Chapter 181: Si Jin Was Secretly Helping Her

Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Si Jin Was Secretly Helping Her

A foul wind rushed to meet her, fangs glinting coldly in the mist.

Yun Sheng’s body moved before her mind could react, and she abruptly dodged to the side.

The dark shadow grazed past her shoulder, kicking up a sharp whistling sound.

Before she could even catch her breath, the creature seemed to lock onto her. It made an unnatural turn in mid-air and lunged for her again!

Fortunately, Guo Kai had already rushed in front of her. He slashed at the Shadow Sting’s flank, forcing it back half a step.

Ma Yu also stood to the side with his blade drawn, warily eyeing the dark shadow.

The shadow was forced back, but it didn’t leave.

It darted rapidly through the mist, circling the squad. Its eerie green eyes remained fixed on Yun Sheng.

Yun Sheng panted, staring vigilantly at the dark shadow.

But out of the corner of her eye, she saw Qi Yao standing not far away, his hand on his blade, but making no move to attack.

His gaze was fixed on her, as calm as if he were observing something.

The Sentinels beside him were the same, merely standing guard and protecting the others, but not proactively attacking the shadow to drive it away.

A strange sense of unease crept into Yun Sheng’s heart.

’Why is that shadow only attacking me?’

’It bypassed everyone else and came straight for me. It failed once, but then it came a second time...’

’This isn’t normal!’

Her fingers tightened slightly, and the spiritual power she had gathered quietly dissipated a little.

Guo Kai swung his blade again, forcing back the shadow as it lunged forward once more.

Ma Yu took the opportunity to pull Yun Sheng back a few steps, guiding her to the safety of the group’s center.

"Are you okay?" Ma Yu asked in a low voice.

Yun Sheng shook her head, but her gaze involuntarily drifted back to Qi Yao.

He was still watching her.

His expression was faint, yet it sent a chill down her spine.

She pulled her gaze away and lowered her eyes, but her heart refused to slow down.

"Guo Kai, Ma Yu."

Qi Yao’s voice suddenly rang out, his tone flat and devoid of any emotion.

"Your only duty is to stand guard. These Preparatory Guides are here to complete a mission, not to be coddled."

He paused, his eyes sweeping over the group before landing on Yun Sheng, then quickly looking away.

"Excessive protection will only hinder their growth."

His words were clearly a deliberate explanation for why he and the other Sentinels had just stood by and watched.

Yun Sheng lowered her eyes and snorted inwardly. ’So this so-called mission really is aimed at me.’

Guo Kai and Ma Yu exchanged a glance. Although they were worried, they had no choice but to step back, warily watching the dark figure that was faintly visible in the mist.

Cheng Nian nervously sidled up to Yun Sheng and whispered, "Yun Sheng, why do I feel like it’s constantly staring at you..."

Yun Sheng didn’t answer.

Her heart was pounding as thoughts raced through her mind.

’Qi Yao isn’t acting. It’s deliberate.’

’He’s watching my reaction.’

’He wants to see what abilities I’ll reveal when faced with danger.’

’It’s not a brilliant move, but it easily puts me on the defensive.’

The shadow circled once more, then suddenly lowered its body, coiling to strike.

The next second, the dark shadow lunged at Yun Sheng again!

She twisted aside, stumbling as she barely managed to evade the attack.

The shadow missed, bounced off the ground, and twisted to lunge again...

"Yun Sheng!"

Cheng Nian was the first to rush forward, holding her blade horizontally to shield Yun Sheng.

Li Wen followed close behind, slashing at the shadow’s flank and forcing it back half a step.

Pushed back, the shadow let out a piercing shriek.

The sound was so jarring it made one’s scalp tingle. It seemed to be some kind of signal.

The next second, countless rustling sounds erupted from the depths of the forest!

One dark shadow after another burst from the mist. They were incredibly fast and numerous, swarming toward the squad!

"Why are there so many?!" He Yi’s expression changed as he gathered his spiritual power, preparing to attack.

Without a word, Zhou Ying enveloped her blade in spiritual power and slashed at the nearest one.

Zhao Qian’s face was pale and her hand trembled as she gripped her blade, but she had no choice but to charge forward, making a show of swinging it a few times.

Amid flashes of light from the blades, a few of the shadows fell.

But there were too many.

It was as if something had summoned them; they came in an endless, relentless wave.

Qi Yao stood not far away, wreathed in spiritual power, but he didn’t move.

He watched it all unfold, his gaze as placid as a deep pool of water.

Yun Sheng gritted her teeth.

She knew Qi Yao was watching, but seeing her teammates fighting for their lives, she couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

Spiritual power gathered at her fingertips, forming an invisible blade.

She raised her hand and swung, slashing at a lunging shadow.

The creature shrieked as it was sent flying.

Another one lunged. Yun Sheng dodged and, with a backhand strike, cut it down.

But there were too many shadows.

And they all seemed to have locked onto her.

No matter how many people were around, they always prioritized attacking her.

When Cheng Nian blocked them, they went around her. When Li Wen drove them back with her blade, they simply changed direction and continued to charge at Yun Sheng.

Yun Sheng’s breathing grew heavier, and beads of sweat formed on her temples.

Guo Kai couldn’t take it anymore. He cut down three shadows with one strike and said in a low, firm voice, "Ma Yu, protect them!"

Ma Yu sprang into action, rushing to Yun Sheng’s side. With a few flashes of his blade, he cut down several of the lunging shadows.

Guo Kai joined the fray as well. The two men flanked Yun Sheng and the others, protecting them in the middle.

But there were still too many shadows.

They killed one wave, only for another to appear.

And Qi Yao still hadn’t moved.

He just stood there, watching everything, as if waiting for something.

Yun Sheng’s heart sank deeper and deeper.

Just as another horde of shadows burst from the mist and charged straight for her, a low hiss suddenly echoed from deep within the forest.

The sound wasn’t loud, but it carried a strange pressure, like some kind of command.

All the shadows stopped in unison.

They froze in mid-air for a moment, then, as if driven by something, turned and swarmed back into the depths of the forest, vanishing into the mist in the blink of an eye.

The forest fell silent again.

The group panted, looking at each other in bewilderment.

"What happened...?" Cheng Nian asked in a small voice. "Why did they leave?"

Yun Sheng didn’t answer.

Her heart was racing, and her fingers trembled slightly.

She had felt it. The moment that hiss sounded, a familiar surge of spiritual power had flashed from deep within the forest.

’It was Si Jin.’

’He’s helping me from the shadows!’

Yun Sheng lowered her eyes, suppressing the turbulent emotions that swelled within her.

Cheng Nian let out a ragged breath, her voice still trembling. "They’re gone... They’re finally gone."

Li Wen also breathed a sigh of relief, leaning on her knees and gasping for air.

The veins on He Yi’s hand bulged as he gripped his blade. He scanned their surroundings vigilantly, only slowly lowering his weapon after confirming that the shadows were truly gone.

Zhou Ying and Zhao Qian were nearby as well, their frayed nerves finally relaxing a little.

Guo Kai sheathed his blade and looked at Qi Yao. "Major General Qi, what’s next...?"

Qi Yao didn’t speak.

He stood in place, his gaze fixed intently on a certain direction deep within the forest, his brow slowly furrowing.

His gaze was heavy, as if trying to pierce through the mist.