Chapter 132: Human Nature
"Miracle? My back feels broken!" Wang Xuan exclaimed, lying still.
"What?" Zhao Qinghan exclaimed, quickly sitting up, prepared to inspect his injuries.
"It's fine," Wang Xuan reassured her. "Probably just a bruise from hitting a tree trunk. I just need to lie down and rest a bit."
"We should take advantage of the lull, with all the wild creatures having fled," Zhao Qinghan suggested. "Rest up, and we'll leave as soon as dawn breaks."
Wang Xuan nodded, quickly settling into sleep amidst the woods. It was crucial for him to maintain his optimal condition, ready to face any unexpected challenges. Bathed in moonlight, Zhao Qinghan watched over him, thoughts racing. Her astute mind was filled with speculations, mainly because of how composed Wang Xuan had remained throughout their ordeal.
Regardless of everything, the image of Wang Xuan leaping through the air to save her at the crucial moment was etched in her heart. To her, he was a true friend, one she could entrust her life to. Feeling a mix of gratitude and emotion, she finally closed her eyes under the soft glow of the moon. The past couple of nights had been eventful, leaving her sleep-deprived. Now, in this moment of tranquility, she quickly drifted into a deep slumber.
By dawn, Wang Xuan remained motionless. His arm was pinned under Zhao Qinghan. He contemplated pulling it out but hesitated, not wanting to disturb her restful sleep. He thought it best to let her sleep a little longer.
Finally, Zhao Qinghan's eyelids fluttered as she gradually awakened. Realizing she had been clutching Wang Xuan's arm, she released it in embarrassment and adjusted her clothing.
"It's alright; you didn't drool much while sleeping," Wang Xuan teased, trying to lighten the mood.
"You're the one who drools! I never do," Zhao Qinghan retorted, her cheeks flushed.
"Why is my hand wet then?" Wang Xuan asked, standing up. He paused, noticing a slight dampness on his right hand. Could it be?
"It's just dew!" Zhao Qinghan said defensively as she got up.
The two then determined their direction, aiming to head back to reunite with their group.
Even though they had only been captured by the beast for a brief moment, Wang Xuan estimated that they had been carried dozens of miles away.
"In places removed from societal norms, humanity's true nature is unveiled, be it pure goodness or profound wickedness," Wang Xuan stated coldly. "Unfortunately, you embody the latter." When faced with such depravity, kindness was misplaced.
"And who do you think you're speaking to?" the middle-aged man retorted with disdain.
He was confident, knowing that most Master-level experts were over thirty years old.
The young man in front of him was barely in his early twenties, yet he dared to challenge him? It was true that a prodigious youth had emerged from the old territory, a rare specimen who had never ventured beyond those stars.
"You stand before a Master!" he declared coldly.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Qinghan's face changed slightly. She quickly grabbed Wang Xuan's hand, intending to retreat. She might have had some inklings about Wang Xuan's capabilities, but she was still concerned. The person before them was undeniably a seasoned Master.
Wang Xuan chuckled, "Qinghan, you almost fell for his ruse. This man is severely injured. He's too proud to share the spiritual herbs here with anyone else and aims to deceive us."
The genetically enhanced individual approached, finding the young man's naivety endearing. It even prompted a smile from someone like him, a Master who had blood on his hands and wouldn't hesitate to kill his own companions.
Releasing Zhao Qinghan's hand, Wang Xuan confidently stepped forward. "Trying to act tough but weak inside, who are you trying to fool? I see through your fa?ade, you paper tiger!"
The middle-aged Master laughed. However, a fleeting coldness shimmered in the depths of his eyes. He reached out, attempting to grasp Wang Xuan's arm, seemingly intent on breaking it.
Wang Xuan reacted swiftly, grabbing faster and with more force than his opponent. In an instant, accompanied by a sickening snap, he broke the man's arm.
Turning to Zhao Qinghan, Wang Xuan said, "Look at him, all bluster and bravado. His arm had been broken before, and it hasn't even fully healed. And yet, such a person dares to commit evil?"
The genetically enhanced individual's forehead glistened with sweat from the intense pain. A moment of sheer astonishment swept over him, followed by a chilling horror. He thought, 'What sort of creature is this?'
Before he could finish his thought, he started to speak, "I am a..." He was about to declare himself a Grandmaster, but another quick movement and snap from Wang Xuan silenced him, leaving his other arm broken and his words turning into stifled moans.
"It's ludicrous," Wang Xuan remarked with a shake of his head, "How audacious that anyone would pretend to be a Grandmaster."
The middle-aged man desperately wanted to protest, to clarify that he was no imposter but a true Grandmaster. However, before he could, Wang Xuan touched his shoulder, and it dislocated with a crunch.
Gasping for breath, the man tried to speak. Yet, he was overwhelmed by a formidable psychic force, rendering him mute. Terror and shock coursed through him, pushing him to the brink of madness.