*Boom*
Among corpses of spirit wolves, Tang Lin lay soaked in blood and his body in a complete mess.
*Cough, cough*
"Some, someone save me…" he wheezed as his eyes dulled.
Unknowingly, the spirit wolves' blood essence started shimmering all around him. Under the guidance of his crimson qi, it slowly transformed into pure essence that was absorbed into his body. His ribs that protruded out of his skin and shattered bones started to mend itself under this power. That night, a light illuminated the Forest of Remorse.
"Mother, mother, where are you going?" Tang Lin yelled as he ran after her.
Her face was covered in a blinding light as she turned around and spoke, but he couldn't hear her. She started to dissipate into fragments as everything turned dark, chaining him down.
"MOTHER!" Tang Lin shouted, reaching out with his right hand.
Sweat perspired down his face as he checked his body condition. Tang Lin looked around his surroundings as he saw the broken cliff that fell with him as well the skeletal remains of the spirit wolves. A portion of the sunlight slipped through the large canopy of trees, indicating it was daytime.
"What happened? Did you save me again? I wonder what else you can do?" he asked, sensing the crimson qi inside him.
His body still felt fragile as he left the place.
"I need to get to the Tianshan mountains", Tang Lin thought, searching the vicinity of the area.
*Roar, clang*
The beasts of the forest are starting to awaken to come out to hunt now. Vibrations shook the terrain as Tang Lin stumbled to the ground. He could hear the resonating sound of metal.
"Is someone fighting nearby?" he pondered as he moved closer to the origin of the sound.
Past the leaves of the bushes, Tang Lin saw a monster thrashing around angrily against its opponent.
"Is that a colossal ape?", he mumbled as he looked at the ape that could almost reach the canopy of the forest and double the size of the giant serpent he had met.
From what he remembered, the colossal ape was famous for its impeccable defence and feared for its aggressiveness.
"I only see one person fighting against it, who is that?" he wondered, unable to clearly see them, because of the colossal ape's size.
*Boom*
The colossal ape had landed a punch against its opponent as they were pushed far back into Tang Lin's direction.
"AHHH!" he unconsciously yelped, barely dodging them in time.
*Cough*
Blood dripped down their mouth slightly as their face turned pale.
"F-Fang Yue, so it was you", stated Tang Lin, surprised.
"Who are you?!?" Fang Yue asked vigilantly, alarmed by his presence.
*Ching*
"AHH!! WAIT! WAIT! I'm just a servant from the Xu family", he yelled as sweat ran down his neck, caught by the metal of her sword.
"Xu family?" she thought suspiciously.
*Growl*
The colossal ape got up on its two legs and started pounding its chest, before charging straight at them.
"I'll trust you for now, so help me kill this colossal ape. BUT! If you betray me, I won't hesitate next time", she warned, withdrawing her sword as they separated and ran in different directions.
She was way above his level, so he had no choice, but to follow her orders. Otherwise, if the Fang family clan found out that he had run away and left their mistress to die here; they would chase him to the ends of the universe.
"O-Ok…, but how am I meant to help? I've only reached the first stage of Qi Condensation recently, but I have also reached the second stage of Strength Training", he said nervously.
"WHAT!?! Then how did you make it to the inner depths of the Forest of Remorse by yourself?" she asked frantically.
"I-I…" Tang Lin said, fumbling over his words.
"WATCH OUT!" she screamed to caution him, but it was too late.
In a moment of life and death, looking away from your opponent was akin to death. A shadow engulfed Tang Lin's figure in darkness as he looked back at the massive fist flying at him. Instinctively, he swung his qi-enhanced canine horizontally. Now, he could only pray that a miracle would occur after previously seeing his crimson qi's mysterious and destructive capabilities.
*Ding*
As the qi-enhanced canine came into contact with the colossal ape's fist, a faint sphere of light formed around the contact area as a huge shockwave extended outwards. This caused a profuse amount of dust to rise in the air, masking the outcome.
Losing her balance from the impact, Fang Yue fell on her butt as she guarded her face from the dust with both of her arms.
"W-What… just happened?" she thought, stunned by what just happened.