A Daring Escape and a New Threat

Bai Chen slowly edged towards the door, pulling it open just a crack. Sure enough, guards were stationed outside. A sneer touched his lips. ‘They sealed away seventy percent of my internal energy, yet still needed people to guard outside all night,’ he mused. ‘If not for their concern about damaging my internal energy, they likely would have severed my tendons too.’

Dismissing his thoughts, Bai Chen darted out. Before the two guards could even cry out, a sword in each hand, he swiftly slit their throats. He flicked his blades, shaking off the lingering crimson stains, which splattered onto the ground, leaving a trail like scattered droplets.

A fierce glint flashed in Bai Chen’s eyes, then quickly vanished. He swiftly sheathed his dual swords. ‘With only thirty percent of my internal energy, dealing with these two guards was more than enough,’ he mused. ‘But if I were to face a large group of guards… or more formidable opponents, I wouldn’t be able to escape so easily.’

Activating his remaining internal energy, he leaped onto the nearest rooftop and sped directly south. What annoyed Bai Chen most was his inability to read Bai Qiao’s thoughts. ‘It bothered me before, and it still bothers me now, and it will continue to bother me. Truly frustrating,’ he thought. ‘If only I could read her mind, I wouldn’t need such a convoluted method to determine her direction.’

His figure constantly flickered in the darkness, leaving only streaks resembling barcodes as he moved across the rooftops.

Under the moonlight, the two swords in his hands emitted a brilliant white glow, their shadows intertwining with the celestial light. The pure moonlight spilled onto the ground, reflecting a lone, slender figure whose robes fluttered as he weaved through the air.

Concealing himself before a specific door, Bai Chen could sense Bai Qiao’s presence within. He took a deep breath and steadily walked forward.

After Bai Chen left, Bai Qiao felt unbound. She sat alone in the room until the world outside the window turned completely dark. Quietly, Bai Qiao walked to the door, to the only blind spot for surveillance, where Bai Chen had left something.

Quietly approaching the spot, pretending to merely stroll around, Bai Qiao finally turned to the door, lowering her head to pick up the item. It was a small, black, box-like object. ‘Though I don’t know what it is, since Bai Chen left only this, it must be incredibly precious,’ she thought, carefully putting it away.

“Ugh…”

Bai Qiao clutched her abdomen tightly, cold sweat streaming down her face. “Ugh! Ahhh!” Her cry, a guttural moan imbued with a unique feminine softness, only made one want to protect her even more.

As expected, the guards stationed at the door rushed forward, surrounding Bai Qiao. They watched as her face flushed crimson with pain, a sight that only made her appear more alluring. Though they feigned concern while checking on her condition, their hands were far from proper. This caused Bai Qiao’s already flushed face to burn even redder, yet she was powerless. It was then that the man directly in front of her attempted to reach inside her robes.

“Bang!”

A muffled thud echoed, and the man collapsed to the ground. The guard nearest to him agilely leaped away. The two men simultaneously pulled back, rapidly creating distance, and a space quickly opened up between them. The instant their feet found purchase, both lunged forward. There was no hesitation; both formidable individuals understood the crucial importance of seizing the initiative.

Swords clanged against handles; there was no hesitation, no flaw. The two continued to clash in front of them. Bai Qiao could see the cold sweat on Bai Chen’s face, dripping onto the ground and mixing with blood, making it impossible to distinguish one from the other.

Bai Chen felt increasingly strained. His internal energy was nearly depleted; every move he made now was purely by willpower. Just thinking about what those men had intended to do to Bai Qiao filled him with an inexplicable rage. He longed to tear the man before him limb from limb!

Of course, his current physical state would never allow him to dismember the man before him. He could only barely manage to inflict severe injuries upon his opponent by relying on his superior tactics.

Bai Qiao rushed forward to support Bai Chen’s unsteady body, an indescribable feeling welling up within her. ‘Of course, I would never believe it… after all, I’m a straight man,’ she thought. ‘Yet, the yearning for strength is undeniable. I don’t want to be this weak, to hide behind others, feeling utterly useless. This position of complete powerlessness… I’ve never experienced it before. Why am I so weak? I don’t have an ounce of internal energy, not even the ability to cultivate. Now, even my only family in this world is injured, and I can do nothing… This helplessness!’

As if sensing Bai Qiao’s state of mind, Bai Chen couldn’t help but lift a tired hand to pat her head. For once, Bai Qiao didn’t shy away, and Bai Chen lingered, gently ruffling her hair.

“Let’s go… it’s not safe here.”

“Heh~”

A ghostly voice echoed, and both Bai Chen and Bai Qiao froze, their steps halting instantly. They looked behind them at the man standing on the rooftop, silhouetted against the pure moonlight. ‘What kind of presence was that…’ Bai Chen thought, ‘Even my former self never possessed such an aura.’