41: Chapter 41 A God-given Wingman

Early the next morning.

Ji Taichang was preparing to go to the Alchemy Hall to find Yang Yao.

On the way, a hurried figure caught his attention.

The person wore simple gray robes, yet they could not conceal her stunning figure; she swayed with every step, her assets nearly bursting forth.

Even though she wore a bamboo hat to conceal her true face, Ji Taichang recognized her identity at a glance thanks to those astonishing proportions.

"Sister Yang Yao, where are you going?"

Yang Yao's delicate body stiffened, and she said in a muffled voice: "You have mistaken me for someone else; I am not Elder Yang Yao."

Ji Taichang smiled playfully and took her hand very naturally.

Yang Yao's heart rate quickened, and she said with feigned anger: "Don't... be careful of being seen!"

She hurriedly pulled away from Ji Taichang's large hand, looking around somewhat flustered.

"Since you aren't Sister Yang Yao, then what are you afraid of?"

Ji Taichang gave a wicked smile and reached directly toward Yang Yao's slender willow waist.

Yang Yao rolled her eyes at Ji Taichang and hurriedly took two steps back: "I won't mess around with you anymore. I need to go to the Heishui Mountains to find an ingredient for Alchemy, but since I was hunted by a mysterious person last time and still haven't been able to find out who it was, I have to be careful."

Hearing this, Ji Taichang's expression instantly became somewhat strange.

He naturally knew who that mysterious person was; it was none other than Yang Yao's good best friend, Lin Xueyue!

"Then I will accompany Sister Yang Yao."

Yang Yao hurriedly shook her head: "You are a True Disciple now; you should focus your time on Cultivating, there is no need to go to the Heishui Mountains with me..."

"I'm not listening, I'm not listening!"

Ji Taichang covered his ears, sticking right by Yang Yao's side, looking like he would rather die than leave.

"You..."

Yang Yao reached out and poked Ji Taichang's forehead, annoyed, but the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, clearly in a good mood.

Just like that, the two headed to the Heishui Mountains together.

Although Yang Yao was an Alchemist and her combat power was slightly weaker, with her cultivation at the Peak of the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment Stage, she handled any Yao Beast they encountered in the Heishui Mountains without any danger.

However, the ingredient she was looking for was extremely rare, and she hadn't found it yet.

Unknowingly, the two ventured deeper and deeper into the Heishui Mountains.

"Found it... cicada chirp grass!"

Yang Yao's eyes suddenly lit up, full of pleasant surprise.

In a marshy area of a valley, a light green blade of grass swayed gently in the breeze; its leaves resembled a cicada, and it would emit a whistling sound when the wind blew, which was very peculiar.

Just as Yang Yao was about to walk over to pick the cicada chirp grass, a sudden change occurred!

Splash!

The marsh beneath her feet suddenly exploded, and a hideous crocodile head lunged out, opening its bloody maw toward Yang Yao!

Yang Yao was greatly startled; in her haste, she retreated and drew her sword to block in front of her.

However, she was still sent flying by a terrifying force, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth; she was seriously injured.

That crocodile was actually a powerful Yao Beast with Golden Core Stage cultivation!

"Sister Yang Yao, are you okay?!"

Ji Taichang, with a look of anxiety and worry, hurriedly caught her, pulling that soft, voluptuous body into his arms.

Just as Yang Yao wanted to say something, her pupils suddenly constricted: "Careful—"

Bang!

Before she could finish her words, that black-green crocodile, fully ten zhang long, had already lunged fiercely, raising a claw as large as a millstone and slamming it down toward the two!

Ji Taichang couldn't dodge in time and was sent flying dozens of zhang away by the claw, spitting out a large mouthful of blood, his face turning pale instantly.

"No—"

Yang Yao felt her head go "buzz," and her consciousness went blank for a moment.

Seeing Ji Taichang's severely injured appearance, she felt her heart tremble violently, as if it were bleeding!

"Sister Yang Yao, I... will definitely not let anything happen to you!"

Ji Taichang flashed a difficult smile at Yang Yao, as if using all his strength, struggling to crawl up and sprinting toward the outside of the Heishui Mountains!

What Yang Yao could not see was that the back of Ji Taichang's clothing, where the crocodile claw had struck, was only torn; there wasn't even the slightest scratch!

With Ji Taichang's current cultivation, this crocodile couldn't hurt him at all; his weak appearance was entirely faked.

"No... Xiao Chang, you must not have anything happen to you!"

Yang Yao was completely panicked, her eyes reddening, and she immediately took several healing Medicinal Pills from her Storage Ring, feeding them all to Ji Taichang.

Perhaps the Medicinal Pills had taken effect, or perhaps it was a final burst of energy, but Ji Taichang's paper-white face regained some ruddiness, and his running speed increased.

But...

That Golden Core Stage crocodile was even faster!

Its thick limbs stomped violently on the ground, shaking the earth and causing waves to skyrocket; despite its massive size, its speed was astonishing, catching up in the blink of an eye.

The crocodile raised its claw toward the two again, slamming it down fiercely!

Boom!

In an instant, the earth trembled, and a deep pit was smashed into the ground; water mixed with mud splashed everywhere, the momentum terrifying.

Although Ji Taichang dodged at the first opportunity, he was still affected by a terrifying blast of air, rolling several times on the ground while holding Yang Yao.

"Xiao Chang..."

Seeing Ji Taichang's face, which had finally regained some color, turn pale again, Yang Yao felt an immense ache in her heart!

[Ding! Detected Yang Yao's affection increased by 8 points; can obtain 10% of Sect Master of Liehuo Sect's cultivation/ability, please choose]

[Yang Yao's affection: 75 (When affection reaches 100, a surprise will occur!)]

Yang Yao wanted to get up and hold Ji Taichang in her arms, switching places so she could carry Ji Taichang to escape.

But just as Yang Yao moved, she felt a stabbing pain in her internal organs, her entire body's spiritual power in chaos; she couldn't move at all!

Ji Taichang's injury was faked, but she had been genuinely struck by the crocodile!

Hearing the wonderful System notification sound, Ji Taichang felt joy in his heart!

He lowered his head, looking affectionately at Yang Yao, and said: "Sister Yang Yao, don't be afraid, I... damn it!"

Before Ji Taichang could finish his words, the crocodile had already opened its bloody maw, a stench rushing toward them, and snapped down at the two!

"Are you out of your mind!"

A surge of anger welled up in Ji Taichang's heart; while quickly dodging, he kicked a stone, sending it flying toward the crocodile's mouth.

It was just an ordinary stone.

But under the cover of Ji Taichang's powerful spiritual power at the Peak of the third level of the Golden Core Stage, it rushed out like a cannonball, instantly sinking into the crocodile's abdomen and exploding within its gut!

"Awooo!"

The crocodile immediately let out a shrill scream, falling to the ground and rolling around; the intense pain from its abdomen almost made its eyeballs pop out.

But under the intense crisis of death, Yang Yao did not notice the crocodile's abnormality; all her attention was focused on Ji Taichang.

She stared blankly at Ji Taichang's handsome and resolute face, and her mind couldn't help but recall that night not long ago.

She had been hunted by a mysterious person and her spiritual power was exhausted; at that time, it was also Ji Taichang who stepped forward, risking his life to save her regardless of the cost!

At this moment, it was exactly like that moment in the past.