With a light tearing sound, the sword tip sliced open the small black dog's chest. Blood instantly stained the tip and continued to drain from the wound, dyeing half of the blade red.
"Xiao Hei!"
Yan Jiaojiao cried out, pulling the sword back. Fortunately, the wound wasn't deep, but blood still flowed incessantly from the little dog's chest.
Yan Jiaojiao extended her other hand, catching the dog as it teetered in mid-air, and held it in her embrace. Xiao Hei seemed to be in pain, its eyelids fluttering as it blinked at Yan Jiaojiao and then barked at the black cloud.
"You want me to use my blood-stained sword to wound it?" Yan Jiaojiao understood. After receiving a nod of affirmation from the little dog, a pang of inexplicable pain struck her. "Even if it works, you're too foolish. Why cut your own chest?"
Dongfang Cangwu naturally knew there was no need to cut his chest open. But if he didn't, how could he conceal his existing injuries?
He had decided to remain by Yan Jiaojiao's side in the guise of a small black dog until his injuries healed. After all, the recent events proved that even his arch-nemesis wouldn't suspect he had transformed into a small black dog and infiltrated the life of a human girl. This way, he could safely pass through his weakened state and then seek revenge on that treacherous fiend who always resorted to sneak attacks!
But the black cloud no longer gave them time for pleasantries. Having fully coalesced again, it launched another attack, hurtling towards them with even greater speed.
Yan Jiaojiao could no longer afford to hesitate. With Xiao Hei in one arm and the long sword glowing with a purplish-red light in the other, she charged towards the black cloud.
The two forces clashed in mid-air, a violent impact erupting between black and purple. Trees within twenty feet could not withstand the force, disintegrating into sawdust that scattered in the gale.
Yan Jiaojiao knew she lacked the immense spiritual energy to support such sword energy. What countered it was the little black dog in her arms. It channeled its spiritual power into its body and, through Zi Yan, unleashed it, thus repelling the black cloud's powerful strike.
Moreover, because the blade was stained with blood, it actually pierced inch by inch into the black cloud. The cloud immediately writhed in agony, its true form already injured!
Yan Jiaojiao's heart leaped with joy. She immediately focused more intently, pouring spiritual energy into the sword. The tip immediately pierced another inch deeper!
The black cloud could no longer bear it. It whimpered, and in a pained howl, it unleashed a blast of black smoke at Yan Jiaojiao. Her vision turned dark. By the time the smoke dissipated, the black cloud had vanished without a trace, leaving only a pool of black, foul-smelling blood on the ground.
Yan Jiaojiao felt a wave of exhaustion, nearly dropping the little black dog. She had to brace herself with the sword tip stuck in the ground to avoid falling.
This body is still too weak, Yan Jiaojiao mused. A single blow like that had exhausted her full strength.
And Xiao Hei's chest wound was still bleeding. Yan Jiaojiao knew it wasn't the time to collapse.
"Woof woof!"
The little black dog barked twice in a certain direction, its voice weak.
Yan Jiaojiao looked that way, towards the Sutra Depository. The commotion last night couldn't have been small. Master Xuanchen had likely heard the disturbance and was heading this way! If he caught her, it would be another death sentence!
Yan Jiaojiao dared not rest. Mustering what little strength she had, she immediately ran towards the Gomnan Academy, carrying the little black dog.
Fortunately, Xiao Hei's senses were extremely sharp. By the time Xuanchen arrived at the scene of the battle, Yan Jiaojiao had safely returned to her room.
Wei Congling was already asleep, but Yan Jiaojiao's spiritual energy was depleted, and her footing was unsteady. She tried to enter silently but inevitably woke Wei Congling.
"Where did you go?"
Wei Congling sat up groggily, then caught the scent of blood. She instantly sobered up and rushed over to check, only to discover the little black dog in Yan Jiaojiao's arms was injured. Yan Jiaojiao herself looked quite disheveled.
"I... I saved this demonic beast from the cliff," Yan Jiaojiao fabricated.
"How did you end up at the bottom of a cliff?" Wei Congling reached out to take Xiao Hei, but it dodged. "Oh, it's recognized you as its master."
"Yes, it has already recognized me as its master," Yan Jiaojiao replied with an awkward nod. She carried Xiao Hei to the bed and quickly took out bandages and medicine to dress its wound.
However, the moment she turned, she heard a light 'snap.' The medicine was swatted to the ground by Xiao Hei's paw, shattering into pieces.
At that moment, Dongfang Cangwu gritted his teeth through the pain: "There's no way this medicine will touch me again!"
Yan Jiaojiao, unaware of Dongfang Cangwu's thoughts, assumed Xiao Hei was just being mischievous. She frowned regretfully, "This is my last bottle. How will your wound be treated now?"
"I have another bottle of ordinary medicine," Wei Congling said, rummaging through her own belongings. "It can only treat superficial wounds, but it's better than nothing for now."
Yan Jiaojiao opened the cap. The little black dog smelled it and, realizing it was indeed ordinary medicine, grudgingly accepted it.
And so, Yan Jiaojiao bandaged Dongfang Cangwu, who had transformed into a black dog, once more, and then slept soundly, holding the little dog.
Wei Congling watched the sleeping figure on the opposite bed and sighed. She always felt Yan Jiaojiao held too many secrets, which made her uneasy, yet she felt powerless...
The rest of the night passed uneventfully. When Yan Jiaojiao woke up, the sky was already bright. Wei Congling had gone to the training room, while the little black dog lay beside her, eyes closed in rest.
"Are you feeling better?" Yan Jiaojiao stroked its glossy black fur.
The little black dog shook its head impatiently, but accidentally pulled on its chest wound and immediately stopped moving.
The wound, already containing residual demonic poison, combined with the power of a divine artifact like Zi Yan, refused to heal for a long time. Although not severe, it had exceeded Dongfang Cangwu's expectations. He estimated the external wound would take three to five days to heal, and the internal injuries might take half a month.
Dongfang Cangwu felt a surge of frustration at this thought and couldn't help but let out a cough. The puppy-like sound of his voice made Yan Jiaojiao's heart ache.
"I'll go get you more medicine. You can't just endure it like this."
Yan Jiaojiao knew last night's medicine was insufficient to heal its injuries. She immediately got up and tidied herself. Before leaving, she instructed the little black dog not to run around, then closed the door and prepared to go to the Wood Sect to find Xu Changzong.
As soon as she stepped out, she heard the senior disciples in the courtyard where they were housed discussing.
"The sounds last night seemed like a fight."
"But the high platform has been sealed off. No one knows the truth..."
Yan Jiaojiao's heart tightened. She lowered her head and hurried past.