Min Yue blocked the group of people about to charge in. The elder who had first called for Lan Tian’s destruction was one of the senior members among this group of immortals. They were unaware that Min Yue was the once-majestic War God; the elder simply assumed he was a talented junior with potential.
“Why must we wait?” the elder asked with slight confusion. He stroked his beard and continued, his voice firm. “The best plan is to eliminate him quickly.”
Min Yue turned to look at him, his brows slightly knit. His gaze held a trace of indifference. He pointed directly toward Lan Tian. “Don’t you see that there is someone else there?”
Only then did the others follow his pointing finger and realize that someone was being carried on the Demon Lord’s shoulder.
“Good heavens, the demon has even taken a hostage.” Someone muttered under their breath. The others displayed expressions of hesitation and did not immediately move forward.
“Then… in your opinion, what should be done?” A hint of displeasure appeared on the elder’s face.
“He is my disciple; I will be responsible for him.” Min Yue turned around, his gaze fixed firmly on the crowd. Li Zi, standing beside him, suddenly felt a sense of unease. He instinctively reached out and grabbed Min Yue’s sleeve.
Min Yue paused, turning back to look at him.
“You…” Li Zi was overcome with complex emotions. He was worried for him, but upon reflection, he knew Min Yue’s cultivation was far superior to his own, so he had no cause for worry. The pile of words he had prepared vanished, leaving him silent.
“Take care of yourself,” Li Zi finally said. He slowly withdrew his hand from Min Yue’s sleeve, as if clinging to a final moment of attachment.
Min Yue was slightly surprised by his words, but his expression remained calm. “Understood.”
He did not look at Li Zi again, turning his back and walking at a leisurely pace toward Lan Tian. Li Zi watched his retreating figure, a sense of foreboding lingering in his heart.
Main Plot Boss: ” I feel like Li Zi is being weird.” Lan Tian: “?” Main Plot Boss: “Forget it, it’s nothing. Let’s continue…”
Min Yue approached Lan Tian alone in full view of everyone. The elder’s eyes flashed with surprise and approval, while others watched Min Yue with wide eyes. Students of the Wangxian Gate craned their necks from the rear. “What’s happening in front?” a female disciple asked, but everyone shook their heads, equally confused.
Only one person stood silent; Yu Qiu gripped his hands tight, gazing anxiously toward the cave. How did the Immortal Sects find this place so quickly? The Master didn’t even have time to move the First Senior Brother… The Master can only go along with them for now, and I can’t do anything…
Min Yue stopped a meter away from Lan Tian. Jialuo immediately assumed a defensive posture, his eyes locked onto him. Min Yue glanced at him, and suddenly, as if realizing something, his eyes widened slightly. But he quickly shifted his focus back to Lan Tian.
He purposely shouted loudly: “Demon Lord! Release Yu Shengyan!”
Lan Tian, acting out the play, retreated behind Jialuo while still holding Yu Shengyan. The intent was clear: he would not release the captive easily. Min Yue deliberately raised an eyebrow, turned around in a circle, and said, “Since you will not listen to your Master, I am forced to sacrifice family for the sake of justice…”
The other immortals felt a pang of sympathy for Min Yue. Every time he said “Master,” it was clear he still considered him his dear disciple.
With that, Min Yue drew a treasure sword and charged toward Lan Tian with righteous indignation.
Main Plot Boss: “I’m coming! Little Anti-Protagonist.”
They had already discussed a feasible plan. Now, they just had to act it out. Lan Tian laughed heartily and threw Yu Shengyan at Jialuo, catching him off guard. Jialuo, who had been on high alert, was momentarily stunned by the sudden bundle.
Lan Tian charged forward. Min Yue’s sword plunged into his left abdomen without hesitation, drawing cheers from the crowd. But their joy was short-lived, as they watched Min Yue suddenly freeze, unable to strike a second blow.
Li Zi finally understood what was happening, Min Yue could not bring himself to strike again. His sense of foreboding grew deeper.
Lan Tian smiled at the crowd as if his scheme had succeeded, then snapped off the sword hilt. He turned and wrapped his arms around the still-stunned Min Yue, feigning a chokehold.
“Min Yue!” Li Zi exclaimed, taking a step forward.
Min Yue seemed to finally come to his senses; a flash of annoyance crossed his face as he tried to struggle. But Lan Tian’s hand was locked tightly around his neck, ready to crush his throat in an instant.
“Don’t! Lan Tian, please, be calm!” Li Zi took another step, speaking in a soothing, measured tone.
“Lan Tian.”
Lan Tian slowly raised his head, his blood-red eyes scanning the crowd. Having been in the shadows of the cave earlier, many hadn’t seen him clearly; now, everyone witnessed his dangerous, terrifying eyes. The people who had been shouting to have Lan Tian annihilated moments ago now trembled, their courage faltering. This stood in stark contrast to Min Yue’s earlier righteous stand.
“Li Zi! You don’t have to…!” Min Yue’s usually cold face showed rare, intense anger. He had just shouted once before Lan Tian tightened his grip, pressing on his vital point and rendering him mute. Li Zi dared not move further.
“Min Yue, don’t speak. Lan Tian, what are your demands?” Li Zi knew the hostage-taking was a ploy for something else.
Lan Tian swallowed, struggling to speak in a deep, guttural voice: “Release… let us go…”
The elder shouted, “Impossible!”
Lan Tian let out a scoff.
Li Zi frowned, looking at Min Yue across from him with a pale face. “I agree to your terms,” Li Zi shouted back.
Lan Tian didn’t let go, watching them in silence.
“How can you let the Demon Lord go?!” The elder found Li Zi’s unilateral decision preposterous.
“What I say goes.” Li Zi glared at the elder, his body beginning to radiate an overwhelming pressure. The elder realized he had hit a wall and fell silent.
Li Zi turned back to Lan Tian. “We will let you go, provided you release Min Yue.”
Lan Tian nodded, thinking to himself: Li Zi and the Boss are pretty close… but I might have to disappoint him…
Li Zi ordered the others to part, creating a pathway. Lan Tian kept his grip on Min Yue, Jialuo followed with Yu Shengyan, and they slowly passed through the sea of watchful, hostile eyes. Lan Tian quickly cleared their encirclement.
“You can run now, let Min Yue go!” Li Zi watched them, his voice tense.
“My apologies…” Lan Tian looked at him with an apologetic smile.
Li Zi sensed something wrong. Suddenly, he saw a thick black mist begin to spread from Lan Tian and Jialuo, quickly engulfing the unconscious Yu Shengyan and the furious Min Yue.
In an instant, the black mist vanished with a roar.
The people had disappeared as well…