Chapter 35

Just as the panic was about to erupt from the depths of his heart, Xia Tianqi suddenly had a thought: to abandon Leng Yue on his back.

This would both slow down the red-clothed ghost and increase his own speed.

But was that something a person should do?

Leng Yue had, after all, saved his life. If it weren't for Leng Yue's desperate efforts to block the red-clothed ghost, he wouldn't have survived until now.

Moreover, the exit was in sight. At this moment, giving up would be a thousand times unbearable.

If the person on his back were that girl, he might have abandoned her without hesitation, as they had no life-or-death connection.

"Die, so be it!!!"

With a roar of frustration, Xia Tianqi stopped hesitating, bit his tongue hard, and the intense pain spurred him to run even faster.

He was determined to take Leng Yue away from here, not for any moral reason, but for the indignation in his heart and because Leng Yue had truly fought to help him.

It's hard to achieve fame and fortune in life, but it's easy to live without regret.

In Xia Tianqi's view, a clear conscience was the only thing that would stay with him for life.

If he left Leng Yue here today, even if he survived, he would surely feel guilty and blame himself for his cowardly behavior.

Xia Tianqi was the type who would rather die than die in disgrace. If you tried to make him die in disgrace, he would kill you first!

He was not only stubborn but also capricious, and the most terrifying thing was that all these traits were concentrated in a clown.

Once he made a decision, he acted immediately. At this moment, Xia Tianqi had only one thought: to escape!

He had to escape no matter what!

However, wishes are one thing, and reality is another. Despite his determination and efforts, the red-clothed ghost was still getting closer.

The only good news was that the stairwell was now closer.

It was only about ten meters away, but to Xia Tianqi, it felt like a vast distance.

The sound of the red-clothed ghost's claws slicing through the air grew louder in his ears. Even without turning his head, he was sure the ghost was about to catch them!

However, the stairwell was still a distance away.

Although it was only two or three meters, it was too late in time.

In other words, he and Leng Yue were destined to be caught.

"Ah...!"

At this life-or-death moment, Xia Tianqi didn't give up. Instead, he used all his strength to jump forward.

At the same time, the red-clothed ghost's claws struck, leaving a long gash on Leng Yue's back.

Fortunately, thanks to Xia Tianqi's decisiveness, Leng Yue only suffered a superficial wound. If they had continued running as before, that claw would have severed Leng Yue's head.

After landing, Xia Tianqi, ignoring the pain that felt like his body was falling apart, used the momentum to carry Leng Yue closer to the stairwell.

Meanwhile, the red-clothed ghost, having missed its target, lunged at them like a zombie.

Since they were so close to the stairwell, Xia Tianqi kicked Leng Yue down the stairs.

However, just as he was about to roll down himself, the red-clothed ghost grabbed his ankle!

A bone-chilling cold spread through his body, and his heart, which yearned for survival, was also frozen.

He was caught by the ghost!

His body, near the stairwell, was being pulled backward, and the stairwell was receding from his sight.

Along with it, his hope of survival was also fading.

He was going to die.

He couldn't break free from the ghost's grip.

After all, it was a demon that even Leng Yue couldn't handle!

"I don't want to die..."

Xia Tianqi's heart roared in defiance. He refused to believe this was his fate.

He refused to die in such a disgraceful manner.

"No—!"

"I absolutely don't want to die, let me go... let me go...!"

Xia Tianqi's body, being dragged by the red-clothed ghost, began to struggle instinctively.

Perhaps because of his increased struggle, the red-clothed ghost decided to seal his fate early.

The ghost's mouth suddenly sank into its cheeks, forming an exaggerated arc, revealing two rows of sharp, serrated teeth, and lunged at Xia Tianqi.

Seeing the demon getting closer, Xia Tianqi's eyes widened in despair.

He suddenly thought of how Han Xiyuan and Li Xiaoxiao had died, and imagined it must have been the same for him.

However, just as Xia Tianqi thought he was definitely going to die, a voice suddenly echoed in his mind:

"Stop—!"

Hearing the voice, Xia Tianqi instinctively looked toward the stairwell and saw Leng Yue standing there, hands forming a seal, but his body looked terrible, trembling as if he might collapse at any moment.

"Hurry, I can't hold on much longer!"

Seeing Xia Tianqi still dazed, Leng Yue shouted hoarsely.

Shaken by Leng Yue's shout, Xia Tianqi snapped out of his shock and scrambled toward the stairwell.

Almost the moment Xia Tianqi broke free from the red-clothed ghost, Leng Yue collapsed.

Fortunately, Xia Tianqi was very close to the stairwell and managed to avoid being caught again, rolling down the stairs with the ghost's claws just missing his back.

During the process, Xia Tianqi, whose nerves had been taut, suddenly relaxed and fainted.

He didn't know how long he had been unconscious. When he woke up, he felt as if all his bones were scattered, and his body was full of pain.

"Damn, it hurts so much!"

Xia Tianqi, in agony, climbed up the stairs, screaming in pain several times. He felt worse than when he was in the Xin Hua Grand Bookstore.

As for Leng Yue, he was on the floor below, looking much worse, covered in dried blood, all of which was his own.

"Damn, lying there like a dead dog. Don't think I'll help you just because you're handsome!"

Although he said this, Xia Tianqi still struggled to help Leng Yue up and staggered down the stairs.

It wasn't that he didn't want to rest, but he still felt the danger here had not been completely eliminated.