Chapter 18: Jun Han

Most of the houses in the village were destroyed, and the air was thick with the pungent stench of blood and charred remains. Scattered across the ground were broken furniture and torn clothing, clear evidence that a brutal massacre had just taken place.

"What is happening here?" Ning Xi felt a jolt of alarm and immediately quickened her pace.

As they entered the village, they discovered the bodies of villagers strewn everywhere, their states of death horrific. Some were scorched, others dismembered by sharp blades, indicating a fierce and tragic struggle.

"Ah! How terrifying!" Ning Rongrong covered her mouth, her eyes filled with shock and fear. Terrified, she let out a scream and buried her face in Bone Douluo’s chest.

Seeing this scene, the deepest memories in Ning Xi’s mind were awakened, and her body began to tremble involuntarily. These were Evil Soul Masters! Only Evil Soul Masters would commit such atrocities!

Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo also wore grim expressions. Noticing the reactions of Ning Xi and Ning Rongrong, they naturally assumed that Ning Xi was also afraid.

"These are Fallen Soul Masters!" the two titled Douluo said in unison.

Fallen Soul Masters? So, the Evil Soul Masters here were known by that name.

Just as they were looking around, a burst of manic laughter and screams suddenly erupted from nearby. Ning Xi immediately followed the sound and discovered three Fallen Soul Masters surrounding a corner, relentlessly attacking a villager.

"Hahaha, today is your doomsday!" one of the Fallen Soul Masters laughed wildly, his blade glinting with a cold, lethal light.

"Please, spare me..." a villager pleaded desperately, but the Fallen Soul Master showed no mercy, bringing his blade down with a single stroke.

"Ah!"

As fresh red blood splattered onto their faces, the attackers continued to roar with laughter, their eyes filled with boundless satisfaction and cruelty.

Watching this, the wall of reason in Ning Xi’s mind shattered. She could no longer restrain herself; an intensely cold and terrifying aura suddenly radiated from her body. Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo paused slightly, glancing at Ning Xi with a touch of surprise.

"Filthy things." Ning Xi’s icy voice drew the attention of the Fallen Soul Masters.

"More people coming to die," one of them sneered. "Then let's send you all to hell together!"

Just as Ning Xi prepared to strike, Sword Douluo appeared beside her. His gaze was like a torch, cold and piercing as he looked at the three villains. "You scum, today you shall witness true power," he stated coldly. In an instant, he summoned the Seven Kill Sword, which shimmered with a frigid, deadly brilliance.

"The... the Seven Kill Sword! You—you are a Titled Douluo! Sword Douluo Chen Xin!?" The Fallen Soul Masters’ pupils dilated as they stared at him in disbelief; clearly, they knew his reputation.

"No! Please! We were wrong!" The men trembled, their eyes filled with terror and shock. Why would a Titled Douluo appear in this place?

But their regret was in vain.

"Seven Kill Sword: Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect!" Sword Douluo commanded. The Seven Kill Sword transformed into countless sword shadows, descending upon the Fallen Soul Masters like an overwhelming storm. Before they could react, they were struck by the blades and instantly disintegrated into three mists of blood, vanishing into the air.

A one-hit kill. This was the true strength of Sword Douluo Chen Xin. Seeing Chen Xin’s overwhelming power for the first time, Ning Xi was astonished. *How powerful!*

As Sword Douluo made his move, Ning Xi’s gaze was drawn to a corner nearby. She rushed over and found a young boy curled up on the ground, covered in wounds and soaked in blood, clearly on the verge of death.

"Master, Bone Grandpa, there is a little boy injured here!" Ning Xi’s voice carried a hint of urgency as she called out to Bone Douluo.

Sword Douluo’s gaze quickly shifted, and he nodded, saying in a low voice, "Very well, let us save him first." He released a gentle flow of spirit power, carefully channeling it into the boy’s body to stabilize his condition.

Ning Rongrong also proved to be very sensible, immediately releasing her own spirit skill to infuse a warm, healing energy into the boy. Through their combined efforts, the boy’s injuries gradually began to mend, and his breathing steadied.

Before long, the boy stirred and opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Ning Xi. Under the sunlight, her features appeared exceptionally cold and beautiful; her dark hair was smooth as silk, her skin as white as snow, and her features were as delicate as a finely carved work of art. Her phoenix eyes were slightly upturned, concealing a mix of gentleness and detachment, while her lips were pressed together in a subtle, elegant smile that blossomed like a cherry blossom. Her beauty was untainted by the world, elegant yet cool, gentle yet deeply caring.

The boy’s heart skipped a beat, as if struck by something profound. He had never seen such a beautiful girl. In that moment, he felt as if he were in a dream, his heart pounding like a drum, beyond his control.

"Don't be afraid, little one. We are here to save you," Ning Xi said softly. Her voice was like a gentle spring breeze, bringing warmth to the boy’s heart. He stared at her intently, a flicker of awe and infatuation crossing his eyes.

He struggled to stand, but Ning Xi gently pressed him back down. "Don't move. You are severely injured and need to rest."

The boy nodded, his eyes filled with gratitude. He looked at Ning Xi and thought silently, *This sister... she is truly like a fairy from the heavens.*

Ning Xi smiled slightly and said, "Don't worry, we will protect you." Her smile was like the spring sun, warm and bright, filling the boy with a sense of security. Perhaps it was this scene that reminded her of her own painful memories, triggering a softness in her heart and causing her to reveal a gentle side she rarely showed.

"Thank you... sister..." The boy’s faint voice caused a pang of pain in Ning Xi’s heart. She could not help but think of her past life and the deep memories etched within her. She hated the Evil Soul Masters.

"What is your name? Are you all alone now?" Bone Douluo asked with concern.

The boy replied in a slightly hoarse voice, "Thank you. My name is Jun Han. This is Luoyang Village. I am an orphan. I was supposed to awaken my spirit in a few days, but these people suddenly appeared and killed everyone in our village..."

His mood was somber. Despite what he had been through, he did not cry; instead, he remained calm, composed, and wore a look of melancholy. He was only six years old and was meant to awaken his spirit soon, but he had encountered these monsters instead. He felt deep anger and sorrow. He had no family left. The uncles, aunts, and the village chief who had been kind to him had all died protecting him. He hated the attackers, and he hated his own helplessness even more.

Everyone fell silent for a moment, looking at Jun Han with sympathy. *What a poor child.*

Bone Douluo said generously, "How about this? I will awaken your spirit for you. Let’s see what your spirit is, and if it is suitable, we will take you away from here."

Jun Han’s eyes lit up with surprise. "Really?"

Sword Douluo nodded. "Naturally."

Such a sudden stroke of fortune left Jun Han in disbelief. Was this the silver lining after surviving a catastrophe?