529: Lu Xueqi (Six)

Su Han carried Lu Xueqi on his back, and he and Bi Yao quickly departed from the inn, which had become a ruin.

The night was deep, and the three of them, guided by the moonlight, hurried towards the deep mountains outside the small town.

They had to find a safe place quickly to treat Lu Xueqi's injuries.

Su Han could feel the person on his back had a faint aura; the toxin, like a persistent disease, was still slowly eroding her Meridians.

His heart was incredibly heavy.

They went several miles deep into the mountain forest and found a secluded mountain cave.

The cave entrance was covered by vines, making it quite hidden.

Su Han carefully set Lu Xueqi down, allowing her to lean against the cave wall.

Bi Yao immediately set up a few simple warning Restrictions at the cave entrance.

She then went to Lu Xueqi's side to check her injuries.

“The toxin has only been temporarily suppressed, not eliminated.”

Bi Yao's delicate brows were tightly furrowed; she was skilled in many secret techniques of the Ghost King Sect and also understood poisons.

“This poison is insidious and potent, seeming to be refined from a mixture of several rare demonic poisons and foul substances; ordinary Medicinal Pills are difficult to eradicate it.”

Su Han's heart sank further upon hearing this.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

“I'll try; perhaps with the pure Origin Qi of Taiji Profound Clarity Dao, I can force it out.”

He sat cross-legged opposite Lu Xueqi, placing his palms against her back.

The pure and vast Taiji Origin Qi slowly flowed into Lu Xueqi's body.

Lu Xueqi's body trembled slightly, letting out an almost inaudible muffled groan.

When the black Qi encountered the utterly pure Taiji Origin Qi, it became restless like a living thing, resisting fiercely.

Time passed bit by bit.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Su Han's forehead, and the light of his Golden Core within his body was slightly dim.

The detoxification process was more difficult than imagined.

This toxin was not only stubborn but also carried an insidious corrosive power, even contaminating some of his Origin Qi.

But he did not give up; he gritted his teeth and persisted, guiding the Origin Qi to repeatedly flush out the Meridians that had been eroded by the toxin.

Bi Yao stood by, watching Su Han exert his full strength, her eyes complex.

She silently took out clean water and a handkerchief, gently wiping the sweat from Su Han's temples.

She then looked at Lu Xueqi's pale yet still beautiful profile, a difficult-to-describe emotion flashing through her heart.

After an unknown amount of time, dark black poisonous blood began to seep from Lu Xueqi's shoulder wound.

Dropping to the ground, it even made a faint “sizzle” sound, corroding the rocks on the ground.

As the poisonous blood was expelled, the black Qi on her face gradually faded, and her breathing became a bit more stable.

Su Han let out a long breath, withdrew his palms, his face showing some fatigue.

“Most of the toxins have been forced out for now, but a small amount of residual poison still lingers deep in the Meridians and needs to be slowly resolved.”

He looked at Bi Yao, revealing a forced smile.

“Thank you for your Medicinal Pill; otherwise, the situation would be worse.”

Bi Yao shook her head and handed over a water skin.

“It's your profound cultivation. Why are the Blood Fiend Group and those Shadow Assassins pursuing us so relentlessly?”

Su Han took the water skin and took a sip, his gaze becoming sharp.

“Perhaps it's related to the matter we are investigating. The strange Cultivators appearing in the small town, the traces of sacrifice by the river... Behind this, a greater conspiracy is likely hidden.”

At this moment, Lu Xueqi's eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly awoke.

The first thing she saw was Su Han's concerned gaze, and she then noticed her semi-reclining posture and the treated wound on her exposed shoulder.

A faint blush rose on her pale face; she subconsciously wanted to move away a little but pulled her wound, letting out a soft gasp of cold Qi.

“Don't move.”

Su Han pressed down on her uninjured right shoulder, his tone brooking no argument.

“The toxins have just been forced out; you need to rest.”

Lu Xueqi stopped moving, lowered her gaze, and said softly, “Thank you, Senior Brother.”

She then turned to Bi Yao, her voice still cold but with a hint of sincerity.

“And thank you, Miss Bi Yao, for the medicine.”

Bi Yao pouted.

“Hmph, I just didn't want to see you hold us back. If you collapsed, and another expert from the Shadow Assassins came, would this blockhead be the only one to deal with them?”

Although she spoke thus, she still handed over another Medicinal Pill for strengthening the foundation and cultivating Origin Qi.

Su Han looked at the two of them, feeling a little relieved.

He walked to the cave entrance and looked out at the deep night.

After this battle, he deeply felt that his own strength was still insufficient.

If Lu Xueqi hadn't been injured to save Bi Yao, inspiring him to unleash power beyond his usual capabilities, the Eight Fiends Array would have been extremely difficult to break.

Future enemies would only be stronger; he had to improve his cultivation as quickly as possible.

At the same time, he also vaguely felt that the subtle opposition between Lu Xueqi and Bi Yao seemed to have eased slightly due to this battle fought side by side.

Although their words were still barbed, at least they were no longer at daggers drawn.

This might be a blessing in disguise.

A brief silence fell inside the cave.

Only the soft crackling of the campfire could be heard.

Lu Xueqi closed her eyes to regulate her breathing, diligently working to resolve the residual toxins within her body.

Bi Yao, meanwhile, was toying with the heartbreak flower, lost in thought.

Su Han guarded the cave entrance, his spiritual sense extended, wary of any disturbance around them.

The night was still long.

Danger had not receded.

But at this moment, this small cave temporarily became a tranquil haven in the storm.

And the invisible bond connecting the three of them also seemed to have quietly deepened through this shared experience of life and death.

The road ahead was destined to be full of thorns, but they had to walk it.

Occasionally, the howls of unknown beasts echoed through the forest, adding to the danger in the silence.

Su Han clenched his fists, his eyes firm. (End of Chapter)