Chapter 2466 - 2466: Rearguard

The pathway inside is unfamiliar to everyone, even to the Sword Saint Sect Master. However, Ye Qing and Fat Wang are very familiar because they both just came in.

Fat Wang runs in the front, leading the Sword Saint Sect outside. Ye Qing runs near the back of the group, with only a few sect masters of the Sword Saint Sect behind him, helping him to hold off pursuers.

Carrying a Dragon-breaking Knife, it is even more difficult for Ye Qing to run inside this pathway. The sect masters of the Sword Saint Sect soon catch up, but due to Ye Qing's situation, they do not overtake him and remain behind to cover him.

After running about half the distance, Ye Qing hears angry shouts from behind, seemingly from Wanyan Family members who have caught up and are engaged in battle. However, hearing the angry shouts of the Sword Saint Sect Master, it seems that the sect masters on their side aren't having the upper hand.

This situation makes Ye Qing even more anxious. The battle means Wanyan Family members have already caught up. Judging by this, even if they run out, they might not be able to shake off the Wanyan Family. Because quite a few of their people have had their power drained by the Dragon-breaking Knife, making it hard for them to run; someone has to carry them. In this case, their speed will naturally slow down quite a lot. Meanwhile, Wanyan Family members don't have to worry about anything, chasing them won't be difficult at all.

If this is really the case, then they won't be able to escape this time. Could it be that they will really be trapped here this time?

While keeping these chaotic thoughts, Ye Qing runs outward anxiously. And behind him, shouts of anger constantly echo, indicating that the three Sword Saint Sect Masters are running out while blocking the Wanyan Family members. These three sect masters of the Sword Saint Sect don't dare to engage in combat with the Wanyan Family members now. Originally, their strength was competitive, but after having so much power absorbed by the Dragon-breaking Knife, their fighting ability has decreased too much; this battle simply can't be fought.

Although this pathway is lengthy, there are no obstacles along the way, and everyone accelerates their escape quickly reaches the exit.

When Ye Qing comes out, Helian Tiehua and the people from the Sword Saint Sect are guarding the exit. Upon seeing Ye Qing, everyone quickly brings him out, while a few rush over to start inquiring nervously.

"Sect Leader, what should we do now?"

"The other sect masters have been caught up by the Wanyan Family and are fighting. We must find a way to rescue them!"

"In our current situation, how can we fight with the Wanyan Family?"

"Stop talking nonsense and listen to what the Sect Leader says!"

Those speaking are from the Sword Saint Sect, and they are the most anxious ones. Although Ye Qing is the new Sect Leader of the Sword Saint Sect, they care more about the previous sect masters. Knowing that the previous sect masters are now fighting in the passage with the Wanyan Family members, how could they not be anxious?

Ye Qing is even more anxious than they are. Upon coming out, he hears the constant sound of fighting from inside, but no further footsteps signaling approach, indicating the situation inside is not right. It seems the sect masters of the Sword Saint Sect deliberately leave the battlefield in the passage to block the Wanyan Family members, while also buying time for the people outside to flee. After all, if they come out of this passage, there will no longer be such a good position to stop these people.

"Sect Leader, Sect Leader..." Ye Qing pokes his head into the passage, shouting a few times.

After a while, the somewhat weary voice of the Sword Saint Sect Master comes from inside: "Sect Master Ye, you are now the new Sect Leader of the Sword Saint Sect. Take the Sword Saint Sect people and leave here. We'll cover the retreat and join you as soon as we get out!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Qing furrows his brow. It seems the Sword Saint Sect Master is genuinely planning to hold back the Wanyan Family members inside. What he says about meeting after coming out is purely a lie. If they really hold on and don't flee, then they won't be able to come out; given their current strength, they certainly can't defeat the Wanyan Family.

The Sword Saint Sect people are also in chaotic urgency; they respect the previous sect masters greatly. Knowing that the former sect leaders plan to use their lives to cover their retreat, it's understandable what emotions are in their hearts.

"Sect Leader, you... you must save them no matter what!" An anxious Sword Saint Sect person looks at Ye Qing.

"We die together!" Another Sword Saint Sect person, with a fiery temper, pulls out a weapon and rushes towards the passage.

"What are you doing, stop right there!" Ye Qing swiftly grabs him, saying, "Do not go in!"

"Let me go!" This person, with extreme fury, glares at Ye Qing: "This is our Sword Saint Sect's affair, no one else has any say. We absolutely won't abandon the sect master!"

"Surely, we will never abandon the sect master!" Several Sword Saint Sect people immediately shout along, showing their agitated emotions and their intent to assist the sect masters inside.

"Is this how you speak?" The voice of the sect master from inside is heard again: "From now on, Ye Qing is the new sect master of Sword Saint Sect. Do you want to defy the new sect master's orders?"

The few people shouting fall silent. No matter what the sect master inside says, they can't accept Ye Qing as the sect master.

"Mr. Ye, truly sorry!" The sect master's voice echoes once more: "They are young and inexperienced; please do not take offense. You are the sect master of the Sword Saint Sect; I hope you prioritize the bigger picture, preserve the strength, and take all the Sword Saint Sect people out. We will hold here for you, and strive to buy time, so the centuries-old legacy of the Sword Saint Sect won't be cut short here!"

The sect master's words are sincere; he genuinely wants to preserve the Sword Saint Sect, being the master is his responsibility.

"Sect leader, what's the meaning of us being alive if you don't come out?" The Sword Saint Sect people shout out.

"Shut up!" The sect master's voice booms with anger: "You must continue the legacy of the Sword Saint Sect; it's your duty. Do you want to become the eternal sinners of the Sword Saint Sect?"

The Sword Saint Sect people look at each other, discontented. They truly don't wish to leave the sect masters behind to fight the Wanyan Family members viciously.

"Mr. Ye, I implore you!" The sect master's voice echoes again: "Ancestor said he helped you preserve your people; may you help him preserve the Sword Saint Sect."

Ye Qing remains silent, hearing this, he suddenly speaks deeply: "Preserving the Sword Saint Sect is your business!"

"What?"

"What kind of talk is this?"

The Sword Saint Sect people are all surprised; Ye Qing's words greatly anger them. To them, the sect leader's way of speaking to Ye Qing, and Ye Qing's response is truly disheartening. Undeniably, some already regard Ye Qing with less favor.

"Mr. Ye..." The sect master is also a bit taken aback; hearing Ye Qing, is he angry or what? Unwilling to preserve the Sword Saint Sect? What's going on?

While everyone is puzzled, Ye Qing speaks again: "My responsibility is to ensure everyone can leave alive!"

"What!?" Everyone is astonished again. The Sword Saint Sect people watch Ye Qing, confused by what he means. Ensuring that everyone can leave alive? What does everyone mean? Including the sect masters of the Sword Saint Sect?

"Mr. Ye, we appreciate your intention. But right now, us all running is impossible. Just preserve the other Sword Saint Sect members!" The sect master speaks loudly: "We are the sect masters of the Sword Saint Sect; sacrificing for the Sword Saint Sect is our duty, you don't need to concern yourself with us!"

"Stop the nonsense, when I say all will leave alive, all will leave alive!" Ye Qing cuts in coldly: "Hold on for a moment; I'll be back soon to help you!"

This further confuses them; what does Ye Qing mean? He'll be back soon to help? How can he help anyone here?

Ye Qing doesn't pay attention to their bafflement and instead turns around to run outside. The path he's very familiar with leads to the exit; he directly presses the mechanism, opens the stone gate, and heads out.

"Mr. Ye..." The voice of the sect master inside the passage is heard again, but there's no response anymore. This makes them even more bewildered, including the Sword Saint Sect people, Helian Tiehua, and others who have no idea what Ye Qing intends to do.

In reality, nobody here knows how Ye Qing could possibly preserve the Sword Saint Sect members in such a situation. Those sect masters are clearly tied up by the Wanyan Family's beyond peerless master, and under such circumstances, unless someone even stronger comes, who can save them?

At this point, Ye Qing has already run out of the cave, directly arriving near the Underground River outside. When Ye Qing and his people came, they followed this Underground River. Now, coming out, they reached near the Underground River again. Looking at the deep river waters, Ye Qing does not hesitate and runs to the riverbank, jumping in with a splash.

Truth be told, under normal circumstances, Ye Qing certainly wouldn't jump into this Underground River. After all, in such an underground river, nobody knows what dangers lurk—there could be fierce Water Monsters, for example. Jumping in directly is indeed risky.

However, at this moment, Ye Qing has no time to consider dangers. Diving into the Underground River, Ye Qing quickly strokes twice to balance himself, and then opens his eyes to look around, searching for something underwater.

Scanning around, Ye Qing finds a chain at the bottom, and without a word, he dives down and grabs hold of the chain.