HEART PROTECTION: CHAPTER 76After bringing Huan Xiao Yan up the bank, Yan Hui immersed herself back in Black River to continue cleansing . Â
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The water tranquilly flowed on . Yan Hui watched her cultivation leach out and flow away with the water . 10 years of cultivation, all of her hard work, turned into smoke . Yan Hui's gaze didn't even waver an inch .
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Cleansing away cultivation was very painful, and it actually burdened the body . However, she just watched and didn't utter a sound .
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Before, she would always remark about how Tian Yao was good at enduring . No matter his mood or pain, he always hid it all in his heart . He remained silent . But now, Yan Hui felt like enduring it was actually an automatic response . Â
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Because there was no other way, it had to be endured .
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Yan Hui knew that right now she was digging a knife into her own heart, cutting away at it . It was all to raise a fierce tiger inside that one day would come out . In the end, this internal tiger would grow big and become a man-eating beast .
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She didn't have much cultivation left in her body . She didn't stay long in Black River before all her cultivation was washed away . From now on, she was no longer a xian cultivator . She was going to cultivate the demon pathway and learn their magic . She was going to walk a path she never considered before .
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With her magic gone, Yan Hui for a moment felt powerless . She didn't even have the strength to crawl to shore .
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Huan Xiao Yan was at the river bank carefully watching the water's movement . When she saw it was about time and Yan Hui still didn't appear, Huan Xiao Yan drew in a breath to call out . Off to the side, a figure dived in Black River headfirst . Just a few moments later, the figure came out .
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Tian Yao held Yan Hui in his arms . She had already passed out .
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Tian Yao hugged her for a long time . He just quietly looked at her and didn't say a word . Huan Xiao Yan watched on anxiously .
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The illusion demon clan always stuck to a powerful demon to live . As a result, they developed an acute sense toward powerful demons . From the first moment Huan Xiao Yan saw Tian Yao, she knew he wouldn't be easy to deal with . Before it was the illusionscape, so she didn't worry about it . Now that she had to be with Tian Yao, it was hard for her to not be apprehensive .
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But Tian Yao was staring at Yan Hui for far too long . Huan Xiao Yan couldn't hold it in any longer and softly asked: "Is she alright?"
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"No . " He swept Yan Hui's wet hair from her forehead . "But I make her become better . "Â
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Huan Xiao Yan was stunned by those words and rubbed her nose . When she saw Tian Yao finally start to carry Yan Hui back, she silently and cleverly followed behind without further words .
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When Yan Hui woke up, it was already the second day . She was back in the courtyard Zhu Li had prepared for them .
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Huan Xiao Yan was by her side . When Yan Hui opened her eyes, the demon moved closer . "You're awake . Do you want to sleep more? First tell me what you want to dream about . I'll cast an illusion for you . "
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Yan Hui turned her head . Her voice was still raspy from waking up: "Don't be so anxious to fawn over me . I don't plan on killing you for now . "
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Huan Xiao Yan curled her lip: "I'm hungry . You didn't give me any emotions to eat . I'm hungry . " Her eyes lit up light she just thought of something . "Don't you hate that whats-her-name Ling Fei? I'll let you dream about her . You can kill her hundreds of thousands of times in your dream . You'll feel happy!"
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Yan Hui knit her brows: "Don't let me dream about her . "
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Huan Xiao Yan was about to speak when Tian Yao, who was also in the room, cut in . He changed the topic: "Your xian cultivation has all been cleansed away, but your broken bones and muscles still haven't healed . If you want to cultivate the demon pathway, then you physically need to heal first . "
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Yan Hui nodded: "Got it . "Â
"The medicine apprentice told me about an icy spring in Qing Qiu earlier . It can heal broken bones and muscle . I'll bring you there tomorrow when you're feeling better . "
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Yan Hui tried to prop herself up . Huan Xiao Yan cried out: "Ah, you can't!" She tried to block Yan Hui at the same time . "You need to rest!"
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Yan Hui avoided her and got off the bed . "I'm going now . "
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Tian Yao just silent walked up . Right when Yan Hui was about to fall off the bed, he reached out a hand and steadily grasped her arm . He gave Yan Hui the support needed to stand up .
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Yan Hui looked up at Tian Yao . He didn't wait for Yan Hui to say something before flatly saying: "I know I can't stop you . " He pulled at her elbow to wrap her arm around his own shoulder .
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"Get up . I'll carry you there . "
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In the end, he would never be able to stop her . It would be better to directly help her . . . . . . . . .
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Yan Hui climbed onto Tian Yao's back . She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder . She softly sighed: "Tian Yao . "
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"Hm?"
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"You ought to have been a very gentle person . "
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Tian Yao was a little stunned and didn't say a word .
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Huan Xiao Yan eagerly followed behind the pair: "Ah, you should just say he treats you very well and makes your heart beat . That's enough . There's no need for that ought to have been very gentle . . . . . . . . "
 Yan Hui shot a look at Huan Xiao Yan . Huan Xiao Yan's footsteps paused . Yan Hui disregarded her: "Don't follow us . Go off and play . "
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Huan Xiao Yan could only rub her nose and make a sound in acknowledgement . Then she hopped off to the side: "You're even making me go away . I'll find something to eat on my own . "
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When she left, Yan Hui sighed . "This is as troublesome as suddenly giving birth to a little brat . "Â
"Having someone by your side for comic relief is a good thing . "
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Yan Hui was a little startled when his light words fell in her eays . Then, she nodded her head: "When you put it like that, I agree . "
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The cold spring was located behind the mountain where the king lived . Tian Yao walked on a small path, which wasn't too long . After placing Yan Hui in the icy spring, he retreated to the undergrowth and quietly kept guard .
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The spring was icy cold but wasn't piercing . Its power slowly seeped into the skin and started to heal her injuries . Yan Hui stared at the sky in boredom and posed a question for Tian Yao: "Qing Qiu didn't want you to do something for them?"
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"I still haven't gotten back my dragon heart . I can't do much other things . "
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When he brought that up, Yan Hui remembered Tian Yao still hadn't found all his body parts . "Are there any clues on where it is?"
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"Yes . "
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Yan Hui was curious and tilted her head to hear better .
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"It's in Guang Han Sect . "
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Yan Hui was shocked: "For real? How did you get that clue?"
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"I have all of my other body parts, so I know where my dragon heart is . There's no need for other clues . "
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Yan Hui was silent for a moment before frowning: "In Guang Han Sect . . . . . . . . . in other words, Su Ying is personally watching over it?" This time to retrieve it, perhaps a head-on flight with Su Ying was inevitable . With Tian Yao's current strength, it would be difficult, and who knows when Yan Hui would succeed in cultivating demon magic . She feared she would be of little help for Tian Yao . To get back the dragon heart might require waiting even longer . . . . . . . . .
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"Right now, there's an enormous barrier protecting Guang Han Sect at their entrance . My dragon heart is at the spell's formation . Su Ying is using my heart to protect her sect . " This time, Tian Yao's voice wasn't filled with hate at the mention of Su Ying's name like it did before . It was like he was dully recounting some matter, without any emotion but determination to win . "Break the barrier . Find the center of the spell . My dragon heart will be there . "
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After getting back the heart, Tian Yao will be complete . . . . . . . . . . . no, there was still . . . . . . . . .
 "What about the dragon scales?" Yan Hui cocked her head . She looked at Tian Yao's back, who was sitting behind a tree . "You're not going to retrieve your dragon scales?"
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Tian Yao was silent for only a moment: "Su Ying took them . I want her to return every single one . "
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"And the heart protection scale?"
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Tian Yao didn't reply . There was a long silence before he responded: "To me, there's no difference whether or not I have that scale . "
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Yan Hui rested her hand where her heart was . She felt the ever sturdy beat of her heart and said to herself: "You gave me my life . "
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Tian Yao heard those words and slightly turned his head . He saw Yan Hui's back and didn't say a word .
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In the silence, there was suddenly the sound of pattering feet from a distance . Tian Yao looked into the distance . When he saw who was coming, he didn't go on alert .
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In a few moments, Huan Xiao Yan arrived . She panted: "Master Yan, they said they caught a female assassin who was going to kill you!"
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Yan Hui was stunned by those words . Tian Yao's eyes narrowed slightly . Yan Hui took a few steps out of the spring: "What female?"
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"A xian cultivator from Chen Xing Mountain . I think her name is Zi Yue, a senior disciple . She was discovered right when she crossed the border . No one else came with her . It seems like she went alone . "
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Yan Hui stared blankly for a long time without returning to her senses . Â
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In the hall of Zhu Li's residence, Yan Hui met Zi Yue, her would-be assassin . Zi Yue cut a sorry figure; her hair was in messy disarray . The demons had forced her to kneel on the ground . Yan Hui walked up from behind . Zi Yue raised her head to look and saw Tian Yao also accompanying Yan Hui . Immediately, the rims of her eyes turned red . She gritted her teeth and seemed like she was about to lunge at Yan Hui .
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However, the guards at her sides forcefully yanked her down .
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"Yan Hui!" Zi Yue was unwilling and screamed . "You bring bad omens!" Yan Hui heard, but her expression didn't change at the slightest . "It's all your fault! Head Senior Disciple died because of you! He died because he was trying to save you! Why are you still alive?"
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Yan Hui didn't refute .
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"You are a terrible person! Do you know how much disgrace Head Senior Disciple suffered because of you?! You also made Chen Xing Mountain suffer so much disgrace too!"
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Finally, Yan Hui's eyes flickered . She squatted down and stared straight into Zi Yue's eyes: "Disgrace? Very good . Ever since I left Chen Xing Mountain with a broken body, I not only want to become Chen Xing Mountain's disgrace but also want to be the shame carved on their face . "Â
Yan Hui's words even made the furious Zi Yue stare blankly .
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Yan Hui continued: "Ling Fei knows better than anyone how Zi Chen died . " She clenched her teeth tight . Every word seemed forced . "I also am wrong . I'm wrong for not killing Ling Fei by now . "
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Zi Yue was stunned .
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Yan Hui stood back up, sleeves brushing against Zi Yue's face . She turned to look at Zhu Li: "Let her go . Let her return to Chen Xing Mountain . " She tilted her head and looked at Zi Yue with dark eyes: "Let her repeat every words back to every single person at Chen Xing Mountain . "
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Including her shifu .
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It was nighttime, and the scene was like water .
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Ever since the demon clan's guards escorted Zi Yue away, Yan Hui had been siting in her room in a daze . It wasn't until late in the night that Yan Hui went to bed .
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Yan Hui thought that at first she wouldn't be able to fall asleep . However once she closed her eyes, she sank into blackness .
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She had a dream . She dreamed Zi Chen standing close by in the blackness, quietly looking at her . He didn't say a word nor move an inch . He was like those wooden dolls that Yan Hui and Zi Chen played with when she first entered Chen Xing Mountain .
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"Head Senior Disciple," she said . "Hereafter, I won't acknowledge the sect, but I will always acknowledge you as my Head Senior Disciple . " Yan Hui also stood in place without moving and just distantly looked at him . "I'll take revenge for you . "
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Zi Chen looked at her . His eyes had hidden worry .
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Yan Hui woke from her dream not long afterwards .
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She stared at the carvings on the bed and couldn't fall back asleep . Her injuries started to flare up and burn with pain . Yan Hui decided she might as well not sleep, got up, and draped on some outer clothing . She walked on the path Tian Yao showed her in the morning to go soak in the icy spring .
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The frigid spring waters not only healed her injuries but could also calm her mind in times like this .
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There was no one around the spring, so Yan Hui took off everything and entered the water . In a split second, the cold water soothed the pain from her injuries .
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However, standing was too tiring . Yan Hui looked for someplace she could sit at the edge . She didn't have to search long before she found a slender, smoothing thing . It seemed like a branch that fell into the spring . Yan Hui sat down on it and looked at the moon, heaving a big side .
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Yan Hui sat there and rested her back against the bank . She slowly closed her eyes and fell into a slight sleep with no dreams .