Chapter 234: No Escape

Eileen straightened her neck and looked at Rayan with contempt. "Do you really think Kiana will agree to release Spring Rain? If you believe Kiana, then you're a fool. Kiana is a liar, especially to men."

"Of course I know she's a liar," Rayan smiled faintly. "But I have my own ways to deal with her."

"Why make it so complicated?" Eileen said angrily, "Instead of choosing her, choose me. At least if I kill her, Spring Rain will truly be free from the Firebird family. But if you choose her, not only might you perish with me, but even if you survive, she will definitely find another excuse not to let Spring Rain go. Unless—"

She paused, as if realizing something, and coldly laughed, "Unless you like her."

A sense of unprecedented panic swept through Rayan's heart, as if he had been caught doing something wrong. But that shouldn't be the case—like the Phoenix Lady? No, impossible. He reminded himself, the Phoenix Lady is a dangerous enemy, and he should not like danger.

Eileen stared intently into Rayan's eyes, her tone sharp as she said, "Was it she who seduced you? Or have you already fucked her? Tell me, how does it feel to fuck her? What's the difference between fucking her and fucking a prostitute?"

Rayan's delicate face showed a mocking smile, combined with those cold, deep eyes, making his expression particularly sinister. "Say whatever you want, I still have to kill you."

Eileen pressed her lips together, her eyes filled with bitterness. "Do you know? I thought I had beaten Kiana because I snatched the Lion King from her—"

Rayan glanced at Eileen's round face, "The Lion King sure has good taste."

Eileen didn't mind Rayan's words at all, she just sighed and said, "Kiana is better than me in every way: she's prettier, younger, smarter, richer. I thought I could at least beat her in terms of men, but to my surprise, she won your affection. And in this, no matter what I do, I can't beat her."

She lifted her tear-streaked eyes and said calmly, "I've lost, completely defeated. But Rayan, I will never go down without a fight. If you want me dead, show me your true skills!"

With that, Eileen muttered a spell, and the magic of "Deep Freeze" gathered at her fingertips again—

Rayan's mind moved, and the Emerald Fire Thunder neighed reluctantly, transforming into a wisp of black smoke and burrowing into the magic bell at Rayan's waist. The magic bell immediately shook, emitting a clear, melodious sound.

Eileen's movements slowed involuntarily, as if time itself had slowed down.

However, within just a second, Eileen returned to normal. Ignoring her shock, she unleashed the Deep Freeze spell, and the cold instantly enveloped the entire dense forest, forming a transparent ice coffin where Rayan stood—larger and colder than the first ice coffin.

"Rayan! You're dead! And I—am still alive!"

Eileen laughed wildly, then coughed heavily, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Without magic Spiritual Energy, she had to use her life force. She paid no attention to her own condition and dragged herself step by step to the foggy ice coffin.

Suddenly, the smile froze on her round face, as if her face had been frozen by the ice coffin's cold. Her eyes widened, staring at the ice coffin, her thick lips trembling as she muttered:

"How, how can this be? I clearly hit him—"

Inside the transparent and heavy ice coffin, it was empty, with no sign of Rayan.

"No! Impossible!"

Eileen desperately wiped the surface of the ice coffin, trying to see more clearly. "He can't have disappeared into thin air! Impossible!"

"Forgot to tell you, besides being a Fighter, I'm also an Assassin."

Rayan emerged from the shadows, standing coldly behind Eileen. His cold figure was reflected on the smooth surface of the ice coffin.

A person who was both a Fighter and an Assassin!

Eileen gasped, quickly turning around to escape, but Rayan was right in front of her, only a sword's length away, and behind her was the ice coffin she had created—there was nowhere to retreat, nowhere to escape.

She felt a cold like never before, hugging her arms, shivering as she asked, "I must die, right?"

Rayan nodded expressionlessly, "Begging is useless."

"I beg for a dignified death—"

Eileen pleaded, "Give my body to my father, the Redwood patriarch, don't let it fall into the hands of the Phoenix Lady."

Rayan raised the Crow Sword in his hand, sternly saying, "Answer my previous question."

Eileen nodded with difficulty, muttering, "When I first came to Stonerock City, I did sense the presence of a God Race member. I also tried to communicate with him, but he seemed to deliberately avoid me, not wanting to talk. This was indeed unusual, as I am the Grand Magus of the Holy Light Sisterhood, the God Race shouldn't refuse to communicate with his spokesperson."

She took a breath and continued, "Later, I don't know if it was to avoid me or because you came, but that God Race member left. I speculate he went east. I don't know who summoned him or what his purpose was."

"Don't worry about those questions. I'll deal with them in due time."

As he spoke, Rayan thrust the Crow Sword straight between Eileen's breasts. The broad blade pierced Eileen's chest, and blood gushed out immediately.

Eileen opened her mouth wide, grabbing Rayan's clothes with all her strength. Her entire body's weight pressed against Rayan. For a long moment, she could only open her mouth to breathe, but no air came out.

Rayan said indifferently, "I will return your body to your father. Rest in peace."

Eileen then closed her eyes and slowly collapsed into Rayan's arms.

Rayan withdrew the Crow Sword and placed Eileen's body on the ground. He then turned and walked to Imperius's side.

Imperius's entire body was burnt, with only his last breath left. Seeing Rayan approach, his weak body suddenly regained some strength.

In a hoarse voice, he asked, "Is Eileen... dead?"

Rayan nodded, saying with a hint of sadness, "Unfortunately, you also have to die."

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Imperius's mouth, "I know, I never planned to go back alive. As long as I can complete the Phoenix Lady's task, I can leave with peace of mind. But... my method of dealing with Eileen... was quite dishonorable."

"To hell with honor."

Rayan said in a deep voice, "Imperius, you are a true knight. You did everything an Oath Knight should do. For your master, you even abandoned your most cherished honor. That, in itself, is the highest form of honor! A person like you should die at my hands, not under Eileen's magic!"

Imperius relaxed and said, "Thank you, Rayan. Thank you. It was an honor to have you as an opponent."

Death came swiftly. After saying his last words, Imperius closed his eyes. Thus ended the life of a great hero.

Rayan pressed his lips together and stood silently in front of him for a long time before finally speaking with regret, "It was an honor for me too, Imperius."

He turned and walked to the damaged carriage, tearing off two pieces of silk that wrapped the carriage. He wrapped one piece around Imperius's body and the other around Eileen's body. Then he summoned the Emerald Fire Thunder, placed the two bodies on the horse's back, checked the scene for any traces, and ensured he left no clues before mounting his horse and leaving.

Under the cover of night, he first went to the Redwood family residence. To avoid revealing his identity, he threw Eileen's body into the courtyard from outside the wall, trusting that the Redwood patriarch would soon discover it.

Although the death of his daughter would be a sad event for the Redwood patriarch, it was better than her body falling into the hands of the Phoenix Lady. By doing this, Rayan had honored his promise to Eileen.

After dealing with Eileen's body, Rayan did not feel the slightest relief. He rode the Emerald Fire Thunder directly to the Firebird family residence.

That night, the gatekeepers were not Firebird servants but Fighters from the Firebird guard. This showed that the Phoenix Lady had prepared for both possibilities. If Imperius failed, she would not be caught off guard and killed by Eileen.

The Firebird guard Fighters, seeing the Emerald Fire Thunder, all raised their weapons and tensed up. They recognized Rayan and knew he was the one who defeated their captain, Imperius, in the arena, so none of them dared to act rashly.

Rayan dismounted without a word and took Imperius's body from the horse's back. Wrapped in silk, the burnt parts were unrecognizable. Rayan stood holding the body for a long time, but none of the Firebird guard Fighters dared to come forward. They just stared at each other.

Anger surged in Rayan's heart. He shouted loudly, "This is your captain! Come and take him!"

The Firebird guard Fighters were stunned. A few brave ones approached, took the body from Rayan, placed it on the ground, and lifted the silk covering to see clearly—immediately, all the Firebird guard Fighters knelt down, wailing.

Unable to bear the sight, Rayan led the Emerald Fire Thunder towards the main gate.

"Stop!"

A tear-streaked Firebird Fighter drew his weapon and said angrily to Rayan, "Who killed our captain! Was it you?"

The other Firebird Fighters also drew their weapons, ready to fight Rayan.

Rayan glanced coldly at them, "I wish Imperius had died by my hand, but unfortunately, it wasn't me. And the person who killed him has already been killed by me. I'm in a bad mood now. If you want to die, come on. I'll send you to join your captain."

The Firebird Fighters nervously gripped their weapons, not daring to speak.

"If you don't want to die, then get out of my way."

Rayan strode into the Firebird family's gate.