157: Chapter 157 Master, I Don't Want You to Die!

Two months.

Nangong Zili's brows furrowed slightly.

She braced her body, wanting to sit up straighter.

Ling Xiaotang hurriedly supported her, helping her lean against the stone wall.

Nangong Zili took a deep breath and took out a primitive jade token from her bosom.

The jade token was pitch black, with complex patterns carved along its edges, and faint spiritual light flowed within it.

It was the communication token used by the Five Gu Sect to stay in contact.

She pressed the jade token to her brow and probed it with her Divine Sense.

One breath.

Two breaths.

Three breaths.

Nangong Zili's expression gradually became grave.

The jade token was completely empty.

There was not a single message.

There was no communication from the Sect at all.

There was nothing.

According to the original plan, by now the Yu Kingdom should have launched a full-scale invasion of the Zhao State, with the flames of war spreading; the Sect would naturally have contacted the Disciples scattered abroad through the token, either to inform them of the situation or to arrange for their rescue.

But now...

Two months have passed.

Not a single message.

Nangong Zili's complexion was already pale, and now it was frighteningly white.

She slowly put down the jade token and looked at Ling Xiaotang.

A complex expression flashed across her charming eyes. There was gravity, confusion, and a hint of faint unease.

But she quickly suppressed these emotions, twitched the corners of her mouth, forced a smile, and said with feigned ease: "Xiao Tang, it seems... we are in danger."

Ling Xiaotang's expression changed upon hearing this.

She subconsciously grabbed Nangong Zili's sleeve and said urgently: "Revered Master, what's wrong? Did someone chase us here? Let's leave now!"

Nangong Zili shook her head, gently patted the back of her hand, and signaled her to calm down.

She paused, her voice hoarse, but tried her best to remain calm: "Xiao Tang, do you still remember the plan the Sect set before we infiltrated the Zhao State?"

Ling Xiaotang nodded: "I remember. The two True Lords joined forces to challenge that True Monarch Xuanjian of the Zhao State. If they won, the army would cross the border; if they didn't win, they would still disrupt the southeast of the Zhao State to prepare for the subsequent invasion..."

Nangong Zili nodded slightly: "Correct. According to the plan, the Yu Kingdom should have launched a full-scale invasion by now, and the Sect would have contacted us through the token to inform us of the situation and arrange for our rescue."

She paused, looking at the jade token in her hand, her voice low: "But now, two months have passed. There hasn't been a single message."

Ling Xiaotang was stunned for a moment, then said: "Revered Master, could it be because the Zhao State sealed the border, and the message couldn't get in?"

Nangong Zili shook her head: "If it were just a border blockade, the Sect has plenty of ways to bypass it. And..."

She took a deep breath, the gravity in her eyes deepening: "Furthermore, our Sect's True Lord and the Yama Sect's True Lord joined forces to challenge that True Monarch Xuanjian. Logically, regardless of victory or defeat, there should be a result by now. If they won, the Yu Kingdom's army should have crossed the border by now; if they lost... the Sect should have sent a message telling us to try to evacuate or go into hiding."

But now, there is nothing.

Ling Xiaotang's face also turned pale.

She opened her mouth, speaking with some difficulty: "Revered Master... are you saying... the True Lord... lost?"

Nangong Zili did not answer.

She just looked at the jade token in her hand, silent for a long time.

Then, she raised her head and looked at Ling Xiaotang, a complex expression flashing in her eyes: "Xiao Tang, regardless of whether the True Lord won or lost, our current situation is not optimistic."

She paused and continued: "The Yu Kingdom has not launched a full-scale invasion, which means the plan has changed. And we are currently trapped within the Zhao State, isolated and without support..."

Hearing this, a deep sense of unease welled up in Ling Xiaotang's heart.

She looked at her Revered Master's pale face, then thought of the days she had spent living in fear over the past two months, and suddenly felt a sourness in her nose.

But she forced herself not to cry, only nodding vigorously:

Nangong Zili looked at this Disciple before her, whose eyes were red-rimmed but who was forcing herself not to cry, and an indescribable softness welled up in her heart.

She reached out, gently took Ling Xiaotang's hand, and slowly pulled her to her side.

Ling Xiaotang obediently moved closer, not having reacted yet— "Smack."

Nangong Zili lowered her head and kissed her on her fair, delicate cheek, which was like a porcelain doll's.

Ling Xiaotang was completely stunned.

She covered the spot that had been kissed, staring blankly at her Revered Master, not knowing how to react for a moment.

Nangong Zili looked at her stunned appearance, and the smile on her lips deepened a little.

She raised her hand and gently pinched Ling Xiaotang's cheek, her voice gentle but with a hint of seriousness: "Xiao Tang, for the coming period, I am afraid Revered Master will have to rely on you."

She paused, looking at her with soft eyes: "If it really doesn't work out... you can just abandon Revered Master and leave directly. Don't worry about me."

Ling Xiaotang was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, and then her mouth pouted.

In her clear eyes, tears instantly welled up.

"Revered Master! You, you are not allowed to say such things!"

Her voice had a crying tone, and as soon as she finished speaking, tears fell "pitter-patter."

Over the past two months, she had been living in fear every single day.

During the day, she had to carefully go out to find herbs, fearing that she would be discovered by the Disciples of the Qingshui Sword Sect; at night, she had to stay by her unconscious Revered Master's side, fearing that she would never wake up again.

She didn't dare to sleep too deeply, didn't dare to leave for too long, and every time she went out, she risked her life to go and return quickly.

She was just a young girl in her teens.

No matter how resilient, there are times when one cannot hold on.

At this moment, Nangong Zili's words "abandon Revered Master and leave directly" were like a thorn, piercing deeply into the softest part of her heart.

"Wuwuwu... Revered Master, I don't want you to die... I don't want to..."

Ling Xiaotang cried until she was out of breath, tears falling like broken pearls, and she threw herself into Nangong Zili's arms, holding her tightly.

Nangong Zili's heart softened from her crying.

She hurriedly reached out, gathered the little one into her arms, and gently patted her back, her tone so gentle that it could drip water: "Alright, alright, Revered Master was just teasing you, don't cry, don't cry..."

Ling Xiaotang buried herself in her arms, sobbing non-stop, her shoulders heaving.

Nangong Zili sighed softly, stroking the top of her head, her eyes full of pity.

This child was truly scared.

She looked up at the top of the cave, and a look of reminiscence gradually emerged in her charming eyes.

"Xiao Tang..."

She spoke softly, her voice gentle and distant: "Actually, back then, Revered Master also encountered a similar situation."

Ling Xiaotang's sobbing paused slightly, and she lifted her tear-blurred little face to look at her.

Nangong Zili looked down at her, the corners of her lips curling into a gentle smile: "At that time, Revered Master was even younger than you are now. Together with your grandmother, who was my Senior Sister, I was being chased by Disciples of the Righteous Path."

"Back then, I was also scared to death, hiding in Senior Sister's arms and crying, just like you are now."

She paused, a look of nostalgia flashing in her eyes: