"Daisy is right behind you, Elliott—two steps away," Phoebe warned urgently as she noticed Elliott remained oblivious to Daisy's stealthy approach.
Seizing the opportunity, William Rockefeller swiftly disengaged from Elliott, leaving the latter momentarily frozen in place. Phoebe, now entangled herself, could no longer speak up.
Meanwhile, Daisy exchanged a glance with Jasper before taking his place in producing distracting noises. William Rockefeller then signaled Jasper with a meaningful look.
Jasper immediately understood. He moved behind Elliott and struck with a self-invented technique from the Judge's Pen style. Elliott retaliated instantly.
Phoebe, spotting William Rockefeller creeping up for a sneak attack, shouted, "William Rockefeller is behind you—don't fall for it!"
Elliott halted abruptly. It seemed someone from the Rockefeller family had just used a technique akin to the One Yang Finger. He needed to be cautious.
Just then, William Rockefeller unleashed a sword qi with the One Yang Finger. Hearing the sharp whistle of the attack, Elliott dodged and counterattacked with his blade.
William Rockefeller had been confident of success amid the chaos of sounds, but Elliott's evasion caught him off guard. As Elliott pressed forward, the essence of the Nine Swords of Dugu—where formlessness triumphs over form—manifested in his fluid, unpredictable strikes.
Elliott wielded his sword with effortless grace, while William Rockefeller narrowly avoided each slash, sustaining cuts despite Jasper's intervention.
Phoebe watched with growing unease. William Rockefeller's repeated close calls tugged at her conscience. Unable to bear it, she called out, "Elliott, someone's attacking from behind—two steps away!"
Trusting Phoebe implicitly, Elliott spun around without hesitation and executed the Sword-Breaking Technique, intending to slay his assailant in one stroke. But his blade met empty air—no one was there.
William Rockefeller and Jasper seized the opening, both launching palm strikes at Elliott. A faint, resigned smile flickered across Elliott's face—one that Phoebe caught clearly.
Yet, as he smiled, blood sprayed from his mouth like arrows. The sight twisted Phoebe's heart with regret for what she had done.
Summoning his last reserves of inner energy, Elliott lunged toward Phoebe's voice, grabbed her, and fled along the path he had taken into the city. He laughed bitterly, "Hah! What a pathetic rival in love I turned out to be!"
The bitterness in his voice was unmistakable. Meanwhile, William Rockefeller mused that his phoenix still prioritized himself above all else...
"Pfft!" Halfway through their escape, Elliott coughed up another mouthful of blood. His strength gave out, and his body slackened.
Phoebe, still in his arms, knew she had caused him grievous harm. The moment his grip loosened, she caught him and, using her lightness skill, vanished into a nearby forest.
Gently laying him on the ground, she checked his pulse—and her face paled.
Elliott's pulse was erratic, his inner energy running wild. His organs were likely bruised or even displaced. He needed a skilled physician immediately.
As she moved to lift him, Elliott grasped her hand. His eyes, dull and unfocused, opened to meet hers. "Does this... count as repaying my debt to William Rockefeller?"
Phoebe had no answer. Staring into his hollow gaze—though she knew he couldn't see her—her heart ached with guilt.
Yet, the past still held her captive. "You're in no condition for this," she said softly. "Let me get you to a physician first."
Elliott smiled bitterly. He had been ready to open his heart to her—even if they couldn't be lovers, perhaps they could have been friends or confidants.
But just as he lowered his guard, this betrayal struck. The pain in his heart far outweighed his physical wounds. He never imagined it would end like this.
So this is how women are.