Suddenly, a sweet and fishy taste welled up in his chest and finally gushed out from his throat. A pool of scarlet blood instantly bloomed like a dark flower on the ground, staining his snow - white robe. His blood - smeared thin lips looked extremely seductive, while his face was deathly pale.
He clutched his chest. Despite the excruciating pain, he still mustered his last bit of strength and tried again with all his might to break the barrier.
Soon, he felt that he was exhausting all his magical power. But there was always one thought sustaining him in this fight, and that was the person he had been longing for.
Only by breaking through the barrier and escaping from here could he go in search of Shu Yao and find out if he was safe.
He almost merged his entire being with his magical power. When he exhausted his last bit of strength, the cage - like barrier in front of him finally opened, and he could see the outside world again.
Feeling relieved, he dragged his weak and battered body and walked as fast as he could. He wished he could run down the mountain right away to find Shu Yao.
Seeing that he was about to leave Kunshan, filled with the excitement of soon meeting Shu Yao, he quickened his pace even more. But just as he stepped out of the gate, a figure suddenly blocked his way.
Frowning in annoyance at whoever was obstructing his path, Shu Yue looked up, and in his pupils appeared a face that was extremely repulsive and filled him with hatred.
As for Li Nao, he wished he could tear him into pieces. If he weren't severely injured and powerless, he would have long ago reduced Li Nao to ashes countless times.
But at this moment, he suddenly became worried that Li Nao would tell the master about his escape from the barrier, which would then prevent him from finding Shu Yao.
Despite his serious injuries, he still straightened his back, standing as straight as a pine. His eyes were sharp and cold, and just from his imposing manner, he already put an invisible pressure on Li Nao.
But thinking that Shu Yue was seriously injured, Li Nao's insecure heart was once again filled with vain confidence. He began to look at this man with a contemptuous sneer.
"Shu Yue, not bad. It seems that both the sect leader and I underestimated you." Indeed, it was beyond his expectation that Shu Yue could break through the barrier set by Kun Wu all by himself.
His cold and gloomy eyes lingered on Shu Yue for a while. The irony in them seemed to be gloating as he said, "But don't think that just because you've broken through the barrier, you can go down the mountain to find your father. Even if you see him, you won't recognize him."
Shu Yue's eyes froze. He sensed that there was more to Li Nao's words. "Do you know something?"
"Your father is probably already in the hands of several strong men now, and they're pinning him down and torturing him brutally. Just imagining this result makes me feel scared. What do you think would happen to your weak - willed father when faced with a few rough men?"
As he said these words, there was a hint of feigned regret on his face, but the smile on his lips and the insidious look in his eyes were clearly visible to Shu Yue.
Just based on Li Nao's words, Shu Yue trembled all over and felt his scalp go numb. He didn't dare to imagine what would happen if the outcome was really as Li Nao described. He might even have the urge to kill.
Without thinking much, he pushed Li Nao aside and was determined to go down the mountain to search. "I'm going to find my father."
But just as he took his first step, he was stopped by a calm voice from behind. "It's too late. It's meaningless for you to go now."
"Why is it meaningless?"
Hearing this, Li Nao walked closer step by step. The evil smile on his lips was stretched grotesquely on his cheeks in the dark night. When his face finally loomed in front of Shu Yue, Shu Yue suddenly felt that this face was so eerie that it made his blood run cold.
"Shu Yue, usually you seem quite smart. Why are you so stupid today? Do you really think I would let your father go so easily?"
He let out a soft laugh, and then his expression turned extremely cold. The cold light in his pupils was full of sinister and cunning intentions.
Just as Shu Yue was about to question him, a very familiar voice suddenly came from behind, which made his heart skip a beat.
"Shu Yue!" In his surprise, Shu Yue clearly saw the figure in snow - white clothes reappear in the night. The fluttering robe and long hair were flying in the air. Although it had only been half a day since they last met, he felt as if it had been a long time.
When the other person finally appeared, the figure right in front of him seemed so unreal that he didn't dare to touch. He asked in a confused voice, "Father, is it really you?"
It seemed unreal, but every feature of his face was extremely clear, even his eyelashes that fluttered like a butterfly were distinct. He could even smell the faint cold fragrance on him up close. All of his joys and sorrows were reflected in his pupils.
"Shu Yue, how are you? Did they give you a hard time?" Seeing Shu Yue standing alive in front of him, Shu Yao felt relieved.
But the pale face worried him greatly. He grabbed Shu Yue's hand. The real warmth made Shu Yue realize that this was not a fantasy.
"No, Father. Why did you suddenly come back?" He always felt that something was wrong. Wasn't his father supposed to be in trouble? Why did he suddenly appear in Kunshan?
"Actually, I was worried about you, so I didn't leave the mountain. But I heard that you had angered the sect leader and were in critical condition after being whipped. So I couldn't wait to come and save you. Are you okay?"
This explanation aroused Shu Yue's suspicion. He turned his sharp gaze to Li Nao and questioned, "Li Nao, what's going on? Didn't you say..."
"Yes, this was all a rumor I deliberately spread. Even the whipping punishment was an excuse to lure Shu Yao up the mountain. If I didn't get the two of you together, how could I carry out my plan?"
He let out a few chuckles. His shrill laughter sounded even colder in the silent night, like a ghost's wail. It made one's scalp tingle and the whole body shiver.
"So it was all your conspiracy!" Thinking back on all the causes and effects, Shu Yue finally realized that he and Shu Yao had already fallen into Li Nao's trap.
"Father, leave quickly. It's dangerous here!" He was about to push Shu Yao out, but it was already too late. Hearing Li Nao clap his hands twice, all the Kunshan disciples rushed out at once.
In an instant, the two were surrounded layer by layer, completely cutting off their chance to escape. And Li Nao, with his arms crossed over his chest, took a step back.
"It seems that we're doomed today." Surrounded like this, Shu Yue knew that there was no way out. Standing shoulder - to - shoulder with Shu Yao, he also knew that there would surely be a fight today.
Thinking of this, he suddenly smiled and said softly, "Father, even if I die here today, I have no regrets."
Before, he admitted that he was afraid of death. But as time passed and he experienced joys and sorrows, he began to fear neither life nor death and took them lightly.
When it came to death, Shu Yao seemed extremely calm. A faint smile appeared on his lips. "Why?"
"Because as long as you're by my side, I have nothing to fear." He tightened his grip on Shu Yao's hand and then said, "Shu Yao, if we can escape this disaster, I'll accompany you back to the tree - house and never ask about the affairs of the mortal world again. How about that?"