AZI Volume 2 Chapter 16

"Attack!"

Taking the military doll's fall as the cue to begin their fight, four of the nine Moon Guards rush towards Zhui Yun.

With Nian Yao Yao standing behind Zhui Yun, none of the Moon Guards can hope to use their firearms—in fear of hitting the former, resulting in them being forced to resort to close combat.

(Ah, I hate fighting in a crammed space since my Relic is meant to be used in a more open area…)

Towards the four Moon Guards' approach, Zhui Yun reacts in an unusual way, as she stabs her two-handed bronze sword into the gap that she had previously created on the ground.

*Kakaka!* using her weapon as a lever, Zhui Yun lifts the ground in front of her—flicking a giant slab of concrete at the approaching Moon Guards.

Towards the incoming slab of concrete, the four Moon Guards pause their movements, and among their numbers, a Moon Guard wearing a blue oni mask—summons out their Relic that takes on the form of a large war hammer.

*Boom!* in a single strike, the war hammer shatters the slab of concrete; however—

*…!* emerging from the settling dust clouds of the shattered concrete is Zhui Yun's sword that was thrown forth!

"Uh!"

*Klang!* defending himself with the hammer, the Moon Guard is pushed backwards by a few meters.

"How stubborn."

Fishing out two grenades from her pocket, Zhui Yun pulls their pins, and tosses them towards the Moon Guards with a cruel smile.

...…

While Zhui Yun had been fending off the Moon Guards—

*Thud!* as soon as the first military doll collapses, Tian Cheng doesn't waste any time in moving onto her next target, as her next swing cleaves across the chest of three more RS800s.

(That sword she's using is definitely something that belongs to an Immortal. Where did Long Hua get it from?)

Marveling at how easily Tian Cheng is able to dispatch the remaining two dolls, Nian Yao Yao also realizes just how many secrets Long Hua could potentially be hiding from her.

(Well, so long as we've got that contract, there shouldn't be a need for me to pry too deeply into his secrets. …Maybe.)

*Boom! Boom!* it was also in that same instance—that two thunderous explosions went off from the grenades that Zhui Yun had thrown out.

As smoke covers the entire hallway, Nian Yao Yao says—

"Alright, we'll take this chance to continue heading down."

...…

Cracks and dents fill the walls of the hallway along with pitch black burn marks.

"That brat actually carries grenades around when heading out to dinner? What the hell?"

"Isn't she afraid of them exploding at random?"

"Argh I hate this…"

Standing at the forefront of the Moon Guards is Qing Yue—who is wearing a white oni mask.

Deployed right in front of her are two blast shields that have completely blocked off the hallway.

Other than being able to summon out various oddities, her Relic is also able to be used to store objects like these.

"…"

Taking out her phone, Qing Yue makes a call, and rather quickly it connects.

"Madame Nian, this is impossible. Using non-lethal methods of this severity against this group is just asking them to make us a joke."

As Qing Yue explains everything that had just happened, Nian Tao Tao—

[Hmm…]

Realizing just how disadvantageous the situation is for her side, she can only heave a sigh.

As a mother, she isn't willing to use lethal measures against her only daughter, but with how important that map is to her—using a bit more force could still be within reason.

[I'll have the additional Moon Guards bring in the MA90s. For now, focus on getting to the ground floor as soon as possible. So long as we create a situation where she's devoid of all her guards, or her guards become incapable of dealing with our firepower, that idiotic daughter of mine should relinquish the map.]

"Understood."

Hanging up the call, Qing Yue withdraws the blast shields into her Summoning Pouch, and it was also in that instance that—

"This place looks like hell. Did that imp do this?"

Descending from the floor above is Long Hua with Bai Zhe held in his right hand.

"That lunatic is still alive?"

"The guy that has a few screws loose in the head?"

"Who are you calling a lunatic and a guy with a few screws loose, you BSDM perverts?"

"…"

"…"

Towards Long Hua's sharp comeback, the nine Moon Guards didn't have much that they could say back—because inwardly, they also had to agree with the opposition's remark.

"Who else—other than you, can we call a lunatic?"

Taking a step forward, Qing Yue throws a cold glare at Long Hua.

"Hm?"

"…What?"

Seeing Long Hua making a scrutinizing expression, Qing Yue can't help but feel a bit uneasy.

(No, it should be fine. My mask distorts my voice, and my hair is covered by my hood. He can't possibly figure out that it's-)

"I don't take joy in killing children, so take your leave."

As soon as these words came out of his mouth, Long Hua felt himself to be a complete hypocrite.

As a practitioner, his age should be far older than any of these Moon Guards combined—in other words, all of them are but children to him.

"I'm 18, you ass."

"…"

Silence looms in the air for a brief instance; eventually, Long Hua answers—

"Aren't you Moon Guards—all akin to test tube babies? Did the person in charge of you—just up and decided to make you a shorty for laughs, or is it because they have a particular fetish?"

Hearing these words, Qing Yue's expression darkens beneath her mask.

"…You all go on ahead."

From within her Summoning Pouch that is currently in the pocket of her jacket, Qing Yue retrieves two jade-handled daggers.

Much like Bai Zhe, the daggers do not possess handguards, and judging by the air that emanates from them—

"An Immortal's weapon?"

"Yours is the same, isn't it?"

Tightening his grip over Bai Zhe, Long Hua maintains a neutral stance.