Qin Ying was indeed worthy of her reputation as one of the geniuses of the empire. She was agile and physically dexterous, and her movements were strong and vigorous. Compared to the people who were dominated by fear, she was completely different. In a matter of just two breaths' time, she had escaped to a safe zone.

There was someone else with Qin Ying, someone whom Lu Jiu Que had never seen before. He was a young man wearing a cold expression.

This young man's skills might have even been beyond Qin Ying's, albeit he made this fairly obvious, for all this time, he had been protecting Qin Ying while they were on the run.

If she didn't have this young man's help, Qin Ying's life could have also been hanging by a thread.

As for the others?

How could their speeds match that of a one-star demonic beast?

The curtains were raised, and a ma.s.sacre unfolded right before Lu Jiu Que and Ye Hui's eyes.

"Ahhh…"

"Don't! Help! Help!"

…

The cries and shouts were like the continuous ups and downs of a requiem. Hiding in the dark, there was a cold and clear feeling in Lu Jiu Que's heart, and it was like nothing she had ever felt before.

This killing made her understand that if she wanted to survive in this world, the only thing she could do was keep growing stronger!

Stronger!

Then even stronger!

…

The one-star demonic beast had devoured five people in quick succession. Upon seeing Qin Ying and that young man about to make it to a safer place, it grunted with displeasure.

'Lowly ants!'

They had dared to covet its treasure!

Did they still think that they could make it out of here alive?

"Roar…"

The one-star demonic beast's limbs were very tense, and the thick blue tendons on its neck were popping out. The watery mist in the air seemed to reach its boiling point as it continuously gathered and condensed on the beast's body.

Lu Jiu Que's heart was apprehensive when Ye Hui took the lead and cried in a low voice, "It's no good. It's going to use its Intrinsic Supernatural Power! We have to hurry up and hide!"

With that, he pulled Lu Jiu Que into his arms and swam to the depths of the river.

With Ye Hui hugging her at the waist, Lu Jiu Que's eyes were still fixated on the direction that the two other people had escaped to. However, when she saw the demonic beast opening its mouth, then a few dozen water arrows shooting out like a gust of wind—

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

It was as if there was a thunderstorm occurring in the woods.

After seeing how the raining arrows were about to turn them into a target as a result of all that shooting, Qin Ying, who had been running ahead under the young man's protection, suddenly turned around.

With a backhanded move, she grabbed the young man, paying no heed to the astonished look in the other's eyes, and pushed him towards the demonic beast's water arrows with all her might!

Qin Ying had used the young man's flesh and blood to block the way so that she could create a way out for herself!

"Pfft… Pfft… Pfft…"

The young man's body was mercilessly penetrated by the water arrows. Lu Jiu Que watched as he convulsed a couple of times before he slowly fell to the ground.

"Roar!"

Because of this momentary respite, Qin Ying successfully made her escape. Peace slowly returned to the surroundings…

Qin Ying's voice was heard. There was a deadly ruthlessness and unfeeling coldness in it. "Don't blame me… Otherwise, both of us would have had to die!"

At this time, the one-star demonic beast had already caught up to the young man's side. But the thing was, it had already eaten a handful of humans that day. It was no longer interested in devouring another.

The most important thing was that these humans didn't taste very good.

"Roar, roar, roar…"

It raised its head and let out a few growls, seemingly declaring its sovereignty and might, before strutting away.

When the cold, eerie, and gloomy aura filled the woods again, Lu Jiu Que and Ye Hui slowly released breaths of relief.

At this time, their bodies had turned icy cold from being soaked in the river water. After the two of them had climbed back onto the riverbank, looking like drowned rats, Lu Jiu Que made her way over with difficult steps to stand before the young man.

With his face stained in blood and mud, the young man's original appearance was indiscernible.

His crimson red eyes were wide open, and both hands were tightly clenched as he looked in the direction where Qin Ying's figure had disappeared. It seemed that he was unwilling to die just like that…

"Hey… How could it have been him?!"