The Peak Master of Jiuping was explaining the Dao of techniques to his youngest disciple when a messenger bird landed before him. Upon learning of the incident involving the Young Master of Wushan, he rushed to Wushan immediately.
A demon infiltrating Kunlun to commit evil was a major affair, let alone the fact that the victim was the precious son of the Lord of Wushan.
On his way, his heart skipped a beat when he caught sight of the bright lights of Shangyun Peak. For some reason, a strange thought rose from the depths of his mind, but he suppressed it before it could take shape.
Mustn't think of it, mustn't think of it.
The Jiuping Peak Master steadied his mind and hurried to Wushan.
Wushan, Goddess Peak.
Pei Wenjue lay on the bed with a severed arm, his face deathly pale and unconscious. The Lady of Wushan sat by the bedside, her brow clouded with gloom. With a mix of heartbreak and anxiety, she watched Xia Sangyi chant incantations with one hand to channel spiritual power into her son, expelling the residual demonic energy.
She could hear the voices of the two Mountain Lords and the Peak Masters discussing outside.
"A few days ago, a group of minor demons tried to enter Kunlun, but they were all slain on the spot. Their cultivation was extremely low, and they could barely manifest human forms. They were just common demons coveting Kunlun’s spiritual energy."
"Every year, countless minor demons try to enter Kunlun to cultivate, but none have succeeded. Not to mention this evil demon tonight—whose true form is still unknown—managed to enter and leave Wushan to wound someone without leaving a trace. This is definitely not comparable to those minor demons lingering at the foot of Kunlun."
"Orders have been sent to all eighteen peaks for a thorough investigation. The killing arrays are fully activated; if that evil demon is still here, it won't survive."
"I have also ordered the barrier at Dayin Mountain to be opened."
The fierce-eyed Lord of Wushan looked at the man in white beside him and nodded slightly. "Dayin Mountain is close to Goddess Peak. I'll have to trouble you."
The Lord of Dayin Mountain shook his head gently.
"This matter is not simple," the Jiuping Peak Master said hesitantly. "For an evil demon to enter Kunlun, ascend Wushan’s Goddess Peak, and wound someone—even if the Demon Emperor acted personally, it wouldn't be so silent and traceless, would it? I suspect... this demon likely has an accomplice."
The Lord of Dayin Mountain swept his gaze toward the back door and mused, "A traitor in Wushan?"
"I'm afraid it’s not just Wushan, but all of Kunlun," the Jiuping Peak Master whispered. "Starting from last year, the Demon Realm has shown malice toward the human world, systematically targeting major immortal sects—"
The Lord of Wushan suddenly said in a deep voice, "Jixue went to the West Sea this time precisely because he sensed the Demon Realm's conspiracy. Great demons from various clans are appearing in the human realm to cause trouble. It seems related to the Gate of Earthly Ghosts."
"The Gate of Earthly Ghosts... that is bold indeed." The Lord of Dayin Mountain’s gaze turned cold.
"Before he left, he told me to pay more attention to the Three Mountains. At first, I was puzzled; usually, he warns about things outside Kunlun. Why suddenly speak of the Three Mountains... Thinking back, he might have long since sensed something strange here." The Lord of Wushan clenched his fists in his sleeves, his eyes slightly bloodshot. "If I had been more careful, Wenjue wouldn't have ended up like this."
Just as the Lord of Dayin Mountain was about to offer comfort, another Peak Master hurried up the steps. "Lord Yunshan and Peak Master Zhao’s group have returned. Several are heavily injured. Lord Dayin Mountain and your lady are requested to come at once."
Xia Sangyi, the wife of the Lord of Dayin Mountain, was the foremost medicinal cultivator of the era.
The Lord of Wushan asked, "Is Jixue injured?"
Peak Master Tan shook his head, his expression grave. "It’s two disciples from Wushan and Yunshan. One of the Yunshan disciples overheard a secret conversation between a great demon of the Phoenix clan and the Demon Emperor. This is extremely important to us."
Hearing this, the Lord of Dayin Mountain went inside to call Xia Sangyi, and they headed for Yunshan.
The injured disciple was named Yan Zibian, known as the first disciple of Shangyun Peak and the sole disciple of Song Jixue, the Sect Leader of Yunshan.
To be taken as a disciple by the extremely picky Lord Yunshan was a testament to his immense talent.
Such a favored child of heaven was now covered in blood and dying on the bed, his life hanging by a thread only due to the spiritual power channeled by Lord Yunshan.
Upon entering, Xia Sangyi smelled the thick scent of demonic energy and blood. She frowned and focused her mind on the treatment. Her movements were orderly, but a thin layer of sweat appeared on her forehead, showing how difficult the injuries were to handle.
The Lord of Dayin Mountain had not seen his wife so focused and cautious in a long time; it seemed Yan Zibian was in grave danger. He couldn't help but look toward the window, where a tall, upright, and handsome young man stood.
If one were to name the best-looking person in Kunlun, it was undoubtedly Lord Yunshan, Song Jixue.
In terms of looks alone, he was exceptionally refined. Beneath his long brows and phoenix eyes was a high bridge of the nose; his lips were slightly pursed as he looked out the window with a lazy posture. He tilted his head slightly, showing a refined, smooth jawline.
As for his physique, his black-and-gold embroidered robe fit him perfectly—clean and sharp. He stood tall like a pine tree. His unfathomable cultivation level made him seem superior even when silent, impossible to ignore.
A man like him, standing casually by the window against the backdrop of the moonlight, was a peerless masterpiece.
The Lord of Dayin Mountain could not see any trace of anxiety on Song Jixue’s face or in his eyes. His gaze wasn't even on Yan Zibian; instead, it drifted vaguely over the mountain scenery outside the window, lost in thought. However, there was a very faint trace of fatigue between his brows.
"Jixue," the Lord of Dayin Mountain said softly as he stepped forward. "Everything will be fine."
Song Jixue’s throat moved slightly as he turned his gaze back to the room.
In that instant, the fatigue between his brows was hidden away.
"Cough, cough—"
Yan Zibian coughed up a mouthful of blood, his head groggy. He struggled to open his eyes.
"You're awake?" the Lord of Dayin Mountain asked.
Xia Sangyi’s expression remained grim. She pressed her fingers against Yan Zibian’s shoulder acupoint and said, "The heart vessels are too severely damaged, and the spiritual veins are almost shattered—impossible to repair. The residual demonic energy in his body is aggressive and still devouring his spiritual power."
"Master..." Yan Zibian’s breathing was shallow. He turned his bloodshot eyes slowly toward Song Jixue by the window. As his lips moved, a large amount of blood overflowed, but the suffocating pain couldn't stop him from speaking. "It’s... it’s Mistress..."
He fainted again.
The atmosphere in the room turned subtle.
Song Jixue straightened up and moved his gaze away from his disciple. He walked out, leaving only one sentence: "Ask for whatever you need."
Chang Yao knew Song Jixue was returning to the mountain tonight, so she stayed in the kitchen. She cooked bowl after bowl of chili oil wontons; if they got cold, she ate them herself and then cooked more until Song Jixue arrived.
The maids were not surprised by this.
They knew the Sect Leader’s wife could eat—a lot.
As Chang Yao stood alone on the cliff eating her twelfth bowl of wontons, she finally heard the familiar voice behind her: "Hungry?"
She looked back. The man walked toward her through the moonlight and falling flowers, though he carried a slight scent of blood.
"I made this for you, but I didn't know when you’d show up, so I started eating first," Chang Yao replied honestly. "I couldn't let yours get cold, could I?"
"Which bowl is this?" Song Jixue walked up to her, raised his hand to wipe a soup stain from the corner of her mouth, then touched his finger to his own lips.
Chang Yao blinked. "I don't remember."
Song Jixue lowered his head. Chang Yao was familiar with his little habits; the food she was about to put in her mouth was immediately diverted to his.
Chang Yao stood on her tiptoes, leaning in to sniff him. "Are you injured?"
Song Jixue: "No, it’s Zibian’s blood. He is heavily wounded."
Chang Yao raised an eyebrow. Before she could ask more, the Lord of Yunshan swallowed the wonton and looked at her with a strange expression. "Who cooked this?"
His wife was a lady who never touched house chores and had never cooked before.
"Is it not good?" Chang Yao narrowed her eyes at him.
Song Jixue said without changing his expression, "I have never eaten such delicious wontons."
"Really?" Chang Yao picked up another wonton and fed it to him, her almond eyes curving with a proud, coquettish charm. "I spent the whole day learning from the Lady of Dayin Mountain just to cook this for you."
Song Jixue looked at her with a trace of a smile.
Chang Yao asked, "Do you know that the Lord of Dayin Mountain gets to eat wontons made by Xia Sangyi every time he returns from a long trip?"
"Oh, he’s told me many times," Song Jixue scoffed. "He’s been saying it since before they were married."
Chang Yao said with a serious face, "Whatever others have, you must have too."
Song Jixue: "..."
Should he be thanking that couple from Dayin Mountain?
After she finished feeding him, Chang Yao turned to set the bowl on the windowsill. She heard Song Jixue’s slightly raspy voice: "A-Yao."
"Hmm?" She turned around, her voice carrying a soft, childlike tone.
Song Jixue said, "Let me hold you for a moment."
Chang Yao tilted her head at him. In the next instant, she was pulled into a tight embrace. She smelled the cold fragrance of peach blossoms mixed with the scent of blood on him. It stimulated her bloodline; she lowered her eyes to suppress a trace of tyranny deep within.
The blood on him wasn't human.
Or rather, not just human.
It was also somewhat familiar.
Song Jixue held her against the windowsill. The clouds and mist partially obscured the moon and stars, while the nearby flower branches swayed with a rustling sound, scattering petals everywhere.
Chang Yao felt his tense body and gently stroked his back with her soft hands, offering a tender comfort.
"With Xia Sangyi there, Yan Zibian will be fine," she heard herself lie skillfully. "She is the foremost medicinal cultivator, a master who can bring people back from the brink of death."
After a long while, Song Jixue, his head buried in her neck, whispered, "He infiltrated the Demon Realm and knows many of their secrets."
"He even overheard a secret talk between the Demon Emperor and the Phoenix clan involving the safety of the human world."
Chang Yao thought to herself: This kid knows quite a lot; he definitely can't be allowed to live.
"I shouldn't have agreed to let him go to the Demon Realm," Song Jixue said flatly. No regret or hatred could be heard in his voice, only a slight raspiness.
Chang Yao whispered warmly in his ear, "Everything will be fine."
Sensing that Song Jixue’s spiritual power was overextended—likely from trying to save Yan Zibian—Chang Yao said, "Go back and rest if you're tired."
Song Jixue let out a low grunt in response.
Chang Yao pushed at the man who hadn't let go of her and whispered, licking the corner of her lip, "I haven't eaten enough yet."
Song Jixue: "..."
And so, the couple ate two more bowls of wontons in the kitchen before returning to their room.
Chang Yao was held in Song Jixue’s long arms and legs. Her face was pressed against his warming chest; if she lifted her head, she would brush against his chin. His long arm encircled her waist as if he wanted to merge her into his body—protecting her from any harm in this world, yet also seemingly afraid she might quietly slip away.
In the first year of their marriage, Chang Yao would secretly remain on guard. Now, she had grown accustomed to it without realizing when. She let him pull her into his embrace however he liked, because being in Song Jixue’s arms was indeed the safest place.
As a demon, living in the world of cultivators while hiding her identity was quite difficult, let alone when her husband, whom she faced day and night, was the leader of an immortal sect.
Despite the danger, the temptation of the status of "Lady of Yunshan" was too great; she couldn't resist it.
Song Jixue didn't lie down for long. After a brief rest, he rose, left a soft kiss on Chang Yao’s lips, and departed.
Chang Yao didn't mind; she rolled over and went back to sleep.
But she knew that Kunlun would not be peaceful in the days to come.
Yan Zibian remained unconscious, his final breath held by various pills and Xia Sangyi’s power.
Xia Sangyi stayed by his side throughout, doing her best to expel the residual demonic energy.
Chang Yao went to take a look the next morning.
Xia Sangyi was alone in the room. She didn't speak when she saw Chang Yao enter, focusing entirely on her work.
Chang Yao did not disturb her, standing to the side and watching quietly.
The demonic energy drifting in the room was incredibly familiar. She felt a hint of disdain and quietly took two steps back to avoid being tainted by it.
She remembered Yan Zibian as being very intelligent, highly talented, and firm of mind. He had a great future, but he could only go this far.
Although he had overheard the secret talk, none of the fatal wounds on him were caused by the Demon Emperor. He was wounded by the Young Master of the Phoenix clan—that capricious, cruel, and violent great demon.
Chang Yao heard the conversation between the Lord of Wushan and the Lord of Dayin Mountain outside.
"Sangyi said that the fatal wound on Yan Zibian is the feather poison of the Phoenix demon. The poison invaded his heart vessels, and his spiritual veins were crushed by powerful demonic force. Now, the residual demonic power is full of toxicity. This means the one who fought him wasn't the Demon Emperor, but the Young Master of the Phoenix clan, Fu Jin."
"Fu Jin? Hmph, he’s been quite active. His shadow is always present in recent major events. It seems he’s reached an agreement with the Demon Emperor."
"Jixue and the others just returned, and the Gate of Earthly Ghosts at the West Sea was opened the next day. It seems the inner traitors of the Demon clan have already infiltrated the human sects. Not just our Kunlun Three Mountains, but even..."
The voices stopped abruptly as the door opened from the inside.
Song Jixue, who had been walking slowly and silently, looked up.
Chang Yao stepped aside. "I came to take a look. I didn't disturb Sangyi."
"The wind is strong outside. Why didn't you put on more clothes before coming out?" Song Jixue’s expression was normal. He walked to Chang Yao, took off his outer robe, and draped it over her.
The others: "..."
Is the wind strong? Is a breeze that doesn't even ruffle a hair considered strong?!
The Lord of Wushan kept a stiff face and remained silent. He was one of those who had opposed Song Jixue marrying Chang Yao.
He felt Chang Yao was unworthy. Unworthy in every way except for her appearance.
How could the leader of a Great Immortal Sect and the inheritor of the Kunlun Sacred Mountain marry a woman with a waste spiritual vein who couldn't cultivate?
The Lord of Dayin Mountain recalled Yan Zibian’s words from last night. His heart felt subtle, but he didn't say much.
Chang Yao didn't stay long. Song Jixue escorted her back to Shangyun Peak.
The quiet path was winding and narrow, with lush trees and grass on both sides. The sunlight could barely penetrate, making it cool and dim. Small stone lamps lined the path, never going out.
Occasionally encountering stone steps, Chang Yao hopped along like a child. With her back to Song Jixue behind her, she said, "The Three-Legged Phoenix is dead."
"The Jiuping Peak Master told me," Song Jixue said, catching up after she finished jumping up all the steps. "You’ve already punished Xue Hao to reflect in seclusion. Pei Wenjue had an arm bitten off by the evil demon that infiltrated Wushan last night."
He tilted his head slightly, looking at Chang Yao through the dappled shadows. "Should I punish him again?"
Chang Yao turned back to glare at him. "Am I that petty?"
"So my gift of the Three-Legged Phoenix just ends like that?" Song Jixue raised an eyebrow.
Chang Yao played the part of a gentle and generous mortal. "Considering that disciple has good talent and is a decent person, let’s forget it. After all, in ten years, he’ll be a great cultivator of Yunshan. What if he holds a grudge?"
Song Jixue asked, "Which disciple?"
Chang Yao: "That poor little thing, Xue Hao, who was punished by the Lady of Wushan to kneel."
"A-Yao, not only do you praise him as decent, but you even remembered his name?" Song Jixue smiled, his gaze deepening.
Chang Yao, continuing to hop up the steps ahead, didn't see it. She said leisurely, "Because his looks are very distinct—like a girl’s. His features are too feminine. But when he was kneeling, his back didn't remind me of a feminine woman at all..."
She looked back at Song Jixue and gave a bright smile. "At first glance, he reminded me of you."
The trace of jealousy in Lord Yunshan’s heart vanished. He stepped forward and took Chang Yao’s hand, his broad palm carrying warmth.
"I just heard you say the Gate of Earthly Ghosts at the West Sea has been opened?"
When speaking of these troublesome matters, Song Jixue’s attitude remained characteristically casual. "Our 'World’s Number One Sword' is heavily injured and hasn't awakened. The sealing power was weakened, giving the Demon Realm an opportunity."
"Once the Gate of Earthly Ghosts opens, it’ll be trouble. All sorts of demons and ghosts will enter the human world, and strange monsters will cause chaos together. You won't have to leave again just a few days after returning, right?" Chang Yao looked at him sideways.
"The twelve Great Immortal Sects are discussing how to seal the gate. A batch of demons has already been sent out; we can't let a second batch through," Song Jixue said. "Kunlun is currently the safest place. I'll only be at peace if you stay here."
Chang Yao pointed to herself. "What if I get bullied in Kunlun after you leave? Aren't you taking me with you?"
Song Jixue stroked her head. "Take note of it. When I return, act coquettishly to me and then let me get revenge for you."
Chang Yao: "..."
Lord Yunshan, who simply wanted to see his wife act coquettishly, smiled silently.
"How is Kunlun safe? An evil demon infiltrated and wounded someone last night, and they said there's an inner traitor of the Demon clan in Kunlun." Chang Yao shook her head. "A powerless waste like me can't beat an inner traitor who can sneak into Kunlun."
The grip on her hand tightened. Song Jixue said, "A-Yao."
Chang Yao answered patiently, "Hmm?"
Song Jixue: "If you can't beat them, you can run."
"Where to?"
Song Jixue squinted and smiled. "Run to me."
Chang Yao turned to leave in a huff, but he pulled her into his arms, encircled her neck, and lowered his head to kiss her.
She closed her eyes gently, then opened them for a split second.
Just kidding. Kunlun’s spiritual energy was so abundant; she wouldn't bear to leave.
If Song Jixue wasn't around, she would actually be more free.
"A-Yao, no matter when, if you encounter any danger, remember to run to me," Song Jixue’s whisper was lost in the lingering, intimate kiss.
I will never hurt you. As long as you walk toward me.
Yan Zibian woke up on the night of the third day. But the moment anyone saw him, only four words came to mind: The final radiance of the setting sun.
His time was running out. Clinging to the tail end of his life, he told everyone what he knew in broken sentences.
"The Demon Emperor is trying to persuade the major demon clans... to attack the human world... cough... with him." Yan Zibian coughed, black blood constantly overflowing from his mouth, and his eyes lost their luster. "Many years ago, he sent confidants to infiltrate the major sects... the traitor in the West Sea is Daoist Feili."
"And in our Kunlun, it is Chang... Chang Yao..."
There was no moon tonight. The candlelight flickered in the room. Amidst the shock, everyone instinctively looked toward Lord Yunshan.
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