Yu Daochen moved swiftly, following the red talisman's guidance through the forest.
The next day, as the sun just crested the mountain peak, it dyed the surrounding sky red, as if a catastrophe was imminent.
Shao Shan's clothes were tattered, suggesting he had been through a fierce battle, yet a cold smile played on his lips: Qin Muyu, you must be at your limit.
Opposite him, Qin Muyu leaned against a large tree, panting heavily, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His body was covered in wounds, and his pristine white ancient robes were already stained crimson with blood.
Qin Muyu gripped the tree, trying to stand, but his body had no strength left.
Qin Muyu glanced at Fan Wei and Hu Guizhi beside him. He knew in his heart that these two would never help him; their non-interference was already the greatest favor.
Looking up at the sun just emerging from the mountains, Qin Muyu showed no fear, a faint smile appearing on his face instead.
How many years had it been since he last felt this proximity to death? Instead of fear, his mind was filled with thoughts of her.
Perhaps this is as far as I can go with you. I promised to protect you forever. I'm sorry!
Qin Muyu closed his eyes. His body had reached its limit. All he could do now was face death with equanimity.
Seeing Qin Muyu close his eyes, Shao Shan let out a cold snort: I'll send you off properly!
As Shao Shan spoke, he condensed a peacock feather into a sharp blade and shot it towards Qin Muyu's head.
Hu Guizhi beside him sighed: A generation's demon king falls.
Whoosh!
Just as the peacock feather blade was a meter away from Qin Muyu's head, a dark weapon flew through the air.
The swirling wind it generated pressed down the surrounding weeds.
Bang!
The two weapons collided precisely. The peacock feather blade embedded itself directly into a nearby tree, while the Kang Long Jian, as it was called, plunged into the mud in front of Qin Muyu.
Qin Muyu opened his eyes. Upon seeing the Kang Long Jian before him, his body trembled violently, and he turned his head in disbelief.
This sudden turn of events caught everyone off guard, and they all looked in the direction the weapon had come from.
Shao Shan, his face contorted in anger, cursed: Who is the blind fool!
From a direction within the forest, a handsome young man, panting heavily, emerged.
Hoo hoo hoo. Yu Daochen gasped for breath, relief washing over him. He had made it just in time. He then tore the red talisman in half.
Qin Muyu looked at Yu Daochen walking towards him, his face full of surprise: Why are you here?
Yu Daochen's face broke into a smile: It's good that you're alright.
But before he could finish, Qin Muyu's voice turned stern, and he berated him.
Go!
Yu Daochen was stunned. It was the first time he had seen Qin Muyu lose his temper with him. But then, he saw Qin Muyu's injuries and understood that the three people before him were no weaker than Qin Muyu.
Do you really think I don't exist? Shao Shan snorted coldly.
Yu Daochen placed a bead into Qin Muyu's mouth. Qin Muyu looked at him anxiously, knowing Shao Shan's strength was not much less than his: You can't possibly handle that guy.
Before Qin Muyu could finish, Yu Daochen interrupted him, a confident smile on his face: You've always protected me. This time, let me protect you.
Qin Muyu was stunned. A scene flashed through his mind.
In his mind, a man in white ancient robes smiled, his features bearing a slight resemblance to Yu Daochen. He spoke the same words:
You've always protected me. This time, let me protect you!
Yu Daochen turned, pulled the Kang Long Jian from the ground, shielded Qin Muyu behind him, and pointed the Kang Long Jian at Shao Shan: Whoever wants to kill him must get past me first.
Shao Shan's brow furrowed. She had seen with her own eyes that this human boy was holding Qin Muyu's inner core.
However, even if Qin Muyu had retrieved his inner core, it would be useless. With his current injuries, obtaining the inner core wouldn't allow him to defeat her.
Five hundred years. You are the first human to dare speak to me like this. As Shao Shan's voice fell, the aura around her body suddenly surged.
Yu Daochen felt as if his shoulders were bearing a thousand pounds, pressing him down until he could barely breathe. His feet sank, and he almost knelt. This oppressive aura was something the elders like Tai could not compare to.
Hu Guizhi and Fan Wei on the side sized up the handsome young man before them with curiosity.
Hu Guizhi found it hard to believe that Qin Muyu would entrust something as important as his inner core to a human boy.
If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she would never have believed it to be true. They all knew how important the inner core was to a demon.
Fan Wei remained silent, his gaze fixed on Yu Daochen. He frowned, and after a long period of silence, he uttered a cryptic sentence: Do you think we've met him somewhere before?
Hu Guizhi became somewhat curious: This human boy before us looks no older than twenty. How could we have met him?
Shao Shan's aura began to weaken, and finally disappeared. She said dismissively: To be able to withstand my oppressive aura without kneeling, you are indeed quite strong among humans.
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