Chapter 42: Bai Zizai's Killing Intent!

The next morning, Ye Xiao left the Mu family estate entirely on his own.

He did not inform anyone of his destination, leaving only a brief note for Mu Bai to explain that he had pressing matters to attend to and would return shortly.

"Master Gu Chen... As long as there is a hope of saving Ranran, no matter how difficult it is, I must try!"

Walking along the path toward Night Wind City, Ye Xiao’s eyes burned with unwavering determination. Night Wind City was not far from the domain of the Mu family; at his current pace, he would reach it in two days at most.

......

Meanwhile, back at the Mu family residence.

"What? Ye Xiao is gone?"

Mu Xue snatched the letter straight out of Mu Bai's hand. After reading it, her delicate face turned deathly pale.

"Brother! How could Brother Ye Xiao..."

Mu Bai heaved a heavy sigh and said, "You wouldn't understand. Placed in his situation, even I would have made the exact same choice, elder brother or not."

Mu Xue stared blankly at Mu Bai, lost in a daze!

"No! I have to go after him! What if the Bai family makes a stealthy move against him?"

Without another word, she turned and bolted, moving with a speed that left Mu Bai with no time to stop her.

"This reckless girl!" Mu Bai stamped his feet in frustration, then turned to bark orders at the guards behind him. "Quickly ready a carriage! I am going after her myself!"

......

Further away, Ye Xiao had been traveling for the better part of the day. As dusk began to bleed across the sky, he decided to scout for a place to rest for the night.

Right at that moment, three figures suddenly darted out from the surrounding woods, blocking his path.

"Ye Xiao! It really is you!"

The leader was a burly man with a jagged scar running across his face, his eyes gleaming with intense hatred.

Ye Xiao narrowed his eyes, instantly recognizing the man. "The remnants of the Xu family?"

"Hahahahaha! You didn't expect this, did you? To run into you right here!" the scar-faced man sneered viciously. "Today, I will avenge our family head!"

Ye Xiao let out a cold laugh as his broken sword materialized in his grip. "Just you three pieces of trash?"

"Humph! Today is not like the past! We miscalculated back at the Dark Flood Dragon Forest, but today..."

All three men struck at once, a flurry of blade lights and sword shadows instantly trapping Ye Xiao in a lethal web.

Ye Xiao’s brows twitched. He had not anticipated that, apart from the man who had just spoken, the other two possessed the cultivation of the Mansion Opening Realm!

However, the Ye Xiao of today was no longer the one of the past. The first form of the Nine Dragons Sword Art, "Dragon Tooth Splitting the Heavens," came to him as effortlessly as breathing. The fierce sword qi transformed into the illusory head of a dragon, tearing one of them to shreds on the spot!

"What?!" The remaining two turned pale with shock, terror gripping their hearts.

Ye Xiao did not pause for a second. Moving like a ghostly apparition, he flashed to the side of the second assailant. With a swift sweep of his broken sword, another head went flying into the air!

The last man—the scar-faced leader—was scared out of his wits, his soul nearly leaving his body. He spun around and scrambled to flee.

"Thinking of leaving?"

With a cold snort, Ye Xiao hurled the broken sword from his hand. It whistled through the air and pinned the fleeing man directly to a tree trunk!

In the span of just a few breaths, all three remnants of the Xu family were dead.

......

Ye Xiao retrieved his broken sword and was about to move on when he suddenly sensed a powerful aura rapidly closing in on his location.

"Not good! It's Bai Zizai!"

His expression shifted drastically, and he immediately broke into a sprint toward Night Wind City.

Sure enough, moments later, Bai Zizai materialized in the woods. Upon seeing the three corpses on the ground, a flash of astonishment crossed his eyes.

"This little beast actually possesses some skill!"

Immediately afterward, however, a ferocious grin twisted his features. "Very well! Since you left the Mu family all by yourself, you can't blame me for being heartless! I'll finish you off right here and now!"

With a flicker of his figure, Bai Zizai gave chase in the direction Ye Xiao had fled.

......

Ye Xiao ran for his life, but Bai Zizai was a veteran expert whose speed vastly outpaced his own.

"Little beast, where do you think you're going?"

Bai Zizai’s furious roar echoed from behind, accompanied by a ferocious gale of palm wind bearing down on him.

Panicked, Ye Xiao whirled around and crossed his sword to block.

"Boom!"

The immense impact sent him flying backward. He smashed through several thick trees before finally coming to a halt.

"Puff—!"

A mouthful of blood spewed from his lips, and Ye Xiao felt as though all his internal organs had been displaced.

"Hahahaha, with just this pitiful bit of skill, you dared to cripple my son?" Bai Zizai approached with a loud laugh. "Today, I will make you wish you were dead!"

Gritting his teeth, Ye Xiao forced himself back to his feet, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

He knew he was no match for Bai Zizai, but even if he were to die here, he would drag this old bastard down with him!

"Old dog, come at me if you have the guts!"

Ye Xiao roared, the blood qi within his body surging wildly as he prepared to forcibly unseal the broken sword to awaken his latent bloodline power!

Just then, a petite figure suddenly darted out from the adjacent bushes, throwing herself directly in front of Ye Xiao!

"Stop!"

It was Mu Xue!

Bai Zizai could no longer retract his palm strike, and it slammed heavily against Mu Xue's back!

"Puff—!" Mu Xue spat a mouthful of fresh blood, collapsing limply into Ye Xiao's arms.

"Mu Xue?!" Ye Xiao was stunned into disbelief. "Why are you here?"

Mu Xue offered a weak, pale smile. "I... I was worried about you..."

Bai Zizai was also taken aback, his complexion instantly turning deathly white. "The... the Mu family miss?"

He had never imagined that Mu Xue would suddenly appear. This had escalated into a massive crisis; if the Mu family were to find out...

"No choice. She must be silenced!"

Murderous intent surged violently in Bai Zizai's eyes.

......

Clasping Mu Xue tightly in his arms, Ye Xiao stared at the advancing Bai Zizai, despair gripping his heart.

At that most critical juncture, the sound of urgent hoofbeats thundered from the distance.

"Bai Zizai! If you dare to touch a single strand of my sister's hair, I will slaughter your entire clan!" It was the voice of Mu Bai!

Bai Zizai trembled violently. He whipped his head around to see Mu Bai galloping toward them at full speed, flanked by a dozen heavily armed guards.

"It's over..." His face turned the color of ash.

Mu Bai leaped off his horse. Upon seeing the blood at the corner of his sister's lips, the fury in his eyes threatened to ignite.

"Bai Zizai! You have some nerve!"

Bai Zizai retreated hastily, stammering, "Young Master Mu, this is all a misunderstanding..."

"A misunderstanding?" Mu Bai sneered coldly. "Men, take him down!"

The dozen guards instantly encircled Bai Zizai, trapping him in a tight perimeter.

Clutching the unconscious Mu Xue, Ye Xiao asked anxiously, "Senior Brother Mu, is Mu Xue..."

Mu Bai quickly checked his sister's pulse and injuries, letting out a slight breath of relief. "Thankfully, her injuries are not fatal."

He turned his gaze toward Ye Xiao and frowned deeply. "You brat! You sneak out all alone without a word to anyone! If my sister hadn't been clever, both of you would have lost your lives here today!"

Lowering his head in shame, Ye Xiao whispered, "I'm sorry..."

"Enough, let's get back first," Mu Bai waved his hand impatiently. "As for Bai Zizai..."

He glared icily at the captured Bai Zizai. "Take him back. I want to interrogate him personally!"

To everyone's surprise, however, Bai Zizai suddenly exploded into action!

"Since you are determined to have me die, I will drag you down with me first!"

As the head of the Bai family, Bai Zizai's strength was naturally not to be underestimated!

Mu Bai's expression altered drastically. Having rushed out in haste, he had not brought any high-level experts with him! Furthermore, Bai Zizai was a cultivator of the Condensing Dan Realm—not an opponent they could easily resist!

"Ye Xiao! Take my sister and leave, now!"

Ye Xiao was startled.

"Senior Brother Mu!"

Mu Bai's eyes were filled with grim resolve as he shouted in a low, authoritative voice, "Go! I won't be able to hold him off for long!"

Seeing that Bai Zizai had already ruthlessly cut down the few guards he had brought, yet Ye Xiao remained rooted to the spot, Mu Bai bellowed furiously, "Ye Xiao! You have a sister of your own, don't you?!"

The words struck Ye Xiao like a thunderbolt. He looked at Mu Bai, gritted his teeth hard, and scooped up the heavily injured Mu Xue, fleeing into the distance at full speed!

"Young Master Mu, prepare to meet your doom!"