Mu Xuan, seeing the dire situation, performed a hand seal, channeling celestial energy into the ground. The black-clad attackers and the demons writhed in pain, their movements hindered.
But among them, one black-clad figure seemed unaffected. He charged at Mu Xuan with a sword, aiming straight for his heart.
Mu Xuan turned to block, but the blade sliced into his arm. The assailant adjusted his stance, angling for a downward strike that would sever Mu Xuan’s arm entirely.
My heart clenched at the sight, but before the attack could land, the black-clad figure abruptly stopped, his expression shifting to one of disbelief. His lips moved, though I couldn’t make out the words.
From where I stood, I saw Mu Xuan freeze as well. He seemed dazed, his sword lowering slightly as if he were no longer in combat mode. The two exchanged a few words, and as I got closer, I caught fragments of the black-clad figure’s voice: “...If you don’t believe me, come with me.”
The man turned to leave, and Mu Xuan hesitated, then began to follow.
He wanted to leave? In the middle of an ambush, with the disciples in danger, Mu Xuan intended to abandon them and follow this stranger?
I didn’t need to guess anymore—this was the moment the Demon Lord had warned me about. If I was ever going to stop him, it had to be now!
Gritting my teeth, I rushed toward Mu Xuan without hesitation. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a demon clan archer pulling back his bowstring, aiming directly at Mu Xuan. Internally, I applauded the stocky little demon—his timing was perfect, giving me the excuse I needed to get close to Mu Xuan.
The moment the arrow flew, I yelled, “Master!” and threw myself at Mu Xuan, wrapping my arms tightly around him. Pain seared through my back as the poisoned arrow buried itself deep into my spine.
Biting down on the agony, I cursed the demon for his brutal aim. But it was exactly the level of ferocity needed for this plan to work. Now, surely, Mu Xuan wouldn’t abandon his gravely injured disciple to follow that black-clad stranger… right?
But what if he did?
What if this future Demon Lord, Mu Xuan, coldly shrugged me off and left anyway?
The thought struck me like a bolt of lightning. If that happened, I’d have taken this arrow for nothing!
Fueled by this fear, I abandoned my plan to collapse weakly to the ground and instead clung to Mu Xuan with all my strength.
“Master…” My arms were trembling from holding him so tightly, the strain almost unbearable. But this closeness allowed me to feel his reaction—the way his body stiffened in shock, the disbelief radiating from him.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally reached out and touched my back. His hand came away sticky with blood—there wasn’t much else for him to feel.
I tilted my head up to look at him and saw his wide eyes, filled with stunned disbelief. Fighting through the pain, I forced a smile. “Master… are you okay?”
Even as I spoke, Mu Xuan’s face blurred in my vision, and my arms began to weaken.
This time, I wasn’t pretending to slide to the ground—I genuinely couldn’t stand anymore.
Mu Xuan caught me in his arms. “Why are you here?” he demanded, his voice calm as always, but with a faint, almost imperceptible tension. “Let go.”
“As long as Master is safe…” I whispered, my voice strained. “The disciples of the Cang Lan Sect… they’re depending on you now…”
Mu Xuan froze.
I knew his sense of responsibility would override everything else. He wouldn’t leave the disciples behind in a moment of impulsiveness to follow that black-clad stranger.
Gripping the front of his robes, I tightened my hold until I left two wrinkled marks. I hoped that later, when he saw those creases, he’d remember that his shameless disciple had taken a grave injury to “save” him.
“Master… you must take care of yourself…”
And bring me back with you.
Before I could finish my sentence, dizziness overtook me. Unable to fight it off, I slipped into unconsciousness.
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