137: Chapter 136 Let's Run Away

Yun Ming stood at the doorway, not stepping forward to help.

Jiang Yueling finally sat up, leaning against the headboard, gasping for air.

She raised her head, saw Yun Ming at the doorway, and froze for a moment, then looked down at herself—her dharma robe was torn in several places, her hair was disheveled, and she was left with only one shoe.

She was silent for a while before asking: "How… how did I get back?"

Her voice was terribly hoarse, as if her throat had been rubbed with sandpaper.

"I carried you back," Yun Ming said, leaning against the doorframe. "You passed out; I couldn't just leave you on the road to feed the wild dogs."

Jiang Yueling glared at him, but she lacked the strength to retort. She lowered her head, looking at her bare foot, and remained silent for a long time.

"Where is my Master?" she suddenly asked. "Is there any news?"

Yun Ming shook his head: "None."

Jiang Yueling fell silent again.

Seeing her state, Yun Ming hesitated for a moment before speaking: "The message you sent back will reach the Shenduan Sect in three days. Your Master is at the Late Nascent Soul Stage; she won't die so easily. Focus on recovering from your injuries first and wait for news."

Jiang Yueling did not respond. She simply sat there, head bowed, lost in thought.

Yun Ming turned and went out, poured her a cup of water, and brought it back in. She took the cup, drank a sip, and put it back down.

"Um…" she suddenly spoke up, "Shouldn't you treat the wound on your face?"

Yun Ming was taken aback and raised a hand to touch his face. His fingertips brushed against a bloodstain that had already scabbed over. He only then remembered that yesterday, while he was carrying Jiang Yueling back, he had been grazed by the aftermath of the three demonic Cultivators' attacks, leaving a gash on his face.

"It's just a superficial wound, it doesn't matter," he said casually.

Jiang Yueling looked at him and opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but ultimately said nothing.

Yun Ming didn't pay it any mind. He sat in the outer room for a while longer, and estimating that she was likely alright, he stood up to take his leave.

"Also, my lady, I beg of you, please rest well and don't run around. If you need anything, send someone to find me."

After saying this, he turned and walked out.

Jiang Yueling sat on the couch, watching his back disappear at the doorway, and remained silent for a long time.

For the next two days, the Qingxuan Sect was unusually quiet.

The Mountain Guardian Array operated day and night, and there were three times as many patrolling Disciples as usual.

Several injured Golden Core True Persons were recovering in the Alchemy Hall, while those who were uninjured took turns standing guard to prevent another attack by the demonic Cultivators.

The Old Ancestor remained in his Immortal Cave on the main peak and did not come out. Fu Qingyun's poison had been neutralized, but his left arm could not yet move, and Liu Ruyan kept watch over him, never leaving his side.

Yun Ming didn't go anywhere.

Every day, he would go to Qin Wan's place to sit for a while, keep her company, share a meal, and then return to his own Immortal Cave to Cultivate. Occasionally, he would go to check on Jiang Yueling; she was recovering quickly, the bruise on her face had mostly faded, and her complexion had improved a lot, but she was very quiet, always sitting by the window in a daze.

On the third day.

Yun Ming was in his Immortal Cave practicing Alchemy when he suddenly received a voice transmission from the Old Ancestor, telling him to come to the main peak. He put down the medicinal ingredients in his hands, stood up, and went out.

At the summit of the main peak, the Old Ancestor stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance. His expression was even more grave than it had been a few days ago; his brows were tightly locked, and his eyes held a hint of exhaustion.

Yun Ming landed behind him, and before he could speak, the Old Ancestor addressed him.

"There is news from the Shenduan Sect."

Yun Ming's heart skipped a beat: "What news?"

The Old Ancestor turned around, looked at him, and said slowly: "True Lord Qingyue and her group have been defeated."

Yun Ming fell silent.

Although he had long anticipated this outcome, hearing it with his own ears still made his feelings complicated.

The Old Ancestor continued: "Both fourth-tier Battleships were completely destroyed, and most of the Disciples are dead or injured. True Lord Qingyue and that Late Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator from the Xuanhuang Pill Mansion fought to break through the encirclement and are retreating toward the East Xuan Region with the remnants. Four Late Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Hall are pursuing them, with Cang Xuanzi leading the team personally."

Yun Ming frowned: "Then, what about us…"

"The Heavenly Demon Hall's army is already on its way," the Old Ancestor's voice was terrifyingly calm. "The Spirit Severing Cultivators have not come personally, but two of the four Late Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators will split their forces to attack the Qingxuan Sect and the Danding Sect. It is estimated they will arrive in three to five days."

Yun Ming's heart sank.

Two Late Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators.

The Qingxuan Sect only had one Nascent Soul.

"What about the Shenduan Sect?" he asked. "The message Jiang Yueling sent back—"

"The Shenduan Sect has already received it," the Old Ancestor interrupted him. "But it will take at least ten days for them to send reinforcements. We have to hold out on our own for these ten days."

Yun Ming did not speak.

The Old Ancestor looked at him and suddenly asked: "Are you afraid?"

Yun Ming was taken aback, thought for a moment, and answered honestly: "I'm scared to death."

The Old Ancestor laughed, a very soft laugh tinged with bitterness: "I am afraid too."

He turned around, gazing into the distance, his voice lowering: "I have Cultivated for eight hundred years, seen great storms and waves, and witnessed life and death separations. But this time, I am truly afraid. I fear that the Qingxuan Sect's thousands of years of foundation will be destroyed in my hands, I fear those Disciples will die in vain, I fear…" He paused and did not continue.

Yun Ming stood behind him, silent.

After a long while, the Old Ancestor withdrew his gaze and looked at him: "Take Jiang Yueling and leave."

Yun Ming was stunned.

"Go in the direction of the East Xuan Region and find the Shenduan Sect's reinforcements," the Old Ancestor's tone was unquestionable. "I will clear a path for you; while the demonic Cultivators haven't arrived yet, go as far as you can."

Yun Ming opened his mouth: "Then the Qingxuan Sect—"

"The Qingxuan Sect has me here," the Old Ancestor interrupted him. "I am the Sect Master of the Qingxuan Sect; protecting the Sect is my responsibility. You are not. There is no need for you to stay here and die."

Yun Ming was silent.

He thought of Qin Wan, thought of Yun Xi, and thought of the six years of peaceful days he had spent in the Qingxuan Sect.

Then he shook his head.

"I'm not leaving."

The Old Ancestor frowned.

Yun Ming looked at him and said earnestly: "My mother is here, my Disciple has not returned yet, and I am here too. They cannot leave, and neither can I. You ask me to take Jiang Yueling and run, but what about them? Do you want me to abandon them and run away alone?"

The Old Ancestor was silent.

Yun Ming continued: "I know that staying won't be of any help. But I cannot leave. At least…" he paused, "at least when we die, we can die together."

The Old Ancestor looked at him for a long time.

Then he sighed and shook his head.

"You young people, one more stubborn than the other. None of you have any sense, you included, and that girl surnamed Jiang too."

He turned around, gazing into the distance, his voice lowering: "Then stay. We'll hold out together."

Yun Ming stood behind him, not saying a word.

The wind blew from the distance, carrying a hint of chill. The clouds on the horizon were very low and hung heavy, as if they would fall at any moment.

In the distance, the light of the Mountain Guardian Array was still slowly circulating, enveloping the entire Qingxuan Sect. Those lights appeared exceptionally bright in the twilight, yet also exceptionally fragile.

Yun Ming gazed at that expanse of light, and a thought suddenly surged in his heart.

This might be the last time in his life he would see such a sight.

Somewhere in the Ximing Continent, deep within an unnamed barren mountain, Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was crazily converging in one direction, forming a massive vortex of Spiritual Qi. At the center of the vortex, a sharp Sword Intent soared into the sky, churning the wind and clouds for a hundred miles around. Someone was achieving a Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Stage here.

The news had not yet reached the Qingxuan Sect.