44: Danger is creeping in.

"Oh?" Mu Long, who had been leaning back in his seat with eyes closed to regulate his breathing, suddenly snapped his eyes open.

A sharp light flickered in his eyes, causing him to temporarily forget the searing pain coming from his left arm. He stood up abruptly.

"Old Liu! Follow me to the merchant guild! Baitie, you come too!"

"Big Brother, your injury..."

Liu Tiezhu also stood up. Although his face was still pale, his aura was much more stable than it had been a few days ago.

"It's fine! If it weren't for that wisp of pill rhyme that day, we would have already turned into a handful of yellow soil!"

"This kindness must be thanked in person!" Mu Long's tone was decisive.

The pain of his severed arm only made him remember more clearly how precious that life-saving grace was.

The three of them, leading several personal guards, rushed quickly to the White Cloud Merchant Guild.

When they arrived at the entrance of the merchant guild, they happened to see Yao Delong, Lin Qingxue, and Yun Ruoning walking out from inside.

Lin Qingxue spotted Mu Baitie following behind Mu Long at a glance, and anger instantly surged in her icy eyes: "It's you?!"

Mu Long was a man of great experience. Seeing Lin Qingxue's intense reaction and recalling his son's previous so-called "marriage proposal," his heart instantly understood everything!

He feared that it hadn't been a case of mutual affection at all, but rather this wicked son lusting after beauty and using his power to bully others!

"Vile son! Kneel down!" Mu Long shouted sternly, his Nascent Soul pressure instantly enveloping Mu Baitie.

Mu Baitie's face turned as pale as paper in an instant.

With a thud, he fell to his knees, his entire body shaking like a sieve.

Only now did he truly see Yao Delong's appearance—where was the old man on the verge of death?

He was clearly a middle-aged powerhouse with a profound and imposing bearing, as steady as a deep pool or a towering mountain!

Recalling that it was only a wisp of pill rhyme that night... he felt a chill rush from the soles of his feet to the top of his head; regret and fear almost drowned him.

"City Lord Mu, there is no need for this."

Yao Delong spoke calmly, his gaze sweeping over Mu Long's bandaged left arm and pale face,

then looking at Mu Baitie, who was shaking uncontrollably on the ground.

"A small misunderstanding, there is no need to take it to heart."

He was currently restraining his aura, but in the keen perception of a Nascent Soul Cultivator like Mu Long,

one could clearly feel the thick foundation of spiritual power within his body, like a dormant volcano!

This was definitely not the aura a normal Foundation Establishment Early Stage should have!

"Senior!" Mu Long bowed deeply to Yao Delong.

"Late that night, if not for the righteous dao rhyme within that wisp of pill rhyme that contained immense vitality when Senior achieved Major Achievement in Alchemy, which interfered with that Nascent Soul demon Cultivator's technique,

and bought us a moment of breathing room to activate the great array, Mu Long and my subordinates would have likely perished under the demon's claws!

I can never repay such a life-saving grace!"

Behind him, Liu Tiezhu also solemnly cupped his fists in salute.

Yao Delong understood the situation and the reason behind it.

It seemed that the Nine-Turn Pill Rhyme triggered by the Innate True Fire (the prototype of Pill Fire) had a restraining effect on demonic qi.

His expression remained unchanged as he said faintly, "City Lord Mu overstates it. This old man performs Alchemy only to complete the pill.

Being able to help unintentionally is also considered fate."

Mu Long took out a heavy Storage Pouch from his robes:

"I shall remember Senior's great kindness! A mere two thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones to show my gratitude, I hope Senior will accept them!"

Yao Delong didn't even look at the Storage Pouch, simply shaking his head gently:

"City Lord Mu is thoughtful. If you truly wish to thank me, you might as well use these Spirit Stones to rebuild the residential houses destroyed by the flames of war that night."

As soon as these words were spoken, Mu Long, Liu Tiezhu, and the surrounding merchant guild guards all felt a surge of deep respect!

Two thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones was by no means a small sum!

This Great Master Yao could actually give them up so nonchalantly, just to settle the innocent commoners!

This breadth of mind and character was truly admirable!

"Senior's high righteousness! This Mu... is ashamed!"

Mu Long felt his face heat up, his admiration growing even stronger. He bowed deeply again, then turned to Mu Baitie, his voice and expression harsh:

"Wretched creature! Why haven't you kowtowed and apologized to Senior and the Fairy! If not for Senior's magnanimity, I would have crippled your cultivation and expelled you from the family today!"

Mu Baitie's heart and gall were now shattered, leaving no room for any delusions of luck.

He kowtowed three times in succession to Yao Delong and Lin Qingxue with loud thuds:

"Junior Mu Baitie was blind to have offended Senior and the Fairy! I deserve ten thousand deaths!

After I return, I will certainly reflect on my mistakes behind closed doors and turn over a new leaf. I hope Senior and the Fairy, in your great magnanimity, will give this Junior a chance to become a new person!"

His voice trembled and his forehead was swollen and red, showing a hint of genuine remorse.

Yao Delong looked at Mu Long:

"City Lord Mu, although your son has erred, youthful arrogance is common. Just provide more discipline in the future."

"Senior's teachings are correct! Upon our return, I will immediately ground him for a year and discipline him strictly!" Mu Long replied immediately.

After the pleasantries were over, Yao Delong took Lin Qingxue and bid farewell to Mu Long, Liu Tiezhu, and Yun Ruoning.

Leaving the merchant guild gates, Yao Delong had a thought,

and a Flying Sword shimmering with a hazy green luster—exactly that Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact—floated before him.

"Junior Sister, let's fly by sword." Yao Delong thought Lin Qingxue would summon her own Flying Sword.

However, Lin Qingxue gave a sly smile and, under Yao Delong's bewildered gaze, leaped lightly onto the Flying Sword in front of him!

Immediately, a pair of warm, soft arms wrapped around his waist from behind, and her delicate body pressed gently against his back.

"Senior Brother~" Lin Qingxue rested her chin on Yao Delong's shoulder,

her breath like orchids, her cool voice carrying a rare hint of shyness and intimacy,

"In the past, I was always the one carrying you. Now that you have reached Foundation Establishment today, it's your turn to carry me back!"

Feeling the incredible softness and warmth coming from behind, as well as the fragrant breath by his ear,

even with Yao Delong's hundred-year Dao Heart, he couldn't help but feel a slight ripple, his body stiffening slightly.

He looked down at the pair of fair, slender hands wrapped around his waist, shaking his head with a helpless but doting laugh:

"Alright, as you wish."

With a slight movement of his mind, the vast power of his spiritual sea surged into the Flying Sword beneath his feet.

"Buzz!"

The Flying Sword let out a clear chime, its green light flourishing as it carried the two of them, turning into a streak of light that suddenly soared into the sky,

breaking through the air towards the Yin Yang Sect! The cold, fierce winds blew their robes and hair,

Lin Qingxue held on tighter, the corners of her mouth curving into a satisfied arc.

Inside White Cloud City, in a dark corner of a derelict courtyard house.

Three figures, almost blending into the shadows, lay quietly in wait.

"The target has left White Cloud City, flying by sword towards the northeast; he should be returning to his Sect!

His appearance is no longer that of a withered old man, but has changed into a middle-aged Cultivator. His aura is stable, confirmed to be at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage!

But his spiritual power fluctuations... are exceptionally thick!"

White Fiend's voice rang out in the minds of the Blood Fiend Demon and Black Fiend through a special secret technique, carrying a hint of gravity.

"Hmph! No matter how thick his aura is, he is still only at Foundation Establishment! The Saintess's decree must not fail!

The secrets on him, as well as the source of those Profound Dao Pills, must be made clear!"

The Blood Fiend Demon's hoarse voice was bone-chillingly cold,

"To the northeast, the path they must take is the edge of the 'Ten Thousand Miasma Valley'!

The miasma there is thick and the area is sparsely populated; it is the perfect place to strike!

And further east is the sphere of influence of the Yin Yang Sect. These two should be Yin Yang Sect Disciples!"

Following that, the three black figures dispersed like ghosts, quietly disappearing from the dilapidated courtyard,

stealthily moving at high speed towards the Ten Thousand Miasma Valley.

Just as Mu Long and Yun Ruoning were chatting, a scout at the Middle Golden Core Stage suddenly rushed into the room like a gust of wind.

His expression was panicked, and he shouted with a face full of alarm: "City Lord, something terrible has happened! We discovered the demon Cultivators from the fierce battle that night,

speeding towards the direction of the Yin Yang Sect at an incredible pace!"

Hearing this, Yun Ruoning stood up abruptly as if struck by lightning, her gaze fixed on the direction Yao Delong had left, a strong sense of unease surging in her heart.

She cried out, "This is bad! I fear those demon Cultivators are going after Mr. Yao and the others!"

Mu Long also realized the seriousness of the situation. He frowned deeply and ordered without hesitation:

"Tiezhu, it seems our chance for revenge and to repay our debt of gratitude has come!

Immediately gather the personal guards and proceed at full speed to support Senior Yao!"

At the same time, Yun Ruoning also moved quickly into action.

She hurriedly called Shopkeeper Jiang Yi over, and after briefly explaining the situation, instructed him to lead the merchant guild's consecrated experts to provide support together.