Chapter 82: What Is It That You Truly Want?

There are countless ways to become stronger, but it's simply not worth it if you lose your life in the process.

Dou Bin shot a glance at the man beside him. After all this time working together, they’d developed a basic level of understanding. Kou Dahai led the injured men away to tend to their wounds. Blackie, unwilling to let things go, grumbled, “Boss, are we really just going to let that woman off the hook? What about our pride?”

“If you have the guts, go yourself,” Dou Bin finally couldn’t hold back and rapped Blackie on the head—not too hard, since the spirit vine had only aimed to save him, not to kill. After a brief respite, his hand regained movement, and a large bump quickly swelled on Blackie’s forehead.

Blackie was speechless. If he were so capable, why would he need Dou Bin in the first place? Aggrieved, he retreated to have his wound dressed, beaten by circumstances stronger than himself.

On the other side, Jiang Yue’er, who had just been rescued by the spirit vine, was also in low spirits.

“Sister Yan, am I useless?” she asked. She’d had the advantage of speed, and the two leaves Yu Yan had given her were powerful—sharp enough to easily slice through the bodies of those strengthened by metal and earth energies. Yet, in the end, she hadn’t managed to kill a single enemy. Worse, she’d almost landed herself back in their hands, once again reduced to their plaything.

“How could that be?” Yu Yan disagreed, “For your first real fight, you did exceptionally well.”

“There were more than ten people against you, and in the end, four of their enhanced fighters were wounded. Even Dou Bin took two cuts from you. If he hadn’t retreated fast enough, the wounds from the featherleaf banyan leaves would have been even deeper—he might’ve lost his ability to fight.”

Yu Yan thought to herself, in her past life, she could never have managed this well. Aside from the first time she’d entered the Bloodthirsty Vine dungeon—when she’d fought desperately out of grief for her lost daughter—every other time, she’d learned hard lessons in battle, leaving blood in her wake. She’d simply been luckier than Jiang Yue’er; when she’d encountered similar scum, she’d already been strong enough to fight back.

In the end, not only had she not been taken advantage of, but that scoundrel had also died by her hand.

“Really?” Jiang Yue’er’s voice was full of doubt. Everything she’d endured recently had shattered her pride and self-esteem, leaving her a shadow of her former self.

Yu Yan, uncharacteristically patient, reassured her, “Of course. You’re just lacking experience.”

“With me and Yunduo’er supporting you, you can go ahead and fight boldly. If you run into danger, we’ll save you.”

“Alright!” Jiang Yue’er nodded seriously. Instantly, her gloom lifted. That’s right—she wasn’t alone anymore! She glanced at Yu Yan, then at Yunduo’er, whose face was full of encouragement. There was no way she could let herself be outdone by a child.

The spirit vine that had just rescued her now quietly coiled around Yunduo’er’s wrist. Who would have thought that the seemingly unimpressive Yunduo’er could be so formidable?

One day, Jiang Yue’er would become strong, too. She finished tending to her wounds, drank a few sips of water from Yu Yan’s flask, and stood up. No, instead of dreaming about the future, she should seize the present!

Step by step, Jiang Yue’er walked toward Dou Bin and his group. This time, she didn’t rush in at top speed. Instead, she advanced calmly, replaying the recent fight in her mind.

Her benefactors had already wasted enough time on her; she couldn’t keep holding them back. It would be best if she could kill her target this time—or at least ensure her own safe retreat.

Only then could Yu Yan and her daughter move on without worrying about her safety. Jiang Yue’er could tell Yu Yan had urgent matters to attend to; otherwise, she wouldn’t have chosen to travel late into the night after dinner.

“Why are you back again?” Dou Bin asked when he saw Jiang Yue’er. This time, he didn’t try to tease her, but felt a headache coming on. He didn’t regret letting his brothers have their way with this woman; he’d had his share, too, and she’d been quite enjoyable.

But now, to fight her again? It wasn’t that they couldn’t win, but what was the point? The first time, they’d fought and even captured her—only for her to be rescued in minutes.

If he didn’t fight, she was no longer as helpless as before. If he let her do as she pleased, his men could end up dead. These brothers had all been strengthened by spirit beast meat; it hadn’t been easy to form such a team. He couldn’t let Jiang Yue’er cut them down at will.

But soon, Dou Bin realized even these thoughts were useless. Jiang Yue’er, returning for a second round, was a different person—not the chaotic mess she’d been the first time. She now knew how to feint, to distract, to fish in troubled waters, and she slipped away like a mudfish. No matter how his dozen men tried, they couldn’t lay a hand on her.

Instead, she managed to add a few more wounds to his body. This time, even fighting her injury for injury didn’t work; whenever Jiang Yue’er sensed the tide turning, she’d leap over two meters into the air and escape the field in seconds.

Realizing things were going south, Dou Bin decisively pulled his men back a dozen meters. Jiang Yue’er watched them retreat but didn’t press the attack. Her energy was nearly spent after two assaults. She needed to rest, or she’d repeat her previous mistake—and she didn’t want Yunduo’er to have to save her again. That would be too humiliating.

Dou Bin glared coldly at Jiang Yue’er. “What exactly do you want?”

“Even if you’ve grown stronger, if you force me to use my trump card, you won’t gain anything,” he warned. “I advise you to know when to stop, Jiang Yue’er!”

Know when to stop? Easy for him to say! What about all the torment she’d suffered?

His words only made Jiang Yue’er’s eyes turn blood-red. “Dream on!”

“There’s no way I’ll ever let this go. If you’re so tough, use your trump card. Don’t think I don’t know—if you use it, you’ll be half-crippled yourself. Are you sure your loyal brothers will stay obedient once you’re helpless?”

Dou Bin’s face turned green and pale by turns—this was exactly what he feared.

If he used his strongest move, he’d be left defenseless. Would Blackie and the others take advantage of his weakness to kill him and steal his treasures? Dou Bin had no confidence at all. It was this cursed dungeon world that had separated him from his real brothers. If his two brothers were here, would he be so powerless?

Now, with this woman daring to provoke him, he would make her pay dearly!

“What’s the matter, cat got your tongue?” Jiang Yue’er smiled triumphantly, feeling a rush of exhilaration she’d never known. “But since I’m in a good mood, I’ll let you go for now. Tomorrow morning, we’ll settle this. Blackie, Kou Dahai, and you, Blondie—don’t think you can just play dead. You three, wait for me.”

“Tomorrow, the first people I kill will be you!”

Blackie, barely clinging to life, could only groan in silence.

Blondie, who was pretending to be unconscious, didn’t dare open his eyes.

Kou Dahai looked utterly bewildered—what did this have to do with him? If anyone had bullied Jiang Yue’er, it was everyone in their group except his wife and that woman who could dance—even his own son, Xiao Jian, had taken liberties with her. True, he’d snuck around behind his wife’s back to find Jiang Yue’er a few times, but by no measure was he her greatest offender.

Jiang Yue’er had no intention of explaining. Kou Dahai might have bullied her less, but—something flashed through her mind, and she swallowed hard, suppressing a wave of nausea.