Yin Huli and Li Zhameng arrived at the charred ruins of the Li family's old home. The air was heavy with ash, a faint ghost of what had once been life and laughter. Yin Huli stood motionless for a moment, his sharp gaze scanning the remains of the house. He traced the outlines of where the bedroom had once been—the very room where he had shared quiet, stolen moments with Li Yunwu and listened to the giggles of her sisters. His eyes wandered to the remnants of the bathhouse and the main room where the old man, with his hunched shoulders and weathered hands, once labored over his medicine-making. Memories flickered in his mind: Li Yang Mei's light footsteps as she chased fireflies in the yard, Li Yunwu and her sister, Li Shizi, wringing water from their laundry, their voices blending in a gentle melody. The coughs of the old man echoed faintly in his ears, like a phantom of the past. But now, all that remained was rubble—burnt wood and crumbling stone.
Li Zhameng stood a few steps behind him, his face pale as he stared at the destruction. His eyes, wide with grief, roamed over the blackened walls and broken beams that had once formed his mother's sanctuary. He exhaled a trembling sigh, the weight of loss evident in his posture.
Yin Huli stepped closer, his hand resting on Li Zhameng's waist in a quiet gesture of comfort. Gently, he pulled the younger man into an embrace, his touch steady even as tears began to spill down Li Zhameng's cheeks.
"Let's go," Yin Huli murmured, his voice low but firm, cutting through the stillness of the desolate place.
Li Zhameng hesitated, his eyes lingering on the ruins finally, he gave a small nod, bowing his head in respect to the home his mother had once cherished.
They walked in silence toward the nearby meadow, the soft rustle of grass underfoot the only sound. When they reached the clearing, Yin Huli suddenly stopped. Without warning, he pulled Li Zhameng fully into his arms, their faces inches apart.
"Li Meng," he began, his tone gentle, "I have a proposition to make."
Li Zhameng tilted his head up, his tear-streaked face etched with confusion. "Huh?" he mumbled, his voice a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
Yin Huli tightened his grip, his piercing gaze locking onto Li Zhameng's. "Yunwu, your mother, endured countless hardships. I owe her a debt I can never repay. Let me start by taking care of you. Come with me."
Li Zhameng's eyes widened, panic flashing across his face. His heart thundered in his chest as he pushed feebly against Yin Huli's arms. "B-but I can't, Shizun—" he stammered, his voice breaking.
Yin Huli's expression darkened, his brows furrowing. "Besides a master, what is he to you?" he demanded, his voice sharp, cutting through Li Zhameng's protest. His hold on Li Zhameng's waist tightened, grounding the younger man in place.
Li Zhameng opened his mouth to answer, but no words came out. He hesitated, his lips trembling.
"Let me protect you," Yin Huli urged, his voice softening. His hand rose to cup Li Zhameng's puffy face, his thumb brushing away a stray tear.
As he leaned closer, his lips hovering just above Li Zhameng's, a faint whistle sliced through the air. Yin Huli's ears twitched, catching the sound of an incoming arrow. Instinctively, he grabbed Li Zhameng and twisted, narrowly dodging the projectile.
The arrow embedded itself into the ground with a dull thud. Yin Huli's sharp eyes darted toward the source of the attack. Emerging from the shadows was an old man, hunched over with a fat belly and a single beady eye. He clutched a handkerchief, coughing into it before turning his unnervingly gleaming eye toward Li Zhameng.
"That demon must die!" the old man rasped, his voice carrying a venomous edge. "Anyone who dares to hurt the girl will face my wrath!"
Guards poured out from behind him, their weapons drawn as they charged toward Yin Huli.
The old man's thin lips twisted into a grotesque grin, his single eye gleaming with malice. He muttered under his breath, his words barely audible but laced with satisfaction. "I've finally found you," he crooned, letting out a low, sinister laugh.
Yin Huli's grip on Li Zhameng tightened as he dodged another volley of arrows, his movements precise and calculated. His mind raced. How did I not notice this? he berated himself, recalling the faint scent of incense that had lingered earlier. He had dismissed it as coming from a nearby temple, never suspecting it was a marker of their pursuers.
With Li Zhameng secured in his arms, Yin Huli's sharp gaze turned back toward the attackers. His body coiled, ready to strike, as the chaos erupted around them.
Li Zhameng pulled out his gun, his hands trembling as he aimed at the advancing attackers. His first shot went wide, the bullet ricocheting harmlessly off the rubble. He winced, his grip tightening, but his nerves betrayed him as he missed again.
Yin Huli's sharp ears twitched at the deafening crack of the gunfire. His head snapped down, his golden eyes narrowing in confusion. "What is that?" he demanded, his tone edged with irritation as his ears flattened against his head. The noise was unbearable, grating against his sensitive hearing.
"I'll protect you, don't worry!" Yin Huli said sternly clutching Li Zhameng tighter into his arms.
Yin Huli studied him, his expression softening as he caught the fleeting shadow of guilt on Li Zhameng's face. Li Zhameng's shoulders slumped, his gaze dropping to the weapon in his hand.
He lowered the gun slightly, his gaze falling to the ground. He gripped the weapon tightly, his knuckles white with frustration. Inside, shame gnawed at him. He had trained for months under his Shizun's careful guidance. His master had been the one to guide his every move—teaching him when to shoot, where to aim, how to breathe through the chaos of battle. With Xue Laohu's calm voice in his ear, he had felt unstoppable.
But now? Now he felt useless. Despite all his training, he was fumbling, his shots scattered and ineffective. Without Xue Laohu to direct him, the gun in his hands felt heavy and unfamiliar. He clenched his jaw, anger bubbling beneath his humiliation.
Yin Huli's sharp senses suddenly caught something amiss. A thick, acrid smoke began to creep into the battlefield, swirling around them like a living thing. It clung to their skin and seeped into their lungs, making it impossible to see more than a few feet ahead.
"Stay close to me, Li Meng," Yin Huli instructed, his voice firm as he tightened his arm around Li Zhameng's waist.
But Li Zhameng, lost in his spiral of self-doubt, loosened his grip on Yin Huli without realizing it. The smoke stung his eyes and tickled his throat, forcing him to cough violently. His knees buckled, and before Yin Huli could react, Li Zhameng slipped from his grasp, collapsing onto the ground.
"Li Meng!" Yin Huli called out, his voice laced with panic. He slashed through one attacker after another, his claws glinting like silver in the haze. "Li Meng, stay with me!"
But Li Zhameng was already on his hands and knees, struggling to breathe. The smoke wrapped around him like a suffocating shroud, each breath drawing fire into his lungs. He gagged and coughed, his vision blurring as the world tilted.
Before he could find his footing, a shadow loomed over him. The old man with the fat belly and single beady eye had crept close under the cover of the smoke, his twisted smile gleaming through the haze.
"You're mine now," the old man rasped, his voice a sinister whisper as he lunged forward. A damp towel was shoved over Li Zhameng's face, reeking of chemicals.
Li Zhameng thrashed weakly, his limbs flailing as he tried to resist, but his strength was no match for the noxious fumes. His mind swirled in a dizzying fog, consciousness slipping away despite his desperate struggle.
"Li Meng!" Yin Huli's roar cut through the chaos, his voice trembling with fury and fear. He dispatched another wave of attackers, his movements wild and feral, but the smoke was too thick to locate Li Zhameng.
The old man let out a wheezing laugh, dragging Li Zhameng's limp body toward a waiting carriage hidden just beyond the treeline. "I've got you now," he murmured, his tone dripping with triumph.
Yin Huli's ears twitched, catching the faint creak of carriage wheels over the din. His heart sank as he realized what had happened. He turned toward the sound, his claws tightening into fists.
"Li Meng…" he whispered, the name barely audible as his voice broke.
The carriage vanished into the smoke and shadows, leaving only the echo of hooves pounding against the earth.
Yin Huli stood frozen for a moment, his chest heaving as the realization sank in. His fists clenched, his claws biting into his palms as a low growl rumbled in his throat.
"They won't get away with this," he vowed, his voice cold and unyielding.
At the inn, Xue Laohu paced back and forth like a restless tiger in a cage. His sharp eyes flicked toward the window repeatedly, fixating on the pitch-black sky. Time had passed, and still, there was no sign of Li Zhameng or Yin Huli returning.
"Ugh!" he groaned, smacking the edge of his folded fan against his forehead in frustration. His teeth ground together as he muttered to himself, "I should've gone with them. What was I thinking, leaving Meng Meng alone with that demon?"
The frustration bubbling inside him grew unbearable, his thoughts spiraling into worst-case scenarios. He froze mid-step, a gasp escaping his lips as his mind painted vivid—and entirely unwelcome—images.
"What if… what if that demon is taking advantage of Meng Meng?" Xue Laohu exclaimed, his voice growing louder. He clutched his fan tightly, his knuckles whitening as a horrific mental picture flashed through his mind: Yin Huli pinning Li Zhameng beneath him, his claws grazing bare skin, his lips trailing down every vulnerable inch of Li Zhameng's body.
"No! No, no, no!" Xue Laohu shouted, shaking his head violently to banish the thought. He slapped his fan closed, then threw it to the floor with a loud thud. "Meng Meng!" he called telepathically, his voice echoing through the psychic link. "Meng Meng, answer me!"
No response.
His hands flew to the sides of his hair, tugging in neurotic desperation. "Why isn't he answering?!" he yelled, his voice growing hoarse. The overwhelming frustration finally erupted in a blood-curdling scream that tore through the quiet inn like thunder.
The sudden outburst startled everyone inside. Shudu, who had been lazily reclining on a tree branch near the entrance, snapped his head up, his straw falling from his lips. Meanwhile, Xue Tuzi flinched so violently that the small Gu worm, Jiao Jiao, who had been curled up peacefully in his arms, awoke with a startled squeak.
Jiao Jiao began to cry, his tiny body trembling as large tears rolled down his plump cheeks. "Shh, it's okay, Xiao Jiao," Xue Tuzi murmured, rocking the worm gently in his arms. His voice was soothing as he dabbed at the tears with his sleeve.
"Shizun… are you alright?" Xue Tuzi asked hesitantly, his concern evident as he watched Xue Laohu pacing like a man possessed.
Xue Laohu's gaze sharpened, his jaw tightening as he made up his mind. "I'm going after Meng Meng," he announced, his voice stern and unyielding. He didn't wait for a response. "Both of you stay here."
Before Xue Tuzi could utter a word of protest, Xue Laohu called forth his system. He pulled out his sword in a flash of light beneath him, and in one swift motion, he took off into the night sky, disappearing beyond the treetops.
Xue Tuzi stood frozen, his mouth slightly open, watching helplessly as his Shizun vanished. "Shizun…" he whispered, his voice trailing off.
"Hmmm…" Shudu murmured from his perch on the tree branch, breaking the silence. He jumped down effortlessly, landing with a soft thud. His hands were tucked behind his head, and a lazy smirk tugged at his lips.
"Shizun has something weighing on his mind." He turned away, his arms tightening protectively around the small Gu worm, who had quieted and was now snuggling against his chest.
"Hmph." Shudu leaned closer, his smirk growing sly. "What's weighing on his mind is that his precious little disciple is probably getting bent over by that demon." His voice was low and dripping with mockery, but his sharp teeth gleamed in the lantern light, adding a dangerous edge to his grin.
"Shizun is not like that!" Xue Tuzi snapped, his brows furrowing as he glared at Shudu.
Shudu chuckled darkly, stepping closer to tower over Xue Tuzi. "Are you jealous?" he drawled, tilting his head mockingly.
"Shut up," Xue Tuzi said coldly, turning his head away, though his tightened jaw betrayed his anger.
Shudu leaned in, his voice dropping to a seductive whisper. "I don't think Grandmaster Xue would care if I devoured you right here, right now." He licked his lips theatrically, his dark red eye gleaming with mischief as he grabbed Xue Tuzi's wrist, pulling him closer.
The next moment, Shudu's face snapped to the side as Xue Tuzi punched him square in the jaw.
"Hmph," Xue Tuzi huffed, brushing off his sleeves as though ridding himself of Shudu's touch. He turned sharply on his heel and marched back into the inn, Jiao Jiao tucked securely in his arms.
Shudu stood there for a moment, rubbing his swelling cheek. He chuckled quietly to himself, watching Xue Tuzi disappear inside. "Such a feisty little bunny," he murmured, the smirk never leaving his face.
"Hey yo, system!" Xue Laohu called out, his voice cutting through the wind as he soared through the night sky on his sword. A faint hacking noise crackled in his ear, making him wince in irritation.
"Do you need cough drops or what?" he snapped, his brow furrowing. "What's with that nagging cough? Are you sick?"
The system's voice sputtered faintly in response, but no answer came. Xue Laohu sighed, brushing it off as the familiar flicker of the system screen illuminated in his vision. His sharp eyes darted across the holographic display, immediately honing in on Li Zhameng's profile.
He tapped on it impatiently, pulling up the GPS tracker linked to his disciple. The screen flashed a map of their current region, and his heart skipped a beat as he noted the rapid movement of Li Zhameng's marker. It was speeding straight toward the Bao Estate.
"Huh?" Xue Laohu muttered, narrowing his eyes at the screen. His grip on his sword tightened instinctively. "Why the hell would he go there?"
Deep in thought, he stroked his chin, his mind racing through possibilities. Was this a deliberate choice? A trap? Or worse—was Meng Meng being taken against his will?
Distracted, Xue Laohu almost didn't notice the tree branch that loomed in his path. He ducked just in time, cursing under his breath as it brushed the top of his head.
"Ugh, focus!" he scolded himself, shaking off his momentary lapse. His eyes burned with renewed determination as he leaned forward, adjusting his sword's course to follow the GPS. "Whatever's happening, I'm going to drag Meng Meng out of there."
Meanwhile, in the forest clearing, Yin Huli stood amidst a chaotic scene of fallen bodies and broken weapons. The guards who had dared to attack him now lay scattered across the ground, unconscious or worse.
He wiped the blood from his claws, his golden eyes glowing in the moonlight. The thick smoke that had once obscured his vision had finally dissipated, leaving him free to search. His ears twitched, and he inhaled deeply, sifting through the lingering scents in the air.
Then, he caught it. A faint but unmistakable trace of someone he knew well.
"Bao Yu," Yin Huli growled, his voice low and laced with venom. His sharp claws flexed at his sides, his fist clenching as fury welled up inside him. "So, you're the one behind this."
The scent was faint but fresh, leading toward the direction of the Bao Estate. Yin Huli's body tensed, his predatory instincts kicking in as he bolted forward without hesitation.
"I'll tear that place apart if I have to," he vowed, his voice a snarl as he disappeared into the night.
The room was suffocatingly dark, with no windows to allow even a sliver of moonlight to seep through. The air was heavy with the stench of dampness and decay. In the center of the room, Li Zhameng lay bound, his wrists tied above his head to a wooden post. A rough cloth gagged his mouth, muffling any sounds he might make. His clothes were torn and disheveled, dirt smudging his pale skin as his unconscious body slumped forward.
Bao Yu stood over him, his hunched frame cloaked in shadow. His beady eye glistened with perverse glee as he crouched low, his gnarled hand caressing Li Zhameng's face. His fingertips dragged across Li Zhameng's cheek, leaving a faint trail of grime.
A twisted smile stretched across Bao Yu's chapped, peeling lips. He leaned in closer, his foul breath hot against Li Zhameng's skin. "Yunwu," he murmured, his voice trembling with both longing and madness.
Pressing his dry, cracked lips to Li Zhameng's cheek, he slobbered over him, leaving behind a trail of spit. He laughed softly, a sinister sound that echoed off the walls. "Open your beautiful eyes, Yunwu. Nothing would please me more than to see those emerald eyes dipped in gold."
His voice was thick with obsession as his tongue slithered out, trailing down Li Zhameng's neck like a slug. The sensation was cold and slimy, and his breathing grew ragged, nostrils flaring as he inhaled deeply, savoring every inch of Li Zhameng's scent.
"Why did you run away from me, Yunwu?" he whimpered, his tone shifting from saccharine to venomous in an instant. His beady eye glinted with fury as he straightened, towering over Li Zhameng's prone form.
"Why?!" Bao Yu snarled, his anger erupting like a storm. His hand flew across Li Zhameng's face with a resounding slap, the force snapping Li Zhameng's head to the side. The sharp sound reverberated in the silence of the room.
"Wake up!" he spat, slapping him again and again. Each strike was harder than the last, his grotesque smile twisting further with each blow. "Wake up, Yunwu!"
Finally, a groan escaped Li Zhameng's gagged lips. His eyelids fluttered weakly, as he stirred, his body trembling as he slowly regained consciousness.
Li Zhameng's groggy eyes met Bao Yu's wild, manic gaze. The twisted man's grin widened, his yellowed teeth gleaming in the dim light.
"Yunwu," Bao Yu crooned, his voice dripping with unhinged affection. "You're awake."
Li Zhameng blinked sluggishly, disoriented and unable to focus. His head throbbed, and the acrid smell of Bao Yu's breath made him want to gag. He struggled against his bindings, the ropes digging into his skin, but his strength was sapped.
Bao Yu chuckled darkly, leaning closer until their faces were inches apart. "Don't you remember me, Yunwu? I've waited so long for this moment." His tongue darted out, grazing Li Zhameng's cheek. "So long to have you here, where you belong. With me."