Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Can You Give Me Your Most Precious Thing?

Her black hair danced behind her, her robes whipping in the wind.

Xue Hongling placed a hand on the eave and vaulted over, dropping down from the window.

The moment the tips of her boots touched the ground, she shot forward several yards. Her figure was like an iron arrow loosed from a bowstring, heading straight for the city gates.

’I don’t know why Wu Chen is chasing Qian Fugui, but he’s sure to be led into the fiends’ lair and fall into an ambush.’

At this thought, though Xue Hongling’s expression remained indifferent, she couldn’t hide the anxiety in her eyes.

When she betrayed her sect, she had learned what the Blood Slaughter Sect fiends in Black Stone City looked like.

However, she didn’t know where the Blood Evil fiends of Black Stone City gathered.

Fortunately, there were traces left behind from Qian Fugui and Wu Chen’s chase, and there were townspeople on the streets who had seen the two.

By asking around, Xue Hongling made her way outside the city gates, her gaze sweeping the area.

She soon spotted a pile of corpses on the road leading to a distant mountain ravine.

BOOM! BOOM!

Before she could question the two soldiers who stood with their heads bowed, an astonishing sound erupted from the ravine. It sounded as if something massive had crashed to the ground, and even the base of the city walls trembled slightly.

The refugees at the base of the wall huddled together, their terrified eyes all fixed on the source of the sound in the mountains, wondering what was happening.

’What a commotion!’

’Wu Chen must be struggling to hold on...’

’I have to hurry and help him!’

Xue Hongling shot toward the ravine at top speed. She had only gone a hundred paces into the woods when she ran into a group of workers fleeing from the quarry.

Before she could ask, the people were already chattering and whispering amongst themselves about what had happened at the quarry:

"That guy’s definitely going to be crushed by a boulder. He must have a death wish, coming to the quarry to cause trouble!"

"There are thirty or forty men at the quarry! Who’d dare to mess with them!"

"I’ve been working here for a year. I’ve seen troublemakers twice before, and they both died miserably. Barring any surprises, this time will be no different..."

Hearing the chatter from the crowd and imagining Wu Chen facing thirty or forty Blood Slaughter Sect masters alone, Xue Hongling’s heart sank.

She stopped conserving her stamina and broke into an all-out sprint.

But by the time she neared the ravine, the astonishing commotion from within had already vanished. It seemed the battle was already over.

...

But there was no sign of Wu Chen emerging. Xue Hongling’s face darkened, and her heart sank into an abyss.

However, just as she was about to step into the quarry, a figure shot out from the entrance, flying backward as if struck by a massive blow.

"Wu Chen!"

Having spent the last several days together, Xue Hongling recognized the figure flying through the air as Wu Chen in an instant.

She leaped into the air, caught Wu Chen in her arms, and completely neutralized the brutal force that had sent him flying.

"Hong Ling... Miss!"

Wu Chen, who had been sent flying, felt a soft embrace and breathed in the faint, refreshing scent of a maiden, which put his mind at ease.

He slowly opened his tightly shut eyes and gazed upon the young woman’s lovely face.

"I didn’t expect... these fiends would be so powerful..."

Fresh blood was trickling from the corner of his mouth, his face was deathly pale, and his breath was as faint as a silk thread. His life hung in the balance.

As he spoke, more blood frothed at the corners of his mouth.

"You..."

Xue Hongling knelt on the ground, letting Wu Chen use her lap as a pillow.

Watching the vitality of the young man in her arms fade, Xue Hongling panicked, momentarily unsure of what to do.

She had only ever killed people; she had no idea how to save them. The hands holding Wu Chen’s body trembled.

Just as she was at a complete loss, she heard Wu Chen speak again, his voice as faint as a thread:

"I was hoping to... find out more about the whereabouts of the Blood Evil fiends for you... COUGH COUGH..."

"So you could... complete... your revenge..."

Hearing the young man’s words, Xue Hongling realized that Wu Chen had pursued this fiend so desperately for her sake.

That was why he had fallen into an ambush and ended up in this state.

The rims of her eyes instantly reddened.

She thought back on her days with Wu Chen—how he had taken her along to slay wicked men, how he would bring food to her door when she was in a bad mood.

And now, that same young man was beaten to such a state. Was there no law? Was there no justice in this world?!

"I’ll go kill them!"

Xue Hongling clenched her teeth, about to gently set Wu Chen down and charge into the quarry with her blade drawn.

Although she hadn’t gained an advantage when she fought Qian Sanjin before, this time she intended to fight to the death. She was willing to suffer grievous injuries as long as she could kill them.

"Don’t!"

But Wu Chen grabbed Xue Hongling, stopping her from leaving.

His grip was so strong that the pain made her eyelid twitch violently.

But seeing the young man’s weakened state, she didn’t think much of it.

Wu Chen held on to Xue Hongling to keep her from leaving, then squirmed a bit in her embrace, snuggling in deeper.

Looking at the pale-faced young man in her arms, Xue Hongling didn’t have the heart to refuse, so she let him be.

"You don’t have to go..."

Wu Chen explained why she shouldn’t go:

"I’ve already... killed all the Blood Evil fiends inside..."

"You won’t have to... risk your life like that... anymore..."

"You... I..." Hearing his words, Xue Hongling was choked with emotion.

She was astonished that Wu Chen had managed to kill all the Blood Evil fiends there.

But hearing that he still remembered her quest to kill the fiends, and that he had been gravely injured while pursuing them this time...

All for her sake!

Her already reddened eyes instantly filled with tears, which began to fall in large drops.

"Don’t cry..."

She heard Wu Chen say haltingly:

"This is... my most important possession... the ultimate Martial Arts of my life!"

"I have no use for it now. I’m giving it... to you..."

With a trembling hand, Wu Chen took out a bound manual from within his robes.

Bone-Eroding Wind Blade: Momentum

He tremblingly handed the thick Martial Arts manual toward the young woman.

He watched as she accepted the manual, sobbing and wiping away her tears.

’Now’s my chance,’ Wu Chen thought.

His voice grew even fainter as he said:

"As I am now... my days are numbered."

"I’ve given you... my most important possession. Can you... also give me your most important possession...?"

Seeing the expectant look in Wu Chen’s eyes after he spoke, Xue Hongling, whose tears hadn’t yet dried, felt a slight blush creep onto her cheeks.

But then she thought about how much the young man had sacrificed for her...

She didn’t hesitate for long. She closed her eyes, her long lashes fluttering, and leaned down.

Her soft bosom and alluring red lips descended upon the young man.

"No! That’s not it!"

Seeing Xue Hongling’s graceful figure leaning over him, Wu Chen, still lying in her lap, yelped in alarm. He quickly rolled away and scrambled to his feet.

He shouted:

"What are you doing, Miss!"

"When I was snuggling into your arms just now, I clearly felt something tucked away in your robes!"

"That must be your important Martial Arts manual!"

"I gave you my important Martial Arts manual, and you agreed! So why won’t you give me yours?!"

"Are you trying to cheat me or something?!"

???

Xue Hongling’s arms suddenly felt light. Her face was hidden in shadow.

She had no idea what was happening. Hearing Wu Chen’s long string of accusations, she froze on the spot, completely stunned.

She looked up. The young man stood before her with his hands on his hips, his voice brimming with energy, glaring at her with wide eyes as if he were the one who had been grievously wronged.

More importantly, he didn’t look half-dead in the slightest!

It didn’t take her long to figure it out.

Wu Chen wasn’t injured at all. This whole act was just to trick her!

No! He wasn’t just tricking her!

He was after the Martial Arts manual in her robes!

Xue Hongling was flustered and furious, her face scarlet. A woman of few words, her lips now moved ceaselessly, as if trying to form a curse that just wouldn’t come.

In the end, looking at the young man, she failed.

Fuming, she pulled a manual, still warm from her body, from her robes and threw it at Wu Chen.

"Take it!"

"Gently, now! Don’t tear the pages!"

Watching the manual fly toward him, Wu Chen caught it as if it were a priceless treasure, terrified of causing any damage.

Gazing at the Martial Arts manual, titled Swallow Body, he heaved a long sigh of relief.

’Excellent! I finally got my hands on her Martial Arts!’

It hadn’t been a waste to suck in his cheeks so hard his gums bled for that performance!

Wu Chen looked at the pouting girl, then glanced down at the large, wet tear stain she’d left on his clothes when she was moved to tears earlier. He was speechless.

’You got me all wet, and now *you’re* the one throwing a fit?’

’Ah, whatever. Since you gave me your most important possession, I’ll let it slide!’

Now that he had what he wanted, Wu Chen lost interest in Xue Hongling and hurried back into the quarry.

He had been so focused on his performance that he hadn’t had a chance to sweep the battlefield yet.

Besides, word of the incident at the quarry would surely be spread throughout Black Stone City by the workers in no time.

If he didn’t hurry up and loot the place, it would be a headache to deal with when the authorities or other gangs arrived to claim the territory.

Outside the quarry, Xue Hongling was left all alone, watching Wu Chen’s retreating back, so angry she could grind her teeth.

Thinking back on what just happened, she was practically fuming.

She touched her burning-hot cheeks. It took a long while for her to calm down. Her eyes darted around the surroundings, and she quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

’Thank goodness, thank goodness. No one else saw that.’

’I would have died of embarrassment!’

The memory made her so ashamed and embarrassed that she wanted to run her head into a tree.

’Still, that guy...’

Finally, Xue Hongling’s gaze fell upon the heavy manual in her hand.

She was also curious. Wu Chen had gone to such great lengths, putting her through that whole ordeal, all for an exchange. Just what was so special about the Martial Arts manual he had given her?

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