After leaving Stone Plate Town, Lin Xue controlled the Flying Boat, racing along the official road while searching for any sign of Zhang Zongnian.
Along the way, she saw several squads from the Demon-Slaying Bureau patrolling the villages and roads.
She didn’t know whether Zhang Zongnian had been captured or not, and the worry in her heart grew more intense.
The Heiyi Wei on the ground saw her soaring above on the Flying Boat but all assumed she was a concubine of the Yang Family and did not dare to stop her.
In the entire Xichuan, only the current head of the Yang Family, Yang Deguang, possessed a Flying Boat.
Those who could use this Flying Boat were either Yang Deguang, Yang Yuting, or their women—not people the Heiyi Wei could afford to offend.
Besides, even if they wanted to stop her, they didn’t have the ability.
A bunch of ground-bound chickens—how could they block a flying magical artifact soaring in the sky?
Lin Xue flew over a stretch of road and suddenly heard raucous laughter and chatter coming from below.
She glanced down and saw Zhang Zongnian, tied up and thrown over a horse’s back, while five Heiyi Wei ahead were shamelessly discussing lewd topics.
Seeing Zhang Zongnian motionless, she feared he was already dead, and her heart turned cold.
She immediately descended quietly and followed behind, observing Zhang Zongnian’s condition.
Seeing he was still alive, she finally let out a breath of relief.
Thank goodness she made it in time.
The five Heiyi Wei were shocked at the sound of her approach.
Turning around, they saw a stunningly beautiful woman appear at the rear of their group.
The five faces changed drastically. They jumped down from their horses and drew their waist knives.
The leader, who called himself Lida Tou, barked, “Who are you?”
Lin Xue sneered, hooked a finger at him, and said, “I’m the demon you were talking about. Didn’t you officers say you wanted to capture me for your pleasure? Well, here I am, right in front of you. Come on, then.”
She didn’t choose to attack right away.
After all, they were living people, with families—they could be someone’s husband, someone’s father, some old parent’s only son, the pillar of some household.
Having lived in peace for more than twenty years on Blue Star, deep down, she still wasn’t keen on killing proactively.
She preferred to wait until others showed malicious intent and attacked her before she retaliated—this way, her conscience would be clearer.
Come on, you lot, show your health bars!
Hurry up and attack me so I can harvest you.
Lida Tou’s expression flickered. He scrutinized her for a long time, glanced at the Flying Boat beneath her feet, then at the Jade Pendant at her waist, and suddenly burst out laughing.
“Hahaha, Fairy, you really know how to joke! With your otherworldly beauty, how could you possibly be a demon?”
He forced a smile, sheathing his knife and cupping his fists respectfully. “We were crude in our words and disturbed the fairy. Please forgive us.”
He waved to the four behind him and said, “What are you standing there for? It’s all a misunderstanding. Put those knives away!”
His four companions had been pointing their blades at Lin Xue. Seeing his attitude, they looked utterly confused but hesitated and put away their knives.
Lin Xue was stunned.
Hey, what’s this? Why aren’t you following the script?
Aren’t you supposed to shout, ‘Demon, die!’ and all pounce on me?
If you don’t come, how am I supposed to fight back?
She glared fiercely at Lida Tou and said, “I heard what you all said earlier. Those words made me very angry.”
Lida Tou immediately slapped himself twice and said, “Agh, this foul mouth of mine! Fairy, please don’t be angry. Don’t stoop to our level—we’re just rough men.”
Lin Xue hadn’t expected this bunch of Heiyi Wei to surrender so easily. She felt a bit frustrated at losing out on five shares of experience.
She pointed at Zhang Zongnian on the horse’s back and said, “I’m taking this man.”
Lida Tou responded at once, “No problem.”
He hurried over, chopped the rope apart with a knife, and helped Zhang Zongnian down, apologizing the whole time: “Brother, I’ve offended you, I’ve offended you.”
Zhang Zongnian stumbled off the horse in a daze and walked over to Lin Xue’s side, still looking somewhat bewildered.
Lin Xue grabbed his arm and pulled him up onto the Flying Boat.
She shot a glance at Lida Tou, who kept smiling and waved. “Please go ahead, Fairy. We’ll be on our way.”
Lin Xue gave a cold humph, then controlled the Flying Boat to rise into the sky with Zhang Zongnian, heading straight for Hengqiao Town.
Lida Tou let out a sigh of relief and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
A Heiyi Wei beside him asked, “Li Tou’er, what was that? Why didn’t you let us act? And why did you let Zhang Zongnian go? That’s five hundred Spirit Stones!”
Lida Tou turned and scolded, “Are you blind? Didn’t you see that demon standing on Yang Dusi’s Flying Boat? And at her waist, the Jade Pendant—Yang Family’s protective Jade Pendant! Only Yang Deguang Dusi and Yang Yuting Commandant have those! That demon has both—what does that tell you?”
“It tells you that at least one of the Yang Dusi pair is already dead at her hands!”
“Yang Dusi is at Qi Refining Late Stage, and Yang Yuting is at the Great Circle of Qi Refinement. If even they can fall to her, you think a bunch of us Mid Body Refining Stage nobodies could do anything?”
“Five hundred Spirit Stones is a lot, but you’ve got to live to spend it. If you’re dead, you’ve got nothing!”
The others suddenly understood, all breaking out in cold sweat.
Lida Tou warned, “Remember—don’t breathe a word of this to anyone. As far as we’re concerned, we never met that demon or that kid today.”
The four of them nodded in unison.
……
Zhang Zongnian stood on the Flying Boat, watching Lin Xue stand before him, her long hair like a waterfall, fluttering in the wind and brushing against his face. He felt as if he were dreaming.
He had thought he would never see her again.
He pinched his thigh hard—pain.
This wasn’t a dream; it was real.
Suppressing his excitement, he asked, “Miss Lin, why are you here?”
Lin Xue turned to him and said, “I’m taking you to rescue your mother.”
Upon hearing this, Zhang Zongnian was overcome with emotion.
He waved his hands urgently. “No, Miss Lin, it’s too dangerous. I can’t let you risk yourself for me.
Senior Brother said that Yang Yuting is at my house personally, keeping watch on my mother.
He’s at the Great Circle of Qi Refinement—a true powerhouse. You’re no match for him.”
Lin Xue pointed at the Flying Boat beneath their feet. “No need to worry about Yang Yuting. He’s already dead. This Flying Boat was his.”
Zhang Zongnian’s eyes widened in disbelief.
After a long pause, he asked, “You killed him?”
Lin Xue nodded. “Now there should be only a few ordinary Heiyi Wei left in your house. We’ll pick up your mother and leave right away!”
She tapped the Flying Boat beneath her. “This flying artifact is very fast. The Yang Family won’t be able to catch up to us.”
Zhang Zongnian grew excited.
He had thought he was at the end of the road, with no choice but to trade his life for his mother’s.
He had already resigned himself to this fate in despair.
He hadn’t expected Lin Xue to suddenly bring him hope.
With this fast Flying Boat, maybe he really could pick up his mother and leave Xichuan.
His eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
Clenching his fists, his voice choked a little as he said, “Thank you, Miss Lin. I, Zhang Zongnian, will never forget your help in this life, nor your kindness.”
Lin Xue patted his shoulder and smiled.
“No need for thanks, Brother Zhang. You saved me once, too. If not for you, I’d probably be living a fate worse than death right now. Once we rescue your mother, we’ll be even.”
She took out the Jade Pendant with the character “Yang” from her waist, used a Break Talisman to unlock it, and handed it to Zhang Zongnian.
“There may be a fight soon. This can protect you—set your own Restriction on it and wear it.”
Zhang Zongnian knew his own strength was lacking and his self-defense weak, so he accepted without hesitation. He poured his spiritual power into the Jade Pendant, set a Restriction, and tucked it at his waist.
……
Xichuan County City, Demon-Slaying Bureau, study in the rear residence.
The old man who had previously appeared with Yang Yuting in Li Family Hollow sat at the desk.
A Jade Pendant carved with the character “Yang” hung from his waist.
He was none other than the Xichuan Demon-Slaying Bureau’s Dusi, Yang Yuting’s father and the current head of the Yang Family, Yang Deguang.
His desk was piled with official documents, but he didn’t bother to read them.
He leaned half-reclined on the chair, hands gripping the armrests, eyes closed, face benevolent.
A beautiful young woman knelt before him, working hard to serve him.
As the woman attended to him, the old man’s expression grew faintly twisted, hands gripping the armrests even tighter.
Just as he was about to reach the peak, the Jade Pendant at his waist suddenly trembled.
The old man started, took the pendant up for a look.
His eyes instantly went wide, filled with shock.
He kicked the woman away, stood up, not even bothering to pull up his pants, and examined the Jade Pendant closely.
Then he collapsed back into the chair, face turning ashen, eyes full of fear and confusion.
“Yuting… something’s happened…?”
“Who? Who could have harmed Yuting?”
“The Foundation-building Pill… Yuting has it!”
Yang Deguang staggered to his feet, fumbling to pull up his clothes as he lurched toward the door.
“I have to see the Ancestor!”