Chapter 75: Abyssal Demon Vine

Ghost?

The moment Liu Yue heard that word, she immediately took a deep breath, then held it, her eyes filled with panic as she anxiously scanned her surroundings.

Chen Xiaoyan smirked, his hand pressing down on Chong Chong’s head like an octopus’s tentacle.

“You little rascal, is your mischief itching again?”

Chong Chong’s face was full of fear at that moment, but when she heard his words, she knew her little scheme had been uncovered.

So, playfully, she stuck out her pink tongue at Chen Xiaoyan, as if scolding him for revealing her secret.

Chen Xiaoyan was silent.

Looks like this girl hadn’t learned her lesson in Monster Village; now her mischief was acting up again.

Glancing at Liu Yue, who kept looking around nervously, especially at her Genuine Martial Daoist robe, Chen Xiaoyan suddenly had a flash of understanding.

It wasn’t without reason that this girl had been matched to the Genuine Martial Sect.

Afraid of ghosts entering the sect, huh?

But even after joining, that weakness hadn’t changed.

Faced with such a pitiful, adorable little fairy, if she weren’t part of the team, Chen Xiaoyan really wanted to hold her gently in his arms and protect her carefully.

“Xiaoyue, Chong Chong is just teasing you on purpose. Relax a bit,” Chen Xiaoyan said softly, holding Liu Yue’s delicate little hand.

Although hugging wasn’t appropriate now, holding her hand to comfort her was fine.

“Mm,” Liu Yue responded softly.

Holding such a tender, smooth little hand, Chen Xiaoyan felt a warm happiness inside; even Chong Chong’s hand didn’t feel as fine as Liu Yue’s slender jade-like ones.

Warmth mingled with a trace of coolness.

Chen Xiaoyan quietly glanced at the Qingxin Ring on Liu Yue’s left ring finger and couldn’t help but smile.

Had it not moved since he put it on her?

According to Chong Chong and the others, wearing the ring on the left ring finger meant one was married.

Xiaoyue should know what it meant, right?

Then why hadn’t she taken it off or switched fingers?

Could it be that Liu Yue had feelings for him?

Or had she just forgotten about it?

In just a few seconds, Chen Xiaoyan’s mind was filled with a dozen possibilities.

No matter what, at this moment, his heart stirred a little.

After all, when playing games, who wouldn’t want a beautiful CP for a sweet romance?

Mu Qingxue and Chong Chong—one with gynophobia, the other a lesbian—had already made Chen Xiaoyan despair.

Liu Yue’s appearance gave him a glimmer of hope.

Wait…

What if Xiaoyue was the same kind of person?

How do I know?

Think about it—I’m currently playing a female character, so how could someone with a normal orientation like me have feelings for herself?

At that thought, Chen Xiaoyan had a bad premonition.

[Chen Xiaoyan: Xiaoyue, Chong Chong and the others say wearing the ring on the ring finger isn’t good; what if it affects your chances of finding a CP?]

Seeing Chen Xiaoyan’s private message, Liu Yue turned to look at him.

However, the guilty party didn’t dare to meet her eyes.

[Dao Ji Shi Kong: I think it’s fine.]

[Chen Xiaoyan: Then don’t blame me if you can’t find a CP later.]

This made Liu Yue’s lips curl into a small smile.

[Dao Ji Shi Kong: Won’t happen.]

If I can’t find a CP later, I’ll just take you as compensation. Do you think the ring can be casually discarded?

Chen Xiaoyan was helpless; with no info to get, he hastily ended the chat.

Unlike Chong Chong and the others, Liu Yue was naturally polite and serious; a straightforward question might upset her.

Put yourself in her shoes—if a friend asked whether you’re gay or if your orientation was normal, even if you didn’t say anything, you’d probably feel a little uncomfortable inside.

“Watch out!!!”

Mu Qingxue’s sudden shout shattered the silence of the canyon.

It snapped Chen Xiaoyan and Liu Yue back to reality.

Hong Chen Ru Meng, who was at the front, hadn’t even reacted when a tentacle shooting out from a crack in the ground slammed her like a sandbag and sent her flying.

[-2130]

Chen Xiaoyan was shocked.

Damage that high?

He hurriedly threw a Spring Breeze Charm towards Hong Chen.

“Watch the cracks, don’t get too close.”

Chen Xiaoyan warned the team, then stared at the blood-red tentacle ahead.

Its shape resembled an octopus’s tentacle, but it was covered in unknown runes that emitted an eerie crimson glow.

(Abyssal Demon Vine, Level: 18)

An eighteenth-level monster—could it be the boss of the Abyssal Canyon?

Clearly, no.

The dungeon was level 20; how could the boss only be level 18? It had to be at least level 20.

“Ow, almost twisted my waist,” Hong Chen Ru Meng said, clutching her side in pain as she stood up.

“You alright?”

Six Paths, holding his spear, asked as he turned back.

“As long as the captain’s here, I won’t die.”

She took the spear from her backpack and came to his side.

“Captain, do we fight?”

“Of course. How else will we get through?”

The Abyssal Demon Vine blocked the only path forward; not fighting wasn’t an option.

“Got it.”

Hong Chen Ru Meng licked her lips and charged forward as soon as her Super Armor activated.

Six Paths sighed helplessly.

Do you really think having Super Armor means you can rush in blindly?

“Ambush attack—no honor. Let this lady teach you a lesson! Take this!”

She struck with a “Azure Dragon Piercing” move.

But very stylishly, she was immediately ensnared by the vine.

“Huh?” Hong Chen looked dumbfounded.

Who am I? Where am I? What just happened?

In the blink of an eye, she’d been captured?

So fast?!

Chen Xiaoyan’s eyes lit up.

He shouted, “The monster’s holding Hong Chen—she can’t move! Focus fire!”

Mu Qingxue, with Sanxue, teleported instantly.

“Sword Light Cold Shadow”

One combo finished.

The Abyssal Demon Vine thrashed violently, clearly in pain.

Just as Sanxue prepared to follow up, Hong Chen Ru Meng was thrown aside.

The vine split with a “swish” from the size of a bucket into over ten fist-thick tentacles, instantly binding the four girls.

They weren’t given a moment to react.

“Hiss, so fast,” Liu Yue gasped.

“Xiaoyue, stay away from the vine for now. Use ranged attacks to damage it.”

“Xiaoyan, heal! Hurry and heal!”

Mu Qingxue’s face turned pale as her HP dropped rapidly.

What was happening?

They were bound but not attacked; why was their health falling?

Before he could think further, Chen Xiaoyan immediately activated a skill.

“Chong Chong, Fairy Melody, heal Qiu Xue and San Yue Bu Xia Xue. Xiaoyue, attack the tentacles on them.”

“Got it.”

Chen Xiaoyan kept his eyes locked on the demon vine’s tentacles; if they couldn’t sever these things, this dungeon run would be a failure.

Once their skills went on cooldown, the DPS would surely die.

Better to retreat and restart than lose a level.

Liu Yue pressed her two fingers together and used spiritual power to control her sword.

“Whoosh~”

Eight-sided Han swords howled through the air, turning into silver streaks weaving among the vine’s tentacles.

“Pfft.”

The tentacles binding Sanxue all snapped in an instant.

Seeing this, Chen Xiaoyan breathed a sigh of relief.

If they could cut the tentacles, there was still hope.

Freed, Mu Qingxue immediately stepped back, gasping for breath.

The four had almost been suffocated by the vine’s grip.