Chapter 101
Sheng Ningyu seemed to hear someone calling her.
A scorching heat swept over me, and my limbs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead.
Sheng Ningyu tried to open her eyes, but something seemed to be pressing down on them. She struggled to raise her hand and wipe them; they were sticky, probably blood.
But how could it be blood?
Sheng Ningyu's heart tightened.
She vaguely remembered that before she closed her eyes, she was running wildly through the city lord's mansion in Hehuan City.
She grabbed Li Qingfeng's hand, but when she tried to go to the dungeon to investigate further, everything suddenly went black.
When I wake up again, it will be now.
...So whose blood was splattered on her eyelids?
Sheng Ningyu's eyelids trembled, and she suddenly opened her eyes.
The leaping flames roared in and ruthlessly filled her entire field of vision.
The raging flames, accompanied by thick smoke, surged and billowed, making it seem as if one were in a sea of fire.
In this distorted and churning light and shadow, the first thing Sheng Ningyu saw clearly was the person standing in front of the fire.
Ning Jiao.
Her junior sister, Ning Jiao.
Sheng Ningyu tried to get up, but at that moment, a piercing pain shot through the spiritual bone in her right hand.
It felt as if a tiny needle was relentlessly piercing deep into the bone of my elbow from all directions.
The pain was sharp and piercing, far surpassing any wound in my memory.
She was injured.
Moreover... he was seriously injured.
Sheng Ningyu wasn't surprised by this.
Before she even opened her eyes, she sensed the lack of spiritual energy in her body and the pain in the spiritual bone of her wrist.
She had intended to wait until she had recovered more, but after seeing Ning Jiao, Sheng Ningyu could no longer wait.
Despite the pain, she strode over to Ning Jiao and grabbed her hand.
Just now, Ning Jiao stood there quietly watching her. The broken walls and ruins, illuminated by the firelight, seemed like ghostly figures rushing towards her, making Sheng Ningyu tremble with fear.
Even now, she was still trembling all over, her voice shaking, and choked with sobs: "Senior sister..."
"How did you end up trapped here too? Does Master know?" Sheng Ningyu became increasingly angry as she asked, and as if remembering something, her eyes flashed with a sharp edge, revealing a rare hint of ferocity.
"Neither," Ning Jiao interrupted Sheng Ningyu.
She let Sheng Ningyu hold her hand, nestled beside Sheng Ningyu, and laughed, her face still showing the familiar innocence and naivety.
Under the firelight, her words were far more shocking than the flames themselves.
"Senior sister, Hehuan City no longer exists."
What does this mean?
Sheng Ningyu frowned and asked suspiciously, "Am I a ghost?"
Ning Jiao chuckled: "Of course not, I mean..."
Before she could finish speaking, a pillar beside her crashed down!
The massive wooden frame, already weakened by the intense fire, snapped in half and, carrying sparks and debris, hurtled straight towards where Ning Jiao stood!
Sheng Ningyu had already sensed something was amiss. She immediately put her arm around Ning Jiao's shoulder, made a hand seal, and spun around to pull her away.
However, she misjudged the severity of her injury and was a moment too slow. Although it wasn't fatal, her shoulder was still stung by the sparks.
Sheng Ningyu wanted to wince in pain, but considering her junior sister was there and her pride, she forced herself to keep a straight face and pretend not to care.
"The fire has gotten bigger here." Sheng Ningyu didn't have time to ask for details. She grabbed Ning Jiao's hand and was about to move forward. "We can't just sit here and wait to die. Let's move forward first. I'm releasing my spiritual sense."
However, this time, Sheng Ningyu did not manage to persuade Ning Jiao.
She turned her head in confusion.
Ning Jiao stood still, staring straight at her.
"Why did you save me, Senior Sister?" Her voice was calm, but it sounded somewhat eerie amidst the occasional explosions in the flames.
"If I weren't Master's flesh and blood, would you still have saved me just now?"
In the firelight, the shadows of people were mottled.
Only now did Sheng Ningyu finally realize that Ning Jiao's size seemed to have changed.
She seems to have grown taller, and her baby fat has disappeared, turning her into a graceful young woman.
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Ningyu looked at Ningjiao in utter confusion. "What master's blood and bones?"
At this point, Sheng Ningyu finally realized what was happening and her eyes widened: "You mean, you're Master's daughter?!"
She hadn't seen such emotional outbursts since she met her again.
Even in that illusion where identities were reversed, she was always vigilant and worried, never letting her guard down like this.
Ning Jiao then laughed: "So Senior Sister doesn't know yet."
As she spoke, she paused, then murmured, "Senior sister doesn't know..."
If you don't know, why protect her?
"Of course, it's because you're my junior sister."
Is that all?
Before Ning Jiao could ask a question, the force returned to her wrist.
Ning Jiao trembled all over in pain, but the smile on her face grew wider and wider.
"Senior sister, there was no one else. I decided to go down the mountain on my own."
Sheng Ningyu felt Ning Jiao's wrist trembling and, thinking it was because the other was afraid, gripped it even tighter.
"After all, Master won't let you go down the mountain, and there's also the decree from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, so it's always good for us to be more cautious."
It was completely different from the scolding I had expected.
Ning Jiao was stunned, incredulous: "Senior Sister, you don't blame me?"
"Why would I blame you? If it were me, I would have gone down the mountain long ago!" Sheng Ningyu was busy checking the fire and sending out her spiritual sense to find a way, so she didn't have time to look back at Ning Jiao's expression.
"This is the City Lord's Mansion of the Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City. Senior Sister, it has been more than a hundred years since the 'Great Fire of Hehuan City' that you mentioned before."
More than a hundred years?
"Perhaps she was traumatized earlier, and after some time, she will remember."
Sheng Ningyu paused for a moment, then brought up the previous topic: "So, that guy Li Qingfeng escaped, right?"
"He may have escaped, but he's ungrateful. Senior sister, don't think about him anymore."
Ning Jiao slowed her pace, hooked her finger around Sheng Ningyu's, and smiled when she saw Sheng Ningyu looking at her.
She pointed and said, "Don't you think these palaces look familiar, Senior Sister?"
Taking advantage of the small fire, Sheng Ningyu slowed down, caught her breath, and looked around.
The palace here is deep and divided into three layers: inner, middle and outer. Due to the fire, the plaque fell to the ground and was charred black.
Sheng Ningyu spotted the name of the palace at a glance.
The two characters “Xuan Du” were written with a golden pen, and some kind of formation was probably added to them. Even though they were scorched by such fierce fire, they were still faintly visible.
But... Xuandu Palace?
Sheng Ningyu misunderstood Ning Jiao's meaning. She turned her head and smiled at Ning Jiao, "So Junior Sister still remembers the story I told you about the mortal world, 'A clear breeze and bright moon, one often thinks of Xuan Du'?"
Moreover, the word 'Xuandu' also means the moon.
Sheng Ningyu found the coincidence even more striking, and clasped her hands together, saying, "It's the Moon Palace, and I'm also a Moon Person. To put it in perspective, the person who named this palace must be thinking of me all the time."
That's a narcissistic remark, but it's not offensive.
If Li Qingfeng and Feng Xiaohong were there, they would probably be laughing while chasing after her and hitting her.
However, Ning Jiao did not laugh.
Not only did she not laugh, but her expression changed instantly, all her smiles vanished, and she looked at Sheng Ningyu with an almost venomous gaze.
"Yes, back then... back then, every time my senior sister traveled to the mortal world, she would bring me a lot of junk."
Ning Jiao's tone was full of sarcasm, and her expression was even more aloof and indifferent.
The frail little girl who used to rely on her senior sister has completely disappeared.
Everything that just happened seemed to be just Sheng Ningyu's illusion, a mere dream.
Sheng Ningyu was completely stunned.
After a long while, until the sound of the flames sweeping across the sky became crisp, Sheng Ningyu finally spoke with difficulty.
"...I thought my junior sister would miss me."
miss?
What do you miss?
Those days when everyone could bully us? Those times when we were treated worse than pigs and dogs?
Ning Jiao had so many sarcastic things to say, but when she met Sheng Ningyu's gaze through his glasses, she sneered: "I hate the mortal world the most. Every time you send me something, I'm reminded of the days I hate the most."
Sheng Ningyu looked at her blankly: "I'm sorry, I didn't know. I thought... I thought you liked it."
She was unaware of the hardships Ning Jiao had endured in the mortal realm. She only knew that her master, the Sword Master Guihai, had been entrusted by an old friend to bring her junior sister back to raise her. And her junior sister came from Hehuan City, born into the mortal world…
In a flash, Sheng Ningyu suddenly realized something.
Ning Jiao took a few steps, then turned around, her eyes carefully looking at Sheng Ningyu, which was like a stream shrouded in starlight, delicate and beautiful.
But when she spoke, her words were full of malice, completely destroying the delicate beauty on her face.
"You think? Yes, you think... You're just that self-righteous!" Ning Jiao sneered.
Why is it that Sheng Ningyu can always live so freely and unrestrainedly, while Ning Jiao can only live in the shadows, like a rat in a ditch, unable to be seen by anyone, and not even allowed to go down the mountain?
She came from a poor family. Her mother had low spiritual power and was a female cultivator despised by the most righteous sects of the Hehuan Sect. Her father was unknown. She suffered cold looks and bullying from a young age. Even the dogs of wealthy families were superior to her.
If that were the case, it would be fine, but she was imprisoned in the dungeon of the City Lord's Mansion by the Sect Master of the Hehuan Sect. She... she was eventually released, but she still suffered a lot of excruciating torture.
Then, Ning Jiao was sent to the Sword Sect.
The eldest brother has a cold personality, but he never makes things difficult for anyone.
The second senior brother was gentle and took good care of her.
There's also my senior sister, her name is Sheng Ningyu, and her nickname is Mingyue...
Compared to her two senior brothers, Ning Jiao liked this senior sister the most.
At once
Just when Ning Jiao thought everything would get better, she learned that she "could not learn swordsmanship".
On what grounds?
Why can they all do it, but she can't?
The secret scrutiny from fellow disciples and the whispers from others were like sharp swords, completely shattering Ning Jiao's already fragile self-esteem.
That's what those people called her.
Those people asked her that.
Even though these people were severely punished afterward, Ning Jiao did not let it go.
Worry and fear also rose in her heart.
Why did the Sword Master Guihai agree to take her away from Hehuan City? What is her true value? If one day she loses her usefulness, will she be thrown out to fend for herself again?
Ning Jiao was filled with anxiety every day until she overheard what those people had said from her second senior brother.
"...It's one thing for Senior Sister Mingyue, but she doesn't even know how to use a sword. What makes her think she can join the inner sect?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down, I heard that she's with..."
I see.
Ning Jiao finally got the answer.
All her fears transformed into twisted resentment at that moment, and "Senior Sister Mingyue," who was always her adversary, became the source of all that resentment.
Ning Jiao hated Sheng Ningyu with extreme resentment.
The roar of fire filled her ears. Ning Jiao curled her lips into a smirk, no longer using her previous naivety and fragility to hide herself. In the firelight, her expression was twisted and filled with resentment.
Sheng Ningyu stood there, stunned, in the distance.
Seeing Sheng Ningyu's stunned expression, Ning Jiao chuckled, then suddenly reverted to her usual innocent look, and gently smiled at Sheng Ningyu, saying, "Do you know? Sheng Ningyu, I hate you more than anyone else."
She hated Sheng Ningyu's unrestrained and carefree nature, her extraordinary talent, her carefree and unconstrained life, and her ability to easily win everyone's favor with just a few words.
Ning Jiao hated Sheng Ningyu for as long as she had known her.
She hated...hated it to the extreme!
Flames erupted behind Ning Jiao, and the scorching wind swept in with the smoke, but Sheng Ningyu had no time to pay attention.
She looked up in a daze.
Ning Jiao sneered.
Sheng Ningyu had never seen Ning Jiao like this before.
Her expression was filled with deep resentment and hatred, as if she wanted to stay here and follow her original destiny, to become a wandering soul, a vengeful ghost.
……No!
Can't!
Sheng Ningyu raised her hand to try to grab Ning Jiao, and said seriously, "There may be a misunderstanding between Junior Sister and me. The formation here is strange and reeks of evil spirits. Let's go out first and talk about it!"
However, just as Sheng Ningyu's fingertips were about to touch Ning Jiao, Ning Jiao's figure dissipated, like a handful of cold water flowing quietly under the moonlight, easily passing through her hand.
The flames burned beside her ears, but Ning Jiao moved gracefully and floated backward, showing no trace of her previous helplessness.
Her clothes fluttered like butterfly wings as Ning Jiao retreated to the front door. She first looked up, then turned her head away.
The colors of fire intertwined on her face, and her feigned innocence was scorched by the flames into malice.
"Junior sister, be careful!"
Upon seeing Sheng Ningyu's bloodless face, Ning Jiao laughed again, her laughter filled with pleasure and mockery.
"It's just the two of us here, so why bother with this pretense, Senior Sister?"
Sheng Ningyu's face turned pale.
Just then, a burning pain shot through the spiritual bone in his right hand, throbbing and twitching so intensely that cold sweat seeped from his palm and forehead.
What will become of my future self? So weak that I was severely injured like this?
No, it won't.
Upon further reflection, Sheng Ningyu rejected the idea.
She is extremely confident in herself.
While her swordsmanship may not be the best in the world, it is certainly unmatched among her peers.
They were probably set up by someone.
Tsk, it's one thing for that old man Guihai Sword Master to not care about anything, but even when his own disciple is being bullied like this, he doesn't step in to uphold justice?
And Junior Sister, she's changed like this, how come no one in Sword Pavilion noticed?
Sheng Ningyu took a deep breath and barely managed to endure the pain.
In Sheng Ningyu's memory, her junior sister Ning Jiao was well-behaved, sensible, innocent, and would tug at her clothes and act coquettishly. She always had a beautiful smile.
But now, Ning Jiao has become like this.
She was never one to beat around the bush, so she looked at Ning Jiao frankly and said, "Junior Sister, why don't you just tell me what you're unhappy about now?"
Ning Jiao looked at her and laughed loudly, "Well, what a frank and open Sheng Mingyue! But ask yourself honestly, do you really, truly consider me your junior sister?"
Sheng Ningyu: "Of course!"
Ning Jiao looked into her clear, unclouded eyes and suddenly chuckled.
“Every time you go out, you presumptuously send me a pile of junk. If you're in a good mood, you'll include a few lines of vague, scattered words. If you're not in a good mood, you won't even bother to write a single word, and will just send a blank paper kite carrying some inexplicable things to my window.”
Ning Jiao looked at Sheng Ningyu, as if puzzled, or perhaps asking herself, "Sheng Ningyu, what am I to you?"
Ning Jiao didn't stop. She looked at her, her eyes filled with burning sarcasm and unreadable emotions.
Her lips curled up, and her voice was very soft, each word like an ice bead falling to the ground.
Do you see me as a servant in a mundane household, spending my days trying to guess my master's mood and living by reading other people's faces? Or as a stray dog on the roadside that will wag its tail and beg for your mercy if you throw down a little charity?
Sheng Ningyu remained in a daze for a long time.
She never imagined that Ning Jiao would have such thoughts.
In her memory, her junior sister had been quietly calling her "senior sister" just a few days ago. After receiving her response, the junior sister would open her eyes wide, then smile shyly, revealing small dimples, and even her ears would turn red.
But now, she is no longer standing behind her.
Flames flickered behind her, staining Ning Jiao's clothes red like a string of blood and tears.
Ning Jiao asked with a smile, her tone full of sarcasm and malice, but Sheng Ningyu felt that she was about to cry.
Ning Jiao suddenly sneered, interrupting Sheng Ningyu: "Senior sister, are you showing off to me?"
Sheng Ningyu: "I didn't!"
Ning Jiao: "You didn't?" She gritted her teeth, barely managing to squeeze out the words, "Then why are you becoming more and more distant from me!"
alienation?
Where did this old grievance come from?
Sheng Ningyu looked at Ning Jiao in front of her with some confusion, but still insisted, "I don't know what I will do in the future, but I can be sure that you are the junior sister of the Sword Pavilion and a very important person in my heart. I will not distance myself from you."
Ning Jiao sneered again: "Don't know? Ha, you tease me when you're interested, and then discard me when your interest wanes, without even sending anything. Sheng Ningyu, you are truly a master at manipulating people's hearts."
Amidst the raging flames, another stone pillar snapped in half, carrying flames and debris as it crashed down upon the two of them!
Sheng Ningyu was on edge, but Ning Jiao just stood there, neither dodging nor speaking.
"Watch out!" Ignoring the pain in her wrist, Sheng Ningyu lunged forward, grabbed Ning Jiao who was standing there stunned, and rolled away from the fire with Ning Jiao.
Moving away from the fire, Sheng Ningyu stood up and shouted sternly, "Ning Jiao, what's wrong with you? Are you out of your mind?!"
Ning Jiao was taken aback, all her previous expression vanished, and she raised her head blankly: "Shouldn't you call me 'Jiaojiao' now, Senior Sister?"
Her porcelain-like face was stained with ash, making her look both pitiful and adorable.
But Sheng Ningyu's anger only intensified.
"How could I dare!"
Sheng Ningyu's temper flared up as well: "And what's wrong with those mundane things? Why are you asking me again? It's probably because my future self realized you didn't like them, so I stopped sending them!"
Sheng Ningyu was furious, but she still didn't let go of Ning Jiao's hand.
Her junior sister was probably terrified; she was still trembling uncontrollably.
Ning Jiao lowered her head and stared blankly at the two clasped hands, then raised her head to look at Sheng Ningyu's back.
She was led forward by her, and the world was silent except for the firelight and the two of them.
……very nice.
Once again pulled by Sheng Ningyu to avoid a lit candle, Ning Jiao suddenly shouted, "I don't like it, but I didn't say I didn't want it! Even if I end up throwing it away, I still want it!"
What kind of talk is that?
Sheng Ningyu's anger flared even more. In a fit of pique, she grabbed Ning Jiao and ran even faster, shouting at the top of her lungs without looking back, "Collecting those things is just as time-consuming and laborious. If you don't like them, why should I give them to you?!"
Sheng Ningyu immediately stopped talking. She turned her head back inch by inch, and asked in an almost strange tone, "What are you thinking about?"
When she turned her head, the hairpin in her hair was even more crooked, teetering on the verge of falling.
This appearance was far from proper; moreover, flames had scorched her clothes, and her face was covered in dust.
He was in a terrible state, and there was no trace of the aloofness of the Sword Master Mingyue.
Ning Jiao watched quietly, then suddenly burst out laughing.
This time, her laughter was lively and clear, complementing her innocent and gentle face, and gently rippled in the firelight.
At this moment, Ning Jiao resembled Ning Jiaojiao in Sheng Ningyu's memory.
What was Ning Jiaojiao thinking at that time?
Not only Sheng Ningyu was unaware of this, but Ning Jiao also needed to think about it.
Years have passed, seasons have flown by, and that memory, buried deep within, has slowly grown together with my flesh and blood.
And so, it was torn apart again.
Ning Jiao was panting. She had just been dragged along by Sheng Ningyu, and her breathing was still a little unsteady, but recalling that time was not difficult.
"I can't help but wonder where my senior sister is right now, what she's doing, why she sent me these things, what kind of scenery she was looking at, and what she was going through when she sent them..."
At this point, Ning Jiao smiled gently, her lowered eyes and brows full of charm, just like back then.
But when she raised her eyes, the flickering firelight reflected in them was as deep and dark as a well.
"I can also guess whether you were smiling or frowning when you handed them to the kite. Whether you were eager to share something fun, or... or whether you were bullied but stubbornly refused to tell me."
“But Senior Sister,” Ning Jiao interrupted her, her voice soft yet sharp like a needle, piercing through all pretense.
"I can't control myself."
Sheng Ningyu was stunned for a moment, looking at Ning Jiao who was showing weakness, feeling at a loss.
She wasn't afraid of Ning Jiao's confrontational attitude, but she was afraid of the other woman looking at her hesitantly, as if she were about to cry.
In Sheng Ningyu's memory, this is the junior sister she wants to protect.
She could make outsiders cry for Ning Jiao's sake, but how could she let Ning Jiao be bullied and made to cry by her?
Bullying her junior brothers and sisters—not only would Sheng Ningyu herself not do such a thing, but if her master, Guihai Sword Master, found out, she would probably get a good scolding.
After all, his favorite disciple was Ning Jiao.
"After that, you never gave me anything again."
Ning Jiao looked at her and smirked, "Back then, I also thought that if these things weren't constantly reminding me and holding me back, I would be fine."
"But I was wrong. Soon, I started thinking about it again."
“I started to wonder if you had met someone newer and more interesting. Was there someone else, like I was back then, following you around with longing eyes, harboring dark thoughts that you couldn’t express, but calling you ‘senior sister’ in an affectionate and affected way?”
The firelight flickered on Ning Jiao's profile, making her smile appear somewhat ethereal.
Ning Jiao sighed softly, "Just thinking about it... makes it hard to breathe."
Is that all?
Sheng Ningyu relaxed a little, but a few seconds later, her brows furrowed again.
She reached out her hand to Ning Jiao again: "Don't talk about yourself like that, you look beautiful when you smile."
Sheng Ningyu tilted her head and thought for a moment, then added, "Even when she throws a little tantrum, she's still adorable."
Ning Jiao was stunned.
Flames filled the sky, and a murderous aura spread everywhere.
This is the third time he has saved Sheng Ningyu since she woke up.
This was the Yin-Yang Blood Array set up by Ning Jiao herself. She had calculated and utilized everything. She deliberately delayed to keep Sheng Ningyu in the array, and she also anticipated that the memory reversal in the Yin-Yang Blood Array would affect Sheng Ningyu after she woke up.
Ning Jiao originally thought that she was most afraid of the later Sheng Ningyu, the powerful and indifferent Mingyue Sword Master who made people dare not have the slightest thought of disobeying her.
But now she realizes that she is more afraid of Sheng Ningyu now.
This fool who trusted her completely and without reservation. This senior sister who endured her injuries to save her from fire time and time again.
Why would she want to save her?
Why did she save her?
Ning Jiao looked at Sheng Ningyu, her eyes stinging as if she were about to cry, but she felt that she was far from being able to cry.
She felt a dull ache in her heart, and for a moment she couldn't tell whether this was a pretense to deceive Sheng Ningyu or a genuine expression of her extinguished sincerity.
However, just as Ning Jiao was having these thoughts, tears had already begun to flow down her cheeks.
"But senior sister, I can't control myself, I really can't control myself..."
She couldn't stop thinking about her, and she couldn't stop resenting her.
She couldn't control her urge to kill her, but at the last moment, she couldn't bring herself to do it.
Ning Jiao opened her eyes, tears gradually filling them.
This time, Ning Jiao first grasped Sheng Ningyu's hand.
He held her hand tightly, his face filled with panic and helplessness.
Even Ning Jiao herself couldn't say for sure if there was a moment when she truly deceived herself, taking the person in front of her as the bright moon in her memory.
That moon almost belonged to her.
Sheng Ningyu lowered her eyes.
Long eyelashes cast a shadow, obscuring the darkening beneath her eyes.
"good."
...
Outside the city lord's mansion.
That's how it is now.
Feng Pianpian bowed to Feng Xiaosheng at the head of the table and reported: "The Yin-Yang Blood Array has indeed been broken, but the method of breaking it was so fierce and forceful that many of the remaining souls in the array still have unfulfilled desires and wishes. Their resentment and unwillingness have not dissipated with it, but instead spread out as the array collapsed, which has caused the demonic energy in the city to spread everywhere."
"As for the closure of the city lord's mansion, it was probably done deliberately by the people in the formation."
Yu Tanqiu, the Pavilion Master of Jiuxiao Pavilion, who was sitting quietly to the side, twitched his brow almost imperceptibly and tapped his finger lightly on the table. Without a word, Yu Wusheng, who was standing beside him, calmly took half a step forward.
His face was still somewhat pale, but his demeanor had regained its former elegance, showing no trace of the madness he had displayed during the Thousand Mountains Trial: "I trouble this fellow cultivator from the Phoenix Clan to explain in detail. However..." He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the eerie demonic aura outside.
"The strange fragrance and demonic aura permeating the city seem to have a deeper origin than they appear on the surface."
Before Feng Pianpian could respond, Yu Wusheng bowed to Feng Xiaosheng at the head of the table, then cupped his hands to the surroundings, his posture humble: "I made a mistake in my conduct during the Thousand Mountains Trial, and my mind was in turmoil. It is a disgrace I will carry for the rest of my life. I feel ashamed every time I think about it. However, after returning and reflecting on the changes, I feel that there is something strange about the matter."
"Although I am of mediocre talent, I am not an arrogant and reckless person. Now that I have heard that a sinister formation has been set up in the city and that the aura of demons and ghosts is rampant, I cannot help but think of... That is why I humbly request my father to come and help me investigate its source with my meager strength, so as to prove my true nature and seek peace of mind."
These words were spoken with humility and respect, yet every single one was a veiled attack on the heart.
It looks like they're going to push all the blame onto Banbizong.
Feng Xiaosheng turned her head to the side, and Feng Qingxing, his face pale, gently shook his head at her.
Many of them went out to fight, but six were nowhere to be seen.
Sheng Ningyu, Ning Jiao, Qi Baiya, Yan Wurong, Xiang Bieyun, and Chu Le.
Of course, Feng Xiaosheng knew that the Demon Lord had not come out either.
But this last thing doesn't need to be known by others.
Feng Xiaosheng calmly surveyed the crowd without showing any anger, and said, "Does Pavilion Master Yu think so too?"
Yu Tanqiu stroked his beard and said, "It's not impossible."
Feng Xiaosheng lowered his eyes and said casually, "Then how does Pavilion Master Yu intend to handle this?"
Yu Tanqiu replied without hesitation: "I will kill him."
So that's what I was thinking.
Feng Xiaosheng didn't know what exactly happened in Hehuan City back then. She only knew that after that incident, Yu Tanqiu's daughter, Han Yuyi, changed her name and surname, betrayed Jiuxiao Pavilion, and went to the desolate land.
Now it seems that it is related to demons and ghosts.
Feng Xiaosheng pondered sending another message to the Phoenix Clan. Anyway, Feng Jun Feng Buqi was quite free and could spare a moment to come to the Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City.
Although she thought this way, she appeared calm and fair on the surface.
Yu Tanqiu came with great force and was naturally difficult to deal with, but Feng Xiaosheng had already thought of a way to deal with her. However, before she could speak, a voice came even faster.
"I disagree with what Pavilion Master Yu said."
Yuan Bushu, who had been silent all along, raised his head and stared directly at Yu Tanqiu.
All eyes turned to him from all sides, and Yu Tanqiu, who had become the target of everyone's attention, chuckled but did not show any anger.
On the contrary, his gaze toward Yuan Bushu even revealed a hint of affection.
“I’m sorry, but when I saw you were silent just now, I thought you weren’t going to speak.” Yu Tanqiu stroked his beard and said, “I was on good terms with your father in my early years. In fact, I watched you grow up, and I know you much better than that kid Wusheng.”
Yu silently clenched her fist.
"She never lied to me."
Yuan Bushu's voice rang out steadily, cutting off Yu Tanqiu's unfinished words. He raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping across the room, each word clear as metal striking the ground.
"I know."
The assembled cultivators fell silent abruptly, even their breathing seemed to freeze.
Did he know that Lady Xiang was a demon?
So the Palace Master of Yunwang Palace already knew about it, yet still recognized her as his Daoist partner.
Isn't this putting one's life and reputation on the fire?
Due to the extraordinary status of Yunwang Palace, no one dared to make a fuss, but countless gazes were already intertwined like undercurrents.
Shock, speculation, disbelief.
In a stifling silence, a myriad of emotions surge silently.
Feng Xiaosheng took Yu Qie into his eyes, a faint hint of novelty flashing across them.
From the moment he first met Sheng Ningyu, and then from the moment he saw the people around her, whether it was Sheng Ningyu's description or what Feng Xiaosheng saw himself, the eldest son of Yunwang Palace, Yuan Bushu, always looked the same.
"gentleman"
It wasn't some kind of deceptive pretense, but rather a gentle and considerate nature that emanated from his very being, a refined and upright demeanor exactly like the gentleman described in ancient books.
But at this moment, the gentle smile that was usually on that person's face vanished completely, replaced by extreme coldness.
Feng Xiaosheng had no doubt that if Yu Tanqiu insisted, Yuan Bushu would definitely fight him here.
It's no wonder he's someone close to Sheng Ningyu.
They are both stubborn.
Just as Feng Xiaosheng remembered this person, he heard another announcement from outside.
"The acting leader of the Sword Pavilion has arrived!"
Usually, people don't deliberately emphasize the word "acting" in "acting pavilion master," and it's often left unsaid. Even if they call him "acting pavilion master," their attitude is completely respectful towards the Sword Pavilion Master.
However, as news of the return of the Bright Moon Sword Master spreads wider and wider, the attention and respect that were originally directed at "Immortal Rong" have quietly shifted.
If it were anyone else, they would inevitably be disturbed by this situation, but Rong Que remained calm and composed, as always.
He walked steadily, first nodding to everyone with an elegant and gentle demeanor, and then went straight to Yu Tanqiu's seat, his voice clear and melodious as usual.
"Greetings, Pavilion Master Yu. The Pavilion Master of Gui Cang Lou asked me to convey that he and Pavilion Master Han will soon be engaged and united in marriage. I wonder if the Pavilion Master would do me the honor of attending their wedding?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Yu Tanqiu suddenly raised his eyes, his tiger-like eyes wide open, staring straight at Rong Que's face, as if trying to discern the truth from his calm and unwavering gaze.
Rong Que's expression remained unchanged; he still stood there with a smile, his demeanor as gentle as ever.
The silence lasted only a moment.
Yu Tanqiu suddenly stood up, his steps were extremely fast, his robe sleeves stirred up a gust of wind, and after the spiritual energy dispersed, his figure disappeared without a trace.
He didn't ask another question, nor did he look at anyone else in the hall, and left just like that.
A turmoil that was brewing was so easily quelled and vanished without a trace.
Yu stood silently in place, his expression growing increasingly grim.
It was Feng Xiaosheng who spoke up with magnanimity, quietly dispelling the stagnant atmosphere in the hall.
"The strange events that have occurred in the city this time are largely thanks to the great help of all of you fellow practitioners. Now that the Yin-Yang Blood Array has been broken, it is no longer a concern."
Feng Xiaosheng's gaze slowly swept over the crowd, his brows exuding a calming composure that also carried a sharp warning.
"As for the demonic aura permeating the city, you need not worry, I already have a way to break it."
Having said that, no one would dare to oppose Feng Xiaosheng anymore.
Their relatives and friends had all come out of the formation, and even if they were still unconscious, they were at least alive.
However, the fate of the person who set up the formation is probably unknown.
The room was filled with people as they gradually dispersed, leaving only a stagnant silence.
Yuan Bushu said to Rong Que, "Thank you, Immortal Rong."
His expression was indifferent, but Rong Que sighed slightly: "Is that so? Since you know that the Jade Pavilion Master came prepared, why did you openly confront him?"
This long-lost affectionate address and gentle advice softened Yuan Bushu's expression, his fierceness vanished, leaving only a calm and open demeanor: "She is my Daoist partner."
"No matter when or where, I should protect her and not let her suffer any slander."
Rong Que frowned slightly, and the gentle smile that usually graced his lips faded: "So, you're determined to protect me to the very end?"
"nature."
Instead, Yuan Bushu smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping over Rong Que, his tone indifferent yet somewhat joking, "Immortal Rong seems quite surprised by this?"
Rong Que understood that it was only because he had truly made up his mind that he dared to speak in such a nonchalant tone, as if it were a joke.
But he didn't understand where this feeling came from.
The two stepped out of the courtyard and stood on the high steps, leaning against the railing.
Below, in the city, the aura of demons and ghosts was like thick ink, heavily suppressing the vitality of the human world, almost suffocating people.
Rong Que looked into the distance: "I will uphold justice." He turned his head to look at Yuan Bushu, "But you... Everyone knows that the eldest son of Yunwang Palace has been a man of propriety since childhood, upholding the way of a gentleman, never speaking or acting recklessly, never overstepping the bounds. How come you have broken your vows now?"
I can't help but smile wryly.
A breeze swept through the city, bringing with it a faint fragrance.
Actually, the fragrance doesn't cause any problems, but because it's the aura of demons and ghosts, and there's also the aura of demons and ghosts emanating from the surrounding area, it inevitably causes panic among others.
But for Yuan Bushu, this was the scent of his Daoist partner.
That's all.
The Palace Master of Yunwang Palace, dressed in a blue robe, lowered his eyes and remained silent for a while before turning his head and sighing to Rong Que: "Immortal Rong, the descriptions you just used were for saints."
Rong Que turned his head away, not understanding what he meant.
Seeing him like this, Yuan Bushu smiled calmly and turned his head to look at the city.
The wind ruffled a strand of his hair, causing his blue robe to flutter in the wind.
"I am not a saint, I have selfish desires."
If this calamity truly originated from his partner, he will accompany his wife in atonement.
But if all of this has nothing to do with his Daoist partner, he will not let the person behind it go.
I have already thought it through.
After thanking Rong Que, he proposed to Feng Xiaosheng that they enter the city lord's mansion, which was currently closed.
Rong Que seemed to remember something, remained silent for a long time, and then sighed softly: "I have no Daoist partner, so I really don't understand how you two can be so deeply in love."
After a moment's thought, Yuan Bushu suggested, "Since you don't have a Daoist partner right now, why not try to put it in the words of someone close to you? Perhaps they can understand."
Rong Que: "Whom are we bringing in?"
Yuan Bushu looked at him and smiled.
Because Rong Que had just come to his rescue and brought news of his friend Yan Ruchao, he was initially reluctant to admit that he was a friendly person, but now he couldn't help but be teased by some acquaintances.
Memories flooded Yuan Bushu's mind, and when he spoke, his voice became lighter.
"If Mingyue makes a mistake, Rong Wuque, would you be willing to say the words 'upholding justice' to her?"
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Author's note: Yes, although Senior Brother seems to have a good temper, he is actually incredibly stubborn.
What a law-abiding gentleman! How could he possibly fall for demons and ghosts? [Sunglasses]
Wow! [Starry eyes][Sunglasses]
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