# Chapter 1074: Cannot Bear
Having just arrived at Heiya Realm—or more accurately, having fled to Heiya Realm—Yun Che had no backing, not even a single person he could consult with. The last thing he wanted was to stir up any trouble.
But even though he didn't seek trouble, trouble came seeking him.
And just because he didn't want trouble didn't mean he was afraid of it!
"Now, do you still want me to hand him back?" Yun Che's voice was icy cold, devoid of any pity. His gaze swept briefly over the black serpent mark visible beneath the torn outer robe of the black-clothed middle-aged man.
"As for you..." The black-clothed middle-aged man opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood foam. At this moment, he felt as if he were nailed to a torture rack in hell, suffering unbearably. "You... will... regret... this..."
"Heh, whether I'll regret it or not, I don't know. But you... definitely will!"
*BANG!!*
Yun Che's foot lashed out, viciously kicking the Black Soul Spear that had pierced through the black-clothed middle-aged man. The man let out a miserable scream as blood splattered everywhere. The Black Soul Spear tore free from his body and flew straight up, embedding itself into the stone wall above. The black-clothed middle-aged man rolled on the ground, screaming in agony as blood gushed out like a fountain from the bloody hole in his chest—a truly pitiful sight.
On the turf of the Black Feather Chamber of Commerce, not only did he show no mercy whatsoever, but his methods were also so ruthless. Everyone present felt their hearts tremble... A person like this either had such an astonishing background that he completely disregarded the Black Feather Chamber of Commerce and the Soul Sect behind it, or he was a complete and utter madman!
And no matter which category he fell into, he was someone they absolutely did not dare to meddle with or provoke.
But at this moment, Ji Ruyan's voice transmission reached Yun Che's ears again:
"Brother Lingyun, leave quickly! Their people are rushing here, and among them is a hall master at the Divine Spirit Realm! I've already opened all the restrictions here. Go now, or it will be too late!"
Yun Che's gaze lingered on Ji Ruyan's face for a moment, a flicker of confusion passing through his eyes... The reason he had been so ruthless toward the black-clothed middle-aged man was mainly to intimidate Ji Ruyan, so that she would easily be compelled to lift the restrictions here. Otherwise, if he tried to break through by force, it would undoubtedly take a considerable amount of time.
But he never expected Ji Ruyan to take the initiative to open them... He couldn't even think of a single reason why she would want to help him.
Their people?
*Their?*
After giving Ji Ruyan a deep look, he instantly appeared beside the young Wood Spirit boy, grabbed him, and soared upward.
*BOOM BOOM BOOM...*
The profound formations were still there, but he broke through them in a single charge. Ji Ruyan had not deceived him in the slightest—he passed through the four restrictions here without any obstruction. Activating Phantom Lightning Extreme, his speed surged, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished into the vast night sky.
The night of Heiya Realm was exceptionally deep and naturally very conducive to hiding. Yun Che raced southward, crossing nearly half of Heiya City. Only after confirming that no one was following him did he finally slow down. He stopped in a secluded place where there was no aura around and immediately used Flowing Light Thunder Concealment to suppress his entire presence.
From the moment he fled until he stopped, the young Wood Spirit boy held in his grasp was unusually quiet—no screaming, no struggling, eerily silent.
The surroundings were silent. Yun Che thought back to Ji Ruyan's voice transmission and the words of the black-clothed middle-aged man. That phrase, "implicating an upper star realm," made it impossible for him to ignore it. Perhaps some big shot from an upper star realm had learned of the existence of this royal Wood Spirit. If that were the case, then his actions here had undoubtedly stirred up a huge hornet's nest.
Not only had he completely offended the Black Feather Chamber of Commerce, but he had also likely incurred the wrath of that upper star realm.
From now on, there would surely be a large-scale pursuit and hunt for him... It was even highly possible that they would seal off the city!
In obtaining this royal Wood Spirit, he had also attracted a massive problem that could very well involve an upper star realm.
An upper star realm—a transcendent existence one level higher than Yin Xue Realm. That meant if the situation truly escalated, even Yin Xue Realm wouldn't be able to protect him... let alone the fact that he had already fled Yin Xue and was now all alone.
However, the name he had used at the Black Feather Chamber of Commerce was still a fake one, and his face was completely unfamiliar. Coupled with his mastery of Moon-Breaking Shadow Flick at the great perfection stage and his highly advanced disguise skills, finding him wouldn't be that easy... The only thing they could trace back to him was the black jade given to him by Huo Rulie.
That Mr. Ji from the Black Feather Chamber of Commerce knew that his black jade came from Huo Rulie! He could only hope this wouldn't bring any trouble to Yan Shen Realm.
But after obtaining the Wood Spirit Pearl, the best course of action would be to leave Heiya Realm as quickly as possible!
In the darkness, the young Wood Spirit boy's eyes still glowed with an emerald radiance, like flawless crystals shimmering in the night. Yet there wasn't much fear in that emerald gaze. He looked at Yun Che and spoke in a clear voice: "Senior... thank you."
Yun Che was taken aback, then let out a cold laugh: "Thank me? Hah, you wouldn't be naive enough to think that I spent so many Purple Mysterious Coins and offended a huge power just to save you from them, would you?"
"I..." The young Wood Spirit boy's eyes flickered. He stared straight into Yun Che's eyes and suddenly gave a slight smile: "Because I know that Senior must be a good person."
"You little brat, you're laughably naive." Yun Che's voice was low and cold, his eyes fixed on the boy's emerald pupils. His heart gave a slight jolt. He had never seen such pure, flawless eyes. They were like a mirror of absolute purity, reflecting all the sins deep in his soul, leaving nowhere to hide.
Yun Che unconsciously averted his gaze, no longer daring to look directly into those eyes. Even his deliberately cold voice carried a trace of unnaturalness: "Good person? The number of people I've killed far exceeds the number of people you've seen in your entire life! You should understand by now—I went through all this trouble and expense to get my hands on you for one reason: the Wood Spirit Pearl inside you!"
"Are you going to hand it over obediently, or do I have to take it myself?"
Yun Che's body radiated killing intent in all directions.
The killing intent that Yun Che released was not something a young Wood Spirit could withstand. Fear finally appeared on the boy's face. He shrank back, retreating, but his eyes, now tinged with terror, still gazed fixedly at Yun Che: "I... I... n-no, that's not it. Senior is a good person. I... I can feel it. P-please... please let me go, Senior... I will definitely repay you."
Seeing the boy's frightened appearance, Yun Che's hands trembled slightly as he silently clenched them. A suffocating feeling weighed on his heart, but his voice remained dark: "Repay me? The best repayment you can give me is to hand over the Wood Spirit Pearl! Right... NOW!!"
"No... please don't..." The young Wood Spirit boy shook his head as he backed away, then suddenly dropped heavily to his knees, emerald tears glistening in his eyes: "Senior, I beg you, let me go. Although I am still young, I am not afraid of death. But... I cannot die. Because... my sister and I are the last surviving bloodline of the Wood Spirit Royal Clan. My sister is a girl, and I... if I die, the bloodline of our Wood Spirit Royal Clan and the hope of the entire Wood Spirit race will be completely cut off. I absolutely cannot die... Senior, please let me go."
Yun Che's brow twitched slightly, but his voice was cold: "That's the Wood Spirit race's problem, not mine. What I want is just the Wood Spirit Pearl!"
His chest heaved as his voice grew even more rigid: "You little brat, those people are surely searching the entire city for me right now. My patience and time are limited. I'll give you ten breaths. Either you obediently hand over the Wood Spirit Pearl, or you can forcefully destroy the Wood Spirit Pearl yourself and choose to die with more dignity. Either way, the result is the same for me. Otherwise, if I have to do it myself, I'm afraid you won't die so comfortably!"
"Ten!"
"Nine!"
"Se... Senior! Please... please let me go! I really cannot die!" The young Wood Spirit knelt on the ground, begging in terror.
"Eight!" Yun Che remained unmoved, only cold, merciless words escaping his lips.
"Senior, our Wood Spirit race has never harmed any other living beings. We have never committed any unforgivable sins. Even though... your humans have nearly wiped out our entire race, we have never, out of resentment or despair, done anything to harm innocent humans..."
Yun Che: "..."
"So many of my people have died. My parents died at the hands of humans protecting me. Even my sister... my last remaining relative, is lost to me, and I may never see her again in this life... Why? Why, in the end... What crime did we commit? Why do you humans treat us this way!"
"...Five!" Yun Che looked up and took a deep breath.
"Senior," the young Wood Spirit's face was streaked with two clear trails of tears, "Before they died, my parents told me that although humans have hunted us to the brink of extinction, most humans are actually good people. I know that Senior is that kind of good person. Because those bad people scare me, but when I am by Senior's side, I don't feel afraid at all..."
"Three!" Yun Che's breathing grew disordered, and his teeth clenched slightly.
"Senior... please let me go. If I die now, I won't have the face to see my parents... As long as... as long as you let me go, I will repay you. Whatever you want me to do... I will... I will try my best to do it."
"One!"
Yun Che's fierce gaze bore down on the young Wood Spirit: "I already gave you a chance. Since that's the case... then I'll have to do it myself! This is your fate, and the fate of your Wood Spirit race! If you want to hate me, then hate me!"
Yun Che's body whirled around abruptly, his right arm brimming with profound force as he thrust it straight toward the young Wood Spirit's chest. That strike was enough to easily pierce through the boy's fragile body.
"Senior!!" The young Wood Spirit let out a mournful cry.
*SWOOSH!!*
The air was violently torn apart. The raging power that had just surged suddenly scattered chaotically. Yun Che's palm stopped just short of the young Wood Spirit's chest, as if blocked by a merciless wall, unable to advance any further.
What... what am I doing? What am I doing right now...
Am I really going to, for the sake of a possible Qiankun Five Jade Pill, inhumanely slaughter an innocent Wood Spirit who has no enmity with me?
What's more, he's just a child...
And he carries on his shoulders the future of the entire Wood Spirit race.
No... In these two lifetimes of mine, haven't enough innocent people died because of my hatred and rage... If it weren't for me, he would have surely died at someone else's hands anyway. I spent a large amount of profound stones and offended a huge power to get him. I am completely entitled to decide his fate with a clear conscience...
He has the Wood Spirit Pearl I need most... If I miss this chance, I might never find a suitable Wood Spirit Pearl before the Profound God Convention, and then I'll never see Mo Li again!
"..." His chest heaved violently, his gaze shifting between fierce and chaotic. His palm, almost touching the young Wood Spirit's chest, trembled violently. Time and again, he tried to convince himself, but his hand, which could take the boy's life in an instant, simply couldn't gather even a trace of profound force.
What am I... hesitating for...
"Hah... hah..." A long silence fell, enveloping the entire world. The young Wood Spirit's face was pale as he stared blankly at Yun Che, not daring to move a single muscle. A cold night wind blew past, and Yun Che's breathing suddenly grew heavy—heavy, as if he had just come through a life-and-death battle.
Slowly, his palm clenched into a fist and then gradually dropped.
"...Go. Leave now." He turned around, lifting his head to gaze at the dark night sky. His eyes were filled with confusion, while his heart and soul were suffused with an inexplicable sense of relief.
Why is this happening...
What has changed in me!?