation.

“Martial apprentice, warrior, martial master—is it all about the difference in realms?” Yun Xuan watched as Kagura slew ten black-clad men, gaining a thousand exchange points. These foes were clearly much stronger than the bandits outside.

“Shinpachi, keep up!” Kagura grabbed Yun Xuan and, with Sadaharu, leaped onto the rooftop.

Gunshots rang out as Yun Xuan fired from midair, targeting the black-clad woman. The freezing gun caused her to falter, giving Shinpachi the chance to leap onto the roof.

Sadaharu bounded effortlessly into the outer courtyard. Yun Xuan’s gaze lingered on the black-clad woman; his mind registered a comprehensive score above seven, but he had no intention of pursuing her.

“Interesting. Chase them—at least bring back that martial apprentice.” The black-clad woman ordered, leading the pursuit.

Once outside, Shinpachi landed on Sadaharu’s back, Yun Xuan sitting upright.

“Should we leave the city directly, or try to stop what’s happening here?” Kagura asked.

“They’re after me now—there’s no point in staying. Let’s pick a spot with few people to escape, preferably a cliff.” Yun Xuan devised an escape plan in his mind. It was risky, but the odds of success were high.

Regardless, a path of blood had to be carved out.

Yun Xuan and Kagura, guns in hand, cut down the bandits ahead.

(P.S.: Please vote for recommendations.)