Chapter 13: Water Moon and Flower in a Mirror

Demonic energy surged into the sky, and power churned before my eyes.

Sang Ying was physically weak, and the demonic energy caused her chest and lungs to tremble, and she felt a sharp pain in her heart, making her unable to move. Her face turned pale instantly.

"I only just realized it, it's too late, my lovely junior sister."

The boy behind her wrapped his arms around her waist, his chin almost resting on her shoulder in an intimate gesture, his gloomy voice tinged with laughter.

In an instant, a streak of cyan-white sword energy pierced through layers of demonic energy, its fierce momentum rushing straight towards him, its killing intent fully revealed, aimed directly at the young man's vital point.

Sang Ying felt a chill on her neck as the boy's hand gripped her neck and tightened slightly.

The next instant, the sword energy veered off course, splitting the ground and creating a canyon, scattering a large amount of demonic energy.

As the demonic energy dissipated, the surrounding scenery reappeared. Sang Ying looked over and saw Xiao Lingzhou, who looked nervous and regretful, and Xie Lingyu, who was standing not far from him, staring at them with cold black eyes.

"Thank you... cough."

Sang Ying tried to speak, but coughed up blood, which dripped down the corner of her lips.

"Junior Sister!"

Xiao Lingzhou's expression changed drastically. He wanted to step forward but was afraid that the demonic cultivator would attack. He was both angry and worried, and gritted his teeth, "Damn demonic cultivator, if you have the guts, come and fight me! What kind of person are you to use an unarmed female cultivator as a shield! Do you have no shame!"

"Tsk, so weak."

The young man behind her scoffed, slightly reducing the demonic energy emanating from his body. He then supported her back with his palm and channeled some of his power into her.

Sang Ying felt a little better, took a couple of breaths, and asked in a low voice, "You... cough, what do you want?"

He has been disguised as Yin Tu, the Demon King of the Southern Territory, for some time now. His acting skills are so superb that even his second senior brother didn't recognize him.

When her second senior brother saw her, he hesitated and stammered. Presumably, he must have said something to her to explain his strange behavior of advising her to divorce him and introducing her to promising young men.

The purpose of all these actions—the Yunshui Chamber of Commerce, the Immortal Alliance, and the second senior brother whom she hadn't seen for three years—was clearly to bring her here.

A demonic cultivator set up such a scheme, using the Demon King to capture the precious daughters of the four great families and Yaochi. She could assume that he was after money and power, or that he was seeking revenge against these families.

But she didn't understand why she had to come over.

She paused for a moment: "Now that the Wuwen Sect is in the hands of the Grand Elder, even if you capture me, cough, you won't get the Wuwen Sect."

The person behind him frowned impatiently, looking quite disgusted. "What would I need such a lousy sect for?"

Judging from his tone, he completely looked down on the number one sect in the cultivation world, so it seems he wasn't after money or power.

Sang Ying pursed her lips, about to continue speaking, when the boy impatiently interrupted her: "Alright, stop wasting your time trying to get information out of me. Just shut up and behave yourself, or you'll vomit blood on me again later."

With Sang Ying as a hostage, Xiao Lingzhou and Xie Lingyu dared not make a move easily, and a fight did not break out for the time being.

Sang Ying looked at the boy as if he was waiting for something—reinforcements? Or a backup plan? Soon, she saw him raise an eyebrow, and when she looked over, she was stunned.

A gentle-looking young man descended amidst the light of swords, the jade pendant bearing the insignia of the Wuwen Sect at his waist and his face revealing his identity... Xu Baishen.

Sang Ying frowned. The Wuwen Sect was actually colluding with demonic cultivators?!

As the thought crossed his mind, a girl in pink landed behind Xu Baishen. It was Xu Xuan. "Brother, we've found those missing female cultivators. I've already notified the Immortal Alliance, and they'll be here to rescue them soon. Now that we have evidence, even the Demon Emperor can't stop us."

Xu Baishen pointed his sword at the boy, staring at him with a solemn expression. "Shameless demonic cultivator, release that innocent female cultivator and surrender immediately."

Sang Ying was even more confused. Xu Baishen and his sister had also infiltrated the demon realm to rescue people, not to be reinforcements from this demonic cultivator. So why was he waiting for them?

What exactly is he trying to do?

The boy chuckled softly, "Now everyone's here, that's fine..."

His voice suddenly sharpened, and Sang Ying's body felt light as he lifted her up, leaping backward into the air to dodge the attack that jutted out from below.

As the sandstorm dissipated and the dust settled, a man with a resolute face and a robust physique was revealed.

Its demonic power is immense, and its aura is overwhelming.

Sang Ying understood that this was Fu Ye, the Demon King of the Northern Desert.

Fu Ye stretched his muscular arms, looking ready for battle, and said in a deep voice, "You're afraid to make a move just because of one hostage?"

"In war, there are always casualties. If she doesn't survive, we should prepare more gifts and make sure her family is settled. But if we let the evil demon cultivator go because of this, more people will die tragically in the future. These human cultivators who are always spouting grand principles don't even understand this simple truth?"

Xiao Lingzhou blocked his path with a sword, her face cold and stern. "Demon King of the Northern Desert, I have always respected you. That is my junior sister. Please do not act rashly."

"So what if she's my junior sister?" Fu Ye pointed at the demons lying on the ground. "My brothers have been completely fooled and humiliated by this demonic cultivator. I will never let him go today."

He looked up abruptly and saw the girl's delicate face change like water, revealing a pale, paper-white face filled with the scent of medicine, as she gently coughed up blood.

After this ordeal, Sang Ying's spiritual power was depleted, and she could no longer support the operation of the illusion talisman, thus revealing her true form.

Three surprised voices rang out simultaneously.

"It's you!"

"Junior Sister Sang?"

"Sang Ying?"

The last two voices came from Xu Baishen and his sister, while the first voice came from Fu Ye, the Demon King of the Northern Desert.

His face showed shock, along with some indescribable emotions. As if remembering something, his ears turned slightly red, and his previously resolute voice lowered.

"Um, so your name is Sang Ying."

The demonic cultivator behind him sneered, "What, has the Northern Desert Demon King fallen in love with this female cultivator at first sight? But have you forgotten that you're pregnant? Just like that..."

Fu Ye's ears turned even redder, as if they were bleeding, and she looked at Sang Ying: "Yes, I'm pregnant with your child."

Sang Ying: ?

Xiao Lingzhou: ?

Xu Baishen: ?

Xu Xuan: ?

Demonic Cultivator Boy: ?

In an instant, this small area was in an uproar.

The demonic cultivator lowered his head in disbelief, all his gloom and ruthlessness vanishing as he stared at Sang Ying: "No, are you serious? You can really bring yourself to kiss someone like that?"

Xu Xuan's eyes widened: "Sang Ying, you actually cheated on Senior Brother Xie with another man! And you even have a child with him! You have no shame!"

Xiao Lingzhou stared blankly at her, then at the shy, muscular man, Fu Ye: "Junior sister, so this is what you like now. No wonder you don't like the ones I found for you."

Even Xu Baishen's usually gentle and dignified expression cracked: "Junior Sister Sang, you..."

Sang Ying: "..."

She nearly coughed up blood. "I don't even know you. How could your child be mine? Don't slander me out of thin air!"

Fu Ye became shy: "A month ago, you saved me when I was seriously injured and unconscious, and then a few days ago I found out that I was pregnant."

Now, the people around her were looking at her even more strangely.

Coma, one night, running away with a baby.

Sang Ying broke down: "I admit I used to really enjoy picking up things, but I've given it up now. A month ago, I only rescued a rabbit, okay?"

Fu Ye blinked, slapped his forehead, and conjured up a pair of rabbit ears in his original form: "I am that rabbit."

"Hey kid, let go of my child's mother. You just need a hostage anyway, so I'll be your hostage."

The demonic cultivator boy: "..."

Sang Ying: "..."

She felt utterly helpless: "You said it yourself, it's a rabbit. What heinous thing could I do to a rabbit? At most, I might have touched its ears and tail because it seemed cute. So your child is definitely not related to me..."

A phantom appeared, piercing through the demonic energy from behind and aimed directly at the boy's heart. The demonic cultivator noticed and hurriedly dodged, but still couldn't completely avoid it. The sword tip missed and "poof" pierced deeply into his shoulder.

Sang Ying had already made preparations. Taking advantage of the moment, she used her last bit of strength to tear off the talisman and stick it to him. While the boy was stiff for half a second, she broke free from the restraints.

Then, like a kite with a broken string, it fell from the sky.

The senior and junior disciples had a tacit understanding. Xiao Lingzhou had noticed Xie Lingyu's secret movements long ago and flew over in time to catch the falling Sang Ying.

Just as they were about to touch, a burst of demonic energy, hidden within the boy, suddenly erupted from the girl's body. Xiao Lingzhou's movements faltered slightly, but in that instant, a mirror suddenly appeared behind Sang Ying, and a hand reached out from it, pulling her into the mirror.

The demonic cultivator, clutching his wound with a gloomy expression, transformed into a wisp of demonic energy and entered the mirror.

Immediately afterwards, a streak of bluish-white sword light followed into the mirror.

The surroundings fell silent. The remaining people stared at the mirror, its surface calming down like water, reflecting a crescent moon.

Xu Xuan exclaimed in surprise, "Could this be... a reflection in water and a flower in a mirror?"

"The Water Moon Mirror Flower, a supreme treasure of the Demon Realm." Xiao Lingzhou frowned, realizing that this demon cultivator's identity was indeed extraordinary.

Many years ago, the cultivation world was in chaos due to widespread slaughter, but the demon realm was even more chaotic, with blood corpses flowing everywhere and withered bones scattered all over the land. A demon cultivator, relying on the magic treasures he had refined, used killing to stop killing, and eventually pacified the demon realm, becoming its ruler.

That magical artifact is the Water Moon Mirror Flower, and according to records, those who oppose it will die ten times out of ten.

Xu Bai lowered his eyes and pondered: "But it is said that when the Water Moon Mirror Flower is activated, no one within a thousand miles can detect it. This is obviously different from the current situation. This young man is probably not the Lord of the Demon Realm."

"Who cares about the mirror or how blurry it is? If I don't go in and save them, my wife and child will be gone!"

As Fu Ye spoke, he flew into the mirror.

"No, you damn rabbit, didn't you hear what my junior sister said? The child in your belly isn't hers!" Xiao Lingzhou also entered the mirror.

Xu Xuan also wanted to go in, but found herself unable to move an inch.

Xu Baishen sheathed his sword. "Xiao Xuan, I have set up a restriction. You wait here for the Immortal Alliance's assistance."

Xu Xuan was taken aback: "Brother, are you going in? That's a treasure of the Demon Realm. I'm going to thank Senior Brother, you have no reason to go!"

"elder brother--"

Xu Baishen saw the girl's pale face before she fell, her bright eyes now dull. He gripped his sword tightly and entered the mirror.

Soon after, reinforcements from the Immortal Alliance arrived with a pass and rescued Xu Xuan and the imprisoned female cultivator.

"No... Director, these are just ordinary female cultivators who have gone missing from various places. The daughters of the heads of the four great families and the successor of the Holy Maiden of Yaochi are not here!"

Xu Xuan was stunned and suddenly looked at the Water Moon Mirror Flower that had already closed in mid-air.