Chapter 119: Mutual Disdain

“The reason you feel tired is because you are too weak,” Su Yan said indifferently.

Sun Mang felt a blow to his pride.

When it came to dealing with evil spirits, he was absolutely no match for her, but he was a boy after all. Although he was somewhat thin, his physique was sturdier than hers.

Seeing the defiance on his face, Su Yan added a sentence.

“Since I was eight years old, I have undergone weighted training every single day. Ten kilometers, twenty kilometers—those were common occurrences. Even my breathing has undergone special training.”

*So, do you understand the gap between us now?*

Sun Mang clearly felt the unspoken contempt in the second half of her sentence.

Eight years old.

Back then, he was still skipping classes every day to climb trees and catch birds outside.

“Heh, hehe. Su Yan, you’re really amazing!”

His praise was sincere; at eighteen years old, he couldn't even begin to catch up to her.

As expected, the gap between people was truly this vast.

“Let’s go.”

Seeing that he had enough energy to be talkative, Su Yan naturally intended to continue their journey.

Sun Mang stood up, resigned to his fate. Even if he was weak, he at least couldn't be a burden to her.

“Su Yan, what exactly are we doing by going into the mountains?”

He wanted to have an idea of what to expect.

However, Su Yan's next answer made him feel terrible.

“Just wandering around.”

Uh.

In this deep, ancient forest, a place filled with mosquitoes, insects, rats, and ants, just "wandering around"?

She truly lived up to her reputation!

The two of them continued walking until the sun was high overhead.

Sun Mang felt a sharp stinging in the soles of his feet. He leaned against a large tree and lifted his foot.

A large hole had been worn through the sole of his shoe, and a hard pebble had pierced into his sole.

His face instantly fell into a miserable expression.

What was that saying again?

Misfortunes never come singly.

He had brought so many miscellaneous things in his bamboo basket, yet he had failed to bring extra shoes.

“Su Yan, my shoe is broken.”

He thought he would be scolded, but to his surprise, Su Yan simply said indifferently, “Then stay here and rest.”

Sun Mang looked up at the seemingly endless mountain rocks, then at his pitiful feet, and could only nod.

“Then don't go too far. Whatever you do, don't get lost, otherwise I won't be able to find you.”

Su Yan didn't care to listen to his nagging. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly paused.

“Su Yan, actually, I really don't think there's anything fun here. How about we just...”

“Shut up,” Su Yan barked.

Startled, Sun Mang immediately clamped his mouth shut, but he also noticed that she seemed to be listening intently to something.

Once he calmed down, he indeed heard the sound of voices nearby.

“Someone’s there!”

Su Yan remained noncommittal. “Let’s go take a look.”

Sun Mang nodded hurriedly and followed beside her.

A moment later, they indeed saw a young man and a young woman of a similar age to themselves.

The girl was slumped on the ground in pain, her trousers soaked in blood.

And not far from the two of them, a venomous snake had been severed in two, stone dead.

“Who’s over there? Come out!”

The man’s reaction was extremely sharp; he immediately detected the presence of Su Yan and Sun Mang.

Sun Mang’s gaze fell upon the blood-stained dagger in the man's hand, and he couldn't help but swallow hard.

Looking at the venomous snake nearby, which was as thick as a forearm, there was no need to ask what had happened.

“Don't be nervous, young man, we aren't bad people! We just came into the mountains to pick wild fruit!”

He explained quickly to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and conflict.

Ma Chulong’s sharp gaze drifted between him and Su Yan.

“Young man, don't mind us, how is she?” Sun Mang specifically reminded him.

The girl's condition was truly not good.

Ma Chulong’s attention snapped back instantly. He knelt in front of Ma Chulan and tore open her pant leg.

Blackish blood was seeping from the wound bitten by the venomous snake.

“Hiss.” Sun Mang felt a phantom pain just looking at it.

It seemed the mountains really weren't a place for fun.

“Sis, bear with it for a moment.” Ma Chulong picked up a tree branch from the ground and handed it to Ma Chulan.

Ma Chulan bit down on it with trembling lips. Even though her face was completely bloodless, there was not a hint of hesitation or terror in her eyes.

Su Yan watched this scene coldly.

Ma Chulong used the dagger to cut the wound and squeezed forcefully to expel the venom.

Ma Chulan shuddered from the pain, yet she still didn't make a single sound.

Sun Mang didn't know how to describe his feelings.

Before, he thought the gap between him and Su Yan was heaven and earth because she simply wasn't an ordinary person. But now, he couldn't even compare to a stranger.

If it were him, he would have been wailing and howling long ago.

Only after the squeezed-out venom turned back to a normal color did Ma Chulong stop. He took a porcelain bottle from his bag, poured out medicinal powder, and applied it to Ma Chulan's wound.

From beginning to end, it took only two or three minutes for the wound to be properly treated.

“Su Yan, they even brought antivenom. I completely forgot about that,” Sun Mang whispered to Su Yan, his eyes darting around as an idea struck him.

He nimbly pulled a water flask and some dry rations from his bamboo basket.

“Young man, meeting is fate. Here, take this.”

“No need.” Ma Chulong didn't even look at him, rejecting the offer with a harsh attitude.

Sun Mang felt a bit awkward, shrugged, and put them back.

“Let's go,” Su Yan urged. It was obvious the other party was on guard against them, and she was, of course, on guard against these two as well.

“Wait a moment.” It was the injured Ma Chulan who spoke. Her breathing was still uneven, but she still called out to Su Yan, “Are you heading further up?”

Sun Mang replied, “Yes.”

“Don't go up. It's not safe up there.” Supported by Ma Chulong, Ma Chulan stood up and offered sincere advice.

Hearing this, Sun Mang began to lose his nerve. “Su Yan, my grandmother used to say that listening to advice keeps you well-fed. They've warned us; shouldn't we head back down before dark?”

Su Yan faced Ma Chulan. “Thank you for the warning, but I still intend to go up and take a look.”

The Ma siblings didn't expect her to persist, and their expressions shifted slightly.

“Student, you can see for yourself that there aren't just venomous snakes in the mountains, but also wolves, wild boars, and many unknown dangers. Your eyesight isn't good; if you go any deeper, something will definitely happen!” Ma Chulan’s emotions grew noticeably more agitated; she was truly concerned for them.

Sun Mang knew Su Yan too well; once she made a decision, it wouldn't change because of a few words from someone else.

“Since it's so dangerous inside, how about the four of us travel together? With more people, we can look out for each other.”

He had been thinking of this idea just a moment ago.

“No need.”

“No need.”

Su Yan and Ma Chulong spoke almost in unison, refusing at the same time.

Sun Mang and Ma Chulan looked at each other in bewilderment.

How could they have such perfect chemistry on this point?

“Sis, it's getting late. Let's get going up.” Ma Chulong’s expression was cold. He glanced at Su Yan and Sun Mang, clearly unwilling to take two burdens along.

If it were just Sun Mang, he would have shamelessly clung to them, but since he was with Su Yan, he naturally couldn't lose face for her.

“Su Yan, let's go too.”