Chapter 161: Pursuit

Lu Bai looked back.

Through the vast night, a figure streaked through the air. He wore a cinnabar crown, Silver Scale Armor, and a crimson robe over it all. That attire...

’Morning Attire?’

Lu Bai slowed his pace. When the person drew closer, he finally got a clear look at their face.

The Morning Bell Ringer, Mo Tang!

"Lord Mo."

Lu Bai quickly called out in greeting.

Hearing the call, Mo Tang looked down. Upon seeing Lu Bai and his companion, he quickly descended.

The moment he landed, Mo Tang’s legs gave way. He let out a muffled groan and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood!

"Lord Mo, what’s going on?"

"My lord, what happened?"

Lu Bai rushed forward to meet him.

Seeing this, He Liangzhi was also greatly alarmed and called out in question.

Mo Tang looked to be in terrible shape. His face was pale, his outer robe was covered in filthy blood, and he exuded a familiar, putrid stench.

Mo Tang panted lightly, his expression grim. He frowned and asked, "Why haven’t you returned to Jingzhou City? What are you still doing here?"

"It’s a long story."

A thought struck Lu Bai, and he quickly asked, "Is someone chasing you, Lord Mo?"

At the mention of this, Mo Tang’s expression changed. He pointed in another direction and said, "You two, go! Quickly! Don’t stay with me. I’ll lead them away!"

"My lord, what exactly happened?"

He Liangzhi asked, "Who would be so audacious as to attack a Morning Bell Ringer so viciously?"

"That Stone Forest Valley is an outpost for the Corpse Refining Sect."

Mo Tang spoke quickly, "I went to investigate and ran into more than a dozen Corpse Refining Sect cultivators, including three True Master Golden Cores.

After you get back to the city, report this to the Demon Suppression Bureau immediately! Tell them to gather all the Demon Suppression Guards and head to Stone Forest Valley to suppress the demons!"

He spoke this string of words too quickly and couldn’t catch his breath. Mo Tang coughed up two more mouthfuls of Black Blood, his expression listless. He swayed, almost unable to remain standing.

"Go, quickly! What are you standing around for?!"

Mo Tang urged.

"None of you are getting away!"

Just then, a sinister voice echoed from the distant darkness.

"ROAR! ROAR!"

The next moment, the ground trembled and dust billowed. The roars of Jiangshi rose and fell, one after another.

It seemed a large horde of Jiangshi was swarming toward them, getting closer and closer!

"My lord, I’m afraid we can’t escape now."

He Liangzhi gave a bitter laugh.

In Mo Tang’s condition, even he himself might not be able to escape.

He was completely drained right now, totally useless.

Even if Lu Bai abandoned them, could he escape the pursuit of True Master Golden Cores?

Lu Bai listened to the approaching roars of the Jiangshi, his heart sinking. But in the next instant, inspiration struck. "My lord," he said, "I know a place. Let’s go there!"

With that, Lu Bai scooped up He Liangzhi and ran toward Renyi Manor on the other side.

Although Ah Ming was a Tier Three Exotic Beast, it seemed to have a strong aversion to creatures like Jiangshi.

Besides, it couldn’t necessarily hold off three of the Corpse Refining Sect’s True Master Golden Cores on its own.

Mo Tang didn’t know where this place Lu Bai mentioned was, so he could only follow.

But after just a few steps, the movement aggravated his internal injuries. Mo Tang spat out another mouthful of fresh blood and collapsed weakly to the ground.

Escaping injured from the siege of three True Master Golden Cores from the Corpse Refining Sect and numerous Jiangshi had already pushed him to his limit.

He had made it this far purely on a single burst of will.

After that quick descent, that will had slackened, and he could no longer hold on.

Lu Bai hadn’t run more than a few steps when he noticed Mo Tang had fallen. His heart sank.

"My lord, are you alright?"

Lu Bai turned back and went to Mo Tang’s side.

Mo Tang shook his head slightly, gasping, "You go on. Don’t worry about me. As long as you can make it back to Jingzhou City alive and report this to the Demon Suppression Bureau, my death will have been worth..."

Listening to the approaching footsteps of the Jiangshi, Lu Bai’s brows knitted together. His gaze suddenly fell upon Ah Ming.

"Ah Ming, it’s all up to you now!"

Lu Bai grabbed Ah Ming and pulled it over. "Don’t pretend," he said. "I saw you! You can fly!"

Ah Ming had revealed its power during the Red and White Collision Evil incident.

Knowing it couldn’t hide it any longer, it chirped twice, reluctantly.

"Quick, carry us and fly!"

Lu Bai shouted, tucking He Liangzhi under one arm, then looked at Mo Tang.

"My lord, desperate times call for desperate measures. Forgive my offense."

Apologizing for the offense, Lu Bai’s long arms reached out, grabbed Mo Tang, and tucked him under his other arm in the same fashion.

"SQUAWK!"

Ah Ming squawked in loud protest.

Carrying one person was one thing.

But why was he bringing the whole family?

"Hurry up, stop dawdling!"

Lu Bai couldn’t help but press it. "I’m not asking you to fight that horde of Jiangshi, just to fly us out of here, and you’re still whining!"

Ah Ming knew the situation was critical and hesitated no longer. It shuddered, its wings unfurled, and three long tails sprouted from behind it, shimmering with iridescent light. Its feathers began to emit rays of crimson divine light, as if it were about to burst into flames!

"Ah Mo, jump on yourself."

Lu Bai said quickly.

With his hands occupied tucking Mo Tang and He Liangzhi under his arms, he had no way to lift the Black Dog.

The Black Dog understood. It leaped up and landed lightly on Ah Ming’s back.

Ah Ming let out a long cry and soared into the air.

Lu Bai leaped with all his might, landing on Ah Ming’s back.

However, even after transforming into its true form, the space on Ah Ming’s back was limited.

The Black Dog took up a patch of space.

There wasn’t much room left for Lu Bai.

Moreover, the feathers on Ah Ming’s back were incredibly smooth.

Combined with the fact that Lu Bai had never practiced skills like Sword Flight, and was holding two people under his arms, he couldn’t keep his balance when he stepped on. He felt his foot slip, and he plopped down on his butt.

Ah Ming had just spread its wings and taken to the sky. Before it could gain any altitude, Lu Bai plopped down right on its neck.

And this wasn’t just Lu Bai alone.

It was the weight of three people.

That one plop nearly sent Ah Ming crashing back to the ground.

"SQUAWK SQUAWK SQUAWK SQUAWK!"

Ah Ming struggled to lift its head and neck, squawking a stream of curses.

From behind, the Black Dog bit down hard on Lu Bai’s Profound Armor, helping him stabilize his balance.

"Where do you think you’re going!"

A fierce shout came from not far away.

Tall figures broke through the darkness, and a nauseating, putrid stench wafted over.

Ah Ming flapped its wings frantically, wobbling into the air and streaking off into the distance.

Mo Tang’s expression was listless.

He Liangzhi was completely weak.

The two of them could only let Lu Bai do as he pleased.

"Lu Bai, just drop us and escape on this Exotic Beast by yourself."

Mo Tang gasped for breath and said, "Carrying so many people, the Exotic Beast’s flight speed will be greatly reduced. You won’t get far."

He Liangzhi also said, "That’s right, Brother Lu. Don’t worry about us. Just save yourself."

"We don’t have to go far. It’s nearby!"

Lu Bai muttered.

"Go that way!"

Riding on Ah Ming’s neck, Lu Bai squeezed with his legs, turning Ah Ming’s neck to make it fly toward Renyi Manor.

"SQUAWK!"

Ah Ming was terrified and extremely unwilling.

After all, it had just escaped from that place. That Ghost Bride was truly terrifying.

Lu Bai said, "Don’t be afraid. It’s better than getting caught by that horde of Jiangshi behind us. This is our only chance."

Ah Ming considered this.

’That’s right. The Ghost Bride and Lu Bai have a pretty deep relationship. They were already calling each other ’husband’ and ’wife’.’