Ding Longyun said, "Su Li, I think you've misunderstood. Miss Zhang Ying is clearly an honest girl; she had no idea Tao Bingjun had this ability."
Xu Haishui, completely in the dark about what was happening, suddenly heard Tao Bingjun's voice again. He quickly looked toward the sound and saw, a few meters away, a corpse-beast's body moving. Immediately, two ghostly claws covered in scales grew out, supporting themselves on the ground. With these claws as leverage, the corpse-beast's body slowly stood up, its mouth emitting Tao Bingjun's distinctive laughter.
Had the corpse-beast turned into Tao Bingjun?
"What's going on?" Xu Haishui was shocked and horrified, instinctively stepping back, momentarily unable to grasp what was happening.
Ding Longyun smiled bitterly. "This guy has the ability to resurrect through corpses. That's why we only cut off his limbs earlier and didn't kill him—otherwise, he'd just come back to life. Zhang Ying killing him just now actually did him a huge favor."
With this explanation, Xu Haishui finally understood why Su Li had misunderstood Zhang Ying.
"Brother Su, Zhang Ying didn't know this would happen. I'm sorry..."
Before he could finish, Su Li's face darkened, and he barked, "Then how do you explain her being a Level 5 Source Spirit user?" With a swift motion of his right hand, he raised the Dragon Rhinoceros Sword, shifted his stance, and activated "Spider Walk," preparing to strike at Zhang Ying first.
Hearing Su Li's words, everyone was stunned. Zhang Ying was a Level 5 Source Spirit user?
Zhang Ying, who had been hiding behind Xu Haishui with a fearful, timid expression, also changed her expression at these words. She suddenly extended her right hand, and a sharp blade stabbed into Xu Haishui's back. With her left hand, she pushed him with astonishing force.
Caught off guard, Xu Haishui had no chance to defend himself. With a scream, he was shoved by Zhang Ying toward Su Li.
Su Li, in the midst of "Spider Walk," moved with incredible speed. He dodged the oncoming Xu Haishui like lightning, darting forward like an arrow, his Dragon Rhinoceros Sword slashing toward her.
Zhang Ying shouted, raising both hands. From her sleeves emerged a series of sharp blades, each about a foot long. These blades spun and combined, forming shield after shield of blades in front of her.
A series of clanging sounds rang out as the Dragon Rhinoceros Sword cut through them unstoppably, shattering one circular blade shield after another. But the shields bought Zhang Ying enough time to create distance, retreating five meters to stand beside the revived Tao Bingjun.
This chain of events was so shocking that Ding Longyun and Gong Xiao were left dumbfounded. By the time Zhang Ying had retreated to Tao Bingjun's side, Ding Longyun snapped out of it and rushed to the fallen Xu Haishui.
Xu Haishui had a bloody hole pierced through his back to his chest. Fortunately, it missed his heart, so it wasn't a fatal wound, but he lay on the ground, struggling to get up.
He was utterly dazed, his face blank as he stared at Zhang Ying.
The physical pain was nothing compared to the ache in his heart. He simply couldn't accept the sudden turn of events.
Gong Xiao took a deep breath, beginning to understand. She looked at Zhang Ying standing with Tao Bingjun and said softly, "Once a woman's heart changes, not even ten oxen can drag it back. It's a pity Xu Haishui was so devoted to you."
Zhang Ying's pretty face darkened. She glanced at Xu Haishui on the ground and said flatly, "I never liked him, so how could my heart change?"
Clearly, she had never loved Xu Haishui, so there was no question of a change of heart.
Xu Haishui's face lost all color, and he roared in frustration, "Why? You were clearly taken by force! Why are you helping this beast instead?"
He truly couldn't understand. He had seen with his own eyes Zhang Ying being dragged away by Chen Xiangyu, Sun Wenbo, and the others, crying out. The consequences were unimaginable. He couldn't fathom why Zhang Ying would fall for Tao Bingjun.
Zhang Ying sneered. "And where were you when I was taken? You were hiding in the corner behind the crowd. Did you really think I didn't see?"
Her face was full of mockery. Xu Haishui's face flushed red, his mouth slightly open, a lump in his throat leaving him speechless.
Zhang Ying turned her head slightly to look at Tao Bingjun beside her, her eyes filled with affection. She said softly, "Bingjun saved me. He rescued me from those guys. He's the real hero."
Ding Longyun shouted, "He just wanted your body, to keep you for himself! Do you really think he's that kind-hearted? He's one of them!"
Zhang Ying shook her head. "You don't understand him. Though he's their companion, he's completely different from them. I gave myself to him willingly, and I'm his only woman. Unlike those beasts who treat women as tools for their desires, you people could never understand this kind of bond."
As she spoke, she reached out and took Tao Bingjun's hand. Their hands clasped tightly together.
Tao Bingjun paid no attention to the others in front of him, his eyes fixed solely on Zhang Ying. His gaze, once filled with malice and cruelty, now held only love.
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this. I thought I could handle them alone," Tao Bingjun said, like a child who had made a mistake, facing a parent.
"Fool, we're one now. There's no need to distinguish between us." Zhang Ying tilted her head slightly, looking at Tao Bingjun with infinite tenderness.
Watching this, Su Li, Gong Xiao, and the others fell silent, unable to speak. Xu Haishui on the ground stared wide-eyed, his mind blank, utterly unable to accept what was happening.
Ding Longyun muttered, "Damn it, this is some messed-up situation. We came to help Xu Haishui rescue Zhang Ying from her misery, and now it turns out she doesn't need saving—she's having a great time. So what are we? The third wheel? Or just stirring up trouble?"
"Hey, Su Li, are we still fighting?" Ding Longyun looked at Tao Bingjun and Zhang Ying leaning against each other. They didn't seem ready to fight, and he hesitated.
Su Li's expression had calmed. He said flatly, "Even if we don't act, do you think they'll let it go?"
Ding Longyun was taken aback. Tao Bingjun, still leaning against Zhang Ying, suddenly laughed. "Exactly. You've killed so many of my companions. Today, only one side will survive."
At that moment, Su Li noticed that Tao Bingjun and Zhang Ying's clasped hands were beginning to merge. Their close embrace wasn't just a display of affection—their bodies were fusing.
"What the hell is this?" Ding Longyun shouted, seeing it too.
Gong Xiao pulled Xu Xuehui back to ensure her safety. Tao Bingjun and Zhang Ying were clearly demonstrating a new ability.
"Zhang Ying's ability is called 'Living Fusion.' Combined with my resurrection power, it's the perfect ability." In just a short time, half of their bodies had merged, creating an eerie sight.
"Su Li, do you know the real reason I want to kill you? It's not just revenge for my companions. The most important thing is that I've taken a liking to your body. Once I kill you, I'll take it over and be reborn."
"Zhang Ying, don't damage his body too much later. I'll be using it from now on." Tao Bingjun looked Su Li up and down, growing more pleased with what he saw.
As their bodies completed the fusion, they became a grotesque, hideous monster with four legs, four arms, and two heads.
Suddenly, a corpse-beast behind them stirred, growing a new pair of ghostly claws on its back. Tao Bingjun resurrected again, controlling this new body as it leaped forward and merged with the four-armed, four-legged monstrosity that was Zhang Ying.
By now, Su Li understood. Zhang Ying's Source Spirit technique was "Living Fusion," allowing her to merge with other living bodies. Tao Bingjun's ability was "Resurrection Through Corpses." When his body fused with Zhang Ying, she would take his life, triggering his resurrection ability, allowing him to occupy a new body and continue the fusion.
Theoretically, with enough corpses, their combined abilities could allow infinite fusion.
In moments, three bodies had merged. Tao Bingjun was now controlling a fourth body to begin fusion. With four bodies combined, they became a multi-limbed, multi-legged monster, almost indistinguishable from head to tail, like a massive, grotesque meatball.
"Damn it, what kind of monster is this? Stay back!" Ding Longyun shouted, warning Su Li and Gong Xiao to keep their distance. He opened his mouth and fired an "Air Missile."
The "Air Missile" shot forward, but just as it was about to hit the massive meatball, it rolled along the ground, narrowly dodging the attack.
The "Air Missile" struck the concrete rooftop, exploding with a loud boom, blasting a hole in the ground.
The giant meatball rolled over a corpse-beast, which stuck to it and began to merge. In that instant, Tao Bingjun had once again taken over the corpse-beast's body and fused with Zhang Ying, causing the meatball to swell further.
"Attack together! Stop them!" Gong Xiao shouted, sensing danger. If they let this fusion continue, who knew what kind of monster would emerge? The meatball's speed in dodging the "Air Missile" was alarming.
Without a word, Su Li charged forward, Dragon Rhinoceros Sword in hand.
The meatball rolled across the ground with ferocious momentum, crushing another corpse-beast and absorbing it. Now, six bodies had fused, and the creature grew even larger.