Cangshu Linfeng looked at the well-protected woman and asked, "Is she also from the Mu family?"
Cangshu Fenming nodded. "Yes, an abandoned pawn of Biyun Mountain."
"The girls of the Mu family seem to be exceptionally sharp."
Cangshu Linfeng knew that the man fighting to the death below had sensed his presence. However, as long as he didn't make a move, the man below would pretend not to notice him either.
Yet, it was quite strange that the woman down there, whose cultivation had been crippled, could still sense his presence.
Cangshu Fenming glanced at Cangshu Linfeng and said, "The news of Biyun Mountain's destruction arrived not long ago. The other Miss Mu was only able to become the Second Young Master's fiancée because of Biyun Mountain's backing. Now that Biyun Mountain is gone, once the news reaches the City Lord, I'm afraid she will either become a cultivation cauldron or a test subject in the underground city."
Cangshu Linfeng looked back at him. "What are you trying to say?"
Cangshu Fenming lowered his eyes. "This subordinate has nothing to say."
The battle below had already reached a fever pitch.
Raging flames and cold glints of light clashed madly in midair. The sea of fire from the Flame God Sword swallowed the daylight, while the black gleam of the Heaven-Piercing Spear repeatedly tore through the walls of fire.
Cangshu Bai forcefully parried with his spear, every strike shaking him until his blood churned. Cangshu Qihua's every move was lethal; even with his red clothes dyed in blood, he did not retreat a single step.
The spear tip swept across his ribs, erupting in a burning, agonizing pain. Cangshu Qihua let out a muffled groan, but his gaze only grew more ruthless. Like a madman who knew no pain and refused to admit defeat, he charged forward with his sword once again.
But Cangshu Bai did not want to remain entangled in this fight.
"Han Yu, clear the way!"
The flood dragon understood. With a violent swing of its massive body, its icy dragon breath swept out, forcefully freezing a bloody path through the surrounding layers of cultivators.
Cangshu Qihua roared angrily as he gave chase, thrusting the Flame God Sword straight at his shoulder.
Cangshu Bai neither dodged nor evaded, forcefully taking the sword strike. The sound of the sharp blade piercing flesh was extremely jarring, and blood sprayed out wildly. Yet, using the momentum of the blow, he turned around, pulled Mu Ran tightly into his arms, and used the last of his spiritual energy to transform into a streak of light.
"Trying to leave?!"
Cangshu Qihua pursued him relentlessly.
Suddenly, the sounds of explosions echoed from all around Zhenyue Mountain City. The earth shook and the mountains trembled everywhere, sending many people fleeing for their lives in panic.
At the same time, due to the chaos, the iron gates of the underground city were blown open.
Elder Tuo tried to control the situation, but the test subjects in the underground city saw a glimmer of hope. Everyone forgot the strict class divisions and surged out together.
"Stop, stop! Do you have a death wish?!"
It was unknown who stabbed him from behind. Caught off guard, Elder Tuo spat out a mouthful of blood, and immediately after, he was trampled into a bloody pulp by the stampeding crowd.
Fanghua gripped the knife in her hand tightly, desperately suppressing the panic in her heart as she escaped the underground city with the crowd.
Seeing the daylight again, she felt as if a lifetime had passed.
However, unlike the other test subjects who all tried to run down the mountain, she wrapped herself in a brown robe, hiding her conspicuous red hair under the hood. Ignoring the falling rocks around her, she headed deeper into Zhenyue Mountain City.
Cangshu Qihua was already injured, but he gritted his teeth, his eyes radiating a seething murderous intent as he flew through the air, stubbornly tracking Cangshu Bai's trail.
The wind carried a familiar scent from his bloodline, causing his figure to pause slightly.
A massive boulder fell. In the shadows, Fanghua looked up in panic and slumped to the ground, with nowhere left to hide.
Suddenly, green spiritual energy swept over, condensing into a barrier that firmly supported the boulder, protecting Fanghua beneath it. The boulder then rolled to the side and shattered into pieces.
"Are you alright?"
As the dust settled, Fanghua saw a girl dressed in green.
Mu Shuqing, her fingertips glowing with a gentle green spiritual energy, softly helped her up from the ground.
The wind brushed by, and a few strands of Fanghua's dazzling red hair, hidden within her robe, slipped from her temples. It was strikingly bright, and she turned pale with fright.
Mu Shuqing had seen many red-haired men and women fleeing in all directions. She had heard rumors about the test subjects of Zhenyue Mountain City, so she naturally guessed the identity of the woman before her.
Fanghua said nervously, "Thank you for saving me, Miss."
Unbeknownst to anyone, restrictions had been buried all over Zhenyue Mountain City. Once triggered, they unleashed an earth-shattering force. The city was in utter chaos, and the disciples naturally had no time to worry about the escaping test subjects.
Fanghua was terrified that the girl in front of her would send her back.
However, Mu Shuqing said, "There are too many people over there. You'd better go in a different direction."
Fanghua looked up in surprise.
Mu Shuqing's expression was cold and her aura distant; she did not look like a warm-hearted person.
Whether it was a test subject or a young lady of the Mu family, they were all just people who had no control over their own fates. What difference was there between the two?
Fanghua remembered herself and frantically tried to tuck her red hair back into her robe, but her clumsy haste only made things worse. A strand of red hair accidentally brushed across Mu Shuqing's fingers in the wind.
"I'm sorry, Miss! I've offended you and soiled your eyes!"
Yet, Mu Shuqing simply tucked the hair back for her with a faint tone. "It's a very beautiful color."
Fanghua froze in place, her eyes inexplicably burning with tears.
At the same time, a red paper crane flew over from a distance, circling in the air.
Mu Shuqing's expression changed slightly. "I have matters to attend to. I'll take my leave first."
Fanghua thanked her profusely once more. Watching the girl in green depart, she gathered her emotions and continued forward without further hesitation.
Behind a tree, a figure with red hair and red clothes stood quietly in the shadows. His previous mad ruthlessness and killing intent were gone. His silent eyes glanced at Mu Shuqing's retreating back, and finally, he soundlessly followed behind Fanghua.
The mountain protection grand array of Zhenyue Mountain City had been activated; it was so tight that not even a fly could escape.
Cangshu Bai, carrying Mu Ran, barely managed to land steadily on a deserted mountain peak. His figure swayed slightly, and Mu Ran supported him just in time.
She looked around and led Cangshu Bai to hide inside a cave. She helped him sit down, then opened his lapels. Looking at the wound on his shoulder, she took out some medicine from her Qiankun bag and carefully sprinkled it over the injury.
A small blue fish swam through the damp air, equally worried about its master.
Cangshu Bai had always strictly adhered to the principle of running away if he couldn't win. Ever since he reached the Nascent Soul stage, he had never engaged in such a life-and-death struggle or suffered such a severe injury.
Yet, this man acted as if he didn't even know what pain was!
Cangshu Bai's slightly cold hand gently touched Mu Ran's cheek as he said softly, "Don't be afraid. I will definitely keep you safe and sound."
His fingertips gently wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, his movements incredibly tender.
Mu Ran turned her face away, keeping her lips pressed tightly together in silence. She only focused on applying the medicine and then took out bandages from her Qiankun bag to wrap his wound.
Her hands were also stained with warm blood, trembling uncontrollably.
Cangshu Bai grabbed her hands.
"I didn't know that you were actually such a powerful cultivator, nor do I know why you hid your identity as a cultivator to marry me. I only know that for the past two years of our marriage, I have been very happy, and I could feel that I was loved."
A sudden sense of unease welled up within him. He lowered his eyes and leaned closer to her. "Ranran."
Mu Ran finally lifted her tear-blurred eyes to look at him. "Cangshu Bai, you should leave alone."
