"What are you doing?" Watching this guy bent over, hunchbacked, and stretching his neck with a fawning look on his face, Mu Hanyan couldnât help but get annoyed.
Zhu Xiuqing maintained a flattering smile and pointed to his neck.
Mu Hanyanâs mouth twitched at this ridiculous action, rendering her speechless.
Of course, she wouldnât leave Zhu Xiuqing here to die, but she also felt that grabbing someone by the neck like carrying a kitten or puppy was somewhat disrespectful. She had originally thought of holding him by the waist for a run, but who knew this guy would offer his neck so willingly. What an idiot!
Since he was being so proactive, Mu Hanyan couldnât be bothered to overthink it. She grabbed his neck and ran swiftly ahead.
The beastly roars behind gradually faded away, but Mu Hanyanâs mood didnât lighten at all. The reason she could leave the Fierce Stone Demon far behind was mainly due to the Green Cloud Feather. However, after speeding along, the Heaven and Earth Power stored in the Green Cloud Feather was getting less and less. Once it ran out, there would be no way she could outrun the Fierce Stone Demon.
Beside her, Taowuâs figure had become blurry and indistinct. It was just a Beast Soul Avatar and couldnât be away from the Beast Soul Hall for too long.
"Forget it, you can go back first." Seeing it so exhausted, Mu Hanyan waved her hand and said.
After all, its Divine Beast Heavenly Might wasnât helpful at all; staying by her side was meaningless.
"Thank you, my lady, thank you!" Taowu had long been unable to hold on but felt embarrassed to say so. Hearing Mu Hanyanâs words was like being granted amnesty, and it repeatedly expressed its gratitude before disappearing in a flash.
Watching Taowu vanish into thin air like that, Zhu Xiuqing looked envious, still maintaining that posture, sitting on the ground with his neck stretched out like a loyal dog.
"Youâre supposed to be from the Royal Family, havenât you ever seen a Sword Pet? Whatâs there to be envious about?" Seeing his demeanor, Mu Hanyan couldnât help but get annoyed again, saying curtly while drinking water.
"Iâm not envious of you; Iâm envious of it," Zhu Xiuqing said.
"Oh?" Mu Hanyan gave him a puzzled look.
"It can come and go as it pleases. If only I could become a Sword Pet," Zhu Xiuqing said longingly.
"Pfft!" Mu Hanyan spat out a mouthful of cool water.
Sheâd seen people with no ambition, but never someone so utterly fallen. Was he really the Heir of Prince Anxi? He had to be adopted.
Mu Hanyan really didnât have the time to pay attention to him; she was eating snacks while pondering strategies.
"We canât keep running forward," Zhu Xiuqing suddenly said.
"Why?" Mu Hanyan asked instinctively.
"I looked at the map, and not far ahead thereâs another town," Zhu Xiuqing said.
Mu Hanyan gazed deeply at Zhu Xiuqing. She hadnât considered this issue. After escaping Hanshan Town, she had been running along the mountain path. If she accidentally led those two Fierce Stone Demons to another town, who knows how many civilians could be killed or injured.
Well... this guy might be a bit simple-minded, but his heart isnât bad.
"Take the Elixir, quickly do Energy Movement to heal." Mu Hanyan took out an Elixir and tossed it to Zhu Xiuqing. At last seeing this guyâs merit, Mu Hanyan wasnât as annoyed by him and spoke to him more gently.
Who wouldâve thought, upon catching the Elixir tossed by Mu Hanyan, Zhu Xiuqing looked terrified and turned pale.
"Whatâs wrong?" Mu Hanyan frowned.
"Are you... are you planning to abandon me and let me fend for myself? I heard that even prisoners on death row get a good meal before execution," Zhu Xiuqing said, his face full of panic and his voice quivering.
"..." Mu Hanyan was speechless. She rarely had a change of heart toward someone, and when she treated him a bit better, who would have thought heâd come up with such an idea, almost bringing tears to his eyes.
"Hurry up. You think Elixirs are free? They cost money, a million per pill," Mu Hanyan said exasperatedly.
In fact, these Healing Pills were indeed valuable, but they were only worth two to three hundred thousand each. Seeing this guy start to annoy her again, Mu Hanyan quoted a price several times higher.
"Alright, alright, but Iâve lost my silver notes. How about writing an IOU first?" Zhu Xiuqing asked.
"Fine," Mu Hanyan, not wanting to waste words with him, casually tossed over pen and paper. After all, the Star Disk Space was spacious enough, and she carried all sorts of odds and ends.
Soon, Zhu Xiuqing finished writing the IOU and handed it to Mu Hanyan.
Two million! Mu Hanyan looked at the IOU and then at Zhu Xiuqing; did this guy have money he couldnât spend?
"As they say, things of rarity are precious. Where could you buy Elixirs in such a wilderness? Not to mention this Healing Holy Pill, even a regular Healing Pill would be worth gold here," Zhu Xiuqing said, looking at Mu Hanyan expectantly.
"Alright, hurry and take the Elixir; we need to get ready to leave." Mu Hanyan, knowing what he was waiting for, accepted the IOU, then gave him a promise.
"Alright, alright," Zhu Xiuqing said happily, swallowing the Elixir.
As long as Mu Hanyan accepted the IOU, she wouldnât abandon him for two million. Now he finally felt reassured.
"Cheapskate," Mu Hanyan grumbled to herself.
While Zhu Xiuqing was healing, Mu Hanyan also intensified her own Energy Movement to restore her Qi.
"Almost ready, letâs set off," said Mu Hanyan shortly after, opening her eyes.
Although the Fierce Stone Demon hadnât caught up yet, Mu Hanyan knew that with the Exotic Beastsâ keen sense of smell, it was only a matter of time. Taking advantage of having restored some Qi, it was best to slip away early. After all, the Heaven and Earth Power accumulated in the Green Cloud Feather also required time, better to conserve it where possible.
Zhu Xiuqing scrambled up and extended his neck toward Mu Hanyan.
"Sigh." Faced with such a shameless person, Mu Hanyan was at a loss for words, grabbing his neck and shooting forward.
This time, Mu Hanyan didnât continue along the mountain path but headed straight for the depths of the Longyan Mountain range. Of course, carrying such a tag-along, she dared not truly enter the depthsâjust circuiting away from the mountain path and around the Fierce Stone Demon.
Unknowingly, half a month had passed.
Looking at the Green Cloud Feather in her hand, Mu Hanyan was quietly troubled. She had thought that after so many days, the Fierce Stone Demon would have given up. Who knew its grudge-holding nature far exceeded her expectations, still relentlessly pursuing.
Despite her continuous conserving, the Heaven and Earth Power stored in the Green Cloud Feather had been completely depleted. If they were caught again next time, escape might not be possible.
Zhu Xiuqing, however, had become more compliant, now sitting obediently across from her, nibbling on dry rations and occasionally flashing a flattering smile, looking every bit like a human-shaped Sword Pet.