“You courting death!” Lester said, contempt twisting his mouth as stepped forward to strike. A single palm swept out in a destructive force toward Corin.

“Master Morden, look out!” Jared shouted, lunging, only to be caught in a tangle of enemy cultivators who barred his path with snarling zeal.

Bang! The blow landed. Corin was no match for Lester. He flew back, slammed into the wall, and coughed up blood.

“Master Morden!” Jared yelled.

“You old fool!” Flaxseed roared, rage cracking in his throat. Jared and Flaxseed wanted to help Corin, but they were blocked.

Lester strolled toward Corin’s crumpled form, a predator‘s grin dawning. “Corin, once your Sword Sect stood glorious. Now look at you. Hand over the sect’s secret scrolls, and perhaps I will let you die quickly…”

“Dream on!” Corin’s roar cracked across the courtyard like a whip, each word drenched in contempt. Corin hacked up a mouthful of dark blood. He wiped it away with the back of a shaking hand, yet the defiance blazing in his eyes never wavered.