Su Su inexplicably found the scene before her strangely familiar. Fragmented images flashed through her mind—a moonlit mortal realm, a fox demon, a ruthless and arrogant youth...
The nightmare demon was startled and quickly cast another spell. Watching the fading glow of the glass bead, it thought, "This is bad, it won't hold much longer."
How strange. The nightmare demon stared at the glass bead. Within Li Susu's heart, something seemed to be resisting all these emotions.
Su Su frowned, shaking her head as the images gradually faded.
She must be overthinking it. She had never been to the mortal realm—how could she have memories from there?
After the disciple assessment concluded, with Immortal Master Rong Kui absent, Cang Jiumin defaulted to her victory and began teaching her basic sword techniques these past few days.
Unbeknownst to her, Cang Jiumin had long comprehended the Light Swan Sword Art, making him fully qualified to instruct her.
Without needing Cang Jiumin's reminder, she dutifully went to the Sword Washing Pool every morning to cleanse her sword.
She would practice until dusk, when Cang Jiumin would impart sword techniques to her.
He was strict with himself, and Su Su was no exception.
If her sword forms were incorrect, he would mercilessly strike her wrist. Gritting her teeth, Su Su endured it all.
However, one day, Cang Jiumin inadvertently noticed her enduring the pain and slightly furrowed his brow.
That evening, Su Su found more green fruits in her room.
The fruits were sweet and crisp, and consuming them brought clarity to her Spiritual Platform—something not found in Hengyang Sect. Unable to resist, Su Su pulled aside a young fairy in the hall and asked, "Where are these fruits picked?"
The fairy shook her head in surprise. "I don't know either."
She knew Penglai had precious green fruits, but as someone born and raised in Penglai, she had never heard of where they grew.
After the fairy excused herself, Su Su stared at the green fruits for a long time, lost in thought.
The next day, Su Su went to the immortal hall but couldn't find Cang Jiumin. The immortal attendant in his hall said that the East Wing Master had brought Cai Shuang to Penglai, and Cang Jiumin was speaking with him.
Su Su lowered her gaze, clutching the fruit in her palm, and acknowledged softly.
She would wait a few more days until Cang Jiumin was free.
But as she waited, Su Su received other news—
Rumors were spreading across Penglai that Cang Jiumin was to become Dao Companions with Cai Shuang. Most of Penglai knew about how Cai Shuang had been deceived and taken advantage of by Ding Xun.
However, cultivators valued an unwavering Dao Heart and did not concern themselves with matters like a woman's chastity.
While the cultivation world paid it no mind, Cai Shuang, who had transitioned from a mortal woman to a cultivator, cared deeply.
It was said that after returning to the Dongmu Immortal Realm, she had attempted suicide several times, fortunately stopped each time by the East Wing Master.
Cai Shuang tearfully explained that Ding Xun had forced her and that her heart belonged only to her sworn brother. The East Wing Master personally decided that Cang Jiumin should marry her.
For some reason, Su Su felt a stifling sensation in her heart.
As she stepped out, she happened to encounter Cai Shuang.
Cai Shuang's complexion was somewhat sallow, no longer as rosy and fair as before. The chilling energy of the Nether Ice Pond had evidently affected her.
Despite being a cultivator, Cai Shuang still behaved like a mortal woman, shyly and timidly embroidering her wedding dress.
Su Su glanced at the bright red wedding gown in her hands and pressed her lips together.
Naturally, Cai Shuang noticed her immediately. With an innocent and joyful expression, as if completely forgetting their previous discord, she approached and took Su Su's hand. "Fairy Li, are you looking for Brother Jiumin? He's not here."
Su Su withdrew her hand. "I see."
She didn't like Cai Shuang and had no desire to speak with her. Seeing that Su Su wasn't following the expected script and was about to leave, Cai Shuang quickly added, "Aren't you going to ask where Brother Jiumin went?"Su Su turned her head, smiling as she looked at her and shook her head. "Don't ask, and please don't say it."
Cai Shuang's face darkened slightly, pretending not to hear her words. "He went to the mortal world to search for mermaid tears for me. In the mortal realm, when marrying, there's a custom of betrothal gifts. Ninety-nine mermaid tears can grant eternal youth and good health."
Su Su said, "Talking to you is truly difficult. Fine, whatever else you have to say, hurry up and finish."
Cai Shuang gave her a pitiful, reproachful glance.
Su Su tilted her head and suddenly said, "Are you afraid of me?"
Cai Shuang's expression stiffened.
Su Su smiled knowingly. "What are you afraid of? That I'll kick you into the Nether Ice Pond again like last time, or are you afraid... that your Brother Jiumin likes me?"
Cai Shuang's lips trembled. "Don't talk nonsense! If he really liked you, he wouldn't have agreed to marry me under the East Wing Master's arrangement!"
"So I guessed right—it's the latter you fear." Su Su stroked her chin, imitating a senior sister from the Hengyang Sect, swaying her waist in a seductive, villainous manner as she approached Cai Shuang.
Cai Shuang took a frightened step back. "What are you going to do?"
Su Su said, "I'm going to tell you that without strength, you should avoid provoking others. Otherwise, you'll end up like this."
She opened her hand, and a piece of jade turned to dust in her palm.
Before Cai Shuang could recover from her shock, Su Su had already walked away.
After walking some distance, the smile on Su Su's lips faded as she kicked small stones on the path.
Her Spiritual Platform felt slightly warm, and in places she couldn't see, the Path of Ruthlessness silently activated. She didn't understand why she felt unhappy.
Was it because Cai Shuang had deliberately provoked her? Would she feel better after getting revenge?
The apricot blossoms of Penglai never withered. As night fell, Su Su opened a bamboo basket, and a group of toads lined up in formation.
"Go scare her."
The toads, each more hideous than the last, accepted the task and hopped into Cai Shuang's chamber.
Soon, desperate screams echoed from inside.
Through the window, Su Su saw Cai Shuang running and shrieking madly, more terrifying than the toads on the ground, with none of the pitiful demeanor she had shown during the day. Su Su finally felt relieved.
She clapped her hands and prepared to leave.
A figure stood coldly watching her.
"Cang Jiumin?"
The newcomer raised his hand, and the illusory toads instantly turned to ashes. He said, "Do you have the right to touch her?"
Su Su was momentarily stunned, about to speak, when he suddenly struck. Su Su was trapped by three flying banners spinning rapidly around her. The eerie blue light imprisoned her, and a sharp pain shot through her soul, causing her to collapse to the ground.
The banner governing her life Soul began to drain her spirit.
Through the three banners, Su Su saw Cang Jiumin's cold, murderous eyes.
Still young, she tried to escape but had no means to fight back. Just as a white light flashed between her brows, the three banners shattered.
She spat out a mouthful of blood and lost consciousness.
In the last scene before she fainted, she seemed to hear Yaoguang's voice: "Su Su!"
The figure resembling "Cang Jiumin" walked away, his appearance gradually shifting into that of the East Wing Master!
The East Wing Master's expression was grim. "To think he left something to protect her.The nightmare demon watched as cracks appeared in the glass bead before him, wailing in despair. "The Illusion Face Pearl has lost its power. The beautiful dream can't be sustained, and the dream realm is starting to repair itself. With his fate as a lone star of calamity, will the Demon Lord spare me when he awakens?"
Elsewhere, Cang Jiumin bore numerous wounds as a light rain fell in the mortal world.
His eyes closed, ninety-nine mermaid tears lay beside him, each as lustrous as pearls.On his way back to Penglai, a faint smile lingered in his eyes.
However, after searching everywhere, a young fairy told him, "Fairy Li went out a few days ago and hasn't returned yet."
The smile in his eyes faded slightly, and an ominous premonition welled up in his heart.
The East Wing Master looked at the large box of shimmering mermaid tears, picked up one, and said, "You actually managed to find them. Unfortunately, the young girl has already left Penglai."
Cang Jiumin's face darkened. "Didn't you promise me..."
"Yes, I promised you that if you could find ninety-nine mermaid tears from the extinct mermaid tribe, I would send Cai Shuang back to the mortal world, allowing her to live as a mortal and no longer interfere with her affairs." He tossed the mermaid tear back into the box. "And I would go to Hengyang to seek marriage for you with Qu Xuanzi's daughter. Unfortunately, Jiumin, she doesn't trust you. Thinking you intended to marry Cai Shuang, she has already returned to Hengyang with Yaoguang."
Cang Jiumin let out a scornful laugh, the fine wounds on his face making him appear pale and cold.
"I don't believe a single word you say. If she doesn't trust me, so be it. I'll go and explain it myself!"
With that, he prepared to use Sword Control to head to the Hengyang Sect.
"Stop!" the East Wing Master roared angrily from behind. "You unfilial son, have you forgotten the fate predicted for you at the age of one hundred? If you do not overcome your love tribulation, your body will turn to ashes. I sent you to Penglai hoping you could avoid this calamity, but look what you've done!"
The East Wing Master threw out a piece of jade.
"Desires have given birth to an inner demon. Now, you can't even expel the Demonic Energy. She will be the death of you!"
When Cang Jiumin saw the jade, he knew the East Wing Master was aware of everything.
He picked up the jade that concealed the Demonic Energy, his dark eyes fixed on the East Wing Master. "What does it matter if I live? What does it matter if I turn to ashes? From this moment on, consider me dead."
After saying this, Cang Jiumin unleashed a burst of immortal power, striking precisely at the person eavesdropping outside the hall.
Cai Shuang spat out a mouthful of blood. The power the East Wing Master had bestowed upon her dissipated completely from the blow, and her appearance began to age rapidly. Sensing her life force fading, Cai Shuang cried out, "Godfather, save me! Save me..."
The East Wing Master, who had once doted on her, looked deeply disappointed.
"Cai Shuang, you shouldn't have done this." Arrogant, entangled with Ding Xun, and growing increasingly malicious.
He had raised her alongside Jiumin since childhood, hoping to foster feelings between them, yet she failed to secure a place in his heart before he developed an inner demon and encountered his love tribulation.
If there had been any way to save Cang Jiumin, he would not have resorted to committing such a sin by attempting to kill that young girl from the Hengyang Sect.
The East Wing Master sighed, waved his hand, preserved Cai Shuang's life, and sent her back to the mortal world—where she truly belonged.
He could only hope she would accept the stark contrast from being a fairy to an elderly mortal.
Yaoguang asked anxiously, "How is Su Su?"
Qu Xuanzi shook his head, his expression grave.
Yaoguang's eyes welled with tears. "It's my fault. I didn't take good care of my junior sister."
Qu Xuanzi patted her shoulder. "It's not your fault. The one who harmed Su Su is not to be underestimated."
Even Qu Xuanzi couldn't confidently claim his Cultivation was superior to the opponent's. That person was determined to kill Su Su, and her survival was nothing short of a miracle.
The Hengyang Sect used a retrospective technique to recreate the events that had happened to Su Su.
Yaoguang said furiously, "Cang Jiumin! Why would he do such a thing?"
"The Three Soul Banner—it wasn't Cang Jiumin," Qu Xuanzi said, watching the scene unfold. He already knew who it was. Even if it wasn't Cang Jiumin, it had to be a powerful figure from Dongxu.
"Master," someone came to report. "Cang Jiumin, a disciple of Penglai, requests an audience with the Ethereal Spirit Fairy."The person on the bed trembled her eyelashes. Qu Xuanzi sighed inwardly as he helped Su Su sit up. "Well, do you wish to see him?"
Su Su opened her eyes, her lips pale. She shook her head. "Send him away. I don’t wish to see anyone right now."
Qu Xuanzi replied, "Very well."
The snow in Changze fell thick and fast.
Su Su drifted in and out of consciousness. When she woke this morning, a spirit bird hopped outside her window, and Yaoguang came to check on her.
Yaoguang seemed hesitant, as if holding back words.
"What is it?" Su Su asked.
"Nothing," Yaoguang said.
"Senior Sister, if you have something to say, just say it."
Yaoguang gave an awkward smile and stammered, "Your life soul is damaged. If it isn’t repaired, your lifespan will be affected, and your Cultivation will struggle to advance."
Su Su wasn’t surprised and softly acknowledged with an "Mm."
She showed neither pessimism nor shock.
Yaoguang glanced at her. "But there is a way to save you."
"What way?"
"It’s... well, it’s that!" Yaoguang’s face flushed slightly. "The world is divided into yin and yang, harmony through union—something like that."
She hemmed and hawed, clearly indicating that this matter was even more explosive than Dual Cultivation.
Su Su had already guessed somewhat.
In the past, the wicked cultivators of the Hehuan Sect had methods of harvesting yin to supplement yang, using women as cauldrons to enhance their own Cultivation.
The method Yaoguang spoke of was clearly... the reverse of this—finding a cauldron for Su Su.
Yaoguang whispered, "Fuya has been taking care of you lately. The sect leader also believes that your recovery is what matters most."
Before she could finish, Su Su shook her head. "I don’t agree."
Yaoguang opened her mouth but ended up sighing.
Outside the window, the snow startled the spirit birds into flight. There was one more thing Yaoguang hadn’t told Su Su: beneath the Immortal Sect, the disciple from Penglai had still not left.
Everyone in Hengyang knew that their Dongshu had injured Su Su. Day after day, they found new ways to torment him. He was covered in wounds but neither fought back nor left.
He looked utterly pitiful.
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