Zou Mei and her two companions had wanted to retreat for a while. With the sudden turn of events, they didn’t hesitate at all, decisively abandoning Zhao Jiehui and Ye Qingchen to flee. In the depths of the Heavenly Pond Sea of Fire, where the passageways were collapsing, the chances of survival were slim. First, save our own lives!
The three of them knew very well that in the perilous Heavenly Pond Sea of Fire, any strange occurrence almost certainly signaled a Monster Beast tide. Having already felt overwhelmed when facing just eight or nine Fire Rock Beasts, they knew that a true tide would mean certain death. As the three were about to vanish from sight, they glanced back. Seeing the overwhelming horde of Fire Rock Beasts swarming Zhao Jiehui and Ye Qingchen, they felt a secret pang of relief. If not for our quick wits, we might not have escaped the Heavenly Pond Sea of Fire alive. As for Zhao Jiehui and Ye Qingchen, they’re surely doomed!
Meanwhile, Zhao Jiehui and Ye Qingchen, who were farther ahead, had no thoughts of retreating when the tunnels began to collapse. They had set out with the express purpose of exploring deeper into the Heavenly Pond Sea of Fire. Zhao Jiehui naively believed that their five-person team could escape a Monster Beast tide unscathed. After all, the passageways were narrow, so even in a tide, no more than ten beasts could attack them at once. Ye Qingchen, however, had sensed the danger early on and immediately donned his Ice Armor, which gave him some peace of mind.
Neither of them had expected Zou Mei and her companions to abandon them so decisively, fleeing without a word. It wasn’t that Zhao Jiehui and Ye Qingchen were less perceptive of danger than the others; they were simply too naive about human nature.
"Junior Brother Qingchen, be careful!"
Having realized the gravity of the situation, Zhao Jiehui warned Ye Qingchen, then unleashed his full aura to fend off the surging horde of Fire Rock Beasts.
After donning the Ice Armor, Ye Qingchen’s strength grew significantly due to the elemental suppression, allowing him to easily face two or three Fire Rock Beasts at once. But the sight of the countless Fire Rock Beasts beyond the passageway made it hard not to despair.
The two fought as they retreated, but the Fire Rock Beasts were extremely fast. The moment one was slain, another would immediately take its place to continue the assault.
"Don’t worry, Senior Brother Zhao! I can hold on for a while!"
Ye Qingchen was moved seeing Zhao Jiehui simultaneously fighting six or seven Fire Rock Beasts while repeatedly looking back to check on him. He quickly called out, wanting Zhao Jiehui to focus on his own fight and not be distracted by worry.
As for the fleeing Zou Mei and her companions, their escape was swift. They encountered no Fire Rock Beasts, as their team had already cleared most of them on the way in.
"Junior Sister Zou, is what we’re doing... really okay?" Wang Tao felt uneasy. If Zhao Jiehui and Ye Qingchen somehow survive this, Ye Qingchen won’t be a problem, but how could we ever face Zhao Jiehui?
Zhou Quan had been frowning the entire time. Zhao Jiehui, despite his gentle and approachable demeanor, possessed a formidable strength that made him seem invincible. The roar of the Fire Rock Beasts was terrifying, but with Zhao Jiehui’s power, he should be able to make it out alive! If he does, and he comes to hold us to account, we’ll find it hard to escape the blame!
"Hmph! You two cowards are still worrying about that? After running into a Monster Beast tide like this, Senior Brother Zhao and that bastard are as good as dead. What we should be upset about is that all the spoils from our trip to Redflame Mountain are with him. With Senior Brother Zhao dead, we’re returning empty-handed, having wasted our Spirit Pills for nothing!" Zou Mei snapped, her delicate eyebrows furrowed in discontent.
Zhou Quan and Wang Tao exchanged a glance and sighed inwardly. Truly, a woman’s heart is the most venomous. Even now, she shows no concern for her teammates’ lives, only for her share of the spoils.
However, the three of them were now in the same boat. Zhou Quan and Wang Tao couldn’t bring themselves to complain about Zou Mei at a time like this, so they had no choice but to follow her, fleeing in sullen silence.
Zou Mei was so certain because she had secretly damaged parts of the passageway during their escape. Zhao Jiehui and Ye Qingchen have no choice but to fight as they retreat from the Monster Beast tide. As soon as their battle reaches the sections I damaged, the tunnel will collapse and seal their escape route.
Zou Mei had taken this action based on secret instructions from Li Zongrui.
As a top-ten Inner Sect Disciple, Zhao Jiehui’s every move was watched. So, when he invited Ye Qingchen to explore the Heavenly Pond Sea of Fire, word was secretly reported back to Li Zongrui. As the Young Sect Master of the Qingyun Sect, it was child’s play for Li Zongrui to identify the members of Zhao Jiehui’s team.
However, Li Zongrui had heard that Zhao Jiehui was a man of integrity who likely wouldn’t follow his orders. The other three members of the team, however, lacked such lofty principles. When Li Zongrui approached Zou Mei, they hit it off immediately. At his behest, Zou Mei agreed to set a trap for Ye Qingchen in the Heavenly Pond Sea of Fire. As payment, Li Zongrui gave her ten Low-grade Spirit Stones.
In my eyes, Ye Qingchen is just a greenhorn, a mere second-level Martial Master. As a fourth-level Martial Master myself, won’t dealing with him be a piece of cake? Zou Mei regarded the ten Low-grade Spirit Stones as a complete windfall. The thought of earning them with just a little scheming, while also winning the Young Sect Master’s favor, filled her with joy.
And so, from the moment she met Ye Qingchen, Zou Mei began instigating Zhou Quan and Wang Tao to target him. What she hadn’t anticipated, however, was how fiercely Zhao Jiehui would protect the boy.
Zou Mei had already given up and was prepared to face Li Zongrui’s wrath. But then, they encountered the Monster Beast tide. What a stroke of divine luck! Even if it costs us Zhao Jiehui, what is he worth compared to my own benefit?
The only thing irking her now was the loss of her share of the spoils from this trip. As she fled, she began to scheme. How can I get more compensation out of Li Zongrui to make up for my lost share?
Poor Zhou Quan and Wang Tao. Even now, they had no idea they had been used as pawns, destined to receive none of the benefits.
A surge of smugness rose in Zou Mei’s heart. The mission is complete, and Ye Qingchen is dead. If Li Zongrui is pleased enough, he might even give me an extra reward!