This was everyone's second time entering Black Wind Ridge.
However, this time, Chu Qianli insisted on leading the way.
The last time the Yaoren approached, she distinctly smelled a putrid odor.
She was extremely sensitive to smells.
This time, she had repeatedly stressed that no one should act on their own, that they must not leave her side, and that she would guide them.
Initially, Fulong disagreed, but after she successfully led everyone to evade several Yaoren, Fulong was completely subdued.
"These Yaoren were likely not placed here, but are discarded rejects from the bottom of Black Wind Cliff."
The term "rejects" sounded extremely cruel, but based on Chu Qianli's observations, it was the truth.
The Yaoren appeared without any pattern. A closer look revealed that although their attacking power was immense, they wouldn't suddenly attack others unless they sensed danger.
"It's the smell of blood," Chu Qianli said, turning to look at Fulong and the brothers.
"The Yaoren that came out earlier was startled by the sound of a sneeze."
At that time, the Yaoren were already very close, and Chu Qianli had clearly sensed that putrid smell.
It was just that, facing the Yaoren for the first time, she hadn't reacted quickly enough.
"The ones that came later were all attracted by the smell of blood. Everyone, put away your swords. Even if you encounter a Yaoren, do not draw your swords immediately."
Without the smell of blood, a large number of scattered, inferior Yaoren would not be attracted.
As long as it wasn't a large group, they could still manage.
If it were a large group, it would be extremely difficult to handle.
"Do not get separated..."
The sky was still overcast, the sky above was dim, and visibility was worsening.
Although she had a drone and had bought batteries, the Yaoren were too dispersed, and reconnaissance would take too much time.
This amount of battery power was insufficient to reach Black Wind Cliff.
Therefore, for now, she could only rely on her own reconnaissance abilities to painstakingly find their way.
The drone had to be saved for use on Black Wind Cliff.
Unexpectedly, before she could finish speaking, one of the brothers walking behind her suddenly let out a muffled groan.
"Ugh..."
"Don't make a sound!" The putrid smell was nearby; there was a Yaoren here!
The brother gritted his teeth and endured, but finally couldn't hold back and let out a scream: "Ah..."
"He was bitten by a snake!" The person walking in front of him finally noticed something was wrong.
Turning back, they saw the brother collapsed on the ground, his wound bleeding, his lips black!
Fulong was about to go over, but Chu Qianli urgently said, "Don't move, there's a Yaoren!"
Fulong didn't want to move rashly, but the brother's leg was injured and bleeding.
The smell of blood had attracted the Yaoren.
Seeing the Yaoren about to pounce on the brother, Fulong, who had turned back, immediately went forward and punched the Yaoren in the stomach.
The Yaoren was knocked to the ground, felt no pain, and immediately got up.
Baring its teeth, like a beast that had lost its mind, it lunged at Fulong.
The surrounding brothers instinctively drew their swords.
Chu Qianli urgently cried out, "Don't draw your swords!"
Fulong's movement to draw his sword also stopped instantly.
In his hesitation, the Yaoren reached him.
Fulong could only counter with a punch.
Chu Qianli quickly returned to the fallen brother, took out a disposable syringe, and injected him with the prepared antidote.
"Ah..." The brother, semi-conscious, screamed in pain from the detoxification.
Fulong was momentarily distracted, and the Yaoren pounced on him, biting at him.
Fulong hastily met it with his fist. The moment Chu Qianli looked back, she saw the Yaoren's teeth almost gnawing at Fulong's fist.
"He's covered in potent poison, don't get injured by him!"
But it was too late; Fulong's fist had already swung out.
Chu Qianli waved her hand, and with a swish, her Heavenly Silkworm Silk hooked onto the Yaoren's shoulder.
She pulled with all her might, finally yanking it away just as the Yaoren was about to bite Fulong's fist.
But she hadn't expected the Yaoren to be so strong.
The Yaoren struggled wildly, and the recoil from the Heavenly Silkworm Silk pulled her towards it.
"Careful!" Fulong and the brothers rushed to rescue her, but it was still a step too late.
With a hiss, the Yaoren grabbed Chu Qianli's arm.
Its sharp claws tore through her clothes and inflicted a bloody gash on her arm.
Black blood!
"Damn it!" Fulong punched the Yaoren that was pressing on Chu Qianli to the ground, then delivered another punch to its head.
Finally, the Yaoren stopped struggling and lay on the ground, motionless!
"It's poisonous!" Yazhi helped Chu Qianli up. Seeing the black blood on her wound, his face turned ashen.
"Commander, she's poisoned, what do we do?"
"I have... the antidote." Chu Qianli's breathing was a little weak.
She hadn't expected the Yaoren's poison to be so potent. She had managed to retrieve the antidote, but before she could swallow it, her fingers lost their strength.
Fulong came over and helped her up.
He snatched the medicine and shoved it into her mouth: "Quick! Swallow it!"
Chu Qianli exerted all her strength and finally managed to swallow the pill.
But she still felt weak all over.
Why had her body's constitution deteriorated so much recently?
Or was it that the original owner's physical condition was too poor?
Even after taking the antidote, she remained very weak.
Seeing her so frail, Fulong felt a surge of guilt.
"Why are you... it's all my fault!"
She had been injured by the Yaoren while saving him!
Otherwise, with her alertness, the Yaoren would never have been able to harm her.
They, a group of proud men, not only failed to protect her but had to be rescued by her multiple times!
Her injury was entirely his fault!
"Miss Chu..."
"We... all... ate hot pot together, drank... cola... we are brothers."
So, there was no need to feel guilty.
She believed that if something happened to her, Fulong would come to her rescue!
"I'm a little... tired... this poison is quite... potent, I need... to sleep for a while."
Chu Qianli's eyelids felt as heavy as a thousand pounds; she couldn't keep them open anymore.
"You... don't run around, wait for me... to wake up..."
After that, she tilted her head and completely fainted.
A pang of sorrow struck Fulong's heart.
Before this little girl fainted, she was still concerned about everyone's safety.
A girl of only fifteen or sixteen years old, in another family, might still be in her boudoir or newly married.
How could she have experienced the storms of the outside world?
The Emperor had been too cruel to her.
"Yazhi."
He looked at Yazhi, who also had a pained expression, and whispered, "Take her out, the way we came, quickly!"
They had to go to Black Wind Cliff.
However, there was no need to bring this little girl along and risk her life.
Yazhi looked at him, then finally gritted his teeth and nodded: "I will definitely get her out safely. Commander, wait for me. I will return and face life and death with you all!"
Yazhi picked up Chu Qianli and immediately rushed back along the original path towards the exit of Black Wind Ridge.
Fulong watched them leave, then turned to everyone: "No need to wait for them, let's go!"
Having been saved by her today, he, Fulong, considered her a friend.
It was just that this debt of gratitude might have to be repaid in the next life.
He hoped to meet her again in the next life!
As Fulong was about to lead the brothers forward, he didn't expect that as soon as he turned, a cry of alarm came from the direction they had come: "Yaoren are here!"