Deep within the forbidden forest, Ouyang Ye turned to look at Jiong Ye, who stood frozen in place, silent for a long time, and asked, "What are you doing?"
Startled by the question, Jiong Ye looked back at Ouyang Ye and replied, "Nothing." As he spoke, he completed the final step and lowered his hand.
Ouyang Ye, having little desire to say more, withdrew his gaze and looked at Xi'er, who frowned, unable to control the giant black bear monster. "Xi'er, what's wrong?" he asked.
"Master, it's not listening anymore," Xi'er said, her eyes tightly shut as her hands began to tremble.
Seeing Xi'er struggling to control the giant black bear monster's movements, Ouyang Ye's heart sank. He looked up at Mu Anxiao, who was still fighting the monster in the sky.
Mid-air.
Mu Anxiao stood on the giant black bear monster's shoulder, pulling tightly on the fur near its face with one hand, while her other fist clenched, aiming a straightforward punch at its eyes.
However, things were not proceeding as smoothly as Mu Anxiao had envisioned. Just as her fist was about to strike the giant black bear monster's eye, it reacted, letting out a roar and shoving her hand away with its long claws.
In the instant the giant black bear monster pushed her arm away, she fell backward.
Seeing this, Feng Qi Shi's eyes widened, and just as he was about to step forward, Yue Ci pulled his arm, saying, "The time is not right yet."
"You..."
Before Feng Qi Shi could utter another word, Mu Anxiao stabilized herself.
Yue Ci glanced at Feng Qi Shi and remained silent.
Zhang Yan instructed, "When her body starts emitting a blue light, that's when you go."
"Got it." Feng Qi Shi, recognizing his impulsiveness, said no more.
Yue Ci, seeing Feng Qi Shi's emotions settled, released his grip.
Ouyang Ye also let out a sigh of relief and turned to Xi'er, urging, "Control it quickly."
"I know, Master." Xi'er sensed the giant black bear monster's temper, and hearing Ouyang Ye's words now, she couldn't help but feel nervous.
A quarter of an hour later.
As soon as the dagger escorted those people out of the forbidden forest, she began to worry about Mu Anxiao's safety. She stopped and said, "Jiong Ye has severed your connections with him."
Upon hearing this, those who understood their situation stopped in unison and turned to look at the dagger.
Hai asked, confused, "You've said this several times, why are you saying it again?"
Ever since they had regained consciousness, the dagger had been repeating this one sentence.
Of course, they didn't know that from the moment she first uttered it, she had wanted to help Mu Anxiao. However, due to still being within the forbidden forest, she had held back from saying the final part.
Now, she felt it was time. "Since the connection is severed, you can all live good lives from now on."
Hai was stunned by her words. "What do you mean by that?"
The dagger replied, "I cannot abandon Mu Anxiao. From now on," she looked at Yin Ye, "they are entrusted to you."
"I..."
"Mu Anxiao said you must ensure their safety. I believe you can do it," the dagger interrupted.
Yin Ye's expression stiffened. "But Mu Anxiao said she needed your help. If you hand things over to me, she'll be unhappy when she finds out."
"She originally wanted you to take You Xian and leave alone. Now," the dagger glanced at the group, "you're just bringing a few more people."
"You..."
"What's Mu Anxiao's current situation?" You Xian interrupted Yin Ye, looking at the dagger, also starting to worry about Mu Anxiao's safety.
In fact, everyone else had been worried for a while, but since the dagger hadn't mentioned it, they hadn't dared to bring it up. Hearing You Xian's question now, they all became concerned.
Yin Ye, too, turned his gaze to the dagger's face.
The dagger didn't want to say because she knew it would be useless even if she did. Moreover, she believed Mu Anxiao wouldn't want them to worry about her.
So, she said with determination, "She's fine, I just don't want to leave her there alone."
"Then hurry and go," Hai said.
Upon hearing this, the dagger looked at Hai, nodded, and then looked at the others, "Take care."
"When you return, be sure to look for us," You Xian said, relaxing upon hearing the dagger's words.
"Understood," the dagger replied, smiling at them, and then looked at Yin Ye, "Yin Ye, I'm counting on you."
"Okay, we'll wait for you at the city gate."
To avoid worrying them, the dagger promised firmly, "Alright." She then reverted to her original form and flew away.
They watched the direction the dagger had flown, falling into silence.
Yin Ye's eyes darkened. "Let's go." With that, she turned and walked ahead.
Following her, the others also kept pace with Yin Ye.
At this moment, the giant black bear monster, worn down by Mu Anxiao's assault, leaned against a tall tree, panting heavily.
Mu Anxiao had no intention of resting. Still covered in wounds, she floated in front of the giant black bear monster and, gasping for breath, said, "Die!" As she prepared to move forward, a sharp pain suddenly gripped her chest. She gritted her teeth and clutched her chest.
The giant black bear monster, with one eye open and one closed, watched Mu Anxiao and let out a "Roar!"
Below.
Xi'er, supported by Jiong Ye, looked up at Mu Anxiao's faltering body and thought to herself, *She must not be harmed, she absolutely must not.*
Jiong Ye looked down at Xi'er, who had been phản phệd by the giant black bear monster's demonic arts just moments ago, and said, "If something happens to her, what will happen to you?" He stared intently at Xi'er's face.
Xi'er glared at Jiong Ye and then looked at Ouyang Ye, who stood before them. "Master, he cursed her to die."
Hearing this, Ouyang Ye's eyes darkened. He turned and shot a killing gaze at Jiong Ye.
Seeing this, Jiong Ye quickly averted his gaze.
Ouyang Ye gave Jiong Ye a fierce glare, then looked up again at Mu Anxiao floating in mid-air and shouted, "Mu Anxiao, come down."
Mu Anxiao ignored Ouyang Ye. After the throbbing pain subsided, she fixed her gaze on the slowly rising giant black bear monster. "Just one more eye left," she said, removing her hand from her chest and clenching her fist.
Simultaneously, as Mu Anxiao raised her fist, the giant black bear monster lifted its claw and swiped directly at her.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao quickly dodged its large claw, mockingly saying, "Fool, you missed." As she prepared to fly forward, the pain in her chest returned.
Thus, she clutched her chest again. Just as she was about to use her spiritual energy to alleviate the pain, the giant black bear monster's claw struck her. She instantly lost her balance and fell.
Ouyang Ye hurriedly called out, "Xi'er, go!"
Hearing this, Xi'er quickly cast a demonic art, suspending Mu Anxiao in mid-air, and jumped up towards her, but there was no reaction...
"Huh? What's going on? I can't fly anymore." She tried jumping again.
Seeing the situation, Feng Qi Shi looked nervously at Zhang Yan, unsure whether to advance or retreat.
Zhang Yan said, "Wait." He looked towards the rapidly approaching dagger.
Feng Qi Shi followed Zhang Yan's gaze and said, "She's back."
Yue Ci commented, "She completed the task Mu Anxiao gave her." He then glanced at Jiong Ye and Xi'er.
Not far away, Zhao Mei'er looked up at Mu Anxiao, frozen in mid-air, and muttered, "If Jiong Ye and Xi'er become friends, I'll lose my status. No, I need to make a move." As she prepared to step forward, the dagger flew past her and headed straight for Mu Anxiao.
Ouyang Ye looked anxiously at Xi'er and roared, "What's wrong with you?"
"Master, I'll be done soon," Xi'er said, continuing to cast her demonic art.
Zhao Mei'er, startled by Ouyang Ye's voice, retracted her foot.