Chapter 64: The Blood Demon Dies. (2/2)

“Senior, are you saying the Blood Demon’s changed?” Someone, with brows deeply creased, asked him. “However, even if the Demonic Blade has a new owner, the Blood Soul Bell should have still been able to summon this new Blood Demon. Why was there no answer when we attempted the summoning above?” Once he heard this question, a ripple surfaced on Shi Yan’s peaceful expression, and he frowned.

“Senior Shi, why don’t you try again with the Blood Soul Bell?” Another man suggested.

“Hmph, sure.” Shi Yan immediately took out the Blood Soul Bell and shook it again to produce the ghostly cries; yet, no matter how he shook the bell, there was no response from the Demonic Blood-Devouring Blade. This time, Shi Yan’s face changed as his heart was filled with confusion and doubts.

Someone else asked hurriedly, “Senior Shi, the Blood Demon did not respond; what do we do next?”

Shi Yan thought for a moment before responding with a solemn voice, “One of you will go report to the Royal Highness and our leader. Another will stay here to watch this corpse, and the rest will follow me to search for the new Blood Demon.”

“Yes!” The men immediately obeyed his orders and set off to fulfill their respective tasks. Shi Yan took a few men and began searching the surrounding mountains.

……

In a forest a few kilometers away, a young man with torn, tattered clothing and blood all over limped forward. He seemed to exhaust his strength with every step. Finally, when not an ounce of strength was left, he staggered and fell to the ground with a plop. The young man was none other than Qin Yu. “Huff… huff… No, I can’t die. I must live; there are too many things I must finish.” Qin Yu gritted his teeth as his body squeezed out a little more strength. His nails dug into the soil, and he crawled on, little by little. Behind him lay a ghastly trail of blood.

“Miss, look! There seems to be someone there.” Suddenly, a slightly familiar voice came from nearby.

“There really is someone. Let’s go and take a look.” The voice that responded belonged to a girl and was even more familiar. Mu Rongyue! Xiao Yue! Qin Yu was overwhelmed with happiness as he opened his mouth wide, ready to shout. But, it would’ve been better if his mouth had remained closed. When his lips parted, rather than his voice, a mouthful of gurgling blood gushed forth. The breath he’d held in reserve also rushed out. His vision went black and he fell face-first onto the ground, unconscious with blood continuously flowing from his mouth.

At the moment Qin Yu fainted, two people entered the forest, Mu Rongyue and Ruo Feng in search of Qin Yu. When they were outside the woods, the pair spotted a demonic and terrifying man drenched in blood with a blood-red knife hunting down another. The pursuit spanned the mountain ranges, and Mu Rongyue seemed to recognize the man being chased. He resembled Qin Yu! Worried that it really was Qin Yu, she ignored Ruo Feng’s discouragement and stubbornly headed in Qin Yu’s direction. And, she really did end up stumbling across him.

“Miss, that’s…” Ruo Feng walked ahead and stared at the bloodied man sprawled on the ground. Vigilant, the guard immediately drew to a halt over the fallen form. Mu Rongyue approached and saw the body. Although she could not see his face, her impression of Qin Yu was so great that his shadow and his smell were deeply engraved in the bottom of her heart. A single glance was all she needed to recognize who lay there.

“Brother! Brother!” Mu Rongyue cried as she threw herself beside Qin Yu. When she saw his back full of blood, she could bear it no longer, covering her face and crying aloud. “Brother, what happened to you? Brother! Brother Qin! You must get up!” Mu Rongyue sobbed bitterly, and she heaved at Qin Yu. His young face was as delicate and familiar as ever. However, his expression was pale as a sheet and blood ran from the corners of his mouth. “Brother, don’t scare me. You won’t die! You’ll be alright. Wake up, wake up…” Mu Rongyue shook his body helplessly. In this moment, her heart ached unbearably.

“Miss, stop crying. There seem to be people coming. We have to get out of here fast!” Ruo Feng kept his cool, and he quickly coaxed at her. “Miss, Master Qin’s injuries are very severe. We have to find a place to heal him.”

Only when she heard the word “heal” was Mu Rongyue able to pull herself out of her grief. She responded, “Yes, yes, yes! Heal his wounds. Brother, I will heal your wounds!”

As she spoke, Mu Rongyue prepared to carry Qin Yu on her back, but Ruo Feng hurried to stop her. “Miss, I will carry him.”

“No, I will,” Mu Rongyue refused curtly. Gritting her teeth, she balanced Qin Yu on her back. Ruo Feng’s pleading fell on deaf ears, and he was deeply troubled. Luckily, the princess was not a normal woman, but a cultivator; or else, she wouldn’t have been able to carry Qin Yu’s body. “Brother, fear not! Xiao Yue will carry you. Let us go!” With tears in her eyes, the young girl set her teeth and strode out of the forest with the man on her back.

“Miss, be careful!” Ruo Feng quickly chased after her and guarded her carefully. If Mu Rongyue could not carry Qin Yu any longer, he would take over. The two of them walked out of the forest.

“Stop there!” As the pair exited the trees, a shout suddenly arose. With a whoosh, a figure jumped out from the woods nearby and leapt towards them

“Miss, leave quickly! I’ll hold him off!” Ruo Feng’s huge sword swished as he withdrew it; and, screaming, he pounced on the man.

1. Editor’s note: Poor Shi Yan, always on investigative duty. CSI: Illusory Battlefield whips off sunglasses, straightens hairpin