Spike Viktor kept watch until the pair had left. Only then did he rush toward the Mystic Realm.


    The moment the realm opened, Spike darted inside.


    Within the Mystic Realm, I was showing Mabel Sean a cultivation technique.


    I had carefully selected several methods from my inherited memories that would suit Mabel perfectly.


    These techniques were graceful yet formidable, though sadly quite umon.


    Right then, Spike came running from nearby.


    When Spike appeared, Mabel and I both got to our feet and turned his way.


    "We''ve got trouble," Spike said urgently the second he spotted us.


    "What''s wrong?" I asked.


    Spike lowered his voice. "Audrey Williams''sing to check this ce tomorrow. With his power, cracking open the Mystic Realm won''t be any challenge."


    Spike then filled me in on everything that had happened.


    When he finished, my expression turned deadly serious.


    "So... we don''t stand a chance of getting away from him?" I asked grimly.


    Spike gave a nod. "Pretty much, so... we should get out of here fast."


    "If he finds the secret realm, we''re as good as dead."


    I drew a long breath and said quietly, "Even if we bail from the secret realm, there''s nowhere to run."


    A Martial Saint could track us down without breaking a sweat.


    Worse yet, the Capital City Martial Arts Association had Mabel Sean''s blood.


    That meant they could pinpoint Mabel''s location using secret methods.


    "Let''s think this through carefully," Spike said with a soft sigh.


    I stayed quiet, sitting there for ages, trying to figure out how to handle this mess.


    Darkness crept in, and as I sat under the starlit sky, worry etched across my face.


    "What if... we split up for now? Maybe one of us could get away," Mabel suggested.


    I immediately shook my head. "No way. Absolutely not."


    "Look, they can just take me. They won''t kill me anyway." Mabel squeezed my shoulder with a smile.


    "As long as I''m breathing, that''s what matters, right? You cane save me once you get stronger."


    I took a deep breath, gripped Mabel''s shoulder, and said coldly, "I''ll never let you go through that hell again. Never!"


    Just as Mabel opened her mouth to respond, I suddenly jumped up. "I''ve got a n."


    "What n?" Mabel asked.


    I nced around. "This ce is huge. I''ll find a way to hide your presence. It''s not hard for a Grandmaster to mask their aura."


    "Then what?" Mabel suddenly felt uneasy.


    I said coldly, "If they really find us, let them take me instead."


    "No!" Mabel shook her head right away.


    "Think about it - if they take me, worst case they''ll just drain my blood, but my life won''t be in danger."


    "But you''re different. If they get you, they won''t let you go. I absolutely won''t agree to this!"


    "If you keep insisting, I''ll walk out right now and let them take me!"


    Seeing Mabel''s determined look, I scratched my head and grinned. "You''ve got a point there, so I''ll do what you say."


    Mabel finally rxed, leaning softly against me and whispering, "As long as we''re alive, there''s still hope..."


    Before she could finish, Mabel suddenly felt everything go dark, and she copsed unconscious.


    I gently caught Mabel and whispered, "I can''t let you endure that torture again, so... I have to take this risk."


    Beside us, Spike said seriously, "What if Audrey Williams decides to search the whole Mystic Realm? We still won''t escape."


    I took a deep breath, smiled grimly, and said, "So... I''m nning to leave the Mystic Realm on my own before tomorrow and draw their focus."


    "I''m leaving this Mystic Realm in your hands," I told Spike.


    Spike frowned. "If they catch you, you''re finished."


    I said nothing.


    Not everything in life can be controlled. When you can''t control something, you have to make choices.


    I gently lifted Mabel and concealed her aura.


    Mabel was only a Grandmaster, and with my techniques, I could hide 99% of her presence. Even a Martial Saint might miss it.


    But that wasn''t the main thing. The key was drawing fire and pulling everyone''s attention to myself.


    "If I get the chance, I''ll try to take out Master Williams," I said coldly.


    Kill the Mystic Realm Master, and they''d never find the Mystic Realm!


    That night, I held Mabel like that.


    Mabel slept peacefully in my arms.


    I looked down at Mabel''s face, and reluctance flickered in my eyes.


    "I don''t know if I''ll make it through this time. If I''m lucky enough to survive, I''ll stay with you every single day..." I whispered softly, my eyes full of tenderness.