Old Bit has always been like this; he's a sinister fellow who enjoys building his happiness upon others' suffering.

Fighting is out of the question; it's impossible to defeat this young alien woman. The bloody reality just proved her fearsome nature. Old Bit has wandered through the Dark World for decades and never encountered a skill like this young woman's. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

He even suspects that those guys with many grudges on their hands, even armed with the most advanced weapons, wouldn't stand a chance against this alien woman wielding a ridiculous bow and arrow.

Now, around him are a few bodies, the arrows lodged in their throats confirm his suspicion.

Besides, he's alone now, so the idea of capturing the alien woman and using her as a hostage to threaten that man is out of the question.

Escape? Old Bit couldn't help but bitterly smile inside; not to mention that he can't run fast, even if he were to run faster, could he outrun the bow in this alien woman's hands? Just now, as an observer, he witnessed firsthand this alien woman's swift and precise archery.

Can't fight, can't escape.

Old Bit has one last method left, which is mutual destruction.

Ever since he left that dark cell, Old Bit has contemplated what he should do if he's captured by the enemy again.

Sometimes, death isn't the scariest thing.

Old Bit has seen with his own eyes and heard tales of how his companions or enemies dealt with unlucky prey once they fell into their hands.

Old Bit firmly believes that those tortured to death likely prayed for a quick death, but the killers wouldn't agree with them. Hearing the desperate screams and seeing the bloodied and incomplete bodies, Old Bit feels fortunate to still be alive.

Yet, since wandering in the Dark World, although he hasn't encountered such a situation yet, who knows what the future holds?

Old Bit is already quite advanced in age, and although he lives with the mindset of gaining one more day with each day alive, the older one gets, the less one wants to die, let alone be tortured to death.

Therefore, Old Bit devised a method to avoid being tortured.

He planted a bomb inside his own body, and the detonator is hidden within his necklace; with just a press, he would be freed.

Of course, his opponent would perish with him.

He doesn't care whether his opponent agrees with this or not.

And now, the time has come to use this bomb.

The necklace is secretly held in his hand.

As the chirping of the Little Flaming Firebird rings out, Old Bit pounces on Yanran.

At this moment, he no longer needed to conceal anything, so his fierce and distorted features were fully revealed.

Caught off guard, Yanran was embraced by him; it's said that dying people possess extraordinary strength, and in any case, Yanran couldn't break free from Old Bit.

"You want me dead, but I won't let you live!" Old Bit's face, twisted by hatred and despair, made Yanran nauseous as she struggled mightily.

Seeing the alien girl before him with a frightened face struggling vigorously, Old Bit strangely felt a sick pleasure and satisfaction.

He pressed the button in his hand.

Boom, a loud explosion!

Old Bit's body was blown apart, mixing with blood spray on the protective shield in front of Yanran.

Narrowly escaping death, Yanran composed herself and turned back; her mentor, Jiang Cheng, was standing not far away, frowning as he looked at her.

Yanran sluggishly stood up but didn't run over because she knew her teacher wouldn't be pleased with her performance.

To cover up her embarrassment, she hugged the Little Flaming Firebird beside her.

Indeed, she should also be grateful to this lovely little bird; if it weren't for the Little Flaming Firebird, she wouldn't be standing here. It's imaginable, the situation would have been absolutely wretched.

The adorable Little Flaming Firebird was evidently not accustomed to such a fervent embrace, struggling to free itself. However, after a brief struggle, possibly finding the feeling quite nice, she calmly accepted it, rubbing her sharp beak lightly against Yanran's snowy white cheek in return.

Jiang Cheng was indeed not very pleased with Yanran's performance.

In fact, he had already returned, just choosing not to reveal himself; he stood aside silently watching as his first disciple handled the situation.

When Old Bit requested some water and Yanran actually followed his request, going to the stream to fetch water, Jiang Cheng's dissatisfaction began. It was obviously a test, yet his female disciple credulously complied.

Afterwards, when the smugglers began to attack Yanran, he similarly didn't intervene, not due to his powerful abilities, but because of his profound understanding of human nature.

Yanran might suffer a bit, but the smugglers would strive to avoid harming her, since she's not just their leverage for negotiating with him, but if capable of taking Yanran away, she'd equate to a substantial sum of money.

If you damage something, it won't hold much value anymore.

And if the smugglers harmed Yanran, they'd likewise miss out on that substantial amount.

They would definitely carefully control their actions within an acceptable range.

Sure enough, the smugglers only bound Yanran, merely taunting her, without further harm.

Jiang Cheng continued watching coldly.

However, what slightly surprised him was the Little Flaming Firebird. He didn't know this creature—since the Little Flaming Firebird wasn't close to him, he likewise held no favor towards her—would defend Yanran so consistently, considering they were two different species.

Jiang Cheng didn't know that shortly after the Little Flaming Firebird's birth, Yanran got to know her, feeding her, playing with her, and occasionally when the bird's mother wasn't around, she'd even take the Little Flaming Firebird out of the nest, placing her on the ground to watch her wobble.

Jiang Cheng wasn't aware that the bond between this girl and bird could be so deep.

When the smuggler, Old Bit, realized that he'd spend his life in this barren land, he finally revealed his true, fierce self, choosing resolutely to perish together with Yanran in the face of being unable to fight or flee.

Though he seized the opportunity and triggered the bomb planted within his body, the only casualty was himself.

Having returned and standing by, Jiang Cheng timely cast a shield around Yanran, preserving her life.

Thus, the pitiful yet detestable Old Bit's plan fell short; he could only proceed alone into hell—if in their world hell exists—for there would be the most suitable place for him.

Jiang Cheng hadn't expected that the Little Flaming Firebird, in order to rescue Yanran, could fearlessly sacrifice herself to protect her, leading him to find this bird slightly useful after all.