Divine Emperor Demon Emperor

Every disciple from the Flawless Palace was injured. As time passed, their wounds multiplied, growing more and more severe.

After a desperate struggle, Lin Yun finally carved out an opening and roared to Lu Bingning and the other two women, "Charge! Get out now!"

The three women led the injured Flawless Palace disciples through the gap Lin Yun had created. However, they had only broken through the encirclement; it was ultimately futile. This was the Taiqing Academy, and its disciples were everywhere.

Lin Yun, Little Ape, and Qin Feng brought up the rear, holding back the relentless Taiqing Academy disciples. The group fought as they retreated, finally escaping into a stone house beside the main square.

The house was constructed from Diamond. Inside were various items used for celebrations; it seemed to be a storage room specifically for holding things the Taiqing Academy used for its ceremonies.

From the start, the two sides had been worlds apart in both numbers and strength. The group of Flawless Palace disciples who had come to the Taiqing Academy this time included not just Direct Disciples, but also several Inner Sect Disciples. There were only two Core Disciples among them.

A lineup like that naturally stood no chance against the Taiqing Academy disciples’ onslaught. Even fighting as they retreated, by the time Lin Yun and the others fell back into the stone house, two Inner Sect Disciples had been killed, and all the survivors were grievously wounded.

Once inside the stone house, Lu Bingning and the other two women gave their own Healing Medicine to the injured Flawless Palace disciples.

Looking at the dozen or so surviving Flawless Palace disciples, Lin Yun knew in his heart, ’They have no fight left in them.’

"Senior Brother Lin, don’t worry about us! Take the three senior sisters and break out of here," a Direct Disciple with a longsword wound piercing his abdomen said to Lin Yun. The disciples knew they were dragging him down.

Everyone’s spirits were low, especially Qin Feng’s. Looking at the Flawless Palace disciples, who were barely clinging to life, he was wracked with guilt. ’If it weren’t for me,’ he thought, ’Lin Yun never would have gotten involved, and none of this would have happened.’

Without a word, Qin Feng turned to walk out the door, but he had only taken a few steps before Lin Yun grabbed him and pulled him back.

"Brother Lin, let me go. If I die, Wei Yunhang won’t give you all any more trouble," Qin Feng said.

"No," Lin Yun replied.

When Lin Yun refused, Qin Feng’s gaze fell upon the grievously wounded Flawless Palace disciples. He spoke slowly to Lin Yun, "Brother Lin, I know what you’re trying to do, but these brothers... must they all die here just for me?"

"Wei Yunhang wants me dead. That’s my problem. If my one life can be traded for the lives of so many of our brothers, then it’s worth it. Brother Lin, please, just let me go."

Lin Yun fell silent at his words, his hand only tightening its death grip on Qin Feng’s collar, refusing to let him go.

"Brother Lin...!" Seeing Lin Yun wouldn’t let go, Qin Feng cried out.

Just then, Wei Yunhang’s voice rang out from outside. The Taiqing Academy disciples had already surrounded the stone house completely. The only reason they hadn’t stormed it yet was because Wei Yunhang wanted to give Lin Yun one last chance.

"Lin Yun, I’m giving you one last chance. Is sacrificing the lives of a dozen Flawless Palace disciples for Qin Feng’s life alone worth it? Hand Qin Feng over to me, and I guarantee the safety of all your Flawless Palace disciples. I, Wei Yunhang, will even make amends for those who have already died. Lin Yun, think it over. Is doing all this for one man, for Qin Feng, really worth it?"

Wei Yunhang stood just outside the stone house. Hearing his words, Lin Yun fell silent, his eyes slowly sweeping over the Flawless Palace disciples slumped against the walls.

’They’re all grievously wounded. The moment Wei Yunhang gives the order, the Taiqing Academy disciples will rush in...’

Conflict, helplessness, and grief-stricken anger filled his eyes. He couldn’t bear to watch Qin Feng go to his death, but he also couldn’t let these disciples from the Flawless Palace die in front of him.

"Brother Lin, let me go..." Qin Feng pleaded again and again.

Lin Yun felt lost. ’This kind of choice... I don’t know what to do.’ He knew that no matter what he chose, he would regret it.

As Lin Yun’s mind reeled in turmoil, Lu Bingning stepped forward, took his hand, and spoke with a faint smile.

"Do you know what I find most attractive about you?"

Answering her own question without waiting for a reply, Lu Bingning continued, "You’re the most genuine person I’ve ever met. You can be clever and even cunning at times, but you never give up on what you believe in. I know there’s something in your heart you won’t tell anyone—it’s your deepest secret, and you’ve been striving for it all this time..."

She spoke softly as their eyes met. Lin Yun could see a faint smile in her eyes, along with a look of confidence and pride—pride in him.

"Ever since you left Yanhuang Country, back when you were a fugitive wanted by both Yanhuang Academy and the Wind Forest Sect, everyone thought you were doomed. But you never considered compromise. You carved out a bloody path to survival that no one thought possible. Later, you even forced the Yanhuang Royal Family to bow its head. You faced that adversity without hesitation. That’s why I believe that this time, too, you can lead us down a path to survival that everyone else thinks is impossible..."

Inspired by Lu Bingning’s words, the other Flawless Palace disciples chimed in, "That’s right, Senior Brother Lin! We’re not afraid to die, we never have been! We don’t want to see a Senior Brother Lin who would bow his head for our sake."

Looking at the determination in their eyes and the smiles on the faces of Lu Bingning and the other two women, the resolve returned to Lin Yun’s gaze.

’That’s right,’ he thought. ’There are some lines I will never cross. Betraying a brother is one of them. If I hand Qin Feng over today, I’ll despise myself for it, even if I survive.’

"I understand..." he said, smiling at Lu Bingning. Then, he turned to the other Flawless Palace disciples and declared with conviction,

"Rest assured. No one is dying today."

With that, Lin Yun, with Little Ape at his side, turned and walked out of the stone house. Seeing this, Qin Feng followed him. The other Flawless Palace disciples tried to go with them, but Lu Bingning held them back.

"You have to trust him. He is your Head Senior Brother," Lu Bingning said to the others with a smile.

Seeing Lin Yun and his two companions emerge from the stone house, Wei Yunhang’s gaze fell on Qin Feng standing behind him. He sneered, "Lin Yun, have you thought it through?"

"Yes, I have," Lin Yun replied calmly.

A smile spread across Wei Yunhang’s face, but before it could fully bloom, Lin Yun spoke again.

"I’m not handing Qin Feng over to you. Wei Yunhang, let’s have an all-out battle. If you can step over my dead body, then the woman and the brothers behind me are yours to do with as you please."

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