After the carriage had been traveling for a short while, Shen Li also prepared to leave this place to look for Mu Ruchu. It was said before that there was the highest chance of finding him if one went all the way south. Shen Li went alone without taking Ming Yue, because Ming Yue had to stay in this manor to constantly monitor Xuan Yuanjue's condition, in case something bad happened and to be able to rescue him in time.
Shen Li walked forward alone along the road in his memory. Although he didn't know if this was the right way, there was always a voice in his heart calling him to go this way.
Before long, he saw an elegant pavilion covered in greenery. So Shen Li stepped forward and reached out his hand to knock on the door.
With a "creak", the door opened. Sure enough, Mu Ruchu's figure appeared in Shen Li's sight.
"I've been waiting for you for a long time." Mu Ruchu stepped aside, leaving enough space for one person to pass through. He grabbed the corner of Shen Li's robe and gently pulled him in.
Shen Li felt a bit uneasy, because Mu Ruchu didn't seem to be the same as before. But Shen Li had no other choice. He could only adapt to the situation. One of his hands tightened on the Night Shadow Whip at his waist. Holding it made him feel as if Xuan Yuanjue was accompanying him, and he felt a bit more at ease.
Shen Li found that this place was sealed very tightly. Not a single ray of light could penetrate. Although it was daytime outside, candles were still lit here.
"Why were you waiting for me?" Shen Li looked at Mu Ruchu with some confusion.
Mu Ruchu, dressed in white, was sitting on a chair. His eyes didn't look at Shen Li but at the flickering flame of the candle. His voice became very cold and hard, but when he spoke to Shen Li, he forced a gentle tone: "I know something happened to Xuan Yuanjue."
This really surprised Shen Li: "How do you know about this?"
Mu Ruchu let out a soft laugh: "This matter has spread like wildfire throughout the capital. How could I not know?"
Shen Li heaved a sigh of relief and then asked seriously: "Do you have a way to save him? I heard from Ming Yue that only the people from the Immortal Valley can save him."
"So you came to me, right?" Mu Ruchu picked up Shen Li's words.
But listening to Mu Ruchu's tone, for some reason, Shen Li felt that Mu Ruchu seemed rather happy.
"He should still be alive." Mu Ruchu said indifferently.
"Yes, but his pulse is weak and he's on his last legs. I don't know how much longer he can live." Shen Li replied indifferently. She lowered her eyes, and her emotions were hidden under her long eyelashes. It was hard to tell what she was feeling at the moment.
"I beg you to save him!" Shen Li came to Mu Ruchu's side, making her figure appear in Mu Ruchu's sight instead of letting Mu Ruchu keep staring at the flickering flame in front of him.
But Mu Ruchu shook his head: "I can't save him, and I don't want to."
At this moment, Shen Li suddenly panicked. Her heart skipped a beat: "This is impossible... You're the heir of the Immortal Valley. You should have a way to save him."
"Do you think I'm such a kind - hearted person? If I were to save him, I would suffer a great loss of my vital energy!" Mu Ruchu sighed.
"No... Please, I'm begging you. Please save Xuan Yuanjue, okay? You're a benevolent doctor who helps the sick and wounded without asking for anything in return. I know you're a great kind - hearted person!" Shen Li's voice trembled, just like a person who had grabbed a floating log in the vast sea, but that log turned into powder the moment she reached out.
Mu Ruchu looked at Shen Li like this and then asked: "Is it really that important to save him?"
Shen Li nodded: "He was looking for the spies of the Dongling Kingdom. He was looking for evidence of the collusion among the officials for me! I can't let him die!"
"I can't do anything..." Mu Ruchu shook his head.
But at this moment, Shen Li suddenly took out his whip from his waist and directly locked Mu Ruchu's waist with the whip. His eyes were full of coldness as he stared at Mu Ruchu: "You really won't save him?"
Mu Ruchu didn't answer. Instead, he used his internal energy to break free from the whip that had locked his waist.
Shen Li stared at this in shock: "Your internal energy... No, you're not Mu Ruchu."
"Heh..." Mu Ruchu suddenly sneered, "No, I am Mu Ruchu. Mu Ruchu is me..."
Shen Li suddenly approached Mu Ruchu. A dagger suddenly appeared in his hand. With a flash of cold light, his figure spun in place. In an instant, the dagger was directly on Mu Ruchu's neck.
"I don't care if you're Mu Ruchu or not. I just want you to save him now... If you don't, then I'll take your life. You'd better think it over clearly!" Shen Li said in a very cold voice.
Although the knife was on his neck, Mu Ruchu didn't show the slightest bit of panic. Instead, he looked very relaxed and comfortable: "You can't kill me." His tone was very confident, as if he knew all of Shen Li's inner activities.
"Shut up!" Shen Li gritted his teeth and slowly pressed the blade of the dagger down. In an instant, a red bloodstain appeared on Mu Ruchu's neck. "I know you must have a way to save Xuan Yuanjue. If you don't say it, I'll kill you even if I have to risk my own life."
"I always thought you only knew how to use a whip. I didn't expect the dagger to suit you quite well." Mu Ruchu's voice remained calm all the time.
Shen Li took a deep breath. The dagger fell again. This time, Shen Li didn't show any mercy. He gently turned his wrist, and the sharp dagger instantly made a long cut on Mu Ruchu's neck. The flesh turned outwards, and the blood trickled down, staining his plain white clothes red. The red was like the blazing winter plum blossoms in full bloom.
"If you go a bit further, your life will be ended by my dagger. Are you sure you still want to be so stubborn?"
Although Shen Li was speaking very calmly, if one listened carefully, they would find that Shen Li's voice was a bit trembling, because this was the first time Shen Li had ever killed someone in his life, and the person he was about to kill was his own benefactor. How could Shen Li bring himself to do it?
"Are you sure you want to do this? I saved your life." Mu Ruchu felt the blood gushing out from his neck. He didn't show the slightest bit of panic. He even seemed a bit excited.
"You can take my life. I just want Xuan Yuanjue to live." Shen Li's nerves were on the verge of collapse, like a tightly - stretched string.