Chapter 364
Extra: Sensual Snake
Chapter 364 Extra Chapter: The Sensational Snake
Ling Chengen's target is Celeste, but Hu He is indeed the strongest barrier in front of Celeste, so in order to take down the former, she must first restrain the latter. Therefore... she needs a helper who can contend with Hu He.
After careful consideration, Ling Chengen decided to let Yu Heng restrain Hu He.
Chang Tianchen is the commander-in-chief of the entire army and cannot leave his post to join a small team that is providing auxiliary support in the operation.
Su Weihua's combat strength is decent, but her ability level is less than seventeenth rank, which is a clear weakness. She is no match for Hu He, who is at seventeenth rank.
While wood-type warriors are not good at combat, that is only relative.
Yuheng is definitely not among those who are not good at fighting.
Therefore, Ling Chengen and Yu Heng were not in the army from the beginning. They started to deploy troops early on, keeping an eye on Celeste, and subtly sending messages to the army to help drive the group into their carefully designed encirclement.
Everything proceeded according to plan, and Huch walked into their trap while covering Celeste's evacuation.
Yuheng launched the first attack. Huhe was highly alert to danger. Yuheng missed his first attack, which not only exposed his position but also put the opponent into a defensive state.
Fortunately, Ling Chengen was not lying in ambush with him.
Yuheng's preemptive strike was also within her expectations, because their goal was not to defeat Huhe, the genius of the elephant ape tribe known for his superhuman strength, but to entangle him and prevent him from being able to spare any attention to protect Celeste. That would have been a great success.
Ling Chengen hesitated to move, leaving Yu Heng to withstand Hu He's attacks. After the initial panic subsided, Celeste began to use her psychic abilities to attack Yu Heng.
If Yuheng hadn't awakened his spiritual power, he might have really suffered this great loss.
Unfortunately, he awakened.
Although his mental energy had not been specifically trained, it was extremely active due to his exceptional talent. His mental energy usually appeared chaotic and disordered, but when attacked by mental energy, it immediately formed a counterattack and was completely beyond his control.
When Celeste was attacked by his mental power, cold sweat broke out on her forehead and back. The power only clashed briefly for a few seconds before she had to withdraw her ability. She staggered and held onto Hu He's back, her face pale.
Hu He erected a high barrier around the two of them, not daring to relax for a moment. After noticing that something was wrong with his partner, he turned around and looked at her, asking nervously, "What's wrong?"
“Their ability is the same as mine,” Celeste said, straightening up and frowning.
Hu He exclaimed in shock, "Impossible! Only royalty can awaken such a special ability as yours. Moreover, I clearly sensed the power of wood spirits when the opponent launched their attack. The opponent must be a beastman from the Fuqing Clan in Shangqing Forest Valley."
"If I'm not mistaken, he is Yu Heng, the vicious criminal who fled all the way to the Northern Wilderness."
"The Fuqing Clan will not awaken the abilities of the royal family."
Celeste shook his head and said, "I don't know who he is, but he can certainly counter my abilities."
Celeste's psychic abilities have always put her in a dominant position in battle.
Her psychic abilities are definitely among the top three in the royal family.
This was the first time she had encountered a non-royal opponent.
"The opponent's abilities are very ferocious. Although they haven't been trained, they have great talent and are very aggressive."
"We need to leave here as soon as possible; the longer we stay, the worse it will be for us."
Celeste remained calm.
The enemy's sudden appearance on their retreat route was certainly not a coincidence.
It is highly likely that the other party had already identified her and even figured out her abilities, and had specifically arranged for warriors who could counter her psychic powers to ambush her here.
Although his partner Huhe was brave and loyal, he was alone. The other elephant-ape warriors around him seemed numerous, but in reality, they had no chance to fight back against a seventeenth-tier warrior.
Moreover, Celeste, who was born with extraordinary mental strength, has an extremely keen sense of danger.
She remained uneasy, constantly feeling that something was amiss.
This sense of powerlessness and panic in the face of the unknown had been weighing on her mind ever since she left the city and arrived at the battlefield.
Earth-type abilities are indeed very troublesome to defend against. Although Ling Chengen can monitor the enemy at all times, he will have to overcome these high defensive barriers to reach Celeste.
However, these defensive barriers are not like rocks, which remain stationary once they are formed by supernatural powers.
Huhe can sense all movement within his ability's range, including enemies climbing walls, and can change the terrain at any time to launch surprise attacks.
Just as Ling Chengen was pondering how to break through, giant trees suddenly emerged from the soil and rocks, rising up instantly. Countless grasses and vines grew wildly, shattering the solid barrier and turning it into rubble beneath his feet.
Ling Chengen seized the opportunity, his body suddenly disappearing from the spot. Using the giant, menacing trees and vines, he sped forward in the air like a blur.
A gust of wind suddenly rose from nowhere. Ling Chengen suddenly sensed something, hooked his hand on a vine, swung his body forward, and landed on the back of a giant golden-topped eagle.
Wu Zhuo's figure shrank considerably, like a nimble swallow, as it moved through the complex forest.
He awakened a wind-based ability. His beast-like flight speed was already extremely fast, and when combined with the effect of the wind-based ability, he flew at full speed, becoming as fast as lightning.
Why did you suddenly come here?
Ling Chengen lowered his body to avoid being hit by the vines and branches in the air and falling.
Wu Zhuo focused intently on moving forward and said, "Boss Chang asked me to come and help. The battle situation over there is clear now, and he can control it."
Ling Chengen located Celeste's position while also keeping an eye on Hu He's situation.
"Hugh and Celeste are together, and they are too close together."
"When you rush over, are you confident you can avoid Huhe's attack?"
Wu Zhuo's expression turned serious, and his breathing gradually became heavier: "I don't know either, I'll give it a try."
Although he had been following Chang Tianchen, he actually had no experience fighting against a level 17 warrior. Chang Tianchen listened to Sister En and took good care of him, assigning him tasks that were within his capabilities and steadily improving his practical experience and combat power.
So when he encountered a level 17 warrior, he was actually quite vulnerable.
But since things have come to this point, even if we feel guilty, we still have to do our best in action.
After all, if they can defeat Celeste in this battle, their subsequent attacks will definitely be easier.
The two quickly closed in, and just as they were about to fly past Celeste from behind, Hu He suddenly switched their positions. Ling Chengen grabbed Hu He's shoulder and dragged him dozens of meters away.
When he caught the person, Ling Chengen knew he had arrested the wrong person.
However, Mistwalker was traveling too fast, and there was no time to catch Celeste who was further away, so she could only go with the flow.
This effectively separates Celeste and Hugh.
However... now the situation is not looking good.
When Ling Chengen threw Hu He out, Hu He's attack had already reached her face.
Ling Chengen could only try his best to dodge and parry the force.
But Hu He's force was too great, and he slammed her and Wu Zhuo down from the air in one fell swoop.
The two crashed heavily to the ground from a low altitude. Wu Zhuo was seriously injured and vomited blood on the spot, and his consciousness quickly became blurred.
Because Wu Zhuo cushioned her fall, Ling Chengen was in slightly better condition, but she was still inevitably injured.
She had just stood up when Huhe landed and attacked.
Ling Chengen could have backed away; her reflexes were excellent, but she didn't.
With this retreat, Wu Zhuo is certain to die.
Ling Chengen gripped his weapon and withstood the attack, while his psychic powers pierced into the man's head.
But the offensive was already underway, and she couldn't control him to change the heavy blow that was about to fall.
The weapon caught Huhe's heavy hammer, but she was also shaken to her knees, half of her body sinking into the crater. The surrounding land cracked inch by inch, and huge plumes of dust rose in all directions.
Several vines, resembling serpents, suddenly emerged from the soil and all lunged towards Hu He's body.
But Huhe was too tough; his superpower formed a special armor on the outside of his body, which the vines could not pierce at all.
Ling Chengen suffered internal injuries from the impact, and blood kept spilling from the corner of his lips. He transmitted his voice to Yu Heng: "Get Wu Zhuo away."
"Also, take control of Celeste."
Before Yuheng could say anything, Ling Chengen had already severed all contact with him.
Wu Zhuo was entangled by vines and quickly disappeared into the lush forest of giant trees.
Ling Chengen's supernatural attack only slowed down Hu He's reaction.
His brain was protected by Celeste, so this was the extent he could do.
Ling Chengen never expected that the two were actually in love.
After all, it allows the other party to freely invade one's brain and leave permanent traces...
Most people who are capable of doing this kind of thing are crazy.
She seized the opportunity to escape, but Huhe quickly regained his senses and chased after her again.
But after charging a few steps, he suddenly turned around and looked at something not far away. Then, he turned and angrily cursed at Ling Chengen, "Despicable—"
He realized this was a diversionary tactic, so he ignored Ling Chengen and charged toward Celeste.
Ling Chengen: "..."
She thought that once he realized he'd fallen for her trap, he would relentlessly pursue her, determined to drag her down with him!
She slammed her weapon into the ground, coughed up a mouthful of blood, and then turned and jumped into the forest, disappearing from sight.
After being met by soldiers on the perimeter, Ling Chengen quickly returned to the camp.
Yuheng arrived at the wounded soldiers' camp shortly after. After jumping down from the air, he hurriedly walked into the tent without saying a word.
Xuan Yan lifted the curtain and looked at Yu Heng, whose face was somber: "You've come back just in time. She's badly injured... at least five bones are broken, her left wrist and arm bones are shattered, and she also has severe internal injuries."
Yu Heng, too lazy to listen to Xuan Yan's rambling, shoved him out and warned him with a dark face without turning around, "No one is allowed to come in!"
Xuan Yan lost his balance and fell straight out of the tent, landing hard on his backside. He grimaced as he jabbed a rock into the ground and couldn't help but yell, "...No, are you crazy?"
"It's just a broken bone, it's not like I'm going to die!"
Suddenly, a scalpel pierced the tent flap and accurately stabbed between his legs.
Xuan Yan looked down at the gleaming blade and the hilt swaying gently at its end: "..."
Damn it, he'll have to fight these love-struck idiots sooner or later!
……
After both sides called a retreat, Chang Tianchen arranged his affairs and rushed to the wounded soldiers' camp immediately.
When Chang Tianchen reached the tent where Ling Chengen was resting, he suddenly slowed down.
He asked, "How is her health?"
“He has already been treated, but it will take a few more days for him to fully recover. He is asleep right now,” Yuheng replied.
Chang Tianchen stopped, lifted the curtain and glanced inside, then didn't go any further: "Where's Celeste?"
"She was drugged and knocked unconscious. After she came back, Lin Jing locked her up."
Yu Heng stretched his slightly sore shoulders and neck and said, "As for where he's locked up, you can ask him yourself. I don't care about these things. However, Celeste's abilities are the same as Enen's, so don't let her wake up, otherwise she'll control the guards to unlock the lock and escape, or use our people to send messages to the Beast King's army."
Yuheng straightened up and turned to walk towards the next tent.
"where are you going?"
Yuheng turned around and said, "It's not just Enen who's injured; Wuzhuo is even more seriously injured."
Chang Tianchen immediately took a step to follow, but Yu Heng stopped and said as he lifted the curtain, "It's no use you coming in. Go and guard her."
Chang Tianchen stood there and sighed softly, but he still followed his advice and went to stay by Ling Chengen's side.
Ling Chengen's tent was set up separately, and she lived there alone. Yu Heng and Su Weihua both had their own separate rest tents, so they did not stay with her.
Logically speaking, as the supreme empress of the Xiao Kingdom, her clothing, food, housing and transportation should be provided according to the highest standards, and her tents should at least be similar to those of the commander-in-chief.
In reality, she was staying in a regular mid-level officer's tent. Its only advantage was that she had a single room, and the location wasn't great either, being near the wounded and sick camp.
Later, as the war escalated further, the wounded and sick camps also expanded, so she ended up living directly in the wounded soldiers' camp.
Chang Tianchen sat on the chair beside her bed, looking around her residence. He could hear various sounds coming from outside: the cries of wounded soldiers, the sounds of medics rushing around transporting the wounded, and their loud shouts and instructions...
These sounds never stopped from the moment he stepped into the tent.
He knew Ling Chengen was a light sleeper and easily woken up, but he hadn't noticed at all how terrible her living conditions were these past few days...
The tent was simply furnished with only a bed, a table, and four stools.
There was a teapot and three teacups on the table, but they were empty.
Inside the tent, there was a wooden rack for hanging clothes, on which hung a blood-stained garment.
Chang Tianchen lowered his eyes and quietly looked at her sleeping face, then slowly extended his finger and placed his fingertip on the back of her hand.
Her left hand was immobilized in a splint, and there were some bluish bruises on the back of her hand. There were also slight signs of bleeding under her fingernails, but compared to the injuries on her body, these small wounds were not easy to notice.
Chang Tianchen gently held her slightly cold fingertips, his heart inexplicably heavy.
He felt an inexplicable urge to sigh whenever he looked at her face.
Besides that, I feel sorry for them.
At the same time, I also felt a bit resentful of my own powerlessness.
He's not strong enough yet, so she always has to step up in these crucial situations.
If he had been able to lead his army to sweep through the Beast King City, she wouldn't be so badly injured today.
He gently cupped her fingertips, lowered his head and pressed his forehead against her fingers, taking a deep breath.
"Feel sorry."
"It's because I didn't do a good enough job—"
His voice was somewhat hoarse and sounded extremely tired.
"So, what level do you think is good enough?"
Ling Chengen opened his eyes at some point and tilted his head to look at him.
Chang Tianchen raised his head and looked quietly into her eyes.
After a long pause, he said firmly, "You are no longer injured."
Ling Chengen curled his lips into a sneer and said, "Anyone who is alive will get hurt."
Regardless of whether it's a big or small injury.
Because life is full of surprises.
She didn't want to see Chang Tianchen's sickeningly sentimental behavior.
Ling Chengen bared his teeth and withdrew his finger, shoving his head away with his right hand, and sneered, "Don't make impossible wishes here. I'm not a turtle in a wishing well."
"If you have nothing to do, go and look after Celeste for me."
“I risked my life to bring this man back. If he escapes, you’ll have to come back with your head.”
Chang Tianchen stared blankly as she issued orders, and asked, "Besides this... don't you have anything else to say?"
Ling Chengen thought for a moment and asked, "How is Wu Zhuo doing?"
Chang Tianchen stood up and said expressionlessly, "I'm not a doctor, how would I know?"
"If you want to know, go ask him yourself!"
Ling Chengen watched him turn and leave, and couldn't help but curse, "Didn't you ask me if I had anything else to say? I did, but you didn't answer. Are you asking for trouble?!"
Chang Tianchen had already stepped out of the tent. Hearing the strong voice inside, he rubbed his slightly aching head.
Looking at his gloomy expression and hearing the cursing coming from inside, Lin Quan didn't know what to say for a moment. Finally, she asked, "Are you going to stay here and take care of him?"
Chang Tianchen rolled his eyes at him: "Take care of her? Do you think she'd let me take care of her?"
"I think you'd be happy if I stayed and got yelled at, wouldn't you?"
"You getting scolded is nothing new to you, isn't it?" Lin Quan retorted softly. "When we were in the Northern Wilderness, didn't they still send a letter every three days, half of which was scolding you for not making any progress and telling you to be more careful..."
Chang Tianchen kicked him in the butt and said viciously, "Trying to show off how well-informed you are, huh?"
"I'm willing to get scolded, what's it to you?"
"Instead of gossiping here, why don't you go keep a close eye on Celeste?"
"If the person is rescued, you'll have to come back with your head!"
Lin Quan was not entirely convinced, but he knew he couldn't afford to provoke him any further, so he turned around and went to take care of his business.
After walking a distance, he turned back and sneered, "A copycat!"
"And bring your head back!"
Lin Quan spread his hands and trembled slightly, mimicking Chang Tianchen's earlier manner in a sarcastic tone. Then, Chang Tianchen's gloomy voice came from afar.
"Lin Quan, do you think I'm dead?"
"If you repeat Lao Tzu's words again, I'll send you to Sergin City to mine for three months!"
This is absolutely outrageous!