Chapter 76: The Chase

Chasing all the way, Lyr realized that Nie Qi was always keeping a fixed distance from him—neither too close nor too far.

When a beast chases its prey, it deliberately adopts this method, giving the prey a hope that seems within reach but cannot be touched.

This behavior is like a pre-meal tease, the epitome of malicious amusement.

Now the situation is reversed—Nie Qi is the one being chased, yet she inflicts this malicious amusement on Lyr.

Under the moonlight, she grinned, unhurried, enjoying the current situation.

“That’s the direction of the Academy.”

Lyr urged his horse onward with effort, while looking at the place that woman was heading towards.

The streets were winding, but the place she was heading was indeed the Academy.

“As I thought, it’s also for that ruins.”

She had the same idea as Lulong—both wanted to open that ruins.

Even the Witch who came to the Kingdom years ago was after the same thing.

However, that Witch must have realized that without the Nightmare Witch’s bloodline, it was impossible to open that place.

In a daze, Yilu struggled to open her eyes; the pain in her body made her cough uncontrollably a few times.

The scenery before her kept receding. Before she could understand what was happening, on the street where pedestrians gasped, a figure on horseback rapidly chased towards her.

“Lyr?” Yilu stared for a long while before confirming the distant figure.

“It seems you two have quite a good relationship.”

The loathsome voice rang in her ears; Yilu immediately frowned.

She now realized she was bound by thorns, forced to follow Nie Qi.

“You! Let me go!”

“So noisy.” Nie Qi showed displeasure.

The thorns contracted with her mood, tightening around Yilu’s body, causing her to let out pained sounds.

To shut someone up, there’s more than just covering their mouth—this method suited her better.

“See that guy?” Nie Qi’s gaze was forward, but her words were directed at Yilu. “Let me tell you the good news: he has fully accepted the witch’s power. He’s now the same kind as me.”

Nie Qi sneered, both mocking Lyr’s foolish actions and anticipating what might happen next.

Yilu hadn’t truly become a witch yet, but Lyr had taken the step first.

If she had the chance, she really wanted to know if a kingdom could bear the existence of two witches.

This had never happened before.

Or, even if both could remain unharmed, the two of them wouldn’t be able to stay here in the end.

Yilu’s eyes widened, unable to believe what Nie Qi said, but the pain from the thorns forced her to grit her teeth, a struggling expression on her face.

“Don’t rush. We’re almost there.”

In her line of sight, the Academy was getting closer.

Behind them, Lyr naturally heard Yilu’s cry.

Seeing that continuing the chase like this wasn’t a solution, Lyr paused and let go of the reins with both hands.

“Hurricane, borrow your fury to become arrows, tear apart my enemy!”

After a simple chant, the wind around gathered in Lyr’s hands.

Just as it was about to take the form of a longbow, the mark on the back of his hand emitted a faint glow.

The natural wind and Lyr’s magic power were instantly dyed black, transforming into a different form.

Having no mind to care about what was happening to his magic, Lyr lightly drew the bowstring. Magic condensed into an arrow that shot through the air, like a gale sweeping across the entire street, heading straight for the figure rapidly moving on the rooftop.

Just as the arrow was about to hit her, sensing the powerful hurricane with a tearing force, Nie Qi didn’t even intend to turn around, nor did she plan to use magic to block it.

Following her will, the thorns binding Yilu pulled her to her side, blocking the arrow’s path.

Just as she expected, when the arrow was about to truly hit, even Yilu closed her eyes instinctively from the hurricane. But it suddenly changed direction, carrying the gale and rushing toward the night sky.

Yilu was somewhat frightened, then filled with self-blame.

In the end, she had become a burden.

If it weren’t for her, Lyr’s arrow could have hit directly. If he had no concerns and pierced through her, it would have also pierced the one beside her.

“Emotions are always the weakness of the weak.” Nie Qi’s expression showed even more contempt.

Having already obtained the witch’s power, Lyr was still concerned about so many things.

Concerns are always things only the weak think about. The truly strong have nothing that can stop them and don’t need emotions as shackles.

Lyr watched this scene; strangely, he didn’t show any anxiety or frustration.

He nocked another arrow, channeling powerful magic power. This time, the direction was not toward that woman, but toward the night sky.

Another arrow shot out, instantly catching up to the first arrow that was heading high into the sky.

“What is he doing?”

In the eyes of onlookers, they would only think that Lyr’s arrow was a misaim due to a disturbed mind.

Nie Qi felt it wasn’t that simple; something was vaguely off.

Her peripheral vision looked toward the sky. Two arrows collided, two hurricanes clashed and intertwined. Instead of canceling out, under the guidance of the black magic power, they yielded an even greater force.

The hurricanes intertwined, broke apart, and dissipated, transforming into countless wind blades that fell together.

The targets were precisely Nie Qi and the thorns binding Yilu.

An unexpected method. Nie Qi had used magic for so long, always seeking to destroy everything before her with violent, straightforward power.

This roundabout, even opportunistic method was something she had never seen before.

Under the assault of the wind blades, the surrounding streets also suffered damage. Walls were left with sword-like scars, and the Academy’s main gate was directly destroyed.

This commotion caught the attention of students boarding at the Academy.

When they looked, dust rose up—the Academy’s iron gate had already fallen to the ground.

The gate that students passed through during the day collapsed with a crash.

Amidst the dust, Lyr’s figure leaped out on his horse.

Under the guidance of his reins, the horse circled a few steps and stopped.

Lyr dismounted, taking the Thunder Spirit Sword from his side, looking wary.

Suddenly, a figure was thrown out heavily, like a bundle, tossed to the ground to one side.

“Yilu.” Lyr moved to go over.

Just as he took a few steps, the thorns rushed over, blocking his path.

Clapping sounded abruptly. Nie Qi walked out unhurriedly. She glanced at herself—the hem of her clothes was slightly dirty.

In all these years, Lyr was the only one who could touch her like this—not even through powerful magic, but through skill.

At her feet, several thorns had been cut by the wind blades, lying limp.

She didn’t feel distressed. Casually hooking a thorn, she tightly gripped its spikes, letting them pierce her palm, blood…