239: Chapter 237 Leaving the City

Yun Ming was refining pills in the Quiet Room.

The cauldron of all things mother qi was suspended before him, the Golden Crow Flame burning steadily, as the medicinal liquid inside slowly coalesced. This was a batch of Heavenly Dew Spirit Nourishing Pills, the tenth batch. The previous nine batches were successful with good quality; this one shouldn't have any issues either. His Divine Sense probed into the cauldron, meticulously perceiving every sliver of change. The nourishing phase required the most patience; a bit too much or too little heat would affect the final quality. He wasn't in a hurry and waited slowly.

The fox lay on the futon by the door, eyes squinted, its nine tails hanging down and swaying. Recently, its speed of absorbing Spiritual Qi had been increasing, consuming Spirit Stones from the pile several times faster than before. Yun Ming knew it was about to have a Breakthrough to the Golden Core Middle Stage, likely within the next few days.

The medicinal liquid in the cauldron began to coalesce, and the pill gradually took shape. Yun Ming stabilized the heat, letting the pill rotate slowly within the cauldron. Cloud patterns began to emerge, shifting from blurry to clear, and from sparse to dense. A pill fragrance wafted from the cauldron, crisp and rich; a single sniff was enough to refresh one's mind.

Then, he heard sounds from outside.

They weren't sounds from the small courtyard, but from the city. Shouts, running footsteps, and cries mingled together, drifting in from the distance. Yun Ming's brow furrowed slightly, but he didn't move. The Pill Furnace was still operating; he couldn't afford a distraction. He withdrew his Divine Sense from the city and focused on the pill inside the cauldron.

The fox's ears pricked up. It opened its eyes, a hint of alertness flashing through its amber gaze. It stood up, walked to the door, and looked toward the courtyard gate. Its nine tails stopped swaying, freezing in mid-air.

Yun Ming stabilized the heat, let the pill rotate a few more times in the cauldron, then cut the fire and opened the furnace to retrieve the pill. A crimson-gold Medicinal Pill lay at the bottom of the cauldron, covered in cloud patterns and emitting a rich fragrance. High Grade. He stored the pill in a jade bottle, placed it on the table, then stood up, walked to the window, and pushed it open.

The sounds from the city became clearer. Someone was shouting "The Crown Prince is attacking," someone was yelling "Run quickly," some were crying, and some were cursing. People were everywhere on the streets—some packing belongings, some pulling family members as they ran out, and others standing by the roadside in a daze. The soldiers of the Patrol Camp were gone, and thick smoke rose from the direction of the City Lord's Mansion.

Yun Ming's brow furrowed even deeper. He spread out his Divine Sense, covering the entire Qingyao City.

The city gates were crowded with people. Cultivators, Mortals, the elderly, and children pushed carts, carried bundles, and held pets, desperately surging outward. Someone was trying to maintain order, but it was impossible. The city gates were blocked; those who couldn't get out cursed from inside, and those outside cursed as well. Some scaled the walls, some flew out through the air, and some climbed over others' shoulders to get out.

The City Lord's Mansion was already empty. Feng Boyong was gone, as were the officials. The mansion gates were wide open, and the interior had been ransacked into a mess, with papers and broken porcelain scattered on the ground.

In the eastern sky, a plume of thick smoke was rising from the direction of the front lines. Yun Ming's Divine Sense reached out that way, but it was too far to reach. He could only feel intense Spiritual Qi fluctuations from that direction, as if someone were fighting or perhaps fleeing.

He withdrew his Divine Sense and frowned.

Suddenly, a faint aura brushed past the edge of his Divine Sense. That aura was familiar to him—it belonged to True Lord Luoyun. However, the aura was very weak, so weak it was almost imperceptible, like a candle flickering in the wind that could go out at any moment. Yun Ming's Divine Sense pursued it, but the aura vanished too quickly for him to lock onto it. He only had time to perceive one thing—that aura was fleeing into the distance at great speed, as if something were chasing it.

True Lord Luoyun had been defeated. His Nascent Soul had fled, its whereabouts unknown.

Yun Ming was silent for a moment. He felt neither surprise nor sorrow. This was war: some won, some lost, some lived, and some died. For True Lord Luoyun to escape with his Nascent Soul was already a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

He spread his Divine Sense out again, searching the city. Not one of those familiar auras remained. They had either fled or died. He didn't know which it was, nor did he want to guess.

The chaos on the streets grew increasingly severe. People were looting in the confusion, some were setting fires, and others were fighting. The soldiers of the Patrol Camp had long since run away, leaving no one in charge. Yun Ming watched for a while, then withdrew his gaze and closed the window. He walked into the courtyard, sat by the stone table, and took a sip of tea. The tea had gone cold, tasting bitter and astringent. He didn't frown.

The fox ran to his side, jumped onto his lap, and lay down. Its body was trembling slightly, though whether from cold or fear was unclear. Yun Ming reached out to stroke its back, and it nuzzled into his chest, its nine tails wrapping around him.

"It's fine," Yun Ming said softly. The fox's ears twitched, but it made no sound.

Someone knocked on the courtyard gate. It was Su Mubai.

Yun Ming didn't move. "The door is unlocked."

Su Mubai pushed the door open and entered. He wore a set of white Daoist robes and carried neither a Pill Furnace nor any luggage, only a sword hanging at his waist. He walked to the stone table, sat down, and looked at Yun Ming.

"Mr. Yun, you likely already know the situation in the city," Su Mubai said.

Yun Ming nodded.

"True Lord Luoyun was defeated, and his Nascent Soul fled. The Third Prince lost the battle, and General Qin and Mr. Shen's whereabouts are unknown." Su Mubai's voice was calm, but Yun Ming could hear what was being suppressed beneath that calm. "The Crown Prince will soon be at the city gates. This city cannot be held."

Yun Ming didn't speak. He took another sip of tea and set it down.

Su Mubai looked at him. "Mr. Yun, I came to ask if you would be willing to join the Xuanhuang Pill Mansion?"

Yun Ming glanced at him.

Su Mubai continued, "The Xuanhuang Pill Mansion is a Soul Transformation Sect; the Zifu Immortal Dynasty won't cause us trouble. If you join the Xuanhuang Pill Mansion, you can continue refining pills without anyone bothering you. You offended the Crown Prince in Qingyao City, and he may not let you go. But with the protection of the Xuanhuang Pill Mansion, the Crown Prince won't dare touch you."

Yun Ming was silent for a moment. "You mean the Crown Prince will come looking for trouble with me?"

Su Mubai gave a bitter smile. "Mr. Yun refined so many Medicinal Pills for the Third Prince; the Crown Prince couldn't possibly be unaware. He might take his anger out on you, or he might not. But no one dares to gamble on that."

Yun Ming leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. He thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"I'm not going."

Su Mubai wasn't surprised, seemingly having expected this answer. "Why?"

"I'm used to it," Yun Ming said. "Used to this kind of life. I don't want to change places, change people, or change rules. No matter how good the Xuanhuang Pill Mansion is, it isn't my home."

Su Mubai was silent for a moment, then nodded. "I understand."

He stood up and cupped his hands toward Yun Ming. "Then take care, Mr. Yun. The gates of the Xuanhuang Pill Mansion will always be open to you. Whenever you wish to come, you may do so at any time."

Yun Ming also stood up. "Take care."

Su Mubai turned to leave. At the courtyard gate, he looked back. "Mr. Yun, what do you plan to do?"

Yun Ming said, "Leave this place."

Su Mubai didn't ask where. He nodded, walked out of the courtyard, and disappeared at the mouth of the alley. An Escape Light rose, flying into the distance.

Yun Ming stood in the courtyard, watching the receding Escape Light for a while. Then he turned and went back inside. He began to pack his things. Within the map of mountains and rivers, he had all the belongings he had accumulated over the years: Spirit Stones, Medicinal Pills, Magic Treasures, Materials, Spirit Medicines, and books—he lacked nothing. What he needed to pack were the miscellaneous items in this small building. The pots and pans in the kitchen, the pickle jars Qin Wan used to use, the bamboo trays for drying fish, and those few Spirit Medicines in the corner. He put them one by one into the map of mountains and rivers, arranging them next to the small wooden cabin.

The fox followed behind him, watching him work. It didn't know what was happening, but it was very obedient and didn't cause any trouble.

Yun Ming finished packing, dismantled the Formation in the courtyard, and locked the gate. He stood at the entrance, looking at the small building where he had lived for so long. After a few breaths, he turned, picked up the fox, and walked out of the alley.

There weren't many people left on the streets. Those who could run had already done so; those who couldn't were hiding at home with their doors shut, not daring to come out. The streets were a mess, littered with abandoned bundles, broken jars, and trampled vegetable leaves. The wind was strong, blowing scraps of paper all over the sky. Yun Ming walked down the street at a steady pace. No one noticed him, and no one stopped him.

He reached the city gate and left the city. Outside was also a scene of devastation; several abandoned carriages lay by the roadside with their wheels missing. There were bloodstains on the ground, though it was unclear whose they were. A few figures could be seen running north in the distance, getting further and further away until they gradually vanished.

Yun Ming stood outside the city gate and looked back at Qingyao City. The dusty walls, the dusty gates, the dusty rooftops. He had lived in this city for so long, met many people, and experienced many things. Qin Wan had passed away here, Xue Ji had turned into a fox here, the Princess Royal had fought with him here, Su Mubai had reminisced with him here, and the Fourth Elder had discussed the Dao with him here. Now, he was leaving.

He watched for a while, then turned and headed south. The fox lay in his arms, its nine tails hanging down and swaying. The wind blew from the north, fluttering his robes and the fox's tails. He walked neither fast nor slow, as if taking a stroll.

The sun was sinking in the west, casting his shadow long. He walked across a wasteland where no one else was around, with only the sound of the wind and the occasional bird call.

The fox suddenly looked up at him, then nuzzled his chin with its head, letting out a low whimper. Yun Ming reached out to stroke its back.

"It's fine," he said. "We're just moving to a different place."

The fox whimpered again, buried its head in his chest, and went still.

Yun Ming continued walking.