"My villain life was better. What's this nonsense where I have to clean up others' messes? It isn't my task to clear these useless pests... At least give me some reward—" Midway, Su Xiaobai's bitter chuckle turned into a frown.
Those bastards above were sadistic.
What if he asked for a reward and they sent him a hundred more Li Gongs, packaged and ready to torment him?
"!"
He suddenly shut his mouth, shivering slightly at the thought.
With a final, weary glance at the blood-soaked street, Su Xiaobai sent the Devouring Thorny Flower back into his spatial ring and walked away.
As for Xiao Lu?
Well, she was safe and clean in there as well.
His spatial ring had a small green lining, and it wasn't just for show. In fact, it was originally part of the Infernal Emperor's ring, and when he merged it with his ring, it didn't disappear.
That's when Su Xiaobai realized it was special. It contained an entire small world inside. When he glanced in, he was astonished. There was a whole empty world with everything from mountains to lakes.
There had been no mention of it in the Infernal Emperor's memories. He must have purposefully withheld some memories.
But it was an incredible treasure. Once its existence was known, Su Xiaobai's life would be in danger. Now that Xiao Lu knew about it, he would have to deal with her.
After healing her first, of course... And himself as well.
_____
Back in White Cloud Star!
As Su Xiaobai fought for his life, trapped in a storm he never asked for, the others fared no better.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Each slam against the door reverberated through the underground chamber like the death knell of time running out.
In a dark basement, Su Yiran stood rigid by the door, her usual calm look morphed into a tense silence. Her slim, hourglass figure was taut with anxiety, and her wide sapphire-like eyes, normally so soft, were now stained by dark bags—thanks to sleepless nights spent in fear.
Her lips quivered as she stole a glance at her mother, Eternal Su.
"It's going to break through..." Su Yiran's voice cracked under the pressure, trembling in sync with the slamming against the reinforced entrance.
Eternal Su stood tall, her white hair cascading like a waterfall down her back. Her serene face, however, was shadowed by the burden she carried. "It's going to be fine," she said, her voice calm, though a slight strain betrayed her unease.
Though her expression remained stoic, her fingers trembled faintly. The situation was graver than she let on, but fear, now, would only weaken her daughter's resolve.
Beyond the door, something far deadlier than any mortal weapon waited.
The 'Immortal Execution Order' had been passed against them—a curse that summoned immortal swords, bloodthirsty in their hunt.
Three sword intents hammered against the door, sent to extinguish their lives for reasons they still didn't fully understand.
The closer those cursed blades came, the more their power surged, threatening to tear through their defenses.
They had been hiding here for nearly a month.
Eternal Su's crimson eyes shifted to the coffin in the corner. Inside lay Xiao Mei, her delicate form ghostly pale, save for the shallow rise and fall of her chest.
Blood seeped through the bandages wrapped around her abdomen, her once radiant white hair matted and clinging to her sweat-soaked skin. Despite the grave injury, her face remained serene, almost doll-like, her long lashes brushing against her cheeks as though she slept peacefully.
Eternal Su's hand hovered over a glowing talisman, her fingers shaking as she pressed it to the coffin.
WHOOSH!
In an instant, the coffin disappeared, leaving only the faint trace of the talisman's lingering energy.
"Xiao Mei? Mom...Where did you send her?" Su Yiran rushed forward, panic seeping into her voice as she looked at the empty space.
Eternal Su exhaled slowly, a mix of relief and exhaustion softening her features. "Somewhere safe. Somewhere the swords cannot reach her."
"..."
Su Yiran swallowed hard, her throat dry.
Even in the face of such overwhelming danger, her mother remained a pillar of unshakable strength.
But Su Yiran was no longer a child.
She could see the cracks—tiny fractures in her mother's facade, the subtle tremors of fear in her movements.
Outside, the pounding grew fiercer, a constant reminder that death was impatiently knocking.
Su Yiran's hands curled into fists. "What about Xiaobai? He's still out there... is he even—"
"He's alive," Eternal Su interrupted, her tone firm but distant. From within her robes, she withdrew a small piece of red jade that glowed softly. Her gaze softened as she stared at it. "His life jade remains unbroken."
A flicker of guilt crossed her delicate features, and for a brief moment, the weight she carried seemed almost unbearable.
She had protected Xiao Mei and Su Yiran, but Xiaobai... his survival rested in his own hands.
Su Yiran's heart clenched. "Why can't we bring him here too?... Why are we just hiding?"
"..."
Eternal Su finally turned to face her daughter, her beauty—once otherworldly—now marred by exhaustion. Her eyes, usually burning with determination, held a flicker of sorrow, like a candle struggling against the wind.
Sighing, she placed a gentle hand on Su Yiran's shoulder. "Ranran... leaving this place is a death sentence. Those swords will not stop until we are all dead. We have no choice but to wait."
Su Yiran nodded, though her eyes still shimmered with fear.
She had seen the devastation those immortal swords could bring—Xiao Mei's injury was proof enough.
Despite her unique ability to stop time, Xiao Mei had barely bought them enough time to escape and hide here.
If not for her, they all would have perished.
A wave of guilt surged within Su Yiran.
She wasn't a fighter like her mother, nor did she possess the unique power of Xiao Mei.
She was helpless in this situation, where everyone was out for their blood.
Everything had abruptly changed; their good life had turned into a nightmare.
Eternal Su gave a rare, faint reassuring smile. "There's something I need to tell you," she began, her voice hesitant, as though the words themselves were painful to say. "We... I... am not from this place."
Su Yiran blinked, confusion clouding her already overwhelmed mind. "What do you mean?"
"I sent Xiao Mei to her aunt, far from here. She will be safe." Eternal Su's voice grew distant, as if recalling memories long buried. "You have an aunt—though I've never spoken of her before."
Su Yiran's confusion deepened. An aunt? Why had she never heard of this before?
"If we have family, why don't we call for help?" Su Yiran asked. "Why can't we go there too?"
Eternal Su's smile grew bitter. "I only had one talisman, and it could only send one person."
The glimmer of hope faded as quickly as it had appeared, leaving behind only the crushing reality of their isolation.
Eternal Su took a deep breath, her eyes gleaming with determination despite the sorrow that lingered behind them. "I need you to stay close to Xiaobai. When the time is right, I'll send you to him. Protect him, understand? No matter what happens, stay by his side."
Su Yiran's heart twisted in anguish. "What about you...?" she asked, her voice fragile.
"I..." Eternal Su faltered for the first time, her eyes dimming. "I have something I must finish here." Her lips trembled, but she quickly steeled herself, masking her uncertainty.
"You can't....!" Su Yiran cried, her cold demeanor crumbling as she threw her arms around her mother.
There was something ominous in the way she said those words, prompting a panicked movement from Su Yiran. "I won't let you sacrifice yourself...."
Eternal Su smiled softly, patting Su Yiran's head. "I won't. I promise." But deep down, she wasn't sure if she could keep that promise.
Her own fate remained uncertain, but her children's safety came first.
For a moment, mother and daughter stood together, next to one another as the whole world pressed down on them.
The door shook violently, but within their embrace, there was a flicker of hope—fragile, yet present.
Eternal Su pulled away and retrieved a long, rectangular box, handing it to Su Yiran. Her expression grew grave. "Take this. It will protect you, but don't use it unless there's no other option. And never let anyone else touch it—except your brother."
Su Yiran accepted the box, feeling the cold, ominous energy radiating from within. Her blood ran cold, but she nodded. "I understand."
Eternal Su watched her daughter with a mixture of pride and sorrow. Xiao Mei was safe.
Su Xiaobai was still alive.
Somehow, despite the odds, her children had survived.
She could ask for nothing more.
But she would fight until her last breath to ensure they stayed alive.
The door rattled again, louder than before, but this time Eternal Su's eyes burned with fierce determination. Her family was in danger, but they had not lost yet.
As long as they breathed, there was still a chance to fight back.