Qin Ze and Mi Xueer followed behind, quickly discussing their new plan.
"Qin Ze, why don't we just go for it, head-on? It's only one person, and we have two. There's no need to be timid in a 2v1."
As she spoke, Mi Xueer put down her drawing board, rolled up her sleeves, and seized an opportunity to throw a punch at Lu Zhai.
Her spirit-energy-infused fist seemed gentle, but it struck Lu Zhai like a hammer blow. Grimacing in pain, Lu Zhai cursed under his breath. Seeing that her attack was effective, Mi Xueer's confidence soared, and she continued to attack with her pink fists, her demeanor fierce.
"...Is she that barbaric?"
Qin Ze hesitated. But seeing Mi Xueer's attack succeeding, he feared they would lose if he delayed any further.
Glancing at the cleaver in his hand, he gritted his teeth and charged forward as well.
*Swish!*
A blood spray erupted with the downward strike. The sensation of the sharp blade piercing bone and sinew made Qin Ze flinch, his stomach churning with a visceral discomfort.
Lu Zhai roared in pain. Seeing himself cornered, with money he couldn't possibly spend in his dying moments, tears of blood streamed from his eyes.
"Damn it, I'll fight you to the death!!"
Ignoring the sharp claws of the white-robed vengeful spirit, Lu Zhai's corpulent body lunged at the two of them.
Unexpectedly, Mi Xueer had already drawn two banana peels at his feet. Lu Zhai stepped on one—and took a spectacular fall, landing face-first.
"Tch!!"
"Hee hee hee, this is the true essence of my art."
Qin Ze raised his cleaver. Just as victory seemed within reach, Lu Zhai suddenly unleashed a surge of powerful demonic energy. Immediately after, a blinding red light erupted from the inner room.
"Awaken, my beloved wives—!" Lu Zhai roared defiantly in his death throes.
"What!!!"
The two were shocked and looked towards the inner room.
Energy surged, light radiated, and a delicate shout pierced the heavens—
"So annoying, so annoying, so annoying! Which blind fool dares to bully Master? Shana is here to save you!"
From the display cabinet, a red-haired, red-eyed figurine of a beautiful girl blinked and came to life!
With a somersault, she sprang from the cabinet, her body growing rapidly. By the time she landed, she was about 1.4 meters tall, appearing as a slender middle schooler.
Shana wielded an incredibly sharp black katana. Wings of flame unfurled behind her, and her small hands conjured magic circles before her. Crimson flames condensed, burning the surrounding white-robed vengeful spirits.
Qin Ze and Mi Xueer were stunned, their mouths agape, forgetting to attack.
"A figurine? It actually turned into a real person?!"
Lu Zhai's eyes gleamed with excitement. He hadn't expected to awaken extraordinary abilities under the threat of death. With his cabinet full of figurine 'wives' to protect him, he was sure to turn the tide of battle.
If his master learned of this ability to command an army, he might even earn a black robe.
"Shana-chan, hurry and save me!" Lu Zhai yelled from the ground.
Just as Shana was about to fly to her master's rescue, she was intercepted mid-air by a figure.
"Who do you want to save?"
A blade slashed down. Duan Chen, like a hunter who had waited for a long time, finally saw his prey appear.
*Clang—!*
The swords collided in mid-air, emitting a piercing screech. Shana felt a sense of foreboding and looked closely, only to see Duan Chen smiling faintly at her.
"I've waited so long, I thought you wouldn't come."
Shana: ??? What nonsense is this strange uncle spouting?
"That fat man is no longer your master. If you put down your weapon and don't interfere with the battle over there, I might let you go."
"So noisy, so noisy, so noisy, die!"
A burst of flame shot out. Duan Chen dodged with a sidestep, his eyes reflecting a calm killing intent.
"Such a fine figurine, it's a shame you followed the wrong master."
Duan Chen spun, his blade a blur of speed. Before Shana could even react, the back of the blade struck her heavily on the nape of her neck, causing her vision to blacken and her to fall forward.
In the display cabinet, a silver-haired figurine of a beautiful girl twitched her elven ears.
"Someone is bullying Master? I can't just stand by and watch."
Ice crystals condensed around her. Emilia wielded her staff, and several ice cones shot towards Duan Chen, only to be blocked by him with one hand.
The girl had barely landed lightly from the cabinet before Duan Chen struck her down with his sword. With a soft gasp, she slumped limply to the ground.
"...You call this strength and you come to offer yourself up?" Duan Chen was somewhat speechless.
"This is too much! I'll destroy you in the name of the moon! Moon Mirror Power, Transform—" The Usagi Tsukino figurine put her hands on her hips and shouted defiantly.
Neon lights flickered. Usagi Tsukino transformed into a magical girl and struck a pose of justice.
Duan Chen kicked her in the abdomen. Usagi Tsukino flew back and hit the wall, her face contorting in pain.
"You! You're despicable, you're shameless, attacking me while I was transforming!"
"...Miss, why are you rapping? Why should I wait for you to strike a pose?" Duan Chen scratched his disheveled hair.
*Bang—!*
A cannon shot erupted from the display cabinet. The pink-haired, twin-tailed loli, carrying a massive cannon, twitched her cat ears.
"Meow~ Your servant is here, who dares bully Master-sama!"
Mei placed a hand on her hip, proudly swaying the cat tail on her backside. She unleashed a barrage of cannon fire at Duan Chen, blasting the room into disarray.
Duan Chen raised Pandora's Illusion Shield, advancing through the cannon fire. Mei's expression gradually turned to terror.
"Meow? I feel like I've walked onto the wrong set. Big Brother Manxi, save me—"
Her foot slipped, and Mei cried out as she fell from the display cabinet. Had she not landed on Deadpool, she would have been shattered.
Looking at the fallen anime beauties at his feet, Duan Chen felt a pang of doubt.
Are you guys... playing葫芦娃救爷爷 (Hu Lu Wa Jiu Ye Ye - Calabash Brothers saving Grandpa) here?
Lu Zhai watched as his 'wives' fell one by one, his rage boiling over. His eyes were wide with fury, and he pounded the ground, cursing, "Bastard! Beast! How could you lay a hand on such beautiful girls! You're even less of a human than I am!"
"The end of sin, I shall end it all." The eyes of the blonde-haired, ahoge-sporting figurine of a beautiful girl lit up. Sensing her master's surging anger, she accepted the summon and awoke.
The beautiful girl had fair skin and a pretty face. Her emerald eyes swept over her fallen companions, a look of anger appearing on her face.
"Saber!" Duan Chen's eyes widened, and he blurted out the name.
He wasn't very familiar with anime girls, but he had played mobile games. He remembered spending several six-four-eights just to draw the 5-star Swimsuit Saber.
Alas, no amount of money could change fate, and no amount of luck could alter his misfortune; he still ended up with a bad pull.
"You know me?" Saber frowned, a hint of confusion appearing on her heroic face.