Even Lin Jichen said there was no chance, so Chu Hongling knew it was probably hopeless.
She forced a bitter smile and said, "How did you manage to provoke such a powerful enemy?"
Lin Jichen didn't answer. Instead, he said to her, "You should leave. His target is me. I can buy you some time. Find a chance to get out of combat and use the teleportation talisman to escape."
Chu Hongling hesitated. Indeed, facing such an enemy, there was no need for both of them to die.
Better one than both.
Even if Lin Jichen died, he would resurrect. Being killed by an NPC would only cost him some experience points. It shouldn't be a big deal.
Of course, Lin Jichen wouldn't tell Chu Hongling that he couldn't afford to die, as it would cost him innate attributes.
If he said that and it got out, his enemies would come after him like crazy.
At this moment, Chu Tianhan saw through their intentions and mocked, "Two ants trying to escape under my nose? Hmph, dream on!"
Chu Hongling's temper flared at the taunt. She bit her lip lightly and made a decision.
"Lin Jichen, you go. I'll cover you. I can't stand seeing this scoundrel gloat. He wants to kill you? I won't let him!"
With that, Chu Hongling charged at Chu Tianhan!
Seeing such a beautiful woman willingly sacrifice herself for Lin Jichen, Chu Tianhan's jealousy grew even more intense.
"I said, neither of you will escape!"
Chu Tianhan sneered and aimed to kill Lin Jichen first.
But Chu Hongling blocked his way, sending a Buddhist seal towards him!
"Hmph! A mere trick from the Buddhist Sect!"
Chu Tianhan sneered, casually swinging his long sword. Sword Qi clashed with the Buddhist seal.
The Buddhist seal was instantly shattered by Chu Tianhan.
Chu Hongling didn't get discouraged. She clasped her hands together, closed her beautiful eyes, and chanted softly.
With a buzzing sound, the air behind her twisted!
The void shattered, and a giant Arhat emerged!
The Arhat was bare-chested, radiating dazzling golden light, his muscles like forged steel.
A golden dragon coiled around his left arm, while his right hand grasped a giant elephant.
Behind him was an endless starry sky, the galaxy resplendent, dragons and elephants in harmony.
"Dragon Subduing Mantra!"
Chu Tianhan was slightly surprised. "I didn't expect a mere early-Golden Elixir disciple of the Buddhist Sect to know such an Ultimate Technique. I really underestimated you."
Chu Hongling continued chanting, and the Arhat's shadow charged at Chu Tianhan!
"Though it's an Arhat, it's just a wisp of divine thought. Nothing more!"
Chu Tianhan sneered, his sword slicing through the air, clashing with the Arhat's shadow.
The ground shook, the sky changed color!
But in just a moment, the Arhat's shadow shattered!
Chu Tianhan stood still, unmoved.
Chu Hongling opened her eyes, a bitter smile on her lips. Lin Jichen was right; there was no chance.
"My turn!" Chu Tianhan moved, appearing before Chu Hongling.
He had intended to show mercy, but her willingness to die for Lin Jichen ignited his jealousy.
So he decided to be ruthless.
Chu Hongling didn't retreat, fighting Chu Tianhan with all her might!
But in just a moment, she fell in a pool of blood, becoming a corpse.
Chu Tianhan sneered arrogantly, "Lin Jichen, it's your turn."
But when he looked around, Lin Jichen... was gone!
"Coward! Watching your woman die and running away!"
Chu Tianhan couldn't believe Lin Jichen had actually fled. He was furious.
Just a moment ago, Lin Jichen had nobly told Chu Hongling to run first, but now he had fled faster than anyone!
Chu Tianhan soared into the sky, moving at incredible speed, using a tracking spell to find Lin Jichen.
But he found that the tracking spell had failed; he couldn't detect Lin Jichen's mana.
Chu Tianhan realized Lin Jichen must have fled without using mana.
"Heh, without mana, how far can you run?"
Confident, Chu Tianhan began searching for Lin Jichen's trail.
Several miles away, Lin Jichen was running frantically.
He used the Conceal and Shadow skill, combined with Mountain River Step, to flee.
Though it felt a bit disgraceful, this was the only chance Chu Hongling had bought him. He couldn't waste it.
Staying meant certain death, and dying would cost him ten percent of his innate attributes.
This punishment was hard for Lin Jichen to accept.
It wasn't that he was heartless, treating Fang Qingzhu and Chu Hongling differently.
Fang Qingzhu was an NPC. If she was killed by another NPC, she would disappear completely.
Chu Hongling was just a player. She would revive after dying, only losing some experience and cultivation.
Weighing the options, Lin Jichen decided to abandon his teammate and run.
"Lin Jichen, I died. Did you escape?"
Chu Hongling sent a message.
Lin Jichen replied, "Still running."
"Good, you must escape. Otherwise, I died for nothing."
"Why didn't you run and let me run?" Lin Jichen asked.
"Because I can't stand that NPC's arrogant face. Besides, you helped me a lot, and I completed my task. Dying once is no big deal. But you, your task isn't done yet. If you revive, it'll take a long time." Chu Hongling said.
Lin Jichen was silent for a moment, then said, "Thank you. I owe you a big one."
"Owe me? When did you ever owe me?" Chu Hongling was puzzled. She remembered owing Lin Jichen, not the other way around.
"Don't ask. Just know that if you need help, just call."
"Haha, that's great. Dying once to earn a favor from the top player in Tale of Immortal and complete my task, totally worth it. But I can't help you with your task now." Chu Hongling laughed.
"No worries, I'll handle it. I have to go now, that guy is still after me."
Lin Jichen kept running, not slowing down, weaving through the dense forest.
It felt like escaping from Li Xinghun in the Thunder Marsh again.
Sigh, always running for his life.
Lin Jichen thought, when can I stop running?
His strength was still too weak.
He had to get stronger!
He didn't want to be chased around the world by these sect disciples anymore.
He couldn't beat anyone; it was too frustrating.
But for now, the most important thing was to escape Chu Tianhan's pursuit.
He ran without stopping.
Chu Tianhan searched from above, trying to find Lin Jichen.
But the more he searched, the more frustrated he became. He couldn't find Lin Jichen, nor detect any mana fluctuations.
He even checked the ground for footprints, but there were none.
It was as if Lin Jichen had vanished.
But he had locked onto Lin Jichen. The other was in combat and couldn't use a teleportation talisman.
Chu Tianhan grew increasingly anxious.