Chapter 30: A Hero Saves the Beauty

The terrain was rugged, and Shangguan Ruoyun, covered in wounds and deathly pale, struggled forward. Everyone watching felt their hearts tighten; her resilience was truly beyond measure.

The mountain cats behind her were still in pursuit, leaving her no choice but to wander aimlessly ahead. Suddenly, sensing an immense danger, she dodged to the side. In an instant, a monster revealed its form exactly where she had been standing.

It was a color-changing creature, looking much like a frog yet possessing lizard-like features. It was a bizarre sight, roughly the size of a hound.

Monster Name: Chameleon Frog
Strength Rating: Two Stars
Talents: Camouflage, Long Tongue

This sudden appearance blocked Shangguan Ruoyun’s path, while the remaining mountain cats caught up from behind. She was now truly trapped between two fronts with nowhere to run.

"It’s over. One-star monsters were already hard enough to deal with, and now a two-star one has appeared. Our sister’s luck is truly terrible."
"Sigh, it’s fortunate she still has one resurrection chance left, otherwise it would be a tragedy."
"If only Qin Chuan were here."
"Indeed, although Qin Chuan is just a child, his strength is truly formidable."
"Qin Chuan is still by the lake guarding Shen Gongbao’s evolution, and who knows how far apart they are? The probability of them meeting is just too low."

Among the many "lucky ones" chosen for the forbidden land, some were more fortunate, encountering others shortly after arrival. Though they came from different nations, they agreed to travel together. Unfortunately, even in groups, their safety was hardly guaranteed; in times of danger, companions would often treat them as cannon fodder to facilitate their own escape.

In the forbidden land, one must never trust others easily. There had already been two incidents of internecine slaughter, broadcast live to the world, revealing the darkest side of humanity.

Despite being besieged from both sides, Shangguan Ruoyun did not give up. She refused to abandon her mission or her responsibilities until the very last moment. This earned her the deep respect of many. This was a soldier of Yanhuang.

However, both groups of monsters stopped a dozen meters away from her. They were wary of each other and hesitant to advance. Although the mountain cats were only one-star, their numbers were high, while the chameleon frog was a two-star threat but stood alone. Thus, they stood in a standoff, snarling at one another, warning the other not to touch their prey.

This provided Shangguan Ruoyun a moment to breathe. Keeping a sharp eye on both sides, she took out bandages from her pack to dress her wounds, remaining constantly vigilant lest these monsters decide to claim her life.

Fortunately, they did not advance immediately, though their roars grew louder by the minute. After several minutes of tension, the atmosphere turned explosive, and they charged toward Shangguan Ruoyun almost simultaneously.

"Oh no! Ruoyun has to face two groups of monsters; how can she escape?"
"Perhaps this is a turning point. If the two groups fight each other, she might be able to slip away."

Despite the hope, it was a desperate situation. Both groups attacked at once, and Shangguan Ruoyun, unable to fend them off, was immediately struck. Yet, at the critical moment, she avoided a fatal blow and collapsed to the ground, feigning death. Though she was in agony and bleeding, she did not make a sound, knowing this was her only chance for survival.

As expected, once she fell, the mountain cats and the chameleon frog turned their aggression toward each other, battling fiercely in the forest. Shangguan Ruoyun slowly dragged herself away while the monsters were distracted by their own combat.

In the end, the two-star chameleon frog emerged victorious. After devouring a few mountain cats and driving the rest away, it noticed its original prey was gone. With a furious roar, it began tracking the blood trail.

Shangguan Ruoyun had reached her limit. Many watching the live stream were in tears, unable to bear the sight.

"ROAR!"

The chameleon frog descended from above, finally catching up to the fleeing woman. Shangguan Ruoyun, trembling, gripped her dagger, her unyielding eyes fixed on the beast. She knew she could not win, but she would not submit.

The chameleon frog lashed out with its long, lightning-fast tongue. Had it connected, Shangguan Ruoyun would surely have died, and in her exhausted state, she had no strength left to dodge.

Shangguan Ruoyun was about to perish.

"BOOM!"

A sudden thunderclap echoed through the clear sky. When the viewers looked at the screen, they were left stunned. They discovered that Qin Chuan had appeared out of nowhere.

"Holy cow, when did Qin Chuan show up? This is too... magical!"
"Heaven bless Yanhuang! Our two lucky ones have finally reunited."
"She’s safe now. With Qin Chuan here, none of this is a problem anymore."

No one had expected Qin Chuan to descend like a deity. He had arrived just in time, sparing countless Yanhuang citizens from a heart-stopping tragedy. Had he been a moment later, Shangguan Ruoyun would have been lost.

"I don't know why, but I’m crying seeing this."
"It’s nothing to be ashamed of; I’m crying too."

Those watching Qin Chuan’s stream realized that the distant roars they had heard earlier were the monsters chasing Shangguan Ruoyun, which was what had drawn Qin Chuan to the area. It was a twist of fate that his curiosity had ended up saving another of Yanhuang’s chosen. One could only say that Yanhuang’s representatives were truly blessed.

"Who are you?" Shangguan Ruoyun asked, her voice weak. She was stunned; it was a mere child. Could it be that the national destiny would even force a child into this?

"My name is Qin Chuan. And you?" Qin Chuan realized she spoke the national language, but he asked nonetheless.

"What? You are Qin Chuan!" Shangguan Ruoyun was completely shocked. She had heard clearly about the two resource rewards granted in the forbidden land, but she never imagined the one who secured them was a child. She stared at him in disbelief, feeling inadequate compared to him.

"Child, I am Shangguan Ruoyun, also from Yanhuang." She relaxed slightly. That lightning strike from earlier had been too fast; she suspected it had something to do with him.

"So you are sister Shangguan Ruoyun. You’re injured." Seeing that she was his countrywoman—and a beautiful one at that—Qin Chuan cast a cold, furious glare toward the chameleon frog.