Chapter 19: Breaking the River Cloud Crane

“Oh? The little mouse has come out?”

Yun Mu appeared just as Shangguan Hongzhi expected, but in his hand was the blood-red spear belonging to Shangguan Xunyi.

“What!?”

Upon hearing this, the girl’s normally calm expression instantly shattered, and she cried out loudly, “Yun Mu! Didn’t you promise to leave!? You have to listen to your sister’s words… uh…!”

“Shut up… You have no right to speak here.”

A stern voice rang out, suffocating once more.

She gritted her teeth against the pain and raised her arm, trying to pry away the spiritual energy wrapped around her neck.

She wanted to speak, to make the boy leave; she couldn’t bear to watch the person she loved being taken away.

“Head of the Shangguan family, please let her go, or I will die right here.”

Just as Shangguan Hongzhi was about to say something, Yun Mu lifted the spear, taller than himself, gripping it near the middle but leaning forward, pressing it against his own neck while glaring fiercely at the man.

His arm trembled slightly with anger, and the sharp spearhead easily cut through the skin on the side, crimson blood trickling down and lingering briefly on his exposed collarbone before sliding off.

Shangguan Hongzhi narrowed his eyes but did not loosen his grip on Shangguan Xunyi despite the boy’s threat.

In his eyes, this so-called life-threatening ultimatum was nothing more than a weak insect’s desperate struggle.

As the saying goes, an ant trying to shake a big tree—laughable and delusional.

He wore a teasing smile, turning the girl’s face towards Yun Mu’s direction, speaking with a mocking tone.

“Yun Mu, seeing you like this, you probably already know the purpose my Shangguan family has had in raising you until now. If that’s the case, why are you still protecting her?”

He pointed to the girl whose eyes were already bloodshot and stepped forward.

“She is also a child of the Shangguan family, isn’t she? Shouldn’t you hate her just as much?”

A subtle pressure pressed down on Yun Mu’s body, a physiological fear forcing him to take a step back, but his gaze never wavered; he still stared fixedly at the other man.

He knew he couldn’t lose his composure, couldn’t give the other party a chance to seize his weapon.

Otherwise, with the gap in their strength, he might lose even the last bargaining chip—his life.

He glanced at the anxious girl struggling to break free, then immediately regained focus, pressing the spear closer, part of it now embedded in his skin.

The searing pain struck instantly, but years of beatings had given him a body that quickly adapted to pain.

“Hate? Head of the Shangguan family, you’re mistaken. I don’t hate anyone. To be honest, I knew long ago what would be done to me in the future. The moment my master saved me, I already understood. So… this has nothing to do with Miss Xunyi. You release her, and I’ll go with you, how about that?”

“Knew long ago?”

Shangguan Hongzhi murmured the word “master” repeatedly, a fierce expression growing sharper in his mind.

That damned woman…

Even in death, she’s still so disgusting…

He glared at the boy before him, cursing inwardly, but said nothing more.

Instead, he spread his hands and sighed deeply.

“Fine… Since you say so, and seeing how reckless you are, it seems you don’t care about your life. If you’re not trying to escape on your own accord, then come with me. Qiuyue is still waiting for you. I guess… you wouldn’t want her to just die, would you?”

An evasive answer, no promise to release her—every word aimed to break down the boy’s mental defenses and gain a more advantageous “position.”

“I already said… you release Shangguan Xunyi, then I’ll go with you. Right now, you need my life, not the other way around.”

“Tch… this bastard…”

Shangguan Hongzhi cursed softly, but seeing the other party’s stubbornness, he changed his tone and pretended to be convinced.

“Alright, alright, since that’s the case, I won’t pester you further. But I will release her only if you stand still and don’t move, how about that?”

“Fine, I agree…”

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Hongzhi shook his head, bringing the girl in front of himself.

He paid no heed to her angry glare and leaned close to whisper.

“Xunyi niece, you heard what he said, right? The ancient saying goes: a wise person knows the times. I hope you’ll take care of yourself.”

He paused, speaking with a teasing tone.

“Besides, Yun Mu might not even die, just a piece of One Soul, One Spirit Glazed Bone. You can take him away later, can’t you?”

Without waiting for a reaction, he gave a sharp flick, sending the girl tumbling on the ground several times until she finally hit a large stone by the riverbank.

Shangguan Xunyi painfully forced herself up, blood spurting from her mouth.

She wiped the crimson at the corner of her lips, looked toward Yun Mu, her eyes bloodshot, tears welling up.

Everything the boy had done just now was clear in her eyes.

They had agreed to take the other party, but in the end, it was the boy protecting her.

The spear that belonged to her was now the weapon the boy used to stab his own neck.

“Xiao Mu…”

She whispered, stepping involuntarily toward the boy.

She refused to leave like this, refused to be alone again, refused… she refused…

I don’t want this, I don’t want Xiao Mu to leave me, I don’t want Xiao Mu to go, I want Xiao Mu, I…!

“Xunyi, run!”

A shout snapped the girl completely awake.

She looked up toward the boy, who had already been grabbed, her heart in complete turmoil.

“Let go of him, Shangguan Hongzhi, I’m telling you to let him go!”

Her voice was firm, her aura rising.

Black star energy surged from her pulse point, and the blood-red spear that had fallen to the ground instantly reappeared in her hand.

She kicked off the ground, her spear intent laced with Chaos Aura surging toward Shangguan Hongzhi.

“I said, I already agreed to let you go. If you keep this up, don’t blame me.”

He glared coldly, no longer hiding his anger, raising his hand to press down fiercely.

“Die!”

“I dare you…!”

“Pfft…!”

A hoarse voice sounded, and the once arrogant middle-aged man spat blood, his entire body crushed onto the ground.

He was pressed down three feet into the earth.

The once enraged girl, influenced by this, suddenly lost all strength and collapsed, her aura dissipating.

Yun Mu fell to the ground, clutching his mouth as he spat blood, enduring discomfort as he crawled in front of Shangguan Xunyi, shielding her.

Looking up, he saw the surging river cut in two by a single slash.

He seemed to see a white crane gracefully approaching, but in the blink of an eye, it was an old man standing before them.

“Don’t harm her…”

The old man stroked his graying beard, watching him with interest and a provocative tone.

“What if I say no?”

“Then step over my corpse…”

Hmm… interesting.

I was going to test this kid a bit more, but it seems unnecessary now.

I’ve always heard Xunyi yammering on about how great he is—almost gave me ear calluses.

Never believed it until today.

Loyal and fearless of death…

Indeed, seeing is believing.

I quite like this kid.

The old man bent down, smiling as he pinched the boy’s thin face, easing the pressure he was emitting.

“Kid, your name’s Yun Mu, right? I won’t tease you anymore. Actually, I’m this girl’s master.”

“Ma… Master? You are Old Master Li Changyi?”

“That’s right. I am Li Changyi from Gu Guo Academy. Have you heard of me?”

The boy shook his head.

He’d only heard the name mentioned by Shangguan Xunyi, but had no idea what deeds the man was known for.

He looked up at the old man and shifted aside slightly.

“Since that’s the case, please take Miss Xunyi away quickly. She seems very unwell.”

Behind him, the girl curled up, trembling violently, her complexion dreadful.

A faint black aura swirled around her body.

The boy turned to gently stroke her face, trying to ease her frown, but to no avail.

This kid, a mere mortal body, yet unafraid of this star force filled with death energy?

Interesting…

Li Changyi pondered slightly, then channeled his own power to envelop the girl.

“Don’t worry, she’s my disciple. I will protect her safety. As for you…”

He glanced at Shangguan Hongzhi, who had pulled a hand out of the ground, and smiled.

“Want to come with me?”

“Me? No need…”

He stood, bowed slightly, then picked up the spear and handed it to the old man.

“Please take care of Miss Xunyi, Elder.”

“Really don’t want to come?”

“Really.”

“You might die, you know.”

“This kid should’ve died eight years ago anyway. And if I leave, Miss Qiuyue dies.”

“What about Shangguan Xunyi? She’ll be sad and upset. Don’t you feel sorry for her?”

“I do, but cultivators have long lifespans; time will wash everything away. She’ll forget me one day.”

Will she really forget?

Maybe this kid underestimates the girl’s feelings.

No, I have to…

Li Changyi was about to ask more, but the boy’s resolute eyes stopped him.

He sighed deeply.

“Fine. I never force people. When taking disciples, I only look at fate. Though your character suits me and your talent is good, your heart is made up. Forcing you will only cause trouble. In any case… good luck.”

With that, he did not linger, transforming into a white streak of light, carrying the girl and the spear away.

The boy cupped his hands in farewell, thanked him, and then turned to Shangguan Hongzhi who was already half out of the ground, awaiting punishment.

Honestly, he didn’t want to be beaten.

Though his body had long since adapted to pain, no one likes pain—not even him.

But he wasn’t afraid, because Lin Xizhi had told him—every action has consequences; once done, you must bear them.

The metallic smell of blood from his neck irritated his nose.

The scabbed blood mixed with skin looked like some ugly animal shell.

He stood there quietly, waiting for punishment.

But the boy didn’t receive the expected blows.

The middle-aged man simply stared silently at the roaring river, watching Li Changyi depart.

…Finally taken away.

All that delay with this kid wasn’t for nothing.

If not for the master-disciple relationship between Shangguan Xunyi and Li Changyi, this wouldn’t have been so troublesome.

He was also somewhat considerate; after all, the people of the Hundred Demons Gu Guo shouldn’t cause trouble in Lixun Territory.

Though he was also the Dean of Gu Guo Academy, being of the demon race, fighting violently would cause problems.

Qiuyue still needed to enter the academy for cultivation later.

Hopefully, no grudges were formed; otherwise, more trouble would arise.

He recalled the scene where Yun Mu threatened with his life, and chuckled.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

“Let’s go, Qiuyue is still waiting for you.”

“Mm.”