Li Guanqi lowered his fists. From the distant mountains, several black shadows shot into the sky.

Since his aura was masked at the late Golden Core Realm, he paid them little mind. Yet two of those indistinct auras felt strangely familiar.

He pretended not to notice, continuing forward at a leisurely pace. But inwardly, he was rather curious. Do I really have so many acquaintances in the Falling Sunset Territory?

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

“Stop them!”

“Quick, catch them! If they escape, we’re dead!”

Shouts and curses filled the air. A blood-soaked youth flew through the sky, green light flashing beneath his feet. In his arms, he carried a gravely wounded young woman. Blood poured from her lips, and she was riddled with puncture wounds. Her aura was faint. Without immediate treatment, she wouldn’t survive.

The youth looked down at her, his voice desperate. “Qin’er, wake up! Don’t sleep! Wake up! Wake up, Qin’er!”

Whoosh!

Hidden weapons whistled through the air, gleaming coldly. Yan Chong glanced back at the attackers and gritted his teeth, drawing the sword to deflect the volley with a few swings.

Ding ding! Clang! Pfft!

Sparks flew as the steel needles clashed against his blade. His strength was nearly gone. Despite his efforts, two needles pierced him.

Li Guanqi narrowed his eyes. The youth could have dodged those needles, but he’d taken them head-on without hesitation to protect the woman in his arms.

“Ahh! You bastards!”

Yan Chong roared, talismans blazing beneath his feet, yet his pursuers remained close behind.

The chase piqued Li Guanqi’s interest. He remembered Ye Feng carrying him on his back, fleeing a siege when they were both still Golden Core Realm cultivators. Years had passed, yet the sight stirred old feelings.

Yan Chong spotted Li Guanqi ahead. He glanced back at his pursuers, gritted his teeth, and changed direction, deliberately avoiding him.

Li Guanqi was surprised. In the youth’s position, he would have dragged the nearest bystander into the fight to muddy the waters.

The bearded pursuer’s eyes lit up. He closed dozens of li in an instant, and when he spotted Li Guanqi, he roared, “Golden Snake Sect business! Outsiders, stay clear!”

Li Guanqi smiled faintly and stepped aside.

The four men sneered as they rushed past, eyes manic, already envisioning the capture of the couple.

“Yan Chong, surrender and return with us to the Golden Snake Sect. Perhaps we’ll even let you live!”

“If I die, I’m dragging every last one of you down to hell with me!” Yan Chong roared.

Cold lights streaked toward him before he could finish. All four pursuers were in the late Golden Core Realm. With Yan Chong wounded and burdened, his capture was only a matter of time.

He swung his sword, but a blade of light grazed his waist. Had he reacted any slower, it would have sliced him in half.

Pfft!

Blood sprayed from his mouth, his eyes filling with resolve. He reached for something at his waist. A violet jade slip. He stared at it with bitter eyes, then crushed it without hesitation.

Boom!

The jade slip shattered, releasing waves of spatial ripples.

The pursuers laughed wildly. The bearded man sneered. “You’re still hoping someone will rescue you at a time like this? Hahaha! That’s—”

The youth they’d passed earlier appeared before them, his hand clamping down on the man’s face like an eagle’s claw.

Through those fingers, the man saw only violet eyes, deep as an abyss. The youth was calm, yet he radiated death. The man’s body went cold, terror flooding through him.

“Who are you? Release him! You want to make an enemy of the Golden Snake Sect?”

Li Guanqi smirked, as if he’d just heard a joke. “An enemy? Of the likes of you?”

Enraged, the remaining three charged at him, swords in hand.

A dozen zhang away, Yan Chong cried out, “Fellow Daoist, be careful!”

Then the sword beneath Li Guanqi’s feet flew into his hands. He moved too fast for Yan Chong to follow.

Silence fell. The three attackers froze.

Pfft! 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Li Guanqi slowly turned to look at Yan Chong. Behind him, all four attackers burst apart, yet there was not a single drop of blood on Li Guanqi’s sword.

He channeled a stream of spirit light into the wounded woman, halting the decline of her life force and stabilizing her aura.

Yan Chong wept with joy. He looked down at his beloved woman, his voice trembling. “Qin’er...”

He looked up, ready to kneel. “I am Yan Chong of the Daxia Territory! I am deeply grateful for your help. Please accept my thanks!”

A gentle force lifted him before his knees could touch the ground. He stared at the handsome youth, who smiled and clasped his fists in greeting. “I’m Li Wuji, a Daxia Sword Sect disciple of the Heavenly Lightning Peak.”

Yan Chong’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected to meet a fellow disciple in the remote Falling Sunset Territory. His throat tightened, tears welling. “Yan Chong, disciple of the Heavenly Wood Peak!”

The two exchanged smiles, their hearts surging with emotion. Li Guanqi handed him a blank jade slip of the Daxia Sword Sect. Yan Chong imprinted his aura on it, and a bright point appeared on the slip beside his position. Far away, three more points were racing toward them.

Yan Chong’s tears spilled as he clutched the jade slip, his voice trembling. “Disciple Yan Chong here. The crisis has been averted. Thank you, senior brothers and sisters!”

The light disappeared. No words were spoken. Their actions conveyed more than words ever could. Yan Chong clenched his fists, feeling the strength of his sect more keenly than ever.