Looking at the figure before him, Yu Ci looked somewhat surprised. "Master Ming is here too?"
The one walking in from the wasteland was indeed Ming Lan, who looked rather travel-worn. Covered in dust, her loose graying hair appeared even grayer.
To be bowed to by such an aged senior would likely bring some pressure to anyone else. Yet Yu Ci fell silent for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Forgive me? Does Master Ming mean that I should consider the bigger picture?"
Before Ming Lan could speak, Yu Ci ignored her entirely and turned to stride toward the spot where Crimson Yin and Aunt He stood. This sudden move caught everyone off guard, as no one understood what he intended to do. Ming Lan froze in place as well, taking a long while to remember to straighten her posture.
By this time, Yu Ci had already walked right up to Crimson Yin, leaving a mere couple of feet between them. Under normal circumstances, Crimson Yin could have easily killed him with a casual slap at such a distance. Yet right now, residual sword qi still lingered unspent within the female cultivator's body, her vital energy was chaotic, and that Aunt He's palm remained pressed against the back of her neck, completely locking down her central nervous system. Under these conditions, even moving a finger was difficult for Crimson Yin.
Their auras intersected, separated only by a curtain of hair. Yu Ci could only see one half of Crimson Yin's face. He saw that her skin was porcelain-smooth and jade-like, yet already drained of color, and her eyes were cold and deep. At a glance, she still looked quite threatening, yet her gaze was scattered, suggesting her inner state might not be as strong and stubborn as her outward appearance.