At first, he hadn’t understood why Yuchi Mengxing had been willing to throw out talisman after talisman, yet stubbornly refused to use that particular one until the very last moment.
Only after seeing it activate did he finally understand.
It wasn’t simply because she was reluctant to use it.
That thing was far too dangerous to use casually!
The power unleashed by the Explosive Thunder Talisman had completely exceeded his expectations.
The instant the lightning erupted, its destructive force swept across everything around them.
Forget the Demonic Winged Toad.
If Yuchi Mengxing hadn’t activated the teleportation talisman in time, the two of them would have been caught in the explosion as well.
Whether the Demonic Winged Toad would have survived was another matter.
But the two of them?
They probably would have been burned to ashes along with it.
Perhaps that was precisely why the final moment had been carved so deeply into Youqin Jingheng’s memory.
He doubted he would ever forget it.
There had been almost no distance between life and death.
The Demonic Winged Toad was right in front of them.
The Explosive Thunder Talisman was about to erupt.
If Yuchi Mengxing had hesitated for even half a breath, or if she had been just slightly slower in activating the teleportation talisman, neither of them would be standing here now.
Yet even under those circumstances, her movements had been unbelievably fast.
Drawing the talisman.
Activating it.
Reciting the incantation.
Teleporting them away.
Every movement had followed the next without the slightest unnecessary pause.
Quick.
Decisive.
Without hesitation.
At that moment, Youqin Jingheng hadn’t even had time to wonder whether he should trust her.
There had been no choice.
For that brief instant, he had placed his life entirely in the hands of this seemingly carefree girl—the same girl who had irritated him more than once and had nearly gotten him killed in the first place.
And she had gotten him out alive.
Youqin Jingheng’s expression gradually became more serious.
He had met plenty of so-called geniuses before.
Some possessed extraordinary talent.
Some had impressive cultivation.
Others had been praised by their clans since childhood and had already made names for themselves at a young age.
But talent and cultivation were one thing.
How a person reacted when death was right in front of them was something else entirely.
Could they remain calm?
Could they make the right decision in an instant?
Could they act without hesitation when even half a breath might determine whether they lived or died?
Those things could not be measured by cultivation talent alone.
And in that regard— the seemingly unreliable girl standing before him had already surpassed many of the so-called geniuses he had met.
Whatever she was like normally didn’t matter.
When her life was truly on the line, her reactions, speed, and decisiveness were enough to earn his respect.
Youqin Jingheng looked at Yuchi Mengxing again, and for the first time, a genuine sense of admiration rose in his heart.
This girl… was far more capable than she appeared.
“No need to thank me.” Yuchi Mengxing waved a hand dismissively, though a trace of lingering fear still remained on her face.
“Back then, we were all in the same boat.
If I hadn’t saved you, we probably would’ve died together anyway.” She made it sound as though what she had done was nothing worth mentioning.
Youqin Jingheng, however, felt warmth spread through his chest.
He looked at the girl in front of him for a moment before cupping his hands solemnly.
“I am Youqin Jingheng.
May I ask your name, Miss?” A faint smile appeared in his eyes.
“After everything we’ve been through together, I suppose you could say we’ve entrusted our lives to each other.” “Yuchi Mengxing.” She gave her name without hesitation.
Afterward, her gaze casually drifted toward the two brothers standing nearby.
Now that the immediate danger had passed and she finally had the chance to look at them properly, she realized that the brothers really did resemble each other.
The elder brother had a cold, serious expression.
There was a natural sharpness between his brows, and even when he stood there silently, he gave off an air that made people instinctively think twice before approaching him.
The younger brother was completely different.
He looked far more carefree, his eyes constantly darting around as though there were always a dozen thoughts running through his head.
Compared with his elder brother’s restrained demeanor, he carried the liveliness unique to a young boy who had yet to learn how to hide everything he was thinking.
Still, there was no denying that both brothers were handsome.
Sharp brows, bright eyes, straight noses, thin lips, and well-defined features that looked as though they had been carefully carved.
Unfortunately… They still looked young.
No matter how refined their features were, the traces of youth on their faces couldn’t be hidden.
One glance was enough to tell that neither of them had fully grown into their looks yet.
As for Youqin Jingheng… Yuchi Mengxing’s eyes quietly shifted toward him.
She took one look.
Then another.
And couldn’t help muttering inwardly.
This guy really is ridiculously pretty.
His skin was fair and smooth, almost like a freshly peeled egg.
His features were delicate enough to make many girls jealous, and even his lips naturally carried a soft, healthy sheen.
Yuchi Mengxing clicked her tongue inwardly.
Seriously… Why does a boy need to look this pretty?
Then another thought immediately followed.
Just wait until I grow up.
I’ll definitely be prettier than him.
No—prettier and even more enchanting!
Completely satisfied with that conclusion, Yuchi Mengxing withdrew her gaze.
Xuanyuan Jingchuan had naturally noticed her looking at them.
Before his younger brother could say something unnecessary, he stepped forward and cupped his hands politely.
“I am Xuanyuan Jingchuan.” He gestured toward the person beside him.
“This is my younger brother, Xuanyuan Weichuan.” Xuanyuan Weichuan opened his mouth.
Xuanyuan Jingchuan glanced at him.
Xuanyuan Weichuan silently closed it again.
Yuchi Mengxing nodded.
“Got it.” That was enough introductions for her.
After everything she had been through, she had absolutely no interest in standing around exchanging pleasantries.
Her feet were practically begging to turn around and carry her home.
Since they had all escaped the inner region alive, there was no reason to linger here any longer.
“Well, since everyone made it out safely, I guess this is where we part ways.” Yuchi Mengxing waved at them cheerfully.
“Until we meet again!” Her words were crisp and decisive, and anyone could hear the eagerness in her voice.
At this point, her mind had already flown far away.
I want to go home!
I want to cultivate in seclusion!
I want to become stronger!
She had had more than enough excitement for one trip.
Right now, all she wanted was to get home, shut the door, and stay far, far away from anything remotely capable of chasing, biting, burning, crushing, or eating her.
“Miss Yuchi.” Just as she was preparing to leave, Youqin Jingheng suddenly called out to her.
Yuchi Mengxing stopped and turned around.
“What?” Youqin Jingheng looked at her with a solemn expression.
For a moment, he seemed to hesitate over something.
Then he reached toward his neck.
“I don’t have anything particularly valuable with me right now that I can give you in return for saving my life.” His fingers closed around something beneath his collar.
A moment later, he carefully removed a small safety pendant from around his neck.
“This pendant was personally tied around my neck by my mother.” Yuchi Mengxing’s expression shifted slightly.
Youqin Jingheng lowered his gaze to the pendant in his palm.
It was something he had kept close to him for a long time.
Yet when he looked up again, there was no hesitation in his eyes.
He held it out to her with both hands.
“I would like you to have it.” His voice was quiet but sincere.
“May it keep you safe and bring you peace wherever you go.” Yuchi Mengxing stared at the pendant.
Then she looked at him.
She clearly hadn’t expected him to give her something so personal.
For a brief moment, she was stunned.
But she had never been the type to fuss over formalities.
Since he genuinely wanted her to have it, she wasn’t going to stand there refusing it back and forth for half a day.
“Alright.” She reached out and accepted the pendant.
“I’ll take it.” After putting it away carefully, Yuchi Mengxing suddenly seemed to remember something.
Her hand slipped into her robes.
When it emerged again, several talismans were pinched between her fingers.
She looked at them.
Her expression froze for the briefest moment.
These were… pretty much the last talismans she had left.
After all the running, fighting, exploding, hiding, and teleporting she had done, her once-respectable supply of life-saving talismans had been reduced to this miserable little handful.
Yuchi Mengxing’s heart immediately began to ache.
But after only a moment of hesitation, she gritted her teeth, stepped forward, and shoved the remaining talismans straight into Youqin Jingheng’s hands.
“Here.
Take these.” Youqin Jingheng looked down in surprise.
“These…” “Just take them.” Yuchi Mengxing waved a hand with an expression that suggested she didn’t care in the slightest.
“I barely have any left anyway.
You should keep them and be careful on your way back.” Her voice sounded wonderfully casual.
Her face looked wonderfully calm.
But inside— My talismans!!
My life-saving talismans!!
Those are the last ones I have left!
It hurts!
It hurts so much!
Yuchi Mengxing felt as though someone had reached into her chest and ripped out a handful of spirit stones.
Still, she had already given them away.
Taking them back now would be far too embarrassing.
So she simply clasped her hands behind her back and pretended that she hadn’t just given away some of her most precious remaining possessions.
“My home isn’t far from here,” she said.
“But you still have a journey ahead of you, and you might run into danger along the way.” Her tone remained casual, but this time there was a hint of seriousness beneath it.
“These talismans might save your lives if something happens.” She glanced at the ones in Youqin Jingheng’s hands before adding, “You don’t know the proper incantations, so you won’t be able to bring out their full power.
But if you channel some spiritual energy into them, they should still work to some extent.” Youqin Jingheng tightened his hands carefully around the talismans.
He knew exactly how useful these things could be.
More importantly, after everything they had been through, he also knew how few Yuchi Mengxing had left.
The gratitude in his eyes deepened.
“Alright.” He nodded solemnly.
“Thank you.” “What are you thanking me for again?” Yuchi Mengxing clicked her tongue and gave him a bright smile.
A second later, she waved impatiently, as though she was already tired of all this sentimental nonsense.
“I’m leaving!” She took a step backward and raised her hand.
“Bye-bye!” With that, Yuchi Mengxing swept her sleeve aside and turned around without hesitation.
Her steps were quick and light, carrying her away with remarkable decisiveness.
From behind, her figure looked carefree and impossibly cool— as though she hadn’t just spent the last few moments internally mourning every single talisman she had given away.