"Young Master Xiao just fought a match with our sect master. If I were to step in now, wouldn't that be taking advantage of his weakened state?" Zhou Yan had Xiang Jian carried away and asked Xiao Man tentatively, "Does Young Master Xiao wish to rest for a moment?"
"I can see it's not just you who is unconvinced; they are also not convinced," Xiao Man glanced at the others. "I am quite lazy and dislike trouble. How about this: all of you come at me together. If you can defeat me, then your sect master wins!"
"Young Master Xiao, you look down on us too much!" Zhou Yan was somewhat angered, greatly dissatisfied with Xiao Man's arrogant behavior. To challenge all of them alone! These were all elites from the Eight Directions Sect. Even the sect masters of other sects would not dare to be so arrogant as to challenge all of them!
"Since you are unconvinced, and I'm too lazy to fight one by one, just come at me together. If you win, I will willingly admit defeat. If you lose, you will obey me obediently from now on!" Xiao Man was very lazy. If it weren't for her need to enter Wuji City, she wouldn't want to bother with these people; it was too much of a drain on her energy. But to successfully enter Wuji City, she had to take down the Eight Directions Sword Sect.
"Is that true?" Zhou Yan knew that all of them attacking together was somewhat unsportsmanlike, but Xiao Man was too strange. Logically, the sect master shouldn't have lost to her, but the sect master had lost!
"It's true," Xiao Man said lazily. "Are you all going to attack together? If so, hurry up, or I'll leave." Xiao Man's face was full of provocation. "Or perhaps, with so many of you, none of you have the courage to come up and fight to the death?"
"Such big talk! You're not afraid of losing your life even if we all attack you!" One disciple was enraged. The sect master was his idol, yet a youth who had just joined the sect dared to injure the sect master so badly. It was truly detestable. He immediately flew onto the arena. "I will face you today!"
As he spoke, he charged forward. Zhou Yan didn't even have time to stop him. In just one move, the man who charged forward was sent flying by Xiao Man, landing below the arena and crying out in pain.
At this point, the last shred of hesitation in Zhou Yan's heart vanished. He immediately waved for everyone to attack together. Although the Eight Directions Sword Sect was usually lax, they were all unyielding. If they weren't shown Xiao Man's power, they wouldn't be convinced. Of course, he wasn't convinced either!
Their sect, which they had painstakingly built, was defeated by an outsider like Xiao Man using some disreputable methods, and she intended to take over the Eight Directions Sword Sect. Was it that easy!
A moment later, in the vast arena, only Xiao Man was still standing. Everyone else was lying on the ground, groaning. If they had lost after a hard-fought battle, they might have felt better. But apart from Zhou Yan, the others hadn't even lasted three moves under Xiao Man's hands. They lay on the ground, partly because they were too injured to get up, but more so out of shame.
Zhou Yan knelt on the ground, struggling for a long time before he could stand up. At this moment, he finally understood what the sect master meant when he said she was not simple. This was not just "not simple"; this was a monstrous talent. Sect master, you usually seemed so straightforward, but I never expected your judgment to be so sharp, bringing back such a formidable individual. Mad Blade's defeat at her hands was by no means unjust.
Xiao Man turned around, elegantly walked off the arena, and signaled for Shan Yun and the others to follow. Shan Yun trotted along, and Qi Hong's face was full of admiration.
"Elder, you are truly too powerful! You've managed to defeat all of them!"
Xiao Man glanced back at the struggling crowd, a smile rippling across her lips. "The people of the Eight Directions Sword Sect are indeed interesting. I wonder what Xiang Jian will do after he wakes up."
"I think Sect Master Xiang will definitely fight you desperately when he wakes up," Shan Yun said softly. The sect master had repeatedly pleaded not to be hit in the face, but the elder had specifically targeted his face, turning his handsome features into a pig's head. Sect Master Xiang must be very angry.
"If he fights me desperately, can he defeat me?" Xiao Man asked languidly.
"What if everyone from the Eight Directions Sword Sect attacks together?" Shan Yun said worriedly. "Elder, should we sneak away now?"
"We can't run. This is a lawless land, and we have nowhere to go. Outside, Mad Blade is still searching for me like crazy, and the other two sects are likely observing. Staying at the Eight Directions Sword Sect is the best choice for us. Besides, why should I run? I defeated all of them fair and square. It shouldn't be me who runs."
"Elder, what if the Eight Directions Sword Sect breaks their promise?"
Xiao Man smiled sinisterly. "Then we'll let them know that there's no medicine for regret in this world."
Xiang Jian's unconsciousness lasted for a full day and night. Zhou Yan had gone to find Xiao Man several times to inquire about the reason. Xiao Man had only smiled and said it was nothing. But the more Xiao Man insisted it was nothing, the more uneasy he became, and he had to personally guard Xiang Jian.
The next day, Xiang Jian's eyes fluttered open. With a sudden surge, he leaped out of bed. After jumping up, he couldn't help but touch his face, crying out in pain. "Hiss, my face! That damned Xiao Qin! I specifically told her not to hit my face, and she deliberately hit my face! She must be jealous of my good looks!"
"Sect Master, you're awake," Zhou Yan said, almost weeping with joy upon seeing Xiang Jian awake.
"How long have I slept?"
"You slept for a whole day and night!" Zhou Yan said excitedly. "Did that Xiao... Young Master Xiao do anything to you? Do you feel unwell anywhere?"
Xiang Jian immediately circulated a small heavenly cycle of qi and was surprised to find that the previously blocked meridians in his body were unexpectedly clear. Even his old internal injuries didn't hurt anymore. He felt a bit puzzled and quickly examined his body.
His wrist tendons had been severed before, and although they were reconnected later, they were not as agile, which made his swordsmanship not as good and unable to reach his peak condition. But now, although the scar on his wrist was still there, the qi flow in his meridians was completely unobstructed. This reminded him of the peculiar situation during his fight with Xiao Man in the arena.
Every attack from Xiao Man targeted his acupoints. After each attack, his body would undergo changes. His legs couldn't exert force, and his old injuries ached. He had initially thought Xiao Man was deliberately aggravating his internal injuries, but now it seemed Xiao Man was treating him! Xiao Man was a pharmacist! No, she was far more than a pharmacist; she was very likely a physician!
"I've struck gold!" Xiang Jian exclaimed excitedly. "Where is Xiao Qin?"
"In the guest room..." Before Zhou Yan could finish speaking, Xiang Jian had already vanished. Zhou Yan had no choice but to chase after him.
When Xiang Jian burst into Xiao Man's room, she was having her meal. Xiang Jian charged in, his imposing aura directed towards Xiao Man. Qi Hong and Shan Yun were intimidated by Xiang Jian's aura and, thinking he was going to harm Xiao Man, drew their swords to shield her.