Chapter 90: Stupid deer is Right! Artificial Respiration – That’s Definitely Necessary!

“HAHAHAHA—!!!” On the Life Altar, the demonic figure threw back its head, cackling maniacally into the sky.

As a blackish-red hexagonal evil array materialized in the air, the White-Robed Kensei standing outside the shrine widened her icy eyes. She summoned her sword to form a protective barrier of icy-blue sword energy. Meanwhile, the demon raised its right arm, its pale exoskeleton-covered claw reaching for the abyssal core of the floating array —

BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!

The array’s core erupted with a searing blast in the demon’s grasp. But instead of recoiling in pain, it only grew more ecstatic.

“It worked! It worked! The Mother Goddess hasn’t abandoned me!”

The terrifying abyssal energy first melted the pale exoskeleton, then even the flesh and muscles of the demon’s arm, leaving a skeletal limb. Undeterred, it laughed madly, enduring the agony as it crushed the core in its clawed hand.

Then, it swiftly shoved the core into its maw. Its bloodshot eyes flicked toward the Kensei, who was bracing behind her sword barrier.

`[What I cannot have, I shall destroy!]` it rasped, its voice demonic. In the next instant, it whirled toward the Kensei and opened its abyssal maw wide.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!!

Art, in its purest form, is an explosion.

A pillar of demonic energy blasted forth, its destructive radius akin to a hundred bulldozers, obliterating half the forest in a fan-shaped area centered on the Kensei.

This kind of full-screen, self-destructing AoE attack was practically impossible to avoid without spatial teleportation.

“Meeeeep!” From a tree branch beside the shrine, Wangxue watched, her face pale, instinctively wanting to charge forward.

“Stay put,” He Yimo said calmly, grabbing her antlers. “If you jump down now, the whole village will be feasting on roasted deer tonight.”

Wangxue turned, concern for Mo Yuyan evident in her eyes. He Yimo sighed.

He waited until the blast had weakened slightly, then pointed at the faintly glowing blue sword barrier at the center of the devastation.

Wangxue squinted and saw the White-Robed Kensei within the barrier.

“Relax. Mo Yuyan is the original novel’s number one carry, slaying everything in the early game. Can she not withstand a mere ultimate attack from Gu Wanglan, who’s gone demonic, reached near Deity Transformation level, and sacrificed half his remaining lifespan?”

He Yimo snorted, closing his eyes confidently.

But as if his words were a jinx, Wangxue suddenly gasped, tugging at his sleeve.

“Meeep! Senior Sister’s barrier broke!”

He Yimo’s eyes snapped open. Sure enough, the icy-blue barrier before Mo Yuyan had shattered, and the Kensei was sent flying by the blast.

“Shit, you’re right!” He Yimo’s heart skipped a beat. He tried to recall the differences between now and the original story.

In the game, Gu Wanglan first fought the protagonist in his normal form. When the protagonist was near death, they’d awaken a hidden power and defeat Gu Wanglan, forcing him into his demonic second phase. After a fierce battle, both would be grievously wounded. Finally, Gu Wanglan, in a fit of rage, would consume the abyssal core and unleash his ultimate, full-screen AoE blast. At that moment, Mo Yuyan would descend from the heavens to shield the protagonist.

But now…

Without the protagonist to push Gu Wanglan to his final form, Mo Yuyan was struggling to solo the entire fight.

“Damn, Wangxue, maybe you do need to step in.”

Seeing Mo Yuyan taking the blast head-on, a flicker of worry crossed He Yimo’s icy gaze.

He patted Wangxue’s rear, and the deer, with a meeep, leaped into the air, transforming into a golden streak that shot toward Mo Yuyan.

Simultaneously, He Yimo, seeing Gu Wanglan’s life force was nearly depleted, leisurely jumped down from his branch.

His left arm encased in a blood-red armguard, he strolled toward the Life Altar in the shrine’s center.

“Gu Wanglan, you’ve sacrificed so much…”

“Time to reap the fruits!”

`[Heeheehee~]`

`[No matter your talent, can you withstand an attack fueled by half my remaining lifespan?]`

On the Life Altar, the demon’s breath attack finally ended. Its exoskeleton receded, and Gu Wanglan’s battered, bloodied form reappeared. His body was covered in wounds, his right arm burned to the bone, his lower jaw and mouth a raw, grotesque mess from consuming the abyssal core.

But he didn’t care. At least at the moment of defeat, he had severely injured Mo Yuyan, finally getting his revenge. It was worth it.

`[Bet you didn’t expect this backup plan!]`

Having burned half his remaining lifespan, Gu Wanglan was exhausted, but he wasn’t ready to give up. He pulled out a small vial of Western Region forbidden medicine with his left hand, bit it open, and let the liquid slide down his throat.

Instantly, the drug revitalized him. Though his movements were still unsteady, he could at least walk without stumbling.

`[Where there’s life, there’s hope!]`

`[Once I escape to the Western Regions and sacrifice a few thousand righteous cultivators, I’ll make back today’s losses!]`

With that thought, Gu Wanglan sneered and stepped off the altar. But his coordination was still off, and he tripped, falling face-first with a thud.

“Ouch!”

“Brother Gu, no need for such courtesy!” He Yimo’s voice rang out mockingly.

The familiar, infuriatingly smug tone made Gu Wanglan’s eyes snap open. He looked up to see He Yimo standing before him, and his pupils trembled with dawning horror.

But contrary to Gu Wanglan’s expectations of vengeance, He Yimo didn’t draw his sword to finish him off. Instead, he extended a hand, offering to help Gu Wanglan up.

“Get up quickly. Senior Sister Mo will be here once she’s healed.”

Gu Wanglan stared, dumbfounded, as He Yimo hauled him to his feet, then brushed past him, heading toward the Life Altar, chanting praises to the Mother Goddess.

“Wh… why…” Gu Wanglan was utterly confused.

He looked back and saw, amidst the writhing vines on the altar, a grotesque, blood-red fruit ripening.

He Yimo ascended the altar, bowed respectfully, plucked the fruit, and began eating it.

“……!” Gu Wanglan finally understood.

This was the fruit produced by his own sacrifice—his own life force, given to the Mother Goddess!

“?” Gu Wanglan’s mind reeled.

Why did this junior disciple, a supposed righteous cultivator, understand the cult’s sacrificial rituals better than he, a long-time member, did?

In all his years, Gu Wanglan had never tried sacrificing himself to the Mother Goddess. He knew sacrificing others yielded fruits, but it never occurred to him that sacrificing himself would also produce one.

Of course, the Mother Goddess took most of the offered life force, so this fruit couldn’t fully offset his lifespan loss. But something was better than nothing! This fruit was the last remnant of his sacrifice, and He Yimo had snatched it, too!

“You shameless scum…” Gu Wanglan seethed, barely containing his rage.

But a sharp pain in his chest reminded him he was in no condition to fight. If He Yimo turned on him now, he’d be dead for sure!

“…” Realizing his predicament, Gu Wanglan felt a chill, and the hatred in his eyes vanished, replaced by fear.

He backed away silently, careful not to disturb He Yimo’s chanting. Once he was sure He Yimo wasn’t pursuing, Gu Wanglan turned and fled.

“Close call! Too close!”

“Lucky that brat was too busy singing to the Mother Goddess to finish me off!”

Deep in the forest, Gu Wanglan’s back was drenched in cold sweat. He wasn’t angry about the stolen fruit; he was just relieved to be alive. He didn’t understand why He Yimo hadn’t killed him first, but whether it was a mistake or intentional, he’d take it.

“Why are you running so fast?” He Yimo muttered, wiping the blood-red juice from his lips, watching Gu Wanglan’s retreating figure.

A sly smile curved his lips, but he didn’t give chase. Instead, he headed toward the severely injured White-Robed Kensei outside the shrine.

“Senior Sister Mo—!!!” He Yimo called out, quickening his pace.

He saw Mo Yuyan lying in the Nine-Colored Deer’s embrace, her eyes closed as if unconscious. Her white robes were tattered, revealing glimpses of her flawless skin, marred by injuries. Her legs, usually hidden by her long skirt, were partially visible through the holes in her scorched black leggings.

He Yimo swallowed hard, taking in the sight of this “battle CG” that would never appear in the original game. Then, he forced a tearful expression.

He removed his outer robe and draped it over the Kensei, shielding her. Then, he scooped her up from Wangxue, cradling her tenderly.

“Senior Sister! Are you alright?”

“Senior Sister! Say something! Don’t scare me!”

“I joined Wuji Sect because I was infatuated with you! If you die, what’s the point of me living alone?!”

“Waaah… It’s all my fault, I’ve dragged you into this…”

He Yimo’s voice grew more distraught as he spoke, but tears genuinely rolled down his cheeks, dripping onto the Kensei’s flawless face.

After a moment, He Yimo composed himself slightly, wiping his eyes with feigned bravery.

“Wangxue, you’re right! Artificial respiration! Yes, artificial respiration might save her!”

“Meeeep?” `[When did I say anything about artificial respiration?]` Wangxue was completely lost, not understanding her master’s antics.

She’d just told He Yimo through their mental link that Mo Yuyan was fine, just needing time to heal with natural energy. But He Yimo had ignored her, crying while cradling Mo Yuyan.

And artificial respiration? What was that? Wangxue had never heard of such a treatment!

Plus, Mo Yuyan was acting strangely too. She’d been awake earlier, talking to Wangxue, but as soon as He Yimo approached, she’d closed her eyes and pretended to be unconscious.

`Human society is too complicated!` Wangxue thought, feeling her head itch as if her brain were growing.

“Wangxue, help me hold Senior Sister steady!” He Yimo said urgently, not noticing Wangxue’s confusion. He rolled up his sleeves, looking solemn.

Drawn into the tense atmosphere, Wangxue nodded and propped up Mo Yuyan.

He Yimo placed his hands on Mo Yuyan’s chest, between her ample mounds, and began compressions.

After several pumps, as He Yimo leaned in, lips parted, about to perform “mouth-to-mouth,” Mo Yuyan finally couldn’t take it anymore. She covered his mouth with her hand.

“I’m not dead yet! Just resting my eyes!”

“He Yimo, shut your mouth. Be a man and stop crying!”

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