Immortality Begins with Krypton Life

Chapter 223 Return Journey to the Netherworld”Survive?” The young girl’s lips curved slightly. ”To be able to walk the path of survival to such a degree is also a skill in itself.”

As the two were speaking, Shen Suning had finished the initial bandaging for Squad Leader Bai and the others. She turned to look at the young girl and Chen Mu. Her gaze fell upon the jade bell at the young girl’s waist, and a flash of realization crossed her eyes. She stepped forward a few paces and bowed solemnly to the young girl.

”Suning thanks you for saving our lives, Miss.”

The young girl nodded slightly, acknowledging the gesture. Shen Suning straightened up and asked softly.

”Suning has heard it said that in the Jingzhou Prefecture, there are two Jade Bell Guards, both Personal Disciples under Thousand-Household Liao of the Demon Suppression Division. They are both exceptionally talented individuals who spend all year executing top-secret missions abroad. Could you be...”

The young girl turned to look at her and nodded gently. ”My master is Liao Huaizhong. My name is Chu Jiangli, I am eighteen, and I have been granted the jade bell for three years.”

Eighteen years old, three years with the jade bell! Although he had guessed as much, hearing Chu Jiangli state her identity herself still gave Chen Mu a shock.

Chen Mu was shaken, watching the jade bell at the young girl’s waist chime. The might of that sword strike that had slain the Male Dragon just moments ago was still fresh in his mind.

Eighteen years old, three years with the jade bell. That would mean she was only fifteen when she became a Jade Bell Guard? What terrifying talent and strength this was! A Disciple personally trained by Liao Huaizhong was truly extraordinary.

Thinking of how he, Chen Mu, had fought and killed his way through, plundering Lifespan and Cultivating forbidden arts, only to barely step into the threshold of the Heart-Awakening Realm, while this young girl before him had likely long since firmly established herself in this Realm, or perhaps even higher. Truly, there is always someone better, and a sky beyond the sky.

Chu Jiangli said no more. Her gaze swept over the tragic scene in the valley once again, lingering for a moment on the massive corpse of the Male Dragon, her eyes seemingly lost in thought.

Supported by Feng Qing, Squad Leader Bai managed to stand up and cupped his fists toward Chu Jiangli. ”If not for your timely arrival, Team C would have all perished here today. We will never forget your life-saving grace.”

Feng Qing and Ling Xiaoning also struggled to bow and offer their thanks.

Chu Jiangli nodded slightly but did not engage in formalities, merely saying, ”I have been tracking this Dragon for three days. It fled here, and saving you was incidental.”

She paused and looked at Squad Leader Bai. ”I already have a general understanding of what happened to the Tian Di Xuan Three Teams. The Golden Bell Guards were devoured by the Mother Dragon, which used their life-bound golden bells and cultivation as bait to set a trap. It is no small feat that your Team C was able to kill the Mother Dragon and force out the Male Dragon.”

Her words were concise, yet they clarified the cause and effect, and indirectly acknowledged the achievements of Team C in this battle.

Squad Leader Bai’s fierce eyes welled with tears; he was filled with grief for his fallen comrades and gratitude for the other’s recognition, leaving him choked and unable to speak for a moment.

Chu Jiangli turned and walked to the remains of the Male Dragon. She crouched down, reached into the wound in its right eye, and groped for a moment, extracting a fist-sized, dark gold Demon Core.

With a wave of her hand, a streak of Sword Qi slashed past, cutting off the pair of dark gold short horns on the Male Dragon’s forehead at the root. She tucked both the Demon Core and the horns away before speaking calmly.

”The Demon Core and the Dragon horns are the targets of my trip, so I am taking them. You may handle the rest as proof to submit. The remains of the Golden Bell Guards should be inside the Mother Dragon’s stomach; you may attempt to recover them and return them to the Bell Guards headquarters.”

Her arrangements were crisp and efficient, and could be considered fair.

The Male Dragon was almost entirely slain by her alone, so it was only natural that she take the most valuable Demon Core and Dragon horns. As for the Mother Dragon, it had been severely wounded by the members of Team C, with Chen Mu delivering the final blow. Its corpse was also of significant value, enough to compensate for the losses of this mission, and perhaps even leave a large surplus.

Squad Leader Bai nodded hurriedly. ”That is only right.”

Chu Jiangli walked to the stream, crouched down, and scooped up a handful of clear water, meticulously washing the Dragon blood from her hands. Her movements were calm, as if the battle that had just taken place had nothing to do with her.

After cleaning her hands, she stood up and swept her gaze over the group once more, finally resting on Chen Mu’s face for a moment. ”You.” She pointed at Chen Mu.

Chen Mu looked up. ”Earlier you said your name is Chen Mu?”

”Yes.”

Chu Jiangli nodded slightly, her tone indifferent. ”Good. I will remember it.”

With those words, she said no more. Her figure flickered, turning into a streak of golden light, and vanished into the horizon in the blink of an eye. She came and went like the wind, as aloof as the moon.

Not until Chu Jiangli’s figure had completely disappeared did the oppressive atmosphere in the valley ease slightly. The group looked at one another, all feeling as if a lifetime had passed.

”Jade Bell Guards... truly live up to their reputation.” Shen Suning sighed softly, her eyes still filled with shock.

Ling Xiaoning also spoke weakly, his voice trembling with the relief of surviving a disaster. ”Just like that... she left?”

”She left.” Shen Suning sighed and tended to the wounded. Squad Leader Bai sat down against a rock, looking at the dragon corpses strewn across the ground. Thinking of the remains of his comrades at the entrance of the valley, deep exhaustion and grief appeared on his face.

In this battle, Team C had suffered one death, three serious injuries, and five minor injuries, while they had gained two Dragons and three young Dragons. The results were glorious, but the price was heavy.

”Collect the spoils of war. We... are going back.” The group nodded and busied themselves, helping one another as they went to find Lu Dachuan, Shi Yong, and Ji Xiang, who were already severely wounded.

”Let’s go.” Squad Leader Bai took one last look at this blood-stained valley and led the way back along the path they had come. His steps were heavy, his back desolate. Nine had come, eight were returning; one would remain here forever.

It was near dusk when the warhorses slowly stopped at the gate of the Demon Suppression Division.

Chen Mu held the reins tightly with one hand, his other arm supporting the nearly unconscious Ling Xiaoning in front of him. His own body swayed unsteadily, his face pale and frightening.

Behind him, several horses followed in succession; the people on them were all in a wretched state.

Shen Suning’s right arm hung limply, and she was barely controlling her horse with her left hand. Her hair was disheveled, and she held the unconscious Ji Xiang in her arms. The simple bandages around Ji Xiang’s waist and abdomen were already soaked with blood.

The bowstring of the iron bow on Feng Qing’s back was about to snap, and his quiver was empty; he lay slumped over the saddle. Squad Leader Bai was in slightly better condition, but he still had to hold onto the horse’s neck to steady himself.

Shi Yong and Lu Dachuan were the most severely injured. They were laid horizontally across the horses’ backs, carried separately by the horses of Squad Leader Bai and Feng Qing. Bounced along the way, both had long since lost consciousness, their slightly rising and falling chests the only proof that they were still clinging to life.

The guards on duty at the government office gate saw this wretched group from afar, and their expressions changed immediately. One turned and ran inside to report, while the other quickly called over a few bailiffs to hurry up and meet them.

”Squad Leader Bai! Brother Feng! Lu...” The guard’s words caught in his throat halfway. Everyone in the group was covered in blood, the horses were exhausted, and familiar faces were missing from the ranks, replaced by an air of sorrow and Death Qi.

”Quick! Give them a hand!” the head guard shouted hoarsely. Several bailiffs immediately stepped forward, carefully supporting Feng Qing and Shi Yong, who were about to fall off their horses. As soon as Feng Qing’s feet touched the ground, he staggered, only remaining upright because he was held up by the men on both sides.

Squad Leader Bai tried to dismount on his own, but as soon as he moved, his vision went black, and he nearly tumbled off the other side. Chen Mu, quick-witted and fast-handed, caught him by the arm. ”Squad Leader Bai, take it slow.”