Ahua couldn't wait any longer. She looked down at Liuli, then at Li Molin, and then looked up through the gaps in the branches at Liang Yihan's blurry figure in the air. In a moment of panic, she leaped out of Liuli's arms.

She nimbly leaped onto the tree trunk above her head, looking up at Liang Yihan's figure, a deep longing appearing in her eyes. Now, all she could think about was seeing him. Just imagining how happy he would be if he knew she could speak and laugh made her almost burst out laughing with joy.

As she thought this, the spiritual energy within her body moved in accordance with Ah Hua's will, and she flew up lightly. She flew through the gaps between the branches and leaves, heading towards Liang Yihan, and flew all the way upwards.

Liuli was surprised when Ahua suddenly broke free from her embrace. She was startled and quickly chased after Ahua, trying to fly over to her.

Li Molin grabbed her arm and said in a deep voice, "Let's see what happens."

Liuli struggled a few times but couldn't break free. She glared at him fiercely and then turned her attention back to the sky.

Liang Yihan's figure drew closer and closer. He stood on a crimson flying sword, and the wind whipped his clothes and hair, brushing against his indifferent face.

He was right there, so close to me.

That tall, elegant figure was the person Ahua had longed for for over twenty years. She still remembered many years ago, on a sunny afternoon, the boy's innocent face was right in front of her, his smile so radiant that it instantly stole the sun's light.

He said, "Ahua, you are my only partner, my friend with whom I can talk about anything."

He said, "Ahua, thank you for your companionship. Thank you for being by my side."

He said, "Ahua, if only you could talk, then you could talk to me. If only you could laugh, I really want to see what you look like when you laugh."

"..."

Overwhelmed with joy, Ah Hua called out in a voice brimming with delight, "Liang Yihan!"

At that moment, Liang Yihan was standing to the side watching the disciples of Yuandao Sect file back into the mountain gate. Hearing a voice calling him, he turned his head in confusion and saw a tabby cat flying towards him. His eyes narrowed, and he exclaimed in disbelief, "Ah Hua?!"

Ahua chuckled and rushed forward, suddenly ending up in Liang Yihan's arms.

Liang Yihan instinctively hugged Ahua. He stared at her blankly for a long while before exclaiming in astonishment, "Ahua, is it really you? How come..."

Ah Hua nestled in Liang Yihan's arms, her eyes full of smiles, and said, "I've come to find you!"

Liang Yihan stared blankly at Ahua, his gaze unfocused, gradually drifting back to the past—to that secluded and quiet crabapple courtyard, where a wicker chair sat under a crabapple tree in a corner, the warm sun shining down on him and the cat in his arms. Pink crabapple petals fell like rain, landing on them and bringing a sweet fragrance… That was the most beautiful scene in his memory.

Just then, a sharp shout rang out from the side, coldly saying, "Where did this little demon come from, daring to come to the gates of my Yuandao Sect? It's courting death! Junior Brother Han, quickly step back, lest it harm you!"

Liang Yihan snapped out of her daze, her gaze toward Ahua gradually becoming complex and unpredictable, and her face darkened.

"Liang Yihan?" Ahua keenly sensed the change in Liang Yihan, and a little unease began to spread in her heart.

Liang Yihan turned her gaze away from Ahua and looked at Yu Xing, who had spoken. She saw him looking at her meaningfully, his expression inscrutable and inquisitive.

Liang Yihan's expression changed again, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, sobering him up and chilling his heart.

He slowly, very slowly released his grip. He urged the flying sword beneath his feet to retreat little by little, staring intently at Ah Hua, his expression somber, and said in a hoarse voice, "Now that you've become a demon, you're no longer my Ah Hua… Go. For the sake of our past relationship, I'll let you go this time. But when we meet again, I… will not forgive you…"

Ahua felt a sharp pain in her chest; she couldn't expel her spiritual energy and fell straight down.

Liang Yihan couldn't help but reach out her hand, as if to grab Ah Hua, but then she stopped abruptly.

"Ah Hua!"

As soon as Liuli saw Ahua fall, she quickly flew up. She was extremely fast and caught Ahua in no time, then flew upwards and stopped in the air, only a dozen feet away from Liang Yihan.

Li Molin chased closely behind her, and even Yu Ke and Ji Jue, who had been hiding somewhere, rushed out and floated with them.

Ah Hua lay helplessly in Liu Li's arms, large tears sliding down her cheeks and landing on Liu Li's clothes.