NOVEL NEXT Chapter 426: If I Had Known Sooner, I Wouldn’t Have Held Back!
Chapter 426: If I Had Known Sooner, I Wouldn’t Have Held Back!
Within the Joyful Union Sect, within the Hall of Bliss.
Shangguan Yu sat in the Hall of Bliss, restless and uneasy.
She feared that something terrible had befallen Shangguan Qiong or that she had been captured by the Heavenly Deception Sect.
It had been a long time since she had heard any news of Shangguan Qiong or the outside world.
Although she was consumed with worry, there was little she could do but pace around the Joyful Union Sect day after day.
Suddenly, Shangguan Yu’s expression shifted as she sensed Shangguan Qiong’s call. Overjoyed, she exclaimed, “Sister, you’re back?”
Shangguan Qiong’s urgent voice echoed in her mind, “Yu’er, quickly bring Junior Sister Zhao and the others to meet me.”
Shangguan Yu was both confused and worried. “Sister, what’s going on? What about the sect?”
Shangguan Qiong replied curtly, “Jun Wuxie agreed to my request, but that old ghost Song is double-crossing me.
Right now, my cultivation is sealed, and I’m being pursued by the disciples of the Heavenly Deception Sect in the Qingli Mountains outside the Joyful Union Sect.
However, Old Ghost Song doesn’t know it’s me yet. Bring Junior Sister Zhao and the others to me as soon as possible. I’ll explain more on the way!”
Shangguan Yu acknowledged the message and immediately sounded the sect’s alarm bell, summoning Zhao Ningzhi and Zhou Biting. They hastily left the sect.
On the way, Shangguan Qiong briefly explained the situation and instructed Shangguan Yu to follow her orders.
Qingli Mountain.
Lin Fengmian carried Shangguan Qiong on his back as he sprinted through the mountains. Noticing that she had suddenly fallen silent, he grew concerned. “Sect leader, are you alright?”
Shangguan Qiong was fully immersed in her conversation with Shangguan Yu and didn’t respond to Lin Fengmian.
At that moment, a Core Formation Realm Cultivator arrived like a whirlwind, his aura dense and menacing.
“Shi…”
The decoy disciple in front of him was overjoyed and wanted to call for help.
“Scoundrel, die!”
Lin Fengmian’s eyes flashed with killing intent as he hurled his sword, pinning the disciple to the ground. He then stepped on the disciple’s body.
The Core Formation Realm cultivator landed, revealing himself to be a sinister middle-aged man.
Lin Fengmian quickly took out his token and respectfully said, “Disciple Miao Renfeng of Tiancang Peak greets Senior Brother!”
The Core Formation Realm cultivator looked at Lin Fengmian suspiciously and asked in a deep voice, “Are these the two culprits?”
Lin Fengmian smiled ingratiatingly. “Yes, Senior Brother. There are two of them. How about we take one each?”
The cultivator of the Core Formation Realm sneered coldly, but suddenly, he lashed out at Lin Fengmian with a fierce and merciless palm strike.
Whether you’re a disciple of the Heavenly Deception Sect or not, I’ll capture you first!
Lin Fengmian had anticipated this and cursed under his breath. He transformed into several afterimages and narrowly avoided the attack.
He quickly grabbed the motionless Shangguan Qiong and held her in front of him, placing his sword against her neck as he glared at the cultivator. “Senior Brother, what is the meaning of this?”
Seeing how decisively Lin Fengmian used Shangguan Qiong as a shield, the cultivator of the Core Formation Realm believed that Lin Fengmian was indeed a disciple of the Heavenly Deception Sect. After all, he had never expected someone to use their companion as a hostage.
He said sternly, “I want both of them!”
Lin Fengmian glanced at the disciple on the ground with apparent reluctance, his face shifting between emotions before finally seeming to make a decision. “I can give you both of them, Senior Brother, but you must swear not to harm me. Otherwise, I will have no choice but to destroy us all.”
The Core Formation Realm cultivator hesitated when he saw Lin Fengmian draw a thin line of blood on Shangguan Qiong’s pale neck. After all, the sect wanted to keep them alive. Who knew if they would be blamed if the prisoners were killed?
“Kid, throw her over, and I swear I’ll spare your life!”
“You swear first!” Lin Fengmian replied, his expression full of vigilance.
The man impatiently made the oath, while Lin Fengmian’s eyes gleamed with killing intent, tightening his grip on the Golden Crow Sword in his hand.
The moment the man finished his oath, Lin Fengmian hurled Shangguan Qiong toward him and shouted, “Take her!”
Before the man could even react with joy, a thunderous roar resounded, “Blood Slaughter Ten Thousand Ghost Sword!”
The Core Formation Realm Cultivator instinctively struck out with his palm, but he was instantly struck by the backlash of his oath, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Damn it, I’ve been tricked by this kid!
But he had no time to regret it. The Blood Slaughter Ten Thousand Spirits Sword infused with Lin Fengmian’s essence pierced through him in a dense barrage, ending his life.
He died without ever understanding Lin Fengmian’s true identity, his death as obscure as his life.
Lin Fengmian staggered forward a few steps, picked up Shangguan Qiong who had been thrown to the ground, and continued to flee.
He had forcefully used the Blood Slaughter Ten Thousand Spirit Sword, and the technique had drained a significant amount of his essence. He was now extremely weak.
Having been thrown to the ground, Shangguan Qiong was jolted out of her soul link state.
Seeing Lin Fengmian with blood trickling from his nose and mouth and a pale face, she asked in shock, “What’s wrong with you?”
Lin Fengmian stumbled as he carried her deeper into the mountains, coughing twice before replying, “I won’t die, but I’m not in good shape either.”
Shangguan Qiong tried to encourage him, “I have already used a secret technique to notify Junior Sister Zhao and the others. They’ll be here soon to help us. Just hold on a little longer.”
Lin Fengmian’s spirits lifted momentarily, but when he thought about the distance between here and the Joyful Union Sect, his eyes dimmed again.
It would take at least half an hour for Zhao Ningzhi and the others to arrive. That was more than enough time for him to die many times over.
Since Shangguan Qiong had already sent the message, there was no need for him to drag her along as a liability with no combat strength.
If the order was to capture them alive, then falling into the hands of the Heavenly Deception Sect might not necessarily mean death – there was still a sliver of hope.
But if Shangguan Qiong, a woman, fell into their hands, she would undoubtedly suffer a fate worse than death.
Forget it. There was no need for him to drag her with him into this pit of fire.
Moreover, once Shangguan Qiong recovered, she could step forward and rescue him from the Heavenly Deception Sect.
At the very least, she would remember his kindness and treat his parents and Yunxi better, right?
With this in mind, Lin Fengmian found a hidden patch of grass, set Shangguan Qiong down, and laid a small formation to ensure her safety.
Reluctantly, he cupped Shangguan Qiong’s face and kissed her fiercely, his hands roughly kneading her soft breasts.
The kiss, tinged with the taste of blood, left Shangguan Qiong stunned. Her beautiful eyes widened as she stared at him, unsure of how to react.
After the kiss, Lin Fengmian let out a bitter laugh and said, “If I had known it would come to this, I wouldn’t have held back earlier. Dying under the peony flower, even as a ghost, would be a romantic ending.”
He gently smoothed Shangguan Qiong’s disheveled hair and pinched her cheek with a soft smile.
“Sect Leader, this is as far as I can take you. If you make it back alive, remember to treat my parents and Yunxi well.”
With that, he left Shangguan Qiong behind and stumbled away, continuing his escape.
Shangguan Qiong, unaware of his true intention, believed his words and thought that the tracking mark was indeed on her.
Watching Lin Fengmian’s retreating figure, she sighed but understood his decision.
After all, if he continued to flee with her, it was likely that neither of them would escape.
By leaving her, the one with the mark, behind, he at least had a chance to escape, and the Joyful Union Sect still had hope.
Thinking of his final kiss and his words of regret, she touched her lips gently.
Yes, if she had known earlier, she wouldn’t have held back. At least she could have died as a true woman, having experienced the pleasures of intimacy.
Now, she would have to endure the torment of this damned poison of lust until her death.