yup, same as with Chapter 39
A vast, dense forest stretched endlessly, its lush trees covering nearly half of the sky. Due to its proximity to the Chu Yun Empire, this forest was rich in medicinal herbs.
However, alongside the abundant resources, high-ranking Magic Beasts were also numerous in this region.
After completing the recruitment for Jia Ma Empire, Ruo Lin began her journey back to Jia Nan Academy.
Due to her physical condition, however, she had temporarily distanced herself from the academy's main group and was traveling alone with Xiao Yu, whom she had recruited from Wu Tan City.
While passing through this area, exhaustion and thirst overtook them, prompting them to stop and rest for a while.
Unexpectedly, they had inadvertently trespassed into the territory of the Desert Flame Wolves.
Desert Flame Wolves had an extremely strong territorial instinct and lived in packs. Any human or beast that entered their domain would be driven away—or, if deemed weak enough, mercilessly hunted.
To the wolves, Ruo Lin and Xiao Yu clearly fell into the latter category.
During their resistance, Ruo Lin accidentally killed one of the Desert Flame Wolves.
This act immediately drew the attention of the wolves' leader.
It was a peak-tier Rank Three Magic Beast, equivalent to the peak of the Da Dou Shi realm in human cultivation.
Even a newly advanced Dou Ling would struggle against this powerful Rank Three Desert Flame Wolf.
As for Ruo Lin, a Three-Star Da Dou Shi, and Xiao Yu, a mere One-Star Dou Zhe, they were completely outmatched.
Thus, the two were relentlessly pursued.
But compared to the wolves, their speed was simply inadequate, and they were quickly overtaken.
As an instructor, Ruo Lin stepped forward, planning to hold off the Magic Beasts temporarily so that Xiao Yu could escape.
However, Xiao Yu refused to flee, declaring that if they were going to die, they would die together.
She then began shouting desperately for help.
But this was a remote forest, far from any village or town—who would come to their aid?
"Yu'er, this is all my fault..." Ruo Lin murmured, knowing that if Xiao Yu hadn't insisted on staying behind to care for her during her illness, she wouldn't have gotten caught up in this situation.
"Te—Teacher, I don't blame you," Xiao Yu replied, but her voice trembled.
At just fourteen years old, facing such a dire situation, how could she not be terrified?
"Close your eyes, and you won't be afraid."
Ruo Lin gently stroked Xiao Yu's head, forcing a comforting smile onto her face.
The moment Xiao Yu shut her eyes, Ruo Lin's expression suddenly sharpened. She exhaled slowly, her ample chest rising and falling dramatically.
"You beasts, I'll fight you to the death!" With a furious cry, Ruo Lin brandished her blue whip and charged forward.
However, while the intent was noble, reality was cruel. She couldn't even withstand a single strike—one swipe from the Rank Three Desert Flame Wolf sent her crashing to the ground, tearing through her robes.
As the Desert Flame Wolf raised its claws for another strike, aiming to end her life, Ruo Lin, blood trickling from her lips, closed her eyes in despair, awaiting death.
A brilliant sword light shot through the air from the distance, cutting through the Rank Three Desert Flame Wolf like a hot knife through butter.
The warm blood splattered across Ruo Lin's face.
She jolted in shock, and the moment she opened her eyes, a voice—calm yet filled with warmth—reached her ears.
A young man in a flowing white robe, holding a three-foot-long, deep-blue sword. From her angle, his side profile was strikingly handsome, and his starry eyes gazed at her with quiet composure. He extended a handkerchief toward her.
At that moment, Ruo Lin found herself staring blankly, her heart suddenly pounding wildly.
"Hm?" Chen Mo slightly furrowed his brows. She was indeed quite beautiful, and well-endowed at that—but was she... frozen in shock?
Hearing the commotion, Xiao Yu opened her eyes and rushed over, anxiously checking Ruo Lin's condition.
The moment she saw the exposed whiteness of Ruo Lin's chest and the deep wounds, her hands shot up to cover her lips in shock.
"Teacher, your injuries!"
Snapping out of her daze, Ruo Lin finally registered her state.
More than pain, embarrassment washed over her. Her face turned bright red as she hastily covered herself before taking the offered handkerchief and murmuring a soft "thank you."
At that moment, Xiao Yu finally took a good look at Chen Mo.
His appearance was perfect—his charm was undeniable. More importantly, despite his young age, he was strong enough to kill a Rank Three Desert Flame Wolf.
A faint blush crept onto Xiao Yu's cheeks.
"I am Xiao Yu, a student of Jia Nan Academy. She is my instructor, Ruo Lin. Thank you for saving us. May I ask for your name, sir?"
While Xiao Yu studied Chen Mo, he also glanced at her.
She looked about thirteen or fourteen years old but was already quite tall. However, what stood out the most were her long, smooth, and shapely legs.
Hearing her name, Chen Mo raised an eyebrow.
Xiao Yu? The Xiao Clan's Xiao Yu?
In the original novel, Xiao Yu was famous for her long legs.
A thought flickered through Chen Mo's mind, and just as he was about to reply—
From above, a figure in a black robe and white mask—Queen Medusa—cleared her throat.
Then, the system prompt rang in his ears.
[Ding! Favorability -1.]
Chen Mo: Damn. Ruthless.
Saying nothing, he tossed a jade bottle toward them and followed Queen Medusa away.
Xiao Yu caught the bottle, staring dazedly at the departing figure in the sky.
"Dou Qi Wings... A Dou Wang?"
"A... Snake-Person!" Ruo Lin snatched the bottle from Xiao Yu's hands and examined its contents—inside was a Tier Two healing pill.
"A Snake-Person?" Xiao Yu was stunned. Looking closely, she finally noticed the purple serpent tail beneath the black robe.
After consuming the pill, Ruo Lin clenched the handkerchief Chen Mo had given her, whispering softly, "I hope we meet again..."
As they ventured deeper into the forest, Queen Medusa suddenly spoke in a cold tone.
Chen Mo had been unsure before, but now he was certain—she was jealous.
A smirk spread across his lips, and just as he was about to reply—
A streak of red energy blasted the ground beside him, leaving a small crater.
Queen Medusa's cold voice rang out again.
For some reason, an inexplicable rage stirred within her.
He was smiling—he even had the audacity to smile.
Sweat beaded on Chen Mo's forehead. He coughed awkwardly. "Compared to Your Majesty, they are not even one in ten thousand!"
[Ding! Favorability +2. Critical success!]
"Hmph. Smooth talker."
Queen Medusa snorted coldly, saying nothing more. As they descended from the sky, she casually remarked:
"There's a Rank Six Darkgold Magic Tiger in this forest. I'll kill it for you later."
Chen Mo: "Your Majesty is unmatched!"
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