Turning to his right, he noticed a small wooden cabin nestled among a variety of unusual flowers. A lone loquat tree stood beside it, its branches heavy with ripe fruit.
Zui hesitated before cautiously approaching. Stopping at the door, he took a slow breath, nerves tingling, then pushed it open.
Inside, he was met with an unexpected sight.
Wang Zhu sat cross-legged on the floor, her brows furrowed, her body drenched in sweat.
A fresh wound ran across her left cheek, and her complexion was noticeably pale.
Around her, a faint, invisible wind seemed to gather, circling her like a protective barrier. She was meditating.
What happened to her?
Zui stepped forward, careful not to make a sound. He intended to move to the side, to observe without disturbing her. But before he could, Wang Zhu's eyes snapped open.
Sharp. Calculated.
Her usual calm, unreadable expression returned as she spoke.
"You're awake."
Zui flinched.
Before he could respond, she was already standing-though her forehead was still damp with sweat, and her wound remained unhealed.
He found himself staring.
Something about her felt... off.
Wang Zhu, noticing his dazed expression, stepped forward and flicked his forehead.
"Ow!" Zui hissed, recoiling as he rubbed the sore spot.
"What was that for?"
She walked past him without answering, her tone brisk.
"Follow me."
Still rubbing his forehead, Zui quickly fell in step beside her, bombarding her with questions.
"Where are we going? What is this place? And what happened to you? You look awful-your cheek, did you fight someone? And why the hell did you knock me out earlier? What's-"
Wang Zhu abruptly stopped.
Zui barely managed to avoid bumping into her, his breath catching as she turned to face him.
A chill ran down his spine.
"What?" he asked warily.
"You're not gonna knock me out again, are you?"
For a moment, she just stared at him. Then, finally, she spoke.
"Your sister is no longer in Ruyu hands."
Zui's heart skipped a beat.
His scattered thoughts vanished in an instant, replaced by a single, overwhelming emotion-hope.
"You-" His voice wavered. He swallowed and tried again.
"Truly? How-"
"I know where she is." Wang Zhu interjected before he could ask further questions.
A spark lit up his face, bright and unrestrained.
"Then let's go! Let's get her."
Wang Zhu extended her right hand toward him, palm open.
"Hold my hand," she said.
Zui stares at her hand for a moment before stepping forward and taking it.
The moment their hands touched, the scenery around them wavered-the glowing grass, the loquat tree, the eerie storm in the distance.
Everything flickered, then shattered like an illusion, vanishing into nothingness.
A rush of cold air swept over him as the world shifted.
Zui's eyes widened in awe as he took in their new surroundings.
"What was that place? Was it just an illusion? You can do illusions too?" he asked.
Wang Zhu pulled her hand away and replied simply,
"No. That place was my temporary realm."
Zui was stunned, both shocked and intrigued.
"You already have a realm? Wah, what's your cultivation rank exactly?"
Wang Zhu didn't answer, which, somehow, he had expected.
Is she really a woman of few words? Was she born like this, or trained by her master? Wouldn't that be kind of boring?
Zui exhaled, deciding not to dwell on it. As he wandered his gaze around, he noticed they were no longer on the city roads.
"Where are we?" he asked, his voice hushed.
The air was thick with dust, carrying the faint scent of rust and damp wood.
Wang Zhu answered flatly,
"An abandoned warehouse."
It turned out they had never left the earlier-she had merely hidden them inside her temporary realm, waiting for the enemy to leave before emerging again.
Zui blinked.
"An abandoned warehouse? Why here?"
Wang Zhu didn't reply. Instead, she stepped forward, heading straight for the exit.
Zui trailed behind her, his gaze drifted across the space. Scattered debris littered the floor-shattered crates, broken furniture, and torn fabrics.
The walls bore deep gashes, as if a fierce battle had taken place.
His throat went dry.
Something had happened here.
Something violent.
"You... you fought someone earlier, didn't you? Was it a demon? Ruyu's people? Is that why you knocked me out?"
Wang Zhu still didn't respond, but his gut told him he was right. He swallowed hard, choosing to remain silent as he followed her.
Then, a sudden, deafening sound rang through the air-the tolling of a gigantic bell.
Wang Zhu's head snapped up. High in the sky, a massive golden bell materialized, surrounded by an array of floating swords.
Her expression darkened.
The Divine Formation.
A technique designed to trap demons, forcing them into unbearable anguish with its sound, rendering them unable to move.
It could also be used to seal powerful demons-if the summoner had the strength to maintain it.
Only one sect was capable of summoning such a thing.
The Mowei Sect.
It seemed they had already found Ruyu.
She turned and found Zui hunched over, his face contorted in pain. Hands pressed against his ears, he groaned.
"Make it stop!" he shouted, his voice strained.
Without hesitation, Wang Zhu moved to his side, placed a palm against his forehead, and let a gentle light radiate from her touch.
Zui's body relaxed almost instantly. His eyes fluttered closed as the pain faded.
"Stand up," Wang Zhu urged, rising to her feet.
"We don't have time. The Mowei Sect disciples have already infiltrated the city."
Zui exhaled sharply and pushed himself upright.
His limbs still felt weak, but the agonizing pain had vanished, leaving only a lingering buzz in his ears. He shot Wang Zhu a exhausted glance.
"What did you do?"
"I suppressed the formation's effects on you," she replied briskly.
"But it won't last long."
Zui clenched his fists, frustration flashing in his eyes.
"Then let's quickly-"
A sudden explosion in the sky cut him off. The ground trembled violently, sending dust cascading down like a shroud.
Above, the golden bell tolled louder, its ominous chime reverberating through the air, a harbinger of impending doom.
Wang Zhu's expression darkened further.
"They've begun the sealing process."