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The atmosphere darkened, heavy with tension, as the three elders stood apart, their gazes locked in a silent, murderous challenge. Bai Ling's disciples swiftly rallied behind her, their swords flashing in unison.

Elder Die's eyes, a tumultuous mix of emotions, fixed on Bai Ling. He took a step back, his fists clenched, as memories of his disciple's words echoed in his mind: "Senior Mo is dead." A pang of grief and disillusionment struck him.

Elder Xiao shot him a suspicious glance, while Elder Ming's eyes snapped toward him, her gaze sharp with calculation. She grasped her sword, determination burning in her eyes.

"What are you doing?" Elder Xiao demanded, confusion etched on his face.

Elder Ming's chuckle sent a shiver down Elder Die's spine. "No need for pretenses here," she said, her eyes glinting with malice. "Whoever claims her will control the Demon Sect and secure the leader's position!"

Elder Die's agitation and disappointment boiled over. His favorite disciple had given his life to protect the world, yet these power-hungry elders cared only for their own ambition, even if it meant fighting each other.

Elder Die approached Bai Ling, his sword sliding from its scabbard. "Leave first," he said, his voice low and even.

Bai Ling's gaze flicked toward him, a mix of curiosity and desolation in her eyes. The sudden shift in Elder Die's stance had caught her off guard.

The two elders, Elder Xiao and Elder Ming, exchanged wary glances, their eyes narrowing as they processed the unexpected turn of events.

"Great!" Elder Ming exclaimed, her voice dripping with malice. "Since we've all made our choices, let's fight to the death!"

Bai Ling's sigh was laced with resignation as she turned back to Elder Die. "You already know about Mo Yan's death, don't you?"

Elder Die nodded, his fists clenched in a silent vow. "You're the only one who can support Rouran now."

Bai Ling's gaze drifted toward the two elders, a hint of reluctance in her eyes. "What about you—"

"I have no regrets," Elder Die declared, his voice firm as the ancient mountains. "Mo Yan sacrificed himself to safeguard the citizens. As his shifu, I must honor his memory and persevere." A silent laugh escaped his lips, his grip on his sword tightening. "May our paths cross again in the afterlife."

Bai Ling nodded thoughtfully, her eyes gleaming with a hint of admiration. With a sudden burst of qingong, she vanished into the treetops, leaving her adversaries bewildered.

"Bai Ling!" Elder Ming shrieked, her face contorted in rage. She whirled toward Elder Die, her sword flashing in the fading light.

Elder Xiao, his face purple with fury, charged at Elder Ming with a battle cry. Elder Ming retaliated, her sword clashing with Elder Xiao's as they exchanged blows. Meanwhile, Elder Die faced off against Elder Xiao, their swords dancing in a deadly rhythm.

The disciples from the Demoness Sect surged forward, their movements fluid and synchronized as they assisted Elder Die. The disciples from the four sects, a formidable force, charged in from behind, their battle cries echoing through the forest.

The clash of steel on steel, the scent of blood and sweat, and the ancient trees' silent witness to the battle – all blended together to create a chaotic, yet eerily beautiful, tableau.

As the sunlight burst into the room, Su Ruo's eyes snapped open, her arm instinctively covering them to shield against the sudden brightness. She sat up with a start, her chest heaving as her breathing slowed. The blanket slipped down, exposing her shoulders, and she hastily pulled it back up to cover herself. Her gaze drifted toward her companions, but her mind was still reeling from the events of the previous night.

Memories of the intense encounter came flooding back, and her cheeks flushed with a mix of emotions. She ran her hands through her tangled hair, attempting to process her thoughts. As she slowly stood up, her eyes fell upon Xiao Fan's peaceful form. He was sleeping soundly, a sight that filled her with a pang of tenderness. His features, normally set in a stern expression, were relaxed, and his lips curled into a gentle smile.

Su Ruo's heart skipped a beat as she gazed at him. She had never seen him like this before, vulnerable and serene. A part of her felt guilty for leaving him, but she knew it was necessary. Her sect members and the people of Rouran were counting on her, and she couldn't let them down. This was the only way to slip away unnoticed, while he was still caught in the depths of slumber. With a quiet sigh, she turned to make her way out, her movements deliberate and silent.

She gently covered Xiao Fan with the blanket, her lips pursed in a mix of determination and trepidation. She swallowed hard, uncertainty gnawing at her heart. Would she survive this perilous journey? Yet, she knew she had to embark on it, no matter the cost.

With a deep breath, she grasped her hanfu and descended from the hideout, her sword at the ready. The streets, once deserted, now seemed eerily silent, as if the very atmosphere had been orchestrated to conceal hidden dangers. Her instincts screamed caution, and she heightened her guard, her senses on high alert.

Su Ruo walked slowly, her footsteps echoing through the stillness, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of movement. Minutes ticked by, the silence oppressive, yet she pressed on, her resolve unwavering.

Su Ruo halted at the end of West Street, her gaze darting upward, anticipating potential threats. Suddenly, five Blood Venom Puppets sprang into view, charging toward her with menacing growls. Her anxiety spiked as she scanned her surroundings for an escape route.

With a swift motion, Su Ruo raised her sword to block the puppets' assault. Their collective force sent her stumbling backward, but she gritted her teeth, maintaining her defensive stance. As more Blood Venom Puppets emerged from the shadows, Su Ruo's situation grew increasingly dire. Time was running out, and the chaos only seemed to attract more puppets, their twisted forms crawling out of the darkness.

A swift blade sliced through the air, paralyzing the three puppets that had Su Ruo at bay. The puppets crumpled to the ground, lifeless, as Xiao Zhan emerged from the shadows.

Without hesitation, he pulled Su Ruo to safety and scattered a powder into the air. The powder diffused rapidly, neutralizing the remaining puppets.

Su Ruo leaned against the wall, her chest heaving with exhaustion. "Are you crazy?!" he exclaimed, his eyes wide with alarm.

Su Ruo's expression remained resolute. "No, this is my duty. I must protect the people with my skills. I won't hide while innocent lives are lost daily."

Xiao Zhan's gaze faltered, her voice barely above a whisper. "What about Xiao Fan?"

Her eyes locked onto Xiao Zhan's, a mix of determination and desperation burning within them. "They need you more than I do. Leave."

Xiao Zhan's eyes fell, his silence a testament to his understanding. He revealed the chemicals he had thrown into the air, a subtle smile on his lips.

"It seems I couldn't convince you," he said, his voice laced with a hint of resignation. "Promise me you'll return safely."

Su Ruo's fists clenched, a silent vow forming on her lips.

As Xiao Zhan finished speaking, he pressed the chemicals into Su Ruo's hands, his lips folding into a anxious line. She nodded, a faint smile flickering across his face. Despite the trials they had faced, he had grown, and Su Ruo knew his father would be proud.

A harsh reality settled in: the sect wouldn't come to their rescue, prioritizing their own survival and power struggles over aiding their members. Su Ruo's gamble relied on Zhao Yun's swiftness, a desperate attempt to alleviate her guilt for abandoning her sect.

Her survival depended on Zhao Yun's timely arrival. With a resolute nod, Xiao Zhan turned away, disappearing into the streets with his agile movements.

Su Ruo inhaled deeply, clutching her sword and the powder Xiao Zhan had handed her. The die had been cast; there was no turning back. It was now or never.

Su Ruo moved with deliberate slowness, her eyes locked on the puppets as she navigated in the opposite direction. She knew that engaging them in combat would be futile, and her priority was to warn the others ahead. Even if she managed to survive a fight, she'd be left drained and vulnerable to the other puppets lurking in the city.

The powder Xiao Zhan had given her was a precious resource, but it wouldn't be enough to neutralize the entire city's puppet threat. Caution was paramount. She edged along the walls, her footsteps measured and precise.

Night was descending, dark clouds heavy with rain looming ominously. Time was running out. Su Ruo's mind seethed with frustration – what were the Rouran leaders thinking, leaving their city so exposed to attacks? She could only provide assistance with their cooperation, and she knew just how to do it.

Su Ruo's eyes snapped upward, and she sprinted toward the streets. With agile movements, she leapt onto the rooftops, planting a bomb on the surface. The explosion sent the puppets into a frenzy, drawing them toward the commotion.

As the puppets closed in, Su Ruo jumped down, watching with a calculated gaze as they pursued her. Suddenly, a cold blade pressed against her shoulder, and she chuckled.

"Who are you, and what's your game?" she asked, her voice laced with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

Slowly, she turned to face a young man dressed in elegant attire, his bearing unmistakably royal.

"You're one of the Rouran princes," Su Ruo stated, her eyes narrowing. "Despite being tasked with protecting the citizens, you're hiding instead, leaving innocent lives to perish. Since you're so desperate to preserve your own life while ignoring your duty to safeguard the people, we'll all face death together once the puppets converge on this chaos."

The young man sneered, his eyes darting around cautiously as the puppets closed in, their murderous gazes fixed on them. "Whoever orchestrated this attack is ruthless. Why would I court death by counterattacking?"

Su Ruo chuckled once more, pushing him away so they faced each other. "Then why have you been tailing us since we entered the city gates? This doesn't seem like a mere puppet show, or am I mistaken?"

The young man's laughter was fleeting, followed by a nod. "The Emperor is too self-serving to lead an army himself. The Blood Venom Army is a formidable force; defeating them would require 90% of his soldiers and drain the treasury to feed them. Since this city holds little importance to him, he sent only a handful of us. Most of my companions are dead, and several fled in the chaos. I'm the sole survivor of his secret army."

He paused, his eyes locking onto Su Ruo's. "Looking at how easily the army infiltrated, I'm certain the city's blueprint has been compromised. Meaning, he sent us to our deaths without any promise of reinforcements. And do you know why I'm sharing this with you?"

Su Ruo's lips curled into a knowing smile as she sighed, "After witnessing your comrades fall one by one and being abandoned by those you trusted, it's clear you crave revenge."

The young man's eyes narrowed, impressed. "You possess a sharp tongue and keen senses for a girl."

Su Ruo sheathed her sword, adjusting her stance beside him, ready to face the approaching puppets. "Well, this girl is about to become your lifesaver."

With a deep breath, they charged forward in unison, cutting down the puppets with ruthless efficiency. Each slaughter was a testament to their desperation, as if their very lives hung in the balance. Hours blurred together, their bodies bearing the scars of the relentless battle – cuts, bruises, and scratches inflicted by the puppets amidst the chaos.

Su Ruo slumped back, her chest heaving with exhaustion. "At this rate, we'll never make it out alive."

The young man, equally drained from their hour-long defense, looked up at her with a mixture of desperation and curiosity. "So, what do you propose?"

Su Ruo's gaze swept the surroundings before focusing on the powder in her hand. "The puppets are sensitive to sound. If we plant bombs strategically across the city and evacuate, we can eliminate them all."

The young man's eyes widened in shock. "Evacuate? Bomb the city? This is their home, where they've spent their entire lives."

Su Ruo knew he was right. Displacing the citizens would leave them without a home, and she understood the pain of homelessness all too well. Yet, survival took precedence over sentiment. It was better to sacrifice their homes than their lives.

With a resolute breath, Su Ruo stood tall behind him. "Do you trust me?"

As he looked around at the hungry puppets closing in, he turned to Su Ruo with a resolute nod. "In all four directions, the east is the most treacherous. The city's eastern gate opens onto the Blood Venom Alley, a narrow passage lined with cramped stalls and residences. Countless puppets lie in wait, their numbers swelling with every step. The alley's winding path and dark recesses make it a perfect ambush point. It's impossible to penetrate without being overwhelmed."

Su Ruo parried an incoming puppet's attack, her eyes locked onto the young man as he continued.

"The west, adjacent to the Imperial Capital, is likely under the Emperor's personal guard. The walls are reinforced with watchtowers and patrolled by elite soldiers. The Imperial Avenue, lined with majestic temples and government offices, stretches from the western gate to the Imperial Palace. The Emperor's guard would not hesitate to strike down anyone suspected of treason. Installing bombs there would be suicidal."

"What about the North and South?" Su Ruo asked, her eyes narrowing as she contemplated their next move.

"The North is covered in heavy snow, with the Frozen Silk Road stretching across its entirety," the young man replied, his voice painting a vivid picture of the landscape. "The road is lined with ancient, snow-covered trees and icy ditches. The puppets are numerous, but the harsh weather limits their mobility. However, the same weather conditions will also hinder our progress."

Su Ruo nodded thoughtfully, her gaze shifting to the South. "And the South?"

"The South is similarly snow-covered, with the Qing River flowing through its center," the young man explained. "The river's icy waters and steep banks will provide some natural barriers against the puppets. However, the snow-covered rooftops and narrow alleys of the South's residential districts will require careful navigation."

Su Ruo's eyes sparkled with determination as she began to allocate their tasks. "You take the North, since you're familiar with the terrain. I'll take the South, which is closer to Qing..."

Her voice trailed off as a disoriented, frail-looking man stumbled into view, interrupting her. "I'll take the West."

"Elder Yu?" Su Ruo's voice was laced with a mix of surprise and wariness.

"Your brother is still alive," Elder Yu stated, his eyes gleaming with a hint of determination. "So I'll cover the West."

Su Ruo's fists clenched, her mind racing with the implications. Her intuition had been correct – Lu Zhao Yun was indeed her long-lost brother, Yu Chen.

The young man's gaze narrowed as he scrutinized Elder Yu, before turning to Su Ruo. "And who is he? Never mind, more hands are welcome."

Su Ruo's face set in a resolute expression, her voice firm. "He isn't with me, and we don't need his help."

Elder Yu's eyes seemed to bore into Su Ruo's soul, his voice low and mysterious. "And what if I told you that's precisely what your shifu, Elder Jing, intended?"

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