"You all retreat first!" Nangong Yu decided instantly. Yue Tianxia was too powerful, and Yan Yuqing and the others would be of no help here. It was better to retreat first. With his and Xiao Man's abilities, they still had a chance to escape, but Yan Yuqing and the others might not.
Jin Ling and Yan Yuqing did not hesitate and immediately fled outwards. However, before they could escape the Heavenly Sword Sect's mountain gate, they heard a rumbling sound emanating from within the sect. The earth shook, houses collapsed, and the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect cried out in panic, fleeing outwards, making the already chaotic scene even more chaotic. Yan Yuqing and the others blended into the fleeing crowd, completely inconspicuous.
Yan Yuqing fled along with the flow of people, "So this is her fallback plan!"
"What fallback plan?"
"To blow up the Heavenly Sword Sect!" Yan Yuqing said triumphantly. "The Heavenly Sword Sect has suffered heavy losses this time and will become a laughingstock among the people of the world. Hurry and retreat. Little Man'er has a plan and will rendezvous with us."
Jin Ling glanced in the direction Yue Tianxia was pursuing, gritted his teeth, and quickly fled. If they didn't seize the opportunity to escape amidst the Heavenly Sword Sect's utter chaos, they would only be a burden to Xiao Man!
Yue Tianxia pursued relentlessly. Seeing Yue Ran blocking his path, he disregarded everything and sent Yue Ran flying before continuing to chase Mu Qi and the others.
Mu Qi glanced back at Yue Tianxia, who was catching up, and his hair stood on end in fear. "My apologies, I can't outrun him anymore. You're on your own!"
Mu Qi threw Xiao Man forward, exactly into the hands of another elder. That elder from the Heavenly Spirit Sect caught Xiao Man and continued to flee frantically. With a pure-blooded medicinal person like her for alchemy, their Heavenly Spirit Sect would surely be able to refine the Divine Revival Pill!
"Your Heavenly Spirit Sect, are you truly going to oppose me?"
"Sect Master Yue, we want the person, but you clearly intend to kill her, so naturally, we must seize her!"
Yue Tianxia trembled with rage, his entire body like a furious lion. He struck forward at the Heavenly Spirit Sect elder in front of him, sending him flying. Xiao Man, who was in his hands, was also thrown away.
Yue Tianxia pursued, his five fingers forming a claw and gripping Xiao Man's throat. He hovered in mid-air, looking at Xiao Man, who was struggling fiercely, with a ferocious smile on his face. "After so many years, this is the first time I've suffered such a great loss. I will annihilate your soul and prevent you from ever reincarnating!"
"You are the one who will not reincarnate!" A golden light erupted from Xiao Man's body. Yue Tianxia was injured by the golden light and retreated repeatedly. The golden light seemed to be his nemesis. Yue Tianxia looked at his burned hand, his hatred intensifying!
"Damn it!" Yue Tianxia charged forward again. In a flash, a figure soared into the air, caught Xiao Man, and exchanged a palm strike with Yue Tianxia. Yue Tianxia was struck so hard that his hair came undone, and he retreated repeatedly.
"Lei Tianze!" Yue Tianxia's voice cracked with rage as he recognized the newcomer. One by one, they all jumped out to oppose him. He merely wanted to kill an ant, why was it so difficult!
"Yue Tianxia!" Tianze glanced at the heavily injured Xiao Man. Seeing Nangong Yu pursuing, he handed Xiao Man over to Nangong Yu. "Take care of her for a moment. I'll be right back."
Upon hearing this, Nangong Yu almost ground his teeth to dust, but he still caught Xiao Man and landed in the distance to observe the battle.
The speed of the two was astonishing. The crowd could only see afterimages. Yue Tianxia, who had been chasing and beating Xiao Man and the others, was now being forced to retreat repeatedly by Lei Tianze, his previous ferocity gone.
Sang Hua and Linghu Yaqi had not gone far. Upon seeing Lei Tianze arrive, Linghu Yaqi's expression was strange. "It seems to be Senior Brother Zefang."
"No, Yue Tianxia called him Lei Tianze. He should be Little Martial Uncle."
"It's Zefang," Linghu Yaqi said with certainty. "I wouldn't mistake him, it's Zefang."
Sang Hua scratched his head, unsure how to explain. However, it wasn't his place to explain. "Since he's here, we don't need to flee anymore. Let's see if we can help."
Linghu Yaqi had the same idea, but as they approached, Nangong Yu issued a warning.
"We are his junior fellow disciples," Sang Hua pointed to Tianze, who was fighting in the sky. "How is she?"
Nangong Yu glanced at the unconscious Xiao Man in his arms. "Not very well."
"I have medicine. Do you think any of it will be useful?"
"Thank you, no. I've already given her medicine," Nangong Yu calmly refused. Although the other party showed no hostility, it didn't mean they could be trusted. Xiao Man's identity had been exposed, and anyone could become an enemy!
"What is her relationship with Zefang?" Linghu Yaqi stepped forward and asked.
"She has no relationship with Zefang!" Nangong Yu said coldly. "She is my wife!"
Linghu Yaqi immediately breathed a sigh of relief. So this Xiao Man was already married. That was great; she no longer had to worry.
"Today, Zefang saved you. If Zefang encounters trouble in the future, can we ask for your help?"
"If it does not endanger her life, we will help."
"Alright, I have noted your words." Linghu Yaqi glanced at Tianze, who was still fighting. "This is not a place to linger. The people from the Heavenly Sword Sect will soon pursue us. Let's leave here first. He will find us after he finishes his battle."
Nangong Yu pondered for a moment and decided to follow Linghu Yaqi. "I am Nangong Yu. May I know your esteemed names?"
"I am Sang Hua, and this is my junior sister Linghu Yaqi. She is..."
"I am Zefang's fiancée," Linghu Yaqi interjected. "His fiancée since childhood."
Nangong Yu lowered his gaze. "So that's how it is. Miss, you and he truly look like a match made in heaven. When are you two getting married? I will certainly attend to have a drink of wedding wine."
To avoid pursuit from the Heavenly Sword Sect, Linghu Yaqi led Nangong Yu to a remote mountain forest and set up an illusionary formation. The group hid in a cave.
Sang Hua resigned himself to cooking.
Linghu Yaqi sat nearby, watching Nangong Yu skillfully tend to Xiao Man's wounds.
"Your wife is very brave."
"She has always been brave. I've known her for so many years, and there's nothing I can think of that she wouldn't dare to do." Nangong Yu finished bandaging Xiao Man's wounds and then got water to clean her face.
"Few men are as meticulous and caring as you."
"Is that so?" Nangong Yu said casually. "Your fiancé should be even better at taking care of people, shouldn't he?"
"He?" Linghu Yaqi thought of Zefang's personality. "He only knows how to cultivate all day long. He wouldn't know how to do these things. He's always had people serving him. It would be too difficult for him to do these things."
"Once my wife wakes up, we will take our leave," Nangong Yu said to Linghu Yaqi. "Until she wakes up, we will be imposing on you."
"It's fine. We also need to wait for Zefang to rendezvous with us."
"Someone is coming," Sang Hua said vigilantly. A moment later, Lei Tianze's figure appeared at the cave entrance. Linghu Yaqi stood up to greet him.