Chapter 108: First Meeting in the Spiritual World
What lay beyond the great gate was unclear, and Xu Qingsui hadn’t wanted to take the risk.
But now, this gate was the only clue to helping Chen Yunfei.
Without any more hesitation, Xu Qingsui resolutely stepped inside.
The moment she passed through the gate, a chaotic battle erupted into view.
No person or Mutant noticed her. Standing in the very center of the battlefield, she seemed entirely out of place.
Suddenly, a dagger came whistling toward her. It was too late for Xu Qingsui to dodge.
She instinctively raised her arm to block it, hoping only to minimize the damage.
In a heart-pounding moment, the dagger pierced her arm. But there was no pain, no blood; Xu Qingsui could only watch as the blade passed right through her limb.
Xu Qingsui stared at her arm in astonishment. Just as she was pondering what was happening, a cry of alarm shattered her thoughts.
"Captain!"
Following the voice, Xu Qingsui saw a Sentinel-guide pair in the middle of a soothing process get sent flying by a dog-headed, snake-bodied Mutant.
Xu Qingsui’s gaze fell upon the Sentinel who had been sent flying. The Sentinel’s appearance gradually superimposed over the image of Chen Yunfei lying in his bed.
Her vision blurred for a moment. A figure shot forward and saved Chen Yunfei in mid-air.
"Lu Jingyu..." Watching the figure, Xu Qingsui murmured under her breath.
She then understood. She was currently inside the memory of the events leading up to Chen Yunfei’s accident.
Realizing this, Xu Qingsui’s head snapped around, her eyes searching for something.
Chen Yunfei had been in a coma for three years, his Spiritual World sealed for three years. It was no coincidence that this particular memory was replaying on a loop.
The only possibility was that Chen Yunfei had been replaying this event over and over. There had to be something he couldn’t figure out, something that had kept him trapped here for three long years.
’If I can’t help him this time, this could go on for much longer.’
Her gaze swept around quickly, and finally, Xu Qingsui saw a figure who, like herself, was completely out of place.
The figure had a face that bore some resemblance to Chen Chang’an’s and was watching the unfolding events with a grave expression.
He only glanced at his other self being saved by Lu Jingyu before looking away.
Perhaps Xu Qingsui’s gaze was too intense. The searching Chen Yunfei suddenly looked over at her.
Their eyes met. A vicious glint flashed in Chen Yunfei’s eyes as he instantly shot through the chaotic figures and rushed toward Xu Qingsui.
The sense of crisis arrived before he did. Realizing that Chen Yunfei held ill intentions toward her, a sudden intruder, she hastily retreated to create distance and buy herself some time.
"Chen Yunfei, don’t do anything rash! I’m here to help you."
Now that she had found Chen Yunfei, Xu Qingsui had no intention of launching an attack.
With Chen Yunfei coming at her so fiercely, all she could do was state her purpose first.
A chilling light flashed in Chen Yunfei’s eyes. His speed didn’t decrease in the slightest as his right hand, formed into a claw, shot straight for Xu Qingsui’s chest.
Seeing that Chen Yunfei was going for the kill, Xu Qingsui hastily dodged aside.
Chen Yunfei’s fingertips grazed past Xu Qingsui’s cheek.
But in the next second, he twisted his wrist, his clawed hand once again swiping at her face.
The move was identical to the one Chen Chang’an had used on Lu Jingyu just before she entered the room.
Xu Qingsui’s brows tightened. She hastily executed a deep backbend, barely dodging the attack.
’Like father, like son. Even their moves are the same!’
As Xu Qingsui marveled at this, Chen Yunfei, who had just passed her, abruptly stopped and immediately brought his elbow down toward her stomach.
Xu Qingsui was aghast. ’Doesn’t this guy know how to show a little courtesy to a lady? Attacking a woman so ruthlessly!’
Not wanting to take the hit, Xu Qingsui pushed off the ground and aimed a kick at Chen Yunfei’s head.
Chen Yunfei gave a contemptuous smirk and tilted his head, easily dodging her attack.
But that brief distraction was all she needed. Pushing off with her other foot, Xu Qingsui did a backflip over Chen Yunfei’s head, evading his strike.
After landing, Xu Qingsui continued to back away, once again putting distance between them.
"Chen Yunfei, can you just stop for a second? I’m really here to help you."
Chen Yunfei’s skills were impressive. Xu Qingsui was only able to hold her own against him for this long because of the combat experience she’d gained in the previous Apocalypse.
But there was a difference in physical strength between men and women. Over time, she naturally wouldn’t be his match.
If Chen Yunfei kept up this intensity, she was bound to suffer significant harm.
She remembered what the Golden Octopus had said: if her spirit body was damaged, it would be game over for her.
She kept trying to call him off, but Chen Yunfei acted as if he couldn’t hear her. His speed didn’t slacken; instead, his gaze grew even sharper.
Helpless, Xu Qingsui could only keep dodging and fleeing, but the situation was not in her favor.
Before long, her strength would give out, and she would become a lamb to the slaughter.
’I can’t let this drag on. I have to stop him.’
"Chen Yunfei, stop! Can’t you just listen to me for a minute?"
"I know you don’t recognize me. I only just joined the Heiyu Alliance recently and only found out about you today."
"Lu Jingyu already told me what happened. Don’t you know how many people are worried about you right now?"
Xu Qingsui shouted whatever came to mind, all while dodging and observing Chen Yunfei’s expression.
When she mentioned Lu Jingyu, Chen Yunfei’s form clearly faltered for a moment, but he immediately resumed his charge.
But that one pause gave Xu Qingsui hope.
"Chen Yunfei, do you have any idea how much pressure and slander Lu Jingyu has endured because of what happened to you? Especially from Elder Chen."
Chen Yunfei’s pace slowed by a beat.
"Elder Chen blames Lu Jingyu for what happened to you. He takes out all his frustrations on him. So much so that every time Lu Jingyu comes to see you, he’s met with an attack from Elder Chen the moment he walks in the door."
"He doesn’t dare fight back against Elder Chen. He just takes it every time, just to let Elder Chen vent his pent-up grief."
"There are also a lot of malicious rumors about Lu Jingyu outside. Even though he’s the leader of the Heiyu Alliance, many people are still hostile toward him, constantly scheming to bring him down from his position."
Sensing the change in Chen Yunfei, Xu Qingsui kept bringing up Lu Jingyu. Finally, she no longer had to sprint to evade him.
"This time, those same people made a big move to seize power from him. The Alliance suffered heavy casualties, which is why Lu Jingyu came to find Elder Chen. That’s how I ended up seeing you in that bed and learning about your past."
"I want to help you. I want to help Lu Jingyu, who won’t stop blaming himself. And I want to help Elder Chen, who has been by your side, waiting for you to wake up."
"And just before I came in here, Elder Chen attacked Lu Jingyu again. The longer we waste in here, the more tense the situation becomes outside."