Step by Step Ascend to Immortality

Chapter 20: Chapter 21 Reasons

The situation was growing more perilous by the minute.

Overhead, hawks circled the skies, their sharp cries piercing the air, while the Pang family's hunting dogs prowled below, barking madly. Occasionally, a scout would appear on a distant hill before vanishing from sight, only to be followed by the ominous whistle of an arrow cutting through the air.

Despite these dangers, Du Yunlong was well-acquainted with the treacherous terrain of the Falling Star Mountain. Although Wang Zihan moved slowly, Du expertly navigated the rugged landscape, repeatedly leading them to safety through the enemy's relentless blockade.

As they moved, Du Yunlong remarked, "I shouldn't have discarded that sedan chair. It would have spared Miss Wang some of this hardship. That was my mistake. From now on, we must stay vigilant for those hawks flying low—they're the deadliest threat."

Wang Zihan glanced up at the sky, now empty of hawks, thanks to the cover provided by a dense forest. She didn't fully grasp Du Yunlong's concern about low-flying hawks, but she trusted his judgment implicitly.

"Understood! Fire Qianshu, follow his lead!" she ordered.

Fire Qianshu nodded, understanding Du's reasoning. "The Pang family's hawks skimming low... That signals an imminent attack. They're hardest to detect and often trail us closely."

Just as Du Yunlong was about to respond, a sudden burst of barking erupted ahead. Two fierce black hunting dogs appeared out of nowhere, leaping over a bush straight at him.

Fire Qianshu instinctively raised his meteor hammer, but before he could act, Du Yunlong surged forward, his hands moving with blinding speed. In a flash, he grabbed the two ferocious dogs, slamming them together mid-air. With a quick toss, he flung them aside, unconscious but unharmed. "Keep moving! Now!" he shouted.

Impressed, Wang Zihan marveled at Du Yunlong's restraint in not killing the dogs. Fire Qianshu, equally amazed, grinned and said, "That was impressive, Du. Truly impressive. Let's go!"

The group picked up their pace, but they had only gone a few hundred steps when the barking resumed. This time, Du Yunlong's hand shot up, a white flash streaked through the air, and a distant yelp followed. A small black shape fell from the sky—a low-flying hawk that had been trailing them.

Without pausing to celebrate, Du Yunlong called out, "There's a deep ravine up ahead, about 300 feet across. It's hidden by tall grass. We'll go that way!"

They descended into the ravine, where the tall grass and dense undergrowth blocked out nearly all sunlight. Wang Zihan could barely see a thing and had to rely on the sound of Du Yunlong's footsteps to guide her.

The strenuous journey was taking its toll on her. Sweat soaked her clothes, and she wondered when she had become so disheveled. But she quickly dismissed the thought, focusing instead on the unique experience she was sharing with the man ahead. "Du Yunlong, this is the first time I've ever done anything like this... Let's pick up the pace. Don't think I'm some fragile lady!"

Du Yunlong heard the barking of dogs, the cries of hawks, and even the sound of arrows slicing through the air, but he didn't stop. This secret path through the ravine, known to no one, not even Yu Changkong, could be their key to escaping the encirclement.

Outside, their enemies had lost track of Du Yunlong's group. They were frantically searching, unaware of the narrow ravine that was concealing them. Despite sending out wave after wave of hounds, they were no closer to finding Du Yunlong's trail.

This realization brought a sense of calm to Du Yunlong. He tightened his grip on the Tianlei Starfall Sword and pressed forward, determined and unstoppable. The enemy's shouts grew louder as they called out, "Du Yunlong, come out! Come out and face us!"

Du Yunlong ignored the voice of Ma Qianjun, keeping his head low and his focus sharp. Then, Ma Qianjun's voice boomed again, "Du Yunlong, do you know who this is? If you want Yu Changkong to live, come out! Come out now!"

"Yu Changkong?" Du Yunlong didn't break his stride, but Wang Zihan was suddenly reminded of the man who had brought Du maps, snacks, and other supplies. Though she had only met Yu once, she had sensed the unspoken bond between him and Du Yunlong. Now, a subtle pain gnawed at her heart.

The darkness in the ravine was absolute, and Wang Zihan could only make out the faint movement of Du Yunlong's shoulders. She wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. Then, a sharp, anguished cry pierced the air.

"Ah!"

It was Yu Changkong's voice. Du Yunlong recognized it instantly. There was no doubt—it was Uncle Changkong.

He stopped in his tracks, his heart wrenching at the sound of another muffled groan. He bit his lip hard, finally halting as he cautiously parted the grass at the top of the ravine. A sliver of sunlight broke through, momentarily blinding Wang Zihan, but her breath quickened as her eyes adjusted.

Her sharp vision quickly picked out Ma Qianjun and Pang Jiaolong on a hill just over a mile away, surrounded by dozens of elite fighters. Ma Qianjun was holding Yu Changkong by the collar, lifting him into the air with a sneer. "Du Yunlong, if you want Yu Changkong to live, come out! Come out now!"

Yu Changkong struggled desperately in midair, but he was no match for the Yuanlong Realm expert. His face grew darker with every passing moment as Ma Qianjun shook him violently, like a toy, roaring, "Du Yunlong, Du Yunlong, don't think you can hide forever. This is just the beginning! Do you know what 'lingchi' is?"

A blade flashed, and blood spurted from Yu Changkong's body, eliciting another cry of agony. Wang Zihan winced, unable to bear the sight, while Ma Qianjun bellowed, "I'll carve Yu Changkong to death, slice by slice. Let's see if you, Du Yunlong, can bear to watch your mentor and father figure die like this!"

Du Yunlong clenched his Tianlei Starfall Sword so tightly that blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. His eyes locked on the triumphant Ma Qianjun, ready to pounce like a leopard, but Ma Qianjun continued to taunt him, "Du Yunlong, get out here! Get out here now!"

"Get out here!"

Despite the furious shouting, the surroundings remained eerily quiet. Ma Qianjun made another slash, drawing a pained cry from Yu Changkong, a man as tough as iron.

Wang Zihan saw the tension in Du Yunlong's body and heard Fire Qianshu whisper urgently, "Yunlong, don't fall for it. We're no match for them!"

Wang Zihan knew the hill was swarming with elite warriors—martial artists and cultivators alike. With two Yuanlong Realm experts, Pang Jiaolong and Ma Qianjun, leading the charge, and several mid-to-late Qi Refinement experts among them, the odds were overwhelming. The Pang family's trained beasts and monstrous birds were a further threat, ensuring they stood little chance, even with Du Yunlong's Tianlei Starfall Sword.

But Wang Zihan placed a reassuring hand on Du Yunlong's shoulder, calming his intense emotions. "If you decide to fight your way out, then let's do it. I've never been a burden to anyone. Don't think I'm just a weak lady, even if you're just a servant!"

Du Yunlong gritted his teeth, slowly regaining control. After a deep breath, he sheathed his sword, plunging the ravine back into darkness. Then, Wang Zihan heard him say, "Let's keep moving."

Before she could respond, another heart-wrenching scream echoed through the ravine. "What about Uncle Changkong?" Wang Zihan asked, her voice trembling.

Du Yunlong's tone was unexpectedly calm. "My only priority now is to get you safely to Yuanzhou, Miss Wang. I owe you that much."

What he didn't say was, "I owe Uncle Changkong far more than I can ever repay."

The pitch-black ravine swallowed them once again, devoid of any light. Wang Zihan's heart grew colder as she followed Du Yunlong numbly. "I refuse to be your burden. If you want to fight your way out, then let's do it," she muttered to herself.

"Because to me, you matter more," Du Yunlong said softly, his voice filled with warmth. "I'm sorry, Uncle Changkong, but this is my choice."

"What are you talking about?" Wang Zihan's head drooped, her vision filled with darkness, but her cheeks flushed as Du Yunlong's unexpected confession caught her off guard. She wasn't sure how to respond.

"That's not fair to Uncle Changkong!" Wang Zihan protested. "I'm just your employer, but Uncle Changkong is your family! Give me a reason!"

"That's my Uncle Changkong!" Du Yunlong's voice was laced with deep pain.

"Give me a reason," Wang Zihan insisted. "It should be me bearing this responsibility, not you, a lowly servant!"

"If you want a reason... then it's for the woman I love most!" Du Yunlong