Yu Gui’s gray eyes flashed with malice as he reached into his sleeve, seemingly to retrieve something.
Luo JinXiao didn’t notice, but suddenly, a small figure appeared behind her, exuding a fierce, turbulent aura. Yu Gui’s eyes narrowed, and his body was thrown back against the wall, coughing weakly and spitting blood. His pale skin made him look ghostly.
Hearing the commotion, Luo JinXiao and Qu WeiYin turned to see QiongQi, now back in her tiger form, positioned protectively in front of Luo JinXiao, baring her teeth with a fierce gaze fixed on Yu Gui’s sleeve.
Yu Gui slowly wiped the blood away, staring at QiongQi in shock. “QiongQi…” he murmured, then looked at Qu WeiYin, managing a faint smile. But when his eyes shifted to Luo JinXiao, the smile vanished.
Luo JinXiao watched Yu Gui’s actions and then glanced at Qu WeiYin, feeling as if a veil in her mind had been lifted, making some suspicions seem more real.
Qu WeiYin suddenly reached out, and the object in Yu Gui’s sleeve flew into her hand—a small bone whistle, glowing with a cold light. She grasped it tightly, her gaze turning sharp.
“You should leave,” she said.
Luo JinXiao knew she was being addressed, but concern kept her from letting go of Qu WeiYin’s sleeve.
For once, Qu WeiYin didn’t scold her, instead gently saying, “It’s fine, don’t worry.”
She turned and, with a soft flick of her sleeve, wiped the sweat from Luo JinXiao’s forehead—a gesture unexpectedly tender.
Luo JinXiao felt a flutter in her heart, her feet moving towards the door almost involuntarily. Realizing she was now outside, she could only peer in through the paper window, seeing only shadowy figures.
She tried to poke a small hole in the door, but her finger was repelled by spiritual energy. She held her hand, feeling aggrieved.
What secrets was Qu WeiYin hiding? If it was as she suspected, it was too unbelievable.
Yet, reflecting on her own situation—traveling back two thousand years and encountering someone exactly like her—wasn’t that even more fantastical?
Meanwhile, inside the room, Qu WeiYin approached Yu Gui, the bone whistle crumbling to dust in her hand. As she advanced, Yu Gui’s lips trembled more.
Finally, he spoke, “Who is she?”
“None of your concern,” Qu WeiYin replied coldly.
“You protect her,” Yu Gui said, unable to retreat further as he pressed against the wall.
“Yes,” Qu WeiYin admitted openly, her long eyes casting a dangerous, oppressive aura over him.
Yu Gui let out a self-mocking laugh, clutching his clothes tightly. “You remember my name, so you must remember the past. But if you remember, how can you forget the hatred?”
Qu WeiYin’s eyes flickered. She paused before saying, “I haven’t forgotten. Such overwhelming hatred can’t be forgotten.”
“Then why protect this girl? What makes her so special that you’d compromise so much?” Yu Gui’s face twisted with anger, steadying himself against the wall. “Have you abandoned us, the entire demon clan, for her?”
Qu WeiYin’s fingers twitched, and after a moment, she nodded as if making a decision.
“Ridiculous!” Yu Gui’s voice rose, disbelief in his tone. “You swore never to let yourself feel for anyone. You said a dragon has its reverse scale, deadly to touch. Have you forgotten, Demon Lord?”
Qu WeiYin hadn’t heard that title in so long. Hearing it now felt strangely out of time.
“I brought nothing to the demon realm. In my absence, you’ll find a more powerful Demon Lord,” Qu WeiYin said, closing her eyes briefly. Though she’d stopped worrying about it, Yu Gui’s words reopened old struggles.
Memories of her past life resurfaced vividly.
“You can’t compromise with the celestial path. Remember how they treated you. I’ve searched for you for ages, trapped in this ruined body, unable to leave. Now I’ve found you, and you remember, just like me. It’s a perfect opportunity…”
“No, things are different now,” Qu WeiYin said, her brow furrowing in pain.
“Because of her? Just for a girl, you’d change your mind?” Yu Gui’s expression was desperate as he pointed at QiongQi, tears trailing down his translucent skin.
“You remember too, don’t you?” Yu Gui cried out. QiongQi bared her fangs further, her claws digging into the ground, growling lowly.
Qu WeiYin looked at QiongQi in surprise, realizing she remembered their past life too.
QiongQi didn’t look at Qu WeiYin, maintaining a distance, and Qu WeiYin suddenly understood the subtle estrangement and initial hostility—it was because in their past life, she had only treated her as a mount.
A wave of guilt washed over her.
Yu Gui’s tears fell like rain, his face a mask of anguish. “If that girl dies, would you return, Demon Lord? I’d follow your every command as before, your sole confidant. Together, we’d reclaim the demon realm, annihilating those who wronged you.”
Qu WeiYin’s gaze turned icy and hard. She stepped forward, seizing his collar. “I can’t go back. I won’t harm you now, but if you touch her, I’ll ensure you never reincarnate.”
“We aren’t confidants. I, Qu WeiYin, have no confidants,” she declared, her tone cutting.
“She is now my reverse scale. You can’t touch her,” Qu WeiYin said.
Yu Gui seemed to lose strength, sliding down the wall as she released him.
“Where are the Wu Hui Sect people?” Qu WeiYin demanded coldly.
After a pause, Yu Gui answered, “After our fight, the demon realm took them.”
“And the attacks on civilians—was that your doing?”
“It was Ah Chou. He’s crafting a dark array, needing sacrifices.”
“He’s reborn too?” Qu WeiYin’s frown deepened.
“No, I found him and gave him the array. If you hadn’t forbidden its practice, we wouldn’t have been hunted by those righteous sects,” Yu Gui said bitterly.
Qu WeiYin clenched her fists but remained silent, nodding before turning to leave, nearly bumping into Luo JinXiao, who was pressed against the door.
“Little Martial Aunt!” Luo JinXiao exclaimed, relieved to see her, grabbing her arm and checking her eyes for any red tinge.
Qu WeiYin frowned, brushing her hand away and giving her a light tap on the head. “Stop touching.”
Luo JinXiao rubbed her head, peeking inside. “I was so worried. If he bewitched you, what then? Shouldn’t we tie him up?”
Qu WeiYin’s eyes softened briefly, hesitating before deciding against it. “No.”
“Alright, whatever Little Martial Aunt says,” Luo JinXiao grinned, dimples deepening.
Inside, QiongQi lingered, giving Yu Gui one last look. When he reached to touch her raised tail, she dodged.
“You too? I raised you in our past life,” Yu Gui said with a bitter smile.
QiongQi’s round eyes lowered before she bounded outside, circling Luo JinXiao and nuzzling like a huge golden cat, humming softly.
She seemed in a foul mood.
Luo JinXiao watched her, eyes glinting as she smiled gently, bending to hoist QiongQi into her arms, swaying like holding a pig.
“You’re heavy. Little Martial Aunt, where are we going?” she asked.
“The demon realm,” Qu WeiYin replied, glancing at QiongQi, thinking she looked better this way than in human form, less clingy.
QiongQi licked Luo JinXiao’s nose.
Qu WeiYin frowned, still annoyed.
Turning, she strode downstairs, Luo JinXiao following, but pausing to glance back at the door. Inside, Yu Gui was helped up by Yao Yao, the rabbit demon.
Their eyes met, Yu Gui’s gaze deep and unreadable, but chilling.
Luo JinXiao didn’t back down, assessing him before turning away, their mutual hostility palpable.
Outside the Fragrance House, Luo JinXiao shook off the earlier tension, smiling as she walked ahead of Qu WeiYin, bending to peer at her face.
“Little Martial Aunt, is the demon realm far?”
“Very close.”
The demon realm’s location was unknown to outsiders, and Luo JinXiao had never heard of it. She only knew it was heavily guarded, inaccessible to non-demons, which explained its endurance despite weakness.
She pushed aside her curiosity, deciding not to press if Qu WeiYin chose silence.
So, with a bright smile, she said, “Little Martial Aunt, now that we know where they are, cheer up.”
Qu WeiYin sighed, nudging her aside, frowning. “Noisy.”
As she finished speaking, Luo JinXiao suddenly spread her arms, slipping past her and embracing her tightly.
The force made Qu WeiYin’s chin bump onto Luo JinXiao’s shoulder, the thin bone jarring slightly, yet she didn’t pull away.
Whether from shock or a deeper unwillingness, she didn’t know.
“What are you doing?” Qu WeiYin feigned coldness, hands clenching, every touch from Luo JinXiao sending tingling warmth through her.
Luo JinXiao didn’t know why she acted, only that comforting someone often meant a hug—like in the Heavenly Realm.
“Little Martial Aunt, no matter what, I’ll stay by your side. You’re the best person I’ve met,” Luo JinXiao whispered.
If her suspicions proved true, she should distance herself. After all, Qu WeiYin had been the Demon Lord stirring chaos across the realms.
But now, she believed there was more to the story. Such a kind person couldn’t kill indiscriminately, could she?
Perhaps she was naive, but she didn’t mind being naive.
Qu WeiYin huffed, saying nothing, suddenly wishing the embrace could last longer. The breeze was cool, but the girl’s touch was warm.
This mix of heat and dizziness was strangely pleasant.
Yet, the embrace ended quickly. Luo JinXiao stepped back, blushing as she scratched her head. “Let’s go, Little Martial Aunt.”
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