Chapter 44
"Lin Yibai!"
Yan Bujian tumbled and scrambled towards Lin Yibai. The moment his fingertips touched her arm, the icy coldness sent his heart skipping a beat. He held her shaky body tightly, his gaze glued to the purple spider leg on her left leg. He watched the venom spread through the wound, leaving hideous purple streaks. His eyes were red, almost bleeding.
"Why did you block for me?" His voice was hoarse like broken tiles. His fingertips trembled as he wanted to touch her wound, but he was afraid of breaking her. He was suspended in the air and dared not fall. "You can obviously avoid it... You can obviously ignore me..."
Lin Yibai was held too tightly by him, and she felt waves of tearing pain in her wound. She groaned and was about to say something when she saw Yan Bujian suddenly raise his head. The panic and anger in his eyes instantly turned into crazy self-loathing - he suddenly loosened his right hand that was holding her, then clenched it into a fist and smashed it hard at his left leg -
"Bang!"
The fists collided with each other, making a dull sound, and then blood splattered.
Lin Yibai was so frightened that his whole body froze, and he stood there in a daze for a moment——
But the next moment, the second and third punches followed, each with tremendous force, hitting the same position on the left leg!
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault..." Yan Bujian lowered his forehead, his voice filled with despair and sobs, "It's all because of my fault that you keep standing in front of me..."
His trouser legs were quickly soaked with blood, and the blood from the ruptured wound flowed down his calves, forming a small dark red pool on the ground. Lin Yibai was completely stunned, staring blankly at his self-harming movements, his mind blank.
He didn't want to kill her?
On the contrary, he is still blaming himself for her injury?
This realization exploded in her mind like thunder, making her forget the pain of her wound. Seeing Yan Bujian's leg being beaten to a bloody mess, she finally reacted and hurriedly reached out to hold down his fist, her voice trembling with shock: "Stop hitting me! I'm fine, I'm fine!"
Yan Bujian's fist paused in mid-air. He slowly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes filled with confusion. "Are you really okay?"
"Really! Although this spider's venom is potent, my cultivation is far superior to its, so I can still suppress it. My life won't be in danger for the time being." Lin Yibai nodded hurriedly, his eyes frantically scanning the surroundings until he caught a glimpse of several unopened jade bottles scattered in the darkness. His eyes suddenly lit up, "Look! There are elixirs there. I looted them from the old demon Tengyan's maze a while ago. There should be an antidote in them!"
Yan Bujian looked in the direction she pointed and noticed a pile of bottles and jars on the ground beside him. Some were jade-colored, some were porcelain, and some were carved brocade boxes. They were obviously the ones she had hastily poured out when she had just given him the medicine. Anxiety flashed in his eyes, and he struggled to crawl over. His fingers fumbled among the bottles and jars in a panic, and several times his shaking hands knocked over the jade bottles, making crisp clinking sounds.
"Which one is it? Which one is the antidote?" His voice was filled with anxiety. He picked up a jade bottle, uncorked it, and sniffed it. He put it down hurriedly and grabbed another one. "This one? Or this one?"
Lin Yibai looked at him, panicking like a headless fly. He no longer had the calm and composed demeanor described in the original novel. His heart softened inexplicably, and he said, suppressing the pain, "Look at the carvings on the bottle, the one with the snake pattern... Yes, that's the blue-white jade bottle."
Yan Bujian immediately locked onto the jade bottle engraved with serpentine patterns. With trembling fingers, he pulled the cork and poured out three crystal-white pills. He then carefully lifted Lin Yibai's head and placed the pills to her lips, his voice trembling slightly with nervousness. "Take it quickly and see if it works. If not, I'll go find more!"
The pill melted in his mouth, and a cool medicinal power slid down his throat into his stomach, and soon flowed along the meridians to the wound on his left leg, suppressing the numb pain.
Lin Yibai sighed comfortably, his face gradually regaining some color, and then nodded at him and said, "The poison is subsiding. This medicine is effective."
Yan Bujian had been staring at her face. Only when he saw her brows relaxed did he breathe a sigh of relief, slumped down on the ground, and gasped for breath.
However, the next second, when her life was no longer in danger and he calmed down a little, he looked at the girl's pale but still beautiful face and didn't know what to say for a moment.
Lin Yibai was still shocked by his actions just now and looked at a loss.
Then a strange silence gradually spread between the two of them.
The only light left in the cave was the faint glow of the fluorescent moss and the sound of each other's breathing.
Just when Lin Yibai was pondering how to start the conversation, Yan Bujian took the lead in breaking the deadlock.
He only said, "This secret realm is dangerous. It's too dangerous for you to walk alone. Why don't we... travel together?"
Is he... inviting me?
The dignified male protagonist actually invites me, a cannon fodder, to accompany him at this time?
Lin Yibai felt this plot was completely insane, and subconsciously wanted to refuse. But just as she was about to speak, Yan Bujian lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes obscuring his emotions. His voice held a subtle hint of fragility. "I'm completely drained of my spiritual power and weak. If you leave, I'm afraid it won't be long before I'm devoured by the monsters here... You saw it just now, even a Qi Refining spider could easily take my life."
Lin Yibai was completely frozen in place.
——If there was nothing wrong with her eyes, Yan Bujian just now... was he trying to make her feel sorry for him?
How is that possible!
That invincible immortal master who was able to shock the world with his sword had never appeared like this in the book!
It was so weird, so weird! She wanted to poke her own eyes out.
However, Yan Bujian's tone was so pitiful that she swallowed the rejection that was on the tip of her tongue. Looking at his pale face and bloody legs, and remembering how he had just beaten his legs in self-blame, her heart softened inexplicably: "But..."
"It's nothing." Yan Bujian suddenly stood up, ignoring his own injuries, bent down, picked her up, and placed her steadily on his back.
How could she look even slightly like the “weak” person he mentioned?
Lin Yibai exclaimed, subconsciously hugging his neck. She could clearly feel the boy's broad, powerful back muscles, the warmth coming through his thin robe, and his steady, strong heartbeat.
"How can I do this?" Feeling the beating of the heart under her hand, her heart couldn't help but beat fast. After coming to her senses, she hurriedly struggled to get down, "You're injured quite seriously, I can walk by myself!"
"It's okay." Yan Bujian's voice came from above his head, with unquestionable firmness, "It's just some superficial injuries, and your spiritual power is temporarily unusable. It's no problem for me to carry you on my back." As he spoke, he supported her knees with both hands, took steady steps, and walked towards the depths of the cave.
Seeing this, Lin Yibai had no choice but to give up and stop struggling. However, she didn't dare to press her face against his back like she had just now. She could only restrainedly place her hands on his shoulders, trying to reduce her weight. The faint fragrance of plants and trees on his body lingered on her nose again, and her cheeks couldn't help but blush.
She secretly raised her eyes and looked at the boy's smooth jawline, her heart full of doubts: What is going on now? If someone had told her a day ago that Yan Bujian would not only not kill her, but would also carry her on his back, she would definitely think that person was crazy!
But this absurd scene actually happened.
What should she do next?
Yan Bujian carried her on his back as they walked through the deep cave, his steps slow and steady. He scanned the surroundings warily, breathing lightly. If he heard any movement, he would stop immediately and wait until he was sure it was safe before continuing.
Fortunately, after walking for about two incense sticks of time, the two of them did not encounter any other monsters in this acupoint.
The blue light of the fluorescent moss cast bright and dark shadows on Yan Bujian's face, and in Lin Yibai's eyes, it softened his originally cold profile.
"The dark golden halo around your dantian, is that the vine?" After a long silence, Yan Bujian suddenly asked, breaking the silence of the cave.
Lin Yibai, who was lost in thought at the handsome face, was shocked when he heard the words. He asked in surprise, "You actually knew that?"
"It resonates with...something within me." Yan Bujian paused, then changed his tone and continued, "Though the withered vine may seem unremarkable, if I'm not mistaken, it's a fragment of an ancient, innate spiritual root. After experiencing the heavenly thunder tribulation, it's become incomplete, but it still possesses immense power, and will gradually regain its abilities as its owner's cultivation increases."
"The reason you were able to..." He swallowed hard, his eyes dimming as he spoke, "resurrect. I'm sure it's because of this."
Lin Yibai was completely stunned, and a thousand waves of thoughts exploded in his mind.
He actually knew what a secret treasure the Immortal Root was? But back then in the Forbidden Demon Sea, he left such a precious thing to her without hesitation?
…Why did he do that?
Thinking of this, a complex emotion surged in her heart, including surprise, gratitude, and a hint of indescribable throbbing.
"Then...why did you leave it to me?" She hesitated for a long time and finally couldn't help asking, her voice was very soft, like the hum of a mosquito.
Yan Bujian paused for a moment, his back stiffened slightly for a moment, and then returned to normal.
There was no emotion in his voice: "That vine is useless to me, so it's okay to give it to you."
lie.
Lin Yibai naturally wouldn't believe it. The "something" he was talking about was nothing more than the rare sword bone. What ordinary thing could resonate with the sword bone?
However, she did not ask any further questions, but fell into deep thought.
Did he no longer want to kill her in that maze? Did his actions unconsciously change his original hatred?
However, after that, the two became mortal enemies...
Looking at the dark head of the young man beneath her, she felt that fate was playing tricks on her, and a feeling of being teased by destiny immediately swept over her.
Fortunately, Yan Bujian's attitude towards her seemed to have changed since the moment he woke up...
He probably wouldn't want to kill her.
After a brief interlude, the two continued on their way without saying a word.
However, they continued walking for an unknown amount of time. Just as Lin Yibai, worried about his injuries, wanted to ask him to stop and rest, the cave in front of them gradually widened. The dampness in the air also faded, and a dusty, dry smell became more present.
Yan Bujian was the first to notice the changes ahead. He raised his voice, tightened her legs around his waist, and said seriously, "There's a change ahead. Let's be careful." He then quickened his pace and headed forward.
Lin Yibai felt a sense of inexplicable worry in his heart due to the change in environment, so he stopped talking.
After walking for about another half an hour, a huge stone door suddenly appeared in front of them. The door was ajar, and a faint light came through from inside.
The stone gate is about five meters high and is made of blue-black rock. Its surface is covered with marks of swords and knives, and cracks spread like spider webs. The cloud patterns carved on it have long been blurred, leaving only a bit of desolate ancient meaning.
Seeing this, Yan Bujian slowed down his pace, turned around and looked at her, signaling with his eyes: "Do you want to go in?"
Lin Yibai thought for a moment, then nodded gently: "If we stay here, we will die."
So Yan Bujian took a deep breath, walked forward cautiously, and slowly reached out to push open the stone door.
The door hinge made a loud creaking sound as it turned, like a giant beast that had been sleeping for a thousand years finally waking up.
The next moment, after seeing the scene behind the door clearly, both of them gasped at the same time.
——Behind the door was the remains of a vast ancient battlefield!
The scene at this ruin is completely different from that inside the cave. The ground is littered with rusted weapon debris, broken swords and spears are randomly stuck in the soil, and fragments of bronze armor are scattered everywhere. There are still dark red blood stains on the armor. Although it has been eroded by time, it still exudes a chilling chill.
The ground was trampled into potholes of varying depths, and in some places one could see huge claw marks and sword-cut grooves. A strong wind rushed in from nowhere, blowing up the dust and broken fragments of flags on the ground, making a whimpering sound, as if telling the story of the tragedy of the past.
Obviously, a shocking battle took place here in the past.
And in the center of the ancient battlefield, there is a staircase leading to heaven.
The stairs are paved with gray-white boulders, and each step is engraved with intricate scale patterns, resembling fish and dragons. After thousands of years of wind and rain, it is still as solid as a mountain.
The two of them looked into the distance and saw that at the top of the stairs there was a high platform about ten feet wide. The platform was carved from a whole piece of black jade and it glowed faintly in the dim light.
Lin Yibai leaned on Yan Bujian's back, staring at the scene before him. He couldn't help but let out a low cry of surprise, his fingertips unconsciously clutching his robes: "Should we... go up?"
Yan Bujian did not answer, but glanced around solemnly. After confirming that everything was safe, he nodded solemnly.
Then he carried her on his back and walked up the stairs step by step.
With every step he took, the huge rock beneath his feet trembled slightly, as if responding to some ancient power. When his footsteps landed, the scales on the stairs would emit a very faint, fleeting golden light.
After reaching the last step, the full view of the platform finally appeared before them.
In the center of the platform, a bluestone stele, more than a meter tall, stood silently. Its surface was covered in traces of weathering, yet its edges were remarkably smooth. As they approached, they discovered several lines of ancient seal characters engraved on the front. The brushstrokes were vigorous and powerful, carrying a majesty that pierced through time.
Lin Yibai didn't recognize the ancient characters, and was at a loss when he heard Yan Bujian beside him slowly say:
"Jade rain hangs from the sky, fish and dragons swim.
Xuantai is shrouded in mist, and the whole place is in tatters of autumn."
Having read this, he looked down and saw that at the end of the inscription, there were three more majestic ancient characters engraved with awe-inspiring momentum -
"This place is called - Fish Dragon Realm."
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