Back in her room again, Meng Ruji sat on her bed, feeling the clean, tidy bedding, then looked at Shang Lan before her: “You were thoughtful. It’s still so clean – you must change it regularly?”

Shang Lan’s gaze had been fixed on Meng Ruji. Upon hearing this, her eyes reddened slightly. After a long silence, she calmed her emotions and spoke:

“Not knowing when the Master would awaken, I had people prepare clean bedding at all times. Now that the Master has truly returned… I still find it hard to believe. I’m afraid it’s a dream.”

Meng Ruji smiled: “I even killed someone, and it still feels like a dream?”

Mentioning this matter, Shang Lan was somewhat puzzled: “Master, why did you have to kill that Immortal Lord Mi Yuan? Although his personality was annoying, in the current situation, he was also an immortal who could face Nether Monsters alone…”

“Mm… call it a personal grudge. He killed countless innocent people in the past for his cultivation. A life for a life – no matter when, this is what he owed. Moreover…” Meng Ruji curled her lip, “If he could go face Nether Monsters alone, he wouldn’t have been at the foot of the mountain in pristine clothes asking you to kneel to him. Scum – killing him first is no loss.”

Upon hearing this, Shang Lan slightly curved her lips. Just then, a commotion came from outside:

“The Master returned? Just returned? Really!?”

Recognizing the voice, it was Qing Rao arriving.

As soon as she entered the room and saw Meng Ruji sitting on the bed, her eyes immediately reddened. Unlike Shang Lan, who could suppress her emotions, she rushed over, hugged Meng Ruji, and began crying:

“It’s real! Not in a dream realm – I see the Master! You’ve truly returned!”

Meng Ruji smiled bitterly while patting her back: “With people outside wanting to destroy the world, how are you still acting like a child?”

Shang Lan asked strangely, “How did you return so quickly?”

“Wasn’t I following that Mu Sui…” Qing Rao wiped her tears, answering with sniffles, “He came to Hengxu Mountain today. I followed him back.”

As soon as the words fell, both Meng Ruji and Shang Lan froze.

Shang Lan reacted and immediately inquired: “Why didn’t you say so earlier! Where is he now? Hengxu Mountain has a protective formation – perhaps we can take advantage of his visit to capture him here!…”

“But he already left.” Qing Rao looked at Shang Lan innocently.

Shang Lan opened her mouth.

Qing Rao immediately blocked her words: “I couldn’t stop him anyway. His martial arts are so much higher than mine.”

Shang Lan could only sigh.

“Being able to occasionally track his movements is already pretty good. I followed him to the outside of Hengxu Mountain through traces. At that time, it seemed like he had already finished his business, but for some reason, he stopped at the foot of the mountain for a while.”

Meng Ruji was startled, thinking of that sudden malevolent energy thunder.

Could it be that…

Mu Sui was backing her up…

He…

Did this count as standing in the villain’s position while supporting her?

Intimidating those disobedient immortals – if they didn’t listen to her, they should go outside and die?

This was rather…

Sweet?

Meng Ruji lowered her head in silence. When she emerged somewhat from her emotions, she found Shang Lan and Qing Rao both tilting their heads to observe her.

Shang Lan asked seriously: “Master, why is your face somewhat red?”

Qing Rao’s expression was somewhat strange, wanting to speak but stopping herself. Finally, she stood up and pushed Shang Lan out: “The Master just returned, let her rest first. That Mu Sui came, so let me go with you to check if Hengxu Mountain has any additional formations or secret arts. Let’s focus on important matters.”

“You don’t need to push me…”

The two left the room while tugging at each other.

Seeing the door close, Meng Ruji sighed. She looked up toward the bronze mirror on the table – a familiar mirror that, though distant, still reflected her face. In the mirror was an unfamiliar version of herself…

Her face was indeed somewhat red.

Why had Mu Sui come to Hengxu Mountain at this time? Was it for his plan, or because he knew she had returned?

While thinking, Meng Ruji suddenly saw a wisp of black aura rising before her!

Meng Ruji’s heart jumped. She raised her hand to form a technique for attack, but suddenly saw a black shadow appear from nowhere, grasping her wrist and pressing her down, pushing her onto the bed. With her wrist’s acupoint seized, the mystical art at her fingertips immediately ceased.

“You found the acupoint quite accurately.” Meng Ruji looked at the visitor, relaxing her guard and replacing it with a light smile. “Qianshan Jun.”

Mu Sui pressed Meng Ruji’s wrist – this position was the same as when they had separated at the Nai River.

That time, Mu Sui had kissed her, transferred the Inner Core into her body, and taken the opportunity to attach the life-sustaining object to her wrist bracelet.

“You like this position, don’t you?” Meng Ruji said, while her other hand broke free from Mu Sui’s restraint. Instead of attacking him, she grabbed his collar and pulled him down. At the same time, she slightly raised her head, her lips touching Mu Sui’s.

Like a dragonfly touching water, or like bumping into Mu Sui – in any case, it was a kiss that didn’t quite seem like a kiss.

“This is me returning the favor.” She was quite proud.

Mu Sui was suddenly bumped like this and was somewhat dazed. His already ugly expression became even darker: “Meng Ruji, you’re being absurd! Stay in the Land of No Reprieve and stop causing trouble – can’t you understand? You’re returning to the mortal realm to seek death?”

“You’re the one being absurd.” Meng Ruji just let him press her down, lying on the bed and looking at him calmly. “I would return, and you know it well.”

Meng Ruji was right – he knew it well.

But he hadn’t expected Meng Ruji to return so quickly. Since returning to the mortal realm from the Land of No Reprieve, he had been rapidly completing his plans, but she still managed to return at the last moment before he finished…

She had returned.

“You will die.”

“Everyone dies. I want to choose a way to die willingly. Besides, you’re going to destroy the world anyway – what’s wrong with killing one more person like me?”

Meng Ruji’s calmness carried provocation as she looked directly into Mu Sui’s eyes. She clearly saw herself reflected in his pupils, and could also see the slight trembling in his eyes.

“Speaking of which, why did you help me at the foot of the mountain?” she asked with a smile. “Wouldn’t their constant fighting be a good thing for you?”

“Just watching the excitement.” Mu Sui answered stubbornly. “It doesn’t interfere. No matter what they or you do, it won’t affect the overall situation.”

“Then why are you here to see me now?”

Mu Sui fell silent.

“Mu Sui.” Meng Ruji pressed him. “Why did you come to see me?”

Mu Sui’s grip on Meng Ruji’s wrist tightened, nearly turning white with force. He hated himself: “Clearly, if I had just waited one more day…”

Upon hearing this, Meng Ruji couldn’t maintain her teasing expression. Her face trembled: “What do you mean?”

But Mu Sui didn’t answer again. He released Meng Ruji and quietly retreated. Looking at Meng Ruji with defeat and emptiness in his eyes, he smiled mockingly:

“The Land of No Reprieve, buying life with a thousand gold – yet it let you obtain it so easily this time…”

“Because everyone was helping me.” Meng Ruji said. “Mo Li, Tuzi, Ye Chuan, the people of Zhuliu City, those who once worked with you, those who have seen you, those who admire you – they were all helping me. Mu Sui, they don’t want to see you destroy this mortal realm, and even less want to see you destroy yourself.”

“Too late.” Mu Sui said. “The formation is already set. Tomorrow it will activate no matter what.”

“What formation?”

Meng Ruji rolled over and got up, walking toward Mu Sui. She wanted to grab him. But Mu Sui closed his eyes, clearing all emotions from them. He answered irrelevantly: “Meng Ruji, you’re truly foolish. Why didn’t you stay in the Land of No Reprieve?”

“Tell me what formation it is!”

Meng Ruji raised her hand, mystical arts forming ropes to bind Mu Sui, but at this moment, Mu Sui again transformed into a mass of malevolent energy and dissipated.

It turned out this visitor was only a puppet he had controlled with malevolent energy.

That made sense – with his meticulous mind, how could he risk himself at this time? If he were truly trapped by Meng Ruji…

Meng Ruji cursed under her breath and immediately pushed the door open: “Shang Lan! Qing Rao!” she called loudly. “Did you find any abnormalities in Hengxu Mountain? The places that the dog visited…”

Meng Ruji didn’t finish her sentence, because she had already seen outside – overwhelming malevolent energy, like city-destroying dark clouds, gathering outside Hengxu Mountain’s protective formation.

Where the malevolent energy was dense, Nether Monsters immediately condensed, shrieking and roaring as if wanting to immediately break through Hengxu Mountain’s protective formation.

“Master! The malevolent energy suddenly increased!” Qing Rao came tumbling to report to Meng Ruji. “Shang Lan just received information from Xiao Yi, Xiao Bu, and Shang Yan saying the mountains they’re guarding are experiencing the same situation. It seems like the deity… they’re making their final attack…”

Meng Ruji looked at the overwhelming malevolent energy, her teeth clenched tightly.

“Where did Mu Sui go when he came to Hengxu Mountain earlier? Did you find out?”

“We don’t know where he went! But there’s one place where the spiritual energy is abnormal!”

Meng Ruji calmed her emotions and said in a deep voice: “Take me there.”