Bai Shuo quietly retreated, clutching the disloyal donkey, huddling on the ground in a pitiful display.
The donkey stared down at her with wide eyes, as if to ask: What grudge do we have between us? All I did was eat two pounds of hay, and this is what I get? Even if you want someone to die with you, couldn’t you find a decent guy? Why drag a poor donkey into this?
Bai Shuo blinked and said nothing.
Mu Fan, hanging his head weakly, watched as he was dragged to the edge of a small grove.
Without warning, the sky suddenly darkened.
Everyone looked up in shock, seeing a blood-red charm slowly spreading across the sky, cloaking the once-clear heavens in darkness.
“What in the world is that?” The bandits recoiled in fear, even Zhang Chao’s hand paused mid-grab for more gold leaves.
Wu Yong’s face darkened as he looked toward Mu Fan, who was frowning up at the sky, his gaze turning icy.
Bai Shuo watched the ominous change with a strange expression, sighing and giving the donkey a weary glance.
Even with a heart as clever as hers, Bai Shuo realized she couldn’t outwit the twisted whims of fate.
A cold voice shattered the silence. “Break!”
The blood-red charm covering the sky cracked with a thunderous noise as a streak of red light shot through, shattering it to pieces.
As the light faded, a young woman in red appeared out of thin air, leading a group of masked figures in purple robes. Not far from her lay an unconscious Chong Zhao.
“A-Zhao!” Bai Shuo’s face paled, unable to contain her concern. She almost rushed forward but restrained herself, anxiety filling her eyes.
“You…!” Zhang Chao took a step forward, his voice trembling. Raising his axe toward Fu Ling, he only managed a feeble display of bravado. Fu Ling swept her hand, releasing arrows made of demonic energy that flew from her palm toward the bandits.
With a sickening “thud,” blood splattered across the ground. Zhang Chao looked down at the demonic flower lodged in his chest, his grip on the gold leaves loosening as he collapsed, eyes open in death.
One by one, the bandits fell, even Wu Yong and Mu Fan were not spared. The last arrow flew toward Bai Shuo’s forehead, but Fu Ling hesitated, her hand twitching slightly, and the arrow dissolved into nothingness.
The disloyal donkey saw the blood-soaked ground and gasped, tipping over and pretending to be dead.
Blood from the fallen soaked Bai Shuo’s clothes, her face ashen, and her grip on the donkey trembling. In mere moments, only she and the unconscious Chong Zhao remained alive in the forest.
Fu Ling looked down at Bai Shuo with a mocking smile. “So, the fool’s companion really was hiding here all along.”
Bai Shuo didn’t dare to speak, shrinking closer to the donkey, trembling in silence.
Fu Ling watched Bai Shuo's frightened expression and gave a dismissive snort, turning toward Chong Zhao. One of the purple-clad figures behind her murmured a warning.
“Second Mistress, let’s focus on the task. Now that we’ve entered this mountain, the Lord of the Hao Yue Hall must be aware. Any further delay could…”
“When did I give you permission to question my methods?” Fu Ling cast him a cold look, making him shudder and step back in silence.
Bai Shuo watched as Fu Ling approached the unconscious Chong Zhao, stretching her hand toward his forehead.
“You wanted to know the whereabouts of Long Er (Dragon Two), didn’t you? Help me save him!” Bai Shuo suddenly shouted. “Otherwise, you’ll never find it!”
A tense silence fell over the forest. Fu Ling looked at Bai Shuo in surprise, while the purple-clad figures exchanged puzzled glances, suspecting she was rambling nonsense. But soon, they heard a deep, chilling laugh.
The laugh held a blend of anger, surprise, and icy amusement.
From among the bodies of fallen bandits, the supposedly lifeless Mu Fan slowly rose. The blood and grime vanished, revealing a pristine white robe embroidered with drifting clouds and a crescent moon on the flowing sleeves. His dark hair spilled over his shoulders, and though he looked like a youth, his eyes were piercingly cold.
The purple-clad figures gasped and drew their swords, stepping back. “The Lord of Hao Yue Hall!”
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