Chapter 20: Invitation

"No. How can I allow mortals to stay within the Cold Flame Sect? The rest of the Yu family will be escorted by these protectors to temporarily take refuge in Xi Country." Gu Yunyue shook her head and refused decisively.

Xi Country was another secular kingdom northeast of Feng Country, still within the sphere of influence of the Cold Flame Sect.

The several Yu family protectors immediately showed disappointment, but naturally dared not say a word of objection before Gu Yunyue.

The Yu family members were also greatly alarmed, casting pleading looks at Yu Menghan.

"If the Heavenly Ghost Sect comes knocking again, we'll be dead for sure. Seventh Sister, you've entered the immortal sect, you can't just abandon us..." The Second Young Master Yu, in his panic, shouted loudly.

"Shut up!" Yu Menghan's jade-like face darkened as she scolded in a low voice.

The Second Young Master Yu shuddered, swallowing the rest of his words.

"Master, will it really be safe to send them to Xi Country? The Heavenly Ghost Sect should be able to find them easily." Although Yu Menghan had scolded the Second Young Master, she was equally worried about the safety of her family.

"Rest assured, my disciple. According to the rules of the Spirit Huan Realm, as long as you officially become an inner disciple of the Cold Flame Sect, the Heavenly Ghost Sect will not harm your secular relatives, or they would violate a major taboo of this realm. If they dare to pursue your family, once you achieve success in cultivation, you will have an excuse to strike at the secular relatives of the Heavenly Ghost Sect's disciples. The reason they attacked the Yu residence earlier was because they pretended not to know you had the sect's summons token. Now that I have formally appeared, the situation is naturally quite different. The key now is whether you can safely reach the Cold Flame Sect." Gu Yunyue spoke with a solemn expression.

Upon hearing this, Yu Menghan's expression relaxed.

The rest of the Yu family also felt slightly reassured and said nothing more.

"True Immortal Bai, and the three protectors Wang, Sha, and Lin, I entrust these family members to your care. In the future, when I achieve success in cultivation, I will surely not forget your kindness." Yu Menghan bowed gracefully to Bai Shi Zhenren and the black-clad young woman.

"Miss Seven, you flatter us. As protectors of the Yu residence, we have been well treated by the Prime Minister and the young lady. Now that the Yu residence has encountered calamity, escorting the family is our duty." The black-clad young woman and the others naturally agreed readily, promising to take good care of the Yu family.

Although they could not go to the Cold Flame Sect, Yu Menghan would become an inner disciple there, and if they could establish any connection with her, it would surely bring great benefits in the future.

Bai Shi Zhenren, however, showed a hint of reluctance and instinctively glanced at Han Li.

"Fellow Daoist Bai, you have been at the Yu residence for so long; it is only right that you accompany them." Han Li, who had been toying with a storage pouch, looked up at Bai Shi Zhenren and said with a faint smile.

Only then did Bai Shi Zhenren force a smile and agree.

"Menghan thanks the four of you." Yu Menghan, as if not noticing anything, bowed again to them.

With the matter settled, the Yu family members immediately began to pack, taking out all the treasures, gold, and silver from the residence.

Han Li casually stuffed the storage pouch into his bosom, then walked over to the corpse of the sinister young man and searched out another storage pouch.

As for the items on the black-clad men, he couldn't even be bothered to pick them up.

Seeing this, Bai Shi Zhenren and the others were overjoyed and began collecting the scattered belongings of the black-clad men one by one.

"May I ask what Fellow Daoist Han plans to do next?" Gu Yunyue walked over and asked slowly.

"Han's arrival in Mingyuan City was entirely accidental. Now that I've offended the Heavenly Ghost Sect, I naturally need to keep my distance." Han Li replied calmly.

"You've stirred up this trouble and even killed Qi Minghao. Trying to extricate yourself now won't be easy. Given the power of the Heavenly Ghost Sect, they will soon trace it back to you." Gu Yunyue chuckled.

"What do you mean by that, Fairy Gu?" Han Li's expression remained unchanged.

"If Fellow Daoist Han is not averse, how about joining the Cold Flame Sect? Our sect always welcomes strong rogue cultivators. With your strength, which can easily slay a Core Formation cultivator at the Nascent Soul level, it is entirely possible for you to become an external guest elder of our sect. I am willing to be your recommender." Gu Yunyue said, staring at Han Li.

"Master is right. If Brother Han can join the Cold Flame Sect, it would also greatly benefit Le'er." Yu Menghan, her heart stirred, also spoke up.

Han Li glanced at the girl beside him and fell into thought.

Le'er blinked her large, clear eyes, looking somewhat bewildered.

"If I am not mistaken, Fellow Daoist Han's aura is unstable, suggesting you are injured. I happen to have brought a 'Wangxi Pill,' a renowned healing elixir in the Spirit Huan Realm." Gu Yunyue added meaningfully.

For her, the Heavenly Ghost Sect had lost two Core Formation cultivators this time, one of whom involved the descendant of a Nascent Soul cultivator. On the way to the Cold Flame Sect, they would likely face interception by powerful enemies from the Heavenly Ghost Sect.

Although the young man before her seemed mysterious, if he could travel with them, he would definitely be a great help.

"Le'er, would you be willing to come with me to the Cold Flame Sect?" Han Li rubbed his chin and suddenly asked Le'er.

Given Gu Yunyue's cultivation level, Le'er's identity as a fox demon could not be hidden.

However, from his earlier soul search of Bai Shi Zhenren, he learned that although the divide between humans and demons was deep in the Spirit Huan Realm, it was common for high-level cultivators in some major sects to keep demons by their side, so bringing Liu Le'er to the Cold Flame Sect should not be a problem.

"I'll go with big brother." Liu Le'er looked at Gu Yunyue, then at Yu Menghan, and said timidly.

"Don't worry, with me here, no one will dare bully you." Han Li smiled and gently patted the girl's head.

"I know big brother will protect me." The girl nodded firmly and broke into a smile.

"Then I'll trouble Fairy Gu to recommend me. But could you provide that 'Wangxi Pill'?" Han Li looked at Gu Yunyue and said bluntly.

"Of course, no problem." Gu Yunyue was inwardly pleased and, without hesitation, produced a white jade bottle and handed it over.

Han Li took the bottle, opened the lid, and sniffed it lightly before nodding.

Seeing this, Gu Yunyue smiled.

By then, the Yu family members had finished packing, bringing out a large amount of treasures and leading several carriages.

Bai Shi Zhenren and the others also came over.

"Senior Han, I..." Bai Shi Zhenren approached Han Li, hesitating as if to say something.

"Just focus on protecting the Yu family; don't worry about anything else. Also, there's something I need you to do..." Han Li raised his hand to stop him, then moved his lips and transmitted a message.

Bai Shi Zhenren was taken aback, then nodded repeatedly.

At that moment, Yu Menghan approached Gu Yunyue and said softly:

"Master, the city gates are closed now. I'll trouble you to send them out of the city."

Gu Yunyue nodded and waved her sleeve.

Instantly, a large expanse of white mist appeared out of nowhere, coalescing into a massive white cloud that carried everyone into the sky.

Most of the Yu family had never experienced anything so miraculous; they quickly grabbed onto the carriages beside them, and some of the more timid ones even let out cries of surprise.

In the blink of an eye, the white cloud flew out of the city and landed steadily on the official road outside.

"Mother, Aunt..." With parting imminent, even though Yu Menghan had prepared herself, she was still overcome with sorrow, embracing her relatives tightly.

Yu's mother and the others, with tears in their eyes, gently advised Yu Menghan to take good care of herself.

It was a long while before they reluctantly parted.

Bai Shi Zhenren and the other four escorted the Yu family eastward, soon disappearing into the night.

Yu Menghan stared blankly at her departing family, only withdrawing her gaze after a long time and letting out a soft sigh.

"We should also set off." Gu Yunyue waited a moment, then raised her hand to summon a moon-white spirit boat.

The spirit boat was four to five zhang long, with a rather peculiar shape resembling a crescent moon. Its hull was engraved with a ring of green spiritual patterns, emitting a faint spiritual power fluctuation, clearly not an ordinary item.

Han Li took Liu Le'er's hand and boarded the spirit boat. Yu Menghan took a deep breath, composed herself, and also stepped onto the boat.

Gu Yunyue waved her hand and cast a spell. The spirit boat immediately glowed with white spiritual light, shot into the sky, and transformed into a streak of white light flying into the distance.