Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Advancement
The moment Wen Shu turned around, the two Seventh Rank males who had been cowering in front of the marauders suddenly transformed into beasts and began advancing towards them boldly.
Her eyes turned cold as she assessed the current situation and quickly made a decision, "Wu Xuan, take me away."
She deliberately lowered her voice, but the keen-eared males still heard her clearly.
"Wait!"
Yining, who had been staring at her, felt a surge of panic in his heart and quickly stepped forward to try to stop her.
But the female was beside the Black Panther, and with a single lowering of her head, the human and beast swiftly vanished into the bushes.
He stood frozen in place, watching Wen Shu’s unhesitating retreating figure, his eyes slowly filled with a hint of gloom.
Seeing his forlorn expression, Priest Bona placed a hand on his shoulder, speaking earnestly, "Child, this female’s identity is unusual, she’s not suitable for you."
A female who should have died long ago yet came back to life with a different soul... In nearly three hundred years, he had never seen such a bizarre thing.
Moreover, the danger around this female was too great. Yining had grown up under his watch, and he couldn’t stand by and watch this child jump into a pit of fire!
At that moment, deep within the dense forest, a dark shadow was darting between the bushes, stirring up fierce gusts of wind.
Wen Shu lay on the Black Panther’s back, and in the dim moonlight, she saw a pure white rabbit ahead, sniffing around for food.
If everything went smoothly, they would stay in the dense forest for two days, and food was essential...
Just as this thought arose, the Black Panther, ever attentive to her, seemed to read her mind and leapt forward, grabbing the unlucky small beast.
"Mmm—"
He looked at Wen Shu excitedly, those once-clouded round eyes shining once again with a sparkling golden light.
Meeting his gaze, Wen Shu momentarily froze, tears and laughter intermingling in her eyes.
In front of her, the Black Panther tilted his plump head, displaying the snow rabbit in his mouth, exuding a proud demeanor identical to when he used to seek her praise.
She tugged at the corners of her lips yet could not ignore the terrifying scars covering his body.
Unbeknownst to her, tears blurred her vision. Wen Shu’s throat tightened, and she hugged his neck tightly, feeling an unbearable pain in her chest.
This fool would really risk his life for her...
Feeling the constant wetness seeping into his nape, the Black Panther stumbled, heart clenched tightly with the inability to turn back into human form due to being poisoned for too long, he could only emit helpless whimpers.
"Mmm—Mmm—"
Sensing his urgency, Wen Shu restrained her sobbing, her voice hoarse as she said, "Wu Xuan, from now on, you’re not allowed to go anywhere but stay by my side."
She wiped away her tears, looking into his dazed golden eyes, her damp face painted with a hint of seriousness, "Did you hear me?"
Wu Xuan stared intently at her face, his heart filled once again with an indescribable warmth.
It felt like he was walking on air as he stared into the female’s tearful eyes, feeling both heartache and a dizzying sense of happiness.
He never imagined that one day the female would ask him to stay by her side!
He wanted to, of course, he wanted to!
The Black Panther sped up excitedly but soon his expression turned somber.
He recalled that day, seeing that face by the riverbank.
Ugly and hideous...
"Mmm—"
A hint of panic flashed across his eyes, leading him to bow his head in avoidance, focusing on a giant tree at the roadside, and suddenly leapt up into a tree hole mid-air.
Wen Shu slid down from his neck, yet she didn’t forget the Black Panther’s evasive eyes. Seeing him turn into the hole, she hurriedly followed.
But Wu Xuan moved too fast, and she was already mentally exhausted. After just a few steps, she felt the world spin, "Wu Xuan..."
Her foot stepped into emptiness, and her body fell uncontrollably, fearing she might faint, she bit hard on her tongue, barely becoming more alert.
The pitch-black ground was rapidly approaching, and she shielded her face with her elbow, but a thick tail wrapped around her waist, securing her into a cozy patch of fur.
"Mmm..."
The Black Panther gazed down at her, his golden eyes filled with remorse.
It was then that Wen Shu noticed, around his pupils, a large swath of red was spreading—a sign of losing control.
Before she could react, the Black Panther encircled her waist tightly, swiftly moved into the depths of the cave, and hastily buried his mouth in the grass, picking something up.
Concern welled up within Wen Shu, and she took a couple of steps forward to crouch in front of him.
As she approached, the Black Panther’s lustful gaze followed closely, as if this sight might be the last he would ever get of her.
Surviving in the dense forest for this long, he had already lost his sanity once, and if he lost control again, he might never wake up...
Seeing him in this state, Wen Shu’s heart tightened too. She reached out and gently stroked his furry chin, softly saying, "I will heal you."
The Black Panther in front of her did not respond, he just blinked and stared fixedly at her.
Recalling his out-of-control state earlier today, Wen Shu worried that his condition might worsen, so she raised her hand to try using her superpower again.
But as white light bloomed in her palm, intense pain suddenly surged through her body; her face turned pale feeling as if the torn skin and damaged veins might be pierced through!
Only a short time passed before her whole body was soaked in cold sweat, darkness swept over her eyes, and she collapsed forward into warmth.
Even unconsciousness did not alleviate the pain; her teeth trembled with anguish, attempting to bite down her hand, but was gently stopped by being given an object emitting a fragrant scent to bite onto instead.
In a haze, coolness wafted through her mouth spreading slowly from her head to her body.
Gradually, it felt like the veins that were being dug and drilled by a bladed edge were being enveloped by a soothing coolness, and unknowingly, the pain subsided...
When she awoke again, Wen Shu’s throat was dry and raspy from dehydration, "Cough cough—"
The warmth binding her waist moved, and she opened her eyes vigorously to be met by those familiar golden eyes.
Seeing her awaken, the Black Panther nervously released her waist, rolled up a leaf full of icy water, and brought it to her lips.
Seeing his eyes filled with concern, Wen Shu’s heart warmed in a unique way. After drinking the ice-cold water, she laid her hand upon his furry paw, "Let me check your injuries."
Before Wu Xuan could respond, a solid glow radiated from her palm, flowing into the Black Panther’s body.
The power, far stronger than before, filled her with joy, but upon examining Wu Xuan’s injuries, her brows tightly furrowed.
How could the injuries be so severe?
In her past life, she had once saved a human on the verge of becoming fully zombified, and Wu Xuan’s current condition was even more severe than that person!
By logical standards, Wu Xuan should have already turned into a mutant beast by now.
However, whatever was slowing the deterioration of his condition, she felt grateful, at least for the moment, Wu Xuan had not lost his sanity yet, she still had a chance to heal him!
Fearful of the situation worsening, she did not withdraw her hand but instead immediately began treating Wu Xuan.
Continuous white light shone, and the Black Panther’s festering wounds were visibly healing.
However, despite Wen Shu ascending to the Fifth Rank, she still couldn’t harness her full power.
Fortunately, by the time she reached her limit, the Black Panther’s wounds had mostly healed, at least he no longer resembled a mutant beast.
And across from her, noticing his wounds healing, Wu Xuan fell into shock.
Until now, as Wen Shu’s long hair, invigorated by the white light, softly fell, he still stood stunned, doubting that what he saw was merely a dream.
"Ashu..."
He took a deep breath, opened his large mouth, yet forgot the treasure still in his mouth.
Seeing a gold-glowing object fall, Wen Shu couldn’t help but look over, and when she saw clearly what it was, she was completely stunned in place.