Chapter Eighteen: The Ambush

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Yuedong ignored Zhuyan’s fury and looked at Ding Lin with a calm yet resolute voice. “Ding Lin, in many choices, you have neither chosen Qinglan nor me. I know you’ve been caught in the middle and it’s difficult for you, so I won’t blame you harshly. But I can no longer trust you. From today onward, our expedition team is disbanded.”

Zhuyan and Ding Lin’s faces changed drastically at her words!

For years, they had cooperated and relied on each other, which earned them the trust of many employers and enough cultivation resources.

Once shattered, without the protection of powerful backers or the resources of great families or sects, how could their cultivation advance?

Ding Lin was about to speak in protest, but Yuedong interrupted, “We should have disbanded since the moment Awan died three years ago.”

Ding Lin was stunned, bitterness rising in her eyes. Words seemed to choke her throat, impossible to utter.

He already knew.

She dared not say anything, yet he knew everything.

...

Qinglan pondered silently on the side, wondering whether to let go of these four from the Mu family or not.

She was momentarily distracted and didn’t notice that since Yuedong announced the disbandment, Zhuyan’s gaze had been bitterly fixed on her.

When Ding Lin stopped arguing, Zhuyan suddenly exploded with rage, leaping from the crowd and brandishing a battle axe charged with fiery energy, striking fiercely toward Qinglan.

No one expected Zhuyan to lose his reason, not even Yuedong.

Qinglan’s cold eyes narrowed as a blood thorn appeared in her hand. She raised her hand slightly to meet the battle axe.

With a light twist of her wrist, the blood thorn deflected most of Zhuyan’s force in the opposite direction. With a counter strike, she forcefully knocked the battle axe aside, accompanied by the sharp clang of metal.

Her cold words spilled from her lips: "What on earth is in your mind?"

Her tone was filled with disbelief.

Zhuyan’s eyes blazed red like flames, his furious roar trembling the air: “It’s all your fault! If not for you, the captain wouldn’t have died! The team wouldn’t have disbanded! Go to hell!”

So he blamed all the misfortunes on Qinglan.

Qinglan was speechless.

Zhuyan’s every move was laced with murderous intent, each strike deadly. As he raised the battle axe again, Qinglan flicked her fingers, and countless flying leaves swiftly wrapped around the weapon, disarming Zhuyan.

Zhuyan refused to let go. His fury intensified, and he tried to burn the leaves with blazing flames to reclaim his weapon.

Amid the chaos, his heavily injured body struggled to hold on. His mind grew foggy, and with cultivation far inferior to Qinglan’s, his movements slowed, and his attacks lost precision.

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Qinglan stared coldly at him, the thorns in her hand rising slightly, her gaze sharp as a blade.

At that moment, Ding Lin saw the killing intent in her eyes and gasped sharply. Then, disregarding everything, she shouted desperately, “Stop!”

But her cry could no longer alter the outcome—Qinglan flicked her wrist, sending the blood thorn piercing straight through Zhuyan’s chest.

Zhuyan’s eyes instantly lost their light, becoming hollow and vacant. Blood foamed at the corner of his mouth. He seemed to want to say something but was too weak to speak, finally collapsing to the ground.

Ding Lin was shocked, almost staggering as she rushed to Zhuyan’s side. Her throat choked with sobs as her trembling hand gently touched the ghastly wound. Her heart felt as if it were being torn apart.

Within a single day, comrades had died or scattered; she was about to become utterly alone.

Qinglan stood not far away, her expression indifferent. A fine blood streak from the battle axe grazed her cheek, blood beads oozing outward. She lowered her eyes, a faint green light passing over the wound, healing it visibly before her eyes.

Yuedong sighed.

Qinglan’s face clearly showed displeasure as she looked at the four onlookers and spoke harshly, “Are you leaving, or do you want to die?”

It was their first time seeing Mu Qinglan kill so decisively and ruthlessly.

Recalling their mockery when she suffered in the Mu family, a chill swept through their hearts.

The four exchanged glances, immediately stood up, dared not utter a harsh word, and fled in panic without looking back.

Yuedong slowly approached Qinglan. His words were somewhat strange.

He said to Qinglan, “Thank you.”

...

Ding Lin cradled Zhuyan’s body, her eyes filled with unspeakable grief.

Her trembling fingers lightly touched Zhuyan’s wrist and suddenly noticed a faint breath. A flash of confusion appeared in her eyes.

She looked up at Qinglan, then at Yuedong, receiving his nod of affirmation.

Her tears turned to a smile, the traces of sorrow fading.

Qinglan snorted coldly, “Daring to ambush me? Let him learn a lesson. Make him suffer for half a year before he gets out of bed.”

Yuedong nodded and said to Ding Lin, “Zhuyan’s wound is below the left chest near the heart, but it missed the crucial spot. It’s not fatal. With rest, he can recover. Take him away.”

Ding Lin nodded gratefully. After such tumultuous events, she no longer spoke or hesitated about the team’s future. All the past was to end here.

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Yuedong stood where he was, watching the two depart, silent for a long time.

...

In the central region of the continent, the mortal realm, Red Cloud City.

Traveling from the Eastern Domain to the Southern Domain was not a simple straight line; one had to rely on long-distance teleportation arrays.

The Tian Nan Array Sect was located at the core of the Southern Domain, but not precisely at its center; it was to the southwest.

Arriving at the transit point of Red Cloud City, Qinglan looked back at the teleportation array, muttering curses under her breath: “This teleportation array is so expensive—eight hundred low-grade spirit stones!”

Yuedong sighed helplessly, “We’re crossing almost the entire Eastern Domain; this price is already reasonable.”

Qinglan pouted, “Good thing Jiniu gave us plenty of spirit stones.”

Previously, they had divided the spirit stones among themselves. The stones came from Jiniu, Mu Chenxue, and Mu Feng.

Chen Ying’s share had been given to Ding Lin by Yuedong.

In the end, each received three thousand low-grade spirit stones, two hundred mid-grade, and thirty-six high-grade spirit stones.

The high-grade spirit stones were particularly valuable. Although the exchange rate among the three grades was one to a thousand, not all low-grade stones could be converted to high-grade. Moreover, carrying high-grade spirit stones greatly aided cultivation.

Other treasures that helped with array formation or rune comprehension went to Yuedong, while those containing wood-element spiritual power were given to Qinglan.

Although Qinglan fussed a bit over the spirit stones for teleportation, once in Red Cloud City, she was far more generous when buying things.

Sweet, icy, silky smooth snow sherbet, fresh and delightful;

Steamed buns just out of the steamer, their skins almost translucent from the juicy filling inside; a gentle bite released hot steam and bursting juices;

Finally, it was impossible not to mention the candied hawthorns she received from a girl with a radiant smile. Each hawthorn was coated with a glossy, golden, tempting sugar shell. The crisp, sweet exterior contrasted brilliantly with the tartness of the fruit inside, blending sour and sweet with distinct layers, instantly capturing Qinglan’s full attention.

The joy brought by these delicacies was indescribable. She decided to show a good face to everyone today.