Night gradually fell over Qinghe Village.
The last traces of sunlight disappeared behind the distant mountains, and the surrounding forest sank into darkness.
One by one, the villagers extinguished their lamps and locked themselves inside their damaged houses.
Fear hung heavily in the air.
And no one dared to make unnecessary noise.
Near the eastern edge of the village, Li Jian, Han Jin, and Su Qin waited in silence.
Han Jin stood with his sword already drawn, his peak Qi Refinement aura restrained but ready to erupt at any moment.
Su Qin stood a few steps away from him, her expression more serious than usual as she watched the dark tree line.
Li Jian remained slightly behind them, calmly observing the surroundings while keeping his breathing steady.
The night wind brushed through the damaged fences and empty paths of the village.
Time passed slowly.
Then—
A low, heavy growl rolled out from the forest.
The ground faintly trembled under a large presence.
From within the darkness between the trees, a pair of green eyes lit up.
Slowly, a massive figure slowly stepped out of the shadows, its iron-like back reflecting the faint moonlight.
The Ironback Demon Wolf had arrived.
Its body was far larger than an ordinary wolf, covered in dark, hardened fur that looked almost metallic along the spine and shoulders.
Sharp fangs jutted from its mouth, and thick saliva dripped onto the ground as it locked onto the three cultivators standing at the edge of the village.
Han Jin’s eyes turned cold.
"It’s here."
BOOM!
The demon wolf let out a deep roar and suddenly charged forward, kicking up dirt as its powerful limbs tore across the ground.
Han Jin moved at the same time.
His sword flashed under the moonlight as he met the beast head-on.
CLANG!!
Steel and claw collided with a sharp metallic sound, forcing both sides a half step back.
At the same times, Su Qin quickly formed a hand seal and sent several sharp wind blades toward the wolf’s legs, trying to restrict its movement.
Li Jian stayed further back, carefully watching the battle.
Even without joining the fight directly, he could feel the pressure coming from the 8th Stage demon beast.
Every clash between Han Jin and the Ironback Demon Wolf sent dull shockwaves through the air.
The beast’s defense was truly troublesome as ordinary strikes left only shallow marks on its hardened back.
’As expected of an 8th Stage beast... If I had come alone, I would already be dead.’
Under the moonlight, the battle at the edge of Qinghe Village fully erupted.
CLANG!!
CLANG!!
CLANG!!
Han Jin clashed head-on with the Ironback Demon Wolf, sword light flashing with every exchange.
Sparks burst out whenever his blade scraped against the beast’s hardened back.
Su Qin supported from the side, sending out wind blades to interfere with the wolf’s footing and force openings for Han Jin.
Li Jian remained further behind them, where the pressure of the fight was weaker.
At some point, Su Qin had shifted closer to his position.
While continuing to launch attacks, she also kept herself between him and the demon wolf, clearly carrying out the protection request.
Her full figure moved quickly under the moonlight, robes fluttering as she formed seals and struck again and again.
Li Jian’s eyes rested on her back for a moment.
Even in the middle of battle, that protective stance of hers looked almost natural.
After watching a little longer, he suddenly spoke in a calm voice.
"Senior Sister Su."
Su Qin clicked her tongue while dodging a flying rock kicked up by the demon wolf’s charge.
"What is it now? Can’t you see I’m busy?"
Li Jian’s gaze remained fixed on her as he asked,
"If that thing breaks through Senior Brother Han’s defense... will you really block it for me?"
Su Qin’s movements paused for only a fraction of a second.
Then she answered without looking back,
"Of course. That’s what I’m here for."
At that moment,
A low roar exploded ahead as the Ironback Demon Wolf slammed into Han Jin’s sword once more, forcing him several steps back.
Dust and broken stone scattered across the ground.
Li Jian looked past Su Qin’s protective figure toward the violent clash and slowly smiled.
Soon, the battle grew more intense under the moonlight.
And Han Jin no longer held back.
His peak Qi Refinement aura fully erupted as he pressed the Ironback Demon Wolf with heavier and faster sword strikes.
Sparks continuously burst from the beast’s hardened back, and shallow wounds gradually began to stack up.
Su Qin’s wind blades also grew sharper, repeatedly cutting at the wolf’s legs and eyes to disrupt its movement.
Before long, the demon wolf was clearly being forced into a disadvantage.
A deep sword slash finally broke through part of the iron-like fur along its flank, drawing a spray of dark blood.
The beast let out a furious roar and staggered sideways.
Several more wounds marked its legs and shoulders, and its breathing had become heavy and disordered.
It was seriously injured.
But an 8th Stage demon beast was still an 8th Stage demon beast.
Instead of collapsing, the Ironback Demon Wolf suddenly retreated with explosive force.
BOOOM!!
Its powerful limbs tore into the ground as it leapt back toward the tree line, using the darkness of the forest as cover.
Han Jin immediately chased after it and launched another sword strike, cutting a deeper wound across its rear leg, but he was still a step too slow.
The massive black figure crashed into the forest and quickly disappeared into the shadows... only a trail of dark blood and broken branches remained behind.
Han Jin stopped at the edge of the trees, his expression cold and ugly.
"...It escaped."
Su Qin landed lightly beside him and frowned as she looked at the blood trail leading deeper into the forest.
"Its injuries are not light. If we chase it now, we might be able to finish it off."
Han Jin shook his head.
"Not in the middle of the night. The forest is its territory. If we rush in carelessly, it may not be the only danger waiting for us."
Hearing those words, Li Jian walked closer and looked at the bloodstains on the ground, his expression calm.
"Then we wait until morning?"
"Yes." Han Jin wiped the blood off his sword and spoke coldly. "At first light, we track it down and finish the mission."
Around them, the village remained deathly silent.
The villagers did not dare come out, but from behind closed doors, many had clearly been listening to the sounds of the battle.
Li Jian glanced once more toward the dark forest where the Ironback Demon Wolf had disappeared.
Han Jin’s decision made sense.
Charging into unfamiliar woods at night after a fierce battle was unnecessary risk.
Between the three of them, Han Jin clearly had the most combat experience in the wilderness.
’Better to listen to him this time.’
"Alright," Li Jian said. "We’ll rest first and continue at dawn."
Han Jin gave a short nod and turned back toward the village.
_
_
_
After a brief exchange with the frightened villagers, an older man quickly arranged an empty house near the center of the village for them.
It was a simple wooden house, a little worn, but still intact and cleaner than the damaged outer homes.
The three of them stepped inside.
The interior was plain with a few wooden chairs, a low table, and two hard beds pushed against the walls.
A single oil lamp was lit, casting a warm but limited glow across the room.
The night wind occasionally brushed against the wooden walls, carrying with it the distant scent of blood from the earlier battle.
Han Jin placed his sword beside one of the beds and sat down with a cold expression, clearly intending to recover his strength first.
Su Qin closed the door behind them and walked further into the room, lightly stretching her shoulders after the fight.
Li Jian swept his gaze across the simple house once before choosing a spot near the table and sitting down.
He rested his chin on one hand.
For a moment, he considered circulating his qi to cultivate, but the thought quickly faded.
His mind was still sharp from the battle, and the atmosphere inside the simple wooden house did not make him feel like settling into quiet meditation.
’Just sitting here doing nothing until dawn would also be boring.’
His gaze slowly shifted toward Su Qin.
She was currently standing near the other side of the room, lightly rubbing her shoulder after the earlier fight.
Under the dim light of the oil lamp, her full seductive figure looked especially soft and eye-catching.
The outer sect robes could not hide the heavy outline of her large chest, and the memory of those pale, soft breasts being squeezed in his hand was still very clear.
A smile slowly appeared on Li Jian’s face.
"Senior Sister Su."
Su Qin’s movement paused.
She turned her head toward him with a frown already forming, as if she already had a bad feeling about what was coming next.
Li Jian leaned against the table and spoke in a calm, natural tone with his legs spread.
"Come here and relieve me."