"You're alright?" Xia Xueyi blinked her bright, dazzling eyes, looking at Su Ziyan in confusion.
"Mm, let's go, or they'll have gotten far away," Su Ziyan pulled Xia Xueyi towards another path to pursue them.
The two chased for about half an hour and finally caught up to them in front of a dilapidated temple.
"Master, it's them," Xia Xueyi pointed at two figures ahead.
"You stay here. I'll go see what's happening." Su Ziyan frowned slightly, feeling that things weren't as simple as they appeared today.
"You're going alone?" Xia Xueyi frowned.
"Don't worry, nothing will happen. I'll be back soon," Su Ziyan smiled and then quickly chased after them.
Xia Xueyi watched in the direction Su Ziyan disappeared, her brows furrowed with concern. She hoped her master wouldn't be in danger, otherwise, she would never forgive herself. After all, it was due to her negligence that her master was injured. However, she wouldn't let it go at that.
Su Ziyan followed the two deep into the western mountains. The further she went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became.
After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Su Ziyan saw a peach blossom forest.
The peach blossoms were in full bloom, a riot of colors, absolutely stunning.
"They're inside. Hurry up, or I won't be polite," a black-clothed man coldly glared at the white-robed elder beside him.
"Who are you?" the white-robed elder asked warily. Although the other party wore a hood and their faces were unclear, he could vaguely guess their appearance.
"It doesn't matter who we are to you. I'll only tell you that our mission today is to take your lives. As for who you are, it's none of our concern," the black-clothed man said impatiently, his tone full of arrogance, as if he didn't take them seriously at all.
"Heh, such bold words. I wonder if you can still be so arrogant later?" the white-robed elder sneered, a fierce killing intent flashing in his eyes. He hated being looked down upon the most.
"Hmph, enough nonsense, die!" the black-clothed man snorted coldly, then drew his sword and attacked the white-robed elder.
The white-robed elder drew his sword to defend. Two powerful waves of internal energy collided, creating a ripple that sent surrounding trees crashing down.
Nangong Che glanced coldly at the two fighting figures and turned to run towards the center of the peach blossom forest.
He vaguely smelled a familiar scent. Though the distance wasn't close, he could still detect that scent belonging to her. But why had she come to the western mountains?
"Who exactly are you? What do you want?" the white-robed elder roared while fighting the black-clothed man, demanding to know their purpose.
"Heh, you're not qualified to know," the black-clothed man sneered, then launched a series of fatal attacks, each one vicious, as if aiming to take the elder's life.
Su Ziyan followed behind, witnessing the scene. She knew they were after Nangong Che, but who were they? And why were they hunting them?
She had never offended them. Unless they knew Nangong Che's identity, but that was highly unlikely. Nangong Che never revealed his background; besides his father, he hadn't even told his siblings.
He had never even told his own father, let alone strangers.
Could he be an orphan whose family was being sought by enemies?
Suddenly, this thought flashed through her mind, and her heart felt complicated. If that were the case, his experiences were even more tragic than hers.
Suddenly, a sharp scream reached Su Ziyan's ears.
"Ah..." Su Ziyan turned towards the source of the sound and saw a man straddling a young woman, tearing at her clothes and forcefully clutching her neck.
Su Ziyan clenched her fists, her eyes turning crimson. Her rage had reached its peak. Without a second thought, she immediately drew an arrow and aimed for the man's heart.
"Swish~"
The arrow sliced through the air, flying straight towards the man's chest. The man abruptly let go and leaped off the carriage.
Su Ziyan pressed her advantage, nocking another arrow, which whizzed through the wind towards the man.
The man reacted quickly, dodging it. He looked up at the woman on the carriage, a wicked smile playing on his lips. "What a beauty."
With that, he leaped towards Su Ziyan.
Su Ziyan snorted coldly and continued to shoot arrows at him.
"Swoosh swoosh swoosh~"
Three arrows fired simultaneously. Su Ziyan continuously nocked, drew, and shot.
The man dodged one arrow but couldn't avoid two. He had to jump off the carriage to evade two arrows, but another pierced his shoulder.
"Who are you? You dare injure us? Wait for the wrath of our Demon Hall!" the man gritted his teeth, clutching his shoulder. He, a dignified envoy of the Demon Hall, had been injured by a mere weak woman.
Su Ziyan raised an eyebrow and sneered mockingly, "Demon Hall? What's that? Never heard of it. If you know what's good for you, leave now, or I'll send you to hell right now."
"Brat, don't push your luck! I am an envoy of the Demon Hall."
"Heh, so what if you're an envoy of the Demon Hall? I'm going to bully you, so what? Come on, bite me if you dare." Su Ziyan deliberately provoked him.
"You..." The man was so enraged he was about to spew smoke. He had never met anyone so arrogant and presumptuous; she deserved to die.
"Come on, bite me if you can." Su Ziyan shrugged indifferently. She loved to provoke people. This person was clearly no good, and she was deliberately angering him.
The man stared at Su Ziyan sinisterly, a strange glint appearing in his eyes. The next moment, he took out a bead.
When he infused it with spiritual energy, the bead emitted a dazzling light.
Su Ziyan frowned. She didn't feel any sense of danger and was puzzled. What exactly did he want to do?
"Brat, die!" The man suddenly threw the bead in his hand. The bead flew out of his control towards Su Ziyan.
Su Ziyan's expression changed slightly. She knew this bead was definitely not an ordinary item.
She quickly dodged to the side.
The bead exploded upon hitting the ground, emitting a deafening bang. A strange fragrance filled the air.
"Pfft..." Suddenly, Su Ziyan coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Hearing this, Nangong Che's heart ached violently, and he rushed towards Su Ziyan.
Seeing Nangong Che approach, Su Ziyan's eyes immediately welled up with tears, which slid down her cheeks. She grabbed his arm, her voice hoarse, "Save my father."
"Where is Father?" Nangong Che tenderly wiped the sweat from her forehead, his heart filled with anxiety, as Su Ziyan's condition looked particularly dire at this moment.
"He's poisoned. I'll take you to him." Su Ziyan struggled to stand up and, pulling Nangong Che, rushed forward. Nangong Che followed without hesitation. Along the way, he saw many corpses, all villagers.
"Wuwu... I'm so scared, I want to go home..." Su Ziyan cried complainingly.
"I'll take you home," Nangong Che comforted her. She must have been terrified, and he felt guilty too, as this incident was all his fault.
Su Ziyan shook her head. "I'm not going back. I want to stay here with my father and repay him."
"Then you must protect yourself. I'll go find your father first and come back to you later." Nangong Che pondered for a moment, then earnestly instructed.
"Mm, then you go." Su Ziyan nodded gently, her heart feeling warm.
Nangong Che nodded and disappeared from Su Ziyan's sight. Su Ziyan sat where she was, closed her eyes, and began to regulate the chaotic true qi within her body, slowly calming down.
"Little girl, who are you?" the man asked Su Ziyan coldly.
Su Ziyan opened her eyes and looked at the man, sneering, "Why should I tell you?"
She didn't know if he was friend or foe now.
The man was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Hahaha, you little girl are quite cute. It's a pity you must die today."
"If I die, I'll take you with me." Su Ziyan narrowed her eyes, radiating a sharp killing intent. This person was utterly detestable for ambushing her.
"With you? Do you think you have that ability?" the man said dismissively.
Su Ziyan's eyes flashed. She stomped her right foot, leaping into the air, and thrust her silver spear at the man.
The man dodged swiftly, simultaneously swinging his whip at Su Ziyan.
Su Ziyan snorted coldly, her left hand quickly shot out, gripping the end of the whip and yanking it forcefully, throwing the man away.
"Bang~"
The man crashed heavily to the ground, feeling his internal organs churn with pain.