In the wilderness, a woman and a boy struggled up a mountain, carrying a stretcher. A young man lay on it, covered in wounds, clutching a sword in both hands.
The young man was none other than Li Sifeng. He looked utterly wretched, his face pale, with a streak of blood between his brows.
The boy walked in front. His small frame was drenched in sweat, but he gritted his teeth and pressed on.
"Third Wa, if you can't hold out, let your sister take over."
The woman carrying the rear of the stretcher spoke up. She looked to be in her twenties and wore shabby cloth clothes. Her long hair was tied back with an old strip of cloth, and her fair cheeks were beaded with sweat.
The boy called Third Wa didn't look back. "I'm fine, Sister. Even if I wear the soles of my feet down to the bone, I'll protect our benefactor."
A relieved smile spread across the woman's face, though her eyes shone with concern.
Li Sifeng's eyes were half-open. He spoke weakly. "Miss Xiu, as long as we survive this, once we make it back to the Qingxiao Sect, no one will be able to hurt us... My Eldest Senior Brother always protects me... My Third Senior Brother won't tolerate even a speck of dust in his eyes. He'll avenge us for sure. Not one of the people who harmed us will be allowed to live..."
The Miss Xiu he spoke of was the woman in cloth clothes. Her real name was Cheng Xiu.
Cheng Xiu forced a smile. "All right. Don't worry. We'll do everything we can to get you back to the Qingxiao Sect."
Their family had been killed by wicked men. If Li Sifeng hadn't stepped in just in time, her