Chapter 72: Kiss
Luo Jinxiao was speechless, caught in Qu Weiyin’s gaze.
“Also, since it’s the Changming Pagoda, I think I know what the Sect Leader wants you to retrieve.” Qu Weiyin’s eyes flickered, her gaze traveling past the dense forest towards the distance.
Without waiting for Luo Jinxiao’s reply, Qu Weiyin picked up her sword and walked north into the forest.
The four of them took to their swords again. Soon, the spruce trees below began to thin, eventually giving way to a vast plain covered in a thin layer of snow that resembled a white blanket.
Luo Jinxiao noticed that the demonic energy grew weaker the further they traveled, as if the demons were deliberately avoiding something out of fear.
After crossing a small hill, an enormous flat structure came into view. It resembled a sail billowing on the sea, weathered by constant rain and wind. Its grey surface was covered with dust and erosion marks from rain and snow.
Beyond the hill, the land stretched out for miles in a pristine white expanse, reaching towards the horizon. As they ventured further, they could sense a powerful barrier, like a swollen bubble, pulsating with energy.
Luo Jinxiao’s eyes widened in surprise. Beside her, Lu Fanzhi openly gaped, looking up. “So this is the Changming Pagoda? It doesn’t look very bright… or like a pagoda at all.”
“The Changming Pagoda is eternally illuminated within, a blazing inferno that vaporizes any demon or ghost that enters, transforming them into spiritual energy to nourish the heavens and earth,” Luo Ning suddenly explained.
Luo Jinxiao glanced at her but remained silent.
“Alright, wait here,” Qu Weiyin said, stepping towards the Changming Pagoda.
Luo Jinxiao immediately called out to her, but before she could speak, Qu Weiyin vanished.
“Sister, what should we do?” Luo Ning asked anxiously, hurrying after her. “Are we really going to wait outside and let Junior Shishu face the danger alone?”
“There’s no way I’m letting her go in alone. This time, I’m going to disobey. Luo Ning, you and Lu Fanzhi wait for us here, or go back. We’ll be back soon.” With that, Luo Jinxiao transformed into a white streak of light and disappeared as well.
Lu Fanzhi called out but couldn’t stop her. She scratched her head in confusion. “Well, then what about us…?”
Seeing that Luo Jinxiao had also entered, Luo Ning stamped her foot in frustration. She looked up at the strange, enormous “sail” once more, then gritted her teeth and ran towards it, her pale green robes billowing as she disappeared into the pagoda.
“Luo Ning! Luo Jinxiao! Junior Shishu Qu?!” Lu Fanzhi was at a loss. How had everyone vanished so quickly?
She looked back at the dense spruce forest, then turned to face the barrier pulsating with demonic energy, her face crumpling as she fought back tears.
“Seriously? Why am I always left behind?”
While Lu Fanzhi was on the verge of tears, Luo Jinxiao landed safely inside the pagoda. With a flick of her wrist, Wujue spun into existence in her palm, and she gripped it tightly.
Luo Ning appeared beside her at the same moment. As soon as she landed, the swirling demonic winds nearly knocked her off her feet. Luckily, Luo Jinxiao caught her elbow and steadied her.
“Why did you follow me in here?” Luo Jinxiao scolded in a low voice.
Luo Ning didn’t answer, tugging at her sleeve instead.
Luo Jinxiao sighed and let it go. After all, she herself had disobeyed, so she wasn’t in a position to criticize others.
The Changming Pagoda lived up to its name. It was indeed eternally bright. Blinding white light filled the space, and scorching heat waves washed over them. Even without using her spiritual energy, Luo Jinxiao was soon drenched in sweat.
Water droplets began to form on Wujue. Luo Jinxiao looked at it and chuckled. “Heavens, are you sweating too?”
Apart from the blinding white light, there was nothing else, just an empty expanse. Luo Jinxiao couldn’t see where Qu Weiyin had gone. When she tried to use her spiritual energy to scan the area, she was forced back by the overwhelming demonic energy surging from all directions.
Just as she was frowning in frustration, something dark and indistinct caught her eye.
Luo Ning saw it too. She stepped closer to examine it, then asked Luo Jinxiao curiously, “Is that… a black chicken?”
“What kind of chicken has such a long tail? Could it be a demon too?” Luo Jinxiao, equally puzzled, crouched down beside Luo Ning for a closer look. “But… it doesn’t have any demonic energy.”
The black chicken seemed to take offense, turning its head and squawking at them before scurrying away on its thin legs with surprising speed, quickly disappearing into the white light.
Luo Jinxiao and Luo Ning exchanged glances and followed in pursuit. The black chicken seemed to have been here for a long time and might know the way.
As they stepped into the blinding white light, Luo Jinxiao couldn’t keep her eyes open. Even the slightest sliver of light felt like it would blind her. She tore two strips of cloth from her robe, tying one over her own eyes and offering the other to Luo Ning. This made things a bit more bearable.
Through the cloth, she could faintly make out the silhouette of the black chicken and followed closely behind, stumbling over unseen obstacles and occasionally crunching on bone fragments.
After a while, the black chicken finally stopped. It ruffled its feathers and regurgitated a small creature from its beak – a rabbit. The rabbit, clearly terrified, tried to flee the moment it touched the ground.
Suddenly, a hand appeared out of nowhere, snatching the rabbit by the ears and effortlessly lifting it. With a swift twist of the other hand, the rabbit’s neck snapped, and it went limp.
Luo Ning gasped. The mysterious figure, alerted by their presence, abruptly dropped the rabbit and materialized before them. A pair of bloodstained claws lunged for their heads.
The demonic energy was potent, yet intertwined with a familiar trace of spiritual power. Luo Jinxiao didn’t have time to think. She ducked, narrowly avoiding the attack. The figure, having missed, suddenly produced a long, purple whip and lashed out at Luo Jinxiao.
Luo Jinxiao extended her hand, spiritual energy swirling around her palm. In an instant, she caught the whip, sparks flying as it was pulled taut.
“Luo Ning! Get back!” Luo Jinxiao shouted.
As soon as the words left her mouth, the figure released the whip, momentarily stunned. Then, abandoning the weapon, they turned and fled.
Luo Jinxiao, caught off guard, stood frozen, holding the limp whip in her hand.
“Why did she run?” Luo Jinxiao asked, confused.
Luo Ning’s expression was equally strange. She suddenly lifted her skirts and gave chase, her petite figure quickly disappearing into the blinding white light. Fearing for her safety, Luo Jinxiao followed.
After a few steps, she glanced upwards and leaped into the air, performing a somersault before landing gracefully in front of the fleeing figure, blocking their path. This time, the figure didn’t fight back but instead tried to escape in another direction, only to be intercepted again by Luo Ning.
Now cornered, they had nowhere to run.
“Why are you running? We’re not going to kill you,” Luo Jinxiao said, finding the situation strange. The cloth blindfold obscured the figure’s face, but she could tell they were unkempt, with wild hair and carelessly wrapped clothing.
The figure remained silent for a long moment.
Could they be mute? Luo Jinxiao stepped forward, intending to brush aside the figure’s hair for a better look, but a sharp voice startled her.
“Get your filthy hands off me!” the person growled, trying to disguise their voice.
Despite the attempt to disguise it, Luo Jinxiao recognized the voice. It was Yan Ying.
Stunned, she blinked and asked tentatively, “Yan Ying? What are you doing in this… godforsaken place?”
“I was wondering where you’d disappeared to these past five years. Turns out you’ve been here catching rabbits for dinner!” Luo Ning interjected coldly, her arms crossed as she stood a distance away.
Yan Ying was speechless. She avoided Luo Ning’s gaze and addressed Luo Jinxiao. “I’m here serving my sentence, guarding the Changming Pagoda. What are you doing here? Five years gone, and the useless trash has returned to life?”
Luo Jinxiao ignored the taunt and asked, “Do you know where the demons are kept in this place?”
Yan Ying clapped her hands, and the black chicken strutted back towards them, flapping its wings and landing on her shoulder.
So, it wasn’t a chicken after all, but Yan Ying’s dirty peacock.
“Looking for demons? Don’t tell me you’re tired of living and came here specifically to meet them?” Yan Ying scoffed.
“Just tell us,” Luo Jinxiao said impatiently.
“Fine, fine.” Yan Ying wiped her face. “Ordinary demons melt away soon after entering. The ones that survive are formidable creatures. I usually don’t dare venture too deep. If you’re really set on going, head in that direction.”
She pointed towards a dark spot in the distance.
“But I’m not going with you. This might be the last time we see each other. Farewell, and good riddance,” she said with a malicious grin.
“Thank you.” Worried about Qu Weiyin, Luo Jinxiao hurried off, Luo Ning close behind.
Yan Ying watched them go, then suddenly shouted, “Luo Jinxiao, if you’re seeking death, go by yourself! Why drag Luo Ning into this?”
Before Luo Jinxiao could reply, Luo Ning turned and retorted, “We’re already strangers. What I do is none of your business!”
With that, she spun around and ran off, even faster than Luo Jinxiao.
Yan Ying stood there, scratching her head and muttering curses under her breath before chasing after them.
Yan Ying’s directions were accurate. Soon, Luo Jinxiao sensed a strong demonic presence, and the surrounding temperature intensified, as if they were being roasted alive.
Suddenly, the wail of an infant pierced the air. Luo Jinxiao felt her scalp tingle as she stopped in her tracks, frowning. “What kind of demon is this?”
“I don’t know, but it’s said to have been imprisoned here since ancient times, for over ten thousand years. I advise you to turn back and not provoke it,” Yan Ying warned.
As she listened, Luo Jinxiao felt her mind growing hazy. She quickly stuffed two more strips of cloth into her ears, effectively blinding and deafening herself.
She had a vague sense of walking through a corridor of fire. The infant’s cries still echoed around her, and despite the blinding light, it was deeply unsettling.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake violently, the tremors almost throwing them into the air. Luo Jinxiao leaped up, hovering to avoid the impact.
“Is this where you led us?” Luo Jinxiao frowned, trying to sense what was happening while gripping Wujue tightly.
“I’ve been here before, and there were never any problems. What’s going on today?” Yan Ying cursed, pulling Luo Ning aside to avoid a falling rock. The rock landed with a spark, then exploded.
Luo Jinxiao quickly shielded them with her spiritual energy. The intense heat singed her hair, and she had to cover herself with a layer of ice to soothe her burning skin.
Through the billowing smoke and dust, she heard Yan Ying shout, “Someone else has entered the Changming Pagoda! Be careful!”
After that, she couldn’t hear anything else, only the infant’s cries exploded in her mind, sending chills down her spine. Surrounded by flames and blinding light, she felt like a headless fly crashing about.
“Luo Ning!” she called out, but there was no answer. Gritting her teeth, she landed and continued forward, using an ice shield for protection and keeping her eyes closed.
The infant’s voice seemed to control her emotions, making her dizzy.
Unable to find Luo Ning and Yan Ying, she started running through the flames, hoping to escape the demon.
Suddenly, through the cloth blindfold, she saw a figure standing ahead, clad in red amidst the raging fire. Their hair seemed to be burning, giving them a commanding presence.
“Junior Shishu?” Luo Jinxiao cried out in surprise.
Suddenly, the figure in red raised their hand with a practiced grace. The Crescent Star Sword materialized, glowing with a brilliant red light that outshone the surrounding flames. Black, swirling demonic energy, the hallmark of the Demon Lord, emanated from them.
Luo Jinxiao froze, unable to discern if what she was seeing was real or an illusion.
In the next instant, the radiant sword soared through the air and plunged into the red-clad figure’s chest without warning.
Luo Jinxiao felt a chill run through her entire body. Her body moved before her mind could process what was happening. She lunged forward, grabbing the red-clad figure’s arm and pulling them into her arms. To her horror, it was indeed Qu Weiyin.
Her face was as pale and translucent as it had been five years ago, at the moment of her death. Her form was frail and weak.
Luo Jinxiao suddenly felt dizzy and almost collapsed to the ground. With trembling hands, she reached out to caress Qu Weiyin’s face. Qu Weiyin’s mouth was full of blood, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Despite being covered in wounds, Qu Weiyin abruptly broke free from Luo Jinxiao’s grasp and turned to flee. By this point, Luo Jinxiao had somewhat lost her senses. She gritted her teeth and pulled Qu Weiyin back, pinning her firmly against the wall.
She couldn’t describe the emotions swirling within her – despair, madness, a desperate need to understand. She gripped Qu Weiyin’s wrists, holding her firmly against the wall, and poured her own spiritual energy into Qu Weiyin’s body.
“Luo Jinxiao, let go!” Qu Weiyin’s voice seemed to come from a distant place, filled with anger, urgency, and a hint of shame.
“You’ve gone mad! Release me!”
Suddenly, a sweet sensation brushed against Luo Jinxiao’s lips as a round, cool pill rolled down her throat. At the same time, her lips were covered by two soft ones.
Luo Jinxiao’s body stiffened. Whether it was the effect of the pill or something else, the chaos in her mind abruptly ceased, and the surrounding flames vanished.
The soft, fragrant lips departed quickly. Luo Jinxiao finally saw the scene before her clearly. She was indeed holding Qu Weiyin’s wrists, binding her tightly in her embrace, with Qu Weiyin’s back pressed against the wall.
Qu Weiyin’s robes were disheveled, her hair cascading over her shoulders. Her usually cool, phoenix-like eyes glared at Luo Jinxiao, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
However, there was no sword piercing her chest, nor any demonic energy around her. Instead, her anger was barely concealed.
“Junior Shishu…” Luo Jinxiao stammered, dumbfounded.
“Don’t call me Junior Shishu!” Qu Weiyin, both embarrassed and angry, broke free from Luo Jinxiao’s hands and shoved her away forcefully.
