" Dumpling, what's up with Tangtang?"
Abhram's heart ached, listening to his master's weird way of naming.
In the past, what a formidable name he had, however after following this quirky master all he was left with was a white, fat 'dumpling'.
" Oh, master, it's her kind of common disease," Abhram responded promptly wiping his imaginary tears.
" Eh..common disease?" Jiang Ying Yue's gaze on the little brat couldn't be weirder.
What sort of common disease could it be that would lead a person...oh, a spirit to lose its mind and explode in power?....
What is it?... Dissociative Identity Disorder?.....
" Master, don't bother about her it happens whenever she overexerts her limit. It just so happens that she had lost her strength by a chunk after a long period of separation from the Brahma space and the absence of a master so her limit had dwindled by a lot. If it was before when we used to be at our peak she wouldn't even need to bat her eyes even after destroying the whole Beast Heaven Mountain." Abhram tilted his head, his large and pure eyes speckless and starry reminiscing their old days of glory.
" I see, if Tangtang's common disease is going berserk then I guess now I finally know the reason for you being such a coward." Her tone mingled with realisation and mockery.
Abhram who had dreamy looks leaning against Jiang Ying Yue's shoulder suddenly choked and had a coughing fit.
His master's roundabout way of mocking him was just too much!!
"Okay, then what do we do now? Just leave her there?" Although these two brats were troublesome and noisy Jiang Ying Yue couldn't bring herself to throw them just like that.
" Ahem. Yes, Master, just let her be. After she's done playing around, she'll find a place to take a long nap. We just have to complete our task and open the space entrance. Once we get in back to Brahma we can capture her back with the help of the system." Abhram explained wiping the beads of tears from the corners of his eyes.
Anyway, there was nothing to worry about. In his opinion, Azure in her berserk mode was like a devil, anyone who came provoking her would be the one looking for trouble.
Jiang Ying Yue pinched her forehead from a headache. This whole thing about crossing over was a whole load of sh*t and trouble.
She should have seen almanack that day before going out to stroll, otherwise, there was no way she would have landed here.
Jiang Ying Yue couldn't help but sigh deeply encountering bouts of misfortunes when she heard another round of chirping.
" Eh...master, master, where are we going? Eh...eh, master, this is not the way, why are we turning back?!" Abhram flailed his limbs frantically.
Why were they going back to that devil's mouth?!
" Shut up! Just follow me obediently, otherwise, I don't mind using the trick you suggested for Azure." Jiang Ying Yue warned him in her stern voice while dragging him along and tracing back the same way they came here.
When fled previously, they didn't go very far. She seemed somewhat worried for the little doll who was going nuts.
The two sneaky shadows lurked around the vicinity for a while before coming out of their hiding.
" She's not here." Jiang Ying Yue looked incredulously at the scene of devastation.
This was total annihilation!
The huge crater on the ground and uprooted centuries-old trees were more than enough to portray the enormous and heaven-defying strength of Azure.
Jiang Ying Yue was in awe.
If the girl was strong now, how powerful would she be when she reached her peak?!...
Glancing at the carcasses of the wolves strewn everywhere Jiang Ying Yue's eyes slightly stirred as bent down and put the toddler on the ground and commanded swiftly.
" Gather the bodies and dig out the cores. They'll fetch us a good sum." Jiang Ying Yue took out her dagger and threw it at him, turning to walk away in opposite direction.
Abhram blinked his large eyes in understanding and caught the dagger squarely before responding quickly to his master, " Leave this to me, master!" patting his small chest.
While the little one was working, Jiang Ying Yue wasn't idle either. Both worked together trying to finish the work as soon as possible, intending to find a safe place to take a good rest after that.
Jiang Ying Yue looked at the luminous and colourful beast cores with glittering eyes and a happy smile flashed in her eyes.
This was her first pot of gold, her capital for building her empire.
" We're done here, let's go and find a place to rest." Jiang Ying Yue stood up and beckoned Abhram intending to take his hand.
However, the hand extending in the air froze and she jumped back in shock and hurriedly took a few steps back dragging along Abhram to her side.
Just now, the place she was standing felt some movement and her heart couldn't help but jolt.
Don't tell her, she was encountering her next opponent so soon!
But...what was it this time....a jiao?...
Oh...wait, a flood dragon lived in water, this was soil.
Two pairs of eyes locked on the place where she stood earlier.
There was light, a very faint vibration at the beginning, however, it gradually turned rapid and soon a column of dust about half a metre in height rose above the ground. And it kept rising in the form of a whirlwind until it reached about a metre height and crumbled on its own eventually.
However, that wasn't all. As soon as the column of soil crumbled Jiang Ying Yue saw a head emerging out of the hole.
With a gasp, Jiang Ying Yue grabbed the little one by her side and immediately retreated three metres away standing as far as possible.
Moments passed in silence and trepidation until she heard a familiar voice.
" I found...."
Although she didn't see the face and heard only this light whisper it was enough for Jiang Ying Yue to recognise the identity of the person.
After all, it was the man who had been pestering her incessantly since she saved him back then.
The moment the realisation was registered, Jiang Ying Yue heard a muffled crash.
"Hey, hey!..." Jiang Ying Yue bolted over when she saw the tall figure of the man crashing right onto the ground with his face facing down.
Arriving by Wei's side Jiang Ying Yue hurriedly turned him over to examine him.
However, this only sent her reeling with another wave of shock when she saw the man had stopped breathing.
" Wei, Wei!...."
Jiang Ying Yue didn't even have the chance to give it a second thought before diving in the search of the man's lips.
As soon as their lips met Jiang Ying Yue was startled by the cold touch, the sensation was numbing.
For a moment there Jiang Ying Yue felt her mind bogged by strange thoughts tempting her to drown herself in his cool minty breath.
Her senses were almost clouded until her overbearing rationality kicked in. Throwing away those messy thoughts while cursing, Jiang Ying Yue hurriedly pressed on trying to fill Wei's lungs with oxygen.
Pressing his chest and blowing in the air into his mouth while pinching his nose. Jiang Ying Yue kept repeating this cycle.
Her series of actions were meticulous and well-practised, as her usual languid, carefree aura was long gone.
Even under such circumstances, her clear eyes were filled with serenity and sharpness. Abhram, who stood beside his master didn't disturb her and just stood there waiting.
Only a few seconds passed but it felt like a century to Jiang Ying Yue until she finally saw some reaction in the man.
Seeing that she had finally managed to rescue the man from the gate of Hell, Jiang Ying Yue slumped crookedly exhausted.
She was too exhausted to even move her fingers.
After going through such a turbulent night she felt like her life had been reduced by half.
Nevertheless, no matter how exhausted and pale she looked her legs couldn't help moving.
A heavy and rough kick landed on Wei, who had yet to recover, out of nowhere making him groan sub-consciously.
"Ugh..."
" Heh...now you know what is pain? Get up hurry back, don't you dare expect me to serve you here!!"
Wei seemed to hear the same crisp voice that once appeared like a ray of sunshine in his dark and gloomy world when he was least expecting it.
It was the same voice that made him have some selfish desires and hopes for the future even after knowing how unworthy he was.
" Ying Yue..." Wei's eyes snapped open at once
and rolled to the side and reached out for the person.
His strong and slender arms accurately found Jiang Ying Yue's petite waist and looped around it stubbornly, bringing her closer to his beating heart.
He held her tight close to him as if fearing that she'd disappear the next moment.
Jiang Ying Yue who was enveloped in the sudden warmth was startled briefly, wanting to resist.
Nevertheless, the comfort brought in by the warm hug in the freezing weather made Jiang Ying Yue swallow all her protest.
Forget it, she had worked hard to save him, so it seemed fine to earn a few advantages out of him.
It was a long while after her limbs were no longer that cold and stiff Jiang Ying Yue pushed the slightly.
" Wei, let me go..." Her voice was soft and crisp like melodious bells unlike the usual containing a hint of huskiness of a young boy growing into a man that she had been using these days.
" Just a bit....a moment longer, alright?" His voice seemed cold as usual, however, Jiang Ying Yue seemed to hear a trace of pleading in his emotionless voice.
Jiang Ying Yue's heart softened realising that he must have come here looking for her after noticing her sudden disappearance.
Her tone softened as she spoke as if trying to coax the man gently, " Let go....we can continue later, alright?"
eh....wait, what to continue?!....
However.....
" No."
Even before she could think of it further she heard a cold and flat 'no'.
Jiang Ying Yue was speechless for a moment, why was this guy acting like a spoiled child all of a sudden, huh?
Was it his near-death experience just now that twisted the wrong screw somewhere?....
Jiang Ying Yue lost her patience.
They were currently lying on cold, hard ground. No matter how warm Wei's embrace was Jiang Ying Yue still felt uncomfortable. Not to mention the strong stench of blood in the air was almost driving her nuts.
" Get off!! This is already the third time, don't let me repeat it a fourth time!" Her tone was especially cold.
Wei suddenly stiffened hearing her voice turning cold. He suddenly realised what he was doing and how he had lost his composure.
And his instantly narrowed in doubt.
However, now wasn't the time to think about all this.
He sat up and propped himself on one knee, bending to scoop the girl in his arms once again.
There was a sudden yelp and Wei couldn't help glancing at the girl in his arms who looked startled.
His broad and warm palm caressed the girl's back gently and soothingly to calm her for a moment before taking out a thick fur cloak to cover the girl tightly.
After he was done and Jiang Ying Yue was only left with a portion of her face revealing he slowly stood up on his feet.
With the petite girl in his arms, Wei stood figure stood straight and upright, his tall towering figure painting a stark contrast to the little cocooned creature in his embrace.
Jiang Ying Yue, who had recovered by now finally realised what the guy was doing and flailed her legs in protest.
" Hey, put me down!"
" No, it's cold." Wei was unusually disobedient.
And Jiang Ying Yue was not used to it at all. Wei, who was always submissive to her was now acting in a such bossy and overbearing manner Jiang Ying Yue couldn't help doubting that he was swapped.