From the fake emperor to the concubine

They knew that once Zheng Yi recovered, everything would be alright.

Ten days later.

Zheng Yi's injuries have mostly healed. Although he is not fully recovered, he can already move around normally.

That day, he stepped out of the stone house and stretched his muscles.

The sky over the barren wasteland was a hazy gray, the sun nowhere to be seen. The air was dry and cold, carrying an aura of decay. All around was an endless wilderness, devoid of anything but withered grass and pebbles.

"What a desolate place," Zheng Yi remarked.

"Master, how are your injuries?" Liu Ruyan walked over and asked with concern.

"Much better," Zheng Yi said. "With a few more days of rest, I should be fully recovered."

"That's good." Liu Ruyan breathed a sigh of relief.

Zheng Yi looked at her, a sense of guilt welling up inside him.

"Ruyan, you've had a tough time these past few days," he said. "You've been running around with me and suffered a lot."

"What are you saying, Fellow Daoist Zheng?" Liu Ruyan smiled slightly. "I'm very happy to be by your side."

Zheng Yi was silent for a moment, then said, "Once my injuries heal, we'll leave here and go to the core area of ​​the Tianyuan Domain."

"The core area?" Liu Ruyan exclaimed in surprise. "There are countless powerful figures there. Wouldn't it be too dangerous for us to go there now?"

“Danger is certain,” Zheng Yi said, “but we can’t hide here forever. To become stronger, we must venture into a wider world. Besides, I still have some things I need to verify in the core area.”

"whats the matter?"

"Xiaoyue's background," Zheng Yi said. "I always felt that her origins were not simple. The Xuan Yin Physique is extremely rare; you can't find more than a handful in the entire Xuan Tian Domain. But perhaps we can find some clues in the Tian Yuan Domain."

Liu Ruyan nodded and said nothing more.

She knew how much Xiaoyue meant to Zheng Yi. Although the little girl was dead, Zheng Yi had never forgotten her.

"By the way, have you noticed anything unusual these past few days?" Zheng Yi asked.

“No,” Liu Ruyan said. “This place is too remote; practically no one comes here. Zheng Hongzhi’s array is also very well set up; even if someone passes by, they won’t be able to spot us.”

"That's good," Zheng Yi said.

He looked up at the northern sky, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

The core area of ​​Tianyuan Domain holds the answers he seeks.

He will set off as soon as his injury heals.

Another five days passed.

On this day, Zheng Yi was cultivating in the stone house when he suddenly sensed an unfamiliar aura approaching.

He opened his eyes and probed outwards with his consciousness.

At the edge of the barren wasteland, a figure was walking towards them. The person's cultivation level was not high, only at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, and their aura was weak, as if they had suffered serious injuries.

"Who is it?" Zheng Yi frowned.

He stepped out of the stone house and found that Zheng Bowen and the others had also sensed that aura and were looking warily into the distance.

"Master, someone has arrived," Zheng Bowen said.

“I know,” Zheng Yi said. “Let’s see what the situation is.”

The figure drew closer and closer. Gradually, everyone could make out the person's appearance.

She was a young woman, who looked to be no more than twenty years old. She wore a white dress, but it was tattered and stained with blood and dirt. Her face was as pale as paper, and her lips were cracked, clearly indicating that she hadn't eaten in a long time.

She walked unsteadily, each step difficult.

Finally, she came to the front of the crowd, then her body went limp and she collapsed to the ground.

"Help me," she said with her last breath, and then she fainted.

Everyone looked at each other.

"Master, what should we do?" Zheng Bowen asked.

Zheng Yi looked at the unconscious woman on the ground and remained silent for a moment.

“Save her first,” he said. “We’ll talk more when she wakes up.”

Liu Ruyan nodded, stepped forward to help the woman up, and led her into the stone house.

Zheng Yi followed her inside and carefully examined the woman's injuries.

She was severely injured, with dozens of wounds all over her body, some of which had begun to fester. Moreover, her spiritual energy was almost completely depleted, clearly indicating that she had gone through a fierce battle.

“These injuries are from being chased,” Zheng Yi said, frowning.

"Pursuing us?" Liu Ruyan exclaimed in surprise. "Who could it be?"

"I don't know," Zheng Yi shook his head. "Let's ask her when she wakes up."

Liu Ruyan took out healing pills and fed them to the woman. Then she made an ointment from herbs and applied it to her wounds.

Under the influence of the pills and ointments, the woman's breathing gradually calmed down.

“She should wake up soon,” Liu Ruyan said.

Zheng Yi nodded and walked out of the stone house.

He stood at the doorway, looking at the distant sky, a vague unease creeping into his heart.

Where did this woman come from? Who is hunting her? Was her arrival here a coincidence, or does she have some purpose?
Too many questions made him uneasy.

"Hopefully it's nothing serious," Zheng Yi prayed silently.

But he had a premonition that the woman's appearance would bring some changes to their lives.

Whether it's good or bad, we'll only know when she wakes up.

The next morning, the woman in white finally woke up.

Her first reaction upon opening her eyes was to sit up abruptly and look around warily. When she found herself in a simple stone house surrounded by unfamiliar faces, a flicker of vigilance immediately crossed her eyes.

"You're awake." Liu Ruyan walked in carrying a bowl of water. "Have some water; you've been unconscious for a day and a night."

The woman looked at the bowl of water that Liu Ruyan offered, but did not take it.

"Who are you people?" Her voice was hoarse, clearly wary.

“We are passing cultivators, temporarily staying here,” Liu Ruyan said. “Yesterday you collapsed in front of our door, and we rescued you.”

The woman remained silent for a moment, seemingly trying to determine whether Liu Ruyan's words were true or false.

"Thank you for saving my life." She finally took the bowl of water and drank it in small sips.

Zheng Yi entered the stone house and saw that the woman had woken up. He nodded.

“Your injuries are serious; you need to rest and recover,” he said. “This place may be simple, but at least it’s safe. You can stay here for a few days until you’ve healed.”

The woman looked up at Zheng Yi, her gaze scrutinizing him.

Zheng Yi's breathing was steady, making it impossible to discern his exact cultivation level. However, she could sense that this young man was no ordinary person. Anyone who could survive in such a desolate place must be quite powerful.

"Thank you," the woman said. "I'll leave on my own once I've recovered."

"No rush," Zheng Yi said. "By the way, I still don't know the young lady's name?"

The woman hesitated for a moment, then said, "My name is Su Wanqing."

“Miss Su.” Zheng Yi nodded. “My name is Zheng Yi, and this is Liu Ruyan. There are a few other companions outside. Don’t be nervous; we’re not bad people.”

Su Wanqing didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly.

Zheng Yi didn't ask any further questions. He could tell that the woman was still wary of them and unwilling to reveal too much.

"You should get some rest," Zheng Yi said. "If you need anything, you can tell Ruyan." He turned and walked out of the stone house.

Liu Ruyan stayed behind to take care of Su Wanqing, changed her ointment, and fed her a bowl of thin porridge.

"Miss Su, how did you get your injuries?" Liu Ruyan couldn't help but ask. "Were you being chased?"

Su Wanqing's body stiffened slightly, then she nodded.

“Yes,” she said, “someone wants to kill me.”

"Who is it?" Liu Ruyan pressed.

“Some bad people,” Su Wanqing said. “I can’t go into specifics.”

Seeing that she was unwilling to say more, Liu Ruyan did not press her further.

"Will those bad guys follow us here?" she asked worriedly.

Su Wanqing was silent for a moment, then said, "Probably not. I escaped far away; they shouldn't be able to catch up here."

"That's good." Liu Ruyan breathed a sigh of relief.

But what she didn't know was that a hint of uncertainty flashed in Su Wanqing's eyes when she said those words.

She couldn't guarantee that those people wouldn't follow her here.

Outside the stone house, Zheng Yi told everyone about Su Wanqing's situation.

"Being chased?" Zheng Bowen frowned. "Won't this cause us trouble?"

"I don't know," Zheng Yi said, "but regardless, since we've saved her, we can't give up halfway."

"The patriarch is right," Zheng Hongzhi nodded. "If you're going to help someone, go all the way. Besides, judging from her appearance, she doesn't seem like a bad person."

"Who are those people who are chasing her?" Xiao Tianxing asked.

“She didn’t say, and I didn’t ask,” Zheng Yi said. “Everyone has their own secrets; if they don’t want to talk about it, don’t force them.”

"What if those people really do track us down here?" Chen Feng asked.

Zheng Yi was silent for a moment, then said, "If they really come after us, then send them away."

His tone was calm, but everyone could hear the murderous intent in it.

"Understood," Zheng Bowen nodded.

For the next two days, Su Wanqing stayed in the stone house to recuperate.

Her injuries healed quickly, thanks to Liu Ruyan's meticulous care. However, she never left the stone house and rarely spoke to anyone else.

Zheng Yi did not disturb her, but simply asked Liu Ruyan to bring her food and medicine every day.

He could sense that the woman had many worries, but she was unwilling to talk about them, and he wouldn't force her.

Early morning on the third day.

Zheng Yi was meditating outside the stone house when he suddenly opened his eyes.

He sensed a dangerous aura.

To the east of the barren wasteland, several figures were rapidly approaching. These people possessed powerful auras; the weakest was at the late Nascent Soul stage, and several had reached the Integration stage.

"They've arrived." Zheng Yi stood up, his expression grave.

"Patriarch, what's wrong?" Zheng Bowen sensed Zheng Yi's unusual behavior and came over to ask.

"Someone's coming," Zheng Yi said. "It should be the people who've been chasing Su Wanqing."

"What?!" Zheng Bowen's expression changed. "How did they find this place?"

“I don’t know,” Zheng Yi said, “but in any case, now that they’re here, they won’t be leaving alive.”

He turned to Zheng Hongzhi: "Activate the defensive formation and prepare for battle."

"Yes!" Zheng Hongzhi hurriedly ran to set up the formation.

Liu Ruyan emerged from the stone house, her face somewhat flustered: "Fellow Daoist Zheng, Miss Su said those people are here, and told us not to worry about her, that she'll leave on her own."

"Nonsense," Zheng Yi said coldly. "Where can she go in that state? Tell her to stay in the stone house and we'll handle things outside."

Liu Ruyan nodded and went back to tell Su Wanqing.

A moment later, the pursuers came into view.

There were seven people in total, led by a middle-aged man dressed in black robes. His aura was very strong, reaching the mid-stage of the Integration Realm, on par with Zheng Yi. Behind him were two cultivators at the early stage of the Integration Realm and four cultivators at the late stage of the Nascent Soul Realm.

"This is it." The man in black robes looked at the simple stone house before him, a cold smile playing on his lips. "That girl was indeed hiding here."

"Boss, who are these people?" one of his men asked.

"I don't know, probably just a wandering cultivator," the black-robed man said nonchalantly. "Let's kill him while we're at it, so we don't leave any survivors."

“Yes,” the men replied.

They marched toward the stone house, their demeanor menacing.

Zheng Yi led the group to meet them, blocking their path.

"Gentlemen, what brings you here?" Zheng Yi asked casually.

The man in black robes sized Zheng Yi up and down, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He discovered that this young man's cultivation was actually at the late stage of the Integration Realm, and his aura was unfathomable, clearly indicating that he was not an ordinary cultivator.

"Who are you?" the man in black robes asked.

"A random cultivator passing by," Zheng Yi said. "Are you looking for someone?"

“That’s right.” The man in black robes nodded. “The person we’re looking for should be with you. Hand her over, and I might spare your lives.”

“What if I say no?” Zheng Yi asked.

The man in the black robe's face darkened.

"Are you sure you want to go against us?" he said coldly. "Do you know who we are?"

“I don’t know, and I don’t want to know,” Zheng Yi said. “But there’s one thing I can tell you—that woman is someone we rescued, and we won’t hand her over to you.”

"Such arrogance," the man in black sneered. "Since that's the case, don't blame me for being impolite."

With a wave of his hand, his six subordinates attacked Zheng Yi and his group simultaneously.

"Ready for battle!" Zheng Yi gave the order.

Zheng Bowen, Xiao Tianxing, and Chen Feng stepped forward and blocked the four late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators. Zheng Hongzhi, meanwhile, controlled the formation from the rear, providing support for the group.

Zheng Yi himself then faced the two cultivators at the early stage of the Integration Realm.

"Time-Space Sword Technique - Freeze!"

He unleashed a sword strike, and the power of spacetime swept out, slowing down the movements of the two cultivators.

Taking advantage of their slowed movements, Zheng Yi flashed forward and appeared in front of one of them, thrusting his sword towards his throat.

The man was shocked and quickly raised his knife to block. However, his speed was slowed down, and he didn't have enough time to completely block the attack.

puff--

The sword tip pierced his shoulder, and blood gushed out.

"Ah—" he screamed and staggered backward.

Another cultivator at the early stage of the Integration Realm seized the opportunity to strike, slapping Zheng Yi in the back with a palm.

Zheng Yi was prepared and dodged the palm strike with a quick turn. At the same time, he swung his sword backhand, aiming for the man's waist and abdomen.

The man quickly dodged, but was still cut on the arm by the sword energy.

"This kid is incredibly strong!" The two early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes. (End of Chapter)