Chapter 119: Zhang Qing'er Appears Again

"Zhang Qing'er? It’s actually her!" Gazing at that fleeting glimpse of her face, a complex and indefinable emotion flickered in Che Wuyou’s eyes. Zhang Qing'er—she was his very first patient, the only one he had strived to save after achieving a modicum of success in alchemy. He had once felt such immense satisfaction because of her.

Watching a fading life regain its vitality and bloom once more with its own unique grace beneath his hands—that sense of accomplishment was beyond description. He had even secretly made a grand vow: if possible, he would aid every person who sought his help. A healer’s heart is like that of a parent.

But what followed felt like a cruel twist of fate, far beyond his expectations. His earnest advice to his patient was twisted into ulterior motives; his meticulous care was viewed as the root of all evil, and it even nearly fractured the sincere and deep bond he shared with Liu Lanzhi.

Fortunately, in the end, that very incident had inadvertently brought him and Liu Lanzhi even closer. Though he was young and did not understand the true nature of love, in his subconscious, he remained certain that this was love—an unbreakable, indestructible love that would remain unchanged whether a decade, a century, or a millennium passed.

Yet, the regret remained: his relationship with his first patient had ended in such a disastrous stalemate that he was forced to utter the words, "May we never meet again in this life"—words that stung both her and himself.

Those distant memories surged forward like lightning, illuminating Che Wuyou’s eyes. Ultimately, he could not bear to watch this delicate girl perish beneath the giant steel construct’s blade. If for no other reason than to honor that once-beautiful memory, he had to find a way to save her.

Che Wuyou’s mind raced; he did not hesitate for a moment.

"Old Steel Thief, do you dare to fight your grandfather for three hundred rounds?" Che Wuyou roared at the top of his lungs, staring at the massive silver sword gripped tightly in the construct’s hands. "Your grandfather is waiting for you here! Come and get me if you have the guts!"

"Agh—!" The steel giant let out a sky-shaking roar. He had not expected that, after Li Zhen, there would be another fool in this world so ignorant of the heights of heaven and the depth of the earth. In a fit of rage, he beat his chest repeatedly with his left arm, the red light in his eyes burning like fire. In an instant, he whipped his head around to look at Che Wuyou.

Che Wuyou glared right back without flinching, baring his teeth in a provocative display while waving his hands in a series of taunting gestures. Yet, internally, he breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the steel giant’s focus was on him, Zhang Qing'er would be safe for the moment.

However, the steel giant only stared at him for a brief second. The next moment, like an enraged white tiger, the construct swung his iron-like silver sword wildly and charged toward Zhang Qing'er, who had regained her footing and was fleeing rapidly. It seemed he intended to vent all his fury upon her.

"Old Steel Thief, you coward! I, Che Wuyou, despise you!" Seeing the giant turn away to pursue Zhang Qing'er, Che Wuyou couldn't help but curse in anger. He hesitated for a split second before chasing after the giant, shouting as he ran, "Don't you run, Old Steel Thief! Come and take a punch from me!"

"Agh—!" Hearing Che Wuyou’s boisterous shouting from behind—an arrogance that surpassed even Li Zhen’s—the steel giant could no longer restrain himself. He let out a thunderous roar to vent his frustration and, without a second thought, turned to slaughter Che Wuyou.

The steel giant swore that Che Wuyou was the most detestable person he had ever encountered; his hatred for him had completely eclipsed his grudge against Li Zhen. He vowed to kill Che Wuyou, and he did not believe that, at such close range, the boy could escape with his life. Though the steel giant possessed low intelligence, he could still calculate: given Che Wuyou’s strength, he could not escape his kill zone.

Seeing the giant finally locked onto him, Che Wuyou felt a momentary sense of relief, followed by a sinking heart. He had just witnessed the giant's speed; though not as fast as Li Zhen, it was significantly faster than his own.

Che Wuyou glanced toward the direction of the containment barrier, then toward the pillar of energy. The energy pillar was further away, and a flicker of hesitation crossed his face. Finally, he gritted his teeth and sprinted toward the energy pillar. This might be his last and only chance. It was a long shot, but he had to try; otherwise, how could he ever be at peace? If it failed, he would have no choice but to give up.

Seeing Che Wuyou successfully draw the steel giant away, Zhang Qing'er felt two lines of tears slide down her cheeks. Watching the direction in which Che Wuyou was desperately fleeing, she murmured, "Brother Wuyou, I'm sorry... Brother Wuyou, I'm sorry..." Driven by some unknown impulse, the girl suddenly stamped her foot and began running toward the energy pillar as well.

Li Zhen, who was closing in on the energy pillar, saw Che Wuyou lure the giant away and couldn't help but curse, "Damn it, this kid is courting death. I was planning to help him if the opportunity arose, but now? He has no strength to spare and yet tries to play the hero. Now he's likely to get himself killed along with the girl... truly, one can survive a disaster sent by heaven, but not one of one's own making." Watching the two draw closer to him, Li Zhen shifted his body slightly, ready to bolt at any moment.

Che Wuyou watched the giant closing the distance. Even with all his cunning, he could think of no way to escape. Was he truly forced to give up? His mind flashed to Li Zhen and Yun Fan; they were the only ones present who might stand a chance at stalling the giant. But Li Zhen had already been intimidated by the construct, and there was little hope of inciting him into another conflict. That left only Yun Fan.

Che Wuyou looked at Yun Fan, who was not far away and preparing to flee at any moment, and felt his spirits dampen. This man, who seemed to only know how to listen to his mother, appeared unrefined, yet his conduct was almost excessively low-profile. Unless provoked directly, he had never seen Yun Fan take the initiative to attack anyone. To manipulate such a person into blocking the steel giant would likely be even harder than using Li Zhen.

"Brother Li Zhen, the great sword in that Old Steel Thief's hand is a top-grade treasure! How about we find a way to seize it?" Che Wuyou suddenly roared at Li Zhen, who was preparing to escape nearby. "Haven't you been eyeing that giant sword for a long time? I have a plan that could help you take it—what do you say?"