Luo Jinxiao didn’t understand what was happening and, thinking Qu Weiyin must have been hurt inside, she hurriedly looked down, only to find Qu Weiyin completely unharmed.
Only then did she feel half-relieved and gently pat Qu Weiyin’s back.
On the other side, Yougui had fallen heavily, his slender body nearly falling apart. He struggled for a moment, glaring at Luo Jinxiao and Qu Weiyin with wild eyes.
“Qu Weiyin!†he shouted fiercely, his voice raspy and tinged with blood, resembling a worn-out bellows.
“Shut up!†With a swift motion, Luo Jinxiao brought her sword down. He hurriedly raised his palms to block it, bending over to cough out a dark, thick phlegm.
Black smoke billowed up from the ground, swirling around him, and Yougui slowly climbed back to his feet, looking utterly shattered, like a candle about to be extinguished.
“You deceived me; you deceived me!†he stared at them with his grayish-white pupils, filled with despair.
Qu Weiyin turned her body, positioning herself protectively in front of Luo Jinxiao. Her phoenix eyes glinted coldly, and the Remnant Moon Star Sword suddenly lifted from the ground, humming as it stood before her.
Demonic creatures continuously surged forth from the walls, and Yougui let out a piercing scream: “Do you think that by destroying the formation diagram, you can rest easy?â€
“Qu Weiyin, you are truly foolish. You can’t even see who the most loyal person is. Have you forgotten what the celestial realm did to you? You’re like a dog, still wagging your tail at those who strike you!â€
“Their prejudice against demons is something you will never shed. Look: even if you were given a second chance, you would still be a demon, unable to become what they regard as normal. You will always be a thorn in their side!â€
Qu Weiyin listened to him with her head bowed, but suddenly raised her gaze, her eyes sharp as needles.
The Remnant Moon Star Sword erupted with golden light, cascading like pieces of gold foil that shimmered within the swirling black mist. Any demon touched by the golden light vanished without a trace.
Luo Jinxiao couldn’t help but look at Qu Weiyin, stepping forward but hesitating to move.
Qu Weiyin suddenly laughed scornfully. “So what? No matter if I’m a celestial being or a demon, I am still myself. Who are you to make decisions for me?â€
“I despise the unfairness of destiny and detest the so-called righteous path, but that doesn’t mean I will allow this hatred to turn me into a madman like you.â€
Yougui howled as black smoke transformed into tangible forms, shooting toward them, but they were effortlessly blocked by Luo Jinxiao. He finally exhausted all his strength, collapsing onto the ground, his eyes reflecting a mad desperation.
For a moment, Qu Weiyin felt a flicker of pity as she looked at him.
She closed her eyes, and the Remnant Moon Star Sword transformed into a fiery arrow, radiating waves of heat and scorching golden light, as if it were about to break through the towering demon palace.
The demon palace exploded abruptly, collapsing from the midpoint, as wailing, ghostly entities surged outward, causing hair-raising terror. Luo Jinxiao watched helplessly as Yougui’s body was torn in half by the flames.
His eyes, coated in ash, remained locked onto Qu Weiyin, silently calling for the demon lord.
And then, he disintegrated into ash.
After his body vanished, a violent tremor swept across the land, unleashing torrents of demonic energy. Within a hundred feet, vengeful spirits screamed, desperately crawling out from all directions, swirling around Qu Weiyin.
These were the resentful souls left behind by the formation diagram after having been cultivated by humans.
They were everywhere, overwhelming in number, uncountable and unfathomable. The appearance of these wandering vengeful spirits visually represented the unspeakable evils that lurked within this world.
Luo Jinxiao reacted quickly, grabbing Qu Weiyin’s hand and stepping back decisively. Then, with a leap, white light cut off the path of the wailing spirits as the entire demon palace began to tremble, soon to be reduced to ruins—Qu Weiyin’s home for a thousand years.
The two figures in red garments retreated swiftly, their sleeves entwined as they rushed through the chaos. Under the blood-red sky, Qu Weiyin murmured a chant, and suddenly, Qiongqi burst forth from the void, flying beneath them to catch the two securely.
Luo Jinxiao looked over at Qu Weiyin, who had turned her head and closed her eyes, unwilling to gaze upon the terrifying faces of the spirits. Her heart tightened, and she instinctively raised her hand to cover Qu Weiyin’s eyes.
Qiongqi carried them both, its golden body turning into a gust of wind as it charged toward the distant horizon, breaking free from the demon realm.
With a flash of light illuminating from darkness to brightness, fresh air suddenly filled their lungs. Qiongqi howled joyfully, soaring upward in a parabolic arc, flying into the sky.
The summer breeze ruffled its golden fur, and the pure air belonging to the human realm enveloped the two of them. Luo Jinxiao breathed deeply, trying to wash away the nauseating stench of blood from earlier.
“We made it out! We’re safe!†she exclaimed, smiling as she let go of her hand and turned to Qu Weiyin, only to find her still with her eyes tightly shut. Concerned, Luo Jinxiao called out softly, “Little Master Uncle? Weiyin?â€
Qu Weiyin seemed to have just awakened from a trance. She lifted her gaze to meet Luo Jinxiao’s, her eyes holding an inscrutable emotion. A faint smile emerged on her lips, but it never reached her eyes.
Having successfully escaped the demon realm and vanquished Yougui, there was little joy in her demeanor.
Luo Jinxiao’s smile faded as she nervously tugged on Qu Weiyin’s sleeve, timidly asking, “What’s wrong?â€
“Did something happen in the formation diagram just now?†Qu Weiyin merely shook her head, but then she curled her fingers around Luo Jinxiao’s hand that was gripping her sleeve. Raising her phoenix-like eyes slightly, they glimmered with unshed tears in the gentle summer wind.
Gently, she said, “Jinxiao, did you die at my hands in your past life?â€
Luo Jinxiao was caught off guard by the question, momentarily stunned and unsure of how to respond.
When she finally opened her mouth to speak, Qu Weiyin raised her voice to cut her off before she could say anything. “Don’t lie to me. If you try to deceive me, I’ll leave right now.â€
Luo Jinxiao nearly stumbled over her words, scratching her head and appearing troubled.
“Fine, if you won’t tell me, I’ll say what I’ve seen. I initially thought perhaps it was the formation diagram that manifested to rob me of my sanity, but now it seems close to the truth.â€
Her tears flowed freely, carried away by the warm breeze, and she didn’t know where they fell.
Luo Jinxiao found herself at a loss for words. No matter how eloquent she was, seeing Qu Weiyin cry made her unable to utter a single word.
“I don’t know what to do, Jinxiao.†Qu Weiyin sighed deeply, looking down at her hands, her eyes filled with struggle.
“What do you mean, what to do?†Luo Jinxiao grew anxious, gripping Qu Weiyin tightly and pulling her to face her. “This wasn’t done intentionally. I have always been indifferent to life and death. In my last life, I even stabbed myself! I didn’t think much of it, Little Master Uncle; just pretend it never happened, okay?â€
Qu Weiyin remained silent, still hesitant to face Luo Jinxiao.
“I didn’t tell you about this earlier because I was afraid you would blame yourself,†Luo Jinxiao said, pouting as she leaned against her shoulder, urging Qu Weiyin to look up.
Qu Weiyin gently sniffled and nestled into her embrace.
Given the commotion in the demon realm, it was impossible for others not to notice. The demons that had been visible everywhere suddenly disappeared overnight, leaving behind a significant number of unpurified vengeful spirits.
However, these vengeful spirits were easier for cultivators to contend with compared to the demons that had been.
Led by the celestial faction, various sects rushed to Lu Yangzhou, swiftly overtaking the vast region with a multitude of cultivators. It was said that they were secretly discussing a grand plan to deal with the demon race and eliminate internal threats.
However, Luo Jinxiao and Qu Weiyin were unaware of these happenings in the martial world. Having just exited the demon realm, they did not know where to go and temporarily settled in a sparsely populated town near Lu Yangzhou.
It was at this moment that Tang Lanner, who had been carried out of the demon realm by Qiongqi, proved useful. As the young master of her sect, she had a villa gifted to her by her father nearby, which was just enough to accommodate them, ensuring Qu Weiyin’s demonic appearance would not attract unwanted attention at an inn.
The town was called Dongyang Town, named for its location to the east of Lu Yangzhou. It was small and sparsely populated, with mostly mortals passing through and few cultivators, creating a quiet atmosphere.
After having just exited the demon realm, both women were physically and mentally exhausted. They entered the villa and spoke little, collapsing onto their beds. Tang Lanner, terrified by the pursuing vengeful spirits, returned to her room in tears.
Qu Weiyin said nothing further, seeming extremely dejected. She chose a separate room to sleep, leaving Luo Jinxiao and Qiongqi staring at each other in the courtyard.
“How about we go out for a stroll? Maybe we can buy something to cheer her up,†Luo Jinxiao suggested.
Qiongqi nodded seriously, replying, “Beef.â€
“No beef. Let’s buy some pastries. I remember there’s a street pastry called Dragon Whisker Crispy; I wonder if they have it here.â€
Luo Jinxiao dragged Qiongqi along the roadside. Although small, the town was quite complete, with many shops lining the streets. Before the demon incursion, it was certainly vibrant and richly adorned with goods.
As she walked, she began to sigh repeatedly. “How should I convince Little Master Uncle? She always thinks deeply; with all she’s learned about those matters, she must be torturing herself.â€
“If she were a bit more selfish, she wouldn’t be so tangled up. But she’s too kind-hearted and always thinks of others, making her easily lost in confusion.â€
“At times like this, I wish she were an unrepentant villain,†Luo Jinxiao sighed.
Qiongqi listened quietly, lowering his head and nibbling on his pink lips, his large eyes drooping as he let out a belch, followed by a cloud of sand.
Luo Jinxiao wandered for quite a while but finally found the pastries she remembered as the sun began to set. She also bought a half cow for Qiongqi to carry back. As they returned, they left behind a trail of melting golden fragments from the setting sun.
When she entered, the courtyard was still quiet. Assuming Qu Weiyin must be asleep, she shooed Qiongqi away and made her way to Qu Weiyin’s door to peek in.
However, just as she paused at the door, it felt as though she was suddenly pushed from behind. At the same moment, the door swung open, and she stumbled two steps forward, tripping inside.
She collided with Qu Weiyin, who was sitting quietly in a chair with her long hair cascading down her back. A wooden comb lay beside her, indicating she had been sitting there ever since entering, barely moving at all.
Qu Weiyin slowly looked up, her gaze softening as she gently smiled and said, “You’re back.â€
Luo Jinxiao could tell she had been lost in thought for a long time, and her heart ached for her. So she cheerfully closed the door, hopped over to Qu Weiyin’s side, and placed the Dragon Whisker Crispy on the table with a bright smile.
“What is this?†Qu Weiyin inquired.
“Just a snack from the mortal realm. You must have missed it while living on the mountain,†Luo Jinxiao said, pulling out a piece from the paper wrapping and holding it up to Qu Weiyin’s mouth.
Qu Weiyin looked at the white, powdery pastry with a slight frown and asked cautiously, “Is it sweet?â€
“It’s very sweet! Just try it.†Luo Jinxiao’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, as if holding a precious treasure.
With an air of resignation, Qu Weiyin parted her lips and prepared to bite into the sugary treat, but she found it stubbornly resistant, resulting in her unintentionally biting Luo Jinxiao’s finger. Her cheeks flushed, and as she attempted to regain her composure, she ended up swallowing a big piece of the pastry in one go.
The Dragon Whisker Crispy was somewhat sticky and large, making it difficult for Qu Weiyin to chew, her delicate face puffing up as she worked hard to get through it.
Luo Jinxiao had never seen the usually refined Qu Weiyin eat like this before, and she couldn’t help but feel delight at the sight. Qu Weiyin, caught between amusement and annoyance, shot her a frustrated look.
As Luo Jinxiao watched, an impish thought crossed her mind, and she suddenly leaned in, using her tongue to swipe a bit of the pastry that lingered near Qu Weiyin’s lips. Their lips brushed lightly against each other.
Qu Weiyin opened her mouth to say something, but with her mouth full, all she could do was look flustered and anxious.
“It’s really sweet, Little Master Uncle,†Luo Jinxiao nodded earnestly.
Qu Weiyin’s cheeks flushed as she sighed in exasperation, unable to voice her thoughts. The soft exchange between the two of them added an unexpected warmth to the air, contrasting with the weighty atmosphere of the demon realm they had just escaped.
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