Chapter 171: Leaving the Immortal Sect (Part II)

"Elder, no matter what you say today, I must see both of them."

Faced with Xu Xiaosheng's entanglement, Bai Qirui was silent for a moment.

Bahu could not be bothered to say much in such a scenario. He looked indifferently at Xu Xiaosheng, then said softly, "The two of them are feeling a bit unwell today. Sect Master Xu, my apologies."

Helpless, Xu Xiaosheng now looked pale, and moreover, he was standing before quite a few disciples.

Bai Qirui stood on the side, staring expressionlessly at Xu Xiaosheng right where he was.

He naturally possessed gentle features, but at this moment, his expressionless look carried an unspoken, pristine coldness. Usually, he often wore a light smile, and as such, very few people had ever seen him look like this.

While the two of them were at a stalemate there, the other disciples were also murmuring amongst themselves.

Their hasty discussions were incessant. Although the voices were very low, Bai Qirui could still hear them, but he lacked the idle time to care. Anyway, it was nothing major. Thinking this, he continued to gaze at Xu Xiaosheng.

Although Xu Xiaosheng had suffered severe injuries and looked pale, he was, after all, a prominent figure. If he were to be frightened by Bai Qirui and Elder Bahu, then there would be no need for him to hold the position of an Immortal Sect Master.

Thinking of this, Xu Xiaosheng straightened his posture, and the expression on his face gradually recovered a bit of its former vigor. Sunlight shone upon his face; although his skin was now pale enough that the blood vessels beneath his skin could be seen, he still regained some semblance of life.

Under the blazing sun, no one could endure for long, especially Xu Xiaosheng, who was already injured. Now, his figure swayed slightly, yet his aura still did not lose to Bahu's.

Bahu looked at Xu Xiaosheng, roughly knowing that he could barely hold on much longer.

Bai Qirui finally relented, beckoning with a hand, and whispered to the disciple he had just summoned, "Go and tell Yingying and Shengyun to come."

Naturally, this scene was deliberately orchestrated by Bai Qirui, all to prevent Xu Xiaosheng from arousing suspicion.

In truth, why would he need a disciple to go call them? Making his own avatars come over himself—wasn't that an effortless task?

When he turned and left, Xu Xiaosheng immediately sensed that something was amiss.

It should be impossible for them to provide fakes; no matter what, Bai Qirui was a member of the Immortal Sect.

Not long after, Xie Yingying and Bai Shengyun arrived.

Only then did Xu Xiaosheng finally reveal a somewhat satisfied smile. At a single glance, he could tell that the two people before him were not their real selves, but merely avatars.

For some unknown reason, their expressions were somewhat numb, and their eyes were hollow and devoid of luster. Although the artificial highlights created on such figures differed greatly from the natural light in real eyes, sharp-eyed observers would still not be able to tell the difference.

Just as he was about to say something, suddenly a person hurried over from afar, causing him to pause in surprise.

The newcomer was a courier, an occurrence that made Xu Xiaosheng slightly annoyed for a fleeting second.

Putting aside whether that person realized what he was busy with, to interrupt their conversation while others were already speaking was extremely impolite and off-putting.

He was merely a courier; why was he so devoid of manners?

Thinking this, he was just about to say a few words to express his displeasure when he caught sight of the name on the letter.

By this time, the situation had shifted from a stalemate between two people into a three-way standoff. Bai Qirui had no idea what had happened and simply turned to look at Bahu.

Although Bahu was advanced in years, he viewed matters with penetrating clarity, and at present, he merely offered a faint smile.

One could see that the hand with which Xu Xiaosheng held the letter was trembling slightly, entirely due to the coercive pressure contained within the missive.

His brows were tightly furrowed. Clearly, no wind had risen here, yet his paper and hand trembled incessantly, as if stirred by an invisible gale.

He had thought that his current predicament was strange enough, until Bai Qirui caught sight of Xu Xiaosheng's expression. Seeing it was one thing, but upon observing his reaction, Bai Qirui became all the more eager to know what was written in that letter held by Xu Xiaosheng.

Xu Xiaosheng remained silent, but his lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something. No one paid him any mind; everyone was simply waiting for him. Once he finished reading the letter, Bahu and the others prepared to step forward and assert their presence.

Yet Xu Xiaosheng said nothing further, merely offering a couple of forced smiles.

"My apologies, everyone. I have urgent matters to attend to temporarily, so I shall take my leave first." With that, he cupped his fists in a salute.

His smile was rather strained, rendering his already unsightly complexion even more dreadful.

Bai Qirui was consumed by curiosity, but at that moment, he caught a glimpse of a crimson seal at the bottom of the letter.

He widened his eyes slightly in sudden astonishment.

The other Immortal Sect elders inquired, "What on earth is written in this letter?"

Bai Qirui lowered his gaze, having already reined in the initial urge he harbored to dampen Xu Xiaosheng's momentum.

Bai Qirui possessed long eyelashes and thin eyelids, making it quite difficult to decipher what he was truly thinking at the moment.

Xu Xiaosheng wore a cold expression, casting the letter aside as if it were a hot potato, finally passing it outward.

The handwriting on the letter was vigorous and powerful, with sharp brushstrokes. After reading its contents, the elder was himself struck with profound astonishment.

That letter was personally penned by the Fox Emperor, stating that he wished to see Bai Shengyun and Xie Yingying, and to meet his future daughter-in-law.

Xu Xiaosheng said no more. Yet receiving a letter from the Fox Emperor at this very juncture made him realize that the Fox Emperor intended to step forward and protect them.

Bai Qirui had long since prepared the spirit boat for departure, and now he was simply waiting for them to board.

Unwilling to linger or dawdle any longer, Bahu uttered a soft "Farewell" to Xu Xiaosheng, then lifted his foot and walked aboard the spirit boat.

Seeing Bahu walk toward the spirit boat, Bai Qirui hurriedly followed him.

"Elder Bahu, why did Father suddenly send a letter?" Bai Qirui had not read the letter just now and naturally did not know what was written inside, having only caught sight of the Fox Emperor's imperial seal.

Hearing Bai Qirui address him, Bahu turned his head, his expression detached, his gaze exceptionally icy, yet he said not a single word.

Bai Qirui knew that Bahu was still angry.

However, consumed by burning curiosity, Bai Qirui waited a long time until Bahu's brows relaxed once more, whereupon he had no choice but to ask again, "Elder, I have not seen Father for many years and am truly curious about what was written inside."

Only then did Bahu speak expressionlessly, repeating the contents: "To be personally opened by the Immortal Sect Master. I have emerged from seclusion, deeply missing Qirui and Shengyun, and wish to see the new imperial consort. Pray convey my longing."

Upon hearing Bahu's repetition, Bai Qirui's voice grew hoarse, and his eyes darkened.

In truth, he resented the Fox Emperor more than anyone else, and naturally, he did not genuinely care what the Fox Emperor had penned in his own hand; he was merely curious.

Yet if... if the Fox Emperor had truly spoken thus, he had no idea how he ought to react.

His gaze drifted toward the distant, fleeting verdant scenery, and after a long silence, he calmly asked, "Elder Bahu, Father has lived in seclusion and avoided the world for many years; even during Shengyun's grand wedding, he never showed his face. This letter..." Stopping before he finished, for some unknown reason, his voice trailed off into silence.

Having heard this, Bahu glanced at him sideways, yet said nothing more.

"Heh."

It was not that Bai Qirui heard it too clearly, but rather that the surroundings were exceedingly quiet while his own hearing was exceptionally sharp, making this single sneer stand out with abrupt prominence.