Chapter 110: The First Side Quest

Xie Yingling's eyelids lowered slightly, and an inexplicable sourness rose again in her heart.

"Hurry and answer," Bai Shengyun urged from outside, where he had already clashed with Huo Tianqing once more.

Hearing his repeated command, she bit her lip as countless thoughts flashed through her mind. If she returned with him like this, the odds of dying would far outweigh those of surviving. There must be other ways to resolve the restrictions and the initial yuan power...

"You don't have time to waste with me anymore," Bai Shengyun declared sternly. "If you agree, I will take you away immediately and save you from the clutches of the King of Hell!"

Xie Yingling heard the words inwardly, but half-believed and half-doubted them. She bit her lip, ready to refuse, when—

[Beep, side quest released!] The system's girl's voice rang in her heart.

She paused, stunned.

A new task?

[Side quest: Follow Bai Shengyun back to Fugeng Mountain and live until the wedding day.]

[Damn it!] Xie Yingling's face twisted in annoyance. [So you've really been tricking people this whole time!]

System: [Hehe, I never trick the master. Besides, if the master refuses, you'll die right now!]

She heard the threat and frowned, snapping back, [If you want me dead, then die! I'll die no matter what!]

[Master, I can't let you die without reason. That's the system's code of conduct. All the tasks I issue are for your benefit. And you've already promised me!]

Xie Yingling's mouth curled into a cold smile, eyes gleaming with triumph. [When?]

Only then did the system recall that Xie Yingling had never sworn.

Although it could kill her, it couldn't terrify her any further, so it would never truly threaten her.

Meanwhile, Bai Shengyun kept urging from outside, "Hurry up!"

She could even hear the clashing of weapons from his direction and beyond the bedroom door.

Xie Yingling still opened her mouth to refuse, but after the system crafted several excuses, it suddenly spoke again, deliberately stalling her from refusing Bai Shengyun.

[If you don't agree, I'll teleport you and Bai Shengyun straight back to Fugeng Mountain! No more hesitation needed!]

Xie Yingling's expression darkened. [You can do that?]

[Then, if you refuse, I'll forcibly drag you and him to Fugeng Mountain and punish you. But if you promise to leave with Bai Shengyun now, I can spare you any punishment!]

Xie Yingling understood that no matter what, she would end up at Fugeng Mountain anyway. Anger and hatred boiled inside her toward the invisible system. If it were a real entity, no matter how adorable, she would have slapped it.

[Hurry and decide.] The system prodded.

Outside the door, Bai Shengyun had again engaged Huo Tianqing in a fierce clash, still waiting for her answer.

After so long, he hadn't heard any refusal from Xie Yingling, growing anxious.

Would she truly die like this?

Bai Shengyun thought of her fragile state from the past few days. Dodging Huo Tianqing's strikes, he shouted impatiently through the purple golden bell, "Xie Yingling!"

Provoked by both the fox and the system, Xie Yingling barely calmed herself. The condition of no further entanglements afterward was tempting. Moreover, she couldn't help picturing how carefree her days would be here, and with the system watching, she had no choice but to agree.

She stepped to the room's doorway, opened it, and saw the two confronting each other.

"I advise you to abandon this idea at once," Huo Tianqing said, raising his hand as a ghost baby slowly materialized in his palm.

The infant was still covered in fetal hair and filth, its body flushed red as if bathed in blood. Its eyes burned with the madness of a demon, and its power was formidable.

It landed with a "crack, crack, crack." Bai Shengyun frowned, and the ghost baby began emitting hoarse, piercing screams.

That single cry summoned countless mindless skeletons behind it, their empty sockets glowing with faint green flames.

Bai Shengyun stood fearless, sword tip planted in the ground, mocking with a frown, "Huo Tianqing, I suspect your disciple means less to you than these ghosts of yours, doesn't it?"

Huo Tianqing regarded him coldly but offered no reply.

For their master-disciple bond was well-known in both the Immortal Sect and the Evil Sect, so Bai Shengyun's provocation meant nothing to him.

Xie Yingling knew Bai Shengyun spoke deliberately, seeing her emerge.

Yet she had no appetite for an argument now.

She walked slowly toward Huo Tianqing, her beautiful eyes fixed on Bai Shengyun.

Huo Tianqing released his spiritual power before her first step.

"Return and heal properly," he said urgently, adding a gentle comfort, "Don't worry. I won't let him take you."

Xie Yingling smiled, and her words stunned Huo Tianqing.

"Master, I'm sorry, but I've decided to return to Fugeng Mountain with Bai Shengyun."

Reluctance flickered in her eyes, but she had no choice. The system had left her only one option.

Huo Tianqing, however, noticed that reluctance immediately. "Has Bai Shengyun threatened you?"

Xie Yingling thought, Where was the threat from Bai Shengyun? I was threatened by a little girl called the "System"!

She shook her head with a bitter smile. "Master, no. He never threatened me."

Huo Tianqing refused to believe her.

Xie Yingling realized his stubbornness on this matter and explained, "I suddenly realized something—I want to live!"

"You!" Huo Tianqing pointed at her, furious. "Yingling, you're a fool! The Heavenly Fox Clan's elders' reputation is known to you young ones, but we understand. Even if Bai Shengyun protects you this time, they will find a way to drag you there for punishment!"

With that, he shook off her hand, placed her behind him, and raised his sword again, killing intent blazing in his eyes.