"I didn't expect the sect leader to know Yin Sha? Come to think of it, it's been a hundred years since I last saw him." Ling Geng picked up the ginseng soup and took a sip.

Seeing that he had drunk the specially made medicine, Lingyao, who was waiting for the medicine to take effect, sat down in the thousand-year-old pear wood chair behind the desk.

He moved the paperweight aside, picked up one of the letters, and asked calmly, "Does the Grand Elder also know him?"

Yin Ming did mention this person in his letter, and told him to go to him to get some things, saying that those things would be of great benefit to his future.

But Yin Ming is gone, so what future does he still have?

No one ever asked him what he really wanted.

He has never been an ambitious person, so why does everyone want him to take on those strange responsibilities?

Power, wealth, and status were never what he wanted.

He just wanted to stay in that little courtyard with Yin Ming, living a simple and ordinary life like that year.

But these people ruined everything.

When he was young, the elder saved his life, but if saving him was only to inflict this suffering on him and make him bear responsibilities he didn't want to bear...

He might as well have died in the first place.

That way, at least he wouldn't be in so much pain now.

Lingyao gazed longingly at the letter in his hand, one of the few things Yin Ming had left behind.

Of the three sheets of paper, two were filled with his parting words of advice, all expressing his concern for Lingyao, yet he never mentioned his own grievances.

Why was he so foolish? Those people told him to die, and he actually did as they wanted...

Or is it because he wants to help Lingyao?

The thought of this possibility made Lingyao feel uneasy. Perhaps he was also one of the executioners and should pay the price for it.

He was ready; once he killed the Grand Elder, he would go and join Yin Ming.

The third sheet of paper contained the painting in his hand.

The painting is divided into two parts. The upper part depicts the scene on that day when Lingyao presented the fox cub to Yinming.

Below is a drawing of a smiling face brimming with joy, and a hand resting on the forehead of that smiling face—

It was the scene where he took the initiative to rub against Yin Ming's palm.

He had no idea that this was how Yin Ming saw him.

The expressions and movements in both paintings are so lifelike that they demonstrate the artist's skill and dedication while creating the artwork.

An artist's emotions are often reflected in the details of their paintings.

But Lingyao didn't sense any negative emotions from the painting.

Lingyao trembled as she pressed the painting to her heart. Such a beautiful Yin Ming…

Why was it him who had to die?

“More than a hundred years ago, it was Yin Sha who sent you back to the Demon Sect.” The Grand Elder did not hide anything. “Later, he volunteered to wipe out a group of bandits active in the Wangdu Sea, and never returned to the Demon Sect.”

"It seems he has gone into seclusion in a place called Xucheng."

Ling Geng was about to put the ginseng soup back on the desk and ask the sect leader what he wanted to discuss when he suddenly felt dizzy.

He quickly grabbed the corner of the desk to steady himself.

In an instant, Ling Geng understood that there was something wrong with the ginseng soup!

The anesthetic powder added to the soup finally took effect, but Lingyao couldn't care less about the Grand Elder who was about to collapse.

Xucheng?

Lingyao repeated the name softly, finally recalling this place from the chaotic and painful memories of his nine lifetimes.

Lingyao initially thought that Yin Sha was just a hermit in the Demon Sect, since Yin Ming had never mentioned the name of the city lord of Xucheng to him.

Perhaps he himself had forgotten about this, which is why he didn't mention it explicitly in the letter.

But that doesn't matter anymore. What matters is Xucheng. He might be the last way for him to see Yinming!

Ling Yao suppressed his joy and looked up at Ling Geng in front of him, "I'll let you off this time, since the Grand Elder reminded me of this important detail."

Lingyao raised his hand and grabbed Linggeng's neck, choking him until his face turned purple before finally letting go.

"I'm warning you one last time. If you dare to overstep your bounds again and try to interfere in everything I do, don't blame me for disregarding the Grand Elder's contributions to the Demonic Sect over the years and personally sending you to hell!"

After saying this, Lingyao hurriedly flicked his sleeves and left the study.

Ling Geng was left lying on the ground, panting heavily.

Watching the figure in red gradually disappear into the distance, Ling Geng let out a bitter smile.

He prided himself on his unwavering loyalty to the Demonic Sect, but he never imagined that one day he would be treated this way...

It's hard to say whether such a sect leader is good or bad for the Demonic Sect.

***

Lingyao followed his memory to the place where he broke the barrier. So much time had passed, and everything had changed.

Thinking that he would soon be able to create Yin Ming's phantom, Ling Yao suppressed his excitement and waved his hand to cleave open Xu Cheng's barrier.

Yin Sha had long sensed the high-level cultivator who had been lingering outside the barrier, but the excessively powerful aura instilled fear in him. Now that he had long since retired from worldly affairs, Yin Sha really did not want to have any interaction with the other party if he could.

One can only pray that this person just happened to be passing by and wouldn't come into the city to cause trouble for him.

But the other party has already broken through the barrier, so pretending to be dead is not a solution. It would be better to show up and negotiate properly.

Yin Sha had considered countless possibilities, but he was still stunned for a moment when he saw the cultivator.

The face had a strange familiarity to it. Yin Sha was surprised and doubtful for a long time before he tentatively asked, "Are you... the young master of the Demon Sect?"

This face looks so much like the head of the family, at least seven-tenths similar, but it lacks the cold, hard features of the head of the family.

Yin Sha thought to himself that the remaining three parts must resemble his mother.

Lingyao smiled and nodded, saying, "We've met before, Lord Yin."

Yin Sha invited Ling Yao into his city lord's mansion and poured him a cup of tea.

Upon learning that he was the same 'A Yao' who had followed Yin Ming back then, Yin Sha couldn't help but chuckle, "I never imagined that our first meeting after the sect leader grew up would be like that."

Fortunately, he recognized Yin Ming's identity back then and didn't make things too difficult for them; otherwise, he would have been too ashamed to face the family head again.

"Speaking of which, why didn't Yin Ming come with you this time?" Yin Sha picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

He had asked Yin Ming to deliver the message for him, and at that time no one knew that Ling Yao was the person he was looking for.

Now that Lingyao has been able to return to this place and reunite with him, he really has to thank that young man.

“Yin Ming… he’s dead.” Ling Yao’s tone suddenly turned somber. “I’ve come here today to ask Lord Yin for a favor.”

Lingyao stood up and bowed sincerely to him, "Please teach me the Illusion Technique, so that I can create an illusion of Yin Ming!"

Yin Sha dared not accept such a great gift. He quickly stepped forward to help Ling Yao up. "Sect Master, you are too kind. I will do whatever you ask!"