"Sir? Sir?"
Wu Shuyi gazed at Ye Ling nervously, a sense of foreboding creeping into his heart.
"You may leave," Ye Ling suddenly said, startling Wu Shuyi.
"I... I can leave?"
Wu Shuyi was taken aback by this unexpected reprieve, unable to process it immediately. The pressure Ye Ling exerted was immense; staying by his side felt like an eternity, each moment laden with unbearable stress. If not for his fear of acting rashly, he would have fled ten thousand miles away and never seen Ye Ling again!
Ye Ling waved his hand and smiled, "Go wherever you wish, I won't interfere. You don't need to hide my existence from others. Do as you please from now on."
Upon hearing Ye Ling's words, Wu Shuyi's face lit up with ecstasy. He quickly bowed deeply to Ye Ling, "Thank you, Sir!"
With that, Wu Shuyi turned and fled on his sword without a backward glance, as fast as he possibly could!
"Wu Shuyi, out of goodwill, I offer you one last piece of advice."
"Next time you see Bai Xiaosheng, don't waste words. Kill him at all costs."
Ye Ling's voice echoed in Wu Shuyi's mind, causing him to tremble. He looked back, but he was already a hundred miles away and could no longer see Ye Ling.
"What does he mean?"
Wu Shuyi murmured to himself, Ye Ling's words lingering in his mind, refusing to fade.
...
In the ruins of Fulong Town, Ji Xue, seeing Wu Shuyi flee, immediately approached Ye Ling and bowed respectfully, "Master, Xiao Lan she..."
Ye Ling replied, "She is not suitable to be reincarnated as a fierce beast. For now, she will stay with me. We'll see after her soul has recovered."
Hearing Ye Ling's words, Ji Xue's face filled with excitement. She quickly expressed her gratitude, "Thank you, Master! Ji Xue is eternally grateful!" If she had the choice, she wouldn't want her daughter to become a fierce beast. After all, even if a fierce beast survived, it would only live in the shadows, constantly fearing extermination. There were countless cultivators who hunted demons and eradicated evil, and it was possible she could be captured by a righteous sect any day. Moreover, humans now dominated the Earth, and even most immortals had gone into hiding. There wasn't a place on Earth humans couldn't reach. If Xiao Lan became a fierce beast, she might be able to hide in the wilderness for a short time, but in a few decades or a century, there would likely be no place left for her in this world. Neither heaven nor earth would tolerate her! Now, Ye Ling's words gave Ji Xue immense hope!
Xu Xiaoqing, standing not far away, watched Ji Xue being so completely subdued by Ye Ling. She was deeply shocked, acutely aware of her own insignificance. Whether it was Ye Ling, the Black Dragon, or even Wu Shuyi, they were all unparalleled powerhouses in this world, capable of easily destroying their sect, Shushan.
Xu Xiaoqing took a deep breath and approached Ye Ling, bowing respectfully. "Senior, this matter has concluded, and I have benefited greatly."
"I have been away from my sect for a long time, and my elders must be worried. I have come to bid farewell."
"Your great kindness can only be repaid in the future."
Seeing Xu Xiaoqing's intention to leave, Ye Ling did not try to stop him. "Yes, I won't keep you. Be careful on your journey."
"Thank you for your concern, Senior. If you ever have the chance to visit Shushan, please inform Xiaoqing in advance. Xiaoqing will host you."
Ye Ling smiled, "Then I thank you in advance."
"Farewell, Senior."
Xu Xiaoqing bowed deeply to Ye Ling once more, then leaped away from Fulong Town.
"Ye Ling, this..."
Feng Ke, seeing Wu Shuyi and Xu Xiaoqing depart, approached again. She glanced at the fair-skinned and beautiful Ji Xue beside Ye Ling and looked at Ye Ling. Her large eyes were filled with confusion. The once vibrant Fulong Town had become a ruin, all its residents dead, and Ye Ling had even taken in a dragon! She had merely slept for a while, only to find herself struggling to keep up with the world's pace. What on earth had happened?
Seeing Feng Ke's confused expression, Ye Ling could only offer a dry chuckle, unsure how to explain. He said, "In any case, the events in Fulong Town are over. Everyone has found their rightful place. You shouldn't dwell on it anymore."
"But!" Feng Ke wanted to ask more.
Ye Ling interrupted, "Let's go. It's getting late, and Fulong Town is no longer habitable. We should find another place."
With that, Ye Ling bound Feng Ke with his demonic energy without explanation, lifted her, and leaped away from Fulong Town.
Ji Xue covered her mouth and giggled, quickly following.
"Ye Ling!!!"
Feng Ke's shouts echoed through the sky.
...
Outside Kunlun Mountain, at the border between Tibet Province and Qinghai Province.
A roadside tavern.
This roadside tavern was merely a small establishment in a small town, usually with few customers. Now, only a handful of people were inside.
Wu Shuyi sat by the bar, his mind heavy with thoughts, ordering a foreign liquor he had never tried before. Ye Ling's words kept replaying in his head.
"What exactly does he mean... why would he tell me to kill Bai Xiaosheng on sight?"
Although he had escaped that perilous place, the events of the day were deeply etched into his soul. He couldn't even bother to go to Xueyin Valley, only wanting to flee as far as possible! The dim light reflected in the liquor, mirroring Wu Shuyi's somber mood.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
The rhythmic sound of leather shoes on wooden planks echoed from behind him.
"Waiter, a glass of whiskey."
At that moment, a handsome man in a black suit sat down next to Wu Shuyi, smiling as he spoke to the bartender.
"Bai Xiaosheng?"
Seeing the man sitting beside him, Wu Shuyi's pupils constricted slightly, and he exclaimed involuntarily!
"Old friend, we meet again."
Bai Xiaosheng smiled at Wu Shuyi, idly playing with an arcade token in his hand. Bai Xiaosheng's aura was the same as always, only at the peak of the eighth rank. Wu Shuyi felt no threat. However, with Ye Ling's warning, Wu Shuyi became inexplicably nervous, secretly circulating his cultivation techniques.
Bai Xiaosheng casually asked, "Did something happen to you in Fulong Town? You seem a bit tense."
"Why would Wu be tense?" Wu Shuyi forced himself to remain calm, took a sip of his wine, and smiled.
Bai Xiaosheng then asked, "Did you get the Dragon Saliva Fruit from Xueyin Valley?"
Wu Shuyi shook his head, "There was an accident, I didn't get it."
"You're not planning to get it anymore?" Bai Xiaosheng raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not planning to. I'm going back to the Greater Khingan Range to go into seclusion again. I've grown tired of this colorful world." Wu Shuyi ultimately did not choose to attack Bai Xiaosheng. After all, Bai Xiaosheng possessed strange abilities, and their fight would be fifty-fifty! He didn't want to take the risk.
Bai Xiaosheng chuckled, "Oh... the Dragon Saliva Fruit is a rare breakthrough material for you. I'm very curious what you encountered that made you not even want to break through to become a Red Dust Immortal, and instead wish to return?"
"Nothing in particular, I just suddenly felt a bit bored."
Wu Shuyi stood up, "Wu is tired. I won't keep you company today."
Bai Xiaosheng watched Wu Shuyi's retreating back with a smile and asked, "Why didn't you kill that dragon?"
Wu Shuyi paused.
Several figures in black emerged from the shadows of the tavern. Bai Xiaosheng played with the arcade token, "You didn't even want the dragon gall I sent you, which has troubled me greatly..."
Clang!
A sword's hum sounded as the flying sword was drawn! Wu Shuyi, with one hand, controlled his sword and charged at Bai Xiaosheng!