“Good!” Xing Zizhou said nothing more, nodded, “Take good care of him.”

With that, he turned and strode forward.

The brother frowned at once — it truly, damnably hurt.

He turned around holding the boy, not realizing that Xing Zizhou had glanced back at him.

“Remember to treat that wound once you’re back.”

The brother stopped in his tracks and turned to look.

He gave a faint smile and said, “Will do!”

Xing Zizhou nodded and didn’t linger further.

Several brothers had already given chase — he had to go check on the situation at once.

Chen Hong was a demon; everyone hoped to see this demon eliminated as soon as possible!

Chen Hong sped forward, cutting through forests and valleys, until at last the chain bridge came into view.

She curved her lips slightly, an evil glint flashing in her eyes.

Close, so close — she could be reborn. She was still young; there was still plenty of time.

Thinking of the suffering of these past days, her gaze grew ever more sinister.

“Long Jiu’er.” Just before stepping onto the chain bridge, Chen Hong shouted loudly.

“I will make you regret this! I will kill you with my own hands!”

She had endured humiliation for so long, all for this very day.

Today, she had deceived everyone in order to earn this second chance at life.

She, Chen Hong, was not someone so easily brought down.

By the time she’d run to the middle of the chain bridge, her pursuers still hadn’t caught up, and the smile at the corner of Chen Hong’s mouth grew ever wider.

Yet unexpectedly, a figure on horseback suddenly appeared in her line of sight.

Her eyes went wide in an instant, a face reflected in her pupils.

“Chen Hong!” Standing at the far end of the chain bridge, Qiao Mu held a torch in her hand.

“If you wanted to harm Jiu’er, you’ll have to wait for your next life!”

Qiao Mu laughed coldly and dismounted, torch in hand.

Before she bent down, she raised her eyes and shot Chen Hong a sidelong glance.

“Chen Hong.”

“No!” Chen Hong cut off Qiao Mu’s words. “You can’t!”

This bottomless abyss — even without injury, she couldn’t guarantee her survival.

If she fell from here now, she would surely die!

“Don’t! If I die, that handsome man of yours will die too! You can’t kill me! You can’t!” Chen Hong shouted again.

There was no turning back for her now; all she could do was slow her steps and keep moving forward.

Qiao Mu paid her no mind and directly set the ropes securing the chain bridge alight.

A great blaze erupted at once.

“Chen Hong, my name is Qiao Mu — remember it well! The one who kills you is not Jiu’er, it’s me, Qiao Mu!”

Qiao Mu laughed coldly, drew her long sword, and struck with force.

“Ah—” As the chain bridge snapped, Chen Hong let out a low cry and plummeted into the ravine, horse and all.

The scream echoed all around, and Xing Zizhou and the brothers finally caught up.

They rode their horses over, one after another, and stood at the edge of the cliff looking down. Soon, joy spread across everyone’s faces.

“Qiao Mu.” Xing Zizhou looked at her, giving a thumbs up. “How did you get here faster than us?”

“It’s all thanks to Zhao Yusheng.” Qiao Mu smiled, pleased.

Just now she had only been trying her luck, never expecting the messenger bird to actually find her.

“Zhao Yusheng had the messenger bird bring me a map of this area, and I took a shortcut.”

Qiao Mu glanced down once more, and the smile at the corner of her mouth slowly faded.

Chen Hong had barely escaped death nine times over — but what about Jian Yi?

“Miss Qiao, how will you get back?” one brother asked loudly.

“I have a way.” Qiao Mu raised her eyes to look at them. “How’s the boy doing? Was he saved?”

“A Zhen took him back,” Xing Zizhou said, looking at the two men who had appeared behind Qiao Mu.

“Take good care of Miss Qiao — we’re heading back first.”

“Yes.” The two men cupped their hands in salute toward Xing Zizhou.

Xing Zizhou nodded, looking at Qiao Mu once more: “Take care of yourself!”

“Sure!” Qiao Mu nodded. “I’ll probably arrive about two hours after you. Go back and see if Jiu’er needs any help.”

“Good!” Xing Zizhou waved his hand.

The brothers followed him, turning to head back the way they came.

Jian Yi — what state was he in right now?

In the town, in a side chamber of the estate.

Jian Yi sat cross-legged on the low bed, with Feng Jiu’er sitting behind him, both hands pressed against his back.

The two of them had held this position for a very long while now.

Yet unexpectedly, Jian Yi’s face, which had been ruddy, suddenly turned deathly pale.

Feng Jiu’er clearly sensed something was wrong with Jian Yi, and she frowned slightly, immediately withdrawing her true qi.

But it was already too late.

Jian Yi’s eyes suddenly flew wide open, and he flung both arms up.

A sound like the heavens shaking the earth burst forth from the chamber.

Di Wu Ya had just arrived not far from the chamber when he heard the sound and strode over, pushing open the chamber’s main door.

“Girl.”

As Di Wu Ya walked into the chamber, Xiao Yingtao, Leng Xuepiao, and a physician pushed open the inner room’s door and entered.

“Jiu’er, Jian Yi, what’s happened to you two?”

Before Xiao Yingtao’s words were even finished, a gust of wind swept past behind her.

A tall, sturdy figure passed by her side.

Di Wu Ya reached the bedside in a few strides; Feng Jiu’er held the fainted Jian Yi in her arms, a trace of dark blood at the corner of her mouth.

In the moment Jian Yi had gone into that frenzied state, the powerful surge of energy had injured her.

Jian Yi’s change reminded Feng Jiu’er of Chen Hong.

It had been her own choice; she only hoped she hadn’t chosen wrong.

If Chen Hong had died, and Jian Yi too… Feng Jiu’er would never be able to forgive herself for the rest of her life.

“Girl.” Di Wu Ya went over and took Feng Jiu’er’s small hand.

“Jiu’er, are you alright? Jian Yi, he—” Xiao Yingtao looked at Jian Yi, his face pale as paper, her eyes reddening instantly.

She understood what Jiu’er meant — to spare their brothers from any more pointless sacrifice, Chen Hong could be killed.

Jian Yi’s state now — did it mean Chen Hong was dead?

Just now, separated only by a wall, Xiao Yingtao had deeply felt Jian Yi’s pain too.

Feng Jiu’er took a deep breath, and as she gathered her thoughts, she found herself in Di Wu Ya’s embrace.

She raised her eyes to glance at Di Wu Ya, then stood and turned, looking at the man lying flat on the bed, utterly without life in him.

“A’Jiu, I’m fine. Right now we need to save Jian Yi — I’m afraid things look grim for Chen Hong. I’m worried Jian Yi might…”

Feng Jiu’er didn’t finish the sentence, turning back to look at Xiao Yingtao and the others.

“Xiao Yingtao, go and get everything ready right away — everything I told you to prepare, get it all ready in advance.”

“Go on.” She waved her hand and settled onto the bed. “With A’Jiu here, he can help.”

“Alright!” Xiao Yingtao nodded and left with the other two.

All three of them had some knowledge of medicine, and each of them understood in their hearts just how dire Jian Yi’s condition was.

They could only hope things weren’t as bad as they imagined, could only hope Jian Yi would pull through.

In the blink of an eye, ten hours passed; the sun set and then rose high in the sky again.

There was no great change in Jian Yi’s complexion, while Feng Jiu’er’s face grew paler and paler.

When Xiao Yingtao brought in the morning meal, Feng Jiu’er was still giving Jian Yi acupuncture.

Not far off, Di Wu Ya sat with his eyes closed, resting.

“Jiu’er, have some porridge first,” Xiao Yingtao said softly, walking quietly to the bedside.

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er gave a slight nod without raising her eyes.

“Is the bath water ready? And the extra herbs added to it — have suitable ones been found?”