The air in the forest suddenly became heavy, and even the birdsong disappeared without a trace. Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection had already detected the approach of the behemoth— the Titan Giant Ape was approaching them at an astonishing speed, each step causing the earth to tremble slightly.
Huo Yuhao was secretly delighted. It was worth waiting for you for so long. All that was missing was for me to send a Soul Beast to guide you.
The Titan Giant Ape is coming soon.
The performance is about to begin.
Huo Yuhao's lips curled up almost imperceptibly, a hint of triumphant satisfaction flashing in his eyes. He deliberately slowed his pace, making the presence of the person behind him clearer.
"Miss Xue'er," he suddenly stopped, turned to face Qian Renxue, and gave her a gentle yet resolute smile, "You should leave quickly. I'll cover your retreat. That way, you'll still have a chance to survive. The Titan Giant Ape isn't far from us now."
Qian Renxue was somewhat puzzled by this smile.
Huo Yuhao continued slowly:
"If you can escape from here, then it's not a complete loss."
Qian Renxue was stunned. She clearly saw the resolute glint in Huo Yuhao's eyes. The young man's tall figure appeared particularly slender in the moonlight, yet it inexplicably gave people a sense of security.
"What did you say?" Her voice rose an octave involuntarily, "You want me to abandon you and run away?"
Huo Yuhao adopted a nonchalant demeanor, indicating that he was perfectly fine. "That's right, I have my own ways of escaping. Miss Xue'er's presence is actually making me less able to act freely."
"It's alright." It must be said that Huo Yuhao's acting skills were perfect and very moving. When he said this, there was Sisi hint of a sigh, implying that he was also helpless.
The air in the forest seemed to freeze. Qian Renxue felt her heart pounding loudly, almost drowning out the roar of the Titan Giant Ape in the distance. She stared intently at Huo Yuhao's back, that figure that appeared so frail yet so incredibly upright in front of Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
"Brother Huo..." Her voice trembled slightly, and her fingertips unconsciously dug into her palm. As the young master of the Spirit Hall, she was already used to scheming and weighing options, but the surging emotions in her heart at this moment left her at a loss.
(He's lying...)
(He was clearly prepared to die...)
That's right, Qian Renxue isn't stupid. He understands that anyone, even a fool, can see that he's prepared to die. To protect himself and ensure his safe departure, he's now going to fend off that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast and the beast tide behind him.
"No!" Qian Renxue grabbed Huo Yuhao's wrist with astonishing force. "That's a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast! You'll die! I won't let you die here. If we're going to leave, we'll leave together!"
I'm not someone who's afraid of death.
Huo Yuhao looked down at the slender hand that was holding him, feeling the heavy weight of her emotions. He chuckled inwardly, but maintained a solemn expression on his face.
"To let a girl die with you..." Huo Yuhao's voice was soft, but every word struck her heart like a hammer blow, "Is a disgrace to a man."
A deafening crash of trees crashing down echoed in the distance, and the shadow of the Titan Giant Ape loomed overhead. Qian Renxue felt a chill on her cheek, raised her hand to touch it, and realized that she was actually crying.
(Did I cry?)
(For a man I've known for less than a day?)
Huo Yuhao's eyes revealed a different kind of tenderness. "So, hurry up and leave. You probably don't know my reputation. I'm the man who defeated Clear Sky Douluo. Don't worry, I won't die."
(Why...)
(Why would you go to such lengths for me...?)
She suddenly realized that this was the first time in her life that someone had treated her not because of her status or her abilities, but simply as an ordinary girl who needed protection.
Qian Renxue's hands were trembling. Reason told her she should take the opportunity to leave— the Heaven Dou Empire's plans and years of lurking did not allow her to act recklessly at this moment. But looking at Huo Yuhao's figure, a kind of emotion she had never felt before surged in her chest.
"Brother Huo..." Her voice trembled without her even realizing it, "You lied to me... you couldn't escape..."
"I..." Her voice trembled slightly, "I'll be waiting for you at the entrance to the Star Dou Great Forest." Ultimately, reason prevailed, but a clear resentment flickered in her eyes. "You must come out. I'll be waiting for you at the entrance to the Star Dou Great Forest."
Huo Yuhao waved his hand with his back to her, his Golden Pupils igniting a crimson-gold light in the shadows.
"I promise you," his voice drifted on the wind, "I will definitely return alive."
"If you dare to break your promise..." Her voice choked with emotion, and she could only take one last deep look at that retreating figure before spreading her wings and taking flight.
At the moment of takeoff, a crystal tear fell from the sky, reflecting a pure white light under the moonlight. Qian Renxue had never imagined that she would lose her composure in front of a man, let alone shed tears for someone she had just met.
But she knew that if she left today, he might regret it for the rest of his life, and the image of this young man would remain in her heart forever.
Qian Renxue bit her lower lip until it bled. The taste of blood filled her mouth, but it couldn't compare to the bitterness in her heart. The wings of the Six-Winged Angel unfolded behind her, and the dazzling golden light pierced the darkness of the forest.
"If you dare to break your promise..." Her voice choked with emotion, and she could only take one last deep look at that retreating figure before spreading her wings and taking flight.
At the moment of takeoff, a crystal tear fell from the sky, refracting a rainbow of colors in the sunlight. Qian Renxue had never imagined that she would lose her composure so much in front of a man, let alone shed tears for someone she had just met.
But she knew that if she left like this today, the image of that stubborn boy would be forever etched in her memory.
(I must survive...)
An angel's wings sliced through the sky, carrying a heart that fluttered for the first time for another, as she flew towards the edge of the forest. Behind her, amidst the deafening roar, she heard no more of Huo Yuhao's voice.
Qian Renxue's figure gradually disappeared into the forest. Huo Yuhao watched her go until the golden light was completely hidden in the shadows of the trees. The gentle expression on his face receded like the tide, replaced by a chilling sneer.
"Alright, the audience's gone..." Huo Yuhao muttered to himself, slowly turning to face the mountain-like black figure. "It's time to wrap this up."
The Titan Giant Ape's massive body crashed into several trees, its scarlet eyes gleaming menacingly in the shadows. But when it saw the human face before it, its ferocious aura suddenly froze.
"Roar--" The earth-shattering roar came to an abrupt halt, turning into a low, terrified groan. The Titan Giant Ape's massive body involuntarily took a half-step back, snapping several trees as thick as bowls under its foot.
A wicked smile curled at the corners of Huo Yuhao's lips, and crimson Lie Yan ignited in his Golden Pupils eyes. "What? Don't you recognize me?"