Thud!
"Cut down all the trees!" Qing Xuantian's party was approaching Bai Ye's location.
At the sound of Qing Xuantian's orders, the trees nearby Bai Ye swayed. His men took to tree-chopping enthusiastically. Bai Ye clung to the tree she was perched on but her focus remained on the man in black who appeared out of nowhere.
He seemed unperturbed by the commotion that headed their way.
Bai Ye found that disconcerting.
Although she did not sense any malice or murderous intent from the man, it did not quell the rising fear in her. Something about the man-made her feel like she should run away.
It was an odd feeling. Before she could make sense of it, the man was before her.
Bai Ye's pupils narrowed.
The man had arched eyebrows and black eyes that glittered attractively. His thin lips were quirked in a bewitching smirk. He returned Bai Ye's gaze with much enthusiasm.
Time seemed to slow between them. The tree Bai Ye was perched on was subjected to the soldiers' abuse but she did not move a muscle. Her plan was to hold her breath and weather whatever physical injury sustained to avoid detection.
Bai Ye knew once this search was over, she would have a chance to escape for good. However…
"You're out of Mystic Power," the man in black whispered into her ear. His voice had a raspy lilt that sent shivers down her spine.
The warm breath by her ear certainly did not help matters. She felt the hairs on her arm stand in response to the close proximity with the beautiful devil.
Bai Ye was not in control of her body. She wanted nothing more than to just run away…
She had no idea why this man took an interest in her but she stood her ground.
For the man to know she was out of Mystic Power, he must have seen what happened to her during the incident in the courtyard.
In the world Bai Ye lived in, Mystic Power was the source of power for any practitioner of Mysticism.
Once a child was old enough to read, they would be trained to harness their Mystic Power. Bai Ye was once an eighth-ranked practitioner.
Some people who fit the criteria would develop Mystic Energy when they reached adulthood. These people were known as Mystic Warriors. Qing Xuantian was an example of a second-ranked Mystic Warrior.
If Bai Zhan had not died, there was a good chance Bai Ye would achieve her Mystic Warrior rank before she turned 18. She was undoubtedly a gifted practitioner.
After Liu Mingyan had severed her meridians, Bai Ye survived because of the mysterious spirit she inherited. However, it caused a change in her body.
Although Bai Ye's Mystic Power was not back to full strength, her physical body was in fighting shape. It was the reason she could execute the series of counterattacks against Qing Xuantian.
The change in her fighting style went unnoticed by Qing Xuantian. The basic difference between Mystic Power and Mystic Energy was that the Mystic Power was innate and not detectable by most. Unless Bai Ye underwent a specific examination, no one would know her store of Mystic Power had actually depleted.
"Do you want my help?" the man with the husky voice asked. His eyes roamed across the camouflage of leaves, eyeing Bai Ye's naked body.