Save or not save?

Chapter 30: To Save or Not to Save?

Yang Yu was a bit bewildered.

King Ji Yonghao had gone to such great lengths to get him to agree to escort Ji Hongxue to escape the Azure Kingdom.

Now, one of Ji Hongxue's guards was saying he wanted to fire him and take his place?

"So, you're unhappy with my decision and have an opinion?"

An Bulang's eyes suddenly turned icy, and the hand holding Yang Yu's arm tightened slightly.

Yang Yu, a cultivator who primarily practiced ice-elemental techniques, felt an even more terrifying chill emanating from the other person. It was as if, if he uttered another "no," he would freeze solid.

"No... no opinion." Yang Yu felt he couldn't defeat An Bulang.

Discretion was the better part of valor, and he chose to submit.

Hearing this, An Bulang released his grip with a satisfied expression and smiled, "You can still move, right?"

"I wouldn't dare move. I wouldn't dare," Yang Yu quickly shook his head.

"Hmm?" An Bulang drew out his nasal sound.

Yang Yu's stern face couldn't hold anymore, "If you say I can move, then I can move!!"

Ji Hongxue watched from the side, her worldview completely refreshed. Was this the benefit of power? The formidable cultivator who was previously arrogant and aloof, looking down on everyone, had now turned into a sycophant in the blink of an eye under An Bulang's nearly insurmountable might.

"Then why are you still standing here?" An Bulang said with a pout, "Lead the way."

"Huh?" Yang Yu froze.

"Where are the Spirit Stones Ji Yonghao gave you? I can't just fulfill my obligations without enjoying the benefits!" An Bulang said earnestly.

Both Yang Yu and Ji Hongxue felt a tightness in their chests. The young man's true intentions were now crystal clear.

His eagerness to stir up trouble was all for the sake of Spirit Stones!!

"Are you moving or not?" An Bulang asked impatiently.

"I'm moving, I'm moving!" Yang Yu gritted his teeth.

"The Spirit Stones Ji Yonghao paid me have already been transferred to a carriage outside the city. I was planning to use that carriage to escape..."

"No problem, lead the way!" An Bulang said without hesitation.

"Sister Hongxue, you stay in the palace and keep an eye on Yin Yin. These are turbulent times, so don't cause any trouble," An Bulang instructed.

Ji Hongxue nodded obediently, thinking to herself, Who do you think is the one most fond of causing trouble? Don't you have any idea?

An Bulang followed Yang Yu out of the palace with great interest.

He asked Yang Yu how many Spirit Stones Ji Yonghao had given him.

Yang Yu replied, "He gave me three hundred."

Slap!! An Bulang suddenly slapped him, sending Yang Yu spitting blood as he fell to the ground. Yang Yu shouted, "Tell the truth!"

Yang Yu was completely stunned and said aggrievedly, "I wasn't lying..."

An Bulang carefully observed Yang Yu's reaction before nodding with satisfaction, "Oh, I just wanted to test if you were lying. It seems you're very honest, and I appreciate that."

Yang Yu's mouth hung open. He covered his red and swollen cheek, his expression somewhat dazed.

What kind of maneuver is this?

Do you really think I'll forget that you just hit me if you praise me?

If this were in the past, Yang Yu would have long since drawn his sword in anger and slain the other person.

Unfortunately, the gap between them was too vast. Yang Yu didn't dare to anger An Bulang and could only swallow his grievances.

I can't beat him, I can't beat him, I can't beat him, I can't beat him, I can't beat him...

Yang Yu repeatedly chanted to himself, forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart.

He led An Bulang out of the Royal Palace and headed towards his pre-arranged escape point.

At a post station outside the Royal City.

Two men in purple robes, wearing bamboo hats that obscured their faces, stood silently beside a carriage.

Before long, Yang Yu and An Bulang appeared within their sight.

They both looked somewhat confused.

Didn't Yang Yu go to the palace to pick up the stunning Third Princess? Why did he bring a man back?

"These two are Wang Lin and Wang Ling. They are also cultivators serving in the palace, brothers. Both are peak experts at the Profound Body Eighth Layer. King Ji Yonghao originally sent them to cooperate with me on this mission..." Yang Yu took the initiative to introduce them.

"Senior Yang." Wang Lin and Wang Ling bowed respectfully upon seeing Yang Yu.

"Mmm..." Yang Yu nodded coldly, exuding an air of superiority, "Go, bring out all my Spirit Stones."

The two were confused but still complied, bringing out a well-sealed chest.

An Bulang opened the chest and saw the Spirit Stones emitting a faint green glow, a satisfied smile appearing on his face. "Very good, three hundred indeed. Although it's less than I expected, it's better than nothing."

With that, he closed the chest, secured it to his back with a few cloth straps, and then turned to leave contentedly, waving goodbye. "Thanks."

Yang Yu forced a smile. "You're welcome..."

Wang Lin and Wang Ling, seeing that An Bulang had taken all the Spirit Stones given by King Ji Yonghao, finally couldn't hold back. "Senior Yang, this..."

Yang Yu sighed faintly. "Can't you tell? We've been fired."

"How can His Majesty go back on his word?" the two brothers exclaimed indignantly.

"No, we were fired by that man," Yang Yu murmured, pointing at the retreating figure in white, carrying a box with light steps.

"Why?!" the two brothers were still unconvinced.

Yang Yu's gaze deepened as he said faintly, "Because of strength."

An Bulang walked towards the Royal City, humming a tune, carrying a box of Spirit Stones.

He was in a good mood because with these three hundred Spirit Stones, his cultivation had a chance to advance from Body Refinement Seventh Level to Profound Body Eighth Layer.

"Hmm... Speaking of which, isn't my recent cultivation advancement a bit too fast? It's only been a few days, and I've gone from Profound Body Third Layer to Body Refinement Seventh Level. Advancing too quickly isn't good; I need to slow down..." An Bulang pondered carefully, then clapped his hands decisively. "Alright, I'll advance to Profound Body Eighth Layer in a couple more days!"

He didn't need to worry about his foundation when advancing. After all, as someone who was cultivating again, he had a vast reservoir within him, capable of holding any amount of water. The only downside was that advancing too quickly could lead to arrogance.

"Hmm... Avoid arrogance and impatience, take it one step at a time," An Bulang silently encouraged himself.

Suddenly, his steps halted, and he turned his gaze to the mountain forest on his right.

"Don't run! Flame Thunder belongs to my Ghost King Sect!"

"Hahaha... Pretty little lady, you belong to my Ghost King Sect too!!"

Two evil cultivators, clad in black robes and exuding a chilling aura, were chasing in the mountain forest with sinister grins.

A woman ran ahead in a panic, her delicate face pale.

Her light, sheer red dress swayed, revealing her snow-white shoulders, elegantly curved collarbone, and a tempting glimpse of her cleavage. Despite fleeing for her life, she exuded a fatal allure that was incredibly eye-catching.

Unknowingly, the woman had run close to where An Bulang was standing. Suddenly, she spat out a mouthful of blood and fell to the ground.

An Bulang could sense that her aura was extremely weak, as if she had been poisoned by some potent venom.

"Hehehe, little beauty from the Heavenly Fragrance Sect, not running anymore?"

"After taking our Bone Softening Powder, all your spiritual energy will dissipate, and your bones and flesh will soften. Where else can you run? We've long heard that Hua Qingzhu of the Heavenly Fragrance Sect is stunningly beautiful. Today, we can finally savor her properly..."

The two evil cultivators approached greedily, holding long swords.

"Young master, save me..." Hua Qingzhu lay on the ground, raising her beautiful eyes to look at An Bulang, as if grasping at the last straw of hope.

An Bulang blinked. From his angle, he could see the woman's excellent figure beneath her cinched, form-fitting dress, her ample chest straining the fabric with every breath, and her long, slender legs weakly splayed on the ground, seeming to struggle to stand up.

Such a beautiful woman, it would be a shame not to save her...

An Bulang tightened his grip on the Spirit Stone box behind him, glanced at the fallen Hua Qingzhu, and nodded slightly. "So big."

With that, he took a step, walked around Hua Qingzhu, and left directly.