Main Text Volume 3 Chapter 121: The Choice

Yu Mu realized instantly why Abi Dao had managed to obtain a portrait of his face; the two parties had clearly colluded and joined forces.

An Shu’s expression grew increasingly complex at the sight, and for a moment, she did not know how to face the situation.

"Shi Dali, you’re here to make trouble again. You’ve been using my teleportation array for years, so why can’t you just cooperate for once?" one of the men, who appeared to be the manager, said with displeasure.

"Hmph! You know exactly who I am, Shi Dali, so why do you insist on checking me? I refuse to show my true face today, so what are you going to do about it?" Shi Dali immediately seized the opportunity, refusing to yield an inch.

The man grew furious. "Rules are rules. Just because I know you doesn’t mean I can make an exception, or everyone else will follow suit. I’ve shown you leniency because you frequent this place, but don’t push your luck. Behave yourself and accept the inspection; stop causing a scene."

"Pah! Xie Tianfang, spare me your empty threats. Others might fear you, but I do not. Take this!" With that, he shattered the gate with a single palm strike.

Xie Tianfang was enraged. "You brat, how dare you! No matter how powerful your Shi family is in Emerald City, this is not the place for you to run wild." He raised his hand and struck back.

The two engaged in a fierce battle. Both were mid-stage Nascent Soul experts, and their clash sent debris flying, stones scattering, and plunged the scene into chaos.

Had Ye Yun and his two companions not been there, this might have been an opportunity, but Yu Mu dared not try to slip through now.

Just as the manager was about to step forward to assist, a young boy emerged from within, holding two items. He walked up to the manager.

The moment Yu Mu saw what the boy held, a sense of dread washed over him. In one hand, the boy cradled a creature that looked like a small puppy.

It was born eyeless, with tiny ears, and a head that accounted for nearly half its body. Its nose was large, red, and covered in dense, microscopic sensory tentacles.

The little creature was snow-white and seemed adorable, but in Yu Mu’s eyes, it was anything but harmless.

What truly caused Yu Mu’s alarm, however, was not the little monster, but the object in the boy’s other hand.

It was the slave collar he had torn from An Shu’s neck!

Indeed, Yu Mu’s nightmare had come true.

The little monster sniffed the collar, then scanned the surroundings, immediately locking onto the pair’s hiding spot. It raised a tiny paw and pointed directly at them.

Terrified, Yu Mu grabbed An Shu and ran. An Shu had seen the scene as well and knew the situation was dire, so she allowed Yu Mu to pull her along as they fled.

The manager shouted to Xie Tianfang, "Hall Master Xie, the targets have appeared! Forget about this brat; capturing them is the priority!"

"Right!"

Xie Tianfang pushed Shi Dali away with a palm strike. "I have more important business today, so I won’t waste time with you. If you want to fight again, I’ll accommodate you another day."

He was about to fly off, but Shi Dali, seeing his opponent’s desperation to leave, became even more stubborn. "Haha! The more anxious you are, the less likely you are to escape. I’ll do a good deed today and hold you back for your enemy, hahahaha!"

With that, he dragged not only Xie Tianfang but also the manager into the fray.

Shi Dali’s malicious tactic nearly infuriated them to death. Yet, because he was relentlessly disruptive, they could not easily deal with him.

The manager had no choice but to toss the little monster to Ye Yun. "Take the Scent-Seeking Beast and go after them. I’ll follow shortly."

"Understood!" Ye Yun caught the beast and pursued Yu Mu and An Shu at full speed.

The two pairs raced through the city. Since they could not fly in the crowded streets, they had to rely on their own strength.

For Yu Mu, who had spent years escaping in such environments, this was a great advantage. Furthermore, with his "Gourd Movement" technique, he moved like a fish in water through the crowds, slipping away with ease.

Finally, to lighten the burden of An Shu, he simply hoisted her onto his back.

An Shu initially resisted out of instinct, but Yu Mu ignored her protests, using his "Ever-Changing Rope" to bind her firmly to his back.

Resting against his broad back, breathing in the scent of a man, and watching the crowds blur past on either side, An Shu suddenly quieted down, allowing him to carry her through the masses.

As a result, the distance between them and their pursuers grew steadily.

However, when Yu Mu reached the outskirts where the crowds thinned, Ye Yun and his companion were able to take to the air, and the gap began to close rapidly.

Yu Mu untied the rope and said to An Shu, "Fly toward that river. We’ll meet there."

An Shu didn't say a word, simply taking to the sky.

She glanced back at her pursuing senior brother and sister, then down at Yu Mu, who had curled into a ball and was rolling along at high speed. She sighed slightly before flying off in his direction.

Yu Mu soon reached the riverbank, and An Shu arrived shortly after.

"That little monster can track your scent. We must go underwater to evade its pursuit. Come, let’s go in!" Yu Mu seemed entirely unsurprised that she had followed.

An Shu felt a bit annoyed by his air of entitlement. Heaven knows how difficult that moment of choice had been for her.

She had finally chosen to follow him, yet this guy acted as if it were a matter of course—it was infuriating.

At this moment, Ye Yun and his companion drew near. Ye Yun called out from a distance, "Junior Sister An Shu, we have already negotiated terms with the City Lord. You didn't kill Rong Gu. As long as we capture this lecher, the City Lord promises not to hold you responsible!"

Xiao Mei also shouted, "Junior Sister, don't forget the teachings and cultivation you received from our sect. You know the consequences of remaining with a scoundrel like him."

These words struck at An Shu’s vulnerabilities. Yet, this time, she did not hesitate; with a splash, she dove into the water.

Underwater, Yu Mu was swimming at full speed with the help of his bamboo hat’s water-parting ability. An Shu immediately channeled the water behind her, catching up to him in an instant.

'What kind of sorcery is this!?' Yu Mu was startled.

He saw a vortex rotating behind An Shu, like a long, powerful tail, propelling her forward at high speed.

Although Yu Mu had been able to move freely in the water since obtaining the teardrop, when it came to raw speed, he was barely faster than a turtle compared to her. She was the fastest creature he had ever seen in the water, aside from the Green Fish.

Shortly after An Shu entered the water, Ye Yun and his companion reached the bank.

Ye Yun’s eyes burned with intense hatred as he said coldly, "My underwater ability is lacking. You go down, finish off that scoundrel, and bring our junior sister back."

"Understood," Xiao Mei replied readily.

When she turned away, however, her eyes were filled with even deeper hatred.

Xiao Mei plunged into the water and gave chase. Both women were from the same sect and shared the same affinity, using identical techniques. However, An Shu was carrying a burden, and before long, Xiao Mei had caught up.

An Shu pushed Yu Mu aside and turned to face Xiao Mei. Yu Mu stayed back and witnessed an incredible sight.

The two women each released a large bubble, encasing themselves within. Then, they channeled the bubbles to merge, forming a vacuum space.

"Junior Sister, what has happened to you? You were kidnapped by this lecher initially, so why are you now so devoted to him? Is there some hidden difficulty you can’t speak of?"

An Shu frowned. "Senior Sister, stop guessing. He has explained the situation to me; it was indeed a misunderstanding. Furthermore, he saved my life, so our previous grievances are settled. I stay with him not only to avoid those who hunt me, but also because I feel that the time spent with him has been a true test of character. I have gained much experience, and my strength has increased—things I never achieved before."

Under Yu Mu’s stunned gaze, the two women actually began to converse underwater.

Xiao Mei sneered coldly. "I think you’ve just taken a liking to this brat. Didn't I tell you? We’ve reached a deal with the City Lord; he has promised not to hold you accountable, so why are you still..."

"Shut up!" Before Xiao Mei could finish, An Shu roared, "Do you know the humiliation I suffered back then? He won’t hold me accountable? Ha! He won’t hold me accountable—it’s laughable. Even if he doesn’t pursue me, I won’t let him off. I am no match for them today, but one day, I will make him pay ten times over for the suffering I endured. That is all I have to say. Leave!"