When One Must Protect What Matters Most, Even at the Cost of Death

Upon hearing this, the Blackwater Captain glanced sideways at Yang Ming beneath his foot and sneered disdainfully.

"Just you?"

"You can barely save yourself, yet you still dare to spout such nonsense. Looks like the lesson I gave you wasn't nearly profound enough."

A strand of purple hair dangled from the Blackwater Captain's head, sharp as a steel needle. It viciously pierced the back of Yang Ming's hand, pinning his entire palm to the ground.

Blood flowed out in streams.

The pain in his hand twisted Yang Ming's face. His five fingers clawed tightly at the ground, gravel digging beneath his nails.

Yet even with pain piercing his heart, Yang Ming stubbornly refused to make a sound. His gaze remained fixed on the Blackwater Captain and Xiao Wu in his hand as he rasped, "Xiao Wu, do you believe in me?"

Xiao Wu's neck was gripped in one of the Blackwater Captain's hands, her face flushed red from the choking.

Watching Yang Ming refuse to give up on saving her even while the enemy crushed him with overwhelming strength, Xiao Wu's tears began to flow helplessly. Other than her mother, no one had ever treated her this well!

Without realizing it, Yang Ming had already taken an extremely important place in her heart.

"Yang... Yang Ming." Xiao Wu forced the corners of her mouth upward. Her constricted throat struggled to produce a complete sentence, as though she wanted to pour out all the emotions choking her chest. "I believe in you!"

Beside them, the Blackwater Captain chuckled coldly.

"Ignorant youngsters, I am the strong one. You weaklings want to take someone from my hands? Did you ask for my permission?"

As he spoke, the Blackwater Captain seemed determined to prove his words were the truth of the world. The foot