Chapter 031: Strange

Taiyin Zhenren raised an eyebrow, his body drifting lightly three fen to the left like a willow leaf, evading the hairpin that rebounded, but his gaze grew even more surprised.

“Strange, indeed strange!”

If the earlier sneak attack while he was meditating and circulating qi at a critical moment was merely a coincidence, then now, attacking again at the crucial moment when he was channeling his magical power, was no coincidence.

This was clearly premeditated.

Taiyin Zhenren formed hand seals with his fingers, constantly changing them. Countless black talismans gathered together, forming a crane that spread its sky-covering wings and descended from the heavens.

In an instant, a fierce wind blasted against the face, and qi energy splattered everywhere, like sharp currents that cut open the earth.

Xiao Bai, unable to open her eyes against the gale, could still sense the shifting currents around her. She hurriedly dodged, rolling on the ground in a disheveled posture.

Seeing its pounce evaded by Xiao Bai, the crane spread its wings like sharp blades, flashing a sharp qi blade.

Xiao Bai slapped the ground and dodged again.

At the same time, she manipulated the hairpin to repeatedly strike at Taiyin Zhenren.

After dodging several times, Taiyin Zhenren's gaze gradually darkened.

He noticed that every time Xiao Bai struck at him, it was perfectly timed—often when he was channeling his magical power or at a turning point. Each dodge prevented Taiyin Zhenren from smoothly pushing his magical power to its peak.

If it happened once or twice, it might be coincidence, but several times in a row was definitely not.

“Do you know the Taiyin True Art?”

Taiyin Zhenren asked while driving the crane to attack Xiao Bai. Though it was a question, in his heart he already had a definite answer.

Xiao Bai, caught off guard, was struck by the crane's wing and sent flying horizontally, smashing through several tents, looking even more disheveled.

But the wounds on her body healed at a visible rate.

The healing power of the Horse Talisman was constantly treating Xiao Bai.

“Such astonishing healing power,” Taiyin Zhenren said coldly, a hint of admiration in his eyes. “You have a treasure that heals you. Offer it to me, and I will grant you a whole corpse.”

Just then, a young Daoist in a purple robe drifted over, landing before Taiyin Zhenren, and knelt, saying, “Master, this demon is already a bird in a cage. Let your disciple take the master's place and capture her, offering her treasure to you.”

Taiyin Zhenren looked darkly at his disciple, suspecting that the disciple had seen through his true condition.

His earlier several attempts to capture Xiao Bai had failed, not only because she was proficient in the Taiyin True Art, but more importantly because the injury inside his body was constantly worsening, draining much of his magical power.

Though he had forcibly suppressed the injury with his power, if not treated in time, it could cause considerable trouble.

Just as he was about to take down the little demon with overwhelming force, his disciple suddenly jumped out. What was the intention behind this? He was very suspicious.

Especially since this demon was proficient in the Taiyin True Art—that too was full of oddities.

The young Daoist kept his head down, not daring to look at his master. In fact, not long ago, he had indeed realized that this demon was skilled in the Taiyin True Art and was thoroughly familiar with its variations.

So the young Daoist immediately thought of someone.

A mysterious person who had captured him and forced him to reveal the Taiyin True Art.

The young Daoist believed that this demon must be connected to that mysterious person. If his master captured this demon and followed the clues to find the mysterious person, and then learned that the mysterious person had obtained the Taiyin True Art from him...

The young Daoist shuddered.

He knew his master's methods well. If his master found out that the Taiyin True Art had been leaked by him, then his days as a disciple would be over.

That was why the young Daoist eagerly jumped out, using the pretext of acting for his master, but actually intending to kill to silence the witness.

Only by killing this demon here could he possibly eliminate this crisis.

Although doing so would easily arouse his master's suspicion, as long as he did it well enough and with a sincere enough attitude, without solid evidence, his master should be reluctant to kill him.

So the young Daoist braced himself and jumped out.

While master and disciple harbored different intentions, the Horse Talisman once again healed Xiao Bai's injuries.

Xiao Bai realized that this mission was no longer feasible and decided to retreat and reconsider. Though subsequent assassinations would inevitably be more difficult, at least she wouldn't die here.

After all, she had promised that person she would return alive.

So Xiao Bai manipulated the hairpin to fly back into her hand and decisively retreated.

As soon as she moved, she immediately drew the attention of the young Daoist and Taiyin Zhenren.

“Where do you think you're going?” Taiyin Zhenren naturally could not let a little demon who had attempted to assassinate him escape like this. If word got out that he, the esteemed National Preceptor, couldn't even stop a little demon...

Then in time, he would surely become the laughingstock of the entire cultivation world.

How could he then hold the position of National Preceptor?

So he decisively struck. The crane spread its wings and descended from the sky, grabbing at Xiao Bai's body.

At the same time, seeing his master act, the young Daoist hardened his heart and roared, “Stay right there!”

But his move was extremely vicious. He gathered his power and pointed a finger, shooting a brilliant light straight at Xiao Bai's body, intending to kill her.

The two attacks came one after the other, separated by only a fraction of a second.

Although Xiao Bai dodged the crane's attack, the light shot by the young Daoist flew right in front of her. Dodging again was impossible.

Watching the attack draw closer, Xiao Bai had no strength left to evade, and her heart turned to ashes.

I'm sorry, I broke my promise.

Whoosh!

Just then, Xiao Bai felt her vision blur. Taiyin Zhenren, the young Daoist, the light—all disappeared.

She appeared on a tall building several kilometers away from Taiyin Zhenren, held in a man's arms.

Xiao Bai was startled and turned to look at the man holding her.

Wang Bo's lips twitched into a smile. “Good evening, Xiao Bai. The wind is a bit blustery tonight.”

Xiao Bai came to her senses and leaped down from Wang Bo's arms. “You... how did you come?”

“Of course because I was worried about you.” Wang Bo had been nearby since Xiao Bai infiltrated the camp, constantly monitoring her every move.

But he had not intervened until Xiao Bai was in dire straits, then used teleportation to pull her away.

A classic case of a hero saving a damsel in distress.