However, the vines grew increasingly ferocious, aiming to deplete Xiao Ye's divine power.
"Boom—"
Xiao Ye used all his strength to sever two vines and sprinted away at top speed.
But.
He failed to notice the vines in front and behind him. Xiao Ye's arm was ensnared.
He was yanked towards the void by the vines, his expression darkening.
Resisting this time proved far more difficult. In the blink of an eye, more and more vines wrapped around him.
Below, Gu Feng and the others watched, filled with anxious dread.
Just as Xiao Ye was about to be sucked into the vortex, a figure suddenly appeared.
"Brother Xiao..."
It was a woman with a graceful figure. Seeing Xiao Ye in peril, her face was filled with panic.
Ye Qingrou, like a moth to a flame, rushed to help, pouring all her strength into the effort.
Just as Xiao Ye was about to be harmed by the vines, Ye Qingrou frantically hacked at them.
Several strange figures beside Ye Qingrou followed her and charged forward.
The sky rumbled with thunder, and several lightning bolts struck them.
A strange figure let out a scream, turning to dust from the lightning strike.
However, after sacrificing a few strange figures, Ye Qingrou managed to accidentally sever the vines.
Holding Xiao Xi, Xiao Ye broke free.
"Brother Xiao, hurry and go."
Ye Qingrou looked at Xiao Ye excitedly, urging him on.
Xiao Ye paid her no mind, ignoring her for a long time.
"Brother Xiao, why aren't you leaving..."
Could it be that Brother Xiao was worried about her being in danger?
Ye Qingrou thought somewhat delusionally, feeling that even death at this moment would be acceptable.
However, Xiao Ye's gaze held no trace of Ye Qingrou. The reason he didn't leave was that Xiao Xi's wrist was still entangled by the vines.
He carefully pulled the vines from the girl's wrist.
At that moment, Xiao Xi opened her eyes, appearing to have regained consciousness.
"Ye..."
Xiao Xi uttered with difficulty, seemingly sensing something.
Her gaze fell upon the vortex, which looked exceptionally terrifying.
Xiao Ye's expression was gentle. "Xiao Xi, don't be afraid. I'll take you away soon."
Xiao Xi nestled into Xiao Ye's embrace and nodded obediently.
"Brother Xiao!"
Ye Qingrou was also entangled by the vines. She cried out and begged Xiao Ye for help.
At the same time, she witnessed Xiao Ye's attitude towards Xiao Xi.
Xiao Ye's eyes held no room for her, and he hadn't shown the slightest concern for her even when she was in danger.
Ye Qingrou's heart ached terribly.
Xiao Ye was risking everything for another woman, receiving honors that did not belong to her.
She had been naively fantasizing about becoming strong and capable, helping Xiao Ye.
Then, one day, she might be able to beg for Xiao Ye's forgiveness.
Seeing Xiao Ye injured by the vines and him carefully protecting the girl.
Ye Qingrou's tears blurred her vision. She cried out mournfully.
"Brother Xiao, is she really that important to you?"
Perhaps it was the sorrow in Ye Qingrou's voice that made it sound abrupt in the otherwise silent battlefield.
Xiao Ye's gaze finally fell upon Ye Qingrou; he noticed her.
However, Ye Qingrou could not penetrate Xiao Ye's eyes. His expression was calm and indifferent.
His tone was calm and steady, yet it sowed a seed of despair in Ye Qingrou.
"Perhaps you were important once."
If Ye Qingrou hadn't left Xiao Ye covered in blood, Xiao Xi's current position would have been hers.
He could have still been her Brother Xiao...
But Ye Qingrou was mistaken.
She could only writhe in this agonizing swamp, repenting repeatedly, regretting her past actions.
Xiao Ye's hand gripped a flying vine, and a surge of dark energy emanated from him, snapping the vine inch by inch.
His voice was icy cold. "Gods, you want to play with me?"
"Since you want to play, I'll play with my life!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Ye suddenly leaped.
He poured all his strength into his feet and charged towards the vortex in the void.
Several vortices seemed to sense something, not expecting Xiao Ye to suddenly fly towards them.
Disregarding life and death, Xiao Ye intended to charge into the vortex and confront the gods head-on.
The vines flung from the vortex ensnared Xiao Ye's feet and violently flung him aside.
Boom.
Xiao Ye's body crashed into the ground, vanishing instantly, as if his bones were shattered.
Ye Qingrou watched, her heart pounding. "Brother Xiao, are you alright?"
Xiao Xi struggled to rise from the ground, anxiously walking towards Xiao Ye.
Her visible anxiety stemmed from not wanting to see anything happen to Xiao Ye.
Xiao Ye was thrown into a depression in the ground, sinking deep.
He was completely hidden from view.
All that remained was a depression like a small mountain. Gu Feng and the others watched, filled with anxious dread.
Xiao Xi ambled over to Xiao Ye's side, her hands frantically digging at the ground.
Her voice was filled with extreme anxiety. "Ye..."
"I'm fine."
Suddenly.
A hand emerged from the ground. Xiao Ye's hand grasped Xiao Xi.
Hearing Xiao Ye's voice, Xiao Xi immediately showed a hint of surprise.
However, behind Xiao Xi, vines stealthily wrapped around her arm.
As Xiao Ye climbed out, he saw the vines entwining Xiao Xi.
His expression instantly turned icy cold, and he severed the vines with his black sword.
The vines moved with incredible speed. The moment Xiao Ye cut them, more vines sprung from all directions.
Xiao Xi was also ensnared during her struggle.
The most dangerous moment came when a vine coiled around Xiao Xi's neck as Xiao Ye was about to pull her away.
If Xiao Xi's neck were to be entangled, any slight mishap could prove fatal.
Ye Qingrou lunged forward, desperately grabbing the vines approaching Xiao Xi.
Sweat beaded on Ye Qingrou's forehead as she trembled, gripping the vines.
Using all her strength, Ye Qingrou looked at Xiao Ye tenderly.
"Brother Xiao, you take her and escape."
With tears in her eyes, Ye Qingrou was willing to become the captured substitute for Xiao Ye.
Xiao Ye took Xiao Xi and turned to leave without hesitation.
Ye Qingrou's hands were already lifted by the vines. She watched Xiao Ye's retreating figure.
She couldn't help but let out a wry smile.
"Brother Xiao..."
Ye Qingrou was carried into the sky by the vines, her tears falling like crystal dew into the air.
"From beginning to end, you never even glanced at Xiao Qingrou."
Though her current situation was desperate, Ye Qingrou's heart was in unbearable pain.
The man she deeply loved no longer had her in his eyes.
All his love seemed to have been given to another girl.
Ye Qingrou admitted she had brought this upon herself; perhaps she deserved it.
She had no idea where the vines would take her.
However, at this final moment of her life, Ye Qingrou silently prayed.
That Xiao Ye would look back at her.
That she might find a place in Xiao Ye's heart, or in any fleeting memory.
Please.
Xiao Ye.