Chapter 107: The Seriously Injured Guardian and “His” Duplicity
The seriously injured guard and "his" duplicity
Li Jiuyou stumbled, barely stabilizing himself with the help of his Jinsheng Blade. A sharp, bone-chilling pain pierced his back. The evil thought's impact wasn't just damaging his body; it was also madly eroding his soul! Jiang Xuelan could clearly sense his momentary weakness and pain, as well as the chilling, vicious spread of the evil thought like a cancer in his bones!
"Cough... cough cough..." Li Jiuyou coughed up a few mouthfuls of blood with black air. His face looked extremely ugly, but he still forced himself to turn his head and glared at Jiang Xuelan behind him with a vicious tone, "Look... what are you looking at! I... I'm not protecting you! I'm... I'm afraid that you will die, and this broken contract will drag me down... to death too! Yes! That's it!" His voice was hoarse and weak, but he still tried to maintain that violent and ferocious appearance, as if this could cover up the subconscious protective behavior just now.
Jiang Xuelan could sense the other's pounding heartbeat, the pain he was suppressing, and beneath those fierce words, a hint of panic and...clumsy concealment, a fear of being seen through that even Li Jiuyou himself wasn't aware of. This feeling, more than any outright concern, shook Jiang Xuelan's heart.
He pursed his lips. Instead of his usual cold retort or pushback, he quickly stepped forward and reached out to steady Li Jiuyou's shaky arm. It was still burning hot, yet tinged with an ominous chill. "...Shut up, save your energy." Jiang Xuelan's voice remained cold, but it lacked the usual icy edge, and instead carried a subtle... tension. He cautiously extended a trace of his cool immortal energy, attempting to help Li Jiuyou suppress the spreading evil thoughts.
"Hmph... stop pretending to be nice..." Li Jiuyou muttered, but his body honestly didn't push away the support. He even subconsciously leaned towards the source of the comforting coolness. Jiang Xuelan's worried and cautious immortal power penetrated him. Although weak, it did slightly alleviate the gnawing chill, and he couldn't help but let out a very soft sigh of relief.
The sigh was very soft, but it reached Jiang Xuelan clearly. Jiang Xuelan's fingertips trembled slightly, and he looked away, but his ears were uncontrollably warming. This tyrant... sometimes... really...
"King! How are you?!" Man Gu rushed over anxiously. Seeing the black air and pale face behind Li Jiuyou, he was so scared that his wolf ears drooped.
"I won't die..." Li Jiuyou waved his hands weakly, trying to stand up, but stumbled again, almost leaning on Jiang Xuelan. The instantly shortened distance and the more obvious transmission of pain made Jiang Xuelan's body stiffen slightly, but he didn't move away.
At this time, the vibration of the cave had completely stopped.
The cracks were filled with colorful light, and the evil spirits and ghostly hands vanished without a trace. The light of the small Xirang sacred tree also gradually subsided, becoming somewhat dim, but the aura it exuded became purer and more peaceful. The old thought echoed again, weary yet relieved:
"The seal... is temporarily stable... Thank you both..."
"As a reward... and also as a responsibility... I give you the 'Heart Source Crystal'... Use it wisely..."
The moss at the roots of the sacred tree stirred, and a fist-sized, irregularly shaped crystal, emitting a soft, rainbow-colored halo, yet imbued with astonishing life and purifying power, slowly rose and floated before the two. This was the Heart Source Crystal!
"This item can help you resist evil thoughts, nourish your soul, and even... may be beneficial to the 'hidden dangers' within your bodies (referring to the God-killing Gu and the residual soul of the evil god)." The old man explained, "... Let's go... It's not advisable to stay here for long... The source of evil has only been temporarily suppressed... The real crisis... is still outside..."
The voice gradually faded away, and the old thought seemed to fall into sleep as well.
Jiang Xuelan reached out and took the warm Heart Source Crystal, feeling its powerful yet gentle power. A complex expression flashed across his icy blue eyes. It seemed their purpose had been achieved: they had obtained a crucial item and further confirmed the truth, but at a price… His gaze fell on Li Jiuyou, who was still leaning against him, his face pale.
"Can you still walk?" Jiang Xuelan asked, her tone slowing down without her even noticing.
"Nonsense..." Li Jiuyou tried to show off his strength. Just as he was about to take a step, he pulled the injury on his back. The pain made him gasp and almost collapse.
Jiang Xuelan sighed, finally accepting his fate and placing one of Li Jiuyou's arms on his shoulders, shouldering most of the weight. "...Lean on me," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Li Jiuyou could sense Jiang Xuelan's subtle frustration and the remarkably firm support coming from those narrow shoulders. He snorted awkwardly, but didn't try to be stubborn. His scarlet-gold eyes glanced at Jiang Xuelan's graceful neck and slightly reddened earlobes, and then, inexplicably... he fell silent.
"Let's go." Jiang Xuelan said to the others, supporting Li Jiuyou and walking towards the passage they came from.
Man Gu hurried forward to help support the other side, but was glared back by Li Jiuyou. A Che and Xing Tong exchanged a glance, remaining silent in tacit agreement. Xuan Jia followed slowly at the end.
In the passage, the two leaned so close that they practically walked hand in hand. That connection no longer merely conveyed pain and awkwardness; it also carried an indescribable, subtle warmth of dependence and being relied upon, and a brief moment of calm after a shared life-or-death crisis. Though still awkward, and though the road ahead was uncertain, at this moment, a certain ice seemed to have quietly melted in a corner unnoticed.
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