Chapter 62: Breaking the Shackles, Reclaiming Freedom

He suddenly stopped in his tracks, his gaze falling upon the person standing behind me... He Yunsheng!

Oh no, when did he get here?! I cried out inwardly, realizing things had just become much more complicated.

"Yunsheng, why are you here?" I tried my best to remain calm, stepping in front of him out of fear that the Sect Leader might attack him.

He Yunsheng wore a look of utter anxiety. "Sister, I was worried about you..."

Before he could finish his sentence, the Sect Leader let out a sinister chuckle. "So that's how it is! This is your weakness!" A flash of ruthlessness crossed his eyes. "Then I'll start with him first!"

Before I could blink, the Sect Leader flashed forward, lunging straight at He Yunsheng!

In the nick of time, I shoved He Yunsheng aside and took the Sect Leader's fatal blow entirely upon myself!

"Pfft—" A mouthful of blood spewed forth. I felt as though my internal organs had been displaced, the pain so intense that black spots danced before my eyes.

"Sister!" He Yunsheng cried out in alarm, hurriedly catching me.

"Cough, cough..." I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and forced myself to stand. "It's nothing, just a minor scrape..."

Seeing that his first strike had missed, the Sect Leader lunged at us again.

I gritted my teeth and raised my sword to parry, but the gap in our strength was simply too vast, and I quickly found myself at a disadvantage.

Just as I was about to collapse, a figure suddenly plummeted from the sky, placing himself right in front of me.

"Elder Murong!" I cried out in pleasant surprise.

Wielding a long sword, Elder Murong immediately engaged the Sect Leader in intense combat.

Both men were martial arts masters, their every move meant to kill, dazzling my eyes.

Taking advantage of this opening, I hastily grabbed He Yunsheng and bolted toward the exit.

"Trying to run? Not that easy!" The Sect Leader roared, forcing Elder Murong back with a single palm strike, and then pursued us relentlessly.

Just as he was about to catch up, a voice suddenly echoed from afar: "Senior Brother Sect Leader, trust you have been well!"

I looked back, and to my utter astonishment, it was... the apostate disciple! What on earth was he doing here?!

A bizarre smile played on his lips as he slowly walked over and said, "Senior Brother Sect Leader, it has been a long time..."

Damn, this apostate disciple had arrived right on cue!

He was like a divine soldier descending from the heavens!

"What are you doing here, kid?" The words slipped right out of my mouth.

He offered a bewitching smile. "Naturally, I'm here to lend a hand, little money-grubber." A wave of quiet jubilation washed over me—we were in for a good show now!

The three of us instantly formed a triangular formation. From out of nowhere, the apostate disciple produced a bizarre-looking weapon that gleamed with a cold light, clearly no ordinary artifact.

His movement techniques were eerie and every strike lethal. He actually forced the Sect Leader to retreat step by step!

Yunsheng and I weren't idling either; utilizing the terrain to our advantage, we traded punches and kicks, beating the elite disciples until they cried for their mothers.

Besieged from both front and rear, the Sect Leader was now in a complete panic, scurrying about like an ant on a hot pan.

Amidst the chaos of battle, my sharp eyes caught a glimpse of a jade pendant hanging from beneath the Sect Leader's robe. Exquisitely carved, it was obviously no common trinket.

Wait, this jade pendant...

I felt as though I had seen it somewhere before!

That's right!

Isn't this the legendary "Frigid Ice Jade" said to be capable of suppressing the Sect Leader's internal Qi?

An inspiration struck me, and I shouted at the top of my lungs, "Yunsheng, attack the jade pendant at his waist!"

Yunsheng grasped my intent instantly and unleashed his signature technique, "Flying Cloud Kick," hitting the target dead-on!

With a sharp crunch, the jade pendant shattered. The Sect Leader let out a miserable shriek and instantly wilted, losing all his vigor.

Upon seeing that their boss was finished, those elite disciples scattered like birds and beasts, running faster than rabbits.

Prime opportunity!

I grabbed Yunsheng and followed the apostate disciple straight toward the exit.

After running a long distance, I glanced back; that sect had already vanished into the vast, boundless night.

The air of freedom smelled simply divine!

I couldn't help drawing a deep breath, feeling completely refreshed from head to toe.

"Where are we heading next?" Yunsheng asked me.

Just as I was about to reply, the apostate disciple suddenly halted, staring ahead with a gloomy expression...

He spoke slowly, "It seems we rejoiced a bit too soon..."