In another room, Li Sisi slowly awakened from the couch.

“Senior Sister!” Putao pushed through the crowded people and stepped forward, grabbing her hand tightly: “Are you alright?”

“Junior Sister?” Li Sisi was stunned for a moment, looking around with some confusion: “Wasn’t I dragged underwater by a monster? How am I here?”

“Monster?” Putao’s grip on her hand stiffened.

Li Sisi’s eyes showed traces of lingering fear: “I went to the poolside to fetch water. As soon as I crouched down, I saw a green shadow appear at the bottom of the water, dragging me into the water… Then I lost consciousness.” She asked Putao, “Junior Sister, was it you who rescued me?”

Putao looked into her eyes, and after a long moment, said: “No.”

“Did you hear that? It was our Junior Sister Zanxing who saved her!” Tian Fangfang, who had been eavesdropping at the door, swaggered out with a face full of proud joy, as if her grievances had been vindicated: “Don’t casually slander people in the future!”

“What Junior Sister Zanxing?” Someone was indignant: “She’s the Demon Lord’s daughter, watch your identity!”

“Oh.” Tian Fangfang immediately complied and corrected herself: “It was the Demon Lord’s daughter who saved her.”

That person was too angry to speak with him anymore.

Li Sisi remained full of confusion, pulling at Putao in front of her and asking: “What does Fellow Cultivator Tian mean, Junior Sister? And who is this Demon Lord’s daughter?”

Putao averted her gaze and remained silent without speaking.

Having received confirmation, Tian Fangfang immediately went to tell Mu Cengxiao and his group this exciting new information.

“I knew it, Junior Sister Zanxing wouldn’t lie!” He gestured excitedly with dancing eyebrows: “To show such great kindness even to her mortal enemies, what magnanimity this is, how remarkable!”

“Shut up.” Gu Baiying frowned and glared at him: “Are you praising a member of the Demon Clan?”

Everyone in the room paused.

Gu Baiying had now completely forgotten his past with Zanxing. Initially, due to the incident at the Five Thunder Platform, his current impression of Zanxing was merely that of a cunning demon who had infiltrated the Taiyan Sect and deceived him. When leaving, because of Shaoyang Zhenren’s instructions, these disciples didn’t dare tell Gu Baiying the truth. But continuing like this… was indeed uncomfortable.

The discomfort was for those who were watching.

Tian Fangfang had always had the best relationship with Zanxing. He wasn’t afraid of Gu Baiying and exaggerated: “Ah, regardless of whether she’s from the Demon Clan or Human Clan, she just saved our people. In being human, the most important thing is to distinguish between gratitude and resentment clearly, and not repay virtue with enmity. When Martial Uncle just fought with her, the Embroidered Bone Spear even wounded her, who knows if it will damage her cultivation… She looks so gentle and weak, yet we not only bullied her with numbers but also bullied the small with the big…”

“Bullied the small with the big?” Gu Baiying stared coldly at his wild talk.

“You used to be her Martial Uncle! She’s a junior, and you, an elder, fighting with a junior – isn’t that bullying the small with the big?” Tian Fangfang spoke as if it were obvious.

Gu Baiying: “…….”

A Xiangling Sect disciple who was bringing bedding into the room couldn’t help but speak up: “Who said she was wounded? Besides, she looks fierce and menacing, consorting with that group of demons and monsters – where is she gentle and weak?”

“She was injured.” Meng Ying, who had been silent, spoke calmly with a certain tone: “I saw it; her arm was severely wounded with blood flowing like a river, most likely damaging her cultivation.”

The Xiangling Sect disciple left resentfully.

Mendong carefully observed Gu Baiying’s expression and said, “Seventh Martial Uncle, I think… we should send her some healing medicine as an apology. After all, she saved our people but was still wounded by us. If this gets out, it would damage our Taiyan Sect’s reputation.”

Gu Baiying could bear it no longer. The teacup in his hand slammed down on the table as he spoke coldly: “You, one after another, have been showing favor to that woman since just now.” His gaze suddenly became sharp, and his tone turned cold and condensed: “Why do you all have close relationships with her? When the sect said I was once bewitched by her, was this matter true or not? What exactly is the Sect Master hiding from me? And you,” his gaze swept over everyone, bright and penetrating like a knife trying to see through people: “what else do you know?”

The room fell into complete silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

After a long while, Tian Fangfang’s voice rang out: “What could we know? We only know that you two just held hands all the way here. In some strictly rule-abiding families, this would mean you’d have to marry her.”

Mendong secretly gave Tian Fangfang an encouraging look.

Hearing this, Gu Baiying cursed: “What nonsense are you spouting?”

However, the previously oppressive atmosphere was broken.

Mu Cengxiao coughed lightly: “I also think Martial Uncle should go send her some healing medicine. Even without sentiment, there should be righteousness. We cultivators can’t have less magnanimity than the Demon Clan, right?”

“Exactly.” Mendong pulled out a medicine bottle from his chest and placed it on the table: “This is a pill refined from Jade Lingzhi, it can supplement cultivation and nourish qi and blood. She needs it very much right now.”

Seeing this, Mu Cengxiao reached out to take it, saying: “I’ll go…”

Mendong coughed lightly, and Mu Cengxiao’s hand immediately changed direction mid-air, saying, “I’ll go make the beds.”

Gu Baiying’s gaze fell on the medicine bottle, not knowing what he was thinking. After a moment, he suddenly laughed coldly, grabbed the medicine bottle, and stood up: “Fine, since you’re all so insistent that I go find that woman, I’ll go take a look.”

The young man’s tone suddenly became heavy, carrying a few traces of calm menace: “Let’s see what secrets you’re all hiding.”

After Gu Baiying left, the tense atmosphere in the room immediately relaxed. Mendong breathed a sigh of relief and turned to lecture Mu Cengxiao: “Haven’t I shown you so many books? How are you still so obtuse? If you had gone to deliver the medicine just now, how would my Martial Uncle have been able to show himself? Don’t act on your initiative in the future!”

Mu Cengxiao’s face reddened slightly as he nodded repeatedly.

“However, do you think he went to show himself?” Meng Ying sat in the corner, a trace of worry flashing in her beautiful eyes: “I’m afraid that instead of remembering Junior Sister, he might break Junior Sister’s heart.”

……

In the room, Zanxing was examining the wounds of the Earth-Eating Ghost.

Before indulging in sorrow and melancholy, there were many things to do. For instance, they had now encountered the Demon-Suppressing Army, so their previous plans definitely wouldn’t work. Secondly, Gui Yansheng was ahead of them, and who knew if any complications would arise. Demons and the Demon-Suppressing Army living together was like sheep and tigers in the same pen – if either side couldn’t restrain themselves tonight, Siyou Kingdom would likely be awash in blood.

Sangmenxing was gathered by the window, crying incessantly with whimpering sounds.

“Stop your wailing, it makes people feel uncomfortable,” the Earth-Eating Ghost scolded him, then held his broken leg while looking at Zanxing with some flattered surprise: “Little Princess, this subordinate is fine, you don’t need to worry.” Heaven and earth, he had merely broken a leg – what virtue or ability did he have to deserve the Demon Clan princess personally tending to his wounds? Such great fortune, he wondered if it would shorten his lifespan.

The leg bone devoured by the Water-Wood Essence could never return. Seeing Zanxing’s worried expression, the White Bone Woman spoke considerately: “Little Princess need not worry. In this servant’s mansion in Heishi City, there are many human leg bones buried in the backyard pool, each one beautifully shaped with solid bones. Just let the Earth-Eating Ghost choose one to attach.”

“This works, too?” Zanxing was amazed.

“Of course it can.” Xiao Shuang smiled: “Or we could find some mud and water to mold a replacement.”

“Exactly, exactly, the White Bone Woman is an old cat jumping onto the stove – completely familiar with this!” the Mountain Spider nodded.

Zanxing then felt relieved. Just as she was thinking, another subordinate’s voice came from outside, carrying some tension: “Little Princess, Little Princess, troublemakers are here!”

“Troublemakers?” Zanxing was puzzled, and looking up, she saw Gu Baiying walking in.

Xiao Shuang and the White Bone Woman unobtrusively positioned themselves in front of Zanxing. Gu Baiying stopped, his gaze lingering on Zanxing’s face for a moment, then suddenly said: “Li Sisi has awakened.”

Zanxing slightly raised her eyebrows, hearing Gu Baiying’s voice continue: “You saved her.”

It seemed that Senior Sister Sisi was very honest, not throwing dirty water on her just because she disliked the Demon Clan.

Xiao Shuang looked gently toward Gu Baiying: “May I ask what brings you here, Young Master…”

“Meng Ying said you were injured.” He ignored Xiao Shuang, only looking at Zanxing and saying, “I wounded you.”

“Injured?” The White Bone Woman became nervous upon hearing this: “Where is Little Princess injured? Does it hurt?” She searched for a long time before finding a nail-sized scratch on the back of Zanxing’s hand.

The young man pulled out a medicine bottle from his sleeve: “Meng Ying asked me to…”

“No need.” Zanxing interrupted him.

Gu Baiying’s motion of offering the medicine paused.

“You came too late, the wound has already healed.” Zanxing looked up at him, her tone very calm, her expression neither warm nor cold, appearing as if facing someone familiar but with whom she had no deep friendship. She said, “Thank you for your kind intentions.”

The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat awkward. Even the most diplomatically skilled Xiao Shuang didn’t know what to say at this moment and could only stand in place, maintaining silence.

After a moment of surprise, the young man’s brow showed traces of irritation that even he hadn’t noticed. He slammed the medicine bottle heavily on the table and said ungraciously: “Take it or leave it.” Then he turned and left.

After Gu Baiying left, the several people in the room looked at each other. Weren’t they told that this young man was the Little Princess’s most beloved lover in Duzhou? Even during her seclusion, she constantly worried about his injuries. So much so that their entire group had been on guard since encountering Gu Baiying, fearing that Zanxing would be confused by her old flame and abandon the grand plan. But looking at it now… it was just so-so! Could it be that new love conquers old love, and those few favored consorts were indeed extraordinary?

Zanxing picked up the hot tea on the table and lowered her head to take a sip.

Gu Baiying appeared to have indeed forgotten the past between them. But when facing her, he seemed to have restrained some of his hostility toward the Demon Clan. This was certainly due to Meng Ying and the others’ efforts. After all, someone as clever as Gu Baiying should be able to detect the subtle emotions Tian Fangfang and the others had toward her, and couldn’t help but speculate further.

Only… what exactly had the sect done to him?

Had he lost all his memories?