After bidding farewell to Jiang Shanghang, Mo Tiange did not immediately descend the mountain. Instead, she turned into a mountain hollow.
After confirming no one was around, she quickly set up a simple Concealment Formation and swiftly changed out of her clothes.
Although she was merely a lowly Qi Refining disciple in the sect, if she descended the mountain so openly, the Jiang Family could easily track her movements. Fortunately, Jiang Chengxian had not revealed her affairs to anyone. As long as she changed her attire, presumably no one would suspect her afterward.
Changing into women's clothing, she simply tied up her hair into a bun. Confirming everything was in order, she swaggered away.
The Yunwu Sect had many disciples, with disciples coming and going daily. Indeed, during her descent, she went completely unnoticed and smoothly arrived at the market at the mountain's base.
Winding her way back to the small courtyard, she pushed open the door: "Second Uncle!"
Ye Jiang, who was still meditating in the corner, was startled by her: "You... Xiao Tian? Why have you changed back into women's clothing?"
No longer needing to pretend, Mo Tiange urgently said: "Second Uncle, we must leave quickly. I've caused trouble!"
"What?"
"I... I killed the direct descendant of a Core Formation Ancestor Master in the sect."
These words greatly shocked Ye Jiang: "What happened?"
Every moment later meant more danger. Mo Tiange was extremely anxious: "I'll explain on the way, Second Uncle. Let's go first."
Ye Jiang thought for a moment. This child never exaggerated dangers. He immediately propped himself up: "Alright, quickly gather the things you need to bring. We'll leave now."
The uncle and niece acted swiftly. In less than a quarter of an hour, they had packed everything they needed to take.
Leaving the Yunwu Mountain market, Ye Jiang released a whisk Magical Tool, and the two of them rode the tool away from Yunwu Mountain.
"Second Uncle, can you hold on?" Seeing her second uncle, who hadn't traveled in a long time, pale-faced as he controlled the Magical Tool, Mo Tiange couldn't help but feel guilty. Her second uncle's days were numbered, yet he was being dragged into fleeing for their lives because of her. If anything unexpected happened on this journey...
Ye Jiang shook his head, his expression calm: "It's fine. Traveling doesn't consume much spiritual energy. First, tell me what happened."
Mo Tiange then recounted the events of the day. At the end, she asked: "Second Uncle, can we escape?"
While listening to her account, Ye Jiang's expression remained grave. He was silent for a long while before finally sighing: "You... Now do you realize what mistake you made?"
Mo Tiange lowered her head: "I was too arrogant. I didn't take others seriously."
Ye Jiang said: "It's good that you understand. A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit. Don't make this mistake again. The other day you said you met an old friend. Why didn't you tell me you also revealed your secret?"
Mo Tiange said shamefully: "I... I forgot."
This answer caused Ye Jiang to frown slightly: "Did you think that the other party was just a minor cultivator and a mortal, and couldn't do anything to you, so you didn't take it to heart at all?"
Mo Tiange hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Yes. Tian Qiao... I believed she wouldn't tell. And besides, they didn't know where I was. Where would they go to find Ye Xiaotian?"
"Nonsense!" Ye Jiang scolded sharply. "You must remember, a secret is only a secret if it's never spoken. Mortals have a saying: 'walls have ears.' And another: 'a strange combination of circumstances.' Nothing in this world is certain! Your thinking wasn't entirely wrong. Under normal circumstances, even if those two harbored ill intentions, they couldn't do much to you. But you didn't anticipate that this secret would be discovered by someone who knew who Ye Xiaotian was, did you?"
Mo Tiange silently endured the scolding. Then she heard her second uncle continue: "These past few years, I haven't been by your side every moment. I never expected it would let you develop such an arrogant temperament. You are a bit clever, but how many cultivators aren't clever? You think that because you've survived a few battles and can defeat most cultivators of your rank, you're something special? If you think that way, you might as well go back and seek death early!"
After saying this, Ye Jiang felt dizzy—his lifespan was nearly exhausted, and he was severely injured. Although he was still a Foundation Establishment cultivator, his body had weakened considerably.
Mo Tiange noticed and quickly supported him: "Second Uncle!"
Swallowing a pill, Ye Jiang waved his hand: "Also, you need to know that telling a secret to someone means asking them to share the risk. That sister of yours, if she hadn't known your secret, perhaps she wouldn't have died. Revealing some things harms both others and yourself!"
Mo Tiange bit her lip, offering no rebuttal. Tian Qiao... she had indeed caused her death. Perhaps it was because Tian Qiao remembered her warning that Jiang Chengxian noticed something amiss, resulting in her being subjected to Soul Searching and the couple losing their lives together—the consequences of her mistake were borne by two other people.
Seeing her expression, Ye Jiang finally stopped scolding and said calmly: "Alright, since it's already happened, grieving is useless. Right now, we should think about how to hide. We probably only have a day or two. After that, the other side will likely pursue us."
Mo Tiange was silent for a long time before asking: "Second Uncle, can we really get away?"
Ye Jiang glanced at her and said sternly: "By saying that, you've made another mistake. Remember, no matter how dire the situation, you must never lose confidence. Sometimes, perhaps if you just persevere a little longer, you can escape certain death."
Mo Tiange nodded: "I understand, Second Uncle."
Seeing her obedient, Ye Jiang sighed softly and said gently: "Xiao Tian, perhaps this is the last time. Second Uncle may not be able to protect you anymore in the future. You must grow strong enough to protect yourself, understand?"
His tone was filled with helplessness, making Mo Tiange's nose sting: "Second Uncle..."
Ye Jiang just patted her head, just like when she was a child.
Finally, the two stopped at a small town at the northern foot of the mountain. Concealing their auras, they pretended to be a grandfather and granddaughter with cultivation levels of only Qi Refining third or fourth layer and checked into a town inn.
"If a Core Formation cultivator from the other side personally takes action, there's no way we can escape. It's better to hide among the crowd," Ye Jiang said.
Mo Tiange had no objections. Experience comes with age; her second uncle's methods were more prudent than hers. Besides, her second uncle's current physical condition was truly unsuitable for prolonged travel.
Two days after settling in this small town, Mo Tiange indeed noticed more Foundation Establishment cultivators flying past in the sky. This place was close to Yunwu Mountain; these were likely Yunwu Mountain Foundation Establishment disciples coming because of her.
Her heart was uneasy. If they were found, with her second uncle's diminished strength and her not yet having established her Foundation, there would be almost no chance to resist...
"Xiao Tian!"
"Huh?" Mo Tiange turned her head, looking toward her second uncle meditating on the bed.
Ye Jiang looked at her leaning by the window and said calmly: "Watching is useless. Sit down and cultivate."
"But..." She truly couldn't calm her mind.
Ye Jiang looked at her deeply, finally sighing.
That sigh made Mo Tiange feel ashamed. She seemed too weak-willed, disappointing her second uncle.
Ye Jiang looked at her for a long time before finally saying: "Come here. Second Uncle wants to talk to you about something."
Mo Tiange obediently walked over and sat on the stool in front of the bed, saying softly: "Go ahead, Second Uncle."
"Xiao Tian, do you remember what happened ten years ago?"
Mo Tiange nodded gently. Ten years ago was the year she came to Kunwu. She was brought from the mortal world to Kunwu by the Xuanqing Sect's Foundation Establishment disciple Ye Jingwen and handed over to her second uncle, officially embarking on the path of cultivation.
"Then... do you remember the Xuanqing Sect?"
Mo Tiange nodded again, but was puzzled: "Second Uncle, why are you mentioning the Xuanqing Sect? Didn't we come to East Kunwu precisely to avoid them?"
Ye Jiang shook his head and sighed: "Times have changed. I've been thinking it over these past two days. You... should still go to the Xuanqing Sect."
Mo Tiange was greatly surprised: "Second Uncle?"
Ye Jiang smiled faintly, his expression calm, as if he had already made up his mind: "The Xuanqing Sect is the second largest sect in Tianji, with powerful influence in West Kunwu. If you go to the Xuanqing Sect, at the very least you can cultivate peacefully."
"Second Uncle!" Mo Tiange said urgently. "Didn't you say they harbored ill intentions toward me? We've fled for ten years. Why now..."
Ye Jiang, however, smiled bitterly: "That's right. I overheard the conversation between Ye Jingwen and Zheng Xuan back then. That Perfected Lord Shoujing wanted you to join the Xuanqing Sect, and he also seemed to view your constitution with special regard. I didn't dare take the risk, which is why I took you and fled Dongmeng Mountain that very day. But... I've been thinking these past few days. Your father said that Perfected Lord Shoujing made an Inner Demon Oath to him, which is why he entrusted your affairs to him. Right now, your life is in danger, and Second Uncle is about to pass away. No one is more suitable to be your backer than him."
"I..." Mo Tiange paused for a moment, then said softly, "Didn't you say it yourself, Second Uncle? Even if he made an Inner Demon Oath, if he merely ordered me to dual cultivate with someone, it wouldn't necessarily violate the oath..."
"That's true, but if you refused even unto death, he probably wouldn't harm your life. Originally, I couldn't bear the thought of you going to the Xuanqing Sect and suffering grievances. I thought I still had a hundred years, but now we've stirred up this kind of trouble, and Second Uncle's lifespan is nearly up..."
"Second Uncle!"
Ye Jiang looked at her and continued: "Leaving you alone to face pursuit from an entire sect, Second Uncle can't rest easy. So, let's take a gamble!"
Seeing her second uncle's resolute expression, Mo Tiange knew he had made up his mind this time. But she couldn't make the decision herself. Go to the Xuanqing Sect? Twice now, accidentally leaking her secret had brought calamity upon her. How could she feel at ease living under the nose of someone who knew her secret?
"No, Second Uncle. I'll go to West Kunwu in the future. The Yunwu Sect isn't a major sect. As long as I go to West Kunwu, nothing will happen..."
"But what if you leak the secret again? Can you escape every time?"
"There won't be a next time!" she almost shouted.
Ye Jiang simply shook his head firmly: "You can't guarantee that."
"Second Uncle..."
Ye Jiang smiled slightly again, looking at her with affection: "...Tian Ge, this is the first time you've worn women's clothing since following Second Uncle. These past two days, I keep thinking back to ten years ago, the first time I saw you, what a lovely little girl you were..."
"I... I don't really..."
"Yes, you aren't very eager to return to being a woman. But Second Uncle hopes you can have this chance, to be a true woman—not Ye Xiaotian, but Mo Tiange." He smiled again. "And, you know what? I've been paying special attention. These past few years, no one from the Xuanqing Sect has come out to capture us. This means... perhaps Perfected Lord Shoujing is trustworthy."
Facing her second uncle's aged face, Mo Tiange fell silent. Her second uncle wouldn't harm her, she knew that. But she also knew that her second uncle's action was born of helplessness. Because if her second uncle was no longer here, she alone would have absolutely no chance of escaping.