The pair had reached the heart of the forest where "Red-Tailed Lizards" were known to roam. In just a short time, they had annihilated fifteen of the creatures, leaving them only five short of the quota needed for their revival round—an astonishing rate of efficiency! Thanks to Zhong Shenxiu's psychic waves, any attempt by the Red-Tailed Lizards to conceal themselves was futile. Zhong Shenxiu could pinpoint their exact locations, making their slaying as easy as taking something from his own pocket. ※※※※※※ In this same forest, forty li away, two figures were fleeing in panicked haste.

One of the two was immediately conspicuous due to his sheer size; he stood well over two and a half meters tall, his massive frame resembling a solid wall. His name was Laorei. He hailed from the Giant Tribe, yet despite his enormous stature, he was considered a dwarf among his own people. Perhaps due to this difference, he had been tragically abandoned at birth, only to be fortunately adopted by Leorien.

The Giant Tribe possessed inherent, tremendous strength and matured rapidly. Though Laorei currently presented a picture of simple honesty, he was barely fifteen years old. Of course, the lifespan of the Giants was comparatively short; living to the age of fifty would be considered a great longevity!

"Laorei, how is your wound? Let's stop for a moment, I need to tend to it!" Leorien urgently called out to him from beside him.

"It's nothing, I'm thick-skinned. Sir, we must leave this place quickly; that demonic beast will catch up soon!" Though Laorei spoke lightly, his actual condition was far more grave than it appeared. The venom from the Red-Tailed Lizard had already begun to spread through his system, leaving him feeling lightheaded and unsteady. His body was slowly losing sensation, and he had no idea how much longer he could hold out. Yet, no matter what, they had to escape first; Physician Leorien must not be injured! Laorei was naturally loyal, understanding the principle of repaying kindness tenfold. His life had been saved by Physician Leorien, and he would remain devoted to him for all his days. For Leorien’s sake, he would gladly give up his own life without hesitation.

"Stop, let me see your wound!" Leorien was not fooled by Laorei’s casual words. He clearly saw the swelling around Laorei’s injury, which was already beginning to fester. As a physician, he knew all too well that this signified the toxin was worsening.

Leorien, appearing like a scholar in his early thirties, was none other than the "Physician Leorien" mentioned by Huniu and the two old men! He and Laorei had just finished gathering herbs and were hurrying back when they encountered a Red-Tailed Lizard on the periphery. They only escaped thanks to Laorei’s brute strength acting as a shield—otherwise...

"Sir, I'm fine, I can still manage. Let's just hurry along!" As Laorei spoke, the muscles in his face suddenly twitched, as if struck by a seizure. A searing, fiery pain seemed to strike him instantly, flushing his dark face crimson, while beads of sweat broke out across his forehead.

Leorien inwardly grimaced, knowing Laorei was simply trying to tough it out. If the wound wasn't treated immediately before the toxin spread further, saving him would become exponentially harder, potentially leaving lasting complications—something he absolutely could not allow. As a physician, treating the afflicted was his sacred duty, and Laorei was the family he had relied on for many years. How could he let him collapse before him? With that thought, Leorien’s expression suddenly hardened, and he commanded sternly, "Listen to me, let me examine your injury!"

Laorei knew Leorien’s temperament well; once he decided something, it was near impossible to change his mind. Reluctantly, he stooped over. But in that brief pause, an irresistible weariness washed over him like a sudden storm, causing his vision to blacken. With a heavy thud, he fell to one knee. If he hadn't managed to brace himself with a hand, he would have collapsed entirely onto Leorien.

"Laorei!" Leorien cried out, trying to steady the giant’s body. But he was merely a physician; his strength was limited, and how could he possibly bear the weight of Laorei’s wall-like frame? Leorien nearly fell under the sudden pressure himself. Seeing the wound weeping thick, red pus, Leorien’s heart ached. If Laorei hadn't been injured protecting him, he wouldn't be this hurt; with his own strength, Laorei could have defended himself against a Red-Tailed Lizard! Guilt aside, Leorien did not forget his purpose. Swiftly, he gathered some herbs nearby known to inhibit this specific toxin, then picked up a stone, crushed them into a poultice, and applied it to Laorei’s wound…

Nearly three minutes had passed, and Leorien was working as fast as he dared. But Laorei had sustained too many injuries fighting the Lizard, and after the exertion, the toxin had spread deep within him, demanding meticulous care. What Leorien was doing now was merely suppressing the spread temporarily; they would need to return to a proper setting to fully treat Laorei and purge the poison!

Just as Leorien was concentrating intently on treating the wound, a frantic rustling sound suddenly erupted from the undergrowth behind him, like something slithering towards them at incredible speed. But then, strangely, as the sound drew nearer, it vanished into thin air, leaving the surroundings deathly silent. Leorien’s entire focus was on Laorei; he could not afford to be distracted while tending to these critical wounds, so he missed the sound entirely. As time crept by, the air seemed to thicken and grow oppressively heavy. Then, a massive head suddenly thrust out from the bushes behind Leorien—it was a Red-Tailed Lizard!

Was this truly a lizard? It could just as easily be called a carnivorous dragon. Its enormous head was capable of snapping a man’s body in half, and its exposed teeth, coupled with the slow sweep of its massive, scarlet tail, sent chills down the spine! Laorei, facing the direction of the Lizard, spotted it first and gasped in shock. A sudden surge of unknown strength flooded him, and he shoved Leorien forcefully away. Simultaneously, the Lizard’s massive tail lashed out, connecting squarely with Laorei.

"BOOM!" Dust billowed into the air.

When Leorien, thrown clear, scrambled up and looked back toward Laorei, his pupils dilated nearly twofold. He let out a desperate, heart-wrenching scream: "No!" What greater agony is there than watching a loved one about to die horribly before your very eyes, yet being utterly powerless to intervene?

At that critical juncture, a slightly youthful voice suddenly cut through the chaos: "Robin, how many is that now?" "Master, that makes eighteen!" answered a sweet, feminine voice. For a brief moment, Leorien’s mind went completely blank!

When he regained focus and looked back at Laorei and the Red-Tailed Lizard, he froze again in utter disbelief. What was happening? The Red-Tailed Lizard, which had been moments away from crushing Laorei, was now frozen stiff, like a statue. Its massive, razor-sharp teeth hovered less than a few centimeters from Laorei’s face! Time itself seemed to have truly stopped in that instant!

Then, under Leorien’s astonished gaze, Zhong Shenxiu and Robin slowly walked into view.

Zhong Shenxiu, clad in a grey robe, exuded an air of refined immortality. Robin, dressed in white, radiated potent spiritual energy. Bathed in the filtered sunlight, their flowing hair gave them an ethereal, otherworldly quality—truly a perfect pair of celestial youths!

Leorien stared, mesmerized, half-convinced he was hallucinating.

Zhong Shenxiu glanced up at the still-dazed Leorien and offered a small smile, conveying a look that said, Don’t worry, we aren’t bandits! Robin, without needing instruction from Zhong Shenxiu, expertly maneuvered the Red-Tailed Lizard into her storage bracelet. She then turned her gaze to Leorien, though her expression carried the detached serenity of someone untouched by worldly affairs.

With the immediate threat of the Lizard gone, nearly all the pressure lifted. Leorien finally exhaled a deep breath.

"Ma-many thanks to you both for saving us!" Leorien managed, bowing slightly. Though the words were of gratitude, his voice trembled with profound awe. It was understandable: Zhong Shenxiu and Robin were incredibly young, perhaps even 'childlike,' yet they had instantaneously dispatched the Red-Tailed Lizard. Had he not witnessed it firsthand, he would never have believed it possible! As a physician, he could confirm the Lizard was dead, but he had no idea how it had died. The entire event was shrouded in an inexplicable mystery!

Zhong Shenxiu didn't linger on pleasantries with Leorien. He turned his attention instead to the massive form of Laorei lying on the ground. Laorei’s immense size piqued his curiosity, and he asked plainly, "What race is he?"

Hearing Zhong Shenxiu speak, Leorien was jolted back to the reality of Laorei’s near-death state. He rushed over to check his injuries, but made sure to answer Zhong Shenxiu’s question first: "Laorei is of the Giant Tribe!"

The Giant Tribe? Upon hearing the words, Zhong Shenxiu’s eyes clearly brightened, but a question of confusion followed immediately. He pressed, "Aren't members of the Giant Tribe all over five meters tall? He looks to be only about two and a half meters?"

This time, Leorien couldn't reply. He was too preoccupied; Laorei’s condition was critical. Though he hadn't been killed by the Red-Tailed Lizard, the fatal wounds were sufficient to end his life. Laorei’s breath was now barely perceptible!

"Laorei, Laorei, you must hold on, you cannot give up!" Leorien’s hands moved frantically, leaving him no time to acknowledge Zhong Shenxiu beside him. If one observed closely, Leorien’s body was shaking. Laorei’s injuries surpassed all expectations of severity. Even with Leorien’s excellent medical skill, he had perhaps only a one-in-ten chance of pulling Laorei back from the brink of death! There is a special kind of anguish in the world: the pain of trying one’s absolute best and still being unable to save a loved one! Leorien was so tense he felt his own breathing falter!

Zhong Shenxiu, who had initially watched Leorien’s desperate efforts with casual interest, soon became unable to bear watching anymore. Finally, he couldn't help but interrupt with a sharp remark: "Hey, is that how you treat people? Get out of the way, let me handle this!!!"