144 - I’m Really Not an NPC

Liu Meng hadn't yet fully grasped how Yue Ling vanished when a blur of white appeared before her eyes, a cold sword aura piercing directly towards her chest. So fast! As she prepared to swing her sword to defend herself, four formidable sword auras simultaneously encircled her, striking from all directions. Alarmed, Liu Meng couldn't afford to hold back her ultimate technique and shouted, "Wind Spirit Escape!" In an instant, she transformed into a wisp of breeze, vanishing into thin air. Feeling the sword auras around her dissipate, Liu Meng let out a sigh of relief. This human girl had some skills; it seemed necessary to reveal more of her true prowess to show her superiority! But just as Liu Meng reappeared a hundred meters away, a figure in white was already close by. Her waist and hands suddenly felt tight, having been bound together by a thick vine. What! How could this be? Unwilling to concede, Liu Meng struggled desperately but to no avail, as a voice tinged with amusement whispered in her ear, "Rest now." A slender, fair hand lightly patted her head, and she knew nothing more. Yue Ling glanced at the fainted Liu Meng, whose light green gauzy attire barely covered her fair skin, with a small tail behind, unconsciously twitching. In the wilderness, alone with a man! Yue Ling's breathing quickened slightly, just as she was contemplating her next move. "Miss Yue Ling!" Although the voice from behind wasn't loud, it startled her. Quickly turning around, she saw Huang Niu panting heavily as he ran over, earnestly saying, "I still want to go with you." Huang Niu had been left at the edge of the Yellow Rock Mountain Range by Yue Ling, but the more he thought about it, the more he regretted missing the opportunity. Thus, he chased after her tirelessly, and even a stamina-champion like Huang Niu was nearly out of breath by now. Fortunately, he had caught up. He was about to explain further when he noticed Yue Ling's chilly, seemingly annoyed demeanor. She coldly stated, "Wait outside!" Huang Niu shook his head firmly, insisting, "I'm not afraid of danger! I'm a player; if I die, I'll respawn!" "Suit yourself." With that indifferent remark, the girl in white vanished once again. Huang Niu prepared to follow her but noticed a beautiful girl lying on the ground. Although worried for her, he was reluctant to miss his chance. He scratched his head, saying, "I should take her along." Without further ado, he tossed the feather-light Liu Meng onto his back and hurriedly followed after Yue Ling. Not long after, another girl in green came running from a distance, covered in sweat and hands on her knees, gasping, "This... should be it... Huff... Little Huang, wait for me." Entering the gorge, all was silent. Steep walls blocked the sunlight, casting an eerie shadow. Huang Niu glanced around nervously, feeling uneasy without Yue Ling nearby. Lowering his voice, he cautiously called out, "Miss Yue Ling?" A sudden gust of cold wind sent a shiver through him, and in fear, a cold long sword was already resting against his neck. "Silence." The frigid voice inexplicably calmed Huang Niu, who silly grinned and, recalling her instruction, quickly shut his mouth. Yue Ling glanced at Liu Meng slung over his back, muttering, "Such a nuisance." Somewhere, the air resonated with a mournful wailing, as if spirits were lamenting, and Yue Ling’s expression turned slightly serious. Huang Niu suddenly felt an overwhelming intent to kill enveloping him, immobilizing him with its intensity. Yet he managed to stammer out to Yue Ling, "There's killing intent!" Yue Ling casually looked over at A Bi behind him, expressionless as she remarked, "You really stir up trouble." "Yes." A Bi hung her head in embarrassment, then angrily glared at Huang Niu, pointedly asking, "Who is this woman?" "Uh?" Huang Niu was taken aback and quickly replied, "I don't know her!" "Then why are you carrying her? Is it because she's pretty, and you want to take her into the mountains to do something wicked?" "I didn't!" Huang Niu exclaimed, horrified, instinctively flinging the girl from his back. With a thud, she hit the ground, making even Yue Ling wince in sympathy. "Ouch..." Liu Meng groaned in pain, reflexively curling into a fetal position. "You!" A Bi initially glared at Huang Niu indignantly but then burst into laughter, saying, "Good job!" The demon clan rarely indulged in deceit. If A Bi felt joy, she showed it openly. As for empathy towards Liu Meng, this unfamiliar demoness, why should she worry? At that moment, the eerie wailing of the wind grew louder and more disruptive. "Hmph, you're all doomed!" A weak female voice came from nearby. Liu Meng sat up weakly, sneering at the three and said, "I don't know where you got the nerve to trespass into the Yellow Stone Gorge." Looking toward the howling winds, she declared with killing intent, "Wen Yu, they're the enemy, kill them all!" "Wen Yu!" A Bi's face turned with shock, exclaiming, "Wen Yu of the Five Demons of Ten Directions? The legendary level 60 powerhouse!" "You know your stuff." Liu Meng praised, a regretful look on her face. "Too bad you picked the wrong side." The wind howl was gaining strength. Yue Ling stood still, expression calm, her head slightly raised, sneering, "Hiding in the shadows!" Suddenly, her sword leaped from its sheath, transforming into a streak of lightning aimed at a specific spot three meters away. A "clang" resonated in the air, sparks flying as a man in yellow stumbled backward from his revealed position, looking at her with a mix of surprise and suspicion, demanding, "Who are you?" "A friend of the Earth Lord, Yue Ling." "Ha, I never heard of our great ancestor befriending a human." Yue Ling, growing impatient, retorted, "Why don't you ask him instead of wasting breath on me?" Wen Yu snorted, "Defeat me first, then we'll talk!" Abruptly, Wen Yu's body exploded into thousands of bats, a dark swarm racing towards Yue Ling. Liu Meng smirked, "Think you can escape? Don't make me laugh!" The swarm pursued her relentlessly, yet Yue Ling's expression remained serene as her sword blossomed like rain before her. The sword flashes were as dense as raindrops, yet the girl in white moved elegantly, her motions fluid and graceful. The bats plummeted to the ground swiftly, and as Liu Meng watched in awe, Wen Yu's acclaimed Bat Swarm technique was effortlessly countered by Yue Ling in a manner she'd never seen before. Though not the most powerful, Yue Ling’s sharp senses and vast knowledge enabled her to recognize the moves used by the girl in white. Basic sword techniques? Impossible!