Scourge Messenger

Chapter 322 I don’t want to die
Ying Rushi picked up Murong Hui, who was spitting out blood and making gasping sounds like a broken bellows.

She wasn't dead yet. With the life force of a third-tier messenger, a mere fatal wound wouldn't be enough to take her life. But if she had to face a hail of arrows from the Hundred Guards, then death would only be a matter of time.

Murong Hui adjusted her posture, gently exhaled a breath of blood, and rested her head on Ying Rushi's extremely elastic and soft body, like a little girl who was tired from playing and wanted to sleep, her face full of peace and joy.

Despite her personality being one of fear of pain, death, and trouble, when faced with the true terror of life and death, she was more at ease than most people, as if she were just participating in an unknown game.

"What should we do next?" she asked, her eyes wide.

Ying Ru couldn't help but chuckle. Murong Hui was always like this, arriving in a flurry of activity, only to find herself at a loss for what to do next after her initial burst of energy, ultimately turning to Ying Ru for advice. Although Murong Hui always claimed to be the older sister, it was usually Ying Ru who took care of her, guided her, and protected her.

This time will be no exception.

Ying Rushi placed the Heaven-Slaying Sword into her hand and gripped her hands tightly.

“Repeat after me,” Ying said, “Activate the Overlord.”

"Unleash the Overbearing Force," Murong Hui said.

boom!
The shockwave erupted from Murong Hui's body. Ying Rushi, who was standing close by, felt as if her heart had been struck by a battering ram. She was knocked back more than ten steps, but her hands remained clasped around Murong Hui. However, as a price, most of her body sank into the mud.

Murong Hui's terrible injuries healed at a speed visible to the naked eye, or perhaps it would be more appropriate to describe it as being stitched up, as if a god had rewoven her body, turning her back into a beautiful dark-skinned woman!
However, Ying Rushi suddenly weakened. She was the only one who had received the blessing of peace from the Demon Gathering Land. She hoped that she would be the only one among the sacrifices absorbed by Badao.

This was the first time the Heaven Sword had activated its Overbearing Power. Ying Ru Shi had never used it before, no matter how severe her injuries were, because activating Overbearing Power would take back everyone's Healing Power buffs, including many patients that Ying Ru Shi had treated. Taking back their increased health and vitality could take their lives.

Even though hiding in secret realms like the Thieves' Den should shield her from the real world, Ying Rushi dared not gamble. Her life was no more precious than anyone else's. This was her principle, the one she used to distance herself from Ying Le.

But Murong Hui is different.

Ying Ru couldn't quite put her finger on what made her different. Perhaps it was that she always laughed carefree, always took her to all sorts of fun places, and made every day interesting, shining like light. If it were for Murong Hui, Ying Ru would be willing to betray her principles and righteousness, even if it meant bearing the burden of sin—of course, it was best not to.

“Hui,” Ying said, “you are my best sister.”

She grabbed Murong Hui by the collar and forcefully threw him out of the mud!

Although Murong Hui was slender and tall, she was wearing black scale armor and various protective gear, which made her carry a much heavier load than Ying Rushi. However, with Ying Rushi's full strength, she successfully flew across the muddy area, holding the Yitian Sword with orange-red flames in her hand, as light as a bird.

As a consequence, the reaction force caused Ying to sink completely into the quagmire, with no possibility of escape.

She vaguely heard Murong Hui's shouts, but Ying Rushi wasn't too worried. Just as she wouldn't waste the opportunity Murong Hui had fought for, Murong Hui wouldn't waste the new life she had gained with her life.

It seemed that Murong Hui's trip had been in vain, but Ying Rushi's state of mind was completely different from before. Being able to see Murong Hui one last time and entrust the Heaven-Slaying Sword to her, Ying Rushi had no regrets.

The final black spear was quite peculiar, seemingly aimed at Murong Hui... It seems her silly older sister isn't without her troubles after all.

However, none of these were things she should worry about. Qi State, the Ying family, a family of thieves, Ying Le, Murong Hui, the black wolf, the red snake, and the yellow dog… She finally didn't have to think about anything anymore, because she was about to die.

I can finally relax.

I can finally sleep.

at last……

As Ying Rushi sank into the mud, she breathed rapidly, her heart pounding uncontrollably, her body trembling slightly, and a soft sob escaped her throat. Fear, like a venomous snake, pierced her heart and slithered through her veins throughout her body.

I'm so scared.

Mom, I'm so scared.

No matter how much Ying Rushi tried to convince herself with righteousness, when she actually faced this moment, she still couldn't overcome the fear in her heart.

Yes, she was afraid of death, which is why she never dared to resist Ying Le's rule. She hid and eked out a living, refusing to end her own life until the very last moment.

Compared to Murong Hui, who could face death with equanimity, she was actually just a coward.

She was just pretending, acting as if she wasn't afraid of Ying Le, acting as if she was willing to die for the greater good... She might have also cast an illusion on herself, an illusion called fearlessness, and then she really became fearless.

Fortunately, the illusion lasted until the very last moment.

Since no one can see, even if I act scared and cowardly, no one can blame me, right? Ying raised her head, greedily breathing in the air from the mud, and stretched her hand upward with all her might, trying to grasp at a non-existent hope.

I don't want to die.

I don't want to die!

"Help me!" Ying Ru cried out loudly for the first time in the mud where no one could hear her.

hum!
A strange roar stirred the mud, and Ying Rushi's raised right hand was tightly grabbed, and she was pulled out like a radish!

In a fleeting moment, Yingru saw a familiar face, a face no one would forget. Bright, almond-shaped eyes, a smiling mouth with upturned corners, a high nose, and… a bandage disguise that completely obscured her features!
"Sit tight!"

Yan Qing pulled Ying Rushi into his arms, maneuvered the Blue Flame Dragon motorcycle with a swerve, splashing countless clumps of mud into the swamp! The Hundred Guards were only a dozen steps away from Yan Qing and Ying Rushi. They could have advanced steadily, but Yan Qing suddenly appeared out of nowhere on the Blue Flame Dragon motorcycle. Naturally, they couldn't just watch them slip away, so they decisively stepped on their comrades' backs one after another and flew over!

"Stop them!"

With a flick of Yan Qing's finger, the ascended dragon servant following behind him instantly died, having triggered the "resurrection" mutation.

The battle situation is as follows:

Ascended Dragon Servant + Resurrection → Soul Dragon Servant + Resurrected Dragon Servant + Primal Ascended Dragon Servant
The resurrected dragon servant was shattered, summoning a soul dragon servant.

The original Ascended Dragon Servant was shattered, summoning a Soul Dragon Servant and a Resurrected Dragon Servant.

The last resurrected dragon servant was destroyed, and a new soul dragon servant was summoned.

Only four Soul Dragon Servants remained on the field, and the Death Return event was triggered three times, causing all the Dragon Servants' attribute values ​​to surge by 600/600!

After several rounds of attacks by the Baibao Guards, they realized they had no effect on the Soul Dragon Servants and stopped attacking them. However, the Soul Dragon Servants' attack power was real. With them blocking the way, Yan Qing calmly drove the Blue Flame Dragon Motorcycle through the mud. He wondered if the 'Wind Fury' effect was related to the wind, because he actually didn't sink.

Just as Yan Qing was about to escape the mud, a rain of hundreds of arrows finally descended. He held Ying Rushi in his arms and shouted, "Murong Hui, come and block these arrows!"

"Coming!"

Murong Hui, who had been waiting at the edge of the mud pit for a long time, immediately leaped over. Yan Qing tucked his bottom in so that she could sit on the back. However, Yan Qing only felt a weight on his back and was shocked to find that Murong Hui had one foot on the back seat and her bottom was pressing against his neck. She was sitting directly on him!

Yan Qing shouted angrily, "Sit down, you wretched cat!"

"You drive your car properly, I have my own pace!"

"Don't blame me if I throw you out like that!"

"I have a good sense of balance, don't make a sound, I'm blocking the arrows!" Murong Hui moved around, and August 15 kept rubbing against the back of his neck, but she really did use the Lightning Flying Knife to intercept the rain of arrows. As a wide-range group attack, the Lightning Flying Knife was extremely effective against the rain of arrows, and Yan Qing could only swallow his anger and suffer this loss.

The three people in the car sped away from the scene, outrunning even a hail of arrows.

Ying stared blankly at them, seemingly still not having reacted.

Ascended dragon servant, blue flame dragon motorcycle, and the yellow dog that suddenly appeared here... Murong Hui should be able to understand why the yellow dog is also here in the Demon Gathering Land.

"Am I dreaming?" Ying Rushi murmured. "Is this also a world of illusions?"

Snapped!
Without hesitation, Yan Qing slapped Ying Rushi across the face, leaving her completely stunned. Under the latter's astonished gaze, Yan Qing calmly asked, "Are you awake now?"

“White Fox, I’m very disappointed in you.” He looked at the road ahead and turned into another street. “You clearly recognized me a long time ago, but you refused to reveal your identity. You had at least two chances to ask us for help, and you didn’t have to end up in this situation.”

“I thought you were the most rational and outstanding teammate in the Thieves’ Clan,” he said. “I thought we were already comrades.”

Yan Qing was genuinely heartbroken. He thought they had developed a good relationship after the first three missions, but Ying Ru met him once in Pingcheng and again during the battle outside the Nevernight City (on a smaller account). Both times, he revealed his identity by showing the Bingzi Pepper Forest, but Ying Ru kept it a secret without saying a word.

If Ying Rushi hadn't just taken out the Heaven-Slaying Sword, he wouldn't have recognized her.

Damn it, do you think I wouldn't help you fight Ying Le? Just say the word, and I'll create ten alt accounts to support you!
Yan Qing inwardly grumbled, feeling looked down upon and that their relationship had cooled. Alas, it turned out that the shared fate in Chang'an was just an illusion.

Ying Ru suddenly chuckled and muttered a couple of words softly. Yan Qing's eyes widened. "I'm fucking angry, and you're still laughing?!" He suddenly understood why the head teacher disliked frivolous people. "I'm being so serious, and you don't take it seriously. Anyone would be angry!"
"why are you laughing?"

"I said, I'm sorry." Ying Rushi wiped the dirt and tears from her face and smiled, "This time I was wrong."

"I'm tired, let me rest for a bit." She hugged Yan Qing and said weakly, "I'll leave the rest to you."

"Murong Hui, lead the way."

"You only care about things when you need something, Murong Hui, and you're just a little brat when you don't, huh?" Murong Hui said angrily, "Turn left! Let's go find something to eat and drink to replenish our supplies."

Ying Ru leaned on Yan Qing's shoulder, watching the street rushing past, and murmured to herself.

If it's a world of illusion, then there's nothing wrong with that.

(End of this chapter)