Chapter 58: The First Loss of Heart

That vast clearing was covered in purple lavender — this was the place. She remembered getting lost right here; if she just walked forward, perhaps she could return to her own world.

"Finally, I'm out."

She stood among the flowers, relieved of a heavy burden, and turned to look at the deep, shadowed forest behind her. She had spent unforgettable days here, and nearly… Goodbye, Ying.

In an instant, a ray of seven-colored light shot toward her from the horizon. She was instantly overjoyed. "It's the aurora!"

Last time, it was this aurora that had brought her here. She quickly wanted to run up and let the aurora carry her away from this place, when suddenly…"Nan Qinghuan."

Thud, thud, thud… A fierce sound came from the woods, followed immediately by beasts she had never seen before emerging from the surrounding bushes on all sides. Each pair of eyes glowed with an eerie blue light, their maws gaping and snarling, watching her motionlessly.

Nan Qinghuan was surrounded by the pack of beasts, but that was not the most terrifying part. The most terrifying part was that man — he sat astride a Tyrannosaurus Rex, holding a stone axe in his hand, his expression cold as he locked his gaze onto her.

"Ying?"

"Sister Qinghuan, why are you here?"

Axi and Dashan, who had followed after, saw that she had actually carried her bag all the way here — hadn't she fallen into the water? When Dashan spotted the pathfinding bird circling endlessly in the sky, he suddenly understood and glared fiercely at Nan Qinghuan. "Om, you've been planning to escape all along. This bird is a treasure the Ancestor gave you, so you wouldn't get lost within the tribe — and you actually took the Ancestor's thing to try to flee? Why? Have Ying and the rest of us been bad to you?"

"Run — Qinghuan, why do you still want to run? Ying has done so much for you, how can you not feel anything at all…"

"That's right, Qinghuan — A Mu and the tribesmen all like you, why do you want to run away?"

A Mu had also chased after them, speaking earnestly, wanting to ask her why she wanted to flee. Was her cub not good to her? "A Mu, I'm sorry. I know you've all been very good to me, and I can't bear to leave you either, but I want to go home. I miss my mom. I miss…"

"Nan Qinghuan."

Ying gritted his teeth as he called her name. Nan Qinghuan didn't dare meet his eyes. None of them understood why Nan Qinghuan wanted to run — what did her words even mean? Nan Qinghuan had also fallen into despair. Why couldn't she ever escape? "Nan Qinghuan, why are you here?"

Ying sat high atop the Tyrannosaurus Rex, his gaze cold as he looked down at her. He had none of the tender look from days past — only endless fury and hatred.

He had actually thought she'd fallen into the water. He never imagined she would try to run again!

Facing Ying's interrogation, Nan Qinghuan didn't know how to explain. Nothing she said now would be of any use. She remembered the words Ying had once said: run again and I'll break your legs.

No — she still had to run!

Suddenly, she hurled her bag hard at the beasts. While the beasts recoiled, she took off running toward the front. She was going to chase that aurora.

"Ying…"

"All of you, get out of the way. I want to see how far she can run."

In an instant, the beasts all scattered aside, and then Ying had the Tyrannosaurus Rex give chase.

The Tyrannosaurus Rex ran with incredible speed, and Nan Qinghuan was soon cornered atop a cliff. Looking out, everything was shrouded in hazy white mist — this time, she truly had nowhere left to go.

Ying frowned tightly as he watched her standing on the cliff. "Come back. I'll take you back."

But Nan Qinghuan shook her head. "I'm sorry, Ying. I know you've done so many things for me, but we're not from the same world. I…"

Swish, swish, swish… Suddenly, before she could finish her words, a volley of bow-and-arrow shots came from behind. She couldn't dodge in time, and in an instant… she fell off the cliff.

"Huaner!"

Ying leapt from the Tyrannosaurus Rex and grabbed Nan Qinghuan's hand with all his might. Nan Qinghuan's body dangled below the cliff, with only one hand held tightly in Ying's grip.

She never expected him to come save her. She looked up at him with difficulty. "Let go, Ying. You'll fall down too."

Ying was drenched in sweat but refused to let go, gripping her tightly. "I won't let go. Huaner, climb up — I'll pull you up."

"Haha, Ying — so even you have a day like this?"

Suddenly, a mocking voice came from behind. Ying strained to turn his head and saw… "Rongdi."

He glared at Rongdi with gritted teeth, as if he wanted to bite him alive.

That Rongdi stood over two meters tall, about sixteen years old, with a pair of sturdy wings on his back. His face was painted with a white totem, making him look incomparably fierce.

Rongdi never expected that a White-skinned Female could make Ying risk his life to save her. He swaggered over to Ying's side and glanced down. When he saw Nan Qinghuan's face, he instantly drew a sharp breath, a flash of amazement passing through his eyes.

This female… was indeed beautiful.

But the thought that she was Ying's female made him feel no pity. "Ying, let go. You can't save her."

Suddenly, Rongdi struck Ying hard with a punch. Blood instantly gushed from Ying's nose, and his body slammed against the ground, yet his hands refused to let go. "Huaner!"

"Ying, let go! Let go!"

This time Nan Qinghuan finally understood completely — this wild man was willing to give up anything for her. What was she still running for? "Huaner, hold on tight — I'll pull you up."

Suddenly, Ying found strength from nowhere and yanked her upward with all his might. In an instant… Nan Qinghuan's body was flung onto the top of the cliff.

"Huaner!"

Nan Qinghuan had been flung up. Rongdi, seeing this, tried to attack Ying, but the Tyrannosaurus Rex gave him a hard shove. Rongdi was about to fall off the cliff, but… in midair he flapped his wings and flew back onto the cliff. "Despicable — Ying, you dare ambush me?"

Only when Ying saw that Nan Qinghuan was safe did he reach up to wipe his bloody nose. He looked coldly at Rongdi. "Courting death."

With a crash, the two instantly began fighting. Nan Qinghuan sat on the ground, stunned — Rongdi really was a Half-beast. Suddenly, she thought of something.

She hurriedly pulled a bottle of pepper spray from her bag. "Ying, catch! Press the nozzle and spray his eyes!"

Ying was agile and grabbed the spray in one motion. Having seen Nan Qinghuan use this thing before, he aimed it at Rongdi's eyes and pressed hard.

In an instant, Rongdi let out a scream and clutched both eyes. "Agh!"

Nan Qinghuan scrambled to her feet. "Ying, hit him hard!"

Bam, bam, bam… With Chili in his eyes, Rongdi could only take the beating. Soon, Rongdi's tribesmen actually arrived. "Chief!"

"Huaner, let's go."

Ying was clever and knew when to stop. After he led Nan Qinghuan and the Tyrannosaurus Rex away, only then did Rongdi's eyes clear enough to see what was ahead. His gaze glared fiercely at that streak of white clothing.

That female… "Chief, are you alright?"

The tribesmen were somewhat frightened to see his face beaten swollen like a pig's head. Rongdi gave a cold snort. "Useless things — why did you take so long to get here?"