37: Chapter 37 A Tough Guy's Tender Side! That Heart-Trembling Princess Carry!

"Lin Waner! What's the casualty situation?!"

Qin Yu's roar exploded like a thunderclap over the chaotic and noisy battlefield.

His figure moved as fast as a ghost, and after a few leaps, he had already charged to the pile of rubble burying Chen Xiao!

His eyes, which had just grown profound due to the surge in his attributes, were now filled with anxiety and self-blame.

"Crash! Crash!"

He didn't even bother using his hands to move the stones!

Those massive hands, infused with terrifying power, plunged directly into the mountain-like pile of rubble like two of the most violent excavators!

Massive boulders weighing thousands of pounds were like foam in his hands, effortlessly tossed aside in sheets!

Not far away, Lin Waner's pretty face was etched with exhaustion and pallor.

She had just exhausted the last of her mental strength to cast a small [Group Healing Spell], stabilizing the injuries of most of the lightly wounded.

Hearing Qin Yu's roar, she quickly raised her head, her voice choked with sobs as she urgently reported:

"Chief! Most people are just exhausted or have minor injuries!"

"Classmate Liu Wei only has mental exhaustion, she's unconscious but not in critical danger!"

"That Xiaoya, whose arm was bitten off by the Saber-toothed Tiger... she... she survived too!"

"But... but Chen Xiao she..."

Lin Waner's voice choked up.

She didn't dare to look at the man who was frantically digging through the rocks with his bare hands.

She was afraid!

She was afraid to see that ever-unyielding man wear an expression of despair.

"Found her!"

Right then, Qin Yu let out a low roar mingled with both joy and horror!

He had finally cleared away the last layer of rubble.

Revealing beneath it a small, mangled body, almost unrecognizable as human.

Chen Xiao was still alive!

But, it was merely... clinging to the last thread of life.

There was hardly an intact spot on her body; her bones were twisted in a bizarre, irregular manner.

The leather armor Qin Yu had personally crafted for her was completely shattered, fused with her torn flesh.

Her face was smeared with blood and dirt; only the faint, almost imperceptible rise and fall of her chest proved she still held the last trace of life.

Qin Yu's heart clenched violently!

With utmost care, using the gentlest movements of his life, he lifted Chen Xiao's fragile, porcelain-doll-like body from the rubble.

His movements were so tender, as if cradling the world's most precious treasure.

"Lin Waner!"

Carrying Chen Xiao, Qin Yu took a few large strides to stand before Lin Waner. His voice was commanding, yet carried a tremor he himself hadn't noticed.

"Save her!"

"Use every means you have, spare no cost, bring her back to me!"

"Yes, Chief!"

Lin Waner nodded heavily. Looking into Qin Yu's bloodshot eyes, a strange mix of sorrow and admiration welled up in her heart.

She immediately placed her hands over Chen Xiao's chest.

Once again, the emerald green light of life began to glow.

"Her vitality is fading fast! Multiple internal organ ruptures, over ninety percent of her bones are shattered..."

Lin Waner said urgently while exerting her full power, "Chief, I... I can only temporarily sustain her life! To heal her completely, with my current strength, it's simply..."

"Just sustain it!"

Qin Yu cut her off, his gaze icy and resolute.

"As long as she's alive, there's always a way!"

He knew ordinary healing spells were useless now.

But he had the system!

An S-rank evaluation, bountiful rewards!

He refused to believe he couldn't find something to save Chen Xiao!

With Chen Xiao settled, the heavy stone in Qin Yu's heart temporarily eased by half.

His cold gaze swept once more across the devastated battlefield, searching for another figure he was deeply concerned about.

Su Qingyao!

The girl who had illuminated the path to victory for him with her divine oracle!

That Holy Priestess who risked backlash to glimpse the future!

Soon, Qin Yu found her near the remnants of the totem pillar.

She wasn't unconscious.

She was leaning quietly against a large boulder, her face as pale as translucent paper.

Those once blood-tear-streaked, stunning peach blossom eyes were now fixed unblinkingly on him.

When she saw Qin Yu's gaze turn towards her, her body trembled slightly.

A complex mix of emotions flashed in those strikingly bright eyes.

There was relief at surviving the disaster, heartfelt gratitude, sorrow at seeing Chen Xiao's tragic state, and even a strange, inexplicable... palpitation she couldn't understand herself.

Their eyes met.

The entire chaotic battlefield seemed to fall silent at that moment.

Qin Yu looked at that face, stained with blood yet still breathtakingly beautiful.

He looked into those clear eyes that seemed capable of piercing through one's heart.

His heart, grown cold and hard from slaughter and rage, was gently stirred by something at this moment.

This girl had saved everyone.

She had saved him too.

Qin Yu remained silent for a moment.

Then, he took a step, and then another, walking steadily towards Su Qingyao.

Su Qingyao's breath hitched slightly. She instinctively tried to stand up.

But she was far too weak.

The backlash from peering into the heavenly secrets had almost drained all her vitality.

She struggled briefly, then her body went limp, about to collapse to the side.

However, the expected contact with the cold, hard ground never came.

She fell into a warm, solid embrace, brimming with an infinite sense of security.

Qin Yu, at the last moment, had bent down, stretched out his arms, and caught her steadily in his embrace.

Then.

Under the gazes of all the surrounding girls—gazes filled with shock beyond measure, mingled with envy, jealousy, and a complex sense of inevitability—

Qin Yu simply, gently, lifted Su Qingyao into his arms in a standard princess carry!

"!!!"

Su Qingyao's body instantly stiffened!

A wave of scalding heat instantly spread from her cheeks to the tips of her ears!

Her heart pounded like a drum at this moment!

In all her life, she had never been in such intimate contact with any boy!

She instinctively wanted to struggle.

But Qin Yu's low, gentle voice, carrying an undeniable firmness, softly sounded by her ear.

"Don't move."

"You saved everyone. Now, it's time for you to rest."

That voice seemed to possess a strange magic, instantly soothing all of Su Qingyao's panic and nervousness.

Her stiff body gradually relaxed.

She gently rested her small, burning head against Qin Yu's firm and broad chest.

Listening to that steady, powerful heartbeat, smelling the masculine scent unique to this man, mingled with blood and sweat.

Su Qingyao felt an unprecedented sensation named 'peace' and 'happiness' completely envelop her.

Holding Su Qingyao, Qin Yu turned and walked slowly towards the deepest part of the cave, towards his own, safest and driest tent.

His steps were steady and firm.

His stern face still showed little expression.

But everyone could see how incredibly careful his movements were as he held the girl in his arms.

The tender heart of an iron-willed man is the most lethal.

At this moment, countless girls watched, mesmerized.

Su Qingyao buried her face deeper into Qin Yu's chest. In a voice so faint only she could hear it, yet filled with unwavering determination, she murmured:

"Qin Yu..."

"Thank you..."

And the moment these words left her lips—

In the vision only Qin Yu could see—

The number representing loyalty above Su Qingyao's head, after a brief, intense fluctuation—

Quietly changed from 99 to...

100!

[Ding! Detected that Tribe core member 'Su Qingyao' has reached 100% loyalty (Utter Devotion)!]

['Holy Priestess' profession trait 'divine companion' passively activated!]

[divine companion: When a Holy Priestess harbors absolute affection and loyalty towards her lord, she becomes your 'divine bulwark' walking the mortal realm. You will permanently gain partial bonuses from her profession traits!]

[Congratulations, Lord! You have acquired the passive aura — [Sacred Protection (Pseudo)]!]

[Sacred Protection (Pseudo): Your mental resistance +50%. You possess a high degree of immunity to all curse and bewitchment-type negative status effects!]

Qin Yu's steps halted abruptly!

His pupils contracted sharply!

100% loyalty... actually comes with benefits like this?!