Chapter 247

Chapter 247

The path the sand lizard traversed was left in utter chaos, with countless creatures dead or severely injured.

Su Molan, dragged along by the long whip, felt as if she would vomit from the jolting. Already grievously wounded, she could hardly endure such rough treatment. When Wen Qiao sped up her escape once more, Su Molan coughed up blood and finally fainted.

That sand lizard had set its sights on them, stomping through the yellow sands at an alarming speed in hot pursuit.

Wen Qiao could feel the threat from the sand lizard behind her, a scorching and terrifying presence that made her hair stand on end, almost pushing her to transform into her demon form. The thought of transforming out of fear was too humiliating for her to consider.

Seeing the sand lizard closing in, Wen Qiao pulled Ning Yuzhou's hand without hesitation and dragged the unconscious Su Molan into the space.

When they landed on the stone golden python vines inside the space, both panted heavily, their bodies still tense.

After catching her breath, Wen Qiao's gaze fell on Su Molan, who was limply hanging from the stone golden python vines. Without hesitation, she struck Su Molan's neck to prevent her from waking up prematurely.

Since she was already unconscious, it didn't matter if she stayed that way a bit longer.

Back in the space, Wen Tuto and Wen Guangun's bristled fur slowly smoothed down, revealing the immense pressure the sand lizard had put on them. The close encounter with the sand lizard, where their lives were constantly threatened, had turned them into two fluffed-up balls of fur.

They stayed in the space for quite some time until the sand lizard's presence vanished, then cautiously emerged from the space.

The surrounding desert was eerily quiet.

Every place the sand lizard appeared became a wasteland, with the yellow sands still bearing the marks of its passage. Dead insects, ants, and venomous snakes littered the ground, creating a scene of utter devastation.

Wen Qiao and the others did not linger nearby, carrying the still unconscious Su Molan away from the area.

***

A pale moon rose slowly, casting an icy chill over the desert. The cold seeped up from the ground, enveloping everything in frost.

Su Molan woke up due to the cold.

Upon opening her eyes, she saw a female cultivator sitting by the fire, warming herself and drinking soup. Two demonic beasts were huddled beside her, slurping soup from bowls. Across from them sat a handsome male cultivator, which made her momentarily disoriented.

At that moment, the female cultivator by the fire turned to look at her, "You're awake?"

Su Molan nodded and slowly got up, suddenly reaching back to touch her sore neck, feeling as if it had been struck hard. She looked at Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou with some confusion but did not suspect them.

Lifting her head to the night sky, she gazed at the cold, solitary moon. Moonlight shone upon the bleak, icy desert, and occasionally, black scorpions emerged from the ice, wandering around and heading towards their location.

Seeing this, Su Molan's face stiffened slightly.

When the black scorpions passed by without attacking, a look of surprise crossed her face.

"Would you like some soup?"

A voice sounded, and Su Molan turned to find a bowl of soup thrust into her hands.

Holding the steaming bowl, the warmth drove away the cold from her palms. Looking at the beautiful white jade bowl filled with clear yellow soup, adorned with white, red, and blue fruits and mushrooms, the colors were strikingly beautiful.

Taking a sip, the soup was delicious and full of pure spiritual energy, perfect for cultivators.

After finishing the entire bowl, the cold within her body dissipated. Holding the empty bowl, Su Molan began to silently weep.

Not again!

Wen Qiao felt a headache coming on; she couldn't bear seeing someone cry. She comforted, "Stop crying. You survived a near-death experience; shouldn't you be smiling?"

Su Molan wiped her tears, choking out, "You're right, but I still feel like my life has been a joke... By the way, those two... Did they die?"

"I don't know," Wen Qiao replied bluntly, turning to ask, "Do you hope they died?"

Su Molan remained silent, looking lost.

Wen Qiao brought another bowl of soup, sitting by the fire, and said, "Tell us your story."

What should she say? Su Molan came back to her senses, looking at her in confusion.

"Tell us," Wen Qiao urged.

Wen Tuto and Wen Guangun also sat obediently, waiting eagerly for the story, which made Su Molan unable to continue crying. She sighed softly, "There's nothing much to say. Most of what is rumored outside is true."

"What rumors?" Wen Qiao asked curiously.

Su Molan looked at her in surprise, "You haven't heard?"

"No," Wen Qiao said calmly, "We've been living in seclusion and haven't been aware of the outside world. Our bone ages are so young; we wouldn't know about your generation's affairs."

Su Molan, now considered part of the older generation: "..."

She looked at them, feeling a mix of emotions, realizing their bone ages were indeed young.

Though skeptical, she didn't press further and said, "Have you heard of the Pleiades Valley?"

"No," Wen Qiao said firmly.

Su Molan choked, feeling a sense of frustration.

However, their straightforward attitude gave her some relief.

She really didn't want to face cultivators who always looked at her with strange eyes. Those gazes were complex—filled with greed, false concern, and treating her as a walking Pleiades Four Symbols Map.

Additionally, there were younger cultivators who viewed her with disdain, believing she must be a shameless woman capable of luring many young talents to their deaths.

"The Pleiades Valley is the guardian of the Pleiades Four Symbols Map. By the time it reached my generation, all the members of the Su family were dead, leaving only me..."

This continent is the Pleiades Continent, divided into the righteous and demonic paths. Among the righteous forces, the most prominent are one valley, four clans, and eight sects.

One valley is the Pleiades Valley, as it is the guardian of the Twenty-Eight Mansions Four Symbols Map. Although its strength is not remarkable, it holds a unique position by bearing the name of the continent, making it a focal point across the entire Pleiades Continent.

A hundred years ago, a group of black-clad individuals suddenly attacked the Pleiades Valley, intent on seizing the Twenty-Eight Mansions Four Symbols Map.

At that time, the master of the Pleiades Valley was Su Molan's mother, Su Jieyi, who was in labor. She never expected such a calamity. Witnessing the disciples of the Pleiades Valley being brutally killed, her husband and her last remaining family members dying before her eyes, she was overwhelmed with grief and anger. Despite having just given birth, she fought with her weakened body to protect the Pleiades Valley.

Fortunately, just as the Pleiades Valley was about to be destroyed, Xiao Xiankai, the patriarch of the Xiao Clan, and Shen Sheng, the patriarch of the Shen Clan, who were friends with the Pleiades Valley, led their clans to rescue them.

Sadly, this battle drained Su Jieyi of her vitality, leaving her with little life force.

Knowing she could not raise her only daughter, Su Jieyi entrusted her daughter to the Xiao Clan on her deathbed, hoping they would raise her well. She also arranged a marriage between her daughter and Shen Yuanjin, the young master of the Shen Clan, so they could become partners when they grew up.

As the last descendant of the Pleiades Valley, Su Molan was raised by the Xiao Clan from a young age.

The Xiao Clan treated her exceptionally well, treating her as one of their own and even guarding the Pleiades Valley for her. They planned to let her inherit the Pleiades Valley once she reached the Yuanzong realm and marry her fiancé, Shen Yuanjin.

Unfortunately, as she grew older, the world began to change. The same group of black-clad individuals who had massacred her family reappeared and repeatedly targeted her.

After years of investigation, the Xiao Clan discovered that the attackers were from the Demon Sect, who had always coveted the Twenty-Eight Mansions Four Symbols Map, aiming to seize it and unify the continent.

They broke into the Xiao residence to take her away. To protect her, many from the Xiao Clan were killed or injured, including Xiao Xiankai's wife, the matriarch of the Xiao Clan, who died in the battle.

The Xiao Clan suffered heavy casualties protecting her. Several allied families felt that as an orphan carrying the Twenty-Eight Mansions Four Symbols Map, she would eventually bring disaster to the righteous path. They suggested sealing the Pleiades Valley and imprisoning her in the Four Clans' Secret Realm to prevent the map from ever seeing the light of day and thwart the Demon Sect's plot.

Fortunately, the Xiao Clan and the Shen Clan strongly opposed this, and Shen Yuanjin stepped forward to protect her, preventing those families from forcing her.

***

Wen Qiao saw her start crying again and felt a headache coming on. She hurriedly said, "Can you stop crying?"

Su Molan wiped her tears and choked out, "I'm sorry... I just have this kind of personality..."

Wen Qiao pursed her lips, wondering if the Xiao Clan had deliberately cultivated Su Molan's weak and tearful nature, or if it was due to her sensitive upbringing as an orphan.

Though Wen Qiao looked delicate herself, she had never cried over anything. From a young age, she had trained herself to be cold-hearted to avoid being hurt. If not for meeting Ning Yuzhou, who bound her through marriage and a divine bloodline, she might not have become more cheerful.

Thus, Wen Qiao understood that Su Molan's character was not entirely her fault.

After thinking for a moment, Wen Qiao asked, "By the way, what's the deal with Pei Qiyu from the Demon Sky Sect?"

Su Molan's expression stiffened, and she said, "Can I not talk about him?"

"Sure," Wen Qiao replied, not wanting to force her. She then continued, "What are your plans for the future?"

"Of course, I'll follow you," Su Molan said matter-of-factly. "Since I promised to give you the Twenty-Eight Mansions Four Symbols Map, I will keep my word. Only the bloodline of the Su family can activate it, and I will ensure it is opened and handed over to you."

Hearing this, Wen Qiao looked at her expressionlessly.

She felt they had been stuck with a crybaby.

Turning to Ning Yuzhou, who was sitting by the fire, she said, "Husband, don't you think she's deliberately sticking with us?"

Since only the bloodline of the Su family can activate the Twenty-Eight Mansions Four Symbols Map, who would dare kill her?

Killing her would risk the map not opening, rendering all efforts futile. Thus, when Su Molan sought their help, she used a bit of cunning.

No, perhaps every cultivator on the Pleiades Continent knew this and would hesitate. To open the map, Su Molan must remain alive, even if the Demon Sky Sect came to snatch her, they wouldn't dare harm her, fearing it would affect the map.

Su Molan knew this and wasn't worried about her safety, confident these two wouldn't kill her.

But while they wouldn't kill her, they might use her. Once they obtained the map, they could eliminate her, the last descendant of the Su family, without worrying about further control.

Su Molan didn't want to be locked up like an object, nor did she want to die.

Ning Yuzhou remained silent, giving Su Molan a faint glance.

For some reason, Su Molan found this man terrifying.

Despite his gentle smile and lack of aggression, he seemed more intimidating than Wen Qiao, who could beat up Xiao Minxin.

Perhaps it was because Wen Qiao appeared so dependent on him.

Su Molan defended herself, "How can you say I'm sticking with you? Don't you want the Twenty-Eight Mansions Four Symbols Map?"

"I really don't," Wen Qiao said bluntly, glancing at Ning Yuzhou, "Husband, don't you agree?"

Ning Yuzhou smiled and agreed, showing respect for his wife.

Even Wen Tutu and Wen Guangun chimed in agreement.

Su Molan was speechless, feeling like she had heard a joke—someone not wanting the Twenty-Eight Mansions Four Symbols Map.

Finally, she couldn't help but ask, "If that's the case, why did you save me earlier? Offending the Xiao Clan and the Shen Clan won't benefit you."

Wen Qiao replied, "We felt sorry for you."

Ning Yuzhou added, "Chui wanted to save you, no reason needed."

Su Molan felt like she was eating dog food, choking on it. "Are you partners?" Then she glanced at Wen Qiao, clearly a maiden, trying to deceive others.

"Yes," Wen Qiao admitted openly, seeing her disbelief, she lifted her chin and said, "We're in name only, is that a problem?"

Fine, call him husband if you want.

Su Molan fell silent, but seeing these two and thinking of her fiancé, she started crying again.

"Oh, why are you crying again?" Wen Qiao was exasperated; everything seemed fine just a moment ago.

Su Molan wiped her tears as she said, "I thought of Young Master Shen... Clearly, Young Master Shen treated me very well in the past. He even stood up and argued on behalf of Suzhou Valley..."

Wen Qiao interjected, "But later he got together with Xiao Minxin?"

Su Molan nodded grievously and continued crying, "They all say it's because I'm fickle and have wronged his feelings, but I really didn't... It was those people who kept forcing themselves upon me, and I didn't know how to refuse them..."

She grew up in the Xiao family, and although they treated her like their own, the Xiao family was large and influential, and not everyone thought the Xaos should raise her for Suzhou Valley. Behind her back, there was no shortage of gossip.

Growing up in such an environment, her personality became increasingly sensitive, and she became more fragile.

To repay the kindness of the Xiao family, she tried her best to be good, carefully restraining her behavior, only obeying and complying, without knowing how to refuse others.

Therefore, when young talents from various clans and sects forced themselves upon her, she truly did not know how to refuse them. When others saw this, they assumed she was fickle and trying to seduce these young talents for her own use.

But she had never done anything to betray her fiancé.

The only time was when she was tricked, and the person who tricked her was none other than Xiao Minxin.

Wen Qiao looked at her, seeing her cry harder, that pitiful appearance could easily soften one's heart but also made one feel annoyed. Honestly, she said, "I finally understand why Xiao Minxin dislikes you; your crying is quite annoying."

Su Molan: "..."

This was definitely a fatal blow; no one would speak so bluntly and cruelly.

Su Molan's eyes welled up with tears, almost breaking down again.

Ning Yuzhou cleared his throat, understanding Chui's straightforward character well. As a husband, he couldn't help but clean up after her, saying gently, "Miss Su, don't take it to heart. Though harsh truths are hard to hear, Chui's words come from her heart. You'll get used to it over time."

Su Molan was even more speechless. How could one get used to something like this?

But seeing how Ning Yuzhou protected his fiancée, she couldn't help but want to cry again when comparing it to her own situation.

"Actually, I think you don't have much feeling for Young Master Shen either. Why bother crying over him?" Wen Qiao poured her another bowl of soup and added, "This soup is made by my husband with spirit fruits. He doesn't usually make much, so you're lucky to have two bowls."

Wen Tuantuan and Wen Guangun nodded in agreement; they also rarely got to taste Ning Ge's soup.

Su Molan didn't really want to talk to her.