45: You're a manipulating bastard!

“Brother, how much longer?”

“Soon, we’ll be there right away. Just hold on a little longer.”

“Mm~”

On the street, dozens of people were frantically running towards the Li family.

Most of them were Mortals, with mothers and sons, grandfathers and grandsons, and even brothers and sisters… Tiny infants clung tightly to their mothers’ embrace, the tear stains at the corners of their eyes shocking to behold, yet their mouths were still tightly covered, for fear of making even a slight sound.

The young girl lay on the boy’s back, feeling that faint sense of security.

But even so, the Cultivators in front still roared impatiently, “Hurry up, all of you, hurry up for this old man!”

“Do you want to get this old man killed?”

No one resisted; instead, they gritted their teeth and desperately quickened their pace.

This was only because if it weren’t for these Cultivators, they would have already died.

“Ah~”

Just then, someone fell, and a shrill scream came from behind, “Save me~ Don’t abandon me…”

No one paid attention, nor did anyone hesitate in the slightest; everyone continued to run forward.

But hearing the shrill screams from behind, the boy’s body still trembled involuntarily.

“It’s close, we’re almost there!”

After an unknown amount of time, the light before them grew brighter and brighter. The massive figure of the Black Tortoise shone resplendently, dazzling to the eyes, and a glimmer of hope for survival appeared in everyone’s hearts.

The girl, still on the boy’s back, said joyfully, “Brother, we’ve survived.”

“Yes, we’ve survived!” The boy looked at the light ahead, adjusted the girl’s slightly slipping body, and a hint of sadness flashed in his eyes.

“Once we reach the Li family, we will definitely survive. A Golden Core True Person is so powerful; he will surely drive away all those demons and ghosts.”

“At that time, I want to live with Brother forever, and never be separated!” As if not sensing the boy’s sadness, the girl spoke to herself.

Her innocent words healed the boy’s wounded heart, making him chuckle, “Silly girl, how can a younger sister live with her older brother forever?”

“Nannan doesn’t care, Nannan just wants to be with Brother~” The girl playfully rubbed against the boy’s neck, making him tickle.

“Alright, alright, alright~ Brother will always be by Nannan’s side.”

“Forever!” The boy silently added in his heart.

“Hehe~ Brother is so good!” The girl smiled radiantly, hugging the boy’s neck tightly, as if he would disappear if she let go.

But suddenly, a shrill scream came from the crowd.

It turned out that, at some point, someone in the crowd had turned into a Corpse… “Damn it, I should have thought of it sooner!”

Those Cultivators did not hesitate in the slightest, abandoning the Mortals and charging towards the final stretch on their own.

“Save me~”

“Don’t abandon us!”

People desperately called for help, but it was useless.

Although those Cultivators really wanted to exchange these Mortals for merit points, compared to their own lives, these were not worth mentioning.

“Damn it, what should I do?”

The boy, carrying his younger sister, helplessly watched the retreating figures of the Cultivators, his heart filled with despair.

They were so close… they could have survived… Why?

Why must even my hope of surviving with my younger sister be stripped away?

Why did it turn out like this… The boy’s heart was filled with sorrow, but he did not give up. He still carried his younger sister and desperately ran forward.

“Brother, are… are we going to die…?”

The girl’s trembling voice sounded in his ear, and the boy’s body trembled.

“No, Brother will definitely lead you to survive.”

“Definitely!!”

The boy said firmly.

The girl had lost her previous vivacity. She was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, “Brother, put me down!”

The boy suddenly turned his head and shouted, “What are you saying? Brother will never abandon you!”

Meeting the boy’s gaze, the girl said earnestly, “Brother, put me down!”

“You’ve tried very hard.”

“Put Nannan down, live well, and see this world well for Nannan.”

“Don’t worry, Nannan has grown up and isn’t afraid of pain.”

“Hehe~”

With that, the girl smiled brightly, radiant and innocent, but the tears in her eyes couldn’t be stopped.

“Silly child~” The boy smiled. He smiled and embraced the girl from his back, gently wiping away the tears from the corner of her eyes, and said softly, “I am your Brother, after all~”

“What kind of Brother abandons his younger sister and flees alone?”

At this moment, the Yin Corpse had caught up to them, and the boy was tackled.

But he still tightly protected the girl in his arms, pressing her beneath him, forming the final barrier with his body.

The boy endured the pain from the bites. He still gently stroked the girl’s messy hair and smiled, “Brother can’t protect you anymore. Promise Brother, you must survive~”

With that, the boy closed his eyes forever.

So this is death?

Father, Mother, I’m coming to find you.

I’m sorry, I didn’t protect Nannan well… “Brother~”

Looking at the boy’s pale face, the girl broke down in tears, her heart aching as if being twisted.

In just one day, she first lost her parents, and now even her Brother… At this moment, extreme sorrow engulfed the girl’s entire body.

The boy’s body was violently flung away by the Yin Corpse. Just as the girl was about to suffer misfortune, all the Yin Corpses on the entire street were suddenly frozen in an instant, then turned into a mass of ice-crystal powder and dissipated.

“Alas~ I was still a step too late!”

Li Xiangyun appeared beside the girl, looking at the small figure who had cried herself unconscious, frowning, his expression filled with anger.

In fact, Li Xiangyun had long sensed this scene and had decided to help early on.

However, as soon as he stepped out of the Li family, he was subjected to a frenzied attack from Yin Corpses and Formations.

Therefore, even though he had rushed at the risk of backlash, he was still a step too late.

After all, he was the only one in the entire Purple Cloud City who posed a threat to those Devil Cultivators.

Now that he had finally managed to emerge from the tortoise shell, shouldn’t they desperately try to deal with him?

Just then, an evil and rampant voice exploded in the sky above Purple Cloud City.

“Jie jie jie~”

“Painful? Despairing? Powerless?”

“This Venerable One just wants them to see hope first, then experience despair.”

“Only works produced this way are perfect enough!”

“Let me also tell you a despairing piece of news: Devilish Qi has long been hidden in your bodies by this Venerable One. Be careful of those around you~”

Suddenly, Li Zhongwen’s voice transmission sounded in his ear, “Seventh Uncle, this is bad! Many people in the clan have suddenly turned into Corpses!”

Li Xiangyun’s expression changed, and he realized he had fallen into a trap.

The other party clearly intended to use the time he was out to break through the Li family from within.

In fact, Li Xiangyun had previously vaguely sensed something was wrong and had even observed to see if Devilish Qi was hidden in those people’s bodies.

But the result he got was that there was none.

Li Xiangyun didn’t know where the accident occurred, but at this moment, he only felt an unprecedented sense of frustration, and the anger in his heart burned fiercely, urgently needing release.

“You bastard who toys with human hearts!!!”

Li Xiangyun said through gritted teeth, surging killing intent soared into the sky, and terrifying cold Qi raged wildly.