What does it mean to be in a desperate situation?
At this very moment, Yan Shouyi found himself in such a predicament.
He was utterly exhausted, having unleashed every ounce of his strength, but his opponent was a genuine and formidable Ghost King.
Furthermore, Bai Muyu was acutely aware of Yan Shouyi's weaknesses.
Controlling the coffin nails made of phoenix wood, he acted like a tailor with needles, treating Yan Shouyi's body as fabric and relentlessly piercing it with the nails.
Deprived of the self-healing abilities of the Heavenly Corpse Puppet, each stab of pain was agonizingly real.
It was no exaggeration to call it torture.
Yet, Yan Shouyi endured the excruciating pain without a sound.
He would not yield to Bai Muyu, not even in death.
Xue Kai watched from the side, witnessing more and more bloody holes appear in Yan Shouyi's body.
He suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for Yan Chou.
What father would wish to see his son suffer such agony?
"Stop!!"
Xue Kai roared, "Bai Muyu, do you know who Yan Shouyi's father is? If you kill Yan Shouyi today, his father will be released from prison in seven days and will surely seek revenge. At that time, even ten of you combined would be no match for him!"
Upon hearing this, Bai Muyu raised his head and sneered at Xue Kai:
"I have lived for hundreds of years; I am well aware of the consequences of provoking a descendant of Lu Ban. But since I dared to lay hands on Yan Shouyi today, I am not afraid of retaliation—do you think I am alone?"
Xue Kai's pupils constricted.
Could a Ghost King as powerful as Bai Muyu not be acting alone?
This meant that Bai Muyu was not the true mastermind behind the Sha Refining and Rebirth Array?
Who was the formidable figure behind him? How powerful must this individual be to command the subservience of a Ghost King, making him willing to do their bidding?
After responding to Xue Kai's threat, Bai Muyu's gaze returned to Yan Shouyi.
Yan Shouyi was now on the verge of death.
His eyes were filled with blood, blurring his vision.
Bai Muyu tutted, shaking his head and remarking:
"Your life is truly tenacious. You're still not dead after all this! It seems my decision not to leave immediately was a correct one. However, now I believe I know where you've hidden your heart."
A coffin nail floated up, hovering above Yan Shouyi's head.
Then, the nail slowly straightened, its sharp end gradually aiming for Yan Shouyi's Tianshu acupoint.
The phoenix wood, serving as Yan Shouyi's heart, was indeed hidden within the Tianshu acupoint.
It had to be said, Bai Muyu's judgment was incredibly sharp, quickly locating it.
Yan Shouyi reached out, attempting to resist.
Bai Muyu watched him with a mocking gaze, controlling the coffin nail, and slowly, inch by inch, began to drive it downwards.
The coffin nail pierced Yan Shouyi's outstretched hand.
It pressed down on his palm, relentlessly approaching his Tianshu acupoint.
Xue Kai gritted his teeth. If he didn't intervene now, Yan Shouyi would truly die!
But before he could even take two steps, a powerful force slammed into him, sending him flying dozens of meters away, crashing through glass.
Fortunately, Xue Kai seized an opportunity at the last moment, grabbing the edge of the window frame, thus preventing him from falling off the building.
However, he had also lost the best moment to save Yan Shouyi!
"Yan Shouyi, in your next life, try to mind your own business less."
Bai Muyu sneered and applied sudden force.
But at the critical moment.
A figure rushed out of the elevator!
"Stop!"
The coffin nail had already broken Yan Shouyi's skin.
It was mere millimeters away from the Tianshu acupoint.
But Bai Muyu halted his action.
The figure, upon seeing Yan Shouyi's battered state on the ground, covered their mouth.
She immediately rushed to Yan Shouyi's side, knelt down, and exclaimed angrily:
"Are you an idiot!!!"
Yan Shouyi struggled to focus, barely recognizing the person by their silhouette.
It was Lin Zhitong.
He frowned, "What are you doing here? You should leave quickly..."
"If I hadn't come, you would have died here today!"
Lin Zhitong was furious. She grabbed the coffin nail and pulled it out of Yan Shouyi's body.
"You need to leave, quickly..."
Yan Shouyi was out of strength and could only repeat his plea for Lin Zhitong to depart.
Upon recognizing Lin Zhitong, Bai Muyu's expression and gaze shifted slightly.
He didn't stop Lin Zhitong immediately, but instead watched her in silence.
"You're always like this, carrying everything on your own, never telling me anything!"
"I love you, with a love that transcends life and death! I am not a canary needing your protection; rather than being protected by you, I'd rather fight alongside you!"
"I'm taking you away now. Anyone who dares to stop me, I will kill!"
Without further ado, Lin Zhitong hoisted Yan Shouyi onto her shoulders, dragging his broken body, and prepared to leave.
But as soon as she stood up, Bai family subordinates lined up and blocked her path.
"Get out of the way!!"
Lin Zhitong's face contorted with anger as she let out a low growl, and several ghostly figures emerged from behind her.
These specters showed no hesitation in dispatching the Bai family members who stood before her!
Lin Zhitong had never been so decisive in her actions.
But when it came to Yan Shouyi, she would not hesitate at all.
Just as she had said.
Anyone who blocked her path, she would kill!
In an instant, five or six Bai family subordinates fell, all decapitated, undeniably dead.
"Let's go, I'll take you to Old Jin. And Luo Ning, she can also help you. You won't die... you won't die!"
After only a few more steps, Lin Zhitong and Yan Shouyi were obstructed once more.
But this time, the one blocking them was Bai Muyu himself.
Bai Muyu stepped out of his sedan chair for the first time, revealing his true form.
Bai Muyu appeared extremely aged, his body as slender as a twig, resembling a creature from a cartoon rather than a person one might encounter in reality.
He wore a white robe, and to put it bluntly, he looked like a clothes rack.
"Yan Shouyi, you cannot take him," he stated calmly.
"Get out of the way!" Lin Zhitong said nothing further, thrusting the coffin nail in her hand towards Bai Muyu.
But Bai Muyu merely waved his hand, and a barrier appeared before him, preventing Lin Zhitong from coming any closer.
Leaning on Lin Zhitong, Yan Shouyi stood with difficulty, but for the first time, he lowered his head.
"Bai Muyu... let her go..."
Bai Muyu couldn't help but cast a deeper glance at Yan Shouyi.
This young man who feared no death was now bowing his head and pleading with him for Lin Zhitong's sake.
It seemed Yan Shouyi truly loved Lin Zhitong.
However, in Bai Muyu's eyes, genuine affection was worthless.
Before Bai Muyu could respond, Yan Shouyi, utterly exhausted, suddenly closed his eyes and lost consciousness.
Lin Zhitong's heart pounded with anxiety. She called his name several times, but received no response.
Yan Shouyi's consciousness was a chaotic blur; he had no idea what was happening outside.
This made Lin Zhitong even more desperate to take Yan Shouyi away.
"Move aside!" Lin Zhitong said coldly.
"My Bai family has suffered heavy losses today. Yan Shouyi made a deal with me; I let everyone go in exchange for his life. If you take him away, you will be violating our agreement," Bai Muyu stated. "If you break the promise, I won't honor it either. I will hunt down and kill all those I released earlier, one by one."
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhitong found herself in a difficult dilemma.
Xue Kai, struggling, climbed up from the window edge. Upon seeing Lin Zhitong's appearance, he couldn't help but be taken aback.
"Master said that only this woman could save Yan Shouyi," Xue Kai muttered to himself. "But why? What power does she possess to make Bai Muyu back down?"
"Lin Zhitong, leave Yan Shouyi here, and I will pretend I never saw you," Bai Muyu said indifferently.
Lin Zhitong remained silent, seemingly contemplating something.
Then, she turned the coffin nail in her hand and pointed it at her own neck!
Bai Muyu's expression changed drastically: "What are you doing?!"
Lin Zhitong tilted her head up and declared, "I will make a deal with you too. I'll trade my life for Yan Shouyi's!"
"Who do you think you are?"
"I am no one, but someone doesn't want me to die!" Lin Zhitong shouted. "If you don't agree, I will die right here in front of you!"
Bai Muyu glared at Lin Zhitong furiously.
He had never imagined that he, a dignified Ghost King, would be humiliated, deceived, and even threatened multiple times today!
However, Bai Muyu could kill anyone, but he dared not kill Lin Zhitong!
In other words, if Lin Zhitong died, Bai Muyu would not be able to bear the consequences!
Bai Muyu took several deep breaths, his anger gradually subsiding.
He regained his composure and said coldly, "Your life for Yan Shouyi's life, I agree, but I have a condition."
"What condition?"
"I will let Yan Shouyi go, but you will come back to the Bai family with me and marry Bai Yusheng in seven days!"
Lin Zhitong agreed without a second thought: "Alright! It's a deal!"
Bai Muyu was surprised by Lin Zhitong's swift agreement.
But words spoken are like water poured out. Bai Muyu, at his age, valued his reputation above all else.
He would not go back on his word.
Thus, Bai Muyu looked at Xue Kai: "You, take Yan Shouyi away."
Xue Kai, clutching his injury, limped towards Lin Zhitong and took Yan Shouyi from her.
He quietly asked Lin Zhitong, "Is your decision your own?"
Lin Zhitong glanced at Xue Kai, then shook her head silently.
Xue Kai instantly understood everything.
This was all arranged by Yan Chou.
Lin Zhitong did not genuinely intend to marry Bai Yusheng; it was merely a delaying tactic to exchange Yan Shouyi's life from Bai Muyu.
But as for why Bai Muyu dared not kill Lin Zhitong, Xue Kai couldn't fathom it.
Lin Zhitong handed Yan Shouyi to Xue Kai and whispered:
"When he wakes up, remember to tell him I'm waiting for him."
Xue Kai nodded solemnly.
The feud between Yan Shouyi and the Bai family was far from over.
When Yan Shouyi woke up, that would be the true reckoning.
Lin Zhitong gazed deeply at the unconscious Yan Shouyi, then gently kissed his lips.
Whether Yan Shouyi could feel Lin Zhitong's warmth was unknown, but after this kiss, Lin Zhitong's gaze became resolute.
Xue Kai, carrying Yan Shouyi, swiftly left the top floor of the Ping An Building.
Lin Zhitong also turned around and said to Bai Muyu, "I stand by my word."
A look of astonishment appeared on Bai Muyu's face:
"Lin Zhitong, your decision seems unreasonable to me, unless you know something."
"Does it matter what I know?" Lin Zhitong said with a cold expression. "The point is, you got what you wanted."
"That's true."
Bai Muyu revealed a hint of a smile.