An Ning walked in and saw a young girl lying there. For some reason, she felt a sense of familiarity.
However, she could not see the girl's face clearly.
But the feeling in her heart grew stronger and stronger, as if she should know this girl.
"An Ning, An Ning..."
A voice called her name. She looked up, and a strong light enveloped her. She suddenly opened her eyes, only to be met with darkness.
"An Ning..." the voice came again.
An Ning turned towards the sound vigilantly and whispered, "Who's there?"
"An Ning, it's me..." Footsteps sounded, accompanied by the room suddenly lighting up.
An Ning looked up and saw Wen Yuxi in the room.
She breathed a sigh of relief. "Why are you here?"
Wen Yuxi stepped closer upon hearing this and whispered, "I followed you. Now I'll take you out."
An Ning shook her head. "No, I can't leave yet."
Wen Yuxi frowned at this. "Do you want to be a hostage?"
"General Wu's wife and child are both here. Can you take us all away?" An Ning asked.
Wen Yuxi was taken aback and replied truthfully, "No. Even leaving with just you quietly would be difficult."
"So, I can't leave," An Ning said.
"An Ning..." Wen Yuxi was a little annoyed.
An Ning got off the bed and came before Wen Yuxi, taking his hand and placing a piece of paper in it. Wen Yuxi opened the paper and saw a blueprint. He glanced at it, his expression turning solemn, and looked up at her. "This is the security deployment here?"
An Ning nodded. "If we leave, Dongling Pass will still fall. It's better to eradicate Han Xiwen's attacks on Dongling Pass from the root."
Wen Yuxi's gaze deepened significantly. He looked up and said, "Do you know that all of this has nothing to do with you?"
An Ning chuckled softly, seemingly with a hint of helplessness. "I know."
"Then why do this?" Wen Yuxi asked word by word.
An Ning shrugged. "Let's just say it's something I'm doing for her. She must have loved and cherished Huangze very much. As the one who invaded her soul, I want to do something for her. She lacks nothing, except someone to protect Huangze. So, let me be the one to guard it for her!"
Wen Yuxi looked at the girl before him. Her clear eyes shimmered with a radiance like the setting sun, blindingly bright.
At this moment, she was "her"... Da Feng Novel Network
"Besides, he would do the same if he were here. He loves her, and he loves all that is associated with her," the girl lowered her gaze, her voice very soft, but Wen Yuxi still heard it.
His heart ached slightly. An Ning knew her time was running out. Doing what she wanted to do in the limited time was enough.
"Wen Yuxi, I'm counting on you!" An Ning said slowly.
Wen Yuxi nodded. "Be careful!"
With that, he turned and disappeared into the vast night.
An Ning collapsed onto the ground, her chest aching with waves of pain. While she had felt pain before, it had never been as unbearable as this.
She couldn't help but gasp for air, cold sweat streaming down her forehead, soaking her clothes in an instant.
The last wave of pain struck, and she fainted from the agony.
A mouthful of fresh blood sprayed from Xue Jingyun's mouth, flowing down the corners of his lips and dripping onto his black robes, making them appear even more sinister.
He knelt on one knee, forcing himself to lift his head.
Opposite him, Fan Min laughed heartily, his face contorted with savagery. "How does it feel to be devoured by the formation? Xue Jingyun, you never imagined you'd have a day like this, did you?"
Xue Jingyun stood up. The autumn wind rustled, blowing his black robes. The wind carried the scent of blood.
The pain in his chest grew more pronounced. He could feel his internal energy being siphoned away bit by bit. He knew the formation was consuming his internal energy, which also meant her body could no longer bear the soul within it. But he refused to give up. He knew she hadn't traveled throughout this land yet, nor had she fulfilled her heart's desires.
How could he disappoint her?
"Xue Jingyun, you can't endure it. Listen to me, give me the Empress's corpse. I have a way to keep her permanently confined in that body. Wouldn't that be a win-win situation?"
Xue Jingyun's gaze turned cold. "I will not let you desecrate Zining's body."
Fan Min's face darkened at this. "If that's the case, then I'll have to kill you first."
Fan Min attacked again, engaging Xue Jingyun in combat. Fan Min was shocked. Even in this state, Xue Jingyun could still fight him, and he wasn't gaining any advantage.
Indeed, the Crown Prince of Xue Country was extraordinary, not an ordinary person.
But what of it? The formation was consuming his internal energy, and soon he would have none left.
"Xue Jingyun, do you think that by holding on here, the Divine Temple will remain safe?" Fan Min cackled.
Xue Jingyun's gaze chilled slightly. "Even if I die, you won't be able to enter the Divine Temple."
Fan Min's brows furrowed. "You were prepared?"
Xue Jingyun didn't answer him, but Xue Jingyun's lack of worry clearly indicated that he had made thorough preparations.
Fan Min couldn't help but admire Xue Jingyun in his heart. To have made such complete preparations, he truly was the exceptionally talented Crown Prince of Xue Country. He respected him.
Fan Min suddenly struck out with his palm. Xue Jingyun was a moment too slow in dodging, and it grazed his cheek, leaving a gash. Immediately after, the human-skin mask fell off, revealing his face underneath.
He was refined and handsome, like a celestial god from the heavens. His eyes were like stars in the vast night sky, breathtakingly beautiful.
A trace of blood at the corner of his lips added a touch of allure to his entire being.
Xue Jingyun staggered back several steps, spitting out another mouthful of blood. He tried to stand up, but his body seemed unresponsive to his commands. He secretly circulated his energy, but there seemed to be no internal energy left in his body.
Fan Min walked forward and sighed. "Xue Jingyun, I'll ask you one last time. Give me Xue Zining's corpse."
Xue Jingyun's gaze showed no hint of retreat. "She is my life. I will never give her to you."
Fan Min's eyes turned icy, filled with extreme malice. "If that's the case, don't blame me."
As he spoke, Fan Min condensed palm energy in his hand and sent it towards Xue Jingyun.
Xue Jingyun watched Fan Min's descending palm. He tried to resist, but a cracking sound echoed from his palm to all parts of his body.
This time, he could no longer endure it. He was sent flying and then crashed heavily onto the ground.
Fan Min followed closely, intending to deliver the final fatal blow to Xue Jingyun. Suddenly, someone blocked his path. "Master, he is already defeated. Spare his life!"
Fan Min waved Jiu Xing away with one hand and said coldly, "Jiu Xing, you are my disciple. How can you speak for an outsider? Have you lost your mind after spending time with them?"
Jiu Xing knelt there and kowtowed. "Nine Star is eternally grateful for Master's nurturing grace, but has Master forgotten? The Empress did not instruct you to kill Xue Jingyun."