“Gu Baiying?” Zanxing was stunned, then hurriedly turned to Bujiang and asked, “Is this true?”

Two years ago, she had been framed by Gui Yansheng and forced into the Ten Thousand Killing Formation by the cultivation world. Gu Baiying had used his strength to protect her escape. Even though he was Qinghua Xianzi’s son, even though he was Shaoyang Zhenren’s direct disciple, it should not have been possible for this matter to be lightly brushed aside.

But after that, there had been no news of any punishment for a certain disciple within the sect. No news, in a way, was good news—at least Gu Baiying’s life was safe.

However, this didn’t mean Zanxing could rest easy. If it weren’t for the fact that she had to fully merge with the Qin Chong seed, she would have wished to fly to Gufeng Mountain that very day to rescue Gu Baiying.

Two years had passed, and now she finally heard news of Gu Baiying again, but how had he become the leader of the Demon Extermination Army? One must know that the Demon Extermination Army was formed by several major sects jointly selecting personnel. Putting aside everything else, how could Chihau Gate’s Lingxin Daoren have agreed to this?

Bujiang’s voice pulled Zanxing’s wandering thoughts back: “The Xiaoyuan Pearl is a supreme treasure of the Demon Realm. Regardless of whether it can be refined, it was born from the spiritual energy of the Demon Realm. Now that this pearl is in Gui Yansheng’s hands, if he ultimately refines it, the entire Demon Realm will welcome a moody and brutal tyrant. Perhaps without even the cultivation world taking action, in just a few years, everyone in the Demon Realm will be killed by this madman. So the Xiaoyuan Pearl cannot continue to belong to him.”

“Of course, the Xiaoyuan Pearl also cannot fall into the hands of the sects.”

“If it’s refined by a sect cultivator and then used against us in the Demon Realm, it would still be harmful and unprofitable for the demon race. So Zanxing,” Bujiang said, “we must retrieve the Xiaoyuan Pearl.”

“But the Xiaoyuan Pearl is in Gui Yansheng’s hands.” Zanxing frowned slightly. “You want me to fight Gui Yansheng and snatch back the Xiaoyuan Pearl?” To be honest, she didn’t dare boast carelessly. Gui Yansheng’s Ashura Umbrella could instantly absorb people’s souls, making it extremely fearsome. Moreover, Gui Yansheng had taken the pearl two years ago. Zanxing had experienced Xiaoyuan Pearl’s ability to make cultivation twice as effective. The current Gui Yansheng was probably even more difficult to deal with than two years ago. With just herself alone, Zanxing had no confidence in defeating him.

“A confrontation would naturally have no guarantee of success. However, that madman came out of seclusion some days ago and immediately went around killing people at various sects. The sects have long been unable to tolerate him. Now with this trip to Yuē Mountain, there will surely be a death battle between the Demon Extermination Army and Gui Yansheng. When they’re fighting fiercely, and you strike then, wouldn’t that be profiting from their conflict?”

Zanxing: “A sneak attack?” The words weren’t wrong, but why did it sound so… underhanded?

Bujiang glanced at her and sneered, “You’ve stayed at Taiyan Sect too long. How have you also learned their set of righteous sect rules? You must remember clearly—we are demons. No matter how honorably you act, your reputation will be what it is. Since people will call us crooked and heretical whether we do it or not, we might as well act without restraint. As long as we’re shameless, nothing can constrain us.”

“……”

What a fine case of breaking the jar after it’s already broken.

Bujiang looked at Zanxing and sighed softly, “Actually, for this trip, I originally planned to go myself. After all, if something happens to you, the entire Demon Realm would truly be leaderless. But now, in Heishi City, the demon race regards you as their future hope. Once Gui Yansheng’s matter is settled, you will be the next Demon Lord of Heishi City.”

“Over the past years, you’ve always lived in Duzhou. Now that you’ve returned to the demon race, some will be convinced, but others will inevitably be secretly dissatisfied. You need to fight a beautiful battle to prove yourself, and you also need a stepping stone to ascend to the position of Demon Lord.”

“The battle at Yuē Mountain is something you must undertake.”

Rain fell like willow silk, swaying down onto the azure paper umbrella, creating misty clouds around the ink-wash flowers and birds.

Zanxing said nothing.

“If your father hadn’t refined the Xiaoyuan Pearl back then, with his cultivation level, he could have walked sideways through almost all of Duzhou. After your father’s fall, if I had left the Demon Realm without protecting the demon race, I could have found any place and lived peacefully for a hundred years without worry. But your father still actively refined the Xiaoyuan Pearl for the sake of the demon race’s spiritual veins. I transformed and channeled demon essence power to maintain the spiritual energy of the entire Demon Realm to prevent the demon race from completely disappearing from this world.” Bujiang turned around. She wore men’s robes, her black hair bound high, but had grown a stunning, beautiful face. She smiled as she looked at Zanxing, “People living in this world have many things they must do. Being in a certain position means shouldering the responsibility of that realm.”

“You never enjoyed the honor of being a Demon Lord’s daughter, but now, with the demon race in decline, you’re asked to charge into battle for Heishi City’s future. This is unfair to you. So Zanxing, you have one chance to choose.” Bujiang shifted her gaze, looking toward Heishi City in the rain curtain, speaking gently, “If you’re unwilling to go, I won’t force you. I’ll take people to Yuē Mountain and wait for the opportunity to steal the Xiaoyuan Pearl. You stay in Heishi City and wait for my news.”

“How about it?”

Zanxing followed Bujiang’s gaze to look below. At the foot of the mountain, countless dawn-colored streams gently wrapped around the entire Heishi mountain. The trickling streams flowed over a scene of deathly silence, and this black city in the rain appeared somewhat eerily romantic.

She withdrew her gaze, and after a while, finally spoke: “Let me think about it.”

……

When she returned to Hundun Hall, the night was already very deep.

Chuideng Gui was holding a blue-green ghostly fire at the hall entrance, waiting. Seeing Zanxing return, he hurriedly greeted her warmly: “Little Palace Master has returned.”

Zanxing nodded slightly: “Why aren’t you resting yet?”

“I especially kept the light on for Little Palace Master.” The young man chided her reproachfully. Before he could say the next sentence, the frail youth walked over, coughing, while inconspicuously pushing Chuideng Gui aside and handing Zanxing a bowl of hot soup: “The rain outside is heavy. This subordinate specially prepared lingzhi ginger soup for the Little Palace Master. Little Palace Master, please drink it while it’s hot, cough, cough, cough…”

Zanxing took the soup and looked at him with hesitation, finally unable to resist saying: “…You should go back and rest.”

The youth called Bingmo immediately showed a trace of grievance on his face, his eyes misty with tears: “Does Little Palace Master dislike this subordinate for having poor health?”

Chuideng Gui secretly rolled his eyes. Shunü walked over with a smile, draped an outer robe over Zanxing’s shoulders, and took out a comb to brush Zanxing’s long hair, saying gently: “Your hair is all wet. Little Palace Master, please come in and warm yourself first.”

Such squabbling, jealousy, and scheming happened daily. Usually, Zanxing would comfort this one and then that one, striving to treat everyone equally. But today she had matters on her mind, so she simply said: “You should all go rest. I’m rather tired.”

Shuijun gave everyone a meaningful look, and the group immediately withdrew. In Hundun Hall, only Zanxing remained. Mimi crept out from the shadows with a hunched back, jumped onto Zanxing’s couch, and found a comfortable position beside Zanxing to lie down.

Zanxing rubbed Mimi’s head while contemplating what Bujiang had said to her earlier.