"Xueyao, you..."
The wound on Luo Tian's shoulder was healing at a visible rate.
This miraculous ability came from the pure and elegant young woman beside him.
But for some reason, Luo Tian wasn't too surprised.
Everyone had their secrets. Compared to obtaining the Creation Celestial Book and the Creation Technique, Ning Xueyao's healing ability was hardly world-shattering.
For a long time now,
Luo Tian had felt that Ning Xueyao's noble and otherworldly aura was not that of an ordinary girl.
"Xiaotian, I know you're curious. Because of a disaster my family is facing, I had no choice but to flee here and seal my cultivation..."
Ning Xueyao's expression was apologetic, and her tone turned bitter as if recalling something painful.
"Xueyao, since my father took you in, he must have known the truth. Besides, you've always taken care of me, and you've even gotten into trouble because of me."
Luo Tian shook his head.
He and Ning Xueyao had spent every day together for four or five years. He knew her icy beauty, her purity, and her gentle kindness.
His father once said that he had taken her in because he owed a favor to one of her elders.
Luo Tian was very curious about Ning Xueyao's origins.
But if she didn't bring it up herself, he wouldn't press her for details.
"As long as you don't blame me."
Ning Xueyao let out a small sigh of relief.
Luo Tian felt a little strange. 'Xueyao was hiding her cultivation, so Father must have known. I was the only one kept in the dark. On one hand, it was for secrecy—the fewer people who knew, the better.'
'On the other hand, wasn't it also to protect my pride?'
"Then what about the engagement?"
Luo Tian was confused. With Xueyao's extraordinary background, why would she agree to Du Yuncheng's proposal?
"The engagement was just a stalling tactic. If Uncle Luo could return, everything would be resolved. If he didn't, my only choice was to escape Qingchang City with you."
Ning Xueyao sighed softly.
Luo Tian lamented inwardly. In the end, it was his past self who had been a burden to Xueyao.
Otherwise, with her own cultivation, Ning Xueyao could have left Qingchang City long ago, and there would have been nothing Du Yuncheng could do.
Just as Luo Tian was about to speak,
a sense of crisis suddenly welled up in his Spiritual Sense—an effect of practicing the Creation Technique.
"This way, quickly!"
Luo Tian grabbed Xueyao's delicate, jade-like hand.
The two of them made a sharp turn, leaping over a wall and into a private residence.
Only a breath or two later,
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
several of Du Yuncheng's men, led by Du Qian of the Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening, arrived nearby.
"They're nearby. Check the area."
Du Qian leaped gracefully to the roof of a residence and scanned the area from above.
Another subordinate, whose cultivation was at the Peak of the Third Layer of Meridian Opening, approached the house where Luo Tian and Ning Xueyao were hiding.
Quickly!
Luo Tian grabbed Ning Xueyao's fair arm and pulled her down into a deep well inside the residence.
In his haste,
Luo Tian wrapped an arm around Ning Xueyao's waist, and the two of them became wedged between the walls of the well.
In the pitch-black well,
Ning Xueyao's flawless, jade-like face and her clear, star-like eyes were right in front of Luo Tian's.
Her warm, soft, and beautiful body rested in his arms.
Wedged between the walls, their combined weight was not insignificant. Luo Tian used one hand to support Ning Xueyao from below.
'Hm?'
His hand landed on her soft, fragrant rear. Its soul-stealing fullness and elasticity made Luo Tian's blood boil.
'This is bad!'
Luo Tian's heart skipped a beat. 'I've been so offensive to Ning Xueyao. She's probably going to be angry.'
'If she cries out or reacts too strongly, she might alert the search party.'
However,
the beauty in his arms remained quiet and graceful. Her eyelashes trembled, and her eyes shone as bright and clear as brilliant diamonds. Only her snow-white, crystalline earlobes were tinged with a seductive crimson.
Luo Tian's hand was still cupping her full, soft backside. Her refreshing, elegant fragrance made his mind race with wild thoughts.
Luo Tian's heart filled with bliss. He wished this moment could last forever.
"Let's go! Check over there."
At that moment, the men searching the area moved on.
"Aren't you going to let go?"
Ning Xueyao chided softly. Her pretty face was slightly taut, and with the lingering blush, she had the rare, shy look of a girl next door.
"Xueyao, I didn't do it on purpose."
Luo Tian released his hand and pulled her up as they leaped out from the well.
Ning Xueyao turned her face away, huffed lightly, and didn't respond.
Luo Tian felt a little anxious.
In five years, Xueyao had never once been angry with him, nor had they ever argued.
She was always so stunningly beautiful and otherworldly, yet also gentle and considerate.
But this time, he had put his hand in *that* place. He had been so disrespectful to her; it was nothing short of blasphemy.
"Let's evade our pursuers first and get out of the city as soon as possible."
After a few breaths, Xueyao calmed herself and spoke.
Seemingly noticing Luo Tian's unease,
Ning Xueyao gave a charming smile, took the initiative to grab Luo Tian's hand, and started walking toward the city's outskirts.
Luo Tian breathed a small sigh of relief. Holding Xueyao's hand, he felt its cool, smooth skin.
"Leave the city?"
Luo Tian was a bit hesitant.
At this time,
a squad of City Guards was patrolling near the city wall, maintaining order.
A thought popped into Luo Tian's head. 'If I ask the City Guard for help now, can I resolve this crisis?'
"Haha, rest assured, Young Master Du. I absolutely will not let those two slip out of the city."
a captain of the City Guard said, bowing and scraping.
"Good. If you can catch that damn couple, this Young Master will reward you handsomely."
Du Yuncheng's arrogant voice drifted over.
Although they were over a hundred meters away, Luo Tian's senses were enhanced by his cultivation of the Creation Technique, so he heard their conversation.
'Damn it!'
'Even the City Guard has been bribed.'
'The Du Family, as one of the three great families of Qingchang City, truly wields immense power here.'
"But it's impossible for them to catch us,"
Luo Tian snorted coldly.
His confidence stemmed from two things:
First, he had grown up in Qingchang City and was very familiar with its layout.
Second, practicing the Creation Technique had given him a powerful Spiritual Sense.
...
「An hour later.」
Luo Tian led Ning Xueyao out of Qingchang City through a hidden gap in the outer wall.
A slender girl could crawl through the gap with ease.
But for Luo Tian, who was growing taller and more robust, it was quite a struggle.
Ning Xueyao watched him, covering her mouth to stifle a giggle.
The two quickly left Qingchang City and headed for the countryside.
However, they had only traveled a mile or so.
WOOF WOOF!
The sound of hounds barking, accompanied by hurried footsteps, came from outside the city gate.
"Oh no! Those are the Qingchang City Guard's 'War Dogs.' They have a keen sense of smell and are excellent trackers."
Luo Tian's expression changed slightly.
Not only had Du Yuncheng bribed the City Guard, but he had also borrowed their "War Dogs," which were a strategic resource.
These War Dogs were very difficult to train. All of Qingchang City had fewer than five of them.
"At this point, our only option is to go to Black Demon Ridge."
Luo Tian's face was resolute.
Black Demon Ridge was infested with Demon Beasts. Even the City Guard didn't dare venture deep inside.
「Two hours later.」
Two groups of people, one chasing and one fleeing, entered Black Demon Ridge.
Inside Black Demon Ridge, Du Yuncheng and his two men encountered several Demon Beasts in succession, which slowed them down.
Luo Tian, however, relied on his powerful senses to consistently avoid the Demon Beasts.
「As time passed.」
The sky was gradually beginning to brighten.
Behind them, Du Yuncheng's eyes were bloodshot, radiating a chilling killing intent.
"You little bastard! The sun's about to rise. Let's see how you slip away in broad daylight!"
Du Yuncheng's voice was venomous, and a cruel, triumphant smile spread across his face.
Throughout the night-long chase, the three of them had run into several waves of Demon Beasts and were covered in cuts and bruises.
"Young Master, it looks like Luo Tian has entered the 'Sleeping Beast's' territory,"
Du Qian said suddenly.
"The Sleeping Beast?"
Du Yuncheng looked astonished.
The men looked over.
In the gorge ahead, an Exotic Beast resembling a giant bear was blocking the only path.
WHOOSH! RUMBLE!
The Exotic Beast was as tall as a three or four-story building. Its snores were like thunder, and it blocked the entrance to the gorge like a small mountain.
"Hahaha! Let's see you run now, you little thief!"
"No one dares to approach the 'Sleeping Beast's' territory. Anyone below the Spirit Sea Realm would be killed instantly."
Du Yuncheng grinned broadly, looking as if victory was already in his grasp.
'The Sleeping Beast?'
Luo Tian's face paled drastically.
Ever since he was a child in Qingchang City, he had heard the legends of the "Sleeping Beast."
The Sleeping Beast was an Exotic Beast of unknown name and origin that was extremely fond of sleeping.
Anyone who got too close and woke the Sleeping Beast would incite its heaven-shaking wrath.
Once,
the Sleeping Beast had completely annihilated a team of over a hundred Martial Artists.
Keep in mind,
that team was composed entirely of Martial Artists, including several at the Eighth to Ninth Layer of the Meridian Opening Realm, and was even led by a Spirit Sea Realm expert.
"Don't worry, Xiaotian. We don't dare get close, and neither do they,"
Ning Xueyao said reassuringly.
Luo Tian nodded. Everyone in the seven or eight cities under the jurisdiction of Lingyun County City knew of the taboo surrounding the Sleeping Beast.
It was just that,
to this day, no one knew the full extent of the Sleeping Beast's power.
"Little thief, we'll just block you in here. If we can't catch you, we'll starve you to death."
"If you know what's good for you, offer up Xueyao to serve this Young Master. If you do, I might leave you with an intact corpse."
Du Yuncheng's grating voice called out.
Luo Tian clenched his fists, a cold light glinting in his eyes. Never before had he felt such an intense killing intent toward anyone.
However,
Du Yuncheng himself was at the Fourth Layer of Meridian Opening and cultivated his family's High-Tier Martial Skills. He also had a guard at the Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening and another at the Peak of the Third Layer.
Against such a lineup, Luo Tian had no chance of winning.
'The Sleeping Beast is even more terrifying. It's a taboo, and no one knows its true origins,'
Luo Tian's gaze shifted back to the massive, mountain-like "Sleeping Beast."
'That's it!'
Luo Tian's eyes lit up as he thought of the Creation Celestial Book.
'I haven't used the Celestial Book these past few days. It must have stored up some power, right?'