141 - I’m Really Not an NPC

All the demon clan players were momentarily stunned and then turned their astonished eyes towards Yue Ling. "Weak condition? Is that for real?" Even with the system notification, the demons found it hard to believe. After all, anyone who previously thought she wouldn't make it was already taken down. Exchanging glances, they cautiously asked, "Who will go and test it?" Looking from afar at the human maiden standing proudly like an invincible Valkyrie, the thought of probing her made all the demon clan shiver involuntarily. "Not me! I'm not going—you go!" "Come on, what are you thinking, trying to send me to my death?" "The system says she's in a weakened state, so what are you afraid of?" "Then why, brother, are you heading in the opposite direction? Yue Ling is that way." "Ahem," a demon smiled awkwardly, "Who knows how much strength a 'weakened' Yue Ling has left? A Level 150 boss dropping to Level 120 is still a weakened state." The demons looked at each other, but no one dared to move. Yue Ling had left a significant psychological shadow over them this time. Suddenly, a determined voice came from the bushes. "Let me go!" The demons turned to see a sleek-haired yellow ox emerging from the dense thicket. Until then, none of them realized there was another demon hiding there. "A demon not fully transformed? Not even Level 5? Are you looking to die?" "But it's perfect for a probe. As long as she makes a move, we can tell what's real." Unexpectedly, a young girl also emerged from the bushes, exclaiming, "Xiao Huang, are you crazy?" The yellow ox shook his head resolutely towards her, his gaze firmly fixed on Yue Ling. Under the impressed gazes of the demons, he began to walk steadily forward. "Farewell to the brave!" When the yellow ox got 70 meters from Yue Ling, he suddenly shouted fiercely, "Yue Ling, you little... fool! I'm going to kill you!" Hearing these extremely vicious words, Yue Ling, whose mind was groggy with chaos, barely managed to keep her eyes open. She saw the yellow ox, likely only Level 2 or 3, slowly approaching her. At this point, not only was her spiritual power completely drained, but another type of chaotic power was rampaging inside her body, causing such pain she couldn't move a finger. If not for the Chuxue Sword supporting her, she might have collapsed by now. Would she really meet her end at the hands of an insignificant nobody? Amidst the chaos in her mind, a scene from the movie "Myth" suddenly appeared, where the protagonist Meng Yi props himself up with a sword, only to be decapitated with one stroke. How tragic, how terrifying! Would she die like that too? However, what she didn't expect was just as the yellow ox approached within 50 meters, he suddenly let out a blood-curdling scream, as if struck by some mortal blow. He collapsed forward to his knees with a thud, toppled over, and became motionless instantly. The scene sent the demons into a panicked frenzy, shrieking in terror. "Crap, it was fake, it's all fake!" "So terrifying, too terrifying! Run, run!" "Save yourselves!" Having failed to detect how Yue Ling attacked, the demons who clung to hope fled in a chaotic scramble. In her dazed and bewildered gaze, within mere seconds, no demons were left in sight. Wait, there was one more. The girl, AB, stood beside the yellow ox's corpse with an angry face, glaring at Yue Ling, her voice full of grievance. "Why did you kill him? He was just a child!" Not me, I didn't, stop wrongly accusing me! However, AB's pretty face suddenly froze, as if she had received some message, whispering, "Dear audience, I might meet a terrible end soon, so the beautiful me will sign off now." "Sigh, no saving the streamer now." "Ah, love! Always makes one reckless. Just like in the past..." ... At this moment, “long-dead” Xiao Huang suddenly poked his head up, glancing at AB and then cautiously surveying their surroundings before finally exhaling in relief. Standing up with a serious and expectant demeanor, he declared, "Goddess Yue Ling, please allow me to serve by your side!" ??? Yue Ling was stunned, her tired mind unable to process the turn of events. Seeing her indifferent look, the yellow ox considered for a moment, then said decisively, "I know you're seriously injured now. If you feel I'm taking advantage, I'm willing to guard you until you recover, and then you can decide!" A trace of surprise flickered in Yue Ling's eyes as she asked, "Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?" "Not afraid," the yellow ox mumbled, "I came here prepared to die." His firm stance reminded Yue Ling of a previous life, where a youth stubbornly pursued the aloof woman to learn the Chuxue sword technique. In hindsight, was she truly that shameless? She wondered if the cold proud woman who taught her Chuxue was also in the world of cultivation now. Yue Ling let out a gentle chuckle, but it tugged at her wounds, making her nearly cry out in pain. Endure! Otherwise, her image value, already at zero, might drop into negatives. Who knows what strange consequences negative image could bring? If it turned into some ridiculous trait, wouldn't she be in real trouble? Managing to maintain her composure, she said, "This is not a place to linger. We can discuss this later; follow me." Overcome with excitement, Xiao Huang kneeled down, speaking incoherently, "Thank you, Immortal, thank you, Goddess, for your kindness! I will serve you with utmost devotion!" Seeing her motionless, he eagerly and sincerely said, "Since your health isn't well, I’m willing to be your steed!" "..." Instinctively glancing down at her long skirt, Yue Ling couldn't reconcile the speaking ox with an animal. So, she resolutely declined, "No need." Xiao Huang hastily insisted, "Don't worry, I am the most resilient, I can easily carry you flying!" With a chilly voice, Yue Ling repeated, "No need!" Xiao Huang was about to plead more when AB urgently tugged at him. Since Xiao Huang’s “revival,” AB had been quietly standing beside him, behaving particularly obediently. Earlier, her anger had clouded her judgment; in hindsight, she recoiled in fear. She dared to confront Yue Ling? That was someone on par with the demon lord, Shi Fang. A human powerhouse who could extinguish her with a mere gesture! Now she felt her legs weaken, her hands and feet cold, her teeth chattering. She was eager to serve Yue Ling tea, massage her shoulders, and knead her back to win forgiveness. But confronted with her frosty demeanor, she couldn’t articulate words, instead opting for the most adorably agreeable demeanor to placate her. Whether this would work on the lady was anyone's guess. Now, watching Xiao Huang foolishly tempting fate repeatedly, AB had to be brave enough to stop him, whispering a reminder, "Idiot, stop talking!" "Oh." Although clueless, Xiao Huang was merely inexperienced, not lacking in intelligence, and finally grasped the situation. The Chuxue Sword floated beneath Yue Ling’s feet. Standing on the immortal sword, she stated indifferently, "Let's go!" With that, she transformed into a streak of light, vanishing into the distance. As Xiao Huang stood there anxiously, he suddenly sensed a peculiar spatial force envelop him, and with a blink, both he and AB disappeared from the spot. Not long after, two emerald-hued figures arrived menacingly at Lingquan Valley’s entrance. Shi Fang's expression was extremely grim as he inquired tersely, "Is it truly a weakened state?" "Absolutely certain!" "Yue Ling!" Shi Fang gritted his teeth, glaring into the distance, and ordered coldly, "Send the Shi Fang order; seal all transport gates within Shi Fang’s domain and thoroughly search for Yue Ling’s whereabouts!" "I will see where you can run off to!"