Tears are pearls of gratitude
"Young master, hurry! Mount your horse!"
Qi cut the horse's reins, lifted Song Song onto the horse's back, and held him tightly in his arms, letting the red waves rise high behind them.
Song Song turned his head to look back, but could only vaguely see the heart-wrenching silhouette of the white lion crouching in the center of the flames, its head never to be raised again; it was too late to obliterate it.
"Seven! Zhu Xun! Zhu Xun!" Song Song was clearly incoherent.
Qi understood his meaning and rode off at full speed without looking to the side: "Young master, this area will soon fall. The demon soldiers will arrive faster than we think."
After briefly meeting Song Song's gaze, Qi lowered his head and said, word by word, "The Demon Emperor has awakened. Zhu Xun is the new Demon Emperor."
Despite their speed, the ghostly howls behind them were getting closer and closer.
The sweat on Qi's forehead was dried by the cold wind, and his grip on the reins tightened. Song Song remained silent, which surprised him. He glanced down worriedly; Song Song, draped in his cloak, was pale and biting his lip, still reeling from the emotions he had just experienced.
When the Demon Emperor awakens his power, the first to arrive are often not his subjects, but rather ghost soldiers who are born to admire and be nourished by this power. They are a group of ghost soldiers who have crawled up from the ground and are natural supporters of the Demon Emperor's identity.
They adhere to only one word: kill.
Qi glanced back and could already see the group of crimson skeletons, howling with a thirst for slaughter, scattering and relentlessly chasing the galloping horse.
Qi drew his dagger and said solemnly in Song Song's ear, "Young master, I heard from you that you rode your horse towards the northern mountains, where there are fewer people." Song Song was somewhat frightened and grabbed Qi's hand holding the reins, asking, "What are you going to do!"
Qi comforted him, "Young master, don't be afraid, I will catch up with you. When you can no longer see these evil spirits, take out the teleportation talisman given to you by Prince Chaolan and teleport to Chaoyun Mountain to ask for help. Be sure to protect yourself with your magic treasure while you are sending the message."
Song Song was already panicked. He knew that Qi was not destined for the Immortal Sect and could not use its artifacts: "No! There are so many evil spirits, you can't manage alone! Let's go to a safe place together!"
Qi's gaze lingered for a few seconds before he resolutely dismounted: "Please trust your subordinate."
As the horse galloped swiftly behind him, it cleaved through wave after wave of ghostly energy, sending the evil spirits flying in an arc, seemingly unable to harm him in the slightest.
Song Song gritted his teeth, tears welling in his eyes, and shouted, "Giddy up!"
Occasionally, a few escaped the net, but Seven dragged them back from the sea of blood, as if he were the evil spirit that crawled out.
Suddenly a black dot appeared ahead, getting closer and closer. Song Song gritted his teeth, reined in his horse, and tried to spare it, but then a familiar voice called out: "Song Song!"
It's Xiao Baiyao!
Song Song's tears flowed more and more, and he slowed his horse's pace: "Hurry! There's no time to drag them away!"
Xiao Baiyao turned his horse around and asked, "What's wrong with you all in such a hurry?!"
Song Song turned his head and saw no further pursuit. It seemed that Qi had held them off. He hurriedly jumped off his horse and, while searching for a teleportation talisman, briefly explained the story of Zhu Xun's transformation into a demon.
Xiao Baiyao grabbed his hand, looking extremely anxious: "So, according to you, the evil spirits are endless? Shouldn't we address the root cause? Go back and calm Zhu Xun down! I'll handle the teleportation!"
Song Song stared at him, seemingly deep in thought. Xiao Baiyao snatched the teleportation talisman and said, "You have so many magical treasures on you, hurry up and go save Seventh Brother! Those evil spirits won't harm Zhu Xun, so why don't you just run to Zhu Xun's side? Hurry up, there's no time! I know how to use this!"
Song Song nodded, jumped onto his horse, and loudly instructed, "Qi is an idiot! This talisman will be delivered directly to Huai Jing! We can't delay!"
Having said that, he galloped away.
Xiao Baiyao squeezed the talisman and said to the person hidden in the tree, "Go."
When Song Song arrived, Qi had already cleared out the pursuing evil spirits, but he was exhausted. He sat by the roadside, panting heavily, his hair soaked with blood, strands of which stuck to his face.
"Sky night!"
Hearing Song Song's voice, Qi was somewhat surprised, touched her face, and suddenly stood up: "Young Master! Why are you back? Could it be..."
Song Song helped Qi up and said, "No, I'll explain later. Let's go to Zhu Xun's side first."
Qi's eyes widened, and he gripped Song Song's shoulders tightly: "What are you doing going near him! Evil spirits will protect their masters! We can't even get close to him!"
Song Song was also somewhat dazed: "What!?"
Qi knew he was anxious and quickly got up to take Song Song away.
Song Song suddenly pushed him away: "Watch out!"
With a swing of his seven-pointed dagger, he blocked several hidden weapons that were about to strike. However, several more cold darts came from behind Song Song. He had just killed too many evil spirits and was already exhausted. His legs buckled, and he knelt on the ground, supporting himself with his dagger.
"Ugh!" With a muffled groan, he felt a weight on his body, and then Song Song collapsed to his knees in front of him. Qi Heng's eyebrows furrowed, and he swung his sword, slashing the man down.
He then grabbed Song Song and rode away.
Halfway through the journey, Qi ran out of energy, and his horse slowed down. He put the horse down, carried the delirious Song Song into the cave, and wondered if anyone would still be pursuing them, what their purpose was, what the situation was in the city, and whether the Immortal Gate's post station had sent a message in response to the unusual circumstances.
Qi undressed Song Song and found that black blood was flowing from two wounds. After searching for a while, he finally found Song Song's Qiankun bag, took out a detoxifying pill from it and gave it to Song Song. He also applied some high-quality ointment, but it was to no avail.
Song Song seemed to have regained some of her senses, tears streaming down her face: "Ooh...it hurts."
Qi was at a loss. Most of his belongings were on the carriage. The Qiankun bag he carried with him was a new one that Song Song had just changed today. It didn't contain many things, only offensive and life-saving items.
Song Song was already panting heavily, her eyes were open but she was dazed, and her sobs were intermittent.
Just then, a rustling sound came from outside. Qi Xiaoxin hugged Song Song tightly, avoiding touching his sore spot, and then took out the mirror from the bag and looked out of the cave.
Several red-eyed, sharp-fanged spiders, about the size of a bull's head, were searching for something not far away.
They are shadow spiders of the demon race, used to search for remnants of the army.
Qi gritted his teeth and carried Song Song deeper into the acupoint, but there was no way to retreat at the bend in the stone wall. It barely provided some cover for their figures. There was snow on the mountain. Although he had just ruined the trail, he could still find out if he looked carefully. He couldn't hold out for long.
Song Song had never suffered such an injury in his life. The detoxifying pill was constantly fighting with another poison in his body, and his limbs were numb. Only his back felt like it was being branded with a hot iron and having his flesh torn apart again and again.
He kept groaning, tears streaming down his face. Qi faced him and put her hand into Song Song's mouth: "Young master, don't make a sound. If it hurts, bite me instead."
Qi remained calm on the surface, but his voice was trembling uncontrollably.
He became Song Song's bodyguard when he was seventeen, and Song Song was ten. For so many years, he had never let Song Song suffer any harm and had always tried his best to protect him. But now, he was still injured and suffered so much pain because of his useless self. What else could he do for him?
Song Song didn't bite down, nor did he cry out; he had no strength left.
Qi took out a crumpled teleportation talisman from his pocket, straightened Song Song's clothes, and folded his outer garment into an oval shape to place behind Song Song's shoulder so that he could lean on it.
He met Song Song's gaze in the dim light, his trembling breath brushing against Song Song's face. He frowned and lowered his eyes: "I'm sorry, young master. Don't cry."
Do you still remember the secret incantation you and Prince Chaolan made when you were fifteen? The one that teleported you to his side. Can you tell me what it is now?
Song Song's face was covered in sweat and tears. He knew that Qi was trying to distract him, and he forced a smile.
Qi held Song Song's hand and placed the talisman in his palm.
"Seven...is...an idiot."
The sound was very soft, but loud enough for the two of them to hear. Qi raised her tearful eyes, and droplets of water slid down her cheeks. In Song Song's trembling and shrinking pupils, Qi disappeared, and he left the cramped cave.
The heart is a sword that kills, tears are pearls that repay kindness.
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