"Hmm! Then let's split up and get to work now."

The two struck an agreement and busied themselves with their respective tasks.

Lin Yifan walked out confidently, while Xiaofang snuck into the woods and laid in ambush.

When footsteps approached from ahead, the Tian Family guards stationed at the pavilion immediately turned at the sound and then spotted Lin Yifan.

At that moment, the guard from the Divine Transformation First Realm Early Stage who had attacked Lin Yifan during the Yanjing night auction immediately reported to a man lounging on the beauty's recliner in the pavilion, "Brother Zhong! That's the kid who bullied Master Tian Ji, causing him to lose face."

The guard known as Brother Zhong frowned slightly, then looked arrogantly ahead to see what kind of strength the Wudang Sect disciple who had allegedly embarrassed Tian Ji in public actually possessed.

Lin Yifan moved with such lightness in his step, each one as if he were stepping on clouds, effortlessly floating along.

"This man's qinggong is impressive, likely superior to mine," the guard named Brother Zhong murmured to himself.

This was his first instinct upon laying eyes on Lin Yifan. If it were him, he definitely couldn't achieve the realm of lotus-like footsteps that Lin Yifan displayed.

It's just a pity that Lin Yifan's realm was too low to truly manifest lotus blossoms with his steps; otherwise, he wouldn't even know how Lin Yifan had arrived.

Besides that, Lin Yifan appeared calm and composed, without the slightest hint of fear, making him even more vigilant. Lin Yifan didn't seem to be here to die but rather to take them down.

He absolutely wouldn't allow such a thing to happen, so he instructed everyone present to stay alert and guard against enemy strikes. Meanwhile, he had the guard from the Divine Transformation First Realm Early Stage draw his weapon and take Xiaolian hostage.

His cautiousness was also to ensure nothing went wrong.

His realm was at the Divine Transformation First Realm Middle Stage, the highest among all present, which is why all the guards looked to him for orders and obeyed his commands.

Lin Yifan hadn't expected that trying to quicken his pace would make the Tian Family guards in the pavilion more vigilant; had he known, he would have walked with his usual gait.

Now that the enemy's alertness was heightened, it would be even harder for Xiaofang to make a move.

"Damn it, are these people idiots? I'm here alone; why are they so nervous, so afraid of me?" Lin Yifan was speechless inside.

He then quickened his steps and arrived at the pavilion.

"Let go of my sister!"

His expression unchanged and calm, he seemed unafraid of anything.

"Are you the bastard who made our young master Tian Ji slap his own face and curse himself as an idiot in public?" Brother Zhong asked.

"That's right! No mistake!" Lin Yifan replied indifferently, his face remaining ripple-free.

"If that's the case, then tie yourself up and stand still over there without moving, letting me deal with you," Brother Zhong said, getting straight to the point to avoid further trouble.

At this moment, Xiaolian bound to the pillar shook her head urgently, making "mm-mm" noises with a look of distress.

She would rather face trouble herself than let her brother be harmed; and she also realized one thing: even if Lin Yifan were to die, she might not survive either. In that case, it was better to let Lin Yifan enact a massacre and avenge her.

It's a pity that she can't speak now, her mouth being sealed shut. She's unable to persuade Lin Yifan.

Lin Yifan was not unaware of this problem; it's just that he couldn't bear to abandon his own sister. Moreover, he'd come with the intention to rescue her and didn't want his sister to suffer any harm.

"Very well!" Lin Yifan readily answered, "But I don't have a rope, so I can't bind myself."

"I've already prepared one for you! Take it!" Having said that, Brother Zhong threw the rope that was resting on the beauty's lean-to over to Lin Yifan for him to bind himself.

He hadn't coerced Lin Yifan into suicide, because doing so would pose a slight risk; with a suicide weapon at hand, Lin Yifan could easily deceive them and launch a counterattack. Therefore, to kill Lin Yifan without a fuss, it was better to let him bind himself - that way, even if he resisted, it would be in vain.

Lin Yifan caught the rope and hesitated for a moment.

He was in a dilemma now because binding himself meant he would be unable to resist. That would make it easy for the enemy to kill him, in other words 'to willingly walk into the trap.'

But, he had no choice; because Xiao Lian was being held by two people, and both daggers were positioned at the most dangerous spots on her body. Any sign of defiance from him could push Xiao Lian into a point of no return.

Now, all he could do was entrust his life to Xiao Fang.

Xiao Fang lay in ambush in the shadows, believing she wouldn't stand idly by.

Seeing Lin Yifan not reacting for a long time, Brother Zhong urged impatiently, "What are you dawdling for? Hurry up, our patience has its limits."

"What's the rush? It's not you who's about to be killed, so of course you don't care," Lin Yifan rolled his eyes and then grabbed one end of the rope. He spun in the air on the spot, rapidly winding the rope around his body.

After landing, he had bound himself.

Then he said, "Come on! Avenge your toad-like young master."

"Hmph! You think we wouldn't dare?" Brother Zhong snorted coldly. Then he drew his sword and leaped into the air, aiming at Lin Yifan's heart.

Actually, in his heart, he still harbored some concerns because Lin Yifan had never shown the slightest hint of panic from beginning to end. This made it impossible for him to fathom Lin Yifan's thoughts.

Logically, at this moment, in this state, most people would be panicked and anxious; but not Lin Yifan, who showed not a trace of fear, eerie and mysterious.

Moreover, someone as clever as Lin Yifan should have known that even if he died, he wouldn't be able to save his sister. So why did he still walk into death? Could it really be familial affection that compelled him?

However, Lin Yifan had already bound himself; even if he were a Great Luo Celestial, he could not change the outcome. That's why Brother Zhong drew his sword to assassinate Lin Yifan.

Watching this scene, Xiao Lian felt so anxious tears came out. She wanted to scold her brother for being a complete fool.

To rescue her yet sacrificing his life, and to still let the enemy get away scot-free, such act was the height of folly. She couldn't understand why her smart brother would do such a thing. The only explanation she could find was that her brother loved her and didn't want anything bad to happen to her.

At that moment, her heart was touched with a mix of affection, guilt, self-reproach, and a blend of complex emotions.

She had always troubled her brother, blamed him, bullied him, and talked back to him. And now, her brother was risking his own life for her salvation, which made her feel an intense guilt; she felt that she wouldn't even have the face to meet her brother on the Netherworld Road.

"Brother! Why are you so foolish?" Xiao Lian's tears fell down in streams, her heart aching unbearably.

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