#50: Reunion

Not far from where Jiang Qi had walked, a barrier shimmered into view.

Gradually, the figure of a maiden materialized in the air.

Bian Qingxuan sneered coldly: “So this is what you’ve become—someone who relies on Zhu Yan’s spiritual power.”

“Bian Qingxuan?” Jiang Qi drew his sword, his lips curling into a mocking smile. “Step aside, or I’ll kill you.”

“A useless wretch propped up by Zhu Yan’s power dares to spout such nonsense? If you truly know Zhu Yan, why don’t you ask whether even it fears me in the Divine Realm?”

The rustling of tree shadows concealed flickering swordlight.

As dawn approached, Bian Qingxuan retracted her divine artifact. By then, Jiang Qi lay collapsed on the ground, barely clinging to life.

Blood soaked Bian Qingxuan’s shoulders; two of her ribs were broken. She was gravely injured as well, but she had emerged victorious.

She had been lying low outside for days, overhearing everything. Looking down at Jiang Qi with disdain, she said: “You hate Shi Huan? How pitiful. Even if the little peacock lied, Shi Huan still sacrificed himself for the greater good. And even if your family was innocent, their actions indirectly caused the deaths of one hundred fifty-two lives.”

“Moreover,” Bian Qingxuan paused, her tone dripping with mockery, “Shi Luoyi doesn’t lie. She’s too stupid to deceive anyone—even someone like you.”

Jiang Qi coughed up a mouthful of blood, his gaze stubbornly fixed on Bian Qingxuan: “What… are you?”

How could he, wielding three-tenths of Zhu Yan’s power, fail to kill this person? He hadn’t even had time to reach Zhu Yan’s side. How could he accept this?

Morning light spilled across the ground. Bian Qingxuan raised her hand, her pale fingers stealing away his final breath.

“Since you’re about to die, I suppose I can tell you.”

“My name… is Qing Xuan.”

…

Bian Qingxuan didn’t pursue Jiang Qi’s lingering soul. Without Zhu Yan’s power, that fragment of his spirit wouldn’t cause any trouble.

And yet, speaking that long-forgotten name stirred something within her.

Long ago, atop the divine hall, a woman had wept with joy: “My child, Qing Xuan, was born with the divine mark. The High Priest divined that my child would be the one to lead our people to redemption and glory. Qing Xuan, you shall be the king of our Chi Fen clan.”

A dewdrop slid off a leaf, falling to the ground. A fleeting smirk crossed Bian Qingxuan’s eyes before she suppressed all emotions and stepped into the cave.

Suddenly, a young girl stumbled out of the entrance.

Bian Qingxuan’s reflexes were faster than her thoughts, catching her instinctively. Realizing who it was, she stiffened briefly, sneered, and let go.

“What’s wrong with Senior Sister Luo Yi? You look terrible.”

Shi Luoyi sank weakly to the ground.

She felt awful. After a night had passed, the nine-tailed fox’s demon seed had already begun to take effect. Not a trace of divine energy remained in her body—her demonic aura now far surpassed even the corruption she had experienced in her past life.

She vaguely sensed pain in her dantian, but upon focusing, realized it wasn’t entirely pain.

A scorching heat coursed uncontrollably through her limbs and meridians, making her feel as though she were burning alive—an agony worse than the True Fire’s flames.

Thirst overwhelmed her, driving her to stumble out of the cave in search of water. Colliding with someone, she recognized the voice—it sounded like Bian Qingxuan. But at this moment, demonic energy surged chaotically within her body. She felt unbearably hot and, recognizing the figure before her as an enemy, a murderous intent arose. She raised her hand to attack Bian Qingxuan.

But her hand was suddenly gripped tightly.

Bian Qingxuan sneered: “Even after falling to demonic ways, Senior Sister still remembers to hate me. How touching.”

With a swift motion, Bian Qingxuan lifted Shi Luoyi up, placing her hand on Shi Luoyi’s pulse. After a long moment, the mocking smile on her face faded, replaced by a grave expression.

During her time outside, Bian Qingxuan had overheard parts of the conversation between Shi Luoyi and Jiang Qi, though some details remained unclear due to interruptions while setting up formations. She knew Jiang Qi intended to feed Shi Luoyi a demon seed, but she hadn’t heard which one.

The more she examined Shi Luoyi’s pulse, the darker her expression grew: “Foolish creature! He actually fed you the core of a nine-tailed fox!”

Bian Qingxuan hadn’t anticipated Zhu Yan to possess such a thing. Glancing at the horizon, she figured that if she had defeated Jiang Qi while he wielded three-tenths of Zhu Yan’s power, then Bian Lingyu must have killed Zhu Yan—but likely at great cost to himself.

Shi Luoyi’s predicament wouldn’t escape him. If Bian Lingyu survived, he would soon come searching for her.

For now, Bian Qingxuan needed to take Shi Luoyi away from here.

Below the cliff, resembling a severed abyss, a secluded cave dwelling stood hidden.

While the Hengwu Sect lay in the far north, this was a small sect’s penitence cliff in the far south.

A group of mountain spirits tidied the dwelling and respectfully withdrew. Peering inside, Bian Qingxuan noted that Shi Luoyi had been unconscious for two days. She had temporarily sealed the nine-tailed fox’s core, but today the seal had weakened, and Shi Luoyi was on the verge of waking.

Bian Qingxuan knew the safest place now should be the Ten Thousand Demon Abyss, but as a member of the divine race, her innate aloofness and pride forbade her from consorting with demons.

She had chosen this isolated cliff, beneath which flowed a waterfall.

The spirit named Hui Xiang who accompanied Shi Luoyi was troublesome. Though flower and tree spirits were weak, their vast network made gathering information easy.

To avoid any oversight, Bian Qingxuan deliberately selected this barren cliff. Aside from rocks and water, there was nothing else here, making it difficult for others to find them.

Bian Qingxuan sat cross-legged outside the cave, gazing at the waterfall and the precipice. A fierce wind howled above the cliff. Shi Luoyi’s condition was dire—Jiang Qi’s reckless act had forced a potent catalyst into her. Even Bian Qingxuan couldn’t extract the core. There was a fifty percent chance Shi Luoyi would fuse with the demon seed and fall to demonic possession, and a fifty percent chance… she wouldn’t fuse, and she would die.

If she died, the divine pearl would be lost as well.

Bian Qingxuan furrowed her brow.

Perhaps Bian Lingyu could find a solution, but at this point, Bian Qingxuan couldn’t allow Shi Luoyi to return. Originally, she had planned to use an illusion to drive Shi Luoyi into demonic corruption, but now she had no choice but to gamble on that fifty percent chance.

Inside the cave, Shi Luoyi had awakened. The nine-tailed fox’s lustful influence was taking control of her body.

Sealed to the bed by Bian Qingxuan, she moaned incoherently, her mind clouded.

Bian Qingxuan had been meditating to recover from her injuries, but the incessant moans grated on her ears. She tried to ignore them, but eventually, her qi reversed, and her spiritual energy failed to circulate properly. A mouthful of blood erupted from her throat.

Staring at the blood, her expression darkened.

The innate allure of a nine-tailed fox surpassed even that of the Chi Fen clan. Shi Luoyi’s moans began to edge toward sounds of anguish.

Bian Qingxuan entered the cave, her face cold, and gritted her teeth: “What are you moaning for?”

The girl’s clothing had slipped halfway off, leaving her exposed. In her hazy state, she gazed at Bian Qingxuan with watery eyes, tears brimming at the corners.

The process of merging with the demon seed was excruciating. For others, successful fusion would lead to demonic corruption, but Shi Luoyi was different. If she fully transformed into a demon, the divine pearl within her would rupture her body. Without the pearl, she would die as well.

Shi Luoyi was unaware that she was trapped in a deadly predicament. She knew nothing of her dire situation—she was merely a cultivator on the verge of breaking through to the Yuan Ying stage. The core inside her belonged to a nine-tailed fox spirit thousands of years old, and it now controlled her, robbing her of consciousness. Sensing someone nearby and finding the seal undone, she lunged at the intruder.

Bian Qingxuan found herself caught in Shi Luoyi’s embrace. Dragging her toward the waterfall, she sneered: “Cool off! I don’t have the energy to indulge you right now.”

With a shove, she tossed Shi Luoyi into the cascading water, the force of the falls drenching her completely.

Bian Qingxuan watched impassively.

The cold water seemed to bring some clarity to Shi Luoyi. Her willpower was strong, and deep inside, she continued resisting the influence of the demon seed.

The torrent of the waterfall loosened her garments, revealing the delicate pink undergarments beneath. Though slender and graceful, the curves of her figure were unmistakable. Even through the thin fabric, one could easily imagine the beauty hidden underneath.

When Bian Qingxuan realized she had been staring for far too long, an inexplicable wave of frustration and embarrassment rose within her. She stepped forward and tightly tied the sash of Shi Luoyi’s robe.

Shi Luoyi, still struggling against the demon seed’s influence, didn’t recognize her this time and made no move to attack. The waterfall’s icy spray stung her wounds, and a hint of pain flickered across her brow, giving her a pitiful look.

Seeing that Shi Luoyi was utterly unconscious of her surroundings, Bian Qingxuan fell silent for a moment before pressing a single finger to her forehead.

Spiritual energy flowed from Bian Qingxuan into Shi Luoyi, slowly healing the burns inflicted by the True Fire.

Gradually, Shi Luoyi seemed to feel less pain. Exhausted, she collapsed by the edge of the waterfall and drifted off to sleep.

Bian Qingxuan sat down nearby, turning her back to Shi Luoyi as she continued tending to her injuries.

Shi Luoyi slept until the afternoon. When the murderous intent of the demon seed awakened, Bian Qingxuan heard the rush of wind behind her. Without even lifting her eyelids, she caught the hand striking at her and pinned Shi Luoyi to the ground with one hand: “What are you causing trouble for now? Do you think I won’t tie you up like Jiang Qi did?”

At this moment, Shi Luoyi’s mind was consumed by bloodlust.

Her eyes burned crimson with agony. Bian Qingxuan stared at her flushed face for a while before letting out a derisive chuckle.

“Fine then, considering you don’t have much time left…”

She raised her hand, summoning a divine flute to her lips, immersing Shi Luoyi in an illusion where she could vent her aggression by attacking stone figures.

After a while, she released Shi Luoyi from the illusion. The young maiden, utterly spent, wore an expression of fleeting satisfaction.

Bian Qingxuan knew today’s ordeal was over. Approaching Shi Luoyi to lift her up, she leaned in only to be met with a resounding slap across her face.

Even in her confused state, Shi Luoyi instinctively loathed the person before her.

Bian Qingxuan’s head jerked slightly, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. She laughed bitterly: “Shi Luoyi!”

Shi Luoyi gazed blankly at the waterfall, her eyes unfocused. If not for knowing she currently couldn’t recognize anyone, Bian Qingxuan might have thought the slap was deliberate.

Furious, Bian Qingxuan snapped: “Do you think I won’t hit you back?”

She raised her hand but hesitated, unable to strike. After a long moment, she spat out the blood in her mouth and dragged Shi Luoyi back with a dark scowl.

Bian Qingxuan, being taller and stronger, avoided touching Shi Luoyi whenever possible. She vowed never to hold her again, remembering all too well how her fleeting hesitation by the Wandering Sea had cost her dearly.

That single moment of weakness had forced her to pay a thousandfold price.

A mistake made once would never be repeated—not even at the cost of her life.

By the second day, Shi Luoyi regained some awareness.

The demon seed had become a part of her, granting her a sliver of self-control.

Her eyes opened to the roaring waterfall and Bian Qingxuan sitting at the cave entrance. She lay on the bed, covered by Bian Qingxuan’s outer robe. Frowning, Shi Luoyi bunched it up and tossed it onto the ground.

She couldn’t fathom how Bian Qingxuan had found her or what her intentions were now. She had never understood Bian Qingxuan’s motives.

Her dantian was in chaos, the pain draining the color from her lips. Looking at Bian Qingxuan by the cave entrance, she felt a wave of helplessness wash over her.

Summoning the Divine Collapse Blade with great effort, she prepared for a fight.

Bian Qingxuan glanced back, her gaze falling on the discarded robe. After a long pause, her eyes cold, she smirked: “Put your blade away. You can’t defeat me.”

“How do you know unless we try?” Shi Luoyi rasped.

Bian Qingxuan sneered. Perhaps because she knew Shi Luoyi wouldn’t live much longer, she no longer bothered pretending to be the junior sister in front of her: “If I wanted to kill you, would you still be alive? Ten years ago…”

Hearing her trail off, Shi Luoyi frowned: “What about ten years ago?”

“Nothing,” Bian Qingxuan replied frostily.

Seeing that Bian Qingxuan had no intention of fighting, Shi Luoyi used her blade to prop herself up and began walking out. Bian Qingxuan didn’t stop her, watching indifferently.

Shi Luoyi hadn’t taken more than a few steps when she encountered the barrier.

Turning to Bian Qingxuan, she asked: “And you? What are you? Why do you hate me?”

Having heard two tales of enmity between their elders, she braced herself for the third.

Bian Qingxuan responded indifferently: “Senior Sister Luo Yi doesn’t even recognize her own junior sister? I don’t hate you.” Facing Shi Luoyi, she could never reveal her true identity or name.

Shi Luoyi sat back down, maintaining her composure. She prodded the barrier and realized she couldn’t break through it anytime soon. Rather than waste her strength, she chose to conserve her energy.

The Immortal Toad, Zhu Yan, the sect leader, Bian Qingxuan…

From the very beginning, it seemed Shi Luoyi’s fate had been a dead end. But so what if it was? Compared to them, she might be weak, but she had never let anyone have their way with her, even at the cost of her life in her past existence. This life would be no different.

Not long after, the seductive allure of the nine-tailed fox surged within her again. This time, she was conscious. Thinking of Bian Qingxuan nearby, she clenched her teeth, refusing to make a sound despite her trembling body.

She bit her lips until they bled. In the next instant, Bian Qingxuan gripped her chin.

Her expression darkened, assuming Shi Luoyi intended to take her own life: “You want to die?”

Shi Luoyi: “….” No, but she couldn’t speak to Bian Qingxuan either. Afraid of making strange noises, she allowed the misunderstanding to persist.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Bian Qingxuan moved. Holding a translucent flute in her hand, her voice strained with cold fury: “Dying isn’t an option! If you can’t bear it, enter the illusion—it can…”

She cut herself off mid-sentence, her face darkening as she glared at Shi Luoyi with venom.

Though she suggested Shi Luoyi retreat into the illusion, she stood firmly in the way, as if ready to kill her should she attempt to pass.

Shi Luoyi turned over, biting her wrist hard to endure the torment in silence. Though it was agonizing, she managed to withstand it.

In the afternoon, when the murderous intent surged again, things became easier. Shi Luoyi didn’t suppress herself this time, attacking both the barrier and Bian Qingxuan with her blade.

For some inexplicable reason, Bian Qingxuan let her out of the barrier, stowed her flute, and drew her sword to fight her.

This continued for five days until Shi Luoyi, in a panic, realized that her eyes had transformed into demonic pupils.

Every moment, her heart brimmed with violent, bloodthirsty urges.

She not only wanted to kill Bian Qingxuan but craved blood even more. Jiang Qi’s words rang true—if she were still in the village, one day she would have surely killed.

Her cultivation manual was useless now!

Shi Luoyi stopped moving entirely, refusing to fight Bian Qingxuan anymore. She feared that failing to control her murderous impulses would accelerate her descent into demonic corruption.

Over the past few days, she had guessed that Bian Qingxuan was waiting for her to fully succumb to the demon seed, as if anticipating something.

By evening on the fifth day, Shi Luoyi’s transformation became even more pronounced. Demonic patterns appeared on her forehead, and an unsettling craving for raw flesh began to grow within her.

Her aura turned sinister, suffused with killing intent. Her eyes were no longer clear.

But Shi Luoyi endured, waiting for an opportunity.

Finally, when the heat surged within her body again, Bian Qingxuan opened the barrier as usual and sent her to soak in the waterfall while she tended to her wounds at the cave entrance.

Shi Luoyi glanced at her before diving headfirst into the water.

“Shi Luoyi! Stop!” Bian Qingxuan flew after her.

But it was too late. Shi Luoyi plummeted straight off the cliff, summoning the Divine Collapse Blade and aiming it at herself.

The blade fell alongside her, ready to seal her soul forever at the bottom of the cliff under her command. Jiang Qi’s words had reminded her—her father once said that a demon seed could be used to seal a soul.

Though it was agonizing, with her dantian wracked with pain, Shi Luoyi couldn’t help but laugh inwardly at the look of panic and rage on Bian Qingxuan’s face.

When you treated me like an insignificant ant, did you ever imagine that you couldn’t control this ant?

Shi Luoyi would not become the monster Jiang Qi described, slaughtering infants, nor would she allow Bian Qingxuan to have her way.

She had only one path left—to merge with the Divine Collapse Blade and become its spirit.

Perhaps she would never see the light of day again, or perhaps she would lose her consciousness entirely. But the blade was pure—it would forever slay demons and never accept another master.

No one would be able to force her to do what she didn’t want to do.

Just as the Divine Collapse Blade was about to pierce her body, a brilliant golden light erupted in the sky.

With a resounding clang, the blade was deflected.

Shi Luoyi landed on the broad, soft back of a familiar silver-white beast. The wind roared in her ears as she opened her eyes and saw the memory of that silver-white creature from long ago.

It was still filthy, but this time even more battered. It had knocked the Divine Collapse Blade away, its fur matted with blood. With Shi Luoyi on its back, it made no move to turn and fight Bian Qingxuan.

Shi Luoyi had thought she was numb to pain and unafraid of death these past few days, even preparing to become a mindless spirit bound to the blade. Yet, at the sight of the beast, tears streamed down her cheeks.

She shifted, and the divine beast, thinking she might try to escape, panicked.

In its urgency, it turned its head, intending to scoop her into its mouth.

Shi Luoyi’s face was streaked with tears. As it turned its head, she reached out and embraced it tightly.