Chapter 471: Life‑Risking Friendship

In an instant, a bizarre and spectacular scene appeared on the stage.

The rope that silently intertwined beneath the monster into a complex net was suddenly yanked toward both sides of the stage by dozens of Gray Puppets!

When under tension, the rope does not stretch further, ensuring it can be pulled.

Caught off guard, the monster enveloped by the tangled ropes was seized from below as the massive net rose, binding each of its limbs with pinpoint precision!

With the Gray Puppets pulling from both sides and the Juchang's beams bearing weight, the monster, like a creature falling into a trap, was hoisted high by the rope‑woven net.

This—

is the method Cheng Shuili thought of!

The monster, caught in the rope net, was suspended high above the ground like a huge white insect trapped in a spider's web.

It let out an incredulous, sharp screech, and the human‑faced contours on its white head writhed wildly, clearly enraged to the limit.

Under the stiff pull of the Gray Puppets and the monster's frantic thrashing, the rope moaned under the load, yet it was still far from breaking.

But it was ultimately restrained.

After all, this is a safety rope; if it broke that easily, the problem would be huge.

The monster's previously wildly flailing, lethal limbs are now separated by the rope's mesh, all confined within a single compartment.

The limbs' range of motion is compressed to a minimum, only flailing uselessly in the air, unable to form any effective attack.

"Did it work…?"

Qing Qing's One Kiss knelt on one knee, propping their body with a trembling hand, panting heavily.

Fresh blood streamed down their arm and side, pooling into a small puddle on the ground.

They looked up at the suspended monster, a fleeting daze of surviving a disaster flashing in their eyes; crouching low, from this angle they saw the monster's abdomen looking like a sliced mango, bright and distinct.

Its limbs are long enough that, in this situation, they cannot even touch the ropes on either side, meaning it can now do nothing but swing its limbs futilely!

So… it was solved with this method?

Wu Ya really is a genius!

Cheng Shuili's condition is slightly better, but she is still drenched in sweat through her heavy clothes, her arm gripping the blade trembling faintly—a muscular response after prolonged high‑intensity combat.

She quickly scanned the battlefield.

The obedient man has completely turned into a corpse.

The short‑haired woman, at some point, peeked half a head out from her hiding place, looking here with startled uncertainty.

The Gray Puppets silently pulled the rope, forming a bizarre yet steady tableau.

The monster's struggle grew more intense, the faces on its white head contorting wildly, emitting inhuman, piercing shrieks.

It is evident that it is very dissatisfied with its current situation.

Cheng Shuili ignored it.

For the time being, the monster cannot break free of the ropes, so it can be left alone.

Cheng Shuili hurried over to Qing Qing's One Kiss and asked, "Are you okay?"

"I'm not dead yet." Qing Qing's One Kiss forced a somewhat grim smile, tried to stand, but the movement tugged the wound on their side, a muffled grunt escaped, cold sweat beading on their forehead, "It's just… I might not be able to help any more."

Cheng Shuili quickly examined their injuries.

Deep lacerations exposing bone on the shoulder blade, side, and arms, excessive blood loss, and exhausted stamina.

Indeed.

Not dead yet, but death is not far away.

Cheng Shuili sighed, took the two ends of the Life Vial from the Abyssal Ring, and golden light instantly bathed Qing Qing's One Kiss's face.

Cheng Shuili said, "Open your mouth."

Since this thing was taken out, Qing Qing's One Kiss's eyes have been fixed on it like a needle drawn to a magnet.

It's a good thing.

Having lingered in this cursed place for so long, Qing Qing's One Kiss doesn't need to think deeply; a glance is enough to see the item's extraordinary nature.

She heard Wu Ya's words; though she didn't understand what to do, she instinctively opened her mouth.

She crouched on the ground while Cheng Shuili stood. The height difference made it convenient for Cheng Shuili to feed her the medicine.

This is a lifesaving thing, not only saving Qing Qing's One Kiss's life but also indirectly saving Cheng Shuili's own.

The monster's power is great and its attacks are unpredictable; if Cheng Shuili faced it alone, she would have long since become a dead soul under its blade.

She is still alive now, half because her own strength is solid, the other half entirely because of Qing Qing's One Kiss.

Moreover, without the time she bought Cheng Shuili with her injuries, allowing Cheng Shuili to explain the plan to the Gray Puppets…

Logically and reasonably, Cheng Shuili should treat Qing Qing's One Kiss's injuries.

A drop of golden liquid fell into Qing Qing's One Kiss's slightly opened lips.

In an instant, a gentle yet overwhelming life force spread through their body like a warm current.

The deep side wound tingled, new granulation tissue grew at a visible speed, and the wound healed rapidly.

The severe pain in the shoulder blade quickly eased, the limbs, once icy from blood loss, regained warmth, and even the depleted spirit was revitalized.

Qing Qing's One Kiss stared wide‑eyed, incredulously watching the wounds on their body stop bleeding, scab over, and even the scars nearly vanish.

"This…"

They moved an arm; though still a bit weak and aching, the previous feeling of near collapse had vanished.

"Don't ask the questions you shouldn't," Cheng Shuili tucked away the Life Vial, expression still calm, "Stand up once your body's healed; the Instance isn't over yet."

She turned toward the monster suspended high.

The monster's thrashing seemed to enter a post‑rage fatigue; its screech grew hoarse, yet the twisted faces on its white head reached a climax, brimming with venomous hatred and a… desperate madness.

Cheng Shuili walked beneath the rope net, looking up at it.

"Act Three, it's time to end."

Cheng Shuili's voice echoed clearly in the vast theater, "In the script you wrote for yourself, have you ever considered such an ending?"

"Being hoisted up on stage, defeated by the actors you look down on and the puppets you made yourself joining forces."

The puppeteer's white mass swelled violently, as if trying to say something, but only emitted a hissing leak.

Qing Qing's little kiss sauntered over nonchalantly, she lightly patted Cheng Shuili's shoulder, and said familiarly, "Wuya Lao Da, we can now be considered friends who've been through life and death together—interested in exchanging our real names?"

"Always calling each other by code names is boring; we're all so familiar now, our feelings should go further!"

Cheng Shuili tilted her head, glanced at the hand resting on her shoulder, then looked at Qing Qing's little kiss's face—though color had returned, fatigue still showed, yet it oddly bore a hint of a hippie smile.