Chapter 115: After the Banquet

Qi Si had always trusted Bai Qirui, so upon hearing his voice transmission, he managed to steady his emotions and turned his head slightly, though he remained visibly furious. Huo Tianqing watched this scene unfold without a word, merely offering a cold, mocking smile.

Ba Hu stepped forward, bowed to the group, and said calmly, "Young Emperor, Young Consort, I have prepared a banquet for you. Let us proceed."

Huo Tianqing’s sneer deepened at these words. The other elders were surprised to hear Ba Hu openly address Xie Yingying as "Young Consort," but they quickly realized he was simply attempting to keep the peace. Once they grasped his intent, they also bowed and invited the group to ascend Gufeng Mountain. Bai Shengyun was quite satisfied with Ba Hu’s actions.

"Lead the way," Bai Shengyun said. Hearing Ba Hu’s invitation, he smiled faintly, his thoughts unreadable.

In truth, it would have been impossible for Qi Si and the others to raise death-knights within Gufeng Mountain to hunt down Xie Yingying without the tacit approval of Ba Hu, the most powerful elder. They could never have engaged in such activities within the heavily guarded mountain, where the training of death-knights was strictly forbidden, had he not turned a blind eye.

As the group began their ascent, Bai Shengyun sent a cold voice transmission to Ba Hu: "Elder Ba Hu, take care not to act foolishly again."

Ba Hu bowed his head slightly, his expression unchanged, and replied softly, "Understood."

Before long, they reached the palace atop the mountain. Along the way, Xie Yingying tried several times to shake off Bai Shengyun’s hand, but he held it in a vice-like grip, leaving her no way to break free.

"The act is over; let go!" she hissed in a voice only the two of them could hear.

Bai Shengyun arched a brow and gripped her hand even tighter, just as he had been about to release it. Her hand turned white from the pressure, and she frowned, struggling in vain. Bai Shengyun only increased his strength until her bones began to crack audibly. Stung by the pain, Xie Yingying gritted her teeth and ceased her struggles, forced to let him continue holding her hand.

Soon, they arrived at the mountain-top palace. The hall was filled with a warm, ambient glow, losing its daytime air of imposing austerity as the sun set. The group entered and made their way behind the hall, where a spread of dishes sent plumes of fragrant steam into the air. Having been on the road all day, Bo Meng finally felt a surge of appetite.

As they took their seats, Ning Qingqing originally intended to sit beside Bai Shengyun, but he immediately pulled Xie Yingying down into the seat next to him. Bai Qirui occupied the remaining empty seat nearby. Once seated, Bai Shengyun was the first to pick up his chopsticks, but instead of serving himself, he placed food into Xie Yingying’s bowl. He deliberately cast a glance at Huo Tianqing, who sat beside her, his actions a calculated provocation for the interference he had faced.

Sure enough, Huo Tianqing stared at the food in Xie Yingying’s bowl, his expression darkening. Bai Shengyun felt immensely satisfied at the sight. Huo Tianqing was well aware that this was a deliberate attempt to goad him, but as they were within the Immortal Sect of Gufeng Mountain, he could not retaliate. Had they been at the Evil Sect, he would have undoubtedly overturned the entire table.

After the banquet, Ba Hu arranged quarters for the guests, asking for their preferences and showing the refined hospitality of a host. Bo Meng and Ning Qingqing replied one after another; Huo Tianqing merely remarked that he was indifferent. When it was her turn, Xie Yingying chuckled and said, "At the foot of the mountain."

She would have preferred to say, "As far away from Bai Shengyun as possible."

Ba Hu prepared to fulfill her request, but Bai Shengyun flatly refused. "Too far. That is not allowed."

Xie Yingying turned to him, furious. "Why not?"

Bai Shengyun gave a disdainful smile. "Do you want to die in the night with no one to collect your corpse?"

While the atmosphere on the peak was "lively," a solitary courtyard halfway down the mountain remained desolate, housing only a single person resting in the dark, lit by the flicker of one lamp. That person was the severely injured Shen Ruru. Suddenly, a shadow darted through the night and entered the room. Sensing something amiss, Shen Ruru, who had been resting with her eyes closed, snapped them open the moment the intruder stepped inside.

"Who is it?!" she demanded, on guard.

The intruder, now standing at her door, bowed slightly without revealing their identity. They spoke urgently: "The Young Emperor has returned. He is currently at the entrance of the mountain-top palace."

Shen Ruru sat up abruptly, the sudden movement causing her unhealed wounds to tear. She gasped in pain, then quickly asked, "Is that true?!"

There was no reply from the doorway; Shen Ruru realized the messenger had already vanished. She sat on the edge of her bed, uncertain whether to believe the news. The visitor had been mysterious, coming and going with such haste that it could well have been an assassin sent to finish her off. But then, she reasoned, this was the Gufeng Mountain of the Immortal Sect. Her strength was on par with most of the elders, and she had infringed upon no one’s interests—who would go out of their way to kill her?

With this thought, she rose, opened the door, and stepped out of the courtyard, stumbling slightly as she made her way toward the summit, her heart filled with joy.

When she reached the palace, she heard Bai Shengyun telling Xie Yingying in an uncompromising tone, "There are plenty of rooms where I stay. You will stay with me."

"I want to stay alone," Xie Yingying replied with a forced laugh, her eyes burning with anger. She detested his overbearing tone.

Just as she was about to refuse again, she saw Shen Ruru rushing toward them, a surge of immense spiritual power gathered in her hand. One could tell by the intensity of that energy that if she landed a blow, it would surely be fatal. Shen Ruru sneered to herself as she saw Xie Yingying standing still, convinced she was as good as dead.

But Xie Yingying’s pupils constricted, her blood rushing to her head as she darted aside. Just as she moved, Bai Shengyun stepped in front of her, instantly erecting a spiritual barrier and raising a hand to strike Shen Ruru back.

Shen Ruru, seeing him suddenly appear, was sent flying backward before she could even retract her strike, left utterly helpless. Xie Yingying stared at his tall frame, dazed. She had assumed that with Bai Shengyun’s character, he would have simply watched her die. She never expected him to block the strike for her, let alone send Shen Ruru flying.