Chapter 438: You Lost

“Once the fight starts, even if I wanted to hold back, I wouldn’t be able to.” Purple Fox ran two fingers along the blade. “I have a decent impression of you, so I hope I don’t end up killing you.”

As soon as her voice fell, without any warning, Purple Fox raised her hand and thrust her sword straight at Lin Xiao’s throat!

The pitch-black blade suddenly turned into a blurred shadow, like a snake darting out its tongue, reaching Lin Xiao in the blink of an eye.

It was fast.

Unimaginably fast!

The sword moved with sound, the person followed the sword!

The distance between Purple Fox and Lin Xiao was three meters—not too far, not too close. Yet when the sword struck, the three meters seemed nonexistent, as if they had crossed time and space.

Of course, that was merely an illusion caused by Purple Fox’s extreme speed.

“Hm? Interesting.”

Lin Xiao let out a soft murmur of surprise. The moment Purple Fox thrust her sword, a flash of light burst in his calm and deep eyes.

The speed and power of this thrust were enough to make even Lin Xiao’s seasoned self take note.

Though the tip of the blade hadn’t yet touched Lin Xiao’s body, the sharp sword aura already rushed toward him, making his throat tingle faintly.

If it had been anyone else, faced with Purple Fox’s ruthless, fast, and razor-sharp attack, they might have been thrown into disarray. Even if not injured, they would have lost the initiative.

Unfortunately for her, Purple Fox’s opponent was Lin Xiao.

Back in the army, Lin Xiao often sparred with Phoenix Dance Zhao Yu, a true master of the sword whose skills were no weaker than Purple Fox’s. Thus, facing Purple Fox now, Lin Xiao found it easy to handle and respond.

Without moving his feet, Lin Xiao’s body suddenly leaned back at a 45-degree angle, as if on springs.

The soft sword stopped two inches from Lin Xiao’s throat, its tip trembling continuously. Just a few more inches would have pierced through, yet the force behind the strike was spent. It couldn’t advance even one more centimeter.

“What?!”

A ripple of surprise surged through the Purple Fox’s usually calm heart. A flash of shock appeared in her eyes. Lin Xiao’s bold evasive move had exceeded her expectations.

What he did required not only precise prediction but also extraordinary courage. If he had misjudged, that sword would have pierced through his throat.

Even a god couldn’t save him.

Though startled, Purple Fox didn’t panic. With a flick of her wrist, she stepped forward to close the distance. The taut soft sword instantly transformed from rigid steel into something as pliant as silk, its tip curling upward, stabbing at Lin Xiao’s eyes.

An extra inch in length meant an extra edge in power. Purple Fox held a sharp weapon while Lin Xiao was unarmed. She had a significant advantage.

Her strategy was to be steady and methodical. Not seeking a quick win, but a guaranteed one, slowly building her advantage like a snowball, until Lin Xiao was crushed under it.

It was a smart plan, flawlessly calculated. But Lin Xiao had no intention of letting her have her way.

Taking blows without retaliation was never Lin Xiao’s style. The moment Purple Fox switched moves, he struck back.

Lin Xiao tilted his head to dodge the sword, his left hand clawed forward, fingers bent, inner energy surging into his palm. His nails shot out like sharp fangs, glinting with chilling light as he clawed forward.

As the strike came, the muscles in his palm tensed like iron, veins bulging. His entire hand turned a bluish-black hue, transforming into a massive eagle claw that ripped through the air with a shrill, tearing sound.

Eagle Claw Technique.

Lin Xiao only used about seventy percent of his strength in that claw. Still, if Purple Fox were struck, she wouldn’t get off lightly. At best, her skin would be torn; at worst, her body split open.

Purple Fox let out a cold snort. Her long legs shifted in a lightning-quick movement, retreating two meters. Her sword whipped back like a sentient serpent, coiling around Lin Xiao’s arm, trying to saw it off.

Lin Xiao didn’t flinch. He let the soft sword coil around his arm. Inner force surged into his limb, making it harder than steel. His hand swelled slightly as he gripped the sword.

“Trying to take my sword? Dream on!”

A flash of cold light appeared in Purple Fox’s eyes as she poured her own inner force into the blade, yanking it back with full strength!

According to her past experience, this would cause the coiled blade to tighten and slice Lin Xiao’s arm clean off.

Accompanied by a harsh screech of metal grinding, the sharp soft sword twisted and shrank like a black serpent around Lin Xiao’s arm. His sleeve was shredded, and blood welled up from thin cuts on his skin.

But his arm was not severed.

Not only did it remain intact, but the muscle beneath was barely scratched.

The soft sword was indeed light, thin, and extremely sharp. It was a lethal tool for assassination. But its flaw was in its weight. It simply lacked the mass to cut steel.

Under Lin Xiao’s inner force, his arm had become harder than refined steel. How could a mere soft sword hope to cut through it?

“This…!”

Purple Fox’s eyes widened behind her mask, shock rare for her. She instinctively tried to switch tactics and yank the sword back.

But the weapon, usually an extension of her will, no longer responded. It was as if a venomous snake had been pinned by an eagle’s claw—completely immobilized.

“You lost,” Lin Xiao said with calm indifference, not out of joy or anger, but simply stating a fact.

His left hand, gripping the sword, clenched. With a jerk—

Purple Fox felt an overwhelming force rush through the blade. Her body was dragged forward uncontrollably. In the end, she had no choice but to let go. Blood dripped from her palm.

With the sword now in his possession, Lin Xiao gripped both ends and gave a sharp twist. Clang! The soft sword suddenly straightened and slashed toward Purple Fox’s neck.

The slash was even faster than Purple Fox’s own. She stood her ground, unmoving, eyes closed beneath her mask, waiting for death.

But seconds passed, and the expected blow never came. Though her neck felt a slight chill, there was no pain.

She slowly opened her eyes.

Before her was Lin Xiao’s expressionless face.

The sword hovered beside her neck, no more than half an inch away. Where the blade had passed, a strand of purple hair drifted down.

“Why didn’t you kill me?” Purple Fox asked coldly.

“Do you want to die?”

“If I can live, who would choose death?” Even with her life in Lin Xiao’s hands, Purple Fox’s tone remained unchanged. “Since you won’t kill me, what do you want from me?”