In the dark woods behind Mount Emei, the night was far from peaceful. Countless beams of flashlight pierced through the trees, accompanied by shouts that echoed through the rear mountain forest…
"Where did they go?"
"I don't know! I just saw a figure a moment ago, and then they vanished…!"
A group of Emei disciples, armed with long swords and flashlights, searched the pitch-black forest. They had just seen Zhou Ruoxi and Yin Baisu, the leader of the Demonic Cult, but then they flickered and disappeared…
"Don't just look around, check the trees too! We absolutely cannot let them escape…" Guo Yu walked over, shouting loudly.
"Yes…"
The disciples responded loudly, shining their flashlights up into the trees, continuing their search for Zhou Ruoxi and the others…
"Master, Elder’s son from Mount Hua, Chen Yuxuan, called. He said they can reach our Mount Emei tomorrow morning!" Yang Fei, Guo Yu's disciple, reported.
Another disciple added, "Once people from the major sects arrive tomorrow, we will definitely be able to capture Zhou Ruoxi and the leader of the Demonic Cult."
Yang Fei sneered, "As long as Master captures the leader of the Demonic Cult and hands her over to the major sects for disposal, then Master can naturally ascend to the position of Mount Emei Sect Leader!"
Guo Yu glanced at Yang Fei upon hearing this, but he was overjoyed. He waved his hand and said with a smile, "Alright, let's not discuss this for now. Capturing Zhou Ruoxi and the leader of the Demonic Cult is paramount. Otherwise, we won't be able to explain to the major sects that the leader of the Demonic Cult was hiding in Mount Emei."
"Understood…"
Yang Fei and the others nodded and quickly joined the search…
Guo Yu narrowed his eyes, a pleased smile playing on his lips. Zhou Ruoxi was now essentially unable to continue as the Sect Leader of Mount Emei.
Currently, within the entire Mount Emei sect, only Abbess Yun Bai and he, Guo Yu, were eligible to succeed as Sect Leader.
As for Abbess Jin Yu, Guo Yu never considered her qualified to be the Sect Leader of Mount Emei.
After all, Abbess Jin Yu had too low a presence within Mount Emei, with no loyal disciples supporting her.
Currently, Guo Yu's faction was the largest within Mount Emei, and he was the most likely to become the next Sect Leader.
Over a hundred Mount Emei disciples continued their search for Zhou Ruoxi and the others in the dark mountain forest…
Unbeknownst to them, Zhou Ruoxi and her mother, Yin Baisu, were hiding in a deep pit trap dug previously to capture wild boars. The trap had long since been abandoned, with weeds growing on the pit’s opening and walls. The pit was about five meters deep and one and a half meters in diameter, shrouded in darkness…
Down below, they anxiously watched the top, hearing the various sounds of the Mount Emei disciples…
"Hoo…"
Seeing that they hadn't been discovered, Zhou Ruoxi let out a sigh of relief. She then turned to her mother, Yin Baisu, who was clinging to her arm, and asked, "How is your injury?"
Yin Baisu gasped for breath and coughed slightly, but realizing something, she quickly suppressed her cough and waved her hand, "I'm alright…"
Seeing her pale face and weak breath, Zhou Ruoxi quickly helped her sit down and said, "I have a medicinal pill for healing. Take it and circulate your energy to recover."
"Alright…"
Yin Baisu sat down, took the pill given by Zhou Ruoxi, and began circulating her energy to heal…
Zhou Ruoxi also sat beside her, watching her mother diligently cultivating. As the disciples above hadn't discovered them, she also took a moment to rest, but when she thought about her future, Zhou Ruoxi’s brows furrowed…
"Hoo…"
Fifteen minutes later, Yin Baisu exhaled a breath of turbid air. The pill, refined with precious medicinal herbs, had a miraculous effect on internal injuries. Combined with her cultivation, it helped her internal injuries stabilize. She opened her eyes and saw Zhou Ruoxi beside her, her brows knitted in worry, her head bowed, lost in thought…
Yin Baisu couldn't help but show a look of self-reproach. "I really shouldn't have secretly come to Mount Emei to find you…"
Seeing her awake, Zhou Ruoxi turned to her and shook her head slightly. "It’s meaningless to say this now. We can only think about what to do next."
Yin Baisu nodded and said, "For years, our Demonic Cult has hidden in the Shu region, not daring to reveal our identity as the Demonic Cult, all to evade the pursuit of the major sects. That's why we've lived a life on the run."
"Ruoxi, I don't want you to live this kind of life with me in the future. If you have a better place to go, after we leave here, we’ll go our separate ways."
Zhou Ruoxi raised an eyebrow. "Where will you go?"
Yin Baisu shook her head slightly and smiled. "The world is vast; there will always be a place for me. Although we are the Demonic Cult, we haven't done anything illegal all these years. We've merely been evading the pursuit of the major sects."
Thinking of the shameless faces of the people from the major sects, Zhou Ruoxi felt a surge of anger.
Ever since Wan Yunting had an accident, Zhou Ruoxi's attitude towards the major sects had completely reversed.
She had initially thought they were all dedicated to justice. But with the actions Wan Yunting had taken, becoming a public enemy of the major sects, Zhou Ruoxi saw the truth and the wickedness of human nature.
When they went to the Shu region two months ago to eliminate the remnants of the Demonic Cult, Zhou Ruoxi couldn't understand it. Yin Baisu and the people of the Demonic Cult hadn't caused any harm to society; they had done nothing wrong.
However, the people from the major sects, standing on the moral high ground, criticized the past transgressions of the Demonic Cult. Simply because Yin Baisu and the others were from the Demonic Cult, they used various means to completely eradicate them.
Therefore, Zhou Ruoxi increasingly disliked the people from the major sects and felt that Wan Yunting was right. Hence, she had no regrets about her choice tonight; she even felt a sense of release and relief.
"No matter where we go, we go together!"
Zhou Ruoxi looked at her mother, Yin Baisu. Although she couldn't bring herself to call her "Mom" yet, in her heart, she had accepted this mother.
Seeing her daughter's determined gaze, Yin Baisu felt a mix of excitement and happiness. She took Zhou Ruoxi's hand and said, "After we get out, we'll go to Qinghai to find Qianqian!"
"Qianqian?"
Zhou Ruoxi asked in confusion. Yin Baisu smiled. "Qianqian is my goddaughter and the next leader of our Demonic Cult. She's in Qinghai now, and we can go meet her there."
Zhou Ruoxi nodded. "Alright. I'll go out and check later. When those disciples are gone, we'll go out."
Yin Baisu nodded, her heart filled with excitement at the thought of being with her daughter in the future. Then, remembering something, she asked, "By the way, Ruoxi, I heard them talking earlier. Do you have a relationship with that person called Wan Yunting?"
Zhou Ruoxi looked at her and nodded. "Yes, he's in the capital."
"I know. His reputation is immense. I heard he even stole the martial arts manuals from the Snow Mountain Sect and faced various resistance from the major sects, but he showed no fear, confronting the entire major sects by himself."
After all, Wan Yunting's deeds were known to anyone who paid even a little attention. Yin Baisu smiled. "I have to say, that Wan Yunting is truly a hero. However, Ruoxi, I heard he already has a wife and children, as well as many close female confidantes…"
Zhou Ruoxi shook her head slightly and smiled. "I just like him, but I don't expect him to be responsible for me. That's why I haven't told him about your situation."
"Mm, I understand."
Yin Baisu nodded, but she could tell that her daughter seemed to like Wan Yunting very much…
The reason Zhou Ruoxi didn't tell Wan Yunting was also to avoid causing him trouble.
After all, Wan Yunting's possession of the Snow Mountain Sect's martial arts manuals had made him a public enemy of the major sects. This matter had only recently subsided, and Zhou Ruoxi also knew that the man had been busy with the cause of traditional Chinese medicine during this period.
Therefore, she didn't want to cause trouble for Wan Yunting by revealing her situation and provoking the people from the major sects, lest it lead to something detrimental to him.
"It's just…"
"Mm, what is it?"
Yin Baisu looked at her suddenly furrowing brows and couldn't help but feel confused.
"Alas, perhaps he already knows about our situation. Maybe he's already at Mount Emei!"
Zhou Ruoxi couldn't help but sigh. While she didn't contact Wan Yunting, it didn't mean her gossipy junior sister, Jiang Tingxia, didn't.
Therefore, she could guess that Wan Yunting might have already appeared at Mount Emei for her sake…
"Wan Yunting, why would he come to our Mount Emei?"
At this moment, in the courtyard where Zhou Ruoxi resided in the rear mountain of Mount Emei, many disciples had gathered. The entire Mount Emei sect was destined to have a sleepless night.
But when many disciples saw Jiang Tingxia bringing Wan Yunting, they couldn't help but express surprise and whisper amongst themselves…
"Heh heh, the rumors are indeed true. Zhou Ruoxi and Wan Yunting are involved!"
"See? I said it long ago! When these two meet, their eyes are so full of affection. They probably hooked up back at the Wuliang Daoist Temple last year!"
"Alas, I was too naive, thinking Zhou Ruoxi was still the immaculate fairy. I didn't expect her to have been defiled by that scoundrel Wan Yunting…!"
Among the male disciples present, not a single one didn't harbor fantasies about Zhou Ruoxi…
But seeing Wan Yunting appear at Mount Emei overnight confirmed that the previous rumors were true.
"Sect Master Wan, why have you come?"
By Abbess Yun Bai's side were Senior Sister Lu Shuang and Junior Sister He Shanyue, who had accompanied Zhou Ruoxi to the Death Valley in the Kunlun Mountains…
Wan Yunting walked over expressionlessly and nodded to them. He then looked at Abbess Yun Bai sitting nearby. She appeared dejected, seemingly worried about the future of Mount Emei…
"Abbess Yun Bai…"
Wan Yunting stepped forward, clasped his hands in a polite greeting, and said, "Please allow me to take Ruoxi away!"
The surrounding Mount Emei disciples couldn't help but show expressions of surprise upon hearing this, pointing at Wan Yunting and discussing amongst themselves, not understanding what he meant.
Abbess Yun Bai turned her head slightly to look at Wan Yunting and shook her head with a sigh. "Ruoxi is the daughter of the Demonic Cult leader. This identity is enough to make it impossible for her to establish herself in the righteous path in the future."
"Sect Master Wan, are you truly going to confront all the sects to protect Ruoxi?"
"Yes."
Wan Yunting's sharp gaze was firm and domineering. "No matter the cost, I will protect her. Anyone who dares to harm her is my enemy, Wan Yunting!"
Jiang Tingxia, Lu Shuang, He Shanyue, and the other senior and junior sisters beside him couldn't help but be moved by his words of support for Zhou Ruoxi.
Abbess Yun Bai nodded. Although Zhou Ruoxi had betrayed Mount Emei, she didn't wish to see Zhou Ruoxi fall into the hands of the major sects.
"They are in the rear mountain. Guo Yu and the others are searching for them with all their might."
Abbess Yun Bai said with a dejected tone, "If you can find her, take her away from Mount Emei. The farther the better…"
Wan Yunting clasped his hands to Abbess Yun Bai again, then headed towards the rear mountain, towards the direction where the lights were flashing in the dark forest, preparing to search for Zhou Ruoxi…
"Abbess Yun Bai, if you lose Zhou Ruoxi, what will your Mount Emei do in the future?" Wan Yunting suddenly asked Abbess Yun Bai, turning back.
However, Abbess Yun Bai's face was filled with dejection. She shook her head, not knowing what to say.
Perhaps she had already seen the inevitable decline of Mount Emei in the future…
Seeing this, Wan Yunting didn't ask further and quickly headed towards the rear mountain.
As for the future of Mount Emei, it was no longer his concern. What Wan Yunting wanted now was to find Zhou Ruoxi and take her away from Mount Emei…