To Save or Not to Save

Li Xingluo moved rapidly through the forest. He hadn't run far before a furious roar erupted from behind him.

He knew by the sound that it was the Flame Demon Ape. It seemed the beast had discovered the theft of the Fire Cloud Crystal. The thought of the old man taking the fall for him filled Li Xingluo with immense satisfaction.

Given the combat prowess of the Flame Demon Ape, Li Xingluo didn't believe the old man had the strength to deal with it. To completely shake off the old man's pursuit, Li Xingluo chose to take a detour.

Three days later, Li Xingluo appeared on a small path leading to Ink Cloud City. As he traveled, the sound of hooves reached him from ahead.

Hearing the noise drawing closer, Li Xingluo chose to hide behind a protruding boulder to avoid unnecessary trouble.

"Little girl, don't run. Big Brother hasn't finished pampering you yet."

The lecherous laughter echoed through the short canyon. Perhaps because the horses were spooked, or perhaps because they had been running for too long and were exhausted, a young girl in a purple dress tumbled from her mount.

Two arrows were embedded in the horse's hind legs. The girl clutched her shoulder, her face smeared with dust as she scrambled up from the ground.

A dozen riders followed, pulling on their reins. The leader spurred his horse forward, stopping less than three paces from the girl.

Looking at the delicate girl, whose eyes were filled with hostility, the tall man let out a lecherous laugh.

"Little girl, you won't escape from my palm. You'd better come back with me obediently; I guarantee you'll have everything you could ever want."

The girl was so infuriated by the tall man that her face turned green. Her chest heaved, a sight that made the tall man drool.

"In your dreams! The Song Clan only has those who die in battle; there are no cowards who kneel to survive."

With that, the girl raised the whip in her hand and lashed out at the tall man. The tall man didn't take her attack seriously at all.

He raised his hand and, with a light grab, firmly seized the other end of the whip. No matter how hard the girl struggled to break free, it was to no avail.

Seeing this, the girl simply abandoned the whip and leaped, kicking toward the tall man.

Li Xingluo, hiding on the sidelines and watching the show, couldn't help but shake his head. It was clear the gap in their strength was too vast; the girl was no match for him at all.

Sure enough, the tall man caught the girl's foot mid-kick and gave her a lecherous grin.

The girl felt a wave of nausea. With a single twist, the tall man sent her spinning uncontrollably through the air.

With a light push, the girl was sent flying backward. She tumbled several times in the air before landing, her body hitting the ground with a dull "thud."

The girl struggled to rise, her beautiful eyes fixed on the tall man. Her unyielding nature was on full display, and Li Xingluo couldn't help but feel a shred of admiration for her tenacity.

Refusing to admit defeat, the girl charged at the tall man again without hesitation. Knowing she was outmatched but still daring to fight—Li Xingluo's heart skipped a beat.

Perhaps the tall man felt he was done playing, for this time, he used significantly more force.

The girl fell to the ground with a heavy "thump," though this time, she landed in a rather awkward position.

She caught sight of Li Xingluo hiding behind the rock, and Li Xingluo felt a moment of awkwardness.

When the girl saw Li Xingluo, it was as if she had found a savior; a glimmer of light returned to her dim eyes.

She struggled to stand and tossed an object toward Li Xingluo. He caught it instinctively. Seeing that he had caught the item, the girl smiled—a very happy smile.

"Can you help me deliver this to the Song Clan in Ink Cloud City?"

Li Xingluo had the urge to chop off his own hand. Why did he have to catch it?

The girl faced the dozen riders approaching her as if she were ready to die. She snuck a glance at Li Xingluo, waiting for death without a single regret.

Li Xingluo let out a long sigh. What kind of mess was this? There was no need to think; these people were likely after the hot potato in his hands as well.

With that shout of hers just now, could he even stay hidden anymore?

"Who's there? Come out!"

The girl's eyes darted toward Li Xingluo's hiding spot again. Honestly, this woman's brain must not be working right.

Knowing he could no longer hide, Li Xingluo slowly stepped out from behind the rock.

"Why did you come out?"

Li Xingluo's expression went blank instantly. Looking at the girl, who was as naively hateful as she was pitiful, he felt like he was having the worst luck imaginable.

Was that question for real? Li Xingluo shook his head slightly, signaling that this woman was beyond saving.

Seeing Li Xingluo emerge, the tall man looked him up and down. Without any disguise, Li Xingluo looked exceptionally young.

After a thorough observation, the tall man couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"I thought it was some big shot, but it's just a pretty boy. Song Xue, is your brain broken? You don't actually think he can help you, do you?"

Li Xingluo was very annoyed by the tall man's insolence, but he had to admit one thing: this young lady of the Song Clan really didn't have much of a brain.

The lackeys behind him laughed even more brazenly, and the sound of their unrestrained mockery filled the canyon.

The tall man raised a hand, and his subordinates immediately fell silent.

"Kid, hand over what she gave you, and maybe I'll let you die with some dignity."

Hearing this, the reluctance Li Xingluo felt toward helping Song Xue instantly turned into a deep, icy chill.

He was just passing through. If they wanted to find her, fine, but wanting to kill him too? That was crossing the line.

Li Xingluo picked up the object in his hand and suddenly looked up, his brow radiating a thick, murderous intent.

"You want it? Come and take it if you have the guts."

Looking at the tall man's arrogant demeanor, Li Xingluo felt a sudden urge to give him a proper beating.

"Brat, you're courting death! Brothers, hack him to pieces!"

The tall man waved his hand, and three riders behind him charged toward Li Xingluo, brandishing their sabers.

Song Xue struggled to shift forward, each small step sending waves of sharp pain through her body.

Watching Song Xue try to shield him despite her condition, Li Xingluo said indifferently, "Stand aside."

Song Xue was taken aback, her eyes filled with the clear, naive innocence of a college student.

"You... the leader is a Dou Grandmaster, and the others are Dou Masters too. You..."

Song Xue found it hard to believe that Li Xingluo could defeat a Dou Grandmaster; he was simply too young.

Li Xingluo ignored her, standing his ground as the three men charged toward him.

As the sabers were about to fall, the reflection on the blades clearly revealed Li Xingluo's face.

Song Xue turned pale with fright; wasn't he just throwing his life away? The three men grinned triumphantly, certain this victory would be theirs.

The tall man crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow, savoring the spectacle before him.

But their triumph was short-lived; in the next instant, the men and their horses were sent flying in three different directions, reduced to a bloody mess.

Song Xue couldn't believe her eyes and couldn't help but rub them, only to see the three corpses lying in different spots, the horses also lifeless on the ground.

Song Xue was stunned, her eyes fixed intently on the youth standing before her.

At that moment, Li Xingluo stood like a towering mountain, providing Song Xue with an overwhelming sense of security.

The tall man's expression shifted to one of disbelief as well; a single move had claimed the lives of three Dou Masters who lived by the blade.

Even he couldn't achieve such a feat—just how strong was this seemingly young boy?

The tall man swallowed hard, yet as a bandit accustomed to plundering others, he was not deterred by what he had just witnessed.