Bai Zhanchen waved his hand, "No need for more words. But I have one request: don't let me die at Bai Zhen's hands. If possible, I would rather die at Xiaoqing's hands."
Before Xiaoqing could speak, Bai Zhanchen continued, "Bai Zhen is naturally suspicious and will never let this news leak. After I die, you must leave the Bai family; otherwise, you might not have a good end either."
With that, Bai Zhanchen extended his hands, "You can act now."
"You're foolish!" At this moment, Lin He, who was restrained, shouted in surprise, "She wants to take your life, yet you treat her like this. How can there be a fool like you in this world?!"
Although he said this, Lin Hao did not see it the same way. Bai Zhanchen was not foolish but rather very smart.
He knew that Xiaoqing still had feelings for him, and his current actions were aimed at expanding this affection to seek a way out. Moreover, even if Xiaoqing really acted, Bai Zhanchen had ways to protect himself.
"Master… you go…" Xiaoqing's right arm holding the sword dropped.
"How will you explain to Bai Zhen if you let me live?" Bai Zhanchen asked.
"Let it be as fate wills." Xiaoqing shook her head, finding that she could not bring herself to act.
"Good… take care!" Bai Zhanchen gave Lin Hao a look, and the three immediately fled forward.
...
"Bai Zhanchen is indeed a capable man, understanding people's hearts and their weaknesses, and acting decisively to win." On the way, Lin Hao couldn't help but praise.
Xiaoqing was a woman who valued emotions; otherwise, she wouldn't have mentioned Bai Zhen's great favor to her. Bai Zhanchen precisely targeted her weakness and succeeded.
Bai Zhanchen looked at Lin Hao, "The Bai family has been in open and covert struggles for years, with complex power dynamics. With Bai Zhen in power, if I don't remain patient, I will only meet a dead end. But leaving the Bai family leaves me with a sense of不甘 (unwillingness). I didn't expect Bai Zhen to plant spies around me, and today I almost involved the two of you. I apologize."
"Turns out you were just pretending?" Lin He, who was slow to realize, couldn't see how this playboy had such a deep mind.
Hearing this, Bai Zhanchen shook his head. It wasn't pretense but self-protection.
"Brother Lin Hao is also not simple," Bai Zhanchen replied. His disguise could be seen through by Lin Hao, which was unbelievable.
Lin Hao didn't say much but asked, "You are the third son of the Bai family. Don't you have your own power base? Why would Bai Zhen dare to send people to kill you?"
Hearing this, Bai Zhanchen shook his head. Over the years, he had thought about secretly developing his own power, but the few elders in the family were already behind Bai Zhen. Only one steward supported him, but it wasn't much help.
"My father is already old and has failed several times to break through to a new realm. He will likely pass away soon. Almost half of the Bai family's power is behind Bai Zhen, and the rest are on the side of my second sister and fourth sister." Bai Zhanchen shook his head. Perhaps from the beginning, he made a wrong move by being patient and not trusting anyone, which led to this situation.
Although he said this, Lin Hao didn't see it the same way. If Bai Zhanchen hadn't been patient until now, he might have already been secretly killed by Bai Zhen.
It was only because Bai Zhen was naturally suspicious and had planted Xiaoqing by his side long ago, gradually discovering Bai Zhanchen's patience, that they faced such a crisis today.
At this moment, the three had already fled dozens of miles away, and the people sent by Bai Zhen were gradually approaching, their momentum not diminishing, and they were still locking onto the three of them.
"I wonder how Xiaoqing is doing…" Lin He said.
"She killed Chen Wu, and her death is not a pity. Such a person is only a disaster." Bai Zhanchen snorted coldly.
Lin He agreed. If not for Xiaoqing, he and Lin Hao wouldn't have suffered this unjust disaster, accompanying Bai Zhanchen in his escape, which was truly unfair.
"Go to the Tianrang Mountains!" Lin Hao suggested. They were already at the entrance to the Tianrang Mountains. If they didn't enter, they would face an endless plain with no place to hide.
Hearing this, Bai Zhanchen also nodded in agreement. The Tianrang Mountains had many hiding places and even high-level beasts and demons, which were dangerous but equally so for the martial artists sent by Bai Zhen.
The three leaped forward, instantly entering the Tianrang Mountains.
This area was the outer part of the mountains, with many ordinary beasts. If they encountered a king-level ordinary beast, they might not survive. If they encountered a mid-level beast, the seven martial artists sent by Bai Zhen would also be doomed.
It was extremely dangerous for everyone, and Lin Hao didn't dare to go too deep, only staying in the outermost part.
"Separate." Lin Hao suddenly turned around and looked at Bai Zhanchen and Lin He.
Separate?!
Lin He was stunned. At this moment, the three together were the safest. If they split up, wouldn't they be quickly picked off one by one?!
Bai Zhanchen said, "It's fine… the three of us together would easily alarm the beasts. Let's separate for now. They won't be able to do anything to me for a while."
"Master Bai, you're not even a match for me, and you still say this?" Lin He's expression was displeased.
"He has a treasure-grade spirit body. If he uses its power, it is indeed formidable… I can act alone and just need to delay for an hour." Lin Hao looked at the two, having his own plan.
It wasn't as Bai Zhanchen said, that more people would attract beasts. Lin Hao's plan was to pick off the martial artists one by one.
If the seven were together, Lin Hao would have no chance to fight, especially since Bai Zhanchen's guard, Chen Hu, was dead, and Xiaoqing had betrayed him, making the situation even more dangerous.
This was the only hope, and Lin Hao had to do it.
"Go." Lin Hao waved his hand, and the three fled in different directions.
Several miles away, seven black-clothed martial artists suddenly stopped. The leader wore a black robe, a black hood, and a black sword on his back, blending into the darkness.
"Sir, Bai Zhanchen and the two boys have split up. What should we do?" A black-clothed martial artist asked.
"Hmph, that woman dared to betray Master Bai Zhen. Otherwise, we wouldn't have to do this…" The hooded swordsman's eyes glowed with malice. "Master Bai Zhen said that anyone related to Bai Zhanchen must be eliminated, including the two Lin family disciples. Split up and pursue them!"
With a cold snort, the seven instantly turned into shadows, chasing in different directions.
...
At this moment, Lin Hao was darting through the mountains, his figure light and graceful, pushing the Cloud Wind Step to its limit. His speed rivaled that of a sixth-level spirit body martial artist of the second gate!
Soon, Lin Hao leaped onto a giant tree, minimizing his aura.
Soon, a sound came from ahead, the sound of leaping footsteps.
"Huh… how did that boy's aura disappear?!" A black-clothed martial artist exclaimed in surprise.
"Strange, it was there before, but now it's gone. What trick is he using?"
"Hmph, just a fourth-level spirit body. His speed can't be that fast. He must be hiding, using some method to conceal his aura!"
Although the three wore black veils, their eyes were filled with killing intent.
No matter what, they had to kill Bai Zhanchen and the two Lin family disciples in the Tianrang Mountains. Otherwise, if this news spread, Bai Zhen wouldn't let them off.
The three black-clothed martial artists, sensing something amiss, didn't leave in a hurry but searched the area for Lin Hao.
Lin Hao held his breath, hiding at the top of the tree, motionless. Below were three sixth-level spirit body martial artists. If he appeared, he had only a thirty percent chance of a draw.
He still had some illusion powder, but he couldn't waste it on these people; it had other uses.
At this moment, he took out a flying knife from his waist. Lin Hao's eyes were like a lurking wolf, ready to pounce.
Lin Hao planned to ambush, aiming for a one-hit kill. Using the flying knife would expose his position, and if he failed to kill one, his situation would become very dangerous.
For this, Lin Hao used the power of his spirit body, the flying knife shimmering with a cold light. He controlled the knife with his divine sense, locking onto one of the black-clothed martial artists.
At the same time, one of the black-clothed martial artists suddenly turned around, his face changing in shock as he felt a powerful divine sense lock onto him, like a lurking beast.
Kill!
Whoosh!
The flying knife shot forward like a rainbow, slicing through the air, leaving a trail of blood. The knife's momentum was like a raging dragon, the wind howling, and cold ripples spreading.
At this moment, the black-clothed martial artist finally regained his senses. The flying knife was so fast that it was hard to see with the naked eye, only a white blur.
He was terrified, his mind disturbed by the sudden change, and instinctively retreated.
He retreated, but the flying knife moved forward, their speeds not on the same level!
When the cold light was almost upon him, the black-clothed martial artist finally saw the gleaming flying knife!
His pupils dilated, his body tilting, trying to dodge to the left, but he couldn't move faster than the knife.
With a thud, the flying knife pierced the black-clothed martial artist's forehead, then penetrated his head.
In an instant, the black-clothed martial artist's body swayed, a large wound on his forehead, and he fell like a pile of mud, dead.
Seeing his success, Lin Hao breathed a sigh of relief. He had a plan to deal with the remaining two black-clothed martial artists.
...
"Damn, you're asking for death!" One of them looked at the giant tree, shouting in anger, his figure flashing, leaping several meters high, and striking the tree with a palm.
With a loud boom, like a thunderclap, the giant tree was shattered, wood chips and leaves floating in the air like snow in March.
Lin Hao's figure was light, like a cloud or wind, slowly descending to the ground. He scanned the two black-clothed martial artists, his expression unchanged.
"Lin family's boy, your skill with hidden weapons is so profound?!"
The two were amazed. A fourth-level spirit body of the second gate using hidden weapons to kill a sixth-level spirit body!
Of course, they knew this was due to the ambush. The black-clothed martial artist who was killed had no defense and was caught off guard.