Chapter 116 [116] Beloved

[What about the poison pills that can make you holy, the dual cultivation of talismans and arrays... If you really go to the battlefield, before you even have a formation plate formed, the demons will have killed you thousands of times. Do you really think you are so powerful?]
The voice was filled with endless sarcasm, and said with a smile:
[Once you encounter a magic array that requires the consumption of one's own spiritual power and blood, you can only activate it once or twice before you are useless, just like you now, Zhongli Jin, are you a very powerful person?]
Are you some amazing person?
No.

Zhongli Jin knew clearly that he was just a useless person now.

The pain all over my body started from my eyebrows and spread to every part of my body.

My heart, flesh, and bones are in so much pain.

His body became hotter and hotter, as if he was pushed into an endless sea of ​​​​scorching fire and was burned alive.

[You are a natural swordsman, Zhongli Jin.]
[You were a young genius who became famous in one battle, but in return, the demons slaughtered the mountain, destroyed your cultivation, and ruined your spiritual roots. However, you clearly had the opportunity to return to the peak, but you listened to Li Chongjian's words and started practicing the Dandu Fu Array, causing you to waste these two years in vain.]
"..."

Dandu Talisman Array...Did I take the wrong path?
[It’s not too late.]
The voice in my head sighed just in time to save the situation—[Zhongli Jin, I can help you.]
"Who are you?!"

"what is your purpose?!"

"Are you a demon? Or something else?!"

The boy's mind was confused, but he did not forget to maintain a bit of rationality.

He did not easily believe the words of this voice. The demonic aura that emanated from that thing, which was so familiar to him, would not make the young man let down his guard just by a few words.

Zhongli Jin's words were hoarse and extremely rapid. He could feel some unknown force gradually penetrating his body, like a flood hitting the last defense wall of the river before bursting its dam.

The young man clenched his teeth, as if as long as he didn't let go, that thing would not be able to spread to every corner of his body.

[……I?]
The other party sneered.

A moment of silence.

Then, he said—

[I am you.]
[Zhongli Jin.]
"!"

With the last words falling.

Something seemed to begin to emerge in Zhongli Jin's chaotic and blurry vision.

War drums beat and trumpets blew in his ears.

The boundless land, sky and rocks were all dyed red as if soaked in blood.

The bodies of the monks were scattered all over the ground, covered with their broken limbs.

The flames of war spread across the prairie, leaving behind dry and scorched soil, emitting a strong smell of blood and fire, filled with death and despair.

He looked up and suddenly saw the green figure in front of him being pressed to the ground by the pressure.

But even so, she still kept her back straight, never bending for a moment.

"Shiqing..."

Zhongli Jin stared at the girl in a daze, his pale and bloodless lips trembled slowly, and he uttered her name in a trembling voice.

The young man in black approached her step by step, with a cold and cruel smile on his handsome face.

"Get out of the way... Shi Qing... Get out of the way... Please..."

Zhongli Jin instantly saw through Zhou Wu's intention. The black-clothed young man raised his hand slightly and gathered the demonic energy into a claw, which was extremely sharp and dazzling.

He heard him say——

"I like you very much."

"You are the most special one."

"You're different, so—"

"I am here to take your life myself."*
[Please accept me. My power is enough for you to wipe out everything here, help you return to the top, and save everyone.]
"..."

Zhongli Jin did not respond, but kept his eyes fixed on Shi Qing.

Facing Zhou Wu's approach, the girl remained motionless, her brown eyes indifferent and calm, just like usual.

Even though the sharp claws of the demon boy were reflected in her pupils, she remained expressionless and silent like a Buddha.

Maybe... maybe Shi Qing has his own ideas?

Maybe... she was pretending to be weak on purpose, waiting for Zhou Wu to come closer and then kill him with one blow?

Shi Qing will never wait to die.

She is so strong and tenacious that even in desperate situations, she will always find a way to survive.

He should believe her... He should believe her!

With this thought, the boy, who was frightened and anxious at first, finally calmed down.

"Don't try to control me." Zhong Lijin endured the pain all over his body, his eyes red, and said coldly: "I won't be fooled."

[Really? Your decision now may cause you to lose someone important again.]
"I just... believe in Shi Qing."

[……believe?]
[Do you really understand her? Are you really sure that she didn't straighten her spine before she died because she was completely helpless?]
Zhongli Jin's nails dug into his flesh, and his palms were bloody. Even though his heart was shaken, he still insisted and said word by word: "...I believe in Shi Qing."

[Heh.] However, the voice in his head sneered at him mockingly - [Sure enough, you are still like this, self-righteous.]
[Then let's take a good look at how she will end up.]
The sound disappeared.

Zhongli Jin paused.

but--

The next second the sound disappeared.

All the hopes he had in his heart at first were shattered by the claw of the black-clothed boy in the picture!
Zhou Wu's hand actually pierced through Shi Qing's chest alive!
So fast that no one has time to react!
When he came to his senses, Zhongli Jin felt as if his mind was blank.

At that moment, my ears seemed to be deaf, the strong tinnitus pierced my brain, and I couldn't even scream!

The blood immediately soaked her clothes and spread rapidly over the girl's upper body.

He clearly heard the sound of skin breaking when the sharp object pierced her chest, as well as the screams, whimpers and shouts from the people beside her after her heart was pierced!
"Shi Qing!!!"

"Sister!!!"

The desperate cry finally found his hearing.

Zhongli Jin was stunned.

At that moment, I couldn't even feel the pain in my body.

After the void, a sentence suddenly rang out in his mind again -

[You could have saved her.]
[It’s a pity that you don’t believe me, you don’t believe yourself, but you believe her.]
You could have saved her.

You could have saved her.

As long as you accept this surging power before that demon takes action, it should belong to you and help you return to the peak and pick up the sword again.

You can wipe out everything and not only save Shi Qing, but also save everyone.

The results of it.

——Now, you haven’t saved anyone.

[Look, accepting the power and rushing back to the battlefield is better than crawling on the ground now, watching those people die one by one in front of you, protecting a useless person like you.]
[The red-dressed girl beside her has started to attack, and the demons are also trying to kill her. Look, she has been seriously injured, but she is still protecting her junior sister. Do you really want to just stand here and watch them struggle?]
[Zhongli Jin——]
The voice sighed, as if it was a pity, as if it was pitiful, as if it was a final exhortation -

[She is your beloved one.]