Lin Qiye turned around with difficulty and, using his Straight Saber as a crutch, inched toward Baili Pangpang. They had to reach the summit together-Wang Quan had made that clear from the start.
Of course, even without that rule, he would have turned back. When the Blood Wolf had bitten him, Baili Pangpang had charged in without hesitation.
This guy was just an ordinary person who had lived a pampered life.
But he was also sincere.
Having a friend like that wouldn't be a bad thing.
Watching Lin Qiye struggle toward him, Baili Pangpang's eyes reddened. He said weakly, "Qiye, forget about me! Run!"
"Qiye, you're such a good guy!"
Lin Qiye managed a smile at that. "We're teammates, aren't we?"
"Of course!" Realization dawned on Baili Pangpang. Teammates-that was right. At this very moment, they were comrades fighting side by side.
The wolves kept advancing, now only ten meters from Baili Pangpang, but Lin Qiye reached him first.
Under the crushing pressure, beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. He slowly crouched, gritted his teeth, and helped Baili Pangpang up.
They exchanged smiles, their eyes brimming with youthful sincerity.
"Let's go!"
"Yeah!"
Supporting each other, they used the Straight Sabers in their free hands to prop up their heavy bodies and slowly moved toward the summit.
The wolves were less than a meter behind them. They could clearly hear teeth grinding, ragged breathing, and the hunger for blood.
If they stopped, they might really die.
At the summit, Wang Quan lowered his sunglasses, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly as he praised them inwardly:
Well done!
The refreshing morning sunlight faded, replaced by a scorching sun that beat down on the earth. A long trail of footprints now stretched through the scattered rocks on the endless slope.
Every footprint sank several centimeters into the ground, leaving a distinct hollow.
Sweat soaked Lin Qiye's and Baili Pangpang's clothes. From a distance, they looked as though someone had drenched them.
"Awoooo-!"
With a feast right before their eyes but just out of reach, the wolves howled incessantly in frustration.
Lin Qiye glanced back and jolted in fright. An enormous wolf's head was almost pressed against his face.
"We need to pick up the pace!"
"Qiye, I'm already giving it everything I've got!"
Baili Pangpang let out a long sigh. He really had done his best. This half day's exertion was equivalent to all the exercise he'd done over the past year.
"Look behind you. I bet that'll unleash your hidden power!"
"Huh?" Baili Pangpang turned his head in confusion. The instant he came face-to-face with a wolf, he went pale. Somehow, his back stopped hurting and his legs stopped aching.
"Motherfucker!"
"This is scarier than a horror movie!"
"Run!"
Baili Pangpang shouted, and the two of them accelerated from a snail's pace to a turtle's pace.
Things were looking up. They put a whole ten centimeters between themselves and the wolves.
Meanwhile, at the summit, Wang Quan looked at the log he was holding, then at the pair inching up the slope. After a second's hesitation, he tossed the log down the other side.
"Better not crank up the difficulty!"
"Ah!"
"What can I do? I'm just too nice!"
If Lin Qiye had heard that, he would have unleashed a torrent of curses.
Gradually, a streak of rosy cloud descended from the distant horizon. The mountains lay peacefully upon the canvas of the sky, while Wang Quan lounged on the summit, watching the clouds drift and unfurl.
Bloodred light stretched Lin Qiye's and Baili Pangpang's shadows long. They had covered more than ninety percent of the route, with just over a hundred meters left to the summit.
"Baili..."
Before he could finish, Lin Qiye felt a weight sink onto his shoulder. He turned to find that Baili Pangpang had passed out. The guy had nothing left.
"Ah!"
"If you're tired, take a break!"
Lin Qiye slowly laid Baili Pangpang flat, then sat down to rest himself.
After a full day's effort, they had opened a ten-meter gap between themselves and the wolves.
"What?"
"Giving up?"
"Once it gets dark, the wolves' restraints will be lifted!" Wang Quan helpfully reminded him.
Lin Qiye turned toward him. His face froze for a moment before he started swearing. "You bastard, you really know how to live it up!"
"I went through the same thing back in the day. In fact, I had it even worse!"
"This is just child's play!"
Wang Quan's tone was calm. It was impossible to tell whether he was boasting or stating a fact.
"Oh, right. Call me Master, and we'll end the special training right here!"
"No way! Even if I drop dead from exhaustion and get eaten by wolves, I'm never calling you Master, you damn white-haired bastard!" Lin Qiye glared at Wang Quan and shakily raised his middle finger for good measure.
Wang Quan immediately returned the gesture and teased, "Get your Parkinson's treated first!"
"Hmph!"
"Just you wait!"
"I can make it up there!"
Lin Qiye gave Wang Quan a defiant eye roll, then looked toward the distant sky.
The rosy clouds were thinning, their lowest edges already tinged with faint black.
Night
was coming!
The wolves drew ever closer, gradually eating away at the ten-meter gap. They advanced with the footsteps of death, howling excitedly as they prepared to feast on the prey they had chased all day.
The sky grew darker. Baili Pangpang began snoring, while Lin Qiye closed his eyes to rest, ignoring the wolves.
Night fell!
The restraints were lifted!
The pressure holding the wolves back receded like a tide. Beneath the crescent moon, they raised their heads and howled at the sky.
Dozens of Blood Wolves charged forward like mad. At that moment, Lin Qiye opened his eyes, light swirling within them.
Nyx's divine skill, Starry Night Dancer, activated!
In an instant, a faint haze of stellar power filled his clear eyes. He drew a deep breath and calmly watched the charging wolves.
At that moment, he had a feeling-
Under the night sky, I am invincible!
With the divine skill activated, Lin Qiye's strength, speed, endurance, and recovery all increased fivefold.
He gritted his teeth, hauled Baili Pangpang up, and slung him over his shoulder like a sack.
The instant the first Blood Wolf lunged at him, he broke into a run.
Lin Qiye ran for his life, and the wolves chased him with everything they had.
Over those final hundred meters, a true race between life and death unfolded.
At last, Lin Qiye charged onto the summit.
He set Baili Pangpang down, his legs giving out as he collapsed into a sitting position.
Turning back, he saw dozens of Blood Wolves blotting out the sky, all lunging toward him.
Strangely, though, he wasn't afraid.
Because Wang Quan was there.
At some point, Lin Qiye had started trusting this guy.
Was it his warning that an innocent man could become guilty simply by possessing something precious?
Was it his immense strength?
Or was it because he had saved Zhao Kongcheng, the man who had protected Lin Qiye's little family?
Or perhaps because he had quietly given Aunt so much money.
While Lin Qiye was lost in thought, a series of blue orbs linked together beneath the heavens like a bracelet. An invisible suction warped the space around them.
Dozens of Blood Wolves vanished in an instant, followed by a dazzling explosion that lit up the surrounding mountains like brilliant fireworks.
Wang Quan strode over through the light, his smile gentle. He gave Lin Qiye a thumbs-up and praised him generously:
"Little Qiye, well done!"
"Obviously!" Lin Qiye shot him a glare and replied proudly.
Then Wang Quan abruptly changed the subject. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he asked curiously, "Besides the Mortal Dust Divine Domain, did the Seraph grant you other abilities?"
"Or do you have another way of obtaining Forbidden Ruins?"
Those words left Lin Qiye stunned and inexplicably flustered. He grumbled inwardly:
Are you fucking Detective Conan or what?!
Before you continue