Chapter 169: Hu Yan, Snap Out of It

Yue Junxiao yelled, "Then hurry up! I don’t think the two of us can last much longer. Sang Mo is fighting to kill! When he gets back to his senses, I’m gonna make him stand still and let me hit him back!"

Considering Sang Mo’s personality, Yan Yichen couldn’t help but ask, "Are you sure it won’t be you standing still while he beats you up again?"

"PFFT—"

Yan Yichen’s expression changed. ’Sang Mo is ruthless!’

If this kept up, they’d be crippled by Sang Mo before they even got out of the Illusion Realm.

Yan Yichen quickly transformed into his beast form and flew into the air. Since brute force wasn’t working, his only option was to find a way to trap him.

He surveyed the Illusion Realm, then shouted, "Yue Junxiao, lead him into the forest!"

Yue Junxiao heard him, gritted his teeth, and dashed toward the forest.

Sang Mo was swift, snapping every tree in his path.

Watching from the sky as huge swaths of trees toppled below, Yan Yichen drew in a sharp breath. ’It suddenly occurred to him that Sang Mo was normally quite courteous to them!’

Yue Junxiao sprinted ahead, the sounds of destruction behind him terrifying him so much he didn’t dare slow down.

Lang Qiu racked his brain, replaying what he had just witnessed. When the ground shook, several spaces had seemed to merge into one for a few brief seconds.

’Assuming my space is in the center,’ he thought, ’Yan Yichen and Yue Junxiao appeared out of nowhere. But the scenery was like a page being turned—the mountain flipped down, revealing the forest.’

’And Yan Yichen appeared in roughly the same spot at the exact same time.’

’That must mean there’s a boundary right where they were standing.’

Clutching his Wolf Fang Club, Lang Qiu walked over to the spot where Yue Junxiao and Yan Yichen had stood.

He released his spiritual power, repeatedly probing the spot where they had stood. But he found no weakness. He wasn’t sure if his guess was wrong or if the Enchanting Heart Worms had already repaired the damage.

Just then, a continuous rumbling echoed from the forest. Lang Qiu pressed his lips together. Deciding to trust his gut, he channeled all of his spiritual power into his Wolf Fang Club and slammed it into the ground.

Once. Twice. Three times...

His strikes were fast and heavy.

While they struggled in the Illusion Realm, Hu Yan and his companions were not idle.

Zelda had practically turned the entire Main Star upside down but had found no one. The moment Hu Yan arrived on the Main Star, he rushed back without a moment’s rest.

Zelda was waiting at the entrance of Hu Yan’s private residence.

Seeing Zelda’s grim expression, completely devoid of his usual cheerfulness, Hu Yan felt his heart clench. He had a bad feeling, but he still asked, as if needing to hear it aloud, "Still no sign of them?"

Zelda shook his head, his lips pursed apologetically. "No, I’m sorry. If they hadn’t invaded my memories, this wouldn’t have happened."

Hu Yan just said, "Even without you, it would have been someone else."

With that, he strode forward, pushed the door open, and went inside.

The house was perfectly quiet. He scanned the room. It was just as Zelda had said—the entire residence showed no signs of a struggle.

Hu Yan took out the powder Bai Zhi had given him, a substance capable of revealing Illusion Insects. He used his spiritual power to disperse it, making sure it settled in every last corner of his home.

He waited a moment, but there was no reaction.

Still not giving up, he tried again, even putting on the special glasses that could see through Enchanting Heart Worms, but he still saw nothing.

This could only mean...

’It meant the Illusion Insects had already taken Bai Zhi and left.’

Hu Yan couldn’t help but clench his fists. ’I’m fine,’ he thought, ’which means Bai Zhi must be safe, at least for now.’

Just then, Hu Yan suddenly heard a familiar, clear voice call out, "Hu Yan."

He whipped his head toward the source of the sound. He saw Bai Zhi standing among the flowers, seemingly trimming them. Noticing his gaze, she immediately smiled and greeted him, "Hu Yan, you’re back."

Seeing Bai Zhi’s smiling face, a smile unconsciously touched Hu Yan’s lips, and he took a step toward her.

However, he had only taken a few steps when the scene before him vanished.

Hu Yan froze. He remembered then—she had been taken by the Illusion Insects. She wasn’t here.

He continued further into the house, only to see Bai Zhi again, this time curled up on the sofa. She held up a piece of fruit. "Hu Yan, this is so sweet! Do you want a bite?"

But just as he reached out his hand, the image dissipated once again.

Everywhere in Bai Zhi’s room were traces of their time together.

Suddenly, Bai Zhi’s clear voice once again called out, "Hu Yan~"

Then he heard her again, this time whispering shyly, "Hu Yan, be gentle..."

She cried out, both flustered and shy, "Hu Yan, retract your tail!"

Her voice, laced with suspicion yet a hint of anticipation, "Hu Yan, you’re so good at sweet-talking. Have you done this with many others?"

Her anxious voice, "Hu Yan, why did you give this mark to me? You should have given it to a female who could be of more help to you..."

"Hu Yan~"

"Hu Yan~"

Her voice, calling his name over and over, echoed in his ears. He saw flashes of her—pouting, shy, angry, flustered, anxious.

Suddenly, her figure appeared before him again. This time, she stood right in front of him, her eyes red-rimmed as she asked accusingly, "Hu Yan, you said you’d protect me, didn’t you? Why haven’t you found me yet?"

But when he reached out to touch her, she vanished, leaving him once again in the empty room.

Staring at the cold, empty room, Hu Yan’s heart felt as if it were being pierced by needles at the thought of the suffering she would endure in the clutches of the Insect Mother or Hu Ao.

Zelda watched Hu Yan’s strange movements with a puzzled look. "Hu Yan, what are you doing?"

Zelda’s voice yanked Hu Yan back to reality. "Zelda," he said, his voice hoarse, "I think I just saw her."

Zelda glanced around, confirming they were alone. "Hu Yan, snap out of it!"

Hu Yan clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on the spot where Bai Zhi’s image had vanished. "I’m perfectly clear-headed. I know what I’m doing, and I know where I need to go to find her."

Without another word, he turned and stormed out of the residence.

As if guessing his destination, Zelda immediately chased after him. "Hu Yan! Calm down! If you go there now, are you planning on handing him leverage on a silver platter?"

Hu Yan’s voice was ice. "Calm? I am calm. If I weren’t, I would have already blown his Prince’s Palace to kingdom come!"

Zelda pleaded, "Hu Yan, the fact that you’re okay means she’s okay. We still have time. But if you go now, you’ll shatter the superficial peace between you two."

Hu Yan stopped and turned to face him, a note of arrogance in his voice. "Do you think I’m afraid of him?"

Zelda simply stared at him. The wind blew, but Hu Yan’s posture was ramrod straight, his innately powerful aura on full display. Yet, the worry mingled in his eyes made Zelda suddenly realize that Bai Zhi’s place in Hu Yan’s heart was far more important than he had ever imagined.