As Yan Qing anxiously searched for the figure of the master brother, he said to Wen Ran, "Sister apprentice, I know that the thoughts of women like you are hard to guess, but you also need to be sensible. The master brother has been feeling down lately. Even if you really have a misunderstanding with him, don't choose this time to confront him."
Luo Huai added, "Yes, sister apprentice, it's tough for the master brother right now, you should be more considerate towards him."
Although the two senior brothers spoke tactfully, the implication is clearly that they blamed Wen Ran for being inconsiderate, thus causing the master brother to take such risks for her.
Wen Ran listened, feeling speechless. She was sure that if she suggested that this situation might largely be Shen Wu's own orchestration, she would definitely receive looks from her senior brothers of, "How can you think that?"
Amid the nagging voices of her senior brothers urging reconciliation, they finally entered a dense black forest. Here, the presence of the forbidden land sealed with numerous demons ensured demon energy and demonic qi was always gathered, so even under the blazing sun, the sky here remained gloomy and gray.
The moment they stepped in, a wave of oppression swept over them.
The plot didn't mention Shen Wu would come to the forbidden land, so Wen Ran didn't know if she would encounter danger here. She decided not to separate from her senior brothers; she knew her own abilities clearly. At this moment, she regretted not diligently training.
Suddenly, Luo Huai pointed ahead and said, "Is that silhouette the master brother!"
A white figure flashed by in front. Luo Huai wanted to chase after it, but Wen Ran pulled his hand, "Third senior brother, there are many demons here that confuse people's minds."
"What sister apprentice said is correct." Yan Qing, the oldest and relatively the most stable among them, said, "Luo Huai, don't be impulsive."
Luo Huai nodded, calming down.
The two senior brothers walked in front of Wen Ran, their care for their sister apprentice was genuine despite their fanaticism for Shen Wu. Wen Ran felt moved.
The further they advanced, occasionally, one or two demons and monsters revealing their true forms appeared. They only coldly watched the passersby without attacking. They, too, resented those from Ascension Immortal Mansion for imprisoning them here. But they knew that falling into the hands of other sects would result in worse than just losing freedom.
The demons imprisoned here were all evildoers from the human world, but that didn't mean they were foolish. If they harmed people from Ascension Immortal Mansion, and the elders came for retaliation, their lives could end.
However, enduring the perilous gaze of these demons and monsters as they passed was quite a test of courage.
Just then, another quick-flashing white figure appeared before Luo Huai's eyes. He wanted to pursue it but remembered Wen Ran and Yan Qing's previous words, restraining his impulse. He asked, "Could that person really be the master brother?"
Yan Qing replied, "Let's go over there and take a look carefully."
Luo Huai agreed without hesitation, and Wen Ran could only follow their lead.
Heading in the direction where the white figure disappeared, they ventured into the depths of the black forest, where the gloom intensified. Before them lay a massive beast resting on the ground.
Its size was colossal, entirely black, resembling a wolf but not quite a wolf, with two horns on its head, eyes as scarlet as blood. It lay under the tree, seemingly in repose.
This was the most imposing and dangerous beast they had encountered on their path, but fortunately, it merely glanced at the approaching trio, seemingly disinterested, and closed its eyes in feigned slumber.
Generally speaking, they could maintain such superficial peace with these demons and monsters, but Yan Qing and his group couldn't help but be apprehensive. Just as they were about to circumvent the beast, a sudden short and coarse leaf flute sound resonated through the woods.
The beast opened its blood-red eyes, revealed its fangs, and roared ferociously, then lost control, charging towards the three white figures.
"Watch out!" Yan Qing reacted first, a long sword manifesting in his hand to block the beast's ferocious claws. He was compelled back several steps by the force.
Luo Huai also drew his long sword, rushing forth to join Yan Qing in confronting the enemy.
Standing still, Wen Ran frowned. In combat, injuries were inevitable. If blood was spilled, higher-level demons might maintain control, but lower-level ones could be provoked to attack. Therefore, fighting here for an extended time would be detrimental.
Wen Ran called, "Second brother, third brother, hold on for a while!"
After barely engaging the beast, Yan Qing and Luo Huai could feel its formidable power. Blocking its weighty, thousand-pound claws was becoming arduous. Yan Qing said, "Sister apprentice, you go first, we will hold it off!"
Wen Ran didn't respond directly. She picked up a stick from the ground, drawing something continuously. Gradually, a formation started taking shape. She hadn't been idling while "fasting" in her room these days, but rather, studying multiple life-saving magic practices. Since learning her fate was to be killed by Shen Wu, she had become particularly concerned about self-preservation.
The further she drew, cold sweat began to form on her forehead, her movements grew increasingly sluggish. Her cultivation level wasn't high; drawing such advanced arrays truly daunted her. But seeing her two senior brothers already wounded, she gritted her teeth, forcing her hand to continue moving.
Finally, she completed the formation with the last stroke.
Wen Ran's face turned pale. She tossed away the branch, took out a pearl from her storage bracelet and threw it, the pearl landed on the beast's head, emitting a white mist, temporarily blurring the beast's vision.
She shouted loudly, "Come here quickly!"
Yan Qing and Luo Huai didn't hesitate, swiftly flying to Wen Ran's side. With his extensive experience, Yan Qing instantly recognized the ground as a teleportation array, surprisedly looking at Wen Ran.
Wen Ran stood outside the array, sealing with her hands while saying, somewhat begrudgingly to herself, "Brother, make sure to call old man Wen to rescue me promptly!"
Yan Qing: "Wait, sister apprentice..."
In the blink of an eye, Yan Qing and Luo Huai within the array had vanished.
A taste of blood rose in Wen Ran's throat, but she forcefully suppressed the urge to vomit. If blood spread, attracting other beasts, she would truly be doomed!