Li Xun's arm was locked around Luo Yuji's pale neck, pressing her bare, delicate back tightly against his chest.
Her warm skin carried the allure of the opposite sex, but right now, Li Xun had no mood to appreciate it.
He let out a half-genuine, half-feigned cough, spitting up blood. And sure enough, it stained Luo Yuji's clothes.
He could hear her breathing grow heavier. Clearly, she was not in a good place emotionally.
When Dongyang Hermit questioned him, Li Xun just curled his lip in a "can't be bothered to answer" expression. Truth was, he couldn't speak it even if he wanted to.
What was he supposed to say? "I used the 'Unmoving Evil Heart' technique to block that chest-piercing strike, then used the Nethermyst Puppets to make you look like a fool"?
The shock from the sword qi, combined with the backlash of controlling two Nethrtmyst Puppets at once, had left his body in rough shape. If it weren't for the surge of primordial qi fed back to him by the puppets, there's no way he'd still be standing here, looking perfectly composed.
Right now, all eyes were on him. The gazes from Azure Skies Guest, Dragon Madman, and Dongyang Hermit were a hundred times sharper than any weapon in the world.
A couple of disciples standing next to Li Xun tried to slip behind him, but Hu Buli stopped them with a sharp look.
"That's a wise choice, Brother Hu."
Li Xun's words were a bit shameless, considering that if we went by age and seniority in the mortal realm, Hu Buli could probably be his great-grandfather. But based on the strength Li Xun had just displayed. And the leverage he now held, he had every right to stand on equal footing with him.
He didn't loosen the arm around Luo Yuji's neck, but he did lift his other hand, using his thumb to gently brush her cheek. Her skin was smooth like silk, but the gesture sent a chill through the air; this was clearly an ominous warning.
The air around Li Xun suddenly froze.
If there had been even the slightest bit more distance between him and Luo Yuji, he would've been torn apart by the airborne sword qi from Hu Buli and the others.
But standing that close, with that calm, indifferent look on his face; this was a first for Li Xun, showing this kind of attitude toward powerful opponents. It was like walking the edge of a cliff: dangerous, but thrilling in a way that was hard to describe. This feeling… wasn't bad at all!
He raised his other hand, fingers spread, voice flat and emotionless, as he addressed the group: "You've got five breaths to decide. Either she dies, or she dies with us."
He didn't say what exactly they were supposed to decide. And that was the point. The ambiguity threw their thoughts into disarray, giving him the upper hand.
All they needed to understand was this: if they wanted to keep Luo Yuji alive, they had to give him something he wanted.
Then, he began to count. From one to five, not fast, not slow. Like a death knell echoing through the air.
And under that grim countdown, the three so-called madmen, who held the overwhelming advantage in strength, lowered their heads.
"Fall back!" Hu Buli barked, signaling the disciples to retreat as he moved away himself. And once he did, the others had no choice but to follow.
Dragon Madman was a bit better; he just gave Li Xun a cold glance before silently drifting back. But on Dongyang Hermit's round face, confusion and humiliation twisted together, layered with a chilling intent to kill. He stared daggers at Li Xun, not taking a half step back.
Li Xun gave a slight smile and leaned forward just a little. That small movement let his head rest naturally on Luo Yuji's shoulder, his cheek pressing against hers. In that instant, he could feel the sudden change in her skin. First burning hot, then icy cold.
No words were needed. That alone was threat enough.
Gritting his teeth, Dongyang Hermit finally backed off. Li Xun straightened up again. As he moved, he caught Luo Yuji casting a sharp, venomous glance his way, her eyes turned toward him as far as they could go. Naturally, he didn't take it to heart.
Still holding Luo Yujin tightly, Li Xun slowly backed away. That's when Ming Li and You Wusheng's reactions became clear. They truly lived up to their reputation as outstanding disciples from the sect's main bloodline. They handled the hostage situation with impressive calm, as if they'd been through it many times before.
The moment Li Xun had seized control of Luo Yujin, they had already started moving carefully. While the others hesitated, they had slipped into position just behind and to the side of Li Xun. From there, they could use him as a human shield and have a clear path to escape.
What they didn't realize was that this bit of clever positioning had convinced Li Xun not to abandon them.
He had no illusion that holding Luo Yuji hostage would be enough to get him out safely. This was the heart of the Three Sovereigns Sword Sect's territory. Even with his two powerful trump cards in hand, dragging two burdens along would've made escape impossible.
But now, that had changed.
Without him having to worry, the three of them moved in sync, slowly putting distance between themselves and the Three Sovereigns Sword Sect's members. Not too fast, not too far. Any sudden movement could trigger a paranoid counterattack.
By the time they'd pulled about three li away, the three had slipped into a dense forest that blocked them from view. Only then did Li Xun stop, ready to initiate the next stage of negotiation.
But just as he opened his mouth to speak, a wild, almost absurd flash of insight exploded in his mind. Less a thought than an impulse, it tore free from reason. In that instant, it took over his mind completely, leaving no room for hesitation, and he summoned his trump card.
His trump card managed to raise only one arm before sparks flew everywhere, followed by an explosion of blood mist, streaked with drops of silvery-gray liquid.
At the same time, or even a moment earlier, Ming Li and You Wusheng, who had been moving cautiously behind Li Xun, suddenly fell soundlessly to the ground. It wasn't a violent scene, but the eerie quietness sent a chill down the spine.
Li Xun let out a pained groan as his body involuntarily pitched forward.
In that moment, his instincts screamed at him to clutch the hostage tighter, but his muscles refused to obey. It was as if his entire body had turned to stone, every limb paralyzed. He couldn't even tell if this was a terrifying reality or just some ridiculous illusion.
Luckily, the moment he hit the ground, all his senses and control flooded back. Without hesitation, he rolled over, putting himself behind Yujin's body as a shield, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Stop!"
Everything fell still.
Barely a foot from his body, at least five gleaming swords hung motionless motionless in mid-air. They didn't even need to touch him; the icy, razor-edged aura they radiated was enough to nearly freeze his blood and send jagged pain ripping through his flesh.
The sword aura was so intense, Li Xun couldn't even open his eyes to see who surrounded him. Gritting his teeth, he forced his facial muscles to work, managing a strained, ugly smile. "Would you mind backing off a little?"
The moment he said it, it was like all the strength drained from his body. He collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath, eyes squeezed shut. But the arm wrapped around Luo Yuji's neck held firm as ever, locked in place like a steel clamp.
Luo Yuji, still reeling from the shock of everything that had just happened, felt his grip tighten even more. She couldn't speak, her throat and chest were crushed with pressure, her breathing shallow, her face pale as death.
Li Xun could feel the icy, bone-deep killing intent was receding. That gave him a bit of relief, and his breathing finally began to ease. But just as he caught his breath, he felt several sharp, soul-piercing gazes sweep across his face like knives.
Li Xun still didn't open his eyes. He just chuckled. "The Three Sovereigns Sword Sect really has its own unique way of negotiating. I suppose Hundred Ghosts has learned something new today. But now that the ceremony's over, how about we actually talk?"
A heavy, ominous silence followed. Li Xun didn't seem to mind. He used the pause to quickly assess his condition. And it was worse than he'd expected.
He had only one injury: a deep slash across his back where a flying sword had struck him earlier. From the pain alone, he could tell it was both long and deep, cutting nearly all the way across his back and down to the bone. Now, as the wound rubbed against dirt and blades of grass, the sting was unbearable.
What unsettled him even more was what had happened to his Nethermyst puppet hidden in its special dimensional space. It had been Nether Two that saved him. A moment ago, it had intercepted a sword strike that would've sliced him to pieces.
But despite being known for its "diamond-hard body," that puppet's arm had still taken a cut nearly two inches deep—almost severed in a single blow.
Li Xun knew exactly how strong Nether Two was.
Its original form, Yin Wanderer, had been one of the top-tier beings in the Tongxuan Realm. Even though the puppet had lost its consciousness , and being limited by her master's cultivation, its body should never have been so easily damaged.
Which could only mean one thing. The person who swung that sword had strength on par with Yin Wanderer herself. That level of force didn't come from just anyone.
Which made it very clear who the people surrounding him must be.
Finally, the silence broke.
"Let go of Yuji, and I might let you live."
A man spoke. His voice was low and deep, with a sharp, commanding edge that made it strangely charismatic.
Li Xun let out a short laugh and finally opened his eyes. He looked toward the voice, and saw a man standing tall and proud like a pine tree. The man wasn't handsome in the usual sense, but his sharp, defined features made him unforgettable at first glance.
Of course, the thing that drew the most attention was the tall crown on his head. It gleamed gold, but was not made of just gold. The material was quite strange. Together with his flowing robes and wide belt, and the sharp, electric glint in his eyes, he cut a striking figure. His gaze revealed neither anger nor joy, but anyone who met it would feel their heart tremble.
Li Xun glanced around at the faces of those nearby and saw that everyone was looking to this man with respect. That alone told him who the man was. He grinned. "Could it be the 'Eastern Emperor' Sect Master Luo himself? The Hundred Ghosts pays his respects."
He forced a blink, and gave a bow. It was the first time he'd ever tried this lazy and carefree attitude. And to his surprise, it felt quite natural.
The air around them dropped a few degrees. Li Xun's chest twitched, and he coughed up another mouthful of blood.
Unfortunately, most of it landed on his own face. But a few streaks sprayed across Luo Yuji's cheek, ran down her neck, and slipped inside her robes.
He could feel her whole body stiffen, then seize in a sudden, instinctive spasm. Li Xun happened to glance her way and caught it just in time to see a single tear trace a line down her check before vanishing into the smeared blood.
Li Xun gave an awkward smile and nodded at the Eastern Emperor. "Sorry about that, Sect Master. I'm feeling a bit weak right now\.... it really wasn't intentional."
His expression was as innocent as a child's. But in that moment, dozens of people wanted nothing more than to tear that face to pieces.
Unlike the others, Luo Qichang, the "Eastern Emperor," didn't grit his teeth in fury, at least not outwardly. Instead, he studied this powerless cultivator carefully, noting every twitch of expression, every flicker in his eyes.
In the end, he came to a conclusion: either this young man was a lunatic who didn't care whether he lived or died. Or... he was a cunning little fox, still holding several cards up his sleeve.
After sizing him up, a plan formed in his mind. He gave a small nod. "What is it you want?" he said plainly.
As soon as those words left his mouth, it was clear: the Three Sovereigns Sword Sect had backed down. Given Luo Qichang's status as a Grandmaster, there was no way he'd say something like that and then go back on it.
Li Xun let out a silent breath of relief, but he didn't dare let his guard down. He smiled and said, "No need to trouble yourselves too much. The three of us were acting under orders from our sect, out here on an official mission. It's been a while since we received any reply, and honestly, we're starting to worry. If Sect Master Luo is willing, could you pass along a message for us?"
The moment he said it, he could feel the cold stares all around him. Just the looks in their eyes were enough to cut him into a thousand pieces.
He knew exactly what they were thinking. If they really did as he suggested, how would that be any different from the Three Emperor Sword Sect bowing down and admitting defeat to the Shadow-Devouring Soul Sect?
But standing before these cultivators who were on the verge of losing control after his provocation, Li Xun actually felt even more confident. He sucked in a breath and forced himself upright despite the pain. Still gripping Luo Yuji tightly, he began dragging her backward step by step.
His movement triggered at least five streams of sword qi to lock onto him from different directions, but he acted as if he didn't notice. Only when he reached a tree behind him and slumped against the trunk did he exhale and speak again:
"One more thing. Our two sects worked together to break the restrictive formations on Longhuan Mountain.
"All the treasures may be in our hands now, but rest assured. Our sect would never think of keeping it all to ourselves."
"Sect Master Luo can discuss the distribution of this treasure with my sect leader. Naturally, as a disciple, I have no say in such matters."
After saying this, he grinned broadly, and looked at Luo Qichang, whose expression gave no clues. Then he glanced around at the others, many of whom wore deeply conflicted looks. Looks that could be summed up as: Where the hell did this scoundrel suddenly come from?
Well, desperate times. For now, Li Xun would just take that as a compliment.
True to his decisive reputation, Luo Qichang gave Li Xun one more look, then smiled faintly. Without consulting anyone, he simply nodded and said, "Alright."
Wasn't he being a bit too autocratic on a matter so important to the sect's reputation? Shouldn't there have been more discussion? Li Xun quickly scanned the faces around him but saw no sign of objection; it was clearly something they were all used to. It seemed the rumors about the Emperor being so domineering were true after all.
What came next, though, left Li Xun a bit confused.
Luo Qichang extended a hand toward him. Not in a threatening gesture, but more like… he was asking for something.