Chapter 1459 - 752: Special Power (2)
Chapter 1459: Chapter 752: Special Power (2)
But her eyes carried an unprecedented brilliance.
"I... I did it..."
Looking at the corpse of the Wind and Cloud Leopard, Xie Qingxuan suddenly laughed, with a hint of relief and pride in her smile.
She was no longer the burden who only knew how to hide behind Gu.
"The Spiritual Medicine that Gu needs..."
She remembered the purpose of this trip, forced herself to stand up, and started searching nearby.
An hour later, Xie Qingxuan dragged the corpse of the Wind and Cloud Leopard, clutching several stalks of blue-glowing "Mystic Ice Grass" in her arms, and staggered toward the cave.
With each step, the wound on her left shoulder brought heart-wrenching pain, but she gritted her teeth and persevered.
"Can’t fall... at least... must deliver the medicine..."
Inside the cave, Gu Sheng was sitting cross-legged, surrounded by nine streams of golden energy.
The Nine Dragon Heaven and Earth Technique was at a critical moment; just one more step to penetrate the dead point in his Dantian and activate the first Grotto Heaven.
Suddenly, he frowned, smelling the intense scent of blood.
"Someone is approaching!"
Gu Sheng forcibly interrupted his cultivation, cold light flashing in his eyes.
He silently moved to the shadow at the cave entrance, a black-as-ink longsword already in hand.
"Gu... Brother..."
A weak female voice came, causing Gu Sheng’s pupils to shrink. He saw Xie Qingxuan, covered in blood, collapsed at the cave entrance, the Spirit Grass in her arms already soaked with blood.
Even more shocking was that a vine around her waist was tied to the headless corpse of a Wind and Cloud Leopard!
"Xie Qingxuan!"
Gu Sheng stepped forward swiftly, supporting the collapsing girl.
Xie Qingxuan forced a smile on her pale face.
"Spiritual Medicine... I found it..."
Before she finished speaking, she fainted.
Gu Sheng checked her injuries; the penetrating wound on her left shoulder was startling, and excessive blood loss made her face pale as paper.
But what concerned him more was the Wind and Cloud Leopard’s corpse... This Xuanwu Realm Demon Beast, was actually killed by Xie Qingxuan?
"This girl..."
An unusual stir emerged in Gu Sheng’s heart.
He had thought Xie Qingxuan was just a pampered daughter from a prominent family, but now...
"This time... it’s my turn to protect you... Gu..."
Xie Qingxuan murmured unconsciously in her coma.
Gu Sheng’s movements froze as he looked down at the battered girl in his arms, a complex expression in his eyes.
"Fool."
He cursed softly, but his tone wasn’t as cold as usual.
"Who asked you to protect me?"
Despite his words, he still carried Xie Qingxuan carefully into the cave, gently laying her on the dry grass bedding.
Then he took out the Pill Furnace he carried and started to concoct Healing Pills.
"Mystic Ice Grass, Blood Ganoderma... and the Demon Core of the Wind and Cloud Leopard..."
Gu Sheng skillfully processed the medicinal materials, his actions faster than usual.
"This girl sure knows how to choose; they’re all top-notch healing materials."
The Pill Furnace soon emitted bubbling sounds, and the rich fragrance of medicine filled the cave.
While controlling the heat, Gu Sheng occasionally glanced at the unconscious Xie Qingxuan.
Xie Qingxuan’s eyelashes trembled lightly as she slowly opened her eyes.
Her vision blurred for a moment before gradually clearing, revealing the uneven rocky walls, with the flickering firelight casting wavering shadows.
"Awake?"
A deep voice came from not far away, prompting Xie Qingxuan to turn her head with difficulty and see Gu Sheng sitting by the fire, flipping and roasting a piece of beast meat.
Under the firelight, the defined contours of his side face appeared particularly profound.
"Where... am I?"
Xie Qingxuan’s voice was hoarse, her throat feeling as if it had been burned by fire.
"At the cave entrance."
Gu Sheng didn’t raise his head, continuing to flip the roast meat.
"You were lucky; a moment later and you truly might not survive."
Memories surged like tides as Xie Qingxuan recalled the scene of running wildly with Gu Sheng in the dense forest.
The roar of the Wind and Cloud Leopard seemed to still echo in her ears; her last memory was seeing this cave, then...
"You carried me for thirty miles."
Gu Sheng suddenly spoke, interrupting her reminiscences.
"The poison from the Wind and Cloud Leopard has invaded your meridians. I used its Demon Core and the medicinal materials you brought back to refine a Small Rejuvenation Pill, temporarily suppressing the toxicity."
Xie Qingxuan tried to move, and a wave of severe pain immediately surged through her body, forcing her to gasp sharply.
"Don’t move."
Gu Sheng finally turned his head, his obsidian-like eyes staring directly at her.
"The toxicity hasn’t been completely cleared; you’re even weaker than a normal person now."
Xie Qingxuan noticed that the wound on Gu Sheng’s chest had already scabbed over. Although his face was still pale, his breathing was much more stable than before.
She opened her mouth, wanting to ask something, when suddenly her stomach let out a loud "growl."
Gu Sheng’s mouth twitched slightly imperceptibly, as he handed over the cooked beast meat.
"Eat it."
Xie Qingxuan’s cheeks flushed as she took the roasted meat and bit into it tentatively.
The meat was coarse, with a faint gamey taste, but hunger made her indifferent to it.
"The meat of the Wind and Cloud Leopard has toxicity and impurities."
Gu Sheng explained.
"Your current weakness is partially due to the residual toxicity."
Xie Qingxuan chewed slowly and suddenly looked up into Gu Sheng’s eyes.
"Why... why didn’t you leave me behind?"
Gu Sheng’s hand paused as he poked the fire.
"With your strength, you could have completely escaped on your own if you left me behind."
Xie Qingxuan’s voice grew quieter.
"I’m... just a burden..."
The campfire crackled with a "pop," and the cave fell silent.
After a long while, Gu Sheng finally spoke.
"Then why didn’t you run away?"
Xie Qingxuan froze, the roasted meat in her hand halting mid-air.
"I..."
She bit her lower lip, summoning her courage to speak.
"I’m afraid... afraid those Demon Beasts would catch up... and you’re injured..."
Gu Sheng’s gaze grew deep, and Xie Qingxuan felt her heartbeat suddenly accelerate.
"So you risked your life to protect me?"
Gu Sheng’s voice was devoid of emotion.
Xie Qingxuan lowered her head, her long hair falling to hide her blushing cheeks.
"I... I just..."
"Thank you."
The simple words made Xie Qingxuan look up sharply, only to see Gu Sheng turning away, continuing to roast another piece of beast meat.
In the firelight, his back appeared especially upright.
For the next two days, the two rested quietly in the cave.
Xie Qingxuan’s toxicity gradually faded, while Gu Sheng’s injuries healed at an astonishing speed.
On the morning of the third day, Xie Qingxuan was startled awake by a strong wave of spiritual power.
She opened her eyes to see Gu Sheng sitting cross-legged at the cave entrance, surrounded by a light azure whirlpool of spiritual power.
"Fifth Level of the Earth Martial Realm..."
Xie Qingxuan murmured, a look of astonishment fleeting through her eyes along with an unnoticed joy.
The spiritual power gradually subsided, Gu Sheng opened his eyes, a glint momentarily flashing through them.
He stood up, stretching, his joints emitting crisp sounds.
"Congratulations to Young Master Gu for advancing in cultivation."
Xie Qingxuan said softly.
Gu Sheng nodded, walking over to her.
"My injuries have healed. We will leave here today."
Xie Qingxuan’s eyes brightened.
"Are we going back to Great Wilderness City?"
"No."
Gu Sheng answered decisively.
"I will continue my training; I won’t return until I break through to the Heavenly Martial Realm."
The light in Xie Qingxuan’s eyes dimmed, and she lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.
Gu Sheng took a simple Token from his chest pocket and held it out to her.
"When you return to Great Wilderness City, if you encounter anything you can’t resolve, go to Linyin Pavilion and show this."
Xie Qingxuan did not reach out to take it, instead looking up at Gu Sheng with a complex expression.
"Aren’t you coming back with me?"
Gu Sheng frowned slightly.
"I have my own path to follow."
"But..."
Xie Qingxuan bit her lip and suddenly said.
"I might have a way to help you recover faster... even breakthrough."
Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Xie Qingxuan’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz.
"When I was young... a reclusive expert once mentioned, my physique is unique... there’s a special power in my bloodline... especially... the Yuan Yin Power..."
Before she could finish, her face had already turned as red as a ripe apple, her voice growing fainter until it was almost inaudible.
The air inside the cave seemed to solidify.
Xie Qingxuan dared not lift her head, only hearing the intense pounding of her heart.
"No need."
Gu Sheng’s voice remained calm.