Zhu Zhuqing Opens Her Heart!

Deep blue vines wrapped around the black-clad pursuer's chest and abdomen.

Several more reached over his shoulders, pulling his arms apart to either side.

His curved blade slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground.

The black-clad pursuer still struggled.

Tang Feng slowly clenched his fingers.

All the vines tightened inward at once.

The protective Soul Power finally shattered.

Crack!

The black-clad pursuer's body stiffened.

His third Spirit Ring, which had yet to light up, rapidly dimmed.

The Dark Blue Vines continued tightening, completely devouring the last trace of life within him.

Tang Feng released his hand.

The vines collapsed to the ground along with the corpse, then dissolved into specks of dark blue light.

The forest fell silent once more.

Zhu Zhuqing leaned against an ancient tree, staring blankly at the corpse on the ground.

She had personally fought this Soul Elder.

Whether in Soul Power, speed, or combat experience, he had far surpassed her.

Yet Tang Feng had used nothing but those glowing Blue Silver Grass vines to strangle a Soul Elder to death.

He had not even released a Spirit Ring throughout the entire battle.

Zhu Zhuqing raised her eyes to Tang Feng.

What rank was this child, who was even younger than her?

Tang Feng walked over to the corpse and confirmed that the pursuer had lost all signs of life.

A faint rustle of cloth scraping against tree bark suddenly came from behind him.

The wound at Zhu Zhuqing's waist split open completely.

Blood quickly flowed out.

Her Martial Soul Possession was released as well, and the cat ears atop her head and the sharp claws at her fingertips gradually disappeared.

Her last bit of Soul Power had been exhausted.

Zhu Zhuqing's body went limp, and she fell forward.

Tang Feng turned and stepped forward.

His right hand supported Zhu Zhuqing's shoulder and back, while his left hand caught her waist in time.

Her soft body fell into his arms.

Zhu Zhuqing's long black hair slid over her shoulder, lightly brushing Tang Feng's arm.

Her black fitted outfit had been soaked through with sweat and blood, clinging to her slender waist.

Through the thin fabric, Tang Feng could clearly feel the warm, delicate softness beneath his palm.

Zhu Zhuqing instinctively tried to push him away.

But as soon as she raised her arm, blood seeped from the wound at her waist again.

Her brows furrowed tightly. Her pale cheek pressed close to Tang Feng's shoulder, and her breathing grew hurried.

They were too close.

Zhu Zhuqing's loose strands of hair brushed against Tang Feng's neck.

She wanted to steady herself again, but her powerless legs could no longer support her body.

Tang Feng tightened the hand behind her waist to keep her from slipping down.

The Life Blue Silver Emperor had already lit up with a blue-gold glow in his right palm.

"Don't move."

Tang Feng supported Zhu Zhuqing's waist and let her place most of her weight against him.

Zhu Zhuqing still tried to stand firm, but the moment her legs exerted strength, a sharp pain came from the wound at her waist.

Blood seeped through her torn black outfit, quickly staining Tang Feng's fingers red.

The Life Blue Silver Emperor unfurled from his right palm.

Blue-gold blades of grass pressed against Zhu Zhuqing's waist, temporarily sealing her most serious wound.

"There's a cave nearby."

"Let's treat your injuries first."

Zhu Zhuqing glanced at the Blue-Gold Vines wrapped around her waist.

The grass blades held no hostility at all. Instead, the life energy they gave off eased the pain of her wounds.

She did not push Tang Feng away again.

The two proceeded along a forest path.

Through the surrounding Blue Silver Grass, Tang Feng quickly found an abandoned cave.

The entrance was hidden by vines and shrubs, and there was no trace of a soul beast lingering within.

Tang Feng pushed aside the vines and helped Zhu Zhuqing into the cave.

The cave was not deep.

Sunlight streamed in through the entrance, falling directly onto a flat stone platform.

Tang Feng used the Ruination Blue Silver Emperor to sweep away the fallen leaves and dust before placing Zhu Zhuqing down.

Without Tang Feng's support, Zhu Zhuqing immediately raised a hand to brace herself against the stone wall beside her.

She had quite a few injuries.

The blade wound at her waist was the deepest, while her left arm and leg each bore a cut as well.

Her long flight had drained all her Soul Power, leaving her extremely weak.

Her long black hair spilled over her shoulders, with several strands clinging to her pale cheeks.

Her close-fitting outfit had been torn in many places by branches and blades, yet it still outlined her slender, upright figure.

Her long legs were pressed together at the edge of the stone platform, her black boots below the knees covered in mud and dead leaves.

Tang Feng raised his right hand.

Life Blue Silver Emperor!

Blue-Gold Vines slowly grew along Zhu Zhuqing's arm, then split into several blades of grass that wrapped around the wounds at her waist and leg.

[Life Blue Silver Emperor, Life Healing.]

Rich, gentle life energy continuously flowed into her wounds.

The torn flesh quickly stopped bleeding.

The long wound at her waist visibly drew closed, and the exposed flesh gradually healed.

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head to look at her waist.

Blue-gold light shone through her damaged clothing, reflecting against her fair skin.

The constant stabbing pain quickly faded, replaced by a wave of warmth.

In only a short while, the surface of the wound had already scabbed over.

The injuries on her arm and leg were lighter and quickly healed under the nourishment of life energy, leaving behind only a few faint marks.

Color returned to Zhu Zhuqing's pale face.

She lifted her eyes and looked at Tang Feng, who stood close before her.

The Dark Blue Vines that had strangled the Wind Wolf and Soul Elder possessed terrifying corrosive and destructive power.

Yet these Blue-Gold Vines before her displayed an entirely opposite power.

"Your Martial Soul... isn't just for binding."

"This blue-gold Martial Soul can actually heal directly?"

Tang Feng controlled the vines and released her arm.

"My Blue Silver Grass is different from ordinary Blue Silver Grass."

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze rested on his hands.

The Dark Blue Vines he had used before came from his left hand.

The Blue-Gold Vines now treating her wounds came from his right hand.

Two colors.

Two completely different abilities.

She already had a guess, but she did not ask outright.

Everyone had their own secrets.

Tang Feng had saved her. She had even less reason to press him for answers.

The Life Blue Silver Emperor sent the last wisp of life energy into Zhu Zhuqing's body, then dissolved into blue-gold motes of light.

"Your wounds have stabilized."

"Don't move too strenuously tonight. You'll recover more than half by tomorrow."

Zhu Zhuqing moved her left arm slightly.

The wound cut by the dagger no longer affected her movements.

She lowered her head and adjusted the torn hem of her clothing, concealing the scabbed blade wound at her waist.

"Thank you."

Tang Feng took out a waterskin from his pack and held it out to her.

Zhu Zhuqing accepted the waterskin, took two sips, then wiped the mouth of it clean.

When she handed it back, their fingers lightly touched.

Zhu Zhuqing immediately withdrew her hand and tucked the loose black hair beside her face behind her ear.

The cave fell quiet.

Tang Feng did not ask about her background. He merely sat at the cave entrance, keeping watch over the information relayed by the surrounding Blue Silver Grass.

After a long silence, Zhu Zhuqing took the initiative to speak.

"Those people came from the Star Luo Empire."

Tang Feng turned to look at her.

"My family has a rule."

"The heirs of the family must compete against one another. The winner gets everything, while the loser will not meet a good end."

Zhu Zhuqing rested both hands on her knees.

"My marriage was also arranged by the family long ago."

"The person I was meant to marry left Star Luo and fled to another kingdom."

"He can run, but I still have to face the pursuers sent by my family."

She raised her head and looked outside the cave.

Sunlight fell across the forest as several birds swept over the treetops.

"I don't want to live along the path they arranged for me."

"So I left Star Luo too."

"I'm going to find him. At the very least, I need to ask him how long he intends to keep running."