Yu Yunwei only saw the boy in front of her raise his long blade and swing it once.

Blood-red baleful qi followed the boy's Tang sword as it struck out, thick like surging tidewater, but this "blood-red tide" condensed into a crimson thin sheet, like a blade edge, slicing across the giant snake's neck.

When the Spirit Absorbing Sword was sheathed again, that massive snake head fell to the ground, while the snake's body continued twitching.

The snake blood that had originally sprayed toward the boy was also blocked by the blade qi, falling at his feet.

Yu Yunwei stared blankly at everything before her.

Although Yu Yunwei had some understanding of Xiao Mo's strength and knew he could kill cultivators across two realms, the problem was this was a Rock-skin Python!

Its hardened body would give even Golden Core realm cultivators some trouble.

But for her senior brother, it was still just this simple single blade strike.

In Yu Yunwei's heart, she no longer knew what couldn't be cut down by him.

Yu Yunwei couldn't even imagine how terrifying he would be when he entered the Upper Three Realms!

Was he really human?

Just as Yu Yunwei was in a daze, Xiao Mo turned around and glanced at her.

To Yu Yunwei, her senior brother's gaze was still as indifferent as always, no different from usual but somehow, this calm gaze gave her an indescribable sense of security.

Although he often struck her palms and made her do things she didn't like, it seemed that as long as he was by her side, she didn't need to fear anything.

Xiao Mo held his blade sheath and tapped both sides of her petrified calves.

The stones wrapping around Yu Yunwei's calves instantly cracked apart.

"What are you dazing about?" Xiao Mo looked at Yu Yunwei indifferently.

"I..." Yu Yunwei's throat moved, wanting to say something, but when the words reached her lips, she couldn't speak.

"It's getting late, let's go, back to the sect."

Xiao Mo turned around and walked toward the mountain path down.

"Wait..."

Just as Yu Yunwei stepped forward to follow, her legs gave out and she sat on the ground.

Xiao Mo turned around, looked at Yu Yunwei sitting sideways on the ground, and said calmly, "What's wrong?"

Yu Yunwei's eyes misted over as she bit her lip irritably, "My legs have no strength..."

Xiao Mo's expression looked somewhat speechless, but he still walked forward, turned his back to her and crouched down, "Come up, I'll carry you."

Yu Yunwei looked at Xiao Mo's back, hesitated for a moment, then finally knelt and placed her hands on Xiao Mo's shoulders.

Xiao Mo hooked under Yu Yunwei's knees and carried her on his back.

"Wait."

Just as Xiao Mo was going down the mountain, Yu Yunwei called out.

"What now?" Xiao Mo asked.

"The Red Moon Fruits!" Yu Yunwei patted Xiao Mo's shoulder, "Those are good things, I almost lost my life because of them."

After Xiao Mo collected the seven Red Moon Fruits, he carried Yu Yunwei down the mountain.

Yu Yunwei leaned against Xiao Mo's back, holding the translucent blood-red Red Moon Fruit in one hand, examining it carefully, occasionally turning her gaze to look at Xiao Mo's profile.

Yu Yunwei wanted to say something several times but hesitated.

Finally, Yu Yunwei mustered her courage, "Senior... Senior Brother, why did you come?"

"To protect your path," Xiao Mo said, then further explained, "Black Cloud Mountain's magical beasts are only sixth grade at most. Xue Kui didn't need to come, I was sufficient."

"So you were watching us the whole time?"

Yu Yunwei's face turned slightly pale.

Then those people she killed...

Xiao Mo glanced sideways at Yu Yunwei and immediately understood the girl's thoughts, "They moved to kill you first. You did nothing wrong, I won't punish you."

"Oh."

Hearing Xiao Mo's words, Yu Yunwei responded and breathed a sigh of relief.

The setting sun cast a layer of soft golden light across the wilderness.

Xiao Mo stepped on fallen leaves, making rustling sounds.

The long mountain path wound downward, with pine trees on both sides quietly casting slanted shadows.

Warmth floated in the air, and the distant mountain silhouettes became gentle.

Mountain breezes occasionally brushed by, carrying the faint scent of dry grass and pine needles. Dogtail grass swayed slightly, their ears glimmering with scattered light under the setting sun.

Yu Yunwei watched her senior brother alertly surveying their surroundings, pursed her lips lightly, and spoke with deliberate pride in her tone:

"I originally wanted to eat this Red Moon Prime Fruit myself, but since you saved me, and you're almost at Dragon Gate realm, I don't want to owe you anything, so I'll give it to you."

"I don't need it," Xiao Mo refused decisively, "For me to enter Dragon Gate realm, why would I need such things? Over-relying on external objects to break through realms only leads to unstable foundations. Think clearly before eating it, understand?"

Yu Yunwei gritted her teeth, "I! Under! Stand!"

"Fine, don't eat it then!" Yu Yunwei muttered softly and put the Red Moon Fruit in her storage bag.

Xiao Mo ignored her and continued walking down.

The setting sun gradually sank toward the mountain ridge, the light becoming increasingly gentle, like a thin veil covering them. The sky was dyed with pale orange-red, cloud wisps edged with fine golden threads.

Before long, Yu Yunwei rested her head on his shoulder, sometimes blinking at him, sometimes gently lowering her head as if thinking about something.

Today the girl seemed a bit awkward.

"Senior Brother."

After a long while, Yu Yunwei spoke again.

"Speak if you have something to say."

"Why... why did you save me?" Yu Yunwei asked nervously.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't you dislike me, Senior Brother?" Yu Yunwei pouted, "And if I died, you'd be Master's only disciple! Master would focus all her attention on you!"

"First," Xiao Mo answered truthfully, "Whether I like or dislike you, I've never considered. For me, there's only disappointment and not disappointment."

"Second, I don't care at all about becoming Xue Kui's only disciple."

"So are you quite disappointed in me?" Yu Yunwei asked again.

Xiao Mo glanced at her indifferently, "Why do you ask such an obvious thing?"

"You!" Yu Yunwei's shoulders heaved violently with anger, her legs swaying constantly, "I don't want you to carry me anymore! Put me down!"

"Really?" Xiao Mo asked.

"I..." Yu Yunwei was instantly speechless.

Because she knew that if she said "really," he would actually put her down.

"However..."

Just as Yu Yunwei was cursing "dog senior brother" over ten times in her heart, Xiao Mo slowly spoke.

"This time on the mission, you performed quite well."

"You worked hard."

Yu Yunwei stared blankly at her dog senior brother.

In her heart, it was as if a warm current slowly flowed through.

Just like a child receiving candy, so sweet.

"Who asked you to praise me?"

Yu Yunwei turned her head away, her small hands unconsciously gripping his clothes tighter, her slightly wavering eyes carrying a hint of stubbornness.

"Stinky senior brother."