"Whoosh—whoosh—"

Rapid breathing could be heard coming from the passage on the left side of the cave.

The king suddenly looked up, following the sound, his gaze wary.

Soon, six people came into its sight.

They looked panicked, glancing back frequently as if something terrifying was chasing them.

A look of doubt flashed in the king's eyes.

It didn't find anything terrible following the six people.

but--

'Hiss'

The king climbed up to Shen Nanxing and Jiang Nian'an and woke them up from their state of absorbing crystal cores.

Upon hearing the noise, the two immediately went to the cave entrance, drawing their knives in defense.

The six people were almost in front of Jiang Nian'an and the other person.

The man in the lead's eyes lit up when he saw Shen Nanxing. "Shen...Shen Nanxing, help me!"

Jiang Nian'an tugged at Shen Nanxing's clothes and gestured with her chin toward the man, "You know him?"

"Qiao Huaxi's older brother, Qiao Xingyang."

Are you on good terms?

"generally."

In the blink of an eye, Qiao Xingyang had run up to them and, without thinking, tried to hide behind Shen Nanxing.

Jiang Nian'an and Shen Nanxing, with perfect coordination, simultaneously raised their feet and kicked Qiao Xingyang away.

The five people following behind Qiao Xingyang were caught completely off guard and were knocked to the ground like dominoes.

"Shen Nanxing!"

Qiao Xingyang grimaced as he got up from the ground, glaring angrily at Shen Nanxing.

"What are you glaring at me for!" Jiang Nian'an raised her knife, the tip pointing directly at Qiao Xingyang. "Gaze at me again and I'll blind you!"