As soon as Song Jixue arrived at Shangyun Peak, he saw Chang Yao sitting alone on the threshold of the main hall. The stone lamps in front of the hall flickered in the night wind, and the warding bells hanging from the eaves swayed gently without making a sound.
She looked a bit drowsy, her head resting against the doorframe, listlessly watching the night petals fall. It was only when she spotted the figure on the path that her eyes brightened slightly, and she straightened her posture.
While waiting for Song Jixue to return, Chang Yao had been trying to gauge his thoughts and Kunlun’s next move.
Lord Yunshan walked toward her step by step.
Chang Yao waited quietly; she had already guessed the first thing he would say.
It wasn't a question about the evil demon or the traitor, but rather: "I've told you many times to wear more when you're out at night. Shangyun Peak is cold, and your health isn't great. You can't catch a chill."
As he spoke, he took off his outer robe and draped it over her. When he leaned down, his hair brushed against her slightly upturned forehead, feeling icy cool.
Exactly as expected.
Chang Yao breathed a silent sigh of relief.
She wasn't actually as fragile as Song Jixue thought, but she had to maintain the setting of "becoming a waste with shattered spiritual veins to save Song Jixue." Moreover, her "human" spiritual veins were indeed ruined.
Since then, Song Jixue had treated her like a delicate ice flower that would shatter at a touch.
Chang Yao had initially faked it for fun and hadn't expected him to marry her. As time passed, it became increasingly difficult to explain.
Song Jixue reached out and touched her cheek; it was cold. He said, "Go inside."
"No." Chang Yao pulled on his hand and shook her head.
So, Song Jixue sat down beside her. A circle of warm orange fire array ignited at their feet, keeping the cold wind out. Falling flowers swirled above, caught by the wind and dropping into the fire array where they instantly burned and vanished.
"What are you thinking about here?" Song Jixue held her hand, playing with it.
Chang Yao said, "Thinking about when you'd come back."
The corners of Song Jixue's mouth curved slightly for a moment. He then said, "Next time I go out, I'll take you with me. I'm not at peace leaving you in Kunlun."
Who was it that said two days ago that Kunlun was the safest place?
Chang Yao teased him: "Even with the Lingxi Sword Array, you're not at peace?"
"I'm not."
That's the strongest protective array in the world, plus your cultivation level has already entered the Lifeline Tribulation—and you're still worried?
Chang Yao sighed and feigned a serious tone: "Lord Yunshan, can you lower your standards for yourself just a little?"
Song Jixue raised an eyebrow: "No."
"Alright then, wherever you go, I go," Chang Yao compromised quickly. "Kunlun is nice, but it's been a long time since I've been down the mountain."
The outside world hadn't been peaceful these past two years. Although she knew of many events, she hadn't cared or interfered.
As long as the demons hadn't fought their way to Kunlun’s Yunshan, she couldn't be bothered.
"Over at Wushan, they found a Ghost-Faced Tree Demon. Since it was sent by the demon clan to monitor Kunlun, there's definitely more than one. Xia Sangyi is preparing Still-Spirit Rootless Water. In half an hour, they'll all be found." Song Jixue spoke to her as if they were just having a casual chat.
There was not a hint of probing or suspicion.
When Chang Yao learned the Tree Demon had died, she guessed Kunlun’s next move. He was smart enough to think of this, so she had already killed the remaining Tree Demons in advance.
Only one of a Ghost-Faced Tree Demon's roots is the main body; the rest are at least a hundred. It’s hard to kill it off completely, but since this one's main body was back at Wujiu Mountain, Chang Yao didn't feel a bit of pity killing them.
Chang Yao looked at Song Jixue and said, "It wasn't me."
It really wasn't.
Her relationship with the Demon Emperor wasn't good enough for her to risk her life as a mole for him.
At Chang Yao’s earnestness, Song Jixue was stunned for a moment: "Did you think I thought it was you?"
His expression turned subtle: "If you were willing to risk your life for someone as a traitor, I’d truly want to see what kind of immortal that was—but it certainly wouldn't be a demon or a cultivator."
Chang Yao asked curiously: "What if there really was one?"
Song Jixue interlaced his fingers with hers, smiling lazily: "A-Yao, do you really want to be a demon traitor in the human world one day?"
Chang Yao shook her head repeatedly.
Song Jixue added: "I know you hate the demon clan—"
Chang Yao pursed her lips for a second.
"First Zibian, then you. The Demon Emperor likely wants to target the people around me. The theory about causing internal strife in Kunlun isn't impossible." Song Jixue opened his other arm to her, and Chang Yao leaned in, pulled into a full embrace.
The Sect Leader of Kunlun’s Yunshan, the first person to manifest a heart-sword, with a cultivation level at the Lifeline Tribulation—he was one of the human cultivators closest to ascension. Such a person was indeed worth the Demon Emperor’s focus.
If she were the Demon Emperor wanting to attack the human world, she would certainly prioritize eliminating Song Jixue as a dangerous enemy.
But she wasn't the traitor. So, who was the traitor in Kunlun?
Chang Yao rested her head against Song Jixue’s warm chest, listening to that steady, powerful heartbeat—thump, thump. She reached out and touched his clothes; beneath her fingertips was the familiar life essence—strong, domineering, making one feel a sense of attachment, wanting to cling to it and never part.
However, whenever she felt that warmth, it always awakened the violence in her bloodline, often making her want to pierce through the flesh, let the blood spill, and dig out that pulsing, powerful heart to crush it.
Chang Yao loathed this feeling. Sensing the agitation of her bloodline power, a flash of displeasure crossed her eyes. Her fingers tightened, bunching up Song Jixue’s lapel.
Just as Song Jixue looked down, a messenger bird flew out of the void, bringing news that the Still-Spirit Rootless Water was ready.
"Go on." Chang Yao released her grip, looked up to kiss his cheek, and winked. "I'll wait right here."
Only then did Song Jixue leave.
Chang Yao sat in front of the hall, watching him walk away until he vanished. She lightly touched her eyelids, took a deep breath, and traced the Heart-Calming Incantation in the air—a spell Song Jixue had once taught her.
Each stroke left behind glimmers of gold, but her spiritual power couldn't sustain them for long; they vanished in an instant.
Chang Yao remembered what Song Jixue said the first time he taught her: "The seemingly simplest incantations can also be the most powerful."
Especially when you need them.
A thick white mist rose from the foot of the mountain and soon surrounded all of Kunlun. The mist was deep and damp; every step felt like walking through a curtain of water. The rocks darkened, and the leaves hung bright with water droplets that dripped through rotten leaves and soaked into the soil, spreading for thousands of miles.
The night shadows became blurred in the mist. The mountain scenery was beautiful yet held a hint of dangerous mystery. However, the Mountain Lords and Peak Masters of Kunlun had no heart for scenery. Everyone was staring at the changes in the array diagrams. Messenger birds came and went, extremely busy.
They were all waiting at Wushan’s Goddess Peak for news of the Tree Demons. But every time black smoke rose on the array and they rushed over, they only found a withered black root. "Dead. These are all phantom forms, not the main body," the Jiuping Peak Master said as he returned with a root found at Yunshan to show the group. "Yunshan, Wushan, Dayin Mountain—they were everywhere."
The Lord of Wushan’s face was very grim. "Still-Spirit Rootless Water only breaks possession disguises; it doesn't kill them."
"It seems the demons found out ahead of time." The Lord of Dayin Mountain was prepared for this result and could accept it. After all, being able to sneak into Kunlun for years without being caught meant the traitor was no ordinary person; they had to be cautious, meticulous, bold, and smart enough.
Just as everyone thought the lead on the Tree Demons was about to go cold, a messenger bird from Wushan flew out from the void, bringing news from Peak Master Tan: "Caught one!"
The Mountain Lords immediately set off.
Beside Wushan’s Heavenly Pool, the ground was covered in flowers and grass. Amidst the brilliant spring colors was a black shadow that couldn't be ignored, exuding an evil aura. It was pinned to the ground by a glowing sword array, letting out roars of defiance and pain.
As the sounds of breaking air echoed, the Mountain Lords and Peak Masters arrived above the pool, looking down at the demon with varying expressions.
Peak Master Tan, holding a demon-binding rope, interrogated the Tree Demon: "Where does this beast come from? Answer honestly and I’ll grant you a path to live!"
The green-faced, fanged Tree Demon’s lower half was in the form of a tree. The roots burrowed into the soil were snapping one by one, crumbling into black ash. It let out pained howls, looking at the cultivators with a gaze full of hatred and fear. Finally, it couldn't hold out and screamed: "I’ll talk! I’ll talk! I come from Wujiu Mountain! I was sent by the Great Demon Lord of Wujiu Mountain—"
Before it could finish, a cloud of black mist exploded from beneath it, turning the demon into ash along with it.
The Lord of Wushan roared: "Who?!"
Song Jixue struck out a sword qi. The black mist was sliced in half but quickly merged back together. It flickered in and out of sight, moving rapidly until it pulled away from the crowd. The black mist floating above took the shape of a long serpent, revealing a pair of crimson eyes looking down at everyone.
"Void Mist Snake," the Lord of Dayin Mountain said deeply. "One of the six confidants under the Demon Emperor."
That evil gaze swept over the Mountain Lords. In a raspy voice, it said: "It seems the defenses of Kunlun’s Three Mountains are nothing more than this."
"You’ve come at the right time." The Lord of Wushan drew the sword at his waist. "Tonight, I will ensure your demon race never returns!"
"Careful, if the Void Mist Snake is here, the Demon Emperor likely is too..." The Lord of Dayin Mountain was cut off mid-sentence by the snake: "Never return? Hmph, the Lord of Wushan has quite the mouth. Look at what’s around your Wushan right now!"
Everyone saw pillars of black walls rising at the edges of Wushan. The white mist from the Still-Spirit Rootless Water was dispelled. As the lights became clear, the silhouettes of ten thousand demons were reflected within the black walls.
"This... those are the evil demons from the West Sea’s Gate of Earthly Ghosts!" Peak Master Tan cried out in shock. "How could they appear in Kunlun?!"
The Jiuping Peak Master also turned serious: "Clearly, they were brought by the Void Mist Snake. The demon clan actually intends to attack Kunlun tonight!"
"Simply insolent!" The Lord of Wushan, enraged by the provocation, lunged forward with his sword, striking a killing blow toward the snake.
Lord Yunshan formed incantations, using spells and sword arrays to block the snake's retreat.
The Lord of Dayin Mountain directed the remaining people to the edges of Wushan to meet the army of demons. The Mountain Lords worked together with perfect chemistry; even with the sudden turn of events, they responded quickly and without panic.
The Void Mist Snake hissed. The black mist surged, transforming into a giant python. Its long tail swept across the ground, upturning flowers and soil together. The brilliant spring scene of moments ago was instantly turned into a wreck.
"Jixue, leave this to me." Though the Lord of Wushan was angry, he hadn't lost his reason. Looking at the rising black walls at the mountain's edge, he said deeply: "If the Demon Emperor truly arrives at Wushan, notify us immediately. Do not hold out alone."
Most of the disciples at the edges were beginners. He couldn't let those who hadn't even reached the Xuanming realm fight an army of evil demons, let alone face the cruel Demon Emperor.
Evil demons wouldn't care if the cultivators were weak, but the Kunlun Mountain Lords had to.
At this point, sending Lord Yunshan—who could actually stand against the Demon Emperor—was the best safeguard.
Just as Song Jixue retracted his move to leave, the Void Mist Snake gave a monstrous laugh: "What’s the rush? The ten thousand demons at the foot of the mountain are just to scare you. The main reason for coming today is to take someone away."
Shangyun Peak was the highest point of Yunshan, even higher than the main peaks of Wushan and Dayin Mountain. Chang Yao sat in front of the hall without moving. After writing the Heart-Calming Incantation, she was stunned to see the black walls rising at Wushan.
The demon clan really fought their way to Kunlun?
"Mistress!" A maid walked up the path. "Cui Miaomiao has been sent back. But Peak Master Zhao isn't at Haoran Peak. The matter regarding Xue Hao has been reported to the Bone-Binding Garden; since it was said to be your order, they released him immediately."
Chang Yao looked at the returning maid without speaking.
The maid stepped forward, holding a shawl. Just as she bent down to drape it over her with her usual meticulous care, Chang Yao grabbed her wrist and stopped her.
"Painted Skin, you have quite the nerve." Chang Yao tilted her head slightly, staring at the maid’s face and whispering: "Coming before me twice tonight—do you think you've lived too long?"
The maid’s eyes instantly became hollow. Half of her facial bone structure shifted into an overly gaudy, androgynous face. This half of the face was incredibly vivid, smiling at her: "Oh, seen through again! The Lord of Wujiu Mountain is truly impressive!"
Chang Yao released the maid’s hand. Although Painted Skin was being sarcastic, he didn't dare get close to her again.
Before coming, the Demon Emperor had warned him: never fight Chang Yao. Use emotion and reason—stick to words, otherwise he would surely die. Painted Skin hadn't been convinced at first, until Chang Yao let go just now with a cold glance that made his heart skip, sensing a life-threatening danger.
"What are you here for?" Chang Yao asked.
She remained seated in front of the hall, surrounded by the warm fire array Song Jixue had left.
Painted Skin spread his hands innocently: "To kidnap the Lady of Yunshan."
Chang Yao gave a light laugh. Painted Skin continued: "If you don't come with me, Void Mist will tell Lord Yunshan your true identity. A Tree Demon has already been caught, and the name of Wujiu Mountain has reached the ears of those in Kunlun. Before long, they will learn that a group of Kunlun disciples and a Peak Master died tragically at Wujiu Mountain. Even if our Lord Yunshan loves you enough to accept your demon identity, can he accept that you slaughtered the people of the Kunlun Three Mountains?"
Chang Yao couldn't laugh anymore.
Comments
Post a Comment