Under Fu Ji’s instructions, the disciples of the Fengtian Sect quickly regained their composure after the initial panic. They began systematically clearing the scene and tending to the surviving wounded.
Fu Ji looked toward the remaining disciples and said, "The Blood-Mist Insects are a technique of evil cultivators, not the plague. Go quickly and investigate everyone who has entered or left this villa, the places they visited, and the people they met."
"Yes, sir!"
Qiguang crouched down to examine Fang Jueming’s corpse more closely, searching for any lingering clues.
The Fengtian disciples busied themselves with their tasks.
Song Jixue led Chang Yao outside, helping her pull up her cloak and hood. He listened as she asked, "Do we still need to press on tonight?"
"It won't delay us long," Song Jixue said. "The situation at the West Sea is more urgent."
Chang Yao nodded.
The message from the Painted Skin Demon was clear: the Demon Emperor wanted her to kill Song Jixue before the Earth Ghost Gate at the West Sea was resealed.
She looked at Song Jixue with a hint of regret in her eyes. "It has been a long time since I've traveled far with you. I actually find myself wishing time would pass a bit slower."
"You should have said so sooner; we cannot afford to be slow this time." Song Jixue took her hand and walked down the long street. "Where did you buy those skewers earlier? I want some too."
Chang Yao led him back to the stall.
Song Jixue bought several portions, mostly for Chang Yao. His exceptionally striking appearance and their intimate interactions drew many envious glances from passersby.
As she ate, Chang Yao asked, "Has Qiguang been staying at the Fengtian Sect these past two years instead of returning to Yunshan?"
"Let him go wherever he pleases," Song Jixue said dismissively.
There was no possibility of reconciliation between the two of them.
Chang Yao knew this well.
The Fengtian disciples from earlier weren't entirely talking nonsense; at the very least, it was true that True Lord Chengjing did not favor his disciple, Lord Yunshan.
Song Jixue had four senior brothers and one junior brother.
Except for his eldest senior brother, Yu Ye, his relationships with his other fellow disciples were poor. His second senior brother and his junior brother had died in the Wanxiang Spiritual Realm three years ago. As the second brother's shadow and the junior brother’s "protector," Qiguang firmly believed that Song Jixue had stood by and watched them die, or even intentionally caused their deaths.
Had the second senior brother survived, the position of Sect Leader would never have fallen to Song Jixue.
In truth, if the timing were right, Chang Yao would have been quite happy to tell Qiguang the real reason those two Yunshan disciples died.
Many people had entered the Wanxiang Spiritual Realm that year, representing all the major immortal sects. It was there that she first met Song Jixue.
Those who made it out of the Wanxiang Spiritual Realm alive were now all illustrious figures.
Chang Yao only had a partial understanding of Song Jixue’s youth, but judging by his relationships within his sect and his own personality, she knew it hadn't been a pleasant one. He rarely spoke of it. On very rare occasions, he would betray complex emotions regarding his past, but he would always gloss over them before Chang Yao could delve deeper.
His fellow disciples all came from prominent clans, while he was just a "wild child" brought back from the mortal world. After entering the immortal mountain, he had been a misfit among those around him.
Prejudice had been deeply rooted in people’s hearts since the day he arrived.
Seeing Chang Yao absorbed in her food, Song Jixue handed her the last few skewers and said, "I'll go buy you some sweet water."
The night breeze sighed softly, and the long lanterns hanging from the wooden poles at the street corner swayed. Amidst the noise and the bustling street scene, Chang Yao watched him walk away with his back to her. People's shadows flickered; passersby brushed past Lord Yunshan, chatting and laughing amongst themselves, while he walked alone.
The wind blew her hood down, letting her hair fly. Chang Yao raised her hand to smooth it back, her eyes fixed on the distant Song Jixue. It felt as though if she blinked, he would disappear.
In that instant, she felt as if she had forgotten something very important, yet she had no inkling of what it might be.
The search for the evil cultivator who had planted the insects was suspended after a short time due to a total lack of clues. Unwilling to leave things as they were, Fu Ji left Qiguang in the Central Province city, asking him to stay for a few more days before setting out for the West Sea.
Qiguang nodded in agreement.
Watching this, Chang Yao turned and whispered to Song Jixue, "He acts more like a member of the Fengtian Sect."
Song Jixue gave a soft, mocking snort.
The Fengtian Sect traveled alongside Kunlun. They rode their swords, arriving at the West Sea territory in the dead of night. Looking down through the obscuring clouds and mist, the once vast and lush green coastal grasslands were now largely yellowed and withered. Deer and mountain goats stood on the shores, staring blankly at each other, unable to find grass. Hunger drove them forward to search for new sources of food.
"Eh?" Chu Chenxing, the "Medicine Ghost" of the Fengtian Dingxiu Gate, pointed downward. "Does it look like a fire has broken out over there?"
Hearing this, Fu Ji steered toward the direction she pointed. As the Sect Leader moved, the others naturally followed.
They landed at a mountain village. The surrounding area was barren, with not a blade of grass in sight. Old people and children in rags, their bodies gaunt and skeletal, lay huddled together in front of their homes; they had been dead for some time.
The fire spread rapidly, yet the only sound was the crackling of flames.
Just as Chu Chenxing was about to step forward to examine the bodies of an old man and a child, a burning house nearby suddenly collapsed and exploded. Sparks flew everywhere, instantly igniting another house. Both the grandfather and grandson were swallowed by the tongues of fire.
"Careful." Fu Ji pulled her behind him. Chu Chenxing’s eyes were filled with pity.
Chang Yao, at the rear of the group, heard a strange cackling from behind. She looked sideways to see a shirtless man holding a torch. He was so thin he was nothing but skin and bones, and black energy swirled across his flesh—similar to Fang Jueming and the others, yet not quite the same.
"Burn them! They should all be burned to death!" The man laughed and shouted maniacally. Holding his torch, he ran headlong into the inferno without looking back, too fast for anyone to stop him.
Everyone was stunned by the sight.
A soft-hearted disciple said with tears in their eyes, "The Fei beast has passed through here."
They had been tainted by the plague and could not escape death.
Fu Ji frowned. "No, the speed is too fast. The timing doesn't match."
Wiping away tears, the disciple said, "But the surrounding vegetation is dead, and the living are all plagued..."
"They are plagued, yes, but the rate of physical decay is too fast. The Fei only entered the world two or three days ago, yet their condition looks as if they have been plagued for months," Chu Chenxing explained. She then glanced at Song Jixue and said with a slight smile, "What does Lord Yunshan think?"
Her words carried a hint of provocation.
Song Jixue, busy adjusting Chang Yao’s cloak and hood, replied without looking back, "If even the 'Medicine Ghost' of Fengtian cannot tell, I can send a message to ask the wife of the Lord of Dayin Mountain for you."
Chang Yao stood obediently as he fussed over her, her gaze crossing Song Jixue’s to meet Chu Chenxing’s.
This woman was one of the personal disciples of the Dingxiu Gate Master, Ye Zhiqing. Chu Chenxing loathed Xia Sangyi for causing her master's seclusion, and by extension, she had no friendly feelings toward Yunshan, which was on good terms with Dayin Mountain.
Hearing Song Jixue poke at a sore spot, Chu Chenxing gave a heavy, indignant snort. "A Fei has appeared and the plague is spreading, yet she refuses to leave her mountain by even a step. Where is her medical ethics?"
Song Jixue said nonchalantly, "Your honorable master also refuses to leave her mountain by even a step."
Chu Chenxing’s face darkened, fuming with rage.
"Is this the time for bickering?" Fu Ji said helplessly. "As far as I know, Xia Sangyi only returned to Kunlun two days ago after resolving a cold-affliction at Ding River. Since Kunlun was attacked last night, she had to stay to help. She will arrive at the West Sea in a few days. It isn't as you say."
He spoke to Chu Chenxing in a gentle, persuasive manner, yet it didn't feel subservient. On the contrary, after hearing him, Chu Chenxing didn't dare utter a single word of rebuttal.
There was an unspeakable authority within that gentleness.
Chu Chenxing bit her lip and retreated behind Fu Ji.
The burning village on the road was only a brief episode, but from then on, everyone unconsciously paid close attention to whether the same thing was happening in the towns below.
Near the hour of the Rabbit (5:00 AM), they finally arrived at the Xuantian Sect by the West Sea.
The Xuantian Sect was in the north, while the Qianhe Palace was in the south; between them lay a stretch of sea with turbulent currents and many reefs.
The Sect Leader of Xuantian greeted them personally. Seeing the group of cultivators land on the long stairs, he cupped his hands slightly. "Immortal Leader. Lord Yunshan."
In just a few days, the Xuantian Sect Leader’s hair had turned significantly whiter.
"Let’s go inside and talk," Fu Ji said warmly.
Neither side wasted time on pleasantries and got straight to the point. They discussed what they had seen on the road and the current state of the West Sea as they walked.
"We found things weren't right on the way. Perhaps the emergence of a Fei actually happened months ago," Fu Ji said. "The trouble started elsewhere, but it has now spread to the West Sea."
The Xuantian Sect Leader’s heart skipped a beat, and his expression turned grim. "There are two Fei?"
"Very likely," Fu Ji said. "The worst-case scenario is two Fei meeting at the West Sea. the damage would be incalculable."
Chang Yao covered her hand and yawned. She hadn't paid attention to where the Fei that left Wujiu Mountain had gone to cause havoc; only now did she realize it had come to the West Sea.
"Sleepy?" Song Jixue glanced at her.
Chang Yao rubbed her eyes and whispered, "A little."
The Sect Leader’s wife heard this and stepped forward. "The Mistress of Yunshan must be tired after traveling through the night. Follow me to the guest rooms to rest for a while."
Chang Yao nodded. She blinked at Song Jixue and then left with the Sect Leader’s wife.
Lord Yunshan still had to be busy saving the world.
The morning sun shone brightly, dispelling the darkness and dampness while bringing a touch of warmth. The bells of the Xuantian Sect rang, reminding disciples to wake for morning practice. Standing in the inner sect, Chang Yao didn't see any hurried disciples; instead, she saw several maidservants running frantically out of a courtyard, only to be stopped by the Sect Leader’s wife.
The Sect Leader’s wife frowned and asked, "What is it?"
A maidservant hurriedly replied, "It's Madam Yang. She's having another episode."
Madam Yang—the wife of True Lord Feili.
Chang Yao heard the Sect Leader’s wife sigh and followed the maidservants to the side courtyard.
Incense for clearing the mind and calming the spirit was lit in both the courtyard and the house, but Madam Yang—with her long hair over her shoulders and a pale face—seemed entirely unaffected. At that moment, she was pinning a maidservant against the door by her neck, muttering neurotically and incessantly.
The maidservant’s face was flushed red, almost turning blue, as she looked imploringly toward the approaching Sect Leader’s wife.
"Madam Yang." The Sect Leader’s wife stepped forward. A glow of an incantation flashed in her hand, and she easily pulled the woman back, her voice gentle and soothing. "Go back to sleep for a while."
Madam Yang let go and fainted. The Sect Leader’s wife supported her and handed her to a maidservant. "Take her inside."
The other two maidservants did as instructed.
Chang Yao stood at the door without entering. She heard the Sect Leader’s wife sigh and say, "She used to be unhappy, and she and Feili often argued and had conflicts. Now that Feili’s identity as a demon mole has been exposed, she couldn't handle the blow and has become half-crazed, sometimes better and sometimes worse."
"If the couple’s relationship was poor, why would she care so much about the matter with True Lord Feili?" Chang Yao asked innocently.
The Sect Leader’s wife shook her head gently. "Her clansmen were all killed by demons, so she hates demon-kind intensely. Feili was her only support. Even if they quarreled, the affection between them remained."
To suddenly discover that the person she married was a mole for the very demon race she hated with all her might was a devastating blow for the sensitive and fragile Madam Yang.
"Let's go. Are you hungry? Do you want to eat something before sleeping?" the Sect Leader’s wife said as they walked.
Chang Yao followed. "Yes."
After taking a couple of steps, she looked back at the closed courtyard door.
She suddenly thought of Song Jixue.
If Lord Yunshan were to find out she was a demon, would he end up like Madam Yang?
Probably not.
He was so strong, with clear goals that never wavered; he was a person who always knew what he needed to do. Chang Yao found it hard to imagine what Song Jixue would look like if he went half-crazed.
At the very least, she didn't want Song Jixue to turn into that.
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