The shrill screams of Brock behind them terrified Tang San and Titan into near death.
They were staunch straight men; if they were caught, they'd never be able to face anyone again.
"Why is Xu Ran unharmed? Clearly, Xu Ran is now the most delicious target for the Huanhuan Yuan. What kind of sorcery has Xu Ran used?" Tang San cursed under his breath, his heart in complete disarray.
Why won't the Huanhuan Yuan go after Xu Ran, instead choosing to chase them?
Where had the plan gone wrong?
This was unbelievable!
"Teacher, I'm sorry, I can't help you right now. Just wait, I'll think of a way to rescue you soon. If we both get captured, we're really done for." Tang San ran for his life as the soul beasts behind him also rapidly closed in, ready to catch up any moment. He hastily employed his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.
"San'er, don't leave your teacher behind—they're terrifying, they're ripping my clothes apart!" Brock's voice was filled with despair, and tears of blood flowed from his eyes. He now deeply regretted ever provoking Xu Ran. Was Xu Ran even someone they could meddle with?
Once Xu Ran left, they could proceed safely to Martial Soul Hall, with the aid of the precious Dong'er. Then, they would be able to effectively target Xu Ran.
But now it was too late. Instead of ensnaring Xu Ran, his own fate was hanging by a thread.
The thought of how he had sneered when he first saw the group of Huanhuan Yuan rushing toward Xu Ran, and now, unable to even muster a smile, all he wanted to do was cry.
O heavens, O earth, come save me.
Brock had already suffered enough—could his fate still get any worse?
"Teacher, don't panic, I will come to rescue you," Tang San said to soothe Brock, but his body devoutly continued sprinting away.
"Young Master, you go on ahead, I'll hold them off for you." Seeing the situation, Titan unleashed his Martial Soul, revealing a huge figure even more terrifying than the group of Huanhuan Yuan.
"Alright, Titan, hold them off. Once I'm out, I will avenge you. I'll go to the Soul Hall and get Aunt Dong to save you," Tang San said, confident that if Bi Bidong found out how terribly Brock was bullied by Xu Ran, she would be enraged and take action against Xu Ran. That would be the end of Xu Ran.
Even now, the thought of killing Brock himself had crossed his mind.
The death of Brock would no doubt cause a fury in Bi Bidong and even the Martial Soul Hall, aligning perfectly with his plan.
Yet, as soon as this thought surfaced, he suppressed it. With Brock influencing Bi Bidong, he could remain the Saint Heir and continue to receive Bi Bidong's favor. For now, he couldn't afford to lose Brock.
Although he had pushed the thought aside, it did not extinguish. If a suitable opportunity arose to kill Brock and frame Xu Ran, it seemed a brilliant plan.
"Ahh!" Tang San's contemplation was interrupted by a shrill scream. Looking back, he saw Titan being dragged away by three soul beasts, his disheveled appearance instilled deep fear in him.
Dammit, Titan was so strong and yet he too had been captured?
What happened to buying him time?
This was undoubtedly Xu Ran's doing.
"Xu Ran, it's you, it's all your doing?" Tang San panted as he fled, his gaze filling with anger upon seeing Xu Ran's silhouette in the distance.
Pain continuously shot through his back, the claws of soul beasts tearing at him with every step, shredding his robe. Yet each time the soul beasts got close, he would burst ahead, breaking free from them.
In just a short while, he was gasping for breath, sweating profusely.
In this moment, he felt so miserable. He, Tang San, a genius with Twin Martial Souls, was subjected to such torment.
And all of it was Xu Ran's fault.
"Xu Ran, please help me, I will never oppose you again."
"Quick, help me escape, I really can't run anymore." If it weren't for the screams of Titan and Brock spurring him on from behind, he would have truly collapsed by now.
Although his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track was powerful, the soul beasts had adopted a rotating battle strategy, relentlessly pursuing him. This kind of tactic was used too skillfully by them, and it filled him with fear. If caught, would he also suffer the torment of their rotating strategy?
So, at this moment, all he wanted was to ask Xu Ran for help.
Only Xu Ran could help him.
Xu Ran stood not far from him, but that group of soul beasts was merely chasing after him, completely ignoring Xu Ran.
Xu Ran must be hiding something that kept the soul beasts at bay. Just now, when so many soul beasts came to trample Xu Ran, he had driven them away, so Xu Ran definitely had a way to save him.
"Xu Ran, if you don't speak up, I'll take your silence as consent. I'll run over to your place for some shelter from the storm," Tang San said, seeing Xu Ran remaining silent, he immediately ran towards Xu Ran's position.
Face is important, but is it as important as dignity?
If he were caught by that group of soul beasts, he would have no dignity left. And a face can't be eaten as food.
"Huff."
"Huff."
Tang San was gasping for breath, and only when he got to Xu Ran's side did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.
To his astonishment, when he got close to Xu Ran, the group of soul beasts indeed stopped chasing him, staying far away as if frightened by something.
"Indeed, there's something on Xu Ran that the soul beasts fear," Tang San thought in shock, but more than that, he was relieved; as long as he stayed close to Xu Ran, his dignity was safe.
"Brother Xu, long time no see. I don't know what happened today, but the soul beasts have gone berserk, it's terrifying," Tang San said with a sheepish smile, greeting Xu Ran and trying to dissociate himself from the whole affair.
"Hmm," Xu Ran glanced at Tang San indifferently. His face was really too thick; how could he not know why the soul beasts were acting like they were in heat?
"Brother Xu, don't look at me like that. I've given you Xiaowu and my cousin. See how good I am to you. Xiaowu, Xiangxiang, they're not bad, right?" Tang San's heart was bleeding, but he was still forced to say things that would please Xu Ran. He was afraid that Xu Ran might slip away and leave him behind, then he would have to face the pursuit of the group of soul beasts again.
"They are quite capable. But my women are those I've chased down myself; they have nothing to do with you," Xu Ran said calmly, twisting Tang San's collar.
"Brother Xu, let's talk nicely, gentlemen use their mouths and not their hands," Tang San shrank his neck, feeling that Xu Ran's look was a bit scary, causing him an involuntary shiver.
"There's nothing much to talk about between us, let me give you a lift," Xu Ran said indifferently, picking up Tang San like a small chicken, and then throwing him into the distance.
"Ah!"
In the air, Tang San cried out in panic, not expecting Xu Ran to be so heartless, just tossing him into the pile of soul beasts. This was even worse than running away by himself!
"Xu Ran, I hate you, you'll not die a good death."
"When I get to the Martial Soul Hall and find Aunt Dong, I will make you pay the price!"
Clinging to a tree, Tang San refused to let go, even as two soul beasts grabbed his legs and dragged him forcefully.
"Ah, ah, ah!"
"Xu Ran, the grievances I suffer today, I will surely make you pay back tenfold, a hundredfold another day. I'm already a Level Fifty-Five Soul King, and with a bit more cultivation, I'll surpass you," Tang San's eyes were filled with despair, and the tree he was clinging to was uprooted, leaving him no choice but to be dragged away step by step by the soul beasts.
Afterward, a series of mournful screams followed.
"Why create trouble for yourself? Isn't it fine not to plot against me? Isn't it self-inflicted?" Xu Ran, hearing the screams, felt a chill in his chrysanthemum and shuddered.