Chapter 90

Sheng Ningyu was stunned for a moment.

What does it mean to "somewhat believe"? What did Xie Qianjing believe?

But right now, she's not in a hurry to ask.

After all, Sheng Ningyu was genuinely annoyed after hearing Xie Qianjing's words.

Why are you talking about "afterlife" all of a sudden? Putting everything else aside, how could cultivators have "afterlife" so quickly?

Only when their physical bodies perish do they enter the cycle of reincarnation.

Sheng Ningyu is someone who crawled out of a coffin. Even though she lost her spiritual bones, her name, and all her spiritual power, she is still alive in this world.

But Xie Qianjing is definitely not included in this.

Hate or resentment, Sheng Ningyu was determined to keep Xie Qianjing from this world.

In addition, there is Xie Qianjing's inner demons.

But he was stubborn and refused to tell her what his inner demons were.

Sheng Ningyu thought that although she wanted him to live in this world, if Xie Qianjing were to truly become that kind of mindless demon and wreak havoc on the world in the future, she would definitely…

My fingers trembled as they landed on the candied fruit, leaving honey on my fingertips, but surprisingly I didn't pick up the fruit.

Sheng Ningyu turned her head away, deliberately avoiding Xie Qianjing's gaze. After a moment's thought, she lazily shifted her position and leaned against the soft couch.

Her gaze drifted casually to the howling wind and snow outside the window, and with a flick of her fingertips, the plate of amber-colored candied fruit rose into the air and landed steadily beside her.

Without uttering a word, Xie Qianjing remained alone.

When she got angry, she simply ignored him.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Xie Qianjing couldn't help but smile.

Back when she was not yet the universally praised "Sword Master of Bright Moon," Sheng Ningyu's temper was far more straightforward than it is now.

She was like that back then.

Xie Qianjing took something out of his pocket, pulled out a thin, silvery-white thread that contained no demonic energy, and circled it around to Sheng Ningyu: "It was my fault for speaking carelessly just now."

The object drawn by the silver thread appeared simple and unadorned, its appearance no different from ordinary mountain herbs. Only when it was imbued with spiritual energy did it shimmer with a faint glow, like the undulating light of the tide under the moon.

This is the very treasure that Sheng Ningyu risked everything to obtain from Qi Baiya.

Sheng Ningyu paused for a moment, then looked up and met Xie Qianjing's smiling eyes.

He smiled, his eyes crinkling: "Is this a case of using someone else's flowers to present to Buddha? Are you satisfied?"

Sheng Ningyu glanced at him sideways and chuckled, "Barely passable."

Even so, she tossed Meng Po's light up and down, but her crooked body sat upright.

"What did you mean by what you just said?"

Sheng Ningyu's tone was casual, as if she were just asking casually: "What do you mean by 'somewhat believing'? What did you believe?"

"Naturally, I came to believe what I had not believed before."

What's the difference between answering and not answering?

Sheng Ningyu grabbed Meng Po Guang and looked up sharply, only to see Xie Qianjing standing beside her, smiling at her, seemingly unaware that her answer would evoke such emotions in her.

Her black hair hung down her back, and she looked innocent and obedient.

I wonder who was the person who casually uttered "the next life" a moment ago.

Sheng Ningyu stared at him for three seconds, then reached out and tugged at the end of his hair, sighing with a hint of complaint, "Xie Qianjing, if you don't come soon, I'm going to come looking for you."

"You've been gone for so long, just to see Qi Baiya?"

Xie Qianjing nodded: "Yes." But after saying that, he seemed to remember something and shook his head, "But that's not entirely true."

This time, before Sheng Ningyu could even ask, Xie Qianjing spoke up first.

“What Immortal Rong Que said is true. There is indeed a powerful being in this city who used spiritual bones as a foundation to support the illusory sun that fills the sky of ‘Mountains and Seas Never Sleep’.” Xie Qianjing paused slightly, and following the force of Sheng Ningyu’s hair as she entwined it, he calmly sat down beside her, lowering his eyes to indulge her playful actions, his voice clear and melodious like shattered jade hitting a spring.

"But I did not leave that day for that reason."

The candlelight cast a faint shadow on Xie Qianjing's long eyelashes, and the sound of wind and snow outside the window seemed to quietly fade away at that moment.

He said, “Ninefold, I know the reason you came here, mostly for this complete ‘Meng Po Light’. Now that I have retrieved it, and promised that if there is indeed news of your spirit bones in this city, I will definitely retrieve them. So, do you still want to stay here?”

Sheng Ningyu stopped what she was doing and raised her eyelids: "Is this what you want to ask me, or what Qi Baiya wants to ask me?"

"Yes, we have both."

Xie Qianjing knew she couldn't hide it from her, and never intended to.

Xie Qianjing said, "Now that all sides have arrived, the situation in the Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City is becoming increasingly complicated."

She leaned against the window, lazily resting her chin on her hand, her fingertips still entwined with Xie Qianjing's hair, but a sharp sword light flashed in her eyes.

In just a few words, a hint of unusual hostility had already emerged.

Yet, Sheng Ningyu spoke of her encounter with the city's number one fighter with such nonchalance and ease.

If this happened to someone else, they would definitely be accused of being "ignorant and arrogant," but if the person saying this is "Sheng Ningyu," then everyone would think it's perfectly reasonable.

As long as she has a sword in her hand, the Sword Master Sheng Ningyu has the power to look down on everything.

“But I understand Qi Baiya’s concerns, yet I don’t understand you.” Sheng Ningyu leaned forward, getting close to Xie Qianjing. “Why don’t you want me to stay any longer either?”

Xie Qianjing remained silent.

The sound of wind and snow outside the window was sometimes fast and sometimes slow, like an indescribable heartbeat rising and falling in the silence.

Her fingertips unconsciously twirled around Xie Qianjing's sleeve, her voice carrying a hint of nonchalant certainty. She picked up a piece of candied fruit, popped it into her mouth, and said casually, "As long as you don't leave without saying goodbye like that day at the inn, leaving me to be 'kidnapped' for nothing, and stay by my side all the time... who in this world can hurt me in the slightest?"

Xie Qianjing glanced at him sideways.

The flickering candlelight made her innate, untamed arrogance even more pronounced, as if she were still the same Bright Moon Sword Master from years past, whose sword's light chilled nineteen provinces.

Her tone was light and carefree, but when she reached for the candied fruit, her sleeve slipped down, revealing the old scars on her wrist.

Those winding scars, like withered vines, viciously coiled on the skin, each groove deep into the bone.

Just looking at it makes one feel pain.

These things should never have existed in the first place.

Xie Qianjing remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "The reason I left without saying goodbye that day was because my subordinates discovered a sudden surge of demonic energy in the city."

Sheng Ningyu's movements suddenly paused.

Xie Qianjing's voice rang out in the candlelight: "In the past, the Phoenix Clan's affairs were known throughout the world as the heartless and ungrateful Sword Master Mingyue, who did not remember the past. And the great fire that raged in Hehuan City still makes you feel guilty towards the Cold Sect Master of Qiandu Cave."

Condemned by all, another bloody storm ensued.

The wind howled outside the window, but the room fell into an even deeper silence, with only the soft crackling of the lamplight.

The north wind swept across the eaves, snowflakes tapped against the windows, and the candlelight flickered red. A soft sigh melted into the warm light.

Xie Qianjing looked up at Sheng Ningyu.

Their eyes met; his gaze held tenderness, a hint of confusion, which ultimately transformed into an all-encompassing understanding.

"Sheng Jiuzhong, if we do it again, will you repeat the same mistake?"

...

Before meeting Feng Qingli, Sheng Ningyu met another person.

"Sect Leader Yan, I have long admired your name."

The woman in front of him was of average appearance and dressed in a plain light brown cloth dress, but she exuded a unique and clear aura.

This inner and outer magnanimity made even the simple dress appear ethereal and otherworldly, giving her an air of otherworldly grace.

Sheng Ningyu and she looked at each other and nodded, their manner as if they were just ordinary passersby. But in the instant their clothes touched, a glint of light flickered at their fingertips, and something quietly slipped into each other's sleeves.

The movements were fluid and seamless, all happening in the blink of an eye.

When that light brown figure gracefully disappeared into the distance, the object that had just been passed had vanished without a trace. Only the breeze that swept through the corridor remembered this unspoken secret.

The disciple of Qingniao Yiyehua, who was leading the way, was completely unaware that he couldn't help but look back frequently along the way, his gaze practically glued to Sheng Ningyu.

Being a young man, his supposedly discreet scrutiny was, unbeknownst to others, nothing more than a public announcement in a brightly lit place.

Every step and glance back revealed an undeniable mix of youthful awkwardness, curiosity, and longing.

Young man.

Sheng Ningyu's eyes curved into a smile.

As the disciple, guided by the bluebird and the single-leafed flower, turned his head for the fifth time, Sheng Ningyu deliberately raised her eyes abruptly, precisely meeting his gaze. The disciple's eyes widened in surprise, only to see her lips slightly upturned, a faint smile playing in her eyes.

"What?" Sheng Ningyu asked with a teasing tone, "Do you regret not taking a good look at me back at Qingyi Academy?"

The disciple was initially startled by Sheng Ningyu, his face turning deathly pale. Then, his face lit up with immense joy: "Sword Master, you still remember me?!"

I can't quite remember some of them.

Not to mention that Sheng Ningyu herself was somewhat face-blind, there were many disciples of Qingyi Academy at that time. Sheng Ningyu had not yet recognized Feng Xiaosheng and needed to be on guard against everything. She simply could not remember so many people.

But just like Sheng Ningyu, who never makes plans or knows routes when she goes out.

There will always be someone to help her remember things she can't remember.

Sheng Ningyu raised Xie Qianjing's hand and waved it in front of the disciple, saying frankly, "My memory isn't the best, but this person next to me remembers it clearly. It seems you left a very deep impression on him back then."

Hearing her mention him, Xie Qianjing smiled helplessly. He indulgently let her hold his hand and turned to his junior disciple, saying gently, "I do remember you. Back in the array formation class, you showed great talent in talismans."

Hearing him say that, Sheng Ningyu also had some recollection of it.

It seems that this young disciple was among those who joined her in causing a scene in class.

"It's fate that we met. How about this, I'll leave you a spiritual mark later. Although I'm not an expert in talismans, I do have some experience. Even if I can't undo it, I have this person by my side to help. If you have any questions in the future, feel free to send me a message!"

Upon hearing this, Xie Qianjing gently shook his head: "Don't scare her." Although the legendary Demon Lord smiled gently, seemingly without temper, it instantly sobered him up.

As a disciple of the Azure Bird One Leaf Flower, he knew more about the chaos and cruelty of the Demon Realm than those from prestigious sects.

To be able to completely subdue those demons who only worship absolute power and are keen on cruel killing... one can imagine that the strength and methods of this demon lord who is given the title of "Lord" are extraordinary.

In an instant, the young disciple's expression changed, sometimes flushed and hot as if he were extremely excited, and sometimes deathly pale as if he was about to faint at any moment.

A mixture of admiration and fear, creating a captivating and fascinating story.

"Sword Master, what brings you here? How dare you bully my little disciple, Qingniao Yiyehua?"

As the seemingly joking words were spoken, a shower of flowers fell from the sky, and a figure in red gracefully descended.

Feng Qingli was still dressed in a bright red dress, the red as vibrant as a begonia intoxicated by the sun, or like the last glimmer of fire in the embers of a dying ember.

Her face was flushed and rosy, like a drunken, jade-like mountain collapsing.

Compared to before, the carefree arrogance in his eyes had subsided somewhat, replaced by a more composed demeanor. He waved for his disciples to leave, his gaze first sweeping over Sheng Ningyu before finally settling on Xie Qianjing beside her, where a sense of hostility almost instinctively rose within him.

He's clearly a demon, so why does he always wear white?

That's really just putting on airs and being pretentious.

Feng Qingli sneered and spoke first to Xie Qianjing: "However, I am also a little curious, does the Demon Lord Wuchen currently pay attention to these junior disciples of Qingniao Yiyehua?"

Xie Qianjing raised her eyes, glanced at him indifferently, and then smiled, "I'm used to it."

He turned his head to the side, and Sheng Ningyu, as if sensing something, turned her head as well. Their eyes met, and Xie Qianjing's eyes softened with a gentle smile.

Her snow-white, clear features softened under the light and shadow, her long eyelashes drooped slightly, and her thin lips curved into a beautiful arc.

Xie Qianjing smiled and said, "Since we're traveling together, and she doesn't like remembering these tedious things, I'll have to do it."

Feng Qingli: "...You!"

Feng Qingli seemed to be completely enraged by these words. Her spiritual power suddenly erupted, and a bright red light shone brightly, causing the water in the distant Rainbow Pool to ripple even without wind.

Why are you so angry?

Although Sheng Ningyu was puzzled by Feng Qingli's sudden hostility, she instinctively stepped forward and shielded Xie Qianjing behind her the moment she sensed the surging spiritual pressure.

"If Sect Leader Feng has any instructions, please speak frankly. If you wish to take action..."

Feng Qingli stared intently at her, her voice trembling with barely perceptible tension: "If you're going to take action, what will you do?"

Sheng Ningyu's gaze swept over him, taking in his subtle stiffness.

Amidst the falling petals, a playful glint in her lips, she casually joked with him, just like the "troublemaker" she once was, who caused headaches for all her teachers, relatives, and friends.

In an instant, the seasons reversed, as if a moment of time had paused here.

The tense atmosphere from just moments ago vanished completely, as if it were nothing more than a harmless joke during a reunion of old friends.

Feng Qingli was taken aback, then burst into laughter: "Good!"

Sheng Ningyu turned her head, but before she could speak, Xie Qianjing said softly, "I'll wait for you here."

The two exchanged a knowing smile, their understanding unspoken.

Without needing to say anything more, Sheng Ningyu turned her head and drew her wooden sword, while on the other side, Feng Qingli's crimson spirit whip "Wan Hongchen" also let out a howl.

Amidst the blossoming flowers, two figures suddenly crossed paths.

Sheng Ningyu's wooden sword pierced the air, its bladeless surface radiating a chilling sword intent. Feng Qingli's red whip flicked like a crimson serpent's tongue, its swirling light swirling up fallen petals. The two figures appeared and disappeared amidst the swirling petals, their wooden swords and whips clashing, producing a metallic clang.

"It seems that since our parting at the Thousand Mountains Trial, Sect Leader Feng's old injury has not yet healed." Sheng Ningyu spun around to avoid a sharp gust of wind from the whip, and then used her wooden sword to strike the vital point on the other party's wrist, not forgetting to speak in a cheeky manner as she reached the other party's vital point.

This girl really knows how to poke at anyone's sore spots.

Feng Qingli snorted coldly and leaped backward, her crimson robes fluttering like butterflies beneath the flowering trees.

He was equally defiant, his voice bright and sharp: "Isn't even the Sword Master's spiritual bones incomplete?"

Before she finished speaking, Sheng Ningyu's sword stance suddenly changed.

With a slight turn of her wrist, Sheng Ningyu caused the originally plain wooden sword to suddenly burst forth with an unbearable light!

Wherever the sword wind passed, space itself distorted, and a chilling, ghostly aura surged forth. At the same time, countless phantoms of hellish beings surged forth like a tidal wave!

In an instant, the shrill wails of evil spirits, the distorted faces of vengeful ghosts, and the unwilling souls of the dead struggling in the River of Oblivion, stretching out their withered arms...

Anger, delusion, greed, and unfulfilled desires.

All the suffering in the world transformed into a tangible black mist, sweeping in with a biting, eerie wind, enveloping the entire grove of passionate flowers in boundless karmic affliction. The once vibrant blossoms withered and died instantly, as if they too could not bear the sorrow from the depths of hell.

The fifth level of the Ninefold Sword reveals the boundless suffering of beings in hell!

Feng Qingli's pupils contracted sharply, as countless negative emotions crashed against his consciousness like a raging storm. Had his Dao heart not been firm, he feared he would have been shaken to his core by this hellish scene in an instant!

What a powerful sword! But he is not without the ability to respond!

Feng Qingli's eyes sharpened, and Wan Hongchen transformed into a crimson ribbon that enveloped her, shattering all illusions.

He knew perfectly well that Sheng Ningyu hadn't used her full strength in this move, but even so, the illusion was still terrifying, and the immense sword intent it contained was even more astonishing.

Those narrow eyes were filled with admiration and appreciation, but Feng Qingli's words were extremely sarcastic, sarcastically saying, "The fifth level, 'Hellish Beings'? I remember you used to love the sixth level, 'Human Pleasures' the most. What, now that you've experienced suffering, you can't use it anymore?"

"Trying to provoke me?" Sheng Ningyu chuckled, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Then you'd better watch closely!"

In an instant, the swordplay changed again.

In an instant, a golden light seemed to descend from the heavens. And within the heavenly light, the forms of the celestial realms faintly appeared!

Feng Qingli could see almost nothing; within his field of vision, the entire sky was dyed a fiery gold.

With fierce eyes and lowered brows, countless phantoms of gods and Buddhas perched atop the clouds, their solemn appearances revealing a chilling rage.

The grove of flowers trembled violently under this divine power. The pink and white petals on the trees moved without wind, falling from the branches one after another. Each petal was edged with a dazzling gold, and under the golden light, it became crystal clear, like glass.

However, these petals remained suspended in mid-air, maintaining their fluttering posture, yet never falling, as if time had stood still at this moment.

A suffocating pressure filled the air, and even the flowing water of the Rainbow Pool in the distance stopped flowing.

This was a move I had never seen before.

The Red Dust Sword trembled violently in his palm. After a moment's thought, Feng Qingli exclaimed in realization, "Is this the legendary Seventh Sword?"

Her swordsmanship has improved again.

Feng Qingli retreated three zhang swiftly, the red dust weaving an impenetrable red net before him. But Sheng Ningyu's sword was too fast, too fast. In that instant, the wooden sword had pierced through the layers of defense and was about to strike his throat!

Feng Qingli was not incapable of resisting. Even if the hope was slim, given his competitive nature, he would not give up any opportunity that was even once in a million years.

But things are different now.

Feng Qingli stared at the way the person in front of her held the sword, and suddenly froze.

Like dew, like lightning, like a phantom.

Feng Qingli always felt inferior to others in everything, and that everyone looked down on him.

Of course, because of his lowly status, there are many people in this world who can look down on him.

But what Feng Qingli least wanted was for Sheng Ningyu to see her embarrassing moments.

He liked Sheng Ningyu so much.

Therefore, Feng Qingli began to worry that all the emotions he showed towards her would become bargaining chips for her to trample on his dignity.

The joke about "Feng Qingli and Li Qingfeng" completely touched Feng Qingli's heartstrings.

A bright, clear moon deserves a gentle, refreshing breeze.

She was truly as bright and clear as the moon, while he was a man whose father was unknown, whose name and surname could be reversed, and who was by no means a virtuous and upright gentleman.

Then, the phrase "the two of them are not like-minded" made Feng Qingli even more resentful.

So, amidst all sorts of nasty and embarrassing thoughts, he chose to leave his mark in another way.

Feng Qingli once thought that he would be happy to see her in trouble; he would feel relieved to see her suffer; and he would feel unprecedented pleasure and satisfaction to see her fall from grace.

But she truly vanished without a trace, leaving Feng Qingli feeling utterly bewildered.

Those past emotions vanished in an instant.

It was as if the world had suddenly been blanketed by a long and incessant snowfall, obscuring the sky and the sun, vast and boundless.

But once inside, all that remains is desolation.

Until our last meeting.

Amidst the vast mountains and plains, the colors of fire and demonic energy intertwine, illuminating the boundless landscape.

Using the pretense of bygone days and the pretense of "Li Qingfeng," he finally managed to ask that question.

"Do you know what the Sword Master Guihai thought of me back then?"

Every word and phrase had almost transformed into Feng Qingli's inner demons.

"I thought to myself then, 'You'll all see. Li Qingfeng and I will definitely be lifelong friends, through a hundred years, three hundred years, a thousand years.'"

"We will last a long time, holding a celebration every hundred years and sending out invitations to the entire cultivation world."

Suddenly, those carefree, exuberant, and bright years, carrying the warmth of yesteryear, swept before my eyes.

The petals of the flower, filled with deep affection, seemed to freeze in mid-air.

In this vast world, every flower and every leaf can become a part of it.

Looking at the petals of love in mid-air, Feng Qingli suddenly wondered if there was a world where he had never turned a blind eye, never had any doubts, and where the two of them had never grown apart.

He walked side by side with her, he rode horses with her sword in hand... and they were even buried together in a coffin, where they remained quietly for sixty years.

If such a world truly existed, the wonderful times spent together at Qingyi Academy would not have been fleeting. Those passionate, bright, and carefree youthful years would have lasted a lifetime.

Like dew, like lightning, like a phantom.

...

In that instant, Feng Qingli did not retaliate with her whip, but instead instinctively reached out her hand.

"you……"

Almost at the same instant he reached out, the thousands of petals suspended in mid-air seemed to be commanded, instantly turning into rain and mist and dissipating.

All illusions in the void vanish like bubbles.

Feng Qingli blinked slowly. The earth-shattering sword intent and the oppressive aura that had frozen time and space had all vanished without a trace. Only a lingering fragrance remained, carried by a gentle breeze, the familiar scent of the Qing Nong flower lingering around her nose.

Meanwhile, Sheng Ningyu had already sheathed her sword and retreated, turning her head slightly as Xie Qianjing brushed the fallen petals from her shoulder. His movements were natural and practiced, as if he had done it a thousand times before.

Feng Qingli watched this scene quietly.

Yes.

Time has passed, and she is no longer the little disciple of the Sword Pavilion who would cleave the Rainbow Pool with his sword and laugh and playfully fling herself into a shower of petals.

Feng Qingli felt a mix of emotions, a bittersweet feeling spreading through her, yet also a sense of melting snow. Ultimately, however, it all dissolved into a faint sigh and a relieved smile, like the moon breaking through the clouds.

Sheng Ningyu glanced at him, and Feng Qingli stopped talking.

He believed that the friendship of many years had long since vanished after his cold indifference and harsh words, and this way he was happy to feel relieved, with no more ties or burdens.

Yet he could still read Sheng Ningyu's eyes.

But...

With just one glance, he knew her entire decision.

At this moment, Feng Qingli felt both joy and resentment.

He was glad that the passing years hadn't separated him and her by an insurmountable distance. Yet he also hated himself, feeling like a servile dog, instinctively trying to guess her thoughts, a baseness etched into his very bones.

Feng Qingli paused for a moment, then suddenly spoke: "Sheng Ningyu, sometimes, you are really annoying."

Sheng Ningyu glanced at him sideways: "Tell me something I don't know."

That tone was so irritating that Feng Qingli couldn't help but laugh again.

The amorous and charming sect leader of the Azure Bird One Leaf Flower Sect laughed with a mixture of unrestrained joy and helplessness, his intensely beautiful and passionate eyes fixed on Sheng Ningyu: "You must be careful. I... I have protected Madam Qi for many years, and she is far smarter than you."

Sheng Ningyu rolled her eyes at him: "I said the same thing back then, but none of you believed me."

Xie Qianjing blinked, looking utterly bewildered: "I'm sorry, I don't understand what Sect Master Feng means either."

Feng Qingli never expected Xie Qianjing to pull this stunt, and was so angry that she gasped.

You're already the ruler of the demon realm, why are you still pretending to be innocent and naive?

This resentment was different from his; it was so deep that even the slightest hint of it was chilling.

Feng Qingli paused, then said irritably, "If you insist on staying in this Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City, then have the person next to you keep an eye on you. Although your junior sister doesn't have much talent and her spiritual power is weak, so she won't cause any major trouble, she has a complicated mind. If she gets Qi Baiya to back her up, you'll be in big trouble in this Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City."

Their eyes met, and Sheng Ningyu chuckled, raising an eyebrow. She said bluntly, "All you do is boss others around. What about yourself? This Azure Bird Leaf Flower is closely connected to the Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City. As the sect leader, can't you offer me even a little protection?"

Feng Qingli's eyes widened, and she raised her voice: "Sheng Mingyue, is your memory really that bad? Didn't you see clearly just now? My injuries haven't fully healed yet."

His account, in its back-and-forth exchange, seemed to transport us back to bygone days.

They walked around laughing, joking, and playing around.

But Feng Qingli knew in her heart that the knot in her heart, which had suddenly been formed because of those words during the Thousand Mountains Trial, might never be fully healed.

Moreover, for this reason, it is almost impossible for him to make any further progress in his cultivation in this lifetime.

Every sip and every bite is ordained by Heaven.

Feng Qingli said in a relaxed tone, "However, if you two need anything, you can act in my name, Qingniao Yiyehua."

At this point, Feng Qingli, unusually serious, raised his hand and waved it. Amidst the flowing clouds and fluttering sleeves, a bright light fell into Sheng Ningyu's arms.

"This is my sect disciple token; you may use it directly."

"As for me... whether I help you or not depends on my mood."

After Feng Qingli finished speaking, she turned around and walked away without the slightest hesitation.

The gorgeous red dress trailed on the ground, like a winding river of blood.

"Alright, everything's settled. You should leave now. My frail body can't stay with you during this whole mess."

"Feng Qingli".

Sheng Ningyu called out to him.

Gazing at the figure that did not turn around again, Sheng Ningyu silently curled the corners of her lips.

Her tone remained casual and flippant, with a hint of provocation.

"You really don't need to worry about this 'trouble'."

Sheng Ningyu held Xie Qianjing's hand and said lazily, "You should heal your injuries first, otherwise next time I won't show the same mercy as today."

Feng Qingli's pupils suddenly contracted.

A gentle breeze swept across the tranquil surface of the Rainbow Pool, creating ripples. The shimmering water reflected the falling petals along the shore, like a dreamlike illusion woven from the fabric of the mortal world.

This pool once witnessed the towering waves unleashed by a single sword strike, but now only gentle ripples stirred by a light breeze remain, softly lapping against the shore, as if bidding a silent farewell.

At this moment, Feng Qingli realized that the knot in his heart that had been tied up after receiving Sheng Ningyu's answer during the Thousand Mountains Trial had vanished in an instant.

"Sheng Ningyu..."

Feng Qingli raised her hand and slowly covered her face, her knuckles casting a faint shadow in front of her eyes.

After a long while, a sigh that was neither a cry nor a laugh escaped from his throat.

"You are really, really annoying."

Another possibility of standing shoulder to shoulder with her.

...

With Feng Qingli's approval, Sheng Ningyu used the disciple token of Qingniao Yiyehua to sneak into the city lord's mansion.

However, before meeting Ning Jiao, she met another acquaintance.

-----------------------

Author's Note: Yes, Mingyue remembers every word she said, and went to great lengths to give Meng Po's light to Lady Xiang to replenish her heart's blood. [Sunglasses]

As for Feng Qingli… [sunglasses]