After swiftly obtaining the Proud Snow Evil Shadow Bamboo, Xiao Tian threw it into the air beside him. Ready for action, Ji Dantong grabbed it and shot forward like an arrow.

But Xiao Tian didn't rush to leave. Hearing the buzzing sound approaching from afar, he took a deep breath, stomped his right foot sharply, and shouted.

Ji Dantong, who had already fled far away, couldn't help but glance back as she was about to leave the dense forest, although her feet never stopped.

At that moment, a loud dragon's roar suddenly echoed. The large swarm of Soul-Seeking Bees surrounding Xiao Tian, enough to pose a threat, stopped flapping their wings as if time had come to a halt.

This eerie scene, akin to time standing still, shocked Ji Dantong, but also allowed her to sigh with relief, confirming that Xiao Tian had enough means to cope. She quickened her pace once more.

After this outburst, Xiao Tian took advantage of the Soul-Seeking Bees' temporary intimidation to hastily flee the scene, forcibly resisting the bees with his protective True Qi and breaking through.

After a brief pause, the Soul-Seeking Bees flapped their wings again, pursuing Xiao Tian at an even greater speed than when they were chasing Ji Dantong.

Xiao Tian, who had escaped a hundred meters away in an instant, hadn't caught his breath when the buzzing returned to his ears. He couldn't help but marvel at the bees' speed, knowing it was well-deserved, and sped up his escape again.

Rushing swiftly, Xiao Tian slightly slowed upon reaching the spot where he first met Ji Dantong and noticed a pair of warm small hands suddenly directing his path.

Ji Dantong, looking at the unscathed Xiao Tian, momentarily didn't know what to say. Though she didn't want him to get hurt, she couldn't help but sigh at the unfairness of it all.

However, Ji Dantong realized that this was due to the disparity in strength, a substantial gap only bridged by her own efforts to navigate skillfully!

Gazing up at the impenetrable black cloud of countless Soul-Seeking Bees circling above, Ji Dantong couldn't help but smile.

If the Soul-Seeking Bees can't find their target, they should disperse soon...

Turning to see Xiao Tian's solemn expression, Ji Dantong's heart skipped a beat. Could there be more trouble ahead?

Just as this thought arose, the swarm of Soul-Seeking Bees suddenly dispersed, each acting like headless flies, chaotically charging at the surrounding air, expressing their frustration over the lost treasure.

Soon, after fruitless carpet searching, the Soul-Seeking Bees regrouped, showing no sign of dispersing.

"This isn't good!"

Xiao Tian's low call instantly tensed Ji Dantong, her beautiful eyes widened in shock and fear.

Because the Soul-Seeking Bees, gathered like an army, began descending slowly.

Just as Ji Dantong's mind went blank, her hand was suddenly gripped firmly. A powerful force lifted her body upwards.

The sudden change forced Ji Dantong to close her eyes. After a brief rustle, she felt the strong hand release her, and Xiao Tian's voice came from a distance.

"Go inform the camp to leave quickly; we'll meet at Sun Bo's village entrance!"

Seeing Xiao Tian bravely risk himself to divert the Soul-Seeking Bees, Ji Dantong felt a mix of worry and determination to not be outdone.

Pushing her speed to its limit, she chased after Xiao Tian.

You risk yourself for me; how can I just passively accept this?!

Holding the Proud Snow Evil Shadow Bamboo in one hand and the Invisibility Jade Pendant in the other, Ji Dantong felt a complex emotion.

Initially, to her, Xiao Tian was just a powerful, sometimes unreasonable person.

But after she sought his help, although briefly, Xiao Tian's actions were contrary to her previous understanding of him as a Hunter.

Knowing that Xiao Tian came to find her late at night after realizing her absence and handed the Proud Snow Evil Shadow Bamboo to her immediately after obtaining it.

And also giving her his treasure, the Invisibility Jade Pendant, without reservation, along with two instances of risking himself to let her escape first.

All this made Ji Dantong feel that her initial support for him was not in vain.

Thus, when Xiao Tian suggested she leave first the second time, Ji Dantong couldn't bear it any longer; if they were to die, they would die together!

Unceasingly, she drew closer to the figure ahead, ignoring the stray Soul-Seeking Bees that brushed past her unnoticed. Ji Dantong didn't realize her emotions were quietly changing.

Of course, falling in love with someone in less than two days sounds fantastical. But her changing view of Xiao Tian, and the unconsciously growing fondness, were genuine!

For a nineteen-year-old girl who lived a sheltered life in her sect, traveling more than fifty miles for the first time, this was undoubtedly a rare experience.

...

Xiao Tian, leading the Soul-Seeking Bees away, needn't worry about them catching up. His legs stretched widely as he ran ahead without pause.

Behind him, hidden by the Jade Pendant, Ji Dantong finally discovered after several attempts that the pendant also isolates sound.

However, she wasn't in the mood to marvel at the pendant's magic, only keen to speed up and edge past the occasional Soul-Seeking Bee, which made her anxious every time.

Constantly on the move, Ji Dantong felt her sweat soaked through her clothes, breathing and heartbeat accelerating, lungs subtly aching.

Yet, Ji Dantong persisted in her pace, even as it strained her to her limits, refusing to cease her pursuit.

Soon, Ji Dantong's vision blurred, sweat from her forehead dripped onto her long lashes and finally into her eyes.

The sudden sting cleared Ji Dantong's muddled consciousness. She raised her arm to rub her eyes, easing the unbearable sting.

With her eyes briefly blocked, Ji Dantong's instinctive reaction caused a momentary misjudgment of her path, tripping over a protrusion with her left foot, destabilizing her posture.

Focused solely on moving forward, Xiao Tian suddenly heard a scream from behind, furrowing his brow as he turned to check the situation.