"woke up."

Sensing something, Ji Jiuying walked to the bedside. Looking at the suddenly appearing Ji Jiuying, Qingling sat up and hugged her.

"Miss, Miss, I...I made a mistake. I killed so many people, I killed so many people...I didn't mean to, I really didn't mean to..."

Ji Jiuying hugged her and comforted her, "I know that was not your wish, nor was it your fault. The fault lies with those who took advantage of us and those who hurt us."

Qingling pushed Ji Jiuying away, looked down at her hands, and they began to tremble.

"Miss...I—"

Suddenly, a wisp of black mist flashed in Qingling's eyes, and her entire aura changed. The helpless look in her eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by coldness and chill. In that instant, Ji Jiuying seemed to see Qingling transformed into a demon.

"Light and agile?"

"Huh? What did you say, Miss?"

Qingling returned to her original appearance, as if what had just happened was just her imagination. Ji Jiuying narrowed her eyes, as if Qingling was unaware of her recent transformation.

"It's nothing. By the way, Qingling, how did you end up swallowing the Demon Gathering Stone?"

Qingling lowered her head, overwhelmed with self-reproach and guilt.

“Miss, it’s my fault. I was on guard when that person appeared. He said you were about to be killed in the Heavenly Realm, and that if I ate that thing, he could let me go to the Heavenly Realm to find you. I was skeptical, but then I don’t know what happened, I vaguely listened to him… and then I lost my senses…”