Ning Zining continued to dress, casually remarking, “Although the chill hasn’t receded, it’s time to get to work. On such a blessed land, it would be unjustifiable not to put in effort.”
Beside him lay a gorgeous woman, who shot him a disdainful glance and retorted, “Just working during the day? I haven’t seen you do much of anything productive.”
Ning Zining smiled, “I just arrived, and my body is frail; I can’t endure as much as you can. If we were to make one more effort, I fear I wouldn’t survive the night. I still want to enjoy our intimate moments.”
The woman chuckled softly and embraced Ning Zining from behind, saying, “You always know how to talk! But you’re right; those who just arrived can’t handle this place, sigh!”
Ning Zining reached out to caress her face and smiled, “Why the sudden sigh?”
She whispered, “I suddenly feel reluctant to see you go, but I don’t want to force you to stay and endure the torment I went through.”
Ning Zining, now fully dressed, sat down beside her, a faint smile on his lips, and said, “There’s no rush. If you wish, tell me about yourself.”
The woman was taken aback, surprised by Ning Zining’s thoughtfulness. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She averted her gaze and sighed, “It’s all the same old story. About a decade ago, I was sent to the Great Vortex. Shortly after arriving, I was selected for an expedition team to explore the central region. Our luck was exceptionally bad; we were ambushed almost immediately upon entering and fell into the hands of… those creatures.”
“Everyone was wiped out?”
“Yes, eight people, none escaped.”
Ning Zining said, “None of them could escape, that’s quite odd. Could it be that…”
The woman gritted her teeth, “Of course, there were former Empire captives who led the ambush and provided strategic advice. How else could they have known all our countermeasures and escape routes? We lost half our team in the first encounter.”
Ning Zining, unfazed, inquired further, “What happened to the traitors?”
Her eyes flashed with hatred as she continued, “I endured the torture of bodily transformation for three years, all to survive and strengthen myself. After three years, my strength far surpassed theirs. I asked the higher-ups to put them under my command. The first time I took them hunting, I strung them up in trees, letting them wail for three days before they finally died. Even then, it only repaid a fraction of the torment and humiliation they inflicted on me!”
Ning Zining was silent for a moment before asking, “What did you mean by ‘bodily transformation’?”
Instead of answering, she asked, “Am I scaring you with my cruelty?”
Ning Zining patted her gently, “Seeing you now, I can imagine what you went through. All power comes at a cost, and the price you paid seems especially heavy.”
The woman nodded, “To keep my memories and sanity, I used to secretly stab myself every night, using the pain to stay awake and recall my past, my kin, everything. But even so, I can barely remember my own name, only fragments of the past.”
“Have you not forgotten the hate?”
“No.”
“Then it seems they truly deserved to die.”
The woman said, “I never understood why, being of the same race, they who also endured torture, could be so cruel to us. Even crueler than those four-armed creatures!”
“To prove their loyalty?” Ning Zining probed.
She spat, “Loyalty? Nonsense! Our bodies were gradually changed by this world, making us different. Without the white fruit wine brewed by the four-armed ones, we couldn’t survive long. So, the four-armed creatures had no fear of betrayal. Betrayal meant death!”
Ning Zining pondered for a moment, “I see. But I’ve seen many transformed humans, yet I don’t recall the Empire sending so many people here. What’s going on?”
The woman sighed, “Some of the humans you see aren’t from the Empire; they’re the descendants of us, the transformed. Not just with the natives, but possibly with other human races or dark races, anything is possible here.”
Ning Zining raised an eyebrow, “They can have offspring?”
“Of course, in this cursed place, anything is possible.”
Ning Zining was surprised. It was proven impossible for humans to have offspring with certain dark races, like the spider demons. Offspring with the demon spawn was also extremely rare. But in the Great Vortex, it seemed survival and reproduction drove all races, no matter how different, to leave offspring, though what the offspring would become was uncertain.
Ning Zining frowned, “Even so, the numbers seem too high.”
The woman explained, “Here, children grow up quickly, reaching adulthood in just three to five years. Once grown, they can have offspring, who also mature in three to five years.”
“So fast?” Ning Zining was startled.
The woman nodded.
Ning Zining said, “If that’s the case, wouldn’t they overrun the world?”
She dismissed the concern, “These people are weak, destined to be slaughtered. Even in groups, they can’t defeat a single four-armed warrior. They often lose several lives to gain anything when hunting.”
Ning Zining frowned, feeling uneasy. Perhaps this world held secrets he didn’t understand.
The woman looked at the sky, her face flushed, and her hand moved towards Ning Zining. He stepped back, smiling bitterly, “I can’t handle any more.”
The woman gasped, fetching a wineskin, “There’s some wine left, drink it, it will give you strength.”
Ning Zining declined, “No, if I take it, what will you do for the next few days?”
“I’ll hunt again, hoping for more rewards.”
Ning Zining firmly pushed the wineskin back, “No, I can’t let you risk your life.”
“My life is worth nothing. If not for you, I might have forgotten everything by now.”
Ning Zining thought for a moment, “How about this, I’m interested in your weapons. Can you find some for me?”
The woman stood up, “No problem. I’ll challenge the cowards at the stone fortress; they may not fight well, but they make good weapons. Wait, I’ll bring some back!”
Ning Zining nodded slightly.
The woman leaped up, rising against the heavy gravity, pushing off from the treetops, and swiftly disappearing. This leap showcased her strength.
Not long after, she returned, a new wound on her face. The camp, however, was empty.
She paused, dropping the bow and blades. She noticed a small wineskin in the center, unfamiliar to her. Picking it up and opening it, the aroma of wine filled the air.
This full wineskin was Ning Zining’s gift to her.
The Well of Stars once again buzzed with activity as Qian Ye and Edward, along with other bloodline clans, faced off.
Musu pointed to the well, “We found other wells, but none as good as this. We want to use this one.”
Qian Ye readily agreed, “Sure.” But he paused, “But do you dare?”
Musu and Edward’s faces darkened, sensing Qian Ye’s ill intent.
Among the bloodline clans, aside from Edward and Musu, everyone else was injured. The mysterious black-robed figure, stronger than Musu, had been severely wounded by Ji Tianqing and hadn’t recovered.
With Musu in the well, Qian Ye could easily sweep through the bloodline clans and form a trio to attack Edward. Edward entering the well was even more perilous; Qian Ye alone could wipe out the rest and block the well, leaving Edward to perish in the void.
Regardless, if Qian Ye turned hostile, the bloodline clans would collapse. The losses would be severe, and the one who entered the well was doomed. The only hope was Qian Ye’s word, but trust between factions was a fragile thing.
Edward’s face grew grimmer, realizing their lack of strength. He couldn’t understand why his blood aura, carrying a hint of a grand lord, couldn’t subdue Qian Ye. The thought of being outranked in the Blood River was unthinkable.
Seeing no response from the bloodline clans, Qian Ye relaxed, stepping back with a smile, “Now that we’ve cleared the well, are you not going in?”
Gazing at the Well of Stars, Edward’s expression darkened. Although Qian Ye had opened the path, he couldn’t walk it. A promise was vital, but not as much as a bloodline saint child.
In the stalemate, Anwen’s voice rang out, “Do the bloodline clans need the Well of Stars too?”
Edward turned, grave, “Anwen!”
Anwen, however, was casual, “Indeed. In this Great Vortex, I’m probably one of the last people you’d want to see, right?”
Edward snorted, acknowledging. He motioned Musu to leave. Musu scanned the area, pausing on Qian Ye, and prepared to retreat. They could negotiate with the human clans, but never with the demonic line.
As Musu moved, a chilling murderous intent enveloped her, paralyzing her.
Turning, she saw Bai Kongzhao, her large eyes scanning her vulnerable points. Wherever Bai Kongzhao’s gaze fell, Musu felt like she was being pricked by needles, completely defenseless.
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