"You can get down now."
Ling Chen looked down at Xiao Muyu. Her breath was like orchids, carrying a faint, distinctively pleasant fragrance. Xiao Muyu was slim, probably weighing less than a hundred pounds, so Ling Chen could carry her for an extended period without feeling too tired. However, holding her soft, fragrant body so close, with only a layer of outer clothing between them, made his mind begin to wander now that the great battle was over, even though his heart was usually clear and composed.
"Yes, put me down," Xiao Muyu replied, her pretty face flushing slightly. Even if she wanted Ling Chen to hold her longer, she was naturally too shy to say so.
However, as Ling Chen gently set Xiao Muyu down, the outer coat wrapped around her suddenly slipped off.
Her body, smooth as jade and entirely bare, was completely exposed before Ling Chen's eyes.
The surrounding air seemed to freeze instantly.
Xiao Muyu quickly snatched the coat from the ground and draped it over herself. Ling Chen, too, hastily averted his gaze, but in that brief moment, he had already seen everything he shouldn't have.
"Ling Chen, your nose is bleeding."
Xiao Muyu's voice suddenly sounded in front of Ling Chen.
Really? Ling Chen thought, chagrined. This is a huge embarrassment. I shouldn't be this flustered. He quickly reached up to wipe it, but found no trace of blood.
Oh no, I fell for this girl's trick!
Just as this thought crossed Ling Chen's mind, Xiao Muyu, standing opposite him, giggled. "Ling Chen, I really thought you were some kind of Saint, truly able to remain unmoved by desire, treating beauty as nothing. I didn't expect you to be just a callow youth after all."
"I haven't practiced any arts that would make me celibate. Every man has desires. Enough nonsense. Hurry up and change your clothes; we need to get going."
Ling Chen waved his hand dismissively. This girl is completely unguarded around me, he thought. She's not afraid of playing with fire and getting burned.
However, Ling Chen was not an animal who thought with his lower body; he would never do anything to cross the line.
While Xiao Muyu went behind a large tree to change her clothes, Ling Chen walked over to Yang Wei's body, searched it, and found a bundle.
Inside the bundle were tens of thousands of taels in Vigor Bills, and various bottles and jars, mostly useless things. However, what caught Ling Chen's eye were two Scorpion Tail Needles—undoubtedly the most valuable things in the bundle.
"Found anything good?"
Xiao Muyu, having changed, saw Ling Chen's unusual expression and couldn't help asking.
"Scorpion Tail Needles. Here, take one. Keep it for self-defense."
Ling Chen handed one Scorpion Tail Needle to Xiao Muyu.
Taking the Scorpion Tail Needle, Xiao Muyu's beautiful eyes lit up. These Scorpion Tail Needles were quite valuable; being single-use items made them even more precious.
When an enemy wasn't paying attention, striking them with a Scorpion Tail Needle would leave them dead or crippled.
"Let's go!"
Ling Chen didn't linger. He leaped forward first, heading towards the depths of the ruins.
Xiao Muyu put away the Scorpion Tail Needle and quickly followed.
「Core area of the ruins.」
By now, most of the young Experts from both the Righteous Path and the Demon Way had entered this core region, seeking the ultimate treasure of the Tienzong Ruins.
In a deserted corridor, a fierce battle had evidently just ended, with specks of fresh blood dotting the grass.
Several figures stood in the corridor. Four of them wore the robes of the Divine Intent Sect: Longyang, Yu Qingxuan, Song Hailan, and Yun Tianhe.
Kneeling before them was a woman in a black dress, the attire of the Saint Witch Religion.
The woman was clearly severely injured and was being pinned to the ground by Song Hailan, her face filled with defiance.
"Eldest Senior Brother, how should we deal with this Demon Cult demoness?"
Yun Tianhe looked at the woman before him, a hint of mockery on his face.
"Whether you want to kill or torture this demoness, I leave it to you to handle."
Longyang glanced at the black-robed woman, then turned and walked away on his own.
"Hehe, Senior Sister Yu Qingxuan, perhaps you should step aside. What's about to happen might be a bit unsuitable for children."
Song Hailan looked at Yu Qingxuan and chuckled, a lewd glint in his eyes.
"Disgusting."
Yu Qingxuan spat out the word coldly and also left with a flick of her sleeves.
After Yu Qingxuan had gone, Yun Tianhe and Song Hailan glanced at each other and smirked. Then, they turned to the black-robed woman before them with wolfish expressions.
"Demon Cult demoness, next, we martial brothers will let you experience a taste of ecstasy that will make you wish for death."
Song Hailan grinned, his smile utterly sinister. A glint flashed in his eyes, and he ripped open the black-robed woman's dress, revealing her pink undergarments.
"You two perverts, kill me!"
The black-robed woman, though a person of the Demon Way, seemed to be a woman of strong integrity. Facing such humiliation from the two men, she showed a desire for death.
"Want to die? It's not that easy."
Song Hailan ripped her dress again, tearing off another piece and exposing a large area of her snow-white skin to the air.
"You're a Demon Cult demoness anyway. Even if we brothers play you to death here, no one will care. It will only make the Righteous Path rejoice."
Yun Tianhe also had a wide smile on his face. Every man has desires. Especially after being in the Tienzong Ruins for nearly a month, their desires had been suppressed. Now, having captured a Demon Way woman, it was a perfect chance to vent their frustrations.
"Junior Brother, you first or me?"
Song Hailan looked at Yun Tianhe and asked with a smile.
"No matter who goes first, the other will feel unresigned, right? How about we go together, Senior Brother?" Yun Tianhe said, his eyes glinting with a deeper meaning.
"Alright! Let's go together then. I'll take the front, you take the back. This woman, we'll split her fifty-fifty!"
Song Hailan's eyes blazed with lust, as if he were stripping the woman before him bare with his gaze.
"These two lechers, committing such a shameless act! You've completely disgraced our Divine Intent Sect!"
At this moment, Ling Chen and Xiao Muyu happened to pass by and witnessed this scene. Xiao Muyu was instantly filled with righteous indignation. Before Ling Chen could stop her, she rushed out.
Ling Chen frowned but could only follow.
"Stop right there!"
Just as Song Hailan and Yun Tianhe were about to lay their hands on the black-robed woman and proceed with their vile intentions, Xiao Muyu's sudden loud cry shattered their actions and mood.
"Who is it?"
Their high spirits were completely ruined by Xiao Muyu. Song Hailan and Yun Tianhe were furious. Their dark gazes locked onto Xiao Muyu, and a murderous intent burst forth.
"You two shameless scoundrels, you are unworthy of being Righteous Path Disciples!"
Xiao Muyu raised her sword hilt, pointing it at their faces.
"What business is it of yours how we deal with a Demon Cult demoness? Hiding your face behind a mask, are you perhaps in league with this demoness?" Yun Tianhe glared at Xiao Muyu and snapped coldly.
"Junior Brother, with the two of us and just one of her, don't you find it a bit crowded? Now that one has delivered herself to our door, isn't it just perfect?"
Song Hailan's lustful gaze roamed over Xiao Muyu's well-defined, curvaceous figure as he grinned wickedly.