Hearing Xiaoxiao’s words, Qin Lingxiao couldn’t help but look down at her.

At this moment, Xiaoxiao was hugging her knees, her face slightly turned to the side, revealing cheeks flushed red from the wine’s influence.

Qin Lingxiao’s heart stirred slightly. He lowered his head to help her up, but when he extended his hand, it happened to touch Xiaoxiao’s tender cheek. That soft, silky sensation made him reluctant to move his hand away.

So his extended long fingers hesitated and slowly curved, lingering between the closed-eyed girl’s cheek and neck.

Gradually, he drew Xiaoxiao onto his shoulder, and his head slowly lowered toward the girl’s wine-fragrant, full lips…

Just at this moment, on a tall pavilion not far from the inn’s rooftop, a man stood in the dim shadows of the building, his eyes radiating cold air as he watched the scene of that pair of drinking companions cuddling together on the distant rooftop.

Tang Youshu had been accompanying his benefactor’s master here for most of the night.

Though it was already deep into the night, both men had excellent eyesight. Even if they couldn’t hear voices, they could see the rooftop situation.

The two of them had come to Luoyi City to investigate Lord Can’s whereabouts.

If it were the previous Wei Jie, naturally, accompanying his little master in eating, drinking, and merrymaking would be most important. As for Lord Can hiding like a rat, as long as he didn’t emerge to cause trouble and disturb him and his little master, he would be an insignificant figure.

But now that Wei Jie’s divine status had returned, nothing was more important than cultivation and ascending to immortality. After reading Tang Youshu’s secret manual and hearing him recount his ultimate fate in the original trajectory, he immediately determined that Lord Can, who had usurped his immortal position, absolutely could not be allowed to remain!

However, Lord Can had faked his death, and whose identity he now relied on and where he was hiding were completely unknown.

So after staying at Ghost Stone Cliff for two days, Wei Jie brought Tang Youshu to Luoyi City again to see if they could find any clues in this place where Lord Can had lived for decades.

They just hadn’t expected that upon entering the city, they would see Cui Xiaoxiao and the others.

After she and Yu Ling’er entered the city, they ate and drank throughout the streets. Wei Jie and Tang Youshu couldn’t help but notice them.

Lord Can had always wanted to harm Xiaoxiao, so they became excellent bait. Therefore, Wei Jie brought Tang Youshu to observe secretly, watching to see if anyone would try to approach Cui Xiaoxiao and the others.

However, the result of following them for a day was visiting all the various food stalls throughout Luoyi City.

Wei Jie looked coldly at the two girls wandering the streets with nothing to do, unable to understand why he had been so foolish as to take Cui Xiaoxiao, such a lazy good-for-nothing, as his master.

Even if it was originally just a casual bow to pass boring time, there were many better choices in this world.

Tang Youshu carefully observed his master’s cold expression, which didn’t seem to show any rekindling of old feelings, and felt slightly relieved.

Since Cui Xiaoxiao left the mountain, Wei Jie had been in a bad mood almost every day. It wasn’t that he lost his temper with his disciple, but he would always sit silently on the mountaintop meditating, gazing at the vast emptiness, looking displeased with everything in the world.

Tang Youshu had once asked Wei Jie if there was something he couldn’t let go of.

But Wei Jie looked at him like he was looking at an idiot and asked back: “What should there be that I can’t let go of?”

After such suffocating conversations that left no room for continuation, the master and disciple pair were left with only dry silence.

Now, even Tang Youshu began to miss the days when Cui Xiaoxiao and Yu Ling’er were around.

But thinking of the tribulations his master would face next, Tang Youshu still felt he wasn’t wrong to break up this pair of lovebirds.

In the original trajectory, after the tribulation of being burned in Phoenix Valley, Wei Jie returned from the Phoenix Secret Valley but gained black scales forged by fire that were impervious to blades and spears.

He had brought back a small crow at that time. His master, who was usually cold to everyone, had his temper improve somewhat after having the little crow’s companionship during that period, occasionally even personally feeding the crow pine nuts and hazelnuts.

At that time, because his reputation was too foul and his personality too cold, he had a very strained relationship with the main Wei family.

The Wei family’s old grandmother seemed unwilling to let her grandson continue degenerating and secretly met with Wei Jie once. Who knew that during this meeting, Wei Jie fell into a mysterious person’s trap, triggering his demonic nature and attacking the Wei family grandmother.

When Wei Jie’s demonic nature erupted, even ghosts and gods dared not approach. Later, just as Wei Jie was about to personally kill his grandmother and be completely controlled by his demonic nature, that small crow revealed its true form, transforming into a black phoenix that blocked Wei Jie’s most fatal strike and awakened him.

Only then did Tang Youshu learn that the crow his master had brought back had such great origins!

Unfortunately, the phoenix was severely injured and near death as a result. Logically, that little phoenix should have been reborn through fire, but since it was a black phoenix representing ill fortune and had no divine blessing, it couldn’t achieve nirvana and rebirth.

Tang Youshu still remembered his master holding that tiny phoenix with an expressionless face…

Later, Tang Youshu didn’t know where his master had buried that little phoenix.

His master just disappeared alone for a long time. When he returned, he began refining and separating his demonic nature, seemingly wanting to make a complete break with that dark self, which was why he was ambushed by Qin Lingxiao…

Although everything in this life had changed, Tang Youshu boldly guessed that the tribulations to be faced next should still be related to inner demons.

But that black phoenix had come from the time-eternal Phoenix Secret Realm, and after death, there would be no reincarnation. This time, it couldn’t shield his benefactor master from disaster again.

Xiaoxiao now completely occupied Wei Jie’s destiny. If the enemies hiding in the shadows still wanted to trigger Xiaoxiao’s demonic nature, they would inevitably make her kill the person closest to her.

If Wei Jie were still with Xiaoxiao, Tang Youshu dared not imagine the scene of Xiaoxiao’s inner demons erupting and killing Wei Jie.

So Tang Youshu could only beat the mandarin ducks apart before this fate arrived, letting both people scatter and reducing their weaknesses…

He just hadn’t expected that fate would come full circle, and these two people who shouldn’t meet again would encounter each other in Luoyi City!

As for Wei Jie, seeing Cui Xiaoxiao so unambitious made him increasingly displeased.

Look at this—at night when the moonlight was intense, the perfect time to absorb heaven and earth’s spiritual energy, if she meditated quietly, it would surely be twice as effective!

But what was she doing? She ran alone to the eaves to face the wind and drink wine!

Wei Jie originally didn’t want to watch, but for some reason, seeing her alone on the eaves, raising wine to invite the bright moon in that lonely manner, made his heart slightly irritated.

But he couldn’t move his feet for a moment, only looking coldly at that thin figure on the eaves, absent-mindedly thinking that she had indeed helped him. According to Tang Youshu’s account, she was his grand-disciple.

Since she was his grand-disciple, how could he watch her degenerate like this? After he finished dealing with Lord Can, he still found this unworthy grand-disciple and guided her to cultivate properly…

Just as he was thinking this and preparing to leave, he saw Qin Lingxiao appear, and Cui Xiaoxiao unhesitatingly invited that traitor Qin Lingxiao to sit down and drink together.

The Demon Lord, who had already turned around, now completely turned back.

Tang Youshu understood his benefactor’s master best. Seeing Wei Jie looking at Qin Lingxiao with flames accumulating in his cold eyes, he quickly consoled: “Master, we are currently investigating Lord Can from the shadows and shouldn’t reveal ourselves. Qin Lingxiao’s betrayal of his master will eventually face your thunderous punishment. But for now, we’d better remain calm and respond to changes with constancy…”

Tang Youshu’s consolation was originally quite good, and Wei Jie knew he made sense, so he continued steadily watching the man and woman toasting each other on the eaves.

But who would have thought that Cui Xiaoxiao, this usually clever and mischievous girl, would get drunk beside Qin Lingxiao, a person of such vile character!

Was her brain also suitable to be eaten as a drinking snack?

And that Qin Lingxiao indeed lived up to his male prostitute character, actually extending his foul mouth toward the woman beside him when her mind was unclear…

Tang Youshu was also very angry seeing this scene. After all, Xiaoxiao was his final disciple. For Qin Lingxiao, as Xiaoxiao’s martial uncle, to act without shame like this was truly despicable!

Just as Tang Youshu was preparing to throw hidden weapons to stop Qin Lingxiao from taking liberties with Xiaoxiao, his master, who had been coldly composed beside him, had already instantly shot out like a bullet, heading straight for the man and woman on the eaves.

Qin Lingxiao had already caught the sweet wine fragrance from the girl’s cherry lips, but just as he was about to approach Xiaoxiao’s mouth, he felt a sharp true energy attack.

That true energy was like a sharp sword, carrying endless cold intent. This oppressive true energy that made one unable to breathe—Qin Lingxiao had only experienced it from one person in his entire life.

So all his romantic thoughts scattered, and he quickly dodged to the side.

When Qin Lingxiao looked carefully, the newcomer was indeed Wei Jie!

He knew that Xiaoxiao and Wei Jie had fallen out. It seemed this surnamed Wei had taken regret medicine and came eagerly searching for Cui Xiaoxiao.

Thinking this, he sneered: “I was drinking under the moon with your master by mutual consent. What are you suddenly jumping out for? Are you trying to make decisions for your master?”

If it were usual, Wei Jie would be like a hothead, angered by his words, and then coldly argue with him.

But today, for some reason, Qin Lingxiao felt that the man before him seemed to have undergone indescribable changes. The sharpness in his eyes seemed to have been soaked in the Underworld’s River of Forgetfulness, piercingly cold to the bone.

Moreover, he looked at himself with the gaze one would use to look at a stinking insect, yet was too lazy to say even a single word of nonsense. Just the moment after Qin Lingxiao spoke provocatively, Wei Jie’s black long sleeves swept his arms, bringing out hurricane-like true energy. The energy shield he wielded was no longer in its previous spiky form, but like a fierce tiger, baring its fangs and bringing dragon roars and tiger howls as it attacked Qin Lingxiao like a violent storm.

Such an aura—Qin Lingxiao had only seen it from one person in his over two hundred years of experience…

When that overwhelming true energy attacked, it didn’t even allow for dodging, forcing one to stand in place and take the blow head-on.

Qin Lingxiao’s cultivation had improved quite quickly recently, and he had thought he could at least match Wei Jie, whose inner core was just forming, in even combat.

But he never expected that Wei Jie would improve his cultivation at an inhuman speed in just a few short days.

The result of their confrontation was that Qin Lingxiao’s snow-white, immortal-like robes were shattered into white butterfly fragments by Wei Jie’s dragon roars and tiger howls. His entire body uncontrollably fell backward, tumbling from the high building while spitting out blood mid-air!

He couldn’t gather his true energy now and would surely have his head smashed like an eggshell when it hit the ground.

At this life-or-death moment, a white fox jumped out from the inn, instantly transforming into human form and lunging toward Qin Lingxiao.

Yu Ling’er hadn’t been sleeping. With Xiaoxiao forcing smiles all the time, how could she sleep peacefully?

After experiencing the mortal world, Yu Ling’er was no longer the naive little fox from Tuyun Mountain and had learned something about human relationships.

So she had been keeping her fox ears alert, listening to the movements of Xiaoxiao drinking alone on the eaves.

But later, when Qin Lingxiao came, Yu Ling’er wanted to go up and drive him away. However, hearing Xiaoxiao invite him to drink, she held back.

Qin Lingxiao was somewhat petty-minded, but he was very handsome. Yu Ling’er felt that among all the men she had seen in her life, only Wei Jie could surpass him in looks.

If Xiaoxiao wanted to gather yang energy to heal her heartbreak, this strong and well-developed Young Sect Leader Qin wouldn’t be a bad choice either.

But she never expected Xiaoxiao’s healing path to be so bumpy. Just as it looked like the new was replacing the old, that old one somehow popped out from some corner and knocked Qin Lingxiao down.

Yu Ling’er had always been clear about gratitude and grudges. Although Qin Lingxiao was no longer someone she admired, he had saved her life and was genuinely her lifesaver.

Now that Qin Lingxiao was about to have his head smashed like a broken egg, Yu Ling’er naturally had to help save him.

Qin Lingxiao had just been attacked by Wei Jie’s true energy, shaken like scattered leaves. After Yu Ling’er used her power to intercept him, he flew sideways and crashed into a nearby wall before stabilizing his form.

However, when Qin Lingxiao was attacked by Wei Jie, he naturally also knocked over the thoroughly drunk Xiaoxiao. She rolled down the eaves, tumbling head over heels.

Yu Ling’er had just saved her benefactor Qin Lingxiao, but looking up, she saw Xiaoxiao also falling.

She pushed off with her toes to flash over like lightning, but it was somewhat too late.

However, at this critical moment, a black shadow flashed by. With a sweep of his long arm, he caught the falling girl.

When he used his spiritual power to slowly descend while holding the girl, Xiaoxiao happened to open her hazy, drunken eyes. Seeing the handsome man who had appeared countless times in her dreams, she smiled sweetly: “Stinky Jie’er, why did you only come halfway through drinking? Could it be there were prettier beauties elsewhere that attracted you to admire them?”

When Xiaoxiao smiled, her eyes narrowed into crescents, and her brilliant smile could dispel the deepest gloom in one’s heart.

But the man who would usually smile along with her was now glaring at her with an extremely cold expression.

Seeing that he seemed angry, Xiaoxiao smiled and reached out, wrapping her slender arms around his neck and lightly tapping his nose with her finger: “Your face is pulled long like a mantis shrimp. Who bullied you? Come, I’ll get revenge for you!”

This action was perfectly normal for disciple Jie’er. Everyone in the Talisman Sect knew that once Sect Leader Cui got deeply drunk, her drinking behavior was poor, and she would molest her chief disciple!

But for Demon Lord Wei Jie, such frivolous treatment was like frantically knocking on the gates of the King of Hell’s palace.

Tang Youshu, who had followed closely behind, watched as Cui Xiaoxiao escalated further, using two fingers to pinch Wei Jie’s cheeks and trying to pull his face into a smile. He immediately gasped in terror.

She… was she seeking death?

Sure enough, the next moment, Wei Jie’s hands loosened, heavily dropping the girl in his arms to the ground.

Xiaoxiao fell hard on her bottom, crying out in pain, and most of her drunkenness cleared.

On the other side, Qin Lingxiao had just been shocked that Wei Jie’s current strength and methods were so similar to the former Demon Lord, when he saw Wei Jie treat Xiaoxiao so roughly, his eyes widened in surprise again.

However, next, Qin Lingxiao felt secretly delighted.

He had earlier overheard fragments and thought Cui Xiaoxiao and Wei Jie were just quarreling, with Wei Jie not knowing how to coax people, so Xiaoxiao left in anger.

But today he discovered that Wei Jie wasn’t just bad at coaxing—he was destined to die alone!

Treating Xiaoxiao like this, how could she possibly forgive him?

Indeed, after Xiaoxiao was dropped and became somewhat sober, she first looked around, bewildered at the several people surrounding her, then rubbed her temples. Without even looking at Wei Jie, she just got up and went to Yu Ling’er’s side, pulling her along: “It’s getting late. Let’s go back and rest.”

At this moment, Xiaoxiao wouldn’t even glance at Wei Jie, didn’t even ask why he had appeared in Luoyi City, just pulled Yu Ling’er toward the building.

But Yu Ling’er was still holding onto Qin Lingxiao.

For a moment, Qin Lingxiao also involuntarily followed the two girls into the inn.

Such an absurd scene was something even those who had practiced the Hehuan Sect techniques couldn’t tolerate!

Tang Youshu saw that Yu Ling’er was still pulling Qin Lingxiao and was about to speak when Wei Jie’s energy sword shot toward Qin Lingxiao again.

This time, Wei Jie’s killing intent wasn’t concealed at all. Qin Lingxiao could only shake off Yu Ling’er’s hand and leap up with all his might to barely dodge to the side in embarrassment.

Unfortunately for the inn’s bluestone courtyard wall, it couldn’t withstand a Demon Lord’s overwhelming energy sword and collapsed with a thunderous crash.

“Wei Jie, are you insane? In this city, you dare to openly commit violence?” Qin Lingxiao, seeing Wei Jie use such heavy methods, couldn’t help but roar angrily.

Wei Jie glanced at him coldly sideways, as if looking at a stinking bug that could be crushed at will: “Does something that murdered its master deserve to live in this world?”

Upon hearing this, Qin Lingxiao’s eyes widened again, looking at Wei Jie in disbelief.

What did he mean by this? Could it be… he had also recovered his past life memories?

Although he never wanted to admit it, Qin Lingxiao knew too well how he had luckily managed to kill Wei Jie in the original trajectory.

That time truly carried one in ten thousand luck to succeed in one strike.

Since being reborn, Qin Lingxiao had engaged in verbal battles and even physical fights with Wei Jie multiple times, all while relying on his two-hundred-year advantage, believing that the current Wei Jie could at most fight him to a draw.

But he had never even considered what hellish situation it would be if that Demon Lord master who once stood invincibly on the mountaintop truly returned! This seemingly impossible day had arrived without any preparation!

Qin Lingxiao’s body reacted before his reason. The next moment, four energy swords shot out simultaneously. Qin Lingxiao stepped on the four energy swords and fled on his sword, applying oil to his feet.

He had been diligently training since returning two hundred years ago, and this moment activated all his potential, so he disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Yu Ling’er was stunned. She was used to Qin Lingxiao’s secretly competitive and arrogant behavior whenever he met Wei Jie.

But today’s scene of him running like a mouse seeing a giant cat, nearly losing his shoes, truly left her speechless.

Wei Jie again used the gaze one would use to look at a stinking insect, coldly glancing at Cui Xiaoxiao: “To be able to drink with such trash, you’re not picky!”

Xiaoxiao had now adapted to her former beloved disciple’s cold, immortal-like demeanor and poisonous tongue.

She acted as if she didn’t understand Wei Jie’s sarcasm and smiled slightly: “I’m never picky when drinking. Men are just for their freshness and good looks, a handsome appearance worth playing with. Speaking of which, Young Sect Leader Qin is quite a bit younger than you! I used to be fine even with someone like you, so what’s wrong with him?”

Unfortunately, Young Sect Leader Qin had fled too quickly on his sword, or else Sect Leader Cui’s praise would have been worth him drinking three more large bowls!

Even with his divine status fully awakened and having seen through worldly love, Wei Jie hadn’t seen through how thick-skinned Cui Xiaoxiao could be!

She had nearly been taken advantage of by Qin Lingxiao, yet felt no guilt or remorse, and could still shamelessly say such things about toying with men!

Wei Jie’s purple eyes seemed ready to drip blood for a moment, but the blue flame on his forehead flashed again, finally allowing him to suppress the nameless rage that suddenly surged up, along with an indescribable emotion.

Finally, he clenched and unclenched his fists several times, still glaring at the unrepentant Cui Xiaoxiao, but his mouth scolded Tang Youshu beside him: “Are you dead? Your disciple is so improper, don’t you, as her master, know what you should do?”

Tang Youshu’s mouth twitched slightly—please don’t bring up him being Cui Xiaoxiao’s master! Now, girl Cui looked at him like seeing an enemy.

Tang Youshu had deceived and used his naive beloved disciple before, then personally broken up a sweet pair of lovebirds, and now watched as the formerly loving pair now viewed each other with hostility. If he could still put on master’s airs to lecture people, how thick would his skin have to be?

So, hearing Wei Jie say this, Tang Youshu sighed deeply and helplessly waved at Xiaoxiao and Yu Ling’er: “Well… It’s getting late. The Yellow Emperor’s Classic says that not lying down and not sleeping is the source of all diseases. Young ladies should still sleep early, or else their skin won’t be good…”

Wei Jie squinted his eyes slightly, coldly glaring at his disciple from two lifetimes, suspecting he had cultivated his brain into emptiness.

He wanted Tang Youshu to clean up the Talisman Sect, but this thing was worrying about his female disciple’s skin?

But Xiaoxiao burst into laughter and said to the two uninvited guests, “In that case, you two should also go back and rest early. But before leaving, please give the boss some money to repair this broken wall—it will cost quite a bit!”

At this time, the residents around the inn had also been awakened by the thunderous sound of the stone wall’s destruction and came out wearing their clothes.

But by the time they reached the wall, Xiaoxiao had already pulled Yu Ling’er away and disappeared.

After Tang Youshu apologetically explained to the inn’s owner and promised to pay for damages, when he turned around, he found that his master, Wei Jie, had also vanished without a trace.