Tang San's gaze dimmed. "Xiao Wu doesn't need a soul bone right now. Boss, don't be modest. You're our big brother—you've always deferred to us and looked after us. Now that all the others have soul bones, it's only right that you should have one of your own. Strengthening your power further will make our trip to
Dai Mubai accepted the azure soul bone. He wasn't one for false modesty. Without further hesitation, he converted the soul bone into energy form and pressed it into his right leg. He sat cross-legged on the ground and began absorbing the soul bone's effects.
It took roughly an hour before Dai Mubai emerged from his cultivation state. By then,
"Boss, how is it?" Ma Hongjun asked curiously.
The expression on Dai Mubai's face had visibly improved. Earlier, he'd been deeply depressed over the villagers' deaths. Although Tang San had offered a few words of comfort, he hadn't been able to let it go. But now, after absorbing the soul bone, his mood had clearly brightened considerably. The villagers' deaths still weighed on his heart, but at least he looked much better on the surface.
"Little San guessed right. The ability this soul bone grants me is bloodlust. A terrifying ability. The name of this soul bone is the Hurricane Right Leg of Bloodlust Berserk. My body feels as though it's become much lighter. The soul bone skill, Bloodlust Berserk, can instantly plunge my body into a berserk state—attack and defense both increase by one hundred percent, and speed increases by one hundred percent. The downside is that I can't use any skills while in that state. I just don't know whether I can stay conscious when I activate it."
Tang San thought for a moment. "It's probably best not to use the soul bone skill for now. If you lose your sanity after activating it, it could backfire. Once we have the chance to obtain another head soul bone and you equip it, your mental strength should increase enough to let you control the Bloodlust Berserk."
When it came to Martial Souls, Great Master's disciple Tang San naturally had the most experience. Dai Mubai nodded, then turned his gaze to the corpses around them. "Let's gather the bodies together. It's time to head back, or they'll be getting worried."
They piled the Wolfdraiders' remains in one heap and the villagers' bodies in another. Tang San stood before the villagers and let out a soft sigh. "I'm sorry—we couldn't save you. But we've avenged you. You can rest in peace now." Without any prior coordination, all three bowed deeply to the deceased villagers three times.
As they departed, Phoenix flames blazed through the forest. Under Ma Hongjun's careful control, the fire was confined to where the bodies had been stacked. As they moved away from that gruesome place, their spirits gradually lifted. Though they hadn't managed to save the villagers, they had slain the Wolfdraiders—effectively rescuing many more ordinary humans in the future.
Guided by Tang San's spiritual energy, the three quickly returned to where their companions were waiting.
Tang San raised his right hand and recalled the Blue Silver Ocean Heaven Covering Shield. The others had been growing increasingly anxious. Seeing all three of them drenched in blood, they were visibly shocked.
Dai Mubai rubbed Zhu Zhuqing's head. "Don't worry, I'm fine. The blood on us is all from the enemy. Only the big guy got a little hurt. We got lucky this time—picked up a soul bone." He then gave a brief account of what had transpired. When the others heard how brutally the Wolfdraiders had treated the villagers, indignation crossed their faces one after another.
Xiao Wu had already hidden behind
Tang San immediately recalled how Xiao Wu had refused to come near him after his last killing, and sighed inwardly. "Little Ao, our water supply is with you, right? Get some out—let's clean ourselves up first."
The three used over a dozen water skins in the woods by the roadside before washing the blood from their bodies and changing into dry clothes. Only then did they rejoin the group. Ma Hongjun's complexion looked rather pale. The aftereffects of excessive blood loss were now evident. Even with
Bai Chenxiang watched the big fellow struggling to walk steadily and quickly went to support him. Ma Hongjun's entire left arm hung limply at his side as he stumbled into the carriage in a daze.
Once Tang San and Dai Mubai had climbed aboard, Tang San explained Xiao Wu's situation and they rearranged their seating. Xiao Wu was moved to the innermost spot, beside Ning Rongrong, while Tang San sat outside with Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun. Even so, Tang San could still see Xiao Wu's body trembling from time to time—clearly affected by the killing aura they emanated.
If it were just Tang San himself, he would have followed on foot beneath the carriage. But Ma Hongjun was seriously injured—how could he ask his brothers to walk just for the sake of his lover?
A thought struck Tang San, and he already had a solution. Blue light surged, and the Blue Silver Ocean Heaven Covering Shield reappeared. With a flash of radiance, it enveloped Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Oscar within. The three of them vanished from sight inside the carriage. With the shield in place, their auras were effortlessly isolated from each other.
Sure enough, Xiao Wu calmed down considerably within the Blue Silver Ocean Heaven Covering Shield. Gradually settling, she leaned against Ning Rongrong and fell asleep.
Bai Chenxiang carefully rolled up Ma Hongjun's sleeve, and couldn't help drawing a sharp breath. She wanted to cry out, but held it back in the end. The horror in her eyes, however, was impossible to hide. Her rims reddened, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
On Ma Hongjun's left arm was a gash a full five inches long, the bone already visible inside. This was only because Tang San had sealed his blood vessels on the way back. Without that, such a massive wound would have bled him to death long ago.
Bai Chenxiang was about to bandage it when Tang San stopped her. "You can't wrap it directly—the wound is too large and won't heal easily. It needs to be stitched. Xiangxiang, I'm too weak right now and my hands are unsteady. Can you do it?"
Bai Chenxiang glanced at Tang San and nodded firmly. "I can."
Tang San smiled with satisfaction. The more time he spent around her, the more Bai Chenxiang's good qualities showed through. Though she carried a touch of pride, her heart was genuinely kind. After she had come to accept the Shrek Seven Devils, she showed everyone—besides Ma Hongjun—a measure of respect. Now she was also demonstrating her courage.
Taking the needle and thread Tang San handed over, Bai Chenxiang took a deep breath, cradled Ma Hongjun's left arm against her chest, and turned to Dai Mubai across from them. "Brother Dai, could you hold him down for me? I'm afraid the pain will make him thrash about."
Dai Mubai nodded and placed one hand firmly on Ma Hongjun's shoulder.
Bai Chenxiang closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, her gaze was resolute. She threaded the needle, clamped Ma Hongjun's left arm under her right armpit, pressed her knees together to secure his fat palm, and immobilized his entire arm.
Tang San gave Dai Mubai a nod. Dai Mubai pressed down with his right palm, releasing Soul Power to stabilize the big fellow's body.
Bai Chenxiang took yet another deep breath. Her left hand gripped the wound on Ma Hongjun's left arm, and the steel needle threaded with fine silk in her right hand began stitching.
At the first stitch, Ma Hongjun's body spasmed violently. Though he was in a semi-conscious state from blood loss, instinct remained, and his body jerked in agony.
Under Dai Mubai's strength, he naturally couldn't move—but Ma Hongjun's injured left arm was under Bai Chenxiang's control, not Dai Mubai's.
Bai Chenxiang's strength was naturally far below Dai Mubai's, and she couldn't compare to Ma Hongjun either. Despite the arm being injured, the pain still made it want to jerk free.
Bai Chenxiang clenched her teeth, pressing her knees together with all her might to grip the big fellow's palm, while her armpit clamped down on his arm root. The steel needle in her hand flew, stitching the wound at remarkable speed. Her hand was extraordinarily steady—the distance between each stitch was nearly identical—as she rapidly sutured the gash, reconnecting the muscles severed by the azure Wolfdraider.
A soft sizzle sounded, and a wisp of blue smoke rose from Bai Chenxiang's knee. Though Ma Hongjun was semi-conscious, the searing pain apparently triggered an involuntary release of his fire energy.
Tang San was startled. Despite his weakened body, his spiritual power remained intact. He immediately issued a low command: "Fatty, rein it in." The voice, carried by his spiritual energy, reached Ma Hongjun's ears. The spiritual vibration startled him into a shudder, and the heat in his hand subsided.
What earned the admiration of everyone in the carriage was that Bai Chenxiang, despite her delicate brows tightly furrowed and beads of sweat streaming down her face, never stopped her needlework. Her stitching hand remained perfectly steady, and she continued to hold down the big fellow's arm without so much as glancing at the knee crushed beneath his palm.
Whether it was Dai Mubai, Tang San, Zhu Zhuqing, or Ning Rongrong and Oscar—sheltered inside the Blue Silver Ocean Heaven Covering Shield—they all looked at Bai Chenxiang with something new in their eyes.
When Tang San had asked Bai Chenxiang to join this mission, everyone understood it was to give the big fellow a chance. So no one had objected. But in truth, how many years had the Shrek Seven Devils known each other? Suddenly adding a stranger—even though no one had outwardly rejected her—could hardly be called acceptance.
Yet now, watching Bai Chenxiang stitch up Ma Hongjun's wound with such resolve, everyone's gaze toward her held something more.
Determination. Endurance. Bearing pain for a comrade. Bai Chenxiang had earned the Shrek Seven Devils' recognition through her actions. Dai Mubai showed it most openly—his Evil Eyes clearly shimmered with approval.
Tang San watched and couldn't help but smile. He could have helped Bai Chenxiang restrain Ma Hongjun, but he chose not to. As the team's soul, the team's brain, what he needed to guide went beyond mere combat.
Finally, Bai Chenxiang completed the entire stitching process. The massive wound on Ma Hongjun's left arm was fully sutured. With the physical constitution of a Soul Master, he would only need some rest to recover.
Bai Chenxiang let out a long breath and released the knees that had been clamping Ma Hongjun's palm. On the inner sides of both her knees, dark burn marks had already appeared, and her long skirt had two new holes singed through. But a faint smile graced her face as she exhaled. With Dai Mubai's help, she propped the big fellow against the carriage corner, and he sank into deep sleep. Only then did she feel her own body growing limp, her limbs trembling uncontrollably.
Tang San quietly pulled two small vials from his Ruyi Treasure Bag and handed them to Bai Chenxiang. "Apply the white one to his wound and the red one on your own knees—it's a fire-toxin antidote. Then put the remaining white ointment over it. It promotes tissue regeneration."
Bai Chenxiang returned the needle to Tang San and accepted the vials. She first applied medicine to Ma Hongjun, tore a strip from the hem of her long skirt, and wrapped it around his arm. Only then did she tend to the burns on her own knees.
Dai Mubai looked at Tang San, pointed at Bai Chenxiang, and gave him a thumbs-up. Tang San returned a small smile in acknowledgment.
The carriage pressed on. The big fellow slept for a full half-day, not waking until nightfall, when the group found a place to rest. After eating several more of Oscar's Recovery Large Sausages, his condition improved significantly.
"Hey, Xiangxiang, why are you walking so funny?" Ma Hongjun watched Bai Chenxiang add firewood to the campfire, his brow furrowed in puzzlement. She had already changed into a different long skirt.
The other members of the Shrek Seven Devils all wore knowing smiles. None of them had any intention of enlightening the big fellow.
Bai Chenxiang froze for a moment. A rosy blush spread across her pretty face, made all the more vivid by the firelight. She lowered her head and gave a slight shake, but offered no explanation.
Ma Hongjun immediately sensed that something was off. Unable to resist, he turned to Dai Mubai nearby. "Boss Dai, why are you grinning at me like that? What's going on with Xiangxiang?"
Dai Mubai snorted and said darkly, "You fat idiot—don't even know what kind of dog-shit luck you stumbled into. You've hit the jackpot this time. If you ever dare mistreat Xiangxiang, don't blame me for getting rough." As he spoke, he thrust his massive fist forward for emphasis.
Bai Chenxiang's face flushed even deeper. She murmured, "I… there's nothing going on between us."
Dai Mubai smiled knowingly. "Of course! There's nothing between you. I never said there was!"
"I—" Bai Chenxiang was mortified, and just as she didn't know what to say, a cool hand closed gently over hers. Zhu Zhuqing had appeared at her side at some point. "Xiangxiang, ignore them. These men—apart from Third Brother—aren't a single decent one among them."
Oscar smiled ruefully on the side. "Zhuqing, that's clearly an area-of-effect attack! Your Boss Dai being no good—I'll admit that. And this fellow Fatty isn't much either. But you can't attack me! I'm very pure. Pure as a little white rabbit."