Chapter 149: 149

Chapter 149: 149

Muruo Ta ran swiftly into the depths of the dense forest to the right with Nanyan in tow, pursued relentlessly by their enemies.

When Muruo Ta dodged another attack while carrying Nanyan, he finally realized something was amiss.

He discovered that these Xuan Cang Sect pursuers did not recognize their own Sect Leader's wife.

His expression became indescribable. He had initially thought that, out of respect for their Sect Leader's wife, they might show some mercy. But these people didn't acknowledge her at all; instead, they swung their blades without hesitation. Muruo Ta hurriedly evaded with Nanyan in his arms.

Amidst the chaos, he glanced down, particularly noticing how the person in his arms had huddled like an obedient quail, too afraid to lift her head. Confusion swirled within him. Could it be that this woman had been implicated by their circumstances?

The situation was too urgent for contemplation. As Murong Tao protected the woman in his arms, he raised his hand to retaliate, swords clashing and sparks flying, their sharp sound piercing through the air. They ran a considerable distance together, the tension high.

Perhaps due to the overwhelming pursuit, or maybe because of his severe injuries that hadn't fully healed, coupled with the burden of protecting the defenseless Nanyan in his arms, Murong Tu's breathing grew labored. His counterattacks became sluggish and strenuous. In a moment of distraction, he was slashed on the shoulder by one of the attackers. Crimson blood droplets stained his clothing, then trickled down his shoulder to the ground.

Murong Tu frowned, his gaze intently fixed on the persistent pursuers who clung like sticky toffee. Irritated, he realized that if he couldn't swiftly dispose of them, his only option was to flee with this person in tow.

Gathering his breath and focusing his energy, he momentarily hesitated in his movements while holding the person in his arms, but swiftly regained his usual composure. Left with no other choice, they both surveyed their surroundings and, spotting a slope, leaped down from it together.

Now, at last, they would be free from pursuit.

By the time the two managed to shake off their pursuers, they discovered that the slope led to a steep pit a hundred meters deep. Due to the sharp incline, neither of them had noticed it initially. Consequently, their hasty leap sent them tumbling down uncontrollably.

Murong Tao gritted his teeth, holding the person in his arms even closer. He never imagined such bad luck – casually choosing a slope, only to discover it was a hundred-meter-deep pit. If they were to accidentally fall, they would likely not survive or at least suffer severe injuries.

Especially the woman in his arms, who possessed no martial arts skills whatsoever. If she were to fall and, God forbid, end up maimed or crippled, he doubted not that the arch-villain of the Profound Sky Sect would demand his life as recompense.

As the slope below drew closer and closer, Murong Tuo gritted his teeth, hugged the person tightly, and rolled over with great force. They just managed to roll next to the crooked tree. With one hand, he firmly grasped the trunk, and his palm slid down a few inches against the ground, while the other hand took the opportunity to push the person in his arms, just enough to block half of her body under the tree roots. With this resistance, they were finally able to stop their descent.

However, as he pushed her, Murong Tu's other hand couldn't hold on. As a result, his entire body lost its support and slipped down another inch before barely coming to a stop.

At the moment, although the two of them have stopped falling, their situation is still not very good. Nanyin's half body is blocked by that crooked-necked tree, barely supporting herself to prevent further descent.

Feeling the tranquility around her, she finally opened her eyes. Lowering her gaze, she noticed something less than an arm's length below her—

Murong Tu was laboriously clinging to an protruding fragment of rock. Years of rainwater had eroded the other half, burying it deeply into the soil. It was this very outcropping that prevented him from plummeting immediately.

Yet, the situation was evidently critical now. The gravitational pull had caused the rock fragment to show subtle signs of loosening.

Most notably, Murong Tu's slender and strong hand, from excessive pulling, had veins prominently bulging on the back of his hand. The palm, due to friction, showed faint signs of blood seeping through.

It was clear that he couldn't hold on much longer, yet, stubbornly maintaining his pride, he gritted his teeth and refused to make a sound.

Muru Tao was well aware that his situation was dire. The slope was too slippery, covered in moss, offering no foothold. No matter how exceptional his lightness kung fu was, it was impossible for him to simply soar up into the air. He lifted his gaze to look at Nanyan above.

At a distance of about half an arm's length above him, Nan Yan had already come to a stop. He mentally assessed the situation and concluded that if he could climb close to that crooked-necked tree, he would be able to use the leverage to carry her up with him as they soared into the air.

Muru Tan had never been one to beg, especially not from a woman with whom he had an uneasy relationship. They had just had a heated argument that morning, which had left her in tears. Under any circumstances, it was implausible; how could she possibly assist him?

Meng Ruo Tu's face flushed red. He thought it would be better to rely on himself for survival than to burden her. What could a helpless and weak woman like her possibly do to help? He might accidentally pull her down before she even had the chance to lift him up.

How could he possibly allow such a thing to happen?

Meng Ruo Tu held his breath, gripping the rock with all his might. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead, and his face turned pale despite his efforts to control it. The weight of his body was stretching his fingers to their limits, and he was only holding on by sheer willpower. Eventually, he could no longer endure, and in this critical moment, he couldn't afford to let his pride stand in the way of his survival.

With gritted teeth, he raised his head abruptly, his brilliant gaze fixed intently on Nanyan above.

Scanning his surroundings, a glimmer of hope flickered in his eyes when he spotted a green vine next to a branch. He called out to her,

"Drop the vines from above, or if you can't do that, break a branch and pass it down to me. Hurry, or I won't be able to hold on any longer."

As she spoke, her jade-like face flushed crimson. Perhaps it was the first time she had sought help from someone she had once bullied, especially a powerless girl. The very thought of it was utterly humiliating.

Upon hearing this, Nan Yan's eyebrows twitched, and she couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. "Well, well, young man, your turn has come. You were so stubborn with your nonsense, and now you're begging for help. You finally understand the taste of humility, don't you?"

Nan Yan wasn't about to make it easy for him. She intended to give him a scare, as he always spoke with a forked tongue and often said hurtful things to provoke her. She needed to leave a lasting impression on him.

Thus, Nan Yan suddenly wore a look of panic. As if just realizing her predicament, she saw herself trapped by the tree trunk and the steep incline of the slope, causing her face to turn pale. Clearly, she had never encountered such a dire situation before.

"I..."

Before she could finish her sentence, she witnessed Murong Tu's body plummet downward from his grip on the cliffside.

Loose rocks tumbled down with a sudden jolt, but he managed to dodge them in time, grasping onto another protruding stone to prevent himself from falling outright. However, after this harrowing experience, his face contorted into an even more strained expression, his complexion turning ashen white. He pressed his lips together, his breathing barely audible.

Startled by the commotion, Nan Yan instinctively stepped back. Panic flickered in her eyes, particularly when she heard his plea. Glancing at the hanging vine above and then at Murong Tu below, a clear trace of hesitation appeared in her gaze.

It was unclear what she was hesitating about. She pursed her lips, internally conflicted for a moment, and eventually turned her face away, refusing to acknowledge him.

When Murong Tu saw her reaction, he was initially taken aback, and then his face darkened instantly.

He lifted his gaze to glare at her fiercely. His bold, slightly flushed eyes seemed to ignite with a vivid flame. Clenching his teeth, he fixated on her, as if trying to etch her face deeply into the recesses of his memory, ensuring he could never forget it.

"You...,"

Yet, he found himself at a loss for words, unable to finish his sentence.

He truly hadn't expected this woman to be so ungrateful. It was he who had protected her during their escape, ensuring she wasn't killed by their pursuers. And in that moment when they tumbled down the slope, it was he who shielded her head, sparing her from any harm.

And yet, what did she do?

She turned her back on him, refusing to acknowledge his presence!

Murong Tu was seething with anger, fury coursing through every fiber of his being. It felt as if a blazing fire raged within his heart, his indignation mounting. Alongside his anger, a sharp and peculiar resentment pierced his soul. How could she treat him this way?

How dare she? ! This dead woman, this enchantress, indeed, no woman from the Demon Sect was worthy of trust.

Murong Tuo couldn't discern whether it was a sense of grievance or resentment stirring within him; either way, he was genuinely furious this time. His breathing became rapid, and his plush crimson lips were pressed tightly together. His eyes fixated on her with an unwavering gaze.

As the man's strength waned visibly, his hands, strained to the limit, turned blue with protruding veins. Eventually, along with the sliding rubble, his entire body began to slip downward.

He glared at Nanyan with resentment and fury, their faces mere inches apart. He watched as she bit her lip in hesitation, stealing a glance at him before quickly turning her head away, ignoring him altogether.

In that instant, Murong Tu's rage reached its pinnacle. Before he could utter a word, his entire body lost its strength and began to plummet downward. The fall wouldn't kill him, but it would certainly result in severe injuries.

Muruo Ta bit his teeth, his blazing eyes glaring at her fiercely. Such intense emotions seemed to have taken root deep in his heart like a seed; any attempt to uproot it would bring an unbearable pain and resentment that could not be overlooked.

A touch of rare resentment lingered within her.

In that instant, Nan Yan reacted almost instinctively, diving forward with half her body to grasp tightly onto Murong Tao's already descending arm.

The force of the impact sent her entire waist crashing into the tree trunk. Suspended mid-air with only her upper body supported, she was pulled downward by his weight, causing the small tree to creak and sway violently. Yet, miraculously, it held firm.

The two of them hung there, one above the other, suspended in mid-air. Murong Tao had initially believed his end had come; however, when the woman disregarded her own safety to rush to him, he momentarily thought he was hallucinating. His face displayed sheer disbelief.

He widened his eyes, staring blankly at the woman reaching out towards him. In that moment, a jumble of emotions swirled within him - from initial resentment and grievance to astonishment, strangeness, and a hint of incredulity. The complexity was so convoluted that he struggled to articulate his feelings, only sensing a tremendous swing of emotional disparity within his heart.

All his attention was now fixated on the woman before him, his gaze filled with a sentiment he himself couldn't quite comprehend, as he intently stared at her.

He had initially assumed she would surely abandon him in his time of need. She despised him so much; he had bullied her countless times, causing her to weep and shed tears each time. Surely, she must have hated him to the core, which is why she deliberately turned away from him when he called out to her.

But why? Having already resolved to let go, why did she rush towards him at the very last moment, grasping his hand with such fierce determination?

Muruo Tu's eyes involuntarily fell upon her delicate, fair fingers. Her hands were so soft, yet they clung to him with an iron grip, her knuckles turning white from the strain.

Nanyan held onto his arm with all her might, her nails almost piercing his flesh. This man's weight was considerable, and Nanyan leaned against the swaying tree trunk for support. The immense force of pulling him caused cold sweat to break out on her forehead. She bit her lip, struggling to look down at the person beneath her, her voice quivering as she spoke,

"Hold on tight, don't let go."

With the pain already there, it would be a waste not to take advantage and boost her favorability rating. Thus, Nanyan resumed her act.

Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, and her gaze fell upon him with a hint of unease.

In that instant, they were incredibly close, so close that her hair cascaded from her shoulders, intertwining with his face. Her clear and enchanting eyes, resembling a spring overflowing with water, reflected his image.

Muruo Tu's breath hitched for a moment. He could feel her labored exhales, warm and faintly scented, brush against his skin.

At such close proximity, their breaths seemed to merge instantaneously, entwining with one another completely.

Muruo Tu's gaze burned into the person's face. He was somewhat dazed, his mind transitioning from confusion to clarity until he saw the pained and strained expression on the individual's face.

Only then did Muruo Tu regain his composure. Gazing at Nanyan's hand that was on the verge of giving up, anxiety flickered across his face, prompting him to instinctively say,

"hang in there for a moment."

Upon hearing this, Nanyan couldn't help but glare at him. With great difficulty, she replied, "I'm already doing my best to hold on."

Muruo Tu had no time to tend to her. He immediately looked around. There seemed to be nothing nearby for them to cling onto.

After some thought, he suddenly pulled out his belt. It might not be long enough, but with Nan Yan's grip on him, Muruo Tu threw the belt upward with all his might. By sheer luck, it wrapped around a branch. He then yanked it downward with great force.

Using the rebounding energy, he felt significantly lighter. With a solid grip, Muruo Tu was no longer worried. He tightened his hold on the branch and gathered his strength.

Then, he reached backward and pulled Nan Yan, who had fallen below, into his embrace. Finally, he stepped on the small tree and leaped upward, exerting every last bit of strength in his body. Only then did he carry the person in his arms away from the steep slope entirely.

The two had truly expended much effort to escape their peril. They had initially been pursued, and after evading their attackers, they accidentally tumbled down the steep slope.

Having expended much time, energy, and strength on the steep slope, they both persisted solely through sheer determination.

Now that they were safe, both were momentarily exhausted, collapsing onto the grass and gasping for air.

Muruo Tu's emotions were clearly still raw from the immense shock he had just experienced. The sudden change had his heart pounding wildly, almost beyond his control.

Despite being out of danger, Muruo Tu's grip on Nanyan's wrist remained unyielding, his strength almost crushing her bones. This demonstrated the turmoil he was in at that moment.

Nanyan's wrist throbbed with pain under his grasp, and she could no longer endure it. She struggled, slapping his hand back, "Let go, you're already safe. Why are you still holding onto me?"

His palms were coated with thick blood, a mixture of abrasions from the rocky ground and cuts from grass and pebbles. Under Nan Yan's forceful slap, his palms stung, causing him to instinctively clench his fists even tighter. Only then did he seem to realize what was happening, turning his head to fix her with an intense gaze.

"I won't let go."

Nan Yan was angered by him, her expression turning somewhat displeased. She couldn't endure it anymore and struck his wrist with increased force. "Let go quickly! What does it look like when you tug on me like this?"

Muruo Tu had regained his composure by now. It was just that he had momentarily lost his senses. Hearing Nan Yan's voice, he immediately turned to glare at her. Memories of the past flooded his mind, igniting a fire in his eyes. His chest began to heave with anger, the corners of his eyes reddening as he stared at her,

"I refuse to let go!"

Recalling how she had been stuck on the tree trunk earlier, refusing to acknowledge him, Murong Tu felt his breath quicken. His heart was filled with a mix of anger and frustration, along with a strange, inexplicable emotion that left him utterly disoriented.

Yet, the only thing that wasn't chaotic was her attitude toward him back then on the tree.

"Did you never intend to save me from the start? When I called out to you, you clearly hesitated. You never really wanted to save me, did you? You just wanted to watch me fall and die alone, didn't you?" As Mu Rong Tu said those last words, he nearly ground his teeth in frustration, his tone bizarrely distorted with anger.

He felt an indescribable sense of wronged injustice in his chest, accompanied by a tinge of unwillingness. How could she truly abandon him in his time of need?

Upon hearing this, Nan Yan's face involuntarily revealed a hint of guilt and annoyance. She turned her head and reflexively countered, "I didn't! I was just startled and momentarily didn't know how to react. Don't try to slander me."

Yet, his words lacked conviction, clearly revealing his insecurity.

Moreover, she had indeed done it on purpose, seeking thrill and excitement. Who could blame the boy for his sharp tongue? Scaring him was her goal.

Muruo Tu's face flushed red with anger, a flush of crimson surging across his fair complexion. His dark eyes fixated intently, "You still dare to refute? I saw it with my own eyes. I called out to you, yet you completely ignored me."

As Muruo Tu continued, his anger grew, intertwined with a tinge of resentment. Faced with her unrepentant attitude, his rage intensified visibly, and he shouted at her in a lowered voice, "Don't you feel guilty when you say that? Do you have any conscience at all? Despite protecting you time and again on this journey, preventing even the slightest harm from befalling you, this is how you repay me?

"You watched me fall from such great heights. I might end up paralyzed, do you understand that? A half-paralyzed person! You ungrateful wolf, you're the one who betrays kindness with ingratitude, turning your back on those who helped you!"

Nanyan's ears ached from the man's loud shouting. It was impressive that he had exerted so much effort to find words to describe her. Seeing him gasping for breath, Nanyan didn't feel guilty at all; instead, she felt rather pleased. She even had the urge to pat his chest and tell him to slow down.

But if she really did that, he would probably explode with anger.

Thus, Nanyan maintained her appearance of guilt and frustration. Rubbing her sore ears, she might have endured too much criticism and couldn't take it anymore.

Looking up at him with annoyance, she retorted, "Didn't I rush back to save you later? Why do you always focus on my mistakes and not see the good in me?"

"That's not the same!" Murong Tu clung to the fact that she had ignored him earlier. "You regretted it later. Initially, you were willing to watch me die."

"How is it any different?" Nan Yan lifted her gaze to look at him, her voice soft yet firm as she countered his question. "You were the one who held onto those grudges. Who asked you to bully me all the time and constantly threaten to use me as a bargaining chip? Why can't I have the same thoughts as you?"

"Besides, I did save you in the end. My hesitation was just in my mind; I didn't actually abandon you. Can't I even think about it?"

Muruo Tu heard her reasoning and realized she had a point. If he could entertain chaotic thoughts, then surely she could entertain hesitant ones. After all, neither of them had actually acted on their impulses.

But considering their current confrontation, Muruo Tu felt even more frustrated. His ears flushed with anger as he glared at her fiercely. "No, it's not acceptable!"

Their dispute continued, neither able to convince the other.

Nan Yan insisted that the man let go, but he stubbornly refused, insisting on an earnest apology and admission of fault from her before he would release his grip. It was no wonder Nan Yan wouldn't comply!

Her cheeks flushed with anger, and her chest rose and fell slightly as she pushed against him, both hands struggling fiercely. "You're shameless! You take advantage of your martial arts skills to bully a defenseless woman like me. Let me go!"

Muru Tao was equally furious, glaring at her with an intimidating gaze. "I won't let go until you apologize."

"Then let me go first, and I'll apologize."

"No way. You apologize first, then I'll release you."

Nanyan: "..." Well, was this guy a primary school student? Was he still trying to pull this kind of trick on her?

Eventually, the two of them became entangled in a struggle. Rourou, leveraging his natural male strength, pinned her down on the ground. Nanyan's hair was disheveled, and her clothes were in disarray. Both of them, due to their intense struggle, were emotionally agitated and panting heavily.

Seeing that he still refused to let go, Nanyan was almost driven to tears with frustration. The corners of her eyes reddened. Seizing the opportunity amidst the chaos, she grabbed a strand of his hair that had fallen onto her cheek and yanked it hard, causing him excruciating pain and distorting his face. He finally had no choice but to lower his head to face her directly.

As they stared at each other eye-to-eye, Nanyan grew even more aggrieved. With a look of accusation in her eyes, she said, "Let me tell you, I've also been tolerating you for a long time. If not for your senior brother's sake, I would have had someone beat you up long ago. You filthy thief, you've been bullying me from the start, tearing my clothes, and almost ruining my innocence. When have I ever provoked you? It's clearly you who's constantly bullying me. If you keep this up, I...I really won't hold back anymore!"

Rourou's face flushed red. He had never engaged in such a tussle before. He had heard that women often pulled hair during fights, and today, he found it to be true. His scalp was on the verge of numbness from the pain.

Pain makes one more prone to anger, and anger in turn intensifies irritability. Murong Tuo was never known for his patience, and after so many years in this world, he had never been treated with such disrespect.

Especially when she mentioned her senior brother, an inexplicable anger surged within him, and he gritted his teeth, staring at her intently. "You haven't provoked me yet? Do you have no remorse saying that? You've clearly been provoking me all along—on our first meeting, you stepped on my finger so hard it was swollen for three days. Then, after I saved you, instead of thanks, I received a beating. And this morning, you slapped me. How can you still claim you haven't been provoking me?"

"Do you still intend to be impolite to me? Ha, I'd love to see how a delicate lady like you, who can't even lift a shoulder bag or carry a tray, plans to show me any disrespect. Go on, give it your best shot."

Southern Yan had never encountered such a request in her life. Given his audacious and whimsical nature, didn't she have to indulge him?

No sooner had these words left his lips than Murong Tu failed to react in time before the figure beneath him lunged upward, clamping its jaws onto his chin. It refused to release its grip, holding on with unwavering tenacity.

Murong Tuo gasped in pain, his expression contorting as he held the person in his arms, unsure how to handle the situation without actually resorting to physical force against her. He reached out to press on her shoulders, attempting to pull her away, but she only clamped down harder with her teeth.

The sensation was... incredibly intoxicating!

It made Young Master Murong feel more humiliated than he ever had in his life.

"Let go, you're biting again! Always biting, are you some sort of turtle? You bit my senior brother the first time we met, and now you're biting me. You sharp-toothed brat, is biting all you know how to do? If you keep this up, I won't hold back anymore."

Young Master Murong shouted at her, his voice strained.

Nanyan clung tightly, their bodies pressed closely together. She could distinctly sense his rapid breaths, indicating that this time, he was genuinely infuriated.

Muruo Ta drew in a sharp breath from the pain. "Damn girl, let go of my mouth."

In truth, they were close in age, so addressing her as a brat wouldn't be overly unjustified.

Muruo Ta observed her steadfast refusal to acknowledge anyone, not even lifting her head. Despite this, he didn't ease the pressure of his words.

Left with no other recourse, Murong Tu clenched her shoulders with both hands, gritted his teeth, and exerted all his strength to pull her down. Then, he lunged forward, pinning her beneath him. The force of this action was so great that neither of them could arrest their momentum, and they tumbled heavily across the ground.

In that instant, Murong Tuoduo felt as if she had gnawed away the skin on his chin. He flipped over, pinning her to the ground, his eyes reddened as he stared at her fiercely. "Villainous woman, do you think only you have teeth? Do you think this young master doesn't dare to bite you?"

Just after Nan Yan had bitten him, she instinctively spat in response to his words. Unbeknownst to her, his face was smeared with dirt, causing her to inadvertently ingest some soil.

To Murong Tuoduo, her action appeared as a provocation. His anger exploded, filling his mind almost entirely.

He abruptly lowered his head. In that moment of madness, he saw her luscious, moist lips, and without hesitation, he bit down onto them, those tender, crimson lips.

Nan Yan's eyes widened instantly, her entire being frozen in shock.

Not only was she taken aback, but even Murong Tu himself was stunned. He hadn't expected her lips to be so soft.

Fearful of accidentally biting down too hard, he instinctively eased his grip, and the pressure on her lips transformed subtly. Before he knew it, the bite had morphed into a kiss.

Nan Yan finally regained her composure, her face instantly flushing red with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance. She pushed against him, stammering, "Ugh, you...you..."

However, his entire body held her firmly in place, rendering her unable to move.

In that moment, as she spoke, Murong Tu realized there was more depth to explore. Tentatively, his trembling tongue reached out, testing the boundaries.

Muru Tu felt his breath catching, an unprecedented tension surging from his chest as if it had been instantly filled, causing his heart to tremble and a inexplicable sense of pleasure and fulfillment to wash over him.

His heartbeat accelerated with each passing moment, the more he kissed, the more he wanted. He couldn't understand what was happening to him; it was like a thirsty fish in a shallow puddle finally finding a refreshing, pure spring, never wanting to let go, yet at the same time, he held back, afraid of hurting her with his intensity. Thus, even his movements became increasingly cautious.

In that instant, he distinctly sensed the struggle and anger beneath him, but still, he didn't release his hold. He realized he must have lost his senses.

He had actually bullied a defenseless woman who knew no martial arts. Yet... yet somehow, if it was her, it didn't seem entirely unbearable.

...

When Zhao Xiuyan finally traced their path and arrived, he was met with an eerie sight: the two of them were seated apart from each other.

The atmosphere between them seemed off, but judging by their mutual disregard, it didn't seem too different from their usual dynamic – there was just an indescribable peculiarity to it.

He turned to glance at his junior brother, immediately noticing the telltale slap mark on his face. The size of the mark left no doubt that Yan Yan had been the culprit, and it stood out starkly against his fair complexion. There was also a slight swelling on his chin, indicating a collision with something.

Zhao Xiuyan involuntarily furrowed his brow. So they had argued again? And from the looks of it, it had been quite a heated one.

He had long become accustomed to his junior brother getting into scraps, especially since encountering Yan Yan; it was no longer an unusual occurrence for him to see his junior brother on the receiving end of a beating.

Yet, looking at Junior Brother's peculiar expression, he couldn't tell if he had truly offended someone this time.

To his surprise, he detected a hint of regret and guilt on his junior's face. His brows knitted slightly, and his expression turned intricate, as if he was struggling with words and feeling conflicted. Occasionally, there was even a touch of bashful confusion, with his head lowered, lost in thought. Now and then, he would sneak a glance at Nanyan sitting beside him, and within those glances, there was a subtle hint of annoyance mixed with embarrassment.

South Yan, sitting on the other side, paid no attention to anyone. Lost in her thoughts, her hair was slightly disheveled, possibly due to their recent escapade, and a few straws and leaves clung to her attire.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed, giving the impression that she was slightly angered, though it was unclear what thoughts were swirling in her mind. With her delicate teeth gently biting her lips, they became slightly swollen from the pressure.

Qiao Xiuyan watched with a furrowed brow, feeling that something unpleasant had transpired between the two of them.

He inquired if his junior brother had again imposed upon her, only to see his face flush with a tide of crimson, extending even to the tips of his ears. He then turned away, plucking at the grass on the ground, and stammered, "This time, I really apologized to her."

And yet, he was slapped once more. But this time, he dared not harbor any resentment. Strangely, he felt a sense of fulfillment, contemplating that if a slap could earn him a kiss in the future, it might not be such a terrible bargain.

The more he thought about it, the odder it seemed.

Upon hearing this and observing his wandering gaze, Zhao Xuyan sensed something amiss intuitively.

But he couldn't simply ask Yan Yan directly, given their non-existent relationship. This delicate feeling of powerlessness stirred an uneasy emotion within Zhao Xuyan, causing his brows to furrow slightly.

It seemed that the two of them had excluded him from their circle.

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Across the way, the Lord Patriarch's expression could no longer be described as merely gloomy after a day and a night without any news of Lady. His gaze was akin to that of a killer's.

The attendants and subordinates surrounding her were all on edge, fearful that any misstep might catch the attention of their Supreme Leader, resulting in her taking their lives in a fit of displeasure.

Yuliu Yun had never been one to feel nervous or panic, especially when entering the study. Usually, she would occupy the seat beside him in this very room, but now it was eerily empty.

A profound sense of anguish suddenly gripped his heart.

It had been a day and a night since he last knew her whereabouts. He barely dared to imagine what might have happened to her, a frail woman with no martial arts skills, afraid of the dark and wild beasts. What kind of ordeals could she be facing all alone?

Yuliu Yun found himself unable to ponder these thoughts. The more he thought, the more his head ached. His injured chest felt as if it were being violently twisted by a dagger, causing cold sweat to break out on his forehead. He was utterly at a loss on how to proceed.

His mind was in a blur. What if she really encountered misfortune? What if she was being bullied? With her gentle nature, would she still be alive?

At this thought, a layer of bloodshot appeared in Yuliu Yun's eyes. He vaguely recalled the time she visited his study and recounted their first encounter. She said that a group of beggars had cornered her, but he had arrived just in time to save her. But yesterday... If she had truly been bullied and he hadn't shown up promptly, what then?

Yuliu Yun's heart jolted fiercely. Contemplating these thoughts, he was suddenly seized by a sharp pain in his chest, as if blood was churning violently within. In that instant, he could even taste the faint metallic tang at the back of his throat.

Yuliu Yun forcefully shut his eyes, but all he could see was Yan Yan's distraught face, tears streaming down as she cried out for him when being bullied. It felt as if someone had plunged a dagger into his heart, leaving him gasping for breath and filled with fear and discomfort.

Lost in thought, Yuliu Yun's fingers trembled uncontrollably. Clenching his fists tightly, he ordered his subordinates to redouble their efforts in searching. No matter what, they had to find his wife. Regardless of what she had endured, they must bring her back.

While Yuliu Yun was lost in his panicked musings with his eyes closed, he abruptly heard a subordinate reporting news. The subordinate, desperately suppressing his own terror, spoke with a quivering voice, "Yesterday afternoon, someone spotted Madam near a teahouse at the foot of the mountain. Madam wandered off yesterday and almost suffered the indignity of being assaulted by two imperial convicts after descending the mountain. Later, she was rescued by someone."

Upon hearing this report, Yuliu Yun's eyes reddened momentarily, his gaze turning as sharp as a blade laced with poison.

He spun around abruptly, grabbing his subordinate by the collar. "What did you say? What do you mean the Lady was almost assaulted by two fugitives? Where is she? Where is she now?"

He was well aware of his wife's temperament. If she had truly... been violated, there was no way she would survive. With her personality, how could she endure such an ordeal?

A wave of unprecedented regret surged through Yu Liuyun's heart. Why, why did he say those words to her that day?

The subordinate's face paled; he knew the Supreme Ruler would lose control upon hearing this news. Shivering, he recounted the tale he'd heard from the teahouse owner the previous day.

"Wi-th Lady's beauty, she was wandering alone yesterday without even a maid by her side. As soon as she descended the mountain, two fugitives set their sights on her. They abducted her into a nearby forest with... ill intentions. The Lady was crying out for help, but fortunately, two young passersby heard her cries and... they came to her rescue, taking her away from there."

Upon hearing the words "Madam was crying out incessantly," Yuliu Yun felt an acute pain in his chest, and blood involuntarily trickled from the corner of his mouth.

His fingers trembled, barely able to contain the murderous impulse surging within him. No matter how enraged he was, he would never lay a finger on his beloved wife. How dare they? How dare they...harass her?

Thoughts of these deeds filled Yuliu Yun's eyes with a tangible malevolence and killing intent.

Sweat beaded on his palms, making it difficult for him to clench his fists. With force, he shrugged off his subordinate, wiped the blood from his lips, and composed his facial expressions.

"What about those two individuals?"

Yuliu Yun wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, then asked in a hoarse voice, the tone tinged with a hint of brutality.

"The subordinate has investigated. It seems those two individuals are the ones Your Excellency has been relentlessly pursuing. According to the teahouse owner, they saved the Lady and left together with her."

Upon hearing this, Yuliu Yun's gaze darkened, filled with boundless blackness that instilled a chilling sense of terror. If those two had taken his wife away, he was now acutely aware of what they sought.

A cold sneer tugged at the corners of Yuliu Yun's lips, sending a chill down his subordinate's spine. His voice was ominous, striking fear into their heart. "No, I'm asking about the other two fugitives. Are they dead?"

The subordinate, trembling with fear, replied, the hair on the back of their neck standing on end. "In response to Your Excellency, those two were already dea-dead that day."

Yuliu Yun lowered his gaze upon him, a venomous and cruel glint suddenly appearing in his eyes. "It's not enough for Guang to die. This seat will grind their corpses into pieces to feed the dogs, so that even in the Hall of Yanwang, they'll clearly see who they should have touched and who they should have left alone."