This sword strike from “Xie Hongchen” left all the princes and princesses utterly silent.

Even Baowu shuddered.

“This… is this really Xie Hongchen?” he asked in a low voice.

From just this one move, everyone could already tell. The serpent blood constitution that Shi Wenyu had painstakingly cultivated was absolutely no match for this person.

Di Yiqiu’s brows furrowed tightly as he watched “Xie Hongchen” in the air, completely changed from his usual gentle and courteous demeanor to wild and unrestrained arrogance.

“Who are you?” he asked impassively, though his peripheral vision swept toward Miao Yunzhi.

Sure enough, Miao Yunzhi was pushing Huang Rang, slowly withdrawing from the crowd.

He too was an old fox who knew the “Xie Hongchen” before them wasn’t right.

Though he didn’t know the reason, he worried it was aimed at Huang Rang.

His retreat was discreet and didn’t draw attention.

However, Miao Yunzhi looked back at Di Yiqiu once more. He saw this Director of the Bureau of Celestial Observation standing before everyone in purple robes and jade belt, his posture upright, showing not the slightest retreat.

“Shi Wenyu’s son was well born indeed,” he muttered to himself, then pushed Huang Rang toward the Bureau’s back gate to leave.

At this moment, Huang Rang in the wheelchair shed a line of tears.

She couldn’t see Di Yiqiu, couldn’t even give him a single word of warning.

Everyone was talking about Xie Hongchen, but what exactly had happened, she didn’t know either.

Huang Rang still sat properly in the wheelchair, wrapped in the cloak Di Yiqiu had sewn for her. Because they’d prepared to go out this morning, a rabbit fur blanket still lay across her legs.

That person’s warmth had always surrounded her.

But when he faced danger, she could do nothing.

Was this calamity brought by her?

Huang Rang speculated thus in her heart, but what could she do?

The four words “powerless to help” ground her heart to pieces.

Miao Yunzhi saw her tears. In the wind and snow filling the sky, those clear tears fell one after another, cutting across the beauty’s face, bright and crystalline.

“Huang Rang?” Miao Yunzhi knew the opponent was very likely coming for Huang Rang. He couldn’t stop, only saying: “Can you truly understand our words? Don’t be sad! Since this old man promised him, I will honor it for life. As long as this old man has one breath left, you can live well as you do today.”

While speaking, he fled desperately with Huang Rang.

Miao Yunzhi wasn’t a sword immortal, but he’d seen countless sword immortals. He knew that with “Xie Hongchen’s” current power, at this distance, he couldn’t even use a transmission talisman.

Otherwise the magical fluctuations would definitely be detected.

Outside the Bureau of Celestial Observation, “Xie Hongchen” sneered: “Mere ants—do you think to block my path?”

The Director knew this battle would surely be more perilous than fortunate, but looking at this face, he was truly annoyed.

He pulled a pair of black finger sheaths from his storage treasure and put them on without hurry: “Still must try.”

“Xie Hongchen” wasted no more words with him—one sword split the sky.

The other princes and princesses could only retreat far away. Di Yiqiu’s finger sheaths were jet black, seeming like metal yet like cloth. He brought both hands together and actually caught this sword. The bright light of the sheaths friction against the sword wind sent sparks flying everywhere.

Smoke rose from Di Yiqiu’s hands, and soon a burnt smell spread.

His brows furrowed tightly—the “Xie Hongchen” before him had increased in power far too much. And these eyes, so fierce and imposing, were absolutely not Xie Hongchen’s eyes.

Ah, someone had said earlier he wasn’t Xie Hongchen.

Di Yiqiu’s gaze lifted slightly, wanting to find the person who had spoken. But amid the swirling sword light, how could he see clearly?

Fortunately, Li Lu had already rushed over there.

That person was already severely injured when he arrived. After saying his first sentence, he fell from the rooftop.

Li Lu searched for a long time and finally pulled him up from the gutter at the street’s edge.

“Who are you?” Li Lu fed him a spiritual pill and asked urgently. But seeing this person covered in blood, hair disheveled, it was truly hard to identify him.

“I, I… am…” The person caught his breath but then spoke three earth-shattering words: “Qiu Cailing.”

“Qiu Cailing?” Li Lu was stunned, but knowing time was precious and Di Yiqiu couldn’t possibly hold out long, he asked urgently: “What exactly happened?”

Qiu Cailing struggled to sit up and said: “It’s Xie Lingbi… he seized Sect Master Xie Hongchen’s body, secretly cultivated the Demon Spirit Ghost Scripture, and even absorbed several elders’ power!”

Li Lu felt his head buzz. He roared: “Then what can we do? Are all you Yuhu Immortal Sect elders dead?!”

Qiu Cailing gasped urgently: “I’ve already notified the remaining elders. They’re preparing for battle and will arrive immediately.”

In normal times, an immortal figure like Qiu Cailing wasn’t someone Li Lu could even meet. But at this moment, Li Lu simply wanted to throw him back in the gutter.

“How can our Director possibly hold off this demon?” Li Lu’s voice broke. “Why has he come to the Upper Capital? To kill Miss Arang?”

This guess was actually reasonable.

After all, in both dream entries, Xie Lingbi had suffered great losses at Huang Rang’s hands. His hatred for Huang Rang wouldn’t be strange.

Qiu Cailing was also confused: “I… don’t know.”

Li Lu despaired: “Then when exactly can the other elders arrive?”

Qiu Cailing didn’t answer.

In truth, these Yuhu Immortal Sect elders hadn’t made a move in many years.

Now suddenly there was this Xie Lingbi with such astonishing cultivation—who dared underestimate him?

For them, one moment of carelessness was no longer just disgrace and ruin, but death and dissolution. Naturally everyone needed to prepare all their treasures and talismans fully.

Xie Shaochong was already frantic with worry.

Now in the sect, the Ancestor had disappeared, the Sect Master had gone mad, the elders were injured or aiding in battle.

Only he remained, at a complete loss.

Xie Li suggested: “Master Uncle, the Sect Master attacked an elder and then charged toward the Upper Capital. This is truly wrong. Should we search Yeyun Hall to see if there’s anything suspicious?”

This was a desperate measure.

Xie Shaochong could only lead people to search Yeyun Hall.

However, with this search, they actually made a major discovery—someone was imprisoned in the secret room of Yeyun Hall.

Xie Shaochong could hardly believe his eyes: “Ancestor?!”

In the secret room, the imprisoned “Ancestor’s” expression was very calm. He asked: “Master, he… charged toward the Bureau of Celestial Observation?”

“Master?” Xie Shaochong couldn’t open his restraints. At this moment, completely baffled: “Who? But the Sect Master has indeed gone toward the Upper Capital. According to messages from the Nine-Bend Spirit Pupil, he’s fiercely battling the Bureau of Celestial Observation.”

Before him, “Xie Lingbi” sighed deeply: “He still did this.”

Xie Shaochong said anxiously: “Ancestor, the Sect Master… cultivated evil arts! Di Yiqiu is already no match. The other elders haven’t arrived yet. I fear the Bureau of Celestial Observation is no match for him. You must think of something!”

“Di Yiqiu… no match?” A strange expression slowly appeared on “Xie Lingbi’s” face.

Xie Shaochong urged: “Ancestor, Di Yiqiu came from common origins. Though his constitution is extraordinary, how can he be the Sect Master’s match?”

“Xie Lingbi” couldn’t believe it. After a long while he said: “But… when I was seized, I left a restriction in my body. And I had the sword momentum to break it carefully drawn and analyzed, ordering Qinglan to deliver it to him. Did he not receive it?”

“Body seizure?” Xie Shaochong couldn’t quite react for a moment. After a long while, he shouted loudly: “Qinglan? Where is Nie Qinglan?”

“Master Uncle!” A disciple ran in from outside—it was the breathless Nie Qinglan. He said anxiously: “Master Uncle, I don’t know what’s wrong with my master. He’s battling the Bureau of Celestial Observation. Di Yiqiu was injured by his demonic arts and has already… already been defeated! I fear at this moment… he’s already dead.”

Xie Shaochong was shocked. In the secret room, “Xie Lingbi” roared: “The item I ordered you to deliver to Senior Miao—did you not convey it?”

Nie Qinglan was left dizzy by this stern shout. After a long while he said: “I, I… this disciple delivered it. When Master instructed, disciple sent it over… Wait, wasn’t this Master who gave the instruction? Ancestor, how do you know about this?”

“This is impossible…” Xie Hongchen in Xie Lingbi’s shell murmured. “He has the technique to break it—why would he be defeated and killed?”

After a long while, Xie Shaochong asked: “You… you are Sect Master Senior Brother, aren’t you?”

Xie Hongchen couldn’t be bothered to answer his question, speaking to himself: “This is impossible. What went wrong?”

Xie Shaochong was silent for a moment, then suddenly said: “Is it possible… that the sword momentum you left was too profound, and the Director, though greatly talented, ultimately isn’t a person of the sword path. He might…”

Xie Hongchen looked up, meeting his gaze. After a long while, the two said three words in unison: “Couldn’t understand…”

“Quickly, help me escape!” Xie Hongchen commanded angrily.

Xie Shaochong, Nie Qinglan, and Xie Li hurried forward to help.

Before the Bureau of Celestial Observation, Di Yiqiu caught Xie Lingbi’s first sword and immediately knew he couldn’t take it head-on.

His hands were already scorched, but Xie Lingbi’s second sword failed to take his life—the Bureau of Celestial Observation’s three super-grade combat puppets all advanced together, forming an array that actually managed to withstand Xie Lingbi’s sword.

“What a bother.” Xie Lingbi had no interest in fighting Di Yiqiu. He gazed toward the imperial palace, where a tall tower was faintly visible.

Atop the tower’s peak, a person wore black and white robes, long hair gray and white, standing tall against the wind.

Xie Lingbi laughed coldly, suddenly withdrew his heart sword. Then, gathering power slightly, black fog immediately rose around him. Within the black fog, ghosts wailed miserably. Countless skulls tumbled and transformed in the black fog, constantly revealing sharp fangs.

This didn’t look like righteous cultivation methods at all.

Di Yiqiu, merely facing this resentful energy, couldn’t help but retreat several steps.

He wondered if Miao Yunzhi had managed to take her out of the city.

He suddenly thought this.

“Shi Wenyu! Collect your son’s corpse!” Xie Lingbi’s voice hid within the black fog, rising and falling, carrying an indescribable eeriness.

As his words fell, the black fog rolled in waves, striking directly at Di Yiqiu!

Di Yiqiu closed his eyes. All the defensive treasures on his body activated in an instant. Though the three super-grade combat puppets stood before him, upon being invaded by the black fog, they instantly turned to ash.

He stood behind a cloud of flying ash. Time seemed to become infinitely slow.

Half a lifetime of memories, confused and overlapping. Born with a deep love for artifact forging, most of his life’s effort had been devoted to this.

The myriad splendors of the world had never entered his eyes. Only that one bright color—one glance of regard, a lifetime of longing.

—At this parting moment, he hadn’t even spoken a single word to her.

What a pity that in this life he was too weak to protect her.

The Demon Spirit Ghost Scripture’s energy corroded the three combat puppets and struck him. Di Yiqiu’s protective treasures all shattered. He was sent flying several zhang away, the blood he spat out already black.

The serpent venom was obviously worthless before Xie Lingbi’s level of cultivation.

Before him, Xie Lingbi’s laughter seemed to be mixed with blood, each word chilling.

In a corner of the imperial palace, atop the solitary tower, Shi Wenyu stood in flowing robes against the wind, silently observing.

Xie Lingbi no longer even bothered with pretense. He raised his hand again, about to end Di Yiqiu’s life, when suddenly a trace of magical fluctuation caught his attention.

He looked along the energy trail and saw in the distance at the inner city gate, someone pushing a wheelchair, about to use a transmission talisman.

Xie Lingbi focused his gaze and saw a woman sitting in the wheelchair.

“Wretched woman!” He walked on the wind, striking down with a palm from the air!

Just these two words were enough for Huang Rang to recognize him—Xie Lingbi!

He had taken over Xie Hongchen’s body, and his cultivation had suddenly skyrocketed!

Countless black fog wrapped with surging skulls rushed straight at Huang Rang!

Miao Yunzhi’s protective treasures instantly all activated, but Xie Lingbi’s strike came with fury. And he himself had no cultivation at all!

Huang Rang watched helplessly as the skulls rushed right before her eyes. In that moment, she felt no fear in her heart.

Death, for her, wasn’t frightening.

It could even be called a mercy.

Any way of dying would be.

She didn’t even close her eyes, calmly watching this sinister art.

The skull-filled black fog carried a sharp screech, seeming to surge with countless people’s agonized cries.

Huang Rang’s heart was calm as still water.

But just as the black fog was about to strike her, a dark shadow suddenly blocked before her.

Huang Rang froze. The dark shadow before her trembled lightly. Huang Rang took a long time to see clearly—it wasn’t any dark shadow. It was Di Yiqiu! Covered in blood, wrapped in black fog.

And the countless skulls in the black fog bared their fangs at him!

Ah—

Huang Rang heard her own heart screaming madly, but she couldn’t make a single sound. She could only watch helplessly as Di Yiqiu was grinned at by these evil creatures, gnawed until bloody and raw, white bones showing!

Di Yiqiu! Di Yiqiu!

She cried out agonizingly again and again, but no one could hear.

That person stood before her, one hand braced against the inner city gate, blood dripping along his five fingers, without making a sound.

“Go!” he said to Miao Yunzhi.

Miao Yunzhi came to his senses. He cried out wildly and frantically pushed Huang Rang, rushing out of the inner city.

The skulls rapidly devoured half his body. Above his chest cavity, his bright red internal organs were exposed.

Blood soaked his purple robe, dripping into pools mixed with shredded flesh. Still he stood firm, refusing to fall.

At the inner city gate, there was now no one on guard.

Miao Yunzhi pushed Huang Rang, rushing all the way. As long as they left the inner city, he could use the transmission talisman and at least take Huang Rang to a safe place first.

Huang Rang could hear sounds from behind, but she couldn’t hear any movement from Di Yiqiu.

No, I won’t go.

…I won’t go.

In that moment, her will reached its peak. Everything around her slowly froze, as if even the wind slowed.

Sounds blurred. Myriad screams, curses, weeping—all sounds merged into one in her mind. Not far away, Shi Wenyu still silently observed all this.

Xie Lingbi thought Huang Rang was already dead.

He walked several steps toward the imperial palace, then suddenly realized something. He turned back, but even this motion became extremely slow.

In the distance beneath the inner city, a blood-soaked figure blocked the gate. Huang Rang’s wheelchair was behind him.

This wretched woman—she was still alive!

Xie Lingbi tried to raise his sword, but in just this instant, the surroundings suddenly darkened. He couldn’t feel his sword.

Huang Rang’s mind throbbed with severe pain, but this pain filled her with wild joy.

A thousand li away at Yuhu Immortal Sect, in the secret chamber of Luofu Hall, countless ghost wails suddenly resonated with her.

Dark clouds churned at the horizon. In an instant, the world had already changed appearance.

“Di Yiqiu!” Huang Rang suddenly opened her eyes, tears already streaming down her face. She jumped up and found herself appearing in another place.

She was hidden in a haystack, apparently napping.

Huang Rang quickly realized—this was… the third dream?

How was Di Yiqiu?

She looked down and discovered a transparent tea needle had fallen to the ground. This time, she seemed to have forcibly entered the dream. She hadn’t seen that strange nine-story tower or that odd man in Taoist robes.

Di Yiqiu—she didn’t know how he was.

Huang Rang knew she had most likely returned to Immortal Tea Town again.

—In this life, born in Immortal Tea Town, married into Yuhu Immortal Sect, after being harmed she went to the Bureau of Celestial Observation, and finally White Bone Cliff. Just these few places in total.

At this moment, she touched her face—she was still a small child.

In this year, Di Yiqiu had not yet been born.

Huang Rang picked up the transparent tea needle from the ground. She looked at the haystack. Being reborn once more brought her no wild joy.

She had returned to a time that didn’t yet have him.

This truly was, just thinking about it made one sad.

Di Yiqiu, in this dream, I come for you. Let’s never be apart again, alright?

Huang Rang inserted the tea needle in her hair and walked out of the haystack.

Outside, the farmland was familiar yet strange. Tenant farmers were working in the fields.

Huang Rang walked across the field ridge and finally saw a familiar figure.

“Elder Sister!” She ran over. That woman examining seeds was indeed her sister Huang Jun.

At this time, she looked only sixteen or seventeen, but weariness already filled her features. She didn’t have the carefree joy that should belong to this age.

Ah, of course she didn’t.

Huang Rang put away her smile but couldn’t help grasping her hand, calling softly: “Elder Sister.”

She even lowered her voice considerably. Huang Jun’s face showed no smile. She pulled out a paper packet from her waist and handed it to Huang Rang, saying: “Go eat it over there.”

Huang Rang took the packet and opened it—it was a packet of preserved fruit.

She slowly retreated to the field’s edge. Huang Jun continued examining those fine seeds. Huang Rang suddenly remembered that Huang Jun actually never liked to smile.

Huang Rang had been raised by her hand since childhood. Huang Jun was more like a mother to her than Xiyin.

But she wasn’t particularly doting on Huang Rang either.

She didn’t smile, nor was she gentle.

Most of the time, she was always silent.

Huang Rang ate a piece of preserved fruit. It wasn’t sweet but rather had a vague bitterness.

What year have I returned to?

My mother… is she still alive? Huang Rang suddenly thought this.

She actually didn’t want to see that woman at all.

The person in memory was always resentful and bitter.

What was there to see?

Though thinking this in her heart, when Huang Rang came back to her senses, she had already followed the field ridge all the way back to the Huang residence.

The Huang residence at this time didn’t yet have the grandeur of years later.

It was merely earthen walls and gray tiles, more like a country gentleman’s home.

Huang Rang walked in following memory’s outline when suddenly her scalp hurt—someone had grabbed her hair.

“Little wretch! Where’s your sister?” A voice from behind, condescending and full of contempt.

Huang Rang cried out in pain, feeling her scalp was about to be torn. She turned back and saw a face—eldest brother Huang Zeng’s face.

Seeing Huang Rang didn’t speak, Huang Zeng kicked her. Huang Rang was first kicked to the ground, then felt the pain in her abdomen. The preserved fruit in her hand scattered all over the ground.

Huang Rang realized she hadn’t been beaten in a long time.

Clutching her stomach, she asked: “Why are you looking for my sister?”

“How dare you!” Huang Zeng grabbed her up, and slapped her across the face with a loud smack.

Huang Rang’s face was slapped to one side. Huang Zeng sneered: “Bastard spawn, sooner or later you’ll disgrace yourself like your sister. Might as well beat you to death!”

He raised his hand to slap Huang Rang several more times when a woman nearby said: “Zeng’er! What are you doing? Aren’t you afraid of dirtying your hands!”

Only then did Huang Zeng release Huang Rang. He ran to the woman’s side and said: “Mother, yesterday this little wretch tattled to Father again and got me scolded.”

The woman then shrilled: “Just endure it. Who told them to have that ability, bearing two daughters. The older one, the master already dotes on endlessly. Now the younger one is about to grow up too. When that time comes, mother and three daughters serving together—how intimate! Before long, I fear we mother and son will have to watch their faces to get by.”

Her words were pointed, drawing mockery from women in other courtyards.

Huang Rang climbed up from the ground. From beginning to end, no one came out from Mother’s small courtyard.

Huang Rang slowly walked into this small courtyard. How merciless time was—memories were corroded year after year. Later she couldn’t even remember what this small courtyard looked like.

The courtyard had no one to tend it carefully, so there were no precious flowers or plants.

In the Huang family, which made its living from plant breeding, this was truly surprising.

The shouting and cursing just now hadn’t drawn out the person in the courtyard.

She remained in the back courtyard, carefully brewing medicine.

Medicine to conceive a son.

According to the divine physician she’d found, as long as she followed the prescription and took it on time, she would definitely bear a son.

She believed it, so she brewed this medicine every day.

Later, whenever Huang Rang smelled this bitter medicine, she would think of her.

Xiyin.

Huang Rang lightened her footsteps and slowly walked into the back courtyard.

The person in memory had become frighteningly thin. She wore a light gray dress, long hair piled high. Hearing footsteps behind her, she didn’t turn back, only stared obsessively at the medicinal soup on the stove.

The medicine boiled over, so she very carefully lifted the pot down.

“Mother…” Huang Rang still called out.

But the person before the medicine stove didn’t turn back.

So Huang Rang stood behind her for a very, very long time.

Her face still hurt fiercely. Huang Rang reached beneath her nose and wiped away a handful of bright red. Huang Zeng’s several slaps had made her nose bleed profusely.

Yet she hadn’t even noticed.

Huang Rang reached out, wanting to touch the woman before her.

But ultimately didn’t.

Don’t brew medicine anymore. It’s useless.

She wanted to say this to her.

But these words, like that medicine, besides bitterness—what use were they?

She turned and left the small courtyard. That passed time, circling round and round, piled up again at her heart.

Suddenly someone spoke in her ear. Huang Rang focused to listen.

“Good little sister, as long as you agree this once, big brother swears he’ll never hit you again.” Huang Zeng’s voice came through the wall.

Huang Rang froze slightly. She climbed up the courtyard wall and secretly peeked.

Beyond the wall, Huang Zeng was pulling Huang Jun, speaking in a low voice.

“Big brother lost so much money this time. If Father finds out, he definitely won’t spare me. But they said as long as you can keep them company for one night, just one night. This matter will be settled.”

He spoke these shameless words.

But Huang Jun only shook her head, silent and not speaking a word.

Huang Zeng lost patience and sneered: “You’ve already accompanied Father anyway. Damaged goods—what’s there to hesitate about! If you dare not agree, I’ll tell everyone about this. Let’s see how you can face people!”

Seeing Huang Jun still wouldn’t nod, Huang Zeng coaxed again: “Good little sister, as long as you agree this once, from now on I won’t just stop hitting you—I’ll protect you. And Huang Rang too! I’ll treat you both as my real sisters!”

Huang Rang lay on the wall, quietly listening to him speak.

She’d left this family too long ago, so long she was no longer quite accustomed to the filth and degradation within.