Is she the senior sister of the Penglai Immortal Sect?
As she was thinking about it, she suddenly realized a problem.
Xia addressed Xuan Luoqing as “Lord,” indicating that he was clearly from the beast cultivation world.
It turns out that Senior Brother Xia was the inside man who was lurking in the enemy’s lair all along.
A jolt of memory surged through Lin Qianshuang’s mind. She suddenly recalled the day her master had made a promise to her. It was the same day the Demon Emperor went mad, slaughtering all the senior brothers in the palace, leaving only Senior Brother Xia alive. She and her master were about to face the same fate, but somehow she survived. When she awoke in the Tianyi Hall, the first person she saw was Xuan Luowan. Her master, however, had vanished without a trace, having gone to the Jiuyou Secret Realm.
Could Xuan Luowan and Xia have been behind these events? And could Han Shengyao’s accusations and jealousy have been fueled by Xuan Luowan’s manipulations?
Lin Qianshuang finally understood Xuan Luowan’s feelings for her. She had thought Xuan Luowan simply saw her as a friend, but it turned out that Xuan Luowan had harbored feelings for her for months, even before Han Shengyao left the Jiuchong Demon Palace.
This was all so deeply hidden. Lin Qianshuang recalled their interactions, realizing she had simply dismissed Xuan Luowan’s gestures as playful teasing. Perhaps she was too oblivious to notice such clear hints.
Now, knowing Xuan Luowan’s true feelings, Lin Qianshuang felt a strange mix of emotions when she remembered their intimacy. Xuan Luowan’s touch no longer felt repulsive; instead, her heart raced, and she felt a mix of shyness and embarrassment.
Lin Qianshuang wondered if her own feelings were changing. She didn’t dislike the touch or kisses of a girlfriend; in fact, she found them appealing. Could it be that she had a hidden attraction to women?
No, she told herself, she still loved men. These feelings must be an illusion.
Distracted, Lin Qianshuang stroked the strings of her lute and muttered, “Xuan Luowan, you liar! It’s a shame you died without confessing your feelings. You gave up your life for me without a word. You were a fool!”
Xuan Luoqing was about to punish Xia, but a powerful demonic aura pressed down on her, distracting her. Han Shengyao was approaching and would soon be in front of them.
Seeing her chance, Xia stood up and forcefully pushed Xuan Luoqing into the teleportation formation. The other beast cultivators, who had been working as spies in the Demon Realm, followed suit, rushing into the formation.
The formation activated instantly. Xuan Luoqing tried to leave, but the beast cultivators surrounded her, trapping her inside.
“Your Majesty, the overall situation is paramount! Do not delay our return for the sake of a woman’s personal affairs,” they pleaded.
“Lord, it has been decades. Please lead us back to our homeland!”
The beast cultivators knelt down in unison and kowtowed to the Beast Emperor, urging her to return.
Xuan Luoqing, with lingering affection, cast a final glance at Lin Qianshuang standing outside the formation. She then furiously flicked her sleeve, sending the kneeling beast cultivators sprawling across the ground. Her voice, laced with anger, was directed at Xia: “Protector Xia, you have dared to defy me! How dare you treat me this way!”
Xia, his face etched with regret, responded, “Your Majesty, my loyalty to you is as unwavering as the heavens and earth. But my actions have gone against your wishes, making me a traitor, unworthy of returning to the beast realm. I know I have no face to return, and even death cannot repay the kindness you have shown me.”
He pulled Lin Qianshuang closer to his side.
Lin Qianshuang, startled by the sudden movement, looked at Xia with confusion. As she met Xuan Luoqing’s gaze, she was struck by the resemblance to Xuan Luowan and felt a surge of unease. She quickly averted her eyes, avoiding her intense stare.
Xia continued, his voice firm, “Since you are leaving, Your Majesty, I will personally ensure my junior sister’s safe return to the human realm. No matter the cost, I will fulfill this promise.”
Across the shimmering light of the activated formation, Xuan Luoqing looked at Xia and the dazed Lin Qianshuang with a mixture of anger and scorn. Her crimson nails, digging into her palm, left a trail of blood. “You speak of loyalty, Protector Xia? Have you not interfered enough in my personal affairs? Since you are so dedicated, remember your promise. If she dies, and you live, I will personally lead a force to execute you!”
As the Beast Emperor’s voice boomed, the teleportation formation vanished in a blinding flash of light. The beast cultivators within disappeared without a trace, leaving only the charred remnants of the magic paper clinging to the ground, the embers still flickering.
A wisp of dark purple demonic energy, like a shadow, passed over Lin Qianshuang and Xia’s heads before plummeting from the misty sky above the Refining Valley.
“Master is coming.”
Xia looked up at the approaching demonic cloud, his hand tightening around Lin Qianshuang’s. His eyes, red with urgency, flicked towards the formation before he gritted out, “Little Junior Sister, don’t be afraid. Senior Brother will send you back to the Human Realm safely.”
Didn’t he want her dead? Why was he pretending to be a good person now?
Lin Qianshuang rolled her eyes, ready to retort, but Xia abruptly lifted her into the air, his grip on her arm tight. He propelled them towards the Demon Realm border, fueled by bestial energy.
The vast Demon Realm stretched endlessly, its mountains and rivers merging with the horizon. The sacred lake churned with demonic water, and demonic birds, their wings beating against the thin clouds, screeched as they flew past them.
The boundary between the Human Realm and the Demon Realm was close at hand. The golden talisman array, spinning with the power of yin and yang, illuminated the open gateway.
As soon as they landed, Lin Qianshuang yanked her hand free from Xia’s grasp. Her usual good temper was replaced with impatience as she snapped, “I can leave on my own. Senior Brother Xia, you don’t have to pretend.”
“Little Junior Sister.”
Xia called out softly behind Lin Qianshuang, noticing she had stopped. He said with a heavy heart, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have hurt you. I was too selfish, acting for the sake of the Venerable and the Beast Realm. But I don’t regret it, even if it means sacrificing my life.”
Lin Qianshuang turned to face Xia, her gaze unwavering. “You don’t need to apologize to me. Everyone has their own path, there’s no right or wrong. Why say all this? Just do what you believe is right. If I hate you, it’s because I hate myself for being blinded by falsehood, for not seeing the true intentions behind your actions.”
Did she really think that?
Xia stared at Lin Qianshuang, stunned. Her coldness seemed to emanate from her very core, a sense of detachment and rebellion that clashed with the entire world of cultivation.
His Little Junior Sister, so lonely, yet… terrifying. Her gaze seemed to pierce through him, leaving him with a chilling sense of foreboding.
Swish, swish, swish…
Thousands of arrows, propelled by the wind, rained down upon them.
Lin Qianshuang instantly summoned demonic energy, transforming it into a long sword. She unleashed a wave of sword energy, slicing through the arrows that threatened to strike her.
Xia stood before her, deflecting the incoming arrows. Two had already pierced his arm. He yelled, “Little Junior Sister! The barrier gate is open! Escape!”
Lin Qianshuang watched Xia fight desperately, her gaze fixed on the swirling portal. Ignoring the pain of the arrows that had already pierced her own arm, she charged towards the gate leading to the Human Realm.
Xia had stayed behind for her. If she didn’t escape, it would be to his detriment.
A thunderous boom shook the earth. From a mountain range within the Demon Realm, a sword aura erupted, transforming into a giant blade that pierced the heavens. The blade unleashed a wave of light, spreading across the sky.
The ancient swordsmanship unleashed a powerful force, triggering the Demon Realm’s protective barrier. The intricate formation that controlled the portal began to reverse, its swirling runes flickering and fading. With a resounding click, the gate closed.
Lin Qianshuang’s hand had just touched the barrier when it slammed shut, pushing her back to the ground. She was caught off guard by the sudden surge of demonic energy.
“What’s going on? Why did the barrier gate suddenly close?”
She looked up at the sky, where a divine weapon had just been unearthed, a twitch of her lips betraying her sudden understanding.
“It’s the day Han Shengyao picked up Liang Jingxuan as her disciple and brought him to the Jiuchong Demon Palace,” she mused, calculating the time. “Not only was it their first meeting, but it was also the day the Purple Heavenly Sword was born.”
Lin Qianshuang couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “That lucky bastard. On his first day in the Demon Realm, he stumbles upon the sword ruins where the Purple Heavenly Sword is buried and gets the sword spirit’s approval, winning this peerless divine weapon. He could have taken the Purple Heavenly Sword any time, but he had to do it right when I was escaping! Now the Demon Realm’s protective barrier is activated, and I’m trapped!”
Lin Qianshuang mentally stabbed Liang Jingxuan with a sword a few times, feeling a mix of anger and despair. She glared at the closed gate, the cool wind whistling past her ankles, narrowly missing the arrows still embedded in the ground. The situation was dire.
Su Qing saw Lin Qianshuang standing unharmed amidst a hail of arrows and berated the demon guards, “What’s going on? You can’t even handle a single beast cultivator spy?”
One of the demon guards hesitated and said awkwardly, “Right Protector, the Demon Empress is standing beside the beast cultivator spy. It’s hard to explain to the Demon Emperor if she gets hurt.”
Su Qing glanced at Lin Qianshuang with a hint of pity, but ultimately ordered cruelly, “The Demon Empress and the beast cultivator spy are attempting to escape the Demon Realm together. They should be treated equally and shot with arrows without discrimination!”
“Yes!”
The demon guards, no longer hesitant, picked up their bows and arrows and aimed at the two. A thousand arrows rained down upon them, their magic arrows flying like a storm.
The sound of flesh tearing echoed from behind the young man who stood in front of Lin Qianshuang, shielding her with his body.
“Why haven’t you left yet? Junior sister, it’s too late!”
Xia used his demonic energy to deflect the arrows, using his body as a shield to protect Lin Qianshuang. His eyes were red with anxiety.
“The protective formation is activated, the barrier gate is closed. Senior Brother Xia, we can’t escape.”
Lin Qianshuang clutched the qin in her arms, her gaze cold as she said, “Get out of my way. You can’t stop whoever wants to kill me by standing in front of me!”
Xia held Lin Qianshuang tightly, refusing to let her go. He suddenly lowered his head and bit her lip. As Lin Qianshuang gasped in surprise, he spat out his entire beast core and forced it down her throat.
His hundreds of years of cultivation vanished in an instant, returning him to his mortal form. Dozens of arrows pierced his chest from behind, relentless and merciless.
Blood splattered across Lin Qianshuang’s face and stained the front of her clothes.
Xia closed his eyes and kissed Lin Qianshuang’s cheek, whispering softly in her ear, “Little Junior Sister, live. That’s my promise to the Venerable, and my last blessing to you.”
Lin Qianshuang felt hands gently stroking her head, and a faint sigh drifted past her ear.
“If you weren’t the Venerable’s… how good it would be. I could finally speak the words buried in my heart. But alas, what I cannot have, I can only destroy. And even in the face of destruction, I can’t bear to let it go.”
“It’s just me who’s naive.”
Lin Qianshuang’s pupils widened, watching as Xia’s usually mature and handsome face broke into a radiant, yet fleeting, smile. His light brown eyes went blank, replaced by a flash of red light before a bloody gash appeared on his neck. His head lolled to the side, falling to the ground with a sickening thud, splattering blood everywhere.
A scream caught in Lin Qianshuang’s throat. She covered her mouth, fighting back the urge to vomit, refusing to look at Xia’s lifeless body.
The crimson figure that had approached kicked Xia’s body away.
Han Shengyao withdrew the demonic energy in her hand and rushed to Lin Qianshuang, her voice laced with panic. “Shuang’er, are you hurt? I will punish Su Qing severely later. How dare he attack you!”
“Master, please don’t come over. Let me calm down properly.”
Lin Qianshuang’s eyes were dry, but she felt a desperate need to cry. This was the first time she had seen someone close to her murdered so brutally. The way his head had been severed was far more gruesome than anything she had ever seen in any movie. It was a nightmare made real.
She didn’t want to see Han Shengyao right now. The sight of her would only bring back the image of Xia’s head rolling away, a scene that filled her with unbearable discomfort.
“Shuang’er, it was my fault. Come back with me, we need to talk, master and disciple.”
Han Shengyao stood before Lin Qianshuang, her red robes billowing. She extended a hand, her expression revealing regret and apology for the first time. The most beautiful woman in the Demon Realm looked at Lin Qianshuang with kindness and tenderness.
Lin Qianshuang considered her current predicament. If she simply returned with her master, wouldn’t it diminish her standing in his eyes? Her connection with the beast cultivators was already known, and the Right Protector Su Qing had tried to kill her, clearly suspecting her motives.
Only Han Shengyao could protect her now.
Lin Qianshuang made up her mind, summoning her courage to face Han Shengyao. She materialized a long sword in her hand, feigning anger, and said, “Master, you want me to return? Then come and compete with me. If I win, I will obey your every word. Just like… we used to.”
Han Shengyao noticed the desolation in Lin Qianshuang’s voice as she spoke those last words. A wave of heartache and pity washed over her.
It was she who had hurt her disciple, no matter what…
“As long as her disciple could go back with her, it would be fine.”
In the Purple Heavenly Sword Ruins.
“System, are you sure this is really the Purple Heavenly Sword? from the ancient times and not just some fairy child’s plaything?”
Liang Jingxuan struggled to drag the pink Purple Heavenly Sword with both hands. The two feathered wings on the scabbard even fluttered cutely twice as he pulled it, looking adorable.
“Master, please believe me. The scabbard of this sword looks strange, but it is truly the Purple Heavenly Sword!” the System insisted.
Liang Jingxuan rubbed his waist, nearly going crazy. He continued to struggle, saying, “This sword is too damn heavy. It’s not playing with me. The scabbard is an eyesore, just throw it away.”
The System, terrified that Liang Jingxuan would actually discard the scabbard, stammered, “Host, calm down! The Purple Heavenly Sword must see blood when it leaves its scabbard. You are the only one within several miles. If you draw the sword… it will be a tragedy of self-harm.”
Liang Jingxuan continued to drag the sword with a bitter face. Suddenly, a thought struck him. He was the only one within several miles… Where did his little junior sister go?
The System, sensing Liang Jingxuan’s concern, replied, “Host, don’t worry. Xiao Lanle’s location can be locked at any time. She can’t go too far. However, your sword still needs to be refined, so that it can be shrunk and carried easily.”
Right, why hadn’t he thought of refining!
A wave of relief washed over Liang Jingxuan. Hearing that Xiao Lanle was fine, he placed the Purple Heavenly Sword in front of him and concentrated on sitting cross-legged to meditate. It wouldn’t take long anyway.