Suddenly, at the very moment Lan Yin vanished, Wang Su slammed his cup to the ground with a bang. Instantly, he released two streaks of red silk that shot toward the backyard, and he himself stepped onto the red silk, moving swiftly after them.
In that instant, I saw everyone from the Hades Circle in the courtyard rushing toward the backyard.
I immediately followed at top speed. As I reached the backyard, an unusually strong wind revealed itself, and just as Lan Yin appeared, he shouted loudly.
"Northern Star, guardian against evil, known as Black Tortoise—arise..."
With Lan Yin's incantation, the ground rumbled, and streams of brownish-yellow mud erupted from below, instantly engulfing all the Hades Circle members guarding Mo Yu.
"Go."
As Lan Yin spoke, the Vermilion Bird's wings on his back unfurled instantly. With a whoosh, he flew toward Mo Yu. Mo Yu nodded, and Lan Yin grabbed her, then soared upward into the sky.
"Silken veils, seal the Five Lakes, lock the Four Seas, Heavenly Court in chaos..."
Suddenly, intertwined red silk appeared before Lan Yin and Mo Yu, and Wang Su hovered in front of them, his hands wrapped in the red silk.
"Hmph, just as I suspected something was off. Lan Yin, Mo Yu, as members of the Hades Circle, you should bear the fate of Hades. I never expected you two to try and deceive me."
"Pah! Blockhead, our business is none of yours. Get out of the way."
Mo Yu snapped irritably.
Lan Yin smiled.
"You're not my match, Brother Wang."
"Lan Yin, I don't know how you managed to master the power of the Four Sacred Beasts in such a short time, but you truly underestimate me, Wang Su. Azure Dragon's tail, Dragon soars the heavens..."
With a roar, thunder clashed in the sky, deafening bolts echoing from the clouds above.
By now, the red silk had completely formed a wall, blocking Lan Yin and Mo Yu's path. Behind them, more members of the Hades Circle had arrived.
"I didn't expect you, blockhead, to be this formidable."
"I'm not formidable. It's just that since childhood, I've practiced year after year, day after day, never slacking off."
Rain poured down in sheets. Lan Yin, his face covered, had the Vermilion Bird's wings burning on his back. As the rain struck, they sizzled, as if about to go out.