Chapter 122: The Feeling of a Heart Stirred

With Phantom Wushuang in his grip, Zhou Qing wrapped it around the half-demon’s tail and yanked with all his might, dragging the serpent’s tail aside. The sharp tip crashed into the ground beside Lin Yunxi, gouging a deep hole in the earth.

One could see from this alone the sheer force behind a blow from that tail. Had Zhou Qing not intervened, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

The tail missed its mark. Lin Yunxi, who had been knocked down, scrambled to her feet. She saw Zhou Qing holding Phantom Wushuang, gazing at her in silence, a trace of sorrow flickering in his eyes.

“Why didn’t you run?”

“I…”

Before Lin Yunxi could finish her question, Zhou Qing had barely uttered a word when he felt an immense force rush through the other end of Phantom Wushuang. He had no time to retract his weapon before he was flung through the air.

He slammed into an ancient tree and fell to the ground. As he tried to recall the whip formed from spiritual power, the half-demon’s tail lashed out again, striking straight for Zhou Qing.

Having already lost the use of his left arm, and now reeling from that violent toss, Zhou Qing was in no condition to dodge. The sharp tail pierced his chest.

He spat out a mouthful of blood—though this blow was not as devastating as the snake-haired man’s earlier punch, the force was still formidable.

The half-demon, seeing that the blow did not run Zhou Qing through, let out a strange howl, raised its tail once more, and thrust at Zhou Qing again.

“Zhou Qing!”

Seeing this, Lin Yunxi rushed to drag Zhou Qing away from beneath the tree, but just then, a flash of spiritual light shimmered from the black wooden hilt in his hand. A shield of white radiance appeared, materializing before him.

The tail struck the shield woven by Phantom Wushuang. After a few heartbeats, realizing it could not pierce through, the half-demon switched tactics—retracting its tail, then sweeping it sideways at Zhou Qing.

Though the shield had blocked the attack, Zhou Qing’s spiritual power was nearly spent, and his body was already gravely injured. As the tail swept over, he was powerless to defend.

With a crack, the tail smashed through a tree as thick as a bowl, slicing through it like tofu, then struck Zhou Qing squarely, sending him hurtling three or four yards before he crashed into another ancient tree and tumbled to the ground.

This blow landed squarely on his right arm. His left was already useless; now with agony flooding his right, Zhou Qing knew both arms were lost to him.

Watching helplessly as Zhou Qing was battered back and forth, tears welled in Lin Yunxi’s eyes. She rushed to his side, where he slumped, utterly spent, against the tree, and pressed a healing pill to his lips.

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault you’re hurt,” she whispered, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth as her hand gently brushed his handsome face.

“It’s nothing. Life and death are fate…” Zhou Qing’s voice was weak as he looked up at the stunning woman, her eyes brimming with tears, crouched before him.

But before he could finish, he saw the half-demon behind them, tail raised once more, aiming straight for Lin Yunxi.

With one arm crippled and the other nearly so, Zhou Qing summoned the last of his strength to shove Lin Yunxi aside, out of harm’s way.

She safely dodged the blow, but Zhou Qing took the full brunt, the tail stabbing deep into his back.

A succession of injuries left Zhou Qing tasting death in the air. He looked up at Lin Yunxi, about to speak, when the half-demon coiled its tail around him and hoisted him up.

“That robe you’re wearing is quite the treasure,” the half-demon sneered, its eyes glinting greedily as it reached for the tribulation-warding robe on Zhou Qing.

Seeing Zhou Qing risk his life for her, Lin Yunxi acted without hesitation. She withdrew a talisman and hurled it at the half-demon.

The paper charm burst into sparks of fire, startling the half-demon as it examined the robe. It flung Zhou Qing aside and lashed its tail, preparing to attack Lin Yunxi.

But before it could strike, Lin Yunxi threw the last seven or eight fire talismans she had. As they exploded in a blaze, she seized the chance to help Zhou Qing to his feet.

Though the half-demon’s cultivation was considerable, the sight of fire startled it—as was the case with most beasts—though the talismans’ flames could not truly harm it. The instinct to avoid fire was too deeply ingrained.

This revealed the half-demon’s inexperience in battle; otherwise, it would not have been so easily bluffed by a few talismans.

Supporting Zhou Qing, Lin Yunxi fled a short distance before the half-demon’s laughter echoed behind them.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Clutching Zhou Qing’s crystal, Lin Yunxi helped him as they fled, the half-demon’s voice trailing after them.

“Seven years ago, I saved your life. Now, I’m the cause of your death. Still, on the road to the underworld, at least we’ll have each other for company.” Lin Yunxi’s words were tinged with despair, but a faint smile played on her flawless face—as though Zhou Qing’s earlier remark about fate had brought her peace.

Though Zhou Qing’s arms were useless, his legs could still move. As they ran, he stole a glance at the exquisite woman at his side, meaning to speak, when he realized they were less than thirty feet from the canyon.

He remembered seeing it before—a gorge dozens of yards deep, with a broad river flowing below.

“Sister Yunxi, are you truly willing to go with me to the underworld?” Zhou Qing glanced back to see the half-demon only fifteen or twenty feet behind, closing fast.

At his words, a flush bloomed on Lin Yunxi’s cheeks. She hadn’t thought much when she’d spoken earlier, but now, hearing Zhou Qing, she caught the unspoken intimacy in his voice.

“Mm.” She answered softly, saying no more.

Seeing that fleeting blush, Zhou Qing’s heartbeat quickened. He took a deep breath and smiled. “Better to leap into the gorge than be torn apart by that beast.”

“Yes,” Lin Yunxi replied. In the faint glow of the crystal, she too saw the canyon ahead, and together they ran for its edge.

Just as the half-demon’s tail lashed out, ready to ensnare them, the two exchanged a glance and leapt into the chasm below.