Bengtie, I'm really not a villain!

[Raiden Mei's front was completely mangled, layers of dark red scabs piled up, clinging tightly to her tattered flesh and torn armor, like a heavy shackle binding her battered body.]

Despite the humiliation she suffered during the period following the iaido ritual, she exerted all her efforts to recover and restore herself to her peak condition.

But when she stepped onto this battlefield and faced the endless, unimaginably powerful army of demons, her confidence shattered like a bubble, replaced by an unprecedented sense of powerlessness.

Like a lone boat adrift in a raging storm, it could be swallowed by a giant wave at any moment.

The miasma, like a thick black curtain, enveloped the battlefield, leaving no room for escape. Within it, the eerie screams of demons rose and fell, sharp and piercing, like thousands of sealed evil spirits tearing and gnawing at one another.

[As he moved, the blood-stained white hair swept across his cheek, its touch icy and chilling.]

Her blood-stained white hair flew wildly, occasionally obscuring her vision. She wiped it away with a casual wave of her hand, finding it covered in warm blood.

For a moment, amidst the chaotic and bloody battlefield, she was so disoriented that she couldn't distinguish whether the blood was her own or that of the enemy.

[All she could see were countless demons, surrounding her like hungry wolves, their eerie green eyes gleaming with greed and cruelty.]

In the distance, the flag of Izumo Province swayed precariously in the gale and black mist. The fluttering flag was being slowly devoured by the mist, and the shocking cracks on the flagpole were just like the country's precarious and collapsing fate.

Her blood-stained white hair fell in front of her eyes, obscuring most of her face.

She knew perfectly well that even if she fought with her last ounce of strength, risking her life, she would be utterly powerless to stop this terrifying, world-ending offensive, nor could she reverse the tragic fate of Izumo Kingdom's inevitable demise.

The scorched earth trembled, as if the raging spirits from the depths of the land were roaring. A fierce wind, carrying the pungent stench of blood, tore the battlefield apart like an invisible giant hand.

Raiden Mei's half-white hair resembled a flag tossed about in the wind, with drops of crimson blood clinging to each strand.

With each powerful swing of her knife, the drops of blood were flung away, turning into fine mist that spread and dispersed in the gloomy sky, only to be instantly stained by newly flowing blood, adding to the desolate atmosphere.

The demons that appeared in this battle were extremely terrifying. When they wielded their weapons, the surrounding space was easily torn open with twisted cracks like tattered cloth, and everything in their path was devoured and annihilated.

[Raiden Mei's front was completely mangled, layers of dark red scabs piled up, clinging tightly to her tattered flesh and torn armor, like a heavy shackle binding her battered body.]

Despite the humiliation she suffered during the period following the iaido ritual, she exerted all her efforts to recover and restore herself to her peak condition.

But when she stepped onto this battlefield and faced the endless, unimaginably powerful army of demons, her confidence shattered like a bubble, replaced by an unprecedented sense of powerlessness.

Like a lone boat adrift in a raging storm, it could be swallowed by a giant wave at any moment.

The miasma, like a thick black curtain, enveloped the battlefield, leaving no room for escape. Within it, the eerie screams of demons rose and fell, sharp and piercing, like thousands of sealed evil spirits tearing and gnawing at one another.

[As he moved, the blood-stained white hair swept across his cheek, its touch icy and chilling.]

Her blood-stained white hair flew wildly, occasionally obscuring her vision. She wiped it away with a casual wave of her hand, finding it covered in warm blood.

For a moment, amidst the chaotic and bloody battlefield, she was so disoriented that she couldn't distinguish whether the blood was her own or that of the enemy.

[All she could see were countless demons, surrounding her like hungry wolves, their eerie green eyes gleaming with greed and cruelty.]

In the distance, the flag of Izumo Province swayed precariously in the gale and black mist. The fluttering flag was being slowly devoured by the mist, and the shocking cracks on the flagpole were just like the country's precarious and collapsing fate.

Her blood-stained white hair fell in front of her eyes, obscuring most of her face.

[The long sword in Raiden Mei's hand gleamed with a dazzling light; the power she wielded was comparable to the power she had when she was controlled by Jingye, which allowed her to erase mountains and create abysses.]

[Having undergone her third transformation alongside the blade, her eyes were as cold and indifferent as a glacier. As the blade unleashed a surge of dark, crimson light, her movements were perfectly fluid—no roar, no panting, not even a furrowed brow.]

When Jing Ye manipulated her to wield the sword, every arc contained the rhythm of the heavens, and the power was as natural as his own.

At this moment, although she could mobilize immense power when acting alone, it was like a clumsy child wielding a heavy hammer; wherever the blade sliced ​​through, the space shattered inch by inch, accompanied by violent tremors.

[The distant, continuous mountain range collapsed with a deafening roar, turning into countless fragments of rock; the earth split open into a massive abyss, from which black mist rose, swallowing countless approaching demons with their piercing screams.]

Each attack, however, caused her meridians to ache with excruciating pain, and cold sweat poured down her forehead. Yet, she merely narrowed her eyes slightly, seemingly oblivious to the pain, her gaze remaining eerily calm.

[But this terrifying power was nothing more than a drop in the ocean compared to the endless horde of demons. More demons surged from the black mist, trampling over the corpses of their comrades as they charged relentlessly towards Raiden Mei.]

She lowered her gaze, staring at the approaching horde of demons, gritted her teeth, and swung her sword again, this time with a noticeably dimmer light.

Lacking the refined control and mastery of power that Jing Ye possessed, she was forced to rely on brute force. While her attacks were powerful, they could only temporarily halt the demons' advance and could not change the course of the battle.

[With just a few quick cuts, she felt her vision blur, and her strength drained away like water from a burst dam. Yet her breathing remained steady, her face showing no panic, only a detached calm, as if this body no longer belonged to her, and all the pain was irrelevant to her.]

Each swing of the sword consumes a great deal of stamina, yet the demons seem endless.

Her breathing grew increasingly rapid, blood gushed from her wounds, staining her armor crimson, and her steps became unsteady.

But her gaze remained resolute as she gripped her longsword, ready to face the next wave of demons. She knew that even with only a sliver of hope, she would fight to the very end.

However, she herself didn't know how long this forcibly generated power could sustain her.

The defensive line collapsed completely under the fierce onslaught of the demons. The deafening crash of shattering rocks and the sharp clang of clashing metal mingled together, announcing the total defeat of the Izumo defense line. The demons let out deafening victorious howls, as sinister and chilling as a death knell.

[Alone, Raiden Mei was surrounded by a mountain of demons. She struggled to turn her head to look behind her.]

The eyes of the Izumo people, who once shone with hope and chanted her name, are now filled with fear and despair.

Raiden Mei took a deep breath, the stench of blood instantly filling her nostrils. She gripped the blood-stained, battered longsword tightly in her hand, preparing to face what might be her final moment.

A biting, foul wind, carrying a nauseating stench, swept over her. Raiden Mei knelt heavily on one knee, splattering a spray of murky blood.

Her once half-gray hair was now completely soaked in blood, strands clinging to her blood-stained cheeks.

These demons, gathered together, created a truly hellish scene, sending chills down one's spine.

The humiliations Jing Ye had inflicted on her in the past surged into her mind like a tidal wave, completely overwhelming her.

She finally understood that Jing Ye's actions were not simply intended to torment her.

[She gazed at the Izumo Kingdom's military flag being swallowed by the black mist, her blood-stained white hair falling before her eyes, and in a daze, she was transported back to the days when Jingye had humiliated her.]

The excruciating pain of shattered porcelain piercing her palm, the humiliation of her dignity being crushed, the tearing sensation of being reborn from the brink of collapse—all surged up at this moment. Each instance of both mental and physical torment sharpened her knife and strengthened her will; she believed this would be enough to change everything.

However, at this moment, even though her power was comparable to the terrifying force that wiped out mountains when she was controlled by Jing Ye, and even though her longsword had unleashed an unprecedented sharpness after the breakthrough, her attacks were like stones thrown into an abyss, unable to create even the slightest ripple in the face of this overwhelming tide of demons.

Blood dripped from the blade, spreading into dark red patterns on the scorched earth—proof that her all-out effort had been in vain.

"Still can't do it..." Her whisper was swept away by the demonic wind, dissipating into the lingering smoke. The cold indifference that her third transformation had bestowed upon her shattered, replaced by an overwhelming despair.

Raiden Mei's fingertips unconsciously traced the long sword, as if touching a scar that would never heal.

The cold sneer on Jing Ye's lips and the undisguised contempt in his eyes from the past now overlap with my memories, as deeply as a brand.

She used to curse him through gritted teeth in the dead of night, hating his cold-bloodedness and his trampling of her dignity, thinking he was nothing more than a madman who took pleasure in humiliating others.

It wasn't until the demon's claws grazed her cheek and a foul stench assaulted her senses that she suddenly realized the deeper meaning hidden within Jing Ye's seemingly humiliating words.

Although she didn't know how Jingye could foresee this catastrophe, Raiden Mei now understood that with her past strength, she was nothing more than an ant in the face of the raging tide of eight million gods and demons.

Chapter 128 Questioning Jing Ye's Understanding of Jing Ye

Although she didn't know how Jingye could foresee this catastrophe, Raiden Mei now understood that with her past strength, she was nothing more than an ant in the face of the raging tide of eight million gods and demons.

She finally saw the cruel reality: in the face of this overwhelming army of demons, the power she had once been so proud of was nothing but a drop in the ocean.

Those brutally tough trials were the only hope he could offer for breaking the deadlock, however slim that hope may be.

"So that's how it is..." she murmured softly, her voice tinged with self-mockery and bitterness.

Every humiliation and blow Jing Ye suffered was preparation for today. He had long understood that only by forging her will and strength to their absolute limit could there be a glimmer of hope.

Those painful memories, those moments of collapse, now surged within her as complex emotions coursed through her. She had hated him, resented him, but she had never imagined that the torment she had endured would become the heaviest expectation.

"Izumo Province is destined for destruction."

The whispers of the traitor in her ear, which she had dismissed as mere enemy manipulation, now, as she gazed upon the overwhelming army of demons that blotted out the sky and watched the creatures unleashed from Takamagahara devour the city like living beings, she realized with a start that their words were not untrue.

[Only now does Raiden Mei realize that the power of Takamagahara far exceeds her imagination]

[Those traitors who were eliminated had long been secretly colluding with the demons of Takamagahara. Knowing the terrifying power of Takamagahara, they uttered the prophecy of destruction.]

Although she managed to eliminate the mole under Jingye's manipulation, it was all part of Takamagahara's scheme.

The previous two attacks by demons were merely tests of the Yun Kingdom's strength and defensive arrangements. Now, the true demon army has been unleashed in full force, capable of destroying the heavens and the earth.

Memories flashed by like a revolving lantern, past scenes intertwined with the current horrific sight.

The inextinguishable flame in her heart, the images that carried her faith and hope, were all twisted into ashes in the raging city before her eyes.

[Raiden Mei's resolute determination to face death, her blood-stained long hair falling like a disheveled curtain before her eyes, completely obscuring the surging sorrow in her eyes.]

She gripped the hilt of the knife tightly, and blood dripped slowly down it, spreading into dark red flowers on the scorched earth.

Raiden Mei took a deep breath and plunged into the tide of demons.

Demons swarmed in, and she could only rely on her fighting instincts to barely dodge vital attacks, yet her body was constantly being slashed and bleeding. As time passed, her movements grew increasingly sluggish.

Each swing of the knife felt like lifting a boulder weighing a thousand pounds. Sweat and blood blurred her vision, her strength was rapidly dwindling like sand in an hourglass, and her breathing became rapid and heavy.

Her vision began to blur, and her consciousness gradually faded, but her body's limits kept reminding her that she couldn't collapse.

Just as she was exhausted and about to be overwhelmed by the demons, the demons, who had been roaring wildly, suddenly fell silent.

The demons hovered beneath the dark red clouds like frozen specimens, the congealed blood beads no longer falling, gleaming coldly in the eerie silence.

The pungent stench of blood still lingered, but no more roars or howls broke the deathly silence. The demons on the ground suddenly became extremely soft and slow, their breaths rising and falling like the gasps of dying men.

The muffled thuds of collapsing timber echoed from the burning city in the distance, standing out starkly against the deathly silence, each sound like a heavy hammer pounding on everyone's hearts.

Raiden Mei, clinging to her last ounce of strength, gazed at the frozen demon army before her, momentarily believing time had stopped, until a slight tremor emanated from her palm.

The longsword in her hand resonated, emitting a mournful hum, which startled them into realizing the presence of someone, plunging the demons into a near-numb silence of fear.

[A figure moved with steady steps, each step seemingly treading on the hearts of those around them, unhurried yet exuding a chilling aura.]

The surrounding air seemed to have been sucked away; apart from Jing Ye's steady footsteps, there was no other sound on the entire battlefield.

The footsteps were clearly audible, each one striking heavily into everyone's hearts.

Looking back on the days since the outbreak of war, Raiden Mei was so exhausted that even her cold heart felt helpless.

Alone, she fought her way through this bloody and brutal hell, enduring the frenzied and unpredictable attacks of the demons every moment.

Countless times she teetered on the brink of death, each time facing imminent danger. Jing Ye, who had once held a significant place in her life, repeatedly pushing her to the brink yet also spurring her to constantly push her limits, remained nowhere to be seen throughout this long and brutal battle.

In the moments between when despair overwhelmed her like a tidal wave, she thought more than once that perhaps even a powerful being like Jing Ye was helpless against this overwhelming, seemingly endless army of demons.

But just when she was about to give up hope and prepare to face the final battle with the determination to die, Jing Ye appeared at this most desperate and darkest moment.

She had questioned countless times in her heart why Jingye possessed such astonishing power, yet remained indifferent to the life and death of the Izumo Kingdom, allowing this land to be trampled by the iron hooves of demons and mercilessly burned by the flames of war.

Even though she was filled with doubt and confusion, she was unable to materialize her hatred for Jing Ye.

Because she knew all too well that Jing Ye's actions were always enigmatic, and that he must have his own far-reaching plans, though these plans were shrouded in layers of mist and difficult to fathom.

Looking at the corpses lying haphazardly on the scorched earth before her, and at the city in the distance about to be completely devoured by demons, Raiden Mei's nails dug deeply into her palms.

If Jingye had chosen to intervene from the beginning, with his strength, how could Izumo Kingdom have ended up in such a miserable state?

She still remembered that Jing Ye had merely swung his sword casually, and she had been completely defeated in the Iaijutsu, becoming a puppet and being manipulated at will.

[Her proud and arrogant swordsmanship was so weak and powerless in front of Jing Ye. Why did Jing Ye, who had such power, not even draw his sword?]

If he were willing to protect this land, those demons probably wouldn't even have the courage to approach the border, and there wouldn't be this tragic scene of corpses strewn across the fields and the nation on the verge of collapse.

But now, Jingye has finally appeared on this despairing battlefield. Seeing his confident, calm, and composed demeanor, Raiden Mei's doubts and a faint flame of hope quietly ignited.

Perhaps, in this seemingly doomed predicament, Jing Ye truly holds the key to turning the tide? Every subtle gesture of his, every unintentional glance, is enigmatic yet irresistibly compelling, drawing one to investigate and believe.

[Raiden Mei instinctively gripped the long sword in her hand. The blade, which had been humming due to the violent vibrations, now erupted with unprecedented excitement.]

The longsword in Raiden Mei's hand, which had undergone countless hardships and tribulations before finally breaking down, roared like a frightened beast, seemingly filled with resentment.

[Raiden Mei's cold pupils were filled with disbelief. She subconsciously used all her strength, but in that split second, the long sword, like a shooting star slicing through the night sky, left her hand with astonishing speed.]

[She sped off towards Jingye's direction. Raiden Mei's eyes widened; her usually indifferent and calm face now showed a rare look of astonishment, as if time had frozen in that moment.]

She watched helplessly as the long sword traced a graceful arc through the air and landed steadily in Jing Ye's hand.

The moment Jing Ye gently grasped the hilt of the sword, the previously restless and almost frenzied longsword miraculously calmed down instantly.

The dazzling, almost blinding light on the blade softened and became more subdued, like a wanderer returning home, finding their true home, or like a docile pet, becoming incredibly obedient under its owner's gentle caress.

The longsword that once fought alongside her, but now belonged to someone else, triggered a flood of memories for Raiden Mei.

During those days when I was tormented by Jing Ye, every scene was like a brand etched deep into my soul, as clear as if it were yesterday.

At that time, her heart was filled with resentment towards Jing Ye, hating his coldness and ruthlessness.

Looking back now, if it weren't for Jing Ye's seemingly ruthless coercion, how could she have made such tremendous progress?

Although this was the first time she had seen Jing Ye wield a knife, upon calming down and reflecting on it carefully, everything seemed so natural and logical.

How could this longsword not submit before him? Just as stars revolve around the sun and streams rush towards the sea, it was an absolute reverence for the strong.

If Jing Ye hadn't deliberately pushed her to the brink of despair time and time again, giving her seemingly ruthless yet profoundly meaningful "guidance," how could Changdao have become so transformed and powerful today?