Martial Peak

Chapter 6117, Escape (1)

Author: Silavin

*Criiiiick*

The sound of a pair of enormous doors opening started to play out. The first instant this occurred, Xing Ting’s eyes narrowed. Her brows wrinkled to the point it could literally catch a fly.

[What is going on? It’s only been twenty days. I told him to take his time, so why is he coming out now of all times?] Xing Ting, who had been meditating outside, waiting for Yang Ji with two guards at the side, could not help but feel something heavy weighing on her. They needed to wait for reinforcements, and Yang Ji was supposed to delay as much time as he could as a decoy. If he were to come out now, that would force her to actively protect him.

Within Defiance City, those that held a Token for the Pool of Revitalisation were basically assured of their safety. This was especially so once they entered their chamber to start cultivating. However, to get into the Pool of Revitalisation, they would lose that Token, and they would lose the natural protection of Defiance City.

Naturally, it was not a complete loss of protection. Within the inn, they should be relatively safe. However, ‘relatively’ was hard to actually quantify.

Xing Ting could even sense that there was movement from the far end of the hallway, obviously someone going off to report how the ‘Young Mistress’ had come out of the chamber.

*Step step step…*

Soon, the sounds of someone taking a stroll rang out, and a small figure could be seen exiting the chamber. This figure had a smile on, as though innocent of all wrongs of the world.

When Xing Ting saw that smile, she immediately wanted to give the person a huge slap. However, she held back. After all, this was supposed to be her ‘Young Mistress’.

Still, her expression had quickly changed from a frown to astonishment. She checked Yang Ji’s condition repeatedly, and even doubted the reality before her. [How is this possible? Not a drop of Yuan Qi in his body? Still in the Tempered Body Realm? This should have been his greatest opportunity to start cultivating. Does he not even know the basics of cultivation or did he not even enter the pool? Did he come out because he got hungry? But, there should have been Pills for him to consume to satiate him…]

It had to be noted that those without cultivation could reach the Tempered Body Realm, and only those that had their Dantian and meridians fully intact to absorb World Energy could cultivate to reach the Atmospheric Realm.

It was only natural for her to hold such doubt. Never had there been a case where someone would enter the Pool of Revitalisation and fail to be able to cultivate. In the long history of its establishment, this had truly been the first case Xing Ting had heard of someone failing to cultivate once they entered the pool.

Xing Ting quickly approached Yang Ji before she completely exited the door. However, before she could even reach him, the guards at the side stopped her in place. “Miss, you are not allowed to proceed any further. It is fine for guardians or protectors to remain here in the hallway, but you do not possess a Token. You are not allowed to step one more foot forward. Keep your distance.”

Xing Ting gave a nod and addressed Yang Ji from afar before he was entirely out, “Young Mistress, it seems like you have yet to properly soak yourself in the pool. Please go back.”

Unfortunately for Xing Ting, the guard added. “Apologises, but once the client is out, they are not allowed to reenter the pool. If you wish to enter once more, you will need to produce another Token.”

Meanwhile, Yang Ji quickly rushed to close the door behind him and ran up to Xing Ting, grabbing her by the hand, trying to make an escape. Sadly for Yang Ji, with the disparity in their cultivation, Xing Ting obviously could not be moved by the strength of a mere child without Qi to enforce his Physique.

Yang Ji then quickly spoke to her using his Divine Sense. “We need to get out of here.”

Xing Ting immediately frowned upon realising what this child had just done. She too addressed him using her Divine Sense, “When did you awaken your Divine Sense!?”

“Since the beginning. Let’s talk while we move.” Yang Ji pulled once more and this time, Xing Ting followed his Will. “I came out early because I was afraid they might find out what I’ve done.”

“What have you done?” Xing Ting’s frown further intensified and she shot a look at Yang Ji as though he was being ridiculous. What could a mere child at the Tempered Body Realm possibly do?

“Well, I’ve absorbed half the Pool of Revitalisation. I’m certain that once they find out, we’ll be in deep trouble, so we need to quickly leave this place.”

“H-half??” Xing Ting expressed her astonishment for one moment and doubt naturally flooded in. “If it is really as you’ve said, then how is it possible for you to still not have any cultivation?”

“I’m doing this for the sake of your Young Mistress. I can cultivate but I can’t have her dying on me with the seal on me, right? Since I came out still without my cultivation, that means I’ve failed and they would come after me harder, right?” Yang Ji reasoned, though he wondered why the opposing party would actually come after him harder if he continued posing as though he could not cultivate. He was just following along what Wu Lun had told him to say, without much context given.

“If you know they will be coming after you with greater numbers then why do this? Aren’t you afraid of throwing your life away for the sake of someone you do not know?” Xing Ting questioned with judging eyes.

“What use is there for me to live while she dies? With this Blood Binging Seal on me, I’ll die regardless. Since your Young Mistress cannot deal with this trouble, then I’ll just do it in her stead.” Yang Ji took a turn here and continued moving forward. He was moving in accordance to the position of the rooms within that cavern with the ‘false tree’. After taking another turn, he soon arrived at a hallway and saw a familiar figure sitting crossed-legged.

This figure was clad in a cloak. However, with how robust he was, it was hard to truly disguise himself. With one glance, Yang Ji could already tell that this was the Hong Jun that had easily choked him with one hand.

The man donned a dark expression. Though, with how fierce and stern he originally looked, lacking in hair follicles around his lower face, and sharp black eyes that pierced through one’s Soul, one would have doubted him for holding murderous intent towards his ‘Young Mistress’.

Without speaking, he addressed Xing Ting through his Divine Sense, “What are you doing here? Did I not order you to keep him inside till reinforcements arrive?”

“Apologies, Sir. I told him before he entered but he left the chamber on his own. Afterwards, the guards disallow him from re-entering, so we are currently here. Also, Sir… he came out without any cultivation… he even said…” Xing Ting said with a myriad of expressions, which was mirrored by Hong Jun as he too checked Yang Ji’s cultivation realm.

Resolute, without missing a beat, Hong Jun immediately stood up and ordered, “We’re leaving.”

“But the Young Mistress is still inside…” Xing Ting was taken aback.

“I have already alerted Master of our situation when we got attacked. Right now, we need to only buy time. This boy has truly screwed us over!” Hong Jun had to suppress the tremendous urge to kill Yang Ji at this very moment. His hidden aura even burst out for one moment, shocking the guards and Yang Ji before being quickly reigned in.

“Coming out without any cultivation would mean the Clan has taken the Young Mistress as a true failure beyond redemption. She will now be a target for elimination, and that blood ties need not be regarded. Once that happens, Hong Lang can personally take action, and both of you alone will find it hard to resist his pursuit.” Hong Jun explained in the midst of his rage, maybe using it to calm down.

“But, if we leave, the Young Mistress would be unguarded once she steps outside.” Xing Ting pressed.

“I am aware. If she comes out after reinforcements arrive, there would be no issue. But if she comes out before that, and after you two get caught, then I alone would find it difficult to deal with the full force of the opposing party. If we escape together, we can at least lure the snakes out from their hole. Maybe some would remain here to watch over this room after they’ve identified me, but Defiance City should be able to keep Young Mistress safe for the time being. If she’s smart, she would remain inside the chamber after the door is open once she notices I’m missing.” Hong Jun reasoned as his cool seemed to have returned and he started to move.

Xing Ting said nothing and followed. Meanwhile, Yang Ji, who was out of the conversation from the start, looked at the two adults and shrugged. Like those two, he could sense that there were ‘flies’ that were moving about in reaction to them.