Heart torn out, eyes gouged out.
Madam Zheng witnessed this scene repeatedly, her grief nearly causing her to faint.
At this very moment, Xia Lianqiao suddenly noticed a faint movement in the eyelids of Chen Chifeng beside her—he was on the verge of waking up.
Everyone was occupied with their tasks, and as the one with the lowest combat ability, Li Langhuan had entrusted the unconscious Chen Chifeng to Xia Lianqiao's care after emerging from the Mirror of Shattering Illusions.
This was not a good time for him to wake up. After a half-second of hesitation, Xia Lianqiao decisively struck the back of his neck with a chop, knocking the young man unconscious once more.
If a cultivator had reached the Comprehension Realm, severed limbs or a torn-out heart could be reattached, allowing them to survive for a short time. However, Chen Xuan, who was at the Dao Realm, was beyond saving.
Despite being drenched in blood, Chen Xuan stood motionless, neither resisting nor fleeing. After a long pause, he opened his hollow, dark eyes and spoke in a hoarse voice, "I have wronged you."
"Now, you may kill me or cut me to pieces as you wish."
"Chen Xuan, saying such things at a time like this," Xiao Lingbo chuckled dismissively, "don't you find it hypocritical?"
"What kind of Dao have you been cultivating for the past century? What emotions have you severed? After all your cultivation, you still can't compare to a single toe of mine. Aren't you ashamed?"
Chen Xuan staggered silently, the blood flowing from his body staining their clothes a deep crimson, as red as a long-delayed wedding ceremony.
Xiao Lingbo then turned to look at Ling Chongxiao, who had been calmly observing everything from a distance, and said with a smile, "Young man, you have some pride, but today you won't be able to kill me and claim credit."
The young man's expression remained cold and composed. "What do you intend to do?"
A flame erupted from Xiao Lingbo's dantian, answering his question without words.
The endless fire from her demon core danced wildly, quickly engulfing the hem of her skirt and wrapping tightly around both her and Chen Xuan.
The pain of being burned by demonic flames was no less agonizing than any torture in the world. Yet, amidst the flames, Xiao Lingbo's expression showed no sign of suffering.
The fire consumed her snow-white hair, skin, and flesh, melting her features and distorting her appearance. Only a chilling laugh echoed endlessly in front of the crystal palace, a laugh filled with unending hatred.
"Today, I, Xiao Lingbo, will self-destruct my demon core and burn my body to ashes, ensuring that none of you will ever judge my right or wrong!"
With a deafening explosion, her demon core shattered, and her dantian was destroyed.
The flames in the water danced wildly, devouring everything, burning away all the love, hatred, greed, and delusion in this world.
With Xiao Lingbo's death, the drop of unrefined Jade Dew Elixir within her body immediately separated. Seeing this, Li Langhuan quickly took out a jade bottle and collected the elixir.
"Is everything settled?" Bai Ji'an asked in a low voice.
Li Langhuan pressed her lips together and nodded, storing the elixir bottle back into her spatial pouch.
After speaking, neither of them said another word, both falling into silence.
Though Xiao Lingbo was dead, the demonic flames continued to burn.
Xia Lianqiao was also stunned, deeply immersed in the intense emotions of love and hatred before her. Before she could fully regain her composure, a muffled groan sounded beside her.
It was Chen Chifeng, whom she had knocked unconscious with a chop to the neck!
Xia Lianqiao snapped back to reality and looked at the young man before her, unsure of how to explain everything that had happened while he was unconscious.
What should she say? That Xiao Lingbo's temper was too fierce, that after killing Chen Xuan, she refused to fall into Ling Chongxiao's hands and chose to self-destruct her demon core, burning herself to death?
But soon, Xia Lianqiao realized that perhaps she didn't need to say anything.
Chen Chifeng's gaze wasn't on her.
The scene of devastation, the ashes, and the unending demonic flames were enough for him to piece together what had happened.
Xiao Lingbo, at the third level of the Dao Realm, had unleashed demonic flames that would burn for three days and nights before extinguishing.
From the moment he woke up, Chen Chifeng had been quietly and intently watching the spreading flames, his gentle eyes filled with indescribable emotions.
Xia Lianqiao couldn't bear to see him like this and, after a moment of thought, offered some comfort in a low voice, "She did it to save you."
"I know," Chen Chifeng closed his eyes. "I know she knocked me out on purpose so that you wouldn't trouble me."
Xia Lianqiao couldn't quite discern Chen Chifeng's feelings toward Xiao Lingbo.
At the age of eight, he had been offered as a sacrifice to a flood dragon, and the deep-seated hatred in his blood was undeniable. Yet, he had spent several years by Xiao Lingbo's side, only to learn through fate's cruel twists that she had been innocent all along.
Before meeting Xiao Lingbo, he had pleaded with them to spare her life, but upon seeing her, there was a faint glimmer of hatred in his eyes, unwilling to let her see any trace of affection.
Perhaps, after years of companionship, there was a tangled mix of love and hate in his heart, but he simply didn't want Xiao Lingbo to know.
"When I was offered as a sacrifice to the flood dragon, she spared my life because I resembled one of my grandmothers."
"And now, she has saved me once again." At this point, Chen Chifeng fell silent, then suddenly stood up.
"Do you think she still held any lingering feelings for him?"
Was he asking her?
Xia Lianqiao was taken aback, her mind in turmoil. As someone who had never been in a relationship, how could she offer advice? If you asked someone like her, the answer would always be to break up.
"I think... perhaps she loved him once, but now there's only hate left." After some hesitation, Xia Lianqiao replied.
"Yes," Chen Chifeng said softly, pressing his lips together. "She doesn't love anyone now."
Bai Ji'an approached at that moment and said, "Brother Chen, please accept my condolences."
Li Langhuan, meanwhile, was busy comforting Madam Zheng, watching from afar with concern and not approaching.
Bai Ji'an spoke gently, "Now that everything is settled, why don't you return to the Chen residence to see your family, have a cup of tea, and rest?"
Chen Chifeng didn't respond directly, instead murmuring, "I think, for the past century, the only person she ever thought of was my grandmother."
The one who had extended a kind hand to her, the one who, in her wedding robes, had playfully bowed to her and shared a wedding ceremony with her.
As he spoke, Chen Chifeng fell into deep thought, seemingly lost in memories.
After a long pause, he finally looked up, his expression calm, as if he had made up his mind. "Brother Bai, I won't be returning with you."
Bai Ji'an was startled, a frown creasing his brow as he sensed something unusual. "Brother Chen, what do you mean?"
"My life was given by her, and now she has saved me a second time. No matter what, I must repay her with my life."
"Moreover, I... she... I can no longer face my parents and relatives, nor the Chen siblings who died as sacrifices to the flood dragon."
With that, the gentle and handsome young man stood before the demonic flames, calmly bowed to everyone, and then turned, stepping into the fire step by step.
"Coming with the waves, leaving through the flames."
"Born from love, dying for love."
The flames licked at his sleeves, the firelight in the water shimmering and dancing, like an endless glazed heart fire.
And more than ten years ago...
Xiao Lingbo didn't actually like living in the crystal palace. Perhaps because she had once been human before becoming a demon, she preferred to live among mortals.
A modest house with blue tiles and white walls, filled with books and surrounded by bamboo groves.
A young boy, no more than eight or nine years old, knelt silently at the foot of the steps, his lips pressed tightly together.
Another spring rain fell, pattering softly.
The boy was drenched from head to toe, his pale face stubborn, his eyes filled with deep-seated hatred.
She stepped under the steps, holding an oil-paper umbrella, and caught sight of the boy's resentful gaze.
"You say you wish to follow me in cultivation?"
The boy clenched his teeth, as if feeling humiliated. After a long pause, he finally lowered his head, pressing his forehead to the ground, and kowtowed several times with a loud thud. "Please... teach me the ways of immortality."
"What immortality? It’s nothing but demonic arts. You’re young, yet your mind is already so cunning. Why should I teach you?"
"Teach you," she bent down, her pale hand lifting the boy’s chin, her voice cold and ethereal, as if coming from the underworld, "only for you to come and kill me one day?"
The boy closed his eyes in shame, the raindrops on his lashes trembling violently. "...I just saw how powerful you are, and I wanted to learn."
He dared not look at her.
After what felt like an eternity, he suddenly heard the woman’s hoarse voice, "Come back here tomorrow."
He was stunned, his eyes snapping open as he looked at her in confusion.
"Then I will teach you."
With that, the woman turned away, her white hair trailing behind her. Her faint blue figure gradually merged into the hazy green mist of the rain, soon swallowed by the pattering spring rain. "I’ll be waiting for the day you come to kill me with your own hands."
-
This was a choice Chen Chifeng had made for himself.
Thus, Bai Ji'an merely sighed in regret but did not interfere further.
Li Langhuan helped Madam Zheng, whose tear-streaked face was still damp, as they walked over. She looked in the direction where Chen Chifeng had left and sighed, "The matter is settled now. Bai Ji'an, Fellow Daoist Ling, let’s head back."
On the way back, Xia Lianqiao’s spirits remained low. Even Bai Ji'an noticed her unusual mood and, for once, offered some comfort, "After all, it was their own choice. If they feel no regrets, then it’s a kind of fulfillment."
Li Langhuan, unsure how to console her, caught a small crab to cheer her up.
"Bai Ji'an, Langhuan, I’m fine," Xia Lianqiao shook her head, her emotions still tangled. The thought of Chen Chifeng and Xiao Lingbo left her feeling dispirited.
It wasn’t that she had developed any feelings for them—she had only known Chen Chifeng for half a day. It was more the realization of how fleeting and unpredictable human connections could be, like duckweed drifting apart in an instant.
Madam Zheng sat silently at the bow of the boat, her tears long dried. This gentle and virtuous woman, in this moment, displayed a surprising strength, much to Li Langhuan’s astonishment.
Xia Lianqiao thought for a moment, then went to the cabin to pour Madam Zheng a cup of tea. The woman accepted it, looked up, and smiled.
Though her eyes still held tears, her spirits seemed much better than before.
"Fellow Daoist, do you think I resemble that Lady Xiao in any way?" Madam Zheng asked softly, gazing at the pale green tea in her bowl.
The reflection in the tea showed a woman with red, swollen eyes, but upon closer inspection, her features did bear a slight resemblance to Xiao Lingbo. Li Langhuan was momentarily at a loss for words, unsure how to comfort her.
"I know my husband truly cared for me," Madam Zheng murmured, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of the bowl. "But perhaps his feelings for Lady Xiao weren’t entirely devoid of emotion."
"When he first saw me, he seemed dazed. I thought it was love at first sight, but now I wonder if it was because I reminded him of Lady Xiao, and he felt guilty."
"Fellow Daoists Xia and Li, there’s no need to comfort me. Today, I’ve come to understand the past between my husband—no, Chen Xuan—and Lady Xiao. In the end, it was Chen Xuan who wronged her..."
Perhaps the past was too shameful to reveal, as Chen Xuan had never told Madam Zheng the truth. Xia Lianqiao felt deeply sympathetic toward this strong yet fragile woman who had been kept in the dark. "Madam, what are your plans for the future?"
Madam Zheng looked up, her lips curving into a bittersweet, complex smile. "Chen Xuan brought me into the path of immortality. Now that I’ve glimpsed the vastness of the world, I’ll continue seeking the Dao and exploring the heavens and earth."
Xia Lianqiao was taken aback. After all the twists and turns, it seemed Madam Zheng was the one with the greatest affinity for immortality.
The group continued to chat intermittently, and Xia Lianqiao couldn’t help but glance at Ling Chongxiao, who had remained silent since boarding the flying boat.
The young man sat with a straight back, his tall figure elegant, his long lashes lowered. He hadn’t spoken a word since earlier.
Ah, what could Ling Chongxiao be thinking? Xia Lianqiao felt a mix of hesitation and concern.
After all, he had been the one pursuing Xiao Lingbo from the start. Seeing such a tragic ending, she worried he might be traumatized.
"Um, Fellow Daoist Ling?" she ventured cautiously.
Meeting Ling Chongxiao’s gaze, Xia Lianqiao lifted her skirt and sat beside him. "Are you alright?"
This time, the young man didn’t turn away expressionlessly.
It seemed her efforts to connect with him were bearing some fruit. A small victory, indeed.
Still, his tone remained distant and polite. "Why do you ask, Fellow Daoist?"
"Well, don’t take it too hard," Xia Lianqiao adopted the tone of a caring older sister, trying to console him gently.
But the young man frowned, looking puzzled. "The outcome between Xiao Lingbo and Chen Xuan was the result of their own choices. Why should I feel burdened?"
Xia Lianqiao was stunned, staring at Ling Chongxiao in disbelief.
No way...
Wait, she suddenly understood why Ling Chongxiao had always been so detached, almost devoid of emotions.
The young man had grown up without parents or friends, making it nearly impossible for him to comprehend the complex emotions between Xiao Lingbo and the others.
Most people, witnessing such a tragic ending, would feel some mix of sorrow, anger, or even disgust. But Ling Chongxiao showed no emotional response, his heart as still as an ancient frozen lake.
This icy, crystal-clear heart—was it a blessing or a curse for his path of cultivation?
This issue needed to be addressed. By the time his daughter’s death awakened him, it would be too late. Gazing at the clouds rushing past the boat, Xia Lianqiao thought for a moment before tentatively asking, "Fellow Daoist, your heart is quite hard."
Ling Chongxiao replied succinctly, "Strong emotions cloud judgment. To lack emotion is not to be heartless."
"That’s true, and I understand your perspective might be the most rational. But I still wonder, Fellow Daoist Ling, could you ever fall in love?"
The young man asked calmly, "What is love?"
Xia Lianqiao hesitated. "Well... like falling for a girl?"
Ling Chongxiao pursed his lips, giving her an answer that was unexpected yet fitting. "I don’t know."
His brows slightly furrowed, his delicate nose and thin lips framed by a faint, cold glow. His high ponytail, dark and glossy, swayed in the wind, giving him an air of otherworldly grace and elegance.
This face was clearly that of an untouchable, love-ignorant highland flower, Xia Lianqiao mused inwardly.
"If I were to fall in love," Ling Chongxiao said coldly, "I would never end up like that wicked serpent."
“The highest state of emotion is to transcend it, to neither be bound nor troubled by it,” Ling Chongxiao declared with calm certainty.
Xia Lianqiao raised an objection, “But love between men and women is inherently irrational.”
Ling Chongxiao’s tone was resolute and composed, “I will never be like that.”
Xia Lianqiao rested her chin on her hand, “Then you’re too rational, Daoist. Love without passion or possessiveness is as bland as water. I believe love should be fiery and intense.”
She had always intended to change the fate of Li Langhuan and Ling Chongxiao, and she couldn’t let Ling Chongxiao remain so cold and detached.
Ling Chongxiao replied, “Better to forget each other in the vast world than to cling together in hardship.”
Though he was only around eighteen years old, his views on love were as seasoned as someone who had weathered countless storms.
Ling Chongxiao continued indifferently, “If true love exists, those who share it can become cultivation partners, forsaking mundane affections and pursuing the Great Dao together.
“The Great Dao is boundless, and to explore it alongside you is the greatest joy and freedom in this world.”
Though Xia Lianqiao knew Ling Chongxiao was merely expressing his own coldly rational perspective on love, when his clear, distant eyes met hers, she couldn’t help but pause.
Her heartbeat quickened, and she hurriedly averted her gaze, taking a deep breath before continuing, “Daoist, you’re like a wise man who refuses to enter the river of love. You remain on the shore, untouched by water or mud, unafraid of love, yet avoiding it. But when the moon is full, it begins to wane. You shouldn’t speak so confidently, Daoist Ling.”
Thinking of Li Langhuan and Ling Chongxiao’s story in the book, Xia Lianqiao sighed inwardly. Open your eyes and see! I refuse to believe you’re truly unmoved!
Ling Chongxiao frowned, “You don’t believe me?”
Xia Lianqiao hesitated for a moment, then extended her palm, “Daoist, would you like to make a bet with me?”
Ling Chongxiao stood tall, his sleeves hanging loosely as he glanced at her hand without moving, “What are we betting on?”
On the moment your heart stirs, she thought to herself.
“Let’s bet that you’ll eventually fall in love. As for the stakes, we can decide later.”
The young man’s dark, star-like eyes gazed at her calmly. Xia Lianqiao had expected Ling Chongxiao to reject her sudden whimsy.
To her surprise, his thin lips parted, and he decisively said, “Fine.”
Though still unaccustomed to physical contact, Ling Chongxiao merely flicked his eyelashes and clapped his palm against hers.
His fingers were slender and jade-like, with well-defined knuckles, and they felt strong, likely from years of sword practice.
The touch of their fingertips was like the gentle clink of jade, resonating in her heart with a soft chime. Xia Lianqiao’s heart raced like a drum, and fearing he might notice, she quickly averted her gaze, looking around nervously.
The palm of his hand felt cool to the touch, and in that brief moment, Ling Chongxiao also seemed slightly uncomfortable, swiftly withdrawing his hand.
Xia Lianqiao thought to herself…
This truly felt like, “I’ve made a pact with the divine, betting on the moment your heart stirs.”
Xia Lianqiao declared, “It’s a deal!”
“It’s a deal,” Ling Chongxiao echoed.
The flying boat descended slowly in front of the Chen residence.
After storing the flying boat in his talisman, Ling Chongxiao did not enter the manor with them this time.
Instead, he bowed slightly, his expression solemn and serene, as deep as an abyss, “I came here solely to eliminate the demon. Now that the task is complete, I must return to my sect to report to my master.”
Both Li Langhuan and Bai Ji’an were surprised by Ling Chongxiao’s early departure and tried to persuade him to stay, “Daoist, why not linger a while longer?”
Xia Lianqiao, especially, was caught off guard. She still needed to build goodwill with him and didn’t want him to leave so soon, “Daoist, won’t you stay for a cup of tea? You were the one who contributed the most in this battle. If Master Chen asks about it, how should we respond?”
Madam Zheng also gently urged, “Meeting by chance is fate. Daoist Ling, please stay a little longer.”
But the young man was decisive. Once he had made up his mind, he would not waver. Ling Chongxiao remained unmoved, “If fate wills it, we will meet again.”
With that, his distant gaze swept past Xia Lianqiao’s face, and ignoring the surprised looks from the others, he advised her, “The Great Dao is emotionless, yet it governs the sun and moon; the Great Dao is nameless, yet it nurtures all things. In this world, the mortal realm is full of chaos, where emotions rise and fall. Only the Great Dao remains constant, unchanging and eternal.
“The evil flood dragon and his companions met their downfall precisely because they indulged in unchecked desires.
“We, as cultivators, must take this as a warning, focus on our cultivation, comprehend the Great Dao, and seek eternal life. Remember, the joy found here is far greater than the fleeting love between men and women.”
Xia Lianqiao was stunned. Was Ling Chongxiao still… holding firm to his beliefs?
After speaking, Ling Chongxiao gave a slight nod to the group.
With a flick of his finger, he summoned a streak of light, and his sword aura shot forth like a flash of snow, a rainbow arching over the vast waves of the East Sea and the endless mountain ranges.
Beyond the clouds, the young man’s voice rang out, clear and powerful, filled with an unyielding pride and a steadfast Dao heart:
“Riding the whale across the East Sea, treading the vast expanse,
Returning to the immortal capital, singing freely,
With three feet of sword in my sleeve,
I dare to make even gods and ghosts tremble in fear!”
