Yuan Ling looked at Liang Yihan with a puzzled expression and asked, "Han'er, is that really true? Then why didn't you say so just now?"
Liang Yihan glanced at Yu Xing and sighed, "Senior Brother Yu was talking the whole time, and I couldn't get a word in edgewise."
At this moment, Yu Xing's face turned ugly. He turned to look at Liu Lingying and said angrily, "Uncle Ying is being far too biased towards Junior Brother Han. Junior Brother Han isn't stupid. Does he not know whether it's an ordinary white cat or a spirit cat? Even if he can't tell, I saw it clearly. It was indeed a spirit cat that Junior Brother Han caught!"
Liu Lingying's face darkened, and she said with an unfriendly expression, "Han'er is not my disciple, why would I favor him? Xing'er, given my temper, if Han'er really releases my spirit cat, do you think I will let him off the hook?"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Ling's doubts vanished almost entirely.
Yu Xing paused for a moment, feeling extremely unwilling. He pulled Yang Ji and said angrily, "If it is said that this disciple is mistaken, then is Junior Brother Yang also mistaken? Junior Brother Yang, tell me, is the cat that Junior Brother Han caught today a spirit cat?"
Yang Ji hesitated, glancing around at everyone in the hall. He lowered his head and said softly, "Because of the distance, and Senior Brother Han flew by so quickly, perhaps I really did see it wrong..."
"You!" Yu Xing roared in anger.
"Alright!" Yuan Ling said in a deep voice, "Stop making a fuss, it's late, go back and rest!"
“Master…” Yu Xing was still unconvinced.
Suddenly, a piercing alarm bell outside interrupted Yu Xing's words. Everyone in the hall instinctively turned to look at the entrance, where a young Taoist priest rushed in, shouting in panic, "Sect Master, a lot of demons have come from outside the mountain and are attacking the protective sword formation! They're wearing identical armor and carrying the same weapons; they look like an army! Those demons have powerful weapons, and there are so many of them. They're just about to break through the sword formation and get in!"
Yuan Ling was startled and said in a deep voice, "Although my Yuan Dao Sect is in the righteous camp and has always been at odds with the demons, we have not made a great show of ourselves and incurred their jealousy. Why are they launching a large-scale attack on my sect?"
The young Taoist priest replied, "I heard from the demon leader that the young demon clan leader wants us to hand over a nine-tailed fox named Liuli, but where in the sect is there any nine-tailed fox?"
Liang Yihan and Liu Lingying exchanged a glance, their expressions changing as they looked at each other.
Liu Lingying lowered her eyes and murmured to herself, "Lin'er..."
After a moment of silence, Liang Yihan stepped forward and said loudly, "Reporting to Master, it was I who captured the nine-tailed fox and brought it to the mountain. However, when I returned, I thought that Master was already resting, so I did not dare to disturb you. I originally planned to report this matter to Master tomorrow morning."
Yuan Ling frowned and asked, "Why did you capture that nine-tailed fox?"
Liang Yihan bowed and replied, "Because I received news from the Human Emperor that the Nine-Tailed Fox had tricked the Jade Seal, which is the Stone for Mending the Heavens, into giving it away. I went through some trouble to capture her and bring her back so as not to alarm the people of both the righteous and demonic sides, and to secretly seize the divine stone. However, I did not expect the demons to arrive so quickly."
Yuan Ling lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Han'er, your intentions were good, but you were a bit too hasty. Did you obtain the divine stone?"
Liang Yihan looked at him with self-reproach, shook his head and sighed, "This disciple is incompetent and has not yet obtained it."
At this moment, Liu Lingying interjected, saying, "Sect Leader, I have already made an agreement with that fox. As long as she gives me the divine stone, I will let her go. Now it's just a good opportunity to give her to those demons."
Yuan Ling breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Alright, then Junior Sister Ying, you go and ask for the divine stone. This humble Taoist will lead some people to explore the outside of the mountain to investigate the strength of the demon race."
"Okay." Liu Lingying nodded in agreement, then turned around and hurriedly said, "Han'er, come with me."
"Yes." Liang Yihan first bowed deeply to Yuan Ling and said, "Master, then this disciple will take his leave."
Yuan Ling nodded and said, "Go."
Liang Yihan turned and chased after Liu Lingying. Yuan Ling then stood up and said, "Xing'er, Ji'er, Qing'er, come with me to see what's outside the mountain."
Yu Xing and the other two said in unison, "Yes."
Yuan Ling hurried down the many steps from the high platform, leading Yu Xing and the other two out of the hall.
--
The dim candlelight flickered incessantly in the cell. Liuli and the other two demons were all firmly bound by several blue ropes. They sat with their backs against the wall, most of them already asleep.
Liuli was also seemingly asleep with her eyes closed, but the sound of the prison's stone door opening with a rumble made her instantly open her eyes. The moment the stone door opened, a piercing alarm bell rang out, accompanied by the clamor of people coming and going—it sounded quite lively.
Liuli frowned, her face full of deep thought.
After Liu Lingying and Liang Yihan hurriedly arrived at the prison, the stone door slammed shut again, shutting out the lively commotion.
The two walked quickly into the cell. Liu Li looked up and carefully observed their expressions. Liang Yihan seemed alright, but his face was gloomy. However, Liu Lingying's face showed a clear sign of anxiety.
Liuli's eyes darted around twice, and the corners of her lips curled up slightly.
Liu Lingying hurried over to Liuli and squatted down. She beckoned to remove the ropes binding Liuli, handed her the storage ring, and said in a somewhat urgent tone, "Fox, quickly take out the divine stone and give it to me, and I will release you and your friend immediately."
Liuli stretched her body, which had become stiff from being bound by ropes for so long, lowered her eyes, and said with a faint smile, "I'm not in a hurry, so why are you?"
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