Jiang Zhiyu rushed into the building, his heart burning with anxiety as he searched everywhere, unsure if the young man inside was safe and sound.
This was the first great demon he had encountered since leaving Lingyu Prefecture.
The creatures he had met on the road before were nothing but minor spirits and little monsters, who would hurt people but never take their lives.
Looking at the rotting bones and putrid liquid scattered all over the ground, a thick stench of blood filling his nose, his voice trembled slightly. This was the first time he had witnessed such a scene with his own eyes. The thought that he had failed to stop the young man just now made a tide of regret wash over him.
Brother—
Brother!
What are you yelling for, trying to summon a ghost! Song Yueyao knocked him on the back of his head with her knuckles. Dealing with that Plantain Demon is what is important right now!
Jiang Zhiyu winced in pain, then looked toward the hunched, twisted humanoid vine not far away, a sudden surge of anger rushing to his head.
Evil creature, you have committed countless atrocities. Today, even if it costs me my life, I will exact justice on behalf of heaven!
If it were not for this monster, Yaoyao would not have been forced into a marriage here, and those previous brides and the young man would not have lost their innocent lives.
Jiang Zhiyu moved swiftly, his sword aura swirling around him. He drew a magical array in mid-air and slashed toward the Plantain Demon.
He had thought it would be a fierce battle, but who knew that as the sword fell, the monster would actually roll three times on the ground, wail a few times, and then weakly start begging for mercy on the verge of death.
Both Jiang Zhiyu and Song Yueyao were stunned.
This great demon... was this fragile?
Jiang Zhiyu looked down at the Lingyu Sword in his hand, a flash of pleasant surprise in his eyes. Could my swordsmanship have improved to such a level? I must report this to my father when I return.
Do not... do not kill me... the Plantain Demon gasped, its breath hanging by a thread. I have my own bitter difficulties...
I forced my cultivation only because I wanted to protect my descendants. Though I am guilty, they are innocent... If I die, they will have no one to rely on...
As its voice faded, the Plantain Demon closed its eyes. A faintly glowing demon core slowly rose from the underground roots and hovered in mid-air.
At the same time, many small fruits emerged from the vines. Surprisingly, each fruit had a pair of eyes, clear and pitiful eyes that all looked toward Jiang Zhiyu in unison.
Jiang Zhiyu's raised sword paused. He took the demon core into his palm, a hint of astonishment flashing in his eyes. This demon core was actually already somewhat cracked. No wonder it had been so weak just now, falling after a single strike.
What are you waiting for? Hurry up and destroy the demon core! Song Yueyao urged.
Hearing this, those small fruits immediately began to sob softly, their whimpers dense and blending together.
Jiang Zhiyu's face showed his reluctance. Yaoyao, in front of these children, I really cannot bring myself to do it.
Song Yueyao replied, Then turn your back.
Jiang Zhiyu turned around as told. Gathering power in his hand, he was just about to destroy the demon core when a few faint sneezes from a woman suddenly came from the distance.
He and Song Yueyao exchanged a glance, their movements halting.
Forget it, he could not do it after all. It was better to take this demon core back and hand it over to his master for purification.
He stored the demon core in his spatial pouch, and the two of them followed the sound toward the dark corner.
Chai Xiaomi was sleeping soundly when she felt a tickle on the tip of her nose, as if something was gently brushing back and forth.
Achoo—Achoo—
She sneezed a few times in a row and groggily opened her eyes, a layer of moisture still clouding her vision.
What met her eyes was Wu Li's handsome face. At this moment, the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, carrying a faint, inexplicable trace of amusement.
You really can sleep.
Huh? How did she fall asleep?
Chai Xiaomi cast her eyes downward. The itch on the tip of her nose had not faded yet, and she subconsciously raised a hand to rub it.
Seizing the opportunity, Wu Li quietly slipped the few stalks of foxtail grass he had been twirling between his fingers into the girl's fluffy hair. As the fuzzy grass spikes bobbed gently with her movements of rubbing her nose and shaking her head, the smile on his lips deepened.
"What are you smiling at? What's making you so happy?" Chai Xiaomi muttered softly. Looking around, she realized she was sitting slumped against a wall, right next to a round dog hole.
"Ah! Did we escape?"
Just then, the faint sound of footsteps approached from a distance.
"Brother!" Jiang Zhiyu spotted the young man crouching outside the drum tower from afar, his heart leaping with joy. "Thank goodness you are alright! I was afraid I wouldn't make it in time..."
"If we had waited for you to save us," Wu Li's voice was flat, betraying no emotion, "I am afraid there wouldn't even be bones left of us by now."
Jiang Zhiyu choked on his words for a moment before noticing he had said "we." Shifting his gaze, he finally saw a slender figure curled up in the hay by the wall.
The young girl sat in the corner hugging her knees, curled into such a tiny ball that she almost blended into the shadows. No wonder he had not noticed her at first glance.
"Eh, Xiaomi?!" Jiang Zhiyu was somewhat surprised. "Why are you here too?"
At this moment, Song Yueyao, who had followed close behind, also let out a soft gasp, her eyes rippling with the same surprise. "When did you tag along?"
She had been in such a rush to save them after retrieving the Phantom Color Stone that she had not even noticed someone following her all the way.
Chai Xiaomi hung her head like a drooping puppy, looking a bit sheepish. "I heard you say someone was in danger here, so I took it upon myself to follow you."
"Do you know martial arts? Or perhaps some magic?" Song Yueyao asked.
Chai Xiaomi shook her head. "Neither."
"Since you have no means to protect yourself, and you knew it was dangerous, why did you rush over so recklessly?" Song Yueyao frowned unconsciously.
Strange as it was, she always felt an inexplicable sense of closeness toward this girl. Especially upon learning how careless she had been, putting herself in such grave danger, Song Yueyao could not help but want to scold her.
"Aren't you afraid of getting hurt?"
Chai Xiaomi was momentarily speechless, simply staring blankly at Song Yueyao's stern and anxious expression.
"Of course she is not afraid."
Wu Li suddenly spoke up faintly from the side, answering for her.
"Someone just thinks their life is too long. Wherever there is danger, she rushes right into it, as if she is in a hurry to be reincarnated." The corners of his eyes lifted slightly. His voice was cool, laced with a casual, mocking tone. "Next time you want to throw your life away, remember to do it earlier."
After his sarcastic remark, he turned his head and looked at her with a beaming smile. "Okay?"
His voice was magnetic and clear, carrying the unique, spirited vigor of a young man. The upward tilt at the end of his sentence sounded inexplicably intimate and tender.
But Chai Xiaomi understood perfectly well: Wu Li was settling the score. When he left, he had explicitly told her to go back to her room, but she had not listened.
"Okay," Chai Xiaomi replied softly after looking at him quietly for a moment.
In a daze, the person in front of her overlapped with that small, bruised, and battered figure from the illusion. She looked at him and said earnestly, word by word:
"I am sorry, Wu Li. I came too late."
If only she could have transmigrated into this book a little earlier, at least she could have taken a whip strike for that tiny body...
Wu Li had not expected her to answer like this. He watched as the corners of her mouth turned down slightly, her eyes growing red and glistening with moisture, as if she were about to shed tears at any moment.
A sudden, inexplicable tightness gripped his heart, as if something soft had lodged in his chest, leaving behind a heavy, indescribable sensation.
Those words just now... had he been too harsh?
Jiang Zhiyu quickly stepped forward to smooth things over. "All that matters is that she is safe! A real man doesn't bicker with his own wife. Besides, Xiaomi is pregnant. You should take her back to get some rest."
Standing to the side, Song Yueyao widened her eyes slightly, her gaze darting subtly back and forth between the two of them.
So they were a young married couple, and they were already expecting a child.
