Chapter 14 The Bet

Ran Qingmo arrived.

Half of the thin veil covering her face had shattered, revealing the flawlessly beautiful countenance beneath as the breeze atop the mountain peak faintly stirred.

At a glance, it was as if millennia had passed.

Coming back to his senses, Xu Yuan slowly rose to his feet, his brow furrowing bit by bit.

Aside from the faint clarity in her eyes that remained just as when he first saw her, her physical state was visibly in disarray.

Her sword-wielding right arm hung limply, a large piece of her black robe was torn, and the garments on her left shoulder were almost completely shattered, exposing her delicate skin that looked as if it could be broken with a mere flick, with several strands of blood oozing from the wound on her arm, extending like bright red little snakes to her fingertips, continuously dripping down.

He glanced at the massive snakehead lying beneath Ran Qingmo's feet.

Atop the giant snakehead were seven lotus flowers, six of which had already bloomed, as vivid as if they were alive.

After a moment's thought, Xu Yuan's pupils suddenly constricted.

He recognized the giant python before him.

The Qi Sheng Man.

The Qi Sheng Man was capable of shedding its skin to renew itself seven times, and upon the seventh time, it could truly transform into a human, with a cultivation speed no different from that of the human race.

A natural king among serpent monsters, if it were her, it wouldn't be hard to explain why that Flamelight Python would spare no effort in trying to kill him.

But,

Why would she die?

How could she die here?

Xu Yuan stared at the Qi Sheng Man's lifeless, giant snake pupils, a sense of absurdity and defiance slowly spreading in his heart.

This giant python was supposed to be one of the future heroines!

After her seventh shedding and transforming into a human, she was to go to the Dayan Empire, become a legal, adorable loli called "Ji Qingyue," and meet the main character of the plot in Jingjiang City.

Yet at this point in time, was she so easily slain by Ran Qingmo?

The gears of the plot he once knew had already begun to change subtly with his arrival.

In Xu Yuan's daze,

The black-clothed woman on the snakehead moved her sword-wielding hand subtly, casually swinging it down.

A stealthy streak of blood flashed, and Xu Yuan looked back in realization.

A deep gash suddenly appeared on the top of the snakehead with the seven lotus flowers, and then a small blood-red lotus was drawn out from the wound, floating in the air.

As soon as this object appeared, an overwhelming scent of blood swept across the entire mountain peak.

The Snakeheart Lotus.

More precisely, a sixth-grade Snakeheart Lotus, invaluable, one of the top medicinal ingredients in the Cangyuan Chronicles, capable of being refined into a Golden Scale Pill or a Blood Spirit Transformation Pill.

The Golden Scale Pill could be used to break through realms.

The Blood Spirit Transformation Pill had the effect of soothing the soul and integrating the body, which was exactly what Xu Yuan needed most right now—to fully fuse his body and will-spirit without leaving any flaws.

But at this moment, Xu Yuan had no mind to think of these things.

During his time playing "Cangyuan Chronicles," Xu Yuan was fond of Ji Qingyue, that quirky little loli, but that was merely the affection for a two-dimensional wife.

Compared to the death of a two-dimensional wife, what he was more concerned about right now was whether her death would trigger a chain reaction that would affect the entire world line's plot trajectory.

The sprawling Wanxing Mountain Range, which spanned tens of thousands of miles, was the southwestern border of the Dayan Empire, and further west lay a place called the Ancient Abyss, where dozens of large and small demon race groups had formed a loose demon nation within it.

Ji Qingyue came from there.

Now, with the noble serpent princess of the demon nation decapitated by a single stroke from Ran Qingmo, Xu Yuan had no idea whether the Demon Emperor, pressurized by the Serpent Monster Clan, would make some actions contrary to the original plot, affecting the direction of the whole storyline.

However, Xu Yuan soon realized that he didn't need to worry so much.

Because he might not live to see that day.

After Ran Qingmo plucked the Snakeheart Lotus out of Ji Qingyue, the black-clothed woman on the snakehead's body went limp, rolling down the curved surface of the giant python head toward the ground.

As Xu Yuan snapped back to reality in an instant, he quickly stepped forward to catch the woman's tumbling delicate body, frowning as he softly called out twice:

"Miss Ran... Miss Ran?"

The hand on the woman's shoulder gently shook her, as Xu Yuan tried to awaken her, but her beautiful, clear eyes remained tightly shut.

Following the fierce battle with Ji Qingyue, this woman cloaked in black ink-like garments had also reached the end of her tether.

Gradually,

Xu Yuan noticed that the breathing of the woman in his arms was becoming increasingly rapid, the skin beneath the torn veil flushing a bright red, her chest beneath the black robe rising and falling swiftly, and her body temperature rising rapidly before his very eyes....

Observing the changes in Ran Qingmo's body, Xu Yuan's mind flashed through many things, but in the end, he let out a long breath.

He remembered that the "seven-life scorpion" apparently did not harbor the popular, amorous poison.

So, Ran Qingmo's condition should be due to something else.

It could be from Ran Qingmo's use of qi to heal, or possibly a symptom of some toxin's effect.

But regardless of which it was, Xu Yuan could only stand by and watch now.

The rudimentary first-aid knowledge he had learned in his previous life clearly wasn't enough to cure the superhuman individuals of this one.

The feeling of silently awaiting others to decide his fate was not pleasant.

If Ran Qingmo were to die, or if during the time Ran Qingmo was healing herself with her energy, Ji Qingyue's subordinates or the subordinates of the original body's father arrived, he would not be able to escape death.

But all he could do now was wait.

Xu Yuan carried her body to sit leaning against a big tree at the summit of the mountain, and he sat quietly beside her, guarding her.

Time passed, second by second.

The rising sun had unknowingly hung high in the sky, yet Ran Qingmo's flushed complexion had not faded.

After who knows how long,

a bleak cold wind blew by, and Ran Qingmo's faint voice smoothly came from beside him:

"Where... is the cave dwelling you spoke of?"

She had awakened, yet her voice could not mask her weakness.

Hearing the sound, Xu Yuan immediately glanced at her condition and replied:

"Below the Hanging Cliff."

He paused, then asked, "How is your condition?"

"....."

Hearing this response, Ran Qingmo did not reply, but slowly closed her eyes again.

After a long moment,

she said in a low voice with her eyes still closed:

"Xu Changtian's father's men are almost here."

"....."

Hearing this, Xu Yuan's pupils suddenly constricted.

Her voice was very light, yet it exploded like a bomb in Xu Yuan's mind.

"What... did you say?"

With her eyes closed, Ran Qingmo repeated, her voice devoid of any emotion:

"Xu Changtian's father's men are almost here."

His heartbeat sped up, beat by beat, as Xu Yuan slowly stood:

"How much longer?"

Ran Qingmo replied softly:

"Less than a quarter of an hour."

A quarter of an hour?

Xu Yuan's mind jolted, he took a deep breath, and asked again:

"How is your body now?"

Ran Qingmo leaned against the tree roots, opened her eyes, glanced at Xu Yuan, and replied with a question:

"You seem very uneasy. Why? I won't tell anyone about your secrets."

Xu Yuan's gaze swept around the clouds surrounding the mountain peak, forcibly steadying his wavering spirit, and said in a deep voice:

"Don't you know that possession can be detected?"

"...."

Ran Qingmo stared at Xu Yuan with confusion.

It seemed she only knew about the rejection syndrome that comes with possession but wasn't aware that there were methods to detect it after the symptoms had subsided.

Xu Yuan didn't bother explaining the rules of this world to Ran Qingmo, instead he sped up his speech and asked again:

"Can you currently fly?"

Ran Qingmo fell silent, then shook her head:

"I... have been gravely injured."

Xu Yuan lifted his hand to rub his temples vigorously, asking doubtfully:

"Then how could you sense that someone was coming?"

Ran Qingmo matter-of-factly replied:

"Physical injuries don't greatly affect the will-spirit."

Xu Yuan didn't say anything more, his mind racing to think of the next move.

What should he do?

Continue to stay here, wait for the original body's father's men to arrive, then start acting?

The original body's father's men wouldn't know at this point that Ran Qingmo had captured the original body, he could pin the blame on Ji Qingyue.

Claim that Ji Qingyue had kidnapped him, and it was Ran Qingmo who saved him, there is no proof since Ji Qingyue is already beyond argument.

But the problem is, the Cangyuan Chronicles only mentioned in passing that Xu Changtian was proficient in all sorts of vices, such as eating, drinking, gambling, and indulging, without detailing his behavior and habits.

If something was discovered to be amiss, then he could only wait for death.

What to do? What to do!

Countless complex thoughts flashed through his mind.

After a moment,

Xu Yuan suddenly let out a long breath as if resigned to his fate.

He gave up.

Xu Yuan glanced sideways at the black-clad woman sitting beside the tree:

"Can you walk?"

"......" Ran Qingmo didn't understand Xu Yuan's sudden question.

"Can you walk?" Xu Yuan repeated, his voice flat.

Ran Qingmo fell silent for a moment, then shook her head.

Xu Yuan silently bent down, picked up the Snakeheart Lotus from the ground and stuffed it into his chest, then slid his hands under Ran Qingmo's knees and back, lifting her up in a princess carry amidst her slightly surprised gaze.

Ran Qingmo's body was as if boneless, very light, even the already debilitated young master could easily lift her.

"..."

The air went quiet for a moment.

Ran Qingmo didn't struggle. Being forcibly held in his arms, she simply stared at him placidly.

Ran Qingmo gazed at Xu Yuan, but Xu Yuan wasn't looking back at Ran Qingmo.

Holding Ran Qingmo, Xu Yuan walked towards the edge of the cliff while softly asking:

"Mr. Ran, do you wish to die?"

"...."

Ran Qingmo didn't understand Xu Yuan's question, but she didn't wish to die, so she shook her head.

Xu Yuan caught a glimpse of this with his peripheral vision, letting out a slight smile:

"Not wanting to die is good. If we continue to stay here and get caught by Xu Changtian's father's men, it's just a matter of dying sooner or later."

As he spoke, Xu Yuan had already reached the edge of the cliff while holding Ran Qingmo.

The cold wind blew his robes, just one step away from the abyss.

Ran Qingmo pondered for a moment, seemingly realizing what Xu Yuan wanted to do, her voice tinged with uncertainty:

"You... want to jump down with me?"

"Afraid?" Xu Yuan laughed.

Ran Qingmo glanced at the misty abyss, her look one of disbelief:

"But, this is the cliff's edge."

Xu Yuan met her gaze for a moment, then chuckled:

"Dying from a fall is better than being tortured to death by the people from the Prime Minister's Mansion, isn't it?"

Ran Qingmo seriously thought about it, then responded:

"Oh, you go ahead and jump."

Xu Yuan didn't rush but looked at Ran Qingmo and said with a smile:

"Mr. Ran, how about we make a bet?"

Ran Qingmo didn't understand why the man before her was being so melodramatic, her gaze indifferent, but she nodded:

"Speak."

Xu Yuan said:

"If we can survive this, you owe me a favor, and you'll have to help me with one thing."

Ran Qingmo glanced at the abyss once more:

"But we won't survive."

"I'm talking about 'if' we somehow do." Xu Yuan laughed softly.

Ran Qingmo fell silent momentarily, then slowly uttered:

"Why should I owe you a favor if by some chance we live?"

"..." Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan was rendered speechless, and with life and death at stake, he had already lost many concerns:

"If we do live, it would be because my hidden mansion saved us. I believe your life should be worth a favor, right?"

Ran Qingmo pondered for a moment, found his reasoning sound, and nodded:

"Fine, if we live, I owe you a favor."

"Remember what you've said."

As the words fell,

Xu Yuan took a step forward without hesitation.

The cold wind at the peak made the black-clad woman's veiled scarf flutter down with the wind,

everything in the world seemed quiet at that moment,

hurtling through the mist, his senses fading bit by bit, all that remained around Xu Yuan was the whoosh of the wind by his ears and the warm softness of the woman's body in his arms......

Time passed in the clouds,

he cast his eyes downward at her who had already closed her eyes waiting for death.

And then he remembered,

Ran Qingmo's destiny, it seemed, had a score of ninety-three.