Chapter Sixty-Four: The Pursuit

After Yao Xueqing claimed victory in the previous match, the elderly man opposite her recognized the divine Tianya sword she wielded. The man in black, not daring to be careless, launched a fierce and full-scale assault, engaging Yao Xueqing in a lively and intense duel.

Though the black-clad man was not tall, his movements were agile, and his own sword, while not as brilliant as the Tianya blade, was remarkably resilient. When their swords clashed, he was able to hold his own, showing no sign of weakness against the divine weapon.

Their battle was one of true equals, a contest where neither yielded an inch.

Meanwhile, Li Sibai, supporting Gong Degang, arrived at the scene. Gong Degang’s bleeding had long since stopped, but he was uneasy about the situation and insisted on coming over with Li Sibai’s help.

With everyone’s attention fixed on Yao Xueqing and her opponent, the elderly man sensed something was amiss—someone from the Xuantian Sword Sect was missing.

It was the sharp-eyed woman in green who first noticed the anomaly. She spotted someone secretly uprooting the Ice Spirit Herb and preparing to stash it in a storage ring.

She cried out, “Something’s wrong!” and hurried after Guo Jian, the culprit, with the elderly man following close behind.

Guo Jian, seeing Yao Xueqing and the black-clad woman locked in their fierce struggle, seized the chance to stealthily harvest the Ice Spirit Herb. At the alarmed shout, he bolted without hesitation.

Yao Xueqing and her opponent were startled, though they did not know what had transpired. Distracted, Yao Xueqing’s focus wavered, and she was struck in the arm by the black-clad man’s sword. Although her protective aura was active, the opponent’s blade managed, by some strange means, to pierce through it.

Her grip faltered, blood streaming from her arm.

She retreated hastily, but the black-clad man did not press the attack. Instead, he glanced back and nodded to the companion who had earlier rescued the burly man in black. Then, he too turned to pursue Guo Jian.

Li Sibai, arriving just in time, witnessed the unfolding chaos: Guo Jian had stolen the Ice Spirit Herb and was fleeing, three opponents gave chase, while most of their own party was injured. Only he and Ye Chunqiao remained relatively unscathed. For a moment, Li Sibai was at a loss.

He Tianxu, however, remained clear-headed. If Guo Jian escaped with the herb, he would surely not honor his earlier promise. Though wounded, He Tianxu forced himself to endure the pain and said, “Those who can keep up, follow me; those who can’t, stay here and rest!”

With that, he rushed after the fleeing figures. Though Yao Xueqing’s injury was not grave, it slowed her. Seeing He Tianxu already in pursuit, she too pressed forward.

Li Sibai saw them both go. Uninjured himself, he glanced at Ye Chunqiao and followed closely. Gong Degang, though, was still too badly hurt to keep pace. Ye Chunqiao, concerned for him, decided to remain behind. Her bond with Gong Degang was strong, and she would not leave him alone. Gong Degang’s grateful look spoke volumes; her decision meant she might not share in any reward, for she was not present at the crucial moment.

Gong Degang regretted his earlier bravado—had he listened to Li Sibai and not rushed ahead, he would not have been so badly wounded, nor would Ye Chunqiao now be burdened with caring for him.

While Gong Degang and Ye Chunqiao stayed atop the mountain, Li Sibai soon caught up to Yao Xueqing.

Yao Xueqing’s speed was affected by her injury, and the figures ahead grew smaller. As Li Sibai reached her, she gritted her teeth and said, “Xiaobai, don’t worry about me. Hurry and catch up. Senior Brother He is wounded too—I fear for his safety.”

“But what about you?” Li Sibai was concerned for Yao Xueqing’s injury; he cared little for the Xuantian Yuqing Elixir now, valuing her safety far more.

This senior sister had always looked after him; he was unwilling to leave her, uneasy and reluctant.

“Go help Senior Brother He. I’ll return to find Senior Brother Gong and the others. Is that alright?” Yao Xueqing, anxious, saw the night had fully fallen. Ahead, He Tianxu was still visible, but Guo Jian and his pursuers were out of sight. If she did not decide quickly, the opportunity would slip away. To put Li Sibai’s mind at ease, she abandoned any thought of continuing the chase, knowing she could not keep up now.

Li Sibai hesitated, but seeing the determination in Yao Xueqing’s eyes, he nodded.

Yao Xueqing breathed a sigh of relief. “Xiaobai, take care. Be sure to bring Senior Brother He back safely!”

She stopped, watching Li Sibai race past, silently praying for them until his figure vanished from sight. Then, she quietly turned back toward the mountain summit.

Li Sibai parted from Yao Xueqing and pressed forward, soon catching up to He Tianxu.

He Tianxu, frustrated at pursuing alone, was comforted to see Li Sibai join him. Considering the injuries among their team, it was no surprise only Ye Chunqiao and Li Sibai could follow; Ye Chunqiao’s absence was understandable.

Looking at Li Sibai, He Tianxu managed a wry smile, never expecting events to unfold this way. Injured himself, he realized he now had to rely on the very person everyone had once overlooked—Li Sibai.

“Brother Li, can you see the three ahead? If not, activate your Violet Divine Sight.”

Li Sibai had indeed lost sight of them, so he channeled his inner energy to his eyes. A violet radiance shone forth, and the Violet Divine Sight revealed three figures speeding ahead—the woman in green and her companions. Guo Jian, however, was nowhere to be seen.

“I can see the three in front,” Li Sibai replied truthfully.

“Good. If I can’t keep up, you must pursue them on your own. With your abilities, if you catch up, try to help Senior Brother Guo Jian and remind him to honor his promise. We have no better options now; we must trust he will keep his word.”

Li Sibai nodded. “Senior Brother He, how is your injury? If you can’t go on, don’t force yourself.”

He Tianxu shook his head and handed Li Sibai a shell-shaped object. “I’m the team leader—I can’t let you go alone. I may be slower, but I’ll support you. Take this spiral shell; I have another. They sense each other, so I’ll know your approximate location!”

And so, the chase continued into the night.