112: Breakthrough

Mu Yurou’s innate keen perception of Water Spiritual Qi allowed her to detect an extremely faint discord in the surrounding Spiritual Qi flow.

She slowly walked to the decorative shallow pond in the courtyard. The pond water, drawn from a living spring, should have been vibrant with Spiritual Qi.

She leaned close to the water's surface, her fingertips gently brushing it, and closed her eyes to sense carefully. After a moment, she opened her eyes, her expression turning grave:

"No, this water vein... has been tampered with. A trace amount of 'Spirit Corroding Powder' has been mixed into the water."

Lin Feng's eyes narrowed: "Spirit Corroding Powder?" Although he hadn't seen it himself, he had heard of the infamous reputation of this poison in the Cultivation world, which could slowly erode a Cultivator's spiritual power, gradually weakening them.

"Absolutely no mistake." Mu Yurou nodded. "This poison is colorless and odorless, extremely difficult to detect once dissolved in spiritual springs, but its medicinal properties will subtly repel Water Spiritual Qi. The poisoner's technique is superb, and the dosage is extremely small. If it weren't for me... perhaps no one would have noticed."

Lin Feng instantly understood. Yun Tianhe had led them to this seemingly safe 'own' territory, then secretly poisoned them, taking them down without a fight.

As night deepened, the small courtyard was deathly silent, with only faint insect chirps.

Suddenly, a very faint Spiritual Qi fluctuation came from outside the courtyard. Several dark figures silently scaled the wall and entered, led by Yun Tianhe.

"Set up the Formation. Capture Mu Yurou, but do not harm her life. Kill that troublesome Loose Cultivator."

He barked an order, and the Star River Sect Disciples immediately fanned out, their hand seals changing. Streaks of spiritual light transformed into countless tough Spiritual Qi threads, like a net cast from heaven and earth, enveloping Mu Yurou from all directions.

"Step back." Lin Feng was already prepared. He guided his spiritual sword, and two streaks of green and red Sword Qi slashed at the coiling Spiritual Qi threads, emitting 'hissing' cutting sounds.

A strange glint flashed in Yun Tianhe's eyes. He snorted coldly, and a long sword shimmering with starlight thrust directly at Lin Feng's Dantian.

Lin Feng swung his sword to parry. With a loud 'clang,' energy burst forth. His blood and Qi churned, and he staggered back several steps. His shoulder blade was grazed by a sinister Ice Cone spell, and the cold instantly invaded his Meridians, clashing violently with the restless fire and wood spiritual power within him.

"Ugh!" Lin Feng grunted, feeling half his body almost numb, while another scorching heat surged upward from his Dantian. The agony of ice and fire intertwined made his vision blur.

He saw two Star River Sect Disciples seize the opportunity to throw out two Talismans, which transformed into light ropes, aiming directly for the ankles of the restricted Mu Yurou.

A resolute thought surged in his heart. Lin Feng no longer held back, forcefully circulated his Cultivation Technique, and slashed a sword to sever the light ropes coiling around Mu Yurou. With a backhand, he swept out another sword strike.

Several Star River Sect Disciples who bore the brunt of the attack were sent flying backward, spitting blood, by this sudden terrifying power. The Formation instantly collapsed. Yun Tianhe was also forced to retreat repeatedly, a look of shock appearing on his face for the first time.

But Lin Feng himself paid a heavy price. His Meridians felt torn apart, and his Sea of Consciousness was completely submerged by violent killing intent and the whispers of a Heart Demon.

His eyes were bloodshot, his reason almost dissipated, leaving only the instinct for destruction. He even forgot who he was supposed to protect, and with a backhand swing, a fierce Sword Qi actually slashed towards Mu Yurou beside him.

"Senior!" Mu Yurou looked at Lin Feng, who was like a madman with unfamiliar eyes, and at the merciless Sword Qi. Her eyes were filled with unbelievable heartache and worry, but not a trace of fear.

She didn't dodge. Instead, she stepped forward to meet the Sword Qi, her voice choked with tears as she cried out, "Big Brother Lin! Wake up!"

That cry of "Big Brother Lin" was like a splash of ice water, causing Lin Feng's violent movements to halt. A trace of struggle and clarity flickered in his bloodshot eyes. He saw the tears rolling down Mu Yurou's pale face and her eyes filled with worry and trust.

A strong sense of guilt and self-reproach made him suddenly clear-headed. With his remaining will, he forcefully twisted his sword stance. The Sword Qi grazed Mu Yurou's clothes, cutting a deep trench in the ground.

"Go!" Lin Feng squeezed out this single word from his throat. Seizing the moment Yun Tianhe and the others were stunned and the Formation was broken, he pulled Mu Yurou, summoned the wine immortal gourd, transformed into an Escaping Light, broke through the roof, and fled the small town in a hurry.

Behind them, Yun Tianhe's furious roar, tinged with a hint of apprehension, could be heard.

They didn't know how far they had fled until the sky began to lighten. Lin Feng finally fell from the sky, exhausted, and the two rolled into a hidden valley. A small stream gurgled through the valley, and moonlight sprinkled on the grass, casting a cold glow.

Lin Feng collapsed to the ground, his breath extremely weak. Forcibly activating his Cultivation Technique had caused the two forces within him to completely lose control, like two raging beasts tearing and crashing through his Meridians.

He curled up, trembling violently, blood constantly overflowing from the corners of his mouth, his consciousness struggling on the edge of clarity and Chaos.

Mu Yurou knelt beside him, tears streaming down her face. Despite her own significant spiritual power consumption, she once again placed her palm on Lin Feng's forehead, trying to soothe him with her cool Water Spiritual Qi.

But this time, the effect was minimal.

"Senior... Big Brother Lin... hold on..." she sobbed, her voice broken.

After a long while, the conflict within Lin Feng finally slowly subsided under Mu Yurou's desperate soothing and his own tenacious will.

He struggled to open his eyes, seeing Mu Yurou's swollen eyes and worried face. The softest part of his heart was deeply touched. He reached out, using all his strength, and gently wiped away her tears: "Don't cry... I'm... fine."

Mu Yurou grabbed his hand, pressing it against her face, feeling the coolness of his fingertips. Her tears flowed even more fiercely: "You... you scared me to death just now..."

Under the moonlight, the valley was quiet, and the stream tinkled.

Mu Yurou nestled beside him, looking at the moon in the sky:

"Since I was little, Revered Master has told me that I am the hope of Bishui Palace... She taught me Cultivation Techniques and said my mission was to protect the Sect... But I rarely even left the palace gates, I didn't know the outside world was like this..."

She paused, her voice filled with confusion: "This trip to Moon Gazing Cliff, Revered Master said it concerned the rise and fall of the Sect, and that I must complete it... But even now, I don't know what this mission is? Why do so many people want to capture me? Star River Sect... aren't they an allied Sect?"

Lin Feng listened quietly, gripping her cool hand: "That's not your mission."

He looked at her pure yet sorrowful profile under the moonlight, and a feeling he had never experienced before became clear in his heart. "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

Mu Yurou turned her head, her tear-filled eyes gazing at him. She leaned slightly and gently rested her forehead on Lin Feng's shoulder.

Lin Feng's body stiffened slightly, then relaxed. He could feel her body trembling slightly and the cool temperature radiating from her. He didn't move, letting her lean against him.

In the valley, there was only the gurgling of the stream and their intertwining breaths. After a long while, Mu Yurou whispered in an extremely soft voice, as if afraid of disturbing the tranquility:

"Having you here... is truly good."