After seeing Yue Yao back to the Moon Mirror Sect, Xu Lie and A Xuan set off on their way back.
But they had not gone far when Xu Lie frowned and stopped, his expression grave.
A Xuan froze for a moment, then looked at him and asked, "Big Brother Xu, what's wrong?"
Xu Lie clenched his fist, his voice low. "We're being followed."
At once, A Xuan warily scanned their surroundings. The empty street was deserted; not a soul lingered there.
"Don't bother looking. You won't find him. He's locked onto our auras."
"What do we do now?" A Xuan hurriedly asked. The Golden Refining Snake lay hidden inside him, waiting for a chance to strike.
What worried him most was that if their pursuer was as powerful as Xiao Lian, then even with the Golden Refining Snake and the Seven-Colored Purple Gold Phoenix, they might not make it out unscathed.
Xu Lie's expression was somber, but he managed to keep his composure. He looked around and called out in a deep voice, "Who goes there? You're clearly no weakling, so why resort to skulking after us?"
His voice echoed through the deserted street, but there was no reply.
After a long pause, A Xuan looked up and asked, "Big Brother Xu, it seems like that person has no intention of showing himself."
"Then let's go." Xu Lie glanced indifferently around them, then headed back toward the Da Ruo Inn along the dry stone-paved road.
A Xuan hurried after him, remaining on high alert. Fine beads of sweat had already begun to form on his forehead.
To their surprise, they reached the Da Ruo Inn without incident.
As soon as they stepped into the barrier Xiao Lian had set up, the tension that had lingered in their hearts finally