Explanation, the Black Riders Are Furious

The power of the thunder-blast grenade was beyond question. Serena's throw was aimed straight at Prince Damien of Southlyn. If it hit, Damien would be lucky to escape with half his life. But just as the crowd eagerly awaited Damien's bloody demise, something unexpected happened...

Ruby Redsleeve suddenly leapt forward, throwing herself in front of Prince Damien. Damien sprang up in place, swung his leg, and kicked Ruby like a sandbag, redirecting her midair toward the thunder-blast grenade, forcing its trajectory to change.

"Ah—!" Ruby Redsleeve screamed in agony, watching the thunder-blast grenade fly straight into her arms. She had never witnessed its full power, but knew instantly this time she was doomed.

"Young Master, Greenshine, be careful—!" Even at death's door, Ruby still worried for Linden Ling, calling out in panic. But before she could finish, a deafening boom rang out—the thunder-blast grenade exploded, blasting Ruby Redsleeve away.

"Linden Ling, why would your maid risk her life to save that demon?" Storm Cloud Bu shouted, instantly shifting everyone's attention to Linden.

Linden Ling had just begun to wonder why Ruby called out Greenshine's name before dying, but Storm Cloud Bu's interruption shattered his train of thought, breaking the suspicion that had barely surfaced in his mind.

Faced with the crowd's questions, Linden Ling spoke his suspicions directly: "I've always suspected this maid of mine was a planted spy. I never imagined she was actually Demon Sect."

"If you suspected her all along, why didn't you kill her sooner?" someone demanded, furious that Ruby had saved Damien.

Judging by the grenade's earlier path, even if it didn't kill that demon, it would have at least crippled him.

"I brought her here this time precisely to uncover her real master. I had people watching her the whole way, but she showed no signs of acting out." Linden explained. The crowd nodded—if you know someone is a spy, you don't tip your hand too soon.

Poor Ruby Redsleeve—even in death, she was thinking of her Young Master. But her Young Master didn't care about her life at all.

"Enough. Let's deal with these monsters first." Sean snapped, impatience flickering across his face.

These people only unite when there's no hope of rescue. The moment they see a chance to survive, they start scheming against each other. Supposed martial heroes acting just like slippery officials, ruining the spirit of the martial world.

Old Gray's skills were top-notch. Ninth Royal Uncle could barely gain the upper hand. After Old Gray feinted, Nolan was forced to retreat, giving Old Gray the chance to break away and rush to save Prince Damien.

The Black Riders were fierce, but as cavalry they excelled at team tactics and surprise attacks—not one-on-one duels. Even wounded, Prince Damien wasn't afraid of their encirclement, especially with Old Gray joining the fight.

Old Gray charged in, his sword sweeping out—ripples of sword energy spread like waves, sending the Black Riders flying. He lunged forward and grabbed Prince Damien.

Finally, rescue. Prince Damien quickly clung to Old Gray's sleeve. "Let's go."

Old Gray nodded, seeing his side cornered by the Black Riders. He immediately gave the order to retreat.

"Dream on if you think you can escape!" Fortress Lord Ling suddenly grew bold and shouted, "Everyone, attack! Don't let them get away!"

Victory was in sight. Fortress Lord Ling's rallying cry spurred many into action, but at that moment, Sean, Storm Cloud Bu, and Brandon-as-Lance Quinn exchanged a glance. All three leapt into the air, striking toward Old Gray and Prince Damien.

"Go, hurry!" Prince Damien urged again and again. Old Gray, surprised that the three pursuers still had inner force left, ignored his companions and dashed with Damien toward the edge of the cliff.

"After them!" Sean and the other two ignored Fortress Lord Ling's orders, chasing after Old Gray and Damien.

With Old Gray and Prince Damien gone, the rest of the freaks lost their momentum. Still, their escape skills were impressive—even surrounded by the Black Riders, five or six managed to break through and flee.

"Don't let them throw firebrands!" Ninth Royal Uncle didn't care if a few escaped, but he couldn't let them destroy the descent route.

"Yes, sir!" The Black Riders gave chase. Their wrist-mounted sleeve crossbows proved useful, driving the freaks into chaos. Even the few who escaped had to jump down in panic, too busy to toss any firebrands.

Most importantly, they all needed to descend the mountain too. If anyone threw firebrands now, they'd only burn themselves alive.

After the chaos, all those who didn't escape lay dead. Staring at the corpses and the pale, wounded survivors, Serena turned and went to her tent, hauling out a large medical kit.

Serena said nothing. The Black Riders needed no instructions—those injured lined up by severity, waiting for her to bandage their wounds.

The so-called righteous martial heroes, after paying a heavy price to drive off Damien's group, now wore smug expressions, ignoring their own injuries as they loudly proclaimed that 'evil never prevails over good.'

Ninth Royal Uncle stayed silent, ordering the Black Riders to clear the battlefield. Once Serena finished treating the wounded, he prepared to lead the descent down the mountain.

The cliff walls were soaked in fire oil—every extra moment spent here meant more danger. Nolan had no interest in waiting around to die with these people.

But even as Ninth Royal Uncle sought peace, others wouldn't let him have it. As the spokesman for the martial crowd, Fortress Lord Ling stepped forward to thank him: "Thank you, Ninth Royal Uncle, for your righteousness. If not for your intervention, we might all have perished here." His eyes, brimming with 'justice,' never left the Black Riders standing behind Nolan.

Fortress Lord Ling felt fortunate for the Black Riders' timely arrival, but was even more wary of them.

Nolan had smuggled so many troops in right under his nose, and he hadn't noticed a thing. He felt utterly derelict in his duty as fortress lord.

"No need." Ninth Royal Uncle coldly kept everyone at arm's length.

"Of course there's no need! We're just funeral offerings. Those demonic enemies came here for Ninth Royal Uncle. He didn't save us—he brought this disaster on us! If not for him, my senior brother wouldn't have died!" A martial artist nearing forty glared at Nolan, as if he could devour him alive.

"I bet Ninth Royal Uncle saw this coming ages ago—otherwise why would his men show up so 'timely'?" When death is at hand, people need a scapegoat. Damien's 'little prince' remark set off speculation that today's disaster was linked to Eastlyn's power struggle, so they vented their fury on Nolan.

Everyone chimed in—pure speculation, yet spoken as if they'd witnessed it themselves. By their account, Nolan was guilty beyond redemption. The Black Riders, listening nearby, burned with rage, hands on sword hilts, ready to rip out tongues at Nolan's command.

"What, is Ninth Royal Uncle going to kill us to silence us?" The killing aura radiating from the Black Riders made even these old martial veterans uneasy.

"Stand down." Nolan couldn't care less about these people. He ordered the Black Riders to retreat, then turned and walked away.

The Black Riders were unwilling, but military orders couldn't be defied. They swallowed their anger and stepped back, but their eyes stayed locked on those who'd slandered Nolan.

They would remember these people. One day, they'd make sure everyone learned—the Black Riders are not to be provoked!