Run Away

Mi Xingzhe, with his mouth sealed, could only stay in place, continuously whimpering. His choked sobs pleaded desperately with Li Luoning to stop, his eyes trembling uncontrollably, and tears threatening to spill over as he shook his head wildly, like a desperate plea for mercy.

Li Luoning's expression remained silent, a hint of sorrow in his eyes as he glanced at Mi Xingzhe, and continued, "Since Yun Wan Nian is my disciple, it is my fault for not teaching him well. As his master, I am willing to exchange my inner core for his life, begging the Immortal Lord to forgive his mistakes."

As Li Luoning spoke, he slowly reached towards his chest. After a golden-red light flashed, a golden core wrapped in scarlet flames floated in his palm.

SiTu Fanzhi's eyes flashed with a quick gleam of satisfaction as he looked at the blazing core in Li Luoning's hand. "Immortal Master Xiao Yi, this Blazing Core is a rare inner core encountered once in a century. Are you truly willing to give up everything you have now for such an insignificant disciple? Once your inner core is gone, your previous cultivation will vanish, and you will become a hollow shell, even less than a mortal body. If your will wavers, you will turn into nothingness. Are you truly willing?"

"Xiao Yi does not regret," Li Luoning said as he handed over the Blazing Core, one hand protecting his chest. After the Blazing Core left his body, he could clearly feel the warmth in his chest gradually fading, and the spiritual power within him dissipating into mist and scattering.

"If you insist, this Immortal Lord will not hinder you. Life and death are fated; may your wish be granted," SiTu Fanzhi said as he took the Blazing Core. "However, Yun Wan Nian's death sentence may be pardoned, but his crime cannot go unpunished. Although I will not pursue his murder of fellow disciples, his betrayal on the battlefield remains. Take him away and break his bones."

"Wait!" Li Luoning shouted sternly, "Immortal Lord, Xiao Yi has already exchanged the Blazing Core for my disciple's life. There is no need for him to bear the consequences of his actions. Why do you go back on your word?" Li Luoning was somewhat surprised, but more so confused, his voice growing angrier as he questioned.

O Shinan, who was watching the scene from the side, couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, "I told you not to rush. Ah, so stubborn." With a helpless sigh, he left leisurely.

"You handed over the Blazing Core, which only pardons him for murdering fellow disciples. As the ruler of the Liao Yin Immortal Realm, I must account for everything to the various immortal sects. Since the rules state so, they must be followed. Take him away!" SiTu Fanzhi ordered.

"Let's see who dares!" Li Luoning summoned his sword to protect Mi Xingzhe.

Mi Xingzhe looked at his master with a complicated expression. He thought his master would never forgive him in this life, but he didn't expect that his master would not only be willing to give up his inner core to save his life but also confront the Immortal Lord because of him.

"Immortal Master Xiao Yi, don't blame this Immortal Lord for not warning you. Without the Blazing Core, you are now nothing but a waste. If you really intend to fight, you might not be able to leave this hall alive," SiTu Fanzhi threatened.

"Let's try," Li Luoning's eyes gradually turned cold, and when he raised them again, they were full of killing intent.

"Seize them both!" SiTu Fanzhi ordered.

Even without the Blazing Core, Li Luoning's skills were still formidable, more than enough to handle the immortal soldiers before him.

A fierce force slashed down behind Li Luoning. Seeing who it was, he exclaimed, "The Battle God of Qingyuan!"

"Immortal Master Xiao Yi, please stop," Qingyuan didn't want to fight, but his duty compelled him.

"Battle God of Qingyuan, are you asking me to watch my disciple die?" Li Luoning demanded, glaring.

"That's not what I mean. The Immortal Lord will decide; why be so stubborn?" Qingyuan advised.

"The Immortal Lord's judgment? I have given up my Blazing Core to save my disciple's life, yet you still want to break his bones. Is this his judgment?" Li Luoning's voice rose.

"The Liao Yin Immortal Realm has its rules. Yun Wan Nian may have unintentionally killed fellow disciples, but rules are rules. Why be so obstinate?" Qingyuan said.

"Qingyuan, let me ask you. If the one kneeling here today was Yue Ruling, what would you do?" Li Luoning questioned.

Hearing this, Qingyuan fell silent. How could he not understand Li Luoning's intentions? If it were Yue Ruling kneeling here, he would protect her with his life as well.

As the two were at an impasse, SiTu Fanzhi launched an attack towards the kneeling Mi Xingzhe. Noticing Qingyuan's expression, Li Luoning sensed something was wrong. A powerful force flew towards Mi Xingzhe, and Li Luoning, without thinking, pushed Mi Xingzhe to the ground, taking the hit himself.

"Master!" "Immortal Master Xiao Yi!"

Li Luoning felt excruciating pain as warmth surged from his chest, red blood splattering on the white stone of the hall. Everything before his eyes became blurred, his body swaying uncontrollably as he mumbled, "Nian'er, run..." before collapsing.

"Master! Wake up, Master!" Mi Xingzhe hurried over, holding Li Luoning and calling out desperately. But no matter how he shook him, Li Luoning didn't respond, the earlier attack having gravely injured him.

SiTu Fanzhi, overlooking the scene with indifference, waved his hand again, ordering, "Take him away!"

The immortal soldiers, seeing that Li Luoning had lost his fighting strength, moved to seize Mi Xingzhe. Qingyuan, standing by, was stunned by the turn of events.

Holding his barely breathing master, Mi Xingzhe's long-suppressed emotions erupted. "Anyone who dares to touch my master will die with us!" With his words, a powerful golden seal appeared around him and Li Luoning, protecting them from the attacks of the immortal soldiers.

SiTu Fanzhi, displeased by the appearance of the golden seal, leaped from his seat, personally attacking the seal with his weapon. Mi Xingzhe ignored everything around him, focusing only on his unconscious master.

"Master, please wake up! Don't leave Nian'er, please," Mi Xingzhe's voice was filled with broken despair, his body trembling with sorrow. Without Yun Qingyi, his master was his only family left. If his master left him too, he would have no reason to live.

Suddenly, a soft blue force emerged from Li Luoning, gently wrapping around him and Mi Xingzhe. Mi Xingzhe, confused, watched the blue force envelop them.

"This power... It's the Dragon Wing of Yan!" SiTu Fanzhi recognized the force, knowing it was left by the Yanding Dragon King to protect Li Luoning. Realizing the danger, he furiously attacked the golden seal.

Qingyuan, conflicted, couldn't bring himself to intervene, watching SiTu Fanzhi's madness unfold.

As the Dragon Wing was about to take them away, SiTu Fanzhi, unable to hold back, formed a powerful golden light, pushing it towards Mi Xingzhe and his master.

Mi Xingzhe, exhausted from summoning the golden seal, felt his consciousness fading, the seal weakening. As his mind grew dim, the seal cracked, and SiTu Fanzhi's golden light pierced through.

Standing on the side, Qingyuan could only watch, anxious and conflicted, unsure whether to intervene and save the master and disciple before him. His fists clenched tightly, producing a cracking sound. Suddenly, a figure flashed past, and the Cuilong dagger in his hand was drawn away.

"Ruling! What are you doing?" Qingyuan looked in astonishment at Yue Ruling, who now stood in front of Mi Xingzhe, blocking SiTu Fanzhi. She held her twin daggers, struggling to resist the powerful magic. As the force grew stronger, veins popped on Yue Ruling's forehead, and sweat began to bead at her temples.

"Senior sister!" Mi Xingzhe called out weakly with the last bit of his consciousness.

"Run!" Yue Ruling turned her head and said, pushing Mi Xingzhe and Li Luoning with all her strength.

With her push, the master and disciple were thrown out of the Upper Celestial Hall. At the same time, the Dragon Wing of Yan completely enveloped them. In a flash of blue light, they disappeared.

Seeing the two escape, Yue Ruling could no longer support herself, her body gradually being pressed lower and lower. With a loud cracking sound, Yue Ruling fell to her knees, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth as she collapsed forward.

SiTu Fanzhi glanced coldly and said, "Warrior Yue Ruling, for colluding with criminals, all your positions in the immortal sect are revoked. You will be imprisoned in the Fallen Immortal Dungeon."

SiTu Fanzhi, unwilling to see the master and disciple escape, angrily turned and left.

In the Flower Chamber of the South Zhe Residence, Hua Ruoying's room, a ghost servant entered as usual to deliver food but found no sign of Hua Ruoying. Realizing something was wrong, the ghost servant turned to report, only to see Hua Ruoying close by. Before he could speak, Hua Ruoying blew a puff of powder at him.

"East Lotus Powder, sorry, I didn't want to do this, but if your master finds out you let me escape, you'd be worse off. No need to thank me." Hua Ruoying dusted off her hands, sniffed the remaining powder, and frowned in distaste. She searched the ghost servant's clothes, took his badge, and escaped.

"She escaped?" Nan Zhe crushed the teacup in his hand upon hearing the report after returning to the residence. "When?"

The ghost servant, frightened, knelt quickly, "I don't know when Miss Ruoying left. The ghost servant delivering lunch did not return. We found him dead in her room."

Nan Zhe's eyes trembled, his gaze violent. "Useless. You couldn't even guard a woman." He flicked a shard of the teacup, slicing the ghost servant's throat.

Hua Ruoying had already fled the border of The Flatland. To avoid pursuit, she chose a detour through Jiuling towards Wuming Demon Mountain.

"Phew, finally escaped," Hua Ruoying sighed, leaning against a rock. Hearing water nearby, she went to drink and wash her face. Suddenly, it started raining. Seeking shelter, she noticed something in the stones.

"This is... Qingping's hairpin! How is it here? Did Qingping come here?" Hua Ruoying recognized the hairpin immediately. As she pondered, a small shadow emerged from the hairpin, circling it before stopping in front of her.

"It's you again! Who are you?" Hua Ruoying asked the shadow.

The shadow circled her palm and the hairpin again.

"You know the owner of this hairpin?" Hua Ruoying seemed to understand its meaning.

The shadow bounced in acknowledgment and flew in a direction.

"Wait, I'm coming," Hua Ruoying followed.

In a cave at Kunlun Hill, Li Minghan, disheveled and spiritless, sat on the ground. His eyes were dull, his face haggard and dirty, his body emaciated, and one hand chained. 

Shentu Zhajia's feet appeared before Li Minghan. Recognizing the familiar pattern, Li Minghan looked up weakly.

"Brother," Li Minghan's voice was thin and weak.

Seeing Li Minghan's state, Shentu Zhajia felt nothing, his eyes devoid of emotion. He didn't know how to handle the person before him or their relationship.

"Brother, have you come to see if I'm dead?" Li Minghan mocked, brushing his hair aside.

"Minghan, if you hand over the antidote to Qi Kuo, I will spare your life," Shentu Zhajia said calmly.

"Brother, you're joking?" Li Minghan sneered, brushing off the dirt on him, looking indifferent and defiant.

"If you hand over the antidote, I promise not to kill you as long as you stay in this cave," Shentu Zhajia tried to sound calm.

"Even if I don't, you won't kill me," Li Minghan seemed confident, believing Shentu Zhajia wouldn't kill him, even for the sake of the demon world.

Hearing this, Shentu Zhajia closed his eyes in pain, turning away. "After all this, you are still stubborn."

"I've always been like this. From the day you met me, this was my nature. If you want to blame, blame yourself for misjudging people, not me," Li Minghan spread his hands innocently.

"The Yanding Dragon King is my uncle. You are his adopted son. If you stop causing trouble, I can ensure your safety in this cave," Shentu Zhajia said.

"I don't care! I don't care about being his adopted son. He only kept me because I look like Li Luoning. If not for Li Luoning, none of this would have happened. I want him dead. As long as I live, I'll try to kill him. He owes me, you all owe me!" Li Minghan roared.

"Enough!" Shentu Zhajia slapped Li Minghan, leaving a red mark on his face.