Chapter 31: Escaping the Pursuit and Breaking the Curse, Warmth Amidst the Perilous Journey

Dense fog blanketed the forest, thick enough to obscure one's own hand. The humid air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and rotting leaves.

Mao Yu sprinted through the dense jungle with Feng Yao and Mao Ling in tow, their pursuers clinging to their heels like maggots on bone.

"Young Master Mao, wait for me..." Mao Ling’s voice trembled. Her ankle had been gashed by a sharp branch, and blood seeped down her pant leg, but she gritted her teeth, enduring the pain and refusing to slow down.

Feng Yao kept close behind Mao Yu, casting anxious and vigilant glances behind them from time to time.

"Damn it! These guys are like ghosts that just won't go away!" Mao Yu cursed under his breath. He could feel his internal energy depleting rapidly; the prolonged, high-intensity flight was beginning to take its toll.

His mind was in turmoil: What exactly was the secret of the curse contained within this treasure? Should he break the curse first or shake off the pursuers? Stopping to break the curse risked them being caught, but continuing without doing so threatened even greater danger.

"Young Master Mao, you don't look well. Are you hurt?" Feng Yao keenly sensed his unease and asked with concern.

"I'm fine, just a small scratch," Mao Yu replied with a forced smile, not wanting them to worry.

Suddenly, Mao Yu stopped in his tracks, his brow furrowed. He sensed a surge of intense killing intent coming from ahead.

"There's an ambush up ahead!" he said in a low, sharp tone, his senses on high alert.

"What? An ambush?" Mao Ling’s face changed, and she asked in terror.

"Don't panic. I'm here," Mao Yu patted her shoulder, offering comfort. He scanned the surroundings, but the dense woods obscured his vision, making it impossible to judge the enemy's position or numbers.

"We have to think of another way," Feng Yao analyzed calmly. "If we keep going like this, they will catch up sooner or later."

Mao Yu took a deep breath, a flicker of resolve in his eyes. He gripped the treasure in his hand, a plan forming in his mind.

"Feng Yao, take Mao Ling and go ahead. I’ll draw them away."

"No! That's too dangerous!" Feng Yao immediately objected. "If we go, we go together!"

"Listen to me! That’s an order!" Mao Yu's tone was firm and brooked no argument.

"Young Master Mao..." Mao Ling’s eyes filled with tears as she clutched his hand, unwilling to let go.

"Trust me, I will come back alive!" Mao Yu gently patted her head, his eyes filled with tenderness. He looked at them both one last time, then resolutely turned and ran in the opposite direction.

"Stop! Don't run!"

"After him!"

The roar of the pursuers grew closer behind him. A cold smirk played on Mao Yu’s lips. He suddenly stopped, turned to face his followers, and looked at them with provocation.

"Want to chase me? Then come and get it!"

He slowly raised the treasure, and a powerful surge of energy emanated from him.

"You are all going to die!"

***

Mao Yu suddenly slammed on the brakes, a wicked, charming arc curling his lips.

"Run? Not a chance! I'm going to face them head-on!" He grabbed Feng Yao and Mao Ling and ducked into a hidden cave by the path.

"What?! Young Master Mao, didn't you say you were going to draw them away?" Mao Ling asked, clutching her injured ankle, utterly bewildered.

"Don't you know that 'all is fair in war'? After following the 'best of the thirty-six stratagems is to flee,' the next step is obviously to feint to the east while attacking the west!" As he spoke, he took out the treasure and examined it closely.

The object felt icy cold, its surface etched with strange patterns, radiating an eerie aura. Watching him so focused, Feng Yao couldn't help but feel a stir in her heart. This man was actually quite reliable in a crisis.

She took out her medical supplies to treat Mao Ling’s wound. Mao Ling felt awkward at first—the two had been "rivals in love" for quite some time—but feeling Feng Yao's gentleness and care, she gradually relaxed, even feeling a small thrill: Could she and Feng Yao actually become good friends?

The atmosphere in the cave grew warmer. Sensing the subtle shift between the two women, Mao Yu felt a sense of warmth in his chest. *Indeed, adversity reveals the truth of the heart.* At last, this battlefield of love felt a little more human.

While studying the treasure, he quietly accessed his system.

"System, what is the deal with this thing? Why does it feel so sinister?"

System: "Ding! Ancient curse detected. The wielder will suffer misfortune..."

"Seriously? It's that intense?" Mao Yu gasped. "How do I break it?"

System: "Ding! The method of breaking the curse must be explored by the host..."

"You're killing me! You are so useless when it counts!" Mao Yu complained, but his hands didn't stop, continuing to study the patterns. Suddenly, he discovered a hidden button!

He pressed it gently. With a soft click, the treasure emitted an eerie beam of light.

"What is that?" Feng Yao and Mao Ling exclaimed in unison.

Mao Yu squinted, looking toward where the light shone, where something seemed to be slowly emerging. "It seems the secret of this treasure is even more complex than I imagined," he whispered, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Young Master Mao..." Mao Ling’s voice trembled.

"Shh!" Mao Yu held up a finger to signal silence. "It seems... someone is coming."

Mao Yu squinted, his fingers dancing across the treasure as he muttered, "System, how do I use this thing? Give me a hint!"

System: "Ding! Ancient seal detected. It requires the host's blood to be injected into the core of the treasure."

"For real? I have to bleed for it? That's ruthless!" Despite his complaints, he didn't hesitate, slicing his finger and dripping a drop of blood into the center of the treasure.

The treasure erupted in light, and the ancient runes began to crawl across its surface as if alive. A powerful energy surged into Mao Yu, and he felt his internal power erupting like a volcano!

"Haha! It worked!" Mao Yu roared with laughter. The feeling was absolutely exhilarating!

***

System: "Ding! Congratulations to the host for breaking the seal. You have obtained the ancient treasure—'Heart of Chaos'! Internal energy level upgraded to Advanced Ability User!"

"Heart of Chaos? Now that’s a name with authority!" Mao Yu toyed with the treasure, savoring the immense power flowing within.

Just then, a commotion erupted outside the cave.

"Boss, they're inside!"

"Charge in! Catch them!"

"Right on time!" Mao Yu sneered and led Feng Yao and Mao Ling out of the cave.

A group of men in black had surrounded the cave, led by the head of the faction that had been hunting them.

"Kid, hand over the treasure, and I’ll spare your life!" the leader shouted arrogantly.

"Based on you lot of small-fry?" Mao Yu curled his lip in disdain. "Today, I’ll show you what true power looks like!"

Before the words had faded, Mao Yu flashed forward like a ghost, appearing before the leader and throwing a punch.

"Boom!"

The leader flew back like a kite with a broken string, crashing to the ground and vomiting blood.

"Boss!"

Seeing this, the men in black swarmed toward Mao Yu. He smirked, and the powerful energy from the Heart of Chaos formed a protective shield around him, deflecting every attack. Moving like lightning, he wove through the crowd, each punch and kick infused with immense power. The attackers were tossed aside as easily as if they were made of paper.

"Too weak! Far too weak!" Mao Yu sighed as he fought; these people weren't even enough to serve as a warm-up!

Within ten minutes, all the black-clad men were sprawled on the ground, wailing in agony. Mao Yu dusted off his hands, appearing completely relaxed.

Suddenly, his brow furrowed as he looked into the distance. A powerful aura was radiating from the direction of the mysterious valley.

"This feeling... this is bad!" His expression grew grave. He grabbed Feng Yao and Mao Ling. "Let's go!"

The three fled in the direction opposite the mysterious valley.

"Young Master Mao, where are we going?" Mao Ling asked, panting.

Mao Yu didn't answer, only gripping the Heart of Chaos tightly, a look of grim determination in his eyes. "No matter what lies ahead, I will protect you both..." he whispered.

Feng Yao watched his resolute back, a warmth flooding her heart.

Suddenly, Mao Yu stopped, his gaze falling upon a dilapidated temple ahead.

"It seems we'll have to spend the night here..."