The Zhang Residence.
Su Su watched the demonic creature disguised as "Steward Zhang" while comforting Madam Zhang, who had lost her child.
Madam Zhang wept as if her heart would break, while "Steward Zhang" wore a pained expression.
The transformation magic of the three-headed demon was so powerful that even someone who shared a bed with the real Steward Zhang day and night couldn't recognize the imposter. "Steward Zhang" had taken the infant Madam Zhang had just given birth to, yet returned to live with her as if nothing had happened. It was unclear whether he was genuinely attached to the mortal world's luxuries and had developed feelings for Madam Zhang, or if he had other schemes.
But none of that mattered now. Having killed the real Steward Zhang and taken his place, then handing over the newborn infant to the three-headed demon, was crime enough to warrant death.
As the demonic creature disguised as "Steward Zhang" stepped out of the room, Su Su flicked her fingers, sending forth Karmic Fire. Before it could make a sound, it had turned into a pile of ashes, without even alerting Madam Zhang inside the room.
Tantai Jin glanced sideways and saw the cold determination in Su Su's eyes.
His gaze darkened. Was she always this decisive when dealing with those who had committed wrongs?
Yaoguang said, "Well killed. That demon was too wicked."
She was still troubled by the matter of the infant.
Having now understood the methods of the three-headed demon, the group quietly made their way to Young Master Zhang's room.
Sure enough, they saw the three-headed demon.
The three-headed demon had transformed into a burly man and was holding Young Master Zhang by the collar. He looked furious: "Fill all these pearls, you hear me?"
Young Master Zhang's dark eyes stared back at him as he slowly shook his head: "I want my cat."
"Cat? I told you, that damned animal is gone. You swallowed my Illusion Face Pearl, and your mother even brought those cultivators to Ninghe Town. Fill these glass pearls with the power of the Illusion Face Pearl now, or I'll kill your brother, then you."
The boy's voice was ethereal, as if he hadn't heard the threat: "Cat. Just want the cat."
Seeing that the boy wasn't listening, the three-headed demon's eyes turned fierce, and he decided to kill him. Although he was reluctant to lose the Illusion Face Pearl inside the boy, this child had been abnormal since birth. Having killed too many infants already, staying in the mortal world any longer would draw the attention of cultivators.
Returning to the Demon Realm and pledging allegiance to the new Demon Emperor was the proper course of action now.
Just as the three-headed demon was about to strike, countless golden threads flew in through the window, binding his limbs.
The Burning Thought Golden Threads carried an aura of thunder, pulling outward and dragging the three-headed demon helplessly out of the room.
A white boot embroidered with fish patterns stepped on his chest. The three-headed demon looked up to see Tantai Jin's smiling face: "I'll give you a chance. Where's the Demon Realm token, hmm?"
The three-headed demon's sinister eyes swept over them: "You're still not dead."
"Enough talk. Hand over the Demon Realm token," Yaoguang said.
"Immortal realm folks wanting to go to the Demon Realm? You're seeking death." The three-headed demon gave a vicious smile. "I've lived for thousands of years, never thought I'd fall into the hands of a bunch of brats today. Do what you will - kill me or cut me to pieces."
Though he said this, a movement stirred behind them. Su Su turned and saw a pair of sinister eyes.
She quickly pulled Yaoguang back a step. Yaoguang also saw what was trying to sneak attack them - it was actually the soul of a child covered in blood.
The child appeared about five or six years old. When it realized it had been discovered, it let out a cry.
Its weeping sounded like the combined, piercing wails of countless children.
Cang Hai said gravely, "It's a Demon Infant!"The so-called Demon Infant is created by killing infants in the most cruel manner, extracting their souls, placing them in a vessel to tear each other apart while continuously infusing them with Demonic Energy, until only one Demon Infant soul remains—much like breeding gu poison.
The more children that die, the older the Demon Infant appears. Raising such a thing is a grave sin.
To please the Demon Emperor and revitalize the Demon Realm, the three-headed demon went to great lengths.
The Demon Infant before them clearly indicated that many children had died.
The Demon Infant's claws gleamed with a cold, chilling light as it swiped at them with a piercing shriek.
Everyone quickly dodged, while Yaoguang's sword shot forward, piercing through the Demon Infant's body.
"It's a soul! Our immortal arts are useless against it!"
Su Su raised her hand: "Chongyu!"
Understanding her intent, Chongyu transformed into a Konghou, appearing in Su Su's hands. The moment the ice-blue instrument touched her fingers, it turned fiery red, as if about to ignite.
She plucked the strings, and the sound waves, like flowing feathers, struck the Demon Infant.
The three-headed demon on the ground had been watching them mockingly, but when the sound waves hit the Demon Infant, it let out a howl, and blood streamed down its face.
"H-How is this possible...?"
Su Su plucked the strings again, and the Demon Infant crumpled to the ground, slowly dissipating.
This time, Chongyu knew to control its power. Aside from a slight tightness in her chest, Su Su did not experience the backlash discomfort she had felt before.
She put away Chongyu, which happily transformed into a pendant and quietly retreated onto Su Su's body.
Seeing his last trump card gone, the three-headed demon looked defeated, but he still preferred death over revealing what the token to the Demon Realm entrance was or where it was.
Just then, Zhang Yuanbai, who had been watching them from the doorway, spoke up: "I can give you the token."
The child's hollow eyes fixed on Su Su: "Come with me."
Having said that, he turned and walked forward, not caring whether Su Su and the others followed.
Noticing the three-headed demon on the ground glaring venomously at the boy, Su Su deduced that the path the boy was leading must be correct. After a brief pause, she followed him.
The boy wound through a twisting path and finally stopped in front of a cave.
He said, "My cat disappeared here. My cat is afraid of the dark, and you are also afraid of the dark. Only by going inside can you walk the path it took and bring it back."
Su Su's long eyelashes trembled slightly. This was the first time someone had pointed out, "You are also afraid of the dark."
No, she hadn't been afraid originally, but the world under the fate of the World-Toppling Flower was too dark, like an endless night without hope.
The boy's voice was devoid of emotion: "If you help me find my cat, I will give you the token."
After a moment's thought, he tilted his head and added, "Even if you can't find her, I will still give you the token."
At least someone would have shared his cat's fear.
This was the first time Yaoguang learned that Su Su was afraid of the dark. She quickly said to Zhang Yuanbai, "Hey, don't go too far! I'll go in and find your cat for you, alright?"
The boy shook his head, pointing at Su Su: "Only her."
Su Su was silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "Fine, I'll go in."
Just as she was about to enter the cave, Yaoguang exclaimed, "Junior Sister!"
A hand suddenly grabbed her.
Su Su turned around and saw a pair of pitch-black eyes. Ever since Tantai Jin had "proposed a truce and companionship" at her doorstep, he had never brought up the past. This was the first time she had seen such obvious emotion revealed in Tantai Jin.
"Why are you afraid of the dark?" Tantai Jin asked.His voice trembled slightly, carrying a confusion and timidity he himself wasn't aware of. He stared intently at her, desperately wanting to know the answer, yet at the last moment grew fearful—as if her answer would condemn him to hopeless torment.
She clearly shouldn't... be afraid of the dark.
Back when the nightmare demon invaded Ye Bingshang's dreams, Ye Xi Wu had chased after him at night and entered the nightmare demon's dream realm with him. At that time, she had held his hand, full of vitality, and scolded him for being brainless, willing to risk his life for another woman.
She walked alone before sunrise, traversing the human world's nights. Back then, she could laugh and scold with anger.
Yet five hundred years later, a strange boy who had swallowed the Illusion Face Pearl claimed she was afraid of darkness.
When did she start fearing the dark?
Watching the cold clarity in the young girl's eyes before him, Tantai Jin's face gradually turned deathly pale.
Su Su withdrew her arm, her tone slightly cold, saying, "He was talking nonsense."
For the first time, she wished so intensely that she had already mastered the Path of Ruthlessness. It turned out it wasn't that she didn't mind—it was just that past scars remained unexposed. But once someone touched them, wounds that had just begun to heal bled fresh blood again.
Su Su didn't look at him, nor at Cang Hai and Yaoguang, and walked into the cave alone. What was there to fear? She was no longer that powerless, pitiful Ye Xi Wu.
Yaoguang shouted, "Su Su, we'll go in with you!"
The boy's expression darkened: "No, you'll scare my cat. Only she can enter."
Without turning back, Su Su replied with a hint of laughter in her voice, "Don't worry, Senior Sister. I'm not afraid anymore. It's just finding a cat. Senior Brother is still waiting for us."
She gazed into the pitch-black darkness ahead and closed her eyes.
Since she had decided to cultivate the Path of Ruthlessness, she ought to have let go of everything. If she had truly let go, how could she be afraid?
Watching Su Su's figure disappear into the cave entrance, Tantai Jin, his face deathly pale, suddenly snapped awake as if from a dream and moved to enter the cave.
The boy spread his arms to block him: "You can't go in."
Tantai Jin grabbed him by the throat, lifting him into the air and pinning him against the stone wall.
His eyes were bloodshot, as if possessed by madness: "How dare you! How dare you!"
Young Master Zhang dangled in his grasp like a lifeless puppet.
Cang Hai was horrified and quickly intervened: "Junior Brother, what are you doing? You can't kill him! He still has the token we need."
They had searched for so long, traveled through the human world for ages, and nearly lost their lives in the three-headed demon's lair—all for the token to enter the Demon Realm. Now that they were about to obtain it once Su Su came out, how could Junior Brother try to kill Young Master Zhang at this moment!
Cang Hai and Yaoguang rushed to rescue the boy.
Young Master Zhang might be abnormal, but Tantai Jin couldn't lose his sanity! Besides, hadn't Su Su already said she wasn't afraid anymore?
Yaoguang barely managed to pull Young Master Zhang from Tantai Jin's grasp. The boy coughed violently as Yaoguang said, "No, Junior Brother Jiumin, you can't betray Junior Sister's efforts."
Cang Hai held onto Tantai Jin: "Junior Brother, don't act impulsively. I promise you, if anything happens to Fairy Li, I'll protect her even if it costs me my life."
The hope of finding their master and Gongye Jiewu was within reach—Junior Brother couldn't ruin it now.
Tantai Jin took a step back.
He looked utterly devastated: "What do any of you understand? What do you know..."
He walked into the cave to search for Su Su. Cang Hai and Yaoguang exchanged glances, and this time, neither spoke to stop him.Because they had never witnessed someone's emotions collapse to such an extent in the blink of an eye.
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