The city that Liuli and Li Molin arrived at was called Sicheng, located in Jiangyu Prefecture on the banks of the Lingjiang River. This city is situated on the edge of Jiangyu Prefecture and is not very prosperous. Also, because of the rain, there were not many customers at the Xiankelai Inn, and only three tables of guests were sitting on the second floor of the front building.

Liu Li, Li Molin, Yu Ke, and Lang Yuan sat around a table by the window, while Ji Jue, Ge Yiyuan, and Yu Xin sat at another table. The remaining table of guests appeared to be traveling merchants, who were loudly discussing strange tales, eating and chatting, creating a harmonious and joyful scene.

Liuli had no interest in the food on the table. In fact, unlike before, she had never eaten human food since her rebirth, and she didn't need to eat these things in the first place.

She sat by the window, resting her chin on her hand, staring blankly at the fine rain outside.

From the table next to them came the sounds of Yu Xin, Ge Yiyuan, and Ji Jue laughing and joking. Ji Jue's voice sounded muffled, as if he still had a mouthful of food in his mouth.

Liuli's mind was churning with a multitude of complex thoughts when she vaguely heard Ji Jue's voice. Her eyes narrowed, and she couldn't help but think how wonderful it would be to be like Ji Jue, carefree all day long.

The table full of dishes at Liuli's table was almost untouched. Yu Ke and Lang Yuan occasionally ate a few bites, while Lingxi lay face down on the table, showing some interest in a plate of fish, eating it in small bites. Li Molin didn't eat anything, holding a steaming cup of tea to his lips but not drinking, his eyes fixed on Liuli through the steam.

Suddenly, accompanied by a clear bird song, a black-feathered bird flew in through the wide-open window. It landed on the table, shook off the rain, looked up at Li Molin, and chirped sweetly.

Li Molin and Yu Ke immediately focused their attention on the bird, and even Liu Li looked at the bird, although she couldn't understand what the bird was saying at all.

After a long while, the birds stopped chirping, and Liuli also turned her gaze away from the birds and looked at Li Molin.

Li Molin looked up at Liuli and said softly, "Father asked me to return to the clan."

"Okay," Liuli replied calmly.

"Liuli," Li Molin said gently, "We just killed a lot of bald monks from Bodhi Temple. The Buddhist sect must hate us to the core right now. I'm worried about you being out there by yourself. Come back with me."

Liuli shook her head, turned her gaze back to the window, and said calmly, "I finally got out, there's absolutely no way I'm going back."

Li Molin paused for a moment, then continued, "This time I won't let you stay in the clan for too long. I promise you I'll be out soon after we get back. I promise you."

Liuli turned to look at Li Molin, her expression serious, and said in a deep voice, word by word, "I will never go back."

Li Molin frowned, knowing he couldn't persuade her. He lowered his eyes and thought for a while before saying, "Alright, then I'll only take Yu Ke back. Ji Jue and Lang Yuan will stay and await your orders."

Liuli turned her gaze away and said calmly, "No need, I have Yu Xin and Ge Yiyuan, that's enough."

"Ji Jue, come here!" Li Molin turned around and called out.

Ji Jue hurriedly replied "Yes," threw down his chopsticks, stood up, and ran over. With food still in his mouth, he mumbled, "What's wrong, young master?"

Li Molin turned back to Lang Yuan and said in a deep voice, "Ji Jue, Lang Yuan, Yu Ke and I are about to return to the clan. You two stay here and follow Liu Li's orders. Protect her well, understand?"

Ji Jue and Lang Yuan responded in unison, "Yes."

Liuli rested her chin on her hand, watching the rain outside the window gradually lessen, listening silently to Li Molin's words without saying a word.

Li Molin then looked at Liuli, feeling helpless at her silence. He shook his head, stood up, and said in a low voice, "Let's go, Yu Ke."

"Yes, young master." Yu Ke nodded in response, stood up, and waited quietly for Li Molin.

Li Molin withdrew his lingering gaze from Liuli and was about to get up and fly away when he felt a tightness in his chest as soon as he activated his magic power. He coughed lightly a few times, paused for a moment, and then flew out of the wide-open window first, with Yu Ke following closely behind. The two moved extremely lightly, without disturbing the merchants at the table in the slightest.

As Li Molin and Yu Ke flew away, a gentle breeze caressed Liuli's face. Hearing Li Molin's weak cough before leaving, Liuli's eyelashes trembled, and she lowered her eyes slightly.

He used to be strong and healthy, exuding an imposing aura and brimming with youthful vigor. But now he is often sickly and weak, his aura much diminished, like a sharp blade that has rusted, its edge sadly diminished.

And the reason he has become the way he is now is all because of her, Liuli.

At that very moment, Liuli's cold heart suddenly softened, showing a slight sign of warming up.

But that warmth was too faint, and it vanished in the blink of an eye.

--

For the past few days, Liuli has been staying at the Xiankelai Inn, pondering how to deliver another major blow to Buddhism.

Before Li Molin left, he kept inviting her to eat at the front building. She went there a few times. After Li Molin returned to the Demon Realm, she rarely even went out of her guest room. She sat by the window all day, silently watching a big tree outside.

The wind rustled through the branches of the big tree, and many withered yellow leaves were blown down, drifting and floating to the ground.

Liuli sat silently in the chair by the window, holding an object in her hand and looking at it back and forth, her gaze blank. The object she was examining was a small seal, a seal made of the stone used to mend the heavens. The world did not know that it was made of divine stone, and because it was as clear as jade, it was called the Jade Seal.

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