As she finally reached Chong Zhao, Bai Shuo's face changed dramatically when she saw the thorn embedded in his chest. Tossing aside her leaf, she sprinted the last few steps without care for whether she’d be seen or not.
“What is this thing…?” Bai Shuo’s eyes reddened with worry. She reached out, trying to pull the vine free, but it didn’t budge. Her hand was instantly pricked by the thorns, staining the ground with blood.
“What use is it for you to be here?” Er Yun scoffed. “Neither my Junior Brother nor I could handle this evil spirit—what can a half-celestial like you do?”
Ignoring her, Bai Shuo conjured a small dagger and furiously began hacking at the vine, her brows furrowed with determination.
“A-Shuo, you need to go,” Chong Zhao said earnestly. “This evil spirit is the ancient Bodhi tree transformed—we’re no match for it. Return to the island and inform the sect master; he’s the only one strong enough to handle this.”
Er Yun paused, stunned by Chong Zhao’s words. She quickly realized he was lying to Bai Shuo, trying to get her to escape. Her own heart ached, and despite her usual arrogance, she understood that they were all facing uncertain death. Perhaps the entire Miao Miao Sect would be destroyed in this catastrophe. A half-celestial like Bai Shuo, barely stronger than a mortal, should be allowed to survive and flee if possible… if only Er Yun herself could die beside Junior Brother Chong Zhao, then, hundreds of years later, even their deaths would be remembered as a heroic tale among the celestial realms.
“You useless fool,” Er Yun sneered coldly. “You’re only getting in the way. Go back to the island and report this.”
Chong Zhao caught her meaning and gave her a grateful look.
“Bai Shuo, did you hear me? I’m telling you to—”
“Be quiet!” Bai Shuo cut in, her gaze turning icy as she looked at Er Yun.
Stunned by her intensity, Er Yun tried to respond, her voice catching in her throat as she processed that this “insignificant half-celestial” had actually intimidated her. Flustered and enraged, she opened her mouth to speak, but Bai Shuo spoke first.
“I told you to be quiet,” Bai Shuo said coolly. “Yes, I may be a mere half-celestial, but at least I’m not the one bound here, helpless and whining instead of actually doing something. Who’s the real fool here?”
“You!” Er Yun, speechless and shaking with anger, had thought herself charitable, but Bai Shuo seemed utterly ungrateful.
“A-Shuo, there’s no time for this.” Chong Zhao tried to step in, still weak. “Run, before that thing returns—”
“No, A-Zhao, don’t defend her. How many times has she bullied me?” Bai Shuo’s eyes remained on Er Yun, full of disdain. “Er Yun, if you didn’t have a powerful father and weren’t coddled by the sect’s treasures, do you think you’d have become a top disciple? You can’t even compare to A-Zhao.”
Er Yun had never been insulted so openly in her hundred years of life. Trembling with fury, she was about to snap back when Chong Zhao scolded, “A-Shuo, now’s not the time for bickering. Before that evil spirit returns, you need to leave…”
Before he could finish, he cried out in pain, coughing up blood that stained his white robes. The vine had pierced deeper into his chest, shattering his golden core. His vital energy was drawn straight into the Bodhi tree, causing blood to gush from his wound.
“A-Zhao!” Bai Shuo, now too worried to continue her quarrel with Er Yun, held him up as best as she could, watching in horror as the thorn relentlessly drained his life.
“Junior Brother, A-Zhao!” Er Yun was desperate, but helpless. “Bai Shuo, go back to the island; only the sect master… only he might…”
“Shut up,” Bai Shuo interrupted coldly, “Do you take me for a fool? If the sect master hadn’t already been taken down, would he have allowed you, along with twelve disciples, to risk your lives here?” Her voice was steady. “I won’t let A-Zhao die. Be quiet.”
Stunned, Er Yun watched as Bai Shuo pulled out a dagger and sliced her own palm.
“No, A-Shuo, don’t!” Chong Zhao, recognizing her intent, weakly tried to stop her, but she pressed her bleeding hand firmly against his chest, letting her blood flow into his core. His pallor slowly receded, and color returned to his cheeks. Er Yun stared in disbelief.
This seemingly useless half-celestial, whom they all looked down on, had blood potent enough to bring someone back from the brink of death.
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