Chapter 867: Refusing to Join

Although the Shadow member wore a mask, Ye Liuyun's Golden Pupil could see his true face.

In his thirties, a resolute aura shone from his brows, making him look quite handsome.

Ye Liuyun gave no answer to his question, merely staying cautiously vigilant.

"Do you know how great a threat it is for us that you can see the existence of our Shadow?" the man continued asking Ye Liuyun.

"I've been trying to avoid meeting you!" Ye Liuyun said, not wanting to fall into a feud with them.

If it can be resolved peacefully, that's best.

"Join us, or become our enemy?" the man looked at Ye Liuyun and finally uttered that line.

"Perhaps there's another solution: we simply stay out of each other's way?" Ye Liuyun suggested.

"Hehe," the man chuckled, giving no answer.

Then he urged Ye Liuyun: "Joining our Shadow won't do you any harm…"

"I don't like being restrained!" Ye Liuyun cut him off before he could finish, refusing outright.

Ye Liuyun actually knew long ago the benefits of joining the Shadow—such as access to cultivation resources, protection, and so on.

However, he felt those perks were negligible for him; instead, he'd be bound by the Shadow and forced to carry out assassination missions for them.

"Don't you want to hear the terms?" the man smiled.

"Not interested!" Ye Liuyun's refusal was decisive and unyielding, leaving no room for negotiation.

"So we have to become enemies?" the man threatened.

"If you want to kill me, you'll probably have to pay a heavy price," Ye Liuyun said without fear, drawing his Flame Waist Knife.

The man glanced at the flame in Ye Liuyun's hand and let out a light laugh.

Then with a wave of his hand, he withdrew all the Shadow members.

"Until we meet again!" the man greeted Ye Liuyun and left.

"What does that mean?" Liang Xue asked, a bit puzzled.

Ye Liuyun was equally confused. "Maybe he realized he doesn't want to fight me to the bitter end!"

But that explanation didn't even make sense to him.

"Never mind him; we just need to be extra cautious!"

The two couldn't figure it out and stopped making wild guesses. In the upcoming hunt, they were even more careful.

When encountering Shadow members, they would deliberately avoid them.

Until the final day before the test ended, both of them remained safe.

At that moment, the entire assassination battlefield erupted with intense True Essence fluctuations. It seemed that, just before the test concluded, many disciples were charging toward the True Heart zone.

The masters entrenched in the central zone wouldn't actively seek out these lower‑level disciples, but any prey that came to them would be slain on the spot.

Thus on this final day, the test disciples fought for their lives, no longer fearing that True Essence waves would attract more attention.

Ye Liuyun finally heard Yuan Datou's roar and rushed over to meet him.

Yuan Datou was truly fierce; battling a Fourth‑Stage Martial Cultivator, he wasn't at much of a disadvantage.

Although most attacks were blocked by his Divine Rank armor, it still showed that Yuan Datou was quite powerful.

Ye Liuyun immediately intervened, helping Yuan Datou to eliminate the opponent. He handed the corpse straight to Yuan Datou, who didn't mind taking this one.

"Who is she?" Yuan Datou asked curiously about Liang Xue's identity.

"My woman!" Ye Liuyun introduced directly.

"So she's my sister‑in‑law? Haha, nice to meet you, sister‑in‑law!" Yuan Datou laughed, greeting Liang Xue.

Liang Xue hadn't expected Ye Liuyun to introduce her that way. Though a bit shy, she was very pleased that he publicly acknowledged her status.

Ye Liuyun also hadn't expected that the usually silent Yuan Datou could be so talkative!

When Ye Liuyun and Yuan Datou regrouped, Yuan Datou felt much safer; with the Ghost Butterfly's ferocity looming, no one dared to venture near, even avoiding them.

Soon, Ye Liuyun's group encountered Ling Shuang and Liang Xinyu again.

The two were not only intercepted by a strongman, but Yutianxiang followed with over ten disciples, pursuing them.

Both were covered in wounds and grime, looking utterly disheveled.

Seeing Ye Liuyun and Yuan Datou, Liang Xinyu almost burst into tears.

Ye Liuyun asked the Ghost Butterfly for help, taking down the strongman who had intercepted them.

Yutianxiang's group, upon seeing the Ghost Butterfly, turned and fled, lest Ye Liuyun have to chase them away.

"Alright, you're safe now. Follow me and leave together!" Ye Liuyun comforted the two.

Ling Shuang and Liang Xinyu kept thanking Ye Liuyun; this was already his second rescue of them.

In fact, Ye Liuyun had saved Liang Xinyu before, though she hadn't known.

Liang Xue secretly pinched Ye Liuyun, showing displeasure, but didn't abandon the two.

Ye Liuyun smiled at Liang Xue, took her hand, and walked ahead.

Ling Shuang and Liang Xinyu were both startled and whispered to Yuan Datou, "Who is that woman?"

"That's my elder brother Ye's woman, my sister‑in‑law!" Yuan Datou shouted, not holding back, leaving the two women embarrassed.

"Oh, right, I forgot to introduce you!"

Ye Liuyun only then remembered he hadn't introduced them yet.

"This is Liang Xue, my woman. These two are my fellow sect members, Liang Xinyu and Ling Shuang."

Liang Xue removed her armor mask and helmet, revealing a delicate face and silky hair, and greeted them.

The two were somewhat shocked by Liang Xue's appearance. They glanced at each other, both covered in mud and looking utterly disheveled. In contrast, they felt a bit ashamed of their own squalor.

But Liang Xinyu also had her own pride. She was the daughter of a prince, and she wouldn't believe she could lose to another woman.

"So the sister‑in‑law is that beautiful! No wonder she wears a mask!" Yuan Datou exclaimed again.

His brown‑nosing just now actually pleased Liang Xue a lot.

"How could I? Both of you sisters are also of peerless beauty!" As she said, she put the helmet and mask back on.

Ling Shuang and Liang Xinyu also greeted Liang Xue. However, the two of them were both heavy‑hearted.

They hadn't previously thought that Ye Liuyun already had a woman.

Liang Xue and Ye Liuyun clasped hands, secretly transmitting a Transmission Voice to Ye Liuyun.

"You still say there's nothing between you and them! Look at the way the two of them act; it's obvious they like you!"

"Don't talk nonsense! I've only just met them, we haven't even exchanged a few words!" Ye Liuyun didn't take it to heart.

"You blockhead! By the time you realize, it'll be too late!" Liang Xue sighed and said no more.