Chapter 37

Gu Xuyao's speed was not slow. The firelight that had been illuminating his face disappeared behind him, and he once again plunged into darkness. However, he knew that this darkness was not a murderer; in the current situation, it was the best protection.

"Gu... Gu..." As if sensing something, Zibi, who was on Gu Xuyao's back, woke up.

"It's okay, Zibi, it's okay, you're safe now." Gu Xuyao couldn't help but smile with relief when he saw Zibi wake up. "By the way, Zibi, do you feel any discomfort in your body? I see that you are covered in wounds; those monkeys must have tortured you a lot." As he said this, guilt rose in Gu Xuyao's heart.

Zibi's hair was disheveled, but there was still a faint fragrance on her body. "It's fine, it's all over, don't mention it again." As she said this, Zibi hugged Gu Xuyao tighter. "I'm fine. Earlier, Senior Sister Yixia gave me a pill. I fainted because she used a high-level technique, and I couldn't withstand the energy wave."

She wasn't just saying this to reassure Gu Xuyao; he could feel the strength coming from Zibi's hands.

"That's good. We are now safe. Soon, very soon, I will take you out of the Dàyě Forest, and we will return to Taiheng Gate!" Gu Xuyao took a deep breath, ignoring the depletion of his internal yuan force, and continued to fly at high speed.

Zibi smiled when she heard this. Though her face was pale and dry, her beauty was still evident.

"Gu... Gu, did that stone hit you?" Zibi's voice was very light, perhaps due to a lack of strength or for some other reason.

Gu Xuyao originally wanted to say no, but he knew he couldn't hide this from Zibi. After a long silence, he finally said softly, "It almost hit my heart, but it was a bit off, just making me unable to breathe. In the end, my fellow disciples found me in time and saved me."

Though he said it lightly, Zibi knew what kind of situation it was, as she had experienced it herself, the feeling of being on the brink of death.

Zibi's arms around him tightened, and Gu Xuyao felt her delicate hands move to his chest, gently placing them there.

The two didn't speak again. While Zibi felt guilty, Gu Xuyao also had a strange feeling.

However, this slightly romantic forest sprint was soon interrupted by an unwelcome guest.

A roar that shook the blade grass, a wild cry, one that was definitely not from a Black-Eyed Ape!

Gu Xuyao immediately reacted, stopping his momentum, but that wasn't enough. Instinctively, Gu Xuyao somersaulted backward, moving three zhang away.

"Bang!" Just as Gu Xuyao somersaulted away, a huge figure landed where he had been standing.

"Roar!" The ambush failed, and the figure, which was about three zhang long, roared at Gu Xuyao.

When the figure revealed itself, Gu Xuyao finally saw what kind of fierce beast it was, but the answer made him catch his breath.

"Black-Horned Bug." Zibi also recognized the creature. Clearly, this bug, which was as tall as two people, had a bad reputation in the Dàyě Forest.

The Black-Horned Bug is a type of insect-like fierce beast that often appears in the Dàyě Forest. Its body is brown, extremely similar to the trees in the Dàyě Forest. It has two pairs of legs with thorns, sharp enough to easily pierce a cultivator's chest. On its head is a black horn about one zhang long, with a sharp tip that gleams like a giant blade.

An adult Black-Horned Bug's strength is generally around the first level of the Root-Entry Realm. It usually lurks around the nests of Black-Eyed Apes, stealing one or two cubs whenever the apes are not paying attention, to satisfy its hunger.

Its natural camouflage and powerful wings under its abdomen make it difficult for Black-Eyed Apes to deal with it, except for defense.

"Gu... Gu, do you think the noise we made earlier made it mistake me for a hairless Black-Eyed Ape cub? Now, is it coming to snatch me and eat me?" Zibi, who had once been so close to death, was now very open-minded. Even with the Black-Horned Bug in front of her, she was not afraid.

However, Gu Xuyao would not allow anything to happen to her again. Staring at the small eyes under the Black-Horned Bug's giant horn, Gu Xuyao held his breath, his body in a state of extreme alert.

The Black-Horned Bug's intelligence was not as high as that of a Black-Eyed Ape. Its actions were purely instinctual, and mistaking Zibi for a cub was possible. However, even the most primitive creatures have a sense of danger. Although it knew that Gu Xuyao's strength was inferior to its own, the firm will emanating from Gu Xuyao made it somewhat hesitant.

In summary, although the Black-Horned Bug looked fierce, it was essentially a beast that stole cubs.

After a long standoff, neither the Black-Horned Bug nor Gu Xuyao moved. However, the Black-Horned Bug, which had the advantage, eventually launched an attack.

It let out a strange cry, its abdominal armor opened, and the transparent wings under it vibrated rapidly, creating a series of air waves. The Black-Horned Bug itself also left the ground, ready to attack.

"Enemy moves, I move!" This was a very conservative approach, after all, Gu Xuyao was not a lone hunter. He had Zibi, who was seriously injured, on his shoulders. However, he was not a person who followed the rules.

"When the enemy moves, I do not wait!"

A thunderous roar, and lightning surged around Gu Xuyao, and he attacked before the Black-Horned Bug!

"Roar and Punch!" Gu Xuyao shouted, and lightning gathered into a ball around him. Under the control of his yuan force, the ball of lightning attacked the Black-Horned Bug directly!

The Black-Horned Bug, seeing this, was not afraid. It flapped its wings and directly met the lightning ball that Gu Xuyao had thrown!

A loud explosion, and the lightning scattered helplessly. Given the difference in cultivation, it was reasonable that Gu Xuyao could not match the Black-Horned Bug.

However, after breaking the lightning ball, the Black-Horned Bug could not find Gu Xuyao's trace!

"Gu... Gu, well done..." At this moment, Gu Xuyao and Zibi had temporarily avoided the Black-Horned Bug's attack.

However, there was no trace of excitement on Gu Xuyao's face, as he had been forced to enter the blade grass, which Yixia had repeatedly warned him not to enter.

"Zibi, the blade grass is sharp, and I can't fully protect you. If you get hurt, you need to bear with it for a while." To clear the way, Gu Xuyao had to surround himself with lightning, so that any blade grass that dared to approach would be burned to ashes by the lightning.

"It's fine, Gu... Gu, do as you think is best..." Zibi smiled gently, a rare sight on her face.

Gu Xuyao felt something was amiss, but just as he was about to say something, a wave of energy suddenly hit him from behind!

Instinctively, Gu Xuyao lunged forward and lay on the ground!

"Buzz, buzz, buzz!" Just as Gu Xuyao lay down, a buzzing sound with a strong wind passed right over his head!

"Black-Horned Bug!" Gu Xuyao realized it was bad. He hadn't expected the Black-Horned Bug to be able to track them. The Dàyě Forest was not the Red Mud Forest, and Gu Xuyao could only rely on his knowledge of wild beasts to judge his opponent, but he had clearly made a mistake.

"This Black-Horned Bug seems to have its own unique tracking technique, which is completely different from the insect-like wild beasts I've encountered before..." Realizing this, Gu Xuyao knew that fleeing would be useless, but fighting would also be a tough opponent, greatly reducing their chances of escape.

However, nothing is absolute, and there is always a glimmer of hope.

Or, a single glimmer of hope.

"Zibi, how is your body now? Can you walk on your own?" The Black-Horned Bug seemed to realize that Gu Xuyao was a difficult opponent, and they were once again in a standoff, waiting for the best opportunity to strike.

Hearing this, Zibi tightened her grip. "Gu... Gu, what are you planning? I won't leave the Dàyě Forest without you. If we die, we die together!"

Gu Xuyao shook his head. "Zibi, you misunderstood me. I'm not planning to fight the bug alone. Have you forgotten about Senior Sister Yixia and the others? If I run for my life, it will be hard to ensure your safety. But the Dàyě Forest is full of dangers, and you will surely encounter other fierce beasts if you are alone in the blade grass."

A new plan was forming in Gu Xuyao's mind. "I plan to do this, and then..."

He conveyed all the details to Zibi through his thoughts, and she began to agree.

"Gu... Gu, are you really planning to do this?" Gu Xuyao's sense of righteousness was well-known to Zibi. She was afraid that he was deliberately concocting a plan to make her escape while he lured the Black-Horned Bug away.

Gu Xuyao turned his head and smiled confidently.

"Don't worry, I still need to find my parents, remember?"

He wasn't handsome or dashing, but his broad shoulders and sturdy back, and especially his smile, made him the most charming.

"Okay, I'll listen to you, but, Gu... Gu, promise me, be careful, and stay alive..."

Seeing such a smile, Zibi had no reason to refuse.

Gu Xuyao nodded decisively, turned to look at the Black-Horned Bug, which was still making strange noises, and then let out a roar!

"Ha!" He used the Punch again, throwing a ball of lightning!

Repeating the same trick, even a low-intelligence fierce beast like the Black-Horned Bug wouldn't fall for it a second time. This time, it didn't fight head-on but easily flew into the air, dodging the lightning ball.

When it looked down from the air, Gu Xuyao was indeed carrying Zibi and fleeing towards the path.

An angry roar, and the Black-Horned Bug flapped its wings and pursued them!

In terms of speed, the Black-Horned Bug was definitely faster than Gu Xuyao. Before they even reached the path, the Black-Horned Bug was almost upon them, its giant horn emitting a lethal aura, getting closer and closer to Gu Xuyao's back.

At the critical moment, just as the Black-Horned Bug was about to pierce him, Gu Xuyao lunged forward again!

This move instantly placed Gu Xuyao below the Black-Horned Bug, which was his true plan!

"Ha!" Lightning flashed, and a roar rose!

A punch struck the Black-Horned Bug's abdomen!

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