Youyue Valley, quiet and elegant.
Shaying pushed open the valley gate and walked into the courtyard. Yuyi was sitting by the stone table, playing with a jade talisman in his hand.
"Yuyi," Shaying said softly, "I'm back."
Yuyi looked up, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes: "Shaying, how was the mission?"
Shaying sat down opposite him and placed three secret manuals on the table: "Completed. These are the rewards from Lingxiao."
Yuyi picked up the Clear Heart Sword Art and read it for a moment, saying: "Clear Heart Sword Art, its power is impressive. However, the cultivation conditions are harsh, you need to consider carefully."
Shaying nodded: "I know."
Yuyi looked at the Left-Right Mutual Combat and Jade Maiden Heart Sutra, saying: "These two techniques are also quite extraordinary. You've gained a lot this time."
Shaying smiled slightly: "Just good luck. By the way, Lingxiao and Youying helped me greatly. They're doing missions now, and I promised to help them."
Yuyi frowned slightly: "You're going?"
Shaying nodded: "They helped me, I can't break my promise."
Yuyi was silent for a moment, then said: "Be careful."
Shaying responded and got up to leave.
Yuyi watched her retreating figure, a complex emotion surging in his heart. He wanted to tell Shaying that he planed to leave the Cangqiong Alliance and take her with him. But with Shaying away, this plancould only be temporarily shelved.
Three days later, Cangqiong Alliance headquarters.
Duan Changjian stood in the great hall, with two cultivators beside him.
"Fellow cultivators," Duan Changjian announced loudly, "today two legendary experts have joined our Cangqiong Alliance. Ren, ranked first on the Hengyue Sect's Top Ten Experts List. Tiandaozi, ranked first on the Chunyang Sect's Top Ten Experts List."
The cultivators in the hall began discussing.
"Ren? That legendary existence?"
"Tiandaozi? I heard his mental method has reached perfection!"
Yuyi stood in the corner, his gaze sweeping over Ren and Tiandaozi. Ren was tall and burly, with deep eyes, emanating a powerful aura. Tiandaozi was thin and scholarly, appearing ordinary, yet giving people an unfathomable feeling.
The addition of these two greatly increased the strength of the Cangqiong Alliance. Yuyi sighed inwardly: the planto leave would probably have to be postponed.
Meanwhile, deep in the great desert.
Shaying, Lingxiao, and Youying were extermingating a group of horse bandits.
"Kill!" Lingxiao roared, his long sword like a dragon, striking straight at the bandit leader.
The bandit leader wielded a curved blade, fighting with Lingxiao. The two's sword lights intertwined, spiritual power surging.
Shaying assisted from the side, her Hanxiao Sword flashing with cold light, each strike taking a life. Youying also wielded her sword to kill enemies. The three cooperated tacitly and quickly extermingated the bandits.
"Satisfying!" Lingxiao laughed heartily.
Shaying sheathed her sword and said: "Mission complete, let's go."
Just then, a series of sounds of breaking through the air suddenly rang out from all around.
Dozens of black-robed cultivators rushed out from behind the sand dunes, surrounding the three of them.
"Not good!" Youying's face changed, "It's an ambush!"
Lingxiao sneered: "A mere ambush, what's there to fear!"
Saying this, he wielded his sword and charged at the black-robed cultivators. Shaying and Youying also drew their swords to fight.
However, the black-robed cultivators were numerous, and each one's strength was impressive. The three gradually fell into a bitter battle.
"Break out separately!" Shaying shouted.
The three charged in three different directions. Lingxiao fought his way out of the encirclement, but when he looked back, he didn't see Shaying and Youying.
"Shaying!" Lingxiao's heart tightened, and he turned back to fight.
Shaying was being besieged by several black-robed cultivators, with several wounds already on her body. Lingxiao charged into the battle circle, protecting Shaying in front of him.
"Miss Shaying, you go first!" Lingxiao shouted.
Shaying shook her head: "No, you..."
"Don't waste words!" Lingxiao interrupted her, "Go quickly!"
Shaying gritted her teeth, turned and broke out of the encirclement. Lingxiao stayed behind to block the pursuers.
Shaying fled to an oasis and finally collapsed from exhaustion. Her wounds were still bleeding, her breath weak.
Just then, Lingxiao also arrived at the oasis. He also had quite a few wounds, but much lighter than Shaying's.
"Miss Shaying!" Lingxiao hurriedly helped Shaying up, took out a Hemostasis Pill from his storage ring, and fed it to her.
After taking the pill, Shaying's breath gradually stabilized. She opened her eyes and saw Lingxiao looking at her with concern.
"Lingxiao," Shaying said weakly, "thank you."
Lingxiao shook his head: "No need for thanks."
He tore off a piece of his robe to bandage Shaying's wounds. Shaying's wounds were on her back, so Lingxiao had to go behind her.
When Lingxiao's hand touched Shaying's skin, his heartbeat couldn't help but accelerate. Shaying's skin was as smooth as jade, emitting a faint fragrance.
Lingxiao suppressed the palpitation in his heart, focusing on bandaging Shaying. However, his hand couldn't help but tremble.
Shaying seemed to sense something, slightly turning her head to see Lingxiao's flushed face.
"Lingxiao, you..."
Lingxiao hurriedly said: "N-nothing. The wound is bandaged, you rest a bit."
Saying this, he got up and walked to the side, turning his back to Shaying, taking a deep breath.
Shaying looked at his back, a strange feeling surging in her heart. This man, to save her, didn't hesitate to risk his life to stay behind. How should she repay this kindness?
Just then, footsteps came from outside the oasis.
Lingxiao's face changed, and he drew his sword: "Someone's coming!"
Shaying also struggled to stand up, gripping the Hanxiao Sword tightly.
A black-robed cultivator walked out from behind a sand dune, emanating a terrifying aura. His realm had actually reached the Deity Transformation Realm!
"Shaying," the black-robed cultivator sneered, "finally found you."
Shaying's heart tightened: "Who are you?"
The black-robed cultivator didn't answer, but raised his hand and struck with a palm. The palm wind was like thunder, heading straight for Shaying.
Lingxiao roared, blocking in front of Shaying, wielding his sword to meet the attack.
"Boom!"
Lingxiao was sent flying, vomiting blood, and heavily fell to the ground.
"Lingxiao!" Shaying exclaimed in shock.
The black-robed cultivator sneered: "A mere Golden Core Realm cultivator dares to block me?"
Saying this, he struck again, a palm heading toward Shaying.
Shaying barely managed to block with her sword, but was pushed back several steps, her qi and blood churning.
Just then, Lingxiao struggled to get up, once again blocking in front of Shaying.
"Miss Shaying, run quickly!" Lingxiao said hoarsely.
Shaying shook her head: "I won't go!"
The black-robed cultivator's eyes flashed with impatience. He raised his hand and struck, hitting Lingxiao's chest.
"Pfft!"
Lingxiao spat out a mouthful of blood and fell to the ground, his breath fading.
"Shaying!" Shaying's heart was filled with grief, tears streaming down her face.
She helped Lingxiao up and saw that his chest had collapsed, obviously severely injured.
"Miss Shaying," Lingxiao smiled weakly, "to die for you... I... I'm willing."
Shaying's tears flowed freely: "Don't talk, I'll take you away."
Saying this, she helped Lingxiao up and used all her strength to rush out of the oasis.
The black-robed cultivator sneered, about to pursue, but saw several sword lights coming from the distance. He frowned, his figure flashed, and he disappeared from the spot.
Shaying carried Lingxiao and fled for several miles before finally collapsing from exhaustion. She tightly held Lingxiao, her tears soaking his clothes.
"Lingxiao, hold on," Shaying said chokingly, "I'll save you."
Lingxiao struggled to open his eyes, looking at Shaying's tear-stained face, a warm current surging in his heart.
"Miss Shaying," Lingxiao said weakly, "if I can survive... I... I want to tell you, I..."
Shaying gripped his hand tightly: "Don't talk, save your strength."
Lingxiao smiled slightly and closed his eyes.
Shaying held him tightly, her heart filled with fear and sorrow. She was afraid of losing this man who had risked his life for her, afraid he would die like this.
Just then, a sound of breaking through the air came from the distance.
Shaying looked up and saw Youying arriving with several Tianjian Sect disciples.
"Shaying, Lingxiao!" Youying exclaimed.
Shaying was like seeing a savior: "Sister Youying, quickly save Lingxiao!"
Youying hurried forward, examined Lingxiao's injuries, and her face changed drastically: "The injuries are too severe, we must return to the sect immediately!"
Saying this, she took out a sound transmission jade talisman to contact the Tianjian Sect.
Shaying tightly held Lingxiao's hand, praying silently in her heart: Lingxiao, you must survive.