Demons and monsters wreak havoc: gain one new confidante every day.

As soon as Shen You reached the connecting corridor, Han Shu blocked her way.

Shen You frowned slightly and raised the large knife in his hand.

Han Shu clasped his hands in a fist salute and bowed, saying, "Senior Brother Shen, please hold your hand. Doesn't Senior Brother Shen want to know what state Miss Xiao Hui is in now?"

Upon hearing this, Shen You stopped his impending strike and coldly said, "Speak!"

Han Shu looked up at Shen You and exclaimed in surprise, "Senior Brother Shen, you've broken through again?"

"That's right!" Shen You snorted coldly.

"I wonder what rank Senior Brother Shen is now?" Han Shu asked tentatively.

"Third rank!" Shen You said expressionlessly.

Han Shu's pupils contracted slightly. Even with his composure and shrewdness, he couldn't help but be alarmed by Shen You's progress.

Only a month has passed since they passed the examination together and became apprentices in blue robes, and Shen You has actually jumped from the first rank to the third rank.

In just one month, he accomplished what others have worked for years or even decades—it's simply astonishing!

Han Shu gave a wry smile: "I knew long ago that there were many exceptionally talented people in the world, but after meeting Senior Brother Shen, I realize that my imagination was still superficial. A true prodigy can accomplish things that ordinary people like us wouldn't even dare to dream of..."

"What are you trying to say?"

Shen You frowned. "You should know that even if you flatter me, given what you've done, I can't let you get away with this!"

"I don't need Senior Brother Shen to let me go..."

Han Shu shook his head slightly. "What I've done is simply to find a way out for myself in this world full of oppression and injustice."

"With my mediocre talent, if I don't rack my brains and seize every opportunity to improve, when will I ever have a chance to make a name for myself in this world?"

"I have no desire to compete with anyone; I just want to live freely... Unfortunately, in this world, if you don't compete with others, you'll only become their prey..."

"So I had no choice but to do many things in secret..."

"I have no regrets, nor am I afraid to bear the consequences... These are all my choices, just a small, insignificant struggle in this difficult world..."

Han Shu's confession allowed Shen You to see this person clearly for the first time.

This is a selfish and self-serving guy.

He uses his own twisted logic to justify his actions.

They betray others in secret, yet show no remorse, and even think they were forced by the world to do so. This is what you call a true villain.

Han Shu then revealed a sincere expression and said, "That Bi Lin Lang Jun is stubborn and self-willed. He has gone mad in order to refine the secret medicine. I knew that something unexpected had happened in the main hall and that Wan Du might not be able to defeat him, so I wanted to persuade him to retreat for the time being, but he simply did not listen to my advice."

"Now that defeat is inevitable and I am powerless to reverse it, I can only come to Senior Brother Shen, hoping to exchange information about Miss Xiao Hui for a way to survive..."

He looked at Shen You calmly, his face as simple and honest as ever.

He always seemed to treat people with sincerity, and his words always had a magical power that made people want to believe them.

Shen You couldn't help but sneer: "Tell me, how is Xiao Hui doing now?"

Han Shu nodded and said, "Miss Xiao Hui is currently suffering the torture of being devoured by ten thousand snakes. Lord Bilin will inject most of the sweet dew essence collected from the girls of the city into Miss Xiao Hui's body, in an attempt to create a crystal-clear body. Once successful, Miss Xiao Hui will be used as a medicinal catalyst to completely refine the 'Creation Dew'."

"So, there's still hope for Xiaohui?" Shen You raised an eyebrow.

"That's right!" Han Shu explained, "The Jade Scale Gentleman is currently by the Black Water Pool in the center of the backyard, while Miss Xiao Hui is hanging on the high wall to the south. So I suggest that you go around to the south and climb over the wall now, so that you can rescue Miss Xiao Hui before the Jade Scale Gentleman notices."

Han Shu paused here, then took a step back, and simultaneously, phantom images of a white ape and a blue deer appeared around him. He calmly said:

"Senior Brother Shen, the techniques I have mastered are the 'White Ape Force' which emphasizes agility and the 'Azure Deer Force' which emphasizes lightness. I am especially skilled in a movement technique called 'Azure Deer Leading.' If Senior Brother Shen still wants to attack me, I'm afraid you won't be able to subdue me in a short time, which would delay the opportunity to save Miss Xiao Hui. Therefore, I suggest that Senior Brother Shen hurry up and go find Miss Xiao Hui."

He was indeed clever. While informing Shen You about Xiao Hui's crisis, he also revealed his formidable strength, making it impossible for Shen You to kill him easily.

Shen You stared at him for a moment, then suddenly chuckled:

"Your talent is in no way inferior to Xiaotian's. Xiaotian, even at the first rank, has only mastered two types of internal energy."

"Just lucky."

Han Shu remained calm and humbly replied.

Shen You closed her eyes and said coldly:

Let's go!

"But never appear in front of me again!"

"Otherwise, I will kill you the next time I see you!"

"Of course I won't come out again and get in Shen's way." Han Shu clasped his hands in a fist and faced Shen You, taking a step back.

Only after retreating a sufficient distance did he turn around, unleash his movement technique, and swiftly depart.

Shen You silently watched his back. Only after he had run a distance did she grip the broadsword tightly and begin to pour all her strength into it.

The five forces—Golden Snake Force, Gecko Force, Scorpion Force, Golden Toad Force, and Golden Centipede Force—combined with killing intent and "sword technique," the mastery of the "Pig Slaughter Successor's" talent, and finally, the concealment of the righteous and peaceful aura of the "Qing Nang Jing"...

Shen You silently channeled all his power into this single strike. Five afterimages appeared around him, and a blood-red light shone from the blade, yet not a trace of his own aura emanated from him.

This is precisely the wonderful use of the perfected "Qing Nang Jing" – concealing one's aura, allowing him to strike without any trace of force, making it arguably the best way to ambush and injure someone.

When all the power was concentrated to the extreme, Shen You waved his hand and hurled the broadsword at Han Shu's back.

The broadsword, enveloped in a crimson glow, silently slashed through the air.

Han Shu only seemed to sense something when the broadsword was about to reach his back, and turned his head in horror.

But it was too late. The broadsword plunged deep into his back, pulverizing his internal organs.

With a thud, he fell to the ground.

Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

Shen You walked slowly to his side, lowered her head indifferently, and stared at him.

He looked up, unwilling to accept it.

"Why...?"

"Because I had already made up my mind..."

Shen You gave a cold, emotionless twitch at the corner of her mouth:

"I won't believe a single word you say!"

Those who resort to trickery will ultimately get burned.

Shen You never expected that such a person would be so merciful as to help her.

So the moment Han Shu appeared, Shen You had already decided to transform into a raging fire that would burn him to ashes.

"Senior Brother Shen... I... didn't..."

Before Han Shu could say anything, Shen You kicked him over, pulled a large knife from his back, and with a swift stroke, severed his head.

"Farewell, Junior Brother Han."

Shen You didn't look at Han Shu again and turned to walk out.

A few minutes later, instead of going around to the south and entering the backyard as Han Shu had suggested, he did not.

Instead, they went in the opposite direction, climbing over the wall from the north.

He immediately spotted the south wall opposite, where Xiao Hui was hanging high on the wall, suffering the torture of being devoured by thousands of snakes.

Han Shu was not lying!

"...But so what?"

Shen You thought coldly to herself:

"His fate was sealed the moment he first betrayed us..."

The story of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" is always true.

There are no fairy tales about prodigal sons returning home in this world.