30: Explosion! Brother Ye Chen actually...

As they drew closer, the faint fishy odor and an indescribable, bizarre scent in the air became more pronounced.

The pool water was as black as ink, and the vegetation along the shore was withered, creating a scene of desolation and dead silence.

Several patches of soil appeared an unnatural dark red.

Ouyang Yaoxi knitted her elegant brows.

This place... it's so eerie. What kind of scenery is there to speak of?

She was about to speak when she saw Wang Ming continue walking without stopping, heading straight toward a patch of bushes by the pool.

“What is there to see over there...” Ouyang Yaoxi's willow-like brows furrowed slightly.

At that moment, Wang Ming's Divine Sense had already quietly spread out.

Soon, it locked onto a ragged figure.

Ye Chen!

A hint of a smile flashed in Wang Ming's eyes.

It seemed the aftereffects of immortals also go mad were even stronger than he had anticipated.

This Child of Destiny was quite durable.

Tsk tsk... this son of a bitch, what an eyesore!

He curled his lip in disdain, then turned to the approaching Ouyang Yaoxi and said:

“You see, in this wilderness, there are often unexpected... sights hidden.”

Ouyang Yaoxi didn't understand, only feeling that there was a hidden meaning in his words.

She followed the direction of Wang Ming's gaze and peered intently.

The bushes were shaking violently.

It seemed... something was inside?

Ouyang Yaoxi's confusion grew even deeper.

She subconsciously spread her Divine Sense as well, carefully probing toward the shaking bushes.

At first, it was just a blurry outline; her Divine Sense was like a tentacle, slowly moving forward.

Then... she saw clearly.

The bushes were a mess, and the ground had been trampled into a muddy shambles.

A figure with disheveled hair and clothes that were practically rags was pinning down a Male Tiger in an extremely bizarre and violent posture.

The Male Tiger was already at its last breath, lacking even the strength to struggle, only able to emit weak whimpers.

But that figure... Ye Chen?!

Ouyang Yaoxi's Divine Sense shuddered violently!

She saw that face filled with madness clearly.

It was Ye Chen!

It really was him!

And his actions at this moment... he was actually trying to use some indescribable method to mount that Male Tiger to death!

His posture was frenzied, and strange noises came from his mouth; it was all the most primitive and chaotic instinct!

“Ah—!”

Shock, absurdity, disgust!

Ouyang Yaoxi subconsciously opened her mouth and screamed!

At that moment, Wang Ming had somehow moved close to her side, one hand gently pressing down on her shoulder.

Ouyang Yaoxi's whole body was stiff as she stared fixedly at the bushes, then she suddenly turned to Wang Ming, her eyes full of disbelief: “How can this be? What... what is he doing?!”

Wang Ming leaned down and whispered in her ear: “Did you see clearly?”

“Your Brother Ye Chen.”

“Do you want to... go over and save him?”

Ouyang Yaoxi's body was cold and stiff, her lips trembling, unable to say a single word.

Save him?

How could she save him?

Rush over and interrupt this unsightly behavior?

And then what?

Face his frenzied eyes and listen to how he explains it?

Just then, an indistinct but exceptionally clear low growl came from the bushes.

“Refreshing!”

Ouyang Yaoxi felt as if she had been struck by lightning, and the last bit of color drained from her face.

She abruptly turned her gaze away, no longer looking at the bushes.

Wang Ming watched her with leisure, his gaze playful.

A few moments later.

Ouyang Yaoxi took a deep breath.

She glanced at Wang Ming and said calmly: “No need.”

“He looks... very happy.”

“Just let him... follow his heart.”

After saying that, she no longer hesitated, turned around, and left.

Her pace was even faster than when she arrived.

Wang Ming raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by her decisiveness, and then his smile deepened.

He looked back, taking one last glance at the still-busy Ye Chen, shook his head, and then turned to unhurriedly follow Ouyang Yaoxi... back to the carriage.

The inside of the carriage was deathly silent.

Ouyang Yaoxi leaned against the carriage wall, her face still frighteningly pale.

Her gaze was somewhat vacant as she stared at the swaying carriage curtain.

The scene by the Black Water Pool had been too much of a shock to her!

Ye Chen's distorted face, his beast-like growls, and that unsightly posture... they replayed in her mind over and over again.

The carriage bumped along, and time passed in silence.

After an unknown amount of time, she finally recovered a bit, then looked at Wang Ming with a scrutinizing gaze.

“You... did you know all along?”

Wang Ming slowly opened his eyes.

He didn't answer directly but asked instead: “Does it matter whether I knew or not?”

He paused, his gaze locking onto her: “What matters is... do you know now?”

Ouyang Yaoxi's delicate body trembled violently.

Yes.

Did it matter if Wang Ming knew?

He might have anticipated it, or it might have truly been a coincidence.

But the most important thing was that she had seen this side of Ye Chen!

If she hadn't known, she might still be immersed in guilt toward Ye Chen.

She might even have attributed part of the responsibility to the pressure from Wang Ming and the Family.

There would always have been a knot in her heart.

But now... what guilt?

What regret?

To hell with guilt!

A strong sense of nausea surged into her heart, instantly overwhelming all her previous complex emotions.

She even felt that her previous internal struggles seemed so ridiculous in the face of the scene just now!!

Thinking this, her face became increasingly pale.

And just then.

Wang Ming suddenly reached out his arm and gently pulled her into his embrace.

Ouyang Yaoxi's body stiffened for a moment.

But unexpectedly, she didn't struggle or resist.

Perhaps she was exhausted, and that bit of body heat and touch became the only reality.

She submissively leaned into his chest, burying her face against him, and closed her eyes.

No words were spoken.

Wang Ming didn't say anything either, just held her steadily with his arm, his fingers occasionally stroking her long hair.

The carriage continued north.

Inside the carriage, the two leaned against each other, silent all the way... back at the Black Water Pool.

After an unknown amount of time.

The bloodshot color in Ye Chen's eyes gradually receded.

That beast-like frenzy was replaced by human clarity.

“I am...” He shuddered violently.

It was like waking up from a long and terrifying nightmare.

Then... the memories of what happened before surfaced in his mind one by one.

“Heh...” All color instantly drained from Ye Chen's face, and he froze on the spot.

He slowly lowered his head and looked down at himself.

That Male Tiger was already dead, its body stiff, but its eyes, still holding remnants of pain, were wide open.

It stared at him with a gaze that seemed to question its very existence as a tiger.

Ye Chen's gaze then fell upon his own tattered clothes, which could barely cover his body.

“No...”

His lips trembled as he spat out the first word.

Immediately, his entire body began to shake violently.

“NO!!!”

A shrill roar suddenly echoed by the Black Water Pool!

Ye Chen began to run like a madman.

No direction, no purpose.

Just running desperately, running with all his might!

As if as long as he ran fast enough, he could leave everything that just happened far behind!

Leave this place!

The further the better!

Never come back!

...