Scourge Messenger

Chapter 292 Extremely ill
In the jungle, Ying Rushi's blood-red eyes, which had been fierce and malevolent, gradually dimmed, returning to a clear and bright dark brown.

She leaned against the tree trunk, took out a black plate from her pocket, and bit down hard. She took a piece and tasted bitter at first, but as she chewed, a sweet and invigorating flavor emerged. The texture was also unique, like soft wood, crisp when bitten, and sticky when chewed.

This is food produced in the Three Realms Secret Realm. No one knows what it is. It only has an ancient name, "Dark Chocolate." It has the effects of restoring blood, relieving pain, and calming the nerves, but the effect is not as good as the Blood Replenishing Pill. It also tastes strange and is not cheap, so not many people buy it. However, Ying Rushi loves this bittersweet taste, so she bought a lot and put it in her storage ring.

She used to eat a bar of dark chocolate every three days, but now she's already eaten three bars in less than two days. This is not only because she needs to fill her stomach, but also because she can't survive without it.

She lifted her foot and continued deeper into the jungle. Behind her lay the corpses of ten centurions, their blood paving a bloody path through the forest, a path of death like the coronation carpet of a new king; following behind, the wolves, having feasted, were her most loyal followers.

Ying Ru stopped after walking for a short while. She found an old tree to lean against and unwrapped the bandages from her hands. The bandages were soaked with blood, which dripped continuously. This was why she had to stop. If she continued walking without stopping the bleeding, it would be no different from actively revealing her whereabouts. The guards' wolfhounds could pinpoint her location accurately from a hundred miles away.

The bandages fell to the ground with a resounding thud, much like a towel soaked in water, quickly staining the soil a dark red. Ying raised her hands to examine her newly appeared wounds.

Although she hadn't taken special care of herself in the past, the Ying family bloodline had always produced many handsome men and beautiful women, so her skin was as smooth and fair as porcelain, without a single flaw. But now, her hands were covered with hideous scars resembling centipedes, densely packed and riddled with holes. The wounds that had just scabbed over were torn open again, and fresh blood kept sliding down her arms.

This is the price that must be paid to fight against Hyakubo no Konoe. Even though Oru has the Eye of the Mortal World to bewitch Hyakubo no Konoe and is almost invincible, every attack on Hyakubo no Konoe is equivalent to reaching into hell and being torn to pieces by thorns.

Even if Ying Ru had enough blood-replenishing pills to heal, the scars wouldn't heal so quickly. In addition, she had been injured and healed repeatedly in a short period of time, so her hands naturally became incredibly frightening... She might become the most terrifying-looking member of the Ying family in history.

But looking at those hideous arms that resembled those of a demon, Ying Rushi smiled with delight. Even though these hands caused her unbearable pain, and even though each injury brought her excruciating agony, Ying Rushi was willing and fearless.

These scars are her glory, her medals, her strong defense against the mad bloodline.

Yingru rewrapped the bandages and repaired the keepsake's durability. Although she could do these things back at the Thieves' House, she wouldn't return unless she could guarantee the location was absolutely safe.

Ying Le knew that she could return to the Thieves' House at any time. If the Bai Bao Guards discovered her return location, Ying Le only needed to build a sturdy enough iron cage on the spot to completely deprive Ying Ru Shi of her freedom—she would only be able to choose to live in the iron cage or in the prison called the Thieves' House.

But Ying Rushi still had to go to a very far place and kill many people. With only ten days left until her next mission, her time was very tight, and she couldn't afford to waste a single moment. The Qi Kingdom was vast, and she had to keep traveling.

If there is a sudden rustling in the bushes, one should grip the Heaven-Slaying Sword alertly, hold one's breath, and wait.

After a while, a dirty child came out from behind the tree. His hair was very short, and it was hard to tell if he was a boy or a girl. He was carrying a sickle and a bamboo basket on his back, and he was barefoot. He was probably a child from the nearby mountains who came out to cut pig feed.

She looked dazed, sniffling, and stared at Ying Rushi without saying a word. Ying Rushi beckoned, and she walked up to her.

Ying ruffled her hair, which was dry, rough, and yellow like weeds: "Where do you live?"

The child pointed northeast.

How long will it take you to get home?

The child thought for a moment, held up five fingers, then pulled back two: "A little while."

Although she didn't know her unit of measurement, it was reasonable to assume that her village wasn't far from here. Therefore, she could only head northwest to avoid passing through this unknown little village.

Ying Rushi took out a spirit jade, placed it in her palm, and then clenched her fist tightly: "Go back and give it to your parents. Don't lose it, okay? As long as you give it to your parents, you can wear new clothes and eat meat."

"Does my little sister have new clothes too?"

How old is your little sister?

The child held up two fingers: "Two years old!"

"That's probably not possible. Your little sister will have to wear your old clothes." Ying Rushi pinched her cheek, took out a piece of dark chocolate, and broke off a small piece: "Open your mouth."

"Ah—" The little girl chewed a few times and immediately pouted, "It's so weird, it's as bitter as mud!" "Haha!" Ying Ru couldn't help but laugh and poked her forehead, "Little rascal, you don't know how to eat. Go back, don't come here to cut pig feed for the next couple of days."

The child kept looking back as he walked, and it took him quite a while to finally enter the woods.

Ying Ru looked at the setting sun. Nighttime was the perfect time to travel. She had Shadow Spider Boots, which were unparalleled for traveling. As long as she was willing to spend spirit jade and repair items, she could travel a thousand miles in one night. However, no one would waste money like that; it was practically throwing money away to save time. But for her, what she lacked most right now was time. As for spirit jade and items, if she didn't use them now, she wouldn't have the chance to use them later.

"She's over here! Right ahead!"

A sharp, childish voice suddenly rang out from the jungle. Ying Rushi felt as if she had been stung by a scorpion. With a press of her Shadow Spider Boots, she jumped from her seated position and covered more than ten steps in the blink of an eye, seeing the child not far away.

She should have gone home long ago, but instead of heading northeast, she's searching for Ying Rushi's location!

Ying Rushi's eyes instantly turned red, as if a string in her mind had snapped. A surge of rage and despair almost overwhelmed her reason. She subconsciously gripped the hilt of her sword, and with another stomp of her Shadow Spider Boots, she landed in front of the child.

Just before she drew her sword, a sharp, piercing pain shot through her hands, jolting her back from her loss of control.

The child was startled by her speed, his legs went weak and he sat down on the ground, dropping the plum he was holding in his left hand.

Upon seeing the plum, Ying Rushi immediately understood what was happening, squatted down, and asked, "Why did you come back?"

The child picked up the plum and handed it to her, saying, "It's delicious."

She paused for a moment, then said, "It tastes better than yours."

Ying Rushi took the plum, which was still covered in dirt. She wiped it off casually and took a bite. To be honest, it wasn't very tasty; it was more sour than sweet. She ruffled the child's hair: "Thank you. Did you shout anything just now?"

The child looked bewildered, not understanding what she was asking, but judging from her expression, she must have gotten the answer.

She thought for a moment, then took out a blood-replenishing pill. "Open your mouth."

The child looked distressed: "It doesn't look appetizing."

"Open your mouth quickly, hold it in, don't swallow, keep it in your mouth until it melts."

Yingru could give her more, but a single spirit jade was already a great asset for a poor family; anything more would only bring her misfortune. She could take the blood-replenishing pill on the spot to strengthen her constitution, but if she took it back, it would surely attract unwanted attention.

"Don't come back. It's dangerous here, understand?"

Watching the child disappear from sight, Ying Rushi let out a sigh of relief, her tense nerves relaxing slightly.

Perhaps she wouldn't even make it to the next mission. Every time she saw the sun rise, she felt no warmth, only biting cold; each day was a long, agonizing ordeal.

Compared to Ying Le, Ying Rushi felt that she was far too fragile.

But before that, there are still things she can do.

Even though the road is rugged and short, she is now walking the path that everyone in the world yearns for, the path she will never regret.

Boom!
My heart skipped a beat, my blood surged like a tidal wave, and my heart rang like a morning bell!
Ying Rushi turned around and looked back the way she had come. Although she saw nothing and heard nothing, Ying Rushi knew clearly that she had arrived.

This is the connection between the true blood of the Divine Warriors, the destiny of the Ying family, and the despair among the demon foxes!
Ying Le, they're coming to kill her!

(End of this chapter)