"Still no sign of her? Where could a wounded little girl possibly hide?" Qi Yunke's eyes darkened with a chilling intensity that would shock anyone familiar with his usual demeanor.
Li Wenxun replied coldly, "No trace means no trace. Don't forget she's learned at least seventy to eighty percent of Ning Xiaofeng's disguise skills. She could easily blend in by changing clothes and altering her appearance at any peasant household."
Seeing Qi Yunke's grim expression, he added, "The greater matter demands attention. You should focus on mastering the Purple Star Sutra as soon as possible to avoid complications that might undo all our efforts."
After a moment's consideration, Qi Yunke decisively said, "We'll return to Myriad Waters, Thousand Mountains Cliff first. Leave... Situ Hui to handle the aftermath."
Li Wenxun's eyes flickered, "...Heh, you certainly hold a grudge."
Qi Yunke coldly retorted, "Likewise."
With Zhou Zhizhen's violent death, Jade Pendant Mountain Manor was draped in mourning white, the sound of weeping audible even from a mile away.
A group of gray-clad visitors with white sashes around their waists came to pay respects. Zhou Yuqi, dressed in mourning hemp, bowed and thanked them quietly.
The leader, a round-faced, smiling man, cupped his hands toward Zhou Zhixian. "The Demonic Cult grows ever more brazen, having claimed two great heroes of our time. Our sect leader fears Azure Tower Sect may also face attack and had to return overnight with Li Shibo. He sent me in his stead to offer incense—please forgive this impropriety, Zhou female knight."
Zhou Zhixian frowned slightly, exchanging polite words before asking, "This martial brother is also from Azure Tower Sect? I don't recall seeing you before. May I know your esteemed name?"
The portly man smiled warmly. "This humble one is Situ Hui, just a laborer under Old Sect Leader Yin's command. It's no surprise Zhou female knight wouldn't recognize me. Were it not that Sect Leader Qi currently has no disciples at hand, such an important duty would never fall to me. Please accept my apologies. Once this crisis passes, our sect leader will surely come personally to pay respects to Master Zhou."
Knowing Yin Dai had secretly maintained many specialists for unsavory tasks, Zhou Zhixian nodded. "Of course, of course."
After offering incense, Situ Hui glanced toward the bamboo screen where Madam Min seemed on the verge of collapsing from grief. Casually, he remarked, "That must be the elder madam. She looks unwell—perhaps I could ask Lei Shibo to examine her later?"
Zhou Zhixian sighed. "Alas, no parent should bury their child. How could she not be devastated? My aunt's greatest pride was her son... Now we can only pray she finds some peace in time."
Behind the screen, Madam Min, Min Xinrou, and other Min family members clustered around the matriarch like stars circling the moon, coaxing and comforting until her tears finally subsided.
Situ Hui smiled. "Yes, may the elder madam recover swiftly."
The following night, the Min family—who had served the Zhou household for fifty years—was massacred by the Demonic Cult. Not a soul survived in their estate half a mountain away from Jade Pendant Mountain Manor, the buildings reduced to ashes. Only two Min women married into the Zhou family and the soon-to-wed Min Xinrou were spared.
Upon hearing the news, the Min matriarch fainted dead away. When she awoke, she was completely paralyzed—her face twisted, her bodily functions beyond control.
East of Shangcheng lay the settlement of the Yin clan of Baimao.Cai Zhao stood wearily before the gates of the Yin Family Manor, immediately sensing something amiss. The vast estate was eerily silent, devoid of even the sounds of birds or beasts. As she ventured inside, she found the ground littered with the corpses and severed limbs of strong young men.
Her heart pounded with urgency, and she no longer bothered to conceal her presence. Pushing open one empty room after another, she shouted anxiously, "Is anyone here? Where is everyone? Second Senior Brother! Senior Sister Lingbo!" Yet no response came.
Only after kicking open the door to a storeroom did she discover a huddled mass of elderly, women, and children trembling behind rows of jars and vats. She quickly pulled someone up to ask, and an old man quavered, "The guards... they took Young Master Dai and the eldest young mistress... fled westward..."
Cai Zhao sprinted in that direction. As she neared the western hills, she heard the sounds of fierce combat. Arriving at the scene, she saw the ground strewn with corpses—both gray-clad assailants and members of the Yin Family. Not far ahead, over a dozen gray-clad men were besieging a young man. Though his swordsmanship was exquisite, his refusal to retreat from the cliff face behind him left him hard-pressed, his body accumulating wounds until he teetered on the brink of defeat.
"Fourth Senior Brother!" Cai Zhao gasped in shock—the young man was none other than Ding Zhuo.
Ding Zhuo glanced sideways, only to see a short, sallow-faced middle-aged peddler. He stared blankly. "I don't know who you—"
Before he could finish the word "don't," Cai Zhao had already leaped into action. By the time he reached the word "who," she had drawn her blade and felled the first gray-clad attacker. Though she had suffered consecutive defeats against Mu Qingyan, Qi Yunke, and Li Wenxun, those losses stemmed from their overwhelming strength rather than any lack of skill on her part. Now, unleashing the full might of her Bright Sun Blade, golden-red radiance flooded the area like an all-encompassing halo, enveloping the dozen gray-clad foes.
Leaning on his sword and clutching his wounds, Ding Zhuo cried out in recognition at the sight of the familiar weapon: "Junior Sister Zhao Zhao!"
Within moments, Cai Zhao had slain several attackers. The remaining gray-clad men, who had previously besieged Ding Zhuo with leisurely confidence—almost toying with him—now abandoned him in terror to focus their assault on Cai Zhao, shouting about forming a seven-man battle formation.
Having suffered twice against this formation, Cai Zhao gave them no chance to assemble. Her movements were swift and light, her blade precise and ruthless, her vision keen. Whenever a gray-clad man moved to take his position in the formation, she instantly pounced to cut him down.
Soon, fewer than seven attackers remained—too few to complete their formation. Cai Zhao slowed her attacks, intending to leave some alive for questioning. Yet the surviving foes seemed to guess her intent. Seeing no chance of escape, they each took their own lives.
As the battle ended, Ding Zhuo stood transfixed, forgetting even to staunch his bleeding wounds.
"Fourth Senior Brother? Fourth Senior Brother?" Cai Zhao wiped her Bright Sun Blade with a silk handkerchief as she turned toward the cliff face.
Ding Zhuo sighed. "I'd planned to challenge you again after returning to the sect... but now I see there's no need. After a year of wall-facing contemplation, your cultivation has clearly reached new heights. Especially just now—your right hand executing 'Cleaving the Void to Sunder the Sun' with the blade, while your left hand performed the fifth stance of Dragon Grasping Skill, 'Singular Merit Stance,' seizing an enemy's throat from two zhang away in midair. Truly exquisite technique..."
"Fourth Senior Brother!" Seeing him still dazed, Cai Zhao gave him a sharp slap.Ding Zhuo snapped out of his daze. "Oh, oh, I'm fine! Fourth Junior Sister, why are you here? And why are you dressed like this?"
Cai Zhao frowned. "That's what I should be asking you—what are you doing here? By the way, where are Second Senior Brother and Senior Sister Lingbo?"
Ding Zhuo let out a long sigh and stepped aside, revealing a small cave entrance behind him. Cai Zhao bent down and followed him inside, only to find Dai Fengchi lying unconscious on the ground, covered in blood.
"I only arrived an hour before you and happened to see them knock Sixth Junior Sister unconscious and take her away," Ding Zhuo said as he helped Dai Fengchi sit up, slowly transferring Inner Force to him. "They didn't trouble the elderly, women, or children, but they were relentless toward Second Senior Brother, striking him viciously again and again."
Dai Fengchi groaned as he regained consciousness. When he saw Ding Zhuo's face, he let out a hoarse cry and reached out to grab him. "Go save Lingbo, hurry! Fourth Junior Brother, you must save Lingbo..."
As he reached out, Cai Zhao noticed that half of his right palm had been sliced off, sending a chill down her spine. She thought to herself, As annoying as Dai Fengchi is, his devotion to Qi Lingbo is genuine.
After a few more cries, Dai Fengchi passed out again. His injuries were severe, and he had lost too much blood. Ding Zhuo had no choice but to periodically transfer Inner Force to keep him alive. "Why would they kidnap Sixth Junior Sister? To blackmail Master? Then why insist on killing Second Senior Brother?" He truly couldn't understand.
"Fourth Senior Brother, has your elder's illness improved?" Cai Zhao suddenly asked an unrelated question.
"Illness? You could say so." Ding Zhuo was taken aback. "My granduncle has passed away."
"..." Cai Zhao hesitated. "My condolences, Fourth Senior Brother."
"Oh, thank you. I'll manage." Ding Zhuo looked puzzled. "Granduncle's condition had been fluctuating. The physician said he was beyond cure—he could go any day or linger for another two months. I was agonizing over whether I'd have to stay in my hometown indefinitely when suddenly a heavy storm struck. A thunderbolt destroyed the roof of Granduncle's house. Maybe the falling tiles startled him, because he passed away by dawn. While preparing the funeral, my family suggested that since Yin Family Manor wasn't far, we might as well invite Second Senior Brother and Sixth Junior Sister..."
Cai Zhao finally couldn't hold back. "Why invite Second Senior Brother and Senior Sister Lingbo to the funeral?"— Were you all that close as fellow disciples? I never noticed.
"My family is distantly related to the Yin Family," Ding Zhuo said matter-of-factly. "Second Senior Brother is too, though the Dai Family is closer to the Yins than we are. Twenty years ago, Old Sect Leader Yin held my late father in high regard and gave him much guidance, so our families reconnected."
Cai Zhao's lips twitched as she muttered under her breath, "High regard? Once you earn Yin Dai's favor, you'd have to pledge your life to him, wouldn't you?"
Ding Zhuo didn't catch her words. He scratched his head awkwardly. "Junior Sister, what should we do now? Should we inform Master first? Oh, by the way, did you see the donkey I rode here? It has a white patch on its forehead..." Since childhood, he had been obsessed with martial arts and was rather inept at handling emergencies beyond that.
"Let's find a physician for Second Senior Brother first."
"...Huh?"
Back at Azure Tower Sect, the Twin Lotus Pool Palace was awash in blood, littered with the corpses of the Yin Family's Shadow Guard assassins.In the exquisitely decorated meditation chamber, scattered fragments of meditation cushions, Taoist scriptures, tables, chairs, and teacups littered the floor. Yin Sulian, her beautiful face disheveled, lay prostrate beside Grandma Mao's corpse, weeping uncontrollably.
Hearing footsteps, she looked up and immediately burst into louder sobs: "You... why would you do this? If you were displeased with me mourning and making offerings to Senior Brother Qiu, you could have just said so..."
Qi Yunke, his robes stained with blood, walked steadily toward the tall cyan jade altar bearing three memorial tablets - Yin Dai, Yin Qinglian, and Qiu Renjie. He reached for Yin Dai's tablet and smashed it to the ground with a crack, then crushed the pieces underfoot.
Yin Sulian let out a piercing scream, scrambling to gather the broken fragments as she pleaded desperately: "Why are you doing this?! If you're angry with me, beat me, curse me, even kill me - but why destroy this?!"
Qi Yunke gazed coldly at the lovely face he had adored since youth: "There are two things I can finally tell you. First, it was I who secretly leaked your father's travel route to Zhao Tianba and Han Yisu. And I was the one who poisoned his guards with Drizzle Paralysis Powder beforehand, causing them to collapse just as they tried to protect him during the escape."
Yin Sulian stared in disbelief, unable to utter a sound.
"Second, your sister Yin Qinglian didn't die of illness - she was poisoned." Qi Yunke casually tossed Qinglian's tablet aside, letting it shatter on the floor. "For that, I must thank Nie Zhe. When it comes to poisons, none surpass the Demonic Cult. Plain Seed Incense mixed with Thousand-Seeking Wood - death comes silently. Otherwise, given your sister's cautious nature, it would have been difficult to scheme against her. Not like Song Shijun - with just a little concealment, he noticed nothing."
"AAAAAHHHH—" Yin Sulian's eyes turned bloodshot as she lunged at him like a madwoman, only to be kicked away.
"Why?! Why would you do this?!" Yin Sulian wailed from the floor.
Looking down at the prostrate woman, Qi Yunke felt nothing but self-mockery. "When I first saw you, you were surrounded by guards and servants, distributing alms to villagers in the mountain hamlets. I was just the dull-witted son of a poor widow then - I thought you were a celestial maiden."
"I misjudged not only you, but your father too. I believed him to be the world's greatest hero with hidden depths. When he took me as his final disciple, though Ping Shu had reservations, I couldn't resist. To become the disciple of my idol, to approach the celestial maiden - it was the dream of my youth."
"Little did I know the revered hero was actually a hypocritical villain, and the celestial maiden a petty, greedy fool."
"Your father taught me self-preservation, that to lead a sect required more than honorable methods - one hand open, one hand hidden. So I followed his example, raising Shadow Guards and assassins, turning clouds with one hand and rain with the other. And you... that cup of tea you gave me before I left for Mount Tu - it made me sleep for three full hours."
Yin Sulian rasped: "If you loved Cai Pingshu so much, why didn't you marry her?! Why marry me?!"
Qi Yunke gave her a contemptuous glance. "How vulgar. In your mind, everything must boil down to romantic entanglements."He looked up in a daze, his face softening. "Ping Shu and I made a promise—to become righteous and honorable heroes, to aid the distressed and uphold justice in times of crisis. We swore this vow before the heavens and the gods."
Under the boundless sky, the spirited young girl and the carefree boy made their pledge, vowing never to regret it, even unto death.
In the end, the girl fulfilled her promise with her blood, never betraying the world, while the boy became someone even he no longer recognized.
Those were his most beautiful days—when the sky was high, the sea vast, and his heart burned with passion. Even in tattered clothes, covered in filth, he knew he was pure and untainted.
Yin Sulian cursed viciously, "If Cai Pingshu knew what you've done, she'd regret ever laying eyes on you!"
"Ping Shu is already dead," Qi Yunke said indifferently. "And I—I died long ago, thanks to the schemes of your father and sister step by step."
At that moment, Li Wenxun entered, his sword still dripping with blood.
"Finished?" he asked. Seeing Qi Yunke nod, he continued, "Really not going to kill her?"
"Let her live," Qi Yunke said, his eyes cruel. "Everyone must die—except her."
"Then lock her in the stone cell dungeon Yin Dai built," Li Wenxun said, unconcerned. "What do we tell the outside world about what happened here?"
Qi Yunke replied calmly, "Haven’t you already thought of it? The Twin Lotus Pool Palace was infiltrated by spies from the Demonic Cult. During the purge, a fierce battle broke out—casualties were inevitable."
Emerging from the blood-stained, foul air of the Twin Lotus Pool Palace, Qi Yunke returned to the secret chamber of the Dusk Micro Palace. From a hidden compartment in the bookshelf, he retrieved a scroll.
Unrolling it slowly, a long painting came into view—eleven figures sitting or lounging, talking or laughing, holding wine cups or devouring meat—each one vivid and lifelike.
Qi Yunke carefully wrapped his fingers in fine silk and greedily traced each figure on the scroll—
It was a clear afternoon. Everyone had stopped to rest in the shelter of a mountain slope. Ning Xiaofeng complained of hunger but refused to eat dry rations, so Cai Pingshu dragged Meng Chao, a hunter by trade, to catch some pheasants or rabbits.
The Shi brothers gathered firewood and lit a fire, while Miao Jianshi bought several jars of coarse grain wine from a nearby farmhouse. He and Cai Pingchun dutifully bled and plucked the game. Zhuge Zhengming stood disdainfully to the side, spouting scholarly nonsense, while his brother Zhuge Cong, a true gourmet, eagerly pulled out the seasonings he always carried.
After three bowls of wine, Kong Danqing suddenly noticed the smooth, mirror-like cliff face behind them, perfectly reflecting their merry feast. Inspired, he pulled out paper, ink, and brushes from his pack and began painting on the spot, sternly ordering everyone not to move—or he’d sever ties with them. Thankfully, he worked quickly, as Ning Xiaofeng’s neck cramped from holding still, and she nearly bit him in frustration.
Kong Danqing, with his nimble fingers and playful banter, had once patiently listened to him describe his late mother’s appearance, then painted her portrait for him to remember. When he died, his guts were spilled, and his proud right hand—severed at the wrist—was stuffed into his own mouth.
When Ping Shu saw the corpse, she vomited blood on the spot.Qi Yunke's eyes grew hot with tears. He quickly turned his face aside to prevent them from staining the painting.
He had become a Demon, and after death, he feared he might never be able to reunite with them again.
Yet, he had long made up his mind—even if he were to fall into the eighteen layers of Avīci Hell, never to be reborn, he would still fulfill his wish.
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