The sect leader of Tian Xuan Sect stood at the foot of the mountain, gazing upwards, wondering what level Ze Fang's cultivation had recovered to. Suddenly, he saw a streak of light shoot rapidly south. His heart leaped in alarm. "His primordial spirit is out? That brat, he's lost his mind! He dares to have his primordial spirit leave his body in this situation? Does he truly believe no one in Tian Xuan Sect wishes him dead?"
The sect leader of Tian Xuan Sect ascended towards the peak swiftly. He had to protect this brat's body. During the period of primordial spirit departure, if the body suffered any damage, the primordial spirit would inevitably be injured!
Just as Xiao Man believed she was doomed, a beam of light suddenly appeared before her. The attack from the Eight-Headed Serpent was intercepted mid-flight, causing a massive explosion that left Xiao Man's ears ringing.
Nangong Yu was also sent flying by the shockwave of the explosion.
"Vile beast! You dare!"
The voice sounded somewhat familiar, but Nangong Yu couldn't spare the thought to recall where he'd heard it. Instead, while someone was engaging the Eight-Headed Serpent, he rushed to support Xiao Man, intending to lead her away from the center of the battlefield.
Xiao Man did not move. Her eyes stared in shock at the retreating figure battling the Eight-Headed Serpent, her eyes filling with tears and disbelief.
Nangong Yu’s heart pounded. He quickly looked back. The figure appeared somewhat familiar, but he couldn't see the face, so he couldn't identify who it was.
"A'Man, is it someone you know?"
Xiao Man remained silent, then coughed up another mouthful of blood. The Eight-Headed Serpent, which had been so arrogant before them, was reduced to just taking blows from this person. Finally, the Eight-Headed Serpent fled at a speed ten times faster than when it was chasing Xiao Man, as if it had encountered its natural predator.
The silhouette turned around, and in an instant, it appeared before the two of them. This time, Nangong Yu saw the person's face clearly, and as he did, the shock on his face became undeniable!
The person who arrived was none other than Ze Fang, but Ze Fang bore a face exactly like Wen Mohan’s!
Ze Fang extended his hand towards Xiao Man. Because his primordial spirit had left his body, his form was transparent, yet it did not hinder him from touching Xiao Man.
Tears streamed down her face. Xiao Man had thought she was hallucinating. Yet, the person before her looked so ethereal, but was undeniably real. His face was as gentle as ever, his voice filled with the same tenderness as before, as if he had never changed, never left.
"I'm sorry, I'm late."
The primordial spirit was without warmth. Xiao Man felt a chill on her face. She placed her hand over Ze Fang's, sobbing, unable to speak.
"Don't cry, you're breaking my heart," Ze Fang embraced Xiao Man, gently patting her back, comforting her distraught heart. Xiao Man, however, couldn't control her emotions. The person before her felt too unreal, like a dream. When the dream ended, he would vanish. All she could do was hold him tightly, as if only by doing so could she truly grasp him.
Nangong Yu stumbled. He looked at the two people locked in an embrace. The scene was so harmonious, yet so unbelievable. The dead could not revive!
But then he thought, wasn't Xiao Man also brought back from the dead? Why couldn't Wen Mohan be resurrected?
"Aren't you coming back yet!" a sharp shout rang out. Ze Fang's primordial spirit was instantly pulled away by a force. Xiao Man cried out in alarm and stumbled forward to chase, but Ze Fang slowly shook his head, signaling her not to.
In the blink of an eye, Ze Fang's primordial spirit vanished. Xiao Man collapsed onto the ground, gazing blankly at the sky. The sky was a clear blue, the sun shone brightly, forming a stark contrast with their disheveled appearances, as if everything that had happened was merely a dream.
Xiao Man turned to look at Nangong Yu, "A'Yu, did you see that?"
Nangong Yu remained silent, his eyes dark and deep, as if they could draw someone in, confine them, and never let them go.
The tears on Xiao Man's face had not yet dried. There was helplessness in her eyes, as if she desperately sought affirmation from others, for a little strength to believe that Wen Mohan was still alive, waiting for her somewhere.
Nangong Yu lowered his gaze and stepped forward to help Xiao Man up. He didn't know how to answer, nor did he want to. When he had first learned of Wen Mohan's death, he had been terrified, worried Xiao Man wouldn't be able to bear it. But now, seeing Wen Mohan again, he was even more terrified, afraid Xiao Man would be taken away from him once more!
"A'Yu, Mohan he..."
"If you believe he's alive, then he's alive!" Nangong Yu met Xiao Man's gaze and said sharply, "If saying he's alive makes you feel better, then he's alive!"
The hope in Xiao Man's eyes faded. A sarcastic smile touched her lips. She raised her hand to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth, only to suddenly notice the jade bracelet on her wrist. Under the sunlight, the bracelet shimmered with a dazzling radiance.
"Daddy, Daddy, it's Daddy," Little Fire Phoenix chirped, hopping back and forth on Xiao Man's shoulder with delight.
Xiao Man looked at Little Fire Phoenix, somewhat surprised. This little creature was a gift from Ze Fang. Why did it call Mohan 'Daddy'? Could it be that the person who came to her rescue wasn't Wen Mohan, but Ze Fang?
Xiao Man frowned, thinking hard. But no matter how she pondered, something felt missing, and she couldn't connect the information she currently possessed.
Nangong Yu’s expression turned dark, and an aura of forbidding presence emanated from him. Little Fire Phoenix, sensing the aura, quickly fell silent and hid in Xiao Man's embrace.
"Let's go, lest that beast returns."
"Alright."
Both of them tacitly avoided mentioning Wen Mohan's name and walked out in silence. The commotion here attracted others to investigate. Upon seeing the ground pockmarked with craters everywhere, they were greatly shocked.
"What happened here?" Bai Chen and Xi Wen arrived, seeing Xiao Man, they hurried forward, "Junior Brother Xiao, are you alright?"
Xiao Man shook her head, "I'm fine, just sustained a minor injury."
"Are you sure it was just a minor injury?" Bai Chen asked disbelievingly. Xiao Man's clothes were torn beyond recognition, and she looked utterly battered, like a little pitiable creature that had endured torment, and could barely walk steadily. He immediately moved to support Xiao Man.
Unexpectedly, Nangong Yu did not give Bai Chen a chance to touch Xiao Man, and instead supported her as they walked away.
Bai Chen glanced at Nangong Yu, then at Xiao Man. Seeing that Xiao Man said nothing, he swallowed the words he was about to say and turned to ask Xi Wen, "Who is that person? So impolite!"
Xi Wen shook his head. He was always good at reading people and had naturally sensed Xiao Man's unusual attitude towards this person. "Perhaps he's an acquaintance of Boss Xiao."
"Junior Brother Xiao has always had a domineering personality, and his friends are even more so. Yue Ran and Mu Qi before were already quite overbearing, and I didn't expect another even more overbearing one to appear today!" Bai Chen muttered softly. "Indeed, birds of a feather flock together."