Yong'an Temple

Linghu never returned the hairpin in the end.

The hairpin was hidden in the corner of the room. Wanqi Si always went out early and came back late, so he didn't notice it.

The yard was empty. Linghu hadn't come to play in Yu Heyi's yard for a long time.

I enjoy the scenery day after day, but when will I be able to get the monster crystal back?

She decided to go out and relax.

When she walked outside Wanqi Si's yard, she heard conversation coming from the house, as if Qi Shouchu was talking to Wanqi Si.

So she tiptoed to the door, put her ear to it, and eavesdropped on their conversation.

"This matter is a bit tricky, why don't you not tell Ayi and take Mixiu with you."

There was worry in Qi Shouchu's words.

"Of course not. She would only cause us trouble if she went."

Wanqi Si's voice was as lazy as ever, and Qi Shouchu seemed to have knocked him on the head.

"You can't say that about Ah Yi. She's just practicing a little slower. I'm afraid she'll be in danger if she goes."

"Yu Heyi won't go, right?"

He raised his voice, as if speaking to the person sneaking around outside the house.

"You found me so quickly." Yu Heyi complained, pushed open the door, and raised his head. "Who said I wouldn't go?"

Unexpectedly, she was eavesdropping here. Qi Shouchu held his forehead and asked, "How long have you been listening at the door? What did you hear?"

"Not long after, I heard you say you wouldn't take me with you."

"Do you know where to go?"

"have no idea."

A laugh rang out, and Wanqi Si said, "Yu Heyi, you don't even know where you're going, but you're clamoring to go. If you're in danger, no one will be willing to save you."

"Didn't you say that you value life the most?"

"Who asked you to save me? Second Brother will definitely be willing to save me."

Yu Heyi looked straight into his eyes without any fear.

Since she wanted to go, Qi Shouchu did not stop her. He just called Mi Xiu over and told them about it.

"Yan Dong from the human world has sought help from the immortal world, claiming he's in great trouble and that only the immortals can help. You'll learn the details once you get there, but remember to act with your own safety in mind."

It was winter in Yandong at this time. Heavy snow fell as densely as goose feathers, and the surroundings were covered in white.

Winter is the coldest in the human world, unlike the fairy world where the four seasons are like warm spring.

The cold wind seemed to penetrate into one's bones.

Mi Xiu raised his hand to help Yu Heyi tighten the light pink shawl on her body. The latter stood there obediently, holding the heater he had just bought in both hands.

"Junior Sister, winter in Yandong is not like the fairyland. It's freezing here. If you still feel cold, please tell me to avoid catching a cold."

He shook off the fallen snow on Yu Heyi.

Yu Heyi's nose turned slightly red as he smiled and said, "Thank you, Second Senior Brother. I'm not cold."

"She's not here on vacation."

Wanqi Si, who was standing in front of the two of them, turned around, crossed his arms, and looked at them with extremely cold eyes.

He wore a dark purple fox fur cloak, the silver thread embroidered on the fabric faintly visible, and the hem of the cloak was covered with snow. His long hair was blown by the wind, a few strands, his nose was high, his lips were very pale, and his brow bones were as sharp as a knife.

But there was no expression on this cold and beautiful face.

While the person asking for help had not arrived yet, Mi Xiu ran to a nearby shop to buy her a string of candied haws.

Looking at his leaving back, Wanqi Si felt suspicious. After Yu Heyi became Taiyan disciples, Mi Xiu and the old man were both completely controlled by her. The master and disciple only thought that she was gentle, well-behaved, kind and motivated, and they almost spoiled her to the sky.

Only Wanqi Si suspected that her intentions were impure and never treated her well.

"Brother, are you envious of me?" Yu Heyi's laughter came from my ears. "Second Brother bought me a heater but not you. Are you very cold?"

She pressed the heater into his hands and said, "I'll lend it to you."

Wanqi Si gritted his teeth and said, "I don't want it, take it."

"Yu Heyi, did you give Mi Xiu and the old man some kind of drug?"

"Why do you say that?"

"They're all around you, one by one. They're either drugged or crazy."

She laughed even louder: "Come closer, I'll tell you in secret."

Hearing this, Wanqi Si lowered his head slightly and put his ear close to his lips.

The distance was very ambiguous, any closer and they would almost kiss.

"You're getting too close, Senior Brother. Men and women shouldn't touch each other." Yu Heyi pushed his face away, completely ignoring the fact that his expression was even colder than before. "You're overthinking it. Master and Second Senior Brother like me because I'm a good person."

"I can't tell."

When Mi Xiu came back with the candied haws, he saw that the heater in Yu Heyi's hand had somehow run into Wanqi Si's arms.

He handed the candied haws to Yu Heyi, then turned and looked at Wanqi Si angrily: "Brother, I'll be gone for a while, and you're bullying my junior sister again."

Wanqi Si threw the heater back to her in annoyance.

"Donor, I have been waiting for you for a long time."

"Where did this monk come from?" Wanqi Si raised his eyebrows.

An old monk wearing a tattered gray cassock appeared before my eyes. He was a little hunched over, with an empty trouser leg on his right leg. He was a lame man.

At this moment, he was holding a sandalwood cane in his left hand, his eyes showing burning anxiety as he stared at the three people in front of him.

"Master, what happened?" Mi Xiu stepped forward to support him.

Yu Heyi asked, "Are you the one asking for help?"

"It is I, my Buddhist name is Anchan. Come with me quickly! It will be too late if you are late. There is a big trouble in Yong'an Temple!"

Taoist An Chan sounded anxious. Although he had a limp in one leg, it did not affect his walking speed at all.

Even from some distance away from Yong'an Temple, one could sense the overwhelming demonic energy approaching. Everyone looked closely and saw that the temple before them was already shrouded in thick demonic energy.

The flowers and plants around the temple withered and the trees died, revealing a desolate and dilapidated scene.

Wherever the evil energy is, no grass will grow.

Mi Xiu raised his hand to protect Yu Heyi: "Junior sister, the evil spirit will eat away people's minds, be careful."

Yu Heyi laughed in his heart.

Although the demonic energy shrouding Yong'an Temple was thick, it was nothing compared to the demonic energy already within her body. She nodded gratefully, though; she couldn't let anyone know.

This demonic energy wasn't pure demonic energy, it seemed to also contain some...

Fierce spirit.

"Master Anchan, has anyone died in Yong'an Temple?"

"For now... no one has died. Someone in Yong'an Temple has had their mind corroded by demonic energy and has lost their Daoist heart."

"The monks in your temple killed each other? Why is there a murderous aura hidden in the surging demonic energy?"

Obviously, Wanqi Si also felt it, and he looked at Taoist An Chan with a serious expression.

"Don't talk nonsense, benefactor! Yong'an Temple is supposed to protect the people of the world. How could they do such a heinous thing? All of this is due to that sword."

Taoist An Chan was in tears.

"sword?"

"It was originally an ordinary sword, which Jingxu found by chance while climbing the mountain. Jingxu loved it like a treasure and couldn't let it go. The sword glowed with a bright light, and at first we all thought it was an auspicious sign. Unexpectedly, one day when Jingxu was carrying it up the mountain, a herb cut his arm and it bled. The bleeding was a minor matter, but after the sword was touched by the blood, it awakened its sword spirit."

"That wasn't just any sword, it was a vicious one! The sword spirit tried to control Jingxu's mind and kill him. Jingxu put up a desperate resistance and rolled all the way down the mountain. I happened to pass by there and brought him back. Ever since he woke up, he's been mumbling something, his eyes filled with panic and fear, as if he didn't recognize me."

"Ever since the sword spirit awakened, everyone here has fled Yong'an Temple for refuge. The demonic energy here alone is so overwhelming that no one dares approach. The demonic energy is hard to dissipate, and I don't know what will happen in the future. I am uneasy and can only seek help from the immortal world."

Yu Heyi raised his eyes and asked, "What did Taoist Jingxu say?"

"He said, 'I will never go to that cabin again, and I will never steal anything again.'"

Taoist Master An Chan was silent for a moment before answering her.

When everyone found Taoist Master Jingxu, he was in a pavilion behind Yong'an Temple.

People always say that there is a pavilion in Yong'an Temple, which is surrounded by green trees. The leaves are intertwined, forming a big green umbrella for the pavilion.

People who come to Yong'an Temple to pray will come to this pavilion to cool off and relax.

As for the pavilion they saw now, all the trees had died due to the erosion of the evil spirit, leaving only some bare trunks, and the colorful flowers that once lined the stone road had all withered.

It is difficult to tell what the pavilion originally looked like.

Taoist Master Jingxu was squatting in the pavilion at this time, shivering and grabbing the soil on the ground, as if grabbing a life-saving straw.

"Jingxu, what are you doing here?" Taoist An Chan asked cautiously.

Taoist Master Jingxu seemed not to hear what he said. He refused to let go of the soil and kept muttering: "It's not me, it's not me, I didn't do it!"

Yu Heyi stepped forward and said soothingly, "Master Jingxu, can you tell me what happened?"

He suddenly turned his head, grabbed her wrist with his dirty hands, and his eyes were bloodshot.

"It really wasn't me. I didn't steal anything. Help me!"

His nails dug deep into her flesh, oozing a trace of blood. Yu Heyi frowned and cried out in pain.

Just as Mi Xiu was about to step forward, with a "pop", Wanqi Si slapped Taoist Jingxu's hand away before him.

The two men protected her behind them.

"It's not me, it's not me! I'm never going to that cabin again! It's that letter..."

"Jingxu!" Taoist Anchan scolded.

Taoist Jingxu's hands were empty, and he grabbed the dirt on the ground again. The dirt embedded in his nails, making him look extremely dirty.

His eyes were dead, without any life in them.

"Most of his soul has been taken away, and he's unconscious." Wanqi Si pressed his index finger against Taoist Jingxu's forehead, and his spiritual power explored his veins. "I'm afraid it won't work if we start with him."

Taoist An Chan was stunned for a moment, his hand holding the cane trembling slightly: "Then can Jingxu still be saved?"

"It's hard to say. Did he ever tell me where the sword came from?"

"It's in a wooden house on the back hill."

"Let's go to the back mountain."

Taoist An Chan seemed to want to ask more questions but was interrupted by Yu Heyi.

"Master Anchan, find out the origin of the evil sword and destroy the sword spirit. Perhaps you can save Master Jingxu's life. If you go too late, it may be too late."

He had no choice but to shut up, show them the way, and stay to guard Taoist Jingxu.

The mountain road is rugged and winding.

Wanqi Si and Yu Heyi looked at each other, and both felt something was wrong.

This road...