The night was black as ink and the wind howled like cries in the dark.
Neither stars nor moon hung in the heavens, only sudden gusts of wind and rumbling thunder were rolling across the plains.
"Swish!"
A steed dashed through the wild grass, so fast that only a blur could be seen racing past, no one could clearly make out who rode atop it.
Chu Wenruo, true to her word, gripped the reins tightly. With the little princess seated before her, she spurred the Heavenly Steed straight toward the distant forest.
Seated behind her was the half-unconscious Chen Kuang, utterly spent.
Borrowed strength never came without a price.
Once that overwhelming Spiritual Energy drained away, all the injuries he had sustained during battle remained.
Earlier, the energy had masked the pain, but now, Chen Kuang could feel every wound in vivid clarity.
From his internal organs to his meridians, all were severely, even fatally, damaged.
If not for his unique physique and the passive effect of the Flesh Reishi, he'd have died countless times already.
"I feel like that woman lent me the Divine Mountain Borrowing Jade just hoping I'd explode from it," he thought dimly, drifting in and out of consciousness.
"First, breaking through the Black Armor Army... then, that damned jade. Every 'aid' she offered could've been a trap. She's terrifying..."
Still, he'd come out on top in the end.
Had it been an ordinary Qi Opening Realm cultivator, absorbing such a flood of Spiritual Energy might have caused their body to rupture.
But thanks to the Mud-Forged Gold Body Technique and five iterations of Force Accumulation, plus his last-minute insight into the third form, Chen Kuang had successfully channeled it all, and emerged stronger.
And by choosing to let him go to save the world, Shen Xingzhu had once again fractured her Dao Heart.
The first time, she had tried to kill someone she shouldn't.
The second time, she spared someone she shouldn't.
One misstep after another.
"I wonder," Chen Kuang mused, "if I'll end up haunting her nightmares forever..."
He tried to laugh, but a spasm wracked his chest, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Chu Wenruo heard the sound and quickly said,
"Mr. Chen, your wounds are severe. Don't move! Just hold on to me, we'll reach the forest soon!"
Afraid he'd fall, she reached back and guided his hands to wrap around her waist.
It was an incredibly intimate position, Chen Kuang was practically plastered against her back, but the urgency of the situation left no room for modesty.
She had never ridden a horse before, and though the Xuantian Horse, the Heavenly Steed was highly intelligent and well-trained, simply controlling direction was already difficult at such speed.
A single misstep could spell disaster.
Chen Kuang rested his chin on her shoulder, hoping to recover using the First Form, but his Spiritual Energy was completely drained, there was nothing left to draw from.
All he could do now was rely on the passive effects of the Fetal Breathing Technique to slowly restore himself.
But to his surprise, his third acupoint had opened!
After surviving such a brutal night, the repeated flooding and draining of Spiritual Energy had helped him break through three minor realms in one go.
It was a miracle in its own right.
Still, Chen Kuang had no interest in advancing by flirting with death.
"Wouldn't it be nice," he sighed, "if I could just hide in a corner somewhere and quietly let my passives build up over time..."
But for now, he allowed himself a moment to relax.
Pressed up against her, he became more aware of the warmth beneath her thin robes, which stirred a few... impure thoughts.
Her waist was soft and narrow, perfectly palm-sized.
Chen Kuang adjusted his position slightly, trying to find a more comfortable angle.
Truly, life in the palace had kept her in splendid shape. Even after suffering in prison, Chu Wenruo's body had remained curvy and full, with no sharp angles, like a warm, pillowy cushion.
Unfortunately, he didn't get to enjoy it for long.
The little "slop bucket" in front suddenly complained in a small voice, "Mom... can he let go? His hand is poking my butt!"
Given the close quarters, there was no way to keep that comment secret.
Chen Kuang: "..."
Kid, mind your own business!
He was already thin, with callused fingers from playing the Zither and doing manual labor, Qi Opening Realm cultivators hadn't yet reached the body-refining stage where bones and flesh transformed.
So his rough hands, wrapped around Chu Wenruo's waist, were indeed poking into the little princess's tender backside.
Naturally, Chu Wenruo couldn't ask him to let go. He was severely injured, any loosened grip might send him tumbling off the horse.
She could only soothe her daughter gently,
"Ying'er, be good. Just bear with it a little. Mr. Chen is hurt and can't move..."
"Mom, you're dumb," the little slop bucket said, disgusted with her mother's intelligence.
Then, quite helpfully, she suggested,
"Just tell him to hold on somewhere else!"
Chu Wenruo froze. "W-where else?"
The child pondered, then pointed upward with two fingers and solemnly declared: "Here's a good spot!"
Chu Wenruo: !!!
Her entire face turned bright red. She panicked, flustered, and stammered:
"No! What nonsense are you spouting?! How could you... how could he grab there?! Where did you learn such things?!"
She tried to restrain her daughter's wandering hands, but with both hands gripping the reins, she could only lean forward and use her body weight to stop her.
The little slop bucket squealed,
"Mom! You're squishing my hand! It's heavy!"
Chen Kuang's face contorted with amusement.
Alright, I take it back. I misjudged you, kid. You're going places...
Amid the chaos, the horse galloped into the forest.
The already dark night grew even deeper. Branches flashed by on either side. The air grew damp and icy, brushing against their skin like cold needles.
Chen Kuang shivered. Goosebumps rose across his back, and a chill pierced his spine like a spear.
No, that wasn't the cold.
It was "Blood Premonition"!
Danger!
"Duck down!" Chen Kuang shouted, channeling the faint trace of energy he had just regained. He clamped his knees around the horse's sides.
Chu Wenruo obeyed instantly, lowering herself, and the Heavenly Steed surged forward with all its might.
At that moment, multiple glints of cold light streaked out from the forest.
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
Several iron plaques came hurtling toward them, slicing the air with deadly force, grazing the horse and drawing blood.
The Heavenly Steed neighed in pain.
A group of figures emerged, dressed in white, each holding a sword. Their cultivation hovered around the Innate Realm. One among them made hand seals, it was him controlling the flying plaques.
Chen Kuang's heart sank.
Not Black Armor soldiers, these were clearly from the Three Calamities Sect!
In his current state, relying on the horse alone, escape was impossible.
"Swish!"
Before he could fully process the danger, the iron plaques whirled in the air and changed course, flying back toward them.
The Heavenly Steed was already wounded, it couldn't dodge in time.
Just then, a streak of green burst from the shadows, swift as lightning.
A long sword flashed as the figure wove it trough the air, knocking the plaques aside:
Clang, Clang, Clang!
The green-clad figure landed on the horse with ghostlike grace, grabbed all three passengers in one motion, and vanished into the woods like a phantom.
Chen Kuang's vision spun and he felt dizzy. When he focused again on the person holding him, his eyes widened in clear surprise.
"...Qingcuo?!"