Chapter 55

Chapter 55: Hopes Dashed

Off to one side, Bai Yang’s expression was icy. He held Ye Chu Xue’s hand, his thumb pressing once against her knuckles—a silent signal to stay calm, stall for time, and wait for reinforcements.

“This is the Heaven-Questioning Sect’s turf,” he said evenly. “Even if you get the pill, you won’t be able to take it away.”

His gaze narrowed, the threat sharpening. “Yun Xiang City isn’t under the Heaven-Questioning Sect’s rule, but it’s close enough, and we do business together. If you insist on tearing this relationship apart, Yun Xiang City won’t be the one who comes out ahead.”

That landed squarely where it hurt. Yun Jin Yue’s brows knit.

She was irritated to the core. If they were just ordinary disciples, why did it have to be this troublesome?

Her eyes swept over them—calm, assessing. “You two must have heard that my father is gravely injured, right? He’s waiting on the Heaven-Origin Heart-Nourishing Pill to save his life.”

She lifted a hand and slowly rubbed the jade thumb ring on her finger. A dark glint flashed in her eyes.

“If you’re willing to sell the pill to us directly, Yun Xiang City will owe you a favor. That’s better than blades and blood.” Her voice turned soft, coaxing. “Don’t you agree?”

She had yielded again and again. If they still refused to give her face, then she wouldn’t blame herself for getting rough.

“Young Lord Yun,” Bai Yang said, steady, “it’s not that we won’t give it to you. True Lord Gu Qing Yuan is waiting for the pill to detoxify. Please forgive us, but we can’t hand it over.”

He deliberately put Gu Qing Yuan’s identity on the table.

True Lord Gu’s reputation was soaked in blood. Anyone with sense would think twice before offending him.

Ye Chu Xue straightened as well, chin lifted. “That’s right. My master is True Lord Gu Qing Yuan. And the person beside me is Bai Yang, the chief disciple of True Lord Song Wan Ning!”

“If you let us go, we’ll have Martial Uncle Song refine another pill for you later!”

She’d seized the first name that could crush doubts on sight. Song Wan Ning’s fame as an alchemy grandmaster was known far and wide. Yun Jin Yue would definitely have heard of her.

If they were intimidated enough, they wouldn’t dare block them by force.

But the scene Ye Chu Xue imagined never came.

Yun Jin Yue didn’t fear them at all. Instead, she laughed, sharp and mocking.

“Tsk—so you’re that interloper.” Her gaze raked Ye Chu Xue from head to toe. “I heard True Lord Gu fell in love with his own disciple, and True Lord Song broke the engagement because of it. I thought the interloper would be someone impressive.” She curled her lip. “Looking at you today, you’re nothing special.”

Disdain rose on her face. Lately, the story outside had been spreading like wildfire—True Lord Gu had no shame, lusting after his own disciple; True Lord Song had been offended, the engagement annulled. Everyone had something filthy to say, and Yun Jin Yue clearly enjoyed repeating it.

Her eyes slid to Bai Yang, contempt deepening. “And you—so you even managed to hook True Lord Song’s disciple.” She let out a small, scornful laugh. “Looks like you really do have a talent for seducing men.”

“Shut up!” Ye Chu Xue snapped, fury and panic colliding in her chest. “Don’t spew that kind of nonsense!”

Her face burned as she glared at Yun Jin Yue, but her heart was already in chaos.

How had it spread this far—until everyone knew?

If that was true… how was she supposed to walk outside from now on without bearing everyone’s contempt and suspicion?

Yun Jin Yue’s expression darkened. She lifted a hand and waved.

“Teach this pair of sluts a proper lesson,” she ordered coldly. “When True Lord Song finds out, he’ll only praise us for doing it right.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Especially trash that turns against their own side—this Young Lord can’t stand it.”

“Yes!”

Yun Xiang City’s people answered in unison. Techniques flared. Weapons flashed. Killing intent surged in a tightening ring.

The situation veered far beyond anything Ye Chu Xue and Bai Yang had expected. Anger surged through them, but they had no choice except to fight back with everything they had.

They were still waiting—still hoping the sect would send someone to save them.

But the encirclement only tightened.

Worse, that Golden Core Stage cultivator would appear now and then like a cat swatting a trapped mouse, striking only to toy with them, treating them like dogs on a leash.

They were furious, but they dared not waste breath on curses. They could only grit their teeth and drag it out a little longer.

Time slipped by.

Injury after injury piled on. Blood soaked their sleeves. Still, no one from the sect came.

Even An Ze never replied—never reached out on his own.

“Something’s wrong,” Bai Yang sent through a private voice transmission, his voice taut. “The sect probably didn’t receive our message. We can only rely on ourselves now. We have to find a way out.”

Ye Chu Xue’s heart clenched. The moment her focus wavered, a spear drove in—

Straight through her shoulder.

A light flick. Flesh tore away.

“Ah—!”

Her scream ripped out before she could swallow it. She lurched back, stumbling until her spine hit Bai Yang’s, and they snapped into a back-to-back guard.

“What do we do?” Ye Chu Xue gasped, teeth clenched against the pain. “We have to think of something—now!”

“I’ve got it.” Bai Yang’s eyes sank, resolve hardening. He pulled a talisman from his storage ring—a Thousand-Mile Teleportation Talisman. “In a moment, you go first. Don’t worry about me.”

Ye Chu Xue’s eyes widened. “No. You leave. I’ll cover the rear!”

“This talisman is defective,” Bai Yang said quickly, voice low and urgent. “I can’t even guarantee how far it will send you.”

Ye Chu Xue shook her head, refusing. “Then all the more reason—”

“You go first,” Bai Yang cut in, forcing calm into his voice. “Then immediately contact the sect and have them come save me. I’m True Lord Song’s disciple—they won’t dare kill me.”

His gaze locked onto hers. “If we keep dragging it out, neither of us will get away.”

He’d seen it clearly. Yun Jin Yue was wary of Song Wan Ning—likely because she still wanted a pill. Leaving him behind was the best chance.

“But—”

Ye Chu Xue wavered. The spear wound throbbed, hot and sickening.

If this continued, they would both die here.

In the end, she snatched the talisman decisively. Her eyes steadied as she looked at him. “Don’t worry. I’ll bring people back right away. Be careful!”

“Mm.”

Bai Yang nodded.

A flash.

Ye Chu Xue vanished from everyone’s sight.

The attacks meant for her slammed into Bai Yang instead.

He spat out a mouthful of blood, his body staggering back more than 10 meters before he barely caught himself.

Yun Jin Yue’s expression changed instantly. She hadn’t expected them to still have something as precious as a Thousand-Mile Teleportation Talisman.

“Trying to run?” she barked. “Someone—chase her!”

Bai Yang’s jaw tightened. He could only pray Ye Chu Xue could evade pursuit.

“Heh.” Yun Jin Yue laughed, anger bright in her eyes. “Truly, love as deep as the sea.”

The pill that should have been in her hands had flown away just like that.

Those two sluts were cunning.

She tilted her head, studying Bai Yang with open malice. “Aren’t you afraid she’ll leave and abandon you?”

Her gaze sharpened, and for a heartbeat there was even a trace of admiration—misplaced and poisonous. “First she seduced True Lord Gu into ‘love’ that betrayed True Lord Song. Then she had True Lord Song’s disciple shield her with his body. She’s no simple person.”

Her contempt deepened. “True Lord Song really is pitiful—surrounded by trash like you.”

“Junior Sister Ye would never.”

Bai Yang wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. He didn’t bite at the provocation. Instead, he raised his voice, letting it carry like a blade.

“Junior Sister Ye has already left. Soon, people from the Heaven-Questioning Sect will come to save me. I advise you to release me now, or you’ll regret it later!”

Even battered and bleeding, he forced himself upright. His back stayed straight, his bearing still that of a refined gentleman.