Because the road was quite slippery, Ling Zhenfei's car was moving very slowly, and by the time he reached the mountain village where Ru Meng was, it was morning, and daylight had already broken.

In the distant sky, a splash of pre-dawn light had already appeared, and Ling Zhenfei drove straight to the yard where Ru Meng stayed.

Ru Meng's small courtyard remained the same as before. Although it was winter, Ru Meng still managed to make the courtyard lush and green, with an abundance of herbs growing, looking incredibly beautiful.

Needless to say, Ru Meng was probably engaging in morning practice by then, as those who cultivate Northern Spiritual Energy cannot waste the prime time for spiritual energy, which is most abundant in the morning.

Of course, Ling Zhenfei knew this fact, and for someone like Ru Meng, who was enthusiastic about cultivation, it was even more pertinent.

After parking the car at the entrance, Ling Zhenfei walked towards the main gate. Initially intending to shout twice, but seeing that the gate wasn't locked, he pushed the door open and entered the courtyard.

Immediately, the courtyard was filled with the fragrance of herbs, shocking Ling Zhenfei. Once inside the courtyard, entering the room was not an option. After all, it was a girl's room, not appropriate to walk into without permission.

Ling Zhenfei called out twice towards the house, expecting Ru Meng to respond, but there was no reply.

"Ru Meng, are you inside?" Ling Zhenfei shouted, intending to check inside, when suddenly he heard Ru Meng's voice from outside the main gate.

"What are you shouting for, I'm right here."

After speaking, Ru Meng walked in from outside the main gate.

Ru Meng was wearing a tight-fitting athletic outfit, which accentuated her perfect curves beautifully, almost explosively attractive.

This was the first time Ling Zhenfei had seen Ru Meng dressed like this, feeling somewhat unexpected.

"Where have you been?" Ling Zhenfei asked, noting Ru Meng seemed unusually hurried.

Ru Meng glanced at Ling Zhenfei, slightly surprised, and said, "Why are you here?"

Although she asked, Ru Meng headed straight inside her house, and Ling Zhenfei followed her in.

"I'm here for a reason, of course."

Once back in her room, Ru Meng began packing, asking as she did, "What is it you have to say, I'm in a bit of a rush."

Ling Zhenfei, somewhat surprised, said, "We haven't seen each other for that long, and it seems we're growing distant."

Ru Meng replied, "Can't you see I'm in a hurry? Just quickly say whatever it is."

Ling Zhenfei said, "I want you to go up the mountain with me one more time."

Upon hearing this, Ru Meng paused her movements, set her things down, turned, and said to Ling Zhenfei, "Are you crazy? It's not just anyone who can enter Xianling Mountain in winter; going now is akin to suicide."

Ling Zhenfei replied, "What's wrong? Isn't there just a bit more snow in the mountains? What's stopping us from going in?"

Ru Meng said, "I'm not joking with you. Entering Xianling Mountain in winter is courting death. If you want to go, go ahead, but I'm not going."

Ling Zhenfei said, "No way, you're like a living map of the area; I can't go without you."

Ru Meng said, "Ling Zhenfei, I'm being serious. We've both escaped from there by the skin of our teeth before. There are things I don't want to hide from you, but Xianling Mountain's winter is truly impassable."

Ling Zhenfei knew that Ru Meng frequently went in and out of Xianling Mountain and was aware of the horrors it held, but this time he had to enter to find the Rejuvenation Grass within.

Ling Zhenfei said, "You don't have to go inside; just take me in. Leave me where you think it's safe, and I'll handle the dangerous parts myself."

Ru Meng said, "If you had come to me earlier, I would have agreed, but now I can't. I need to leave this place."

Ling Zhenfei was stunned, "You're leaving? Where are you going?"

Ru Meng said, "I don't know, but it's not safe here. I saw the protector while cultivating in the mountains earlier. They're definitely here to catch me, so I must go."

Ling Zhenfei, momentarily taken aback, asked, "What protector? What's going on?"

He had heard some things from Ru Meng before, but not much, so these revelations left him a bit disoriented.

Ru Meng said, "There's no time to explain. If I delay further, they'll probably arrive. I can't help you this time, sorry, I must leave."

By then, Ru Meng had packed a small suitcase with some items and was hastily preparing to leave. Ling Zhenfei was very helpless, not understanding why Ru Meng was so afraid of this so-called protector.

Ling Zhenfei had no choice but to follow Ru Meng outside. Seeing her in the courtyard, looking anxious and hurried, it seemed she was truly terrified.

Suddenly, a sound of wind cutting through the air was heard, followed by a long howl.

"Ru Meng, I finally found you. Do you think you can escape today?"

Ling Zhenfei was stunned, realizing that anyone capable of such a sound must have at least the strength of the Dawen Realm.

The cultivators around Xianling Mountain were significantly stronger than those nearby, and unexpectedly, he had encountered a Dawen Realm cultivator upon arriving.

Ling Zhenfei felt a sense of worry, knowing that this person must be the fearsome protector that Ru Meng dreaded.

Ling Zhenfei was extremely shocked to realize this protector possessed Dawen Realm strength. If he were a Gang Leader or Sect Leader, wouldn't their strength be even greater?

As the voice approached, a few people appeared at the doorway, with a man wearing a black robe leading several others whose aura was noticeably less imposing than his.

Even if their strength was not that potent, these people still boasted Early Zhiyi Boundary strength, making this team incredibly formidable.

Upon seeing the man, Ru Meng was terrified and hurriedly retreated back.

"Protector, I've already come this far. Must you really exterminate me?"

The protector glanced at Ru Meng and said, "Ru Meng, you are more aware than anyone of our rules. Your current violation is a result of your actions, no one else's."

Ru Meng said, "What are these rules you're talking about? Do you even know why I broke them, or did you just believe what someone else said without investigation?"

The protector said, "If you come back with me quietly today, we'll certainly investigate thoroughly and then determine your punishment. But if you resist, we'll execute you on the spot."

Ru Meng sneered, "Don't think I don't know. If I go back, the torture I'll face will be worse than death. I'm right here; if you have what it takes, come kill me then."

The protector snorted coldly, "Overestimating yourself."

Then instructed the people behind him, "Kill her for me."

The people behind him surged forward, surrounding Ru Meng.

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