Free Web NovelChapter 346: Chapter 346: Beauty Saves Beauty
’This is just a small setback,’ she constantly told herself. ’If I can just hold on, I’ll definitely get out of here one day.’
’Besides, Senior Brother will definitely come for me!’
’He will!’
Clinging to this conviction, Xie Qinglan endured the helpless agony.
But as time passed, she was reaching her breaking point. The pain was enough to drive a person completely insane.
It was too painful.
Tears welled in Xie Qinglan’s eyes, but she stubbornly held them back. Her vision was already starting to blur.
Just then, something stirred in the swamp above. It looked like something was falling.
"Senior Brother?"
Xie Qinglan was instantly overjoyed. She forced her hazy eyes open and, sure enough, saw a figure.
Meanwhile, Song Wanning had spotted someone below the moment she descended. She had just raised her Longsword to strike when she realized the person looked very familiar.
Taking a closer look, she saw it seemed to be Xie Qinglan.
She swung her sword aside, her brow furrowed as she called out, "Xie Qinglan?"
It wasn’t that Song Wanning was face-blind; Xie Qinglan was completely unrecognizable. Her face was covered in bulging lines and swollen like a pig’s head, her eyes reduced to mere slits.
Fortunately, her clothes were the same, which was the only reason Song Wanning could recognize her.
"Song... Song Dao You?"
Xie Qinglan heard the familiar voice and looked over in disbelief. It was indeed a familiar face.
Instantly, she felt a mix of disappointment and relief.
She was disappointed it wasn’t her Senior Brother, but relieved that the newcomer was something of a friend who would probably choose to save her.
"Song Dao You, I... I’m trapped here! It hurts so much... If you get me out, I’ll be sure to thank you properly!"
She truly couldn’t take it anymore. The prolonged agony was too torturous, and Song Wanning was now her greatest hope.
"I’ll see what I can do."
Song Wanning nodded.
Xie Qinglan was a decent person. Besides, if she hadn’t given her that tip, Song Wanning might still not know that the Medicine King Sect was hunting her.
So, if she could be saved, she should be.
She took a closer look at the large net trapping Xie Qinglan, and her expression shifted slightly. This net was clearly a Magical Treasure...
’Did someone set Xie Qinglan up?’
’Could it be that Xiao Heyun?’
Song Wanning’s thoughts immediately turned to the invader. To get resources, those invaders would stop at nothing. It was probably him who had schemed to harm Xie Qinglan.
’But what is his goal?’
Song Wanning wasn’t sure yet, but for now, she couldn’t just ignore this.
’If I want to get rid of Xiao Heyun, I have to start with the people around him and dismantle his ’circle of influence’ bit by bit. It would be best if he ended up like Ye Chuxue—a reviled outcast, like a rat scurrying across the street...’
A thousand thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant. Song Wanning silently recited a mental method, and the black demonic threads that had been wrapped around Xie Qinglan quickly drilled out and rushed toward her.
The surrounding demonic threads also seemed to have found their ideal host, surging toward her one after another.
She accepted them all, absorbing every last one into her body. Suppressed by the Chaos Qi, the demonic threads became incredibly docile, coiling obediently in her Dantian without moving.
In just a moment, they wound into a small black ball. It looked round and plump, almost cute.
Song Wanning stared at the little ball in surprise. ’This thing isn’t Demonic Qi?’
’But it has Demonic Qi in it...’
’What a strange thing. Well, it doesn’t seem harmful for now. I’ll study it later to figure out what it is.’
With the demonic threads drawn away, the excruciating pain was suddenly ripped from her. Xie Qinglan went limp, collapsing to the ground and gasping for breath.
She was drenched in sweat, as if she had just been pulled from water.
The intense pain from before now felt like a dream that had suddenly and completely faded away.
But Xie Qinglan knew it was Song Dao You who had saved her.
"Hold on, let me see if I can break this net."
Song Wanning drew her Longsword and slashed forcefully at the net.
The powerful Sword Dao True Realm slammed into the net.
The net shuddered violently but remained stubbornly intact, completely undamaged.
Undaunted, Song Wanning swung her sword again.
One slash.
Another slash.
And another...
Each of Song Wanning’s slashes was fiercer than the last, her attacks growing more and more ruthless.
Xie Qinglan had already taken an Elixir Pill and was huddled obediently in a corner, waiting for Song Wanning to get her out.
She watched the sword-wielding figure before her, a bright light shining in her eyes.
’Every time she swings her sword, Song Dao You is so cool!’
’She’s not losing out to Senior Brother at all!’
Her eyes widened, and she stared, completely transfixed.
Just then, Song Wanning suddenly unleashed another slash.
This one drew upon the power of her inner world.
BOOM—
Like a fragile watermelon, the great net was instantly shattered to pieces, falling apart into sections of rope.
The restraints around her were finally broken, but Xie Qinglan just stood there, stunned, gazing at Song Wanning with a look of pure adoration.
’That last slash was incredible!!!’
’Song Dao You is my idol!!’
"Let’s go!"
Song Wanning gathered up the pieces of rope, grabbed Xie Qinglan, and swam swiftly upward with her.
In a single powerful surge, they flew out of the swamp and landed on the bank.
From agony to rescue, it all felt like a dream.
Xie Qinglan excitedly grabbed Song Wanning’s arm. "Song Dao You, thank you for saving my life!!"
"Don’t worry, I’ll make sure it was worth your while!"
With that, she took out a pile of items and tried to shove them all into Song Wanning’s arms.
"There’s no need for this..."
Song Wanning pushed the items back. After all, it had been a simple effort for her.
’If it had been dangerous, I wouldn’t have gotten involved.’
"No! You saved me. If I don’t show my gratitude, wouldn’t that make me an ungrateful beast?"
Xie Qinglan’s eyes sparkled as she stuffed the items back into Song Wanning’s arms. She asked eagerly, "Song Dao You, can I call you Wan Ning from now on?"
"I really like you, and I admire you so much! I want to be your friend!!"
She expressed her affection openly, her expression frank and fervent, which made even Song Wanning feel a little awkward.
After all, this was the first time someone had "confessed" to her like this.
"Yes, you can."
Song Wanning nodded.
Although she wanted to deal with Xiao Heyun and planned to start with Xie Qinglan, she also genuinely liked this simple, naive girl. Making a friend wouldn’t be so bad.
"That’s great!"
Xie Qinglan was overjoyed, her every emotion written plainly on her face. She began chattering away, showering Song Wanning with compliments.
The praise made Song Wanning’s cheeks flush, and she started to feel a bit light-headed.
She immediately cut her off. ’If she keeps this up, I’m really going to float away.’
"By the way, weren’t you with Xiao Heyun?"
she asked tentatively.
’Xiao Heyun still hasn’t shown up after all this time. Where did he run off to?’
’I wonder what his expression will be when he finds out I not only saved Xie Qinglan, but also swiped all the crystal marrow.’
