Anyway, the Zhengyi Sect had so many debts that they didn’t care and wouldn’t bother to clear their name.
Hua Yan thought about it and couldn’t help but sigh again.
This is so hard for her!
“Brother Ming, it’s bad…” A white-robed disciple from Cixin Valley staggered over, clutching his arm, which was stained with blood, some of it seeping through his fingers. “They’re trapped by demonic sect traps!”
Ming Qi quickly stepped over, “What happened? Brother Li, let me treat your wound first.”
“Don’t worry about me, just come with me…”
“Wait…” Ming Qi coughed and said, “We have two more people here; let’s all go together and look out for each other.”
Brother Li looked over and was momentarily stunned. He patted Ming Qi on the shoulder, saying, “Brother Ming, well done.”
***
Hua Yan and Lu Chengsha, who had been randomly recruited, walked at the back while the two brothers from Cixin Valley led the way. Soon, they saw large spider webs in the branches deep in the dense forest, trapping about five or six people inside, with two others stuck outside, all of whom were somewhat injured.
As they approached, Brother Li stopped the three of them, saying, “Don’t go any further; there are traps on the ground.”
Hua Yan had already seen it; there were faint glimmers on the ground—common traps that, if stepped on, would spring the web, launching the victim into the air.
Originally designed for hunting animals, the Zhengyi Sect had modified it to trap people. The web had been specially altered so that the more one struggled, the tighter it became, eventually leading to slow suffocation if no one came to rescue them.
She saw that several people had already struggled too long and were having difficulty breathing.
Hua Yan shouted, “Stop struggling! We’re coming to save you!” Then she poked Lu Chengsha and whispered, “Be careful; the ground is dangerous, and so is the sticky web above. Don’t touch it with your hands…”
Brother Li also smiled wryly, “Sorry to trouble you, Young Master Lu. The sticky web is extremely adhesive; we can’t touch it with our hands. If we cut it with a sword, the people inside will fall and get hurt… I originally asked Brother Ming to come up with a solution together.”
Lu Chengsha nodded, then lightly jumped and climbed the tree by stepping on the trunk. He used his Wuren sword to wrap the top of the web to secure it and then cut it with a single stroke. He effortlessly lifted the web and the person inside, jumped down, and placed them on the ground.
His movements were as light as a rabbit and as swift as a hawk.
Hua Yan couldn’t help but clap her hands. Ming Qi and Brother Li, though not entirely understanding, also clapped along.
Lu Chengsha: “…”
One by one, he brought down the trapped people from the trees, then cut them free from the webs.
Finally, Lu Chengsha shook his sword a few times, shaking off all the spider silk.
“Thank you, Young Master Lu, for saving us!”
“Thanks to Young Master Lu, I almost suffocated up there!”
“Sigh, I thought I was going to die too…”
“Young Master Lu, I will never forget your life-saving grace!”
One by one, the rescued individuals expressed their relief, especially feeling safe around Lu Chengsha.
“Did you use the signal smoke?”
“Yes, but there was no response. I don’t know what happened this time… Anyway, I’m done with the sect battle. Young Master Lu, can I follow you?”
With this remark, the others quickly chimed in.
Though Lu Chengsha was also intimidating, surviving was more important!
Lu Chengsha glanced at Hua Yan.
Hua Yan shrugged, “It’s up to you.”
The fact was, even if they were unwilling, those disciples had already made up their minds to follow Lu Chengsha.
Brother Li suggested that the injured disciples stay behind while the uninjured or lightly injured ones follow Lu Chengsha to see if there were any more disciples in need of rescue.
It was just past noon, and the daylight gave Hua Yan confidence. She patted Lu Chengsha on the shoulder and declared heroically, “Then let’s go and do some good deeds!”
Lu Chengsha patted her head and said, “Mm.”
Ming Qi and the other three disciples followed the two of them, continuing their exploration. With Lu Chengsha and Hua Yan leading, they proceeded slowly as Hua Yan couldn’t reveal her familiarity with the traps and pretended to deduce them from observation. Despite the slow pace, by the end of the afternoon, they had rescued over ten people, including three who were unconscious from poisoning.
Everyone looked at Lu Chengsha with amazement and expressed their desire to join his group.
Before nightfall, they returned to the camp, now with more than twenty people.
The disciples from Cixin Valley were busy bandaging the injured and applying medicine, while others started a fire and fetched spring water, creating a somewhat makeshift camp.
Lu Chengsha, clearly unaccustomed to crowds, sat alone on a rock by the riverbank. His black clothes blended into the descending night, making him appear like a large stone.
Several people seemed to want to approach Lu Chengsha for a conversation but ultimately didn’t dare.
Hua Yan wandered around, chatting with people to understand the current situation better. However, whenever disciples showed her too much enthusiasm, Ming Qi would unfailingly appear and say, “This young lady is with Young Master Lu.”
The other party immediately showed an understanding expression and then kept their distance from her.
Hua Yan thought that Ming Qi was quite strange.
After finishing her inquiries, Hua Yan carried a small package of mountain spring water wrapped in fan leaves to find Lu Chengsha.
At this moment, Hua Yan felt a real sense of being a heroic figure, and her mood was excellent. She sat down next to Lu Chengsha and handed him the water.
The night after the heavy rain was filled with a fresh and moist fragrance between the soil and the tree shade. The night sky was azure, with no dark clouds, only a bright moon hanging high in one corner, casting gentle light.
Moonlight flowed over Lu Chengsha’s face like water. He took the fan leaves from Hua Yan’s hands and drank the water in one gulp.
Hua Yan sat on the rock, swinging her legs. When she was in a good mood, everything seemed delightful. She had been worried that others would ask about her identity, but she had underestimated Great Hero Lu’s prestige. No one asked!
Thus, she rightfully stayed by his side.
“Great Hero Lu.”
“Mm?”
Hua Yan swung her legs again and smiled, “Nothing, just calling you.”
It was neither cold nor hot; there was the scent of flowers, the sound of cicadas, and the murmur of flowing water. Everything was beautiful, and the breeze felt comfortable on her face.
Lu Chengsha asked, “Still feeling unwell?”
Hua Yan was stunned for a moment before realizing he was referring to her cold from the morning.
“I’m all better now.”
She turned her head and saw that Lu Chengsha wasn’t looking at her but still gazing into the distance. Feeling a bit dissatisfied, she reached out and tugged at Lu Chengsha’s dark blue hair tie.
This time, not being weak and sick, she pulled harder than expected and ended up pulling the entire hair tie off!
Caught off guard, Lu Chengsha’s tied-up hair cascaded over his shoulders.
Hua Yan looked at the dark blue hair tie in her hand, feeling a jolt in her heart, and she was instantly dumbfounded.
Lu Chengsha turned his head, looking equally surprised.
In the soft moonlight, Hua Yan suddenly felt a flash of brilliance before her eyes.
Lu Chengsha usually tied his long hair high and maintained a stern expression, appearing very disciplined but also somewhat aloof and overly cold. Hua Yan always thought he looked like a standard hero.
But now, it was as if a black wooden box had been broken open, revealing an array of dazzling jewels and hairpins scattered everywhere.
The clear moonlight enveloped Lu Chengsha, casting a soft, hazy glow. His ink-black hair flowed like a waterfall from his shoulders, with strands framing his face, softening his sharp features and demeanor. Like moonlight reflected on water, his originally gentle features became strikingly beautiful with the contrast, suddenly exuding a breathtaking charm.
If Lu Chengsha usually appeared aloof and stern, now he looked both handsome and ethereal, like an otherworldly immortal untouched by mortal concerns.
Hua Yan was momentarily stunned, her heartbeat quickening. She couldn’t help but say, “Great Hero Lu, you look really good.”
Lu Chengsha: “…”
Huh… Why did Great Hero Lu turn his head? Is he blushing?
Not far away.
Someone peeked and, seeing this scene, worriedly said, “That girl is so bold, she actually pulled off Lu Chengsha’s hair tie. Won’t she anger him and get cut down?”
“Yeah, what if Lu Chengsha throws her into the river in a fit of anger?”
Ming Qi, who was brewing medicine nearby, didn’t even look up as he said, “Mind your own business.”
Hehe, Ming Qi thought to himself, you haven’t seen how clingy those two can be.
Lu Chengsha would never have the heart!