Chapter 369: “The Most Poisonous Is a Woman’s Heart”

“Innkeeper Hua used Duan Chen’s blood to confirm that he was the one who killed her husband.”

“Unfortunately, she revealed her intent to kill. Even if it was just for a fleeting moment, it was enough for him to notice.”

“She could have gone along with the act and dealt Duan Chen a heavy blow… but now that her killing intent has surfaced, it’s unclear whether Duan Chen will continue acting or change his approach out of suspicion.”

Hearing Gu Ning’an’s analysis, Doubao regretfully nodded.

“Twenty-six strikes… If she combines them with spell techniques, wouldn’t it be possible to just kill him outright?”

Gu Ning’an replied, “If she catches him off guard, maybe… But Duan Chen nurtures vengeful spirits within his body. If she fails to obliterate his soul instantly, he won’t die.”

In the arena, Duan Chen looked at Hua Erniang as she slowly approached, a flicker of doubt flashing through his eyes.

He couldn’t understand why she suddenly showed killing intent—

And even volunteered to deliver the strikes herself…

After a brief silence, he smiled faintly.

“Lady Hua, if I must die, then dying by your hand would be without regret.”

“Good!”

“You are a true man. I admire you!”

“If you survive today, I, Ying, will buy you a drink!”

Ying Xiang laughed heartily, then turned to Hua Erniang and announced loudly,

“Four wounds to the left arm—begin!”

Before Duan Chen, Hua Erniang gripped her Free Wanderer Sword tightly. The blade trembled slightly, as if the sword spirit within could no longer suppress its emotions and was eager to avenge its master!

“Lady Hua! Do it—”

Before Duan Chen could even finish his “romantic words,” four streaks of blood burst from his left arm!

As he gritted his teeth through the pain, his gaze met Hua Erniang’s peach blossom eyes. She wore an exaggerated smile and asked,

“Does it hurt?”

“Not at all… not at all…”

Pale-faced, Duan Chen shook his head and continued,

“Lady Hua, do you remember the days before we took human form? I have always cherished those memories…”

“Four wounds to the right arm!”

At Ying Xiang’s command, Hua Erniang thrust her sword four more times without hesitation, leaving four symmetrical bloodied holes in Duan Chen’s right arm!

“Lady Hua… I’ve always regretted it… Regretted not holding you back before you took human form and left…”

“Four wounds to the left leg!”

Hua Erniang’s face remained emotionless as she stabbed four times in succession.

At the same time, she replied coldly, “This is not the time to say such things…”

Duan Chen smiled bitterly.

“Just let me say it. Who knows, this might be the last time I get to talk to you properly.”

“Do you know how I felt when I heard you had married a mortal…?”

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

Four more streaks of blood appeared!

This time, the spectators widened their eyes in shock.

If their voices weren’t sealed off, the uproar at this moment would have easily surpassed the commotion from Duan Chen’s previous dramatic comebacks.

In their eyes, Duan Chen was sacrificing himself to save Hua Erniang and the people he cared about.

But Hua Erniang? Not only did she execute her strikes cleanly and efficiently—

She even seemed eager to do it!

Ying Xiang hadn’t even announced, “Four wounds to the right leg” yet!

Yet this woman took the liberty to triple the order—adding four more holes to the “devoted swordsman” before anyone could react.

If the protective sound barrier around the audience was broken, the most repeated phrase among them would undoubtedly be:

“The most poisonous is a woman’s heart!”

Those who knew the truth—like Doubao—watched Duan Chen being stabbed over and over while still managing to smile and whisper “romantic lines” in between.

Doubao was shaking violently, trying to suppress his laughter…

Feeling the tremors on his shoulder, Gu Ning’an looked over in confusion.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Doubao answered, “Mr. Gu, I kind of want to laugh.”

“If you want to laugh, then laugh.”

“But my laugh sounds kind of awful…”

“No problem.”

“Kehehehe~~~”

Gu Ning’an: …

By the dueling stage, Ying Xiang, arms crossed, was stunned for several seconds before finally speaking. “The right leg is done… Next, wait for my signal before you strike again…”

As he said this, he kept glancing at Duan Shen from the corner of his eye.

He really wanted to ask—are we still continuing this?

That woman in the arena… she showed absolutely no hesitation when striking!

The way she was going at it, it seemed like she wanted to stab straight into his heart…

Duan Shen shot Ying Xiang a look and gritted his teeth. “Hurry up and continue! There are still ten more strikes!”

“Uh… okay.” Snapping out of it, Ying Xiang called out, “Three holes in each shoulder!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, sword light flashed, and in the blink of an eye, three neatly aligned holes appeared in both of Duan Shen’s shoulders.

Blood quickly soaked through his black robe, dripping onto the ground and pooling into dark crimson puddles.

“Three holes in the abdomen!” With Ying Xiang’s sharp command, three more streaks of blood burst from Duan Shen’s abdomen!

Some observant spectators finally noticed—Hua Erniang absolutely bore a grudge against Duan Shen!

The wounds on his limbs and shoulders could still be explained as necessary—quick and ruthless strikes to end the fight and save lives.

But these three stabs to the abdomen?

Each one had gone straight for vital organs!

At this rate, even if the black-clad swordsman survived, his internal injuries would likely cripple his cultivation forever!

Even someone as resilient as Duan Shen couldn’t endure such injuries—his damaged organs forced him to cough up several mouthfuls of blood.

When he lifted his head again and looked at his childhood companion, the gentle light in his eyes had completely faded, replaced by an eerie indifference—an icy calm, as if nothing in the world could stir him anymore.

His thoughts shifted, and he sent a transmission to the conflicted Ying Xiang: [The next strike—pierce my forehead.]

Hearing this, even someone as familiar with Duan Shen’s ruthlessness as Ying Xiang couldn’t help but show a look of shock. He quickly responded:

[Boss! You can’t!]

[The forehead is where the soul resides. If you were stabbed in the heart, at worst, you’d lose your physical body. But if your soul is damaged…]

[Please reconsider! I can stall for time!]

[Let me be blunt—this woman will not hold back. Even if it’s your forehead, even if there’s a chance it could completely destroy your soul, she will strike without hesitation!]

[Sometimes an outsider sees more clearly than the one involved! Boss!]

[Do as I say. I won’t repeat myself.]

Hearing the coldness in Duan Shen’s voice, Ying Xiang, fearful of angering him, quickly announced:

“The next strike… pierce the forehead!”

In the vast hunting arena, the three chilling words—”pierce the forehead”—echoed through the air.

Most of the audience were cultivators, and even the common folk present in the arena understood what those words meant.

In that instant, everyone’s eyes focused on Hua Erniang.

They were eager to see—would this woman still strike without hesitation?

And as the center of attention, Hua Erniang did not keep them waiting.

A sharp flash of sword light streaked through the air, aimed straight at the black-clad swordsman’s forehead!

However—

This time, no blood splattered.

For the first time, the black-clad swordsman, who had never dodged before, evaded the fatal strike at the very last moment!