“Shaoyang,” Rongshuang turned to look at Shaoyang Zhenren, her tone seeming to carry deeper meaning: “Are you truly going to remain a mere observer?”

Shaoyang Zhenren looked at Gu Baiying, and after a long moment, spoke calmly: “He won’t last much longer.”

“What?”

“Forcibly breaking through seclusion—though he’s trying his best to appear unaffected now, he’s ultimately just barely holding on. Having lost a fraction of his primordial soul through the Soul Lodging Technique, the Ten Thousand Killing Formation’s killing moves now fall upon him. As a member of the human race, he won’t be harmed by the killing formation. We need only wait for the ten thousand killings to end and the formation to close, then we can still settle this karma and let the dust settle.” His gaze turned to Rongshuang: “Why rush when dealing with someone destined to die?”

Being looked at by those calm eyes, Rongshuang found herself momentarily speechless.

Gu Baiying had been in seclusion earlier, and due to the Soul Lodging Technique, he knew Yang Zanxing was in danger and forcibly broke through, which had already depleted his Yuanli. Now, the Ten Thousand Killing Formation’s subsequent killing moves would all fall on him, but because Gu Baiying was human, the killing formation did not affect him. At first glance, he seemed extremely arrogant, but once the ten thousand killing moves ended and the formation closed, the two of them would still have to face so many enemies from the cultivation world. Having lost a fraction of his primordial soul, no matter how deep Gu Baiying’s cultivation was, he couldn’t protect Yang Zanxing behind him.

Rongshuang said, “Truly ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth.” But she didn’t continue to obstruct.

Gu Baiying could save her for a moment, but not for a lifetime—Yang Zanxing was ultimately destined to die.

But at this moment, Putao beside her couldn’t help but rush to the front of the formation and shout at Gu Baiying within: “Gu Baiying, you’ve been bewitched by this demon! She’s not your disciple-nephew at all. She killed a fellow senior sister and killed disciples of Chihua Gate. She went to great lengths to infiltrate Gufeng Mountain, deceiving your trust while harboring evil intentions. Why must you misjudge people and become enemies with the cultivation world for someone like this?”

Her words were earnest, but Tian Fangfang beside her felt anger rise in her heart: “What does this girl mean? People always advise reconciliation, not separation—why is she sowing discord?”

Gu Baiying turned his head to look at Putao.

The young man’s eyes were clear, his gaze bright and sharp like the silver spear point in his hand, carrying biting coldness that made Putao’s heart stutter.

He spoke calmly: “Did you personally witness her brutally killing fellow disciples?”

“I…”

“You speak with such certainty—I thought you had seen it with your own eyes. Since you haven’t seen it but spread rumors everywhere, how are you different from those gossiping ghosts?”

Putao was, after all, just a young girl. Being scolded like this in public, especially by the young man she admired, made her eyes redden.

“I don’t believe others’ words—I only believe my own eyes.” Gu Baiying said word by word: “I understand better than all of you what kind of person she is.”

The wind scattered the Milky Way, blew sparks dancing, made his robes rustle, and hair ribbon flutter, but the young man’s gaze was firmer than rock. No one would doubt his trust in the person behind him at this moment.

Because of trust, even knowing she was a demon, he still unreservedly left his back to her, blocking in front of that girl.

Putao vaguely realized something: “You…”

But Gu Baiying no longer paid attention to her, turning to walk toward Zanxing.

Zanxing had been helped up. Her flesh that had been roasted was slowly beginning to recover. Though it couldn’t return to its former state, it was much better than before. She gradually regained some strength, and her melted bones slowly began to reconsolidate. This sensation was very painful, as if someone had crushed her limbs alive and then reformed them.

Gu Baiying’s primordial soul was helping her repair the body that had just been destroyed by the Ten Thousand Killing Formation.

However, the emerald Golden Core in her dantian had completely disappeared.

She had become an ordinary person.

Gu Baiying held her. Zanxing’s body was soft and limp. She turned her head and finally saw Gu Baiying’s face clearly, so she struggled to lift the corners of her mouth, trying to show Gu Baiying a smile.

“Stop smiling,” Gu Baiying held back, finally saying softly: “It looks worse than crying.”

“Why did you come?” she asked.

“If I hadn’t come, you’d have met the King of Hell long ago.” Gu Baiying frowned at her: “Aren’t you a demon? Since you went to such trouble to get to Gufeng Mountain, how come you don’t even have life-saving trump cards? During the previous trials, didn’t you always claim to turn misfortune into fortune? How come now you’re like a sick cat? Why didn’t you use your secret treasures? A demon reduced to such a state, beaten like a stray dog—truly useless.” Though his words were scolding, his tone was very gentle.

“Where’s Mimi?”

“Beside you, not dead.” Gu Baiying glanced at Yinlang Shi. The fat cat had originally been snow-white and rather endearing, but now it was charred black all over, lying on the ground, barely breathing—who knew how long it could survive?

Zanxing breathed a sigh of relief, then remembered something and groped around beside her: “Where’s the hairpin?”

Gu Baiying picked up the hairpin broken into two pieces from the ground and stuffed it into her hands.

After being roasted by the Divine Fire Pillars, the hairpin still gleamed with verdant color like newly sprouted branches. Tianhun Wood was the best divine wood for nourishing souls, making it perfect as a container for primordial souls.

Mendong had said Tianhun Wood was precious—even the wealthy Yinfeng Sect, upon obtaining one piece of Tianhun Wood, only used it to make spirit artifacts. He had been even more wasteful than the Yinfeng Sect people, using a piece of Tianhun Wood to make a decorative hairpin. And more precious than the Tianhun Wood was his primordial soul.

Ordinary cultivators’ primordial souls were precious—if they truly separated a fraction of their primordial soul, they would treat it as a hidden vital point, wishing they could dig three feet deep to hide it where no one would know. How could they make it into a hairpin ornament like him, giving it to others and letting a girl wear it conspicuously on her head?

Silent mountain night, cool wind, and night frost.

Zanxing gripped the cold hairpin in her hand. After a long time, she slowly asked: “When did you know I was a demon?”

Since that hairpin could withstand the Ten Thousand Killing Formation’s damage for her, then Gu Baiying, who had given her the Evening Star Hairpin, had perhaps long anticipated this scene.

“Very early.”

Very early? When was that? Was it when he inserted the hairpin into her hair at Chuhong Terrace on her birthday, or during some night when he stood hesitating beneath the persimmon tree in her courtyard? His strange behaviors, his eyes that concealed worries—everything was finally revealed at this moment.

So while she had been struggling with anxiety, Gu Baiying had known all along.

If she had known this earlier, she shouldn’t have hesitated so much and should have confessed to Gu Baiying sooner, rather than making such a mess of the situation.

Zanxing lowered her head, seeming to want to smile, but in the end, she heard her soft voice: “Thank you.”

Knowing she was a demon, he hadn’t doubted, loathed, or avoided her. Instead, he trusted her as always. This guy, who had always had a bad temper and never waited for anyone, would also patiently stand in place waiting for her to speak.

“I told you long ago,” Gu Baiying said calmly, “You are my disciple-nephew. Even if you stand against the entire world, that’s still an unchangeable fact.” He paused, then continued: “Your position is my position. We made a written agreement in black and white at the treasure grounds—I, Gu Baiying, am not someone who breaks my word.”

Zanxing was startled. For an instant, she seemed to return to that night at the treasure grounds, with strong wind and cold snow outside, warm campfire in the cave. She had scratched at tree branches, writing his name crookedly in the snow, making an almost rogue-like agreement with him.

“The agreement shouldn’t just remain in the snow, but more importantly, in the heart. Master Uncle, you must keep my words in your heart.”

He had actually… truly remembered.

“Actually, I was an accident to begin with,” Zanxing slowly spoke: “My existence is an accident, my appearance here is also an accident. People who don’t exist within the Heavenly Way will eventually be eliminated, no matter what it means. Gu Baiying, doing so much for me isn’t worth it.”

The Heavenly Way wanted her dead—Gu Baiying alone couldn’t resist it. Originally, she had worked step by step to change her predetermined fate, but had more quickly delivered herself to a dead end. If she didn’t exist in this world, Gu Baiying’s Qin Chong seed wouldn’t have been stolen. He would gradually repair the flaws in his spiritual meridians and remain the arrogant, frivolous young master uncle of Taiyan Sect, that brilliantly talented handsome youth, living peacefully and carefree.

He wouldn’t become enemies with the entire world.

“Yang Zanxing,” Gu Baiying frowned at her: “Didn’t you say yourself that you wanted to change your fate and also change mine? Now that our fates are connected, hold on tight and don’t waste it.”

In the Divine Fire Pillars, those burning flames began to shake violently, as if some transformation was about to occur.

“It’s almost over.” Rongshuang looked at the Ten Thousand Killing Formation, her gaze suddenly turning cold as she summoned her Flying Frost Sword and swept to the front of the formation.

Lingxin Daoren sneered: “As I said, it’s just lingering on. But this is better—we can capture her alive.” With that, he followed Rongshuang with his Demon-Subduing Staff.

Seeing this, Yinfeng Sect and other disciples all wielded their spirit artifacts and pressed close to the Ten Thousand Killing Formation, waiting for the final killing move to fall and the formation to close so they could capture the demoness alive.

“Master Uncle…”

The young man seemed not to see the movements of the people around him. He simply reached up and removed the crimson hair ribbon from his head.

This action seemed familiar. Zanxing was suddenly alarmed, realizing something: “What do you want to do?”

“You know its name. We couldn’t use it in Wufan City, but this time we can finally use it.” The young man’s movements were gentle as he wound “Zhuyan” around her wrist, carefully tying a knot while saying: “On your birthday, the Danxin wine that Xuan Lingzi served was my gift. I spent three whole days choosing it, but you still didn’t understand. Never mind,” he finished tying the hair ribbon and then held Zanxing’s hand tightly, suddenly smiling: “You’ve always been slow—I shouldn’t have held any expectations of you. This is better.”

“What is he doing?” Rongshuang noticed Gu Baiying’s actions and keenly sensed something was wrong. She said, “Quick, block his rear!”

“Gu Baiying, don’t do anything rash.” Zanxing struggled slightly.

He pressed down firmly on Zanxing, but his tone remained gentle. The moment the young man raised his eyes, his long lashes concealed the emotion in his gaze as he simply called her name: “Yang Zanxing.”

“Boom—” A tremendous roar echoed across Gufeng Mountain.

The Divine Fire Pillar at the center of the Ten Thousand Killing Formation sent flames shooting skyward, while the surrounding fire pillars were instantly extinguished, leaving only scattered sparks dancing like burning butterflies blooming in the night.

Zanxing only felt soft white robes brush past her face like shattered flying snow. Then her entire body became as light as crow feathers, and her vision blurred.

The last thing she heard was Gu Baiying’s calm voice.

“Take care.”