"Young master, wake up!"
"Wake up, quickly!"
"There’s danger!"
Xia Duoduo’s voice echoed relentlessly in Long Chen’s mind. Hearing the urgent calls, the unconscious Long Chen gradually regained awareness. His eyelids twitched slightly before he suddenly opened them.
He glanced around and found many vicious crocodiles approaching, causing his brows to furrow. He frantically searched for Chu Lingjun, and in the next second, his heart seized when he saw a crocodile just two meters away from her. In a moment of crisis, Long Chen slapped the water’s surface. His entire body shot into the air, heading straight for Chu Lingjun. The crocodile had already opened its gaping maw, about to swallow her whole. Long Chen threw a punch, slamming it into the crocodile’s head. Even with his internal injuries, the power he unleashed as a Heavenly Body was enough to send the beast flying.
Seeing more and more crocodiles gathering, Long Chen had no time to waste. He grabbed Chu Lingjun and quickly fled the lake. The area was teeming with fierce beasts, so Long Chen could only rely on his sheer willpower to carry Chu Lingjun a considerable distance until he finally found a cave. Before entering, he carefully scouted it out. Only after confirming it was safe did he carry Chu Lingjun inside.
Once they reached safety, Long Chen heaved a sigh of relief. Gradually, an overwhelming exhaustion washed over him, and before he knew it, he fell unconscious once more.
「Five hours passed.」
Chu Lingjun’s eyes twitched slightly as she woke from her stupor. When she opened them, she was met with the sight of Long Chen’s face, mere inches away. She was taken aback, simply staring at him and observing his features up close.
The scene of him fighting the members of the Sword Ancestor was still vivid in her mind. She saw fearlessness in him. Even though he was a Third-class Disciple, he still possessed the courage to fight a War King. He clearly had the chance to escape, yet he chose to return and fight by her side...
Chu Lingjun found herself lost in thought as she gazed at him.
Just then, Long Chen also slowly opened his eyes. Their gazes locked. Chu Lingjun’s pretty face flushed red, and she hurriedly looked away.
"You’re awake?" Long Chen asked, letting out a long breath.
"Mm." Chu Lingjun’s usual cold demeanor returned. She slowly stood up, looking around the cave with a hint of puzzlement. "How did we end up here?"
Long Chen explained, "We fell from the cliff into a lake, which attracted a group of vicious crocodiles. Fortunately, I woke up in time to save us from disaster. Otherwise, we’d have been a feast for those crocodiles by now."
Hearing this, Chu Lingjun finally understood. "You saved my life this time. I, Chu Lingjun, owe you a favor."
"It’s only right for fellow sect members to help each other," Long Chen smiled faintly. "Besides, it’s thanks to your care that Xin’er has progressed so much in such a short time since joining the Sect. If we’re talking about favors, I, Long Chen, should be the one who owes you."
"That’s the result of her own cultivation. I merely offered some guidance," Chu Lingjun said, waving her hand dismissively. "Don’t worry about it. If you need my help with anything in the future, just ask. I don’t like being indebted to anyone."
Seeing how insistent she was, Long Chen didn’t press the issue and simply shook his head with a smile.
"I scouted the area before we came in. There are fewer beasts here, so it’s relatively safe. We’re both seriously injured, so it’s not a good idea to go out yet. We should focus on healing before we leave."
Hearing this, Chu Lingjun nodded in agreement. She sat down cross-legged and began to repair her injured meridians. Seeing this, Long Chen also began to heal his wounds on the spot.
「A night passed.」
Their injuries had recovered significantly. Although not yet fully healed, they could now exert seventy to eighty percent of their cultivation strength, which was more than enough to deal with ordinary beasts.
Chu Lingjun spoke up, "It’s about time. We should get going and deliver the items to Qingyin Temple first."
"Alright," Long Chen nodded, following her out of the cave.
After traveling some distance deeper into the mountain range, Long Chen noticed that there were barely any beasts in sight. Chu Lingjun’s brows furrowed slightly; she had noticed it too, and a sudden chill ran down her spine. She immediately scanned her surroundings but found nothing. She had no choice but to warn Long Chen, "Be careful. Something’s off about this place."
Long Chen nodded, his vigilance heightened.
Suddenly, a hoarse voice echoed in his ears.
"Fifty years... It’s been a long time since anyone has come here.
"Now, I’ve finally waited long enough for the two of you to arrive... fresh blood.
"You look absolutely delicious. The taste must be quite good, HAHAHA..."