But just as Ning Beichen finished speaking, he saw a fiery figure rush out of the flames. This figure was engulfed in fire, its skin burned away, yet it was still alive.
Judging by the height of the fiery figure, Ning Beichen determined it was not Mu Ye.
If it wasn't Mu Ye, it could only be the Black Dragon King. He hadn't expected this fellow to survive such a burning, the sorcerers were truly too bizarre.
"Ning... Bei... Chen!"
Ning Beichen had guessed correctly. The fiery figure was indeed the Black Dragon King. He let out a voice of unyielding resentment towards Ning Beichen. However, being consumed by flames, Ning Beichen couldn't clearly discern what he was saying.
"What are you yelling about!"
Ning Beichen brought his saber down in a swift strike, severing the fiery figure's head. He had no interest in further discourse.
If fire couldn't kill him, then without a head, he wondered if the Black Dragon King would die. Unless he was truly the Son of God, or a bastard son of Satan.
The Black Dragon King was certainly not the Son of God or a bastard son of Satan. Being burned to such an extent was merely a final surge of energy, a desperate push fueled by his last breath.
After Ning Beichen decapitated him, the body continued to lunge forward for a short distance before collapsing with a thud.
Ning Beichen paid him no mind and instead shouted Mu Ye's name towards the large pit.
Since the Black Dragon King hadn't died, perhaps Mu Ye had also survived.
However, the intense flames at the scene and the fact that some parts of the ancient castle had not yet completely collapsed, with debris occasionally falling, made it impossible for Ning Beichen to search for anyone inside.
Ning Beichen searched outside for twenty minutes without hearing any response from Mu Ye. Seeing the raging inferno, he had to give up on the search.
In such a situation, Mu Ye's chances of survival were incredibly slim, so low as to be almost negligible.
Even a powerful sorcerer like the Black Dragon King had been reduced to a fiery figure. How could Mu Ye, an ordinary person, possibly survive?
Ning Beichen felt a pang of guilt towards Mu Ye. Just as he was preparing to leave heartbroken, he suddenly heard a faint sound in his ear, which jolted him like an electric shock.
Because he thought he had heard Mu Ye's voice. He wasn't sure if he was hallucinating, but Ning Beichen turned around in surprise and hope.
"Mu Ye!"
It wasn't a hallucination. As Ning Beichen turned, he saw Mu Ye climbing out from a pile of rubble, covered in wounds, his clothes still smoldering.
Ning Beichen cried out excitedly and rushed over, extinguishing the flames on Mu Ye's clothes before carrying him out of the debris.
"Brother Chen..."
Mu Ye had fallen into a near-death state, only managing to call out Ning Beichen's name instinctively.
His injuries were extremely severe, and these were not caused by the flames but by the torture inflicted by the Black Dragon King earlier. Both of his lungs had been pierced by iron spikes.
Besides his lungs, other organs were also multi-injured, clearly indicating what the Black Dragon King had done to him.
"Mu Ye, don't be afraid. I will definitely save you."
After rescuing Mu Ye, Ning Beichen immediately opened the box he had brought and took out a small medicine bottle sealed with yellow wax at the opening.
Ning Beichen unhesitatingly picked off the yellow wax with his fingernails, poured out a small pill wrapped in moisture-proof paper.
Ning Beichen unwrapped the moisture-proof paper, then pried open Mu Ye's mouth and placed the pill inside, pushing it down into his throat with his finger.
After doing this, Ning Beichen cast a reluctant glance at the now empty small bottle, but he had no regrets.
This small pill was of extraordinary origin. It was his own life-saving treasure, and he only had one. It could be called priceless, yet Ning Beichen had unhesitatingly used it to save Mu Ye.
However, this was only enough to keep Mu Ye alive. To truly save him, someone else would need to help.
As for sending him to the hospital, Ning Beichen hadn't even considered it. With such injuries, even a hospital would likely refuse to admit him.
Ning Beichen carried Mu Ye and left the area.
One day later.
Ning Beichen and Mu Ye had appeared in a certain location.
"Help me save him. Name your price."
Ning Beichen placed Mu Ye down and spoke to an old woman inside the house.
After examining Mu Ye's condition, the old woman slowly said to Ning Beichen.
"Do you know my rule?"
"I know. A life for a life."
Ning Beichen replied.
"Kill him, and then you can take him away."
The old woman handed Ning Beichen a photograph.
Ning Beichen glanced at the man in the photograph and said to the old woman, "No problem, but you know my rule too. I won't kill a good person."
Ning Beichen returned the sentiment to the old woman.
The old woman had her rules, and Ning Beichen had his own. He couldn't kill an innocent person with no grievance to save Mu Ye.
"Don't worry, this man's name is Gong Guoshun. He has a history of bad deeds and is involved in human trafficking. He deserves to die. You can investigate and find out."
The old woman told Ning Beichen.
"Do you want him dead or alive?"
Ning Beichen asked directly after hearing the old woman's words.
"What use do I have for him alive? Just kill him."
The old woman said, coughing a few times.
"Alright, Shanque, sometimes I really suspect you're working for the authorities."
Ning Beichen said to the old woman.
Because every time he sought her help to save a life, her condition was for Ning Beichen to eliminate someone for her, and each time the target was a thoroughly wicked individual.
Furthermore, Ning Beichen had investigated and found that these individuals had no direct animosity or indirect conflict with the old woman. This led Ning Beichen to suspect she was acting on behalf of someone.
"You don't need to concern yourself with that. If you fulfill my request, I'll save him. It's like going to a doctor. Will a doctor treat you for free?"
The old woman said.
"Okay. Within three days, you will have your result."
Ning Beichen also said decisively.
This was not his first time working with the old woman, and he had no reservations about her. Therefore, he directly left Mu Ye in her care and went to take Gong Guoshun's life for her.
Indeed, as the old woman had said, Ning Beichen's casual investigation provided him with information about Gong Guoshun. His crimes were even more outrageous than what the old woman had described. Such a person deserved to die for the sake of the Earth.
However, the old woman always required Ning Beichen to personally carry out the killings, and he couldn't delegate the task. This gave Ning Beichen a headache.
But there was no other way. Ning Beichen was a man of his word and had to personally handle it.
If he didn't adhere to the rules, then one day others wouldn't adhere to rules concerning him. At that time, even Ning Yanwang would find it difficult to move freely.