Chapter 127: Where Are You! Jiang Lin!

After the blast, the Qian estate was reduced to ruins.

High above, the massive eight-tailed black fox in the heart of Donglin retracted its gaze; it did not believe anyone could have survived such a strike.

"ROAR!!!"

The giant fox let out a thunderous bellow toward the blood-red moon. Starting from the central tower of Donglin City, the lines of a magical array spread out like a spiderweb. Cracks began to fissure across the land, flowing with a red liquid that looked like magma, or perhaps blood. The ordinary residents of Donglin, still deep in their slumbers, had their life force slowly drained into the array. If nothing changed, they would truly fall into an eternal sleep by dawn.

The chaos in Donglin City continued.

Back at the Qian estate, the [Guard] talisman that had been posted on the house was gone. Amidst the ruins, about the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, the rubble shifted slightly.

*Clatter.*

Hu Shuang pushed aside the tiles covering her body. Beside her, Cheng Huang and the dog crawled out, shaking the dust from their coats.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

After clearing the dust from her throat, Hu Shuang looked down at Qian Xiaopang, whom she had shielded beneath her. Seeing his belly rising and falling in rhythm, his mouth smacking slightly as he scratched his chin, she let out a sigh of relief.

However...

Hu Shuang looked toward Youyou, who was crouching atop the ruins. She stared blankly at the spot where that beast had originally stood. His life essence was gone.

*Ping...*

Just like a coin hitting the ground at the start of *Unnatural*, on the east side of Donglin City, a man appeared from nowhere, currently engaged in a heated battle with assassins from the Dugu Demon Sect!

In truth, Jiang Lin had resurrected on the spot immediately after that blast.

Honestly, he had thought he was surely dead despite his desperate attempts to block the attack. When he had frantically checked their vital signs earlier, he truly hadn't expected them to be alive; they were merely unconscious, their vitals remarkably stable. This made Jiang Lin hold the [Guard] talisman in slightly higher regard.

Only slightly, though.

Jiang Lin felt most of the credit belonged to himself. If he hadn't risked his life standing at the front, would that talisman have been able to muster any lingering power? Jiang Lin decided he shouldn't sell himself short anymore; he was actually quite strong when he went all out.

He had initially intended to dig them out, but after hearing a loud explosion (which sounded like a high-explosive grenade) from the street to the east, Jiang Lin gave up on the idea. Rather than digging them out, it was more reliable to let them play dead in the ruins.

With that, Jiang Lin mounted his sword and flew toward the east.

However, Chuxue seemed to be throwing a little tantrum after having "died" once—she nearly shook Jiang Lin off several times during the flight.

Even now, while facing the enemy, she seemed to be acting temperamental.

...

"Damn it, Xiaolin, I thought you were dead! I even shed a few tears for you."

In a narrow alleyway, Qin Xiao stood back-to-back with Jiang Lin, wiping the moisture from his eyes as they fought off their attackers.

Jiang Lin unleashed a wave slash, the white sword energy freezing several leaping assassins into ice sculptures. "Don't be ridiculous! I’m absolutely not dying until my dream of a 'harem' comes true!"

"..."

"But Senior Brother, why are you here? Where are the Senior Sisters?"

"Sigh, it's a long story. It started after we went fishing this afternoon, I from..."

"Keep it short!"

"Oh... I left the Qian estate, got surrounded, managed to slip away, and returned to the inn, but the Senior Sisters were already gone. There were only signs of a struggle. I wanted to go to the Qian estate to find you, but there were too many pursuers, and I couldn't break free... Xiaolin, do you think the Senior Sisters will be alright?"

"They will! I believe in them!"

Jiang Lin gripped Chuxue tightly and took a deep breath. They were currently surrounded by assassins in front and behind. Although these assassins weren't particularly high-level—mostly at the late stage of the Ocean Observation Realm, with many at the Cave Mansion stage or lower—the problem was their sheer numbers.

"Xiaolin, what do we do now?"

Looking at the assassins standing on the ground and crouching on the walls, Qin Xiao broke into a cold sweat.

"Find the Senior Sisters! We must find them!"

"Junior Brother..."

Listening to Jiang Lin's earnest, serious, and affectionate tone, Qin Xiao couldn't help but wipe away a tear for him, his eyes moistening like a proud father's. His junior brother had finally opened his heart. As expected, Senior Sister Lin held the most important place in Junior Brother Jiang's heart. Even at this life-or-death moment, he hadn't forgotten her—this was true love! After the battle for Donglin City was over, he would definitely go drink to the wedding of his junior brother and sister.

"Senior Brother, why are you crying?"

Jiang Lin was stunned to see Qin Xiao wiping his eyes.

"It's nothing, Junior Brother. I'm just happy. I didn't expect you to be so worried about Senior Sister's safety even at a time like this."

"What on earth? I'm worried about *our* safety!"

"Hmm?"

"Only by finding the Senior Sisters and clinging tightly to their coattails can we have a glimmer of hope for survival!"

"Huh?"

"Senior Brother! Let's charge!"

No sooner had Jiang Lin finished speaking than a swarm of assassins pounced on them like a murder of crows.

...

"Xiaolin! Where are you! Xiaolin! Xiaolin!"

Having just landed on the edge of the Qian estate's ruins, Lin Qingwan called out loudly while searching for signs of life beneath the rubble. But beneath this expanse of ruins, having endured that massive bombardment, there was only a deathly silence.

Anxiety flooded her heart. She couldn't imagine what would happen if something had happened to Xiaolin. If something happened to him... what meaning would this world have left?

"Xiaolin! Answer me! Xiaolin!"

Lin Qingwan's tone grew increasingly desperate.

Finally, among a few ruins in the darkness ahead, there seemed to be signs of life and fluctuations of spiritual energy!

"Jiang Lin! Where are you! Jiang Lin!"

On the other side, Xiao Xueli was also calling out incessantly...

"Xueli! Go around this cluster of ruins! There are cultivators there!" the sword spirit within Xiao Xueli suddenly shouted.

"Jiang Lin!"

A glimmer of joy flashed in the girl's eyes as she dashed forward.

"Xiaolin, please be alright. I will definitely protect you."

The two women ran toward the same spot, bearing the same feelings and intentions.

And at this moment...

Jiang Lin was riding Qin Xiao, constantly breaking through the encirclement, arriving at the street of the Spring Breeze Pavilion...