I want to protect you

"Those two Dao Lords said the resentful, baleful energy in Pingjiang City reached the heavens, and even they couldn't venture inside. They also said this was a matter of grave importance, and they had to escort the young master back before reporting it to their sect! The people escorting the bride were terrified when they saw the ghost and insisted on following the Dao Lords the whole way. I was so worried about the young lady that I ran all the way back to bring word!"

"My child! My child!" Madam Liu, who had fainted in her seat in the hall, now woke, calling for Mingzhu the moment she regained consciousness.

She looked at the messenger on the floor through red, swollen eyes, then tremulously removed every gold and jade bangle on her wrists and handed them to him.

"A Si, you did well! If we'd waited for word from the Pei Family, an entire day might have passed! I know you have a daughter too, so of course you understand how much Mingzhu means to us!"

Supported by a maid, Madam Liu struggled out of her seat and dropped to her knees before Xie Lingchuan and Zhu Lianqing with a thud.

"Please, Dao Lords, save my child! As long as you save her, I'll spend my entire fortune to have golden statues made of you and worship them!"

Xie Lingchuan and Zhu Lianqing hurried to help her up.

"Please rest assured, madam. Since we've encountered this matter here, we won't stand by and do nothing."

Xie Lingchuan nodded as well.

Behind them, Jiang Tingxue also spoke up. "Just a few days ago, Mingzhu and I had such a lovely chat, and she gave me lots of pretty little trinkets. I'll do everything in my power to bring her back too!"

The elderly couple, stunned by the sudden terrible news, finally steadied themselves a little. The servants helped them into their chairs to catch their breath.

"Quick, quick! Bring paper and brushes! Write to every Dao Lord we've had dealings with and send the letters out. Hurry!"

Zhu Lianqing and Xie Lingchuan exchanged a glance, then looked at Shen Ji. They gathered together to discuss what to do.

Zhu Lianqing said, "According to the messenger, that ghost slipped into Pingjiang City. That means the seal on Pingjiang City has weakened. Liu Yanbai and Liu Nanzhi probably realized this, which was why they said this was a grave matter that had to be reported to their sect."

Xie Lingchuan recalled the messenger's words, picking out the crucial information. "If the seal has weakened, but the ghost that emerged wasn't the fierce ghost that slaughtered the city a century ago, that means she's still suppressed. In that case, we can take a gamble and venture into the city."

Shen Ji nodded too. "Pingjiang City has stood abandoned for several centuries since the massacre. With the fierce ghost suppressed there, resentful, baleful energy fills the sky. Miss Mingzhu is only a mortal. Even if that ghost doesn't harm her after taking her, she won't last long inside. Our only option now is to enter the city as quickly as possible, find her, and bring her out before more complications arise."

Zhu Lianqing glanced at the three junior disciples behind Shen Ji. "Are you coming to Pingjiang City too?"

That place was probably more than these three martial nephews and niece of hers could handle.

Jiang Tingxue immediately said, "Yes! Eldest Senior Brother, I insist on going to save Mingzhu. I'm not afraid! And I'll do my best to keep myself safe while looking for her. I won't hold either of you senior brothers back!"

Song Wensheng said, "Eldest Senior Brother! If you're taking her, you have to take me too. I'm not afraid either!"

Yan Qing also looked pitifully at Shen Ji. "Senior Brother..."

Shen Ji smiled helplessly and patted Yan Qing's head. "Then let's all go. I know you've never held me back."

Zhu Lianqing smiled. "Then, since time is pressing, let's leave immediately."

The six bid farewell to Master Liu and Madam Liu, then flew on their swords toward Pingjiang City.

The three juniors couldn't fly on swords, so Shen Ji carried Song Wensheng, while Xie Lingchuan carried Yan Qing.

As for Zhu Lianqing, ever since her conversation with Xie Lingchuan, she hadn't bothered to conceal the fact that her cultivation was already high enough to fly on a sword.

She used Jiang Tingxue's sword to carry her along.

Ever since Jiang Tingxue had seen Zhu Lianqing freely wield her eldest senior brother's sword to cut down Yesheng that day, then enter the water to rescue Senior Brother Xie, she had been full of curiosity about her.

Though she remained wary of Zhu Lianqing, she couldn't help replaying the sight of her swinging the sword and cutting down Yesheng.

She was just so cool!

She had heard her senior brothers and sisters in the sect say that their junior martial aunt, revered by countless cultivators as the foremost in the way of the sword, moved like a startled swan when wielding a sword, but she had never seen it herself.

Now, seeing how breathtaking Zhu Lianqing looked with even a casual sword stroke, just how captivating must that junior martial aunt be?

Since they needed to find Mingzhu as soon as possible, they flew at breakneck speed almost the entire way.

The closer they drew to Pingjiang City, the more deathly still the atmosphere became.

They stopped their swords a hundred meters outside Pingjiang City.

In the distance, the city gates stood half-open, covered in mottled rust and scratches.

Not a glimmer of light showed above the city, obscured by baleful energy that had roiled for centuries without dispersing. A single glance was enough to tell that it was a perilous place.

Xie Lingchuan put away his sword and cautioned them, "We don't yet know what it's like inside. Everyone, do what you can. If you can't find Miss Mingzhu, prioritize your own safety. Reinforcements from the Moon-Gazing Sect should arrive before long."

Shen Ji nodded and looked at his three junior siblings.

"Senior Brother Xie is right. Do what you can. Especially you three-whatever happens, don't get separated."

"Yes, Eldest Senior Brother. We'll stay close to you and Senior Brother Xie."

Xie Lingchuan glanced at Zhu Lianqing and held out his hand. "Let's cast the spell again."

Zhu Lianqing lifted her eyes. "Why? Pingjiang City lies ahead, and it might well be a dragon's pool and a tiger's den. I'm already risking my life to accompany a gentleman, yet you're still afraid I'll run away and want to keep watch over me? You'll hurt my feelings."

When Zhu Lianqing didn't comply, Xie Lingchuan simply took her wrist.

"Precisely because it might be a dragon's pool and a tiger's den, I can't let you risk yourself. I told you I would bring you back, so I'll ensure your safety. We dragged you into this tonight. Naturally, we have to look after you."

Zhu Lianqing lowered her head to watch Xie Lingchuan form the hand seals, and her gaze flickered.

What her young disciple was casting this time wasn't the Spirit Connection Spell, but Live and Die Together.

Zhu Lianqing tried to withdraw her wrist, but although Xie Lingchuan's grip didn't seem strong, she couldn't pull free in the slightest.

"Once this spell is cast, every injury I suffer will fall on you. Aren't you afraid I'll harm you?"

"If you meant to harm me now, why would you have saved me in Thousand Vines Cave?"

Zhu Lianqing watched the mark of Live and Die Together sink into her wrist and disappear, a jumble of conflicting feelings filling her heart.

Her disciple had come to save someone, while she had come to protect her disciple and her martial nephews and niece.

How had she ended up being protected by her disciple instead?

Zhu Lianqing said, "But you know my cultivation isn't low."

Xie Lingchuan released her wrist. His dark eyes were like an ancient well without a ripple, their emotions unreadable.

"I know."

"But your not needing protection and my wanting to protect you are two different things."