49: Chapter 49 A Fateful Encounter Leads to a Determination to Travel Together

Yun Song's body was tense as he stared intently at the ancient tree that had shattered on the snow, his palms already soaked with cold sweat.

The fractured wood grain was jagged and intertwined, gleaming with a chilling, cold light, and against the backdrop of the vast white snow, it looked like the bared fangs of a Vicious Beast.

The golden blade light that had just split the tree was terrifyingly powerful; if he hadn't sensed the bandit leader's hidden murderous intent early on and decisively dodged, he would have ended up just like this ancient tree—Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, with not even his bones left behind.

He slowly raised his hand to reach into his robes, his fingertips touching the cold talisman paper; the lingering fear he had felt just moments ago transformed entirely into a bone-chilling intent to kill.

Raising his eyes, he saw the scattered bandits fleeing in a panicked and disheveled state.

His voice, laced with chill, rang out across the snowy plain: "Anyone who dares to remain will be buried with them!"

The minions were already frightened to the point of Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, and seeing this, they became like birds startled by a bow, scattering madly into the wind and snow, vanishing without a trace in an instant.

Not long after, silence returned to the snowy forest.

Two weak figures supported each other, stumbling with difficulty out from behind the trees.

Ye Hua leaned on Ye Rong's shoulder, his blood-stained clothes blending into the pristine white snow, looking wretched, yet he could not hide the extreme surprise and shock in his eyes: "Brother Yun! So it was you who was attacking from the shadows all along!"

Ye Rong's eyes were red and brimming with tears, her voice trembling and choked with the emotions of having survived a disaster: "Many thanks to Young Master Yun for saving our lives..."

Ye Hua tried to force himself to bow in salute despite his injuries, but the moment he moved, his wounds tore open again, and his body staggered violently, losing its balance.

Bright red blood slowly dripped down his arm, landing on the white snow and blooming into clusters of eye-catching red plum blossoms.

Yun Song quickly stepped forward to steady him: "Brother Ye, there is no need for such formalities. Our meeting in this wind and snow is fate; seeing danger on the road and offering help is only right and proper."

The sky gradually darkened, and twilight shrouded the entire mountain forest.

He cupped his hands in a salute, preparing to take his leave: "I still have personal matters to attend to, so I shall bid you farewell here. Take care, both of you."

"Brother Yun, please stay!"

Ye Hua was extremely anxious; disregarding his heavy injuries, he stumbled forward quickly to block him, the blood seeping from the wound on his forehead sliding down his cheek.

His voice was hoarse and urgent, his tone full of pleading: "Those brutal bandits just now spoke wildly, saying that my Family has long been hiding a crisis; this matter is definitely not simple! I beg Brother Yun to return to my hometown with me and help us out!"

Yun Song instinctively took a step back, his gaze falling upon their scarred, helpless, and wretched appearance, and alarm bells rang loudly in his heart.

They had only met once, yet he was being asked to get involved in a dangerous, unknown Family conflict; once he agreed, he would be stepping into an unpredictable vortex of trouble, with endless future consequences.

"Brother Ye, it is not that I am unwilling to help..."

Yun Song paused, meeting Ye Rong's tear-filled, expectant, and helpless eyes, but in the end, he hardened his heart and refused: "I have urgent matters of my own, and it is truly inconvenient for me to travel far to get involved in this."

As his voice fell, he turned to leave.

Behind him, Ye Hua's hoarse and urgent voice suddenly rang out: "If Brother Yun is willing to help, my Ye Family will definitely reward you with an Immortal secret technique!"

The four words "Immortal method" rang out like a thunderclap, and Yun Song froze in place, unable to move.

His fingertips trembled slightly, and wild waves surged in his heart.

Born without a Spiritual Root, his path to immortal Cultivation had long been severed; he was destined to have no connection to the Dao of Immortality in this life.

Yet an Immortal secret technique was a supreme Opportunity that countless Cultivators craved for their entire lives.

Even if he could not channel Qi to Cultivate, if he could glimpse its mysteries and comprehend the true meaning of the Dao, perhaps he could find another path and break the fate of having no Spiritual Root.

The wind and snow howled, his robes flapping violently.

He looked up, and saw the Ye siblings looking at him with eyes full of entreaty, their gazes extremely earnest.

Beside him, Ye Rong gripped her blood-stained sleeve tightly, tears held back in her eyes, looking pitiful.

Amidst the vast wind and snow, Yun Song fought an internal battle, struggling ceaselessly.

If he agreed to accompany them, the road ahead was filled with unknown dangers, and in all likelihood, it would be a near-death experience.

If he turned and left, he could remain safe and secure, but he would miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime Opportunity for the Dao of Immortality.

The cold wind blew across his neck; the forest was deathly silent, and there was a long silence.

"Brother Yun..." Ye Hua endured the intense pain and took another step forward, his wounds tearing open and gushing more blood, his tone humble and earnest.

Yun Song took a deep breath, his Adam's apple bobbing violently.

After pondering for a moment, he finally gritted his teeth and made up his mind:

"Brother Ye, considering your sincere filial piety, I will accompany you back. But I must say this plainly first: if the situation is far more dangerous than expected and threatens my own life, I will immediately withdraw without hesitation."