"Big Sis!"
A familiar call reached her ears as a warm current flowed into the center of her back.
It brought Gu Yanshuang, whose grievous wounds had left her consciousness hazy, a little closer to clarity.
She opened her eyes and saw a familiar face.
Sweat beaded Gu Chenfeng's forehead as he held her in his arms, his face filled with anxiety.
Gu Yanshuang blinked weakly and instinctively reached up to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
"Feng."
The next moment.
She suddenly remembered her predicament. Her pupils contracted, and her expression immediately turned anxious.
"Feng, you... what are you doing here? Quick, get back to the Imperial Capital!
I'll hold them off!"
Still clutching her great spear in a death grip, Gu Yanshuang struggled to stand.
But he could not break free of Gu Chenfeng's embrace.
"Big Sis!"
Gu Chenfeng tightened his arms slightly around Gu Yanshuang.
His gaze swept over the hideous, horrifying wounds covering her body.
He felt the warm blood soaking through her clothes and wetting his arms.
He looked at that beautiful face, once so valiant, so delicately exquisite, now pale and bloodless.
At this moment, Gu Chenfeng's gaze was extraordinarily calm.
As calm as the surface of a lake frozen beneath ice and snow.
Yet beneath that solid ice, a faint ripple stirred, enough to send a chill of unease through anyone.
Like a volcano about to erupt in silence.
"Big Sis, stay here and rest. Regulate your breathing. Leave everything to me," Gu Chenfeng reassured her steadily.
But Gu Yanshuang was frantic.
"Feng, this is no time to act tough. You're no match for them..."
Gu Yanshuang tried again to struggle to her feet.
"Forgive me, Big Sis."
Astral Qi gathered at Gu Chenfeng's fingertips as he reached out and struck several major