AUOF - 38

The three figures—white, black, and red—split off into three different paths, their movements swift as a gust of wind, darting through the ink-black forest with incredible speed.

The expansion of the Heavenly Gate was rapid.

The seals embedded within the Illusion Forest Map disrupted spiritual energy perception, leaving Ji Hengyu no choice but to rely on the silken parasite to locate Sang Li’s presence.

By this point, Sang Li had reached her limit.

She realized that the swarm of bat-like creatures wasn’t intent on taking her life but instead forcing her toward the Heavenly Gate.

They seemed… desperate to take her to that world?

But why?

Sang Li clutched her wound as she ran, her mind racing but unable to grasp the reason. What could she possibly possess that they wanted so badly?

One thing was certain: she couldn’t keep moving forward.

Gazing at the abyss-like fissure, Sang Li gave up all resistance. She slumped against a tree, gasping for breath, and remained motionless. Seeing her stop, the bat creatures grew frantic, pecking at her repeatedly—but not hard enough to endanger her life.

Sang Li curled up, burying her head deeply in the crook of her elbow, enduring the sharp pain spreading across her body. Though tears streamed down her face from the agony, she refused to budge an inch.

When she still wouldn’t move, they became more aggressive, their venomous wings beating relentlessly against her back, arms, neck, and legs.

This poison wouldn’t kill her—it would temporarily paralyze her by fusing with her blood. Their plan was clear: they intended to drag her forcibly into the Heavenly Gate.

Her clothes were torn to shreds under their relentless pecking.

Her limbs were covered in wounds, her body battered and bruised. Sang Li attempted to resist with magic, but her spiritual energy was nearly depleted.

She heard the sky shatter.

The wall of blades formed by the Xuan Mian Bone-Dissolving Blade could no longer hold. The center shattered first, cracks spreading outward until, with a loud crash, the fine treasure disintegrated like falling stars from the sky.

In its place came a dense swarm of bat creatures.

They shrieked and screamed, resembling a rapidly descending black cloud, their glowing red eyes flickering like embers within the gloom.

—She was about to be devoured.

Sang Li didn’t close her eyes. Instead, a strange sense of calm overcame her.

She had always known this place was dangerous. From the moment she accepted the identity of the little fox spirit and embraced this new existence, she should have realized that her previous tranquil life was long gone. Whatever the outcome, it was her own choice.

She had chosen to participate in the selection, to become a Demon Subduer, to enter the Dragon Mountain Illusion Forest Map . At this point, it was simply bad luck.

Taking a deep breath, Sang Li placed her hand over her chest.

Her heart beat steadily beneath her palm, where the silken parasite resided.

Rather than facing an unknown fate, she decided to risk everything for a chance at survival.

If she feigned death, perhaps she could deceive these creatures.

With the last remnants of her spiritual energy, Sang Li summoned a dagger and, amidst the creatures’ piercing cries, thrust it toward her chest.

Ding!

Her wrist went numb. A streak of white light shot through, striking her right hand just as the tip of the blade was mere millimeters from her heart. The dagger clattered to the ground.

Sang Li looked up in shock.

Through the dispersing black clouds burst a torrent of golden flames. In an instant, the bat creatures scattered, the heavens dimmed, and a lone figure stood amidst the chaos, untouched by filth.

Countless monsters surged furiously toward Ji Hengyu.

His expression remained indifferent. With a simple flick of his wrist, he unfolded his fan. The winds and clouds within the fan shifted abruptly, bamboo leaves transforming into golden binding arrays. The array seals detached, forming a killing net that instantly obliterated a large swath of incoming creatures.

Sang Li stared blankly.

In the distance, roaring flames ignited, gradually consuming the entire Dragon Mountain Illusion Forest Map .

Ji Hengyu flew to her side, his gaze looking down upon her.

For a moment, they silently locked eyes. Finally realizing this wasn’t a dream, Sang Li understood that Ji Hengyu had truly come for her.

Overcome with joy, she gave him a silly, toothy grin.

Honestly, she didn’t look particularly good at the moment.

Her hair was a tangled mess resembling weeds, her face marred with scratches, and her body covered in blood and wounds.

Yet, her smile radiated a brilliant, clear light.

Ji Hengyu’s face remained impassive, but his heart was tugged ever so slightly.

He extended his hand, offering one end of his fan to her.

Sang Li raised her two bloodied arms, her tone gentle and obedient: “My lord, my hands are dirty. I fear I might soil your fan.”

Of all her injuries, her hands were the worst.

To protect her face, the backs of her hands had been pecked raw, and her index finger even exposed the bone.

Bloody and gruesome, it was a horrifying sight.

Ji Hengyu’s brow twitched slightly, his gaze shifting to her face.

The little fox spirit seemed oblivious to the pain, still smiling innocently, inexplicably stirring a knot of unease within him.

With a light flick of his fan, Ji Hengyu lifted Sang Li into the air. Her body felt as light as a feather, floating behind him like a kite. He walked ahead while she drifted behind.

The sensation was far from pleasant.

She had no control over her body’s orientation. One moment her head was up and her body down, the next her body flipped upside-down, her head dangling below. After several rotations, Sang Li felt nauseous.

“My lord, I feel sick.”

Ji Hengyu snapped coldly: “Endure it.”

Sang Li: “I can’t. I feel like throwing up.”

Without turning around, Ji Hengyu retorted: “Hold it in.”

Sang Li: “…”

Fine. You win.

The swarm of bat creatures showed no signs of relenting. Just as Ji Hengyu incinerated a portion of them, the remaining stragglers regrouped and charged back with renewed fury.

Ji Hengyu’s mood was far from pleasant. [Ji Wu, Ji Xun.]

He spoke within his consciousness: [Eliminate them all.]

Behind him, Sang Li, still disoriented and dizzy, had no idea what was happening.

Suddenly, two streaks of light—one red, one black—shot out from his body. In the blink of an eye, they swept through the bat creatures, leaving none alive.

Sss—!

Sang Li sucked in a sharp breath.

She had always known that Ji Hengyu, as the male protagonist, wielded the script of an overpowered character. Even with damaged immortal essence, he surpassed most immortals. Yet, what she had just witnessed still exceeded her expectations. At the same time, she couldn’t help but feel grateful—if it weren’t for the silken parasite, she would have died back in Wanshui Prefecture. How could she have survived until now?

It was just—

She really felt like throwing up.

“Lord Ji, please put me down. I can walk on my own.”

Sang Li’s face twisted, her neck turning blue from holding back her nausea.

“Troublesome.” Ji Hengyu coldly expressed his annoyance, flicking his fan to lower her before effortlessly scooping her into his arms.

Like a little sparrow, Sang Li nestled quietly in his embrace, not daring to move.

Ji Hengyu… was holding her.

Without blinking, she stared directly at the lower half of his face.

His arms were strong, his chest solid, and his body exuded a crisp, refreshing scent. Sang Li was familiar with this fragrance—it had surrounded her during their previous encounters.

This was the first time they were both fully conscious while touching.

Ji Hengyu lowered his head, meeting her gaze, and scowled at her: “Don’t look at me.”

Sang Li sensed his foul mood. Even when upset before, he had never been so direct about it.

She figured it must be because she had caused him trouble.

Aware of her fault, Sang Li obediently squeezed her eyes shut, not daring to open them even a crack.

Ji Hengyu glanced down again, his gaze brushing over her trembling lashes. He slightly tugged at the corners of his lips, his mood improving somewhat, and the strength of his embrace tightened ever so gently.

Just as the Dragon Mountain Illusion Forest Map was consumed by flames, Ji Hengyu swiftly flew out, cradling Sang Li in his arms.

A group of anxious onlookers awaited outside.

Aside from the three disciples and the few Demon Subduers ordered to stay behind, Situ and Shen Zheyou had also remained.

Seeing them emerge, Situ rushed forward anxiously: “How is Sang Li?”

Her eager actions caused Ji Hengyu to school his expression.

The worry on the goddess’s face wasn’t feigned, but he remained wary. Glancing briefly at Sang Li, he noticed she had fallen unconscious at some point.

“She’s been poisoned severely,” Ji Hengyu casually lied.

“Ah?” Situ’s eyes widened, clearly taken in by his words. “I have physicians with me. If you’d like…”

“Thank you, Goddess, but there’s no need to trouble yourself,” Ji Hengyu replied smoothly, his tone polite yet distant. “This poison originates from another realm and can only be cured by the antidote in Shuo Guang Hall.”

Hearing this, Situ swallowed her words.

Ji Hengyu was the disciple of Wu Yan Zhao Xu, the first rare medical immortal in ten thousand years. Naturally, his remedies were superior to those of the Heavenly Pavilion.

Moreover…

Situ secretly thought to herself: Ji Hengyu had heroically saved the damsel in distress. Now that they were alone together, something might happen between them, sparing her the need to resort to underhanded methods like drugging him.

With this realization, Situ felt relieved. She tugged lightly on Shen Zheyou’s sleeve. “Senior Brother, let’s go.”

Shen Zheyou’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t follow her. Instead, he said, “I’ve conducted a preliminary investigation and discovered traces of demonic activity near Yue Lin. The aura resembles that around Yuan Prison—it’s likely that demons have escaped.”

A prison break involving demons was no small matter.

Since the creation of heaven and earth, immortals and demons had been irreconcilable enemies.

Encounters with demon cultivators usually ended in swift execution. Only a handful of powerful demons were imprisoned in Yuan Prison due to various circumstances. These demons were formidable, and any escapee, regardless of identity, would bring significant trouble to the Nine Spirit Realms.

Ji Hengyu: “This matter will not be neglected. Thank you for your concern, Immortal Lord Shen.”

Tightening his hold on Sang Li, he turned to the three disciples: “The maid’s poisoning cannot be delayed. I’ll take her to administer the antidote. You three carefully investigate everything, leaving no detail unchecked, and report back to me later.”

The three disciples bowed respectfully: “Yes.”

Ji Hengyu turned and left.

His strides were swift, and he quickly returned to Shuo Guang Hall with Sang Li in his arms.

Before entering the inner hall, the wounds on Sang Li’s body began to heal, transferring themselves to Ji Hengyu instead.

Drops of blood soaked through his pristine white robe, accompanied by sharp, spreading pain.

But such pain was nothing to Ji Hengyu.

Ignoring his injuries, he calmly carried Sang Li into the sleeping quarters. Between his inner resting bed and the outer room, he chose the latter.

The outer room was where the maids rested, though it had remained vacant since the establishment of Gui Xu Palace.

It wasn’t particularly small, just colder and less warm than the inner chambers.

After some thought, Ji Hengyu carried Sang Li toward the inner hall.

Just as he was about to place her on the bed made of divine dragon wood, his arm froze mid-motion.

Ji Hengyu stared intently at the bloodstains on Sang Li’s clothes, hesitating before leaning in to sniff cautiously. The metallic tang of blood was strong, mingled with a faint feminine fragrance, but it was still unpleasant.

He then glanced at his own bed.

Covered with four layers of white jade silk blankets, it was immaculate and fragrant. Even Ji Hengyu, when gravely injured, would never allow himself to lie on it in such a filthy state.

Without hesitation, Ji Hengyu carried Sang Li to the harder bed in the outer room, waving his sleeves to light all the candles.

Sang Li’s lashes fluttered; she seemed about to wake up.

Ji Hengyu frowned, unwilling to reveal himself in such a state—or rather, he didn’t want her to think he had gone out of his way to save her.

He preferred she continue to resent him rather than feel any sense of closeness toward him.

“Ji Xun.”

Ji Hengyu summoned Ji Xun and handed over his heart once more.

Clad in black, Ji Xun stood respectfully by his side, instinctively touching his chest.

“Watch over her.”

With that, Ji Hengyu turned and returned to the inner hall.

The candlelight flickered brightly, leaving only Ji Xun behind. His gaze slowly settled on Sang Li’s face.

Ji Xun fetched water and carefully wiped away the bloodstains from her face. He removed her shoes and socks, cleaning her hands and feet meticulously.

Finally, after a moment of hesitation, he began to peel off her clothes.

Just as he had loosened the sash at her waist halfway, a much smaller hand suddenly grasped his.

“What are you doing taking off my clothes?”

Sang Li was still dazed, her voice sticky and groggy from just waking up.

Ji Xun’s spine stiffened, and his hands froze in place.