Chapter 217 A Familiar Person
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Let time rewind a little.
Ji Hongli flew westward, her divine sense spreading like a tide, yet she could not capture that familiar aura.
"Where on earth has this fellow... hidden?"
She felt slightly annoyed, yet was helpless.
But since she couldn't find him, did that mean he had already left?
This brought Ji Hongli a small measure of peace. After pausing in the air for a moment, she turned back.
Under the lock of a Saint, escape was impossible. Rather than running a futile race, it was better to return and join forces with Chen Chang'an, perhaps to fight for a sliver of a chance to live.
And just as she was drifting past the Immortal Spirit City again, she suddenly sensed a peculiarity in her divine sense—coming from her usual divination stall location.
"Hmm?"
Her figure paused, then transformed into a crimson stream of light, landing back on West Street of Immortal Spirit City in an instant.
The night wind was cool, the streets and alleys empty and silent. Only before her divination stall, a golden branch and jade leaf lay quietly within a crack in the bluestone slab, glowing with a moist luster under the moonlight.
"This is..."
She bent down to pick up the jade leaf. It felt warm to the touch. On the back of the jade leaf, the character "Chen" was clearly visible!
He had left it!
Ji Hongli froze for a moment, then understood its meaning—"He was here, and just now."
"He... is looking for me?"
The thought flashed through her mind, and her heart suddenly skipped a beat.
"No, how could he..."
She subconsciously clenched the jade leaf, her fingertips trembling slightly.
As aloof as she was, never showing her emotions, a barely perceptible blush now crept up to the tips of her ears.
"What is this supposed to mean?"
She pressed her lips, her heart a mix of annoyance and confusion.
"Why, of all times, must he do such a thing now!"
And yet, for some reason, the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned upward.
The night wind blew past, lifting the hair by her temples and scattering her usual coldness.
She looked down at the jade leaf in her hand, her gaze shifting, as if both chiding and delighted.
"What a... fool."
—So, he did care after all.
—So, she was in his heart too.
The golden branch and jade leaf in her palm still held a trace of warmth, but Ji Hongli's heart suddenly tightened.
"He was here... then he is now—"
Before the thought could finish, she abruptly raised her head, her gaze like lightning, scanning toward the depths of Immortal Spirit City.
Since he had just left the jade leaf here, it meant he hadn't gone far! But why could her divine sense still not detect his aura?
"Unless... he obtained some treasure to conceal his aura?"
This guess slightly eased her heart, but it immediately tensed again—if he was truly in the city, the Saint's encroaching power could descend at any moment!
"No, I absolutely cannot let him be discovered!"
Her five fingers closed, the golden branch and jade leaf clenched tightly in her palm. A cold glint flashed in her eyes as spiritual power around her flared up like a flame.
—Since he had been here, then this city, she would protect it at all costs!
However, at the very moment she resolved to defend the city, a terrifying pressure suddenly descended from the heavens!
"Boom—!"
A crimson, blood-like pillar of spiritual power tore through the night sky, striking directly into the heart of Immortal Spirit City!
"Have they already made a move?!"
Ji Hongli's pupils contracted. Without a second thought, she leaped into the air, her fair hand slicing through the void to summon her natal magic treasure, which she held before her!
"Clang—!"
Two forces collided violently. The resulting shockwave exploded, causing the entire city wall of Immortal Spirit City to tremble!
She let out a muffled groan, a trace of blood escaping from the corner of her lips, yet she did not retreat a single step, the fighting spirit in her eyes burning like fire.
"You want to destroy this place? You'll have to get through me first!"
The night wind howled, her red robes fluttering. She stood alone outside the city, like an insurmountable chasm.
—No matter where he was in the city, she would not let this attack affect him in the slightest!
Ming Xin's fingertips condensed spiritual power for the third time. This time, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth seemed to be instantly drained, converging into a blinding golden spear of light. Before the light could even be unleashed, the void itself twisted and trembled, and even the surrounding light dimmed—this strike was far more terrifying than the previous two, enough to raze the entire Immortal Spirit City to the ground!
Ji Hongli's pupils contracted. She could clearly sense the destructive power of this strike. If it landed, she had no confidence she could withstand it!
On the other side, Chen Chang'an remained unmoved.
He stood in the distance, his expression calm, as if everything before him had nothing to do with him.
A slight smile touched Ming Xin's lips. The golden light at his fingertip was about to erupt—
But at this very moment—
"Wait!"
Chen Chang'an's voice suddenly rang out.
Ming Xin's smile deepened. He slowly retracted his attack, a look of victory in his eyes.
"Oh? Finally willing to come out?"
Chen Chang'an sighed and took a step forward. His tone was calm but firm: "I'm coming out. Don't hurt her."
Ji Hongli snapped her head up, looking at him in disbelief.
Although it had been just a brief moment, she had already assessed the situation. Clearly, Ming Xin was temporarily unable to deal with Chen Chang'an and thus needed to use her to threaten him.
This struck Ji Hongli as somewhat funny. They were just neighbors, and most of their conversations were because of Chen Xingcai. They couldn't even be considered friends.
So his initial indifference had been correct.
But now, he had actually compromised for her?
A storm surged in her heart, completely overturning her previous judgment.
The situation was clearly in his favor; he could have stayed completely out of it, yet he chose the most dangerous path!
"Why? Is it because of Chen Xingcai?"
Ji Hongli looked at Chen Chang'an in disbelief.
She watched as Chen Chang'an stepped out slowly from the sect master's secret chamber. The starlight that had originally enveloped him extinguished inch by inch like fireflies, as if some form of protection had been completely stripped away.
—He had really come out?
A triumphant arc formed on Ming Xin's lips, but Ji Hongli found it utterly absurd.
"Why..."
Her fingertips tightened unconsciously, her nails nearly embedding themselves in her palm.
Previously, even a Saint could do nothing to him. She and he were nothing more than ordinary neighbors, their acquaintance so shallow it could hardly be called such—on what grounds would he risk himself for her?
The night wind swept past, causing Chen Chang'an's robes to sway slightly.
He looked up at her, a hint of helpless tenderness in his eyes, as if looking at a stubborn and reckless kitten.
"Didn't you already say you should escape as far away as possible?"
He sighed softly, his voice low and slow, "Why did you come back... Ah Li."
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