: Encirclement by Demonic Wolves, Danger Lurks in the Shadows

The team continued deeper into the canyon, where the surrounding environment became increasingly eerie and terrifying.

The entire canyon was shrouded in darkness, with only a sliver of sunlight occasionally filtering through the leaves to barely illuminate the path beneath our feet.

The stench of blood and decay in the air grew stronger, and among the decaying leaves underfoot, one could occasionally see half-eaten, incomplete skeletons, some of them those of ferocious beasts, others those of humans.

The roars of ferocious beasts from the depths of the canyon grew closer, one after another, so loud they made people's eardrums hurt. Many disciples in green robes turned increasingly pale and their steps became unsteady.

Only Xiao Yunsheng remained at the head of the group, walking calmly and with a composed expression.

As he walked, he repeatedly stroked the meteorite iron sword pendant in his bosom by the faint light of day.

The hanging hole at the top of the sword hilt was half-cut off, the cut clean and smooth, a mark left by a swordsman's frontal slash with a longsword—sharp, clean, without a trace of tearing or rough edges.

This could not possibly have been caused by the claws or fangs of a ferocious beast; only swordsmanship could have left such a cut.

There is another strange thing about the sword pendant. Around the character "惊" (jing, meaning shock/surprise), there is a circle of eerie black patterns, twisted like snakes, as if they were alive. When you touch them with your fingertips, you can still feel a cold and piercing aura!

My father did not die in an accident as stated in the sect's death notice!

This thought was like a needle, piercing deeply into Xiao Yunsheng's heart.

"Junior Brother Xiao, you're quite skilled!"

A hypocritical voice came from behind. Zhao Jinghong walked quickly to Xiao Yunsheng's side, a fake smile plastered on her face.

"I never expected you to be so talented, Junior Brother. Your Flowing Cloud Sword Technique has reached such a level; it truly broadens my horizons." Zhao Jinghong patted Xiao Yunsheng on the shoulder, his tone warm. "When we return from this training trip, I will definitely recommend you to the Pavilion Master of the Azure Cloud Sword Pavilion and help you join the pavilion, shedding your status as a mere blue-robed disciple. What do you say?"

Xiao Yunsheng glanced at him, a cold smile playing on his lips.

He knew all too well what these kinds of people were like. When they needed you, they'd greet you with smiles and sweet words; when they didn't, they'd discard you like a pawn without batting an eye.

Xiao Yunsheng removed the grass from his mouth, smiled, and replied casually, "Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother Zhao, but I'm used to being carefree, and being bound by rules in the Pavilion is probably not suitable for me."

In short, he gave a firm but not overly harsh rebuttal.

Zhao Jinghong's smile froze for a moment, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes, too quick to catch. He hadn't expected Xiao Yunsheng to be so disrespectful; a mere discarded scion of the Azure Cloud Sword Pavilion dared to refuse his offer of allegiance—he was utterly ungrateful.

But he quickly covered it up, chuckling dryly twice: "Junior brother has personality, that's a good thing, a good thing."

After saying that, he turned around and retreated back to the middle of the group. However, the look in his eyes as he looked at Xiao Yunsheng's back had turned completely cold, and his killing intent was almost overflowing.

He had already made up his mind that Xiao Yunsheng must not be allowed to live.

This Yanyu Mountain is where Xiao Yunsheng is buried!

He has plenty of ways to make Xiao Yunsheng die here without leaving any evidence against him.

The group walked forward for about half an hour, and then it got completely dark. It was so dark in the canyon that you could hardly see your hand in front of your face.

Zhao Jinghong raised his hand to signal the team to stop, preparing to find an open place to camp and rest. Just then, a series of urgent cries for help and the mournful howls of wolves suddenly came from deep in the dense forest.

Zhao Jinghong's expression changed, and he immediately gave his junior brother a look: "Go and see what's going on!"

The red-clad disciple immediately drew his sword and rushed into the dense forest. A moment later, he returned with a grave expression, urgently reporting, "Senior Brother! It's Junior Sister Shen Lingxi from the Flowing Cloud Sword Pavilion! She led a group of yellow-clad disciples into the mountains for training, but they've been surrounded by over a dozen Crimson-Eyed Demon Wolves in a ravine ahead. Several disciples have already been lost, and they're on the verge of collapse!"

"Shen Lingxi?!"

Zhao Jinghong's eyes lit up instantly.

Shen Lingxi, the granddaughter of the Pavilion Master of Liuyun Sword Pavilion, is the recognized jewel of Tianque Sect and the person he has always wanted to curry favor with!

The Flowing Cloud Sword Pavilion holds a superior position among the eight great sword pavilions, known as the head of the eight great sword pavilions, and its pavilion master, Shen Qingzhu, is the head of the eight elders! If he can take advantage of this life-saving opportunity to get in touch with Shen Lingxi and curry favor with the pavilion master of the Flowing Cloud Sword Pavilion, his future status in the sect will surely rise to a higher level!

But this excitement lasted only a moment before it was replaced by apprehension.

The Crimson-Eyed Demon Wolf is a ferocious beast a whole level higher than the Black Rock Fang. It is extremely fast, cunning by nature, and best at group attacks. Moreover, it has thick skin and flesh, so ordinary sword moves cannot hurt it at all!

Even if he and his two junior brothers went all out, they might not be able to escape unscathed from the dozen or so red-eyed demon wolves. One wrong move and they might even perish here.

His gaze instantly fell on Xiao Yunsheng again.

A sinister plan took shape in his mind once again.

He immediately adopted an extremely anxious expression, strode up to Xiao Yunsheng, bowed deeply to him, and pleaded earnestly, "Junior Brother Xiao, the situation is urgent! Junior Sister Shen is a member of our Tianque Sect, and she is in imminent danger, possibly dying at any moment! The three of us are busy protecting the hundreds of disciples in blue robes behind us and cannot leave. We can only beg you to help save Junior Sister Shen!"

He patted his chest and promised confidently, "Junior brother, don't worry! As long as you save Junior Sister Shen and return to the sect, I'll risk everything to beg the sect leader and the Flowing Cloud Sword Pavilion Master to let you join the pavilion directly as a core disciple! Your future will be limitless!"

Upon hearing this, the disciples in blue robes behind him immediately erupted in uproar.

Everyone could see that Zhao Jinghong was using Xiao Yunsheng as a pawn again!

What is a Crimson-Eyed Demon Wolf? It's a ferocious beast that can easily tear apart a red-robed disciple. If a dozen of them attack together, even if Xiao Yunsheng's swordsmanship is superb, he'll still have a slim chance of survival!

Zhao Jinghong didn't dare to go himself, so he coaxed Xiao Yunsheng to go and die. After Xiao Yunsheng and the demon wolf were both exhausted, he would come out and take advantage of the situation. He would not only save Shen Lingxi and gain a great merit, but also get rid of Xiao Yunsheng, a major threat. It was like killing two birds with one stone!

Many disciples looked at Xiao Yunsheng with pity, but they dared not utter a word, fearing Zhao Jinghong's retaliation and that they would become the next pawn to be discarded.

To everyone's surprise, Xiao Yunsheng remained silent for a moment before nodding in agreement.

Zhao Jinghong was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting Xiao Yunsheng to actually agree. Then, overjoyed, she quickly said, "Good! Junior Brother Xiao is truly a man of great loyalty and righteousness! Quickly! Please come in!"

Xiao Yunsheng ignored his feigned flattery and simply gripped the Flowing Cloud Iron Sword in his hand.

He was certainly not a saint, nor was he blinded by the promises Zhao Jinghong made.

He agreed for only one reason—he had just heard that Shen Lingxi was the granddaughter of the Pavilion Master of Liuyun Sword Pavilion, and that Liuyun Sword Pavilion was in charge of the entry records of all disciples of Tianque Sect over the years, including all the records of his father Xiao Jingchen's entry into the sect!

To uncover the truth behind his father's disappearance, Shen Lingxi is the connection he must make.

Xiao Yunsheng looked up into the depths of the dense forest, where the wolf howls grew increasingly mournful and the cries for help grew weaker, clearly indicating that the most critical moment had arrived.

Without uttering another word, he leaped forward, his figure flashing like a ghost as he instantly plunged into the dark, dense forest.

Watching Xiao Yunsheng's disappearing figure, Zhao Jinghong's anxious and earnest expression vanished instantly, replaced by a look of ruthlessness and smugness.

He coldly said to his two junior brothers beside him, "You two, quietly follow him. Once he and the Crimson-Eyed Demon Wolf are both severely injured, whether he dies or the Demon Wolf dies, you two immediately strike and silence him!"

"Senior brother, what about Junior Sister Shen Lingxi..." one of the junior brothers asked hesitantly.

"Shen Lingxi?" Zhao Jinghong scoffed. "Once Xiao Yunsheng is dead, we'll rescue her. Then all the credit will be ours! A discarded pawn in blue robes, no one will care if she dies!"

The two junior brothers instantly understood his plan. They exchanged a glance, nodded in unison, drew their swords, and silently followed, disappearing into the dense forest.

Xiao Yunsheng didn't stop and continued rushing towards the direction of the wolf howls, but the further he went, the more his brows furrowed.

Besides the stench of the demonic wolves, there was another extremely familiar and eerie aura in the air, strikingly similar to the chilling aura emanating from the black patterns on the meteorite iron sword he carried...

It wasn't just the Crimson-Eyed Demon Wolf that was besieging Shen Lingxi!