Chapter 21

Chapter 21

As Tong Chang finished speaking, everyone's expressions shifted slightly. They eyed the tall, unfamiliar male cultivator warily, their eyes filled with apprehension.

They stared directly at the male cultivator in the shadows, only to see the massive iron hammer hanging motionless in the air, a mere half-arm's length away from him, unable to advance another inch, as if blocked by an invisible barrier.

The air before him rippled like water, cracks spreading through the void.

Under the dim moonlight, the male cultivator was dressed in a loose black robe with a coiled dragon design, the robe's intricate silver patterns shimmering mysteriously in the moonlight.

The night wind lifted his wide robe, causing it to flutter loudly.

The male cultivator was tall, even half a head taller than the muscular and robust Tong Chang. His features were more striking than those of ordinary men, with slanted sword-like brows, crimson pupils, a small crimson demonic mark under his eye, and a long red tassel dangling from his right earlobe, giving him an eerily sinister aura.

However, everyone’s gaze lingered on his forehead for a moment, where twisted antlers rose from his white hair, gleaming with a cold, jade-like sheen under the moonlight.

Just by looking at him, they knew he was no ordinary person.

What was even more terrifying was that they had stayed in this courtyard for so long without a single person noticing his presence... This could only mean that this mysterious male cultivator's cultivation far surpassed theirs.

This realization made their faces darken.

They had no idea when such a fearsome beast had been hiding in the Chongyao Sect...

Their faces grew darker as they exchanged glances, each seeing the fear and unease in the other’s eyes. They remained in the courtyard, momentarily unsure of what to do.

The spirit beast clan was naturally fierce and brutal, naturally violent and warlike. Once they formed an enmity, it would be a fight to the death. No one was willing to provoke them recklessly.

Lu Sisi stared in disbelief at the two, who were so close. She bit her pale lips hard, her gaze lingering on Huo Wuyan’s face, a dark glint in her eyes. Who was this man? Why was he here? And what was his relationship with Lu Yuanyin?!

Lu Sisi’s expression twisted briefly. As she looked at Huo Wuyan’s handsome face, jealousy surged within her. She couldn’t understand why Lu Yuanyin always had so many people treating her well, why she could effortlessly obtain everything she wanted??!!

She wouldn’t accept it!

Lu’s mother’s heart raced. She stared at the tall male cultivator blocking Lu Yuanyin’s path, a flicker of panic stirring within her. That girl was so vindictive—if she really found a powerful backer, she’d surely seek revenge on them... They absolutely couldn’t let that happen!

For a moment, everyone wore different expressions.

Even the passing night breeze seemed to pause for a moment, and the faint chirping of cicadas had stopped sometime.

The courtyard fell into deathly silence. They could almost hear their own breathing growing heavier, accompanied by their intensifying heartbeats, yet they all clenched their spiritual tools tightly and unconsciously took a few steps back.

Huo Wuyan, however, only lowered his eyes to look at Lu Yuanyin. She was trembling slightly, her long eyelashes fluttering. The rosiness that had just returned to her face had faded again, and her eyes were filled with barely concealed panic.

Huo Wuyan stepped forward, blocking her from the varied gazes of the crowd.

He gripped her slender wrist and expressionlessly walked toward the courtyard exit.

Her wrist was thin and frail in his grasp, pitifully delicate.

Seeing this, the people who had come with Tong Chang instinctively retreated a few more steps, unwilling to engage him.

But Tong Chang had long been blinded by rage. Seeing the crowd fall silent, his eyes grew bloodshot. He let out a furious roar and charged forward, grabbing the iron hammer and swinging it violently at them. "Whoever you are, you’re dead today! I’ll make you pay for Jinyu’s life!"

"Take this!"

The iron hammer hurtled toward the two with unstoppable force, stirring up gusts of wind in the courtyard. Accompanied by a sharp, piercing sound, the void before them was covered in cracks like a spiderweb.

The chaotic gale lifted their hair, black and white strands tangling together. Lu Yuanyin’s pupils contracted as she watched the iron hammer rapidly enlarge before her. Her breath caught.

Their cultivation levels were too far apart. Just the trace of killing intent leaking out was enough to terrify her. Cold sweat soaked the back of her robes. She stood frozen in place, her face blank for a moment.

Then Huo Wuyan lifted his eyelids and cast a cold glance at Tong Chang. A dark glint flashed in his crimson eyes.

Lu Yuanyin’s eyes widened slightly. She felt the light before her dim, and before she could see what happened next, the iron hammer crumpled like paper, shattering into fragments with a dull, heavy crash, scattering all over the ground.

The violent spiritual energy burst forth, light flashing before her eyes. Lu Yuanyin’s vision went dark as a burly figure was flung backward, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Lu Yuanyin watched in alarm as Tong Chang crashed to the ground. He looked at Huo Wuyan in shock and disbelief, then spat out a mouthful of blood. His breath was weak, his chest unnaturally caved in, clearly at death’s door. "How is this possible?!"

As soon as he spoke, hot blood gushed up again.

The courtyard fell silent. Tong’s family stared at Tong Chang, his face as white as a sheet, gasping in shock. This Tong Chang had reached the Deity Transformation stage, considered a master anywhere, yet he couldn’t even withstand a single move from Huo Wuyan...

Fear crept across their faces, and they began to think of retreat. For a moment, no one dared to help the fallen Tong Chang.

The wind lifted Huo Wuyan’s white hair. His handsome face was expressionless, his crimson eyes coldly scanning the crowd as if they were nothing more than dead things, exuding an inhuman coldness. Everyone shrank back as Huo Wuyan took a step forward.

Even Lu Yuanyin hadn’t expected him to be so ruthless. She looked at the disheveled Tong Chang, hesitated, then said softly, "That day, when Lu Sisi, Tong Jinyu, and I were dragged down the cliff by vines, he was the one who saved me.

Your son wasn’t killed by me."

She didn’t know if Tong Chang would believe her. Although she didn’t care about the Chongyao Sect and didn’t want to stay here, she didn’t want to be falsely accused.

Immortal Lord Changye’s eyes grew dark. He stepped forward half a step, his dark eyes fixed on the two, who stood so close together. A shadow crossed his eyes, but his expression remained unchanged. His gaze lingered on the antlers rising from Huo Wuyan’s hair, and he said coldly, "Lu Yuanyin, he is very dangerous."

Lu Yuanyin lowered her eyes, staring silently at the ground beneath her feet. Ever since she learned that Changye had slaughtered her entire Lu family and planned to dig out her spiritual root for Lu Sisi, she had hated him with a vengeance. She no longer wanted anything to do with him.

Moreover, she could vaguely sense that when Changye spoke, the hand gripping her wrist tightened. She pursed her lips silently and said nothing.

Her black hair brushed against the back of his hand, causing a faint tickling sensation. Changye turned his head slightly and saw Lu Yuanyin allowing Huo Wuyan to lead her by the wrist, obediently following him toward the broken courtyard gate.

Her eyelashes were lowered, her face pale. From beginning to end, she hadn’t spared him a single glance.

It was as if he were just an insignificant stranger on the roadside, not worth her pausing for even a moment.

The faint fragrance of spirit grass brushed past him, dissipating into the night air with the wind.

Changye’s pupils contracted. The coldness in his eyes deepened, as if ice was forming. The hand holding his sword tightened abruptly, veins standing out on the back of his hand. A strange, bitter ache spread rapidly in his heart, and he felt an inexplicable irritation.

Changye let out a cold laugh. The long sword in his hand suddenly burst with blinding spiritual light, and sword energy overflowed. The sword, smooth as autumn water, trembled incessantly, emitting a clear, resonant clang. "Do you know who he is?"

"Lu Yuanyin, he will get you killed."

Lu Yuanyin paused at his words, her gaze resting on Changye’s face for a moment. "Is that so?"

Sensing her hesitation, Huo Wuyan turned his head slightly and saw Lu Yuanyin staring fixedly at Changye. He noticed the fine, soft fuzz on her cheek.

Huo Wuyan snorted disdainfully, expressionlessly withdrawing his gaze. "Fool."

He felt a vague irritation.

Just as he expected Lu Yuanyin to regret leaving with him, he felt a cool, soft fingertip land on the back of his hand. Lu Yuanyin turned her hand over and tightly gripped his.

He lowered his eyes slightly. Lu Yuanyin raised her face and gave him a bright smile, her eyes curving like crescent moons. "You saved me twice. You’ll keep protecting me, right?"

Perhaps following Huo Wuyan might lead to her death.

But compared to Immortal Lord Changye, who wanted to dig out her spiritual root for Lu Sisi and force her to confess, she would rather go with Huo Wuyan. At least she wouldn’t die so pathetically.

Huo Wuyan looked at the smile in her eyes, his words momentarily stalled.

After a long pause, he finally managed a low "Mm" from his throat.

A few muffled shouts came from the sky. Lu Yuanyin looked up slightly and saw the Chongyao Sect Master and several elders flying on their swords with grim expressions. The Sect Master snapped, "Who dares to cause trouble in my Chongyao Sect?!"

As his words fell, a terrifying pressure slowly spread across the entire courtyard.

Lu Yuanyin's heart tightened. She hadn't expected the Sect Master and the others to arrive so quickly. Her expression shifted slightly. Compared to Tong Chang, these men were more advanced in cultivation and far more troublesome.

They had known each other since childhood, trained in the same techniques, and when they joined forces, their power multiplied. Even someone with superior cultivation might not be their match, let alone with Chang Ye lurking covetously nearby.

Compared to the Sect Master and his men, Chang Ye was even more dangerous. Lu Yuanyin's heart pounded like a drum. Even if Huo Wuyan was formidable, facing so many experts would be challenging, especially with her by his side.

She nervously gripped his large hand with prominent knuckles.

The Chongyao Sect Master's gaze lingered on Lu Sisi among the crowd for a moment. He looked at the severely injured Tong Chang and the mess everywhere, then turned his grim expression to Huo Wuyan and Lu Yuanyin. He said in a deep voice, "This Lu Yuanyin has killed thirteen of our fellow disciples. I'm afraid we cannot let you take her away today, Senior."

Huo Wuyan lifted his eyelids and stared coldly at the Sect Master. "So what?"

The Sect Master's face darkened. He could sense that Huo Wuyan's cultivation was formidable, but remembering Lu Sisi's severe injury and the need for Lu Yuanyin's spiritual root to save her, and with so many people watching, if he let Huo Wuyan take her away, he would have no authority left.

The Sect Master's expression grew darker. He said sternly, "Since the Senior insists on taking her, we have no choice but to offend!"

With that, they formed hand seals, and ten thousand sword lights burst forth from behind them. The giant trees around them were instantly snapped in half at the waist by the fierce sword intent.

Knowing Huo Wuyan's power, they revealed their trump card immediately. With a shout, ten thousand swords descended, their sharp light gleaming menacingly. Lu Yuanyin's pupils constricted. In that moment, she clearly sensed the breath of death. Her breathing hitched.

Just then, Huo Wuyan's figure suddenly shot upward. A pair of red-gold wings spread from his back. With a deep dragon roar, the surroundings plunged into darkness.

Crimson-gold flames spread from Huo Wuyan's feet, growing with the wind. In an instant, they transformed into several fiery dragons that collided with the overwhelming sword energy. A surge of immense spiritual power exploded, a fierce wind howled, and countless cracks spread across the void like a spiderweb. The entire courtyard was instantly annihilated by that spiritual power, turning into nothingness.

The Chongyao Sect Master and his fellow elders lost all color in their faces. They retreated hundreds of paces before finally stopping, crimson blood trickling from their lips.

Under the shocked gaze of the crowd, a blurred dragon silhouette suddenly broke through the spiritual light, carrying the frail woman as it shattered the sword formation and vanished into the void.

The hem of her water-blue dress arced gracefully in the air.

The noisy courtyard went dead silent for a moment. Finally, someone stuttered, "I'm certain—it's the dragon clan—a dragon!"

"The dragon clan has appeared again!"

Lu Sisi instinctively refuted, "That's impossible!"

That senior of the Flood Dragon Clan had clearly told her that the dragon clan's fate was sealed and they could never appear in the cultivation world again. How could Lu Yuanyin still be acquainted with a dragon?!

Everyone's expressions darkened.

Chang Ye stared fixedly at the direction where the figure had disappeared, his gaze frozen.

A low, magnetic voice slowly rang in his ears, dripping with undisguised provocation and malice, as if answering his earlier question: "I am the father of her child."

"Her choice will only ever be me."

Chang Ye snapped the long sword in half in his hand.

Author's note:

Here it is (T＿T)/~~

Red envelopes as usual tonight! Mwah!