"Sect master, have you ever seen Che Lingzhi?"
Shen Yuefu did not affirm Han Huijun's speculation. Instead, he posed a question of his own.
Han Huijun wrinkled his nose. "What are you trying to say? Che Lingzhi is that woman hidden at Yao Ranran's side, isn't she called Tang Xiangyin?"
"So sect master has only seen this woman, but has never truly witnessed Che Lingzhi's abilities."
Shen Yuefu's pair of icy blue eyes were like a winter lake, calm and without ripples, as they looked at Han Huijun.
Han Huijun's brows gradually knit tighter. "What exactly are you guessing? Do you think that the one who turned you into what you are now, is not Pei Xianqiao, not Che Lingzhi, but… Yao Ranran?"
Even as he asked the question, he himself found it hard to believe.
"No way, Junior Brother Shen, do you really think so?"
Han Huijun fixed his gaze on Shen Yuefu's eyes until he saw him lightly, ever so lightly, nod.
Crash!
Han Huijun stared in shock as the teapot at his side slipped to the floor, scalding tea spilling through his fingers.
Shen Yuefu's expression did not change. With a gesture, he returned both teapot and tea to their proper place and then rose to his feet.
"Senior Brother, whether you believe it or not, I… am not Yao Ranran's match. If we wish to resolve this calamity, we should go to her with the offering she desires."
Han Huijun gazed blankly at Shen Yuefu's departing back and muttered, "Then would Junior Brother be willing to become Yao Ranran's grand tribute, to protect our Wuxiang Sect?"
Shen Yuefu's tall figure staggered slightly, but he flung back a cold reply as he left.
"Yao Ranran is no longer Yao Ranran!"
Han Huijun rubbed his chin, emotions swirling in his eyes.
"All these years… this is the first time he's ever called me Senior Brother. Could it be that the white spiritual power truly belonged to Yao Ranran?"
…
Western Sea, a shadowed cavern.
"Qiao Qiao, why are you here? Weren't you supposed to be in Central Domain?"
From the dim cavern came a voice, rough and hoarse.
Pei Xianqiao looked at Li Luoqi's haggard face and could not resist reaching out to touch his cheek.
"How did you become like this? If I hadn't come, just how long did you plan to hide it from me?"
Li Luoqi lingered in the warmth of her hand. "Qiao Qiao, this is only temporary. I am the Demon Sovereign. As long as the West Sea endures, I will never be defeated!"
"Let us join forces! This old man knows you still have means to restore your cultivation. You helped Pei girl many times. I am willing to go with her to take you into the forbidden ground of Demon Abyss!"
A wisp of azure smoke drifted forth. Elder Shang stroked his white beard, his gaze grave as it settled on Li Luoqi.
Li Luoqi's expression flickered. He glanced at Pei Xianqiao's calm face and frowned.
"You are Qiao Qiao's companion?"
Elder Shang merely nodded.
Pei Xianqiao said, "I know Lu Ziqian betrayed you, but I did not expect Yao Ranran to wound you. Elder Shang told me already—Yao Ranran is no longer who she once was!"
Li Luoqi looked at them in astonishment. "Yao Ranran is no longer who she once was… What do you mean?"
"I suspect she has been possessed by someone from the Spirit Realm. And those from the Spirit Realm are not necessarily benevolent. Their descent in groups must be driven by some secret scheme."
Elder Shang's eyes glinted coldly, his hand tightening on his beard.
Li Luoqi's brows furrowed deeply. "How can you be so certain?"
Elder Shang swept a calm gaze over his frail body. "The Demon Sovereign wounded to such a state—how much more proof is required?"
"You!" Li Luoqi's face turned deathly pale. He struggled upright, pointing at him.
"Elder Shang, do not provoke him further," Pei Xianqiao quickly said. "Yao Ranran indeed has ties with people of the Spirit Realm. Otherwise, she would never have known that black-robed man hiding in Central Domain."
A flash of hatred crossed her eyes.
Li Luoqi slowly withdrew his hand, lowering his gaze.
Elder Shang gave a faint laugh. "Demon Sovereign, I did not send Pei girl here to quarrel. If you wish to enter the forbidden land of Demon Abyss, Pei girl and I can aid you."
"Yes. Regardless of whether you are demon or not, you have never harmed me, and saved me many times. I refuse to believe Yao Ranran's words. She stole my phoenix, stripped away your cultivation. I came here because I want to lead you into Demon Abyss's depths!"
Pei Xianqiao's voice was firm with resolve.
Li Luoqi slowly lifted his head. Elder Shang's smile deepened. "I know you have lingered on the borders of the West Sea, unwilling to step into Demon Abyss, because you fear that traitor has stationed heavy troops there."
"But the reason I dared bring Pei girl to you is that we can slip you inside without a sound. Once you return to the peak, the three of us together can subdue Yao Ranran, reclaim the West Sea, and deal with the traitor!"
Li Luoqi gave him a sidelong look.
"I do not need you to lead me in. I have my own way."
Elder Shang's eyes narrowed.
Li Luoqi spoke slowly. "But once I employ the ancient method to restore my cultivation, it will stir great upheaval. Without guardians at my side, if those two traitors come, I will not be able to withstand them."
Elder Shang smiled. "Then it seems our arrival is most timely."
"When do we depart?" Li Luoqi asked coldly.
Elder Shang tilted his head toward the faint light filtering through a crack in the cavern and stroked his beard with a smile.
"Tonight!"
…
Central Domain, Qingshui County.
"We've arrived! This transmission staff is incredible!"
Xiao Rong clutched the staff, staring wide-eyed at the unfamiliar scenery.
Meng Xiangxiang stood at the prow of the flying boat, gazing over the ruined ancient forest. His eyes then shifted toward the empty clearing where his family had once been burned.
"Mother, little brother… we've returned!"
Xiao Rong glanced around, puzzled. "Where are your mother and brother? Why don't I see them?"
Meng Xiangxiang pointed at the clearing. "My mother lies beneath that ground. As for my brother, he is here, with me."
Xiao Rong's eyes swept across the earth, then turned back sharply.
When he saw a tiny, crimson head not yet fully opened, he yelped in fright, scrambling up a tall tree and refusing to come down.
"You are a ghost! No, wait, you were a ghost cultivator to begin with! But the fierce spirit on your shoulder is too terrifying!"
Meng Xiangxiang patted the little head, drawing it back into his body.
"Rong-yé, are you alright? I didn't mean to scare you. I am not a ghost…"
His eyes were full of apology.
A pair of dazzling wings unfurled behind him, their fiery gales blasting toward Xiao Rong.
Xiao Rong's small face was immediately wrinkled by the scorching wind, forcing open just a slit of his eyes to peer at the phoenix.
"How could I forget? I've got a divine beast at my side! What am I afraid of ghosts for? This young master fears nothing!"
He leapt down from the tree at once.
Meng Xiangxiang sighed in relief and laughed. "As long as Rong-yé is not angry with me."
Snuggling close to the phoenix, Xiao Rong muttered, "Not angry, not angry. Let's get moving already!"
Meng Xiangxiang looked at the hundred meters that still separated them, his eyes dimming briefly before he forced himself to rally.
"Alright. Qingshui County is my mother's homeland. The Fairy is my benefactor. I will see them restored to what they once were, so that black-robed man can never harm them again!"