Undying Life

Chapter 33: The Aggrieved Tian Ling'er

"Senior Brother, should we give chase?" A disciple of the Kaiyang Sect promptly stepped forward and inquired.

"Go ahead. Yun Qian and I will follow shortly," Tian Sha commanded.

"Yes, Senior Brother," the disciples responded in unison.

Several Kaiyang Sect disciples then launched themselves into the air, flying over the mountains on their swords in pursuit. Disciples from other sects, seeing the Kaiyang Sect take the lead, quickly followed suit.

"Zhong Shan, I'm going to check it out. What about you?" Zhao Suoxiang immediately asked.

"I'm not going. See you later," Zhong Shan replied without hesitation.

"Until we meet again," Zhao Suoxiang nodded before swiftly leaping over the mountain in pursuit.

In the valley, the heavily injured individuals who had been lying on the ground were now being helped up and led away. As everyone gradually left the valley, only Zhong Shan, Tian Ling'er, Tian Sha, and the Kaiyang Sect disciple Yun Qian remained, along with the body of the elderly man.

Yun Qian picked up the elder's horsetail whisk, his flying sword, and even took a storage bracelet from the elder's wrist.

Meanwhile, Zhong Shan surveyed the entire valley. The ground was littered with shattered rocks and deep, gaping fissures. The sheer destructive power on display made Zhong Shan shudder involuntarily. The battle that had taken place here was far beyond his current capabilities. Even Tian Ling'er, despite her prowess, wouldn't have been able to intervene.

The fight between Jindan (Golden Core) stage experts had undoubtedly been a clash of Jindan stage power.

"Ling'er, what are you doing here?" Tian Sha turned to Tian Ling'er with a curious expression.

Hearing her Senior Brother speak to her, Tian Ling'er felt a rush of excitement. She had admired him since childhood, though he had always treated her like a little kid. But now, things were different; she had grown up.

"Zhong Shan and I were out training together. When we passed by here, we heard there was a big fight, so we came to check it out," Tian Ling'er eagerly explained.

"Alright," Tian Sha nodded.

"Senior Brother, it's done," Yun Qian reported to Tian Sha, clearly referring to the looted spoils.

"Alright," Tian Sha acknowledged.

"Senior Brother, can I go with you?" Tian Ling'er looked at Tian Sha with hopeful eyes.

Yun Qian glanced at Tian Ling'er and smiled slightly. "Senior Brother, taking Ling'er along shouldn't be a problem."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Yun Qian," Tian Ling'er beamed.

"Hehe, I'm not a Senior Brother just yet. Wait until you reach the Jindan stage," Yun Qian chuckled.

Tian Sha looked at Tian Ling'er, his brows furrowing slightly before he nodded, "Fine."

"Great!" Tian Ling'er exclaimed in excitement.

"Zhongshan, I'll go after Hao San with my senior brothers. It's safe, don't worry." Tianling'er still remembered Zhongshan, turning to him and greeting him.

Normally, no one would object, even Yunqian and Tiansha thought it was natural.

However, Tianling'er's greeting to the new disciple of Kaiyang Sect made the two feel it was unnecessary.

Zhongshan looked around and then at Tiansha and Yunqian, finally staring at Tianling'er. "You're not allowed to go."

Not allowed to go!

Zhongshan's words seemed to pour cold water on Tianling'er's joy. Not allowed to go?

"Why?" Tianling'er became anxious, calling out to Zhongshan.

Tiansha and Yunqian looked at Zhongshan with some surprise. They didn't expect this new member of Kaiyang Sect to speak like this.

"Not allowed means not allowed," Zhongshan said sternly.

As Zhongshan opposed again, Tiansha and Yunqian frowned.

"You're a third-generation disciple, right? Go back, and in a year, we'll safely send Ling'er back to Kaiyang Sect," Yunqian said, furrowing his brows.

Tianling'er rarely had a chance to be with Tiansha, how could she be willing to give it up? She felt extremely anxious. Zhongshan, who had always pampered and listened to her, why was he opposing now? Why now?

Biting her lip, Tianling'er looked at her senior brother, really wanting to go with them.

Zhongshan didn't even look at Yunqian. Even though he was the second-generation disciple of Kaiyang Sect, Zhongshan didn't look at him but stared at Tianling'er. "It's too dangerous, not allowed."

"No, with Senior Brother, I won't be in danger, I won't," Tianling'er immediately tried to persuade Zhongshan.

"Alright, Ling'er, don't argue with him, let's go," Yunqian said with a frown.

Tianling'er was very anxious now. She really wanted to go, but Zhongshan didn't allow it. She had considered Zhongshan a very good friend during this time of getting to know him and didn't want to fall out with him. But she didn't want to miss this opportunity either. Thus, Tianling'er was on the verge of tears, looking pitifully at Zhongshan.

After Yunqian finished speaking, Tianling'er took a deep breath, as if she was really going to follow Tiansha without hesitation.

"Osmanthus cake," Zhongshan suddenly said.

Osmanthus cake? Yunqian and Tiansha frowned. Osmanthus cake? They didn't know what Zhongshan meant by mentioning osmanthus cake. Did he want to lure Tianling'er with osmanthus cake?

Hearing what Zhongshan said, Tianling'er's face showed a trace of pain. She closed her eyes as if very sad.

"Alright, Ling'er, let's go quickly, don't mind this lunatic," Yunqian frowned, looking at Zhongshan and said to Tianling'er.

Obviously, interpreting "Osmanthus cake" as Zhongshan's nonsense was a mistake.

However, was "Osmanthus cake" really nonsense? It was actually a secret code agreed upon by Zhongshan and Tianling'er before leaving Kaiyang Sect. Whenever Zhongshan mentioned this code, Tianling'er had to follow Zhongshan's instructions. At the time, Tianling'er found it funny and amusing, but when Zhongshan shouted out the code, Tianling'er realized it wasn't funny at all, but rather extremely painful.

"Senior Brother, Senior Yunqian, I'm sorry, you guys go ahead, Ling'er can't go with you," Tianling'er suddenly said to the two.

"Huh?" Yunqian looked at Tianling'er incredulously. Even a fool could see Tianling'er's admiration for Senior Brother. That's why Yunqian had just persuaded Senior Brother to take Tianling'er along. But now, what was going on? Giving up just for an osmanthus cake?

"Okay," Tiansha nodded. Yunqian could only give up, but he looked very puzzled at Tianling'er and then at Zhongshan.

Tiansha also glanced deeply at Zhongshan, with a slight frown on his brow. With a leap, he jumped over the mountain and headed towards the back of the mountain, followed closely by Yunqian riding on a flying sword.

Watching the departure of Senior Brother, Tianling'er, feeling wronged, couldn't hold back her tears anymore, and they flowed down in abundance.

As the two left, Zhongshan breathed a sigh of relief. Tianling'er hadn't left, which was good. Tracking Hao San was too dangerous. Just the battle in the valley earlier was something Tianling'er couldn't handle. Could Tiansha protect her? Even if he could, this time, tracking Hao San involved not only Kaiyang Sect but also many other sects and powerful individuals. Could Tiansha ensure Tianling'er's safety?

Since Zhongshan had promised Tianxingzi, he would naturally do his best to ensure Tianling'er's safety. Even without Tianxingzi's promise, after spending time together, Zhongshan didn't want Tianling'er to be in danger.

After everyone left, Zhongshan quickly inspected the body of the deceased old man.

Yunqian collected the spoils of war, while Zhongshan looked around for anything worth noting.

Sure enough, after a while, Zhongshan noticed something unusual. The old man was a eunuch, a genuine eunuch.

How could this be? How could he be a eunuch?

Zhongshan looked at this scene incredulously. Was he truly a eunuch, or was it due to cultivation or past injuries?

Unable to understand for the moment, Zhongshan looked up and saw Tianling'er, who still had red eyes and was tearful.

Seeing Tianling'er's expression, Zhongshan sighed softly. "Ling'er..."

Before Zhongshan could finish, Tianling'er shouted at him, "Zhongshan, I hate you so much, wuwu~"

Turning around, Tianling'er stepped on the red silk and flew away in a direction.

Seeing this scene, Zhongshan shook his head with a bitter smile, and then swiftly chased after her.

Zhongshan hurriedly chased after Tianling'er in the direction she flew, unaware that not far from them, on another mountain peak, there were three pairs of eyes watching Zhongshan's direction.

Zhongdi, Liu Ming, and Wang Gui.