“You Ying family members have ill intentions and set a trap to harm us, yet now you hypocritically come to ask why. Your faces truly disgust me!”
Nangong Yu took a step forward, exuding an imposing aura.
He slightly raised the longsword in his hand, the tip pointing at Ying Ziping's chest, and his body was faintly radiating spiritual energy, as if he was ready to make a move at any moment.
Ying Ziping frowned, raised his hand in a gesture of respect, and spoke in a calm yet neither humble nor arrogant tone.
“Brother Nangong, please calm down. Although I am a member of the Ying family, today’s events have nothing to do with me. If there is any misunderstanding, I am willing to explain it clearly.”
"Explain?" Nangong Yu sneered, his gaze sharp as a knife. "Explain what? Explain how your Ying family dealt with Junior Sister Yue Huai? Explain how you slaughtered all the creatures in this mountain forest?"
His voice grew louder and louder, as if he wanted to wake up every tree in the forest.
"Even if you kneel down and beg for forgiveness, I won't believe a single word from people like you!"
Ying Ziping's face was somewhat pale. His gaze shifted from Nangong Yu's sword tip to Xu Yuehuai, and his expression became increasingly complicated.
He cupped his hands slightly and said in a low voice, "Miss Xu, things are not as you think. I have never harbored any ill intentions towards you. If I truly had the slightest malice, why would I show myself now?"
Xu Yuehuai remained silent for a moment, coughed softly a few times, and then slowly spoke.
"Senior Brother Nangong, don't get agitated. He might... really have something to say."
Nangong Yu was taken aback. He turned to look at Xu Yuehuai and saw that she was calm. Only then did he suppress his anger.
But he still snorted coldly, took half a step back, and did not put down the long sword in his hand.
Xu Yuehuai struggled to stand up straight, gently raised her hand, and gestured for Fu Ziyi not to say anything more.
Her gaze fell on Ying Ziping, her voice slightly hoarse yet carrying a hint of authority: "Ying Ziping, since you say this matter has nothing to do with you, then what is the purpose of your appearance?"
Ying Ziping looked up at her, a struggle flashing in his eyes.
He said in a low voice, "I know that Miss Xu must have misunderstood me, but I am not your enemy. I came for this mountain forest. I have long known about the old elder's ambition. If I were not unable to fight against him, why would I stand by and watch him do evil?"
"You make it sound so nice!" Nangong Yu sneered. "Then where were you just now? Why didn't you show up when we were almost killed?"
These words made Ying Ziping pause slightly. After a moment, he said in a low voice, "The situation in the mountains is complicated, and I've been held up... but that's no excuse for shirking responsibility. Miss Xu, I need to know what you've been through; perhaps I can help."
A thoughtful look flashed across Xu Yuehuai's eyes.
She said slowly, "If you really want to help, then tell us if there are any other ambushes in this mountain forest?"
Ying Ziping pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded: "I will take you away from here. If there is any danger, I will do everything in my power to protect you."
Nangong Yu sneered, "Protect us? Do you think we'd trust someone like you? You'd better not try anything funny, or don't blame me for being impolite!"
The atmosphere became tense for a moment, then Xu Yuehuai sighed softly and broke the deadlock.
“Nangong Yu, if he has ulterior motives, we will take precautions. The most important thing right now is to leave this place; there’s no need to waste time with him.”
Although Nangong Yu was still displeased, seeing Xu Yuehuai's firm attitude, he had no choice but to sheathe his sword and step aside.
He glared at Ying Ziping and said in a low voice, "I want to see what tricks he's up to."
A gentle breeze blew through the forest, carrying with it the smell of poisonous gas and gunpowder. The surrounding trees looked dilapidated, some with scorched leaves and others even broken in the middle.
The group slowly followed and walked forward.
The tree spirit followed cautiously behind, its eyes darting around as if on guard against something.
The surroundings were silent, with only the soft rustling of the wind through the grass and trees, which made one feel even heavier in their heart.
Ying Ziping lowered his eyes, his face showing a hint of helplessness and exhaustion.
After a moment, as if he had been gathering his thoughts for a long time, his voice was low and slightly hoarse: "Actually, the exit... has been blocked. The demons all want to get out, but..."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone around changed.
Nangong Yu was the first to lose his temper and shouted sharply, "What did you say? You blocked the exit? Does that mean we're trapped here and can't get out?"
Fu Ziyi leaned against the tree trunk, sneered, and said with a tone full of sarcasm: "Ying Ziping, you're not going to tell us that this is also what you call 'ignorance'? With things in such a mess, does your Ying family really have no idea why?"
Ying Ziping frowned, his gaze sweeping over Nangong Yu and Fu Ziyi, a weary, bitter smile appearing on his face.
“Brother Fu, this matter is beyond my control… The situation is out of control now. They are taking advantage of the chaos to block the exits, and the demons are trying to break out of the mountains. It is no longer something I can stop.”
His words revealed a deep sense of helplessness, but in Nangong Yu's eyes, this helplessness became an excuse to shirk responsibility.
Nangong Yu snorted coldly, his expression disdainful.
"You're really trying to absolve yourself of responsibility! With the export blocked, you, Ying Ziping, just say 'we're powerless' and expect us to believe you?"
Fu Ziyi pressed his injured arm with one hand, a cold, mocking smile curving his lips: "The exit is blocked by the demon race, so are we all like turtles in a jar? Ying Ziping, if you really have good intentions, what can you do for us?"
Ying Ziping did not refute this, but pursed his lips and said in a low voice, "The exit is indeed dangerous, but I am not without options. If you trust me, I will do my best to escort you down the mountain."
He spoke sincerely, but the crowd clearly didn't buy it.
Fu Ziyi smiled coldly and remained silent, while Nangong Yu looked furious, staring sharply at Ying Ziping as if he might draw his sword again at any moment.
Xu Yuehuai had been silent until now, but she slowly spoke, her tone weak yet calm and authoritative: "Ying Ziping's words may not be without reason. The demons in the mountains are in chaos right now, and if we fight amongst ourselves, it will only make the situation worse."
Her voice, though soft, eased the tense atmosphere slightly. Fu Ziyi frowned and whispered, "Xu Yuehuai, do you mean to believe him?"
Xu Yuehuai shook her head, her gaze calm and firm: "I didn't say we should believe him completely, but with the exits blocked, we do need more information. If Ying Ziping knows anything, then we should ask him before making any plans."
After she finished speaking, she turned to look at Ying Ziping, her gaze as sharp as a knife.
"Ying Ziping, since you say the exit is blocked, are there any other ambushes ahead? How can we avoid them?"
Ying Ziping felt uncomfortable under her gaze, but still answered in a deep voice, "It is indeed not peaceful ahead. The demons are now trapped in the mountains and forests, and are already in chaos. The Ying family has also taken some measures, which has led to many bloodthirsty demons attacking any living creature that comes near."
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