478: Chapter 478 The Grand Elder and the others returned, but Xu Ruyu was not among them.

Xiao Nianyin did not know how long she had been flying.

She only knew that she had to bring the Disciples inside her Sleeve Universe to a safe place.

This was the task Xu Ruyu had entrusted to her, and it was also what she had promised to do.

She could not break her word.

The night was deep and dark, the moonlight bleak.

She traveled north, passing through towering mountains and rugged ridges, crossing rivers and canyons, not daring to stop.

The spiritual power within her was depleting rapidly, but she dared not slow down.

Someone might pursue her from behind at any moment; she had to leave the sphere of influence of Tianyin Mountain as quickly as possible.

Half an hour later, she had already flown a thousand miles away.

This was an unfamiliar mountain forest, with gentle terrain and sparse trees.

Under the moonlight, she could vaguely see the outline of a city in the distance.

She did not know where that was, but she knew she was safe for the moment.

She landed on a small hill, retracted her flight light, and panted heavily.

Her face was somewhat pale; it was a sign of excessive consumption of spiritual power.

Although her Cultivation had recovered by more than half, carrying over three hundred people while flying using the Sleeve Universe was still a great drain on her.

She looked back at the path she had come from; it was pitch black, and she could see nothing.

She wondered how things were going with Xu Ruyu.

As soon as this thought emerged, she immediately shook her head, wanting to shake it off.

What was her relationship with him? Enemies.

He was her enemy, and she was his enemy.

Why should she care about his life or death?

Yet, images of those nights uncontrollably surfaced in her mind.

Those nights in Ningyin Hall, when she had taken the initiative to climb into his bed to heal her wounds.

She remembered his body temperature, remembered his breathing, remembered his powerful arms, and remembered those moments that nearly made her lose control.

She was a Saint Realm Expert who had lived for hundreds of years and had never had intimate contact with any man. He was the first, and the only one.

She thought she had only regarded him as a Cauldron for healing, and that those nights were merely a transaction.

But now, when she had fled a thousand miles away, and when she knew he was facing powerful enemies alone, her heart was in chaos.

She did not know what was wrong with her.

She only knew that she seemed to be somewhat worried about him.

Xiao Nianyin took a deep breath, suppressing the distracting thoughts in her heart.

She flew down from the small hill and landed on an open space at the foot of the mountain.

She raised her hand, opened her sleeve, and a silver-white light surged out from it, landing on the ground and transforming into over three hundred people.

Leng Ningshuang, Zhao Yan, Ning Caihe, Qingyan, and those Hehuan Sect Disciples appeared one by one from the light, standing in the open space.

They were still somewhat dazed, not knowing what had happened.

The crowd dispersed, looking around, searching for familiar faces.

The Grand Elder, Fifth Elder, and Granny Liu were not among them.

They had remained behind with Xu Ruyu.

Xiao Nianyin's gaze swept across the crowd; she did not speak, just stood there, waiting.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, three figures flew in from the horizon and landed in the open space.

They were none other than the Grand Elder, Fifth Elder, and Granny Liu.

The three of them did not look well, and their bodies bore some traces of battle, but they were not seriously injured.

There were several scorched marks on the Grand Elder's robes, the Fifth Elder's sleeve was torn, and Granny Liu's cane was covered with some dust.

After landing, the Grand Elder saw Xiao Nianyin and walked over quickly.

The Fifth Elder and Granny Liu followed behind.

"Where is Xu Ruyu?"

Xiao Nianyin asked. Her voice was very calm, so calm that there wasn't a ripple of emotion.

The Grand Elder looked at her, was silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "The Sect Master told us to leave first; he stayed behind to cover the retreat."

Xiao Nianyin's expression changed slightly.

She had guessed as much.

From the moment Xu Ruyu asked her to take the Disciples and leave first, she had guessed it.

He wanted to stay behind to cover the retreat, letting her take the people and leave.

She thought he would let the Grand Elder and the other two leave as well; she had not expected him to truly remain behind alone.

"Alone?"

Xiao Nianyin asked.

The Grand Elder nodded, "He told us to leave first; he said he had his own way to escape."

The Fifth Elder, Hua Xunhuan, added from the side, "The Sect Master said he could handle it. He told us to find you and take the Disciples to a safe place to settle down together."

Xiao Nianyin did not speak.

She looked at the Grand Elder, then looked at the Fifth Elder and Granny Liu, a complex emotion surging in her heart.

Handle it? What did he have to handle it with?

Situ E is a Half-step Saint Realm, Zhao Qian is a Saint Realm Peak, not to mention the many experts from the Jile Sect and Tianshu Sword Sect.

How could he handle it alone?

But she did not say it out loud.

She knew that the Grand Elder and the other two had already done their best.

That they were able to return alive showed that Xu Ruyu had indeed let them leave first.

He had shouldered everything alone.

"What do you plan to do next?"

Xiao Nianyin asked.

The Grand Elder shook his head, "The Sect Master only told us to find you and said nothing else. He said you would make the arrangements."

Xiao Nianyin was silent.

She glanced at the Disciples standing in the open space, their eyes full of fear and confusion, and then looked back in the direction she had come from.

There, Xu Ruyu was still covering the retreat, his life or death unknown.

She took a deep breath, having made a decision in her heart.

"Go to the Tianyan Sect," her voice was very calm, so calm that there wasn't a ripple of emotion. "The Sect Master of the Tianyan Sect, Shen Biyun, is an old acquaintance of mine. When you arrive there, mention my name, and she will take you in."

The Grand Elder was stunned, "The Tianyan Sect? A Righteous Path Sect?"

"Yes," Xiao Nianyin nodded. "Shen Biyun is an upright person; she will not discriminate against you because of the reputation of the Hehuan Sect. Once you are there, settle down in peace and wait for my return."