The head guard was a sturdy man who smiled apologetically.
“Young master, you must be joking. If you like it so much, just come and play often. Why hang yourself on a single tree? Lin Huakui won’t run away.”
He said.
Less nonsense.
The woman I fancy, how could I let others defile her!
Xiao Xinran gripped Lin Shu’s hand tightly, giving her a determined look.
There was no way she could stand by and watch her be harmed by a villain.
Lin Shu was stunned for a moment.
The two of them were clearly strangers.
The smile disappeared from the Black Crow guard’s face.
“That’s troubling for us. If you want to redeem Silver Sparrow, it’s not impossible—old rules, one million Spirit Stones and you can take her away.”
Ji Shiyu rubbed her bound chest and screamed.
“What? This shabby place isn’t worth a top-grade spirit vein! Why don’t you just rob me!”
“Money isn’t the issue, but it’d be better if Jing Rui came out to accompany me too. They’re all for sale anyway.”
Xiao Xinran hooked her finger provocatively.
Looks like you two are here to cause trouble on purpose!
I feel like you’re the one making things difficult.
The guard’s face darkened.
They rushed forward, reaching to seize the young man in white.
“Don’t touch me!”
Xiao Xinran raised her sword, and a crimson wave pushed everyone back.
Then chaos erupted.
“Hey, let’s talk this out! Why resort to violence! I’m joining in!”
Ji Shiyu shouted, but her hands were swift and excited as she jumped into the fray.
The two fought with restraint, not dealing lethal blows to the Refining Body Stage guards.
Ji Shiyu wielded the Seven Stars Sword with its sheath, sending the guards sprawling.
In the secret room, Jing Tan’er couldn’t help but laugh.
These two troublemakers couldn’t stay quiet anywhere.
Jing Rui bit her lip, feeling wronged.
How could she not recognize the two poorly disguised girls as Xiao Xinran and Ji Shiyu?
“Master, what do we do?”
“Why are you looking at me? Go ask the one who bought you for money, it’s none of my business. Just don’t hurt my Dinglu.”
Yun Liu looked up at the ceiling.
No way he was taking responsibility for this bill—it had to be charged to the Xiao family.
With that, Yun Liu slipped away from Silver Sparrow Terrace amid the chaos.
To think those two girls tracked him down here.
He didn’t dare show his face; if Sister Qin found out, it would be trouble.
Jing Rui leaned on the railing, her expression uncertain.
Silver Sparrow was just a treat for the Holy Son, insignificant.
But for two rookie sword cultivators to ride roughshod over her—truly reckless.
“Madam, do you need me to take action?”
A hidden demon cultivator emerged from the shadows, startling Pan Yi.
Jing Tan’er, as Soul Capturing Banner Master, gave a calm order.
“Let them go. For the greater good, Divine Radiance Sect disciples don’t matter to us.”
“Her Highness speaks wisely.”
Jing Rui took a deep breath and nodded.
At this moment, she couldn’t allow more trouble to ruin the Holy Son’s plans.
***
Ji Shiyu and Xiao Xinran cursed and fought, scattering guests and courtesans and leaving guards moaning on the floor.
They felt unsatisfied even then.
Until Ao Tian giggled.
“If you don’t run, Yun Liu will bring the authorities and make this a public execution.”
“Wu!”
Ji Shiyu stuck out her tongue, still wanting more.
She grabbed a roasted lamb chop from the table and bolted, fleeing the scene.
“Miss Lin, come with me!”
While no one dared approach, Xiao Xinran grabbed the bewildered Lin girl and leapt out the window.
The two flitted across rooftops and through alleys, with Xiao Xinran carrying Lin Shu—her qi sea sealed—racing from the east gate to Golden Crow Dao.
Only when no one chased them did they breathe a sigh of relief.
“Huff, not bad! Got in a fight and had a free meal!”
Ji Shiyu gave a thumbs-up, exhilarated.
“I knew you were lying!”
Xiao Xinran sheathed her sword and glared, annoyed that Xiao Yun was nowhere to be seen.
Ji Shiyu made a face and waved.
“You’re the one who caused the mess! Even if the teacher was there, you’d have scared him into pulling up his pants and running. We could’ve caught him red-handed, but now we’ve randomly snatched a flower girl instead.”
“So what? None of them could fight anyway.”
Xiao Xinran snorted, tempted to unleash the Flame God and challenge the demon woman, but Jing Rui didn’t dare show herself.
Seeing Lin girl silent, clutching her chest, Xiao Xinran took off her coat and offered it.
“Sister Lin, are you alright?”
Lin Shu didn’t take it.
Instead, she stepped back warily, with no gratitude in her eyes.
Given the circumstances, these two young people were no different from other scoundrels.
Escaping one trap might just mean falling into another.
“What do you want with me?”
Ji Shiyu glanced at the lustrous armor on Lin girl’s body, covered her nose in delight, and grinned wickedly.
“What do you think? With a beauty like you, of course I want to do unspeakable things after kidnapping you home!”
“Shut up!”
Xiao Xinran glared at Ji Shiyu, slapped her hat off, and golden hair spilled down.
“As you can see, we mean no harm. Don’t worry.”
Ji Shiyu pouted, tore off her fake mustache, and Xiao Xinran shed her disguise, revealing her cloud-patterned robe.
“You… Divine Radiance Sect disciples? Why were you in such a place?”
Lin girl’s eyes widened in surprise.
She hadn’t expected her rescuers to be such beautiful girls.
Her guard lowered, and she even found it a little funny.
“Hehe, it’s a long story.”
Ji Shiyu scratched her head sheepishly.
Xiao Xinran thought for a moment, then offered some money and food.
“Sister Lin, this is all I can do. Run away, get out of here, and don’t let those villains catch you again.”
“Escape? Escape where?”
Lin girl hugged her shoulders, her voice bitter.
“Wuling Sect has been destroyed. Even the king I swore to serve sold me to the enemy for fleeting peace on the battlefield. Where in East Pole Province is there a place left for me?”
***
Ji Shiyu and Xiao Xinran exchanged sympathetic looks.
This sister was truly miserable.
“I haven’t thanked you both for your bravery. In the next life, Lin girl will repay you even as a beast of burden. Please, Miss Xiao, lend me your sword.”
Lin Shu forced a smile, her mind made up.
“No need for that. The Academy teaches us to help the oppressed.”
Xiao Xinran foolishly handed over her sword, but Ji Shiyu snatched it away.
“Are you stupid? Can’t you see she wants to die? You really want to hand her a sword? You’re the one who kidnapped her; don’t ruin her life any further.”
“Eh? There’s always hope—no need to seek death.”
Lin Shu shook her head.
She opened her robe and pointed to a strange dark pattern carved on her abdomen.
“My qi sea is sealed. I can’t escape Yudu alone. I’m already grateful to have survived, but I can’t drag you down further. Returning to that filthy place would be worse than dying.”
“Demon Cult Secret Arts!”
Xiao Xinran gasped.
So that really was a den of evil.
She immediately thought of Yun Liu—he must have a solution.
Lin Shu’s face was grave.
“But enough about me. Do you two fairies know what trouble you’ve caused? The owner behind Silver Sparrow Terrace is Royal Family. If you offend her, there may be no place for you in Yudu.”
The two girls smiled at each other.
No need for her to worry.
Their lord (master) was formidable.
“Relax. With our ingenious disguises, no one could possibly recognize us!”