53: Chapter 53: Overdrawing Life to Guard the Great Ruins, Yan Jingjing is the Last Shepherd of the Sun.

"Ugh!"

Before the words had even fully left her mouth, the young girl named Yan Jingjing suddenly swayed violently.

Like a kite with a snapped string, she pitched forward, falling straight down.

It wasn't a trip; it was a true case of her lamp running out of oil and her strength being utterly spent.

Though her flame of life appeared vigorous, it had actually been overdrawn to the absolute limit.

Like a candle, she had burned her own bone and blood just to illuminate this massive divine ship.

"Watch out!"

Qin Mu cried out in alarm, instinctively reaching out to support her.

But just as he extended his hand, he was forced back by a terrifying wave of heat that rushed toward him.

The temperature surrounding the girl was frighteningly high; if an ordinary person touched her, they would likely be scorched to charcoal in an instant.

*Sizzle!*

In the nick of time, a slender yet powerful hand steadily caught the girl's delicate waist.

It was Ye Xiu. He had not been repelled by that terrifying high temperature.

At this moment, the Black Water Power of the Dao Palace's 'Kidney Divine Treasure' was circulating frantically within his palm.

It transformed into a thin layer of Profound Dark Water Film, isolating him from the Solar True Fire that was capable of melting gold and iron.

"So hot..."

Even with the protection of his Divine Treasure, Ye Xiu still felt a surge of heat rushing up his arm toward his heart Meridians.

Was he holding a person?

He was clearly holding a piece of branding iron fresh out of the furnace!

Yet this branding iron possessed a heartbreaking softness and lightness.

Yan Jingjing collapsed into Ye Xiu's arms, her crimson-gold eyes fluttering open slightly, filled with terror and apology.

She instinctively tried to struggle, wanting to push Ye Xiu away.

"Don't... don't touch me..."

"I will... burn you..."

"I am an ominous person... anyone who gets close to me... will be burned to death..."

Her voice was weak and raspy, carrying the loneliness of someone who had carried her destiny alone for a long time.

During these long years, she had been like this sun; though radiating brilliant light, she was destined to never embrace anyone.

"Don't move."

Ye Xiu's voice was low and domineering, carrying a reassuring strength.

Instead of letting go, he applied a bit of force, pulling the struggling girl tighter into his embrace.

A stream of warm Green Wood Spiritual Qi (Liver Divine Treasure) flowed from his palm, continuously injecting into Yan Jingjing's withered Meridians.

"You are using your own Bloodline Power to maintain the operation of this sun ship, aren't you?"

As a transmigrator, Ye Xiu understood everything about this soft-hearted girl very clearly.

As a loyal fan of Founding Emperor...

The Sun-Herding Clan had guarded this world for twenty thousand years.

By the end, they had even reached the point where their Bloodlines were exhausted.

Yan Jingjing's father had fused with this ship because he had drained his heart's blood.

And the frail young girl before him seemed to be the last Bloodline of this branch.

Once this girl's Bloodline was exhausted...

Not only would she die, but the entire Family would likely perish along with her.

Fortunately, she had encountered the Wine Sword Immortal Ye Xiu today.

He provided her with a surge of pure life force.

Ye Xiu looked down at the girl's nearly transparent face in his arms, a gentle smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Letting such a beautiful girl fall to the ground is not the way of a man."

With the injection of the Green Wood Spiritual Qi, a trace of color finally returned to Yan Jingjing's originally pale face.

She stared blankly at Ye Xiu.

This was the first time in her life she had been held like this by a 'living person.'

There was no being burned to ashes, no fearful fleeing—only an unprecedented sense of... warmth and reliance.

"Th... Thank you..."

Yan Jingjing lowered her head, her eyes instantly reddening as scalding teardrops fell, making a 'hissing' sound as they hit the deck.

"Miss Yan, your body..."

Nearby, Qin Mu had also recovered his composure, looking at the tireless fire giants who were still pulling the sun.

He then looked at the weakened Yan Jingjing, seemingly understanding something.

"If this sun ship continues to run, I'm afraid you don't have many days left, Miss!"

Yan Jingjing nodded gently, barely managing to stand straight with Ye Xiu's support.

She looked at those massive silhouettes, a hint of sadness showing in her eyes: "They... are my clansmen."

"But the Bloodline capable of driving the ship ends with me..."

She spoke these words with casual indifference.

But the cruelty within them made even Qin Mu, a youth who grew up in The Great Ruins, feel a wave of suffocation.

One person, one ship, chasing the sun.

What kind of loneliness was this?

What kind of despair?

"This damn fate."

Ye Xiu frowned.

Although he knew the original plot, seeing this fragile girl—who looked like a porcelain doll—carrying such a heavy shackle with his own eyes...

A surge of nameless anger still rose in his heart.

"By the way, you mentioned earlier... this jade pendant?"

Qin Mu remembered the main business and asked, pointing to the jade pendant on his chest that was still glowing.

Yan Jingjing took a deep breath, trying her best to calm her emotions.

She extended a trembling finger and pointed at the patterns on the jade pendant: "This is a token of Wuyou Township."

As soon as these words were spoken, Qin Mu's voice began to tremble.

"Wuyou Township... do you know how to get there?"

At this time, Qin Mu likely didn't know his true identity yet, being merely the second consciousness of Qin Fengqing.

So he was still obsessed with finding his parents.

This was a pitiful and tragic child.

Although Ye Xiu knew the truth, he didn't want him to face the cruelty so early.

Therefore, as a transmigrator, he could only remain silent regarding this matter.

"I don't know where Wuyou Township is; I only heard about it from the Clan Chief Grandpa!"

With a sigh, the little beauty slowly turned around.

She looked toward a massive figure behind her.

And that fellow referred to as the Clan Chief had a very strange look in his eyes at this moment.

He wasn't staring at Qin Mu, who wore the jade pendant, but was instead staring fixedly at Ye Xiu.

Some unintelligible syllables were even issuing from his throat.

It seemed to be some kind of Ancient God Language.

It was separated from the current era by tens of thousands of years.

Likely only Yan Jingjing could understand it on the scene.

In the next moment, this young girl's face suddenly turned red.

The way she looked at Ye Xiu also became flickering and shy.

Even though he couldn't understand what the Clan Chief was saying...

Ye Xiu could guess the general idea.

It was because of the skill he showed earlier, being able to help replenish the Source of Life within this girl.

It seemed the Sun-Herding Clan had most likely taken an interest in him.

They wanted him to help continue their line, or help Yan Jingjing hold on for a bit longer.

Sure enough, in the next moment...

The blushing young girl before him spoke to Ye Xiu in a tentative and embarrassed tone.

"Ye... Brother Ye, Clan Chief Grandpa asked me to ask you if you are already married? Do you have any thoughts about taking a concubine?"

Yan Jingjing was a modest girl of about twenty.

To make a girl like her say such words out loud, and with such a strong purpose...

It would be strange if she didn't blush!

Hearing this inquiry, Qin Mu was also taken aback.

"Ah, what? Miss Jingjing! You've taken a liking to Brother Ye?"

"No, no, he's already performed the marriage ceremony and consummated the marriage with the Granny from our village, and I heard he even took a second wife..."

Don't be fooled by the Cowherd Boy's young age; he actually knew quite a lot.

Before Ye Xiu could even speak, he had already leaked his big brother's background.

But this was the ancient times.

Three wives and four concubines should be allowed, right?

This kid talks too much!

How am I supposed to develop feelings with this pitiful and lovely Sun Guardian now!