Feng Yi looked at her quietly. A trace of pity suddenly flowed through his gaze. The red light withdrew. His cold hand gently touched her cheek as he said in a low voice: “I’ll avenge you, killing all those gods who despised and defiled you. Be good, wait here for me. Let’s go get the Shuiliu Qin together.”

Hu Sha desperately clutched his arm, shrieking: “Didn’t you see what happened to Elder Brother Mo Ming? What Shuiliu Qin are you still trying to get!”

“If we don’t get the Shuiliu Qin, you can’t go home. Do you really want to stay here and be killed by that dog Qingling Zhenjun?”

Hu Sha said miserably: “Whether we get the Shuiliu Qin or not, the result is the same. I don’t want to get it now, I won’t get it! You also let go immediately and leave here together with me! Isn’t that what you said? That we should be together… you just said it. Have you forgotten?”

Feng Yi looked at her silently, finally sighing: “Hu Sha, you must be obedient. Not getting the Shuiliu Qin won’t work. Once you get it, we’ll fly far away together. Second Senior Brother will be with you, and no one will bully you anymore. All right?”

Hu Sha shook her head forcefully: “I won’t go get it! Don’t want it!”

“Hu Sha, be obedient.”

“I don’t want to!”

Feng Yi’s brows furrowed. He flung her away. Hu Sha staggered several steps, nearly falling. Just as she steadied herself, she saw a flash of red light before her eyes. All five of his fingers extended blade-sharp red light, pressed against her throat. If he pushed forward even a fraction, her head would fall off.

“Hu Sha, go get the Shuiliu Qin.” He looked at her expressionlessly, his voice as gentle as always.

Hu Sha stared at him in disbelief, feeling that at this time and place, this person and body were completely strange—as if she had never truly known him.

“If I touch the Shuiliu Qin, I’ll die, just like Elder Brother Mo Ming. You still want me to go?” She asked in a low voice, as if unable to believe it.

Feng Yi said indifferently: “How will you know without trying? That old dog dragged you here—it surely wasn’t random, there must be his reasoning. Just go get it. You might not die.”

Hu Sha looked at him numbly, saying softly: “You followed me, took care of me, said so many gentle words to me—all just in case I could get the Shuiliu Qin? The person who wants the Shuiliu Qin is you? Fine, then I ask you—if I die, what then?”

Feng Yi’s eyes flickered slightly. His face showed gentle affection again, along with frivolous indifference—an expression sufficient to drive one wild with infatuation.

Even his voice was intoxicating: “Hu Sha, if you can’t get the Shuiliu Qin, what’s the point of staying alive?”

Her fingertips trembled. She said nothing.

What’s the point of staying alive? What’s the point of staying alive? She actually wanted to laugh—such an absurd question.

“Either way you’re going to die. You might as well die quickly. If you die here, Second Senior Brother will still avenge you, killing those immortals who toyed with your fate.”

Hu Sha lowered her head. Her eyes were extremely sore, as if about to shed tears, yet her eye sockets were painfully dry. The hairpin on her head fell with a “clink” because her hair was too loose. The green coral bead inlaid at the top rolled far away. This hairpin had been bought for her by Second Senior Brother back at Qingyuan, saying her clothes were ugly, so at least her hair should look nice.

From beginning to end, he had been very good to her—unexpectedly good. Deliberately approaching, deliberately gentle yet frivolous words—when exposed, it was all just for a Shuiliu Qin.

Hu Sha drew in a breath and suddenly raised her head, her gaze turning fierce. She said in a low voice: “I won’t go! You’re no different from Qingling Zhenjun. In the end, you’re just forcing me to do things for you. Go ahead and kill me!”

She stepped forward. Those five sharp red rays immediately cut through her skin—stinging pain, warm blood flowing out.

Feng Yi nodded expressionlessly: “Then, farewell forever, Hu Sha. Second Senior Brother will always remember you.”

He raised his hand and slashed across her chest. The red light burst forth like spurting blood, streaking through the air, drawing an intensely vivid trail of light.

With a “rip,” something split open. Hu Sha looked down numbly and saw no wound on her body. Instead, the white paper figure Master had secretly given her was slowly floating down, split in half from the middle, falling to the ground and instantly turning to ashes.

Feng Yi’s long, narrow eyes narrowed slightly as he said indifferently: “So it was a substitute.”

Fang Zhun, who had been silent all along, spoke: “That’s right, a substitute. A technique I haven’t had time to teach you yet.”

Feng Yi gave Hu Sha a light push. She stumbled and fell to the ground, unable to get up for a long time. Whether she truly lacked the strength to stand or for some other reason was unclear.

“Those Qingyuan techniques—do you think I covet them very much?” Feng Yi said darkly. “Don’t think that setting up a barrier outside is so impressive.”

His pitch-black eyes suddenly revealed a blood-red color, and along with it, his full head of black hair became like burning fire—the hue extremely red and fierce. He suddenly reached into his sleeve and silently drew out a short blade with a purple-gold sheath. The blade was pitch black, covered densely with drawings or perhaps writing in cinnabar, though it was unclear.

He flung the short blade to the ground. The ground seemed to suddenly open a hole, instantly swallowing the short blade. Immediately after, the ground rumbled and thundered. Cold light flashed brilliantly. Countless giant swords burst from the ground.

Hu Sha recognized this technique. Back when Taowu caused chaos at Taoyuan Mountain, it took the combined strength of everyone at Taoyuan Mountain along with Fang Zhun and several others to execute this Tai’e Technique and severely wound Taowu.

Fang Zhun indeed showed some surprise, lifting Mo Ming by the waist and dodging with a flash. Feng Yi apparently had no intention of killing him either. In an instant he withdrew the Tai’e Technique. Those giant blades and spears vanished immediately, leaving only a ground full of damage—the uneven surface seemed to narrate the domineering nature of the Tai’e Technique just now.

Fang Zhun gently placed Mo Ming in a corner, stood up and said: “So that’s it. You’ve become a demon, Feng Yi.”

Hu Sha stared blankly at Feng Yi—at his blood-red eyes, flame-like hair. That familiar and dear face now looked extremely strange, as if she’d never seen it before.

She suddenly recalled that day in the maple forest when the acolyte told her that Qingling Zhenjun had once brought a young man to the Ten Isles Within the Seas, sending him to an immortal mountain to be reformed. Who knew he would be obstinate beyond measure, contemptuous of heaven and earth, willingly falling into demonic ways. Those who become demons—after death their souls scatter like smoke, with no reincarnation.

Only now did she understand who that person was.

“Second Senior Brother, what friend of yours… actually, the person you spoke of… was you yourself! Wasn’t it?”

Hu Sha asked in a very small voice. She was crying.

Feng Yi didn’t answer. He looked down at his own hands. His ten fingers were pointed, his nails pitch black as if dyed with ink.

He said: “I’ve already forgotten everything from before. No need to speak of it again.”

Such as the terror when first arriving at the Ten Isles Within the Seas; the bewilderment of having no familiar habits in life; when being taken into the master’s tutelage due to his special identity, everyone’s strange looks; and when first seeing Qingling Zhenjun, the mood of being full of hope that finally turned to despair…

All forgotten.

Hu Sha said in a trembling voice: “Then you’re also from the same place as me. You… where is your home? Second Senior Brother, you want to find the Shuiliu Qin—is it also to go home?”

Feng Yi laughed coldly: “Go home? It’s been fifty years. Where do I still have any home?”

Hu Sha couldn’t help but fall silent. Fifty years—merely a few gatherings for immortals to laugh and drink tea over, but for mortals already vast changes in the world.

He continued: “I’ve long forgotten what home is. Whether I go back or not, I’m already like this—it doesn’t matter. To me, what’s most important now is obtaining the Shuiliu Qin, personally cutting that old dog Qingling Zhenjun into pieces, so those things will know that even a cornered rabbit will bite.”

With that, he laughed again.

Hu Sha lowered her head for a long while, then suddenly said in a low voice: “I never thought… of myself as a rabbit.”

Feng Yi looked at her quietly, saying softly: “You’re not a rabbit. You’re just a speck of dust not even worth looking at, that can be brushed away casually. They want you to come, so you must come. They want you to die, and you obediently die. Living like this, you’re probably quite happy and satisfied.”

It’s not like that! She was about to refute immediately, yet a belly full of reasoning somehow couldn’t be spoken, leaving her only breaking out in anxious sweat.

Feng Yi said proudly: “But I’m not happy at all. I don’t want to deceive myself, closing my eyes and feeling justified when someone throws me a bone. Even if I’ve become a demon, I’m much cleaner than them.”

Fang Zhun shook his head, saying indifferently: “Why become a demon? Do you blame me for not taking good care of you? For not letting you live happily here?”

Feng Yi gave a long sigh. His expression gradually became gentle, and his voice also softened somewhat: “Master, you and Senior Brother treated me very well. I really did think about staying here, forgetting the past, cultivating diligently, becoming a carefree immortal. But some people wouldn’t allow me to try. Whether becoming an immortal or demon, to me it no longer has meaning. All I have left is what you call evil.”

He wearily rubbed his forehead twice. The blood-red light flowing over his body gradually withdrew. His flame-like hair also changed back to pitch black. He turned toward the doorway, his hand on the wall, saying softly: “I apologize. Because you’re obstructing me, you must die.”

Heavy footsteps came from the corridor leading to the front hall, as if a giant was slowly approaching. Hu Sha couldn’t help but tremble slightly. Suddenly her shoulder was pressed by someone. Fang Zhun’s voice sounded from above: “Come over here and look after this child.”

She was lifted and tossed, involuntarily flying up, lightly landing beside Mo Ming. The fatal severe wounds on his upper body had basically healed. However, from the waist down was still covered in bloodstains. His breath was faint as a thread—only half a life hanging there.

She hurriedly took out bandages and medicinal powder from the small leather pouch at her waist. Yet Mo Ming’s body had too many wounds—she simply didn’t know how to begin. She only felt her heart burning inside, a blood-mist-like blur before her eyes.

The footsteps drew closer and closer. From before the hall came a burst of strange laughter—it was the Qiongqi that Feng Yi had frozen with magic earlier. It folded its wings and slowly walked over, raising its head to scan around, laughing: “I smell blood! So fragrant!” Suddenly seeing Fang Zhun, it was startled again. “There’s even an immortal! Today is truly a great harvest!”

Feng Yi leaned against the wall, supporting his forehead with his hand, saying in a low voice: “Eat him, wouldn’t that be even better?”

Qiongqi rolled its eyes, glaring at him for a long while, then roared angrily: “It was you! Just now you used a technique to freeze this master! If I’m going to eat anyone, I’ll eat you first!”

Feng Yi smiled: “You eat him first. Because I did something to let him down, I don’t want to see him. You eat him for me, and later I’ll find a thousand people to offer to you.”

Qiongqi became pleased instead of angry, laughing heartily: “Excellent! I like people who speak like you! A thousand isn’t enough—I want two thousand people!”

Feng Yi nodded slightly: “One thousand two hundred people. If you don’t agree, forget it. I’ll deal with him myself.”

Qiongqi leaped up, pouncing down on Fang Zhun from above while shouting: “Twelve hundred then twelve hundred! Let me eat this immortal first!”

Fang Zhun hurriedly chanted a spell. In an instant, countless needle-thin silver needles fell from the hall ceiling, extremely sharp. Qiongqi dodged left and right in midair but was still pierced in the back and eyes. It howled loudly in pain. A wing on its back suddenly extended, sweeping straight toward Fang Zhun.

He didn’t dare take it head-on, instantly moving his body, circling behind Hu Sha, saying in a low voice: “Take him and quickly go to the corner!”

Seeing Qiongqi rushing over, Hu Sha was too frightened to speak. She didn’t know where she found the strength, but she grabbed Mo Ming’s front collar and hoisted him onto her back, not daring to look back, fleeing to the dark corner. Looking again then, Fang Zhun had deployed the Minor Tai’e Technique. The entire hall floated with densely packed silver needles. Qiongqi had nowhere to hide, frantically scratching its ears and cheeks, roaring endlessly.

Fang Zhun laughed: “People say Qiongqi is evil, only helping bad people and specializing in eating good people. But I see you only have this strange temperament that’s quite cute. Your skills are far inferior to Taowu’s.”

Qiongqi immediately became enraged. Without speaking, the two wings on its back suddenly grew very long, curving up like two giant arms, embracing toward him. Fang Zhun was about to dodge when he suddenly heard Hu Sha cry out in alarm. His heart jolted and his body was already caught by Qiongqi.

“Haha! What now?” Qiongqi was triumphant, shaking its head.

Fang Zhun ignored it. Looking back, he saw that besides Hu Sha and Mo Ming in the corner, somehow there was now an acolyte—delicate as powder and jade, half-floating in the air, expressionlessly looking down at the two of them.

One of Qingling Zhenjun’s people. Fang Zhun’s brows furrowed slightly. Just as he was about to use force to break free from his shackles, he suddenly felt a shadow flash before his eyes. Feng Yi stood silently before him, holding that entirely pitch-black short blade, lightly pressing it against his neck.

“Best not move.” He said in a low voice.

Fang Zhun looked at him quietly without a word.

But Hu Sha, seeing Qingling Zhenjun’s acolyte suddenly appear before her, her first reaction was to shield Mo Ming behind her. Looking up directly at the acolyte, she said loudly: “You… you go back! That Shuiliu Qin—I won’t get it! You clearly know the Shuiliu Qin will kill people, yet you call so many to get it. That’s too much! If you want it, why don’t you get it yourselves?”

That acolyte looked down at her condescendingly, then turned to look at Feng Yi. His brows furrowed as he made a humph sound: “It seems Zhenjun was still too merciful, warning you time and again not to stay with this person, yet you wouldn’t listen. Today being so arrogant—it turns out you’re relying on someone to help you. Foolish thing who doesn’t know life from death!”

Hu Sha frowned: “What warnings? Making me have those nightmares, encountering demons at sea—those are warnings? If you have something to say, why not say it directly to me? You only know how to be sneaky behind people’s backs! Are you immortals or thieves?”

The acolyte didn’t want to hear her scolding. Only looking at Feng Yi, he said coldly: “Your audacity now reaches the heavens, openly opposing Zhenjun. In the future you must prepare for your soul to scatter like smoke, never to be reborn!”

Feng Yi smiled faintly without speaking.

Hu Sha was about to say more when she suddenly heard Mo Ming groan, seeming about to wake. She quickly bent down to support his shoulders, saying gently: “Elder Brother Mo Ming, don’t move. Your wounds aren’t bandaged yet.”

He murmured: “I… seem to hear the immortal envoy’s voice… has Zhenjun come?”

Hu Sha’s nose stung as she said in a low voice: “Qingling Zhenjun hasn’t come. One of his acolytes came.”

Mo Ming struggled urgently to get up. Indeed seeing the acolyte floating before him, he could barely suppress his excitement. Lunging forward to embrace the acolyte’s feet, he said in a trembling voice: “Immortal Envoy! This humble one has found the Shuiliu Qin! Only due to special reasons, I cannot touch it with my hands and was instead severely injured. I beg Zhenjun’s mercy—send this humble one home!”

The acolyte looked at him coldly, saying in a deep voice: “You cannot obtain the Shuiliu Qin, showing not half a trace of sincerity. What mercy are you talking about?”

Mo Ming said urgently: “How could this humble one lack sincerity? Day and night this humble one dared not stop, running about everywhere, seeking two divine artifacts for Zhenjun. Now the Tuyan Drum has been obtained by Zhenjun, the Shuiliu Qin is also right before us, and this humble one was severely wounded because of it. How can you say there’s no sincerity?”

The acolyte sighed: “Since you say you have sincerity, then before my face, obtain the Shuiliu Qin and present it with both hands. Naturally I will petition Zhenjun to send you back. How about it?”

Mo Ming looked down at his body covered in wounds. On his legs were still many blood holes gurgling out blood. He said miserably: “Does the Immortal Envoy not see the severe wounds on this humble one’s body? All obtained from trying to get the Shuiliu Qin. That divine artifact is a celestial god’s possession, incomparably holy. Mortals truly cannot touch it. I still beg the Immortal Envoy’s mercy!”

The acolyte’s brows stood upright as he said angrily: “Since you have no ability to obtain the Shuiliu Qin, you dare bargain with me! Don’t mention going home anymore! I can grant you mercy, letting you live here ten more years, for this period of running about laboriously!”

Mo Ming, already pale from injury, now looked no different from a dead man. He bit his teeth, struggling to stand, saying in a low voice: “Fine. This humble one will go get it once more!”

Hu Sha quickly grabbed him: “Elder Brother Mo Ming! They… they don’t treat people as people at all! Don’t go! The Shuiliu Qin will kill you!”

Mo Ming patted her shoulder, revealing a smile, saying lightly: “That way… at least I’ll die quickly, better than the suffering of separation.”

He pushed Hu Sha away, staggering as he jumped into the clear pool. Looking back at the acolyte once, his gaze held unknown meaning. Suddenly bending down to fish the Shuiliu Qin from the pool, the qin body immediately released myriad cold rays. Yet his expression didn’t even change. With both hands he tossed it, actually throwing the qin directly at the acolyte.

“Take it!” He was laughing.

That acolyte’s face changed dramatically. His form in the air suddenly transformed into a wisp of blue smoke, flashing past the Shuiliu Qin. Only hearing a “ding” sound, the Shuiliu Qin crashed to the ground yet suffered no damage at all, precious light still flowing and rotating.

Mo Ming laughed twice with a “hehe,” saying in a low voice: “No wonder you want us to help you get it. So… so you also cannot touch it.”

His old wounds unhealed, countless new blood holes added to his body—who knows what strength supported him standing rigidly in the water pool. Until completely without breath, he still hadn’t fallen.

Hu Sha drew in a sharp breath, rolling and crawling to go over. Her back suddenly tightened—she’d been grabbed by that acolyte.

He looked down at her coldly, saying: “You go get it. Bring the Shuiliu Qin over.”

Hu Sha’s heart was already full of grief and indignation. She forcefully shook off his hand, saying sternly: “Don’t touch me!”

The acolyte didn’t force her. Tucking both hands in his sleeves, he said indifferently: “If you won’t get it, fine. Now that Fang Zhun is bound and no one remains to protect you, I must take your soul.”

Hu Sha said hatefully: “What’s so great about death?”

The acolyte looked at her once, then suddenly drew out his hand. White light flowed and flickered at his fingertips, lightly pressing down toward the top of her head.

Suddenly Feng Yi’s lazy voice came from behind: “Wait. Hu Sha, be good and go get the Shuiliu Qin.”

She said angrily: “I won’t go!”

Feng Yi smiled: “Fine then. On the road to the Yellow Springs, Fang Zhun will accompany you part of the way. You must be quite satisfied with that. Little Hu Sha, you really are easily satisfied.”

His short blade pushed forward several fractions. Blood immediately flowed from Fang Zhun’s neck.

Hu Sha suddenly turned around, staring fixedly at him. That kind of gaze actually made Feng Yi feel somewhat alarmed. He said in a low voice: “Why aren’t you quickly going to get the Shuiliu Qin?”

She looked for a very long time, finally letting out a long breath, saying: “Fine! I’ll get it!”

Without hesitation, she bent down and grabbed the Shuiliu Qin beside her.

In an instant, the Shuiliu Qin again blazed with cold light, piercing until eyes couldn’t open.

Countless blood holes suddenly appeared on her hands, pierced through by that cold light. Blood dripped down drop by drop. Her body felt as if penetrated by tiny ice thorns—for an instant she didn’t feel pain, only felt cold to the bone.

In that moment, Hu Sha actually felt a trace of absurdity: the Shuiliu Qin would without exception kill anyone unqualified to touch it. She naturally couldn’t be pardoned either. These immortals—what made them think she could pick it up?

Hu Sha stiffly turned to look at Mo Ming. He already had no breath—a wisp of his soul probably had gone to the underworld. What exactly had he died for? Even now she hadn’t figured it out. Yet in the next moment, she walked the same path as him, about to die without understanding, dying humbly and shamefully.

Her hand gripped the ice-cold Shuiliu Qin tightly. As long as she didn’t let go, those cold rays would keep shooting out until they killed her.

Her body felt as if hollowed out—empty, with pain and cold far away. She could only hear the sound of her blood dripping on the ground—drip, drop…

Behind her, Feng Yi and that acolyte seemed to sigh with regret, probably not expecting that she also couldn’t pick up the Shuiliu Qin.

Hu Sha slowly turned her head, staring fixedly at that acolyte. He covered his mouth as if suppressing laughter, watching their blood-drenched miserable state like watching a farce.

Then slowly rolling her eyes to look at Feng Yi. He looked at her tenderly yet regretfully, telling her with lip movements: What a pity, little Hu Sha, wasted so much time.

Hu Sha looked for a while, then curved the corner of her lips, also revealing a smile.

“You want the Shuiliu Qin?” She asked softly, as if talking to herself. “Fine, I’ll give it to you.”

She grabbed the five seemingly present yet absent strings on the qin, pulling forcefully. Only hearing several “zheng zheng” rending sounds, that peerless divine artifact the Shuiliu Qin—she forcibly tore off its five strings. Hu Sha raised the Shuiliu Qin, gathering all her strength, fiercely smashing it on the ground. The stringless qin’s divine light greatly diminished. Bouncing on the ground, she actually cracked one corner.

As if still feeling it wasn’t enough, she pulled out from her boot the dagger Eldest Senior Brother had given her for protection, drew it out, and was about to chop down at the qin body.

Behind her came the acolyte’s alarmed cry. He floated forward, urgently reaching out to stop her.

Hu Sha cradled the Shuiliu Qin in her hands, saying sternly: “Aren’t you afraid it will pierce you?”

The acolyte indeed showed some fear, only able to persuade in a low voice: “You… don’t damage the divine artifact! Otherwise your crime will be enormous—ten Zhenjuns couldn’t protect you!”

Hu Sha laughed coldly: “I never had any crime. You’re the ones convicting me. When fabricating crimes, what worry is there of lacking words? Always using death to force me—do you think I’ll be afraid?”

At that time, the blood on her body had already dyed the Shuiliu Qin red. The divine artifact polluted by human blood, its precious light had already withdrawn by more than half, and the injurious cold light wasn’t as sharp as before. She gripped the dagger, aimed at the Shuiliu Qin, and chopped down hard.

The qin emitted a clear rending sound. Immediately after, it broke in half from the middle. The precious light and divine energy flowing over it vanished in an instant. The shimmering ice-blue color also withdrew. The divine artifact Shuiliu Qin now looked no different from an ordinary jade antique qin—moreover broken in two pieces.

Hu Sha laughed twice with satisfaction, turning back with some childishness to look at the acolyte, then at Feng Yi. Seeing their faces alternating between pale and green, she only felt an indescribable satisfaction in her heart.

“The Shuiliu Qin—I give it to you!” She kicked the Shuiliu Qin’s remains out with one foot, then couldn’t stand steadily, falling hard to the ground. Only at this moment did she feel unbearable pain throughout her body—her five internal organs seemed stirred to mush, the pain.

She lay face-up on the ground, even her fingertips contracting and trembling from pain. While laughing with satisfaction, tears still flowed down. She felt every thread of strength in her body flowing out with the blood. Her vision kept going black—probably wouldn’t make it. Soon she’d follow Mo Ming to the underworld as companions.

Many scenes appeared before her eyes, quietly flowing past like water. Finally she seemed to see her own parents, smiling as they looked at her.

Hu Sha couldn’t help calling out softly: “Mother.”

That acolyte was deathly pale, staring in disbelief at the Shuiliu Qin split in half, then looking at Hu Sha who had already fainted. It was as if the sky was falling. He suddenly dropped to the ground, cradling the Shuiliu Qin in both hands. Now this divine artifact no longer had any intimidating cold light—it was no different from holding two pieces of rotten stone.

He was dazed for a long while, unable to help turning back to look at Hu Sha again. Finally murmuring: “She… she actually could smash the Shuiliu Qin!”

Behind him came laughter. He turned around in alarm and saw Feng Yi laughing until his whole body shook, saying repeatedly: “Formidable! Truly formidable! I really bow in defeat! Qingling Zhenjun bringing you to the Ten Isles Within the Seas truly wasn’t nonsense! I couldn’t have imagined you had this ability!”

The acolyte stared at him blankly for a long time. Finally suddenly reacting, he said sternly: “You demon! You wait! Zhenjun will immediately make your soul scatter like smoke!”

He hatefully threw the Shuiliu Qin on the ground, flinging his sleeve about to transform into blue smoke and leave. Suddenly he felt something grab his ankle. Greatly alarmed, only then did he discover something stirring in his shadow—exactly the same as when meeting Fang Zhun at Taoyuan Mountain last time.

This time he learned his lesson, first protecting his chest vital points. His body suddenly leaned back. Who knew that thing struck hard at the back of his skull. Immediately stars burst before his eyes and he fell to the ground.

Feng Yi reacted extremely fast, slashing horizontally with his blade to cut off Fang Zhun’s head. In the end he was still a step too late. That thing violently rose up, brushing against his wrist with a blow. The pain was incomparable. Unable to hold the short blade any longer, it flew from his hand, landing on the ground with a “clang.” He called urgently: “Qiongqi!”

Qiongqi roared angrily: “Stop ordering this master around!”

Though saying so, it still used its wings to tightly embrace Fang Zhun. Suddenly opening its bloody maw, planning to eat him directly alive. Who knew golden light suddenly blazed before its eyes. Something burst out from Fang Zhun’s body, ramming into its embrace—scorchingly hot, burning until its fur sizzled.

Qiongqi couldn’t bear it, forced to release Fang Zhun and retreat two steps. Only then did it realize that golden light clearly contained a golden-armored divine being—long blade imposing, movements quick as lightning. Just standing steady, the blade immediately swung up. That long blade in hand was even longer than his entire person, the blade shaped like a crescent moon, cold light brilliant.

Qiongqi couldn’t retreat or yield, forcibly taking one blade strike. A wing on its back along with half a front leg was immediately severed by the great blade. Blood spurted like a fountain. The pain made it roll repeatedly on the ground, shrieking curses. Finally it crawled and scrambled out of the hall and was heard no more.

Feng Yi knew the situation had become unfavorable to himself. He simply gave up resisting, just standing in place without moving, smiling as he looked at Fang Zhun, saying gently: “Master, what magic is this? Your disciple is ignorant and has never seen it before.”

Fang Zhun’s eyes were tightly closed, not speaking a word. The golden-armored divine being before him wielded his blade, pressing it against Feng Yi’s neck, saying in a hoarse voice: “Rat’s vision! Having learned so little, you dare show off! If he used his demon-subduing abilities, how could he let you live until now?”

Feng Yi was somewhat surprised: “Could you be his spirit beast? How… do you have human form…”

The golden-armored divine being laughed coldly: “Ignorant!”

Feng Yi didn’t want to say more to him. Looking straight at Fang Zhun behind him, he said: “Now the Shuiliu Qin has already been ruined by Hu Sha. I’m also quite helpless. Presumably Qingling Zhenjun also has no way. Even if Master kills me, the Shuiliu Qin won’t come back. Restraining me like this—what’s the purpose?”

Fang Zhun finally slowly opened his eyes, saying in a low voice: “From today, you are no longer my disciple. You have become part of the demonic path. You must be eliminated.”

As his words fell, the golden-armored divine being didn’t hesitate. His long blade swept down through the air. It looked as if he’d been split in half. Yet what fell to the ground was only an outer robe cut in two pieces—Feng Yi had hidden somewhere unknown. The golden-armored divine being tossed up his long blade. That blade rolled several times in the air, as if possessing intelligence, automatically and consciously chasing a bright red shadow up and down. Looking closely, it was indeed Feng Yi. He’d manifested his demon form again. Even more terrifying, his face was also densely covered with dark red veins. Combined with his blood-red eyes, it was more horrifying than any nightmare.

He suddenly gave a long laugh, saying: “Master’s divine powers are vast. This disciple bows in defeat. This Shuiliu Qin—why not also trouble Master to take it back for repair? Once repaired in the future, this disciple will naturally come calling to retrieve it!”

While speaking, that great blade nearly struck him several times but he cunningly escaped each time. The red shadow flashed, suddenly appearing before that unconscious acolyte. Only hearing his strange cackling twice, he grabbed the acolyte’s hair and pulled forcefully, actually tearing that little acolyte’s head off!

He backhanded the head, tossing it toward Fang Zhun. Using the momentum to float toward the hall door, he quickly looked back at Hu Sha once, saying gently: “I’m leaving, Master, Little Junior Sister. Mo Ming’s revenge—does it count as avenged for him?”

Having spoken, whether sighing or laughing softly, the red shadow flashed slightly and vanished in an instant.

That golden-armored divine being sheathed his long blade, turning back to complain: “Your heart softened again! Now you’ve let him escape. Will there be less trouble in the future?”

Fang Zhun smiled innocently: “After all, he’s my disciple. He looks so human too—for a moment I couldn’t bring myself to…”

The golden-armored divine being looked at him helplessly. Finally shaking his head, his body turned, transforming into myriad golden rays, returning to Fang Zhun’s shadow. While doing so he said: “My predecessor probably also couldn’t stand your temperament and left, right?”

Fang Zhun said nothing. He covered his mouth, coughing lightly several times, then slowly walked into the clear pool, gently lifting Mo Ming’s corpse and placing it beside Hu Sha. He crouched down, looking for a long time.

The blood on Hu Sha’s body flowed for a while then stopped. Though she had many wounds, they weren’t large—looking terrifying but not fatal. Fang Zhun applied force to heal her for about half a double-hour. Those obvious wounds all disappeared, leaving only some scrapes that were harmless. He also felt puzzled. Turning back to fish out the Shuiliu Qin’s remains, he saw Hu Sha’s blood had long dried on it. The entire divine artifact had not a speck of luster, as if dead.

He carefully wrapped the Shuiliu Qin’s remains in cloth, placing them in Hu Sha’s bosom. Nearby, a domesticated spirit beast had already set a fire, burning Mo Ming’s corpse to ashes, sealing them in a porcelain jar and respectfully presenting it to him.

Fang Zhun sighed, embraced the unconscious Hu Sha, and floated out of the hall.

By now the sky had already brightened. Pale morning light reflected on Hu Sha’s bloodless small face. Her expression looked both heartbroken beyond measure and extremely satisfied, the corner of her mouth still holding a trace of a smile.

Fang Zhun raised his hand to gently wipe away several dried blood spots on her cheek, shaking his head: “Let’s go…”

As his words fell, the person had already disappeared from before the old stone mountain hall.

Hu Sha seemed to see Feng Yi. That scene was vaguely their first meeting at the ice lake, when her waist sash broke and her skirt fell to the ground in that embarrassing moment. At that time, the young man in gaudy robes had a smile like flowers—intimate and elegant, draping his outer garment over her shoulders.

He really was like a vivid painting. No matter from which direction one looked, it was both beautiful and impossible to fathom.

In the end, she still couldn’t believe that he treated her so well, so gently—all just for the Shuiliu Qin. Was it really like this? In his eyes, what did the world look like? The Hu Sha in his eyes—was she a junior sister? An object he intended to approach and deliberately please? A tool for obtaining the Shuiliu Qin through her hands? Or perhaps an ambiguous friend he could hold in his arms and laugh with easily?

“Hu Sha, after getting the Shuiliu Qin, leave together with Second Senior Brother. Go to a quiet place where no one will bully you anymore.” Her head was patted twice by him. Hu Sha looked up in a daze, feeling his breath warm, brushing past her nose tip—ticklish.

“…Really?” She couldn’t help murmuring the question.

“Silly girl…” He seemed about to kiss down, his beautiful lips separated from hers by only a hair’s breadth. “Naturally it’s… false.”

Hu Sha stiffened, pushing him away forcefully. But she saw his eyes blood red, red hair moving without wind like burning flames, densely packed dark red veins crawling on his face. This scene was more terrifying than any nightmare.

The suppressed, frightened scream hadn’t yet spilled from her lips when he’d already violently flung her away. Standing up to stare at her fixedly, looking down from above.

“Hu Sha, if you can’t get the Shuiliu Qin, what’s the point of staying alive?”

He laughed a few times, turned and walked away. His body gradually transformed into blood-colored smoke, leaving only his voice: “I never liked you, Hu Sha. If you can’t get the Shuiliu Qin, you have no meaning to me. Seeing you makes me think of that foolish former me—I actually wish I could kill you.”

Hu Sha opened her eyes, feeling her entire body covered in sweat, her heart as if about to leap from her throat.

“Want some water?” A crisp voice beside her asked. Hu Sha quickly turned her head and saw a little girl with twin buns standing by the bed—seven or eight years old with round eyes, quite adorable. Yet her expression was very old-fashioned. Holding a bowl of water in her hands, she looked at Hu Sha seriously.

“…Thank you.” Hu Sha propped up her body from the bed, cradling the bowl to drink two sips of cool tea. Her heart seemed to quiet somewhat. Only then did she look around and ask: “Where is this?”

The little girl said: “An inn. Fang Zhun brought you over.”

Master? Hu Sha quickly jumped down from the bed, put on her outer garment and bent down to put on her shoes: “Where is he?”

“He’s at…” The little girl hadn’t finished speaking when the door was pushed open. Fang Zhun’s voice came from behind the screen: “You’re awake?” As he spoke, he walked over. The little girl walked to his side. Her body flickered and instantly transformed into a white paper figure, which he gently tucked into his sleeve.

Hu Sha stared at him blankly. After a long while, she said: “Master… I thought I… died.”

Fang Zhun smiled: “With Master here, you’ll be fine.”

Hu Sha shook her head. After a while, suddenly seeming to remember something, she quickly asked again: “What about Elder Brother Mo Ming? He… he really died? And… and Second Senior Brother…”

Fang Zhun took out a porcelain jar from his sleeve, gently placing it on the table, saying in a low voice: “These are Mo Ming’s ashes. As for your Second Senior Brother… don’t call him ‘Second Senior Brother’ anymore from now on. He’s no longer my disciple.”

Hu Sha nodded numbly, no longer knowing what to say. Fang Zhun said gently: “All right, continue resting. Whenever you have energy, Master will take you somewhere fun to play.”

Hu Sha couldn’t help asking: “What… fun place? Master, aren’t you returning to Qingyuan?”

His expression was even more innocent than hers: “Why return to Qingyuan? Now that Feng Yi has left and Feng Di is about to complete his training, can’t your master go out and wander on his own?”

Hu Sha was startled for a moment, but then lowered her head: “I… I’m also not a Qingyuan disciple anymore. I can’t keep following Master.”

Fang Zhun said oddly: “Who said you’re a Qingyuan disciple?”

Hu Sha was dazed again. But she saw him smile broadly: “When your master took you as a disciple, he didn’t even give you a Daoist name. You’re this Fang Zhun’s disciple, not Qingyuan’s disciple. You must clearly distinguish between these two points.”

What was the difference really? Hu Sha looked at him foolishly, completely confused.

“In any case, your master is still your master. That day when you left Qingyuan calling me ‘Master Fang Zhun’—so distant. Your master felt uncomfortable for a long time. Could Hu Sha not want to be your master’s disciple?”

His brows furrowed slightly, with an expression of “how could you hurt my feelings like this.”

Hu Sha was left without any temper by him. She could only say repeatedly: “No… no, it won’t… Master, being your disciple is my good fortune…”

Fang Zhun rose with a smile and walked toward the door. Suddenly he heard her ask in a small voice behind him: “Master, did you take me as a disciple also because of the Shuiliu Qin and Qingling Zhenjun’s matter?”

He stopped, turned back with a slight smile: “Your master took you because you suited his taste.” With that, he sighed with feeling. “After all, these days finding a simple child who’s easy to deceive is truly rare. Feng Di was so good before—now he’s also become like an old man. How uninteresting…”

Hu Sha scratched her head, looking at his back in bewilderment. Until the door gently closed, she finally slowly exhaled, staring blankly at that porcelain jar containing ashes on the table.

She walked over, gently cradling the porcelain jar in her hands, calling out lowly: “Elder Brother Mo Ming…”

The bundle still contained that ground squirrel fur garment he’d bought for his fiancée that day. The flute he’d always kept close to his chest that wasn’t yet finished had also been tidied up by Fang Zhun and placed together on the table. Unfortunately the items remained but the person had vanished forever.

She wiped her gradually blurring eyes, carefully placing all of Mo Ming’s belongings including the ashes into the bundle. If heaven showed mercy and she could one day return to Jiaxing, she must find an opportunity to send these things to Yuzhou and deliver them to Mo Ming’s family.

The bundle also contained her clothes—all bought for her by Feng Yi at the ready-made clothes shop. Hu Sha looked at them expressionlessly. In her heart was an impulse to tear these clothes to shreds and throw them away. Her gaze finally fell on the washed and neatly folded Tianxiang Lake blue silkworm silk garment by the bedside. That garment had countless densely packed small holes—pierced by the Shuiliu Qin that day.

Right, Master said her injuries weren’t severe—probably thanks to this garment. Supposedly even ordinary blades and spears couldn’t damage it.

Hu Sha recalled the scene when buying this garment. Her heart held unknown flavors. After being dazed for a long while, in the end she still lightly touched it with her hand. The color dyed with madder was still so vivid and charming—like the most beautiful ray of sunset at the sky’s edge.

She touched it for a very long time, finally giving a long sigh.

In the Chensi region of the South Sea, there was Changzhou, also called Qingqiu. Hu Sha had heard this place name before. In the past when idly flipping through the Classic of Mountains and Seas, it mentioned that Qingqiu was inhabited by fox spirits skilled at bewitching people. So when Fang Zhun said he’d take her to Qingqiu to play, Hu Sha’s first reaction was: “Master, are you taking me to see fox spirits?”

Fang Zhun said oddly: “You want to see fox spirits? Then we’d have to go to Fenglin Isle. There are more demon beasts and demon immortals there. Changzhou has no fox spirits.”

Only then did Hu Sha remember that this place was different from her world. The Qingqiu here naturally wasn’t the same as that Qingqiu.

“What’s fun at Changzhou?” Hu Sha asked quite perfunctorily. She actually didn’t really want to go. “Master, if you don’t return to Qingyuan Mountain, won’t Jinting Zushi blame you? How about we go next time… You should return to Qingyuan first—that’s better.”

Fang Zhun sighed: “Hu Sha, you absolutely must not become like Feng Di. Having one rigid disciple is enough.”

Hu Sha said in a low voice: “It’s not that, Master. I’m thinking that the Shuiliu Qin is broken anyway. I may not be able to go back in the future. The days staying here will be long. We can play whenever—no need to rush right now.”

Fang Zhun smiled: “Not necessarily. This matter really is quite urgent. You broke the Shuiliu Qin. If we don’t quickly repair it and the Nine Heavens above learn of it, heavenly punishment will descend.”

Heav… enly punishment? Hu Sha’s eyes widened.

He raised his brows, saying: “Probably lightning will strike you, heavenly fire will burn you, heavenly river water will drown you, turning you into mincemeat and burying you in the ground as fertilizer for divine trees.”

Hu Sha immediately trembled: “…Really?”

Fang Zhun tidied up the bundle, casually tossing it into his sleeve’s dimensional space. Then pulling her hand to rise on clouds, he said: “Naturally it’s real. Anyone robbing divine artifacts doesn’t matter, but damaging them has different significance. How can you casually break a celestial god’s possession? Quickly follow Master to find someone to repair the Shuiliu Qin.”

Hu Sha lowered her head without speaking. After a long while, she said softly: “Then… I’m also not afraid. After repairing the Shuiliu Qin, Qingling Zhenjun will come snatch it again, and Se… Feng Yi will also come snatch it. Better to just let it stay broken…”

Fang Zhun silently looked at her once: “When the time comes, your master will see if you still say these words.”

South Sea Changzhou had extremely many trees—a stretch of verdant green, like jade embedded in the great sea. Fang Zhun carried Hu Sha, landing on a hillock. Looking out, the seawater was azure blue, mountain ranges gently undulating—possessing another kind of leisurely flavor.

Because trees were everywhere here, the entire Changzhou looked like a massive forest with not a trace of human habitation visible. Hu Sha followed him walking for a while, unable to help asking: “Master, who exactly are you looking for? Here… it seems like there’s no one at all…”

He smiled without answering, only leading her up another slope. Before them stood a massive tree—probably several thousand people couldn’t embrace it together. Below the tree, railings and a great gate were built of green jade. Two green-robed young attendants respectfully guarded the entrance, bowing to Fang Zhun.

“Welcome Zhenren Fang Zhun. Yuanyuan Yuanjun awaits Your Honor at the Viewing Tower. Please follow us.”

Fang Zhun nodded. Suddenly grabbing Hu Sha’s back collar, before she could react, he leaped up, lightly floating upward. Those two green-robed attendants, though respectfully flying ahead to lead the way, still couldn’t help being curious, sneaking glances back at Hu Sha—probably guessing her identity.

But Hu Sha’s attention was completely absorbed by this incomparably massive tree. They flew for quite a while before seeing green leaves like a crown above, spreading layer upon layer. Various houses and buildings were constructed on the branches—no different from ordinary towns. Continuing to fly upward, the houses changed appearance—uniformly green jade gates. Occasionally people walked by, all dressed in green robes like the guide attendants, possessing immortal bearing. Seeing Fang Zhun and his party, they respectfully clasped their fists in salute.

Finally reaching the tree crown, who knew the crown actually grew no leaves or branches at all. In the center was a hollow section—actually an enormous lake, water color crystal clear and translucent. In the lake’s center stood a white jade tall tower, emitting warm, gentle radiance in the sunlight. Below the tower grew vast expanses of pink lotus flowers reflected in jade-like lotus leaves—a magnificent and gorgeous scene.

Hu Sha’s jaw had nearly dropped. She carefully held it up while wiping her mouth corners, lest she drool from shock.

Fang Zhun held her back collar, steadily landing before a white jade window at the tower top. Only his toe tips rested on the windowsill—clothes fluttering. Though beautiful, it also made one’s heart race, fearing he’d be blown down by the wind.

The two green-robed attendants bowed with clasped hands, floating away. Hu Sha looked left and right. Finally she couldn’t help saying: “Master… are we just… standing here like this?”

Fang Zhun revealed a smile, somewhat helpless, only saying: “That depends on this place’s master’s intentions.”