Chapter Seventy-Five: Shen Ruru Gravely Wounds Ning Qingqing

The twins turned their heads, following his gesture without hesitation, each drawing an identical bone-carving blade and leaping into action. Not just them—the ghost cultivator joined the fray as well, cloaked in a shroud of bitter resentment that made Shen Ruru's whole body shudder.

In that fleeting moment of distraction, the twins were suddenly upon her!

Shen Ruru's gaze sharpened, spiritual power gathering in both palms. With a single strike, she forced the twins back.

The ghost cultivator sneered from the side, mocking, “Que Ge, Que Ling, you two could injure a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator when you joined forces before, but now, even together, you’re driven back? Looks like you’re not as strong as you thought, heh heh...”

The sisters, hearing his jeers instead of support, snarled back in unison without so much as a glance, “Shut up!”

Taking advantage of the brief respite, Shen Ruru darted past. She caught sight of the man still shouting and the stunned Ning Qingqing, resentment flaring in her heart. With a sweep of her sleeve, a tempest erupted, sending the two of them hurtling far away.

Ning Qingqing fared slightly better; the man before her had absorbed some of the blow, and she herself possessed several life-saving talismans. She was thrown violently to the ground, gravely wounded once more, but just managed to cling to life.

The man, however, was not so fortunate. Lacking protective talismans, and with Shen Ruru’s attack aimed mainly at him, bones cracked with a sickening snap audible to all. His body was twisted in midair by the cyclone, wound into a shape like a bundle of hemp rope. Even the twins and the ghost cultivator, well-versed in the path of slaughter, were visibly startled and chilled to the core.

The stench of blood reached Ning Qingqing, her eyes widening as she clamped a hand over her mouth, retching violently.

“You really have a death wish, useless wretch!” Shen Ruru cursed her in a voice transmission.

“I... I couldn’t help it!” Ning Qingqing replied, bitterness twisting her heart, her expression aggrieved as she coughed blood. “My concealment talisman ran out, I forgot all about it!”

“Fool! You should have checked the moment it failed. Worthless!”

Ning Qingqing seethed with hatred at these words, but could find no retort.

Shen Ruru, growing more furious by the moment, watched as the ghost cultivator once again raised a hand, pointing behind Ning Qingqing to signal the twins, shouting, “She’s here now.”

The twins attacked again, their bone-carving blades gleaming sharply, icy light stabbing at the eyes. The blades, sheathed in murderous spiritual energy, sent chills into all who saw them.

This time, they were faster, their power far greater. Shen Ruru had assumed they were mere Out-of-Body stage lackeys, only to realize they had been testing her strength; now, revealing the full extent of their cultivation, both were at the threshold of the Nascent Soul stage.

Relying on her still-active concealment talisman, Shen Ruru dodged once more, hoping to strike from the shadows. But the ghost cultivator appeared behind her with a wicked grin. Even without lifting a hand, the oppressive force of his soul’s power froze her in place.

The twins shifted direction in perfect sync, pressing their attack relentlessly, bent on forcing her to reveal her true form.

Teeth clenched, Shen Ruru knew she stood no chance in a direct confrontation.

Her eyes darted to the black mist passageway, recalling that the twins and the ghost cultivator had emerged from it moments ago. She guessed the barrier was closed and, making a quick decision, stepped decisively into the passage.

The ghost cultivator was the first to notice her disappearance, immediately giving chase. The twins, brows furrowed, reinforced the formation, knowing that with their cultivation they could not escape through it, and then followed after the ghost cultivator.

All three were anxious, uncertain what havoc Shen Ruru might wreak should she reach the Demonic Sect. If she stirred up trouble, they themselves could face severe punishment.

With this in mind, they hastened their pursuit and reported the matter to Huo Tianqing.

Huo Tianqing was still in his chamber, engaged in idle banter with Xie Yingying, deliberately provoking Bai Shengyun beside him. At the news, his expression grew grave.

He forced himself to mask the chill on his face, not wanting Bai Shengyun to sense anything amiss, and turned to Xie Yingying with a gentle smile. “The elders are looking for me, I’ll step out for a bit.”

“Alright.” Xie Yingying nodded obediently, not noticing the darkening of Bai Shengyun’s expression.

Once outside, Huo Tianqing’s face was impassive, impatience simmering in his heart.

As if Bai Shengyun’s presence weren’t trouble enough, now another from the Immortal Sect had barged in—truly a deliberate headache for him! If that person actually knew Bai Shengyun, and the higher-ups caught them first, his concealment of Bai Shengyun’s arrival might yet be exposed by those old foxes.

Thinking this, his eyes grew colder. As he strode out, he issued fresh orders to his loyal disciples stationed in the Demonic Sect: “An Immortal Sect intruder has just arrived. Find them at all costs!”

The disciples, receiving his voice transmission, quickly formed search parties, grumbling inwardly: members of the Immortal Sect truly have no fear of death.

Shen Ruru, fleeing the ghost and demonic cultivators, barely evaded one wave before another batch was upon her.

“They just won’t give up, will they…” she muttered irritably, hidden in the eaves’ shadows as she watched several figures approach from afar.

Inside the house, only Xie Yingying and Bai Shengyun remained.

Bai Shengyun leaned forward slightly, grasping her chin in one hand, the golden light in his eyes dimmed. “Why are you running?”

Terror flickered across Xie Yingying’s face; she dared not utter a word, only managed to turn her head away.

Unsatisfied, Bai Shengyun frowned, forcing her face back to his, compelling her to meet his gaze.

“Speak. Why are you running?” he asked mildly, eyebrow arched.

Xie Yingying swallowed hard. Knowing him well, she was certain Bai Shengyun’s calm was mere façade; inside, he was already furious at losing control.

When she offered no reply, he pressed her again: “Is running away all you think of?”

“I…” She felt his grip on her chin tightening, her expression helpless and pitiable. “I don’t want to run. Why would I? Gu Fengshan is such a nice place. I just wanted to visit the Demonic Sect, that’s all. Hehe…”

Her explanation was feeble, illogical even, but Bai Shengyun only watched her with amused interest, waiting for her to go on.

His expression said it all: Go on, keep making things up. I want to see what excuse you’ll try next.

Xie Yingying knew he didn’t believe her, but realized that only by pleading and showing weakness could she hope to survive. Swallowing her discontent, she stammered on, “Really, I’m telling the truth. Gu Fengshan has its own beauty, but I also miss the Demonic Sect!”

Bai Shengyun merely curled his lips into a faint, inscrutable smile. “Very well.”