I shut my eyes. Master Owen already looked unconscious, out cold. Just as I thought we would crash to the ground, I felt countless hands catch us.
When I opened my eyes, I saw dozens of female ghosts with outstretched arms catching us. Their eyes brimmed with gratitude.
"Thank you, thank you! Hurry, run!"
As I spoke, I glanced back. Sure enough, some Starving Wraiths had chased us inside.
"Master Owen, wake up! Please, wake up!"
I kept slapping Master Owen's face, but blood was streaming from his nose and mouth. His face was as pale as death.
"Benefactor, let us help you," one of the female ghosts said. The others gathered around and helped me lift Master Owen. We kept circling the woods, heading south.
The chaos behind us faded away. Clearly, the vengeful ghosts and Starving Wraiths were locked in fierce conflict, with the vengeful ghosts inexplicably slaughtering the Starving Wraiths. The Blue Wraith that flew out from the stone statue seemed to be their leader. Now, seeing so many of its followers killed, it must be seething with rage.
We made our way down the mountain. When they helped me carry Master Owen to the edge of the woods where it met the open field, the female ghosts stopped.
"Benefactor, this is as far as we can go. We can’t go any further. If Boss Ma catches us again..."
I nodded without saying a word, watching the female ghosts head back up the mountain. They gradually disappeared, and not a sound of disturbance remained. Still, I couldn’t be sure we were truly out of danger.
I struggled to support Master Owen’s much sturdier body, inching forward step by step.
After a long while, I finally collapsed from exhaustion. The backpack with water and food I’d been carrying was already gone, but thankfully Owen’s satchel was still with us.
I was tired and hungry, my arm burning with pain. The bleeding had stopped, but in this moment, my mood was strangely elated.
I took out some food, gnawed at it, then drank a little water. The discomfort eased slightly.
But fatigue and drowsiness overwhelmed me. I collapsed, the world spinning around me. Just as I was about to close my eyes, a thunderous crash erupted behind me—trees toppled one after another.
"Damn it, you two brats aren’t getting away. I’ll make you wish you were dead, then feed you to the Starving Wraiths!"
We’re doomed. I lay on the ground, limbs powerless, watching tree after tree crash down. It was obvious—the Blue Wraith was furious.
"Not so fast." A raspy, drake-like voice rang out. My eyes, half-open and half-closed, searched the surroundings.
A faint red glow appeared at my chest. The red mist seemed to solidify into a humanoid shape, and a wave of warmth spread from my chest.