Bai Yang stood to the side, expression cold and unwavering. He gripped Ye Chuxue's hand firmly, a silent signal to stay calm and stall for time until help arrived.
"This is Wentiān Sect territory. Even if you get your hands on the pill, you won't make it out with it."
He narrowed his eyes slightly, voice sharp with warning. "Xiangyun City may not fall under our jurisdiction, but we share trade routes and mutual interests. If things get ugly, do you really think your city will walk away unscathed?"
The words struck a nerve.
Yun Jinyue's expression tightened, though she kept it under control. Annoyance simmered beneath the surface. If these two were ordinary disciples, there'd be no need for all this trouble.
She shot a glance at them and spoke coolly. "I'm sure you've heard. My father is gravely injured. He needs the Heavenly Origin Heart-Nourishing Pill to survive. If the two of you are willing to sell it to us now, Xiangyun City will remember this favor. That's a better outcome than bloodshed, wouldn't you agree?"
Her fingers toyed with the jade ring on her hand. A flicker of cold light passed through her eyes. She had already offered peace more than once. If they kept refusing, they shouldn't blame her for what came next.
"Miss Yun, it's not that we're unwilling. But Gu Qingyuan, our Zhēnjūn, is also poisoned. He needs the pill immediately. We can't hand it over," Bai Yang said, stating Gu Qingyuan's title clearly in hopes it would give the other side pause.
Gu Qingyuan was infamous for his temper. To offend him was to court disaster.
Ye Chuxue straightened her back, echoing him with force. "That's right. My master is Gu Qingyuan, Gu Zhēnjūn. And this beside me is Bai Yang, the chief disciple of Song Wanníng Zhēnjūn.
If you let us go now, we'll have Senior Song craft another pill for you. Isn't that a better outcome for everyone?" It was a stroke of inspiration—dropping Song Wanníng's name. As a renowned alchemy master, her reputation echoed far and wide. Surely they would recognize it.
If they feared her status, they wouldn't dare act recklessly.
But the reaction wasn't what they expected.
Yun Jinyue let out a sudden laugh.
"Oh, so you're that homewrecker," she sneered. "I heard Gu Qingyuan fell in love with his own disciple, and Song Wanníng broke off their engagement because of it. I thought the other woman must be extraordinary. But seeing you now... what a letdown."
She looked them both over with scorn. Rumors had been circulating for weeks that Gu Qingyuan had thrown aside morality to pursue his apprentice, only to be rejected and disgraced by Song Wanníng.
Her eyes lingered on Bai Yang with disdain. "To think you managed to seduce Song Wanníng's disciple. You must be quite good at charming men."
"Shut your mouth! Stop spewing nonsense!" Ye Chuxue's cheeks burned red. She glared furiously at Yun Jinyue, but inwardly her heart was in chaos.
"How had this gossip spread so widely?"
Would she be judged and scorned wherever she went now?
"Tch."
Yun Jinyue's eyes turned dark. With a wave of her hand, she ordered coldly, "Teach these two some respect. Even if Song Wanníng hears about it, she'll probably praise us for doing the right thing. Especially this kind of traitor. Nothing disgusts me more."
"Yes, Miss!" The Xiangyun City cultivators responded in unison, drawing their weapons and activating their techniques.
The sudden escalation caught them off guard. Ye Chuxue and Bai Yang gritted their teeth, forced to go all out in defense. Their only hope now was for the sect to send reinforcements.
But the coordinated assault overwhelmed them quickly. Worst of all was the Golden Core cultivator, who would occasionally strike at them for sport, treating them like playthings. Neither dared to speak out. They just focused on stalling for time.
But time was slipping away. Their bodies were already covered in cuts and bruises, and still, no help arrived. Not even a reply from An Ze.
"Something's wrong. The sect probably never received our message. We're on our own now," Bai Yang said, sending a hurried voice transmission.
Ye Chuxue's heart tightened. In the moment of distraction, her opponent thrust a spear into her shoulder. The tip tore through muscle. A piece of flesh flew loose from the wound.
"Ah—!"
Ye Chuxue cried out in pain and staggered back. She quickly moved to Bai Yang's side again, the two of them standing back-to-back to defend.
"What do we do? We need to think of something fast!"
"I've got an idea. You need to leave first. Don't worry about me." Bai Yang's gaze darkened. He retrieved a Thousand-Mile Teleportation Talisman from his ring, eyes filled with resolve.
"This one's defective. I don't know how far it'll send you."
"No! You go. I'll cover!" Ye Chuxue frowned. Her face showed no hint of relief—how could she possibly leave him behind?
"You have to go and call the sect. I'm Song Wanníng's disciple. They won't dare kill me. If we keep dragging this out, neither of us will escape."
He had read the situation clearly. Yun Jinyue clearly feared Song Wanníng and probably only wanted the pill. If someone had to stay behind, it had to be him.
"But—"
Ye Chuxue wavered.
Any longer, and they'd both fall.
Finally, she grabbed the talisman, her gaze firm.
"Don't worry. I'll get help. Stay alive!"
"Alright."
Bai Yang nodded. He watched as Ye Chuxue vanished in a flash of light.
The attack meant for her landed squarely on him.
"Gah—!"
He spat a mouthful of blood and staggered back over ten meters.
Yun Jinyue hadn't expected them to have something as rare as a Thousand-Mile Talisman. Her expression darkened immediately. "She escaped? After her! Don't let her get away!"
The Golden Core cultivator chased after her without hesitation. Most of the others followed.
Bai Yang's face paled, but he silently prayed Ye Chuxue would outrun them.
"Heh. Such a touching display of affection."
Yun Jinyue let out a dry laugh. The pill she had nearly secured had slipped through her fingers.
Those two vermin were more cunning than she thought.
"You're not worried she'll leave you behind?"
She narrowed her eyes, half admiring the girl's cleverness.
"First she stole Gu Qingyuan from Song Wanníng, then made Song's disciple throw his life away for her. Quite a performance.
Song Wanníng really was surrounded by nothing but traitors."
"Junior Sister Ye would never abandon me."
Bai Yang wiped the blood from his lips and met her eyes, unshaken.
His voice was calm, his bearing composed despite his injuries.
"She's gone now. People from Wentiān Sect will come soon. I suggest you let me go before it's too late."
Even with blood soaking his robes, he stood tall like a proper gentleman, radiating dignity in the face of humiliation.