A Man Like None Other (Jared Chance) novel Chapter 5375

"No—absolutely not!" Jared caught her wrist, his grip firm despite exhaustion. "He planned this. After years of weaving allies through court and city, Ieuan can twist any accusation. If you walk into the palace now, he'll claim that we two conspired with foreign powers to murder the prime minister. With his influence, truth will drown beneath his lies."

Yuliana froze, realization darkening her expression. "Then what do we do? We can't simply let him tar us as traitors."

"First we survive," Jared murmured. "We lose the hunters—then we fight the story."

A thunder of boots echoed through the valley, followed by Ieuan's wrathful roar. "Jared Chance! You cannot escape! Leave the Dragonslayer Sword and the Golden Dragon Divine Soul, and I may let you live!"

Terror and resolve flashed across their faces. They plunged deeper into the passage, palms skimming damp rock, praying for a second exit that did not exist.

The cave ended in blind stone. Behind them, Ieuan arrived with a squad of black-clad cultivators, sealing the only mouth of the tunnel.

Ieuan's laugh slithered inside. "Run farther, why don't you, Mr. Chance!"

He stepped into view, eyes glittering like wet obsidian. When he noticed Yuliana, surprise flickered, then curdled to scorn. "Lady Fiala as well? Have you chosen treason over loyalty?"

Yuliana moved before Jared, spine straight as a spear. "You lie through bloodied teeth, Ieuan! Mr. Chance is King Aurelius' honored guest. You set traps to murder him and now brand him a rebel. Do you place your ambition above crown and law?"

"The law?" Ieuan let out a short, scorn-filled laugh. The torchlight caught the hard plane of his face as he declared that, here in Celestia's capital, his word was law. Jared Chance carried a priceless artifact and the blood of a golden dragon—two sparks that could grow into a wildfire. Snuffing him out, Ieuan proclaimed, was a service to the realm. Then, his gaze flicked to Yuliana. "Step aside if you know what's good for you, girl, or I'll sweep you into the gutter with him."

"Touch Mr. Chance, and you'll answer to me!" Yuliana's voice cracked like lightning across stone, slicing through the dank air.

She flung an azure longsword into the open. Pure spiritual energy coursed along the blade, wreathing her slim figure in the fierce aura of an Earthly Immortal Realm Level Eight cultivator. Terror tried to squeeze her heart—she knew she was no match for Ieuan—but retreat was a luxury she would not allow herself.

"Foolish child," Ieuan hissed, eyes narrowing to slits.

Jared gritted his teeth, summoning the last threads of power still moving in his poisoned meridians. Dragonslayer Sword flashed up to meet the blow.

Metal struck flesh with a deafening clang. Numbing force raced up Jared's arm. The sword flew back with him, spine first, into the cavern wall. Blood speckled the stone before he even felt the pain.

The Spiritual Corrosive Poison seized its moment. Agony knifed along Jared's veins, turning every trickle of energy into sludge.

Ieuan laughed—low, triumphant. He surged in again, each palm strike crafted to kill, carving fresh, crimson lines across Jared's chest and shoulders until his robe clung wet and heavy.

Across the cave, Yuliana's footing slipped under the twin assault. Her sword arm slowed. Desperation bled into her eyes.

A chain snapped tight around her wrist. She jerked free, but the second attacker's blade hacked downward, its edge a breath away from her shoulder.