Chapter 91

Mu Miefeng and Xue Yao turned to leave, about to head back to the yard, when Su Ran suddenly glimpsed a figure in the distance. Without hesitation, he tiptoed and darted after it. By the time Ji Chun registered what was happening, Su Ran had already sped far ahead. Knowing Su Ran could handle himself, Ji Chun didn't give chase. Instead, he sighed and turned back to the books, thinking it was time to give their son a proper name.

They had barely settled in when Su Ran pushed the door open and announced, "Ouyang Yixun is gone."

Ji Chun looked up, startled. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know," Su Ran replied, grabbing Ji Chun's cup to take a sip of water. "It seems the sect leader deliberately let him go. He slipped out through a side path with two Sha Yin Sect disciples."

"Could the sect leader have known the Xue Shenyi was leaving today?" Ji Chun frowned, then quickly dismissed the thought. "No—Ouyang Yixun left at the same time. He couldn't have known in advance."

"I suspect Ouyang Yixun left for a reason," Su Ran said after a long pause, his voice low. He had always sensed something off about Ouyang Yixun, and his departure at such a critical moment only deepened his suspicion.

"We'll have to wait and see," Ji Chun conceded. "The sect leader is the key to all of this. Let's see how he handles refining the elixir to subdue the blood dragon and open the mountain gate to find Di Mang."

Su Ran nodded, stretching lazily. "Massage my shoulders. I don't know why, but I'm exhausted today."

Ji Chun stood and moved behind him, kneading his shoulders gently. "Then stop worrying. The baby is four months old, and we still haven't named him."

At the mention of their soft, round little bun, Su Ran's fatigue eased. He tilted his head back, caught Ji Chun's hand, and leaned into his arms with a chuckle. "Doesn't he already have a name?"

"'Rou Dan'er' is just a nickname. He'll need a real one when he's older," Ji Chun said fondly, twirling a lock of Su Ran's hair between his fingers as he pondered.

"Ji Chun..." Su Ran murmured suddenly. He turned, pulled the monk down, and kissed him. "Little monk, should the baby take my surname?"

Ji Chun kissed him back, smiling. "Of course."

"How about 'Su Ze'?" Su Ran arched a brow, visibly pleased with himself.

"'Benefiting all living beings'..." Ji Chun chuckled and nodded. "It's perfect. Let's name him Su Ze."

"Good boy~" Su Ran patted Ji Chun's head affectionately and stood with a proud grin. "Naturally, the name I chose is the best."

"Yes, yes," Ji Chun agreed warmly. "Sect Leader Su's naming is impeccable. I'm sure Ze'er will love it too."

While Ji Chun and Su Ran were lost in their own world, the other sects at Sha Yin were anything but tranquil. Restless and eager, they waited for the elixir that would allow them to ascend the mountain and vie for Di Mang.

The days dragged on until, finally, word spread like wildfire: the elixir to subdue the blood dragon was ready. They would set out at dawn.

By the next morning, the news had reached every corner of Xilongzhou. Sects both major and minor flocked to Sha Yin's gates, some even camping outside. Though the early arrivals resented the newcomers, none dared drive them away—after all, more bodies meant more shields if the battle turned deadly.

At first light, the sects assembled, their disciples sharp-eyed and ready. As they marched out, they cast disdainful glances at the lesser sects trailing behind. Ji Chun and Su Ran blended into the crowd, unnoticed—all eyes were fixed on the mountain peak, every heart pounding with greed and ambition.

"Stay back when the time comes," Ji Chun whispered, squeezing Su Ran's hand.

Su Ran met his gaze solemnly and nodded. He laced their fingers together, noticing the faint dampness of Ji Chun's palm. With a teasing smirk, he asked, "Nervous already?"

Ji Chun shot him a reproachful look. Su Ran only grinned, but the monk's worry was unmistakable. Firmly, he repeated, "You remember what I said, don't you?"

"Alright, remember—when the time comes, we run for the corner. Got it?" Su Ran said with amusement, eyeing the usually composed monk now weighed down by worry.

"Yes. Exactly that." In this moment, Ji Chun bore little resemblance to the compassionate, magnanimous Buddhist disciple he once was. His heart held only one concern: Su Ran. The lives of others meant nothing—whether they lived or died was irrelevant, so long as Su Ran remained unharmed.

Their hushed conversation eased the tension between them, and by the time they reached the blood pool where the first dragon lurked, their nerves had steadied.

Some in the crowd had seen the blood dragon before. When its massive tail lashed out, churning the gore-filled pool, their faces paled—for that pool held the mangled remains of their fallen comrades. Others, witnessing the beast's dark crimson gaze for the first time, felt their legs weaken beneath them.

No one noticed the sardonic smile twisting the sect leader's lips as he stood among them. Like a master maneuvering chess pieces, he watched with cold satisfaction as his pawns fell into place. He harbored no fear that they might retreat; he knew the greed for treasure would overpower any instinct for self-preservation.

But then—something unexpected. A figure hurtled toward the blood dragon, fearless, deliberate. The crowd stared, stunned. Who would charge straight into the beast's maw?

The truth soon revealed itself in a spray of blood. The victims hadn't leaped willingly—they'd been thrown, their martial arts too feeble to resist.

As the dragon tore through flesh, a cry rang out: "Kill the dragon! Seize Di Mang!" The shout echoed across the mountain, igniting a frenzy. Greed smothered fear; the mob surged forward, blades flashing. Yet the dragon was no ordinary beast. Even dozens of masters could only chip at its hide.

Corpses piled higher—until a man burst from the crowd. He vaulted onto shoulders, launched into the air, and hurled a dozen pills into the dragon's gaping mouth. Before the beast could react, he landed safely beyond its reach.

The crowd marveled at his agility—then recoiled at the horror before them.

Time crawled. Survivors retreated. Then—a shriek. The dragon convulsed, collapsing into the blood pool, its body shrinking rapidly.

"Now!" the man bellowed. A white-robed figure darted forward, scooping the withered dragon into a jar and sealing it shut.

The crowd exhaled. The first dragon was dead. But the carnage surrounding the pool left a suffocating dread in its wake.

"That voice—" Su Ran seized Ji Chun's arm, his tone venomous. "It's the masked man's voice."

Ji Chun stiffened. He knew that voice. They pushed through the throng, catching a clear glimpse of the man before needing to approach.

Shang Luo. Leader of the Sha Yin Sect.

The crowd remained oblivious to the shift in their sect leader's tone, too busy lamenting their fellow comrades to death. But Ji Chun and Su Ran stood frozen, glaring at him with icy fury.

Then—Shang Luo turned. His eyes met theirs, brimming with scorn.

He knew.

In that instant, they understood: the sect leader had recognized Su Ran as the Demonic Cult's Leader long before Ouyang Yixun could have betrayed him.

There was no turning back now. The arrow was loosed; the path set. Even with the masked man's identity revealed, they could make no accusations—not with the blood dragon slain and Di Mang within reach.

More dragons awaited. The climb continued.

Dawn broke, illuminating the survivors. Ji Chun's gaze swept over them—the fourteen sects who'd first arrived at Sha Yin stood unscathed. The dead were all outsiders.

The realization struck like a blade. His eyes hardened.

Better Di Mang be destroyed than fall into their hands.

These so-called righteous sects were vipers, their virtue a facade. Schemes coiled beneath their piety.

And yet—compared to them, his Su Ran was almost honorable.