Sage of Humanity
Chapter 949 - 947: Iron-hearted Lu Yiye

I don't know what the person encountered before, but they were already injured, their clothes were tattered, and they looked extremely disheveled, exposing themselves while fleeing.

At this moment, suddenly attacked by Lu Ye, they instinctively mobilized their spirit force to protect themselves.

The long saber was blocked by the spirit force on the surface of their body, but the overwhelming power was unavoidable. With a cry of surprise, their body involuntarily plummeted downward.

Lu Ye followed with his saber, closely pursuing.

From a distance, it looked as if he was pressing the person down with a single strike.

She landed in a disheveled heap, dazed and dizzy. Luckily, thanks to the physique of a True Lake Realm cultivator, she wasn't too badly hurt, though the pain was unbearable. Before she could get up, a jet-black long saber was already placed across her neck.

Following the length of the saber with her eyes, she met Lu Ye's downward gaze.

Feeling the sharpness of the blade, she froze involuntarily.

Swish swish swish...

Several figures landed not far away; they were the ones chasing the woman. These people also seemed to have gone through a fierce battle, bearing multiple injuries. The leading youth's aura was strong, possessing a cultivation of True Lake Level 6.

Seeing this situation, he couldn't help but grin: "Well done, Fellow Daoist. I really have to thank you."

Although with their cultivation, they would have captured the woman sooner or later, it was naturally less troublesome with Lu Ye's help.

Saying this, he stepped forward, reaching out to grab the woman.

The other party's rude manner left Lu Ye momentarily stunned. Although he couldn't fully understand everything that had happened in such a short time, he had guessed most of it, or he wouldn't have acted so decisively just now.

The Boulder Mountain Saber still rested on the woman's long, slender, and fair neck, making her dare not move, yet a sword light flashed, cutting through the Void.

The youth halted, looking toward Lu Ye, who had somehow acquired a longsword in his hand, and frowned: "Fellow Daoist, what are you doing?"

The people behind him all looked at Lu Ye with a menacing expression, each secretly channeling their spirit force.

"What do you want to do?" Lu Ye responded with a question.

The youth replied matter-of-factly: "Taking the person!"

Lu Ye looked at him calmly: "She is in my hands. What do you want to take?"

The youth couldn't help but frown: "This woman is from Ten Thousand Demons Ridge, just fought with us, and all her companions have been slain. She's the only one who fled. Since she's fallen into your hands, I ask you to return her to us so I can take her back for interrogation. We might gain some useful information!"

"I captured her, so I'll do the interrogation. There's no need for you to worry."

The youth raised an eyebrow, obviously misunderstanding something: "Is Fellow Daoist trying to steal credit from us?"

"The credit is in my hands; you are the one trying to steal my credit!" Lu Ye looked at him calmly.

The youth stared back forcefully, the muscles under his eyes twitching slightly, his whole body exuding a dangerous air of spirit force. After a long pause, he took a deep breath: "What's your name?"

"Lu Ye of the Cangyan Mountain Pass!"

"Cangyan Mountain Pass?" The youth frowned slightly. Cangyan Mountain Pass Chief Nian Yuexian was a mighty figure who guarded a pass on her own; who in Bingzhou's provincial guard didn't know of her?

Lu Ye identifying himself as someone from Cangyan Mountain Pass made the youth somewhat apprehensive.

But leaving just like that was also a bit unwilling.

Lu Ye continued, "This place is already within the jurisdiction of Cangyan Mountain Pass. Since the person has fallen into my hands, it should be handled by me. Please retreat."

These words were irrefutable; this area was indeed within the jurisdiction of Cangyan Mountain Pass. As someone from there, Lu Ye had every right to intervene in this matter, and they really had no grounds to object.

After hesitating for a moment, the youth clenched his teeth: "In that case, the person is yours." He waved his hand, calling the others: "Let's go!"

Moments later, several figures soared into the sky, heading towards the Clear Moon Cave Pass.

Only when their figures disappeared did the woman, who had been sitting paralyzed on the ground without moving, let out a long sigh of relief. Her entire being seemed empty, with tear marks still visible at the corner of her eyes. She looked at Lu Ye pitifully: "Are you going to kill me?"

Lu Ye put away his saber and sword, speaking calmly: "If I wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead."

With his strength, that previous strike could have easily claimed her life. The reason she was still alive was entirely due to Lu Ye's mercy.

Because this woman was Shen Xiaomao!

Shen Xiaomao immediately broke into a smile through her tears: "I knew you wouldn't kill me."

Lu Ye glanced down at her, retrieving a piece of clothing from his storage sack and tossing it at her to cover what was exposed: "What happened?"

Shen Xiaomao showed a frightened expression: "You heard it too; I was patrolling outside with a few others and accidentally encountered their team. We fought, and everyone else died. I'm the only one still alive."

Lu Ye couldn't help but frown: "Because you're a woman?"

It didn't make sense that everyone else had died and only Shen Xiaomao survived; her cultivation level wasn't particularly high.

She survived simply because she was an attractive female cultivator. Thinking about Shen Xiaomao's tattered clothes, Lu Ye vaguely understood some things.

"Yes." Shen Xiaomao nodded, with a look of lingering fear.

For some female cultivators, there are times when certain things are more terrifying than death.

So just now, she had already made up her mind that if Lu Ye handed her over to those people, she would immediately take her own life, never to live in disgrace.

Fortunately, Lu Ye didn't do that.

Only when they first met, Lu Ye had slashed at her, giving her quite a scare.

At that time, however, she was in a panic, her mind in disarray, with no time to consider much. Now, upon reflection, Lu Ye's actions were the correct response.

With their opposing factions, Lu Ye was supposed to act hostile upon seeing her; he couldn't possibly greet her warmly. If he did, their secret acquaintance and slight friendship would have been exposed to those people.

It seems that, in the instant Lu Ye saw her, he had already discerned many things and thought of a strategy to handle the situation.

His mind was so meticulous, his reaction so swift.

Shen Xiaomao felt secretly relieved.

Lu Ye fell silent for a moment, once again recalling the teachings of the sect master from back then.

The law is neither righteous nor evil, it is people who are good or bad.

It's no surprise that the two major factions are adversaries, engaged in mutual battles and slaughters, but the Haotian Alliance's reputation doesn't necessarily represent the light. Under this seemingly righteous banner, many shadows lurk, with plenty of undercurrents brewing in the dark.

"Lu Yiye, thank you this time," Shen Xiaomao sincerely expressed her gratitude. If she hadn't happened to encounter Lu Ye, she would surely have perished today.

"No need, let's go." Lu Ye called out and summoned his spirit ark.

Shen Xiaomao was suddenly dumbfounded, "Go... where?"

Lu Ye looked at her as if it were obvious, "You're my prisoner, of course, you have to come back with me to the Cangyan Mountain Pass!"

Shen Xiaomao's eyes widened, "You're not going to let me go?"

How did she become a prisoner? It's like escaping the wolf's den only to enter the tiger's lair, making her feel dizzy.

"Stop the nonsense, come on up!" Lu Ye stood on his spirit ark and called her aboard.

Even if he intended to release her, it couldn't happen immediately; otherwise, once the news leaked, he'd be undeniably guilty of colluding with the enemy.

Lu Ye was always careful and prudent in his actions; how could he make such a mistake?

Bringing her back to report to Nian Yuexian, even if Shen Xiaomao fled later, Nian Yuexian would be there to cover, unrelated to Lu Yiye.

Shen Xiaomao was unaware of Lu Ye's plan, and seeing he truly intended to capture her, she was instantly annoyed, "You're truly heartless!"

Despite her previous help—though she did earn three drops of Soul Cleansing Water—there was still some rapport between them. How could he now want to make her a prisoner?

"Enough talk!" Lu Ye partially drew the Boulder Mountain Saber.

Shen Xiaomao decisively and swiftly jumped onto the spirit ark.

They flew swiftly, soon returning to the Cangyan Mountain Pass.

Upon their arrival, Nian Yuexian appeared before them, scanning him up and down to ensure no harm had come to him, then felt at ease.

"Subordinate greets my lord!" Lu Ye clasped his fists in salute, "I apologize for causing concern, my lord."

"As long as you're back," Nian Yuexian replied indifferently, her gaze suddenly sharp as it landed on Shen Xiaomao standing pitifully behind Lu Ye.

Seeing her wearing Lu Ye's clothes, with her inner garments appearing somewhat tattered, her eyes slightly narrowed, "Who is she?"

Lu Ye answered, "She is..."

Who is she?

Lu Ye only knew her as Shen Xiaomao, but that clearly wasn't her real name. Both Shen Xiaomao and Ye Liu had used aliases back then, something everyone understood.

He turned his head and signaled to Shen Xiaomao, "This is my lord, Nian Yuexian! Answer her questions truthfully."

Shen Xiaomao trembled as she stepped out from behind Lu Ye, lowering her head, not daring to look at Nian Yuexian. In her understanding, Nian Yuexian from the Cangyan Mountain Pass was an extremely formidable figure, someone even her own Mountain Pass Chief, Wan Zhanggang, feared greatly.

She respectfully bowed, her voice somewhat trembling, "Junior Shen Chudan, greetings to senior."

Lu Ye showed a look of realization, finally knowing this woman's name.

"Is your recent delay in returning because of her?" Nian Yuexian asked faintly. Lately, Lu Ye hadn't returned, and she had often sent messages inquiring about his situation. But Lu Ye hadn't expressed much, primarily because it was difficult to explain, only saying he was preoccupied with trivial matters and would return shortly.

It had also caused Nian Yuexian to have some misunderstandings.

"It's not like that," Lu Ye hurriedly responded, "My lord, you may not know, she isn't from the Haotian Alliance; she's from the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge, Gushan City Pass."

Nian Yuexian looked puzzled, "Then how did you two..."

"Currently, she's my prisoner!" Lu Ye replied emphatically, drawing a resentful look from Shen Chudan.

Nian Yuexian couldn't help but laugh, "Did you just conveniently capture someone on the way back?"

I'm not a stray cat or dog; how did I end up being conveniently captured... Shen Chudan felt utterly despondent.

Lu Ye then recounted the recent events briefly, hearing which, Nian Yuexian's expression turned grim. As a fellow female cultivator, she couldn't bear to see other female cultivators suffer such circumstances, even though Shen Chudan was rescued by Lu Ye this time, avoiding disaster. Yet, those few men had surely committed such vile acts more than once, and there were likely other Ten Thousand Demons Ridge female cultivators who had fallen victim to them.

Treating the enemy can involve fighting or killing, but to humiliate others in such a manner is naturally despised.