The Arrival of the Zi Family

Mo Tianxiao's sudden change of subject left Zi Ling'er's mind unable to react for a moment.

"Senior's character?"

She was a bit dazed, but she still thought about it seriously and said, "Having followed Senior for five years, Senior's character is naturally good."

Although sometimes she couldn't quite keep up with her Senior's train of thought, one thing was certain: she didn't reject his personality. Instead, she found it very interesting and unique.

"Then do you trust me? I can point out a clear path for you, allowing you to shake off the Zi family and that guy named Huangfu Yunteng without even having to go to the Immortal City."

Mo Tianxiao gazed into her eyes with a serious expression, not looking like he was joking at all.

"Really? Senior, please don't scare me. The Zi family might be nothing, not even a top tier in the Immortal City, but the Huangfu family is different. They are a true, top-tier ancient aristocratic family. Their foundation is no less than the Jade Pool Heavenly Palace, the top faction of the Eastern Region."

Zi Ling'er's eyes held a trace of doubt. Other than finding the protection of a Saint Realm expert, what other method could force the Huangfu family to yield?

"I have some connections in the Demon State. If you trust me, I can keep you safe."

Mo Tianxiao drank his wine with a calm expression, though he was slightly surprised in his heart.

To think that the Huangfu family's foundation could actually rival the Jade Pool Heavenly Palace. This was quite unexpected to him.

However, so what? As long as they entered the Demon State, they would be in the territory of his Demon Sect. No matter how incredible an aristocratic family was, they would have to keep a low profile in the Demon State.

"The Demon State?"

Hearing these two words, Zi Ling'er looked astonished. She had never been to the Demon State, but the reputation of the Demon Sect was like thunder piercing her ears.

In the entire Demon State, there were almost no mortal towns. Roughly ninety percent of the cultivators were demonic cultivators, and all demonic cultivators in the world were led by the Netherworld Demon Sect. It could be said that the entire Demon State was under the absolute dictatorship of the Demon Sect.

"Could it be that Senior knows people from the Netherworld Demon Sect?"

Zi Ling'er's eyes lit up. If she ran to the Demon Sect to hide, the Huangfu family might really not be able to find her.

"You could say that. I have quite a few friends in the Demon Sect."

Mo Tianxiao set down his wine cup and looked out the window. In the distant sky, several figures were approaching at an extremely fast speed.

His eyes narrowed slightly, and a smile appeared on Mo Tianxiao's face. "I thought they were just passing by, but it turns out they are looking for us."

"Hmm?"

Zi Ling'er also followed his gaze out the window. After noticing the figures rapidly approaching from the distance, her expression changed drastically. "Oh no, it's the people from the Zi family!"

The people of the Zi family had found her after all. Seeing the appearance of the newcomers, Zi Ling'er's eyes instantly darkened, filled with a heavy solemnity.

To think that their tracks had been exposed just after they entered a slightly more prosperous region. It seemed the Zi family had already laid out an inescapable net waiting for her.

"Senior, thank you for your kind intentions, but it seems it's a bit too late now."

Zi Ling'er stood up, her gaze fixed intently on the several figures drawing closer and closer.

"Zi Ling'er! Such audacity! For Young Master Huangfu to take a fancy to you is your blessing, and even more so an opportunity for our Zi family! Yet you dared to flee the Zi family. You really made us look hard for you!

Do you know that Young Master Huangfu is extremely dissatisfied with our Zi family right now? Hurry up and come back with us to apologize to the Huangfu family!"

The thunderously furious voice exploded out of thin air, alarming almost half the royal city. The cultivators on the streets all shifted their gazes to the three figures in the sky, and some even began to contact the royal family of the Great Yan Dynasty.

The imposing aura emanating from the three made them feel oppressed and fearful. These were clearly cultivators from a major faction, not something their small dynasty could compare to.

Zi Ling'er stared at the leading person, her eyes turning gloomy and icy. With a trace of mockery and helplessness in her tone, she said, "Ninth Elder, to think that you would actually dispatch an elder just to capture a lowly Nascent Soul stage cultivator like me."

The disappointment toward the Zi family in her heart grew a few degrees more.

The Zi family was dead set on using her to curry favor with the Huangfu family.

However, she could also understand it. Before leaving the Zi family, she was nothing more than a minor Golden Core cultivator. She was just a Golden Core cultivator, something the Zi family had plenty of.

Being able to use a single Golden Core cultivator to latch onto the most talented young master of the Huangfu family was naturally a highly profitable transaction for the Zi family.

Her parents were only from a branch family of the Zi clan, with cultivation bases merely at the Profound Comprehension stage. In the Zi family, they were at most considered slightly stronger thugs. They had no right to speak, nor could they protect her.

The Ninth Elder of the Zi family, Zi Heng, had a cultivation base at the seventh level of the Void Refinement stage, making him a bona fide late-stage Void Refinement expert.

The two following beside him also possessed middle-to-late Profound Comprehension stage cultivation bases, which showed that the Zi family's strength was quite decent.

Yet, such a faction was as insignificant as an ant in front of a truly major power.

Zi Heng cast a chilling glance at Mo Tianxiao, who was sitting opposite Zi Ling'er. His gaze sank slightly before he turned his eyes to Zi Ling'er, saying in an icy tone, "Young Master Huangfu likes clean people. If you have broken your primal yin body, then await Young Master Huangfu's punishment."

"And this man won't be able to escape either."

Huangfu Yunteng's reputation was notorious throughout the entire Immortal City. He was boundlessly debauched, having married dozens of wives and concubines alone, not to mention the countless others he hadn't formally married.

He would marry at least one woman who caught his eye every year. Whether they were mortals or from aristocratic families, as long as he wanted them, the Huangfu family would do everything in their power to get them for him, regardless of the methods used—be it coercion, bribery, or outright forceful snatching.

This was because Huangfu Yunteng was the only person in the Huangfu family in thousands of years who possessed the aptitude to become an Emperor.

"Zi Ling'er, do you know how much Young Master Huangfu cares about you? In order to wait for you, he hasn't married any new wives or concubines these past few years. If you know what's good for you, hurry up and come back with us to atone to Young Master Huangfu. Perhaps if he's in a good mood, he might even forgive you."

Zi Heng spoke to himself, completely ignoring Zi Ling'er's ashen face.

"Im-poss-ible!"

Zi Ling'er clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white. Her teeth were gritted tightly, and her eyes blazed like torches.

Even though she was just a lowly Nascent Soul cultivator, she would not yield to fate. She was unwilling to accept this.

Half of her cultivation base came from the Zi family, but that was earned by her parents risking their lives for the family. She owed the Zi family nothing; the only people she owed were her parents.

"Even if I die, I will never marry that arrogant, extravagant, and debauched Huangfu Yunteng!"

Everyone in the Immortal City knew of Huangfu Yunteng's misdeeds. He was full of hostility and had been spoiled by the Huangfu family to the point of having a twisted personality. Not a single woman he married ever met a good end.

They were either tortured to death by him for amusement, or driven to madness and then killed.

Rather than being dragged back for an arranged marriage, she would rather end her own life cleanly.

"Young Master Huangfu possesses the aptitude of a Great Emperor. It's one thing if you aren't satisfied with becoming his wife or concubine, but you actually want to seek your own demise?!

To tell you the truth, the Zi family has already accepted the Huangfu family's betrothal gifts. You are now already Young Master Huangfu's person.

The Huangfu family has already smoothed things over with all the major factions in the Immortal City. No one will sour their relationship with the Huangfu family over a lowly Nascent Soul cultivator like you."

Zi Heng's eyes were full of cold indifference. "Your parents have already been sent to the Huangfu family. If you don't want them to die, be a good girl and come back with us."

Sacrificing personal desires for the sake of the clan was the most normal thing in the world for a cold and ruthless great family.

"You... all of you!"

Zi Ling'er swayed slightly, stumbling back two steps. Her eyes brimmed with disappointment and resentment, her heart engulfed by an endless, desolate sorrow.

Her parents had dedicated their entire lives to the Zi family, yet now they were being mercilessly cast aside, reduced to mere tools for the family to latch onto a greater power.

How utterly ironic.