A Troubled Heart

A feeling of helplessness instantly spread through Zhang Xiaohua's entire body. It was like back when the four members of the Zhang family had rescued Liu Qian in Lu Town—when Zhang Xiaohua had been pinned under the foot of a bully's servant, forced to watch his father and brother being beaten savagely, wanting to reach out yet utterly unable to resist.

This feeling had not appeared in Zhang Xiaohua for many years!

Especially since he had achieved success in cultivating the Immortal Path, his arms possessed inexhaustible strength. No matter what opponent he encountered, he always had unfathomable means to deal with them, and he had often passed through danger with perfect composure. Even Yellow Wind and the Blood Wolf King, who had slaughtered countless people during You Lan Mu Lian, had suffered at his hands. Although Zhang Xiaohua had always reminded himself that mid Qi Cultivation was merely the beginning, that there were still many talismans he could not comprehend, much less higher-level techniques and magical artifacts, his smooth journey had nevertheless caused a kind of pride to sprout uncontrollably in his heart—the pride of an Immortal Path Qi Practitioner.

But at this moment, he truly felt that human strength had its limits!

Not everything lay within his control. Never mind the future—even now, he was at his wits' end.

Zhang Xiaohua sighed and reached out, wanting to pat Qiutong's shoulder. Yet when his hand had extended halfway, he could not bring it down. He merely said softly, "Sister Qiutong, don't worry. I... I will certainly do everything in my power."

Qiutong lifted her tear-filled eyes. The disappointment in them was impossible to miss. Yes, he would do everything in his power—but could his full strength save Ou Yan's life?

Zhang Xiaohua knew that staying here would do no