"Hmph!"
A cold snort suddenly rang out like a thunderclap in the ears of the three, deafeningly loud. The voice contained boundless chill, and as it echoed in their ears, the temperature of the world seemed to freeze, causing the old man and the burly man to feel an instant chill throughout their bodies.
An extremely dense aura of death enveloped them. In all their years of licking blood from the edge of a knife, even the most severe injuries had never made them feel so close to death.
The two who were charging towards Yun Yun instantly stopped in their tracks, gripped by fear, and hurriedly clasped their hands in a gesture of panic towards the source of the terrifying aura.
"May I ask which senior is here? If there is any offense, we two will retreat immediately!"
At this moment, Yun Yun breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the sudden change. Although she didn't know if this change was good or bad for her, it was still better than the current situation. At least being in the hands of these two would definitely make her wish she were dead!
As the two finished speaking, a dazzling blue light burst forth from the sky. The blue light caused a thin layer of frost to condense on the entire forest, shimmering with a crystal-clear light.
Then the blue light gradually dissipated, revealing Hai Bodong's strong and muscular body within it. His long, gray hair moved without wind, his face had strong features, deep pupils, and his eyes flashed with anger.
"... standing in the void!"
"A... a Dou Zong expert!"
The moment the withered old man and the big man saw Hai Bodong, their bodies began to tremble violently, their faces filled with horror, as if their souls were about to die.
Hai Bodong, however, had no time to pay attention to the two terrified individuals. He scanned Yun Yun and, finding her unharmed—only her Dou Qi sealed and her body weakened—breathed his sigh of relief.
When Hai Bodong arrived, he had nearly broken out in a cold sweat at the sight before him. This was the woman Hun Changqing had specifically instructed him to protect; if anything had gone wrong, Hai Bodong would have been in deep trouble.
At the same time, he inwardly cursed the Yunlan Sect's sect leader for being so incompetent. From receiving Hun Changqing's instructions to traveling at full speed, less than an incense stick's time had passed. A three-star Dou Huang couldn't even last an incense stick's time against a one-star and a two-star Dou Huang? Could you believe it?
Fortunately, they arrived just in time, meaning he had completed half of his mission. Although Hai Bodong deeply doubted Yunshan's judgment in finding a successor, the most important thing now was to freeze these two bastards who had almost gotten him into serious trouble into ice shards!
Thinking of this, Hai Bodong stared at the burly man and the old man, his eyes gleaming with icy light and surging with killing intent.
"Senior... Senior..."
The burly man, sensing the rising killing intent emanating from Hai Bodong, was filled with immense fear, his mountain-like body swaying precariously.
The withered old man, though also filled with fear, had weathered countless storms in his life and did not lose his composure. He had already realized that the newcomer was related to this woman and would not let them go; begging for mercy was pointless.
The gaunt old man glanced at the burly, bearded man out of the corner of his eye, a ruthless glint in his eyes. He then launched a sudden attack, his withered hand slamming down on the man's back with a deafening explosion of energy.
The burly man felt as if struck by lightning, and with a "whoosh," blood gushed from his mouth. His massive body, propelled by the force of the impact, was launched towards Hai Bodong like a cannonball.
Seeing the man launched, the gaunt old man dared not hesitate. His fighting spirit surged forth, and his fighting spirit wings unfurled, instantly propelling him into the sky, fleeing into the distance.
"Heh, trying to escape? You overestimate yourself."
Hai Bodong sneered, completely ignoring the burly man flying towards him. With a swift opening and closing of his hand, the entire forest instantly billowed into white mist, and the temperature plummeted to freezing.
As the white mist rose, delicate snowflakes, shimmering with a crystalline light, began to fall from the sky. The snowflakes drifted down, landing on the fleeing, gaunt old man and the burly man who was being propelled towards Hai Bodong.
"Ah!"
The moment the snowflakes touched them, both let out a sharp, agonizing scream, as if enduring some unparalleled torture. The sound was piercingly mournful, sending chills down one's spine.
At that moment, wisps of white smoke instantly rose from their skin, then spread, enveloping them. Ice crystals formed from their feet and rapidly spread throughout their bodies.
Finally, the ice crystals completely transformed the two men, one strong and one thin, into beautiful, exquisite ice sculptures. The ice sculptures were translucent, their surfaces perfectly smooth, and within the ice crystals, one could see the desperate, terrified expressions of their dying moments.
Then, from the top of the ice sculptures, where their heads were, an ice flower bloomed from within, so exquisite and magnificent that it captivated the viewer.
As the ice flowers reached their peak, they suddenly shattered, the ice sculpture turning into fragments and scattered into ice crystals that fell onto the ice surface, which had already become a forest of ice crystals with the falling snowflakes.
Thus, these two bloodthirsty thugs who had ravaged the Black Corner Region for years vanished into thin air along with the scattered ice crystals.
Even Yun Yun, who wasn't within Hai Bodong's attack range, shivered from the sudden change in temperature. She endured the cold, tightening her collar with trembling hands, her bright red lips constantly exhaling cold breath.
Although her Dou Huang realm strength allowed her to be impervious to heat and cold, this referred to normal weather; the altered climate created by a powerful being was not so easy to resist.
Seeing Yun Yun shivering under his icy Dou Qi, Hai Bodong quickly dissipated his Dou Qi, allowing the temperature to gradually warm up, fearing that Yun Yun might freeze to death, which would be difficult to explain to Hun Changqing.
As Yun Yun saw Hai Bodong approaching, a wave of familiarity washed over her as she came to his face. She frowned, pondering for a moment in her memory, before a realization dawned on her.
Yun Yun tried to rise, her body limp, but the waves of weakness and powerlessness overwhelmed her.
She could only brace herself with her arms, struggling to keep from collapsing completely and losing her composure in front of Hai Bodong. Then, she spoke in a trembling voice to Hai Bodong as he approached,
"Thank you...no...Lord Ice emperor for your help!"
Hearing Yun Yun's thanks, Hai Bodong raised an eyebrow, his expression showing surprise.
"You recognize me?"
Yun Yun nodded with difficulty, her tone respectful.
"When I was a child, I went to the Mittel Auction House with my master, who was Yunshan, the former sect master of Yunlan Sect. At that time, Lord Hai Bodong came out to greet us. I followed behind my master and naturally remembered the appearance of Lord Hai Bodong, one of the ten strongest people who once dominated the Jia Ma Empire." After hearing Yun Yun's explanation, Hai Bodong understood. Thirty years ago, before he left the Jia Ma Empire,
he was in his prime, and his appearance was exactly the same as it is now, so it was normal for him to be recognized. It was only after his cultivation was sealed that his realm plummeted, his lifespan decreased, and his appearance changed to that of a frail old man.
Hai Bodong nodded, looking at the weak and powerless Yun Yun. A unique, sickly yet delicate beauty emanated from her, making Hai Bodong sigh.
After all, he and Yun Shan knew each other and had cooperated before, albeit superficially. They were from the same era and had fought together for the Jia Ma Empire against foreign enemies. Now, his successor had just escaped one danger only to fall into another, which was truly pitiful, making Hai Bodong feel somewhat emotional.
However, Hai Bodong quickly shook his head, banishing these chaotic thoughts from his mind. He had been foolish to be lamenting for that old man Yun Shan for no reason. If he continues to be so idle, others will have to feel sorry for Hai Bodong!
Yun Yun, seeing the pity in Hai Bodong's eyes and then his strange actions, suddenly felt a bad premonition. Her lips trembled as she asked,
"Ice... Ice Sect Master? What is this...?"
Hai Bodong's expression had returned to its cold indifference, his eyes devoid of any warmth. Being stared at like that, Yun Yun felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, a chill creeping over her.
"You don't need to thank me in such a hurry. Saving you wasn't my intention. A certain lord has taken a liking to you. Do you understand what I mean?"
Hearing Hai Bodong speak in such a cold tone, words that plunged her into despair once more, the hope that had risen in her heart upon seeing Hai Bodong, someone acquainted with her master, vanished instantly. A desolate sorrow spread through her heart.
Yun Yun gritted her teeth, her face filled with unyielding spirit. With a strength that seemed to come from nowhere, she spoke forcefully to Hai Bodong,
"Lord Hai Bodong, I'm afraid I will disappoint you. Although I am grateful for your help in saving me, I cannot accept your offer of sacrifice. I will try my best to repay your life-saving grace after returning to Yunlan Sect. If you are unwilling, then I will have no choice but to repay you with my life!" Yun Yun
's eyes revealed unwavering determination as she stared intently at Hai Bodong, her face showing no fear, as if she were ready to die.
Hai Bodong, hearing Yun Yun's resolute words, didn't seem to care much. He shrugged indifferently. Everyone said the same thing at the beginning. For example, Jia Xingtian in the Jia Ma Empire's palace had spoken even more resolutely than Yun Yun, implying a willingness to fight at the slightest provocation. And what was the result?
He could only hide in a corner and watch helplessly as his two beautiful granddaughters were taken away and tortured by Hun Changqing. Hai Bodong guessed that Jia Xingtian must have been grinding his teeth to dust at that moment.
"You'd better think this through. I know your master, Yun Shan, is currently in seclusion, trying to break through to the Dou Zong realm. But what happens after you break through? I'm already a Dou Zong now, and I can't defy that person."
Hai Bodong glanced at Yun Yun, his tone still cold and unchanged, but the threat in his words wasn't so strong.
After all, Yunlan Sect and his Mittel family were both major powers in the Jia Ma Empire. Hai Bodong was also a sentimental person and didn't want to directly threaten Yun Yun with the lives of Yunlan Sect. His words were somewhat tactful, carrying a hint of persuasion.
Yun Yun had been well protected by Yun Shan since childhood and rarely experienced the ways of the world. Even how she rejected Gu He's advances was a mystery to her. Currently, filled with humiliation and indignation, she couldn't grasp the hidden meaning in Hai Bodong's words. She considered it her own affair and didn't realize she would be implicated by Yun Shan and the Yunlan Sect.
Yun Yun clenched her teeth, her body trembling violently, her slender white hands clenched tightly, her face filled with stubborn defiance.
"Please forgive this junior for being unable to comply!"
"Sigh~"
Hai Bodong sighed helplessly, rubbing his forehead. It seemed that gentle persuasion was useless; Yun Yun didn't have much skill, but her temper was as stubborn as a bull.
"Since that's the case, then so be it. However, the person behind me will do everything in their power to get what they want. If you defy that person now, I can't guarantee the future of your Yunlan Sect and Yunshan."
Hai Bodong was too lazy to try to persuade Yun Yun anymore. She wouldn't listen to reason and only liked to be forced. She spoke so resolutely, but could she really resist being forced?
Upon hearing this, Yun Yun's pupils contracted sharply. She felt resentment towards the person behind Hai Bodong, whom she had never met before. Just because he wanted to get her, he was going to implicate her master and the Yunlan Sect. How could she not feel angry and resentful? At this moment, Yun Yun's chest heaved with intense anger.
"Oh, right, you should also know how much that old man Jia Xingtian dotes on his two granddaughters, right? That lord also had designs on his two granddaughters before. At first, Jia Xingtian's attitude was even worse and more resolute than yours. Guess what happened?"
Yun Yun was stunned upon hearing this, an incredulous look appearing on her face, her eyes filled with shock.
"Could it be...?"
Hai Bodong's face was full of mockery, a playful smile on his lips as he said,
"That's right, in the end, that old man still gave in. Otherwise, the Jia Ma Palace would already be a ruin."
Yun Yun fell silent upon hearing this, a feeling of utter despair and helplessness rising in her heart. She knew that she might ultimately not be able to survive this calamity. For the sake of her sect and her master, it seemed that she really had no choice but to...
"Actually, you don't need to put on such a desperate act. If my master hadn't spoken up, your fate would have been countless times more miserable than it is now. Although my master... um... he's still very generous... um... quite good to his women. At least those two granddaughters of that old man Jia Xingtian were reluctant to leave after he left."
Hai Bodong initially felt a pang of pity seeing Yun Yun's despair and wanted to say some kind words to Hun Changqing to reassure her. However, halfway through his sentence, Hai Bodong was surprised to find that Hun Changqing really didn't have anything he could praise, leaving him speechless for a moment.
Hai Bodong could only give up and stop talking, quietly watching Yun Yun on the ground, waiting for her to make a choice. If she truly refused to submit, then Hai Bodong would have no choice but to forcibly take her back.
...
"Okay..."
After an unknown amount of time, a soft, trembling female voice finally came from the forest.