Evil Fire Reappears, Shui Bing'er's Choice

The four of them flew across the sky.

Shui Bing'er followed quietly at Li Yuan's side, wrapped in Long Yuan's soul power, saying nothing the whole way.

She turned her head several times to look at Li Yuan's profile. Her lips moved, then closed again.

Li Yuan glanced at her. "If there's something you want to ask, ask."

Having her thoughts seen through, Shui Bing'er hesitated for a moment, then still spoke up. "My lord, what kind of force is Nibelungen, exactly? I've never heard of it."

Li Yuan smiled. "What kind of force? You'll know in the future."

He paused, then turned to look ahead. "Di Jun, Long Yuan, head to the depths of Sunset Forest first..."

He did not finish.

His heart suddenly clenched, as if someone had seized it and viciously twisted.

A scalding, burning evil fire exploded from his chest and instantly swept through every limb and bone.

Li Yuan's expression changed drastically. A muffled groan escaped his throat, and his whole body shuddered violently within the wrap of soul power.

"My lord!"

Quick-eyed and quick-handed, Long Yuan grabbed him and held him up.

Li Yuan's skin visibly flushed crimson all over. Veins bulged on his forehead, his breathing grew heavy and scorching, and wisps of black smoke seeped from his pores.

The Di Jun's expression turned grave. "This evil power is actually this terrifying. How long has it even been?"

"My lord's soul power rank is too low. He can't suppress it at all." Long Yuan gritted his teeth, his gaze sweeping toward Shui Bing'er as he had already made a decision in his heart. "Di Jun, put my lord somewhere safe first!"

"Good!"

The four of them plunged rapidly downward, landing in a hidden cave on the outskirts of Sunset Forest.

The cave entrance was narrow, but inside it opened into a spacious hollow. It was dry and ventilated, and the ground was covered in a thick layer of dried moss.

Li Yuan was laid on the moss, his whole body burning hot like a branding iron. His hands tore at the front of his clothes, and the blue robe was quickly ripped to shreds, revealing his reddened chest.

"So hot... so hot..."

His eyes were crimson, his mind hazy, and low, hoarse roars came from his throat.

Long Yuan crouched beside him and examined him for a moment, then looked back at Shui Bing'er with a complicated gaze.

"Fortunately, my lord had the foresight to bring Miss Bing'er along."

Shui Bing'er stood by the cave entrance, completely confused. "Me? Lord Long Yuan, what exactly is wrong with my lord?"

Long Yuan stood up and walked in front of her, his tone solemn. "Miss Bing'er, the evil fire in my lord's body is backlashing. He urgently needs the power of an ultimate ice attribute to suppress it."

"Next, we need your help."

Shui Bing'er blinked, still not understanding.

Long Yuan did not explain further, only leaving one sentence behind:

"Don't worry. If you follow my lord, he won't treat you badly."

"Remember, don't forget to release your martial soul later."

"Di Jun, we'll go outside and keep watch."

The Di Jun nodded. Neither of them said another word before turning and striding out of the cave.

Their footsteps gradually faded away.

Only two people were left inside the cave.

Shui Bing'er stood where she was, her mind full of questions.

What help? What treat her badly? Release her martial soul? What on earth were they talking about?

She looked at Li Yuan, curled up on the moss with his clothes torn to pieces, and a faint unease suddenly welled up in her heart.

"My lord... what exactly is wrong with you?"

Just then, Li Yuan abruptly opened his eyes.

Those eyes had already completely turned into vertical pupils. Dark golden light flickered deep within them, and his beastlike gaze locked firmly onto her.

"Hot—!"

His voice was hoarse, carrying an irresistible pressure.

"Help me—!"

Shui Bing'er was startled by his appearance and instinctively took a step back. "My lord, you—!"

Li Yuan suddenly sprang up from the ground, pouncing out like a leopard, and yanked her into his arms.

"No!"

Shui Bing'er cried out in alarm, instinctively pushing back with both hands, only for her palms to touch scorching skin.

Her soul power surged instinctively, and coldness poured from her palms.

The Ice Phoenix's ultimate ice attribute was triggered and released in that instant.

Riiip—!

The sound of tearing fabric was especially harsh inside the cave.

Ice-blue soul power spread around the girl, and cold air instantly enveloped the entire space, coating the stone walls in a thin layer of frost.

That icy force slammed into the scorching evil fire on Li Yuan's body, letting out hissing bursts of airflow.

Shui Bing'er bit her lip. For an instant, panic flashed in her eyes, but it quickly sank away.

She looked at Li Yuan, who had lost all clarity before her, remembered what Long Yuan and the others had just said, and finally understood.

The next moment!

A sharp phoenix cry suddenly rang out, piercing through the cave walls.

The illusory figure of an ice-blue phoenix spread its wings behind Shui Bing'er, enveloping the two of them and hiding that indescribable scene from view.

Outside the cave.

Di Jun and Long Yuan stood shoulder to shoulder with their backs to the cave entrance.

Listening to the sounds coming from inside, Long Yuan fell silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "With Master's constitution, I'm afraid he'll have to take in a few more in the future."

Di Jun glanced at him expressionlessly.

"Shut up."

Long Yuan coughed and behaved himself.

Dusk had arrived.

Inside the cave, everything was quiet.

Li Yuan opened his eyes in a daze, his head still a little heavy. His right hand instinctively reached to the side, and his palm touched something warm, soft, and delicate.

He jolted fully awake and turned his head to look.

Shui Bing'er was curled up beside him, her ice-blue hair lying in disarray across the moss. Her fair shoulder was exposed to the air, and beneath her collarbone, several faint red marks could vaguely be seen.

Torn pieces of clothing were scattered across the ground, and a few bright spots had fallen among the dry moss, painfully striking to the eye.

She was staring blankly at the cave ceiling, the tear tracks at the corners of her eyes not yet dry.

Li Yuan froze for two seconds.

The fragments in his mind pieced themselves together, and he instantly understood what had happened.

An indescribable feeling rose in his heart. He turned over, reached out, and gently drew her into his arms, resting his chin against the top of her head as his voice lowered. "Don't worry. I'll take responsibility for you."

Shui Bing'er did not speak. She only buried her face in his chest, her shoulders trembling slightly.

The two of them leaned quietly against each other for a while. A few birdcalls came from outside the cave, reminding them that night was approaching.

Li Yuan let go of her and took out two neatly folded sets of clothing from his system space.

One was a moon-white brocade robe, made of fine material and embroidered with subtle cloud-and-water patterns.

The other was a pale cyan long dress, its hem light and flowing, with a silver-thread sash at the waist.

Fortunately, he had listened to that old fox Long Yuan.

Before they set out, Long Yuan had said with a solemn expression, "Master, there may be accidents on this trip. It never hurts to prepare a few extra sets of clothing." At the time, Li Yuan had thought he was being meddlesome and had casually bought seven or eight sets from a ready-made clothing shop in Soto City before stuffing them into his system space.

He never expected them to actually come in handy.

Li Yuan patted Shui Bing'er's flawless back and softened his voice. "Bing'er, we should go."

Shui Bing'er lifted her face from the crook of his arm. She sniffed, gave a soft "Mm," took the dress, and turned around.

There was a rustling sound.

A moment later, Shui Bing'er turned back around, fully dressed.

The pale cyan dress made her cool bearing seem a little softer and more graceful. Although her face was still somewhat pale, she looked much better than before.

Only her posture was slightly awkward, and when she took a step, her brows knitted faintly.

Li Yuan reached out to support her arm and helped her walk toward the cave entrance.

The two walked out of the cave side by side.

Di Jun and Long Yuan had originally been sitting on a large rock not far away. At the sight of them, they appeared in front of them in the blink of an eye.

Long Yuan swept his gaze over Li Yuan's face, then glanced at Shui Bing'er. The corners of his mouth lifted in an almost imperceptible smile. "Master, this old man's reminder wasn't wrong, was it?"

Li Yuan laughed despite himself and shook his head. "Enough."

Long Yuan tactfully put away his smile and stepped forward with a serious expression. "Master, let this old man examine the condition inside your body."

Li Yuan offered him his wrist.

Long Yuan placed two fingers on his pulse point, closed his eyes, and focused for a moment. When he opened them again, his expression eased somewhat. "Mm... Although that evil power has been temporarily suppressed, it should hold for a while."

"Mm?" Li Yuan frowned. "Only temporarily?"

"That's right." Long Yuan glanced at Shui Bing'er, his tone frank. "Miss Bing'er's martial soul may be a top-grade Ice Phoenix, and her ultimate ice attribute can indeed suppress evil fire, but to completely suppress the evil power originating from the World-Destroying Black Dragon... she is still just slightly lacking."

Li Yuan's expression darkened slightly.

Long Yuan changed tack. "However, my lord need not worry too much. As long as Miss Bing'er remains by your side, that evil fire will not be able to stir up any great trouble. Nurture it more in daily life, and once your soul power rises, refining that force yourself may not be impossible."

Li Yuan nodded.

"For now, that's all we can do."

He lifted his eyes to the sky. The treetops at the edge of Sunset Forest had already been gilded with gold and crimson.

"It's getting late. Let's hurry up and finish matters in Sunset Forest, then go home and rest."

The Di Jun bowed. "Yes, my lord."

With a sweep of his hand, Long Yuan wrapped the four of them in soul power and rose into the air.

Carried high into the sky, Shui Bing'er felt the wind stir the loose strands of hair before her forehead. She turned her head and glanced at Li Yuan beside her.

The youth's features were delicate and handsome, his eyes calm and steady. He was looking toward the depths of Sunset Forest ahead, without the slightest trace of impatience between his brows.

She withdrew her gaze and quietly leaned against his side.