Yu Ling’er reacted fastest, immediately running to the nearby pond, scooping water with a large lotus leaf, then rushing back to splash it on Wei Jie’s face.

When the icy water splashed onto Wei Jie’s face, his figure paused momentarily, and the red in his eyes diminished considerably.

Seeing this, Xiaoxiao knew she had guessed correctly—Wei Jie truly wasn’t demonized, but had been affected by aphrodisiac powder or something similar!

She simply put away the Heaven’s Punishment Sword and actively leaped toward Wei Jie.

When Wei Jie saw Xiaoxiao pouncing toward him, he neither dodged nor evaded, only extended his long arms to catch her instinctively.

Xiaoxiao took the opportunity to embrace him tightly, wrapping her arms around his sturdy waist. Simultaneously, she silently recited water incantations, causing the pond water to rise like water serpents, entwining the two of them and lifting them into the air before plunging straight into the pond’s depths.

After entering the water, Xiaoxiao struggled to open her eyes underwater while looking at Wei Jie, whom she held tightly.

Surrounded by the icy pond water, the red finally faded from Wei Jie’s eyes, but the adverse effects of using true qi while his vital energy was severely damaged also manifested.

When his reason returned, he couldn’t even swim in the water, relying entirely on Xiaoxiao’s strength to support him.

Seeing Wei Jie had just regained consciousness and seemed unable to catch his breath, Xiaoxiao quickly pressed her lips to his, transferring true qi to the man.

In the undulating, turbulent water waves, their wide robes floated, fine long hair tangled like swaying water grass. Their tightly pressed lips occasionally released strings of pearl-like bubbles. The tall man took the initiative, tightly embracing the girl in his arms. Like one black and one white fish, they nourished each other in the water…

Unknowingly, their fingers intertwined as they swam at the pond’s bottom, stirring up ripples in the water…

Qin Lingxiao rushed to the pond’s edge, seeing the rising bubbles and turbulent ripples, his heart racing with anxiety.

He wanted to dive in to investigate, but ironically, this great master of the Sword Sect couldn’t swim and temporarily couldn’t enter the water.

Fortunately, the two didn’t stay underwater very long. When Xiaoxiao realized Wei Jie had completely regained his reason, she again silently recited water incantations, carrying them both to shore.

At this point, the consequences of Wei Jie’s reckless use of true qi fully manifested—even with Xiaoxiao’s support, he couldn’t stand at all.

Qin Lingxiao took the opportunity to draw his qi sword again, wanting to attack Wei Jie, but Xiaoxiao waved her long sleeves, deflecting his qi sword and angrily said: “Can’t you see he was ambushed and lost his reason? Would you kill an innocent person?”

But Qin Lingxiao remained certain his earlier speculation was correct, saying angrily: “That Demon Pearl is attached to Wei Jie’s body! If this wasn’t a demonic outbreak, how can you guarantee there won’t be a next time? You should know best what violent acts Wei Jie commits when his demonic nature erupts!”

Wei Jie slowly raised his head, showing no weakness, only saying coldly: “How is it you know what I’m like when demonized?”

Qin Lingxiao was stunned by the question—of course, he couldn’t say he knew very well!

In his previous life, Wei Jie had indeed borne too many injustices, but Qin Lingxiao believed that after Wei Jie’s humanity was crushed by various blows, the demonic nature that erupted was genuinely terrifying!

Even if his father Qin He had truly done wrong back then, the crime didn’t extend to other disciples, yet Wei Jie had wiped out the four great sects in one breath. Apart from him and the surviving Ling Zhishan, no other survivors remained!

Even at the risk of Xiaoxiao’s hatred, Qin Lingxiao wanted to prevent disaster before it struck. While Wei Jie’s Demon Pearl had just attached, he would split open his spiritual platform and eliminate the threat at its root!

Of course, the deeper reason was that his father still awaited the Demon Pearl to extend his life. Qin Lingxiao had come specifically to retrieve the Demon Pearl of Wrath.

If Wei Jie didn’t die, who would save his father?

Seeing Qin Lingxiao only glaring without speaking, Wei Jie snorted coldly, becoming much weaker again and softly leaning into Xiaoxiao’s embrace.

No one knew better than he how wonderful it was to rely on Xiaoxiao’s soft bosom…

At this moment, Cui Xiaoxiao only felt heartache. While wiping the water from Wei Jie’s cheeks, she said with certainty: “You’re mistaken. The Demon Pearl truly isn’t on his body!”

Qin Lingxiao thought Xiaoxiao was making excuses for Wei Jie and said coldly, “If it’s not on his body, then where is it?”

Xiaoxiao said slowly: “Whoever ambushed Wei Jie is the one possessed by the Demon Pearl…”

Just then, Wei Jie seemed to catch his breath. Covering his chest, he spoke lowly of his experience before being ambushed: “A black-clothed, masked person secretly went to the back mountain. I discovered him and tracked him here. I fought with him, but was suddenly overcome by powder he threw, affecting my mouth and nose. Somehow, I fell for his trick…”

Hearing this, Xiaoxiao pondered for a moment, then slowly turned to look at the footprints extending toward the cave, saying regretfully: “Terrible! We may have been deceived!”

When following the footprints into the cave earlier, she had wondered why the footprints only lingered outside the cave while there were none inside.

It turned out the cave entrance had a barrier seal similar to the Phoenix Secret Valley. Except for the cave’s regular inhabitants like bats and insects, no one could enter or exit freely.

But her five phoenix marks could precisely unlock the seal, so she had been tricked by the footprints into entering the cave, unwittingly becoming the key to unlock the cave’s seal for the mysterious person!

It seemed that the person’s drugging of Wei Jie wasn’t the real objective—he deliberately left footprints around Wei Jie to guide Xiaoxiao into opening the cave’s barrier.

Understanding this, she had several fox clan men care for the fallen Wei Jie, then entered the cave again.

When Xiaoxiao ran into the cave, she found it seemed much dimmer than before. The blue gemstone embedded in the phoenix atop the stalagmite had disappeared, leaving only an empty hole in the stone statue!

Xiaoxiao’s guess was correct. Though the mysterious person had been discovered by Wei Jie, he had adapted his plan and, with a small trick, stolen what he truly wanted!

Though Xiaoxiao didn’t know what the blue gemstone was, if the Demon Pearl-possessed person had schemed so deliberately to obtain it, it must be extremely important.

Just then, someone outside the cave cried out in alarm—Wei Jie’s injuries were too severe, and he had just coughed up blood profusely!

When he shouldn’t have used his vital energy, he had acted against his qi flow, showing signs of vital energy damage.

Seeing this, Qin Lingxiao’s face showed a trace of joy. If Wei Jie’s spiritual platform was damaged this way, it would be nearly impossible to repair, making him an ordinary person from now on. Such an outcome would be even more satisfying than killing Wei Jie!

Meanwhile, Tang Youshu was so anxious that his eyes reddened with tears, wanting to go to the front mountain to fetch the hemostatic medicine he usually prepared for his master.

But if it was truly the aftereffects of severe vital energy damage, how could a few dried herbs cure it?

Xiaoxiao only regretted her usual laziness in cultivation. At such a critical moment, she couldn’t produce a formed inner core to extend Wei Jie’s life.

Wei Jie himself barely suppressed the surging blood tide and said to Xiaoxiao: “First… first find a secluded place. I need you to help regulate my meridians and stabilize my pulse. We cannot be disturbed during this time… help me to that cave over there…”

Xiaoxiao knew she needed to quickly treat Wei Jie’s injuries. That cave would work. Two hundred years later, Master Tang Youshu had led her and the disciples to retreat in that very cave.

Wei Jie, perhaps avoiding Qin Lingxiao and the mixed group of disciples seeking masters on the mountain, allowed no one to approach except two fox clan members guarding the cave entrance.

According to Master Tang Youshu’s explanation, this place gathered heaven and earth’s spiritual energy—an excellent location for meditation and foundation building.

Xiaoxiao had never treated anyone’s injuries before. When the two sat facing each other on the round stone in the cave’s center, she didn’t know how to help him circulate qi for healing.

When she anxiously asked Wei Jie, he leaned weakly in her embrace: “Just hold me for a while first. Let me stabilize my qi and blood…”

So Xiaoxiao obediently rested her chin on Wei Jie’s broad shoulder, letting him embrace her.

At Wei Jie’s life-and-death moment, as long as he wasn’t too excessive, he could hold her as long as he wanted.

But this man, who should have been weak and breathless, had particularly… dishonest hands.

Xiaoxiao endured and endured, finally snatching back her half-loosened sash and glaring with her charming, large eyes, saying in a low voice: “This… could this be the Hehuan Sect’s yin-yang healing method? Where exactly is your blood flowing?”

Wei Jie was again breath-thin, completely unlike his earlier deftness with the sash: “You know I was drugged. Though I was immersed in water, some drug effects remain… Perhaps if you help me eliminate the drug’s effects, my blood deficiency will be cured.”

Xiaoxiao squinted at him, suddenly reaching out to pinch his cheeks, then looking into his mouth. Besides white teeth, the bite marks on his tongue still showed fresh blood.

Indeed, as she suspected, this Wei fellow had deliberately bitten his tongue to produce that frightening mouthful of blood!

Understanding his trick, Xiaoxiao was so angry she nearly condensed a water sword to chop him: “Are you trying to scare me to death? Don’t you know how worried I was, thinking you were going to die! Could it be… that your ambush was also fake?”

Wei Jie smiled slightly while grasping her small fists that were hitting him, then showed her the back of his head: “Such a large bump—how could I have hit myself… But the person who ambushed me was truly strange!”

Xiaoxiao didn’t understand: “Strange how?”

Wei Jie’s purple eyes narrowed as he said quietly: “Just like in Luoyi’s Mirror Illusion City, encountering a false body that looked exactly like me. That person’s build was shorter than mine, but his techniques and methods were identical to mine, from the same school…”

Hearing this, Xiaoxiao couldn’t help frowning.

Wei Jie was self-taught, his every move incorporating various schools’ strengths while having his improvements and refinements. Throughout the world, there might be many similar techniques and moves, but who besides the false bodies in the Mirror Illusion City could be the same?

While Xiaoxiao was lost in thought, Wei Jie stood up, squinting at the murals. When he saw the mural about the Phoenix Secret Realm’s phoenix tree, he was also startled.

However, what he most wanted to discuss wasn’t these murals. He had pretended to cough blood specifically for this moment alone with Xiaoxiao. Only now could he voice his inner doubts.

Only… what he wanted to say, Xiaoxiao might not want to hear…

With this thought, he looked at Xiaoxiao, pondered for a moment, and finally spoke: “Xiaoxiao, don’t you think someone is very strange?”

…

While the two conversed intimately in the cave, the people on the front mountain waited anxiously.

Fortunately, their retreat didn’t last long. When dawn broke, they emerged from the cave.

Yu Ling’er and Tang Youshu had been guarding the entrance early, waiting for them to come out.

Qin Lingxiao hadn’t left either. Now, along with the Talisman Sect disciples who came to the back mountain, he wanted to see Wei Jie’s actual condition.

To Qin Lingxiao’s disappointment, Wei Jie’s injuries seemed much better—at least he could walk out of the cave himself.

Instead, Xiaoxiao looked as if she’d suffered a serious illness, her complexion slightly haggard. Treating Wei Jie’s injuries had cost Xiaoxiao considerable spiritual power.

When emerging from the cave, Xiaoxiao’s eyes were slightly red, perhaps from crying out of worry for Wei Jie, swollen quite high.

The front mountain had also changed.

After this night, the disciples who had been vomiting and having diarrhea had all recovered.

However, some disciples quietly left the mountain as soon as their bodies recovered.

After all, everyone having diarrhea and vomiting after a meal looked like poisoning. Most suspiciously, except for Tang Youshu, all other Talisman Sect members, including Cui Xiaoxiao, showed no such symptoms.

Some sharp-minded people inevitably became suspicious, thinking that Cui Xiaoxiao’s behavior was too sneaky! If she didn’t want to accept them, she could have directly driven them away—why torment people like this, secretly giving them laxatives?

No wonder the four great sects’ elders all called her a demon. Her thoughts were truly devious, her actions perverse!

When Tang Youshu mentioned the departed disciples, Xiaoxiao only absent-mindedly nodded.

The Talisman Sect allowed free coming and going. Since they hadn’t formally become disciples, if they didn’t want to stay, they could simply leave.

Xiaoxiao knew that after these disciples left, they would probably continue slandering her reputation outside, pushing her further toward being labeled an evil sect demon lord.

But having taken Wei Jie’s predetermined fate, being cursed while bearing the demon lord’s reputation was inevitable. Moreover, she had indeed caused their diarrhea, so the scolding wasn’t undeserved.

Unfortunately, despite bearing this infamy, she still hadn’t identified who bore the Demon Pearl.

So Xiaoxiao again issued eviction orders, telling Qin Lingxiao: “Since none of these mountain disciples is the one, I won’t keep you longer. Please search elsewhere.”

Qin Lingxiao was naturally unwilling. For some reason, he instinctively felt the Demon Pearl should still be at Ghost Stone Cliff.

Moreover, he had never entered that back mountain cave in the original timeline two hundred years ago.

But he clearly remembered that in his previous life, even Wei Jie had never entered that barrier-sealed stone cave.

Later, Wei Jie had designated the back mountain as forbidden territory, and no cave theft had ever occurred.

But in this life, Xiaoxiao had effortlessly broken the cave’s barrier, causing another accident that hadn’t happened in the previous life…

Thinking this, Qin Lingxiao even less wanted to leave. He felt that staying would better help Xiaoxiao handle upcoming accidents.

Unfortunately, Xiaoxiao wasn’t consulting him. After politely asking him to leave and finding Qin Lingxiao seemed not to understand her meaning, she could only be blunt: “You’ve stayed here long enough. Please leave. If you remain, Wei Jie will be unhappy!”

Hearing this, Qin Lingxiao felt like he’d swallowed a fly. Thinking of Xiaoxiao and Wei Jie spending a night alone in that cave, not knowing what had happened, made his heart sour and bitter.

Sometimes he truly wished he could immediately find that Zhulong statue. If he could return to when he first met Xiaoxiao, that would be even better.

He definitely wouldn’t be so arrogant again, leaving so many bad impressions in the young girl’s heart…

Seeing Xiaoxiao’s weary, powerless appearance, Qin Lingxiao decided not to argue with her further.

He also needed to return to Lingyun Pavilion to check on his father and find another way to locate that Demon Pearl.

After driving away Qin Lingxiao, Xiaoxiao unceremoniously “persuaded” the other disciples seeking masters to leave.

The reason was ready-made—just from eating one meal, they had such severe vomiting and diarrhea, showing their shallow foundations. They weren’t suitable disciples for the Talisman Sect’s inheritance.

Failing to become disciples, these people immediately cursed loudly, bringing up Xiaoxiao’s demonic possession again.

It seemed that when seeking masters, they didn’t mind Xiaoxiao’s demonic facts, but after failing, they became righteous warriors again. When cursing, they showed no fear of Cui Xiaoxiao’s demonic nature erupting.

Tang Youshu felt sorry for his master. Wei Jie was also strange—after leaving the cave, Xiaoxiao had sent him to his bedroom, where he slept continuously, seemingly healing in his dreams.

Now with everyone gone from the mountain and Wei Jie not getting up, cooking duties naturally fell back to Tang Youshu.

After asking Xiaoxiao if she wanted beef soup, Tang Youshu cooked a pot and brought a small stone pot to Xiaoxiao’s study.

When he entered carrying the stone pot, Xiaoxiao was flipping through cultivation histories she’d requested from him, searching for traces of the black phoenix and Emperor Gu Yan.

However, her reading seemed unsmooth, with books scattered all over the floor.

After placing the beef soup on the table, Tang Youshu crouched down to gather the books Xiaoxiao had thrown everywhere, collecting them in one place.

Xiaoxiao collapsed on the table, lacking any dignity of a sect leader, saying despondently, “Did they all leave completely?”

Tang Youshu knew she meant the disciples seeking masters and quickly said: “Most left, but Miss Ling Zhishan still refuses to leave, seeming determined to stay on the mountain. Seeing you and Master both appear to have damaged vital energy and haven’t recovered, I didn’t mention this. When that young lady gets bored, she’ll probably leave.”

Xiaoxiao couldn’t be bothered with such trivial matters, only taking the soup Tang Youshu ladled for her, blowing on the steam, and taking a large gulp.

But as soon as the soup entered her mouth, Xiaoxiao frowned tightly, carefully controlling her throat and barely swallowing before saying quietly: “Young Master Tang, why is this beef soup bitter again?”

Tang Youshu said, puzzled: “Bitter? That shouldn’t be right. Ling’er drank a bowl in the kitchen and said it tasted very good!”

Xiaoxiao ladled another bowl and handed it to him: “Here, try it if you don’t believe me.”

Tang Youshu dubiously took the bowl, drank a sip, and also frowned—the beef soup’s fresh flavor indeed had an indescribable bitter taste. It seemed Yu Ling’er had learned to flatter and lie, actually managing to drink a whole bowl without changing expression, even lying that it tasted good…

Tang Youshu was used to his cooking and said apologetically, “Master, I didn’t do well again. Shall I make you a fresh bowl?”

Xiaoxiao lazily shook her head, thought for a moment, then took up a brush to draw the flame pattern she’d seen on the gemstone in the cave, asking: “You’ve read the most cultivation histories. Have you ever seen this pattern?”

Tang Youshu picked it up and examined it carefully for a while, shaking his head: “I’ve never seen it before, but… isn’t this the pattern on the missing gemstone from the cave?”

Xiaoxiao nodded and slowly spoke: “I checked Ghost Stone Cliff’s local records again. This place is called Ghost Stone Cliff because there’s a story. Legend says there’s a ghost-god stone in the mountain, a divine object left by ancient gods that can communicate with ghosts and spirits, hence the name Ghost Stone Cliff. Do you think the stolen gemstone is the legendary ghost-god stone?”

Tang Youshu heard this and said, “Master’s speculation makes sense. It might be so.”

Xiaoxiao poured herself tea to clear the bitter taste from her mouth. She drained it in one gulp, then drank several more cups, looking less like tea drinking than heroic wine consumption.

Tang Youshu saw the teapot nearly empty and picked it up, wanting to go to the kitchen for more hot water.

But Cui Xiaoxiao pressed down his hand with one hand, her large eyes seeming to reminisce, looking through Young Master Tang before her toward someone distant and unknown.

She said gently, “Since our first meeting, unknowingly, so much time has passed. But I still remember clearly the circumstances of our first meeting.”

Tang Youshu was slightly startled, withdrawing his hand from beneath his master’s palm and smiling slightly: “I also remember meeting Master and you. If not for you both, I would have died at the Corpse-eating Beast’s mouth.”

Xiaoxiao said wistfully, “Actually, when subduing the Corpse-eating Beast that day, you had two choices—become my disciple or Wei Jie’s disciple. Though I’m Wei Jie’s master and my skills that day were respectable, treating you better, you were single-mindedly determined to become a disciple of that Wei Jie who was cold to you…”

Tang Youshu seemed not to expect his master to bring up old accounts at this time and quickly said apologetically: “If possible, I naturally wanted to bow to both. But Master, you looked too young then… I just felt it was inconvenient to have a woman as master. Please forgive your disciple’s negligence…”

Xiaoxiao nodded again, seeming lost in memories: “Later, as we traveled, why did we go to Tuyun Mountain’s fox tribe? Oh, it seemed I originally wanted to go to Lingyun Pavilion to find Qin Lingxiao to unlock the shackles on mine and Wei Jie’s hands. I wasn’t good at reading maps, so you guided us, leading us to Tuyun Mountain…”

Tang Youshu shamefully lowered his head, only saying quietly: “It was my stupidity that nearly harmed Master and you…”

Xiaoxiao laughed self-mockingly: “How was it harmful? If we hadn’t gone to Tuyun Mountain, how would Wei Jie and I have accidentally drunk the spiritual spring water and greatly increased our power? But speaking of this, I’m reminded of events in Luoyi City. Then, I didn’t want trouble and decided to take you both away from Luoyi City, but you let slip in front of your master about Prince Can’s invitation to the birthday banquet, so Wei Jie secretly went to the banquet behind my back, staying to expose Prince Can.”