Chapter 057
Chapter 57: Who Said He Doesn’t Care About Me?
Shi Zi Chu’s senior brother and junior sister, who still didn’t know her well, relaxed slightly after hearing her promise.
The unexpected arrival of Ji Mo Li didn’t disturb their training plans, though all the golden core-stage spirit beasts they encountered afterward were swiftly taken down by Yao Ruo Ruo.
Shi Zi Chu didn’t compete with her; she simply stood aside and watched.
Compared to Shi Zi Chu, who had previously neglected her cultivation, Yao Ruo Ruo’s every move was skillful and flowing smoothly, her rich combat experience clear at a glance. The adorable appearance of this young girl sharply contrasted her formidable strength.
The group of four didn’t travel too fast. When dusk approached, they found a flat clearing near a river and decided to rest there temporarily.
Around the fire, they sat in a circle. Those who needed meditation were meditating, and those who needed to keep watch prepared to do so.
Yan Zhou Bai and Yao Ruo Ruo took the latter half of the night shift, while Meng Xi Yu and Shi Zi Chu took the first half.
Meng Xi Yu sat quietly with a cold expression, staring into the flickering flames.
Shi Zi Chu, on the other hand, took out the seven-colored snake scales and began making wind chimes.
For a while, aside from the popping sounds of the firewood burning, only the distant roars and movements of spirit beasts could be heard.
Shi Zi Chu lowered her head, fully absorbed in crafting the wind chimes. Without her noticing, Meng Xi Yu’s gaze had drifted onto her.
The intensity of his stare became impossible to ignore, causing Shi Zi Chu to suddenly lift her head and meet his eyes.
Perhaps softened by the glow of the firelight, Meng Xi Yu’s gaze was no longer so cold and sharp. His softened eyes held deep, hidden feelings, like a quiet snowfall in the deep of night—silent yet intense.
Shi Zi Chu felt slightly burned by the warmth of that intense gaze, her eyelashes trembling faintly.
A sharp “whoosh” abruptly shattered the quiet.
An arrow stopped right in front of Shi Zi Chu, held in place by a surge of soul force. At the same time, a water shield materialized before her.
Controlled by Meng Xi Yu’s soul force, the arrow turned and shot back the way it had come. A dull sound of a heavy body collapsing echoed from the darkness.
Black-clad assassins suddenly descended from all directions, swiftly encircling them. Without hesitation, they charged directly at Shi Zi Chu, their intent unmistakably clear.
Meng Xi Yu appeared at Shi Zi Chu’s side in an instant, blocking wave after wave of attacks that surged toward her.
Radiant Snowblade drawn, Yan Zhou Bai charged fiercely into the assassins.
Seeing Meng Xi Yu protecting Shi Zi Chu securely, Yao Ruo Ruo turned and joined the battle as well.
Shi Zi Chu, remaining motionless, calmly put away her snake scales as bursts of spiritual power briefly illuminated the darkness like fireworks.
She appeared utterly composed, as if nothing could disturb her.
Suddenly, a teleportation array lit up beneath Shi Zi Chu’s feet.
“Zi Chu!” Yan Zhou Bai and Yao Ruo Ruo shouted together, dashing through the chaotic spiritual power toward her.
Meng Xi Yu reflexively reached out, his slender fingers firmly grasping Shi Zi Chu’s wrist. In the next instant, both vanished from their original spots.
Yan Zhou Bai and Yao Ruo Ruo’s hands caught only empty air, and they turned immediately toward the assassins in rage.
After swiftly dealing with the killers, the senior brother and junior sister exchanged uneasy glances.
Noticing the fierce coldness gathering between Yan Zhou Bai’s brows, Yao Ruo Ruo carefully said, “With Young Sect Master Meng beside her, Zi Chu should be safe.”
Yan Zhou Bai sheathed Radiant Snowblade, his calm voice carrying the tension of an impending storm, “Let’s find Ji Mo Li.”
Yao Ruo Ruo was momentarily stunned and quickly moved to block his path. “I don’t think Ji Mo Li has this capability.”
Ji Mo Li was a sword cultivator, not an array master. Besides, manipulating teleportation arrays from a distance required a spirit projection stage master at minimum.
“But this matter definitely has something to do with him.” Yan Zhou Bai sidestepped Yao Ruo Ruo, tossing out a tracking talisman.
Yao Ruo Ruo quickly extinguished the fire with spiritual power and hurried to follow.
“Senior brother knows Elder Ji Mo’s character well enough—Ji Mo Li is his only son,” Yao Ruo Ruo said as she walked. “I know Zi Chu’s safety matters, but didn’t you say earlier she’s not a fragile porcelain doll…”
Yan Zhou Bai’s calm yet piercing glance silenced Yao Ruo Ruo instantly. She quietly shut her mouth.
[Senior brother is even more irrational than me.]
—
Inside the inner zone.
The elder who’d remotely activated the teleportation array turned toward Chu Zhi Sheng and reported, “Clan Chief, it is done.”
Chu Zhi Sheng’s tightly knitted brows smoothed in satisfaction.
“Well done.” Chu Zhi Sheng gazed toward a certain direction, his expression dark and twisted. “That worthless late-stage Foundation Establishment trash, dying there is already too easy for her!”
[Shi Zi Chu, that wretched creature, dared bully Rou Rou. I will never let her off so easily!]
When the Jade Void Sect banquet arrived, he would deliver this wonderful news to Rou Rou personally!
The elder beside him glanced at the crazed and gloomy Clan Chief. Words formed on his tongue but remained unsaid. He quietly lowered his head.
—
Inside the ruin.
Once the dizziness from teleportation faded, Shi Zi Chu barely steadied herself.
The darkness was thick around them, but the dry warmth of the hand gripping her wrist felt vividly real.
“Are you alright?” Meng Xi Yu’s cool voice carried clear urgency and concern in the dark.
“I’m fine,” Shi Zi Chu replied softly and evenly. “It seems we’ve been teleported into some kind of ancient ruin.”
Her overly calm reaction caused a ripple of disturbance in Meng Xi Yu’s eyes.
[Care really does cloud one’s judgment!]
Shi Zi Chu quickly thought it through.
Many venerables had fallen within the Eternal Night Forest, leaving numerous ruins behind. Considering the circumstances, Ji Mo Li must have conspired with Chu Zhi Sheng, using Chu Zhi Sheng’s array master to teleport her to a particularly dangerous ruin.
[They think a mere ruin is enough to kill me? They underestimate me far too much!]
“This way.” Meng Xi Yu grasped Shi Zi Chu’s wrist, leading her into the darkness, his voice as icy as ever. “Watch your step.”
Shi Zi Chu obediently followed, softly responding to his advice.
Counting the time silently, after about two quarters of an hour walking through darkness, faint illumination finally appeared ahead.
At the same time, two separate paths emerged before them.
“Let’s split up,” Shi Zi Chu suggested gently.
As soon as she finished speaking, Meng Xi Yu’s grip on her wrist tightened noticeably.
[Meng Xi Yu…he doesn’t seem willing.]
Coming to this realization, she gently reassured him in a soft, melodic tone, “Nothing will happen to me.”
“Who cares about you?” Meng Xi Yu scoffed coldly.
Through the dim surroundings, Shi Zi Chu faintly glimpsed his stern, handsome profile. Despite his harsh words, his hand had never loosened; in fact, it tightened even more.
[In just a few years, he’s learned to say one thing and mean another.]
“Then let go,” she playfully challenged.
Caught off guard, Meng Xi Yu released her wrist immediately, pulling his hand back sharply and storming away.
Before he could reconsider, Shi Zi Chu quickly entered the other path.
Instantly, the torches on the walls ignited one by one, firelight stretching endlessly into the distance.
A chilly wind surged out from deep within, causing her robes to flutter sharply.
Shi Zi Chu didn’t move slowly, yet only a few minutes later, hurried footsteps echoed behind her.
“Shi Zi Chu!” Meng Xi Yu’s voice, cold yet clearly angry, sounded almost exasperated. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
Before his words finished, his warm palm had tightly recaptured her slender wrist.
Meng Xi Yu instinctively eased his grip slightly to avoid hurting her, then tightened again immediately, as though afraid she’d slip away once more.
“Who was it who said he didn’t care about me?” Shi Zi Chu raised her wrist, teasingly playful yet slightly wicked.
Meng Xi Yu pressed her wrist downward with a little force, his voice icy, “It certainly wasn’t me! Now move!”
Holding Shi Zi Chu’s wrist firmly, he strode deeper into the ruin.
Shi Zi Chu silently followed behind, gazing calmly at his tall, straight back, her peach-blossom eyes cool and emotionless.
[What a fool. An absolute idiot.]
Showing his feelings so openly before her—wasn’t that like willingly placing his weakness directly into her hands?