This is December now — at the start of the month, I'm following tradition and begging for guaranteed monthly tickets!
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"Tianhe, stand behind your Grandmaster." Ji Yao said faintly.
"Yes!" Shi Tianhe didn't argue and quickly ducked behind Yang Kai, the fake Grandmaster.
By now, the group that had been chasing them was clearly visible, and waves of Emperor Yuan fluctuations drifted over as well. It was somewhat different from what Shi Tianhe had guessed — the leader was indeed a Second-Order Emperor Realm cultivator, presumably Xuan Lei Pavilion Master Bai Yu. However, instead of five First-Order Emperor Realm cultivators behind him, there were only four — one fewer than expected.
Yang Kai figured it out in a moment. Yesterday, a fellow named Yan Qing had been at the young pavilion master Bai Lu's side, and Yang Kai had destroyed one of his arms with a single palm strike. Yan Qing was likely an Elder of Xuan Lei Pavilion as well, and was probably recovering from his injuries right now, unable to come.
Even so, Xuan Lei Pavilion had basically sent out their full roster of Emperor Realm cultivators this time, which showed how seriously they took Yang Kai and Ji Yao.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh…
Accompanied by bursts of wind, five figures halted several dozen zhang away from Yang Kai and Ji Yao.
The leader was a pale, beardless man who bore a resemblance to Bai Lu — this had to be Xuan Lei Pavilion Master Bai Yu.
Behind him were four others: two middle-aged men and two half-aged elders, all wearing cold expressions and exuding an air of unspoken authority, their gazes fixed on Yang Kai and his group like tigers sizing up prey.
Shi Tianhe sent a voice transmission to Yang Kai: "The one standing farthest to the left is Taiping City Lord Yan Dong. The other three are Xuan Lei Pavilion Elders. Senior, you and Third Master need to be careful."
Yang Kai gave a slight nod.
"So you're Ji Yao, the third disciple of Ice Cloud?" Not far away, Bai Yu suddenly called out loudly. He was able to recognize Ji Yao not because he knew her personally — rather, back at Taiping City's gates, Shi Tianhe had once addressed Ji Yao as "Third Martial Aunt," and someone had naturally overheard.
"How dare you speak my Master's name so casually!" Ji Yao's beautiful eyes flashed with anger as she snapped through gritted teeth.
"Ha ha ha ha!" Bai Yu laughed loudly, then taunted: "Ice Cloud herself hides inside Ice Heart Valley, not daring to come out, slinking about like a dog with its tail between its legs — and yet her disciple is so full of fire. I have to wonder where you get the nerve to run rampant across the Northern Region!"
The four behind him all laughed with great amusement, wearing expressions that clearly said they had already accounted for Yang Kai and Ji Yao.
Their confidence wasn't unwarranted, after all — Bai Yu possessed Second-Order Emperor Realm cultivation. And inside Ice Heart Valley, the eldest disciple An Ruoyun and the second disciple Sun Yunxiu were both Second-Order Emperor Realm cultivators.
As the third disciple, Ji Yao would be at most at that same level, equal to Bai Yu himself.
In a real fight, Bai Yu truly had nothing to fear from her — and he had four First-Order Emperor Realm helpers to boot. All they had to do was eliminate Yang Kai first, and then the rest could surround Ji Yao together. She wouldn't be able to make a single splash.
"Master, I want to rip out his mouth and tear him to pieces!" Ji Yao's chest heaved with fury — she was genuinely enraged.
"Mm, go on. I'll handle the rest," Yang Kai nodded.
Ji Yao took the order. Her slender figure flickered, and she lunged directly toward Bai Yu's position above. Her Snow Chill Sword trembled as flower after flower of sword qi enveloped him.
"Presumptuous wench!" Bai Yu bellowed, reaching out to grasp the void as a long spear materialized in his hand. Channeling his Emperor Yuan, he thrust forward, and the blossoms of sword qi instantly collapsed. He swung the spear in a wide arc toward Ji Yao, but she remained composed, sweeping her sword to send a streak of sword light slashing toward Bai Yu.
The two clashed in an instant, Emperor Yuan surging and laws colliding as the battle raged fiercely.
While fighting Ji Yao, Bai Yu called out: "Go kill those two and then come help me!"
"Yes!" Taiping City Lord Yan Dong and the three Xuan Lei Pavilion Elders obeyed immediately. With rapid steps, the four spread out, encircling Yang Kai and Shi Tianhe completely.
"Madam Dong…" Yan Dong's cold gaze settled on Shi Tianhe as he spoke. "I must admit, I truly didn't expect that you were a disciple of Ice Heart Valley. You deceived me quite thoroughly."
Shi Tianhe gritted her teeth. "A hundred years ago, I was already expelled from Ice Heart Valley. I am no longer considered a disciple of Ice Heart Valley."
Yan Dong chuckled lightly. "Regardless, you were once part of Ice Heart Valley after all. I hear you were even An Ruoyun's disciple?"
"So what if I was?"
Yan Dong sighed. "Back in the day, when I was traveling the world, I once met a disciple of Ice Heart Valley as well. That woman… was as pure as ice and jade, beautiful outside and wise within — much like you, Madam Dong. I admired her deeply, but alas, while the fallen petals yearned for the flowing water, the water flowed on without feeling. That woman looked down on me, and it has been my one great regret to this day. Even now, the thought of it makes me sigh."
"City Lord Yan, you have such a romantic past?" One of the Xuan Lei Pavilion Elders couldn't help but laugh. "Now that's something I've never heard before."
"Indeed. If that woman had accepted City Lord Yan back then, she would likely be implicated today as well. Fortunately, City Lord Yan is a man of good fortune." Another Xuan Lei Pavilion Elder laughed as well.
Yan Dong waved his hand dismissively. "That's all water under the bridge. Don't mock me, gentlemen. But though many years have passed, I still remember — her name was Yu Dan. Tell me, Madam Dong, does that name ring a bell?"
"Sister Yu Dan?" Shi Tianhe was visibly startled. "You knew Sister Yu Dan?"
From her expression, it was clear she did indeed know Yu Dan.