Xiao Yan watched as Tan Bin left the courtyard, quickly disappearing into the deep darkness in the distance.
He did not immediately look away, but instead spread out his soul perception, taking in all the movements within a radius of several dozen feet.
He felt the other person's presence gradually recede and completely disappear at the edge of his perception.
Xiao Yan's brows furrowed instantly.
From the moment we entered Wind Lightning City, everything seemed strangely inexplicable.
First, Elder He personally came out to receive them. An elder at the Dou Zong level was overly enthusiastic towards two complete strangers.
Then the trial was repeatedly postponed, and every time I inquired, all I got was a perfunctory "Soon, soon."
Then there was the schadenfreude that the deacon couldn't hide during the day, and the warning that Tan Bin risked his life to deliver in the dark late at night.
Almost instantly, Xiao Yan came up with the only reasonable explanation.
The strange occurrences at the Wind Lightning Pavilion over the past few days flashed through Xiao Yan's mind, and he hesitated almost without hesitation.
He didn't even have time to explain the whole story to Lin Wan'er in detail, because every moment of delay was gambling with their lives.
His gaze suddenly fell on Lin Wan'er beside him. The gentle composure he usually displayed in his dark eyes was gone, replaced by a cold and decisive edge.
"Walk!"
That single word was like a sharp blade drawn from its sheath, instantly cleaving through the stagnant air in the courtyard.
"Ah?"
A hint of surprise flashed in Lin Wan'er's eyes.
Xiao Yan's reaction was too fast and his tone too urgent. Tan Bin had just left a moment ago, and the next moment he made such a decisive judgment. The leap in time made her unable to keep up.
But having spent so much time with Xiao Yan, she knew very well that Xiao Yan wasn't someone who would act impulsively without a reason.
The fact that he said "let's go" in such a resolute tone meant that they were indeed standing on the edge of danger.
Lin Wan'er didn't ask any further questions or hesitate; she immediately nodded.
She turned and quickly went back into the house, and in just a few breaths, she was already standing beside Xiao Yan.
Although a trace of bewilderment lingered on her face, there was an overwhelming sense of unwavering trust in Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan nodded slightly in approval as he watched Lin Wan'er's decisive actions.
If the Wind Lightning Pavilion truly has other purposes for them, then there's only one possibility given that it's been dragged out for several days.
The other party is waiting for the people from the Yellow Springs Pavilion to arrive.
Both pavilions belong to the four major pavilions of Central Plains, and although they outwardly keep to themselves, they do not interfere with each other.
However, there has never been a shortage of private favors and exchanges of benefits.
A few days is enough time for the Yellow Springs Pavilion to receive the message and send people over.
The fact that Wind Lightning Pavilion has been delaying is likely because they are waiting for the other party's people to arrive.
Therefore, every minute they delay here increases their danger.
If we don't leave now, once the people from the Yellow Springs Pavilion arrive, we'll be trapped like turtles in a jar.
With his keen senses, Xiao Yan led Lin Wan'er directly out of the city.
His Spiritual Soul Power illuminated every detail of the road ahead with crystal clarity.
The territory of the Wind Lightning Pavilion is protected by array formations and restrictions, but most of these restrictions are concentrated in the core area and the direction of the main gate.
Routine internal inspections were not subject to very strict monitoring.
After all, no one would have thought that someone would dare to leave without saying goodbye on the Wind Lightning Pavilion's territory.
Along the way, Xiao Yan and Lin Wan'er skillfully avoided the guards patrolling Wind Lightning Pavilion.
His perception range far exceeded that of these ordinary guards. Before they even saw him, he had already grasped their location, number, cultivation level, and direction of movement.
Lin Wan'er followed closely behind Xiao Yan, her steps extremely light and her breathing very low.
A fine layer of sweat appeared on her palms, and her heart was beating faster than usual, but she didn't make any extra sound, simply following closely in Xiao Yan's footsteps.
The two quickly left the reception area of the Wind Lightning Pavilion.
But a shadow still lingered in Xiao Yan's heart, and he always felt a sense of unease.
It's hard to describe the feeling precisely; it's like a thin string gently vibrating in the depths of my heart, faint yet continuous.
His reason told him that their actions had been swift and discreet enough, but that unease lingered in his heart, refusing to dissipate.
In the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Xiao Yan brought Lin Wan'er to the city gate of Wind Lightning City.
The city gate stood tall and silent in the night. The two heavy iron gates were already tightly closed, and the lightning patterns cast on the gate surface gleamed coldly in the moonlight, like two silent, gazing eyes.
The stone-carved beasts on both sides of the city gate appeared even more ferocious in the night, their fangs and claws outlined sharply by the moonlight.
Faint lights shone from the towers on the city wall, and occasionally the figures of patrolling guards could be seen flickering behind the battlements.
Although the city gates were closed, Xiao Yan had already observed that the city walls' restrictions were mainly to defend against strong attacks from the outside; it was much easier to get out from the inside.
" Brother Tang, where are you going so late?"
Just when Lin Wan'er thought she was about to leave the oppressive Wind Lightning City.
A soft voice suddenly rang out from the side.
The voice was neither too loud nor too soft, and the tone was neither too fast nor too slow; it could even be described as gentle and polite.
But this casual question caused both Xiao Yan and Lin Wan'er to freeze in place.
Lin Wan'er suddenly turned her head to look.
Elder He had somehow already moved into the shadows not far away.
He stood there quietly, his blue robe almost blending into the shadows, his long beard fluttering slightly in the night breeze.
It's unclear how long he's been standing there; perhaps he's been following them ever since Xiao Yan and Lin Wan'er left the courtyard, or perhaps even earlier.
He looked at them with a fake smile on his face. The smile was just right, but it was like paint on his face, without a trace of real warmth.
"Whoosh!"
Xiao Yan's attention immediately fell on Elder He.
That old fox finally came.
The unease he felt was confirmed at that moment, which actually calmed him down.
He didn't speak, but a wisp of Soul Power surged in his eyes. A pale blue light flashed and disappeared deep within his pupils. The Soul Power within his body had already begun to accelerate its circulation in his meridians, ready to erupt at any moment.
"It's nothing, just going out of town for a walk."
Xiao Yan spoke calmly, his tone as if he were discussing something completely ordinary.
At the same time, his aura gradually became sharper, and he no longer deliberately concealed it, but slowly released the pressure of Dou Emperor level.
"What, does Elder He intend to restrict our freedom?"
Xiao Yan's tone remained calm, but the sarcasm in his words was no longer concealed.
Since the other side has already blocked the city gate, it means that it's time to break through the barrier; there's no point in pretending anymore.
" Brother Tang is joking."
Elder He shook his head slightly, a hint of apology on his face.
The smile looked sincere, as if he were apologizing in advance for what he was about to do.
He spoke directly to Xiao Yan, his tone surprisingly frank:
" Brother Tang, I'm sorry."
Elder He shook his head, a gesture that seemed to carry a hint of helplessness.
Immediately afterwards, from the shadows at the foot of the city wall, two stewards from the Wind Lightning Pavilion escorted a person out.
It was Tan Bin.
Xiao Yan's gaze fell on Tan Bin, and his pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.
How long has Tan Bin been gone from their courtyard?
Elder He had already arrested the person.
This shows that Tan Bin's message was never kept secret from the other party from the beginning, and it is even possible that Elder He had anticipated that someone would come to tip him off and had been secretly keeping an eye on things.
If Tan Bin hadn't come tonight, they might have been able to delay for a few more days; but Tan Bin's arrival has forced Elder He to close the net sooner.
Elder He took a few steps forward, his figure emerging from the shadows into the moonlight.
The pale moonlight fell on his face, making his thin features appear somewhat hard and cold.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his tone still very calm, as if he were chatting casually with an old friend.
"I am indeed in the wrong in this matter."
Elder He readily admitted it, without the slightest hint of evasion or excuse.
" Brother Tang has no grudge against the Wind and Wind Lightning Pavilion, and the letter of recommendation is genuine. According to the rules, you should have been able to smoothly participate in the trial and enter the Wind Lightning Pavilion for cultivation."
I know that what I did today is inconsistent with the usual practices of the Wind Lightning Pavilion.
He paused, shifting his gaze from Xiao Yan to the central area of the Wind Lightning Pavilion shrouded in thunderclouds in the distance.
Amidst the rumbling thunder, his gaze became somewhat complicated, as if he were recalling a less-than-pleasant past event.
"However, when I broke through to the Dou Zong back then, I did indeed owe a favor to that person from the Yellow Springs Pavilion."
At the Dou Zong realm, one wrong move can lead to death and annihilation. I've owed this favor for years, and now it's time to repay it.
He spoke slowly, each word carrying a heavy weight, as if he were explaining to Xiao Yan, or as if he were convincing himself.
As soon as he finished speaking, Elder He's aura suddenly erupted. That aura was completely different from the Xiao Yan had sensed before.
He had previously kept his composure extremely well, like a deep pool of still water, neither revealing his true intentions nor showing any signs of weakness; but now, once he unleashed his power, it was like a volcano that had been dormant for a long time suddenly erupting.
A powerful Dou Qi swirled wildly around his body, and the cyan light was so tangible that it enveloped his entire body in a pale cyan halo.
Immediately afterward, under the watchful eyes of Xiao Yan and Lin Wan'er, Elder He ascended into the air step by step.
He did not rely on any external object, nor did he conjure wings.
Step by step, they strode through the void, each step creating visible ripples in the space beneath their feet, as if they were walking on invisible stairs.
With his hands behind his back, his blue robe fluttered in the night wind as he slowly rose into the air, finally standing steadily in the night sky, looking down at Xiao Yan.
A massive amount of Dou Qi swirled around his body, resembling a series of azure dragons encircling him.
An immense pressure, as if it were tangible, descended upon Xiao Yan.
This is the genuine might of Dou Zong, the oppressive aura that only a powerful being who has touched the threshold of the laws of space can unleash.
" Brother Tang, I have no grudge against you. I spared your life only to repay a favor."
Elder He, standing in mid-air, hesitated for a moment, a subtle expression appearing on his thin face.
His imposing presence was not diminished in the slightest by this explanation, but his tone did indeed carry a hint of sincere apology.
After a slight pause, he continued speaking, his voice echoing down from mid-air and reverberating beneath the empty city walls.
"But in everything I do, I only seek to have a clear conscience."
His gaze shifted from Xiao Yan, swept over Lin Wan'er, and then over Tan Bin, who was being held by two stewards, his tone resolute.
"Regardless of today's outcome, and regardless of who wins or loses between you and Yellow Springs Pavilion, Wind Lightning Pavilion will not take action against these two."
"I can swear this oath before everyone in the Wind Lightning Pavilion."
The people Elder He was referring to were naturally Tan Bin and Lin Wan'er.
He spoke these words not only to Xiao Yan, but also to the two deacons present.
Although Tan Bin broke the rules by secretly informing others, Elder He clearly did not intend to pursue his life. He simply detained him to prevent him from passing on messages again.
Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes.
He had prepared for the worst.
But he didn't expect Elder He to be so blunt in revealing the truth.
Without making excuses, without putting on an act, without using Lin Wan'er and Tan Bin as hostages, he frankly admitted: he just wants to keep you, but only you, and no one else will be implicated.
This style of doing things surprised Xiao Yan somewhat.
Xiao Yan glanced at Lin Wan'er, who looked panicked, and Tan Bin was being held captive but remained calm, not far away.
Lin Wan'er's face appeared somewhat pale in the moonlight, and her lips trembled slightly, but her eyes were stubborn, clearly indicating that she did not want to cause Xiao Yan any trouble at this time.
Tan Bin straightened his back, and although he had injuries on his face, he remained silent.
Xiao Yan briefly weighed the options in his mind, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.
It's impossible to take Lin Wan'er and Tan Bin with me.
He didn't have the spare strength to protect two people in front of two Dou Zong.
Moreover, if Elder He's words are true, then leaving Lin Wan'er here would actually be safer than having her stay with him.