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The moon hung high in the sky, and everyone finally began to wake up one by one.
Bian Qingxuan sat on a rock, her gaze resting ambiguously on the still-sleeping Shi Luoyi. Her eyes briefly swept over the redness on her cheeks and then lingered on her rosy lips, her expression cooling slightly.
Bian Qingxuan was in a foul mood, and her irritation showed in the way she looked at everyone.
Shi Luoyi was the last to wake. Her head throbbed painfully, and her expression was vacant. Hanshu supported her, checking her pulse, and reassured her softly: “It’s over now.”
Dazed, Shi Luoyi sat there for a moment to steady herself before realizing this wasn’t a dream. They hadn’t been killed by Bu Hua Chan—they had been saved.
Even Hanshu couldn’t fully explain what had happened: “Perhaps it was already dead by then. The mist must have been the shattering of the illusion, which sent us out.”
As she spoke, she furrowed her brows, glancing at Bian Qingxuan and then at Bian Lingyu. Though her cultivation was far inferior to peers like Shi Heng or the Sect Master of Hengwu, she wasn’t a dull person. She had always felt there was something strange about the Bian siblings.
Bian Qingxuan’s use of pills that exceeded her cultivation level, Bian Lingyu’s audacity to come to Qingshui Village to exterminate demons, and the inexplicable defeat of Bu Hua Chan—all of it made her wary.
When Hanshu mentioned the mist being the shattering of the illusion, Shi Luoyi disagreed inwardly.
Now, the landscape was filled with green mountains and clear waters, the air fresh and crisp. Though the dragon vein was gone, Qingshui Village and Cangshan Village still retained their original scenery.
Shi Luoyi noticed something in her arms and looked down to find a colorful butterfly kite.
The kite lay perfectly intact in her palm, delicate and beautiful.
Shi Luoyi froze for a moment, suddenly recalling her youth. Jiang Yan had been forced to kneel on the ground by his sect’s elder to apologize to her, but he had refused to bow his head even as blood covered his face. Before leaving, he had smiled through the pain and asked her:
“Next time I see you, should I bring the kite I promised to make for you?”
Shi Luoyi had never seen him again, nor had she received his kite. Turning back to look at Qingshui Village, she saw it flattened, nothing left standing.
The snow had melted into water, flowing into the pond—the burial site of her first friend from childhood.
He would never return, but he had left her a kite.
She gazed at the butterfly kite for a long time before finally placing it into her Kunqian pouch.
In her past life, her world had been black and white. Now, she understood that the world wasn’t just about right and wrong. Some things existed in the gray areas between, growing hazy with time.
After putting away the kite, her mind still felt foggy, so she decided to wash her face by the stream.
Bian Qingxuan slid down from the tall rock, landing beside Bian Lingyu. Seeing him watch Shi Luoyi put away the kite, she sneered maliciously: “What? Regret not destroying the thing Jiang Yan left her?”
Bian Lingyu shot her a cold glance but said nothing.
Though Bian Qingxuan had been wrapped in the lotus leaf, she hadn’t been completely unconscious. Her spirit was stronger than the others’, and she had a rough sense of what had transpired.
She had assumed Bian Lingyu would discard the kite, but instead, the little peacock had clung to it, and because of her pitiful expression, he had let her keep it.
She despised how Bian Lingyu repressed himself and yielded for Shi Luoyi—he had never acted that way toward her. But what troubled her more was that her own cultivation was beginning to weaken.
Take Xue An and some of the disciples, for example—they were starting to slip out of her control.
Bian Qingxuan felt fear. She had sacrificed so much to gain her current power, and she would rather die than lose it easily.
Anxiously, she glanced at Wei Changyuan, hoping he wouldn’t disappoint her.
Every day, two things weighed heavily on her mind: Why hadn’t Shi Luoyi yet succumbed to her inner demons and collapsed? And how much longer would Bian Lingyu persist before giving up?
She consoled herself—once Wei Changyuan annulled the engagement, Shi Luoyi would lose her last remaining family member. Surely her inner demons would resurface, and she would descend into madness, wouldn’t she?
Under the moonlight, Shi Luoyi gazed at her reflection in the stream and hesitantly touched her face.
Earlier, her headache had been so intense that she hadn’t noticed anything unusual about her face. But now, under the bright moonlight, she saw the distinct marks on her skin.
Her fair complexion revealed faint finger imprints on her cheeks and around her lips, slightly reddened.
Though they didn’t hurt, they looked undeniably strange.
She couldn’t help but wonder what had happened during the time she was unconscious. Had Jiang Yan, in his hatred, slapped her before dying?
But the kite in her arms told her otherwise.
Jiang Yan was dead, and she might never know the answer. The soft moonlight bathed her, and at this moment, Shi Luoyi finally felt a sense of relief.
Hanshu had truly survived.
This meant that Huixiang could also change her fate—and perhaps she herself could live well too, couldn’t she?
The group set off on their journey back the next day, traveling for several days until they finally reached Hengwu Mountain at dusk.
The emergence of Bu Hua Chan was a significant event, and Hanshu went to report to the Sect Master.
After listening, the Sect Master said ambiguously: “It seems there were some loose ends left from when my junior brother sealed away those demons.”
Hanshu frowned slightly. The Sect Master’s words carried a faint reproach toward Shi Heng, which struck her as odd, as if the failure to completely eradicate the demons was somehow the Dao Lord’s fault.
But soon, the Sect Master softened his tone and praised her. He then lamented: “Poor Jiang Yan and the disciples who sacrificed themselves in Qingshui Village. So young, yet they perished there. To die at the hands of Bu Hua Chan without even leaving behind intact bodies…”
He waved his hand and instructed a disciple: “Go tell the Sect Master of Chuan Yun Sect about what happened in Qingshui Village. Inform him that his disciple has passed, and may he find solace in this difficult time.”
The disciple bowed and departed.
Not long after, the messenger returned from Chuan Yun Sect. He reported that when the Sect Master of Chuan Yun heard of Jiang Yan’s death and the fact that not even his remains could be recovered, he had simply uttered three cold words: “I understand.”
It was a new year for mortals, and a new year for the immortal mountains as well.
During these days every year, the Sect Master would allow the disciples a few days of rest, exempting them from practice. Those with families in the mortal world or among the sects were permitted to return home and spend time with loved ones.
Huixiang spoke with anticipation: “In a few days, it will be Young Miss’s birthday. This year, fortunately, Young Master Wei is here on the mountain. Surely he will take Young Miss to celebrate with the Wei family.”
When they were children, things were always like this—on Shi Luoyi’s birthday, Wei Changyuan would prepare gifts early and spend the day with her on Buye Mountain.
Later, after Shi Heng fell into slumber, Wei Changyuan began taking Shi Luoyi to the Wei family to celebrate.
Gradually, however, he became preoccupied with demon extermination and other duties, unable to spare the time. He had already missed her birthday for two consecutive years.
Huixiang was especially looking forward to this year.
She prattled on: “Young Miss is now an adult. If Young Master Wei has intentions, surely this year’s gift will be his spirit jade. If Young Miss becomes his Dao partner, she won’t have to endure such hardships anymore.”
Shi Luoyi had once been so naive.
After returning from Qingshui Village, the death of Hanshu dealt a heavy blow to her. For a long time, she lived in a daze, waking repeatedly from nightmares of Hanshu sacrificing herself to save her.
Even though Shi Luoyi had noticed something amiss with Wei Changyuan, she still hoped he would reach out to her, telling her not to be afraid, just as he had done when they were children.
But what she received instead was Wei Changyuan’s request to annul their engagement.
Her inner demons grew darker and more intense, and she spiraled into uncontrollable anger and despair. Rebellious and defiant, she refused to accept it. Her inner demons raged, and she hated her senior brother, hated everyone, even going so far as to attack Wei Changyuan, injuring him.
Wei Changyuan stood silently, neither speaking nor resisting, allowing her silver sword to pierce through his shoulder.
The sight of blood on her sword gradually cleared her mind.
She dropped the sword and fled to the rear mountain, trembling violently.
The second appearance of her inner demons seemed to foreshadow her tragic end. She thought her senior brother must blame her for being useless, for causing Elder Hanshu’s death. Overwhelmed by sorrow and fear, and despite it being her birthday, she finally allowed herself to show vulnerability, crying alone in the rear mountain for half the night. But unexpectedly, at dawn, she received a belated birthday gift.
It had been placed quietly beside her—a small clay rabbit with glowing red eyes. It radiated immense spiritual energy, powerful enough to break through barriers.
Hesitantly, she picked it up. The warmth emanating from the spiritual rabbit finally calmed her trembling.
By this time, Buye Mountain had fallen under the control of the Sect Master of Hengwu. The protective array originally set by Shi Heng had been replaced by one left by the Sect Master, making it impossible for anyone, including Shi Luoyi, to ascend Buye Mountain again.
The Sect Master publicly claimed he would safeguard Buye Mountain on behalf of his younger brother and niece, earning widespread praise.
Shi Luoyi wanted to return home but couldn’t break through the barrier. Deep down, she already suspected that the Sect Master would never let her return.
Receiving the clay rabbit, which could help her go home, she initially thought it was sent by Wei Changyuan as an olive branch. Even after being injured by her, her senior brother still remembered her wish to return home. Believing Wei Changyuan had changed his mind, and seeing hope for overcoming her inner demons, she finally felt less heartbroken.
But in this life, Shi Luoyi was clear-minded. She vaguely felt that the clay rabbit wasn’t sent by Wei Changyuan.
Wei Changyuan had been restless since returning from Qingshui Village, likely forgetting her birthday entirely. That must be why he chose such a significant day to propose ending their engagement.
Otherwise, even if Wei Changyuan no longer loved her, he wouldn’t deliberately hurt her on her birthday.
Moreover, an object capable of breaking through the Sect Master’s barrier must have been crafted by someone of equal or greater strength. Was there anyone in Hengwu Sect capable of such a feat?
Could it have been one of her father’s reclusive friends, moved by her plight after being abandoned, who sent her the clay rabbit to help her return home?
Shi Luoyi resolved to investigate further. If this were true, she intended to find this elder and express her gratitude personally. She also planned to ask for advice on how to awaken her father.
Throughout her past and present lives, she had tried countless methods to wake him but failed. Perhaps a highly cultivated elder might know how.
The day before her birthday, Shi Luoyi decided to first visit the base of Buye Mountain to retrieve the token buried beneath the peach grove.
Having made up her mind to sever ties decisively, she no longer wished to be entangled with Wei Changyuan.
Fortunately, the Sect Master hadn’t deemed the peach grove valuable enough to include it within the mountain’s protective array.
Though she couldn’t ascend Buye Mountain, she could still dig up the token.
Buye Mountain had only one grove of flowering peach trees. Shi Luoyi found the tree she had marked years ago, brushed away the soil, and retrieved a jade box.
Inside the box was a jar of “Daughter Red” wine personally brewed by the Dao Lord and the princess, along with a pair of mandarin duck stones engraved with her and Wei Changyuan’s names. As long as the stones remained unbroken, their engagement would endure.
Shi Luoyi thought, It’s time to bring all of this to an end.
This time, she would find another way to deal with her inner demons. She would dissolve her engagement with Wei Changyuan. Glancing at the Daughter Red wine, she reflected on the customs of Southern Yue. Her father, the brilliant Dao Lord, had awkwardly learned to brew wine to celebrate the birth of his beloved daughter.
Inside was the finest spiritual nectar, prepared for the cup-sharing ceremony on the day of her Dao partner’s grand celebration.
Initially, Shi Luoyi intended to rebury the Daughter Red. But upon reflection, she decided to take it with her.
She was in dire straits financially. If she managed to find the mysterious elder, she might as well offer the nectar as a gift. After all, the cup-sharing ceremony with her senior brother was unlikely to happen now. Why not use it to enhance the elder’s cultivation by sixty years?
With everything settled, Shi Luoyi awaited her birthday.
She took out the mandarin duck pendant. Just in case, she decided to follow the original plan. After all, the elder likely pitied her and sent the clay rabbit out of sympathy.
If so, she should act heartbroken over the annulment of her engagement.
She hoped to meet this person and prayed the elder wouldn’t hold it against her. Later, she would return the pendant to the Wei family.
But much had changed since her rebirth. Would the person who sent her the clay rabbit appear again this time?
However, even after she fell into the demonic path in her previous life, she still followed her father’s teachings, enduring hardships and diligently cultivating. She discovered that most people in this world did not possess aptitude as great as hers. Shi Huan had once said that she was an exceptional blade cultivator.
Since she couldn’t compare herself to Bian Qingxuan, she decided to compete with herself instead.
In her previous life, due to emotional disturbances, it took her a full sixty years to reach the Yuan Ying stage. In this life, she believed that if she continued on this path, she could break through within ten years.
One advantage of being a blade cultivator was their broad-mindedness.
If others were to fall into the demonic path, their inner demons might haunt them for life. Yet, even when Shi Luoyi cultivated demonic arts in her past life, she never completely gave up on herself. She constantly fought against her inner demons, refusing to become a puppet of slaughter.
Given a second chance, she became more vigilant, practicing her cultivation techniques daily. She understood that her inner demons could resurface at any time, but she must not allow herself to fall into the demonic path again!
She was determined to find a way to eliminate her inner demons.
In January, the heavy snow continued to fall incessantly, and the outer disciples’ daily routine now included snow sweeping.
The disciples disliked such tedious tasks, carrying brooms and discussing a strange recent occurrence.
“A few days ago, some disciples from the Chuan Yun Sect came. No one knows what happened.”
“Chuan Yun Sect?”
“Yes, a small sect in the south, far inferior to our Hengwu Sect. It’s normal you haven’t heard of them,” a disciple explained. “But they’ve always kept to themselves, even skipping the sect-wide grand competition held every fifty years. This time, they sent someone to Hengwu Sect—no one knows why.”
Xiao Dingbai, who had been eavesdropping outside the door, ran back inside.
This month, Bian Lingyu was recuperating, leaving Dingbai with nothing to do. He volunteered to relay the news he had overheard to Bian Lingyu.
He didn’t know exactly what Bian Lingyu wanted to hear, so he recounted everything he had seen and heard.
Mostly, his stories revolved around trivial matters, like which male disciple gifted a magical artifact to a female cultivator or how the eastern garden disciples fought with the western garden disciples over a spiritual herb. These tales often earned him impatient remarks from Bian Lingyu about how talkative he was.
Dingbai found joy in this and didn’t mind Bian Lingyu’s indifference or lack of interest.
However, when he mentioned today’s news, Bian Lingyu raised his eyes thoughtfully: “Chuan Yun Sect…”
“Master, do you know about the Chuan Yun Sect?”
“No.”
“Oh.” Dingbai scratched the back of his head. The arrival of strangers from another sect naturally piqued his curiosity as a child. He hoped Bian Lingyu would tell him more about the Chuan Yun Sect, but Bian Lingyu showed no intention of engaging in conversation.
Fortunately, Bian Qingxuan arrived in the afternoon.
Dingbai greeted her enthusiastically: “Senior Sister!”
Bian Qingxuan handed him a bottle of medicinal pills—his reward for taking care of Bian Lingyu. Dingbai carefully stored it away. The young boy was already planning ahead; these were his savings for marrying a future Daoist partner!
“Dingbai, close the door.”
After entering the courtyard, knowing that Bian Lingyu disliked unnecessary chatter, Bian Qingxuan got straight to the point: “Something has happened in Qing Shui Village in the mortal realm.”
With a grave expression, she told Bian Lingyu about the purpose of the Chuan Yun Sect’s visit.
Three months ago, in a village called “Qing Shui Village” at the foot of the Chuan Yun Sect’s mountain, something strange occurred. For more than ten consecutive days, no one emerged from the village.
This wasn’t particularly unusual since, compared to cities and towns, small villages had fewer inhabitants. Moreover, ordinary people traveled slowly and rarely left their villages unless necessary.
What was unusual, however, was that a family in Qing Shui Village was supposed to marry off their daughter. Early in the morning, the groom from another village arrived with his wedding procession. By nightfall, they hadn’t come out with the bride.
The neighboring villagers sensed something amiss and went to investigate. But Qing Shui Village seemed like a giant maw, greedily swallowing anyone who entered. One by one, those who ventured in never returned.
Only then did everyone realize that something was terribly wrong—it was likely evil at work. They urgently sought help from the immortals of the Chuan Yun Sect.
At first, the Chuan Yun Sect didn’t think it was a serious matter. Encounters with demonic creatures were common for cultivators. However, they soon realized this was only the beginning: any disciples who entered Qing Shui Village also disappeared without a trace, just like the ordinary villagers.
Among the missing group was even the son of the Chuan Yun Sect’s leader. The sect’s cultivators dared not proceed recklessly and had no choice but to swallow their pride and seek assistance from the Hengwu Sect.
After listening, Bian Lingyu’s expression grew solemn: “You suspect it’s the Unchanging Toad?”
Bian Qingxuan nodded and sneered: “If it truly is the Unchanging Toad, sending Hengwu Sect disciples there would be suicide. Unfortunately, those fools have no idea of the danger and have already agreed to investigate Qing Shui Village and rescue the Chuan Yun Sect disciples.”
Bian Lingyu remained silent.
Bian Qingxuan asked him: “Will you go?”
“Prepare me some Soul-Cleansing Pills—more is better.”
Hearing this, Bian Qingxuan knew he intended to go. She wasn’t surprised. She understood that Bian Lingyu was hanging on to his last breaths just to exterminate these monsters. If the Unchanging Toad were allowed to grow, it would spell disaster for everyone.
When discussing serious matters, Bian Lingyu didn’t find her annoying: “When I leave for Qing Shui Village, explain things to the Hengwu Sect on my behalf.”
“All right.”
“You need to do one more thing.”
Bian Qingxuan looked at him, waiting for him to continue: “No matter what method you use, don’t let Shi Luoyi go.”
“All right.” A faint smile appeared on her face as she readily agreed. Bian Qingxuan didn’t want them to interact either. Seeing Bian Lingyu nearing his end, it was best to minimize their meetings.
Upon returning from Qing Shui Village, he would only grow weaker, and by then, he would surely give up.
But Shi Luoyi absolutely had to go to Qing Shui Village.
Others might not understand the gravity of the situation, but she did. Those Chuan Yun Sect disciples trapped in Qing Shui Village were probably already dead.
In her previous life, Shi Luoyi barely escaped from Qing Shui Village alive and learned that the entity was called the Unchanging Toad. That incident resulted in the sacrifice of many disciples, and Elder Hanshu remained there forever.
If she wanted to change fate, she had to go. She would save as many as possible and bring Hanshu back safely. Bian Qingxuan didn’t care about Hanshu’s life or death, but Shi Luoyi did.
If her inner demons flared up three times, she would fall completely into the demonic path. Whether she could suppress her inner demons and prevent them from resurfacing depended heavily on what happened in Qing Shui Village.
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