Chapter 278 - Heartbreak

The ice-cold murderous aura enveloped the entire public square in an instant, sinking everyone into what seemed like a nightmare that they couldn’t wake up from. All they could hear was the rumbling of a dragon’s roar as two gigantic golden dragon silhouettes dived down from the sky. Following an ear-splitting explosion, soil scattered in the air. The residual force of the explosion caused the collapse of the nearby houses.

The smoke and dust finally dissipated, leaving behind a massive pit with a diameter of a hundred feet in their wake. Feng Xiezi, with his body bloodied and battered, collapsed amid crushed stones. No one could tell if he was still alive.

The crowd gradually regained their senses and stared at “Wang Luo” standing in the square. No one dared to say a word. Realization finally dawned on Zi Yang and a wisp of coldness emerged from his heart to reach every inch of his being.

Zhiluan, hovering in midair, stared at the ferocious Xiao Chen and cried, “Meow! The consequences are bad when the kid gets mad.” He freely voiced his amazement as no one paid him any mind now. Everyone’s attention was on Xiao Chen.

Huangfu Xin’er was walking out of the collapsed house with unsteady steps when she suddenly saw the Fire-heart Jade around Zhiluan’s neck.

Sensing the ice-cold gaze directed to him, Zhiluan tried to escape but he found himself being tugged along with an intangible force.

“Meow! Don’t tell me you want me to die with you just because you’re on your deathbed…”

Huangfu Xin’er looked deathly pale and weak as she grabbed his wings. She said coldly, “Speak. Where did you get the Fire-heart Jade that you’re wearing from?!”

Shuddering with fear, Zhiluan pointed his paw at Xiao Chen and stammered, “That kid gave it to me. If you want to kill someone, kill him. This great one is innocent…”

Huangfu Xin’er looked in the direction that Zhiluan was pointing in. Even though her voice was weak, the iciness of it was unmistakable. “Who exactly are you…?”

Xiao Chen slowly spun around and said softly, “Xin’er, it’s me…” He then took off the mask on his face.

The crowd gasped. Zi Yang felt cold all over as if he was being dunked into a pool of ice water.

“It’s… you!”

Huangfu Xin’er’s chest heaved up and down as her breathing hastened. Her agitation returned some color to her deathly pale complexion. To everyone’s surprise, she summoned a force and struck her abdomen with her palm. Blood sprayed from her mouth.

“Meow! This mad woman wants to kill herself!” Zhiluan took advantage of the moment to fly out of her clutches.

“Xin’er!” Xiao Chen turned pale with fright. He instantly flew over to her and embraced her.

“Let go of me… Xiao Chen! I don’t need your sympathy!” Huangfu Xin’er cried. She tried to hit herself with yet another palm attack, but Xiao Chen hastily put his fingers together and hit the main meridian points on her body to knock her out.

“Xin’er…”

Xiao Chen’s eyes fluttered shut. There was a trail of bloodstain on the corner of his mouth. When he said that he had promised to grow old with Li Muxue and would only love her alone back in Heartless Palace, those words were meant for Huashang’s ears. He never imagined that Huangfu Xin’er would overhear them in the rear palace.

For a long time, no one in the public square said a word. Those from the Heaven and Earth Sect had long fled in a panic. Zi Yang cautiously approached Xiao Chen, looking somewhat terrified still.

“Senior, may I ask you… if my disciple, Wang Luo, is alive?”

Xiao Chen opened his eyes, his gaze falling on Huangfu Xin’er who lay in his embrace. He said softly, “He’s dead.”

Zi Yang trembled. Even though he had anticipated this, he couldn’t help sighing after getting Xiao Chen’s confirmation. “Thank you for your answer, Senior…” He desperately wanted to know why Xiao Chen wanted to kill Wang Luo, but how could he ask now?

Xiao Chen looked at him. “I didn’t kill him. The murderer is someone named Mo Hengyu.”

These words sent a shockwave throughout everyone in the square. Zi Yang’s breathing quickened. Xiao Chen’s cultivation was so much higher than his and had no reason to lie. He turned around to look at a disciple behind him and asked solemnly, “Where is Mo Hengyu?”

The disciple stammered, “Eldest Senior Brother… He said he has some business and left two days ago…”

“That monster!” Zi Yang was so furious that he was shivering. Xiao Chen said, “Sect Leader Zi Yang, thank you for saving my friend. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be taking my leave.”

Zi Yang slapped a smile on his face and said respectfully, “Let me send you down the mountain…” Even though Xiao Chen had helped him ward off an enemy, he didn’t know if it was a blessing or a curse.

“That won’t be necessary.”

Xiao Chen carried Huangfu Xin’er out of the public square. Zhiluan followed after him after making a strange yelp. When they passed by Zi Sha, Xiao Chen shot her a glance.

Zi Sha trembled. His stare shook her out of her bewilderment. She never imagined that he wasn’t Wang Luo. To think she even went to his room two days ago and made a ruckus…

When they arrived at the foot of the mountain, Xiao Chen got them a room in a tavern. The shopkeeper took notice of Huangfu Xin’er’s pale complexion and hastily said, “Young Master, your lady is very ill. Should I call a physician for you?”

“That won’t be necessary. Just bring a basin of hot water to my room. That will do.”

Inside the room, Xiao Chen carefully and meticulously lay Huangfu Xin’er on the bed and tucked her in. Zhiluan said nonchalantly, “Kid, do you know how vicious her self-attack was earlier? I think she won’t make it. What a pity…”

“Shut up!” Xiao Chen glared at him.

Moments later, a servant came up to the room with a basin of hot water. His heart jumped when he saw Huangfu Xin’er on the bed. When he left, he couldn’t help lamenting inside him, “Such a pretty lady. It’s such a pity.”

Xiao Chen picked up a heated towel and attentively wiped away the bloodstain on the corner of Huangfu Xin’er’s mouth. Memories of the past ran past his mind. If the Huangfu family hadn’t backed out of their marriage back then, things might be very different now…

The night came and went. During this time, Xiao Chen poured more True Energy into her and stabilized her condition. Still, she remained feeble. Zhiluan lay on his stomach on the window sill and said weakly, “Kid, stop wasting your energy. I’m about to starve to death. Hurry up and order some food…”

Xiao Chen ignored him. When the sun rose and sunlight was about to filter into the room, he said, “I’m going to the apothecary for some herbs. You should stay put here.”

Huangfu Xin’er’s heart meridians had suffered such great damage that his True Energy alone would be of little help. He must make the Warm Nourishment Elixir from the Elixir King Scripture. His only concern was whether he could get the rare ingredients in a small town like this.

“Go ahead, go ahead. To think I even went through life and death with you a few days ago. Now all you think about is this girl. You don’t even care if I’m dead or alive.”

Xiao Chen got up and walked to the door. Then, he spun around and said, “Don’t run around lest someone catches you and turns into a pill ingredient.”

Spirits and Immortals Town, neither small nor large, was a town with crisscrossing avenues and buildings built in an orderly fashion. A river with limpid waters cut through the town, reflecting the blue skies and white clouds above.

After visiting several apothecaries, Xiao Chen found a dozen or so of the common herbs but was still lacking a rare ingredient: the Demon’s Soul of a Snow Demon of the Heavenly Mountain. It was an incredibly rare item.

“Young Master, what do you need the Snow Demon’s Soul for? This can only be found on the Thousand Summits Mountain. You can’t find it in the shops.”

Frowning, Xiao Chen shook his head. “Thank you.” He spun around and walked out of the apothecary. The sunlight was blinding when he raised his head. He had been out for about an hour. Had Xin’er woken up? He wished Gui Xian was here now. Gui Xian would surely be able to heal her. What a pity that his medical expertise was insufficient.

He returned to the tavern after buying a few meat buns for Zhiluan. When he pushed open the door, he found the bed empty. Zhiluan was missing as well.

“Xin’er!”