Chapter Thirty-Nine: Murder in Public

In a short while, the talisman in his hand suddenly flared with white light, enveloping the figures of Huo Tianqing and Xie Yingying. In the final moment, Xie Yingying tried to look at the person who had arrived, but the pain blurred her vision and made her dizzy, so she could not see clearly at all.

When the white light faded, Bai Shengyun saw that both of them had vanished. He immediately realized that Huo Tianqing had used the Thousand-Mile Talisman to whisk Xie Yingying away!

The disciples guarding the formation were all lying on the ground, grievously wounded, barely clinging to life.

Bai Shengyun’s brows drew together, his face icy with rage, his expression as cold as the frost of the ninth heaven. He stared fiercely at Bai Qirui, who stood before him, blocking his way, and demanded, “Third Brother, why are you stopping me?”

Bai Qirui pressed his lips together, but gave no reply.

With a single stride, Bai Shengyun stood a yard from Bai Qirui, golden eyes brimming with killing intent that would terrify any onlooker. Only Bai Qirui’s gaze remained unchanged from start to finish. One hand, exerting the slightest force, pushed Bai Shengyun a step back.

He lifted his Clear Mind Fan and gently wafted a cool breeze toward Bai Shengyun.

But this time, the Clear Mind Fan had no effect on Bai Shengyun. His eyes still blazed with fury, as if he meant to burn Bai Qirui alive.

“Alas…” Bai Qirui regarded him for a long moment, then sighed. “Had you stopped Huo Tianqing at Mount Gufeng and fought him, did you consider what the consequences would have been?”

“I know very well,” Bai Shengyun replied in a low voice.

Bai Qirui fanned himself softly again. “Since you understand, you cannot act rashly. Huo Tianqing is from the demonic sect, infamous far and wide. The number of cultivators who have died by his hand is beyond reckoning. And you, the Young Emperor of the Celestial Fox Clan, a prodigy of the Immortal Sect, your cultivation is equal to his. But do not forget this crucial point: you two stand on utterly opposing sides.”

“Hmph.” Bai Shengyun snorted coldly. “Third Brother, if I am capable of being Young Emperor, do you think I haven’t weighed all this? But Xie Yingying—she must not leave!”

Behind them, hurried footsteps and the sounds of magic artifacts in flight rang out. Bai Shengyun let out a cryptic, chilling laugh, leaned closer to Bai Qirui, and whispered by his ear, “Third Brother, I suspect your reasons for stopping me are not as simple as you claim, are they?”

Bai Qirui’s expression darkened abruptly.

Only then did the elders and guards catch up, a great crowd sweeping in.

“Young Emperor!” Elder Bahu arrived first, still gasping for breath. “Where are Huo Tianqing and Xie Yingying?”

“Gone,” Bai Shengyun replied coldly, not sparing him a glance.

“Gone?!” Elder Bahu’s face twisted in astonishment, his beard quivering with rage. “Young Emperor, Huo Tianqing has come to abduct Xie Yingying—if word of this gets out, what face will our Celestial Fox Clan have left? What face will the Immortal Sect have? Worse yet, the demonic heretics might think Mount Gufeng is a place they can come and go as they please. This will bring shame to Mount Gufeng as well!”

Bai Shengyun simply stared at Bai Qirui, offering no response.

Another elder, short-bearded and stern, his features solemn, the lines between his brows forming a deep furrow, the corners of his mouth turning down in perpetual disapproval—he was Elder Qi Si, not one for gentle words.

Sure enough, his first words were a tirade: “That Huo Tianqing is truly arrogant! It’s bad enough that he causes trouble elsewhere, but now he dares to stir up chaos on Mount Gufeng itself—does he think nothing of us? And that Xie Yingying, she’s utterly ungrateful! To think someone of her station could marry the Young Emperor and still not be satisfied—she just has to run!”

Finishing, he turned and glared at the Celestial Fox disciples behind him, shouting furiously, “Xie Yingying knows the secrets of our clan, and she was already marked for death. There’s no time to lose—issue a warrant and bring her back at once!”

The other elders nodded in grim agreement, each turning to order their disciples to capture Xie Yingying so she could be executed immediately.

Many of the disciples had long felt neglected by their masters; now, with this chance to prove themselves, they rushed eagerly to carry out the task.

One disciple in particular imagined a future of favor and recognition as he dashed ahead.

A hiss—blood sprayed through the air.

A chill seized everyone’s hearts. Ning Qingqing, who stood close by, saw clearly and covered her mouth in disbelief.

That disciple’s face still bore a faint smile, now spattered with blood, making the expression all the more grotesque.

Moments later, his head fell to the ground with a thud, rolling a few times until it came to rest at Ning Qingqing’s feet.

Ning Qingqing slowly lowered her gaze, locking eyes with the still-smiling severed head at her feet. Shuddering all over, her legs gave way and she collapsed, scrambling back in terror.

Bai Qirui’s entire demeanor changed at the sight, frowning at the culprit, unable to fathom how merciless he had become.

With a bang, the disciple’s body hit the ground, the wound on his neck clean and sharp.

Elder Qi Si’s eyes reddened as he witnessed his disciple’s brutal death right before him.

The shock of it stunned everyone present; the turn of events had been too swift, too ruthless.

Elder Qi Si, shaking with fury and grief, glared at Bai Qirui, his voice trembling with anger and unshed tears. “He was one of the Celestial Fox Clan! Young Emperor, how could you kill your own clansman? You… you have truly disappointed me!”

Bai Shengyun’s expression remained unmoved; he showed no concern for the disciple’s death. At those words, he simply lifted his gaze, fixing Elder Qi Si with a cold, contemptuous smile. His voice was chilly as he said, “When Xie Yingying dies, or whether she should die, is for me to decide. Since when have you had the right to act on my behalf?”

Elder Qi Si opened his mouth, but no words came.

Bai Shengyun regarded him coolly for a long time, then turned and strode away.

“My people, I will deal with myself. It is not for you to meddle.” His voice echoed in everyone’s ears as he walked off.

Shen Ruru, who had only recently descended the mountain, had noticed the trail of light leaving Mount Gufeng from the rear. Sensing something amiss, she had taken a few spirit pills and hurried over.

Thus, she had witnessed all that had transpired.

Many people stood rooted to the spot, legs trembling, unable to move, some still too shocked to react.

A cold dread crawled up their spines, setting their entire bodies to shivering.

Seeing the state of things, Shen Ruru raised her brows slightly and stepped closer, taking in the headless, bloody corpse and Ning Qingqing’s terror-stricken face with a hint of disdain.

She strode up, nudged the icy, lifeless body with her foot, then planted her foot firmly on its chest, pressing down with vindictive force.

With a sickening crack, the corpse burst open in a spray of blood.

Elder Qi Si pointed at her, his hand shaking. Shen Ruru only smiled, then stomped again, crushing the severed head into a pulp.