The dim light of the long-burning lamp in the distance could hardly penetrate the thick and heavy night. In the darkness, one could only see the shadows of the mountains in the distance, like a giant beast lurking.

The strong wind kept making low sobs, and the night rain was blown everywhere, passing through the dilapidated walls and falling on Pei Ji's tall nose.

Ning Ning's question was too abrupt, like a blunt knife hitting his head.

Pei Ji had never heard of or thought that someone would ask him this question. Although he was a little stunned for a moment, his eyes looked straight ahead, his eyes fixed on the face of the little girl in front of him.

This look made him feel confused at first.

Just like the brain hasn't finished analyzing the subtle emotions, the body and nerves have already made the most honest response.

When Ning Ning mentioned "the girl she likes", he almost subconsciously raised his eyelashes and cast his eyes on her without bias.

Does this mean that he -

Pei Ji seems to understand something, but he always feels that everything is hazy, unreal and unclear, as if he is in a dream.

Chengying is still playing dead in his heart, motionless and quiet as a chicken. He feels inexplicably annoyed and wants to hear its noisy sound like a broken bell for the first time.

If there was no sound to divert his attention...

he would definitely blush in front of Ning Ning.

He was so desperate just because of one of her questions. He was hopeless.

Ning Ning, who was standing beside him, was also panicked. She turned her head away the moment she looked at Pei Ji, and squeezed the coat on her body even tighter.

When she spoke again, her tone was as dry as a thousand-year-old mummy: "It's okay if you don't want to say it. I just asked casually, I don't want to know anything in particular."

As soon as she finished her words, she heard Pei Ji's low and hoarse voice as if filled with water vapor: "You--"

Ning Ning's fingertips trembled quietly.

Chengying finally couldn't even pretend to be dead. Just like a dying person, he suddenly took a breath of fairy air, uttered a dry and long breath, and his limbs fluttered around like a drowning puppy.

Unfortunately, he kicked his legs and rolled his eyes halfway through inhaling, and almost said goodbye to this beautiful world.

Pei Ji's tone was still very indifferent, and he added this sentence with a wooden face: "Why are you asking this?"

Chengying:...

Chengying wanted to spit out a mouthful of old blood, freeze it into ice and smash it hard on the head of this brat, and stomped his feet wildly on the spot in grievance: "Rebellious son! Wooden head! Idiot! I'm so angry that I'm dying. What a good opportunity! Why do you answer like this! I want to break up with you! Immediately! Immediately!"

"When we were walking on the road before, didn't you say that Qiao Yan reunited with her childhood sweetheart whom she had a crush on?"

Cheng Ying was furious, but Ning Ning, the person involved, did not have too many emotional fluctuations and answered in one go: "I suddenly thought of them, so I took the opportunity to ask about your situation."

After finally thinking of a reasonable reason, Ning Ning gave herself a thumbs up in her heart.

To be honest, she had actually thought carefully about the question of "what kind of girls does Pei Ji like" for a while.

After all, he was alone from beginning to end in the original novel. Even though he became a decisive and ruthless killer in the future, he still turned a blind eye to the intentional approach of various female cultivators. He was either upgrading or fighting with swords all day long. It was just short of writing four big words on his forehead: no feelings or love.

However, thinking secretly in private is one thing, and asking in front of others is another matter.

This question came out without any warning, and even Ningning herself did not react. Now I try hard to recall it, and I can only remember the only two thoughts I had at that time.

She didn't seem to resist the approach and contact between her and Pei Ji.

And, she wanted to know more about him.

In any case, she was really overwhelmed by the rainstorm, so she asked this question in a daze.

"Oh, that's right!"

Ning Ning suddenly cried out in the sound of heavy rain, took out a storage bag from her arms, and began to look for something. Pei Ji waited in silence, and saw a round white ball rolling out of the bag.

It turned out to be the night pearl that she had secretly bought for Lin Xun.

"I was going to give it to him after the trial, but I didn't expect that I would have to use it first."

Ning Ning held it up with both hands, her fingers and cheeks were reflected as bright as snow. Remembering that Pei Ji was afraid of the dark, she stretched out her hand and handed him the night pearl: "It's a pity that my Star Mark Sword is somewhere gone. If I had it with me, I could let you see the star-like light, which is very beautiful."

This action was very normal, but Pei Ji's eyes sank for some reason, and he said in a muffled voice with his long eyelashes drooping: "I don't need it."

"Oh."

Cheng Ying saw his expression and immediately understood everything in his heart. He began to recite his essay again, this time with great resentment, almost crying: "When you saw that night-shining pearl, did you feel so sour and painful in your heart, and so stuffy that you couldn't breathe? Don't be sad, Daddy, I understand you, Pei Xiaoji! The child's chest is always stuffy, most likely jealous!" The

black-clothed boy who was holding the sword tightly exerted force with his right hand secretly, and a trace of gloom flashed in his eyes.

Although Chengying was annoying and nagging, what bothered Pei Ji the most was that most of what he said was true.

For example, now, when he saw the night-shining pearl that Ningning bought for Lin Xun at a high price, his heart was indeed stuffy, and he inexplicably felt a little bit of sourness, all of which was blocked in his chest.

Chengying liked the look of him wanting to beat it but being hit in the heart the most, and continued to laugh and joke: "I never thought you would have this day, tsk tsk, tsk tsk, this is so sour, I can't believe it."

After a pause, the teasing in his words became stronger: "Pei Xiaoji, you are getting deeper and deeper, I'm afraid you are completely screwed."

"What's wrong with you? Such a strange expression."

It was still showing off, and Ningning's voice rang in his ears. Pei Ji raised his head reflexively and met her bright eyes.

The distance between them... seemed a little too close.

The coat was wrapped around his head, making it impossible for him to even move back. The heat of the summer night slowly accumulated in the narrow space, dyeing the young man's fair earlobes a light red.

He was good at endurance, but now he felt very hot in his heart. His throat moved slightly and he shook his head gently: "Maybe it's affected by the surrounding demonic energy... It's not a big deal."

"Demonic energy?"

Ning Ning looked around after hearing this, and indeed saw a blood-red aura like mist. It seemed to be pressed down by the rain, all piled up in the low places, and looked a little thicker than usual, like scattered blood flowers.

"There is deep resentment in this secret realm, and I don't know when the demonic energy will disappear."

As she spoke, she thought of something and looked at Pei Ji with a serious expression: "By the way, what happened to the demons in the secret realm?"

"When you were asleep, we went to the waterfall."

He answered all the questions and replied slowly: "The demon cultivators suffered spiritual damage in the war, and their sea of ​​consciousness and meridians have not yet recovered, so they can't withstand the strong evil energy here. When we rushed there, many of them had already fallen into a coma, and now they are all detained in the village. I believe they don't have much time left."

The demon cultivators were actually seriously injured by the demonic energy left behind by their own people. This should be regarded as a kind of self-entanglement.

Ning Ning listened to him quietly, leaned against the wall behind her, and raised her head slightly and said, "Demon Clan... Pei Ji, what do you think of them?"

What she didn't notice was that the eyes of the black-clothed boy beside her became more and more sinister.

Pei Ji answered quickly, almost without any hesitation, and his tone was as cold as ice: "They are extremely vicious and their crimes are unforgivable."

This is a very ironic thing.

Since he became a disciple, he has learned a lot about the past when immortals and demons fought. Whether it was the Goose City Incident or the fact that the Spirit Fox lineage was almost extinct, demon cultivators have always been associated with killing, tyranny and death, which makes people feel disgusted and disgusted.

However, the funny thing is that he himself is an out-and-out descendant of the demon clan, and he has been stained with filthy and violent blood since birth. No wonder the former outer disciples would come in groups to trouble him. With such a despicable bloodline, there is no reason to argue.

Just like what his mother said when she locked him in the cellar and beat him when he was a child, he was born to be dirty and unclean, neither human nor ghost, so disgusting.

Pei Ji did not hide the self-loathing and self-mockery in his expression, and turned his head to look at the dusty corner of the wall. In the double attack of thunder and heavy rain, he heard Ning Ning's voice.

Her tone could actually be described as "light and cheerful", and she even laughed briefly before she opened her mouth, like the crisp sound of bells swaying in the night wind: "How can it be so scary?"

Pei Ji was stunned.

"Although it is true that many demon cultivators have committed heinous crimes, apart from that, the demon race also has a less scary side."

Ning Ning's eyes were serious, and she said solemnly: "For example, Qin Niang was willing to give up everything just to save the life of Qiao Yan, a little girl who was not related to her in any way; and for example, Qi Han, who could have easily broken the water mirror formation by himself without being caught by us, but struggled to save the lives of his fellow cultivators, and finally ended up in failure."

She paused for a moment after she finished speaking, thought for a moment, and said: "Even demons have feelings, and are not as vicious as most people imagine. So--"

Pei Ji heard her voice clearer, perhaps because Ning Ning turned her cheek towards him. Then the girl's clear voice penetrated the layers of wind and rain, and fell on the eardrum with a click: "Don't take other people's excessive words to heart, Pei Ji. What's the matter with the demon bloodline? You and I are no different."

- She said so many words, it turned out that she wanted to comfort him.

The original book mentioned the situation of the descendants of the demon clan. They were all walking on thin ice and suffered discrimination. Pei Ji had never received any affirmation since he was a child. There was only a constant stream of malice and blame around him.

But in fact, he was no different from other disciples of the immortal sect. He was also a young man with high spirits and little experience in the world. There were not too many twists and turns in his heart, just like a white paper that had not been stained, pure to the extreme.

As for coming to the secret realm this time, the spirit fox clan hated the demon cultivators even more.

Qiao Yan once told them with gritted teeth that they would fight to the death with all the demons; "Qin Niang" also mentioned inadvertently during a casual chat that demons are brutal by nature and will definitely not follow the path of kindness. I wonder what Pei Ji felt when he heard it.

Ning Ning's tone was calm, but Pei Ji felt as if a stone was pressing on his chest. After hesitating for a while, he pursed his lips and looked at her.

The light of the night pearl was soft and delicate, flowing quietly like a gurgling stream, passing through the rain, hair and inexplicable emotions, covering the girl's round almond eyes with a layer of bright white.

The two of them stood under the same clothes to avoid the rain. Because they were in a small and dark space, the distance between them was naturally minimal.

The scent of gardenia belonging to Ningning spread everywhere, accompanied by the chill of the cold night rain, but also with the warmth of her body.

Like slender lines intertwined and blended with his breath.

"No matter what, you are completely different from those evil bad guys. There is no need to equate yourself with them."

Ningning waved her fist and raised her head with a solemn oath: "If anyone says bad things about you again, Senior Sister will help you teach him a lesson - don't let your imagination run wild, understand?"

When she raised her head, she met Pei Ji's gaze.

It was the first time Ningning saw such a gaze.

The dark pupils were as deep as the ocean, with turbulent waves and undercurrents inside, as if she would be swallowed up by just one glance.

This should have been an extremely dangerous look, but it was extremely abrupt with a strong sense of submissiveness and pain. In addition, there were many complex emotions. She couldn't see clearly and was stunned where she was.

Pei Ji didn't look away either.

They were indeed too close.

Not far away were deafening thunder and noisy raindrops, but this corner of the dilapidated house was so quiet that it seemed as if time had stopped.

Ningning's head was stuck, and she seemed to hear her heartbeat getting faster and faster in a trance.

Why... did Pei Ji look at her like this?

No, no, then why did she stay still and hold his gaze?

As soon as this thought flashed through her mind, Ning Ning shuddered and immediately lowered her head.

At this time, she should say something to ease the embarrassment.

She wanted to cover her cheeks with her palms to cool down, but she always felt that such an action was too obvious, and it was clearly telling him that she was blushing, so she had to lower her head and whispered with a tongue tied: "What, what's wrong?"

Pei Ji closed his eyes slightly and took a breath: "Nothing... Thank you, senior sister."

=====

Fortunately, the thunderstorm gradually subsided soon, and Ning Ning was finally able to return to her own cabin. After saying good night to Pei Ji, she lay comfortably on the bed.

But she couldn't sleep.

I always feel weird when I'm alone with Pei Ji.

She is outgoing, approachable, and rarely shy. To take the most obvious example, if she and He Zhizhou were to look each other in the eye, even if they stared at each other forever, Ning Ning would never blush.

But when Pei Ji looked at her tonight -

Ning Ning remembered his expression at that time, and couldn't tell what she felt in her heart. She buried her head in the pillow and rolled on the bed.

Pei Ji seemed to be different from other people to her.

Ning Ning rolled back again, her hair messy.

No way.

If you have to say there is something different, isn't it just... like, like?

Ning Ning's eyes were wide open like a dead fish, and the moment these two words came to her mind, she rolled over again.

She fell off the bed with a plop.

She was confused and still tossed and turned after climbing onto the bed. Finally, she curled up into a shrimp and wrapped her body and face with the quilt. She didn't know when she fell asleep. When she woke up the next day, it was already noon.

Ningning tried to put the events of last night behind her. She got up, dressed, washed up, and opened the door to meet up with the others as usual. With a casual glance, she found an unexpected surprise.

The Star Mark Sword was found by someone, wiped clean, wrapped in cotton cloth, and stood upright under the eaves in front of her door.

Ningning squinted her eyes because of the high sun, and her heart jumped uncontrollably.

Who searched the forests and lakes one after another in the early morning, and then washed it, packed it up and put it in its current location? Although no one told her, she knew the answer.

Last night, she just mentioned the Star Mark Sword casually, but she didn't expect Pei Ji to find it back so soon.

Ning Ning leaned over and held the hilt of the sword. Sure enough, she smelled the familiar fragrance of wood on the fabric. When she picked it up, she saw a note stuck on the sword.

The young man's handwriting was as elegant as a swimming dragon, very beautiful:

[The sword is for you, don't be sad.]

It was talking about the time when she dreamed of her parents and woke up with red and swollen eyes.

——So he wanted to comfort her in this way.

Ning Ning held the sword with mixed feelings.

Pei Ji always seemed to be indifferent to everything, but he actually remembered everything. He made it clear that he had no interest in the girls around him. If he continued to treat her like this...

then she would be doomed.

Ningning's wife was finally found, and her tangled mood finally improved. Just as she was about to pick up the Star Mark Sword and go out, she suddenly heard Xu Ye's shouting from not far away: "Oh no, oh no!"

He heard the voice before he saw the person. When he ran into the courtyard where Ningning was, he was already panting and shouting:

"The disciples of the major sects heard the news and came here. They have already bumped into each other at the entrance of the village. There will be a big fight here soon!"