On a dark and windy night, murder and arson are most likely to occur.

Bai Hehua crossed her arms over her chest, her deep, dark eyes staring blankly at the medicine pot on the stove. The flames rose and fell, accompanied by wisps of black smoke, while the medicine pot made a gurgling sound as the water boiled.

In the cramped kitchen, the pungent smell of medicine filled the air. Bai Hehua's nose twitched almost imperceptibly. After a long silence, Bai Hehua lifted the medicine jar, took out a small bottle from her person, uncorked it, and a large, fat worm fell into the medicine. After a few soft popping sounds, the fat worm turned into a wisp of smoke and merged into the medicine in the jar.

"Love arises without knowing its origin, and deepens with each passing moment. The living can die for it, and the dead can live for it. Those who cannot die for it while living, or cannot be brought back to life after death, have not experienced the true depth of love."

Bai Hehua's heart was heavy. For a woman he had only known for a little over a month, he betrayed the Holy Sect, assassinated his fellow disciples, and failed to distinguish between good and evil. The word "love" can cause immense harm.

"Why do you love Gu Lianxin?" For Bai Hehua, the answer was simply because Gu Lianxin is Gu Lianxin.

"Lotus, my love is not for any particular reason, it's just love. Why? There are no so many whys." The white lotus ruthlessly pried open the claws that seemed to be attached to him, threw Ji Xiaoxiao back onto the bed, and walked out without looking back.

"Leave? If you dare to leave, I'll expose Gu Lianxin's identity and your deeds to the world. A wicked disciple of the Demonic Sect, a traitor to the Holy Cult who betrayed his master and ancestors—where do you think you can escape to?" Ji Xiaoxiao uttered harsh words, but only saw Bai Hehua's figure gradually disappear before her eyes. "Bai Hehua, Bai Hehua, you stop right there! I won't let you go. You'll die, you'll die! I can't bear to part with you, I can't bear to part with you..."

The sound grew fainter, but Ji Xiaoxiao wept uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face and soaking her heart. In the original owner's memories, she harbored deep hatred for Gu Lianxin, was obsessed with the Lotus Lotus Holy Sect of Tianshan, and uttered countless beautiful words about Bai Hehua, as if all the beautiful phrases in the world were prepared for him. Ji Xiaoxiao had never experienced love before, and was completely clueless about it. But at this moment, Ji Xiaoxiao was certain that the original owner deeply loved Bai Hehua, but due to the Lotus Lotus Holy Sect's first major rule—that "holy sons and holy daughters must not fall in love with others"—she buried it deep in her heart and never dared to reveal it.

The original owner of this body possessed formidable martial arts skills, even surpassing those of her predecessor, Bai Hehua. She cultivated the "White Lotus Sacred Technique" day and night, all for the sake of a vague and unfounded rumor. The rumor claimed that by cultivating the "White Lotus Sacred Technique" to its fullest extent, one could extinguish the seven emotions, eliminate human desires, and ascend to immortality, free from both emotion and desire.

Being heartless and loveless is good for everyone.

After a short while, Ji Xiaoxiao's sobs subsided. She wiped away the tears on her face, her red eyes still needing time to recover. Time is the best healer; her turbulent heart gradually calmed down. Ji Xiaoxiao sorted out the logic; that's how things are—a melodramatic love triangle: I love you, but you don't love me; you love her, but she hates me.

Ji Xiaoxiao has no expectations for love. Since the original owner loved Bai Hehua, she will be careful to spare Bai Hehua's life in her revenge.

Time flew by, and the two bloody holes in Ji Xiaoxiao's soles began to scab over. An unbearable itch, radiating from her feet, spread throughout her body. To recover quickly, Ji Xiaoxiao endured it. Her mood, on the verge of exploding, was a stormy, turbulent mix of emotions. Her maidservant, quick-witted, served tea and water and then vanished in a flash, leaving Ji Xiaoxiao no outlet for her anger. But there were always some people who would choose to ruin their glorious lives.

"White Lotus, long time no see." Gu Lianxin held a short sword in her hand, raised her right foot, and floated on the tree outside Ji Xiaoxiao's window.

The moonlight was bright tonight, and the air was filled with the rustling of insects. Carefully trimmed grasses and flowers stood neatly on either side of the pebbly path, where the insects frolicked happily. To the right of the path stood a centuries-old tree, and atop its canopy stood a woman dressed in white. Her features were exquisite; at first glance, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

Ji Xiaoxiao glanced through the open window and curled her lip in disdain. She wondered what Gu Lianxin, this woman from the Demonic Sect, ate to grow up like this. Not only was she beautiful and charming, but she also exuded an ethereal aura. Transcendent and detached from the world, that perfectly described that fool who stayed up late at night, standing on the treetop enjoying the cool breeze.

"You're the last person I want to see. I have to spend so much time washing my eyes after you leave. It's so annoying!" Ji Xiaoxiao, sitting in her wheelchair, didn't say anything nice to Gu Lianxin. She immediately launched into a barrage of sarcasm and ridicule.

“That’s even better, I do the same.” Gu Lianxin climbed down from the tree and rushed towards Ji Xiaoxiao.

Although Ji Xiaoxiao's feet had scabbed over, the slight stimulation from exercise still caused significant bleeding, which was not unexpected. Seeing her life about to be taken, Ji Xiaoxiao didn't care about anything else. She first struck Gu Lianxin with her palm to buy some time, then flipped herself off the wheelchair. The ground immediately became wet as soon as she stood up.

Ji Xiaoxiao was struck by the Old Man of Sumeru's palm. Although she was aware of her surroundings and managed to dodge one-tenth or one-twentieth of the force, the remaining blow was enough to cause her considerable suffering. The Master of Shuiyueyun Manor, fearing Ji Xiaoxiao's death on his territory and the pursuit of the Heavenly Lotus Holy Sect, sent her a great deal of rare and precious medicinal herbs. Ji Xiaoxiao consumed many of them, but only recovered to about seven or eight tenths of her original state.

Her injuries worsened, and her internal wounds had not yet healed. Ji Xiaoxiao's all-out palm strike was easily shattered by Gu Lianxin's sword with a gentle flick.

As the saying goes, courtesy is reciprocity, and excessive politeness is never a fault. Seeing that Ji Xiaoxiao was out of the range of her short sword, Gu Lianxin gathered her inner strength in her palm and struck at Ji Xiaoxiao's back. At this moment, Ji Xiaoxiao had just stepped out of the door and had not yet had time to call for help. Her body deflated like a punctured balloon and crashed into the wall with a loud thud.

Ji Xiaoxiao fell to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. The wall behind her caved in, forming a small sinkhole, with countless fine lines resembling a spider web covering the wall.

"Ugh." Ji Xiaoxiao spat out a mouthful of blood, her eyes somewhat unfocused. In order to avoid falling into a coma, Ji Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth and bit her tongue. The sharp pain made Ji Xiaoxiao much more awake.

"Hurry up and come out! Are you trying to kill me?" Ji Xiaoxiao shouted to the sky.

Upon hearing this, Gu Lianxin felt a sense of foreboding. If the Mad Killing Insect Gu became public knowledge, Ji Xiaoxiao would be doomed. For the sake of the Demon Heart Sect's grand cause, Ji Xiaoxiao's survival would be an insurmountable obstacle on her path to success.

"Strike while the iron is hot; if not now, when?" Gu Lian thought to herself that Ji Xiaoxiao was seriously injured and didn't even have the strength to move a finger. The people from Shuiyue Yunzhuang hadn't arrived yet. If they killed Ji Xiaoxiao first, escaping from the encirclement of Shuiyue Yunzhuang would be no joke.

Having made up her mind, Gu Lianxin immediately drew her sword and charged towards Ji Xiaoxiao. Ji Xiaoxiao, instead of being surprised, laughed and uttered a single word with difficulty, "Stupid."