C18 He Came Back Alive with the Little Girl!

Upon seeing Muh Yi free from her binds, the three Thunder Snakes were ecstatic. They slithered around the cave, their hefty bodies moving with excitement, occasionally letting out roars that resembled a pet joyously greeting its returning owner.

Sunn Cheng couldn't fathom why such a formidable Demonic Beast became utterly submissive in Muh Yi's presence. He had initially planned to leverage Muh Yi's commanding presence to reprimand the creature that had dared to consume him. However, he reconsidered, pondering the potential danger should Muh Yi not be there to protect him in the future. What if the creature sought revenge?

He sighed, deciding it was pointless to hold a grudge against a snake. Sunn Cheng considered himself to be quite generous.

Leaving the small cabin, Muh Yi's first act was to visit the ominous Blood Pool. Sunn Cheng held her gently as they approached. Muh Yi's tears streamed down her face as she sorrowfully called out for "Stinky."

Sunn Cheng watched intently as Muh Yi stretched out her hands, weeping and calling to the Blood Pool. There, the Demonic Beast impaled by eighteen chains upon the central stone pillar writhed in agony, issuing a heart-wrenching wail. It resembled a candle burning brightly, its wax slowly melting away. As blood continued to drip from the pillar, Sunn Cheng imagined that if the beast still had eyes, they would surely be filled with tears.

The Thunder Snakes bowed their heads, their six eyes brimming with profound sadness. They could sense the anguish of the Demonic Beast, far mightier than themselves, which instilled in them a sense of fear.

"Stinky is a high-level Blood Devouring Ant Beast... so powerful... and so pitiful. It was too fierce, and none of the young beasts in the garden dared to be near it... just like me... I'm very lonely too. All the little beasts are scared of me, and the stinky old man won't keep me company... Only Stinky stayed by my side. It enjoyed my company and always listened to me... But now... it's dying..."

Through her tear-filled eyes, Muh Yi recounted the tale of a young girl and her fierce Demonic Beast companion growing up together. They were best friends, and now, the girl had to witness her dear friend's death. Sunn Cheng felt that for Muh Yi, this was an exceptionally cruel reality.

"How about... I try to see if I can break the chain and save it?" Sunn Cheng suggested hesitantly, unable to bear the sight of Muh Yi's distress.

"No! You can't!" Muh Yi protested in a panic, her voice tinged with sorrow. "It's futile. The Blood Pool's power is integrated with the array. We must wait until the stinky fetus breeds the fifth level Bloodline Divine Beast and absorbs its power before the shackles can be lifted! Any disturbance could destabilize the Blood Pool's energy, and it's nearly impossible to contain... Sadly, by the time the Blood Transformation Spirit Pool is fully formed, the stinky fetus will have perished..."

Sunn Cheng sighed, lifting Muh Yi away from the Blood Pool. It was clear that the complexity of the situation was beyond the influence of someone at his level.

Muh Yi wept softly for some time before finally curling up in Sunn Cheng's embrace, her eyes red, as tranquil as a lamb.

Sunn Cheng, scratching his head, inquired, "Muh Yi, have you thought about what you'll do next? Can your family or your elders track you down?"

Muh Yi pursed her lips, thought for a moment, then shook her head in bewilderment. "I don't belong to any sect! As for my family... I don't want to see that stinky old man, nor do I want him to find me. I just want to see Mr. Tao... But Senior Brother Hee took all my belongings, and now I'm powerless... I'm at a loss for what to do..."

Sunn Cheng quietly reflected on Muh Yi's words, considering her relationship with the stinky old man and Mr. Tao. Given her current frail state and weakened spirit, he was careful not to upset her further.

Yet, it all sounded like the tale of a rebellious young heiress, scolded by her family elders and running away from home. Sunn Cheng was confident in his assessment, surmising that her background was likely as prestigious as Su Mo's, belonging to a prominent family.

Regarding Senior Brother Hee, Sunn Cheng felt puzzled. Drawing on his years of mediating disputes in Mouth Connecting Town, it appeared to be a complex case of familial financial contention.

"Let's do this: you come home with me and we'll have a doctor take a look at you. Once you're feeling better, we can figure out the next steps, okay?" Sunn Cheng made an effort to smile warmly, not wanting to come off as a big bad wolf trying to lure a little girl away.

Muh Yi looked up at Sunn Cheng, pondered for a moment, and asked softly, "Will you keep me company like a stinky dog?"

He nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Aside from not being smelly, I can be with you every day! At my place, there's a sweet old grandma and a sister around your age. We'll all keep you company," Sunn Cheng assured her with a smile.

Muh Yi blinked, a mix of nervousness and anticipation in her voice, "Then, will they like me?"

Pointing at the three Thunder Snakes, Sunn Cheng chuckled, "If even this fellow likes you, how could we not?"

Muh Yi's giggles filled the air, her joy evident. She bit her lip and ventured, "Then... may I call you brother?"

Sunn Cheng burst into laughter. "Absolutely! Call me Mr. Sunn Sheng or Brother Sunn Sheng. And if you like, you can add 'handsome' or something similar to the beginning—I won't mind at all!"

"Mr. Sunn Sheng!" Muh Yi beamed, her call infused with a newfound fondness.

It was likely the first time the little girl had encountered someone like Sunn Cheng, a shameless rogue who joked so freely. Maybe in her life, no one had ever teased her with such abandon as he did.

She decided Sunn Cheng was a good person, which mattered greatly to her—it was her essential condition for feeling close to someone. And importantly, Sunn Cheng made her feel incredibly safe.

The little girl was aware that his powers were quite modest, certainly less than the old lady who tended the garden at her home. Yet, he had managed to break through the barrier left by Senior Brother Hee, rescuing her from her solitude and frailty.

His chest felt sturdy and warm. It reminded her of her childhood, of being cradled in her father's arms, traveling to the ends of the earth under the moonlit sky.

The young girl felt a genuine sense of happiness in his company. She could tell that Mr. Sunn Sheng truly cared for her.

Because of her unique status and other particularities, it had always been challenging for her to find someone who could approach her with sincere and unreserved affection. While she was able to command respect and even make Demonic Beasts submit to her will, forming true friendships was a rarity.

Now, he had taken a liking to her, and she was more than happy to reciprocate. That was satisfaction enough for her.

"By the way, how do we get out of here?" Sunn Cheng suddenly remembered a pressing issue and furrowed his brow in thought.

Muh Yi chuckled and gestured to the Thunder Snake, suggesting, "Why not let the little snake guide us out?"

The Thunder Snake nodded in agreement and opened its mouth wide, ready for its passengers to board.

Gazing into the gaping maw that had once devoured him, Sunn Cheng gulped nervously, feeling a momentary wave of fear.

"Come on, Mr. Sunn Sheng. The little snake won't harm us!" Muh Yi reassured him as she gently patted the Thunder Snake's head. With a deep breath, Sunn Cheng gathered his courage, holding Muh Yi as they both settled into the Thunder Snake's mouth. As its jaws closed gently, the creature began to swim into the depths of the pool.

Enveloped in darkness, Sunn Cheng felt a swift movement beneath them. Before he could fully savor the thrill of riding a Demonic Beast through the waters, they emerged into the light, already at the edge of Giant Tree Lake.

Sunn Cheng couldn't help but reflect on the irony as he looked at the remnants of a past battle. Who would have thought that he'd be personally escorted back by the Thunder Snake just days later?

Muh Yi, having missed the open sky, spread her arms wide to embrace the natural world, basking in the joy of her newfound freedom.

With some rest, Muh Yi felt rejuvenated. She glanced at the Thunder Snake and then sat down cross-legged on the ground, her hands joined over her heart, silently reciting an incantation.

Her complexion grew pale as she lifted her hands from her chest, revealing a single drop of blood suspended above her palm.

Muh Yi summoned all her energy and directed the drop of blood onto the Thunder Snake. In an instant, a brilliant red light enveloped the creature, and the force of that single drop induced a profound transformation within it.

"Little snake, you should head home now! There's no need to be afraid anymore. The Beast Control Bell won't affect you from this point forward. Make sure you focus on your cultivation, and remember, don't go bullying anyone, okay?"

The trio of Thunder Snakes bobbed their heads in unison, their six eyes shedding tears that resembled orbs of water, splashing into Giant Tree Lake. With heartfelt gratitude, they let out several skyward roars before diving into the water. Even as they swam away, they occasionally lifted their heads to pay their respects to Muh Yi.

Sunn Cheng smiled tenderly, cradling the nearly fainting Muh Yi in his arms. The young girl managed a weak smile and nestled into his chest, quickly falling into a deep sleep.

With one final glance at Giant Tree Lake, Sunn Cheng, holding the benevolent Elf, set off on the journey home, walking into the glow of the setting sun.