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“Elder… Elder Cousin?”

Yang Zhen’s face held a melodramatic expression, the grief of being ‘forgotten’ by his cousin was all too real, even the woman in white seemed a bit hesitant and murmured to herself in confusion.

“Do you remember?” A hint of surprise flashed across Yang Zhen’s face, and he quickly stepped forward, gripping the woman in white’s hand with agitation and gentleness.

“You’ve finally remembered. You once said that when your cultivation is successful, you’ll return to Tie Ling to marry me. I’ve been waiting for you for ten years, my mind filled with memories of our happy times together-cousins in the day, and at night… I mean, I will never let you leave me again. Starting today, I’ll always be by your side.”

As Yang Zhen held the woman in white’s hand, comparable to fine jade, he continued as if pouring out his heart: “Aren’t you seeking cultivation? I’ll accompany you through it, helping you vanquish all evil in this world, and eradicate all the gods and demons. If anyone tries to hurt you, even if it means my ultimate downfall, I won’t allow them to harm a single hair on your head.” The others watched in stunned silence, especially the women in the group, who were touched and looked at Yang Zhen with admiration, while casting envious glances at the woman in white.

Who wouldn’t want such devoted protection in this brutal world of cultivation, paved with blood, and bones?

Even the woman in white’s Senior Brother, though puzzled, sincerely acknowledged Yang Zhen, nodded, and reassured Yang Zhen saying, “Brother, calm down. Cultivation requires a clear mind. It’s not impossible to forget worldly affairs. Give Junior Sister time to recall. She will remember.” “Thank you, Elder Brother.” Yang Zhen looked gratefully at Senior Brother.

Elder Brother?

Hearing this strange address, everyone looked at Yang Zhen weirdly. The woman in white quickly withdrew her hands, and coldly said, “I am Lu Xueqing, a disciple of Tian Wu Sect, not your cousin.”

“Junior Sister…” Senior Brother looked at Lu Xueqing with baffled eyes. Seemingly he assumed Lu Xueqing wasn’t ready to acknowledge Yang Zhen as her cousin.

Yang Zhen sighed, looking dispirited, he forced a smile and said, “Right, you’re not my cousin; I mistook you for someone else. Sorry for holding everyone up. Where are you all headed? Can I join? Don’t worry, I’ll leave once we’re out of the volcano forest, I just want to… linger a while longer.”

The crowd looked sympathetically at Yang Zhen, the pitiful figure who didn’t even receive recognition from his cousin.

Senior Brother chuckled, patted Yang Zhen’s shoulder, and said, “Brother, as a disciple of the Tian Wu Sect, I’ve been tasked with investigating the mysterious changes in the volcano forest. You’re welcome to join us, just be extra careful to follow us and not act rashly.”

Senior Brother…” Lu Xueqing looked anxiously and perplexedly at Senior Brother.

Senior Brother told Lu Xueqing, “Junior Sister, something unusual is happening in the volcano forest. Many have died there recently. We are here to investigate. The more of us there are, the better.”

Lu Xueqing wanted to say something, but instead, she glared at Yang Zhen. It was clear she’d already realized Yang Zhen wasn’t over it and simply wanted to flirt with her, only… he was so shameless that even Senior Brother and the others were unsuspecting.

“Unusual?” Yang Zhen was taken aback, he held his chest and said, “What’s unusual? I can protect you all during any crisis. You can stay behind me. I’d like to see what’s so unusual that it’s even more ferocious than the blind bear in our Tie Ling.”

Pfft!

Lu Xueqing couldn’t help but laugh. The entire forest seemed to cool.

Seeing everyone’s stunned gaze, Lu Xueqing’s face turned a bit red, she glared at Yang Zhen, “Country bumpkin!”

Yang Zhen chuckled like an idiot, scratching his head. Even he thought he was becoming too dramatic.

Watching this scene, everyone’s gaze softened, looking enviously at Lu Xueqing and Yang Zhen, two siblings from the countryside.

“No… It’s not what you think!”

Lu Xueqing stomped her foot in frustration as the crowd’s misunderstanding deepened. She kicked Yang Zhen, “Quick, explain yourself!”

Yang Zhen quickly said, “Um, Senior Brother Wu, my cousin is shy… No, I mean, she’s not my cousin.”

With his explanation, the crowd couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Lu Xueqing, infuriated, kicked Yang Zhen again and stormed off.

“Cou… Be careful!”

“Stay away from me!”

Behind her, laughter resounded once again.

There was indeed something strange here!

Yang Zhen, who’d successfully blended into the crowd, felt a warning in his heart. The terrifying fire element fluctuations covered a wide area, it must be some distance away.

From Senior Brother Wu and the others, he confirmed something unusual had indeed happened here, causing many deaths.

“Elder Brother, what exactly happened here?” Yang Zhen asked Senior Brother Wu curiously.

Senior Brother Wu glanced at frustrated Lu Xueqing ahead before answering in a stern voice, “Three days ago, beast-like roars began emanating from within the volcano forest, growing more terrifying at night. Some just couldn’t resist going in to check. But within these three days, everyone who’s entered the forest hasn’t returned. Some say a giant demon has appeared here; others believe some evil thing has been born due to the rolling dark energies.” After listening, Yang Zhen timed his shocked expression well before sidling up to Lu Xueqing.

“What are you doing?” Lu Xueqing glanced at Yang Zhen.

Yang Zhen declared firmly, “I’m here to protect you.”

“Who … who needs your protection!” Lu Xueqing turned her head away.

As they went deeper, the fire element fluctuations became more intense. Yang Zhen frowned because he could sense a chilly aura within the fire element fluctuations. It made him feel uncomfortable.

Senior Brother Wu and Lu Xueqing, as well as the others, seemed unaware of it. Particularly Lu Xueqing, her face flushed, sweating slightly.

“Cousin, are you feeling hot? Do you want me to fan you?”

“Shut up!” Lu Xueqing, her face beet red, edged away from Yang Zhen.

The rest of the group chuckled to themselves. What a rustic brute!

However, Lu Xueqing only moved slightly away from Yang Zhen. Before long, she gradually moved closer again, seemingly more comfortable around him. Yang Zhen noticed this and consciously moved away from Lu Xueqing, only to find that shortly after, she moved closer again.

Once she moved closer, Lu Xueqing’s expression instantaneously relaxed. However, it seemed as if she herself hadn’t realized this, her action of getting close to Yang Zhen was instinctual.

Only after the other women started behaving similarly and began moving closer to Yang Zhen, did people start to sense that something was wrong. Their expressions turned serious.

“There is something strange about these fire element fluctuations!” Senior Brother Wu declared in a grave voice.

A shiver ran through the group, and they all held their breath and concentrated.

“Hey look, what is that?” one of the female disciples of Tian Wu Sect exclaimed, pointing towards the depths of the forest.

Yang Zhen followed everyone’s gaze and was startled.

Deep in the forest, there was a peculiar-looking altar bathed in dark red mist..