In the fire cave.

The dazzling firelight illuminated Ye Yuqiao's face, filled with panic and unease.

Ever since her Nether Soul Body left, she had been in this state of constant worry that it might harm Tang Jing because of a secret, which even she couldn't fathom.

In addition, she had a premonition that Chen Hao would soon take her away from this prison.

A beam of white light cascaded down from above her, and she looked up, startled, wondering if her Nether Soul Body was coming to find her again within mere hours.

Suddenly, a spark of recognition flashed in her eyes, and her face became animated with excitement.

She smelled a familiar scent!

It was a scent she found pleasant and nostalgic, extremely familiar to her.

"Is it you who has come?" Ye Yuqiao murmured as she raised her head towards the source of the light.

Within that blinding white light, she saw a familiar figure.

The moment she recognized him, the excitement on her face receded, replaced by a calm smile.

In the blink of an eye, Chen Hao was in front of her, but to her, that moment seemed longer than any century.

"Chen Hao, you've come. I've finally waited for you!" Ye Yuqiao tried to sound composed, but soon discovered that her face was covered in tears.

She had waited for this day for so very long.

Chen Hao looked at Ye Yuqiao with tight brows, unable to speak, his eyes filled with shame. The moment he had seen her, a familiar feeling was awakened in the depths of his heart, and a sense of indescribable calm emerged.

Before him was his beloved Yuqiao, the only one who could give him that sense of belonging.

Seeing Chen Hao standing silent, as though petrified, in front of her, Ye Yuqiao's face fell, and she said with a hint of disappointment, "Aren't you happy to see me?"

No sooner had her words fallen than Chen Hao's warm breath approached swiftly, pulling her into his embrace.

At last, Ye Yuqiao could no longer hold back, sobbing inconsolably in Chen Hao's arms.

"Yuqiao, I'm sorry. It was only today that I realized the Yuqiao by my side was an imposter," Chen Hao said with his eyes closed, wishing he could merge with Ye Yuqiao and never be apart again.

"Don't blame yourself, really, don't. You did well enough, arriving much sooner than I had anticipated," Ye Yuqiao said, holding Chen Hao even tighter.

After a while, the two separated.

Chen Hao caressed Ye Yuqiao's cheeks, heated by the surrounding flames, his eyes conveying his heartache, "You've lost weight, you look so haggard!"

Ye Yuqiao, with a hazy look in her eyes, smiled back and raised her hand to touch Chen Hao's cheeks, "You've lost weight too!"

Chen Hao chuckled, then leaned in to kiss Ye Yuqiao, moving his lips as if savoring a sweet piece of candy.

When their lips parted, Ye Yuqiao's cheeks reddened even more. Despite their many intimate moments, she still felt shy.

"Still like candy. You are indeed my Yuqiao," Chen Hao laughed.

"How strange!" Ye Yuqiao replied, her voice tinged with shyness. Then, a cold light flared in her eyes as she urgently asked, "By the way, damn it, Tang Jing hasn't been harmed, has she?"

"No!" Chen Hao shook his head, then questioned, "Why would something happen to Tang Jing?"

"My Nether Soul Body came looking for me just now, threatening to take Tang Jing's life if I didn't reveal the secret between us," she explained.

"Fortunately, Tang Jing had anticipated this and had Xie Xiaofeng lie in ambush at her place ahead of time," Ye Yuqiao added.

"So she did harbor thoughts of killing Tang Jing!" Ye Yuqiao's face darkened with anger. "Tang Jing had anticipated this? What do you mean by that?"

Chen Hao wanted to say more but stopped himself, gripping Ye Yuqiao's hand as he spoke, "Let's leave this place first, we can talk once we're out."

Having said that, Chen Hao bent over and swept Ye Yuqiao up into his arms.

"You've gotten so much lighter," Chen Hao said with concern. "Staying here for so long, you must be famished."

Ye Yuqiao hugged Chen Hao's neck tightly, smiling warmly as she spoke, "It's all in the past now. I'm happy as long as you can take me away from here. From now on, you'll have to protect your Yuqiao well."

Chen Hao nodded firmly and then left the fiery pit with Ye Yuqiao.

When they returned to the tent, Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body was no longer there, replaced instead by Zhao Chong.

Seeing Chen Hao carrying Ye Yuqiao out, Zhao Chong's expression darkened, and he slowly approached the two. After Chen Hao had set Ye Yuqiao down, he spoke, "Yuqiao said to tell you, don't forget the agreement you two made."

Ye Yuqiao glanced sidelong at Zhao Chong with a cold tone, "I know!"

"What did you and she agree on?" Chen Hao asked, puzzled.

Ye Yuqiao looked into Chen Hao's eyes and her tone underwent a dramatic shift, speaking softly, "I'll tell you after we leave this place."

"What are your plans from here on?" asked Zhao Chong, his face growing darker and more awkward by the moment.

Even though he was well aware that Chen Hao and Ye Yuqiao might ignore him, they had a common goal: to defeat the Ghost King and restore order to the Netherworld. If Chen Hao and Ye Yuqiao were willing to stay, they would surely be two mighty warriors in their ranks, greatly increasing their chances of reclaiming control of the Netherworld from the Ghost King Battalion.

Thus, even if he was met with indifference, he still posed the question.

"What's that to you?" Chen Hao said.

Zhao Chong looked at Ye Yuqiao, his heart still filled with guilt, and he said, "I hope you think it through. Staying is the best choice!"

Ye Yuqiao turned her head sharply to look at Chen Hao, saying, "You decide! I'll go along with you!"

A pained expression crossed the handsome yet haggard face of Zhao Chong. Ye Yuqiao's reaction was like a soft thorn, inconspicuous, but sharp enough to pierce into the depths of his heart.

"Of course, we're leaving this place! This place is nothing but a deception; I don't want to stay another second," Chen Hao resolved.

"Alright, then it's decided. Take me and let's leave this place!" Ye Yuqiao nodded in agreement.

As Chen Hao held Ye Yuqiao's hand, about to leave, he suddenly thought of something and turned to Zhao Chong, "Release Huashan and Yi Ning. I want to take them with us."

Zhao Chong furrowed his brows, appearing troubled. After a long pause, he reluctantly agreed.

..

..

A quarter of an hour passed.

Zhao Chong personally led four flying horses out to Chen Hao, Ye Yuqiao, Lin Huashan, and Yi Ning.

However, Chen Hao and Ye Yuqiao chose to ride one horse together, leaving one spare.

"Take care!" Zhao Chong's parting words were laden with profound meaning.

Chen Hao and Ye Yuqiao ignored him, but Lin Huashan smiled at Zhao Chong, saying, "Brother Zhao Chong, take care, and thank you for looking out for me before."

Zhao Chong looked at Lin Huashan, surprised, a feeling of warmth blooming in his heart as he gave her a wry smile.

Then, the four of them spurred their horses and took off, breaking through the wind. Not long after, Chen Hao could not help but look back at the Huiyin Mountains.

In some hidden corner, Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body stood, tears in her eyes, watching him leave.

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