Ugly

Ugly

Elsewhere, Jiang Nanxi and the Three-Tailed Fox walked quietly through the dark woods.

Gradually, the Three-Tailed Fox stopped. Its small nose kept twitching at the air.

Noticing the Three-Tailed Fox's unusual behavior, Jiang Nanxi stopped as well. "What's wrong?"

The Three-Tailed Fox did not immediately answer her question, instead continuing to sniff at something in the air.

After a long while, it came to Jiang Nanxi's feet. One fox paw tugged at her pant leg while the other pointed in a certain direction.

Jiang Nanxi was somewhat puzzled. If it were an ordinary Demon, the Three-Tailed Fox should not have been so solemn.

The girl and fox had been in the mountains for some time. During that period, Jiang Nanxi had relied on the Three-Tailed Fox to kill several centipede Demons.

Crouching down, Jiang Nanxi stroked the Three-Tailed Fox's head. "Is there an elite Demon over there?"

The Three-Tailed Fox shook its head at Jiang Nanxi's question, then began gesturing anxiously.

Jiang Nanxi froze at the Three-Tailed Fox's reaction. If it was not an elite Demon, then what could it be?

As she thought, Jiang Nanxi's expression gradually turned serious. "Someone's hurt?"

Seeing that Jiang Nanxi had guessed correctly, the Three-Tailed Fox nodded its head rapidly.

Jiang Nanxi immediately stood up and calmly ordered, "Three-Tailed Fox, lead the way."

As she followed the Three-Tailed Fox, Jiang Nanxi kept thinking nonstop.

From what her father had told her, Secret Realms controlled by the Association were generally covered with surveillance.

Since Third Year High School students like them had entered for practical training, the two Card Masters at the Secret Realm Entrance were definitely monitoring them the entire time.

If someone really was injured, as the Three-Tailed Fox had determined, yet no one had come to rescue them...

She felt that something was wrong.

Before she had time to think further, she arrived at the source of the blood scent the Three-Tailed Fox had detected.

A tree as thick as a person's embrace had been severed by some unknown sharp weapon, its massive crown lying tilted on the ground.

Lin Yue, the student who had fought Lu Su in the first match of the ranking test, was lying on the ground, his fate unknown.

Jiang Nanxi hurried to Lin Yue's side and softly called out, "Lin Yue. Lin Yue."

When Lin Yue did not respond, Jiang Nanxi slowly reached out to check his breathing.

"Thank goodness, he's alive." Feeling Lin Yue's faint breath brush against her fingers, Jiang Nanxi could not help but let out a sigh of relief.

However, since she did not know exactly where Lin Yue was injured, Jiang Nanxi did not dare move him rashly.

Straightening up, Jiang Nanxi's face was grave. "What exactly happened?"

In her impression, Lin Yue was the strongest student in the class besides Lu Su, Du Heng, and herself.

Those centipedes could not possibly have injured him this badly.

And where were the Association Card Masters in the Secret Realm? Why had not a single one come?

It would be great if Lu Su were here, Jiang Nanxi thought to herself.

Lu Su's Pidgeot would be extremely convenient in this situation. He could leave Tsugikuni Yoriichi behind and ride Pidgeot to seek help.

Unfortunately, Jiang Nanxi had no flying mount. If she left the Three-Tailed Fox here to protect Lin Yue and went for help alone, it would be far too dangerous.

Just as Jiang Nanxi was considering a solution, hurried footsteps sounded from the dark woods before her.

"Who's there?!" Jiang Nanxi shouted sharply.

The Three-Tailed Fox also assumed an attacking stance.

Under the watchful eyes of the girl and fox, a panicked figure staggered out of the woods.

"Du Heng." Jiang Nanxi lowered her guard upon seeing him, but when she noticed his torn clothes and disheveled appearance, fresh doubts arose. "Du Heng, what happened? How did you end up like this?"

Du Heng panted heavily and answered in broken gasps, "Run... run... there's a monster!"

Jiang Nanxi frowned. "A monster? Then what about Lin Yue if we run?"

What the hell do I care whether Lin Yue lives or dies?!

Du Heng thought irritably, but he answered, "Even my Green Zombie was no match for that monster. If you want to stay and throw your life away, I'm not joining you."

Du Heng said this because his Green Zombie had already died and entered cooldown. If Jiang Nanxi did not leave with him, he would not be able to get far alone in this environment.

But Jiang Nanxi did not know what he was thinking. She merely said sternly, "I'm not leaving. I'll stay here with Lin Yue and wait for rescue."

Jiang Nanxi had grown up under the guidance of her Gold Grade Card Master father. She could not abandon a classmate.

Du Heng gritted his teeth. "You're going to throw your life away for a piece of trash?"

Jiang Nanxi shook her head at his words. She did not answer his question, only saying, "If you want to leave, you can go by yourself."

You stupid woman! If I could leave, would I still be here trying to persuade you?!

Du Heng cursed furiously in his heart.

Just then, a piercing howl came from the woods behind Du Heng.

Du Heng's legs went weak, and he dropped to his knees. But in order to survive, he still crawled on all fours to Jiang Nanxi's side.

Jiang Nanxi paid no attention to Du Heng's pathetic state, only watching the dark woods with grave caution.

"Ho, ho, ho..."

Amid heavy panting, the monster Du Heng had spoken of gradually revealed itself before Jiang Nanxi.

The monster's entire body was wrapped in scarlet flesh and blood. A pair of icy blades on its blood-soaked hands stabbed painfully into the eyes.

The moment she saw the monster, the Three-Tailed Fox launched its illusion technique.

Unfortunately, it was useless again.

Clearly, the monster was another mindless creature unaffected by even the most basic illusions.

Jiang Nanxi's face darkened at the sight. After several battles, the Three-Tailed Fox's weakness had become increasingly apparent. If she made it out alive this time, she had to find a way to solve this problem.

But the monster gave her no time to think too deeply and attacked first.

The scarlet figure charged at the Three-Tailed Fox with a shrill rush of wind, the Claws on its left hand flashing with cold light as they stabbed straight at the Three-Tailed Fox's face.

Fortunately, the Three-Tailed Fox nimbly leaped into the air and evaded the monster's attack.

But that leap also created a fatal opening.

The Claws on the monster's Right hand dragged across the ground, carving three deep blade marks into the soil as they swept upward at the Three-Tailed Fox.

The Three-Tailed Fox... shattered.

It had lasted only a single exchange.

Jiang Nanxi was simply unlucky. Every enemy she had encountered had been immune to the Three-Tailed Fox's illusions. Ordinarily, the Three-Tailed Fox should not have seemed so weak and helpless.

But reality had no ifs.

Just as Jiang Nanxi stood shocked by the Three-Tailed Fox's death, a powerful force struck from behind and shoved her toward the monster.

Jiang Nanxi turned back in astonishment.

It was Du Heng.

Du Heng's face was crazed as he muttered, "I can't die. I can't die. I still have to become a Hall of Fame Card Master."

"Yes, I still have to become a Hall of Fame Card Master. I still have to surpass Lu Su!"

"Jiang Nanxi, I'll remember you. Once I become a Hall of Fame Card Master, I'll avenge you!"

With that, Du Heng turned and prepared to flee.

Seeing Du Heng's deranged appearance, Jiang Nanxi closed her eyes in despair.

Just as she waited for death, a calm voice came from above.

"How ugly, Du Heng."