Chapter 30

"Yingning!"

A panicked voice and a strong embrace suddenly rushed to Ying Ning's side. Hands that had just broken free from the Immortal Binding Lock desperately tried to keep her there.

They didn't even notice the change in the surrounding scenery.

A deep meaning flashed across the eyes of the woman being embraced.

Xi Yunliu did not see it.

Instead, he only knew to hold the woman in front of him tightly, afraid of losing her again.

The demon lord, who was pursuing treasures, was one day bewitched by his playthings and found himself in a dangerous situation, unaware of his predicament.

Xi Yunliu was worried that she was just a figment of his imagination, and thus hesitated to let go.

Until Yingning gently patted his back and asked softly:

"Liu Yun, what's wrong?"

The sound was like a bolt from the blue.

"Liu...Yun?" Xi Yunliu had not yet fully recovered.

He hadn't heard that name in a while.

"Yes, Liuyun, is something bothering you?" Yingning feigned concern and continued, feigning doubt.

"But what effect did the illusion created by the Nightmare Beast have on you?"

Xi Yunliu frowned.

Nightmare Beast?

Drifting clouds?

Suddenly, memories that had been sealed away enveloped him once more, relentlessly assaulting his mind with various elements from the illusion, almost making him unable to distinguish between reality and illusion.

Xi Yunliu remembered.

He is currently using the name Xi Liuyun and has encountered Ying Ning in the sect competition of the Immortal Realm.

after...

The two had arranged to come to Junwu Mountain together today to see the exotic animals.

Xi Yunliu loosened his grip, allowing Yingning to escape.

[What just happened...]

Is it all an illusion?

Xi Yunliu's mind went blank when she thought of this.

If it is truly an illusion, then nothing within it can be taken seriously.

So, myself...

......

Xi Yunliu quickly composed herself, suppressing her excitement, and spoke softly to Yingning:

"Perhaps I was feeling a bit unwell while in the illusion, but I feel much better now."

"It's good that you're alright." Yingning silently distanced herself from him.

"Sister...Ah Ning, have you also entered the illusion?" Xi Yunliu asked tentatively.

He wanted to know if the person in his dream who looked exactly like Yingning was her.

"Yes, I also saw some bad things in the illusion."

"What's wrong?" Xi Yunliu asked.

Yingning frowned, seemingly unwilling to recall every detail of the illusion.

"I saw myself go to a small border town after the war between immortals and demons, and I spent half a year there." He paused for the rest of his sentence, unwilling to continue.

It was just a clear change of topic.

“I woke up a little earlier than you, and when I first woke up I was still struggling to shake off the emotions. But now I understand that everything in the illusion was just a mirage. Liuyun, if you also encounter something bad, don’t take it seriously.”

Xi Yunliu finally asked:

"Did you see someone?" The voice trembled slightly.

"Mm." Yingning nodded.

"who?"

"I have met the Demon Lord, Xi Yunliu."

Hearing my own name called.

Xi Yunliu's heart skipped a beat; she didn't know whether to feel pain or joy upon hearing Ying Ning's words.

On one hand, he hoped that Yingning was the person in the illusion; on the other hand, he didn't want her to be.

All the grudges and entanglements were cruelly revealed little by little during what could only be described as a brief illusion between the two.

If she weren't her sister, Xi Yunliu would have truly lost the person she loved.

But if she were her, how could the sorrows between the two of them be easily concealed when they met again one day?

“Xi Yunliu…” he murmured to himself.

“I have a blood feud with Xi Yunliu. He slaughtered my clansmen during the war between immortals and demons. I don’t know if I’m too obsessed, but I actually saw him in the illusion.” Ying Ning shook her head and continued.

"It must be my obsession."

Xi Yunliu's eyes instantly darkened.

【really...】

[Those days in the illusion were all hers.]

Seemingly unwilling to give up, his lips trembled as he spoke again:

"Ah Ning, if you were to meet Master Xi Yunliu in the future, what would you do?"

Upon hearing this, the sadness that had not yet completely disappeared from the woman's phoenix eyes returned, and she spoke without hesitation:

"See you in person?"

"Of course, it's a fight to the death."

As he spoke, a sharp nail pierced his heart, and Xi Yunliu felt as if his body was shattering from the excruciating pain.

A metallic taste rose in his throat, and his face paled considerably.

"A fight to the death...?"

Xi Yunliu's voice was a little hoarse, which drew Ying Ning's "concern".

"Liu Yun, are you still feeling unwell?"

"It's nothing."

Xi Yunliu's tone had long since crumbled.

Yingning told her to return to the Sword Sect and rest more, and Xi Yunliu agreed.

When Yingning arrived at the palace near Qiyang Palace where he was staying, he stopped.

"Liuyun, I'll leave you here."

"Okay, Aning, you..." Xi Yunliu wanted to tell her that she should also rest more and stop thinking about the illusion.

But when it came time to speak, I worried that she might not want to be reminded of what happened back then.

He simply said a few words, "Get some rest."

Yingning took a step away, heading straight for Qiyang Palace.

Xi Yunliu stood still, without moving an inch.

Her eyes, which were once bright and expressive, were now as still and stagnant as a deep well.

He was just standing there.

I saw her leaving.

*

After Yingning returned to Qiyang Palace, she ran into Qilian Zhi, who was dressed in a flamboyant manner.

An extremely rare jade-striped robe, with several golden spider lilies blooming at the vermilion hem.

"Little Aning, did you go out for a stroll?" the nine-tailed fox asked with a smile.

“I did see some interesting things,” Yingning said.

The palace bell at her waist jingled with each step she took.

Upon hearing the bell, Qi Lianzhi seemed to realize something:

"Little Aning, you don't need to mind that your master has just taken in Danyao."

Dan Yao herself bears some resemblance to Xiao Aning. If Xiao Aning were to return now and see Dan Yao, she would likely be somewhat disappointed.

“Senior brother, I probably won’t be able to see her for the next few days,” Ying Ning said.

Dan Yao has already been punished by Li Ziqing to face the wall and reflect on her mistakes, which saves a lot of trouble.

Qi Lianzhi had just returned and had not yet heard about the events of the sect competition. At this moment, she assumed that Ying Ning did not want to see her.

He nodded, "Not seeing each other does reduce some of my worries."

Qi Lianzhi rubbed Ying Ning's head:

"If there's anything you're not used to, you can tell your senior brother directly." The sincerity in his words was clear.

"Of course I will."

Ying Ning smiled sweetly, which was taken as an agreement.

The atmosphere between the two was harmonious, and they were both smiling.

In a secluded spot within Qiyang Palace, a person with a veiled face coldly observed this scene.

*

After leaving the palace in Qilian.

"67, what's the current situation with Li Ziqing?" Ying Ning leaned against the small couch, her black hair flowing freely over her gauze dress.

He toyed with the few rare items that Qilian had just sent over.

67. A well-behaved opening:

“Master, Li Ziqing is currently in the mortal realm, seventeen years old, and is the sixth prince of the Jin Dynasty.”

Yingning asked 67 to bring up Li Ziqing's tribulation history for her and carefully reviewed it.

Li Ziqing was the sixth prince of the Jin Dynasty.

He was born to the Jin Emperor and a palace maid. The palace maid had a difficult childbirth, and he was born with a weak constitution, a sign that he would die young.

For these reasons, he was not favored by the Jin Emperor from birth and was directly abandoned in a frontier fiefdom. When he came of age, he was arbitrarily given the title of "Prince You".

King You, King You.

It does not carry any connotation of expectation or anticipation.

Li Ziqing died peacefully in his fiefdom in his middle age due to a serious illness.

Looking back on his life, he was without father or mother, without wife or children.

From birth to death, he was tormented by illness.

This ordeal, which tempered his mind, was in line with his nature.

*

Among a pile of treasures, Yingning picked up a necklace shaped like a small fox, placed it in front of her, and examined it carefully.

Its simple shape exudes a subtle spiritual aura.

The adorable little fox carved on the necklace is particularly endearing.

When Qi Lianzhi gave himself this necklace, he casually mentioned it.

This is a small treasure.

It is said that if one wears this item, one can temporarily transform into a little fox.

In critical moments, this treasure bag can be used to conceal one's true identity.

Yingning was worried that her rash decision to descend to the mortal realm would be noticed by the Heavenly Dao of this world.

Right now, this little treasure has been a great help to me.