When the Heavenly Punishment sword struck forcefully, Wan Lian Shi felt an irresistible sharp energy attacking his face.

When masters fight, the moment true qi approaches, the outcome is roughly known.

Wan Lian Shi silently cursed!

He didn’t know what weapon Cui Xiaoxiao was wielding, carrying such mountain-splitting dominance.

As a Ghost Sect member, he wasn’t skilled in direct close combat to begin with, so he didn’t dare clash head-on with it.

So before the sword even arrived, Wan Lian Shi hastily retreated.

The most formidable aspect of the Heavenly Punishment sword was its sword qi. Even though Wan Lian Shi dodged quickly, the sword light of the Heavenly Punishment sword still slashed across one side of his cheek.

Heavenly punishment’s lightning strike – how could mortals endure it? Especially someone like Wan Lian Shi, whose hands were stained with blood and heavy with slaughter. Being touched by the sword qi immediately caused bone-deep pain, making him cry out in agony and crash heavily to the ground.

Knowing the situation was dire, he couldn’t care about his junior brother Qinhe. He immediately ignited the armor-piercing earth-escape talisman in his hand, transforming into a wisp of green smoke and disappearing before everyone’s eyes.

At this time, Qin Lingxiao also saw his father Qinhe lying on the ground with severe injuries. He quickly ran over to help his father up, checking his wounds while saying hatefully, “Father, was it that scoundrel Wei Jie who hurt you?”

Because too much time had passed, Qin Lingxiao had somewhat forgotten some events from two hundred years ago.

But now, seeing the claw wounds that had penetrated his father’s spiritual bones at the shoulder, Qin Lingxiao’s memory suddenly returned!

In the trajectory from over two hundred years ago, after Wei Jie lost his mother and escaped Luoyi City, it seemed his father had led people to pursue him and was then injured by Wei Jie.

If he remembered correctly, it was exactly at the current shoulder blade position, and even the way he was clawed was very similar. This wound prevented his father from healing for a long time, delaying his cultivation and laying hidden dangers for the future massacre.

Hearing his son’s question, Qinhe endured the pain of his shattered spiritual bones and pointed tremblingly at Cui Xiaoxiao: “The one who hurt me… was her! She has become demonized. You’re no match for her – we should retreat first!”

What Qinhe hated most now wasn’t Cui Xiaoxiao, but that senior brother Wan Lian Shi, who had used him as a human shield!

However, now wasn’t the time to settle accounts. His spiritual bones had to be reconnected immediately, or his entire cultivation would be ruined!

But hearing this, Qin Lingxiao was shocked again – this time, the one who hurt his father wasn’t Wei Jie, but Cui Xiaoxiao?

Recalling the earlier scene, with Xiaoxiao’s hair flying wildly and her entire being radiating indescribable evil demonic energy, she had become demonized!

Thinking carefully, Qin Lingxiao suddenly realized that Cui Xiaoxiao had replaced Wei Jie in completing most of the demonic transformation path.

Thinking of this, Qin Lingxiao felt both shocked and angry.

If Wei Jie had hurt his father, naturally, blood debt would be repaid with blood. He would pursue him to the Yellow Springs and Azure Falls to make Wei Jie pay the price!

But now it was Cui Xiaoxiao who had become demonized!

Although this woman had many faults and was naturally wayward, her essence wasn’t bad – very different from that of Wei Jie… but just now she had embraced and kissed Wei Jie… Thinking of the earlier scene, Qin Lingxiao felt his heart was about to explode.

It was Cui Xiaoxiao who had hurt his father, but now he wanted to tear Wei Jie apart even more…

After Qinhe finished speaking, he found his son still staring blankly at Cui Xiaoxiao, completely looking deeply infatuated. His heart was also extremely annoyed!

He could only call his son again in a low voice. Just as Qin Lingxiao was in a daze, Yu Ling’er suddenly howled skyward, letting out a fox cry.

In an instant, many foxes came running from all around the forest.

It turned out that seeing Qin Lingxiao bring many Lingyun Pavilion people, Xiaoxiao had no heart for a prolonged battle, so she had Ling’er call her clan members. She quickly helped the fallen Wei Jie up, letting him lie on that donkey-sized fox demon’s back.

Then the Talismonger Sect group rode away on foxes, disappearing without a trace in an instant, leaving only Qin Lingxiao holding his father in the rain.

Watching that man and woman ride together on one fox, embracing as they departed, Qin Lingxiao felt an indescribable surge of blood and qi in his chest, only able to let out an angry, low roar toward the direction the Talismonger Sect had departed…

Speaking of Yu Ling’er, she was completely frightened by the earlier demonized Cui Xiaoxiao.

When they reached a safe place, she transformed back into human form but didn’t dare approach Cui Xiaoxiao, only pulling at Tang Youshu’s clothes to ask: “She… what happened to her just now? Did she become demonized?”

Tang Youshu’s protective instincts had remained consistent over two hundred years. Whether it was his grandmaster or master becoming demonized, in his view, they all had deep reasons and were understandable.

So he said earnestly to Yu Ling’er: “Killing like hemp and disregarding humanity is called demonization! My grandmaster was just temporarily ill. She didn’t kill anyone, at most… at most…”

At most, she kissed his master, Wei Jie! But the refined Tang Youshu couldn’t quite say these words.

Yu Ling’er then seemed to understand, hesitating: “You mean Xiaoxiao became a lust… demon?”

Tang Youshu quickly covered Yu Ling’er’s mouth.

What kind of talk was this? How improper! Even if it were true, you couldn’t say it out loud!

Speaking of Cui Xiaoxiao, she had also mounted the fox’s back, supporting the suddenly unconscious Wei Jie as they galloped along.

During this time, Wei Jie seemed to feel the jolting and slightly awakened. When he saw Xiaoxiao behind him, he leaned heavily into his master’s soft embrace, blinking his curved, long lashes slightly. His eyes rippled with water-like purple light as he said very weakly: “Master… how are you? Do you remember what happened just now?”

Xiaoxiao looked around, confirming there were no pursuers, before helping him down from the fox’s back.

She naturally now knew Wei Jie’s true intention in “kissing” her earlier – her obedient disciple had no choice but to transfer his inner core through mouth-to-mouth contact to help suppress her demonic nature.

But when she was confused and thought it was a dream, she had somewhat taken the initiative and thoroughly took advantage of her disciple…

Thinking of that lip and tongue entanglement, it seemed the mellow wine fragrance still lingered in her mouth, making her so ashamed that even her toenails were turning red!

Just then, Yu Ling’er’s low cry of “lust demon” came over, as if she was indignantly angry on Wei Jie’s behalf, secretly cursing her shameless master…

Cui Xiaoxiao said somewhat guiltily: “That… I can’t remember anything about the demonic backlash just now. If there was anything inappropriate, please don’t blame me… As your master, I’ve always treated you like my own child, with no considerations of propriety between men and women…”

Lady Siling had also said that being a master for one day meant being like a mother for life. As a mother-like benevolent master, kissing her own eldest son could barely be justified.

Unfortunately, this stepson-like disciple didn’t seem to think the same way. Hearing Cui Xiaoxiao compare him to a child, his originally extremely weak body slowly sat up straight, methodically looking Xiaoxiao up and down before saying lightly: “Where do you think I’m small?”

Cui Xiaoxiao silently cursed: I don’t know where you’re big either! No wait, what was she chattering about with him?

There were many more urgent matters than “size” right now!

When fighting the Ghost Sect’s Wan Lian Shi earlier, her spiritual power was insufficient, and she lost consciousness from the opponent’s backlash.

That feeling of losing control of her body was truly terrible.

While speaking, she suddenly felt something strange about her arm. Looking down and rolling up her sleeve, she discovered that the snake scales that had been suppressed by drinking the spiritual spring had emerged again, and seemed more serious than last time…

Xiaoxiao bit her teeth and asked tentatively: “Did I have a demonic outbreak earlier?”

Wei Jie had no intention of hiding it, saying bluntly: “You almost killed me.”

Xiaoxiao stared at the snake scales on her arm and helplessly covered her face, letting out a sigh…

Regarding Wei Jie’s demonic transformation two hundred years ago, Master Tang Youshu had already used euphemistic language to downplay it in the secret manual, but still left the words “When the demon manifests, living people should not approach, even familiar ones won’t be recognized.”

Now, she had unfortunately walked most of Wei Jie’s demonic path, only having her first demonic outbreak, which was quite fortunate.

However, she should indeed return Wei Jie’s inner core first; otherwise, if Wei Jie were without his inner core for too long, there might be a danger of not being able to retrieve it.

The Demon Pearl in her body was greedy by nature. If it hoarded Wei Jie’s inner core and wouldn’t let go, wouldn’t the harm be even greater when her demonic nature flared up again?

It’s just this method of returning it…

When she asked Wei Jie if there were any other methods besides mouth-to-mouth, Wei Jie looked at her inscrutably for a while before saying slowly: “I don’t know… probably something like cutting open the chest and stomach, emptying the dantian…”

Xiaoxiao immediately shook her head at the first option. She still had her flowery youth ahead of her and didn’t want to die young just from returning something.

Just then, Wei Jie sat cross-legged, his long fingers tapping Xiaoxiao’s hand as he said: “Didn’t you say you see me like your own child? Since that’s the case, what’s the difficulty? Why don’t you tell me what’s troubling you?”

Xiaoxiao had just finished fooling him that a master and disciple like mother and son needn’t be constrained by propriety between men and women. If she now harshly slapped away his presumptuous large palm, it would be inconsistent.

She could only grit her teeth and look at her dear disciple with a face full of “loving” smiles: “What difficulty do I have? Come! I’ll return your inner core right now!”

With that, she brought her face closer.

Seeing his master so eager, Wei Jie, who had lost his inner core, was no longer in a hurry.

He glanced at the little fox beside them, who was watching the excitement with great interest, eyes wide as eggs, and Tang Youshu, who was embarrassed and didn’t know where to look, then said: “No rush, you can return it to me later…”

After all, the Talismonger Sect’s flag hadn’t fallen – it wouldn’t be good to raise the Hehuan Sect’s banner too early.

Such “mouth-to-mouth teaching” was private and should find a secluded place.

What Xiaoxiao found most troubling now wasn’t returning the inner core. After all, when she had her demonic outbreak today, she had already failed to recognize family, inevitably feeling depressed.

However, to prevent herself from doing something that would anger both heaven and man, it was better to prepare some thunderous methods.

She looked at Wei Jie with tears in her eyes: “You… the coffin nail your grandmother gave you, you didn’t bring it with you, did you?”

This boy was truly blessed, through various coincidences, perfectly missing all the demonic and evil processes. He was now a promising junior that the demon-hunting Wei family valued.

Now she was unfortunately becoming demonized all the way. If it became uncontrollable later, that coffin nail his grandmother gave him would need to be put to use…

Wei Jie didn’t respond to this topic, only asking again: “What feels wrong to you now?”

Xiaoxiao frowned. Besides accepting Wei Jie’s inner core and having a full dantian, the biggest problem now was…

“That… I’m so hungry!”

Yu Ling’er, who had been listening with some tension, couldn’t help but stumble at this.

However, the little fox had monopolized an entire barbecued chicken leg in the phantom city, so it had no position to criticize Cui Xiaoxiao, who hadn’t managed to grab any food.

The city was full of the palace’s ears and eyes, so they couldn’t enter the city. But because they couldn’t find Siling and couldn’t go far, this time they simply settled in a nearby village.

Wei Jie wasn’t short of silver. With gleaming silver ingots, he not only rented a spacious courtyard but also coaxed the farming family to catch chickens and chop geese, managing to prepare a full table of food and wine.

Cui Xiaoxiao ate mushroom-stewed chicken and a full large bowl of hand-pulled noodles with Chinese toon egg sauce, finally contentedly collapsing on the heated kang.

After Wei Jie finished the farmer’s home-brewed rice wine, he got up to fetch hot water from the kitchen for Xiaoxiao to soak her feet.

He was physically weak from losing his inner core, yet he fetched water to serve her.

Xiaoxiao felt both guilty and couldn’t help but be moved.

After all, even Yu Ling’er, who couldn’t hide her thoughts, now looked at her with wariness, occasionally observing her movements, afraid she might become demonized and hurt people again at the slightest disagreement.

But Wei Jie seemed no different toward her than before, even more attentive and filial than before.

This warmth in the snow melted her master’s heart.

So she didn’t rush to soak her feet, instead fetching a basin of face-washing water for Wei Jie, warming a towel and handing it to him: “You’ve lost your inner core and must feel very unwell. Sit down and wipe yourself – I’ll give you the inner core in a moment…”

Wei Jie looked at the hot towel but moved his face over, saying: “I am quite tired. How about master wipe it for me?”

Xiaoxiao looked at his handsome face, restraining herself again and again, but finally didn’t push him away, taking the towel to wipe his face.

When wiping near his lips, there were still some dried bloodstains. That was the blood Wei Jie had shed when using his body as a shield to block the blood dragon attacks for Xiaoxiao…

Wiping the blood traces at the corner of his mouth, Xiaoxiao vaguely remembered something. It seemed that when she was confused and lost consciousness, someone had held her tightly with their body, constantly calling her name…

She momentarily fell into memories, staring unblinkingly at Wei Jie’s lips with wide eyes.

She didn’t know that when a man and woman were alone together, staring at a man’s lips without restraint was very forward, nor did she notice that Wei Jie’s purple eyes were becoming increasingly burning…

When Xiaoxiao suddenly realized that the extremely handsome face was too close to hers, everything was too late.

His lips, wrapped in intoxicating wine fragrance, pressed against hers again…

Xiaoxiao couldn’t remember how the previous inner core transfer process had gone while she was demonized.

But this time, she felt it clearly and truly. The man who usually seemed casual and unrestrained now seemed possessed by a fierce beast, domineeringly and irrefusably carrying her tumbling in raging waves…

When this kiss ended, Xiaoxiao could barely breathe, feeling somewhat soft all over. But if they had just transferred the inner core, probably everyone would be this weak, right?

She leaned weakly against the man’s solid chest, not even daring to raise her head to let Wei Jie see her face that was red as March peach blossoms.

After finally evening her breathing with great difficulty, she quickly lowered her head to push the man away, then said with forced composure: “That… It’s getting late. You just got your inner core back, you should quickly go meditate and regulate your breathing!”

The man was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice: “The inner core hasn’t been transferred back…”

“Oh… wh… what?” Xiaoxiao blinked her big eyes, finally understanding his meaning. She couldn’t help but suddenly raise her head, glaring at Wei Jie: “What do you mean?”

Wei Jie innocently blinked his purple eyes, looking up thoughtfully: “I forgot about transferring the inner core back.”

This time, the egg was stuck in Xiaoxiao’s mouth. She angrily half-opened her cherry lips, pointing at Wei Jie with a trembling finger: “Forgot? Then what exactly were you doing just now?”

Dog! If it wasn’t for transferring the inner core, why did he kiss for so long?

No! It should be – if it wasn’t for transferring the inner core, why did he kiss her at all?

In her anger, she almost pulled out the coffin nail the Wei family old lady had given her to nail this scoundrel to a board first.

Wei Jie let her pummel him, his thin lips curving in a smile, then continued using Xiaoxiao’s words to anger her: “You stared at me like that just now. If I didn’t kiss you, I felt it would be impolite. Like you said, as a master, you’re like a mother – why talk about propriety between men and women…”

Xiaoxiao was so angry that steam was coming from her ears. She extended her arms and forcefully pushed this shameless rogue out, finally chasing Wei Jie out of the inner room.

When Xiaoxiao was alone, she finally collapsed on the bed in a huff, then picked up a pillow to see if she could smother herself.

Although she had chased the person out, the strange feeling of their lips entangled together just now couldn’t be chased from her mind…

Xiaoxiao was extremely agitated for a moment – she seemed to have accidentally done things with Wei Jie that she shouldn’t have done.

But they were originally people separated by two hundred years who shouldn’t have met, much less have any messy emotional entanglements.

At this moment, Xiaoxiao decided to see if her sect had any brain-washing talismans. At worst, she’d take one and forget all this mess first.

When she finally calmed down, soaked her feet, and was about to carry the water out of the room, she discovered Wei Jie was reading a piece of paper under the lamp in the outer room…

At first, Xiaoxiao didn’t want to pay attention to him, but she felt the paper in his hands looked familiar. She stretched her neck to look, and when she saw clearly that the paper seemed to be the letter she had asked Tang Youshu to deliver earlier, it was too late to rush over in her slippers to snatch it!

Oh no, after leaving the phantom city, how had she forgotten this matter? She had forgotten to take the letter back.

Wei Jie, with his tall stature, held the letter high while squinting and reading: “After this parting, I hope you take care of yourself. Although your nature isn’t bad, you’re like a stone in a cesspit – when anyone treats you poorly, you throw a tantrum and splash dirty water all over them. Acting this way, though it satisfies your feelings, will needlessly offend countless people. You must know that when walls fall, everyone pushes. You absolutely cannot offend everyone along the way, ending up isolated and betrayed when you’re at your wits’ end. And you absolutely mustn’t think that because you’re handsome, you can go around stirring girls’ hearts everywhere. How do you know you won’t become old and ugly as a snake someday? In short, our master-disciple relationship is finished. I hope you take care of yourself and don’t use my Talismonger Sect’s name to practice evil ways…”

Wei Jie started out smiling, but the more he read, the fainter his smile became. Finally, he expressionlessly put down the letter, looked down at Xiaoxiao’s forced composure, and raised an eyebrow, asking: “Are you cursing me?”

Xiaoxiao thought: Every sentence was sincere advice, okay? How many bad disciples could understand a master’s painstaking efforts?

However, at this moment, having just had a demonic outbreak, looking back at the letter’s admonishment for Wei Jie not to walk “evil ways” seemed like a thief calling out “catch the thief”…

Disciple, you’re not making progress! Your master became demonized before you did.

When she saw Wei Jie silently turn and walk outside, Xiaoxiao suddenly felt a tiny bit guilty.

In this lifetime up to now, his words and actions hadn’t been excessive, and his character was quite gentle. When she was in danger, he had done his utmost, even giving her his inner core.

Yet despite all this, he was inexplicably scolded by his master. How could his heart not be hurt?

Xiaoxiao couldn’t maintain a cold face with him and could only grab his sleeve: “Hey, what did I say wrong? Why are you throwing a tantrum and leaving again? What a bad temper – shouldn’t it… be corrected?”

But this rebellious disciple was getting more worked up, persistently trying to shake off her hand. Xiaoxiao simply hugged his waist, then said: “Alright, I was wrong to write this letter. Is that okay? It’s so dark now, and we don’t know if there are people from Lord Can’s palace or the Ghost Sect around this village. You’ve lost your inner core and are weak – where would you go?”

Wei Jie let Xiaoxiao hold his waist tightly, not speaking for a long time. Only after enjoying enough of the fragrant softness in his arms did he look at his unreasonable master and say slowly: “Where could I go? Naturally, to fetch you another basin of water! Look, you washed your feet for nothing.”

Xiaoxiao looked down: Indeed! In her earlier panic, she had kicked off her shoes and stepped directly on the ground with her bare feet.

Just then, Wei Jie scooped up Xiaoxiao, carried her back to the bed in the inner room, then flicked her nose: “Wait!”

Xiaoxiao was stunned by his doting gesture, only able to watch the tall man with a slight smile carry the basin and stride out with big steps.

The scoundrel – she was his master, yet he was so disrespectful with her!

Just then, Yu Ling’er, who had been avoiding her, slipped in. As usual, she first confirmed Xiaoxiao was conscious, then quickly approached and whispered: “Hey, what do you plan to do next?”

Xiaoxiao thought about it and told the truth: “I don’t know either… and I might become demonized again. If you’re afraid, take your clan members and leave first.”

But Yu Ling’er shook her head: “Mother said you’re the fox clan’s benefactor – how could the fox clan leave you in times of trouble? Besides, mother said Wei Jie is ultimately from the demon-hunting Wei family. She’s afraid the Wei family will pressure him to subdue you. With us here, at least we can preserve your life.”

The fox clan truly valued loyalty! The old Fox King’s considerations were also comprehensive.

So she brought over a basin of washed red dates from the table to share with Yu Ling’er.

Life two hundred years ago was getting increasingly bitter – she needed to eat some sweet things to cope.