Chapter Thirty-Six: Escape

Although I wasn't entirely sure of my current situation, I could clearly tell that I had been saved—by a flying red snake, no less.

What a thrilling experience.

The snake's smooth scales made it hard to hold on, and I felt like I could slip off at any moment if it turned too sharply. Fortunately, the whirlwind journey came to an abrupt end as the snake dove towards the ground, and we landed safely in a pile of straw.

Dust and grass flew everywhere.

"Luckily, we didn't crash," I said, pulling a dried leaf off my forehead and shaking my head vigorously.

"Cough… Are you alright?" The snake spoke. Wait, this voice sounded just like Senior Brother Luoxi's.

I looked down and saw that half of Senior Brother Luoxi's body was buried in the straw beneath me. I quickly grabbed his shoulder and pulled him out.

"Senior Brother, is that you?" I asked.

"Who else would it be?" he replied.

Uncertain, I asked again, "So, were you really that snake just now?"

"Obviously." He rolled his eyes and flicked me on the forehead.

"Ow! I was just asking. You didn't have to prove it so physically," I said, rubbing my head. Looking around, I finally spotted an abandoned temple not far away and pointed it out. "Senior Brother, there's a temple over there. Let's go hide for a bit."

"What's the point of hiding?" he replied, seemingly unconcerned.

He really didn't understand the situation.

Smiling, I looked at him. "Senior Brother, do you think that Daoist will just let us go? I know about his big conspiracy. He will definitely seize the chance to slander us, blaming the monster attacks in Luoyang on us." I stood up and jumped to the ground, brushing the straw off my clothes. "If you don't want to go, I'm going. Don't blame me for not warning you."

I didn't look back as I ran towards the temple, but I slowed down, listening for him to follow.

He caught up, gasping for breath. "Why are you running so fast? And, by the way, why weren't you surprised or scared when I turned into a snake?"

I shrugged. "I've seen demons before. Other than you hiding your identity to join Qiong Yun Sect, there's nothing to be surprised about. Besides, didn't that Daoist reveal your background? You haven't done anything evil, so why should I be afraid?"

He chuckled awkwardly. "You seem calmer about this than I am."

Having gone through so much, I had long since blurred the lines between humans and demons. People often say that those who are not of our race must have different hearts, but both demons and humans can be good or evil. Demons living with humans become more like humans in body and mind; humans living with demons are also influenced in the same way. Hypocritical and deceitful as Daoist Lingyun, he commits acts no different from those of malevolent demons. Where in this world is there absolute good or evil?

So naturally, I wouldn't be overly concerned.

"Come on, you're my Senior Brother. Do I need to panic?" I rolled my eyes at him and turned to push open the rickety door. Perhaps I had been cursed with bad luck lately, because as the door fell, it sent a cloud of dust straight into my face.

I waved away the dust in front of me and stepped inside. The floor creaked beneath my feet, and when I looked down, I saw a pile of charred bones, with some fragments of cloth that hadn't been completely burned.

Could this be the work of Xinghuo Hall? I stopped Senior Brother Luoxi with my hand, moved to the side to tear down some cobwebs, and opened the only window. As sunlight streamed in, I heard a noise. I turned to see that Senior Brother Luoxi was standing quietly in place, so I asked him, "Senior Brother, did you hear something just now?"

He glanced at the statue and smiled at me. "Hmm, maybe it's just rats. Are you scared?"

Rats are natural prey for snakes, especially when they're right here. Without thinking, I replied, "No, not with you here. You can get rid of them for me, right?"

His face darkened instantly. "Nonsense. Who wants to eat those things? If you keep talking like that, I'll catch them all and make you eat them." He clapped his hands and pretended to walk towards the statue.

"Go ahead, catch them all. If you do, I'll eat them," I said calmly, transforming an ice lotus in my hand as I slowly moved towards the statue as well.

"Erya?! How can it be you!" A surprised voice came from behind the statue.

Upon hearing this, I dismissed my weapon and ran over. I saw Erya, covered in blood, lying in Senior Brother's arms. I reached out to check her breathing—there was still a faint pulse. Although she had several wounds, none seemed fatal. Sweat beaded on her forehead, likely from the pain.

I patted Senior Brother Luoxi, who was staring blankly. "Senior Brother, help Erya sit up."

He quickly helped her up, his face full of worry.

"Senior Brother, don't worry," I reassured him with a nod. I focused my internal energy and began channeling it into Erya. After a moment, I used the withering and flourishing technique from the "Wonderful Flower Heart Mantra" taught by Elder Miaolian to heal her wounds.

Erya's injuries were fresh but not deep, so healing them wasn't too difficult. In less than three-quarters of an hour, the sweat on her forehead had stopped.

After finishing the spell, I couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

Erya must have returned to Xinghuo Hall after failing to activate the Minglei Array. But I had only heard Hongyi and Lingyun talking about her today. Could they have planned to harm Erya all along? No, they wouldn't have had the time or reason to act so soon. Maybe Erya encountered someone else.

Could it have been the Moon Shadow Sect?