479: Chapter 479 Xiao Nianyin returns to meet Xu Ruyu; the Hehuan Sect heads to the Tianyan Sect.

Fifth Elder Hua Xunhuan stepped forward, looked at Xiao Nianyin, hesitated for a moment, and still spoke: "You... you are going back to find the Sect Master?"

Xiao Nianyin glanced at her without speaking, but her silence was the answer.

The Grand Elder's expression changed: "You are going back alone? Situ E is there, Zhao Qian is there, and there are so many people from the Jile Sect and Tianshu Sword Sect. You..."

"My Cultivation has already recovered." Xiao Nianyin interrupted him, her voice calm, "Although it has not yet recovered to the level of my peak state, Situ E and Zhao Qian are no longer my match."

The Grand Elder opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but did not know what to say.

He certainly knew that Xiao Nianyin's Cultivation had recovered, but he also knew that there were more than just Situ E and Zhao Qian there.

There were also those experts from the Jile Sect and Tianshu Sword Sect.

Could she make it by going back alone?

But he did not say it out loud.

Because he knew that once Xiao Nianyin made a decision, he could not stop her.

"Then these Disciples..."

The Grand Elder glanced at the crowd behind him.

"Take them to the Tianyan Sect," Xiao Nianyin said. "Once you arrive at the Tianyan Sect, look for Shen Biyun. Mention my name, and she will make arrangements."

The Grand Elder nodded.

He knew that this was the best choice for now.

The Tianyan Sect was a major sect of the Righteous Path with formidable strength. With Shen Biyun's protection, the Disciples of the Hehuan Sect would be safe for the time being.

Granny Liu had been leaning on her cane, remaining silent the entire time.

At this moment, she raised her head and looked at Xiao Nianyin, a glimmer of complex emotions flashing through her cloudy, aged eyes.

"Xiao Nianyin," her voice was hoarse, "the Sect Master... you must bring him back."

Xiao Nianyin glanced at her without speaking.

She simply turned around, with her back to the crowd.

Leng Ningshuang stood in the crowd, watching Xiao Nianyin's back, while complex emotions surged in her heart.

The Tianyan Sect.

She certainly knew that place.

It was a major sect of the Righteous Path, located several thousand miles north of Tianyin Mountain, with formidable strength and numerous Disciples.

During an experience, she had once met the head Disciple of the Tianyan Sect.

That person's name was Shen Ao.

He was the only son of the Tianyan Sect Sect Master Shen Biyun, and also the most outstanding Disciple of the Tianyan Sect's younger generation.

He had outstanding Aptitude, deep Cultivation, and was handsome and dashing, making him the ideal Dao Companion in the hearts of countless female cultivators.

But he just happened to set his sights on Leng Ningshuang.

During that experience, Shen Ao fell in love with her at first sight and had been pursuing her relentlessly ever since.

Leng Ningshuang had rejected him countless times, but he refused to give up.

In the end, he even laid down a harsh threat—he would marry no one but Leng Ningshuang in this lifetime, and whoever dared to have designs on Leng Ningshuang would be his enemy.

Leng Ningshuang had not paid it any mind at the time, thinking he was just saying it.

But later, Shen Ao really sent people to inquire about her everywhere, and even tried to forcibly take her back to the Tianyan Sect.

Now, they were going to stay at the Tianyan Sect.

Leng Ningshuang's brows furrowed even tighter. She did not know what awaited her.

But she did not say it out loud; now was not the time to talk about these things. The Sect Master's life and death were uncertain, and the Hehuan Sect's future was unclear; she could not make things difficult for everyone because of her own private matters.

She just stood silently in the crowd, watching the direction where Xiao Nianyin had disappeared.

Xiao Nianyin did not say anything else. She turned around, her figure flashed, and she transformed into a stream of light, disappearing into the night sky.

The Grand Elder stood where he was, watching the direction where Xiao Nianyin had disappeared, remaining silent for a long time.

Fifth Elder Hua Xunhuan sighed and turned to the Disciples, saying: "Let's go. To the Tianyan Sect."

The group began to move, walking north along the mountain path.

Leng Ningshuang walked in the middle of the group, silent, her footsteps heavy.

In her mind, Shen Ao's name would not go away, but she did not tell anyone.

She simply buried that worry deep in her heart.

The group continued to walk north, moonlight spilling onto them, stretching their shadows long.

Xiao Nianyin sped all the way, flying toward the direction she had come from.

The night wind whistled in her ears, yet complex emotions surged in her heart.

She did not know why she wanted to go back. She and Xu Ruyu were enemies; he had placed a Seal on her Cultivation and made her his Bed-warming maid.

She should hate him and should be wishing for his death. But when she heard that he stayed behind to cover their retreat, her heart suddenly tightened.

The images of those nights surfaced in her mind once again.

She remembered those nights at Ningyin Hall. In order to get back her Cultivation, she had actively climbed into his bed. His body was very hot, like a ball of fire.

His arms were very strong, holding her so tightly that she could almost not catch her breath.

His breathing was heavy, spraying onto her neck, feeling itchy.

She remembered herself beneath him, making those shameful sounds. She remembered herself asking for more time and time again, until she was exhausted.

She was a Saint Realm Expert, having lived for hundreds of years, and had never had physical intimacy with any man.

He was the first, and also the only one. Those nights, she thought she was just using him as a Cauldron for healing, and thought those nights were just a transaction.

But now, she realized that there were some things she could not control.

She did not know if this was liking him. She only knew that she did not want him to die.

Xiao Nianyin increased her speed, the Qi in her body circulating frantically, transforming into a stream of light that cut through the night sky.