Chapter Ninety-Eight: Xie Yingying Awakens

Although it was decided in this way, Gu Ruohan could not help feeling some bitterness. Yet, having been injured at the very beginning, his chances of victory were slim from the outset. He remained silent for a long while, his gaze clouded, his proud shoulders drooping as though all spirit had left him. In a low, defeated voice, he said, “I concede.”

Upon hearing these words, Bai Shengyun descended the martial platform, hands clasped behind his back, a faint, unconscious smile tugging at his lips.

As he once again passed beneath the dim yellow lantern, he sensed a breath so faint it was like the whisper of the dead. He spared not a single glance, merely remarking with indifference, “Finished watching?”

From the shadows, dressed in pitch-black robes, Huo Tianqing lifted his deep and haunted eyes, a hidden murderous intent lurking within. He said nothing, resembling a solitary specter, intent on the unfolding drama.

A gentle breeze stirred, causing their garments to flutter and swirl.

Within the Hall of Blossoms, the remnants of flowers had already been absorbed by the earth. The violet python lay coiled, resting in silence, while the iron thorns stood unmoving in the wind.

Bai Shengyun soon returned to the Hall of Blossoms. The violet pythons, catching his scent, slowly opened their eyes, narrowed them, and, as if in silent agreement, raised their heads and bowed gently to him.

He did not even glance at them, hurrying past.

With a bang, Bai Shengyun shoved the door open.

As soon as he entered the room, he saw Xie Yingying lying on the ground, her fate uncertain.

Bai Shengyun eyed her coldly. “Fainted again.”

At that moment, the front of Xie Yingying’s garment was already drenched in blood so dark it nearly looked black. The metallic scent assaulted his senses, causing him to frown.

He bent down, scooped up the deathly pale Xie Yingying, and, with a look of utter distaste, tossed her onto the bed.

“A cultivator at the Gold Core stage, yet your body is this frail?” Bai Shengyun said with open contempt.

He then produced a medicinal pill, lifted his hand, and once more summoned that icy spiritual energy, pressing his palm lightly to Xie Yingying’s fevered brow. With his other hand, he shoved the pill between her lips, not caring at all whether she could swallow it.

Naturally, she could not.

As the pill touched her tongue and began to dissolve, its bitterness numbed her entire mouth.

Even in unconsciousness, Xie Yingying’s brows knitted. Instinctively, she tried to swallow the pill, but it stuck in her throat, making her gag. She half-opened her eyes, turned her head, and vomited it right back out.

Seeing the half-melted pill land on himself, Bai Shengyun’s face darkened. He was just about to speak when Xie Yingying closed her eyes and slipped into unconsciousness once more.

At this moment, he truly wished to scold her on the spot. But, since she was still unconscious, it would be pointless—and might even wake her, only for her to start pestering him for “water” or “food.”

Despite this, the more Bai Shengyun thought about it, the angrier he became. He stood abruptly, letting the pill drop to the floor. Staring at the stain, he gritted his teeth and said to Xie Yingying, “When you wake up, I’ll have you wash hundreds of my robes!”

“…I,” Xie Yingying forced open her dull eyes and said hoarsely, “I wouldn’t wash your clothes for the world.”

Seeing her awake, Bai Shengyun raised an eyebrow. “So you were just toying with me just now?”

Xie Yingying turned her head slightly, refusing to answer.

Seeing her unwilling to speak to him, Bai Shengyun decided not to waste his warmth on cold indifference. Since she was still unwell, he let her be, pouring himself some tea and fixing her with a piercing gaze as he drank.

A short while passed, and Xie Yingying finally recovered from her initial dizziness.

She turned her head; her gaze was clearer now, but icy cold.

“Let’s make a deal.”

Bai Shengyun, hearing this, folded his arms with interest, waiting for her to continue.

“If you want to leave the Sect of Demons, help me refine the Celestial Fox’s primal essence,” Xie Yingying said, her eyes growing even clearer. “After that, I’ll plead your case to the elders. You’ll be able to leave soon enough.”

At this, Bai Shengyun gave a mocking laugh, his tone tinged with derision. “The chief elder of your sect has already agreed to let me stay. So, if I wish to stay, I’ll stay. If I wish to leave, I’ll leave. As for taking you with me, that’s even easier.”

Though he’d been inside the house at the time, he had heard every word Xue Feng had spoken.

Xie Yingying frowned, sifting through her predecessor’s memories to recall the identity of the Sect’s chief elder. Her expression shifted.

“Elder Xue Feng?” she asked hesitantly.

“Naturally.” Bai Shengyun smiled lightly at her. “So, you’re in no position to bargain with me.”

Realizing she no longer had any leverage, Xie Yingying’s gaze dulled, her heart burning with anger.

Bai Shengyun stepped forward, grasping her chin in one hand. His handsome face was openly mocking, the sight of it stinging Xie Yingying’s eyes.

“So now, you have no choice but to come back to Mount Guifeng with me.”

At his words, she thought of Ning Qingqing, Shen Ruru, and those elders—her anger intensified. She turned her head and bit down hard on one of Bai Shengyun’s fingers, her eyes blazing with resentment as she mumbled, “Even if you can take me, Master will never allow it!”

Bai Shengyun’s eyes grew darker at her words.

The harder she bit, the blacker his expression became. At last, blood seeped into Xie Yingying’s mouth, and Bai Shengyun suddenly laughed aloud.

Seeing that sly smile, Xie Yingying felt a chill of dread, belatedly recalling that Bai Shengyun’s blood could awaken the power of the primal essence. Her face changed.

Sure enough, that familiar force began to churn in her meridians and dantian, boiling like water over a roaring fire.

Her face twisted in pain as she curled in on herself, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. She could not help but release her bite.

Bai Shengyun withdrew his hand and wiped the blood away with a handkerchief. In a moment, the wound healed completely.

“You’d best look to your own survival,” he said coldly to Xie Yingying.

“You—” Xie Yingying’s words died in her throat, the pain too great for speech.

Seeing her like this, Bai Shengyun felt a flicker of pity. But remembering her attitude toward him, he simply strode out of the room.

That day, all was quiet outside the Hall of Blossoms. For the first time in a long while, Bai Shengyun felt a measure of peace. After all, no one enjoyed opening their door to a sea of faces or to those two harbingers of doom.

Now that one of those harbingers was dealt with, only one remained—and for that, Bai Shengyun would have to pay a personal visit.

But as soon as he stepped out of the Hall of Blossoms, he saw, coming toward him at a measured pace, the very harbinger himself—Huo Tianqing.

Convenient, he thought. Saved him the trouble of searching.

As Huo Tianqing drew near, Bai Shengyun addressed him in an even tone. “I must take Xie Yingying with me.”

“Over my dead body,” Huo Tianqing replied coldly.

With that, he gathered spiritual energy in one hand, preparing to strike.

Bai Shengyun narrowed his eyes.

“If she doesn’t leave with me, she will die here in the Sect of Demons.”