Chapter 79: Chapter Seventy‑Nine: This Time, It's Still Us Who Guard

Shi Ran's low whisper seemed to drain all her strength; she fell silent, merely staring fixedly at the dark patch of the cave mouth blurred by wind and snow.

Her eyes, once lively, were now blood‑red, flashing an inhuman, almost bestial alertness that instantly froze the faint warmth that had just risen in the cave.

This gaze.... this situation......

Qi Chengshuang's heart sank, a familiar chill running up his spine to his scalp—so familiar! A bone‑deep familiarity! He almost instinctively kicked Luo Changfeng's leg, who had just dozed off lightly beside him.

Ah! Luo Changfeng jerked awake, eyes half‑closed, muttering instinctively, "Is it my turn to keep watch? Weird, I feel like I haven't slept at all?" He rubbed his eyes, looking around blankly.

Look at her! Qi Chengshuang's voice was taut as a bowstring, pointing at Shi Ran.

Luo Changfeng's gaze fell on Shi Ran's face; that strange red thread, like a living thing, writhed beneath her fair skin, twisted, as if hellfire burned beneath it—he instantly lost all drowsiness, his pupils constricted, and he blurted, "She‑she‑she, is her addiction acting up? What do we do?" This was the most direct reaction.

Qi Chengshuang had no time to answer Luo Changfeng's question; just then, a faint yet piercing snick‑snick sound cut through the wind‑sobbing snow, like hard hooves striking frozen rock, clearly approaching from afar, unmistakably aimed at the cave mouth where they hid.

Qi Chengshuang turned sharply, facing the cave mouth that devoured light and shadow with a face as still as water, lowering his voice to an incredulous certainty: "Don't you feel this situation is familiar enough to send chills down your spine?" He turned his head; firelight flickered across his tense jawline: "Last time our master tested us in a dream‑realm, Shi Ran reacted exactly like this...... exactly the same!"

Luo Changfeng probably hadn't fully shaken off sleep; instinctively he blurted, his voice even carrying a hint of absurd hope: "Could it be that our master is coming?" In this bizarre situation, the thought was wildly out of place.

Mmm.... On the other side, Ruan Xinli was also jolted awake by the tension; seeing the eerie, writhing red thread on Shi Ran's face, she sucked in a cold breath, her gaze instinctively flicking to Shi Ran's hair bun, then she frowned in confusion: "No way! That hairpin is clearly still on her head—how could there be a red thread?"

This implausible discovery set Ruan Xinli's mind racing with doubts, but now was not the time to investigate; she moved like lightning, swiftly producing a silver‑white jade bottle from her bosom, tipping out a pill that exuded a cool aroma, and without hesitation shoved it into Shi Ran's tightly closed mouth.

What are you feeding him? This happened to be seen by the bewildered Luo Changfeng, who couldn't help but ask.

Supreme Clarity Pill! Ruan Xinli spoke rapidly, with the certainty of a healer: "It's a top‑grade pill that refreshes the mind and suppresses evil influences; it should...."

Before her words finished, Shi Ran's head drooped limp like a broken‑string puppet, her whole body collapsing limp onto Qi Chengshuang's cloak, utterly unconscious.

Ruan Xinli watched the instant‑effect yet totally combat‑ineffective result, a flash of embarrassment and helplessness crossing her face. She explained haltingly to the two senior brothers: "The potency..... is too strong; it just needs a little time for him to absorb and recover....." As for how long that time would be, she couldn't say, but right now, no matter how long, it feels agonizingly long and deadly.

Roar———!

A deafening roar, brimming with ferocity and bloodlust, tore through the wind‑snow barrier like thunder, slamming hard into the cave! The terrifying shockwave shook loose stones from the walls, and the campfire flames were pressed almost to the ground by the invisible blast.

No good! The Black Leopard Clan is here! Qi Chengshuang's face darkened, he snarled through clenched teeth—this roar was the Black Leopard Clan's death warrant. His gaze swept over the unconscious Shi Ran; his heart turned icy. Indeed, when it rains, it pours: among the four, the only one who could instantly shift the battle, using talisman power to restrain or even gravely wound demon beasts, was precisely the one who, at this critical moment, had sunk into the pill‑induced slumber.

Although Qi Chengshuang harbored a thousand dissatisfactions with Shi Ran and looked down on her countless times, he now had to admit a cold fact. In the way of talismans, her talent and battlefield application were indeed despairingly strong. The charms she cast offhand often served as the blade that cut their team a path out of desperation.

Unfortunately, that blade is now asleep.

They could only rely on their flesh and blood to fight head‑on.

At the cave mouth, the curtain of wind and rain was violently torn apart by several massive, agile black shadows; eerie green eyes like ghost fire glowed in the darkness, coldly locking onto the firelight and prey within. Three black leopards, each as sturdy as a young calf, had pelts that shimmered with wet oil in the firelight.

They stepped silently into the cave; their sharp claws and teeth scraped the stone walls, producing a grating sound that set teeth on edge, while the wind‑snow mingled with the heavy musk of beasts, instantly filling the whole space.

Without words, a life‑and‑death pact was forged in an instant.

Luo Changfeng's eyes held no trace of drowsiness, battle fervor boiling over; he gave a low shout, and the longsword named Breaking Cloud rang free from its sheath, its heavy blade held single‑handed before him like an unbreakable iron wall, pointing straight at the lead black leopard.

At the same moment, Qi Chengshuang's Silver Soul sword slid from its sheath—narrow and long, its cold light sharp as an ice river, emitting a clear hum; his wrist trembled slightly as the tip traced a perfect defensive arc, icy killing intent locking firmly onto the other restless black leopard.

Wang Xinling had only a concealed soft sword at her side; now it shot out like a silver serpent, the blade quivering faintly. It reflected the dancing firelight; she pressed her lips together, eyes resolute, lacking any heavy weapon, her healer's benevolence turned into steadfast resolve to protect.

The three stood back‑to‑back in a triangular formation, shielding the unconscious, defenseless Shi Ran stone‑cold behind them in this cramped safety circle; Shi Ran knew nothing, curled up together she looked adorable and pitiful, like a trembling little rabbit quietly hiding in that safe zone.

Qi Chengshuang and Luo Changfeng exchanged a glance, as if suddenly returned to their childhood days of causing trouble together, when they had grown accustomed to shielding Shi Ran behind them—and they would do so again now!

The cave fire flickered, casting the three figures and the three advancing, poised black leopards onto the uneven cave walls, forming a grim and desperate tableau of confrontation.

The air hung still, save for the crackle of flames, the low, rolling growl from the black leopards' throats, and the endless wind‑snow outside wailing like a dirge.

Swords drawn, bows taut—life and death hung by a thread.