Chapter One Hundred and Eleven: Departure

Bai Shengyun raised his sword to deflect the strike, but the biting, frigid sword qi rushing at him made him furrow his brow, fueling his inner irritation.

Seeing Huo Tianqing draw his sword to fight Bai Shengyun, Xie Yingying had no desire to stop them. In fact, she felt like cheering Huo Tianqing on.

However, remembering that Bai Shengyun was the key to clearing her side quest and eventually returning to her original world, she feared Huo Tianqing might accidentally injure him. After watching them exchange a few blows, she shouted, "Both of you, stop!"

Neither replied, their weapons still clashing in a tense, fierce battle.

Helpless, Xie Yingying bent over and feigned intense pain, biting her already pale lips and letting out a soft groan that reached their ears.

Hearing this, both men halted their blades at once.

Believing the Sky Fox Primordial Essence in her body was acting up, Huo Tianqing hurriedly swept her with his divine sense. Finding the essence resting quietly as if fast asleep, he realized she was faking it.

"Alright, stop pretending," he said with a helpless sigh.

Xie Yingying straightened up and walked over to Bai Shengyun, who had just landed. Shielding him behind her, she said helplessly, "Can you two please stop fighting?"

Seeing her stand in front of Bai Shengyun as if to protect him, Huo Tianqing narrowed his eyes. He scrutinized the pair, a dark, murderous intent swirling deep in his gaze—directed entirely at Bai Shengyun.

Bai Shengyun was surprised to see Xie Yingying shield him. A rare warmth welled up in his chest, but it was quickly wiped away by a strange, nameless force, causing his golden eyes, which had softened for a split second, to turn cold and detached once more.

"Master," she said, looking at Huo Tianqing with a solemn, resolute expression, as if her next words carried the weight of the world. "I want to try, and I want to live. Please let me go to Mount Gufeng."

Looking past her at Bai Shengyun, Huo Tianqing recalled the report from the informant he had planted in the Immortal Sect. The more he thought about it, the sharper the murderous intent in his eyes grew, cutting toward Bai Shengyun like a blade.

Then, he coldly spat out two words: "No."

Feeling helpless, Xie Yingying grumbled coldly to the system in her mind, *It's not that I'm refusing to go. Huo Tianqing won't let me.*

The system replied, [There is a way. Just send him a voice transmission: "If I return safely, I will cut all ties with Bai Shengyun, and our grievances will be settled." Isn't he just worried that Bai Shengyun will keep pestering you?]

Hearing the system's response and knowing Huo Tianqing's fiercely protective nature, she figured that telling him this might actually work.

Thus, Xie Yingying silently chanted the mnemonic for voice transmission and quickly connected with Huo Tianqing. *Master, Bai Shengyun just contacted me through the Purple-Gold Bell. He said that if I help him with a task this time, we will have absolutely nothing to do with each other upon my return, and he will also find a way to help me resolve the Sky Fox Primordial Essence and the seal. Don't worry, we will swear an oath as cultivators. With the binding oath, he won't dare to harm me!*

Hearing her transmission, Huo Tianqing turned his gaze toward her. The murderous chill that had filled his eyes while staring at Bai Shengyun vanished instantly.

*Is that true?* he asked back via transmission.

Seeing him look at her, Xie Yingying gave a gentle nod.

Having received her confirmation, Huo Tianqing did not say anything more, but turned his eyes back to Bai Shengyun.

Bai Shengyun did not care, indifferently letting Huo Tianqing scrutinize him.

After a long silence, Huo Tianqing seemed to think of someone, and a cold sneer suddenly curled his lips. His aura became dark and sinister.

"The Sky Fox Clan are foxes, after all. And foxes... are full of schemes, cunning and treacherous." Though his eyes were on Bai Shengyun, his words were directed at Xie Yingying. "Do not be deceived by them! Since ancient times, countless people have perished under the lies of the Sky Fox Clan!"

Xie Yingying had thought that with the system's cheat-like advice, Huo Tianqing would agree quickly. Hearing this response, she hurriedly contacted the system again: *You said he would agree? Do you see him agreeing?*

This time, the annoying voice of the system did not respond. It was as if it had suddenly lost connection.

She rolled her eyes, her disdain for this system growing even stronger. She grumbled inwardly: *Always setting me up. What a trashy cheat tool—more like a point-deduction tool!*

The system heard her, but chose to continue playing dead.

Having spoken, Huo Tianqing made to step forward and fight Bai Shengyun again.

"Fighting again?" Before Xue Feng could be seen, his voice echoed in.

The two men had no choice but to sheathe their swords. They glared at each other like two male lions competing for territory.

Leaning on his cane, Xue Feng walked slowly in from outside the palace.

His expression was no longer as calm as water. His brow was furrowed, making him look quite angry and adding a touch of stern majesty to his face.

"You two... unless one of you kills the other, you won't stop, will you?" His cloudy eyes swept over them.

Seeing him arrive, Bai Shengyun clasped his hands behind his back and raised an eyebrow. "Elder Xue, I merely wished to spar with Elder Huo. It is hardly a life-and-death battle. You exaggerate."

Hearing this, Xue Feng glanced at him and said indifferently, "Sparring? Fine, let's call it sparring for today."

He tapped his cane against the ground, looked at the two not far away, and spoke again. "I was watching from the side just now, and I believe I understand the reason for your 'sparring.' So, Xie Yingying wishes to go to Mount Gufeng, correct?"

As he spoke the last sentence, Xue Feng turned to look at Xie Yingying.

Seeing him ask her, Xie Yingying nodded somewhat reluctantly. "Yes."

Receiving her confirmation, Xue Feng nodded slightly and looked at Huo Tianqing. "Since Yingying has agreed, Tianqing, you should stop opposing it."

"But..." Huo Tianqing started to protest anxiously.

Xue Feng raised a hand to interrupt him, speaking in a slow, deliberate tone. "If you are worried, then go with her. As for the Immortal Sect, I will personally step in and speak with the Sky Fox Clan."

Seeing that Xue Feng had proposed a compromise, Huo Tianqing gave it some thought and found it feasible.

Previously, he had refused to let Xie Yingying go because his own identity prevented him from accompanying her, and he did not want to trouble the elderly Xue Feng. He had feared that those pedantic old fools of the Immortal Sect would drag Xie Yingying off to be punished, and he would be too far away to help.

But now, Xue Feng was offering to resolve his identity issue, allowing him to enter the Demonic Sect openly. This would not only allow him to protect Xie Yingying better but also give her a chance to seek that slim hope of survival. Why not?

Therefore, he nodded in agreement. "That is a good solution."