#17: In Peril (3)

Under the moonlight, the Southern Gate of the capital appeared desolate. Around the city gate were patches of uncleared lingering snow, and a thin layer of mist permeated the air. Dark, shiny crow feathers were visible everywhere, sending shivers down one’s spine. A luxurious carriage was parked at the city gate. It had carved window frames, a gilded body, and four white steeds obediently waiting.

Yao Yin was surprised; these horses were better bred than the celestial steeds in Pure Heaven.

The stable boy driving the carriage was thinly dressed but showed no signs of being cold, suggesting he was a trained martial artist. Wenren Liansheng stepped out of the carriage and welcomed everyone in. The four of them sat inside the carriage, not feeling cramped at all.

“Legend has it that crow feathers are a symbol of the Ghost Clan?” Zichen, at some point, had grabbed a handful of crow feathers and was waving them in front of Wenren Liansheng.

“Filthy things,” Yao Yin was saying, but unexpectedly, the carriage jolted, causing her to fall directly onto Zichen, scattering crow feathers all over the carriage. Yun Yan, expressionless, reached out to pick up the feathers that had fallen on Yao Yin, then threw them out the window without a word.

Zichen helped Yao Yin up, subtly pushing her away from him.

“Crow feathers, huh—” Wenren Liansheng removed a feather that had floated onto his head and sighed, “Do you know under what circumstances there would be so many crows?” He smiled mysteriously.

Yao Yin’s heart lurched, remembering the countless crows all over Cloud City the first time she met Shi Yan. Zichen subtly moved his body, shielding Yao Yin, while his face remained composed as he watched Wenren, waiting for him to continue.

Wenren Tongtian continued: “Crows have always loved gloom; a large number of crows only appear in places where the Ghost Clan gathers...” As he spoke, a flapping sound suddenly came from outside the window, followed by a chorus of cawing crows, growing louder and louder, making one’s hair stand on end.

Mortals also know about the Ghost Clan?

Yao Yin turned and lifted the curtain, only to see flocks of crows taking flight in fright.

Just then, the carriage suddenly stopped. Wenren’s face darkened, slightly surprised. He lifted the curtain and leaned out to look, seeing a group of black-clad figures surrounding their carriage. The leader, with a malevolent expression, stood at the very front, looking arrogant and overbearing. Behind him, flocks of crows danced and shrieked, and everyone was ready to launch an attack at any moment.

Yao Yin lowered the curtain and said blankly, “We’re surrounded.”

Wenren Liansheng sat back down and chuckled, “Looks like they’re not ordinary people. What should we do?” Although there was some worry in his words, his face showed no fear, instead maintaining a calm and collected demeanor.

Zichen sat upright, listening intently. Yun Yan had his eyes closed, resting comfortably on Yao Yin’s lap, completely disregarding their conversation.

“If you know what’s good for you, quickly hand over those two little immortals!” A roar came from outside the carriage, and the group joined in, shouting. In an instant, shouts and provocations filled the mountains, and roars of laughter came one after another.

“Mere little ghosts dare to shout so brazenly.” Yun Yan opened his eyes, raised his hand, and a flash of fire shot towards the black-clad figures. Immediately, he too flew out.

Yao Yin thought, “This is not good,” and immediately followed Yun Yan out, but ultimately failed to stop him. The leader, holding a long sword, was about to pierce Yun Yan’s body. Yun Yan dodged sideways, then struck with a palm, aimed directly at the black-clad man’s face. The man quickly dissolved into a puddle of black water and disappeared.

As soon as Yao Yin stepped out of the carriage, she was immediately surrounded by a group of people, most of whom were smiling lecherously and stroking their chins, slowly closing in on her.

“What a pretty little lady.”

“As expected of an immortal, so different from mortal women.”

Yao Yin frowned and kicked the person at the very front, but it was like scratching an itch through clothes; it had no effect whatsoever. Everyone immediately swarmed her, pinning her to the ground.

“They’re definitely not mortals!” Yao Yin was greatly alarmed. She felt their dirty hands brushing against her body and struggled desperately, but they seemed to know her identity. They immediately used an Immortal-Binding Rope on her. No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn’t break free.

Zichen immediately flew forward, and his long sword descended, forcefully severing the vulgar hand that was grasping Yao Yin’s shoulder.

“Oh, there’s an even more beautiful one here.” The bandit whose hand had been severed didn’t even flinch. Instead, he grinned lecherously at Zichen, drooling, “Why is such a beautiful girl dressed in men’s clothes? Come with me, and I’ll guarantee you endless wealth and glory.”

“Scram,” Zichen said coldly, beginning to fight him.

At this moment, the Immortal-Binding Rope on Yao Yin became tighter and tighter. She felt a searing pain in her calf; the wound, visible to the bone, split open, and crimson blood stained her clothes.

“Ji Yang,” Wenren Liansheng commanded faintly.

“Yes.” The next moment, the coachman flew out and drew all the people around Yao Yin away.

Yao Yin gasped for breath, fell to the ground, and had no strength to get up again.

“Yao Yin—” she heard Yun Yan shout her name loudly, and then her world went black. Yao Yin’s back took a heavy blow.

The next moment, she was no longer surrounded by the bandits’ sweat or the smell of blood, but by a clean, warm embrace. By the side of the road, Zichen tightly protected Yao Yin. On his back was a deep sword wound, visible to the bone, extending from his neck all the way to his tailbone.

Both of them were drenched in cold sweat, their eyes went black, and they fell into a coma. Behind them, a burly man with a bluish-black face stood to the side, holding a pitch-black trident, dripping with blood.

He laughed loudly, “Two Celestial Immortals and one little ghost, Wenren Tongtian, you actually want to monopolize them?”

“Yanguai sent out some low-level minions to stir up trouble again,” Wenren Liansheng snorted, closed his fan, and looked coldly at the man.

The man was not timid, chuckling, “What big words. You’re merely a defeated subordinate of Lord Yanguai. How dare you speak of courage?”

“Whether I or Yanguai are stronger is not yet known, but you, you are certainly no match for me.” Wenren Liansheng completely disregarded them, snorted coldly, and flew forward, landing lightly behind the man.

“Then you try...” Before he could finish his sentence, Wenren’s folding fan opened and closed, and the man’s head turned into a mist of blood, dissipating into the air. Wenren Liansheng’s face darkened again. With a flick of his wrist, he opened his folding fan, and streams of white light fell upon the burly man. The next moment, his corpse exploded, scattering flesh and blood everywhere, choking the nose and throat.

Everyone was greatly alarmed.

The smell of blood permeated the air, making it difficult to breathe for a moment.

Only Yun Yan watched this scene calmly, showing no reaction.

“Yanguai, one of the four guardians of the Night Bright Palace, one of the right-hand men of Ghost King Shiyan. You’ve been targeted by him.” Wenren gave a sly smile, wanting to scare Yun Yan, but Yun Yan showed no reaction upon hearing this.

Yun Yan couldn’t be bothered with him and instead ran to Yao Yin’s side.

Yao Yin and Zichen were both severely injured and had fallen into a coma.

Wenren Liansheng closed his folding fan and said faintly, “The name Yanguai strikes fear into hearts, yet you are completely unconcerned.”

“Do you have good intentions then? Wenren Tongtian.” Yun Yan ripped off the Immortal-Binding Rope from Yao Yin’s body. The black, gold-braided rope shrunk into a ball like a mimosa when it touched him. Yun Yan shook the string in his hand and chuckled, “I advise you to worry more about yourself. If you dare to harbor ill intentions towards her, I will make you end up like this rope.” As he spoke, a burst of fire erupted, and the rope instantly turned to ashes in his hand.

“A ghost clan member who can control the Immortal-Binding Rope must have a significant background. Who exactly are you?” Wenren Tongtian had doubts in his heart; his intuition told him that Yun Yan was definitely not an ordinary person.

Yun Yan sneered and snorted coldly: “My name is not for you to know.”

“...”

Wenren Tongtian was very surprised. He felt that the aura of the person in front of him was somewhat familiar, but he simply couldn’t remember where he had seen him before.

Wenren Tongtian pondered for a while and said, “Ji Yang, save them.”

“Yes.”

After receiving the order, the servant immediately split into three copies of himself. The four of them immediately set to work, helping Yao Yin and Zichen into the carriage one after another.

The carriage slowly moved through the dense forest. Inside the spacious carriage, a wound about ten fingers long on Zichen’s back continuously oozed blood. His previously plain white clothes were now stained dark brown. Fortunately, Zichen had mostly blocked Yao Yin’s fatal blow. Although he also fell into a coma, he should not be in mortal danger.

Zichen, however, was barely breathing.

“Whether you live or die depends on your own fortune.” Wenren Tongtian placed his hands on Zichen’s back, and a dark halo gradually gathered in his palms. Slowly, his blood stopped seeping out, but the wound still looked very gruesome.

Yun Yan smiled contentedly, then could no longer hold on and fell into a deep sleep. His internal energy was too depleted; it was already difficult for him to have held on until now. Wenren Tongtian observed him for a long time, and finally couldn’t help but go forward to check his pulse, only to find that he was not someone with profound magical abilities.

“Such a small child, how can he possess such courage? Is he playing the pig to eat the tiger?” Wenren Tongtian pondered for a while. After weighing the pros and cons, he decided to spare his life for now.

The carriage slowly stopped in front of a manor. The broken gate appeared exceptionally gloomy in the darkness. The plaque, old and dilapidated, was covered in cobwebs, and the lanterns on both sides had completely faded in color. The entire manor was lifeless, without any sign of human presence. If anyone were to rashly intrude into the dense forest and see this manor, they would surely believe they had arrived in the underworld.

Wenren Tongtian stepped out of the carriage. Seeing this scene, his face immediately showed helplessness. He shook his head and slowly walked up the steps. The moment he pushed the door open, the entire manor instantly became brightly lit.

The old, dilapidated gate immediately looked brand new.

Vermilion paint like blood, copper rings like gold.

The large red lanterns cast a rosy glow on the young master’s face.

“Home is always more comfortable,” Wenren Tongtian laughed as he walked through the door. Before long, more than ten people, both men and women, dressed as servants, walked out from inside the door. They carefully carried the two unconscious individuals from the carriage into the manor. Subsequently, the heavy vermilion gate closed with a dull thud, creating a considerable shock in the silent dense forest.