C23 Pick up a Beauty and Bring Her Home!

Despite Ye Han's swift movements, he was no match for the Flower Shadow Leopard, whose speed rivaled that of a Pulse Opening Stage Level Nine expert. Several minutes of pursuit ensued, and Ye Han could sense the increasingly intense foul wind at his back. The creature was evidently closing in on him.

As the gap between man and beast narrowed, the Flower Shadow Leopard let out a ferocious roar, its speed surging dramatically. With a powerful thrust of its hind legs, the massive body leaped into the air. Its front limbs raised high, the sharp claws of the beast aimed a direct blow at Ye Han's back—a hit that could easily tear him apart.

Ye Han, sensing the violent surge of energy from behind, reacted just in time. "Barbarian Dragon Void Breaking!" he exclaimed, tucking Peng Wei under his arm. Relying on instinct, he pinpointed the Flower Shadow Leopard's location and unleashed a mighty punch with all his fist strength.

The resulting boom echoed through the woods, dislodging dry leaves from their branches. A massive force jolted through Ye Han's arm, propelling his body backward as he spat out a mouthful of blood, staining his clothes.

Peng Wei, pale-faced, urged, "Ye, forget about me. Save yourself!"

But Ye Han retorted fiercely, "Enough talk. I'm getting you out of here."

Despite his disheveled appearance, Ye Han's hit with the Barbarian Dragon Fist had sent the formidable Flower Shadow Leopard spinning through the air before crashing heavily against a tree trunk. A series of cracks spread out, and the thick tree snapped in an instant. Had the Flower Shadow Leopard not been gravely injured and weakened, that blow would have been lethal.

Without a moment to wipe the blood from his lips, Ye Han glanced up at the Flower Shadow Leopard, now fiercely pouncing again. He turned and bolted, teeth clenched against the relentless pain, eyes bloodshot with determination. In this dire moment, to pause was to perish.

He took another step, propelling his body forward, and with a final powerful push against a tree trunk, Ye Han burst out of the dense forest.

Emerging into the strong sunlight, which refracted off the snow-covered ground, Ye Han squinted as a slight pain shot through his eyes. Midair, he twisted his body, and beads of sweat from his handsome face traced a circular parabola, scattering in all directions.

No sooner had Ye Han's feet touched the ground than he activated the Barbarian Dragon Wind Control technique and dashed down the mountain. Any hesitation would turn him into prey for the Flower Shadow Leopard.

The Flower Shadow Leopard burst out of the forest, its red fur bristling like steel needles as it let out a long, furious roar that echoed through the valley.

Ignoring the roar behind him, Ye Han ran like a shooting star, not stopping for a moment.

It's true what they say: when it rains, it pours. When luck is against you, even a sip of cold water can choke you.

"Roar!"

Just when Ye Han thought he had shaken off the Flower Shadow Leopard and was about to slow down, another white Flower Shadow Leopard sprang out from the underbrush.

It was followed by the mangled corpse of Zhou Chong, a sight too gruesome to behold.

Suddenly, Ye Han was trapped, sandwiched between two Flower Shadow Leopards. And this white one wasn't wounded—it was in prime condition.

The leopard moved with incredible speed, covering dozens of meters in the blink of an eye, its sharp claws poised to strike him down.

As Ye Han stood, bereft of options, his fortunes shifted!

Swoosh! Swoosh!

Two arrows whistled through the air, aimed straight at the Flower Shadow Leopard behind him.

Roar!

A pained howl from the beast shook the surroundings, sending stones scattering in all directions.

With a thunderous crash, the Flower Shadow Leopard was struck down, its massive body slamming into the ground.

Ye Han cast a grateful glance at the girl.

She stood by a tree in a blue dress, a bright red stain on her chest. In her hands, she held a transparent crystal bow, now aimed at Ye Han.

"Is it her? Did she injure that red Flower Shadow Leopard?"

Swoosh! Swoosh!

Two more arrows, brimming with deadly force, whizzed past, narrowly missing Ye Han's cheeks by less than an inch.

The icy energy emanating from the arrow caused Ye Han to involuntarily shudder.

A mere hair's breadth deviation, and he would have met his demise.

"Boom!"

A thunderous noise erupted from behind, accompanied by the sound of scraping, as the Flower Shadow Leopard was struck once more.

"Save me, my Spiritual Energy is depleted!"

As Ye Han reached the blue-clothed girl, her icy voice rang out. She was ashen, her chest a vivid, blood-soaked red, her clothes drenched.

She looked like she might pass out at any moment, causing Ye Han's resolve to waver.

To save or not to save?

Saving her could mean drastically reducing his own speed.

Speed was essential to escape the clutches of the Flower Shadow Leopard.

Yet, if he didn't save her, she would likely meet a grisly end at the paws of the furious beast.

Amidst Ye Han's indecision, the urgent panting of the Flower Shadow Leopard echoed from the jungle behind.

"Forget it, a head full of lice fears no bite, and since she lent me a hand, I can't just abandon her."

With the girl in his arms, Ye Han dashed toward the Cloud Facing Pavilion with all his might.

The two irate Flower Shadow Leopards relentlessly pursued, unwilling to let off the human who had trespassed on their territory.

Once out of the valley, he continued his frantic sprint.

Along the way, he passed several Cloud Facing Pavilion disciples who found the sight of the desperately running youth, burdened with another, amusing. They chuckled, "This lad must be out of his mind, running for his life like that, and with a girl in tow..."

"Ah! Help! It's a Flower Shadow Leopard..."

Heart-wrenching screams suddenly filled the air behind them.

Though it was harsh, the delay caused by the others allowed Ye Han to breathe easier; he was no longer the sole focus of the Flower Shadow Leopard's wrath.

Desperate cries filled the area as five or six disciples fell victim to the Flower Shadow Leopard's claws.

Finally reaching the clearing where the disciples gathered at dawn, Ye Han exhaled in relief and slowed his pace.

"What should I do with this young woman? I can't just abandon her here, especially since she's heavily injured and unconscious. If someone with evil intentions finds her..."

With that thought, Ye Han decided to bring both individuals back to his own courtyard.

Without a moment to rest, Ye Han rushed to the pharmacy to purchase Healing Medicine and promptly applied it to Peng Wei's wounds.

Holding the Healing Medicine, Ye Han glanced at the girl and felt somewhat awkward.

During his moment of hesitation, Ye Han took the opportunity to closely observe the beautiful girl before him.

As he scrutinized her, a sense of awe slowly welled up inside him.

Describing her as a beauty with picturesque features and a complexion as pure as jade didn't seem like an overstatement.

What struck Ye Han the most was the cold, noble aura she exuded.

His eyes lingered on her exquisite face, then drifted downward, only to furrow his brow at the sight of five vicious claw marks marring her chest, staining her clothes with blood. Even in her unconscious state, her brows were knitted with a faint trace of pain, giving her a vulnerable, yet endearing appearance that contrasted with her usual demeanor.

"Although it's improper for men and women to touch, her injuries are too severe to ignore. I must apply the medicine first."

After a brief hesitation, Ye Han reached out to loosen the girl's clothing, but just as his hand was about to make contact...

The girl, who had been lying with her eyes shut, suddenly opened them, her gaze icy and filled with indignation as she fixed her eyes on Ye Han.

"Uh... you're awake?" The girl's sudden awakening startled Ye Han.

He raised the small jade bottle in his hand, explaining, "This is Bone Replenishing Paste. I only intended to treat your wounds, with no disrespect. You were unconscious and bleeding profusely; I feared for your life, which is why I was about to apply the medicine myself. Now that you're awake, you can handle it," he said.

With that, Ye Han set the jade bottle down beside her, lifted Peng Wei, and exited the room.

Once Ye Han had retreated, the girl let out a sigh of relief. Watching him through the window, the chill in her eyes softened.

As she attempted to tend to herself, she discovered that her entire body was in a state where she couldn't muster any strength.

With a slight struggle, the girl slowly closed her eyes. After a brief pause, she opened them again and, biting down on her teeth, she muttered under her breath, "Damn beasts, I nearly lost my life to them."

After settling Peng Wei in a side room, Ye Han finally had a chance to rest. He was sore all over, feeling as if he had been completely drained.

In the room, the girl tried to struggle once more but eventually gave up, realizing it was futile. She turned her head to see Ye Han in the courtyard, catching his breath. She took a careful look at him from top to bottom and then called out softly through the window, "Would you mind helping me with the medicine?"

Her voice was delightful and crisp to the ear.

Yet, there was an unmistakable touch of nobility in her tone, perhaps due to her status.

"Me?" Ye Han turned to face the girl, blinked, and said, "I'm willing to help, but let's get one thing straight. If you end up not being able to marry because of this, I'm not responsible, okay?"

The girl was torn between laughter and tears at Ye Han's remark, shaking her head.

"Come on, enough with the jokes! Even if you wanted to take responsibility, I wouldn't give you the chance," she said with a softened voice, her tone light.