Bengtie, I'm really not a villain!

[Taking advantage of a lull in the fighting, Raiden Mei quickly retreated to a high slope at the edge of the battlefield. She was slightly out of breath, her gaze serious, her thoughts drifting back to moments spent with Keiya.]

"Jing Ye..." she murmured softly, her voice instantly swallowed by the howling wind.

"At the time, I was eager to go to the battlefield, but he obstructed me. I thought he was just deliberately making things difficult for me, but later I realized that if it weren't for him, I probably would have lost my life on the battlefield, where there was a traitor."

Recalling that harrowing internal strife, Raiden Mei still feels lingering fear.

"Why would he help me? Given his consistently wicked nature, he wouldn't do it for no reason." Raiden Mei frowned, her eyes filled with confusion.

Looking back carefully, the timing of Jing Ye's intervention to stop her from going to the battlefield was too suspicious, as if he had foreseen the danger. Moreover, Jing Ye's behavior throughout the entire incident was also very abnormal. He not only remained completely silent about the incident involving the mole, as if that experience had never happened, but it was also as if he was deliberately hiding something.

"If he didn't know about the mole's plan, how could he have so precisely guided me to avoid that disaster?" Raiden Mei grew increasingly suspicious, her doubts snowballing.

"The battlefield is fraught with danger, yet he has suddenly vanished. Could it all be related to him?" A hint of unease flickered in Raiden Mei's eyes.

At that moment, another burst of fierce shouts of battle erupted in the distance. Raiden Mei snapped back to reality, gripping her sword tightly, a resolute glint in her eyes.

That unease, like a persistent, insidious infection, clung tightly to her, making it difficult for her to fully concentrate on the battle.

"No, I need to calm down," Raiden Mei silently told herself.

On the battlefield, thick, acrid smoke billowed everywhere, like a heavy, suffocating curtain enveloping the entire world. The deafening shouts of battle clashed together in a chaotic and brutal symphony, constantly assaulting the eardrums.

[Raiden Mei, like a fearless war goddess, fought fiercely amidst the enemy ranks. Her longsword was incredibly sharp, its cold light dazzling; each swing brought a fierce gust of wind, whipping up a storm of blood. Enemy soldiers fell screaming under her onslaught.]

Just as she was fully focused on dealing with the surging tide of enemies before her, a familiar figure caught her eye out of the corner of her eye. In that instant, Raiden Mei felt as if an invisible hand had clenched her heart, a sharp pain shooting through her, and she froze in place.

"Furibas?!" she exclaimed instinctively, her voice sharp and trembling, filled with disbelief and deep panic.

In this chaotic and life-or-death battlefield, the appearance of Furibas was so abrupt, like a boulder suddenly thrown into a calm lake, shattering all common sense.

[Furibas's face was as pale as paper, devoid of any color. His eyes were filled with endless confusion and fear. Amidst the raging flames and the flashing swords, he appeared so small and helpless, like a fragile little flower in a storm, ready to wither at any moment.]

[Raiden Mei instantly forgot about the menacing, relentlessly attacking enemies in front of her. Desperate, she rushed towards Furibas with incredible speed.]

"Furibas! What are you doing here?" she shouted at the top of her lungs as she ran, but her voice was instantly drowned out by the cacophony of the battlefield.

At this moment, Raiden Mei's heart was filled with a raging fire of worry.

[The battlefield—what a dangerous place! Deadly dangers lurk everywhere, every second a matter of life and death. And Furibas, with no combat experience and utterly defenseless, how could she be here on this hellish battlefield? Had she encountered something terrible and been forced to come here? Or was she being schemed against and coerced by someone? Countless terrifying thoughts flashed wildly through Raiden Mei's mind.]

The cunning enemies around her, keenly sensing Raiden Mei's distraction, swarmed her like sharks smelling blood. They brandished various weapons, their cold glints flashing, and launched a fierce attack on Raiden Mei.

But at this moment, Raiden Mei's mind and attention were solely focused on the safety of Furibas, and she had no time to consider the threats coming from all directions.

Driven only by instinct, she mechanically wielded the blood-stained knife in her hand, repeatedly deflecting enemies who tried to stop her, her steps never faltering as she resolutely ran towards Furibas.

"Please don't let anything happen, please don't let anything happen..." Raiden Mei prayed silently in her heart, her voice weak yet filled with endless hope. Her eyes were fixed on the slender figure in front of her.

Just as Raiden Mei was rushing anxiously towards Furibas, the sword in her hand, which had a deep connection with Jingye, subtly underwent a change. The already gleaming blade seemed to be infused with a mysterious and powerful force; the blade patterns became even clearer, shimmering with an eerie light, making the entire sword appear even more magnificent and dazzling, radiating a chilling aura.

Raiden Mei was completely unaware of the change in the sword in her hand; her mind was filled with worry for Furibas. However, the demons of Takamagahara around her keenly sensed this unusual power; fear flashed in their eyes, and they involuntarily took a step back.

[But Raiden Mei had no time to consider the demons' reactions; she only wanted to get to Furibas's side as quickly as possible. As she swung her sword again, attempting to repel the demons blocking her way, an astonishing scene unfolded.]

A dazzling, unprecedented blade of light flashed past, even more radiant than before, like a bolt of lightning tearing through the sky. Where this blade of light passed, the air was instantly ripped apart, emitting a piercing shriek.

The once solid ground was now as fragile as paper, easily ripped open with a deep trench. And several towering mountain peaks in the distance, under the impact of this powerful force, collapsed with a resounding crash, as if gently squeezed by an invisible giant hand.

[Giants rained down, kicking up clouds of dust; the scene was breathtakingly powerful.]

The demons of Takamagahara were stunned into silence by what they witnessed. They had never seen such terrifying power; before it, their usually formidable weapons seemed utterly insignificant.

Even the normally ferocious and tyrannical elite demons were now so frightened that they dropped their weapons.

Raiden Mei gripped the terrifyingly powerful sword tightly and continued charging towards Furibas, each step firm and resolute, as if nothing could stop her.

Just as Raiden Mei rushed towards Furibas without regard for her own safety, the magical sword in her hand seemed to sense the intense worry and unwavering determination deep within her heart, and underwent another astonishing transformation.

This time, her transformed appearance, compared to her previous two defeats by Jingye's Iaijutsu, where she was humiliated in front of Himeko, her mother, and Furibas, was incomparably beautiful and fiercely sharp, instantly attracting the attention of everyone on the battlefield.

The blade, once gleaming with a chilling light, now possessed an even more frigid quality, seemingly capable of freezing the soul. It trembled slightly, emitting a low, resonant hum, as if unleashing boundless killing intent. Within that shimmering light, a faint crimson glow flickered, like a thin veil gently draped over the blade, adding an eerie yet alluring quality to its appearance—a stark contrast to its dull, lifeless state after its defeat.

The edge of the blade had become sharper than ever before, like a boundary created from the very beginning. Upon closer inspection, a layer of fine runes seemed to flow across the blade, emitting a faint glow. Each rune seemed to contain an ancient and powerful force, intertwining to make the blade's sharpness terrifying. Compared to before, the blade now seemed reborn, filled with an aura of absolute dominion over life and death.

At the tip of the blade, a narrow, elongated blade of light suddenly extended. This light was semi-transparent, yet exuded a chilling aura, as if it could easily cleave through space. The blade's length steadily increased, reaching several meters in the blink of an eye, its tip gleaming with a cold, star-like light, like the eyes of death, coldly observing all things. At this moment, this sharp blade of light displayed absolute dominance.

The demons of Takamagahara, already terrified by the previous scene, were now even more horrified by the sword's transformation into a beautiful yet fiercely sharp weapon.

Some of the more timid demons were so frightened that they collapsed to the ground, losing control of their bladder and bowels, their eyes filled with despair and terror.

Those who were slightly bolder simply stood there, mouths agape, eyes filled with disbelief, as if staring at a terrifying being from another world.

The Izumo soldiers on the battlefield were equally stunned by this scene. They all stopped what they were doing and looked in Raiden Mei's direction, their eyes filled with awe and shock.

"What... what kind of power is this?"

"Lady Mei is practically a goddess descended to earth!"

The soldiers' whispers rose and fell, soon coalescing into a thunderous cheer.

["Master Mei! Master Mei!"]

The cheers surged like a tidal wave, wave after wave, echoing across the entire battlefield, as if threatening to overturn the very heavens and earth.

[While the demons of Takamagahara were thrown into chaos by the terrifying transformation of the sword in Raiden Mei's hand, the demons surrounding Furibas keenly sensed Raiden Mei's urgency. Their eyes were filled with worry and anxiety as Raiden Mei charged towards Furibas without regard for anything else, her resolute stance seemingly capable of breaking through any obstacle.]

On this chaotic and bloody battlefield, Furibas was initially filled with fear and helplessness. However, when she inadvertently caught sight of Raiden Mei in the distance, she was completely stunned. Raiden Mei seemed possessed by a war goddess; the sword in her hand appeared to come alive, each swing bringing a storm of blood and gore. Wherever she went, the demons of Takamagahara fell, utterly powerless. Her movements were agile and swift, fluid and graceful, full of power and beauty.

[Furibas's eyes widened, his face filled with shock.]

The Raiden Mei she knew was always so gentle and kind. When interacting with others, her eyes were soft, and her smile was like the warm spring sun, capable of dispelling the gloom in people's hearts. When speaking to others, her voice was soft, and her manners elegant, as if all the world's conflicts were irrelevant to her.

But the Raiden Mei standing on the battlefield now seemed like a completely different person. Her eyes held a chilling, murderous intent, like a sharp blade in the cold night, capable of freezing the souls of her enemies. Every movement was fraught with deadly danger; her ruthlessness and decisiveness made Furibas momentarily unrecognizable.

"This... Is this really Lady Mei?" she murmured to herself, her voice instantly drowned out by the clamor of the battlefield.

She had never seen Raiden Mei so powerful and intimidating; this stark contrast deeply shocked Furibas.

However, at an inopportune moment, Jing Ye's image surfaced in Fulibas's mind again.

Recalling the terrifying power Jingye had displayed before, his Iaijutsu, as forceful as thunder, directly suppressed the powerful Raiden Mei. That scene was still deeply etched in Furibas's mind, filling her with dread.

[And look at Raiden Mei, who is currently wreaking havoc on the battlefield. She is like a grim reaper from hell, and the sword in her hand is like a messenger of death. With each swing, she can reap the lives of a group of demons.]

The demons of Takamagahara were like fragile ants before her, utterly powerless. Her figure was agile, her movements swift and ruthless, leaving a trail of blood and carnage in her wake.

[Mei's powerful lightning, set against her usually gentle image, makes her all the more awe-inspiring.]

Even so, a desperate question still welled up in Furibas's heart: "Even though Lady Mei is so powerful right now, displaying such terrifying fighting strength, is it really true that she still can't defeat Jingye? Just how heaven-defying has Jingye's strength reached?"

Once the thought appeared, it lingered in her mind, refusing to leave.

She knew full well how terrifying Jingye was, and also how powerful Raiden Mei was, but comparing the two, the vast difference in their strength left Furibas feeling a deep sense of powerlessness.

In her mind, Raiden Mei was practically invincible, yet Jingye could easily suppress her, which instilled in Furibas a fear bordering on awe at Jingye's strength.

[While the demons of Takamagahara were thrown into chaos by the terrifying transformation of the sword in Raiden Mei's hand, the demons surrounding Furibas keenly sensed Raiden Mei's urgency. Their eyes were filled with worry and anxiety as Raiden Mei charged towards Furibas without regard for anything else, her resolute stance seemingly capable of breaking through any obstacle.]

The demons exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with cunning and ruthlessness. Without a word, they swiftly reached a consensus.

They crouched low, like a pack of wolves that had caught the scent of prey, silently yet swiftly approaching Furibas.

Though their footsteps were light, Furibas still vaguely sensed something amiss amidst the chaos of the battlefield.

She looked around in terror, only to see the already sinister demons now gleaming with malevolent light in their eyes, gradually surrounding her.

"What...what do you want?" Furibas's voice trembled.

However, the demons offered no response, only their狰狞 (zhengning, meaning ferocious or hideous) smiles grew even more intense, as if proclaiming the impending doom.

The three-eyed demon in the lead suddenly stretched out its long claws and viciously grabbed at Furibas.

[Furibas, terrified, closed his eyes tightly, his body trembling, awaiting the agonizing moment to come.]

Just as Furibas was lost in these desperate thoughts, the three-eyed demon's claw, accompanied by a fierce gust of wind, was already only a hair's breadth away from her slender neck. The shadow of death, like a thick, inky night, instantly enveloped her.

[Furibas felt as if the air around him had been instantly sucked away by an invisible force, followed by a sudden chill; a bone-chilling cold surged from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.]

The eyes, which had been tightly closed in extreme fear, suddenly opened uncontrollably due to this unexpected turn of events.

She was filled with terror, and in a daze, she thought she had already stepped into the underworld; her soul trembled. However, when her panicked gaze fell upon the scene before her, she was as if frozen in place, her face filled with astonishment.

Chapter 115 Sending Kiana to the Battlefield

Just as Furibas was lost in these desperate thoughts, the three-eyed demon's claw, accompanied by a fierce gust of wind, was already only a hair's breadth away from her slender neck. The shadow of death, like a thick, inky night, instantly enveloped her.

[Furibas felt as if the air around him had been instantly sucked away by an invisible force, followed by a sudden chill; a bone-chilling cold surged from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.]

The eyes, which had been tightly closed in extreme fear, suddenly opened uncontrollably due to this unexpected turn of events.

She was filled with terror, and in a daze, she thought she had already stepped into the underworld; her soul trembled. However, when her panicked gaze fell upon the scene before her, she was as if frozen in place, her face filled with astonishment.

The three-eyed demon, which had been menacing and close at hand, seemed to have been instantly dispersed by a mysterious wind, vanishing like a dream, leaving no trace.

Not only that, but looking around, the countless demons that had once surrounded her had vanished without a trace, as if swept away by an invisible catastrophe.

The battlefield, which had just been filled with the chilling roars and狰狞 faces of demons, was now eerily quiet, as if those terrifying beings had never existed.

Instead, a horrifying, deep trench, scarred by a knife, stretched out from beneath Furibas's feet like a raging earth dragon, winding its way into the distance, its end nowhere in sight.

The ravine was bottomless, seemingly leading to an endless abyss, its deep darkness concealing unknown terrors. The ravine walls were smooth and flat, as if sculpted by a divine hand, clearly cleaved in two by an incredibly sharp blade.

[From the cut, wisps of chill emanated, creating a strangely cold zone on the otherwise sweltering battlefield. This chill seemed to carry a faint scent of blood, silently recounting the breathtaking, life-or-death battle that had just taken place.]

[Furibas stared wide-eyed, her expression filled with disbelief. Her gaze, as if drawn by a magnet, lingered along the deep groove of the knife wound, trying to decipher what had happened from this mysterious mark.]

Her lips trembled slightly as she subconsciously murmured, "What... what is going on? Where are the demons? And where did these knife marks come from?"

Her voice was soft and trembling, sounding exceptionally small and weak in the empty and deathly silent battlefield, as if it might be swallowed up by the howling wind at any moment.

She took a deep breath, braced herself with her hands, and slowly stood up. Her legs were still weak, as if filled with lead, and every step was extremely difficult.

But a burning curiosity, like a raging fire, ignited within her, compelling her to uncover the truth behind it all.

She crept stealthily toward the deep ditch, scanning her surroundings warily with each step, her ears perked up, not missing a single sound, fearing that some hidden danger might suddenly attack from the shadows.

When she finally reached the edge of the deep ravine, she leaned down with trepidation. A thin layer of mist, bluish-gray in color, hung in the air, like a veil, completely obscuring the view at the bottom, making it impossible to see anything.

A strange sense of oppression, like a surging tide, rushed over her from the deep ravine, making her chest feel tight, her breathing become rapid, and she involuntarily shivered.

In the instant she blinked, she looked again and was astonished to find Raiden Mei standing beside her. Furibas's gaze followed Raiden Mei's figure intently, his heart filled with a mixture of relief at surviving a close call and bewilderment at the situation before him.

This sudden change left Furibas wide-eyed, his mouth slightly agape, his face filled with disbelief.

"Mei...Mei?" she stammered, her voice still tinged with lingering surprise.

She couldn't understand how Raiden Mei, who had been running at full speed in the distance just moments before, could suddenly appear beside her; her speed was simply beyond imagination.

[Furibas subconsciously glanced around. The horrifying deep gash from the knife wound still loomed before him, and the eerie aura surrounding them had not yet dissipated.]

Looking at the horrific marks, and then at Raiden Mei beside her with her cold expression, she instantly understood.

"This... did Mei make all of this?" Furibas looked at Raiden Mei, his eyes filled with awe and wonder.

She knew all too well how terrifying those demons were, yet Raiden Mei had managed to repel them all in such a short time, leaving behind such a shocking mark. Her strength was truly astounding.

At this moment, the smoke from the battlefield remained thick and heavy, like a dense cloud, refusing to dissipate, the pungent smell permeating every inch of air. In the distance, sporadic shouts of battle still drifted in, like the wails of demons drifting from the depths of a distant hell. Yet, in this small area, time seemed to be frozen, everything around them falling into an eerie stillness. The howling winds ceased, the fighting seemed to have deliberately ceased here, and the entire world seemed to consist only of Raiden Mei and Furibas, frozen in this unique time and space.

[Furibas's gaze, as if drawn by invisible threads, anxiously shifted between the bottomless, seemingly endless abyss of darkness, and the chilling, soul-devouring blade still emanating from Raiden Mei's hand.]

The initial awe she felt for Raiden Mei's immense power gradually gave way to subtle doubts amidst this brief and eerie calm, like an undercurrent quietly surging beneath a still lake.

Just then, without warning, the shocking image of Jing Ye unleashing his Iaijutsu flashed through her mind: Jing Ye's posture was as upright as a pine tree, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's. The moment he drew his sword, the world seemed to tremble with his fierce aura. His terrifying power was like a divine punishment descending from the sky, mercilessly destroying everything in its path.

The traces left by Raiden Mei before him bore a strange resemblance to the scene from back then, deepening Furibas's doubts.

[Furibas's cheeks, like flower petals gently kissed by the warm spring sun, were flushed with a faint blush.]

She bit her lower lip, hesitated for a long while, and unconsciously clutched the hem of her clothes, as if gathering her courage. Finally, she mustered all her strength and spoke softly.

"Mei, I... I think I just saw you use Jingye's Iaijutsu?"

Her voice was as soft as a spring breeze, carrying a hint of barely perceptible shyness. After all, mentioning Jing Ye's name always stirred something special in her heart; scenes of her time with him flashed through her mind like a movie.

At the same time, her eyes were filled with undisguised shock, wide open and filled with disbelief.

She simply couldn't imagine that Raiden Mei could unleash such a unique and powerful, almost heaven-defying, technique as Keiya.

The moment Raiden Mei heard the question, her body stiffened slightly, as if struck by an invisible electric current. A flicker of panic flashed in her eyes, which had been as resolute as a rock, like that of a startled fawn.

Her cheeks instantly flushed a brilliant, vibrant red, like a sunset ablaze, the blush spreading from her ears down her neck.

"I...I..." Raiden Mei's lips trembled slightly, the words seemingly stuck in her throat, stammering and unable to form a complete sentence for a long time.

She never expected that Furibas would be so perceptive, which surprised and embarrassed her.