Run if You Can't Win

The massive and enraged Earth Demon erupted with an overwhelming power that filled Ye Qiang with a deep sense of terror.

"This is bad, it's gathering its poison qi! Meng'er, you need to leave, I'll hold it off here!" Ye Qiang gasped for breath, his voice filled with concern as he spoke to the girl.

"You don't need to pretend to be a good person in front of me. I don't need your despicable Blood Sword Sect to save me. I'd rather die than accept your help!" Meng'er replied coldly, standing her ground.

It seemed that Meng'er truly despised him. Ye Qiang sighed helplessly, then suddenly shifted to a rather lecherous expression. He gazed at her affectionately and said, "So, Meng'er, does that mean you're planning to accompany me in the underworld and become eternal lovers even after death?"

Seeing the displeasure on Meng'er's face, Ye Qiang guessed she would turn away. As she hesitated for a moment, he continued with a cheeky grin, "Just imagine, how delightful it would be to walk hand in hand with such a beautiful and enchanting woman like you in the Yellow Springs."

When she still didn't respond, Ye Qiang was about to say something else, but before he could react, Meng'er vanished in a blur. In the next second, a cold longsword was pressed firmly against Ye Qiang's pale neck.

Ye Qiang was caught off guard by her sudden move, but he remained calm, looking at her cool, delicate face. "Is it really possible to hate someone who just risked his life to save you?" he asked.

"Yes, I hate you with all my heart. But I am a person who values justice. Since you saved me earlier, I will spare you this time. Don't say another word, or I'll take your life! And I will make sure to avenge my master's death with your blood!" Meng'er replied coldly.

She then lowered the longsword from Ye Qiang's neck and turned away without saying another word.

At that moment, a deafening thunderclap sounded across the sky. Before the thunder could even reach them, a blinding flash of lightning split the heavens, shaking the entire area. A fierce wind began to whip through the forest, violently stirring the trees and bushes. The wind soon rushed toward the open ground, eventually sweeping into the thicket where they were.

The massive and dangerous Earth Demon, now covered in dark, foul liquid, emitted a terrifying presence that made both Ye Qiang and Meng'er feel an unprecedented pressure. They both instantly realized that they had to leave immediately.

Ye Qiang quickly reached into his spatial ring and pulled out two yellow pills. The description in the ring read: "Yellow Emperor Pill: A special pill that allows the user to burrow underground in the span of ten blinks. Ideal for escape!"

He handed one of the Yellow Emperor Pills to Meng'er and said, "Take this, quickly! We need to escape together!"

Meng'er, seemingly not appreciative of his gesture, glanced at Ye Qiang, then at the completely enraged Earth Demon. After a moment's hesitation, she reluctantly accepted the pill and swallowed it.

The moment the pill was consumed, a dim yellow light enveloped her body, and in an instant, the two of them successfully burrowed underground, narrowly escaping the Earth Demon's wrath.

"This pill only lasts for ten blinks. We need to get out of the Black Mountain Range quickly!" Ye Qiang said seriously to Meng'er, the girl beside him.

After burrowing underground, Ye Qiang looked up and saw the enraged Earth Demon still wreaking havoc above ground. The creature was rampaging wildly across the open area, causing the ground to tremble violently. The terrifying storm above—complete with deafening thunder and blinding lightning—intensified the already oppressive atmosphere in the Black Mountain Range.

"Why did you save me?" Meng'er, still moving quickly underground, suddenly asked.

"Because I find you pleasant to look at," Ye Qiang answered without hesitation.

"Aren't you afraid I might kill you?" Meng'er asked, her voice cold.

"I'm afraid... but I'm more afraid of a beautiful girl like you dying in front of me," Ye Qiang replied with a faint smile.

"What's your name?" Meng'er asked coldly.

"I'm Mo Xian, a disciple of the Blood Sword Sect. Why are you asking for my name, Meng'er? Could it be you're going to thank me for saving you? Perhaps you wish to repay me with your body? Ha, if that's the case, I'd gladly live ten years less!" Ye Qiang said with a playful laugh.

"Mo Xian, huh? I'll remember that. Consider this a debt of life from me. But I'll make sure to kill you twice," Meng'er said, her voice still ice-cold.

"Well, if I really do die by your sword one day, Meng'er, you must at least buy me a nice coffin with the two lives you owe me. Then, I'll make sure to watch over you from the heavens!" Ye Qiang said, still grinning.

"You scoundrel!" Meng'er scoffed.

"Too kind, too kind," Ye Qiang chuckled.

Ten blinks later, they had successfully made their way to the outskirts of the Black Mountain Range. Meng'er glanced at Ye Qiang and noticed he was still standing there completely naked. Her cheeks flushed bright red, but Ye Qiang didn't seem to care at all about being naked in front of her.

After a brief moment of eye contact, Ye Qiang saw Meng'er's face turn even redder, as if blood might pour out of her cheeks. Embarrassed, she covered herself with her hands, and Ye Qiang, still smiling, said, "Meng'er, could you help me find some clothes to wear?"

"Hmph, we part ways here. Perhaps we'll meet again," Meng'er said, her words laced with hatred as she turned and walked toward the direction of the Wuji Sword Sect.

Watching her leave, Ye Qiang felt a twinge of sadness.

Once, she had been a pure, kind, and lovable girl. Now, she was cold and filled with hatred. Had he truly made a mistake?

No. This world had no laws, only principles. The only thing that mattered was strength, and strength was the measure of one's value. Now, as the inheritor of the Endless Fire God, with the Fire Martial Sword God's teachings and the help of the great Mandela, Ye Qiang believed he would one day see his dreams come true. He would never regret any of his actions, even if he sometimes felt they were wrong.

As time passed and the night slowly faded, the sky in the distance began to glow with bright light. In moments, the entire Black Mountain Range was illuminated. Ye Qiang stood leisurely, opening his spatial ring and pulling out the corpse of the bronze wolf he had killed earlier.