"Bang..."
"Pfft..."
The sound of a palm striking a chest and a sword piercing flesh rang out at the same time.
A trace of blood escaped the Ghost King's lips. He looked down at the sword stabbed into his abdomen, then at the unmoving Prince Nolan, unable to believe this was real.
This man hadn't been sent flying by his palm strike—how was that possible? How did he do it?
The Ghost King opened his mouth to ask, but Prince Nolan gave him no chance. Nolan stepped back, drew out the sword, and charged forward again...
The Ghost King was intensely grateful that his heart was different from ordinary people’s; otherwise, with the sword stabbed in and pulled out again, he’d have no hope of survival.
When Prince Nolan attacked recklessly once more, the Ghost King's first instinct wasn't to fight back, but to flee!
The killing intent radiating from Prince Nolan made him afraid—he simply didn’t have the courage to keep fighting. Ever since he’d emerged from the underground tomb, he hadn’t felt fear, but this man made him experience it again.
With the Ghost King running, the remaining Ghost Hall killers didn’t dare continue fighting. Seeing the tide turn, Lady Min, fearing Prince Nolan would come after her, rushed to the cliff edge and, under the protection of black-clad dead-men, leapt off...
Of course, Lady Min wasn’t looking to die. She jumped because she’d already made arrangements below—leaping off the cliff wouldn’t kill her.
Her opponent was Eastlyn’s Ninth Prince, the child she’d watched grow up from the shadows. She knew just how ruthless he could be, so she’d prepared an escape route in advance—never expecting she’d actually need it.
Prince Nolan’s entire body was battered—there wasn’t a spot untouched, and even his internal organs had been shaken by the Ghost King. He looked like he’d crawled out of a sea of blood. Any ordinary person would already be dead, or at least collapsed, but Nolan was still standing. Not only that, he moved as fast as ever, chasing the Ghost King with nowhere left to run.
"Damn it." The Ghost King had never been so desperate. He shook the blood from his hand, pressed down on his wound, and seeing Prince Nolan drawing closer and closer, had no choice but to hurl the just-stolen Nine Provinces Token at Vincent Su.
For the sake of the token and Vincent Su, Prince Nolan abandoned Serena. The Ghost King’s move struck right at Nolan’s weakness: the moment the token flew toward Vincent, Nolan instantly gave up the chase and leapt into the air to catch it...
When he looked up again, the Ghost King had vanished.
Prince Nolan didn’t resume the chase. Instead, he turned back toward the battlefield, ready to fight anyone in his way—friend or foe alike. In that moment, everyone standing was his enemy.
Storm Cloud Bu finished settling Bella Qin and hurried over, only to see Prince Nolan lost to a killing frenzy. Knowing Nolan’s state, Bu immediately ordered his men to fall back: "Quick, run! Get out now!"
As he spoke, he drew his sword and stepped forward to block Prince Nolan’s path.
Storm Cloud Bu was no match for Prince Nolan, but after such a brutal fight, Nolan’s movements had finally slowed. Bu barely managed to hold his own for a few exchanges.
Sean Xuan opened his eyes and struggled to his feet, just in time to see Prince Nolan locked in combat with Storm Cloud Bu. Before Sean could figure out what was happening, Bella Qin—whom Bu had just settled in a safe spot—came running over, shouting, "Lance! Bu! Stop fighting, please! I'm fine, everything's okay!"
"Lance! Bu! The bad guys are gone, you don't need to fight anymore!"
Bella Qin spun around in a panic, rushing forward heedless of the danger...
Sean Xuan leaned against a corpse behind him, stunned by Bella's words.
Lance? Lance Quinn?
Prince Nolan is Lance Quinn? What’s going on?
And Prince Nolan seemed... off.
Sean Xuan felt his mind was failing him. He scanned the battlefield, but couldn't hear Serena's voice. Alarmed, he shouted, "Prince Nolan, where's Serena?"
His only answer was Prince Nolan’s sword, slashing ever faster. Sean’s unease grew; he shouted with all his strength, "Nolan Dongling, where’s Serena? Where is she?"
"Serena..." Prince Nolan’s movements halted abruptly. The sword meant for Storm Cloud Bu froze in midair, and Nolan stood there, stunned.
Fortunately, the one facing him right now was Storm Cloud Bu—if it had been an enemy, even nine lives wouldn’t have been enough for Prince Nolan.
Prince Nolan stopped, but Storm Cloud Bu didn’t. His sword tip grazed Nolan’s chest, then knocked Nolan’s blade from his hand...
"Bu, how could you hurt Lance?" Bella Qin rushed over, saw the scene, and—despite her weakness—ran forward, anxious and flustered. "Lance, are you okay...?"
"Get lost..."
She reached out to touch Prince Nolan, but before her hand even brushed his robe, Nolan flicked his hand and sent her flying.
"Bella!" Storm Cloud Bu lunged forward, just barely catching her before she hit the ground.
"Cough, cough..." Bella hadn’t hit the ground, so she’d escaped death. After coughing up a mouthful of blood, she curled up in Bu’s arms and asked pitifully, "Bu, what’s going on?"
"It’s nothing. Lance just isn’t himself right now." Storm Cloud Bu didn’t dare meet Nolan’s eyes, quietly comforting Bella.
Seeing Bella’s innocent, bewildered eyes, Storm Cloud Bu’s heart twisted—he wished he could disappear and avoid what was coming.
"Oh... so when Lance comes to his senses, he’ll treat me well, right?" Bella gave a hopeful smile. Bu, not wanting to disappoint her, forced a smile uglier than a cry and nodded, "Right."
"That’s good. Bu, help me up—we need to find Lance, he’s in too much danger." Bella Qin looked worried. Storm Cloud Bu was just as concerned about Prince Nolan, but he didn’t dare get close; he feared seeing Nolan’s eyes full of blame and disappointment. With Bella’s urging, he helped her over.
"Prince Nolan, where’s Serena?" By now, Sean Xuan had climbed to his feet, struggling over to Nolan and asking about Serena’s whereabouts.
Prince Nolan’s mind had cleared, but the chill around him hadn’t faded. Hearing Sean’s question, he didn’t even lift his eyes; he just replied coldly, "She’s fine."
The Life-Link Spell had already taken effect the moment Serena fell—he could confidently tell himself, and anyone else, that Serena was safe.
But whether their child was safe, the spell couldn’t tell him.
His heart bleeding, Prince Nolan didn’t want to speak anymore. He turned and walked toward Vincent Su.
Either Vincent Su or his child—at least one of them had to survive.
But of course, someone clueless blocked his way...