Cyclebreaker: Rise of the Martial Emperor

Chapter 64 – Lu Mengyao's Choice

Despite Luo Xiu changing his appearance with the Transforming Bone Pill, Lu Mengyao, after her initial surprise, was certain that the person before her was indeed Luo Xiu.

"Is it really you? Didn't you leave Yunlong Prefecture? And who are these people?" Lu Mengyao asked, her heart filled with confusion upon seeing Luo Xiu.

"I never left. These people were likely arranged by your father to monitor you nearby," Luo Xiu replied directly.

Lu Mengyao looked bewildered, not quite understanding what Luo Xiu meant by his words.

Several corpses lay sprawled on the ground. Luo Xiu knew his time was limited, so he quickly explained how Lu Feichen had sent people to capture his family, intending to kill him.

"This... this can't be!" Lu Mengyao's face turned pale upon hearing this.

Just the day before, her father had told her that Luo Xiu had left with resources. She had felt then that Luo Xiu wasn't that kind of person, but she never imagined her father would do so much behind the scenes.

She also didn't expect that her father, in his quest for power, would not only sacrifice her happiness but also want to kill Luo Xiu.

Seeing Lu Mengyao's bewildered eyes and pale face, Luo Xiu suddenly regretted telling her these things. After all, for Lu Mengyao, knowing her father was such a treacherous person was surely unbearable.

But Luo Xiu quickly dismissed this thought because, compared to that, he didn't want Lu Mengyao to become a tool or sacrifice in Lu Feichen's power struggle.

"Mengyao, come with me. Let's leave here," Luo Xiu said, unable to bear seeing her sad. He had come to tell her the truth and take her away from Yunlong Prefecture.

"Eloping?" Lu Mengyao looked at Luo Xiu. After learning the truth, she really wanted to leave everything behind.

But if I leave, what about my father? Her mother had died when she was very young, and it was her father who raised her with care. If she left, and if Kong Qingyu failed to secure the position of Sect Master, her father would surely be implicated and his life would be at risk.

"Mengyao, hurry and come with me. If we don't leave now, it will be too late," Luo Xiu urged, reaching out to grab Lu Mengyao's hand.

Because in his Life Perception, he sensed several Outer Sect Disciples approaching.

"No! I can't leave!"

Lu Mengyao suddenly stepped back a few paces, her eyes reddening with tears. "Luo Xiu, you should go."

At this moment of decision, she ultimately chose her father over Luo Xiu.

Her heart ached for Luo Xiu, but she couldn't bear to watch her father die. She couldn't be an unfilial daughter.

"Luo Xiu, the time I spent with you was the happiest of my life, but I really can't go with you."

Since the Severed Fire Yang Meridian illness flared up, she thought she wouldn't live past her twenties, but she met Luo Xiu.

It was Luo Xiu who gave her hope to live, and over time, she grew fond of this man much younger than herself.

But all of this changed when they reunited at the Free Spirit Outer Sect.

In the distance, several figures were becoming visible.

"Mengyao, are you sure you want to stay?"

Luo Xiu understood Lu Mengyao's thoughts; she stayed for her father.

She was willing to give up their relationship and her own happiness.

Seeing Lu Mengyao nod, Luo Xiu asked again, "If Lu Feichen were truly a good father, he wouldn't use schemes to force you to marry that Gou Jinchuan. Think it over!"

"Luo Xiu, I'm sorry." Lu Mengyao's face was full of tears, crying even more sorrowfully.

She knew that once Luo Xiu turned and left, they would never be together again, no longer part of the same world.

"Bold scoundrel, how dare you harm your fellow disciples! Capture him! Protect Miss Lu!"

At that moment, seven or eight Outer Sect Disciples saw the corpses and Luo Xiu, hearing Lu Mengyao's cries.

The sound of swords being drawn echoed as the disciples surrounded them, while one quietly retreated, likely to report the situation.

Luo Xiu knew he had to leave, or his life would be in danger.

He sighed, reaching out to wipe away Lu Mengyao's tears, but she cried even harder, unable to stop the tears.

"I don't blame you..."

Luo Xiu said these words, then turned to leave.

He didn't engage with the approaching Outer Sect Disciples. With a flicker of his body, he left behind several afterimages, brushing past two of them and flying into the distance.

"Chase him! Don't let him escape."

The Free Spirit Outer Sect had many disciples, and as more people were alerted and joined the pursuit, it became increasingly difficult for Luo Xiu to escape.

The only thing he was somewhat relieved about was that this area was the Outer Sect Disciples' quarters, and the Innate Realm stewards and Lu Feichen's residence were far away. As long as he escaped before those experts arrived, he would be safe.

Because opposite the Free Spirit Outer Sect was the Hunter Guild, and once inside the guild hall, even Lu Feichen wouldn't dare make a move against him.

Using the Ten-Directional Phantom Movement Technique, Luo Xiu moved quickly, avoiding confrontation as much as possible, and soon reached the vicinity of the base's gate.

"Bold thief, do you think you can come and go from the Free Spirit Outer Sect as you please?"

Suddenly, an angry shout came from the gate, where a stern-faced young man appeared, drawing a long knife and slashing at Luo Xiu.

"It's Senior Brother Gu Yongkang!"

"With Senior Brother Gu taking action, unless he's an Innate Realm Martial Master, this thief won't escape."

Due to the Transforming Bone Pill, these Outer Sect Disciples naturally couldn't recognize that the person they were chasing was Luo Xiu.

Luo Xiu was familiar with Gu Yongkang, the top-ranked Outer Sect Disciple of the Flying Dragon Tower, rumored to be at the peak of the ninth layer of the Qi Sea Realm.

"Swish!"

Luo Xiu's body flickered, leaving an afterimage in place, and almost instantly dodged Gu Yongkang's slash.

Luo Xiu knew that with Gu Yongkang blocking the gate, he had to defeat him to leave.

"Buzz!"

Swinging the Shadow Sword in his hand, the black sword light flashed like lightning.

Gu Yongkang snorted coldly. Judging by the aura of this intruder, he was merely a Martial Artist at the third layer of the Qi Sea Realm, someone not worth his effort.

But when he realized the speed and ferocity of the opponent's sword, his expression changed drastically. How could a Martial Artist at the third layer of the Qi Sea Realm be so fast and have such a fierce attack?

Gu Yongkang didn't have time to think, quickly using his movement technique to dodge, but Luo Xiu's sword was faster, leaving a blood mark on his chest.

At the same time, as Gu Yongkang dodged the sword, Luo Xiu accelerated, moving like a Fleeting Illusion, trying to escape the Free Spirit Outer Sect.

"Where do you think you're going!"

An elder with flying hair rushed over, his speed far surpassing Luo Xiu's, even with the Ten-Directional Phantom at full power.

"Zhang Lüliang!" Luo Xiu immediately recognized the old man who held a grudge against him, knowing he was an Innate Realm, Ninth Layer Martial Master.

"Boy, do you think I can't recognize you just because you used the Transforming Bone Pill? If the Sect Master didn't kill you, it seems you're destined to die by my hand!"

Zhang Lüliang's face was as cold as frost, his True Qi transmitting his voice to Luo Xiu's ears.

Clearly, Zhang Lüliang knew about Lu Feichen's attempt on Luo Xiu's life in Qingyun City.

In Zhang Lüliang's view, Lu Feichen's actions were unnecessary. If he wanted Luo Xiu dead, why didn't he just kill him outright?

The struggle for the Sect Master's position was an Inner Sect secret, and Zhang Lüliang, given his status, wasn't privy to the details.

He knew about Lu Feichen's intent to kill Luo Xiu through the Zhang Clan in Qingyun City.

Moreover, he knew Luo Xiu had killed the current head of the Zhang Clan.

"Boom!"

Before Zhang Lüliang arrived, he sent a palm strike from afar, his True Qi forming a fierce gust of wind aimed at Luo Xiu.

Luo Xiu's first reaction was to dodge, but he was still grazed by the wind, feeling as if struck by lightning, spitting blood and flying sideways.

However, Luo Xiu used the momentum to escape from the Free Spirit Outer Sect's base, enduring his injuries as he staggered into the Hunter Guild.

"Damn it!"

Zhang Lüliang also flew out of the Free Spirit Outer Sect, seeing Luo Xiu had already entered the Hunter Guild, his expression turning dark and grim.

Fighting and killing were forbidden in the Hunter Guild, and even with a hundredfold courage, he wouldn't dare enter to kill Luo Xiu.

Because of this rule, many martial artists would flee to the Hunter Guild for refuge when pursued.

After entering the Hunter Guild, Luo Xiu spat another mouthful of blood, drawing curious glances from the martial artists inside.

But he ignored their gazes, not heading to the reception desk in the hall, but directly to a stone door in the corner.

Beside the stone door was a slot. Luo Xiu inserted his Hunter Emblem, and the door opened.

Every Hunter Guild had such a place, accessible only to internal members with an emblem.

Luo Xiu's status as an internal genius member was recorded in the Hunter Emblem.

...

In Lu Mengyao's courtyard, Lu Feichen watched his red-eyed, still-crying daughter.

He said nothing, knowing Luo Xiu must have come, and Lu Mengyao had learned the truth.

At this moment, any explanation would only make his daughter hate him more.

Lu Feichen didn't think he had done anything wrong, placing all his hatred on Luo Xiu. He believed that without Luo Xiu, there wouldn't be such a rift between him and his daughter.

He used the Sound Transmission Box to send a message, ordering the Eighteen Cities Martial Hall in Yunlong Prefecture to keep a close watch on the Hunter Guild, especially in Qingyun City. If Luo Xiu was spotted, they were to report immediately.

Though Luo Xiu's parents were under the Hunter Guild's protection, making it difficult for him to act, he believed Luo Xiu would head to Qingyun City, even if using a teleportation formation.

Of course, there was a chance Luo Xiu might teleport to another city, so he made arrangements to cast a wide net.