Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Only Daughter of a Reclusive Family

Without hesitation, Gu Hua began to channel her spiritual energy into her hands, working together with Ning Xue’er to pull Jun Muxuan from the mire. After half a day, only one of Jun Muxuan’s shoulders was freed; most of his body remained trapped in the swamp.

“If we keep at it like this, there’s no way the two of us can get him out. I’ll hold him here—quick, go cut a piece of wood, but don’t go too far!” Ning Xue’er released Jun Muxuan’s hand. At this moment, she could only trust Gu Hua. They had been trapped for so long, and only Gu Hua had come to their aid; others who passed by merely went searching for treasure upon seeing them. Just when Ning Xue’er had despaired enough to contemplate dying with Jun Muxuan, Gu Hua appeared.

Now, Ning Xue’er placed her faith in Gu Hua, believing she would surely find a way to save her brother Xuan from the swamp. Without another word, she let go and went to chop wood. With no tools at hand, Ning Xue’er poured the last of her spiritual energy into her palm, using her hand as a blade to strike at the tree roots again and again. Her hand was ground to a bloody pulp, bones exposed, yet she never gave up.

“Brother Xuan, hold on! Xue’er will make sure you return safely to Red Moon City!” With Ning Xue’er gone, Gu Hua used both hands to prevent Jun Muxuan from sinking further. The strength of a single person felt so meager—she could hardly believe Ning Xue’er managed alone for so long.

Ning Xue’er’s hand was numb. With the final blow, the tree toppled. Her bloodied hand, bone protruding, did not utter a single cry of pain. She dragged the tree toward Jun Muxuan.

Gu Hua heard movement behind her. “Throw one end of the wood into the swamp and anchor the other on the bank!” The wood had some buoyancy and wouldn’t easily sink. Gu Hua wasn’t sure if this plan would work, but even if it failed, they had to try.

Following Gu Hua’s instructions, Ning Xue’er thrust one end into the swamp, and indeed, it didn’t sink. Jun Muxuan wasn’t far from the shore. “Little Bean, place the Awakening Pill and Barrier-Breaking Pill by my feet.”

In her spatial realm, Little Bean closed her tiny eyes. When she opened them again, the pills appeared outside.

“Ning Xue’er, give him the pills on the ground!” Ning Xue’er complied, regardless of whether they were poisonous; human lives were at stake.

Moments later, Jun Muxuan slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Ning Xue’er, and he shouted for her to run.

Gu Hua felt a headache coming on. The half-freed arm, with his sudden thrashing, sank even deeper. “Don’t shout! See the wood beside you? In a moment, Ning Xue’er and I will grab one of your hands. You must climb onto the wood!”

Jun Muxuan’s mind cleared with Gu Hua’s command. He realized just how perilous his situation was. With Gu Hua and Ning Xue’er gripping his left hand, he focused all his strength and managed to fling himself onto the wood. Now, except for his legs, most of his body was out!

“It’s working! Hurry, Brother Xuan!” Gu Hua and Ning Xue’er pulled with all their might. Just as the wood was about to sink, Jun Muxuan escaped death by a hair’s breadth.

Jun Muxuan collapsed on the ground like a heap of mud, watching the life-saving log slowly sink, whispering several thanks for his luck.

“Thank you!” Gu Hua accepted his gratitude. The ordeal had been a feat of strength—she’d expended much spiritual energy just to bolster herself, leaving her utterly exhausted.

“How did he fall into the swamp? Was he so excited about finding treasure that he forgot to watch his step?” Ning Xue’er looked at Jun Muxuan, who had survived disaster. “It’s all because of me. Brother Xuan wouldn’t have fallen in if I hadn’t come here. If only I hadn’t…”

…A day earlier, Ning Xue’er had been dangled in midair by a tree demon while Jun Muxuan turned to leave. She was resigned to death. “Father, your daughter has been unfilial. I fear I won’t be able to stay by your side any longer…”

“Human affection is not as steadfast as you believe. It appears your beloved has abandoned you, little girl.” In the silent forest, with no one around, the tree demon’s voice echoed endlessly in Ning Xue’er’s ears. “Brother Xuan must live to find someone to rescue me!”

The tree demon snorted, voice sharper still. “That heartless lover of yours has likely already fled the Withered Wood Forest. You humans are always so self-deluded!”

As it spoke, the tree demon seemed to grow angry. Ning Xue’er opened her eyes, suspended four meters above the ground. Any rash struggle would risk not only escape, but her very life. “It seems you’ve been hurt in love yourself.”

“Insolence!” The tree demon’s roar pierced straight through Ning Xue’er’s eardrums. Blood oozed from her left ear, and her right ear rang.

“Oh, I struck a nerve. So monsters feel the seven emotions too. How strange.” Ning Xue’er had long set aside thoughts of life and death. She now only wished to stall for time, giving Jun Muxuan a chance to escape. Just now, a long vine had stretched along the ground, likely following after Brother Xuan.

“Humph! Don’t think I don’t know you’re stalling! Let me tell you, today none of you will escape! I, Lady Vine Immortal, despise nothing more than men and women tangled in love!”

The thorns on the vine pierced deeply into Ning Xue’er’s flesh. She groaned softly, her whole body aching. Father, I miss you so much…

Just before she closed her eyes, she seemed to glimpse a familiar figure on the ground below. “It must have been an illusion…”

…

“After that, I don’t remember how I got out… When I awoke, Brother Xuan and I accidentally wandered here again, and he was dragged into the mire by a ghostly hand while trying to save me.”

Gu Hua turned her attention to Jun Muxuan, lying like a dead fish nearby.

Sensing their gaze, Jun Muxuan sprang up, rakishly brushing his hair aside. “That tree demon was no match for me—I’m of the fire element, and with my wisdom and martial prowess, it was only natural it was defeated!”

Jun Muxuan spoke lightly, but Gu Hua pursed her lips. With Jun Muxuan’s abilities, he shouldn’t have been so easily dragged into a swamp, incapable of crawling out. He was clearly badly injured. If he didn’t rest for at least ten days, he’d never recover.

Covered in mud and suffering internal wounds, yet he insisted on showing off before Ning Xue’er. Gu Hua began to doubt the accuracy of the news provided by the First Pavilion’s manager, Gu Zhou. Either Jun Muxuan was playing both sides, or the matter with Xing Ying was nothing but a ruse.

Jun Muxuan enjoyed Ning Xue’er’s worried expression, but when he turned and saw Gu Hua’s disdain, he suddenly felt as if she could see right through him.

“Ahem!” He coughed dryly to cover his embarrassment.

Gu Hua took out a bottle of pills and placed it in Ning Xue’er’s hand.

Ning Xue’er was puzzled; she had already taken medicine for her wounds and was fine. Then Gu Hua motioned toward Jun Muxuan with her lips, and Ning Xue’er immediately understood.

“Brother Xuan, are you badly hurt? I knew the tree demon wouldn’t be easy to deal with—it’s all my fault…” The girl who once grew up sheltered had changed so much in such a short time—it was a miracle. Yet her tender heart remained; when trouble came, she couldn’t help but cry. Gu Hua could only rub her aching temples.