Return to Chuntang
Sally burst out of the cave, running furiously. The hot wind lashed her face, yet she felt only a piercing chill. Only when the cool scent of the lake's water washed over her did she stop. The shimmering water reflected her trembling form. The pent-up resentment and anger, no longer suppressed, melted into scalding tears, cascading down into the grass beneath her feet.
"Sally!" Daben's heavy footsteps and panting followed closely.
Sally turned around suddenly, like a hedgehog with its fur standing on end, and pushed him hard, making him stagger: "What are you doing here? Why did you help her in the cave just now!" Her voice was nasal and her eyes were red.
Daben steadied himself, looking bewildered: "I didn't help her! I didn't say anything!"
"If you don't help me, you're helping her!" Sally glared at him angrily and pushed him further away. She turned her head to the deep pool, her shoulders shaking violently with sobs.
"Okay, okay, it's all my fault! I'm not very tactful, I'm not very good at talking!" Seeing her crying so hard, Daben's heart was in a knot. He came forward, grabbed her cold hand, and pressed it against his chest without saying anything. "If you're angry, hit me! Hit me hard, until you calm down!"
Sally bit her lower lip, feeling a surge of grievance and unresolved anger, as if she had found an outlet. She raised her fist and slammed it into his chest. But the moment her fist made contact with his chest, the force suddenly faded, leaving it with only a moderate blow.
Daben grinned, revealing his white teeth, and said with a simple smile: "Hehe! I knew you wouldn't bear to hit me for real!"
These smug words instantly ignited Sally's emotions. Shame and anger washed over her, she clenched her fists and pounded them against his chest like drums: "I'm so annoyed! I'm so annoyed! I'm so annoyed!" But after a few blows, the relentless energy seemed to dissipate with the feeble blows, leaving only a heartbroken sadness and profound powerlessness. She dropped her hands, turned, and slumped onto the cold rocks by the pond, tears streaming down her face once again.
Daben sighed deeply, sat down beside her, and stretched out his strong arms to embrace her trembling body. Sally's back stiffened, and she buried her face deep in his clothes. Her suppressed sobs could no longer be contained, and burst into tears. Her shoulders shook violently, as if she wanted to pour out all the grievances, anger, and sadness.
"Ugh...you heartless brat! You ungrateful bastard! I care about you so much...but you hurt my heart like this for a stranger!"
Daben hugged her clumsily, feeling the burning tears on his chest threaten to burn a hole in his clothes. He scratched his head anxiously, "I didn't do that! You're the only one in my heart. How could I hurt you for someone else?"
"Shut up!" Sally raised her head from his arms, staring at him with tearful eyes, and ordered arrogantly with a crying voice, "Don't talk back! Listen!"
"Oh..." Daben fell silent immediately, like a gourd with its mouth pinched. He just looked at her with eyes full of heartache and helplessness, and patted her back clumsily with his big hands.
Not far away, nestled between the branches of a thick old tree, Hongmao's tense shoulders slowly relaxed, and he let out a long, silent sigh. Looking at the figures hugging each other by the pond, his heart warmed slightly, but his gaze involuntarily drifted toward the cave.
He clearly saw the affection between Tiao Tiao and Su Baiwei. However, considering Tiao Tiao's uncertain remaining lifespan, Su Yuanshan's sin in creating the mind-controlling Gu, and Su Baiwei's blood-feeding Gu, all of this was ultimately entangled with the deep-seated vengeance of the Qinglong Sect's annihilation. Even if their love was genuine, the road ahead was fraught with difficulties and dangers.
He suppressed his thoughts, tapping the branches with his toes for leverage, and quietly rose higher, disappearing into the denser foliage. His gaze pierced the mist and swept into the distance—as expected, the minions of the Holy Fire Hall were scouring the mountains and plains.
Hongmao's heart sank, his expression changed suddenly, and he swooped down and landed beside Sally and Daben. "Sally, Daben, the demon cult's minions are surrounding us. Let's go back to the cave and discuss countermeasures!"
At the mention of the word "demon sect," Da Ben's eyes widened in fury. "Just in time!" The Thunder Sword unsheathed with a humming sound, its icy gleam piercing the air. "Master Ben, I'm just fuming. I'll kill them and avenge my brothers!" Before he'd finished his words, he was already charging forward.
"Daben! Don't be reckless!" Rainbow Cat was quick-witted and grabbed his arm. "The fierce battle in the Holy Fire Hall has just ended. The brothers are already exhausted. Fighting hard now is tantamount to suicide." As he spoke, his eyes turned to Sally.
Sally's body froze, the grievance and anger swirling in her eyes still lingering. She raised her hand to wipe away the tear streaks crisscrossing her face. When she looked up again, the hesitation in her eyes had been completely shattered by the sharp edge of the Purple Cloud Sword Master. Between her teeth, she uttered a single word: "Go!"
Inside the cave, Hongmao quickly explained the situation outside. The bonfire inside the cave illuminated everyone's suddenly solemn faces.
Lan Tu's eyes flashed, "The old thief Chi Lian must have seen through my plan to lure the tiger away from the mountain, so these pursuers have returned and searched the mountain so carefully."
Doudou's brows furrowed, his worried gaze sweeping over the severely injured Tiaotiao and the unconscious Su Baiwei. "What should we do? Everyone needs to rest up right now, especially Tiaotiao and Miss Su. They can't withstand the rough ride and fierce fighting. Where can we hide in this vast forest?"
The cave fell into a brief silence, broken only by the crackling of sparks. Tiao Tiao, leaning against the stone wall, slowly raised his eyes. His face was pale, and his voice was weak, yet firm. "Go to Huichun Hall."
"Huichuntang?" Mu Jin cried out in shock. "Master, didn't you say that place was a deadly place? If we go back now, wouldn't we be walking into a trap?"
Uncle Li's expression changed drastically, and he shook his head repeatedly: "Yes, this... this is too risky!"
Tiao Tiao's eyes were as calm as a lake as he slowly scanned the confused faces of the crowd. "The most dangerous places are often the safest. That old fox Chi Lian would never have imagined we'd dare return to Huxue." He paused, his gaze fixed on the unconscious Su Baiwei, his voice lowered. "Besides, with your young lady's meticulous mind, how could she not have a backup plan? That secret room... there must be another secret passage leading to the outside world, right?"
Mu Jin stumbled back, her back hitting the stone wall. She stared at Tiao Tiao in shock. “How…how did you know?”
"I took a look at the layout of the secret room that day," Tiao Tiao said calmly. "Besides, leaving a way out is her style."
A cold star suddenly shone in Hongmao's eyes, and he had weighed the pros and cons in an instant. He clenched his fists and said resolutely, "Tiaotiao is right. If we think so, Chilian must also believe that we dare not turn back. The most important thing right now is to find a safe place to recuperate. Huichuntang is worth a try!"
Uncle Li's originally doubtful face finally showed some conviction after hearing Hongmao's decisive words, and he nodded.
Lan Tu immediately stood up and carefully carried Su Baiwei on her back: "There is no time to lose, let's get going now!"
Dada sheathed his freshly cleaned Whirlwind Sword and stood up. "I didn't exert much effort in the previous battle, so I still have some strength left. Brother Tiaotiao, I'll carry you." He carefully avoided the wound on Tiaotiao's right arm and carried him steadily on his back. However, he was unaware that Tiaotiao's left arm was also injured, and the movement aroused the pain. Tiaotiao frowned slightly, then forced himself to relax, pursed his lips, and said nothing.
Elsewhere, Doudou, sweating profusely, was gathering scattered medicine bottles and syringes. Mujin silently approached, crouched beside him, and whispered, "Divine doctor, let me help you." As she spoke, her slender fingers deftly moved through the jumble, skillfully sorting and placing the medicines. Soon, the once chaotic collection of medicines and syringes was neatly organized, even the wrinkles in the cloth bags meticulously smoothed out.
Doudou looked at the neatly arranged medicine bags in front of him, and his tired face instantly brightened. He rubbed his aching waist and said in surprise, "Oh! Miss Mujin, you are so skillful!"
Mu Jin's fingers suddenly froze on the medicine bag. She lowered her head, the tips of her ears suddenly reddening, and her voice was as thin as a mosquito: "God... Godly doctor, thank you for your praise..."
Everyone quickly packed up and extinguished the campfire. As they pushed aside the vines covering the cave entrance and filed out, they saw Sally and Daben standing guard outside, their backs to the cave entrance.
Tiaotiao, crouching on Dada's back, instinctively glanced in Sally's direction. However, the moment his gaze caught sight of the red figure, it quickly shifted as if burned, staring at the ground beneath his feet. Almost immediately, Sally abruptly turned her head to the side, her jaw set, deliberately avoiding the white figure. An inexplicable awkwardness crept over them. Fortunately, the crowds of people emerged one after another, their intermingling figures forming an invisible barrier that quietly broke the silent standoff.
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