Chapter 14: A Secret

In the hall still filled with raging fire, Bai Yuan gripped Ning Rongrong's neck with one hand and lifted her up.

Ning Rongrong felt her body lacking oxygen, yet she kept swinging her fists, continually pounding Bai Yuan's hand, and her legs kicked wildly.

At this moment the girl was desperately struggling, but against absolute strength it had no effect whatsoever.

Facing Bai Yuan's words, Ning Rongrong shouted angrily: "Want me to apologize to you two beasts? No way."

"Heh heh!" a cold laugh rang out, Bai Yuan pressed Ning Rongrong to the ground, and with his other hand he pinched her face.

Instantly, Ning Rongrong felt an indescribable pain, a sensation she had never experienced before, as if the bones in her face were about to be crushed directly.

Instinctively, Ning Rongrong opened her mouth.

Immediately after, she felt her face loosen, several slender things thrust in, prying her whole small mouth open—those were Bai Yuan's five fingers.

Such a forcible intrusion made Ning Rongrong feel extremely uncomfortable.

The next moment, she felt that hand tightly grasp her tongue and pull it outward.

"You have three seconds, but this time there's an extra apology target," Bai Yuan said with a smile on his face.

Ning Rongrong's heart turned cold, and a glint of tears appeared in her eyes.

Bai Yuan looked at her without a shred of pity.

For those who wanted to kill him, Bai Yuan didn't kill them outright, all because Ning Rongrong was still useful.

"Three!" Bai Yuan unhesitatingly started the countdown and gradually exerted force outward.

"Zhao..." Ning Rongrong tried to speak in terror, but could only emit a strange sound.

However Bai Yuan could understand Ning Rongrong's meaning; she was shouting for Zhao Wují to save her, but at such close range, how could Zhao Wují dare to intervene?

"Two!"

The icy voice was like a death-summoning curse.

Ning Rongrong's body went cold; she looked at Bai Yuan's mask, the only part visible, his eyes revealing no emotion.

Suddenly, Ning Rongrong felt a sharp pain in her tongue, and the force of the five fingers in her mouth instantly increased.

Ning Rongrong made a series of "gurgling" sounds.

Bai Yuan withdrew his hand with a smile across his face.

Ning Rongrong hurriedly said: "Sorry, it's my fault, I shouldn't have insulted you, it's my fault, please forgive me."

Bai Yuan smiled and lightly patted Ning Rongrong's cheek, saying: "All right then—just apologize, it's not like I'm taking your life, what's there to hold onto?"

Ning Rongrong breathed a sigh of relief.

Bai Yuan suddenly added: "Now tell me, exactly who is the lowly one and who is the beast?"

Ning Rongrong's body stiffened; she closed her eyes, two lines of clear tears sliding down her cheeks as she said: "I am the lowly one, I am the beast."

"Is that obedient enough?"

Bai Yuan helped Ning Rongrong up from the ground, gently brushed the dust off her, turned his head toward Zhao Wují and said: "We're leaving, this place is about to collapse—are you still going to block us?"

Zhao Wují's face darkened as he said: "I won't stop you from leaving, but I must keep Ning Rongrong."

Bai Yuan's face under the mask smiled, and his hand moved.

"Crack!" accompanied by an "ah" scream, Bai Yuan said lightly: "You can still reattach it now, but later when the whole hand is torn off, you won't be able to."

Zhao Wují's face grew even darker; he turned and vanished from Bai Yuan and the crowd's sight.

Suddenly, Bai Yuan raised a hand and pointed; a piercing sword qi shot toward Tang Three nearby. Before the terrifying sword qi even fully emerged, Tang Three felt his blood congeal, and the sense of mortal danger rose in his heart.

Suddenly, Bai Yuan lifted his hand, pointed a finger, and a piercing sword qi surged straight at the nearby Tang San; the terrifying sword qi had barely emerged when Tang San felt his blood seem to solidify, and the danger of death surfaced in his heart.

The sword qi scattered; Zhao Wují, his face ashen, stepped in front of Tang Three and said: "I've already let you go, what more do you want?"

Bai Yuan smiled: "Zhao Wují, if you won't do this, kill Tang Three and I'll immediately release Ning Rongrong—how about that?"

Everyone present froze, all turning their gazes toward Tang Three.

Trading the life of this slightly talented but background-less kid for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's princess seemed quite profitable.

Before Zhao Wují could speak, Ning Rongrong said: "Zhao Wují, what are you hesitating for? If something happens to me, you'll all die!"

The surrounding crowd showed signs of restlessness, and the middle-aged man nearby slowly moved toward Tang Three.

Zhao Wují's aura surged, suppressing those around him; he coldly glanced at Bai Yuan and said: "Ning Rongrong, don't trust him—he's deceiving you. Even if I killed Tang Three, he wouldn't let you go for his own sake."

Ning Rongrong retorted regardless: "How could Tang Three's life compare to mine? Exchanging his life for a chance, he'd die deservedly; besides, if it weren't for him, I wouldn't be like this."

Tang Three stared at Ning Rongrong with eyes full of killing intent.

Ma Hongjun, Xiao Wu, and the useless Oscar guarded Tang Three's surroundings, preventing any Soul Master from sneaking up.

Seeing no reaction from the crowd, Ning Rongrong continued: "Whoever kills Tang Three will be rewarded, regardless of whether they let me go; my father, upon hearing this, will certainly let you off."

The surrounding Soul Masters grew increasingly restless.

The middle-aged man said: "Zhao Wují, he's just an ordinary student; there's no need to protect him so much."

Zhao Wují's aura fully erupted, and he did not retreat in the slightest.

"Anyone who dares to act will die!"

Ning Rongrong snapped: "Zhao Wují, do you want to die? If my father and uncle learn of today's events, you will surely die."

Zhao Wují remained silent, but inside he was collapsing.

Ning Rongrong has the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect behind her; Tang Three appears to have no backing, yet his father is actually a Haotian Douluo!

Bai Yuan watched everything unfolding with a smile; he knew that as soon as he spoke those words, this group would turn on each other.

As for why he didn't bind Tang Three earlier but chose Ning Rongrong instead, it's naturally because aside from Zhao Wují, no one knows his true identity, and moreover the Haotian Douluo is still a wanted person by the Spirit Hall.

As for Dai Mubai and Ning Rongrong, Dai Mubai possesses some strength and the qualifications to resist; helping him could lead to unforeseen complications.

Thus Ning Rongrong is naturally the best choice.

Immediately Bai Yuan hesitated no longer, clutching Ning Rongrong as he sprinted toward the outside at extreme speed, yet his voice still reached the ears of the crowd.

Immediately Bai Yuan stopped hesitating, holding Ning Rongrong he sprinted outside at top speed, but his voice still reached everyone's ears.

"By the way, let me tell you a secret: Zhao Wuji protects Tang San because his father is the Haotian Douluo, Tang Hao."

"Moreover, Tang San also has dual martial souls—a Haotian Hammer and a Blue Silver Emperor; this is the secret of his innate full soul power."

"Bai Yuan didn't even turn his head; since Tang San had made him a target of the world's pursuit, he also wanted Tang San to feel that sensation."

"The moment Bai Yu stepped out of the restaurant, Bai Yuan's thoughts shifted, gold, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, thunder, ice—the full power of the eight formations erupted completely."

"Boom!"

"A deafening roar rang out, the entire inn instantly collapsed, and raging flames burned everything inside."

"Bai Yuan placed his hand on Ning Rongrong's neck, ready to choke her to death at the slightest sign of trouble, while Bai Yu followed behind, casting the Wind Riding Spell."

"The two walked on the wind, fleeing at extreme speed."

"(End of Chapter)"