It wasn't until a faint chill settled over his neck that Yang Kai snapped to alertness, reflexively channeling his witch power to mount a defense.
Tss — sparks flew as a sharp dagger grazed Yang Kai's neck, drawing a thin trail of blood droplets.
The ambush had landed its blow, yet the attacker lurking behind was somewhat stunned. He could tell that although his target had been wounded, it was merely a flesh wound. In other words, his surprise attack had failed to achieve the result it should have.
But in the brief moment the attacker hesitated, Yang Kai had already spun around and launched a fist straight at him.
A muffled grunt rang out as, within the black mist, a figure roughly three feet tall abruptly appeared — its eyes bulging, its chest nearly caving in — its entire body slamming into the stone wall with blood spraying everywhere.
After hitting the ground, this short-statured Demon clearly showed a hint of wariness. Seeing Yang Kai swing another punch his way, his expression changed drastically; his body flickered and transformed into a wisp of black smoke, letting Yang Kai's fist slice through empty air.
Yang Kai frowned slightly. Though he had clashed with the Sand Demon a few days ago, this was his first encounter with such a short-statured Demon. The troublesome ability left him no time to figure out a counter.
The black smoke retreated rapidly.
At the same moment, an ear-piercing shriek erupted from behind — like a cuckoo weeping blood.
The instant that sound reached his ears, Yang Kai's soul wavered and he felt a wave of unease wash over him. A hallucination of dancing demons and ghosts materialized before his eyes.
A soul attack! Yang Kai shook his head vigorously, guarding his mind and channeling his soul power to nullify the shriek's influence.
Hissing sounds came from behind as the roar of wind and thunder surged.
Yang Kai abruptly raised a hand, blocking his flank.
With a soft crack, he deflected a flexible whip made of some unknown material — but it wasn't over yet. Though the suddenly lashing whip had been blocked, it magically pivoted around his palm and the tip shot straight toward his face.
In the span of a lightning flash, the whip's tip split open into a gaping maw lined with dense fangs. Glowing an eerie green, it hissed as it lunged to bite Yang Kai.
That was no whip at all — it was clearly a venomous snake!
Yang Kai thrust out his other hand, seizing the snake's head with pinpoint precision. One hard squeeze, and the head burst apart.
An exclamation of surprise came from behind, as if the attacker hadn't expected Yang Kai to react so quickly, to so easily neutralize even such a killing move. In the next instant, a gust of fragrant wind swept toward Yang Kai, transforming into a streak of white light as a sky full of palm shadows descended upon him.
Yang Kai drew a deep breath, standing as immovable as mountain and abyss, his own hands dissolving into a blur of afterimages.
Pa pa pa…
A rapid, dense barrage of impacts rang out. By the time the white light retreated, the two had exchanged over a hundred palm strikes. The violent tremors sent sand and gravel tumbling from every direction, as though the stone cavern could collapse at any moment.
Everything had unfolded in a mere blink — from the short Demon's hidden ambush in the darkness to Yang Kai's exchange of blows with the white shadow.
Only then did Yang Kai slowly turn around, a slight smirk playing at his lips as he looked ahead with open mockery.
Less than five zhang away stood a woman, her entire body bare, her figure delicate enough to evoke tender sympathy — yet her figure was devastatingly good, her breasts full and round, her belly flat, her legs straight and long. Her skin was so fair it seemed to outshine the snow, so delicate it looked as though it might break at the lightest touch.
She looked as though she had just been drenched in morning dew. A faint blush colored the demon woman's face, and her limpid eyes carried a haze of lingering satisfaction.
This demon woman was none other than the one Yang Kai had secretly observed earlier.
Having fought with that black shadow in her vicinity, she had naturally taken notice.
At this moment, she was completely bare. She displayed the most exquisite and alluring parts of her delicate body with perfect openness, without the slightest trace of discomfort.
Beside her, a dark shadow drifted and bobbed uncertainly. A feeble aura emanated from within — unmistakably the demon who had tried to ambush Yang Kai earlier and ended up injured instead.
"You!" The demon woman glanced at Yang Kai, her eyes clearly brightening. She tilted her head with an expression of pure innocence. "You actually managed to find your way here — that's quite impressive."
Yang Kai grinned. "Do we know each other?"
The demon woman pressed her lips together in a delicate laugh. "Don't we now?"
Yang Kai nodded. "How should I address you?"
The demon woman giggled, the snow-white peaks on her chest trembling with the motion. A hint of playfulness gleamed in her eyes as she said, "Demon King Shaya."
"Demon King?" Yang Kai raised an eyebrow. "If you're a Demon King, does that mean above Demon Kings there are Demon Saints?"
Shaya regarded Yang Kai with a smile and said evenly, "Little brother, are you trying to pump me for intelligence? That's not a very clever approach."
Yang Kai shrugged. "It's my first time dealing with your kind. Just making conversation. If you don't want to say anything, you don't have to."