Chapter 84: Goodbye
The sky blazed red, the world seemingly on the verge of collapse. Qu Weiyin stood suspended in mid-air, locked in a grueling battle against an endless tide of demonic forces for a day and a night.
The ground was littered with the corpses of demons, occasionally mixed with fallen cultivators clad in white, who were quickly dragged away.
“Damn it, how many demons are there? Have they gone mad?! Junior Shishu Qu has been fighting for a day and a night! Even immortals have their limits! When will this end?!” someone shouted from within the barrier.
Injured disciples were constantly being carried back to the Wuhui Palace for treatment. Everyone was exhausted, and the barrier grew increasingly fragile. Those tasked with repairing it came and went, but only Elder Liu remained steadfast, gritting his teeth as he poured his energy into maintaining its integrity.
Elder He offered to relieve him, but he refused.
Everyone clung to the hope of a glimmer of light.
“The disciples from the Baiyue Sect have arrived! They’re eradicating demons in Wuzhong City!”
“Immortal cultivators from the Qingyan Palace are nearby, but they’ve been intercepted by demons and their whereabouts are unknown!” Returning disciples exchanged updates, their voices filled with a mixture of hope and despair.
But for many, hope remained elusive.
The Sect Leader and Qu Weiyin, the two pillars holding the line, were fighting on separate fronts, pushed to the brink of exhaustion. They struggled to keep going, but their strength was gradually being depleted.
Qu Weiyin was still enveloped in demonic energy, her eyes bloodshot and filled with a murderous rage. Whether demon or beast, any creature that dared approach her met a swift and brutal end. Her Crescent Star Sword was stained red with blood.
Yu Gui, on the other hand, seemed strangely elated, as if Qu Weiyin’s descent into demonic cultivation had resurrected the Demon Lord of her past life.
“By the way, why don’t you take a look back and see how our forces are breaking through the barrier?” Yu Gui taunted.
“Qing Yi?” Qu Weiyin said coldly.
Yu Gui’s face suddenly changed, turning ashen. “You know?”
“Trying to plant a spy? In your dreams,” Qu Weiyin retorted. Suddenly, she raised her hand, and an unconscious young woman appeared in mid-air, floating motionless.
“Besides the Qu family, only you have seen my mother’s handwriting. How was I so foolish in my past life to consider you a good friend?”
“Yu Gui, you’re not worthy,” Qu Weiyin said with unwavering conviction. She released her grip, and the young woman plummeted from the sky, her fate unknown.
“Fine, fine! Since you’re so ruthless, I’ll show no mercy either!” Yu Gui snarled. He abruptly retreated, and another figure emerged โ the lesser demon, Yao Yao, who had been following him.
Now, Yao Yao had transformed into a monstrous form, half-human, half-skeleton, shrouded in black energy.
Qu Weiyin’s expression hardened. She raised her sword, wiping the blood splattered across her face with her free hand. Her blood-red eyes glinted with a chilling ferocity.
The two clashed in an instant, the sky above them seemingly consumed by demonic energy. Black clouds and flames erupted, intertwining to form a massive embroidered painting of mountains and rivers behind Qu Weiyin, both grotesque and breathtakingly beautiful.
Qu Weiyin’s red lips curled into a sinister smile. She muttered an spell, and the the painting behind her spread out like a vast net, tearing everyone opposite her into bloody shreds.
Her killing intent was so overwhelming that even Yu Gui trembled with fear.
“Yes, just like this! Just like this!” He laughed maniacally while retreating in terror, his hair standing on end.
Seeing that she couldn’t kill him, Qu Weiyin’s rage intensified. She grabbed Yao Yao by the shoulder and, in a flash, cleaved her in two with the Crescent Star Sword. Blood splattered across her robes.
Witnessing this, Yu Gui secretly took out a bone whistle from behind. A piercing shriek echoed through the air, causing those who heard it to clutch their ears in agony. Demons plummeted from the sky, dissolving into puffs of black smoke.
The bone whistle was Qu Weiyin’s greatest weakness. Hearing it made her break out in a cold sweat, irritation and fury nearly consuming her. She hurriedly covered her ears but still couldn’t block it out.
“Yu Gui, you’re nothing but a coward who resorts to petty tricks!” Qu Weiyin gritted her teeth, the sound tormenting her to the point of near madness.
“Because no one understands you better than I do,” Yu Gui sneered.
Suddenly, a powerful gust of wind surged from the distance, knocking the bone whistle out of Yu Gui’s hand. He whirled around to face the source of the attack and was met with the chilling glint of a divine sword.
Yu Gui quickly rolled to the side, but the sword tip still grazed his face, leaving a deep, bone-deep gash on his pale skin.
Luo Jinxiao had appeared by Qu Weiyin’s side, her eyes full of panic as she grasped Qu Weiyin’s hand.
Seeing Luo Jinxiao, Qu Weiyin finally felt a sense of relief. However, a wave of panic washed over her, and she quickly turned away, not wanting Luo Jinxiao to see her blood-red eyes.
“You’re back,” she said in a low voice.
Luo Jinxiao, seeing her state, knew that despite her best efforts, Qu Weiyin had succumbed to demonic cultivation.
A mixture of emotions surged within her, but ultimately, they coalesced into a silent ache of heartache.
“I’m back,” she said simply, raising her sword and positioning herself protectively in front of Qu Weiyin.
“I was just about to look for you, and here you are, delivering yourself to death,” Yu Gui said, wiping the blood from his face and shaking his head.
Qu Weiyin instinctively moved to attack, but Luo Jinxiao held her back.
Under the warmth of her touch, the murderous rage that had consumed Qu Weiyin gradually dissipated.
“You’re the one who should be dying, for destroying my home and killing my fellow disciples,” Luo Jinxiao said, her grip tightening on Wujue.
Suddenly, she raised her hand, and silent waves of energy converged from all directions. A powerful wind swept through the air, dispersing the dark clouds and bringing with it a bone-chilling cold.
A layer of frost began to form on the once vibrant green leaves.
The disciples within the barrier looked up, gathering near the edge, their voices filled with excitement. “Look, who is that?”
“It’s Senior Sister Luo! She’s beside Junior Shishu Qu! We’re saved!”
Elder Liu finally couldn’t hold on any longer. He let go, leaning on his knees and gasping for breath.
Those nearby rushed to his aid. Lu Fanzhi asked with concern, “Elder Liu, are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Elder Liu said, waving his hand dismissively. He looked up at the sky, his brow furrowed. “That’s divine power.”
“Divine power? But… but that’s Luo Jinxiao!” Lu Fanzhi stammered in disbelief.
Elder Liu coughed a few times and sighed lightly, “That girl is truly extraordinary.”
Yu Gui, having witnessed this power before, dared not underestimate it. He summoned his demonic energy to defend himself. For a moment, the world was engulfed in a swirling vortex of wind and ice, black and white locked in a stalemate.
Luo Jinxiao, however, remained calm and collected. She slowly began to draw upon the newfound power within her, allowing it to flow through her spiritual roots and out through her palms.
Although she didn’t know what this power was, she wielded it with natural ease, as if it had always been a part of her.
Yu Gui retreated sharply, his eyes filled with increasing hatred. Luo Jinxiao was now even stronger than before, making it impossible for him to resist.
Luo Jinxiao’s eyes were pitch black, unfathomable. Her white robes billowed around her, making her look like a celestial being descending from the heavens, cold and aloof, yet deadly in her every move. With effortless grace, she could crush her opponent into dust.
Suddenly, Yu Gui found himself paralyzed from the waist down. Panic surged through him as he stared at Luo Jinxiao, his hatred burning even brighter. He raised his hand, summoning a wave of demonic energy to shield himself, and attempted to flee.
Luo Jinxiao countered, Wujue suddenly extending to sever both of Yu Gui’s legs. After a piercing scream, only a mass of black energy remained before her.
With their leader gone, the remaining demons scattered and fled. Luo Jinxiao surveyed the devastation around her, a surge of anger rising within her. She loosened her grip on Wujue, and it shattered into a thousand shimmering fragments. The air filled with the screams of dying demons as they were reduced to dust and swept away by the wind.
With the demons gone, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief. They rushed out of the barrier to bring their injured comrades back for treatment.
Luo Jinxiao slowly lowered her arm, and the wind gradually subsided. She turned to face Qu Weiyin, her heart finally calming, filled with a profound sense of relief and gratitude.
“I’m so glad I made it in time,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.
Qu Weiyin remained motionless, her head bowed, her hands clenched tightly.
Luo Jinxiao’s heart ached at the sight. She gently took Qu Weiyin’s hand and guided her down to the ground.
“What’s wrong?” she asked softly.
Qu Weiyin finally lifted her head, her blood-red eyes momentarily startling Luo Jinxiao. A crimson mark, resembling a blooming hibiscus flower, had appeared on her forehead, glowing faintly.
Her cold hand slowly touched Luo Jinxiao’s face, her red lips moving: “I’ve still become this neither human nor demon form.”
A terrifying aura of death spread from her, causing nearby leaves to wither.
Qu Weiyin felt a wave of sadness. Not wanting Luo Jinxiao to see more, she covered her face with her wide sleeve.
Luo Jinxiao bit her lip, suppressing her own sadness. Then, a smile bloomed on her face as she reached out and pulled Qu Weiyin’s sleeves away. “Don’t hide from me. You’re beautiful like this.”
“Beautiful? What beauty can there be in a demon?” Qu Weiyin scoffed.
“I don’t care. You were just an ordinary beauty before. Now, you’re unforgettable,” Luo Jinxiao said with a chuckle, gently tracing the crimson mark on Qu Weiyin’s forehead.
The warmth of her touch seemed to spread through Qu Weiyin’s body, dispelling the coldness that had enveloped her.
“You’re such a smooth talker,” Qu Weiyin said, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Around them was chaos, with injured disciples being helped past. Qu Weiyin, who had been tense earlier, now felt exhausted. As she swayed, Luo Jinxiao quickly supported her shoulders, gripping her arm with her free hand, looking worried.
“I’m alright, just a little tired,” Qu Weiyin said, shaking her head. “What happened to you on your journey? Why did it take so long? And that divine power…”
“This is divine power?” Luo Jinxiao asked in surprise. “My journey was quite strange. Fortunately, nothing major happened, and I managed to return in time. I’ll tell you about it later.”
Suddenly, screams erupted in the distance. Luo Jinxiao’s heart skipped a beat. She grabbed Qu Weiyin’s hand and quickly ascended into the air on her sword.
They saw a crowd gathered tightly. Luo Jinxiao’s heart tightened as she pushed through. The Sect Leader was crouched down, her palm open, healing someone lying on the ground.
As Luo Jinxiao recognized the injured figure, her heart lurched. She knelt down and cried out, “Master?”
“Elder Liu exhausted himself maintaining the barrier, protecting the Wuhui Sect from the demons. He didn’t allow them a single opening,” the Sect Leader said solemnly. A streak of blood stained her lips, extending down to her robes, a stark reminder of the battle’s ferocity.
“Let me,” Luo Jinxiao’s eyes reddened. She channeled spiritual energy into Elder Liu, fighting back tears.
If not for Elder Liu’s willingness to accept her, she wouldn’t have been able to stay in Wuhui Sect.
She didn’t want him to die.
The disciples from the Qingyan Palace and the Baiyue Sect, having eradicated the demons outside the Wuhui Sect, had arrived and were now assisting with the wounded and tending to the displaced civilians.
The aftermath of every battle between immortals and demons was the same: devastating losses and enduring suffering.
Perhaps only during the two thousand years when Qu Weiyin reigned as the Demon Lord had the demon realm refrained from initiating conflict, only to be hunted down and nearly eradicated by the Immortal Realm.
Qu Weiyin stood at the edge of the crowd, watching Luo Jinxiao intently. She didn’t attempt to conceal her crimson eyes or the demonic energy that surrounded her. Passing disciples would occasionally glance at her, but they remained silent, a tacit understanding passing between them.
After what felt like an eternity, Luo Jinxiao was finally pulled away. The disciples carefully lifted Elder Liu onto a wooden board and carried him away.
Luo Jinxiao wanted to follow, but the Sect Leader stopped her, sighing. “Don’t follow. He’s exhausted all his spiritual energy. He’ll likely be bedridden for years. Whether he survives or not is up to fate.”
Luo Jinxiao remained silent.
“I’ll do my best. You should rest and spend some time with her. Succumbing to demonic cultivation is not easy,” the Sect Leader said softly.
The crowd gradually dispersed. Lu Fanzhi and the others stood at a distance, not daring to disturb Luo Jinxiao.
A cold hand reached out and grasped hers. Qu Weiyin had silently approached her and whispered, “Let’s go back.”
Before Luo Jinxiao could nod, a red flash transported them to Hanyun Pavilion. Qu Weiyin released her hand to light a lamp, but Luo Jinxiao suddenly pulled her back, tightly embracing her waist and burying her face in Qu Weiyin’s shoulder.
In the darkness, only the sound of their breathing filled the room.
“Please don’t leave me,” Luo Jinxiao whispered.
Qu Weiyin’s scent, now infused with a hint of demonic allure, was intoxicating, making Luo Jinxiao want to cling to her forever.
Qu Weiyin gently patted Luo Jinxiao’s head and hummed softly in agreement.
“But I’ll become increasingly bloodthirsty,” Qu Weiyin sighed.
“Do you… want to kill me?” Luo Jinxiao asked, her voice muffled.
Hearing this, Qu Weiyin patted her head harder, saying with exasperation, “I’d rather kill myself for you. Why would I want to kill you?”
After a moment, she softened her tone. “Don’t worry, Elder Liu will be fine. He may seem the most carefree, but his feelings for Wuhui Sect run deepest. It’s no surprise he’d risk his life to protect the sect and its disciples.”
“Just like you, cultivating demonic techniques without hesitation,” Luo Jinxiao mumbled.
“Alright,” Qu Weiyin coughed, gently pushing her away. “You still haven’t told me what delayed you on your journey.”
Luo Jinxiao sat down on the chaise lounge and recounted her experience within her divine consciousness, omitting the agonizing struggle and downplaying the pain.
After listening intently, Qu Weiyin pondered for a moment. “Even I can’t easily enter someone’s divine consciousness. That person must be extraordinary. From what you’ve said, with the Soul Lamp extinguished, the extra power you’ve gained is likely from the divine soul.”
“The figure seemed so familiar, but she was incredibly tall. I don’t know any women that tall. It’s strange,” Luo Jinxiao said, shaking her head.
“And I can sense that the divine power within me now is the same as the power I felt in the Changming Pagoda, perhaps even stronger.”
“Could it be that the divine soul was originally yours?” Qu Weiyin suddenly suggested.
Luo Jinxiao was taken aback, then quickly denied it. “But my three souls and seven spirits are all intact. I’m not missing anything.”
“Have you ever wondered why we were reborn?” Qu Weiyin asked.
Luo Jinxiao fell silent. She had never truly considered that question, assuming it was just fate. But now, considering the mysterious woman’s words, it seemed that perhaps it wasn’t a coincidence after all.
Qu Weiyin’s crimson eyes studied Luo Jinxiao for a moment, then she abandoned the topic. She stepped closer and gently stroked Luo Jinxiao’s hair. “Forget it. Based on your description, that person doesn’t seem malicious. As long as you’re not harmed, it doesn’t matter.”
Luo Jinxiao looked up and grinned.
“All you do is smile foolishly,” Qu Weiyin said. But as soon as the words left her mouth, Luo Jinxiao stood up and kissed her on the forehead.
Her lips brushed against the crimson mark, causing her to shudder suddenly. She stumbled slightly, clutching her forehead. “Luo Jinxiao!” she exclaimed, a mixture of surprise and annoyance in her voice.
Luo Jinxiao stuck out her tongue playfully, realizing that Qu Weiyin’s new mark had also become a weak spot.
thank you for the chapter ๐
Weak spot you say… ๐