*Boom!*
With a deafening explosion, the dog monster's attack obliterated the ground where Shen Ling'er had been standing.
The people in the safe zone who witnessed the scene could only sigh, momentarily feeling pity for her. After all, it would be a shame for such a beautiful woman to die.
But that pity was fleeting. They were all participants in this test, and the death of one person meant an advantage for everyone else. No matter how beautiful she was, the opportunity to enter the Altheran world was far more valuable.
"Look! She's not dead—she survived!" A voice of astonishment cut through the air, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
They quickly turned toward the direction indicated and were stunned to see that the beautiful woman had survived. Even more surprising, the handsome man who had ventured out of the safety zone earlier was the one who had saved her!
Among the witnesses, Sherlin stood frozen, unable to hide her surprise.
"That man is incredible! He managed to save her from the dog monster's swift attack!" She murmured in awe, her palms pressed together in excitement.
Meanwhile, Merlin, who had rescued Shen Ling'er from the monster's assault, looked pale and was panting slightly.
Although he had saved her, the attack had struck his back, and the pain was excruciating.
"Damn! If it weren't for this woman's extraordinary status panel, I wouldn't have put myself in such a risky position," Merlin muttered, gritting his teeth as he endured the pain.
As a con artist, he always weighed the risks and benefits, never endangering himself unless it served his interests.
Thankfully, the injury wasn't life-threatening. Otherwise, this decision would surely have been the greatest regret of his life.
Quickly regaining his composure, Merlin looked down at Shen Ling'er, who was trembling in his arms with her eyes closed. In an instant, the pain and frustration on his face softened into a charming, gentle expression.
"Are you alright, pretty girl?" Merlin asked in a soothing voice.
At the sound of his voice, Shen Ling'er timidly opened her eyes and was stunned as her gaze landed on Merlin's extraordinarily handsome face.
"So handsome! Am I already in heaven? Are you the prince of heaven?" she asked dreamily, reaching out to gently caress Merlin's handsome features.
Her words made the corners of Merlin's eyes twitch, and he felt a sudden urge to slap her plump ass. However, he quickly composed himself and gently held her hand.
"You're not dead yet because I saved you," Merlin replied, feigning helplessness.
Shen Ling'er was taken aback by his words. She looked around, noticing that the surroundings were unchanged.
Then, in an instant, she realized the disrespectful gesture she had just made toward the man who had saved her. Her face flushed a bright red.
"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to disrespect you! Please don't misunderstand!" She stammered, attempting to pull away from Merlin's embrace.
The pain radiating from both of her swollen ankles suddenly stopped her movements, causing her to groan in discomfort.
Seeing this, Merlin knew it was time to act. He swiftly reached out and began massaging Shen Ling'er's delicate, flawless ankles with a gentle touch.
"You must have tripped over a rock and hurt your leg," he said with feigned concern.
At the sight of Merlin's hands on her feet, Shen Ling'er's expression froze, and a blush instantly spread across her face.
In her previous world, a woman's feet were considered sacred, almost as significant as her virginity. If a man touched a woman's feet without being her husband, severe punishments—such as ten years in prison or even death—could follow.
Yet here was the handsome man before her, boldly touching her feet, and it left her feeling both embarrassed and uneasy.
She bit her lower lip, wanting to pull her feet away, but her movements were frozen as she met Merlin's caring and sincere gaze.
"What should I do?" Shen Ling'er muttered silently, overwhelmed with confusion and helplessness.
*Roar!*
The deafening roar of the dog monster suddenly echoed, reminding Merlin and Shen Ling'er that they were far from safe.
Spotting the monster charging toward them, Merlin swiftly turned and crouched slightly.
"Get on my back!" he commanded urgently.
Shen Ling'er said nothing, nodding frantically. But when her eyes landed on the red, scratch-like wound on Merlin's back, her face immediately drained of color.
"Your back..." she stammered, pointing at the injury with fear and concern, but Merlin quickly cut her off.
"Hurry up! Don't waste time thinking about it!" He snapped, his tone sharp, causing Shen Ling'er to flinch.
Gritting her teeth, she jumped onto Merlin's back, wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, and locked her legs around his waist.
As Shen Ling'er's delicate body pressed against his back, Merlin briefly felt the softness of her huge breasts, hidden beneath her hanfu.
However, the sensation was fleeting. In the next moment, the sharp pain from the dog monster's scratches intensified, causing Merlin's handsome face to grow even paler.
Despite the pain, Merlin gritted his teeth and forced himself to his feet. He then sprinted toward the safe zone with all his strength.
*Roar!*
The dog monster's roar rang out like a warning bell, quickly catching the attention of the other monsters who had been about to leave. They turned in unison, their hungry gazes locking onto Merlin and Shen Ling'er before they charged toward them without hesitation.
Seeing the approaching horde, Shen Ling'er trembled in fear. She quickly averted her gaze, burying her face into the right side of Merlin's neck, clutching him even tighter.
"Hiss!" The pain in Merlin's back flared up, but he clenched his jaw, enduring the sharp agony as he pushed himself to keep running.
After two minutes of frantic sprinting, Merlin and Shen Ling'er finally reached the safe zone. He quickly lowered Shen Ling'er from his back, and with a pained gasp, collapsed to the ground, his body drained of energy.
His eyes locked on the beautiful blue sky above, and in a voice filled with frustration, he muttered, "The gods who designed this test must be psychopaths. I'll remember this grudge, and once I'm strong enough, I'll take them down! This is my vow, damn it!"