The embrace Zhu Pengpei fantasized about did not materialize; Chun Ling's meat bomb tank hit directly, almost knocking out Zhu Pengpei's bile.
The next second, Jing Du's sword thrust into Zhu Pengpei's belly button.
Ling Chong's gun, with its tip embedded in Zhu Pengpei's body, looked like a stirring stick.
The old monk's monk's knife sliced off Zhu Pengpei's spiral-shaped little tail.
And the punch of that side-character elder only added a bruise to Zhu Pengpei's face, like a typical side character.
Chun Ling fainted straight away, while Jing Du and the other three retreated cautiously, thinking how could such a strong creature have been so easily hit, was he just a paper tiger?
Only then did they see that Zhu Pengpei wasn't unwilling to defend but simply couldn't.
The chains on his body emitted a faint black glow, tightly constricting him, resembling a mascot from a certain tire company that dabbles in food reviews.
The old monk turned his head and slowly opened his mouth wide, seeing Wen Wen leaning against a tree, with his right hand slightly grasping in Zhu Pengpei's direction, looking easy and natural.
It was Wen Wen who controlled Zhu Pengpei, allowing their attacks to hit truly.
Zhu Pengpei was at least a First-Class Expert, so how astonishing was the power of this man who could control Zhu Pengpei single-handedly?
Indeed, there are always people better than others; they encountered someone extraordinary today.
Jing Du did not look back but instead gazed at the chains on Zhu Pengpei, tears clouding his eyes flowing down his cheeks.
Previously, he hadn't paid attention to the chains hanging on Zhu Pengpei, thinking they were just some ornate types of chains.
But now, covered with a black glow, he recognized where these chains came from; lifting the hem of his robe, he found an identical black chain around his waist!
"Could it be… that I am finally not the last one?"
Thinking of this, Jing Du smiled knowingly, then fell straight to the ground.
The battle with Zhu Ganglie had nearly exhausted him, and facing Zhu Pengpei, he was just forcing himself.
Wen Wen was startled; this old man resembling the one-armed person corresponding to 'Jing Du' was a significant find for him, and it would be terrible if he just died .
He hurried over, discovering that he was merely exhausted, which eased his mind.
Then he looked at Zhu Pengpei. After all, Zhu Pengpei was a True-order Master, sustaining such attacks was nothing but minor injuries for him.
Just that the sword blade and the gun tip clashed, making his belly slightly drafty.
"You big… big handsome guy, how do you have the time to come find me, if you just called out to me, I'd have come running."
Zhu Pengpei wanted to burst out with curses, but his big pig head could bend and flex; now his life was in Wen Wen's hands, so he had to appear as respectful as possible.
Seeing Zhu Pengpei's attitude, Ling Chong and his companions were even more astonished; a First Grade Demon King level monster acting so subservient, what kind of creature are you?
Thinking back to when Wen Wen asked about the top experts in the world, a frightful hypothesis formed in Ling Chong's mind.
This person might be a True Immortal Realm expert who had slept for years, awakening now to find everything changed...
Wen Wen didn't know what they were imagining; he needed to take Jing Du and Zhu Pengpei away, so he told Ling Chong, "You came to exterminate demons this time; I can't let you kill this Pig Demon, but I promise he won't have the chance to cause trouble again, okay?"
"No problem, no problem, just dare to ask, sir, what is your name?"
Wen Wen scratched his chin: "You can call me, Black Cross."
After saying this, Wen Wen left with Chun Ling, Zhu Pengpei, and the unconscious Jing Du.
When Ling Chong and the three others returned to the Demon Hunter camp, the world of superpower users witnessed new tales about 'Black Cross.'
It was said that this Black Cross was a True Immortal Rank expert, a True Immortal who had lived from ancient times to the present.
Subduing the Pig Demon Yao single-handedly became the kind of strong man the Demon Hunters admired.
Sitting next to the unconscious Jing Du, Wen Wen sighed softly, unsure how to face this old man who was now nearly life-exhausted.
After this battle, Jing Du had little life left, but it would be easy for Wen Wen to bring him back.
When creating the clone, there was some remaining Spring of Life placed in the Space Ring instead of the Sanctuary.
This Spring of Life would be enough to repair all hidden injuries on Jing Du and grant him a few more years of life.
Wen Wen witnessed Jing Du's disposition during the battle—a complete disregard for his life, sincerely hoping to die in battle.
Maybe now, letting his life gradually fade away was his true desire; giving him more years might just bring him more suffering.
Jing Du had experienced the Sanctuary's most glorious era and knew how this organization defended the world; he had an intense sense of identification with it and took pride in his identity.
But one day, the organization weakened.
No new members joined, its functions eroded, the old left one by one, and only the once-young Jing Du remained till the end.
Eventually, he and the Sanctuary faded into darkness, unnoticed by anyone…
He alone shouldered it all, a psychological burden unimaginable to others.
Jing Du woke up, and Wen Wen quickly gave him some water.
Wen Wen had once been curious why in dramas, the newly conscious always asked for water upon waking up.
Later, as a novice detective, he had fallen from the third floor while apprehending a criminal and was comatose for days; upon awakening, his first urge was also to drink water...
After drinking, Jing Du looked curiously at Wen Wen, his eyes no longer lifeless but filled with a hint of hope.
"Are you... from there?"
Wen Wen didn't know what this Sanctuary was called, but the ordinance of not revealing the Sanctuary to outsiders should be the same.
"Yes, I am." Wen Wen thought for a while and agreed.
"That's good, that's good." Jing Du sighed in relief, seeming much more at ease: "These years have truly been tough for me..."
Then Jing Du began recounting to Wen Wen how he had held on through the years, the partners he had known, who he admired most, who had the best personality, and who he liked the most...
From these narratives, Wen Wen heard a strong sense of attachment—the steadfastness of this old man's lifetime.
After some thought, Wen Wen brought out the Spring of Life, now just a thin layer at the bottom of the bottle, and placed it in front of Jing Du.
From the old man's narratives, Wen Wen detected a touch of revitalization, feeling that now having this 'kindred spirit' appear, Jing Du might not seek death single-heartedly anymore.