The moment the blood mist and chunks of flesh splattered across my face, I was completely stunned.
Just moments ago, I had said—I had said that I wouldn't let a single companion die.
But now... Tian Yong had died in battle, and Zhang Yuchen... Zhang Yuchen's stomach had exploded...
In the instant I froze, a sharp ghost claw shot straight for my throat.
"Die..."
"Brother Jiang, watch out..."
Pan Ling shouted.
Pan Ling shoved me away with all her strength.
With a ripping sound, the claws slashed open Pan Ling's neck, blood spraying out in jets.
"Pan Ling..."
I suddenly snapped back to my senses.
It had only taken an instant—less than a fraction of a second. Pan Ling had taken a claw to the neck for my sake.
Daoist Qingshan raised his hand and slashed with his sword.
"Break!"
"Boom!"
The evil ghost that had ripped open Zhang Yuchen's stomach was instantly killed, its soul scattered.
But I stared at Pan Ling in panic. Three bloody gashes cut across her neck, each deep enough to expose bone, as though they were about to sever her head.
Blood kept pouring out. Pan Ling lost all strength, her body twisting as she collapsed to the ground.
Yet she was still conscious. She looked at me, trying to speak, but no sound came out. Her mouth was full of blood.
I scrambled forward in a panic.
One hand clamped tightly over her neck.
"Pan Ling!"
Daoist Qingshan shouted, but more evil entities rushed at him, forcing him to fend them off from both sides.
"I'm sorry, Pan Ling. I'm sorry, Pan Ling..."
That single brief lapse, that tiny moment of distraction, had given those evil entities an opening. And Pan Ling had used her own body to shield me, suffering these injuries