Volume Two — The Map of the Nine Provinces Emerges, Entering the Spirit Ruins Chapter 129: Each Harboring Ulterior Motives

Chen Yu took advantage of the heavy gray haze to sneak forward cautiously.

The person ahead was looking around, appearing extremely panicked. Chen Yu’s gaze suddenly sharpened, and he thought to himself: "Xu Xiu? Why is it her? So, it has been Zhu Gui and his group following me all along."

Now that he knew the true identity of his pursuer, Chen Yu still felt the need to confirm it. Suddenly, he lunged forward, his long sword thrusting directly toward Xu Xiu. He made no attempt to conceal his killing intent, wanting her to sense it immediately.

Caught off guard and suddenly enveloped by this murderous aura, Xu Xiu panicked and blurted out, "Junior Brother Chen, stop! It’s me..."

Chen Yu immediately feigned surprise, acting as if he had just realized who it was. He swiftly altered his sword stance, the blade narrowly grazing past Xu Xiu. Only then did she look at Chen Yu, her face deathly pale.

"Senior Sister Xu Xiu? Why are you here? Didn’t you leave with Senior Brother Zhu Gui and the others?" Chen Yu asked with a look of confusion. Although he had sheathed his sword, he did not lower his guard against her in the slightest, remaining vigilant of his surroundings.

Xu Xiu regained her composure, took a deep breath, and said with a hint of awkwardness, "I really didn't expect to run into you here, Junior Brother Chen."

"Yes, it is quite a coincidence. Senior Sister, where are Senior Brother Zhu Gui and the others?"

Xu Xiu replied with a worried expression, "I did indeed enter with Senior Brother Zhu Gui and the rest. But a short while ago, we encountered some scoundrels and got separated. By the way, Junior Brother Chen, why did you come to this Red Flame Mountain?"

"I just thought I would come here for some training. I didn't expect to see you here, Senior Sister," Chen Yu said casually.

Xu Xiu nodded slightly and said, "Since we’ve run into each other, why don't you come with me? We can look out for one another."

Chen Yu hesitated for a moment, appearing somewhat reluctant.

"What is it? Are you facing some difficulty, Junior Brother?" Xu Xiu forced a bitter smile. "Surely you don't think your Senior Sister would harm you?"

"I wouldn't dare! That’s not what I meant... I’m just afraid I might become a burden to you, Senior Sister," Chen Yu said, waving his hands quickly.

"Haha... I think you are joking, Junior Brother. Fellow disciples should look out for each other. There is no such thing as being a burden," Xu Xiu said with a laugh.

Chen Yu seemed to reach a decision and said, "In that case, I will trouble you, Senior Sister."

"Good... then let us first go look for Senior Brother Zhu Gui and the others." Xu Xiu felt relieved, a flicker of excitement hidden in her eyes.

"Agreed!"

They had not been walking long when the gray haze around them thickened, making it impossible to see a person clearly even from a distance of ten feet.

"Senior Sister, if we continue like this, it will be too dangerous. Why don't we wait until the haze dissipates before moving on?" Chen Yu suggested.

Although Xu Xiu was not entirely willing, she realized there was logic in Chen Yu's words.

The two found a corner and waited quietly for the haze to clear.

A full hour passed before they could see each other again. Seeing that Chen Yu was still there, Xu Xiu felt reassured.

Taking advantage of the thinning haze, they continued on their journey. Perhaps due to the intense heat of Red Flame Mountain, there were very few demonic beasts, so they did not encounter any major dangers along the way. However, they both knew that the true danger of Red Flame Mountain was not the beasts, but the "natural disasters."

Before long, sounds of a struggle reached them from ahead. Chen Yu and Xu Xiu were both startled.

"Could it be Senior Brother Zhu Gui and the others?" Xu Xiu exclaimed.

They rushed forward to see that it was indeed Zhu Gui and his three companions battling a Red Mountain Ape.

The ape possessed immense strength, and even Zhu Gui, who was at the Yin-Yang Realm, was being brutally suppressed. However, with the coordination of Feng Yu and Guo Ming, they were holding their own, locked in a stalemate where neither side could gain the upper hand.

"This is bad... we must help," Xu Xiu said anxiously. "We have to save Senior Brother Zhu and the others."

"Senior Sister, if even Senior Brother Zhu Gui is being suppressed, going in now would be useless. Not only would we fail to save them, but we would also put ourselves in danger due to our recklessness."

"Are we just going to watch?" Dissatisfaction flashed in Xu Xiu's eyes, accompanied by a trace of malice.

This small thought did not escape Chen Yu, and he sneered inwardly. Outwardly, however, he said solemnly, "Let me assess the situation first..."

"How much longer do you need to watch?" Xu Xiu could no longer contain her irritation and shouted. Her cry immediately startled both the battling group and the Red Mountain Ape.

"Junior Sister Xu, Junior Brother Chen, come and help me!" Zhu Gui shouted.

Seeing reinforcements, the Red Mountain Ape roared in fury, its strength capable of shattering mountains and breaking stones.

"Hurry, go!" Xu Xiu urged. She stared intently at Chen Yu, as if she would strike him herself if he refused to join the fight.

Chen Yu cursed silently: *Idiotic woman. This is not the time for a confrontation; I’ll spare your life for now.*

The two rushed in to assist, slashing at the Red Mountain Ape.

However, the ape's skin was as hard as stone; their swords only managed to strike a few sparks.

The Red Mountain Ape roared in pain and fury, turning to strike at Chen Yu and Xu Xiu with a devastating blow.

Xu Xiu could not dodge in time and was forced to parry with her sword. The sheer force of the punch sent her internal organs into turmoil, and she coughed up blood.

Chen Yu, however, exerted very little effort. Sensing the danger, he moved quickly and evaded the ape's strike just in time.

"You beast..." Zhu Gui and his group roared as they launched another attack. Xu Xiu quickly swallowed a pill, suppressed her injuries, and rejoined the fray.

Chen Yu naturally joined in as well, entangling the ape alongside the others.

With the addition of Chen Yu and Xu Xiu, the Red Mountain Ape began to struggle. Even with its formidable defense, it could not withstand the relentless barrage of heavy strikes.

"Everyone, put in more effort! The ape is about to reach its limit!" Zhu Gui roared. "Five Elements Blazing Fire Sword, kill!"

"Five Elements Rain-Transforming Sword," Feng Yu shouted, unleashing a strike.

"Five Elements Green Wood Sword," Feng Qing yelled.

"Five Elements Rain-Transforming Sword," Xu Xiu followed up.

"Leveling Thunder Sword," Guo Ming also struck.

Chen Yu unleashed a Wind and Rain Sword strike.

Facing the crisis, the Red Mountain Ape roared, shaking the forest as if it were donning a suit of stone armor.

The group was startled, but there was no turning back now; they all shouted and struck.

Boom! As their blades connected, there was a sound of something shattering. Beneath the ape's feet, the earth cracked, and fragments of rock flew out, slamming into Chen Yu and the others.

"Retreat!" Zhu Gui shouted in shock and anger as they fell back.

Chen Yu had prepared for every contingency and retreated like a streak of golden light. However, Guo Ming and the other three were all injured by the flying rocks.

The Red Mountain Ape fared no better, coughing up blood as cracks appeared on its body, its aura severely weakened. Showing no further desire to fight, it fled deep into Red Flame Mountain and vanished from sight.