"Good!" Wu Yong sheathed his long saber without hesitation, the blade sliding home with a sharp ring of finality. "Miss Bai is righteous indeed, and we will certainly keep our word—this young brother will be sent down the mountain for treatment immediately."
"Xiao Bai..." Mu Fan struggled to rise despite his grievous wounds, but was blocked once more by Wu Yong's blade pressing cold against his throat.
"Don't touch him!" Bai Shuo shouted, stepping forward boldly and pushing Wu Yong's saber away from Mu Fan with her bare hands. "What you want—I'll give it to you! Just keep your word!"
Bai Shuo reached slowly into her sleeve, and the forest fell utterly silent. Even Wu De's donkey froze completely as all eyes fixed unwaveringly on her trembling hand.
Clang! A golden flash suddenly streaked through the woods like a falling star, forcing everyone to instinctively shut their eyes against the brilliance.
When they opened them again, not a single person could tear their greedy gazes from the dazzling pile gleaming on the ground.
At Bai Shuo's feet lay a small mountain of over a hundred golden leaves, gleaming brilliantly in the dappled sunlight. Zhang Chao swallowed hard, his throat working visibly, his face alight with undisguised greed and wonder.
"Is this all?" Wu Yong's expression twisted oddly as he stared at the golden heap, momentarily stunned into speechlessness.
"What do you mean, 'all'? This is everything I have—enough to trade for his life!" Bai Shuo stood tall, shielding Mu Fan with her body, and turned to face Zhang Chao directly. "Chief, these golden leaves could feed your entire Mu Xiao Mountain stronghold for ten years of comfort!" She then locked eyes with Wu Yong, her gaze unwavering. "I know you won't let me leave Mu Xiao Mountain alive, but he's not from the capital. Send him back to the border—he won't speak a single word of what happened today!"
Zhang Chao hadn't expected Bai Shuo to have already guessed his murderous intentions so accurately. He narrowed his eyes, studying Mu Fan's bloodied form on the ground, hesitation flickering visibly in his calculating gaze.
"The Chief is a man of his word," Bai Shuo pressed. "Bai Shuo has fulfilled her promise by offering exactly what you sought. I only ask that you spare my brother Mu Fan's life."
Behind Bai Shuo, Mu Fan watched her silently, his gaze heavy with unreadable emotion.
Had he been mistaken last night? Was Bai Shuo truly just an ordinary mortal after all? Had she not awakened Long Yi? Was Long Er not with her?
At the hidden mountain gate of Mu Xiao Mountain, Fu Ling stood silently with Chong Zhao and the guards for a long, tense while.
Chong Zhao stared blankly at Fu Ling, as if awaiting her command like a puppet whose strings she held. The guards beside him finally sensed something deeply amiss and called out softly with growing unease.
"Young Master? Shall we enter the mountain?"
"Not yet." Before Chong Zhao could respond, Fu Ling spoke, her voice carrying an edge of anticipation.
The guards looked up to see Fu Ling slowly turn, her eyes beginning to glow an eerie, unnatural red, a floral mark emerging like a brand on her forehead.
"You—"
The guards' expressions twisted in dawning alarm. Fu Ling waved her hand casually, and a crimson spiritual light swept past like a scythe. The branches hanging from the trees around them suddenly came alive with murderous intent, sharpening into deadly wooden spikes.
"Monster... a monster!" The guards recoiled in terror, backing away step by stumbling step.
"Monster?" Fu Ling sneered, her lips curling into a cruel smile. "Not entirely wrong, I suppose."
As she turned dismissively, the hovering wooden spikes shot forth like arrows, piercing through the guards' chests with sickening precision.
Screams erupted as blood sprayed in crimson arcs. Fu Ling formed a seal with her palms, the imprint stained with fresh blood, transforming into a massive Talismanic Incantation that soared powerfully into the sky.
At the same time, across the mountain where Chong Manor's guards awaited news, flashes of violet light sliced through the air like lightning. The light cut across their throats with surgical precision, killing them instantly. Blood gushed from their severed necks, splattering into the air in gruesome fountains. The violet light coalesced into several masked figures in purple robes, their hands forming the same bloodstained seals, which flew upward to join the talisman.
Just then, Zhang Chao looked at Bai Shuo and declared loudly for all to hear, "Fine! We'll do as you say!"
Zhang Chao, as the leader of the bandit stronghold, couldn't possibly go back on his word in front of his subordinates without losing face. Moreover, it was Bai Shuo he had intended to keep, not Mu Fan. With these gold leaves, the Mu Family Stronghold could abandon the dangerous life of banditry and leave this cursed mountain for good!
"Big Brother!" Wu Yong never expected a mere sack of gold leaves would so easily sway Zhang Chao's decision.
"Enough! My word stands firm! Someone, escort this young man down the mountain for treatment!"
Wu Yong wanted to protest vehemently but suddenly fell silent, stepping back without another word, his expression strange.
Two bandits stepped forward, seizing Mu Fan roughly by the arms and dragging him toward the mountain path. Zhang Chao eagerly strode forward, scooping up the precious gold leaves and stuffing them greedily into his robe.
Bai Shuo quietly retreated, hugging Wu De the donkey and curling up on the ground, looking pitiful and harmless.
Wu De turned his large donkey eyes to glare balefully at the bundle before him. If he could speak human words, he'd have asked Bai Shuo: What grudge do you hold against me? I only ate two pounds of your precious hay—was it worth this? If you're going to die, at least find some handsome young man to accompany you. Why drag an innocent donkey into this hell?
Bai Shuo blinked but said nothing in response.
Mu Fan hung his head weakly, barely conscious as he was hauled unceremoniously to the edge of the grove.
Without warning, the sky darkened ominously.
The crowd looked up in shock and fear. The clear blue sky had been abruptly shrouded by a crimson veil, upon which a blood-red talismanic seal slowly materialized with terrible power. As the incantation spread across the heavens, the darkness deepened like nightfall descending.
"What devilry is this?" The bandits paled visibly, instinctively retreating. Even Zhang Chao froze in place, his hands still clutching the gold leaves.
Wu Yong's expression shifted dramatically as he glanced toward Mu Fan, who was now gazing at the sky with a cold, furrowed brow.
Bai Shuo stared blankly at the sudden change, her expression odd and resigned. She sighed deeply and glanced at Wu De.
No matter how clever Bai Shuo's heart was, it couldn't outmatch the heavens' cruel machinations.
"Break!" A cold shout pierced the sky like a blade. The crimson talisman finally covered the entire firmament. With a tremendous crack, a red light flashed, and the veil shattered into fragments.
As the light faded, a girl in flowing red robes appeared with a dozen masked figures in purple, materializing out of thin air like vengeful spirits. Nearby, Chong Zhao lay unconscious on the ground.
A-Zhao! Bai Shuo's face drained of all color. She nearly rushed forward but forced herself to hold back, her eyes filled with terrible anxiety.
"You—!" Zhang Chao stepped forward, brandishing his axe at Fu Ling with false bravado. With a casual wave of her hand, Fu Ling unleashed a barrage of demonic flower-arrows formed from her spiritual power, striking the bandits with devastating accuracy.
"Gah!" Blood splattered across the ground in spreading pools. Zhang Chao stared down at the ethereal blossom piercing his chest, the gold leaves slipping from his grasp as he collapsed, dead before he hit the earth.
Thud! In an instant, the grove was littered with corpses—everyone except Bai Shuo had fallen, including Wu Yong and Mu Fan.
The last arrow halted precisely at Bai Shuo's forehead. Fu Ling, recognizing her face, hesitated and dispersed the attack with a flick of her wrist.
Wu De took in the carnage, gasped in horror, and promptly feigned death by flopping over dramatically.
The blood of the slain drenched Bai Shuo. Pale and trembling violently, she clung to Wu De. Within moments, only she and the unconscious Chong Zhao remained alive in the grove.
Fu Ling stared at Bai Shuo, her lips curling into a scornful smirk. "So the fool actually found you here."
Bai Shuo dared not speak, shrinking further against Wu De.
Fu Ling glanced at her timid demeanor and snorted lightly with contempt, walking towards Chong Zhao. The purple-clad figure behind her whispered a reminder.
"Second Palace Master, the important matter awaits. Now that we've entered this mountain, the master of Haoyue Hall must already know. Any further delay might—"
"How I conduct myself is not for you to question." Fu Ling's icy glare made the purple-clad figure's pupils tremble, and he dared not speak further, retreating half a step.
Bai Shuo watched as Fu Ling approached Chong Zhao and reached toward his forehead.
"If you want to know Long Er's whereabouts, help me save him!" Bai Shuo suddenly stood up and shouted behind her. "Otherwise, you'll never find out where he is!"
The forest fell silent. Fu Ling turned to Bai Shuo in surprise, while the purple-clad figures glanced around, thinking this mortal must be spouting nonsense in her madness. But soon, they heard a deep, low chuckle.
The chuckle carried a hint of anger, a trace of surprise, but mostly a cold amusement.
From among the corpses covered by the bandits, Mu Fan—who had seemingly died moments ago—slowly rose. The bloodstains on his body faded away like morning mist, replaced by pristine ancient robes adorned with flowing clouds and a crescent moon on the wide sleeves. His black hair cascaded over his shoulders, his youthful features contrasted by an exceptionally icy gaze.
The purple-clad figures recoiled in terror at the sight of the cloud-and-moon embroidery on his sleeves, drawing their swords. "The master of Haoyue Hall!"
Fu Ling's expression hardened, her lips curling into a mocking smile. "To think the illustrious master of Haoyue Hall would stoop so low, disguising himself as a mortal and feigning death before me!"
Fan Yue ignored Fu Ling entirely, striding toward Bai Shuo and stopping three paces away, raising an eyebrow.
"After such a long performance, even I nearly believed it. A mortal this cunning—I've never encountered one before."
Bai Shuo shivered, stammering, "W-Well, I'm flattered. Brother Mu... no, no, this... Palace Master? How should I address you?"
Bai Shuo blinked, then her pupils suddenly contracted as a sinister cloud-arrow shot toward her!
"Look out!" Bai Shuo yelled. Fan Yue didn't even flinch. Wu Yong, lying on the ground, abruptly leaped up, his staff splitting the arrow in two. But the force of the arrow sent him stumbling back several steps before he steadied himself.
"My lord." In a flash of demonic light, Wu Yong transformed into Cang Shan, shielding Fan Yue. Fan Yue turned, his cold gaze locking onto Fu Ling.
Seeing the two sides at a standoff, Bai Shuo quietly slipped over to the unconscious Chong Zhao and checked his breathing.
Thank heavens, he's alive! Bai Shuo nearly wept with relief.
"The Mountain-Cleaving Staff?" Fu Ling scoffed at Cang Shan. "Haoyue Hall's Protector is nothing impressive."
"Enough to cut you down!" Cang Shan roared, his staff instantly sheathed in frost.
"Fan Yue! Since you dared to leave the Far North, today Mu Xiao Mountain will be your grave!" Fu Ling drew her Cloud-Fire Bow to full draw, releasing three arrows in rapid succession toward Fan Yue.
"Cloud-Fire Arrows?! My lord, be careful!"
Cang Shan bellowed, raising his staff to block, but someone moved faster. Fan Yue flashed in front of him, conjuring a dome of solid ice to intercept the three arrows.
Though injured, Fan Yue was only slightly weaker than Fu Ling in demonic power. Locked in a stalemate, the clashing energies grew, shooting skyward.
No one noticed Bai Shuo quietly dragging Chong Zhao toward the nearby Wude donkey.
Don't notice me, don't notice me, don't notice me... Bai Shuo chanted inwardly, a thin layer of sweat forming on her brow.
At that moment, a dazzling radiance suddenly burst across the clear sky as countless strands of immortal power surged from the Nine Heavens Palace, heading straight for Mu Xiao Mountain.
"Not good! Sacrificing five hundred lives to activate the formation has alerted the Immortal Realm after all! We absolutely cannot let them find evidence against Cold Spring Palace!"
Fu Ling's expression changed abruptly. "Wenzhu!"
"Form the array!" The purple-robed man behind Fu Ling shouted loudly, leading the violet-clad guards as they leaped up abruptly. A dozen streams of demonic power poured into the Cloudfire Arrows, instantly amplifying their power threefold. With a crack, the ice shield before Fan Yue shattered inch by inch.
"Palace Master!" Cang Shan swung his staff, only to be knocked aside by Fu Ling's single hand, spitting blood as he collapsed to the ground.
Bai Shuo, panting heavily, dragged Chong Zhao to the side of Virtue Donkey. Hearing Cang Shan's cry, she paused momentarily.
Didn't hear it, didn't hear it... Bai Shuo bit her lip, hoisted Chong Zhao onto her back in one motion. Virtue Donkey startled awake, glaring fiercely at Bai Shuo as it prepared to buck Chong Zhao off with a loud kick. But Bai Shuo was quicker—grabbing its ear and whispering something that instantly deflated the donkey's bravado. It hung its head meekly, not daring to make a sound, merely panting.
On the other side of the clearing, Fu Ling cast a cold glance at Cang Shan and snorted disdainfully. "Overestimating yourself!"
Tossing the Cloudfire Bow into the air, Fu Ling soared upward, hands forming seals as her demonic power merged with that of the violet-clad guards. The three Cloudfire Arrows combined into one, streaking toward Fan Yue's forehead.
A pained groan sounded behind her. Bai Shuo, already mounted on Virtue Donkey, hesitated mid-step before turning back.
In the distance, Fan Yue coughed up blood, his face deathly pale as the ice shield protecting him fractured piece by piece. Just as the Cloudfire Arrow was about to pierce through, Bai Shuo's heart lurched violently. Suddenly remembering the object in her embrace, she yanked out the pig token, drew the dagger from Chong Zhao's waist, and slashed it across her own palm.
Blood splashed onto the wooden pig token, causing it to erupt with radiant spiritual light. Watching the Cloudfire Arrow breach the ice shield and aim directly for Fan Yue's brow, Bai Shuo's breath caught.
"Go! Long Yi Zhu!" With all her strength, Bai Shuo hurled the pig token toward the oncoming arrow.
A deafening explosion followed as blinding light filled the air. Without another thought, Bai Shuo kicked Virtue Donkey's hindquarters and fled wildly into the forest.
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