C22 Life and Death!

When Ye Han reached the clearing where Peng Wei had been clashing with the Barbarian Ox, he found that both men had already departed, leaving behind only the carcass of the Barbarian Ox, a sword thrust into its brow—a clear sign of Wu Lingling's handiwork.

"Oh no! Knowing Wu Lingling's temperament, she definitely wouldn't descend the mountain. She must have ventured further into the hinterlands. But in this vast wilderness, where can I possibly find them?" Ye Han was immediately consumed by frustration. He regretted allowing Peng Wei to enter the mountain in the first place. He should have simply knocked him out with a palm strike, regardless of any potential resentment. It would have been preferable to the risk of losing a life.

"Roar!"

As Ye Han was at a loss, uncertain of where to search for Peng Wei, a ferocious roar echoed through the forest, shaking the leaves into a noisy cascade.

"This is bad, the Flower Shadow Leopard has shown up. If Peng Wei is fated to face a calamity today, it's surely because of the Flower Shadow Leopard's unexplained frenzy," Ye Han thought, not daring to delay, he sprinted towards the deeper parts of the woods.

Suddenly, a disheveled girl burst from the thicket ahead, her eyes wide with terror, glancing back in panic, her appearance one of utter disarray.

Ye Han cautiously took cover behind a tree, scanning behind her for any sign of the Flower Shadow Leopard. Seeing none, he allowed himself a moment of relief and turned his attention to the girl's face.

His heart clenched as he recognized her—it was Wu Lingling. Yet, Peng Wei was nowhere to be seen.

Tear-streaked and with scratches marring her pale cheeks, Wu Lingling looked unharmed but clearly shaken, her expression betraying a loss of composure that left her looking desolate, a stark contrast to her usual poise.

Ye Han reached out and grabbed her, his voice laced with urgency, "Where's Peng Wei? How is he? Why are you alone?"

Startled by the sudden grasp, Wu Lingling let out a series of panicked cries and struggled like a startled fawn.

"Wu Lingling, calm down, it's me, Ye Han. Tell me, what happened?" he urged.

Recognizing Ye Han, Wu Lingling's panic subsided, and she took on the demeanor of a child who had erred, stuttering, "The... the Flower Shadow Leopard has gone mad, it's attacking people everywhere. When I fled, Peng Wei had already been wounded by the leopard. Blood... he was covered in blood. I'm afraid... he might not have survived!"

"Ye Han, we need to run fast, watch out for the Flower Shadow Leopard catching up, or we'll both end up dead here."

Upon hearing this, Ye Han's head spun with dizziness. He glared at Wu Lingling, barely containing his fury, and thought, "Are you out of your mind? What possessed you to drag Peng Wei to the depths of the back mountain?"

Seeing her frantic state, his rage subsided somewhat. He asked, "Where's Peng Wei now?"

Wu Lingling lifted her mud-caked hand and pointed behind her, her voice shaky, "He's over there."

Ye Han shoved her aside and dashed in the direction she indicated, his mind a tangled mess.

"Ye Han, have you lost your mind? If you charge in now, you won't save Peng Wei, and you'll likely end up dead yourself," Wu Lingling called out from behind him.

Without breaking stride, Ye Han waved dismissively and called back confidently, "What does it matter if I lose my life? Today, as long as Peng Wei is still breathing, I'm determined to get him out."

Wu Lingling's heart raced as she watched Ye Han's retreating figure, her panic subsiding. She couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.

They had traveled together, and throughout the journey, she had mocked and scorned him.

Yet, the very person she had looked down upon was now facing danger with such composure. For the sake of a friend, he was willing to risk his own life.

In contrast, she, who prided herself as a noblewoman, had abandoned her companions and fled at the sight of the Flower Shadow Leopard.

Feeling humbled, Wu Lingling's view of Ye Han's slender silhouette grew in stature. She whispered to herself, "Aren't you afraid to die? Even with a Flower Shadow Leopard ahead that could snatch your life in an instant, if only there were a boy who would be so devoted to me, that would be wonderful."

Navigating through the woods, the scent of blood grew increasingly pungent, and the roars thundered, ringing in their ears.

Guided by the sound of the beast's roars, Ye Han adjusted his course. Along the way, he encountered several wounded individuals fleeing the scene.

After hurrying along for a short time, Ye Han suddenly heard sounds of combat up ahead, right at the epicenter of the beastly roars. The Flower Shadow Leopard seemed to be caught up in a struggle with someone and hadn't changed its position at all.

Approaching the area, Ye Han deftly leaped up and concealed himself in a tree, peering toward the commotion.

In front of him, a multitude of massive trees lay broken and scattered across the ground, creating a small clearing.

At the center of this clearing, a man clad in black, his body marred with wounds, was locked in battle with the Flower Shadow Leopard.

The Flower Shadow Leopard was as robust as an ox, with fiery red fur, except for its four white paws. Its two razor-sharp fangs, resembling steel knives, were set into its forehead and looked capable of easily piercing through a human skull.

The beast's strength was on par with a martial artist at Pulse Opening Stage Level Seven, yet its speed could rival that of a Level Nine practitioner.

Truly a top-tier Rank One Fierce Beast, the Flower Shadow Leopard was one of the dominant predators in these mountains.

At that moment, several crystal arrow shafts protruded from the leopard's back, from which vivid blood gushed out. The severe pain only fueled its ferocity.

Ye Han's attention shifted to the man battling the Flower Shadow Leopard, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "That's Wu Ming, the fourth-ranked individual from the outer court. Rumor has it he's reached the early stages of Pulse Opening Stage Level Eight, with unmatched fist strength."

Wu Ming was a large, burly man with a classic square face, bushy eyebrows, and large eyes. His muscles were well-defined, seemingly brimming with boundless power.

"Why would Wu Ming choose to confront the Flower Shadow Leopard rather than flee?" Ye Han wondered, puzzled.

He soon discovered the reason; Wu Ming's right leg was badly wounded, impairing his mobility.

Ye Han realized that Wu Ming wouldn't last much longer, and anxiety washed over him. His eyes darted across the chaos of fallen timber.

At last, amidst the disarray, he spotted Peng Wei.

Peng Wei lay there, his complexion ghostly pale, eyes shut tight. Were it not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, Ye Han might have thought him dead.

Peng Wei was a mere ten meters from the battlefield where humans and beasts clashed, at risk of being caught in the fray at any moment.

As Ye Han caught sight of the ferocious Flower Shadow Leopard, he sprang into action without a second thought, rushing forward to help Peng Wei to his feet. The gruesome gash on Peng Wei's back was laid bare, blood flowing freely, nearly revealing bone beneath. "Peng Wei, are you okay?" he called out.

Coughing weakly, Peng Wei replied, "Ye, I really thought I was a goner this time."

"It's a relief you're still alive," Ye Han responded with urgency.

Sensing the blood on his palm where he supported Peng Wei's back, a shiver of dread ran through Ye Han. He quickly channeled Spiritual Energy to seal Peng Wei's meridians and stem the bleeding.

Wu Ming, catching a glimpse of Ye Han's sudden arrival, lit up with hope, his despairing eyes sparking with life. While fending off the Flower Shadow Leopard, he cried out, "Junior Brother, come assist me! I can't last much longer!"

Ye Han looked at Wu Ming with a twinge of guilt. "Senior Brother, I've only reached Level Four of the Pulse Opening Stage. I want to help, but my abilities are limited. Forgive me!"

Wu Ming, seeing Ye Han about to carry the injured away, became frantic. "Junior Brother, if you help me escape today, I, Wu Ming, will be forever in your debt. I'll give you anything—cultivation techniques, martial skills, spirit medicines—just save my life."

Ye Han, skeptical, asked, "Senior Brother, do you have a strategy?"

With a renewed glimmer of hope, Wu Ming spoke with vigor, "Junior Brother, my right foot is injured. Use the half-dead lad in your arms as a distraction for the Flower Shadow Leopard, and then we can make our escape."

A wave of revulsion swept over Ye Han, and without another word to Wu Ming, he turned and dashed away.

"Junior Brother, that boy has nothing to offer you. If you save him, what will you gain? Think it over!" Wu Ming's voice was thick with desperation, knowing his life hung by a thread. In this dire moment, he clung to Ye Han as his last lifeline.

If anyone else had been faced with such a choice, Wu Ming's offer would have been irresistibly tempting.

Yet, Ye Han had no interest whatsoever in the cultivation techniques and martial skills Wu Ming was offering.

Ye Han stated icily, "Brother Wu, you'd better look out for yourself!"

He hadn't made it a hundred meters before Wu Ming's agonized screams echoed from behind. Ye Han glanced back to see the Flower Shadow Leopard sever Wu Ming's neck with one bite. Wu Ming's lifeless body slumped to the ground like a heap of mud.

With Wu Ming dead, the Flower Shadow Leopard turned its orange eyes toward Ye Han. Annoyed at having its prey stolen, it charged at him on all fours.

The Flower Shadow Leopard closed the distance in mere moments.

Ye Han, swallowing hard, zigzagged to evade the beast.

He was facing a Rank Two Inferior Fierce Beast, and he couldn't afford to hold anything back. Sometimes, a mere fraction of a second could mean the difference between life and death—as Wu Ming's leg wound had demonstrated.

The Flower Shadow Leopard's paw gently scraped the ground, its razor-sharp claws, akin to five steel knives, ripping fine cracks into the hard earth. It lunged, aiming its paw at Ye Han's thigh.

A successful strike would mean the end for both Ye Han and Peng Wei.

Ye Han felt the gust from behind and his thigh muscles spasmed instinctively in warning.

"Barbarian Dragon Wind Control!"

With a slight bend in his legs, Ye Han activated his martial skill, channeling his peak strength, and surged forward.

"Roar!"

The leopard's attack missed its mark.

Enraged by the miss, the Flower Shadow Leopard watched Ye Han flee at high speed and let out a fierce roar.

"Damn!"

The roar was so loud that Ye Han's hearing vanished instantly; he couldn't hear a thing. His legs buckled, and he nearly toppled over.

Regaining his composure, Ye Han pushed off the ground with the tips of his toes, his body shooting forward like an arrow released from its bow.

The Flower Shadow Leopard, furious at the theft of its prey, roared again and pounced, its body soaring half a foot off the ground as it pursued the rapidly fleeing figure of Ye Han.

In the depths of the forest, a man and a beast were engaged in a fierce chase, a life-or-death pursuit unfolding at breakneck speed.