“What’s this girl’s background, exactly?”
Chu Feng stood on high alert, watching Wuma Shengjie, who could lunge at him at any moment, while simultaneously pondering the nature of the power she was unleashing.
Because it was definitely not a divine gift, nor could it be a heavenly bloodline.
The unsettling, malevolent aura she exuded forced Chu Feng to consider another possibility: had Wuma Shengjie cultivated a demonic technique?
But even if it was a demonic technique, one capable of boosting her cultivation by two ranks in the Martial Immortal realm would have to be extraordinarily potent.
“Ugh!”
However, just as Chu Feng was analyzing the situation, Wuma Shengjie’s expression shifted dramatically. A large gush of blood sprayed from her mouth.
At the same time, the blood-red aura emanating from her began to dissipate, though the crimson markings on her body remained.
Her cultivation reverted to its normal fifth-rank Martial Immortal level, but she had completely lost her combat ability. She curled up on the ground, trembling violently, her face contorted in agony.
“Little lady, are you alright?”
Chu Feng approached her cautiously, initially wary because he wasn’t sure if she was genuinely suffering a backlash or faking it to deceive him.
Deception in battle was something Chu Feng had employed plenty of times himself.
But after observing her closely, he quickly confirmed that Wuma Shengjie wasn’t pretending. The girl was truly experiencing a severe backlash, one that threatened her life.
In such a situation, Chu Feng didn’t hesitate. He first fed her several pills to mitigate the backlash, then set up a boundary formation.
Through his efforts, Wuma Shengjie’s suffering finally eased.
But she fell into a deep slumber, her body burning with a high fever, like a child with a severe illness. She occasionally muttered delirious words.
She kept calling out for her parents, her voice laced with longing and reluctance to part.
“This girl’s past isn’t simple,” Chu Feng murmured, his brows furrowing slightly after listening for a while.
Though it was just delirious rambling, Wuma Shengjie’s words hinted at something: the blood-red markings on her body were tied to her parents, and also to the Wuma Heavenly Clan.
Exactly what that connection was, Chu Feng couldn’t deduce from a few disjointed phrases.
But it was clear enough that Wuma Shengjie had likely endured tragedies beyond what most people could imagine.
While she slept, Chu Feng didn’t neglect their mission. On his own, he broke the formation at the agreed-upon time.
Once the formation was undone, the sealed boundary gate opened naturally, signaling their success.
But Chu Feng didn’t leave immediately. Using his boundary techniques, he crafted a fake gate, making it appear from the outside as though his gate remained closed.
Moreover, it wouldn’t be easy for anyone to enter.
“What’s going on? Why hasn’t Chu Feng and Wuma Shengjie’s gate opened?”
“Chu Feng, are you both okay?”
Sure enough, Liangqiu Hongyue and the others’ voices soon echoed from outside.
They had emerged from their respective gates and, seeing Chu Feng’s still shut, naturally grew concerned.
But Chu Feng had no choice. With Wuma Shengjie in this state, he couldn’t take her out yet—how would he explain it?
He could only wait for her to wake up. Fortunately, based on his estimation, it wouldn’t take long.
“Why did you help me?”
Suddenly, Wuma Shengjie’s voice rang out. Turning around, Chu Feng saw her sitting up, rubbing her head while looking at him.
“If I’d known shouting could wake you up, I’d have tried it sooner,” Chu Feng said with a smile, walking over to her. He suspected the calls from Liangqiu Hongyue and the others outside had coincidentally roused her.
“I was going to kill you. Why did you save me?” Wuma Shengjie asked again, clearly still recalling some of what happened despite the backlash. Chu Feng saving her baffled her.
“To be honest, normally, I’d never let someone who tried to kill me off the hook, let alone save them.”
“But in your case, I think there’s some justification. After all, I did see something I shouldn’t have.”
“But I swear it wasn’t intentional, and I promise I’ll never breathe a word of it to anyone,” Chu Feng said.
Hearing this, Wuma Shengjie’s brows furrowed slightly, and she fell silent, lost in thought.
Chu Feng’s words had evidently struck a chord.
Where once she wouldn’t have believed his apologies or offers of reconciliation, now, she did.
“Don’t think saving me means I’ll let you off. Today, I owe you a favor, and I’ll repay it. But once that debt’s settled, I’ll still kill you,” Wuma Shengjie declared.
“So, this favor’s like a shield for me? As long as it’s unpaid, you won’t kill me?” Chu Feng asked.
“Sort of, but it’s only temporary, not forever. Even if you don’t call in the favor, I’ll find a chance to repay it. Either way, I won’t stay indebted to you,” Wuma Shengjie said, her tone brimming with stubborn resolve.
“Then how about you repay it right now?” Chu Feng suggested.
At this, Wuma Shengjie’s expression froze, puzzled by what Chu Feng was getting at.
She’d just said she’d resume trying to kill him once the favor was repaid.
Yet Chu Feng wanted her to settle it now?
Did he want peace or not?
Was there something wrong with this guy’s head?
That was what flashed through Wuma Shengjie’s mind.
But only Chu Feng knew the truth: while she was unconscious, the Spirit Beast Treasure Map had shifted again. Now, Chu Feng knew the exact location of the secret realm it described.
