Chapter 38. The three stand facing each other, running, annoyed, and smiling...
Li Hongyi is now very regretful, extremely regretful.
He shouldn't have been so impulsive as to flirt with Li Qingyun!
No, the most urgent thing now is to find the swindler who sold him the information and give him a good beating!
Who told him that Li Qingyun was aloof and noble?
This is the biggest scam in Guanwu's history!
He inquired here and there, all to keep an eye on Bai Huang, who was by Li Qingyun's side. Who would want to be an enemy of a Venerable Martial Realm expert?
Li Hongyi's pleas for mercy failed, and he could only dodge in a sorry state. Just now, he had provoked Li Qingyun to use all his skills, and now it was his turn to use all his skills to deal with her.
I don't know what Bai Huang was thinking. He only used force to teach Bai Huang a lesson at the beginning, so why did he get more and more excited as the fight went on?
"Brother, we've lingered for too long. Shouldn't we get going?"
Li Qingyun watched as Li Hongyi was beaten for a while, and only after he had barely calmed down did he realize that his master seemed to really look at this person differently. If things continued like this, Li Hongyi might be able to show some extraordinary skills.
At that point, it really won't be something I can stop.
Li Qingyun decisively chose to take Chang Yubai away from this person.
Although he didn't know what Li Si was up to, Li Qingyun had traveled for so many years and seen the nature of many people, and he knew how terrifying this kind of overly familiar person could be.
Once Li Si opens a breach, they'll be truly trapped.
"Now? Okay." Chang Yubai was indeed somewhat unsatisfied.
He never expected that even as he upgraded his killing moves step by step, Li Hongyi would remain as steady as a rock.
It's been many years since I've seen such a capable opponent; I often feel an itch to fight.
But while itching to touch something is manageable, Xiaoyun's is even more remarkable.
Chang Yubai abandoned his playful attitude and launched a deadly attack. Caught off guard and terrified, the black dragon phantom opened its blood-red maw, its murderous spiritual power engulfing Li Hongyi.
Only those who can survive this attack are truly skilled.
Chang Yubai retracted the black scales, and the humanoid figure in mid-air fell vertically.
Chang Yubai got up to leave, but a glance out of the corner of his eye made him suddenly stop.
"Huh?" Who are those people?
A group of cultivators were walking towards the city gate, all with dejected faces. It was unclear whether they had failed to gain anything from hunting outside the city or had suffered a major defeat while carrying out some mission.
Chang Yubai knew.
He recognized the identities of the group of monks.
Seeing him pause, Li Qingyun also looked towards the city gate and saw the same attire as in her brief memory. She blinked.
"Hey—you surnamed Li—" Chang Yubai shouted loudly on purpose, so that the disappointed cultivators on the other side could hear him.
"Didn't you say—you finally managed to shake off those cultivators from the Ling family who were chasing you—?"
"Run! They're back to get you! Don't let them catch you!"
"Surname Li? Could it be...?" The group of disappointed cultivators also realized what was going on and hurriedly looked at the man Chang Yubai had called out to. "Where is he! He was disguised again!"
"Chase!"
Li Hongyi: "..."
Dude, that's not fair.
I just took a fatal blow from you, at least give me a moment to catch my breath!
This is practically driving Li Hongyi to his doom!
But some people still felt it wasn't enough and added fuel to the fire.
Li Qingyun took a deep breath, then shouted, "Brother Li! Make sure you hide your Golden Cicada Spirit-Nourishing Ring well!"
"These people have been trying to steal your treasure for a while now. The Golden Cicada Spirit Ring is a Heaven-Rank treasure. Not only can it provide its master with unlimited spiritual power, but it also has the ability to shed its skin like a cicada and even bring the dead back to life. Such a powerful treasure must not be stolen!"
Li Qingyun: "You absolutely must escape—"
Chang Yubai: "..."
Li Hongyi: "..."
You probably just want people to die here already.
Li Hongyi: "You brat!"
Despite his injuries, Li Hongyi shakily got up and, using some unknown method, pressed several acupoints on his body, which gave him renewed strength. He then took off running!
"You brat, I'll remember you!" After uttering this harsh remark, Li Hongyi disappeared without a trace.
After Li Qingyun finished shouting, she coldly lowered her hands and stared in the direction where Li Hongyi had disappeared.
I'll remember you too.
To think that Li Si would lose his composure like this, he had better be able to survive this manhunt.
Otherwise… Li Qingyun was halfway through her thought when frustration welled up in her chest again.
That damn Li guy!
What kind of disguise do you need!
Now, apart from his master, no one can recognize this guy's true identity. Does he have to rely on Chang Yubai to identify him?
It was because Chang Yubai treated this person differently that he was so anxious that he made up his mind to kill him!
“There’s no rush now,” Chang Yubai clapped his hands and laughed.
"Now that he has left on his own initiative, we can continue to stay here."
Chang Yubai turned around and smiled at Li Qingyun.
Li Qingyun: "...So you knew."
"I am your master, after all."
"Then why..."
I prefer you the way you are now.
"...!?"
Li Qingyun was stunned.
"Xiaoyun, I told you, I don't want you to become silent."
"But you clearly like me that way."
"..." Chang Yubai paused for a moment, "I really do want to see you like that."
Chang Yubai closed his eyes, then slowly opened them again: "But I don't want you to really become like that."
"I don't understand." Li Qingyun flicked her sleeve and moved to an empty seat.
Li Qingyun had heard countless stories about overpowered protagonists, cannon fodder, and predetermined choices, yet she had never seen anyone in the world whose talent surpassed her own.
Why do he and his master have to be cannon fodder, instead of the legendary Dragon Pride?
Chang Yubai seems to lack self-confidence.
Li Qingyun reverted to his previous aloof attitude, and only spoke after Chang Yubai sat down next to him again.
"Master."
“Your response is honest.”
Chang Yubai: "..." You can't just sit down and start arguing with me like that.
I should have waited.
Chang Yubai could only cover up his embarrassment by ordering food.
His reaction was indeed honest, but it was instinct. After all, he had lived with Venerable Qingyun for a hundred years, and even though he had traveled with Xiaoyun for more than ten years, he could not shake the mountain in his memory.
He would be speechless and silent in front of his familiar white-robed master, unable to let go of that lingering affection.
Even though he knew that the person sitting opposite him was not his master but his disciple, in the end, Li Qingyun was still Li Qingyun, a black-hearted piece of cotton that was only friendly to him.
The only saving grace was that Li Qingyun wouldn't nag him or force him to calm down, allowing him to have extra thoughts to wander.
"Master underestimates himself too much."
"You underestimate your disciple too much."
After Li Qingyun finished speaking, she didn't forget to give him a cold look, but for some reason, Chang Yubai tilted his head even more fiercely.
Now it's even harder to tell who the real master is.
Li Qingyun: "..."
I've seen this scene before.
Chang Yubai also seemed to have made lecturing a part of his daily routine. In those scenes, he would sometimes be fierce and hold Chang Yubai's shoulders tightly, not allowing him to escape.
Although she couldn't hear what she was saying, Li Qingyun saw that Chang Yubai was behaving himself, and although he had a stubborn look on his face that showed he wouldn't admit his mistakes, he didn't forget to nod in agreement with every word she said.
The honest and straightforward Chang Yubai... also became a reality.
But Li Qingyun felt even more lost.
I prefer you the way you are now.
This was the first time Chang Yubai had expressed his liking for someone.
But it was the appearance he had abandoned for a long time.
Could the Kejing Wishing Stone malfunction?
Over the years, he had his doubts, but when the Jingyuan Stone was used on others, he did indeed glimpse profound secrets.
Master probably hasn't noticed yet...
Li Qingyun thought to herself.
It must be that Chang Yubai is too dense, only thinking that their past interactions were precious, but he doesn't know that what is happening now is the scene he has been longing for.
"It's them!"
"Stay here, don't let them get away!"
Suddenly, a large group of people rushed over and surrounded Chang Yubai and his apprentice.
Chang Yubai held the freshly served sweet soup and, ignoring what the group of people were trying to do, just drank it all in one go.
He was more worried about Xiaoyun's situation than about the danger she was in.
But he simply couldn't imagine what he would say in rebuttal to Venerable Qingyun.
It's too difficult to take the first step when we haven't done something for a century.
The crisp footsteps grew closer, and the Ling family guards parted to make way for a woman in simple, close-fitting clothes.
Where is Li Lang?
"Miss, Mr. Li ran too fast and we couldn't catch him."
Chang Yubai: "..." No, the topic doesn't seem to be directed at the two of them.
Chang Yubai was about to retort when Ling Yu'er cut him off, saying, "Then take them back to the manor and lock them up until Li Lang comes looking for them."
"You've set a trap. This is your chance. If you waste it again, you're all fired."
"Yes, Miss!"
“Miss Ling…” Chang Yubai took another sip of sugar water without saying a word before speaking, “Your father wouldn’t want to see you bring me back to the manor.”
"Shut up! Do you think I wanted this?!" Ling Yu'er's face was also flushed red. "I had no choice!"
She didn't want to be enemies with the White Emperor!
Chang Yubai: "...I can probably guess, but who is Li Lang?"
Hearing the somewhat familiar address, and thinking of Li Si who had just escaped, Chang Yubai's sense of foreboding intensified.
He had met Ling Yu'er, the young lady of the Ling family, once before, but it was her father, Ling Gusheng, who invited them both to his home, and the meeting was very formal.
Chang Yubai agreed because Ling Gusheng mentioned that his daughter was also present. Although Ling Gusheng's intention was to bring Li Qingyun together, it was ultimately a waste of time.
Because Ling Yu'er immediately said that she had someone she liked.
But who would have thought it was Li Si from just now?
Or is it the very familiar Li Lang?
Who is Ling Yu'er? She is the Jade Palace Venerable one hundred years later, and one of Li Tiansheng's potential biological mothers.
There can only be one person she truly loves!
Li Si! It's actually Li Lang!!!
It's actually the Li from Li Tiansheng!
Chang Yubai's empty sugar bowl fell to the ground with a thud, and he was so shocked that he couldn't speak.
"But arresting me won't do you any good, I don't know Li Lang."
“You’re all in cahoots!” Ling Yu’er said with certainty. “My men all said they saw and heard it with their own eyes and ears. You called him so intimately and even helped him escape. I won’t believe your lies. As long as I capture you, Li Lang will naturally come back to rescue people, and then I will be able to catch him!”
Li Qingyun remained silent, seemingly unwilling to respond to such an outrageous statement.
Chang Yubai: "..."
Chang Yubai: "Is there any possibility that we and him... never mind, let's get down to business. Are you sure you can catch us?"
Ling Yu'er immediately bowed deeply: "Please! Let me catch you!"
"I really, really want to see Li Lang again!"
Chang Yubai: "...I don't think it will work, and besides..."
Moreover, it seems your Mr. Li doesn't really want to see you.
Chang Yubai's gaze lingered on someone not far away, and sure enough, the person opposite him stiffened for a moment after being stared at.
But the other party reacted quickly.
Thick fog rolled in.
Ling Yu'er: "Oh no!"
"Yu'er".
Ling Yu'er hurriedly searched for the source of the sound, waving her hands frantically, but she couldn't dispel the thick fog in front of her. She could only anxiously call out, "Li Lang!"
"Yu'er, they have nothing to do with me."
"I don't believe you! You clearly came here to save them!"
Ling Yu'er guessed correctly. Soon the thick fog dissipated, and the spot where Chang Yubai and Li Qingyun had been was now empty.
"No!"
Little did Ling Yu'er know that not far away, three people with ordinary appearances and dressed in coarse linen clothes were the very Li Lang and his two companions she was looking for.
"Are we just going to stand by and watch?" Chang Yubai nudged Li Hongyi with his elbow. "Li Lang?"
Li Hongyi smiled wryly: "Ah, I think I'll... not go."
Li Qingyun: "Cut the weeds but don't pull them out by the roots."
Li Hongyi immediately became alert: "No, my little ancestor, I have no grudge against her, please don't touch her."
"..." Li Qingyun didn't really intend to make a move.
"Why are you back? Aren't you afraid we'll kick you out?"
"Haha, that's your choice. I can't just stand by and watch you get into trouble because of me."
Li Hongyi always spoke with a hint of a smile, but this time the smile sounded rather self-deprecating.
"No matter how badly it's done, it shouldn't drag innocent people down with it."
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