The Villain Marked the Protagonist's Fiancée (Through the Book) - Chapter 13

Fang Zhiluo transferred the Formation Plate from her Storage Ring into a Storage Pouch and tossed it to Yun Xiao. “Here,” she said. “I’ll wait for you outside.”

Yun Xiao leaped to catch the pouch, smiling. “Alright.”

Her beautiful face was streaked with dirt and bl00d, and her Magic Robe was torn and tattered, hardly a pretty sight. Yet Fang Zhiluo’s eyes were still drawn to her.

Staring intently at Yun Xiao, she murmured, “Be careful!”

With that, she retrieved a Flying Talisman and dashed out of the cave.

She had barely made it halfway when a thunderous collapse echoed behind her.

No! The cave is collapsing!

Fang Zhiluo froze, glanced back, gritted her teeth, and sprinted toward the exit.

As she burst out of the Heaven-Devouring Giant Wolf’s Cave Abode, a deafening roar shook the air. Turning, she saw the cave collapsing in a massive landslide, the Spiritual Energy sealed within by the formation erupting in all directions.

The cataclysmic event immediately drew the attention of nearby cultivators.

Zhong Qiu and his group heard the commotion and flew toward the source. Sensing the dense Spiritual Energy in the air, their expressions lit up with excitement.

He hurried to Fang Zhiluo’s side, clasped his hands in a respectful bow, and asked, “Martial Aunt Fang, could you tell us what happened here?”

Fang Zhiluo seemed not to hear him. She stood rooted to the spot, gazing in the direction Yun Xiao had gone, a hint of sorrow flickering in her beautiful eyes.

Receiving no response, Zhong Qiu and his three companions abandoned their wait and soared into the air.

“Strike first, strike hard,” Zhong Qiu declared. “With such dense Spiritual Energy, there might be Heavenly Treasures hidden here. If we can snag one, we’ll hit the jackpot!”

Unable to discern anything from above, the group prepared to descend when two massive waves of Spiritual Power erupted skyward. The four cultivators were instantly blasted apart, leaving not even intact corpses behind.

Sensing the danger, Fang Zhiluo immediately tore a Flying Talisman and retreated.

Even so, the intense Spiritual Energy waves injured her, causing her to cough up a mouthful of dark bl00d. Wiping the bl00d from her lips, she turned back to gaze at the cave.

As the Spiritual Energy fluctuations subsided, she unhesitatingly used the Light Body Technique to return.

By now, a crowd of cultivators had gathered nearby, their eyes fixed on the collapsed area, none daring to approach.

With the Spiritual Energy waves gone, Fang Zhiluo tore two more Flying Talismans and arrived above the collapsed site.

Suddenly, a faint movement stirred beneath her.

She dove down, spotting a dirty hand emerging from the rubble.

Fang Zhiluo smiled, her eyes reddening. “I knew you wouldn’t die so easily.”

Afraid of worsening Yun Xiao’s injuries, Fang Zhiluo dared not use any Techniques, instead digging her out with her bare hands.

Yun Xiao leaned weakly against Fang Zhiluo’s shoulder, forcing a faint smile. “Am I… am I… am I amazing?”

In that life-or-death moment, she had abandoned all caution, revealing her demonic form to battle the Giant Crocodile.

After being flung aside by the crocodile’s tail once more, the Dragon Egg tumbled out of her Spirit Beast Pouch and rolled provocatively toward the pool. In the blink of an eye, it vanished without a trace.

Whatever the Dragon Egg had done, the Giant Crocodile went berserk, its injuries doubling in number.

Having exhausted all the High-Grade Spirit Herbs in her Inner Space, Yun Xiao turned her attention to the immature Jade Lotus in the pool.

Every part of the Jade Lotus was a treasure. Without hesitation, she stuffed the entire plant into her mouth, causing her Spiritual Power to surge violently. Sensing the danger, she resorted to a desperate gamble.

Her gamble paid off. She killed the Giant Crocodile and survived.

Remembering this, Yun Xiao weakly pointed toward the crocodile’s corpse. “Re… retrieve…”

Fang Zhiluo called Yun Xiao’s name repeatedly, but she didn’t respond. Frantically, Fang Zhiluo used her Spiritual Power to examine Yun Xiao’s body, finding injuries to all her internal organs.

After feeding Yun Xiao two High-Grade Spring Return Pills and two Spirit Replenishing Pills, Fang Zhiluo frowned and carried her on her back.

Releasing her oppressive aura, she declared coldly, “Leave immediately.”

The cultivators present, whose cultivation levels were all inferior to Fang Zhiluo’s, had detected nothing. They quickly expressed their compliance, rose, and departed.

Treasures stir the heart, and two or three early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, unwilling to leave empty-handed, stubbornly remained.

Fang Zhiluo ignored them, tossing out a Formation Plate to encircle the area Yun Xiao had indicated.

This was a Sixth-Grade Defensive Formation, capable of withstanding attacks from three peak Nascent Soul cultivators.

Finding a relatively clean spot, she laid Yun Xiao down and began using a technique to excavate the Giant Crocodile’s corpse.

Instead of the crocodile, she first unearthed the Dragon Egg.

Through some method of Yun Xiao’s, the bloody patterns on the egg had completely faded, and it now appeared noticeably larger than before.

Determined to keep the Dragon Egg’s existence a secret, Fang Zhiluo retrieved her Spirit Beast Pouch to store it. But the egg evaded her grasp, rolling over to Yun Xiao’s side and vanishing without a trace.

Seeing this, Fang Zhiluo gave up and resumed digging for the Giant Crocodile.

Heaven rewards perseverance. After half an hour, she finally unearthed the mountain-sized carcass of the Giant Crocodile.

Every part of a Ninth-Tier Demonic Beast is a treasure, no wonder Yun Xiao had been so fixated on the crocodile even in her unconscious state.

Fang Zhiluo stored the Giant Crocodile in her Spirit Beast Pouch, hoisted Yun Xiao onto her back, deactivated the Defensive Formation, and returned to the Cold Pool.

After meditating through the night, Fang Zhiluo’s injuries had significantly healed. She immediately leaned down to check on Yun Xiao’s condition.

Fortunately, Yun Xiao’s injuries were improving, though she likely wouldn’t be able to use her Spiritual Power for some time.

She had to set out for the Sect Assembly in no more than four days. What would Yun Xiao do then?

After lying unconscious for a full day and night, Yun Xiao slowly stirred awake. A slight movement sent pain shooting through her entire body.

Fang Zhiluo, who had been vigilantly monitoring Yun Xiao’s condition, hurried over at the first sign of movement. She spoke softly, “Your internal organs and meridians are damaged. It’s best not to use your Spiritual Power for at least a month.”

“If you’re willing, you could come with me to the Sect Grand Tournament,” she suggested.

With Fang Zhiluo’s help, Yun Xiao sat up against the stone wall, her usual carefree demeanor intact. “A’Luo,” she said, “this is the longest sentence you’ve ever spoken to me.”

Fang Zhiluo glared at her. “What do you think?”

Yun Xiao spread her hands, openly admitting her weakness. “What choice do I have? I’m too frail to even take care of myself right now. Since A’Luo doesn’t mind having me around, of course I’ll go with you.”

What she really thought was that she needed to keep a close eye on A’Luo to prevent Xie Yunfan from taking advantage of her.

Fang Zhiluo glared at Yun Xiao, her voice carrying a hint of fondness she herself didn’t realize. “You’re being indecent.”

Suddenly, she sensed someone triggering the Defensive Formation. “I’ll go check it out,” she instructed. “Don’t move around while I’m gone.” With that, she hurried out of the Cave Abode, using the Light Body Technique to reach the edge of the formation.

“Martial Nephew Fang,” Xie Yunfan greeted her familiarly.

In terms of seniority, she was indeed one generation below Xie Yunfan.

Fang Zhiluo stepped out of the Defensive Formation and gave Xie Yunfan a slight nod. “Martial Uncle Xie.”

“Three days ago, I received a transmission from Martial Nephew Zhong Qiu saying they were waiting for me here,” Xie Yunfan glanced around. “Do you know where they’ve gone?”

Fang Zhiluo didn’t hide the truth. “Two days ago, there was a fierce battle two hundred miles away that caused a mountain collapse. Zhong Qiu and the others were too reckless and were annihilated by the spiritual energy shockwave, leaving no trace of their bodies.”

Xie Yunfan’s eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly regained his composure. “So you were there too, Martial Nephew Fang. Why did you stand by and do nothing?”

Fang Zhiluo frowned slightly, about to reply, when Yun Xiao’s voice suddenly cut in.

“Are you deaf? Didn’t you hear A’Luo say they were too reckless?” Yun Xiao retorted sharply, her words like a volley of arrows. “If you’re so worried about them, why haven’t you shed a single tear?”

Ever since A’Luo left, Yun Xiao had been restless. A cultivator’s intuition rarely failed her, which was why she had come.

Fang Zhiluo’s piercing gaze made Yun Xiao’s scalp tingle. She knew Fang Zhiluo was furious, and while she felt a flicker of satisfaction, she quickly explained, “I used the Flying Spirit Tool you gave me.”

Only then did Fang Zhiluo withdraw her gaze, meeting Xie Yunfan’s angry eyes with a chillingly cold voice: “I couldn’t save them.”

The words struck Yun Xiao like a bucket of ice water, leaving her completely unprepared.

A’Luo rarely offered explanations unless absolutely necessary. Was she explaining to Xie Yunfan to prevent a rift between the two sects, or was Xie Yunfan different to A’Luo?

She desperately hoped it was the former.

Since becoming the Cloud Splendor Sword Sovereign’s last disciple, Xie Yunfan had enjoyed smooth sailing. His exceptional talent meant he was revered and admired wherever he went.

Yet here stood a woman with bewitching looks and indiscernible cultivation, daring to mock him.

Xie Yunfan’s gaze locked onto Yun Xiao, his oppressive aura bearing down on her as he demanded, “Who are you? This is a matter between Martial Nephew Fang and me. What business is it of yours?”

Yun Xiao, already weakened by internal injuries, couldn’t withstand Xie Yunfan’s oppressive aura. She coughed up a mouthful of bl00d on the spot. Yet, she straightened her spine, refusing to yield even an inch.

Xie Yunfan’s sudden attack caught Fang Zhiluo off guard. Despite her swift reflexes, she was still half a step too slow.

She steadied Yun Xiao, letting her lean against her shoulder, and retorted angrily, “She is my life’s savior. For Martial Uncle Xie to attack her simply for speaking a few truths is a grave breach of gentlemanly conduct.”

This tacitly endorsed Yun Xiao’s earlier remarks. Xie Yunfan’s failure to investigate the matter’s origins before blaming her was utterly disrespectful.

Had it not been for the sake of maintaining cordial relations between their sects, she would never have bothered to explain herself.

Yun Xiao suddenly felt her bl00d-soaked cough had gained some value. She gazed pitifully at Fang Zhiluo, putting on a show for Xie Yunfan’s benefit. “A’Luo, let’s not waste our time with narrow-minded fools. Even in court, we’d have a chance to argue our case. But this man? He’s already reached his verdict, rendering the court itself obsolete.”

Fury burned in Xie Yunfan’s eyes. How dare this person mock him repeatedly? It was clear they didn’t take him seriously at all.

Fang Zhiluo glanced down at Yun Xiao, puzzled. She had never seen Yun Xiao act so tactless, repeatedly provoking Xie Yunfan. Did she want to cough up more bl00d?

Regardless of Yun Xiao’s intentions, Fang Zhiluo couldn’t let her come to harm under her watch.

If Yun Xiao hadn’t urged her to leave the day before, Fang Zhiluo would likely have perished.

Supporting Yun Xiao with both hands, Fang Zhiluo said to Xie Yunfan, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take her back to recover.”

Seeing Fang Zhiluo was about to leave, Xie Yunfan, despite his anger, remembered his mission. “Have you seen a female Demon Cultivator who uses Thunder recently?”

Old Qiu’s voice echoed in his mind: “Sense the aura on the female cultivator.”

Xie Yunfan complied, detecting no aura on Yun Xiao.

Realizing something, he summoned his Lifebound Sword to block Fang Zhiluo and Yun Xiao’s path. Striding forward, he stopped before Yun Xiao, his gaze piercing. “Why are you concealing your aura? Are you trying to hide from someone?”