Chapter 50

"Thank you." Zhao Yun smiled wearily.

The female assassin did not respond, struggling to her feet, still clutching her bleeding right arm. She staggered to the corpse of the hunched old man, but finally could not hold on and collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Then, she began to search through the old man's body.

"Poison?"

Only now did Zhao Yun notice that the female assassin's entire right arm had turned black, and the blood flowing from it was also black. There was no need to ask; it was clear that she had been poisoned, and it was a kind of poison that her true essence could not expel.

Most likely, she was searching for an antidote on the old man's body.

"No wonder she saved me," Zhao Yun murmured softly.

There was no such thing as a free lunch; without some purpose, why would she risk her life to finish the job?

"Antidote, antidote, antidote."

The female assassin continued to search, her hair disheveled, her hands and feet flailing about as if she were possessed.

Whether she would find it was up to fate.

The hunched old man was terrifying; even his Xuan Yang cultivation had been obliterated, leaving no form. Even if there was an antidote, it was likely destroyed in the explosion, or perhaps it had fallen elsewhere in the forest, making it difficult to find.

"It's you."

When Zhao Yun saw, the female assassin smiled in surprise, pulling out a small green jade bottle from the old man's body. Though it was broken, the pill was still inside, clearly an antidote that could save her life.

Unfortunately, her injuries were too severe.

Or perhaps the poison was too deep. The pill had just reached her lips when she fainted.

Seeing this, Zhao Yun placed the pill in her mouth.

At this point, he could no longer stand, leaning against a rock to sit down. He took out a corpse-dissolving powder to destroy the hunched old man's body, coughing dryly, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He had overestimated himself and underestimated the hunched old man. Despite so many explosive talismans, he had not been killed. If not for the female assassin, he would likely have met his end.

However, saving so many people was worth it.

He wondered if Niu Hong and the villagers of Niu Family Village had escaped danger.

Soon, a bonfire was lit.

Zhao Yun sat by the fire, doing his best to heal his severe injuries.

The female assassin was also there.

After taking the pill, the poison had been neutralized, but her face was still pale, and her breath was weak. She seemed to be having a nightmare, her brows furrowed in pain, and she muttered in her sleep.

More strangely, her true essence was fading.

By "fading," it meant that her true essence was gradually diminishing until it disappeared.

"What a bizarre cultivation method."

Zhao Yun narrowed his eyes. The female assassin's condition was not due to a ruptured dantian but rather a peculiar cultivation method.

"No... don't."

In her sleep, the female assassin suddenly let out a sharp cry, sitting up and immediately gripping her killing sword, her face filled with caution as she looked at Zhao Yun. She seemed to have no strength left, her hand trembling as she held the sword.

Do I look... that terrifying?

Zhao Yun said nothing, a dry cough representing everything.

"Maybe I'm just too handsome."

Muttering, Zhao Yun got up and walked away, his condition not much better, barely able to stand.

When he returned, he was carrying a pile of wild fruits.

The young master of the Zhao family was still considerate, offering one to the female assassin.

"Not hungry."

The female assassin replied coldly, without any emotion.

Rumble!

Clearly, the sound did not come from Zhao Yun's stomach; he was enjoying a peach.

The scene became awkward.

The female assassin finally extended her hand, taking the wild fruit. She must have been very hungry, eating it ravenously.

"Another one?"

"You saved me, and I saved you. We are even."

The female assassin's words were cold and indifferent.

"Agreed." Zhao Yun, still munching on the peach, found a place to heal his injuries.

"Such a powerful True Spirit Realm."

The female assassin murmured. She had seen the battle clearly; she had underestimated this True Essence Rank 1. Not only did he have a mysterious movement technique, but he also knew how to use the earth-penetrating technique, had lightning and beast fire, and possessed many explosive talismans. If not for Zhao Yun's explosion leaving the hunched old man crippled, she would not have dared to finish him off.

However, no matter how hard she tried, she could not see Zhao Yun's true face, as he wore a human skin mask.

Only when she looked away did she gaze at the starry sky.

The moon tonight was perfect, a flawless full moon.

Because of the full moon, her true essence was disappearing.

Zhao Yun's guess was correct; it was indeed due to her cultivation method. Every full moon, her true essence would dissipate.

Rattle!

Soon, the sound of iron chains clashing could be heard.

It was the female assassin, using iron chains to lock her hands and feet.

"What... is this about?"

Zhao Yun glanced sideways, feeling suspicious and confused.

"Young Master."

Suddenly, a call came from the distance.

Then, the sound of swift footsteps followed.

Without a doubt, martial cultivators were approaching, and there were many of them, with high cultivation levels. From the sound waves, it was clear that the "Young Master" they were calling was the purple-robed youth who had been reduced to ashes earlier.

"Persistent ghosts."

Zhao Yun stood up abruptly, turning to run, lightning and thunder accompanying his steps. It was not that he was afraid, but in his current state, even a True Spirit Realm cultivator could kick him to death, let alone a Xuan Yang Realm.

Hmm...

Looking behind, the female assassin was struggling to her feet, unable to stand steadily, let alone run.

Is there no escape from death?

Her words were filled with unprecedented helplessness, even the gentle breeze felt bone-chillingly cold.

Shivering, she looked frail, evoking pity.

From her pocket, she pulled out a black poison pill, a standard item for every assassin.

"I almost forgot about you."

In a daze, a hurried voice broke her thoughts.

It was Zhao Yun, who had run back, lightning and thunder accompanying his steps. Without a word, he picked up the female assassin and carried her away.

It was true; when pushed to the brink, one's potential was limitless.

Earlier, when he was looking for fruits, he had been wobbling with every step.

Now, even with a person on his back, he could run, and run faster than a rabbit.

"Why are you saving me?" the female assassin asked softly.

"Because you're beautiful!" Zhao Yun replied while using his earth-penetrating technique.

"Young Master."

As he spoke, the calls from behind grew louder, and the cultivators were getting closer. They must have sensed the true essence and were heading in their direction, the wind whistling.

Hearing this, someone's potential was further unleashed.

In the forest, he moved like a shadow, darting through the trees.

It was not an exaggeration; even he did not know he could run so fast with a person on his back.

"Put me down!" the female assassin murmured.

"Hold on, I..."

Before Zhao Yun could finish his sentence, he stepped into a pit, or rather, a well, or a trap.

"Who the hell set this up?"

Zhao Yun cursed, wondering how there could be a trap in the middle of a remote forest.

Then, there was a commotion.

The two of them fell, landing after a while, dazed and disoriented.

Phew!

Zhao Yun was the first to get up, looking up.

The pit was like a well, over a hundred feet deep, and the starry sky could be faintly seen.

The female assassin said nothing, not looking at the opening but at Zhao Yun. In the dim starlight, his sharp profile could be seen, not overly handsome but with a resolute and indescribable firmness.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several figures passed by the opening, but they were too fast to see clearly, just black shadows.

Sensing their auras, they were Xuan Yang Realm cultivators.

They had come, but could not see anyone, standing on a large rock and looking around.

"Search separately."

The voice could be faintly heard, followed by the sound of swift footsteps, indicating they had left.

"My name is... Youlan."

In the darkness, a woman's voice whispered.

"Nice name."

Zhao Yun smiled, still looking at the opening, unaware that Youlan's hand was timidly grabbing his arm, a source of comfort in the darkness, the warmest light.

"Are they gone?"

Zhao Yun listened for a long time, but there was no sound from outside.

Bang! Bang!

The sound of a head hitting the wall followed, as Zhao Yun tried to use his earth-penetrating technique to escape, but the rock was too smooth and hard, making the technique useless, and his head thumped against the wall.

"I'll go up first."

Zhao Yun shook his head, took out a dagger, and started making holes in the wall to climb out.

Then, a vine came down the wall.

"Tie it around you, and I'll pull you up." Zhao Yun's voice came from above.

However, there was no response from below.

"Where are you?" Zhao Yun called out, straining his ears.

Rattle!

This time, there was a response, but it was the sound of iron chains clashing.

There also seemed to be a woman's painful cry.

"Miss?"

Zhao Yun leaned over the opening, straining his eyes to look down.

Suddenly, a black shadow shot up.

In the dim starlight, it was Youlan, not tied to the vine, but ascending through the air.

"Wow! Can you fly?"

Zhao Yun was surprised. A hundred-foot deep pit, ascending through the air, not even a Xuan Yang or Earth Concealment Realm cultivator could do that, let alone a Heaven Martial Realm. According to legend, only those who surpassed the Heaven Martial Realm could truly fly.

This woman, however, flew straight up into the sky!

As he watched, Youlan appeared in front of him, carrying a powerful aura.

Zhao Yun was caught off guard and was knocked over.

When he regained his composure, Youlan looked different. Her true essence was mutating, becoming more violent and tinged with a blood-red color. A faint light could be seen on her forehead, and a strange pattern was slowly forming.

"Special bloodline?" Zhao Yun stood firm, his brows furrowed.

To him, Youlan and Niu Hong were of the same kind, possessing extraordinary bloodlines and powers. The true essence aura was so violent that even he felt oppressed, not by cultivation but by bloodline. He was certain that if he had not fused with a drop of dragon blood, he would have been even more oppressed.

Hmm...

Youlan cried out again, clutching her head. The transformation was not over; the ancient pattern on her forehead was fully formed, resembling a full moon. Her hair, strand by strand, turned blood-red, as if dyed in blood, vivid and striking. Her pupils glowed, like a lotus slowly blooming, devoid of human emotion, empty and wooden, similar to the puppet mage from before.

"No wonder she used iron chains to lock herself, knowing this would happen."

Zhao Yun murmured, his gaze deepening, finally understanding and seeing more clearly.

Earlier, it was due to her cultivation method.

Now, it was a problem with her bloodline, similar to a cultivation mishap, but in reality, it was a backlash from her bloodline. The power was too immense, exceeding her capacity, causing mental and spiritual chaos. It was indeed a cultivation mishap, as the female assassin now resembled a female demon.