Chapter 56: The Price of Defeat

"You may have heard of my name; I was your father’s sworn brother."

Song Hongdao looked at Qin Luo in Xiao Qing’s arms, squatted down, and said, "I will take your mother with me later. Remember what I look like, and come to me at Guiyi Sect to seek revenge on me in the future."

Patting Qin Luo on the shoulder, Song Hongdao stood up and said to Xiao Qing, "I once asked you which was more important, Guiyi Sect or Qin Luo. You have already made your choice, so Qin Luo is yours, and Guiyi Sect is mine."

Qin Luo struggled to get up, but Xiao Qing held him down firmly. Having regained her senses, Xiao Qing knew how terrifying the old man in front of her was, and she didn’t want Qin Luo to die any further.

With a leap, Song Hongdao arrived downstairs. Bodhi, somewhat unwilling, glanced at Jiang Qingyu’s delicate body one last time before following closely behind.

"This kid is strange." Looking at the big Niu in Nangong Muyun’s arms, Bodhi said with a sinister tone, "Kill him."

Although he could no longer sense the aura of the Great Ox, Bodhi keenly felt that the boy was not yet dead. Seeing that Song Hongdao did not stop him, he took a few steps forward, gathered the last bit of his true energy, and prepared to end the boy’s life.

His gaze swept over Nangong Muyun. After the fierce battle just now, her already meager clothes were even more tattered. Through the clothes on her chest, Song Hongdao immediately saw the mysterious tattoo.

Bodhi had already gathered his true energy into form and was about to unleash it on the giant bull when, in the blink of an eye, he heard Song Hongdao shout.

"Wait!"

Somewhat unwillingly, Bodhi dispersed his true energy, looking at Song Hongdao with a puzzled expression.

"This person cannot be moved."

Song Hongdao said in an unquestionable manner, then walked up to Nangong Muyun and smiled, "What a pity about your many years of planning. You were defeated as soon as I made my move."

Nangong Muyun was heartbroken. Even with the combined efforts of herself and Jiang Qingyu, they still couldn’t kill the old sword master and Bodhi. She had lost all will to fight to the death.

"Come back to my sect with me, and I’ll guarantee Qin Luo’s survival."

After Song Hongdao finished speaking, he turned and left without looking back, but Jiang Qingyu blocked his way.

"I don’t want to cause chaos in the world." Song Hongdao shook his head helplessly and said, "Just be a good Empress. If you die, the people in the lower realm will surely suffer."

Jiang Qingyu remained resolute. Although she and Nangong Muyun often looked down on each other in the past, she decided to sacrifice herself to protect her at this critical moment of life and death.

"He’s right." Nangong Muyun’s voice came from behind Song Hongdao.

After giving Jiang Qingyu a wry smile, Nangong Muyun slowly turned around and said to Song Hongdao, "I’ll come back with you."

Seeing Nangong Muyun’s reaction, Song Hongdao nodded with some satisfaction and said to Jiang Qingyu, "Look, this is the demeanor of an empress."

Jiang Qingyu ignored the provocation in his words, and when she saw Nangong Muyun give her a meaningful look, she said, "Protect Qin Luo and Da Niu, they will come to save me."

Supported by Xiao Qing, Qin Luo slowly descended the stairs and saw Song Hongdao and Nangong Muyun leaving. Somewhat unwillingly, she reached out her hand, but Song Hongdao, who was passing by, pressed it down.

"Remember my words, don’t keep me waiting too long."

Song Hongdao patted Qin Luo on the shoulder again, then led Bodhi and Nangong Muyun away.

As the sun set, the shimmering water of the lake reflected Nangong Muyun’s somewhat frail figure on the wooden bridge. Qin Luo tried to speak, but instead spat out a mouthful of black blood.

Jiang Qingyu approached the Big Niu on the ground, checked its breath, and then turned to Xiao Qing, saying, "He’s not dead yet."

Although Xiao Qing didn’t know who the boy on the ground was, she was still shocked by Da Niu’s indomitable spirit during the fight.

"Your Majesty."

An aged voice rang out, and Mo Ming, looking troubled, stepped forward.

Jiang Qingyu didn’t mind his refusal to help just now. After all, given his cultivation level, rashly joining the battle would be tantamount to suicide. Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but recall Da Niu’s performance just now.

"He’s not really dead, but it’s not much different from being dead." Mo Ming shook his head and came to stand in front of Jiang Qingyu.

Upon hearing this, a hint of sadness flashed across Jiang Qingyu’s pretty face, but Mo Ming’s next words stirred her mind.

"Someone can save him." Mo Ming seemed to have made a great decision before speaking: "Ghost Hand Luo Feng."

"What?!" Jiang Qingyu exclaimed in shock, "Wasn’t he dead?"

The Ghost Hand Luo Feng could make the dead flesh and blood again. Gu Hanyan of the Changge Sect had once received his guidance. However, he disappeared from the Glass Realm decades ago. Rumor has it that he died at the hands of demons in the Great War of Exterminating Demons.

Mo Ming sighed and said, "Tianxiangfang is known for knowing everything. I only learned about this by chance. Please don’t ask any more questions."

Jiang Qingyu nodded. She naturally knew the rules of Tianxiangfang. Then she said to Mo Ming, "Please tell me the whereabouts of Senior Luo, Sect Leader Mo."

Mo Ming looked at Qin Luo and Xiao Qing beside him and said in a low voice, "Please keep this a secret. If this gets out, Tianxiangfang will be doomed."

Jiang Qingyu nodded with a serious expression. Mo Ming whispered a few words in her ear, and Xiao Qing and Qin Luo immediately looked at each other in surprise.

"Thank you, Sect Leader Mo." Jiang Qingyu bowed, but Mo Ming hurriedly stopped her, saying, "No, no, His Majesty is of noble birth, how can you..."

Carrying the blood-soaked Niu on her back, Jiang Qingyu was about to leave with Qin Luo and Xiao Qing when she heard Mo Ming catch up again and say, "Your Majesty, remember to take these things with you."

Mo Ming hurriedly pulled out a bunch of things, saying, "These are His Majesty’s clothes, this is a life-extending pill, which can be used to give this young man his last breath on the road, and this is the magic weapon you two just obtained, the cage."

Jiang Qingyu then remembered that she was still wearing the same sexy clothes, and a blush flashed across her face. After taking the miscellaneous items from Mo Ming’s hand, she found an antique-style ring among them. Then, with a wave of her jade hand, she put all the items into the ring.

The last rays of the setting sun had faded, and Mo Ming sighed helplessly as he watched the four figures gradually disappear into the darkness. He shook his head as he looked at the dilapidated building in front of him.