A Secret

In the hall still engulfed in flames, Bai Yuan gripped Ning Rongrong by the throat with one hand and lifted her up.

Ning Rongrong felt her body growing starved of oxygen, yet she still swung her fists, repeatedly pounding Bai Yuan's hand while her legs kicked wildly.

The girl struggled and resisted desperately, but before absolute strength, it was utterly useless.

In response to Bai Yuan's words, Ning Rongrong angrily said, "You want me to apologize to you two beasts? No way."

"Heh heh!" A cold laugh rang out. Bai Yuan pressed Ning Rongrong to the ground and pinched her cheek with his other hand.

At once, Ning Rongrong felt an indescribable pain. It was something she had never experienced before, as though the bones in her face were about to be crushed.

Instinctively, Ning Rongrong opened her mouth.

Then, she felt the pressure on her face loosen.

Bai Yuan's fair palm, neither large nor small, forcibly invaded, prying her little mouth completely open.

Such a forceful intrusion made Ning Rongrong immensely uncomfortable.

The next moment, Ning Rongrong felt that hand seize her tongue tightly and slowly pull it outward with strength she could not resist.

"You have three seconds, but this time, there's one more person you need to apologize to." Bai Yuan spoke with a smile on his face.

Ning Rongrong's heart turned cold, and tears glimmered in her eyes.

Bai Yuan watched without the slightest hint of pity.

For someone who had wanted to kill him, the only reason Bai Yuan had not killed Ning Rongrong outright was because she was still useful.

"Three!" Bai Yuan began counting without hesitation, gradually increasing the force of his pull.

"Zhao..." Ning Rongrong tried to speak in terror, but in the end, she could only make a strange sound.

However, Bai Yuan understood what Ning Rongrong meant. She was calling for Zhao Wuji to save her, but at such close range, how could Zhao Wuji dare make a move?

"Two!"

The icy voice was like a death-summoning curse.

Ning Rongrong shuddered as she stared at the only thing exposed beneath Bai Yuan's mask: a pair of utterly emotionless eyes.

Suddenly, Ning Rongrong felt pain shoot through her tongue as the five fingers in her mouth abruptly tightened.

Ning Rongrong let out a string of muffled, garbled sounds.

Smiling broadly, Bai Yuan pulled his hand out.

Ning Rongrong hurriedly said, "I'm sorry, it was my fault. I shouldn't have insulted you. It was my fault. Please forgive me."

Bai Yuan smiled and gently patted Ning Rongrong's little face. "Isn't this better? It's just an apology, not like I was asking for your life. What was so hard to let go of?"

Ning Rongrong let out a breath of relief.

Then Bai Yuan suddenly said, "Now tell me, who exactly is the bitch, and who is the beast?"

Ning Rongrong's body stiffened. She closed her eyes, and two streams of tears slid down her cheeks. "I'm the bitch. I'm the beast."

"That's more like it."

Bai Yuan helped Ning Rongrong up from the ground and gently brushed the dust from her clothes. Then he turned to Zhao Wuji. "We're leaving, and this place is about to collapse too. Are you still going to stop us?"

Zhao Wuji's face darkened. "I won't stop you if you want to leave, but you must leave Ning Rongrong behind."

Bai Yuan smiled beneath his mask and moved his hand.

With a crack and a miserable scream, Bai Yuan said flatly, "It can still be set now. If her whole hand gets dislocated later, it won't be possible to put it back."

"Zhao Wuji, get the hell out!" Ning Rongrong went limp in Bai Yuan's arms, enduring the agonizing pain of her broken finger as she roared in fury.

Zhao Wuji's face darkened even further. He turned around and vanished from Bai Yuan and the others' sight.

Suddenly, Bai Yuan raised a hand and pointed. A sharp Sword Qi shot straight toward Tang San. Before the terrifying Sword Qi even emerged, Tang San felt as if his blood had frozen, and the threat of death rose within his heart.

Bang!

The Sword Qi scattered. Zhao Wuji, his face livid, stood in front of Tang San and said, "I've already let you leave. What more do you want?"

Bai Yuan smiled. "How about this, Zhao Wuji? Kill Tang San, and I'll release Ning Rongrong immediately. What do you say?"

Everyone present froze, then turned their gazes toward Tang San.

Trading the life of a boy with a bit of talent but no background for the princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect seemed like a very worthwhile deal.

Before Zhao Wuji could speak, Ning Rongrong said, "Zhao Wuji, what are you hesitating for? If anything happens to me, all of you will die!"

The people around them began to stir restlessly, while the middle-aged man at the side slowly moved toward Tang San.

Zhao Wuji unleashed his aura, suppressing those around him. He gave Bai Yuan a cold glance. "Ning Rongrong, don't believe him. He's deceiving you. Even if I kill Tang San, he won't let you go just to save his own life."

Ignoring him entirely, Ning Rongrong said, "How can Tang San's life compare to mine? Trading his life for a chance is a fitting death for him. Besides, if it weren't for him, would I be like this?"

Tang San stared at Ning Rongrong with murderous intent filling his eyes.

Ma Hongjun, Xiao Wu, and the utterly useless Oscar stood protectively around Tang San, preventing any Soul Masters from launching a sneak attack.

Seeing that no one reacted, Ning Rongrong continued, "Anyone who kills Tang San will be rewarded, whether he releases me or not. Once my father learns of this, he will surely spare you all."

The surrounding Soul Masters grew even more restless.

The middle-aged man said, "Zhao Wuji, he's just an ordinary student. Is there any need to protect him so fiercely?"

Zhao Wuji fully unleashed his aura and refused to yield an inch.

"Anyone who dares make a move dies!"

Ning Rongrong angrily said, "Zhao Wuji, are you trying to die? If my father and uncle learn of what happened today, you will undoubtedly die!"

Zhao Wuji remained silent, but inwardly, he was on the verge of collapse.

Behind Ning Rongrong stood the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Tang San appeared to have no backing, but his father was the Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao!

Bai Yuan watched everything before him with a smile. He had known that as long as he said those words, this group would turn against one another.

As for why he had not kidnapped Tang San earlier and had chosen Ning Rongrong instead, it was naturally because, apart from Zhao Wuji, no one knew Tang San's true identity. Moreover, the Clear Sky Douluo was someone wanted by Spirit Hall.

As for Dai Mubai and Ning Rongrong, Dai Mubai possessed a certain degree of strength and had the ability to resist. Kidnapping him could lead to unforeseen complications.

Thus, Ning Rongrong was naturally the best choice.

Bai Yuan immediately stopped hesitating and carried Ning Rongrong as he sprinted outside at top speed. Yet his voice still reached everyone's ears.

"Oh, right. Let me tell you a secret. The reason Zhao Wuji is so determined to protect Tang San is because his father is the Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao."

"And Tang San also possesses Twin Martial Souls: the Clear Sky Hammer and the Blue Silver Emperor. That is the true secret behind his Innate Full Soul Power."

Bai Yuan did not look back. Since Tang San had turned him into someone hunted by the world, he would make Tang San experience that feeling as well.

The instant Bai Yu stepped out of the inn behind him, Bai Yuan moved his mind. The final power of all eight formations—metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, lightning, and ice—erupted completely.

Boom!

A thunderous explosion rang out, and the entire inn immediately collapsed, flames consuming everything inside.

Bai Yuan placed his hand around Ning Rongrong's neck, prepared to strangle her to death the moment anything went wrong, while Bai Yu followed behind, casting the Wind Riding Spell.

The two rode the wind as they fled at top speed.