The Lin's Patriarch is weird.

Meanwhile, deep within the Yew Woods, twenty-four children were currently racing through the forest.

Lin Zhaoyue led the group from the front.

Xu Qingyue remained unconscious on her back, her breathing so faint that it was almost imperceptible.

Behind them, the furious shouts of pursuit echoed through the forest.

"Their trail is this way!"

"Don’t let them escape!"

"They’re heading toward Violet Log City!"

Cultivators from the Peng Family and the Hao Family pursued them relentlessly, their spiritual qi surging as they crashed through the dense woodland.

Earlier, the moment Lin Zhaoyue successfully provoked Peng Tianyuan and Hao Zhenshan into attacking, she immediately sent a mental transmission to every child present.

Don’t fight them. Just take Xu Qingyue and run toward Violet Log City.

The children instantly abandoned whatever they had been doing.

After nearly a year under Lin Xuan’s strict training, following orders had become second nature to them. The moment they received Lin Zhaoyue’s command, not a single one questioned it.

One child scooped Xu Qingyue into his arms while the others immediately broke through the encirclement and fled at full speed.

Naturally, Peng Tianyuan and Hao Zhenshan had no intention of letting them escape.

The two patriarchs immediately abandoned all thoughts of dealing with the Xu Family and pursued them without the slightest hesitation.

Lin Zhaowen could not help but curse inwardly.

Young Miss... if the plan was simply to rescue Xu Qingyue, then why in the heavens did you provoke those two in the first place?!

Unfortunately, some thoughts were better left unsaid.

The children had been fleeing without pause throughout the entire night.

They had started from Southwatch City, crossed countless mountains and rivers, and had only now reached the outskirts of the Yew Woods.

The sheer distance they had covered spoke volumes about the intensity of the chase.

Behind them, the furious auras of Peng Tianyuan and Hao Zhenshan remained firmly locked onto their trail, refusing to let them escape even for a moment.

The chase continued without pause.

At that moment, Lin Zhaoyue’s voice suddenly echoed within everyone’s minds.

"Is anyone tired?"

The question was met with complete silence.

Lin Zhaoyue blinked.

"...So everyone can still keep going, huh?"

A bright smile spread across her face.

"Alright then. Let’s take a sharp turn now, we’re heading to Azure Willow City."

The twenty-three children nearly stumbled.

but we’re so close to violet log city!?

At the very rear of the group, Lin Zhaowen nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

As the strongest among them after Lin Zhaoyue, he had deliberately remained at the back of the formation, ready to intercept any attack from their pursuers.

The moment he heard her new order, the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.

He wanted to curse, he really, really wanted to curse.

Unfortunately, unlike Lin Zhaoyue, none of them had learnt mental transmission.

Only she could speak, hence none of them replying, she knew that perfectly as well.

"She’s clearly doing this on purpose, what does that demon want..."

Lin Zhaowen silently gritted his teeth.

She was bullying them simply because they couldn’t answer back.

Far behind the fleeing children, Peng Tianyuan suddenly raised a hand.

"Stop."

The entire pursuit immediately ground to a halt.

The cultivators of the Peng and Hao Families looked at one another in confusion.

Hao Zhenshan frowned.

"We’re letting them go?"

Peng Tianyuan swept his gaze across the forest ahead before slowly nodding.

"We’ve already crossed into another family’s territory."

He looked toward the distant direction of Azure Willow City.

"Beyond this point lies the Shangguan Family’s sphere of influence. We’ve already offended the Lin Family today.

If we continue this pursuit and provoke the Shangguan Family as well, we’ll only be creating another unnecessary enemy."

He left the rest unsaid.

Hao Zhenshan’s expression darkened.

Although unwilling, he understood the reasoning.

"...You’re right."

The Xu Family had already fallen.

There was little value in gambling everything over a crippled Xu Qingyue and a group of children.

More importantly, the Peng and Hao Families had just divided the foundation of a Rank Seven family between themselves.

Countless businesses, spirit stone mines, spirit fields, shops, and territories now awaited new owners.

If they delayed for too long, other opportunists would inevitably seize a portion of those spoils.

They needed to return immediately.

Only by absorbing the Xu Family’s assets as quickly as possible could today’s victory truly become their own.

Peng Tianyuan turned around.

"Withdraw."

Without the slightest hesitation, the cultivators of both families began an orderly retreat.

Far ahead, Lin Zhaoyue suddenly slowed and glanced over her shoulder.

"They’re retreating?"

Her eyes immediately lit up.

"Oh no you don’t."

She abruptly turned around before leaping back toward the rear of the group.

Before Lin Zhaowen could react, Xu Qingyue was suddenly dumped into his arms.

He staggered backward under the unexpected weight.

"W-What are you doing?"

Lin Zhaoyue pointed toward the distant forest.

"Protect the princess and then get father to come to me."

Lin Zhaowen’s eyes widened and before he could say anything else Lin Zhaoyue planted a firm kick squarely on his backside.

"Go, go, go! Rhere’s no time!"

The kick sent Lin Zhaowen stumbling several steps forward.

He barely managed to keep Xu Qingyue from falling.

When he finally regained his balance and turned around, Lin Zhaoyue had already become a white blur racing straight toward the retreating Peng and Hao cultivators.

"..."

Lin Zhaowen stared blankly at her disappearing figure.

Then he looked down at the unconscious Xu Qingyue in his arms.

"...Why do I suddenly feel like I’m the nanny?" he muttered before gritting his teeth and leading the other children toward Azure Willow City.

Lin Zhaoyue shot through the forest like a streak of white light.

The Cloud Chasing Movement Technique unfolded beneath her feet, causing her figure to drift through the woods as lightly as a passing cloud. She scarcely touched the ground, gliding from branch to branch with astonishing speed.

The distance separating her from the retreating Peng and Hao cultivators rapidly shrank.

The two families had already relaxed after ending the pursuit.

Although they remained vigilant, none of them believed the children would be foolish enough to turn around after finally escaping.

After all, they had spent an entire night running for their lives.

Surely they would continue fleeing toward Azure Willow City.

A few breaths later, Lin Zhaoyue smiled.

"I found you."

Her cheerful voice drifted through the forest and the cultivators instinctively turned toward the sound.

Peng Tianyuan and Hao Zhenshan both looked behind and frowned.

The two patriarchs exchanged bewildered glances.

Had she lost her mind?

She had gone through so much effort to escape, only to return by herself.

Lin Zhaoyue stopped atop a thick tree branch, gently folding her hands behind her back.

She smiled brightly at the two patriarchs.

"Why are you leaving already?"