She couldn’t possibly explain if she died down there.
Ninety percent of the blame would fall on her head.
Wei Ziling’s background isn’t simple. If she dies, her parents would surely go insane. To avoid unnecessary trouble, it’s essential to save Wei Ziling.
Wu Lie didn’t say anything. Seeing Jiang Lai struggle as she carried Wei Ziling, he directly took over, hoisted her onto his shoulder, and with his other hand wrapped his arm around Jiang Lai’s waist, charging forward at a high speed.
Little Buding looked back to ensure Jiang Lai was keeping up, then sped towards the exit. Behind them, the cave was collapsing bit by bit,
For the first time, Jiang Lai found herself caught under someone’s elbow. The key was, at this moment, she had to admit that her Second Senior Brother, carrying two people, ran faster than she could alone.
Those few dozen seconds felt interminably long. Jiang Lai endured Little Buding’s relentless teasing by her ear and the pain in her waist from being pinched. Finally, at the moment she saw the light, she unhesitatingly broke free.
Wu Lie felt his arm empty, that soft and slender waist was no more.
He instinctively glanced at Jiang Lai’s waist. How had he never noticed before that her waist was so slim, almost boneless, as if he could completely wrap his hand around it?
Jiang Lai frowned at him. She had nothing to say, so she quietly rubbed her waist that was nearly squeezed to breaking point.
The ground beneath had mostly collapsed. Jiang Lai was certain that Mu Wu couldn’t run as fast as they did, and the enraged dragon behind them was still chasing relentlessly. Even with the protagonist’s halo, she would likely suffer somewhat.
Suddenly, furious dragon roars sounded from below.
"Ye Yunzhou rescued Mu Wu, but the Fire Flame Dragon was killed."
Initially wounded heavily by Wu Lie, then confronted by Ye Yunzhou, the dragon, meant to submit to the protagonist, perished by his hand.
Jiang Lai raised her eyebrow, then secretly pulled something out from the bag beside her, and handed it to Second Senior Brother.
"Here, I checked it. It should still be alive."
Second Senior Brother took the bag, opened it, and was taken aback to find a golden Dragon Egg inside. The shell was already cracked, and one could occasionally hear a "swish swish" sound from within.
He was somewhat astonished.
"When did you go back to get this?"
"When you cut off the dragon’s tail."
"That was too dangerous. Don’t do such risky things again."
At that time, the dragon was right next to the Dragon Egg. If Jiang Lai had been discovered, there wouldn’t even be bits of bone left.
Yet, she acted nonchalantly, the brightness in her eyes sparkling as she smiled at Wu Lie.
"A Dragon Egg is a good thing. Take care of it, and after it hatches, form a contract with it."
"You keep it for yourself, I don’t want it."
"It’ll grow so big, I don’t want it either. I prefer smaller, prettier magic pets."
Second Senior Brother looked at Jiang Lai, as if seeing her for the first time, his eyes hiding a bit of curiosity.
He hadn’t expected Jiang Lai to gift him something so valuable without the slightest reluctance.
Clearly, they’d only just met. Why was she being so generous towards him?
The next second, Jiang Lai, smiling widely, said to him.
"Second Senior Brother has the Dragon Egg, so the Spirit Stones are mine. Fair or not?"
"If you want, you can take them all."
Anyway, he didn’t care about such things.
Jiang Lai immediately shook his arm.
"Oh, I was hoping you’d help keep it a secret. We’re adventuring together; naturally, the spoils should be divided equally. Otherwise, unfair distribution can cause internal conflict, unless you want that Spirit Stone..."
The last sentence was spoken with extreme reluctance by Jiang Lai.
Seeing her miserly appearance, Second Senior Brother smirked and took the bag, strapping the Dragon Egg onto his back.
"Yes, it should indeed be fair."
There was still one matter to attend to, namely, the barely alive Wei Ziling before them.
She was gravely injured, first having her heart veins shattered by the dragon and then her skin scorched. Looking at her now, if not treated properly, she might be disfigured.
Jiang Lai frowned.
She finally took her back to a tent, broke off a piece of Spirit Stone, and transferred all the spiritual power into her.
Wei Ziling woke up once during the process, just in time to see Jiang Lai healing her.
"Why... did you save me?"
Jiang Lai didn’t even lift her head.
"Because I’m kind."
"..."
Wei Ziling soon fainted again. Jiang Lai used three broken spirit stones to save her life.
As for the burns, there was nothing she could do.
But with so many good things in the Eight Desolates Sect, a little burn shouldn’t be a big issue for Wei Ziling.
After settling her, Jiang Lai walked out of the tent to find three men standing in neat rows outside.
The Senior Brother had successfully leveled up. As a Level 8 Strong Person, he keenly sensed the surge of spiritual power on Jiang Lai.
"Where did you and your Second Senior Brother go last night?"
"Just went out for a walk, why? Is there a rule that we can’t go for a stroll with a senior brother at night?"
Third Senior Brother, off to the side: (▼へ▼メ)
"What? You two went for a walk... Wait, just the two of you? Why?"
He didn’t understand; it was just a walk. Why not go with him or Fourth Senior Brother? Why Wu Lie?
Senior Brother didn’t care about that.
"What’s with that disciple from the Sun and Moon Sect?"
"Oh, a part up front collapsed, and she just happened to fall in. Second Senior Brother and I happened to pass by and saved her."
Knowing Jiang Lai was hiding something, yet unable to pry it out.
Never mind, as long as everyone’s okay.
"I also felt the disturbance up ahead. If it’s not our concern, we shouldn’t get involved. Once the Sun and Moon Sect disciple wakes up, have her leave soon. We need to continue moving forward."
The Secret Realm is ever-changing and fraught with danger. Staying in one place too long might attract perilous beasts.
Senior Brother decided not to press further. Third Senior Brother, however, wouldn’t give up and chased after Jiang Lai with questions.
"If you want to unwind next time, you can come to me. My cultivation is higher than Second Senior Brother’s now. I can accompany wherever you want to go and protect you!"
Jiang Lai glanced back at Third Senior Brother, seeing the naive stupidity in his eyes, she helplessly nodded.
"Sure, next time I’ll bring you along."
One by one, they were worrisome.
If they don’t hurry up and level up by fighting, how will they avoid the fate of being cannon fodder?
Watching Jiang Lai walk closer with Third Senior Brother, Wu Lie looked down silently and left without hesitation.
——
Wei Ziling woke up, not only unharmed after absorbing a lot of spiritual power, but she also gained some cultivation.
"Awake? Then hurry up and leave. We’re moving on as well."
Wei Ziling looked around. Noticing her glance, Jiang Lai directly tossed the whip beside her.
"If you’re not as skilled, be humble. Next time, you might not get so lucky."