Chapter 94

Xiao Mo stood up with the help of the table, sat down on the stool, smoothed out the folds of the oil paper, picked up a licorice flower and put it in his mouth.

The flowers are small and very sweet.

After his memory was restored, he knew that the time he had spent with Chu Jinglan in his previous life was not very long in total. Although they had only known each other for more than two years in this life, they were inseparable day and night and had seen every bit of each other.

The lonely, unparalleled brilliance, the miserable, excruciating pain, he is the proud son of heaven standing on the top of the clouds, the strong grass that survives adversity, and also the 17-year-old boy with his own temper. He has been tempered little by little in the world of red dust, and gradually grown into what he is today.

Who could have known that the genius who was now rare in the eyes of the upper world, seemingly like snow accumulated on the top of a mountain for thousands of years, could once be ignited with true anger by just a few words from Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo has seen all the young men in two lifetimes.

He pressed the corners of his red eyes, took a sip of spiritual tea, tasted a licorice flower, and recalled every moment he had spent with Chu Jinglan. The sour blush in the corners of his eyes did not go away, and there was still some tearfulness left, but his lips were gradually lifted up in the taste of the licorice flower.

Tea is bitter, flowers are sweet. It turns out that what the book says is true. The word "love" can encompass all the flavors of the world, bitterness, sourness, and sweetness. When you come across this word, you can taste everything in an instant.

I used to always read the people in books, but now Xiao Mo himself has become one of them.

No wonder so many people are willing to hold on to their own red line even though they know it is not easy for others.

It was Xiao Mo, and he also wanted to catch him.

But he couldn't let Chu Jinglan be involved in something that he didn't need to be involved in. This separation was inevitable. He couldn't let any flaws show and couldn't let Chu Jinglan go looking for him.

He would not make big promises and leave a message asking Chu Jinglan to wait for him.

When he comes back after finishing his work, if there is still a place for him next to Chu Jinglan, he will try his best to fight for it. Xiao Mo has always been willing to fight for what he wants.

As long as there is still a position, this time, he wants to be Chu Jinglan's true partner.

If there is no space, then...what should I do?

Xiao Mo had never liked anyone before. The first time he fell in love, he encountered such a situation, which touched upon his blind spot in knowledge. He stared at the licorice flower blankly, but unfortunately the flower would not give him an answer.

That day hasn't come yet, so let's take it one step at a time... But when it comes to love, can we really take it one step at a time? Don't books always say that time waits for no one, and some things once missed are missed for a lifetime.

Xiao Mo took a deep breath and felt a slight chill.

This matter was beyond his control. If his heart was fixed on others, it would indeed blind him and lead to an uncertain result. It was not like solving a problem where one was one and two was two. There was no perfect way.

Xiao Mo actually sat in the yard like this for three days. During a long period of time, he did not move for a long time, like a wooden man. People who didn't know him would think he was practicing some kind of spiritual practice.

Only when he occasionally moved his fingers and put the licorice flower into his mouth could you tell that he was not a wooden man.

There were many licorice flowers in a bag. Xiao Mo was reluctant to eat them all in one go, so he put them into his mouth bit by bit. When there was half a bag left, Xiao Mo put the rest away and put them into the system's package.

If you can’t figure out what will happen in the future, then think about the present first.

This time, I shouldn't have been the inner demon. The inner demon became a temporary identity added for the side quest, so the "death" of the inner demon would be an identity change for Xiao Mo, and the things in the package would go with him.

Xiao Mo didn't plan to take many things away. He planned to leave the good things in the storage container to Chu Jinglan. He had points now, which would be enough for him to exchange for the previous things from the panel later.

Half a bag of licorice flowers, a set of clothes that Chu Jinglan sent, what else? The unfinished song has been memorized in my mind, and it has become rotten. As for the flute...

Xiao Mo touched the flute at his waist. Should he take the flute away? But this flute is of Tianjie quality. Even if Chu Jinglan only uses the sword, the Tianjie magic weapon can be thrown out to block it.

Xiao Mo picked up the jade flute and took a look at it. The jade was white and delicate, and its aura was warm and moist. It would be a shame to throw it away and let it explode.

Then bring an extra flute, huh.

Xiao Mo packed his luggage and his mind calmed down again. But when it was quiet, he started daydreaming again.

This shouldn't be the case. Look at the situation before us. Yes, we are about to be separated. So every moment with Chu Jinglan is precious. How can we waste it by worrying about uncertainty?

At least now, we should cherish time.

So two days later, when Chu Jinglan came to his senses, he found Xiao Mo in an unexpected place - the kitchen.

Xiao Mo saw Chu Jinglan and asked him to help serve the dishes: "You should wake up today, so I wanted to make something for us to eat together."

Chu Jinglan brought the steaming hot dish to the table, and Xiao Mo handed over the chopsticks: "But we don't have any seasoning in the storage container, so in fact, I just put together some spiritual food, and it can't be considered a proper dish."

Chu Jinglan: "Forget it."

As he spoke, he picked up his chopsticks and started to taste the food.

"tasty."

Xiao Mo smiled and said, "That's good." He gave Chu Jinglan some more, "You have plenty of spiritual energy. You've worked hard in cultivation, so you should use food to replenish your energy. Eat more."

After the meal, Chu Jinglan ate more than Xiao Mo for the first time. He put down his chopsticks and Xiao Mo asked him, "How long do you plan to rest today?"

Chu Jinglan: "Half a day."

After half a day, I will start practicing again.

Half a day had passed quite a long time. Xiao Mo waved his hand and Cleaning Technique cleared away the dishes and chopsticks. "There's enough time. Let's go for a walk. When we were setting up the formation earlier, I noticed that the scenery outside the courtyard was pretty good. It would be a pity not to see it."

Chu Jinglan naturally followed him.

There was actually a bamboo forest outside the courtyard, which looked very much like the bamboo forest around Chu Jinglan Jianping back then, and was also the place where they first met. The bamboos were lush and green, and looking out through the bamboo forest, there were mountains shrouded in mist in the distance, with one peak upon another, majestic and imposing. Looking out from the small pavilion beside the bamboo forest, one felt open-minded, yet also elegant.

Xiao Mo decided not to dwell on things that had not yet happened, and to focus on the present. It was more important to make Chu Jinglan happier than to cause himself trouble.

Chu Jinglan felt that Xiao Mo seemed a little different today, but he couldn't tell exactly what it was. Was it an illusion because he hadn't seen him for five days? After all, when he looked carefully, he felt that he was still the same as before.

But the food today is especially delicious, and the scenery is always beautiful wherever Xiao Mo is.

After relaxing for half a day, Chu Jinglan began to practice again. Xiao Mo was already planning to do something together next time Chu Jinglan woke up.

Although they seem to have done a lot of things together, even if it is repetitive things and the same people, each time it always has a different flavor.

However, when Chu Jinglan came out next time, Xiao Mo actually found a big surprise.

The Golden Silk Map was actually in their courtyard.

There were several paintings hanging in the hall, each with some spiritual fluctuations. Xiao Mo studied them and when he turned over one of the paintings, he found the signature of Jin Xi Tu on the back.

"I actually wrote it on the back. Fortunately, I had nothing to do and found it." Xiao Mo asked Chu Jinglan to put it in the storage container. "You keep it."

Chu Jinglan said: "Why don't you just keep it?"

"When the time comes, you can give it to the Wang family. It would be more appropriate to let them owe you a favor." Xiao Mo said as he stuffed it into his pocket. "Keep it."

Anyway, their storage containers could have been touched by the other party at will, so Chu Jinglan no longer refused.

Time passed slowly on the ninth level. As Chu Jinglan's cultivation level gradually increased, they admired the scenery and cooked together. They watched the stars on the roof and encountered fallen petals in the garden. Every little thing was precious and unusual.

Day and night, every moment, are the years that flowed through the fingertips of the two people, so naturally and so as it should be.

Chu Jinglan's cultivation was also steadily improving. When he reached the peak of Yuanying, the day when the Nine Secret Pagoda would be closed would not be far away.

Chu Jinglan was able to cultivate to the peak of Yuanying in such a short time, and he definitely deserves the title of unparalleled in the world, but he is still a little short of the level of distraction. In terms of time, it should not be enough.

Xiao Mo cherishes the time he spent with Chu Jinglan, but if he were to go through the inner tribulation outside, the trouble he would cause might be more than in the secret realm. When he knew the result, Xiao Mo didn't know whether he should be sad or happy that he could be with Chu Jinglan for a while longer.

Since I have had a new person in my heart, I have experienced all kinds of feelings.

After a while, Xiao Mo was in the courtyard, shaking the leaf in his hand. Chu Jinglan still had half a day to finish this practice, and the Nine Secret Pagoda would be closed tomorrow. What should they do before going out... Go to the waterfall in the back mountain and play some music? Well, it feels good.

Xiao Mo was just thinking, when suddenly, there was movement in the formation: someone was approaching!

Xiao Mo's expression suddenly froze. He stood up and quickly sent out his consciousness. However, the person who had sensed his consciousness did not conceal himself at all and rushed towards this side.

Burning and repairing, with Su Baimo.

Xiao Mo's face was as gloomy as water. He immediately went to the room to wake up Chu Jinglan. However, Fen Xiu's speed was so fast that he could almost shrink the ground to an inch. As soon as Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan left the room, Fen Xiu arrived.

Su Baimo followed behind Fen Xiu, lowering his eyes and saying nothing. His aura was also increasing, and it seemed that he had been practicing dual cultivation a lot during this period.

"It's so hard for me to find you. Why are you hiding in such a barren and treacherous place?" Fen Xiu turned the knife in his hand. "I've been looking for you for a long time."

Poor mountains and bad water? Obviously, the mountains are beautiful and the water is clear, and the scenery is superb, but it seems that the scenery is indeed different in the eyes of different people.

"Don't even think about running away this time... huh? Why did your aura become that of a Yuan baby again?"

Fen Xiu narrowed his eyes and stared at Xiao Mo. Xiao Mo didn't want to say more to him, so Fen Xiu didn't get annoyed: "Forget it, no matter what tricks you guys are playing, you will die today anyway."

Fen Xiu rushed forward with a knife in hand. Chu Jinglan once again took the medicine to improve his cultivation level. This time, his cultivation level directly reached the middle stage of the distraction realm. Under Fen Xiu's astonished gaze, he directly blocked his first powerful knife.

Even if he was only temporarily promoted to the middle stage of the Spirit Severing Realm, he actually had the ability to face him head-on.

The Nine Secret Pagoda is about to close, and he must die in the tower. Otherwise, after he gets out, he will be protected by those old guys from the Yingyue Sect, and there’s no telling when the next chance will come!

Fen Xiu's murderous intent wavered, and his sword was soaked in blood in the first eight layers. It was the most intense moment. Xiao Mo helped Chu Jinglan from the side to attack from time to time, but he could see clearly that although Chu Jinglan seemed to be able to resist Fen Xiu, he was actually still struggling. It was impossible for him to kill Fen Xiu.

But as long as we can delay until the Nine Secret Pagoda is closed and force them out, that would be fine.

A pill for improving cultivation level could not last that long, so Chu Jinglan could only continue to take the pills. However, taking it this way was an overdose.

Xiao Mo clenched his palms as he watched.

The system is helping count down, calculating how long it will take to get out.

With twenty minutes left, Chu Jinglan, who had consumed too many pills, had a short breath and his sword energy stagnated. Before his sharp sword could hit Fen Xiu, most of the force of his attack was dissipated because of the blood on his lips.

Fen Xiu would naturally not let this broken silk go, he was full of energy and went straight for Chu Jinglan's vital point with a knife in hand.

Just as he was imagining the scene of his blade piercing through Chu Jinglan, a huge white barrier fell from the sky and instantly engulfed Chu Jinglan's figure, while Fen Xiu's sword was blocked.

The white wall was not strong, but it reacted with waves to neutralize his sword's force.

Fen Xiu stepped back and found that Xiao Mo was gone. He looked up and down at the white wall, thinking: "Illusion?"

That’s right, Xiao Mo used the Huanyue Heart to create an illusion and included him and Chu Jinglan in it.

Illusions can be used to trap enemies, but conversely, they can also be used to protect people.

Xiao Mo helped Chu Jinglan sit down. Chu Jinglan wiped the blood from the corner of his lips: "...I'm sorry."

"What are you apologizing for? Take some medicine quickly," Xiao Mo said as he gave him the medicine. "It's okay. The Nine Secret Pagoda will be closed soon. This illusion can hold out until we get out."

Chu Jinglan nodded, took the medicine, and circulated his internal energy. Xiao Mo looked at the blood on his hands and couldn't help but waved his hand to remove it with the cleansing technique.

It turns out that blood is so shocking that it makes me feel uncomfortable at the sight of it.

Xiao Mo watched Chu Jinglan recovering from his injuries. The system's clock was ticking, and the time passed little by little. There was obviously not much time left, but every minute was so torturous. The ticking time reminder made people anxious.

But Xiao Mo didn't want to show it. On the surface, he looked at Chu Jinglan calmly, but inwardly he was anxious and counting the time.

In such an anxious and confused state, people are prone to wild thoughts and quick thinking.

Suddenly, Xiao Mo widened his eyes slightly.

He...thought of another possibility.

Is it really impossible to overcome the inner demon tribulation in the Nine Secret Pagoda? No, if his guess is possible.

Xiao Mo swallowed hard, his throat aching. As the clock ticked beside his ears, he pinched his palm tightly and asked, "System."

"You said that he must survive the inner demon tribulation in the Spiritual Severing Stage. Now that his cultivation has been raised to the Spiritual Severing Stage by drugs, does that count?"

The system, which was already rich in emotions, was also confused by the host's wild ideas, but he was so fast that he scanned and analyzed in the blink of an eye and calculated the final result.

“The results show that it is feasible.”

"And his cultivation will definitely rise after he passes the inner demon tribulation. If he passes the tribulation now, he will be able to become a true spirit separation stage!"

The system excitedly announced the result: "Host!"

The host asked this question, which meant he was ready to take action. The timing, location and people were all right. It was just perfect! But compared to the excitement of the system, Xiao Mo's mind went blank the moment he heard the result.

He loosened his tightly gripped hands and stared at Chu Jinglan in a daze.

Chu Jinglan's breathing was not going smoothly. He swallowed the blood foam in his throat, opened his eyes, and was about to take some more medicine, when he saw Xiao Mo's blank expression.

Chu Jinglan's heart skipped a beat. Just as he was about to open his mouth to speak, Xiao Mo's unexpected move cut him off again.

Xiao Mo rushed up without warning and hugged him tightly.

Chu's eyes widened in shock.

Xiao Mo's embrace was cold, yet warm. Chu Jinglan didn't understand what was going on. His expression froze for a long while, and it felt like a very long time had passed before he came to his senses. He carefully but firmly hugged Xiao Mo back with his hands.

Because Xiao Mo was trembling.

Could it be that the matter of burning the cultivators made him feel scared?

Chu Jinglan hugged him and said in a reassuring voice: "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

In response to him, Xiao Mo tightened his grip.

The hug seemed to last an unusually long time, but in reality, the ticking clock didn't take that long. Chu Jinglan felt Xiao Mo's hand loosen, and then he heard Xiao Mo's very soft voice in his ear: "...I'm sorry."

This was the last sentence Chu Jinglan heard. He didn't even have time to think about what it meant, and his mind suddenly went blank.

It's really a blank, I don't know anything.

Because Xiao Mo completely controlled his body and suppressed his consciousness.

Xiao Mo loosened his hands and retreated from Chu Jinglan's embrace. He looked at Chu Jinglan who was suddenly unable to move and revealed a smile that was more bitter than crying.

...From the moment he decided to help Chu Jinglan overcome the calamity, he quietly planted the seeds of inner demons in Chu Jinglan's sea of ​​consciousness. Chu Jinglan trusted him too much and did not notice it at all.

If he really was a demon who wanted to seize and destroy his true self, then he would have succeeded easily.

Chu Jinglan, I'm sorry that you trust me so much.

Now it exploded, and the seeds became chains, locking up Chu Jinglan's consciousness, making his entire mind faint, leaving only the shell. Even with his eyes open, he had no idea what was happening.

Xiao Mo raised his hand and gently touched Chu Jinglan's eyebrows. His eyes were red. Listening to the countdown that was getting shorter and shorter, he reluctantly put down his hand.

He put his storage device on Chu Jinglan, which contained a letter he had left for Chu Jinglan. Then he stared at Chu Jinglan's face, moved his fingers, and controlled Chu Jinglan's body.

Chu Jinglan slowly raised his arm, held the sword, and stabbed it into Xiao Mo's heart.

This was not enough. Xiao Mo extracted Chu Jinglan's spiritual power and mental strength and injected it into the sword. As the sword was injected into the inner demon's spirit body, it silently burned the inner demon.

The system has turned on the pain-free mode. Xiao Mo can't feel any pain in his body. He can only feel his spirit slowly melting, but... his heart really hurts.

Chu Jinglan, Chu Jinglan.

Xiao Mo's vision began to blur, but he was still stubborn and stared at Chu Jinglan without blinking, wanting to see him to the end.

As the inner demon's spirit melted bit by bit, the chains in the sea of ​​consciousness began to loosen. Chu Jinglan's lifeless eyes moved, and a slight struggle appeared on his expression.

Don't look, don't blink.

Xiao Mo raised his hands and covered his eyes.

When you wake up, everything will be over. It's okay, Chu Jinglan.

I... I really can't bear to leave.

The hand that the inner demon placed in front of Chu Jinglan gradually became transparent. Xiao Mo could no longer hold on and fell into his arms. The sword had already slipped out of Chu Jinglan's hand, and Chu Jinglan's whole body began to struggle. In the struggle, he actually cut himself.

Chu Jinglan struggled to hug Xiao Mo and Jian, and he was trying desperately to wake up.

Don't move, don't move, Xiao Mo was hugged tightly by him while he was struggling, thinking, I can't hold your wound anymore, don't let the sword hurt yourself.

Chu Jinglan's blood flowed into Xiao Mo's body along the sword. The aura of this body was what the inner demon loved the most, and the blood should have been beneficial to him. It flowed into the inner demon's body, as if trying to keep Chu Jinglan here.

But it doesn't help at this moment and is of no use.

Xiao Mo wanted to open his mouth, but blood started to flow from his lips.

...Okay, don't let him talk.

Chu Jinglan, goodbye... I have to do my own thing. After we part, please take care of yourself.

I will stay away from you for now, and won't cause you any more harm. After I finish my work alone...

When the inner demon's hand completely disappeared, the system's countdown ended.

Chu Jinglan suddenly woke up in shock.

But he could see nothing.

Huan Yuexin and Dong Qingzhu fell into his arms.

With only a blinding flash of light, he was sent out of the Nine Secret Pagoda.

The quiet ears suddenly became noisy and bustling. Chu Jinglan struggled to get up. His eyes went black and white, and his vision had not yet fully recovered. He wondered blankly: Where is Xiao Mo?

Why can't his Dao Couple Seal feel anything?

No, that's not right, Xiao Mo, Xiao Mo!

Chu Jinglan hastily poured spiritual power into his eyes, trying to quickly restore his vision. When he could see clearly, he immediately raised his head and looked around. He was outside, at the gate of the Nine Secret Pagoda. People were coming out everywhere, but Xiao Mo was not there. Where was Xiao Mo?

【Xiao Mo? 】

Chu Jinglan sent a message, but this time not only was there no response, but... the other end of the message was clearly empty, with nothing at all.

The original body is often unable to accurately sense the inner demon, but he found that the Dao Couple Seal had disappeared, and he had never felt so clearly that his mind was clear and the inner demon was gone.

Chu Jinglan lowered his head in confusion, and in his heart he sent messages to Xiao Mo again and again, calling out his name, trying to get a response.

No, no, no...

As for his own cultivation, the effect of the medicine should have worn off, so why is he still in the distraction stage? This is not right. Why would his cultivation level suddenly increase for no reason?

Xiao Mo's storage container is also here with him, and Dong Qingzhu Huan Yuexin is also in his hand, why? Where are the others? Where are they!

Chu Jinglan ignored his new sword wound, almost in despair, yet with hope, he kept sending messages over and over again. Suddenly, he felt a little movement coming from the spirit pet bag.

At this moment, the slightest movement could make Chu Jinglan's panicked nerves roar. He raised his hand hastily and pulled out the pet bag in a haphazard manner, almost as if he was eager for something.

Then he saw the butterfly snare, which had been silent for many days, begin to glow. The soft snare gradually opened, and a beautiful little butterfly slowly poked its wings out of it.

Until it completely breaks out and greets the first light of the world with a beautiful new life.

But there was no trace of Xiao Mo's aura on it at all.

The aura that Chu Jinglan had taught Xiao Mo step by step and that he had placed on the butterfly cocoon disappeared completely.

Chu Jinglan stared at it in amazement and heard the sound of something breaking next to his ear.

Ah...it was he who was breaking apart, from the inside out, soul and heart.

The people who had just come out of the Nine Secret Pagoda suddenly heard an extremely sad cry erupting from the crowd.

That was not a human voice at all. It sounded like a beast crawling out of hell, or the painful roar of a soul being torn apart. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound in surprise. They saw a proud son of heaven with red eyes and a turbulent spiritual energy all over his body. He was holding a sword, without any immortal spirit at all. The horrifying aura around him was like frost thousands of miles away, comparable to the Avici Hell.

He raised his sword, and all his murderous intent rushed towards an ordinary demon.

“Fen Xiu——!”

Everyone could clearly hear Chu Jinglan's hoarse roar.

"Where is he!? Give him back to me--!"

Give Xiao Mo back to him!