Hao Xuan joined the soldiers this time and attacked the three-tailed fox together.
Even for Kuo who was now on the Seventh Stage of the Spirit realm, it was next to impossible to pierce its skin.
The only one that had managed to do any actual damage to the creature was Ensis. His sword left blue bruises on its skin but it still wasn't enough to draw blood.
Hao Xuan started cursing as he waited for the rest of the party to arrive. None of his energies were effective against the fox. It wasn't even affected by the Emperor's Qi. And when he tried to alter the direction of its attacks with the Force energy it felt like he was trying to push away an entire mountain.
"F*ck sakes, where are they?!" he shouted in desperation.
It had already been almost five minutes since the woman was "imprisoned" in First's technique and it wouldn't last much longer.
Another minute passed and the people he was waiting for finally arrived.
Yu Bo with his staff, Tao Hu with his spear and shortsword combo, and Xing Zhi with her pair of bronze gloves that had spikes sticking out of them.
"You're late!" Hao Xuan shouted while avoiding one of the foxtails.
Yu Bo was covered in blood. Even his bald head that shone no matter what had its 'light' taken away.
"We aren't alone here. There are a lot of other beasts around and more keep coming. I think they are the reinforcements for these guys," he replied while taking deep breaths.
"Rest later, bring this b*stard down! We're running out of time," Hao Xuan reprimanded when he saw Yu Bo about to take a seat on the muddy ground.
*sigh*
"Fine fine. Let's go, use formation C," he waved at Tao Hu and Xing Zhi.
"Mhm," they both nodded back in agreement.
Hao Xuan stepped back and observed their movements. Other than the highest-ranked people everyone else had stepped back as well. The fox was only so big and hundreds of people attacking it at once could be counter-productive.
Kuo, Hash, and Maddy were some of the few that were still attacking it.
The Yo Bo trio joined hands and attacked the fox from three different directions at once. All of their movements were completely in sync. When one was about to be attacked the other would move in and strike.
It was like clockwork. The fox raged as its stamina was shaved off bit by bit.
"YOU FILTHY CREATURES! YOU WILL PAY! ALL OF YOU WILL PAY!" its loud voice echoed throughout the swamp.
"You join in too, quick," Hao Xuan ordered the Kappa who had been standing behind him for some time now.
"A-As you wish, master," Bo bowed from the waist and with some hesitation, joined the fight as well.
It seemed like he was the final piece that turned the tides. The pressure on the fox was too much and it was taking hits from almost every direction now. Even with its impenetrable skin, it wasn't an easy task to hold out for so long.
*BOOOM*
Xing Zhi swirled around in mid-air for five times and landed a punch to the Fox's chin. It's gigantic eyes went white for an instant as it lost consciousness, but that was only for less than a second. It staggered back to its feet while glaring hatefully at the humans around it.
It was bleeding from several places now. These were the ones created by Yu Bo's squad. They repeatedly attacked the exact same spots, eventually managing to soften it and cut it open.
"You….filthy…"
"Yeah yeah, we got it, shut up already," Hao Xuan interrupted as the Fox before it could hurl a few more insults their way.
"Just give up. I only want to ask you a few questions," Hao Xuan walked closer and looked at the Fox earnestly, "We don't want to create any irreconcilable differences with the Wu clan so you will be free to go then."
"But Capta-" Xing Zhi abruptly cut in as soon as she heard Hao Xuan speak, getting a glare in return from both Hao Xuan and Yu Bo.
"Shut up! This has already been decided. We are no match for the Wu clan and only wish to get an explanation," he explained calmly.
Light returned to the fox's eyes as it looked at Hao Xuan with a puffed-out chest. It let out a knowing smile.
"At least you understand your position. Filth like you cannot hope to stand against the righteous."
Hao Xuan smiled back gently while hiding his clenched fists in the sleeves. He nodded back amicably, "Of course, now if you would be kind enough to come with me."
The fox looked at Hao Xuan for a few more seconds before finally mumbling something under its breath. Its body started shrinking once again and transformed back into the 17-year-old boy.
"This way," Hao Xuan moved aside and pointed towards the direction they had come from.
The other soldiers were also reluctant to let the fox off just like that, especially since it had even killed a couple of soldiers, but since Hao Xuan had already said so there was nothing left to talk about.
"Hmph," the boy looked around at the soldiers that were fighting it moments ago and dusted off his clothes.
All of them moved aside and created a path for him.
As the boy passed through, Hao Xuan who was waiting for him at the end, patted his head gently, making the boy freeze for a second.
"Such young people shouldn't be out fighting like this. You should be at home, studying," he lectured the boy just like an elder, ruffled his hair and walked off by himself. The boy still hadn't moved from the spot.
"Come, let's talk," his voice woke the boy up as his body followed Hao Xuan's words like a heavenly decree. His movements were mechanical, almost like a robot.
Kuo and the others who had known him much longer frowned at his odd behavior but didn't linger on it too much.
