The 9,097th chapter "Hu Qiu's Choice".

When I heard Zhang Tianqi's scream, and the moment I opened my eyes to see this world again, I knew that Zhang Tianqi's body-snatching had failed.
And my soul has successfully undergone a rebirth.
I don't know if what I just witnessed is the rumored spiritual world, or if that flame was real or fake? But that's not important anymore, the most important thing is that I survived.
Although I survived, I'm not feeling well at all. My whole body is burning up, and my skin is visibly red like a boiled lobster.
But strangely enough, my brain is exceptionally clear, clearer than it has ever been.
Zhang Tianqi looked at me incredulously, his eyes filled with shock.
"Why? I was about to succeed..." Zhang Tianqi's tone was full of unwillingness.
"Do you believe it now? I said you couldn't beat me!"
This remark seemed to touch a nerve with Zhang Tianqi, who gritted his teeth and said fiercely: "I don't believe it. I don't believe there is anyone in this world with a stronger soul than mine!"
"I can't make you believe me, but why don't you give it a try? I promise not to resist!"
Zhang Tianqi looked at me tightly, and his expression changed countless times in his eyes. Apparently, he wanted to try again, but for some reason, it eventually turned into a strong unwillingness.
"What is that thing exactly? Why have I never seen it?" he inquired.
"It's obviously my soul!" I replied.
"Why is it red though?"
"I don't know, maybe it's just my natural talent!" I made up a random excuse, of course I couldn't tell him the truth.
Zhang Tianqi narrowed his eyes slightly and looked fiercely at the crowd nearby, his gaze flashing constantly.
My heart was suddenly startled and I quickly said, "Tianzu, instead of scheming against us here, why don't we hurry to find the injured Buhuagou? He can't be killed or destroyed, and his value is much greater than mine. As long as you take over him, everything will be perfect!"
Zhang Tianqi smirked, "You're full of tricks, how do I know if what you're saying is true or false?"
"This bone, haven't you already seen it? This thing can't possibly be fake!" I raised the golden bone in my hand.
"The bone is indeed real, but it is not enough to prove the truthfulness of your words," Zhang Tianqi sneered.
I immediately furrowed my brows, not expecting this old man to be so difficult. Even in this situation, he still refused to believe me.
"So what do you want to do?" I asked in a low voice.
"It's simple. You will accompany me on a trip. Only if I see it with my own eyes can I know that everything you said is true."
"This is impossible!" I refused without thinking.
"So you're still lying to me?" Zhang Tianqi emitted an old dangerous aura again.
"Either come with me or I'll kill all of them - it's your choice!" A glint of coldness appeared in Zhang Tianqi's eyes unknowingly.
"Tianzu, you made a vow not to harm my friends. Are you not afraid of divine retribution?" I said with a grim expression. I didn't expect Zhang Tianqi to be so shameless, living up to Yunruo's description of having no bottom line when it comes to turning his back on people.
Zhang Tianqi smirked, "For the sake of immortality, I'm not afraid of even the 18 levels of hell..."
I cursed under my breath, "Damn him."
What should I do?
After finally escaping from the hands of the un-decomposable corpse, if I were to go back just like that, I would definitely be a lost cause, and that bone would surely devour me alive.
If we don't follow him, this old guy might actually do something to our little tiger. We have almost no chance of winning in that scenario.
Just when I was incredibly troubled, I suddenly heard Hu Qiu's voice behind me.
"I'll go with you," she said.
"No, you can't go!" I snapped without hesitation.
Despite my serious and worried expression, Huqiu suddenly flashed a sweet smile, walked up to me, and gently took hold of my hand.
"Don't worry, I have a sense of propriety!" Hu Qiu said.
"That's not possible either. I won't let you go back. If No-Bone sees us, what if it breaks free? What should I do?" I firmly shook my head and vetoed Hu Qiu's opinion for the first time.
Hu Qiujue smiled even sweeter, her two beautiful eyes curved into a crescent moon, and her fingers gently rubbed my hand back. She then raised her head to look at the Zhang Tianqi in front of her and said with a smile:
"Don't worry, even if he really escapes, I'll be fine. The Heavenly Ancestor will protect me."
"He protects you?" I looked at Zhang Tianqi incredulously, as if I had heard the funniest joke in the world.
"Of course, you don't think that the old man Tianzu couldn't defeat Bu Huaguo, do you?" Hu Qiu exaggeratedly said.
She was clearly trying to provoke Zhang Tianqi with her words.
Sure enough, after hearing this, Zhang Tianqi's eyes instantly became angry, his gaze like knives landed on Hu Qiu.
"Girl, who are you?"
Hu Qiu quickly bowed slightly to Zhang Tianqi and said calmly, "Greetings, Heavenly Ancestor. My name is Hu Qiu, the fiancée of Zhang Jiuyang. Naturally, I should address you as Heavenly Ancestor according to Jiuyang's address."
"Oh?"
Zhang Tianqi was slightly stunned. He looked up and down at Hu Qiu and then nodded slightly. "So, you called me Tianzu. It makes sense!"
“Since that's the case, I have a request as Sun's daughter-in-law. Let me accompany you on behalf of Jiuyang to the place where the Bone-Melting Grass is located! It's in Jiangcheng, and we can get there in less than two days from here.”
"Xiaoqiu, I told you that you are not allowed to go." I gently pulled Huqiu and my expression was not very good.
"Jiuyang, I know you are worried about me, but don't forget that you have more important things to do. Hurry up and go to the imperial city. You should know which is more important between us." Huqiu said patiently.
After saying this, she didn't wait for me to speak and said to Zhang Tianqi again, "Tianzu, there are people bullying the descendants of your Zhang family in the capital. This is a disgrace to your family. Let Zhang Jiuyang go back and teach them a lesson. Isn't that fair?"
"Oh?"
Zhang Tianqi's face suddenly changed, "The Zhang family has always carried on the bloodline within one branch. I don't remember there are any other descendants of our Zhang family."
"By descendants, I mean the blood relative of Jiuyang, his mother, who is also the wife of this body you possess. Is she considered a descendant of your family?"
Zhang Tianqi glanced at me and nodded lightly after hearing my words, "If she is truly your mother, then she can be considered a descendant of the Zhang family. Your speech is impeccable, which I admire. In that case, you will accompany me instead of him on this trip!"
"That's great! Then I ask for the protection of Tiantianzhu for my safety!" Hu Qiu quickly bowed.
"Don't thank me yet, I have conditions!"
Before we could react, Zhang Tianqi suddenly made a move, and his fingers fell heavily on Hu Qiu's forehead. Then his fingertips lightly scratched.
Hu Qiumei's forehead suddenly appeared a tiny cut, and a drop of bright red blood was squeezed out.
Hu Qiu immediately let out a painful groan.
"What are you doing?"
I shouted loudly, pulled back Hu Qiu with one hand, and fiercely slapped Zhang Tianqi's body with the other hand. Although he easily dissolved it with a wave of his hand, I coldly shouted:
"If you dare to lay a hand on her again, I will make her soul scatter!"
"You..."
My face immediately showed anger but I had to stop because I knew he was not lying. This old guy was definitely capable of doing what he said. He had taken a drop of Huqiu's life blood and now her life was in his hands.
Hu Qiu staggered weakly and I quickly reached out to support him.
"Xiaoqiu, why are you so foolish?" I reproached her, but I felt as if a knife had slashed through my heart.
Hu Qiu's face was a little pale, and she shook her head gently.
"You don't have to blame yourself. I am willing to do anything for you!"
My eyes turned red and tears welled up in my eyes uncontrollably.
Hu Qiu continued, "Jiuyang, I know what you're thinking, but I want to say that I not only want to take Tianzu to find Bu Huagou, but also to do everything in my power to help him seize Bu Huagou's body, because he is our greatest enemy!"
Hu Qiu's voice was loud, and Zhang Tianqi could hear it clearly. He nodded contentedly, apparently satisfied with what Hu Qiu said.
But at this moment, Hu Qiu suddenly looked at the little mute boy and his lips moved slightly before he broke away from my embrace.
"Let's go, Tianzu, we're setting off now!"
After saying this, Hu Qiu didn't hesitate at all, resolutely turned around and walked down the mountain.