172: Why untie it?

Over there, Luo Ximei's Devilish Qi transformed into a roaring black Dragon, while Chu Weiwei's poisonous mist coalesced into a surging purple python. Both of them were completely bloodthirsty and hadn't noticed the "third party" who had snuck in.

Su Hongling's ruby-like eyes darted around, her gaze landing on Su Lin, who was wrapped up like a dumpling by the "entanglement" ribbon and wore an expression of utter despair.

The corners of her mouth slowly curled into an extremely brilliant smile, one that even carried a hint of bandit-like temperament.

"Hehe..."

She didn't shout or make a fuss. Instead, she deliberately lowered her presence, crouched low, and used the falling boulders as cover to sneakily creep up to Su Lin's side.

"Hong Ling..."

Seeing her, Su Lin felt as if he had seen a savior. Hope ignited in his eyes, and he whispered, "Quick... while they aren't paying attention, untie the Restriction on your Revered Master."

"Untie it?"

Su Hongling tilted her head, reaching out to poke the moon-white ribbon wrapped around Su Lin, her fingertips feeling the tough spiritual power circulating through it.

"Why untie it?"

She blinked her large eyes, her clear gaze filled with a despair-inducing sense of "it's only natural."

"Third Junior Sister tied this rope quite securely, and there's even a handle."

Su Lin's heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition welled up in his mind: "What are you trying to do?"

"Those two crazy women are too noisy when they fight, so I want to take the Old Man to a quiet place."

As Su Hongling spoke, she sheathed the great sword "no edge" on her back.

Then, under Su Lin's horrified gaze, she stretched out both hands, one above and one below. Like she was hugging a giant log, or perhaps hoisting a sack of freshly stolen rice, she scooped Su Lin up horizontally.

"This configuration is not bad; it's easy to carry and saves you from running around."

She weighed him up and down, nodding in satisfaction.

"Second Senior Sister! How dare you—!!!"

"Su Hongling! Put him down!!!"

In the distance, Luo Ximei and Chu Weiwei, who were busy trading blows, finally noticed the commotion. Both stopped simultaneously and let out shrill screams.

"Blehh!"

Su Hongling made an incredibly punchable face at them, her red hair whipping around as she revealed two sharp little fangs.

"You two keep fighting! The Old Man belongs to me now!"

"Gravity Law—Reversal! Take off!"

Boom! The ground beneath her feet instantly collapsed into a deep pit.

Utilizing this terrifying reaction force, Su Hongling carried Su Lin, her entire body turning into a red cannonball as she smashed through the fragile rock layer above and shot into the sky!

"Stop her!!!"

Luo Ximei's eyes were splitting with rage, and the Demon God Manifestation behind her reached out a giant hand to grab them.

Chu Weiwei's expression also changed drastically, and countless poisonous vines shot into the sky, attempting to intercept them.

But who was Su Hongling?

She was a Body Cultivator at the Mahayana Stage who had trained the Dao of Strength to the extreme and could go head-to-head with the Void Realm Throne!

When she was determined to run, unless one was also a Body Cultivator at the Mahayana Stage, who could stop her?

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Carrying Su Lin, she stubbornly smashed through all the obstacles, and within a few leaps, she had already disappeared into the vast sea of clouds.

Leaving behind only a string of arrogant laughter echoing in the wind: "Hahahaha! Fools! This is called the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind! Tonight, the Old Man is mine!!"

...

Inside the Jade Toad Cave.

It was a scene of utter chaos.

Luo Ximei and Chu Weiwei stood among the ruins, looking at the large, human-shaped hole in the ceiling and the empty corner.

There was a deathly silence.

After a long while.

"...Damn wild girl!"

Luo Ximei bit down on her silver teeth, killing intent boiling in her white-gold right eye.

"That is my Revered Master! That is my Revered Master whom I haven't even had time to warm up!"

Chu Weiwei was trembling with rage. She had racked her brains, used drugs, kidnapped him, and applied markings, only to finally obtain a chance to be alone with him, yet it had all ended up benefiting someone else!

"Pursue!!!"

"Grab Revered Master back! Break that wild girl's legs!!"

Two streaks of light shot into the sky, carrying an aura of destruction, and madly pursued in the direction where Su Hongling had disappeared.

...

On the other side.

High in the sky, the gale winds howled.

Su Lin was carried on Su Hongling's shoulder like a sack of potatoes, his stomach churning violently.

This girl's speed was too fast, and she didn't fly in a straight line at all. To avoid the pursuit behind, she darted up and down through the clouds, diving one moment and stopping abruptly the next.

"Su Hongling! Stop this instant!"

Su Lin was dizzy from the jolting and couldn't help but shout a reprimand.

"I won't, I won't, I just won't!"

Su Hongling shouted loudly while running wildly, the wind blowing her voice into intermittent fragments.

"If I stop, they'll snatch you away! I finally managed to get my hands on you!"

"This is an act of defying your Revered Master and ancestors!"

"As long as I can eat the meat, a little bullying doesn't matter!"

Su Hongling said righteously, even reaching out to pat Su Lin's thigh. "Old Man, don't wiggle around. This ribbon is slippery; if you fall off, I'm not responsible for catching you!"

"..."

Su Lin was speechless with rage. How did he end up teaching such a group of wicked disciples?

He didn't know how long they had been flying.

Su Hongling seemed to feel she had shaken off her tails, as her figure suddenly veered downwards, charging toward a stretch of continuous snow-capped mountains below.

That was the highest peak of the Heavenly Vault Mountain Range—the "Peak of Winter." It was covered in snow all year round, with bone-chilling winds, making it an excellent place to hide.

"Boom!" Su Hongling landed in front of a cave covered by ice and snow.

She didn't put Su Lin down but instead looked around vigilantly. After confirming there were no traces of those two women, she ducked into the cave.

The cave was empty, containing only a huge, flat slab of ice rock.

Su Hongling placed Su Lin on the ice rock.

"Whew... I'm exhausted."

She sat down on the ground with a thud, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and then looked at Su Lin with glowing eyes.

She looked just like a fierce Dragon guarding a Treasure Trove.

"Old Man, nobody is fighting us for you now."

Su Lin lay on the cold rock. Although the "entanglement" ribbon was still tied around him, the humiliation of being transported like cargo made his face turn dark.

"Hong Ling, untie your Revered Master."

"I won't."

Su Hongling shook her head and leaned in, her face with its baby fat enlarging before Su Lin's eyes.

"If I untie it, you'll run away. They are definitely still looking for us."

She reached out a finger and curiously poked the complex mark on Su Lin's collarbone. First was Luo Ximei's mandarava flower, and then Chu Weiwei's Moonlight Vine.

"I want to put my stamp on you too!"

Su Lin's heart skipped a beat.

"What are you trying to do?"

Su Hongling didn't speak; she dug around in her storage ring.

She pulled out a red-hot branding iron? No, that wasn't it. It was a crimson crystal radiating high heat, with a crooked "Su" character carved onto it (obviously carved by herself).

"This is the 'blazing sun crystal' I dug up in the Sea of Earth-Core Fire!"

Su Hongling held up the stone like she was presenting a treasure, her face full of excitement.

"As long as I brand it on you, it won't fade for ten thousand years! Plus, it's warm and cozy, extremely comfortable!"

She looked at Su Lin, her gaze clear and cruel.

"Old Man, I'm going to brand it on your forehead! That way, everyone will know you are mine!"