I never expected that Xi Yuan would come the day before the wedding, neither too early nor too late…
It’s fine this way, better to settle it sooner and avoid having her heart constantly hanging in suspense.
Nan Shan pursed her dry lips, silently adjusted her dress, and walked toward him.
She was wearing a magnificent bridal gown, but her face was without makeup, and her two braids were messy.
However, Xi Yuan didn’t criticize her this time.
He simply gave her a quick glance, and the candlelight in the room flickered in his pupils.
Nan Shan took slow, deliberate steps toward him, stopping when there was only one step left between them.
Being this close, the fiery red edges of their clothes intertwined, resembling a pair of newlyweds.
Xi Yuan silently locked eyes with Nan Shan.
His fox-like eyes were indifferent and cold, as if assessing prey, or perhaps looking at a dead person.
After a long pause, he suddenly curled the corner of his lips.
“You don’t really think a small dagger would be enough to deal with me, do you?”
Nan Shan’s carefully prepared plan was exposed with just one sentence, but she wasn’t surprised.
After all, the dagger needed spiritual power to activate, and someone who could break through the palace’s protective array by himself would easily notice the weak stir of her spiritual energy.
Facing the sly smile on his face, Nan Shan directly lifted the hem of her gown.
When she tried on the bridal dress, she wasn’t wearing any undergarments, and the long skirt that reached her ankles was lifted, revealing her fair and slender legs.
Xi Yuan raised an eyebrow but didn’t avert his gaze.
Instead, he watched leisurely as she continued to lift the dress higher, eventually revealing the dagger strapped to her thigh.
“You hid it so well, and I still found it,” Nan Shan said, pulling the dagger out with a touch of resentment.
Xi Yuan sneered.
“Could it be that you’ve been hiding it since the agreed-upon day?”
“Indeed, I’ve carried it with me these days, and my legs are even chafed from it. I was just waiting to strike you with a fatal blow, but you never came,” Nan Shan said, slipping the dagger into her bosom, sighing, “It feels more comfortable like this.”
She spoke casually, showing no sign of fear.
Xi Yuan observed her with increasing interest, finding her amusing.
“Shall we go?”
Xi Yuan extended his hand toward her.
Nan Shan hesitated for a moment, then resolutely placed her hand in his.
Xi Yuan applied a little force, and she stumbled into his arms.
Before she could steady herself, a dense fog rushed toward them.
Xi Yuan raised his hand, and the Wansheng Cauldron, hidden by Nan Shan, flew toward them with a whoosh.
As the fog dispersed, the room was empty, and only a grayish, broken stone remained on the floor.
At the No Night Pavilion, Ling Ye, who had been about to sleep, suddenly opened his eyes.
Just like how he would shield her from the wind while traveling on the wind, Xi Yuan was a scoundrel—he not only refused to shield her from the wind but also used her as a shield.
Nan Shan wanted to protest but was filled with wind in her mouth, so she could only remain silent.
After what felt like a long time, they finally landed on the ground.
Nan Shan’s knees buckled, and she fell to the ground, tears in her eyes as she angrily shouted, “Let a girl shield you from the wind—are you even human?!”
Xi Yuan looked innocent.
“I’m not.”
“Then what are you?”
“I am…” Xi Yuan suddenly stopped speaking, looking at her with a half-smile.
“What’s the point of speaking in such a situation?”
Nan Shan pretended not to hear and struggled to stand and survey her surroundings.
It was an endless wilderness.
The ground was cracked and barren, with no sign of life.
The night sky was dim, with only one star visible, making the scene feel desolate and lonely.
“Where is this?”
Nan Shan was about to ask, but suddenly, a thin white mist appeared in the air, slowly coming toward her.
She knew exactly what it was and immediately took a step back, surprised, and looked at Xi Yuan.
“Are we still in the Netherworld?”
“Not bad. You figured it out so quickly.”
Xi Yuan smiled.
Nan Shan furrowed her brow.
“You kidnapped the fiancée of the young master of the Netherworld and didn’t try to escape far away, yet you’re still staying in the Netherworld—what are you doing?”
“I don’t want to stay either,” Xi Yuan shrugged.
“But the Netherworld has been on high alert these past few days. It’s difficult for me to leave through the main gate with a living person, so I had to find a backdoor and crawl through a dog hole.”
Nan Shan froze for a moment but didn’t have time to ask more.
Xi Yuan suddenly appeared behind her, playfully wrapping his arm around her waist.
“Do you see that star?”
Nan Shan looked in the direction he was pointing.
It was the only star in the vast sky, one she had already noticed.
“That’s not a star; it’s light from the mortal realm,” Xi Yuan’s voice lowered, tinged with a hint of allure.
“We’re going to leave from there.”
Nan Shan swallowed.
“In such a remote place, how did you find it?”
“Just walk around more, and you’ll naturally find everything,” Xi Yuan smiled with curved eyes.
“Let’s go. Once I deliver you to that person, my task will be complete.”
“Who is that person?”
Nan Shan recalled the worm god statue again.
“That person…” Xi Yuan curled his lips and suddenly stopped smiling.
“How did he catch up?”
“Who?”
Xi Yuan murmured, “This is troublesome.”
Before he finished speaking, a powerful gust of wind rushed toward Nan Shan’s face.
Everything seemed to slow down as she watched the air tear open, revealing a dark gap.
Ling Ye, holding a longsword, jumped out with a grim expression, and in the next moment, his sword gleamed blue, aiming straight for Xi Yuan’s face.
Xi Yuan seemed to sneer lightly, grabbing the back of Nan Shan’s neck and retreating.
When Ling Ye landed, Xi Yuan had already stopped, and there was a large gap cut in the ground between them.
Seeing Ling Ye, Nan Shan’s eyes lit up, and she opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly couldn’t.
She tried several times but failed, finally glaring at Xi Yuan.
“The young master of the Netherworld has a bad temper,” Xi Yuan lazily draped his arm over Nan Shan’s shoulder, pressing most of his weight onto her, completely ignoring the anger in her eyes.
Ling Ye’s gaze was frosty.
“Let her go.”
“Who? Little Nan Shan?”
Xi Yuan feigned surprise, as if he didn’t understand why he would say such a thing.
“Why would I let go of my fiancée?”
A wind suddenly kicked up in the wasteland, their clothes flying as they stood facing off.
On their exposed wrists, there was a faint red glow.
“Let her go,” Ling Ye’s voice grew colder.
Xi Yuan glanced at the light on Ling Ye’s wrist, then looked at Nan Shan’s red clothes, and suddenly smiled.
“We’re eloping. How can I just let go?”
“Who’s eloping with you!”
Nan Shan’s anger flared again, and after glaring at him, she quickly shook her head at Ling Ye, trying to convey her innocence.
“Don’t worry, little Nan Shan. Xi Yuan will protect you,” Xi Yuan patted her head.
“The young master of the Netherworld is not unreasonable. Seeing how devoted we are, he’ll surely soften his heart and let us go. After all…”
Xi Yuan lifted his gaze and smiled arrogantly, “A forced marriage is never sweet.”
“Looking for death!”
The blue light from the longsword surged, heading straight for Xi Yuan’s face.
Xi Yuan narrowed his eyes and calmly dragged Nan Shan in front of him.
Ling Ye’s expression changed slightly, and he swiftly dodged, making the sword strike a few inches off target.
A deep hole exploded in the ground behind Nan Shan.
Taking advantage of the moment, Xi Yuan charged toward Ling Ye.
His sleeves fluttered as a spiked whip appeared in his hand.
The moment it collided with the longsword, the sky seemed to change, and everything turned bright as day.
Nan Shan, caught in Xi Yuan’s hold, coughed up blood.
“Nan Shan!”
Ling Ye’s eyes reddened.
While attacking Xi Yuan, he tried to grab Nan Shan, but Xi Yuan narrowed his eyes and flashed out of the way, the waist sash of her gown trailing behind her, just slipping past Ling Ye’s grasp.
Not able to grab her, Ling Ye’s expression grew more severe, and his moves became more ruthless.
Unfortunately, Xi Yuan was sly and used Nan Shan as a shield every time, forcing Ling Ye to alter his attacks.
After several such encounters, Ling Ye found himself at a disadvantage.
“I didn’t expect the so-called waste young master to have such cultivation,” Xi Yuan’s face was pale, his lips as red as blood, and he smiled more seductively.
“But it’s a pity you are always restricted. I’m afraid you can’t win against me.”
“The injuries you sustained when you first breached the palace’s protective array have still not healed, have they?”
Ling Ye’s body emitted blue light, almost merging with the longsword in his hand.
“Considering the past friendship between my father and the leader of the Qingqiu Clan, if you release Nan Shan, I will spare your life.”
When the identity of Qingqiu’s descendant was revealed, Xi Yuan didn’t panic.
He simply smiled, though his eyes betrayed no warmth.
“Then I really have to thank the young master for his mercy.”
Just as his words fell, Ling Ye immediately lunged toward him.
Xi Yuan flicked the whip, gathering his strength to retaliate.
Once again, the world seemed to shift.
Nan Shan shut her eyes, bracing herself for the pressure, but the next moment, it was as though something had separated her from the rest of the world.
She cautiously opened her eyes and saw a transparent barrier forming around her, crackling with silver-gray and light blue electricity.
She froze for a moment, then saw a massive surge of spiritual power.
The barrier shattered, and the violent winds and debris rushed toward her.
Xi Yuan pulled her away, sending them both flying ten meters. When they finally stopped, Nan Shan noticed bloodstains on Xi Yuan’s clothes, which had been torn and tattered.
Nan Shan quickly looked ahead.
As the dust settled, Ling Ye’s figure gradually appeared.
He was wearing pristine white clothes, but the corner of his mouth was stained with blood.
His clothes were torn, and Xi Yuan’s mood soured.
When he looked at Ling Ye again, there was a trace of coldness in his gaze.
“I’m too lazy to continue this confrontation.”
As he spoke, a surge of spiritual power gathered in his palm, transforming into a clearly defined web of light that rushed toward Ling Ye.
Ling Ye responded with his sword, but the web expanded several times over, quickly enveloping him.
“Ling Ye…”
Nan Shan’s anxious voice rang out, and as soon as she realized she could speak, she quickly called out, “Ling Ye, be careful!”
Xi Yuan let out a soft laugh, holding her as he dashed toward the star.
“Nan Shan!”
Ling Ye’s eyes were filled with fury as he slashed his sword toward the sky.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
Xi Yuan had already carried Nan Shan into the star’s light and sealed off their escape with a barrier.
Nan Shan felt a flash of white light before she landed heavily on the ground.
A cool sensation brushed her face.
She looked up, stunned, and saw withered vines and snowflakes swirling around.
A single snowflake landed in her eye.
She blinked, then turned around and saw Xi Yuan, pale-faced, sitting on the ground, lazily observing her.
“Did he come after us?” he asked directly.
Nan Shan replied, “Yes.”
“How did you do it?”
Nan Shan pressed her lips together, “When you took me, I threw away the Chaos Stone on me. He sensed my life force leaving and naturally followed. It was a gamble, but clearly, I won.”
“You really are clever,” Xi Yuan smiled, allowing the snowflakes to fall on his lashes and melt.
Nan Shan sighed, “Too bad he’s not as cunning as you.”
Xi Yuan didn’t respond to her veiled compliment or criticism.
After resting, he stood up and extended his hand to her, looking down from his height.
“You went through so much to find help, but couldn’t bring yourself back. Are you disappointed?”
Nan Shan’s gaze fell on his hand.
It was still beautiful—long, slender, and narrow, the nails full and neat.
But after the battle, his fingers were covered with small cuts, and the back of his hand was bruised.
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