Just then, the veiled woman who had been standing quietly on the side stepped forward. Luo JinXiao quickly extended her arm to stop her, saying, “You’re not still planning to capture the demon, are you? You saw it—it’s not the one hurting people.”
The veiled woman hesitated, showing a hint of reluctance in her eyes. “But if Senior Brother were here, he wouldn’t let a demon roam the human world unchecked,” she said, shaking her head.
“You’re being unreasonable. Just because it’s a demon doesn’t make it wrong. Look at how close they are; it shows the tree demon has treated Xiu’er better than those townspeople ever did.”
“Even so…” The woman shook her head repeatedly but did not raise her hand again.
After a moment, she gritted her teeth and turned to Luo JinXiao. “Senior Brother and the others will return soon. He’s relentless against demons and won’t let any go. You should help her leave quickly. The world is vast; there’s bound to be a place where demons can survive.”
Luo JinXiao beamed and nodded, clasping her hands in thanks. “Thank you.”
“May I have your name? Such high cultivation at a young age is truly admirable,” the woman returned the gesture, then asked.
“Luo JinXiao,” she replied.
“Chi Yi,” the woman introduced herself with a smile.
“Enough,” Qu WeiYin interjected coldly. “Be quick, lest it becomes too late.”
She strode to the tree demon’s side, her tone softening as she spoke quietly to it. The tree demon looked grateful, then gazed down at Xiu’er in its embrace.
“She’s human. If she goes with you, it might…” Qu WeiYin appeared troubled, but Xiu’er seemed to understand, clinging tighter to the tree demon.
She shook her head repeatedly, refusing to let go.
“You don’t know; they don’t treat Xiu’er well. She was born deaf and mute. Her father may care for her, but he often beats or scolds her. Recently, he even tried to marry her off. Xiu’er doesn’t want to marry, and if I leave, she’ll have no one,” the tree demon explained, her voice gentle and clear, unlike her demonic form.
“Besides, humans loathe demons. After everything today, her fate would be grim if she returned,” the tree demon continued earnestly, tears welling in her green eyes.
Qu WeiYin seemed moved. She, always decisive, nodded and grabbed the tree demon with one hand and Xiu’er with the other, turning her head to say, “Are you coming or not? How long do you plan to chat?”
Luo JinXiao stuck out her tongue playfully, then hurried forward. Chi Yi waved goodbye from behind.
“You’re not shy at all,” Qu WeiYin scoffed, then the surroundings twisted and changed. The mountain disappeared, and they found themselves in a vast field, green wheat swaying like waves.
The tree demon gently held Xiu’er’s trembling hand in hers, bowing deeply to Qu WeiYin and Luo JinXiao. “Thank you both. We have nothing to repay you with, but here’s a token of gratitude.” She opened her palm to reveal a small, emerald-green crystal, clear as a teardrop.
“A Spring-Reviving Gem, a gift from the heavens when a tree demon transforms. It can heal the dead and regrow bones.”
Qu WeiYin glanced at it indifferently, then nodded toward Luo JinXiao. “I don’t need it; you take it.”
The tree demon handed the crystal to Luo JinXiao, offering a faint smile as her vibrant green hair fluttered behind her. “We’re leaving now. Xiu’er.”
She softly called Xiu’er’s name, then lowered her head to touch foreheads, both closing their eyes as if communicating.
“She says thank you,” the tree demon smiled.
Hand in hand, they walked into the endless sea of wheat, their figures gradually fading. A human and a demon looked surprisingly harmonious together.
Luo JinXiao watched them, dazed, then nodded and said, “How beautiful.”
Qu WeiYin’s response was icy. “What’s beautiful? The trials ahead are their choice, and they must bear the consequences.”
Luo JinXiao glanced at Qu WeiYin, puzzled by her weary tone, as if she had seen through life and death despite her youth.
“What surprises me is you joined me in defying the natural order,” Qu WeiYin noted. She was used to being unrestrained, treating conventions as mere trifles. She hadn’t expected Luo JinXiao to act similarly.
Luo JinXiao scratched her head helplessly. This situation had indeed gone beyond her usual understanding. She had grown up with righteous teachings, expected to conform to traditional norms.
But seeing the tree demon and Xiu’er’s bond and the prejudice against them, all those lofty principles suddenly felt like nonsense.
Qu WeiYin looked up at the sky. The moonlight was fading, outlining the wheat fields.
“We’ve lingered too long. Let’s go,” Qu WeiYin said, summoning the Crescent Moon Star Sword, which appeared before her.
The incident at Pingxi Town felt like an interlude, or a dream. They flew south, resting little, reaching Xu Mi Villa two days later.
The scenery changed along the way, with more lakes and rivers feeding into the distant Zhe Sea. As they descended, they could see the vast ocean stretching endlessly. Luo JinXiao, seeing such a vast expanse of water for the first time, was so excited she couldn’t stop talking.
Qu WeiYin almost told her to shut up dozens of times, nearly dropping her in irritation.
When they arrived at Xu Mi Villa’s entrance, most guests were already there. Two young boys in light blue robes, guarding the gate, were dozing.
Qu WeiYin’s arrival stirred a breeze, waking them. They blinked sleepily, then widened their eyes, jumping up in awe at Qu WeiYin’s beauty.
“Esteemed Immortal, do you have an invitation?” one boy asked, practically starstruck. Luo JinXiao frowned, instinctively pushing Qu WeiYin behind her, stepping forward to answer, “We’re from WuHui Sect.”
“WuHui Sect? Then this must be Qu WeiYin, the Immortal Qu?” The boy pushed Luo JinXiao aside, fawning over Qu WeiYin with admiration.
Qu WeiYin stepped back slightly, maintaining a composed expression as she nodded. “This way, Immortal. We’ve prepared a place for you to rest,” the boy said, hastily straightening his robes and leading the way, ignoring Luo JinXiao entirely.
Qu WeiYin followed, but after a few steps, she turned back, catching Luo JinXiao’s resigned expression, and a subtle smile of satisfaction appeared on her lips.
The smile added life to her exquisite features, making her seem incredibly endearing to Luo JinXiao.
By the time Luo JinXiao snapped out of her admiration, Qu WeiYin had vanished. Another boy stood before her, expressionless, handing her a wooden plaque. “Here’s your room. Just follow this path.”
Despite feeling frustrated, Luo JinXiao had no choice but to accept. Xu Mi Villa was as large as WuHui Sect, with many guest rooms. As she walked, she saw disciples from various sects sparring, creating a lively atmosphere.
Some sects were well known from her past life, like the all-male Sect of Life and Death, exuding a gloomy aura.
And the all-female Tianji Tower, whose members were beautiful but fierce in battle, often targeting the face, which Luo JinXiao had experienced firsthand as a child.
The wooden plaque had a number that quickly led her to her room. Unlike WuHui Sect’s jade carvings, Xu Mi Villa resembled an earthly residence, with flowing water and elegant arrangements.
Pushing open the wooden door, she was greeted by a figure who grabbed her hand excitedly, “JinXiao, you’re finally here. I thought you might have angered Little Martial Aunt and died on some mountain.”
Luo JinXiao sighed, feeling a headache coming on. “Almost,” she replied, letting Lu FanZhi drag her through the foyer, narrowly avoiding a vase thrown her way, which shattered against the wall.
“We’re all staying together?” Luo JinXiao lamented.
“Yeah, there are too many people and not enough rooms, so we’re sharing,” Lu FanZhi said, casually stepping over the broken vase.
Unable to stand the mess, Luo JinXiao muttered a spell, restoring the vase. But then its pair was thrown, shattering on the floor.
“Are they always fighting?” Luo JinXiao hugged herself, feeling helpless.
“You’ll get used to it. They started bickering again, and your sister, despite her gentle appearance, throws things when angry. Yan Ying’s at a disadvantage. You should’ve seen it earlier—it was a disaster,” Lu FanZhi shrugged.
The argument lasted half a day. With no peace, Luo JinXiao retreated to the roof to meditate. By the time the room quieted, the sun was setting.
Sneaking back to bed, she found Luo Ning asleep on one side, Yan Ying on the other, with Lu FanZhi in the middle, who kindly prepared her bedding.
“Thanks,” Luo JinXiao whispered, slipping in quietly, hoping for a good night’s sleep after such an exhausting journey.
But barely a moment after falling asleep, she was suffocated awake by an arm draped over her face. Lu FanZhi, in her sleep, had wrapped an arm around her head.
Resisting the urge to lash out, Luo JinXiao pried the arm off, freeing her head, only for Lu FanZhi’s leg to flop onto her.
“Lu FanZhi!” Luo JinXiao gritted her teeth, fed up.
Lu FanZhi, deep in sleep, murmured for her mother.
Luo JinXiao suddenly missed Elder Liu’s quiet courtyard.
Staring at the ceiling, she decided to get up, wrapping herself in a cloak and gathering her bedding before leaving the room.
Unfamiliar with the area, she wandered, unsure where to find an inn. As she walked, she looked up, feeling a surge of joy.
In the window before her, a small oil lamp cast a bright light. A graceful figure leaned by the window, outlined against the light—it was Qu WeiYin.
Exhausted, Luo JinXiao ran to the window, peeking in with a hopeful smile. “Little Martial Aunt…” she whispered.
Qu WeiYin looked up sharply, her clear eyes reflecting the lamp’s glow, confused.
“Little Martial Aunt, can I sleep with you?” Luo JinXiao asked sweetly, her smile charming and innocent, her eyes crescent-shaped.
Qu WeiYin’s face turned red. She frowned at Luo JinXiao, suddenly coughing.
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