The distant trees touched the sky, the moonlight flickered in and out.
The dense forest was shrouded by the night, a cold wind swept through, stirring the vast, surging sea of trees like waves.
The air was bitterly cold and strangely restless, a sense of suffocation spread overwhelmingly, only to be swiftly shattered by the edge of a sword.
Now, the Guiyuan Immortal Abode was overrun with demonic energy, and the inner demon, nourished and grown, had already attained Nascent Soul level strength. Streams of black miasma converged into roaring, charging wolves, surging forth with the force to tear through space.
Pei Du moved through the black energy, Zhan Yuan slicing through the air, drawing a cold, bright arc. Layers of snowy mist carrying frost directly cleaved through a wolf's head.
"Focus your spirit, steady your breath."
Chu Zheng said: "Do you see the black aura swirling around him? That is the breath of the inner demon. It can disturb one's mind, causing his inner demon to gradually grow."
Xie Jingci's brow was tightly furrowed: "Then we—"
"Close your eyes, mobilize your spiritual sense."
The young puppet's throat moved slightly, condensing a strand of spiritual power from his fingertips: "You need to enter his sea of consciousness, to protect that swordsman from being deluded by the inner demon. This place is difficult for the battle to affect, and I will also protect you by your side, ensuring you are not harmed by the inner demon."
The sea of consciousness is the most hidden and treasured place of a cultivator, containing all the memories and thoughts of a lifetime. Once the sea of consciousness is damaged, the least consequence is the loss of memory and emotion; the worst is losing one's mind, becoming a fool who understands nothing of the world.
Therefore, the vast majority of people set up numerous prohibitions within their sea of consciousness to block any possibility of invasion.
Seeing her slight hesitation, Chu Zheng's gaze shifted, revealing the first smile Xie Jingci had seen from him, implying meaning: "If it were me, I certainly couldn't easily enter his sea of consciousness. But if it's you... I imagine he won't give you much trouble."
Chu Zheng's words were true.
The method to enter the sea of consciousness wasn't difficult. One only needed to mobilize their spiritual sense, release it from the body, and connect with another's perception. If no obstruction was met, one could smoothly probe within.
The moment she released her spiritual sense, everything in the world became exceptionally clear and discernible.
The swaying of tree branches and leaves, a water droplet slowly falling, even the chaotic, ragged breaths of the demonic creatures not far away—all could be perceived, spreading outwards bit by bit with her spiritual power as the center.
Pei Du's aura was clean and pure. The moment her sense touched it, there was no imagined rejection or resistance. A tremendous pulling force, like a black hole, drew her into it in an instant.
Everything around her completely dissipated.
The demonic roars, the piercing sword energy, the moonlight flickering before her eyes—all vanished without a trace. Xie Jingci opened her eyes in a void, and in a daze, caught sight of a blinding brightness piercing her vision.
Light tore through the darkness. The first thing that rushed into her sight was a small, thin shadow.
It was a boy with delicate features, looking only about six or seven years old, standing in the center of a dilapidated, simple courtyard. Before him lay a wooden stretcher.
The person on the stretcher lay motionless and still, a white cloth covering their face.
"Xiao Du, you know, the mountains have been very unsettled lately. Demons are everywhere. Your father... he drank too much again."
The middle-aged man standing beside him wore an awkward expression, scratching his head. "When we found him, he was already gone. You... please accept our condolences."
Xie Jingci moved closer.
This should be Pei Du's memory. She was merely an intruder, unable to be perceived by anyone within, only able to play the role of an observer.
The young Pei Du already bore the contours of his adult features—handsome but excessively thin. The short shirt he wore was plainly crude and poorly made. His slender ankles were exposed to the cold wind, marked with patches of bruising.
The small boy stood by the stretcher. He didn't cry, his voice the uniquely clear and pure sound of a child: "Thank you, Uncle Li."
"Now that your father... you should be the only one left in the family."
The man sighed. "If you have any difficulties, you can always come to me for help. I originally thought of letting you stay with us, but you know, with the demons running rampant, it's hard for our village just to get enough to eat... Times are tough for everyone."
Pei Du nodded and thanked him again.
He didn't speak further. People came and went around him, most offering a few words of sympathy before leaving with sorrowful expressions, silent.
The adults helped him bury the remains. When the boy returned home, the lonely courtyard echoed with no reply. He seemed bewildered, sitting blankly before his bed for a long time, maintaining an upright sitting posture, quietly passing the night.
The next day, Pei Du began watering the cabbages in the yard, going to the market to buy seeds. His thin, small figure was swallowed by the crowd, like a grain of sand falling into a vast ocean.
Xie Jingci followed behind him, watching the blurred faces of the passersby coming and going, faint whispers reaching her ears.
"That drunkard died?"
"Heard he was killed by a demon, his heart dug out. These past few days, the monsters have been running wild, even the authorities can't handle them. Our lives here are getting harder every day. How are we supposed to live?"
"What a tragedy. That man died, leaving only a son behind, just seven years old, right?"
"That drunkard was always crazy, beating his son every night. To be honest, with him dead, the child might actually be better off—hasn't he been working since he was very young?"
"His mother died giving birth to him. Isn't there that saying? The fate of a lone star, bringing calamity, very dangerous."
The small boy lowered his eyelashes and remained silent, as if they were discussing a stranger who had nothing to do with him. He hugged the seeds tightly, lowered his head, and silently quickened his pace.
As his steps gradually sped up, the surrounding scenery was suddenly shattered, turning into many scattered fragments.
The images on the fragments were blurred, likely very distant memories that Pei Du hadn't carefully held onto.
There was a time he wrapped himself into a ball with a thin quilt, huddled in the corner of the bed.
There was a time he went up the mountain to chop wood in the icy snow, accidentally stepped on snow and fell down a cliff, his body covered in blood, the red frostbite on his hands torn open by rocks.
There was a time on New Year's Eve, watching the lights of a hundred homes, he unusually cooked two bowls of rice to reward himself.
There was a time he passed by a schoolhouse, unconsciously stood there for a long time, and when discovered by others, his cheeks flushed red as he hurried away with lowered head.
There was also a time he faced a ragged doll he had picked up, asking "What's your name?" before letting out a self-mocking light laugh.
The fragments were scattered and messy. As she watched scene after scene, she only felt a sourness in her eyes. Coming back to her senses, she realized tears had been falling without her knowing when.
Suddenly, the blurred memories coalesced. Everything before her eyes gradually became clear.
Likely because this past event was firmly remembered by Pei Du, when it reappeared in the sea of consciousness, it felt exceptionally vivid.
The first thing to occupy all her senses was a thick, coppery smell of blood.
Demonic winds howled in her ears, demonic energy weaving into an airtight net, swarming forth, eliciting countless screams of terror.
Fumeng Mountain was remote, its spiritual energy stagnant, very suitable for demonic creatures to breed.
This demon had been gathering strength for years and, having fed on the blood of many people, could use its aura as a medium, coming and going without a trace, killing invisibly. Ordinary mortals had never seen such supernatural phenomena. For a time, people fled in all directions, blood flying everywhere.
Xie Jingci spotted Pei Du at a glance.
He was sent flying by the demonic energy, and when he landed heavily on the ground, he spat out a mouthful of crimson blood.
The surging air currents transformed into sharp blades, mercilessly slicing through his skin and clothing. Powerless to fight back, he lay in a corner, covered in blood, like a dying beast.
The demonic creature let out a wanton laugh, seemingly sensing his presence, and drew closer, bit by bit.
A dark tide surged.
The boy on the verge of death didn't shed a single tear. His pitch-black pupils were dull and lifeless, devoid of any ripple of emotion.
He must have felt despair and confusion for a very long time.
Without family or friends, unable to find a reason to live, merely drifting through each day and night, he had thought countless times that perhaps death was the only release.
His frail figure was gradually swallowed by the shadows.
Yet, the demonic energy did not arrive as expected.
—At the very moment the evil demon was about to touch him, a sword light pierced through the darkness.
Someone cried out, "Immortals! The immortals are here! We are saved!"
The mountain folk were accustomed to plain food and simple cloth garments, but the figures that flashed past now were all dressed in fine silks with jade adornments, elegant and noble. A single glance was enough to tell they were far from ordinary.
The handsome young man leading them, sword in hand, was none other than Xie Shu, the preeminent Sword Saint of the cultivation world.
Xie Jingci's fingertips twitched.
Standing beside Xie Shu was a little girl in a white dress, holding a long saber that seemed incongruous with her small stature.
This was her.
Having lived a life of luxury since birth, she had never seen such a desolate mountain village. Looking around, she wore an expression of clear surprise.
She naturally also saw Pei Du lying in the corner.
But, completely unlike the warm, healing scenes from storybooks, Xie Jingci's gaze did not linger on him. Instead, a medical cultivator beside her exclaimed, "Don't move! Let me stop your bleeding!"
There were too many injured in the village. Compared to one inconspicuous boy, the demon itself held far greater attraction.
"This thing is more troublesome than imagined,"
Xie Shu said. "Cici, be careful."
A spellcaster by his side laughed. "With us here, how could we let Cici get hurt?"
A pang of sourness struck Xie Jingci's heart, and she turned her gaze toward Pei Du.
Back then, she lived surrounded by the kindness of countless people, while the boy in the corner was utterly alone, struggling to swallow back a mouthful of blood.
The deep shadow cast by the eaves enveloped most of him. Compared to the radiant cultivators, Pei Du seemed so dim he might vanish at any moment.
Fumeng Mountain suffered heavy casualties. The medical cultivator couldn't stay by his side for long. After quickly stopping the bleeding and treating his wounds, she hurried off to save others elsewhere.
After this catastrophe, the village was filled with families and friends walking together in small groups. Pei Du struggled to prop himself up. His shadow, stretched long by the firelight, stood alone, quiet and desolate.
The demonic energy scattered, transforming into numerous pitch-black, elongated vines that surged wantonly toward the pedestrians on the road.
His corner was extremely secluded, untouched by the evil creature's assault. Yet, for some unknown reason, watching the writhing shadows not far away, the boy took a step forward with his right leg.
His expression unchanged, calm and unruffled, he walked step by step toward the place where the demonic energy was fiercest.
Around him were firelight, dark night, wails, and a blood mist spreading far and wide.
A vine shot forth swiftly, the air whistling like a sob as it was pierced.
In the oppressive air, a sudden, fragrant breeze arrived.
An unexpected force wrapped tightly around him and gave a fierce push. The two of them shifted sideways, just barely avoiding the vine's attack.
Pei Du's expression finally showed a flicker of change, revealing a trace of surprise and bewilderment.
The girl who had pushed him aside was also covered in blood. Seeming furious, she gritted her teeth: "Are you trying to get yourself killed? Idiot!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she swiftly turned, her saber flashing as she sliced the returning vine in two.
All of this happened without warning.
When the girl grabbed his hand, Pei Du was clearly stunned.
He was covered in bloodstains and dirt, filthy beyond measure. Even the fleeing villagers would instinctively avoid him upon sight, unwilling to be tainted in the slightest.
Yet this seemingly spoiled and willful young girl before him had grasped his hand without hesitation.
For the first time, someone was willing to hold his hand.
Her words tumbled out like beads: "Where are your parents? Why would you go to such a dangerous place alone? — Geez, can you run any faster?"
Pei Du was silent. After a long while, he spoke haltingly, "My parents passed away."
Xie Jingci's steps faltered for a beat.
She gave a light cough, her tone awkwardly gentle: "What about your other relatives?"
"...There aren't any."
She had never been good at dealing with such pitiful cases and was momentarily at a loss for words. Only after leading the boy to a safe outpost did she stop and turn back.
Pei Du had been staring blankly at her retreating figure. Seeing Xie Jingci turn around, he hurriedly lowered his gaze.
"Well, you," she weighed her words, seeming to feel what she was about to say was inappropriate. After some thought, she scratched her head. "Hold out your hand."
Pei Du hesitated for a moment, then slowly extended his hand.
His hand was covered in chilblains, red and swollen in the winter. Now it was also streaked with blood, an utterly unsightly sight.
The boy's ears faintly reddened.
Xie Jingci was startled.
Truth be told, she wasn't particularly kind-hearted. Usually afraid of getting dirty and feeling pain, if her dress got mud on it, her face would instantly sour.
But even she, as insensitive as she could be, could tell the person before her had thoughts of seeking death.
The girl, white and soft like a dumpling, lowered her head and reached out. She gently wiped the blood from his hand with a handkerchief, then dabbed a bit of Jade Dew Ointment with her fingertips onto Pei Du's hand, causing him to stiffen.
"Anyway, seeking death is not good."
She had never been good at comforting people. She took an awkward breath; she didn't even know what she was saying: "Although life is very hard right now, if you grit your teeth and endure, someday things will get better. Think about it—dying so early would be such a bad deal. If you keep living, you'll see countless sights, eat countless delicious foods, and meet countless different people."
Her fingertip moved, tracing a circle around the wound. "Maybe one day, when you meet a certain someone or encounter a certain event, you'll think to yourself involuntarily: 'I'm really glad I survived.'"
Pei Du stared at her dumbfounded.
"That's roughly it... roughly."
Xie Jingci, feeling embarrassed under his gaze, rubbed the tip of her nose. "Also, since I risked my life to save you today, half of this life of yours now belongs to me. Don't just throw it away carelessly, alright?"
She paused, then added, "You rest well here. I need to go find my father."
As she left, she waved at him.
The place Xie Jingci headed toward was flickering with firelight and overflowing with sword radiance. The outpost where Pei Du stayed had only the faint light of candles, unable to hold back the encroaching night.
He stood within the darkness, watching her figure grow further and further away, step by step, heading toward that brilliantly radiant place.
Then Pei Du gradually lost consciousness.
When the boy woke the next day, the evil spirits had retreated, and the cultivators had left without a word.
Bearing his wounds, he climbed to the mountaintop and stood there for a long time, staring blankly in the direction the immortals had departed. Then, coming to his senses, he lowered his head and discovered a small vial in his pocket.
It was a bottle of medicinal pills.
A slip of paper was attached to the bottle, the handwriting bold, flowing, and unrestrained. He gazed at it quietly for a long time, his knuckles clenched so tightly they turned pale.
How pitiful.
He had never attended school and couldn't recognize the handwriting on it.
Memories shattered like a mirror, turning into countless scattered shards of white light.
When Xie Jingci opened her eyes again, another scene lay before her.
The boy, once as thin as a bean sprout, had grown a little taller but remained gaunt. With his straight back, he stood there like a bamboo pole.
The backdrop was no longer the dilapidated Fumeng Mountain, but a City God temple.
Night had fallen. Flickering candlelight filled the temple, quiet and still. Pei Du, likely visiting for the first time, glanced around curiously before sitting down in the innermost corner.
His clothes were somewhat cleaner, but they were dusty from long travel. A cold breeze made him cough lightly.
Just as he settled, voices came from outside the temple.
"Did you hear? The Pei Manor is recruiting new disciples! I heard Pei Fengnan values talent and specifically ordered that anyone, regardless of background, can sign up for the selection—I plan to give it a try. What about you?"
"Us? Really? Pei Fengnan's reputation is huge. Plenty of young masters and ladies are fighting tooth and nail to get in."
"Who knows? Maybe one of us has exceptional talent and will be spotted at a glance! Wait, is someone there?"
Three young beggars swaggered into the temple. The leader caught sight of him, raised an eyebrow, and sneered.
"Hey, brat. Didn't anyone tell you? This place is our turf."
He sauntered over, eyeing the bundle in the boy's hands. "You're alone?"
Pei Du's expression darkened, clutching the bundle tighter.
"No surprise. With the Pei Manor recruiting, lots of folks are heading this way."
Another beggar stepped forward with a laugh. "Holding it so tight... must be travel money your parents gave you, right? Since you're using our spot, shouldn't you pay some rent?"
Pei Du finally spoke.
He looked nothing like his future self, his gaze cold and dark, like a wolf ready to strike. "I have no money."
"No money?"
The young man laughed heartily. "Let us take a look, then we'll know if you have money or not!"
It was a completely one-sided fight.
Pei Du was still young, frail and thin. Even fighting desperately, he was no match for three youths. He was beaten black and blue, and eventually stopped resisting, only clinging stubbornly to his bundle.
"This kid's got a hard spine."
One of them laughed even louder. "There must be treasure in here!"
The boy gritted his teeth, curling his body into a small ball.
Stubborn as he was, he never cried out in pain. But now, trembling, he spoke in a hoarse voice, "There's no money inside... I beg you."
Xie Jingci trembled with rage, yet she could do nothing.
This was Pei Du's past, immutable. In this past, she was carefree, far away in Yunjing.
The bundle was finally wrested away.
The young men looked puzzled.
It contained nothing of value—just a few thin garments, a pitifully small amount of travel money, and a small porcelain vial.
Pei Du struggled to get up, only to be stomped back to the ground.
"What's this? There's a note attached."
He had been reluctant to let anyone else see that note. He had planned to wait until he learned to read, so he could understand Miss Xie's words himself.
Pei Du never imagined that the secret he cherished so deeply would reach his ears in this way.
"'The medicine is more valuable than you. Take good care of it.'"
The young man read aloud and chuckled. "'Don't go seeking death, you fool.'"
"What's this? A gift from a sweetheart?"
Another burst into laughter. "Quick, see what medicine this is!"
"This kid's just a pauper. It can't be anything goo—"
The young man's voice cut off.
His eyes widened, disbelief on his face as he poured out a pill. His voice trembled involuntarily. "Th-this... this spiritual energy... a Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir?"
Pei Du didn't know just how priceless a Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir was.
Knowing the pill was lost for good, he forced his eyes open and strained to speak. "The note. Give it back."
"No wonder he guarded it so fiercely! We've struck it rich!"
The leader's face flushed with excitement. Hearing Pei Du, he smirked contemptuously and looked down at him. "You want it?"
Pei Du took a deep breath, his eyes red, and nodded.
A moment of silence.
The response was the soft sound of paper being torn.
Rip after rip, like blades scraping against his eardrums.
As the scraps fluttered down, a flicker of flame passed over them, burning them into blackened fragments.
The young men, having obtained their treasure, left with fading laughter.
The boy pushed himself up from the ground. His fingers reached forward, touching only a wisp of thin ash.
He had nothing left.
That note, which he had carefully preserved, which he would trace with his fingers every night, meticulously imagining the day he might see that person's shadow again...
So, Miss Xie had wanted to tell him: don't seek death.
She had also told him that one day, he would meet someone.
Someone who would make him think, "It's truly wonderful to be alive."
But before he could bridge the vast, vast distance to Miss Xie, everything was gone.
In the empty City God temple, there was no sound of wind.
A sudden sob, suppressed and low, sounded at first like the whimper of a small animal, then grew clearer and clearer.
When his father passed away, Pei Du did not cry.
When he resolutely went to his death amidst demonic energy, he did not shed a single tear.
Now, in the deep quiet of the night, the boy lay prostrate on the ground, unable to suppress his hoarse weeping. Blood and transparent tears fell together, staining the ground a shocking red.
Xie Jingci stepped forward in silence.
She wrapped her arms around him, her fingers like mist, passing through his body the moment they touched the boy.
Tears fell uncontrollably.
This memory ended abruptly here. The candlelight faded, replaced by the glaring sun, as if a lifetime had passed.
Xie Jingci recognized this place.
It was the Academy.
"With your innate Sword Bone and rare Heavenly Water spiritual root, young master Pei, you are sure to make your mark at the Academy."
Pei Du was now a teenager, tall and graceful, with a face like fine jade. His every movement exuded a gentle refinement, clearly having been taught by Pei Fengnan for some time.
The senior disciple showing him around the Academy was a chatterbox, talking nonstop from start to finish. The Academy's pavilions towered high, auspicious clouds graced the rooftops, and the shadow of a crane skimmed over the pond, stirring gentle breezes.
In the warm, brilliant sunshine, a woman's light laughter came from afar.
Xie Jingci was startled.
That was Meng Xiaoting's voice.
Pei Du hadn't paid it any mind at first, but as he indifferently lifted his gaze, his entire aura suddenly froze.
The sunlight fell lazily, fish swam in the pond—he could even hear the rippling water.
Everything was extremely quiet. Nothing seemed to move, yet everything felt thrown into chaos. The air seemed to explode in layers, making him hold his breath, his mind reeling from the pounding of his heart.
From the end of the corridor, two young women walked toward them.
One had smiling almond eyes, the other listened quietly, the corners of her lips also upturned. As if sensing a stranger's presence, she suddenly looked up.
Pei Du's ears grew hot and red unbidden. He wanted to meet her gaze, but after a fleeting touch, he quickly averted his eyes.
As expected, she no longer remembered him.
"Junior Sisters Xie, Meng."
The senior disciple smiled. "No classes today?"
"We're on our way there now!"
Meng Xiaoting grinned, glancing up: "And this is—?"
"This is the newly enrolled Young Master Pei."
The senior disciple said: "He has exceptional talent. Perhaps in the future, Junior Sister Xie might meet her match."
Meng Xiaoting looked at her and let out a meaningful, drawn-out "Oh—".
In a hurry to get to class, they didn't plan to linger. The two girls chattered away as they passed through the corridor, brushing past Pei Du without a word, leaving only a faint breeze in their wake.
"Let's keep going, I'll take you to— Huh, Junior Brother Pei, why is your face so red?"
He lowered his head hastily: "...It's hot."
"Your eyes seem red too. Can you not stand the cold wind?"
The senior disciple's voice continued: "The one on the left just now is the young lady of the Xie family in Yunjing. Among those your age, her cultivation is the strongest."
Pei Du listened quietly, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth: "That's impressive."
"But you're very strong too! By the end-of-year grand competition, you'll surely amaze everyone. Perhaps even she will be astonished."
The youth hugged the sword in his hands, dimples appearing on his cheeks.
"...Mm."
After that, the memories became rich and bright, each segment exceptionally clear.
So it turned out Pei Du would always silently seek her figure, pretending indifference as they passed by, only for a smile to well up in his eyes once they had gradually moved apart.
So it turned out Pei Du grew accustomed to watching her back. During secret realm trials, he would always stay not far from her. Once any incident occurred, he would pretend to have just happened to pass by, drawing his sword to shield her behind him.
Even back at the academy, there was an anonymous bulletin board for disciples to speak freely. When someone wrote slanderous words about her, it was also him who earnestly defended her and showered her with extravagant, glowing praise.
Xie Jingci was straightforward by nature. Before this, she couldn't comprehend such unknown devotion and waiting.
But at this moment, she suddenly understood his caution and his words that belied his true feelings.
The distance between them was too great. Unwilling to startle her, he could only grit his teeth and cultivate arduously, step by step striving to reach a place worthy of Xie Jingci.
On the day the marriage contract was settled, Pei Du drank alcohol for the first time.
The usually calm and restrained young swordsman hugged a large tree in the courtyard, his cheeks flushed a light pink, his eyes also rimmed red, repeating to it over and over: "So happy."
His way of expressing emotions had always been simple and clumsy.
After that came the fall from the cliff, the complete loss of his cultivation, becoming a worthless cripple.
And then meeting Xie Jingci.
At that time, his heart was ashen, thinking it was the last time he would see her.
Although Pei Du cherished that piece of paper, the marriage contract, he also understood he shouldn't drag her down. He had already prepared himself to sign the annulment, only to hear her gentle voice and feel her hand touch his dirtied body.
He was utterly flustered, nearly forgetting to breathe.
Xie Jingci would never know how important her seemingly casual decision to go to Ghost Tomb to find Pei Du was to him.
It was like being reborn, giving meaning to all his efforts, and for the first time, making him desperately want to keep living.
For a very long time, she knew nothing of this.
In a daze, the memories faded, and Xie Jingci arrived at the depths of his consciousness.
Demonic energy swirled, though not densely. A boy, frail and covered in bloodstains, stood at the center. Sensing her arrival, he turned his head quietly.
This was Pei Du's inner demon.
His countless fears stemmed from that City God Temple many years ago.
He had nothing, not even hope for the future.
If the Pei Manor refused to take him as a disciple, if he possessed no talent for cultivation, he wouldn't even have a token left to remember that person by.
The distance between them was too vast; he couldn't even gaze at her from afar.
Xie Jingci stepped closer to him.
The boy looked up from the pool of blood, tears glistening in his eyes. Whether from self-loathing or fear, he instinctively tried to retreat.
His movements were stiff, his pale lips trembling slightly. Then, in the next instant, he fell into a gentle embrace.
This was what she had wanted to do back then but had been powerless to achieve.
The boy's thin body felt as if it were only skin and bones. Feeling the chill of his body, Xie Jingci couldn't help but shed tears.
How utterly desperate Pei Du must have been back then.
Across so many, many years, she finally said to him: "Pei Du, I'm here."
In that instant, his spiritual sense shook violently.
Everything before her eyes vanished. When Xie Jingci regained her focus, she saw the demonic energy-dense forest within the Guiyuan Immortal Manor.
Her body was trembling.
All around was darkness. The sound of footsteps grew closer and closer, pulling forth a sword light as clear and cold as ice and snow.
Pei Du's clothes were stained with blood, his demeanor originally sharp and austere. But the moment he saw her, the killing intent receded, and a faint smile subtly appeared in his eyes: "Miss Xie, I have already dealt with Wandering Immortal Yunshui's inner demon—"
He paused, the smile fading: "You're crying?"
Only then did Xie Jingci realize her tears were falling uncontrollably.
"I'm sorry."
The young man was nearly at a loss, quickly stepping closer to her, his tone carrying reassurance and remorse: "Did my inner demon... frighten you?"
Xie Jingci didn't speak.
Just as Pei Du stepped forward, she also suddenly moved towards him.
It was an action without any warning.
One hand pressed against the back of his neck, pulling him down without room for refusal. Pei Du lowered his head accordingly, his pupils contracting sharply.
His cool fingertips instinctively clenched, crumpling his sleeve into watery layers of wrinkles.
He held his breath, his heart pounding violently against his chest. Sword energy scattered chaotically, all murderous aura gone.
Miss Xie's crimson lips... were pressed against his own.
