AUOF - 71

Yan Jinglou spurred his horse for a thousand miles alongside his subordinates, finally detecting a faint trace of residual energy in a desolate forest.

He raised his palm to signal a stop and closed his eyes to probe with his spiritual awareness.

Deeper into the wilderness, two tiny specks of light were slowly moving.

Shao Jun asked, “They’re not far. Should we charge in and attack, or...”

Yan Jinglou shook his head. “Don’t act rashly.”

His old wounds had yet to heal, and he had expended much spiritual energy saving Cui Wan’ning, leaving him still weak. A reckless confrontation would only result in a crushing defeat.

Moreover...

Aside from them, there was some unknown thing tagging along.

Yan Jinglou decided to investigate the situation first.

He drew symbols in the air with two fingers, summoning a white paper figure that came to life under his spell. Yan Jinglou transferred a wisp of his spiritual energy into it, granting it temporary life, and sent it fluttering forward.

________________________________________

Sang Li and Ji Hengyu’s destination remained unchanged: Xiaozhong Mountain.

Since the matter with Wuding Sect had not been resolved, Ji Hengyu instructed Qi to investigate secretly while he handled Sang Li’s affairs. This way, neither task would be neglected.

Xiaozhong Mountain was distant, requiring at least a month’s journey on foot.

The desolate forest they traversed was picturesque, and Ji Hengyu, feeling inspired, led Sang Li on a leisurely stroll. In truth, he harbored ulterior motives, wanting to spend more time with her on the road to foster their relationship further.

The only downside? That overly conspicuous big-eyed creature.

Ji Hengyu used concealment as an excuse to shrink it down to the size of a sparrow, turning it into a small black lump perched on Sang Li’s shoulder. This arrangement was even more intimate but made him feel irritated every time he looked at it.

After walking for half the morning, Sang Li grew slightly tired and was about to suggest taking a break when Ji Hengyu suddenly stopped.

His expression turned grave and dangerous, causing her heart to skip a beat. Her fatigue vanished instantly. In this remote wilderness, she couldn’t imagine who could be nearby, but her first thought was that someone had discovered the big-eyed creature and intended to capture it.

Her sense of danger heightened her tension, and without hesitation, she grabbed the big-eyed creature and hid it securely inside her sleeve.

Inside her sleeve, the Huagu Ling (Bone Painting Feather) bracelet on her wrist was particularly displeased by this hideous thing that had stolen its master’s attention. Seeing it enter its territory, the Huagu Ling mercilessly struck it with spiritual energy.

The big-eyed creature squealed in pain, wriggling to escape.

“Don’t move,” Sang Li tightened her grip on the sleeve, whispering a warning.

It cowered deeper into her sleeve, enduring the tremors of the Huagu Ling without making a sound.

Unaware of the small conflict inside her sleeve, Sang Li focused intently on one direction.

The vast desolate forest stretched endlessly before them.

Ji Hengyu’s expression flickered eerily. He swung out his fan and struck the white paper figure hidden in the air.

Familiar craftsmanship—it was undoubtedly Yan Jinglou’s work.

Far away, Yan Jinglou lazily lifted his eyelashes. “Ji Hengyu, I have no intention of competing with you. However, you took something that belongs to me, and I merely wish to retrieve what is mine.”

“Something that belongs to you?”

What a sweet-sounding phrase.

Ji Hengyu sneered. “You stole my Gui Xu stone and haven’t returned it yet. Now you dare demand something from me?” He toyed with his fan, pausing briefly. “Sang Li is a person, not an object. She has legs and can decide where she wants to go freely.”

His words sounded noble, carefully chosen to distinguish himself from Yan Jinglou.

It was undeniable that Sang Li found his words persuasive. The frown caused by Yan Jinglou’s earlier use of “thing” gradually smoothed out.

“You saved my life once. Over these five hundred years, I’ve braved blades and flames for you. I consider our debt repaid.” Sang Li summoned her courage. “From now on, we are completely severed!”

“Severed?”

Yan Jinglou burst into laughter, though his amusement carried a sharp edge, like frost-coated daggers slicing through the air—chilling and terrifying.

“You killed my Wan’wan. Did you really think I’d let you off so easily?”

Sang Li fell silent.

If Lady Ningyue truly died, Yan Jinglou would surely tear her apart piece by piece. Yet here he was, cautiously negotiating with Ji Hengyu to release her alive, indicating only one possibility—

Lady Ningyue was barely clinging to life.

He intended to use her nine-tailed fox abilities to extend Lady Ningyue’s life!

Such devotion was undeniable.

Sang Li’s lips curled into a cold smile, but before she could speak, a soft tone from Ji Hengyu reached her ears, though the content of his words was anything but gentle.

“Fool.”

Surprise flashed across Sang Li’s brows.

Yan Jinglou’s forehead twitched. “What did you say?”

“Fool,” Ji Hengyu repeated. “A fool who grows in cultivation but not in wit. It’s truly unfortunate for the Demon Realm’s ten-thousand-year foundation to fall into your hands.”

Ji Hengyu continued to swing his jade-bone fan casually, his profile shadowed and layered with light and darkness. His demeanor appeared calm, but the disdain in his words was unmistakable.

Yan Jinglou could barely contain his fury.

The hand gripping the reins turned white from excessive force, veins bulging on his neck as if ready to burst through his skin.

His horse reared up, neighing loudly.

Yet he sat motionless on the saddle.

Ji Hengyu pressed on with his sarcasm. “You stole my Soul-Capturing Pearl solely to sustain your lover’s life, but how can you be certain that she is truly the person you wish to save?”

Yan Jinglou loathed his condescending tone.

For thousands of years, Wan’wan had been a scar etched onto his heart—a scar that no one else could touch or see. Losing his composure, his voice nearly tore apart as he snarled, “I embedded a drop of soul blood within the Soul-Capturing Pearl. How could I be mistaken? If you don’t hand over Sang Li, I’ll ensure neither you nor her will return to Gui Xu!”

“Hmph.”

Ji Hengyu let out a light, dismissive laugh.

“Indeed, so I ask you—just because it resides in someone’s body, does that mean this person is necessarily the one you’re looking for? If the Soul-Capturing Pearl happened to be inside a pig, would you crown that pig as your lady?”

Yan Jinglou was left speechless.

Beside him, Sang Li clenched her fists tightly, immediately understanding the implications behind Ji Hengyu’s words.

Yan Jinglou had no patience to argue with Ji Hengyu further.

The madness in his eyes gradually dissipated, leaving behind an unsettling calm. Yan Jinglou summoned two puppets consecutively and employed a soul-switching technique, replacing the positions of the white paper figure with the puppets.

One puppet moved forward while the other stayed behind, encircling their target. A sealing array swiftly expanded, forming an impenetrable cage that trapped them within this confined space.

The sudden surge of danger startled the big-eyed creature.

It burst out from Sang Li’s sleeve, its sparrow-sized form instantly expanding. With a roar, it unleashed a fireball. The flames spread rapidly, igniting half the dense forest in a blaze of red.

Yan Jinglou’s brow twitched violently.

His spine stiffened. “Mirror Demon.”

Through the eyes of the puppets, Yan Jinglou couldn’t help but focus on her.

Sang Li stood amidst the raging inferno, clad in a pale pink-and-white dress. Her delicate figure swayed like a silent blade of grass being consumed by flames, yet her eyes remained clear and resolute, akin to droplets of dew crystallized beneath the fiery glow.

The big-eyed creature fiercely guarded her, charging forward again as if possessed.

Yan Jinglou’s objective had been to test what she was concealing, and now that he’d uncovered it, he had no intention of damaging his puppets further.

He evaded the big-eyed creature and left a parting message for Ji Hengyu—

“Ji Hengyu, taking her with you will only lead to regret sooner or later.”

The sealing array dissolved, and Yan Jinglou recalled his puppets.

“Lord Demon…” Shao Jun’s gaze was filled with concern.

Yan Jinglou paused, raising his eyes after a long moment. “Do you know why Heaven exterminated the Spirit Race?”

Shao Jun shook his head honestly. “This subordinate does not know.”

“After Emperor Qi perished, his soul core shattered, scattering across a certain land along with the Heavenly Seal Stone used to open the Celestial Gate. From then on, life sprouted from that soil, and all things there gained sentience, nourishing countless beings.”

Shao Jun was left speechless with astonishment.

A vicious glint twisted in the corner of Yan Jinglou’s eyes. He wasn’t in a hurry—so long as he held this trump card, Sang Li would eventually return to him willingly.

“Let’s go.”

“Aren’t we pursuing them?”

“No. First, we’ll check on Lady Ningyue.”

Shao Jun followed Yan Jinglou’s steps but still couldn’t grasp the connection between the Spirit Race and this matter.

________________________________________

The puppets had already departed, yet the big-eyed creature remained on high alert, baring its teeth at the direction they came from and went to.

Ever since Yan Jinglou spoke those words, Sang Li had fallen into deep silence.

The big-eyed creature sensed her melancholy and transformed back into a small lump, hopping onto her shoulder and nuzzling against her incessantly.

She stroked its head, her gaze subtly shifting unnoticed.

Ji Hengyu was casually extinguishing the flames, his posture relaxed and unaffected by Yan Jinglou’s words.

“Master…”

“Hmm?”

“You’re taking me to Xiaozhong Mountain and said those words… do you think… I’m the one…” She pressed her lips together, unwilling to finish her sentence.

“Yes.”

Sang Li’s shoulders slumped in exhaustion.

Deep down, she had vaguely anticipated this truth but dared not delve too deeply into it. After all, the little fox spirit was already dead. Even if the little fox spirit were truly Yan Jinglou’s cherished one, it no longer mattered.

She was gone.

She wouldn’t come back.

An inexplicable sadness welled up within Sang Li.

Ever since inhabiting this body, ever since accepting everything it entailed, the mere thought of it brought her sorrow—a shared indignation and pity for another girl’s plight.

Her eyes reddened, and a sharp pain clenched her heart.

Sang Li desperately wanted to say, “Let’s just forget about it.” She didn’t want any further entanglement with Yan Jinglou. Once the truth was revealed as she suspected, she could almost imagine how persistently he would pursue her.

After all, the real little fox spirit was dead.

Whether Yan Jinglou felt remorse or offered apologies, she couldn’t accept them with a clear conscience, nor could she forgive on behalf of the deceased fox spirit.

But she also knew that avoiding this confrontation was impossible.

Cui Wan’ning was still alive. If the little fox spirit truly was the one who had saved Yan Jinglou, she was even more determined to expose her.

Sang Li made her decision.

Once the truth was unveiled, she would immediately inform him that the little fox spirit was dead, severing his hopes! Then, she would strike him down to avenge the little fox spirit!

“Master, let’s hurry!” Fueled by renewed determination, Sang Li grabbed Ji Hengyu’s hand. “Let’s quickly head to Xiaozhong Mountain!”

Her hands were small, barely managing to grasp three of his fingers.

Looking at those soft fingers, Ji Hengyu remained motionless.

“I no longer wish to go.”

Sang Li turned back in bewilderment.

His abrupt change left her unable to decipher his thoughts.

“Why?”

With his cold, piercing gaze imprisoning her expression, he uttered four words—

“Old flames reignite.”

What nonsense about old flames reigniting!

Damn talk of old flames!!

Furious, Sang Li stomped her feet. “Ji Hengyu, how is that any different from directly insulting me!” She vented indignantly, “Even if I were stuck with a pig, a snake, or a horse passing by, I wouldn’t rekindle anything with him!”

Ji Hengyu, overlooking the pig and horse, only remembered the snake.

Pleased, he quirked his lips slightly. “Who knows? After all my efforts to help you along the way, if you regain your memories and fall into someone else’s arms, wouldn’t I have wasted my time?”

Angered by his words, Sang Li forcefully pulled her hand away. “Go or don’t go—it makes no difference to me! I don’t need you to trouble yourself.” Her words carried hidden barbs. “You’re busy enough as it is; you should return to Gui Xu first. This is my problem anyway, no need for you to bother.”

After saying that, Sang Li patted the big-eyed creature and prepared to ride it straight to Xiaozhong Mountain.

Ji Hengyu had merely intended to provoke her lightly and extract a promise.

Yet here he was, having angered her, truly losing more than he gained.

Seeing her genuinely about to leave, Ji Hengyu reluctantly grabbed her wrist.

“What are you grabbing me for, Master?”

“I was wrong,” he slightly bowed his head. “Sang Sang, please allow me to worry over you.”

Having practiced humility yesterday, Ji Hengyu’s submissiveness today was even more refined.

He no longer cared to maintain the dignity expected of the Celestial Lord of Tianheng.

He admitted it—he simply wanted to stay by Sang Li’s side. To abandon his identity, forsake Gui Xu, and wander the world with her—even through this desolate forest devoid of beauty—was fine by him.

He wanted to follow her.

For a lifetime.

Regardless of who she was, whether a demon or a specter, even if she were deemed wicked by the world, she would still be his singular stroke of good fortune.

—I want to imprison her.

Sang Li’s lips tingled numbly.

Compared to his usual haughtiness, Ji Hengyu’s lowered gaze and gentle words unsettled her even more.

She tried to wrench her wrist free, only to feel his grip tighten further.

Her throat itched uncomfortably as she struggled to speak. “You’re hurting me.”

Reluctantly loosening his hold, Ji Hengyu still didn’t release her wrist.

She conceded, “You are the master, and I am your subordinate. If you wish to follow, I naturally can’t stop you.”

Hearing this, Ji Hengyu’s mood visibly brightened, the corners of his eyes curving slightly. “If you wish…”

“The sky is getting dark!” Before he could finish, Sang Li hastily changed the subject. “Master, let’s hurry. If we’re lucky, we might find lodging in the city.”

Ji Hengyu wasn’t in a rush, nor did he press further. Good-naturedly, he allowed her to brush him off.