Regardless of what the five people thought, this was a dangerous journey that required them to travel together.
The group had barely found a moment of peace before a giant golden python swept them away with a flick of its tail, sending them rolling several meters. At this moment, everyone could only think, "We're finished." This giant python had already grown horns, making its cultivation level equivalent to a Nascent Soul cultivator.
They were already covered in wounds and had no strength left to resist. Shui Bingqing saw the giant snake open its mouth to bite her. She instinctively grabbed Feng Wangshu, who had always protected her, standing beside her. Thus, another devoted male supporting character met his end.
The other three saw this scene and were somewhat incredulous.
As if it had eaten its fill, the golden giant python stopped attacking them and returned to its cave.
Shui Bingqing looked at the three with her tear-filled, glistening eyes again. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry to Wangshu. I didn't mean to, I was just too scared at the time. I instinctively grabbed the person next to me."
Seeing her like this, everyone found it odd and asked themselves why they had fallen for such a selfish woman. Yet, a voice in their hearts told them to dote on Shui Bingqing and not let her be sad.
Finally, Qian Tianji couldn't bear it and spoke to comfort her, "We know you didn't mean to, and we don't blame you. It's just that we should leave here quickly now."
The other two echoed his sentiment, "Yes, yes, Brother Qian is right."
Although they said this, the three of them all moved a little further away from her.
Meanwhile, Jun Jiuli, from a distance, recorded the scene with a recording stone. She casually tossed the recording stone where they had just fought, doing good deeds without leaving a name.
The Feng family patriarch, who was in seclusion far away, suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest and a sense of unease. Before long, someone came to report.
"Patriarch, something's wrong, the Young Master's soul lamp has been extinguished."
Patriarch Feng was so enraged that he spat out a mouthful of blood. Feng Wangshu was his only son. Cultivators found it difficult to have children, and at his age, it was hard for him to conceive again.
His Shu'er was so young, and exceptionally talented. He was his pride and the future of the Feng family. Who could be so heartless? To make his Feng Yuming have no descendants.
He had given Shu'er so many life-saving artifacts. For him to die unjustly, the perpetrator must be no ordinary person.
"Where was the Young Master traveling for his experience this time?"
"The Forest of Death."
"Good, I will go there myself and see who has such great audacity."
Meanwhile, the fleeing quartet was nearing the outskirts. The demonic beasts there were no match for them. Before the four could catch their breath,
They were blocked by two foxes with fangs and green faces, five feet tall. With no other option, the four could only step forward to engage them.
These were two demonic beasts at the early stage of Golden Core. If the four of them had worked together to resist, they could have surely killed the beasts. However, the unity within this group had already dissolved.
Li Yunxian and Qian Tianji charged forward. They had life-saving means, and the beasts' cultivation was not higher than theirs. Therefore, both of them intended to cooperate and strike a killing blow.
Unexpectedly, the two behind them were cowards. Seeing these two charge forward and tie up the demonic beasts, they turned and fled without looking back.
The two of them had already exerted the most effort in the previous battle with the demonic beasts. Now, without others to cooperate with them, they were even more strained.
In the end, Qian Tianji had no choice but to take out a pseudo-divine artifact and self-destruct. However, the two were too exhausted to escape the power of the pseudo-divine artifact's detonation.
Li Yunxian also lost his life-saving items, so both of them had an arm and a leg blown off, and their Golden Cores shattered.
Before losing consciousness, Li Yunxian took a hemostatic pill and a healing pill. He forced himself to feed Qian Tianji a few as well, and the two could only slowly recover there.
From afar, Jun Jiuli, seeing their pitiable state, scattered the antidote for the beast-attracting powder into the wind. She hoped they would survive until their elders from the sect and their families arrived to rescue them. This would also leave behind witnesses to the female lead's actions.
Although these male supporting characters had harmed the original host in the original plot, the original host did not hate them particularly. They were merely blinded by the female lead's halo. Now, seeing that they showed signs of waking up, and had not yet made grave mistakes, letting them live the rest of their lives disabled was a form of atonement for the original host in their past life.
These arrogant and self-important people, having lost what they were most proud of, were not even considered complete individuals. She believed that living on in such a disabled state would be more painful than death.
Meanwhile, Shui Bingqing and Xue Ruxin had successfully escaped the Forest of Death. The two sat by a lake, panting and resting, looking at each other with a feeling of shared destiny.
Escaping death and relying on each other had deepened their bond.
Xue Ruxin hugged Shui Bingqing and gently comforted her, "Qing'er, don't blame yourself too much. If one doesn't look out for themselves, heaven and earth will destroy them. All three of them liked Qing'er so much. They were happy to sacrifice for Qing'er."
Shui Bingqing sobbed continuously, as if her parents had died.
"I didn't want this either, Brother Ruo, do you think I'm very bad?"
"No, Qingqing is the kindest and bravest girl in the world. Besides, Senior Brother Qian and Senior Brother Li are both the pride of the sect. They have many ways to save themselves. We don't need to worry about them. If we wait here for a few days, they should find us soon."
"Will those two senior brothers blame us later for not helping?"
"No, Qingqing, don't be afraid. Brother Ruo will always be on your side. If they are ungrateful and try to bully you, they will have to step over my dead body first."
"Brother Ruo, you're so good."
Shui Bingqing buried her face in Xue Ruxin's embrace, then suddenly looked up. Her gaze met his gentle and affectionate peach blossom eyes.
For a moment, she was captivated.
Xue Ruxin, seeing her somewhat naive appearance, felt great joy and asked, "Is Senior Brother handsome?"
Shui Bingqing replied without hesitation, "Handsome."
"Then, Qingqing, will you be Senior Brother's Dao companion?"
"Yes."
As soon as she uttered the word "yes," Xue Ruxin leaned in to kiss her rosy lips.
Shui Bingqing did not refuse. The two kissed passionately, reluctant to part.
At this moment, a pair of red eyes were watching them from the darkness.