Zhu Zhuqing's Collapse

Seeing the small bottle Chen Xi had placed on the carriage, Yang Wushuang immediately picked it up, poured out the crystal-clear liquid inside, and applied it to the girl's wounds.

Just as Yang Wushuang was treating the girl's injuries, a token slipped from her body and fell onto the carriage with a crisp sound.

Chen Xi picked up the token and examined it carefully.

On its front was an engraving resembling a cat, while the back bore the two characters "Netherworld."

Turning the token over in his hand, Chen Xi narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Cat..."

"Netherworld..."

Chen Xi murmured to himself before setting the token down.

He reached out, grasped the girl's wrist, and checked her bone age.

"Twelve years old."

Chen Xi's gaze gradually shifted to the unconscious girl, his expression becoming somewhat intriguing.

He already had a guess about the girl's identity, though he could not confirm it for the moment.

Before long.

After tending to the girl's wounds, Yang Wushuang came to Chen Xi's side and asked softly, "Miss, are we entering the Soul Beast Forest now?"

"No rush. The Soul Beast Forest is nearby anyway. Let's rest first and wait for her to wake up."

Chen Xi's gaze slowly turned toward the small river nearby. "Uncle Yang, I think I saw fish in the river earlier. Go catch a few so we can make grilled fish."

Yang Wushuang nodded lightly and headed toward the river.

"Miss, please wait in the carriage."

Watching Yang Wushuang leave, Chen Xi sat quietly in the carriage and waited.

After catching several fish from the river, Yang Wushuang started a fire in a relatively open area and began grilling them.

Before long.

A faint aroma of meat drifted from the campfire.

Yang Wushuang took out some salt and sprinkled it evenly over the grilled fish.

Once the fish were fully cooked, Yang Wushuang handed one to Chen Xi first.

Chen Xi took a bite, and his eyes brightened slightly.

Though there were not many seasonings, the grilled fish was exceptionally delicious.

Perhaps drawn by the fragrance of the grilled fish, the unconscious girl gradually opened her eyes and looked around with a confused gaze.

"You're awake."

"The grilled fish was just made. Would you like some?"

Chen Xi turned to the awakened girl, his tone exceptionally gentle.

The girl sat up in the carriage. Looking at her surroundings and recalling what had happened before she fainted, she roughly understood the situation.

"Thank you for saving me."

"My name is Zhu Zhuqing. I will remember this kindness in my heart. If there is ever an opportunity, I will repay you."

Zhu Zhuqing's voice carried a trace of weakness.

"It was nothing."

Chen Xi waved it off carelessly and signaled Yang Wushuang with his eyes to give Zhu Zhuqing a grilled fish.

Receiving Chen Xi's signal, Yang Wushuang immediately handed a grilled fish to Zhu Zhuqing.

Smelling its aroma and feeling the hunger in her stomach, Zhu Zhuqing considered it for a moment. Rather than putting on airs, she reached out and accepted the grilled fish from Yang Wushuang.

"Thank you."

Zhu Zhuqing thanked them earnestly, then began taking small bites of the grilled fish in her hands.

"My name is Chen Xi."

"Your injuries will need a few days of rest. Where are you headed? If it's on our way, you can travel with us for now."

"After all, you're alone and injured. It may not be very safe for you to leave by yourself."

Chen Xi looked at Zhu Zhuqing with smiling eyes.

"I'm going to Suotuo City in the Heaven Dou Empire to find someone. Traveling with you probably wouldn't be on the way, would it?"

Zhu Zhuqing looked somewhat hesitant.

"Suotuo City?"

"Then perhaps it really is on the way. We're heading to the Heaven Dou Empire too, though we have a few matters to handle before going there. If you don't mind, you can travel with us, and we can head to the Heaven Dou Empire together afterward."

Chen Xi took a bite of grilled fish, his eyes especially sincere.

Zhu Zhuqing was slightly stunned.

She first looked at the sincere-eyed Chen Xi, then at the silent Yang Wushuang beside him, and finally at her own injuries. A thoughtful look quietly appeared in her eyes.

Perhaps because they had saved her.

Zhu Zhuqing truly had a very favorable impression of Chen Xi.

After carefully weighing it in her heart, Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly.

"Then I'll have to trouble you."

"I'm a level twenty-six Soul Grandmaster. If there's anything you need help with, feel free to tell me."

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze was very serious.

"I don't have much combat ability, but Uncle Yang is very strong. There's no need to worry about safety along the way."

Chen Xi spoke somewhat casually.

Of course, when Chen Xi said he had little combat ability, that was in comparison to Yang Wushuang, an eight-ring Soul Douluo.

After all, before Yang Wushuang, an eight-ring Soul Douluo who specialized in attack power, Chen Xi's combat ability was indeed somewhat lacking. But compared to Zhu Zhuqing, Chen Xi could undoubtedly beat her one-handed without even using his martial soul.

Zhu Zhuqing nodded thoughtfully.

Looking again at the Soul Beast Forest in the distance, she assumed Chen Xi was a support-type soul master, which was why he said he had little combat ability. She also assumed he had come here with an elder from his clan to obtain a soul ring.

Soon.

After finishing the grilled fish, Chen Xi took out a handkerchief and elegantly wiped the corner of his mouth.

"Zhuqing, we're going into the Soul Beast Forest to obtain a soul ring. You can wait for us in the carriage."

As Chen Xi spoke, he jumped down from the carriage.

Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing felt that her earlier guess had been entirely correct.

"I'll go with you."

"Maybe I can help with something."

Zhu Zhuqing also stepped down from the carriage.

"Your injuries?"

Chen Xi turned back to look at Zhu Zhuqing, who had followed him.

"They're nothing serious."

"They won't affect normal movement much."

Zhu Zhuqing waved it off indifferently.

Seeing this, Chen Xi thought for a moment and did not refuse. Instead, he led Zhu Zhuqing toward the forest.

The moment they entered the Soul Beast Forest, Yang Wushuang released his Mental Power to investigate every movement in the surroundings.

Zhu Zhuqing walked beside Chen Xi, her gaze constantly sweeping across the area.

"Chen Xi, what age soul ring are we looking for?"

Her cool voice rang out.

"We don't need to look for one ourselves."

"Uncle Yang is here."

Chen Xi smiled and strolled leisurely through the forest.

Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing glanced at Yang Wushuang, who was walking at the front, then withdrew her gaze and silently continued beside Chen Xi.

As the group continued onward, Yang Wushuang's steps paused slightly.

"Miss."

"There's a unicorn up ahead. Its age is just right. Shall we choose this unicorn, or keep looking?"

Yang Wushuang turned back to Chen Xi and asked for his opinion.