Outside the window, the sun was setting in the west, and the time for the evening birthday celebration was drawing closer. In the kitchen, the cooks and maids bustled about, their feet barely touching the ground as they hurried to and fro.
Jian Huan wiped her hands on her apron and discreetly took out the Xuantian Mirror to check for messages. Both Blade Under Heaven and Granny Medicine had already replied.
[Blade Under Heaven: Miss Jian, don’t worry, my brother and I have everything arranged!]
[Qian Duoduo with Talisman No. 2: Good, remember, you don’t need to actually go in. Just make a feint, understand?]
[Blade Under Heaven: Miss Jian, rest assured, my brother and I have it all memorized.]
Jian Huan let out a slight sigh of relief and opened Granny Medicine’s message.
[Living by Selling Medicine: I followed your instructions and found the Earth Fruit Spirit. It said it had hidden itself and didn’t see anyone. However, it did hear voices, and one of them sounded like a man who had come to deliver something to Shen Jizhi when you were building the new house.]
Oh?
Jian Huan frowned slightly, her gaze sweeping over the people behind her. She quickly plastered on a smile and walked over to Shen Jizhi, calling out softly in a deliberately sweet tone, “Brother.”
Shen Jizhi, who was flipping a dish in the wok, felt a slight tremor in his hand as a tingling sensation spread through his chest.
It had been two days since he had taken on the role of the head chef, but he still wasn’t quite used to Jian Huan calling him that.
Shen Jizhi coughed lightly and turned around calmly, his gaze meeting Jian Huan’s. He spoke softly, “Little sister, is something wrong?”
Jian Huan glanced at him quickly, her long lashes fluttering as she casually made up an excuse and handed him the Xuantian Mirror. “The manager just asked if we’d be willing to cater for a banquet hosted by the young master of the Gong family, Gong Feihong, next month. He wants to invite us to cook for his fellow disciples. Brother, what do you think? Should we agree?”
Shen Jizhi took the mirror with one hand, his eyes scanning the message. His expression darkened slightly.
Back when Jian Huan was in seclusion, he had personally overseen the construction of their house. He remembered that only one senior brother had come to deliver spiritual wood at that time.
Shen Jizhi nodded. “Of course, let’s agree.”
He lowered his head and wrote carefully on the Xuantian Mirror: [It’s Zheng Yi.]
After replying, Shen Jizhi handed the mirror back to Jian Huan.
Jian Huan glanced at it, then returned to chopping vegetables. Ran Mu’er came over with freshly washed spiritual vegetables, and the two sisters chatted and laughed as they discussed the “Gong Feihong banquet” once more.
No one noticed anything unusual, and the matter seemed like nothing more than a minor interruption.
In the front courtyard, the banquet officially began. Dish after dish was served from the hot woks, carried away by the maids.
The kitchen grew even busier, and Jian Huan, Shen Jizhi, and Ran Mu’er were so occupied that they didn’t even have a moment to catch their breath.
It wasn’t until the second hour of the Xu period (around 7:30 PM) that the three of them finished cooking the last dish. A maid from the Jiang residence escorted them back to the guest courtyard.
At the door, a maid with twin buns curtsied to the three of them and said with a smile, “You’ve all worked so hard today! The spirit horses are all occupied at the moment, and the stable hands are also very busy. I’m afraid we won’t be able to arrange transportation for you right away. Please stay at the Jiang residence for the night, and we’ll send you back to Linxian City tomorrow.”
Shen Jizhi quickly bowed in return. “No trouble at all. Please go ahead with your duties. My sisters and I are quite tired today and will wash up and rest soon.”
The maid smiled. “Then I won’t disturb you any further. Have a good rest.”
Once the maid left, Jian Huan, Shen Jizhi, and Ran Mu’er quickly returned to their rooms, made their preparations, and then, like three swift swallows, leapt silently into the cold, dew-filled night.
At a fork in the road, one path led to the Demon Forest’s dry well, while the other led to the banquet hall, where the sound of music and laughter could be heard.
Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi stood on one side, while Ran Mu’er stood on the other.
The three of them exchanged silent glances, saying nothing yet conveying everything.
Ran Mu’er clasped her hands and bowed deeply to the young man and woman standing shoulder to shoulder. “You two… be careful.”
This matter had nothing to do with Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi. It was her Mu family’s affair, yet they had been dragged into it. She couldn’t help but feel guilty.
Jian Huan held her sword and smiled. “Miss Mu’er, there’s no need to feel guilty. Shen Jizhi and I have our own reasons for going on this journey. It’s not just for your family’s sake. You should be careful too. Jiang Wei is in the banquet hall, and your situation is also dangerous.”
Ran Mu’er was slightly taken aback. “Reasons?”
“It’s related to my family background,” Shen Jizhi interjected, giving a slight bow with his sword. He didn’t elaborate further. “It’s getting late. Let’s each take care of ourselves.”
Jian Huan blinked at Ran Mu’er. “Well then, Miss Mu’er, take care!”
A gust of wind swept through, sending dry leaves swirling like goose-feather snow in winter.
When the wind died down, the place was empty, with only the silver moonlight and the dappled shadows of the trees remaining.
The Jiang family was busy with the banquet in the front hall, leaving the backyard desolate and silent, covered in fallen leaves.
The autumn moon shone overhead, its light fragmented by the branches, casting flickering shadows on the two figures darting swiftly through the forest.
Jian Huan followed closely behind Shen Jizhi, who was leading the way.
Suddenly, the hem of Shen Jizhi’s black robe flickered, and Jian Huan abruptly stopped.
The white wall of the Jiang residence was right in front of her, and there was no path ahead.
But Shen Jizhi, who had been in front of her, had just vanished through the wall!
Jian Huan blinked, watching as Shen Jizhi disappeared. Not wanting to waste any time, she charged toward the wall.
She guessed that the wall was some kind of barrier formation, and passing through it would lead to the dry well and the dense forest Shen Jizhi had mentioned.
But with a loud *thud*, it felt like an egg hitting a rock.
Jian Huan saw stars. “!!!”
She gritted her teeth against the pain, not daring to cry out. She looked at the wall, which now had a dent from her collision, and took a few steps back, clutching her forehead.
Damn it, that hurt!
Ahead, Shen Jizhi moved like lightning, covering a dozen steps in an instant before suddenly realizing something was wrong.
He turned around.
Behind him, the ancient trees and thick branches of the forest loomed like a tangle of serpents in the darkness.
There was no one else in sight.
Shen Jizhi: “…”
Wait, where was Jian Huan?
After a moment of silence, the young man in black pursed his lips and quickly retraced his steps.
At the entrance to the forest, he saw Jian Huan standing there, rubbing her forehead. He let out a silent sigh of relief.
He appeared beside her and asked in a low voice, “What happened?”
Jian Huan looked up at him, then pointed at the wall with her sword. “Shen Jizhi, what I see in front of me is a wall.”
Shen Jizhi frowned, looking at the entrance to the dense forest ahead. “A wall?”
“Yes,” Jian Huan nodded, describing it in detail for his benefit. “A white, solid, painful-to-hit-your-head-on wall.”
Shen Jizhi looked at the slight swelling on Jian Huan’s forehead: “…”
Under the moonlight, the two of them stared at each other.
Shen Jizhi reached out, his warm palm gently rubbing her forehead. A cool stream of spiritual energy flowed from his hand, soothing Jian Huan’s injury.
He lowered his gaze, quickly piecing together the situation. “I can see it because of the demon core inside me.”
Jian Huan winced slightly and quickly took out the Xuantian Mirror. “I’ll let Mu’er know.”
The entrance to this Demon Forest was invisible and inaccessible to cultivators.
Only those with demon blood could pass through.
In that case, Ran Mu’er wouldn’t need to go to great lengths to investigate this matter later.
Ran Mu’er stared at the message Jian Huan had sent on the Xuantian Mirror and replied with a quick “Okay.” She crouched low, hiding in the shadows outside the banquet hall.
The birthday celebration was nearing its end. A dozen maids, smiling gracefully, carried the final round of fruit platters as they approached.
A faint, almost imperceptible fragrance wafted toward them on the breeze, causing the maids to pause momentarily before continuing as if nothing had happened.
Their peach-colored skirts swayed as they entered the banquet hall, delivering the fruit platters to each table.
At the main table, Jiang Qiaoqiao sat beside Jiang’s Mother. Jiang Wei, as the head of the household, had taken some wine to the table where the elders were seated, chatting and drinking with them.
Jiang’s Mother picked up a slice of fish and gently placed it in Jiang Qiaoqiao’s bowl, her voice weak as she called out, “Qiaoqiao?”
Jiang Qiaoqiao quickly snapped out of her thoughts. “Mother, what is it?”
“You’ve been acting strange all day. Did something happen?” Jiang’s Mother asked with concern. “You’ve been distracted since this morning.”
“It’s nothing,” Jiang Qiaoqiao shook her head, her smile pale.
She glanced at the night sky. The birthday celebration was almost over, and Senior Brother Shen and the others hadn’t done anything to disrupt it. She could finally relax.
“Mother, how are you feeling now? Are you feeling better? I’ll stay home with you for the next few days. If you feel unwell in the future, you must tell me. Don’t hide it from me anymore.”
“Did your father say something to you last night?” Jiang’s Mother realized, sighing softly as she lovingly stroked Jiang Qiaoqiao’s hair. “I’m fine, I just didn’t want you to worry…”
With a soft thud, the black lacquer tray adorned with golden winding branches and fruit patterns was placed on the table.
The maid suddenly raised her head, her eyes unnervingly hollow as she stared at Jiang's Mother and Jiang Qiaoqiao. Her crimson lips parted, and a sharp, piercing voice rang out: "Jiang Qiaoqiao is not a daughter of the Jiang family! Jiang Wei has colluded with demons and stolen the Bodhi Pagoda! Jiang Qiaoqiao is not a daughter of the Jiang family! Jiang Wei has colluded with demons and stolen the Bodhi Pagoda!"
"Jiang Qiaoqiao is not a daughter of the Jiang family! Jiang Wei has colluded with demons and stolen the Bodhi Pagoda!"
"Jiang Qiaoqiao is not a daughter of the Jiang family! Jiang Wei has colluded with demons and stolen the Bodhi Pagoda!"
"..."
At every table, every maid was simultaneously repeating the same phrase.
The cacophony of shrill voices merged into one, echoing throughout the banquet hall, startling countless birds into flight!
When the incident occurred, Jiang Qiaoqiao instinctively shielded Jiang's Mother behind her. She was about to unleash a burst of spiritual energy toward the maid in front of her when she heard the words, "Jiang Qiaoqiao is not a daughter of the Jiang family." Her spiritual energy faltered.
"I am not a daughter of the Jiang family..." Jiang Qiaoqiao murmured, repeating the words. She turned to Jiang's Mother, her eyes filled with confusion and uncertainty. "Mother..."
Jiang's Mother exchanged a glance with Jing Chi, who was rushing toward them, and immediately pulled Jiang Qiaoqiao into her arms, coughing incessantly. "...Cough, cough... It must be because your father has been fighting demons again, and now the demons are taking advantage of my birthday to cause trouble, to slander your father, to sow discord in our family... Cough, cough... Qiaoqiao, cough, cough..."
Jiang Qiaoqiao anxiously patted her mother's back. "Mother, are you all right?"
Jing Chi approached, his sword poised to pierce the maid through, but after scanning the crowd in the hall, he instead knocked the maid unconscious. "Miss, please take Madam to the inner chamber for now. Leave this to me."
"Brother Jing Chi..." Jiang Qiaoqiao hesitated for a moment, but seeing her mother's incessant coughing, she quickly nodded in agreement. Supporting Jiang's Mother, she led her into the inner chamber.
Jing Chi's gaze swept across the banquet hall, and the maids collapsed like ducks with their necks wrung, falling to the ground without a sound.
The hall regained a semblance of quiet, but in the next moment, the other maids and servants in the hall stiffened and began shouting loudly.
"Jiang Qiaoqiao is not a daughter of the Jiang family! Jiang Wei has colluded with demons and stolen the Bodhi Pagoda!"
"Jiang Qiaoqiao is not a daughter of the Jiang family..."
Many of the elders attending the banquet had brought along disciples who had just entered the Qi Refining stage.
These disciples, though slightly better off than the maids and servants without cultivation, could not control themselves either. Their faces were filled with terror as they listened to their own voices trembling: "Jiang Qiaoqiao is not a daughter of the Jiang family..."
While Jing Chi could deal with the maids and servants from his own household without hesitation, he had to be more cautious with disciples from other sects.
He hurried to Jiang Wei's side, knelt on one knee, and clasped his sword in salute. "Please forgive me, Master. I have not yet found the culprit behind this disturbance!"
Jiang Wei remained relatively calm. Seated at the table surrounded by peak masters and elders, he sighed deeply. "There truly is no peace these days."
Over the years, Jiang Wei had been accused of colluding with demons almost every month, and the people of the Nine Provinces had grown accustomed to it.
The Second Peak Master of the Wind Blade Sect chuckled. "You are the main force in the fight against demons. The demons would love nothing more than to devour your flesh and blood and turn the righteous forces of the Nine Provinces against you."
The Buddhist elder chanted, "Amitabha. Patriarch Jiang, there is no need to worry. Naturally, we all trust you."
The others nodded in agreement.
The Peak Master of the Joyful Union Sect, Mei Ni, smiled faintly, but her lowered eyes held a hint of something unusual.
Jiang Wei stood up, sweeping his robe aside, and clasped his hands in salute to the assembled guests. "I am deeply moved by your trust. As I have said before, if the Nine Provinces ever doubt me, you are free to search the Jiang family at any time. I will not resist!"
"But now, the culprits have chosen to cause trouble during my wife's birthday celebration. This is an intolerable insult, and I can no longer stand idly by!" With those words, Jiang Wei's sharp eyes narrowed. He sniffed the air, following the source of an unusual fragrance, and with a swift motion, he reached into the shadows outside the hall and pulled out Ran Mu'er.
Ran Mu'er was caught completely off guard. Before she could react, the spiritual energy of a Nascent Soul cultivator flashed, and with a spurt of blood, she collapsed, her dantian on the verge of shattering. Her vision darkened, and she lost consciousness.
"Patriarch Jiang, wait!"
Mei Ni, the Peak Master of the Joyful Union Sect, suddenly stood up. A flash of spiritual energy from her hand intercepted Jiang Wei's attack.
The crowd turned to look at her.
Mei Ni's eyes were as alluring as silk. She gently brushed Ran Mu'er's forehead with her hand, her fingertip hovering over the barely breathing girl. Her voice was soft and seductive. "This girl is Ran Mu'er, a disciple of the Joyful Union Sect and the apprentice of my junior brother. Patriarch Jiang, you cannot simply kill her like this."
Ran Mu'er was quite the daring one. Not only had she shamelessly pursued her junior brother, but she had also fled the Joyful Union Sect after seducing him, disappearing for three or four years.
Her junior brother, out of shame, had kept it a secret, searching for her in private.
Just as he had found a trace of her, she had vanished again. If Ran Mu'er were to die now, her junior brother might very well develop a heart demon.
Mei Ni shook her head slightly, secretly summoning her junior brother to come quickly.
"Ran Mu'er is not just a disciple of your Joyful Union Sect," Jiang Wei said, his gaze fixed on the girl lying on the ground, who showed no trace of demonic energy. He glanced subtly at Jing Chi, who lowered his head in fear.
Jing Chi had been certain that Ran Mu'er had been tainted by demonic energy!
How could there be no trace of it now?
Jing Chi clenched his fists, gritting his teeth.
Jiang Wei snorted inwardly and turned his attention back to Mei Ni. "Ran Mu'er is also the daughter of the Mu family, a descendant of demons. Our Jiang family has been pursuing her recently. Peak Master Mei, are you suggesting that you would shelter a descendant of demons?"
"Patriarch Jiang, you jest. Naturally, I would not dare," Mei Ni replied with a light laugh. "First, I see no demonic energy on her, so there is no justification for killing her on the spot. According to the law, she should be detained and interrogated by the Imperial Pacification Office, is that not so? Second, she has stolen a priceless treasure from my junior brother. We must find out where she has hidden it. Don't you agree, Patriarch Jiang?"
Jiang Wei smirked. "Of course."
"Men," he called out, throwing a meaningful glance at Jing Chi. "Take Ran Mu'er to the Imperial Pacification Office!"
Jing Chi bowed respectfully. "Yes!"
Mei Ni glanced at two of her disciples and specifically instructed them, "You two go with Guard Jing. This matter concerns the Joyful Union Sect. Do not take it lightly."
The two disciples replied in unison, "Yes, Master."
Mei Ni bowed to Jiang Wei. "Thank you for your trouble, Patriarch Jiang."
A crack appeared in Jiang Wei's composed expression, but he quickly suppressed it and returned the bow. "You are too kind, Peak Master Mei."
The towering ancient trees blocked out the moonlight, plunging the area into complete darkness.
Shen Jizhi carried Jian Huan on his back, his hand gently supporting her legs as he moved swiftly and silently through the shadows like a ghost.
The deeper they went, the darker it became.
After a while, Shen Jizhi stopped and turned to meet Jian Huan's gaze.
He signaled silently: We're here.
Jian Huan nodded slightly, releasing her hold on his neck and jumping down.
The two of them hid in the bushes, carefully peering into the dark forest ahead.
The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind.
Beside a thousand-year-old tree stood a dilapidated well, its bricks and tiles weathered and covered in vines, exuding an ominous aura.
Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi exchanged a glance.
The time Ran Mu'er could buy them was limited. They had to act quickly.
Jian Huan looked up at the dense canopy that blocked out the sky and communicated with Shen Jizhi using hand signals. The two of them then separated, each disappearing into the shadows.
The night grew deeper.
Suddenly, a gentle breeze swept through, lifting countless dried leaves and scattering them in all directions.
After a moment of silence, another breeze carried a large cluster of dried leaves toward them.
The slightly curled and charred leaves seemed no different from the others on the ground.
Faint whispers drifted on the wind.
"Is it the wind?"
"Yes."
"Stay alert. The master has warned us to be extra cautious these days."
"Understood."
Shen Jizhi listened intently, his gaze fixed on the pile of black, cloth-wrapped objects beneath the tree. A faint smile played on his lips.
Taking advantage of the wind, he swiftly returned to Jian Huan's side.
Jian Huan was crouched in the bushes, keeping watch. She looked up at him, her eyebrow raised in a silent question.
Shen Jizhi nodded.
Jian Huan gave him an 'OK' sign.
Shen Jizhi bent down, and Jian Huan leaped onto his back like a cat.
With one arm around Shen Jizhi's neck and the other hanging in the air, she snapped her fingers.
With a soft *bang*, the withered leaves that had been blown by the wind suddenly burst into a dazzling, bright light, like a flash of lightning streaking across the sky during a storm. Another *bang* echoed as the light exploded, scattering sparks everywhere!
The dense, ink-black forest was instantly illuminated, revealing the shadowy figures of demons hidden in the darkness.
The lightning struck them, instantly charring their bodies. A nauseating, foul smell filled the air, making one want to retch.
One of the demons cried out in pain, "Ahhh—!"
"Why is there lightning here?!"
"It's a lightning talisman!!"
"Intruders! Alert! Alert! Maintain formation!"
"..."
The group of demonic shadows was thrown into chaos, scattering like a nest of cockroaches that had been disturbed.
Shen Jizhi carried Jian Huan on his back, his snow-white sword unsheathed. With a swift motion, he dashed toward the withered well, Jian Huan in tow.
Jian Huan snapped her fingers once more.
The spirit cloth bag Shen Jizhi had left under a tree was torn open, and blood-soaked rabbits leaped out, scurrying in all directions, their rustling sounds echoing through the forest.
"Such a fragrant scent... the blood of a Golden Core cultivator! Over there!"
"There are more here!"
"Intruders at the entrance to our demon realm! Kill them all! Kill!!"
"Quick, inform the Demon Lord!"
"..."
Shen Jizhi focused entirely on controlling his sword, moving at top speed. The two of them were like fleeting shadows.
As they neared the withered well, a demonic figure suddenly appeared, its voice hoarse and ancient, "Who dares trespass here? You’re asking for death!"
Shen Jizhi ignored it, leaving the task to Jian Huan.
Jian Huan let go of Shen Jizhi's shoulders, leaning back and hooking her legs around his waist. With a swift motion, she hurled hundreds of lightning talismans at the approaching demon, the attack fierce and overwhelming.
She had been drawing lightning talismans non-stop these past few days, and she was utterly sick of it!
The demon dodged, but there were too many talismans. One struck its arm, charring it instantly.
The demon groaned in pain, its dark eyes narrowing. Just as it was about to retaliate, a talisman sword—that had somehow reached it unnoticed—pierced its eyes.
The demon clutched its face, rolling on the ground and howling, "Ahhh—!"
Jian Huan hooked her legs around Shen Jizhi's solid abdomen, pulling herself back onto his back. She glanced behind them.
The rabbits she had released were already slaughtered in an instant, and countless demonic shadows were charging toward them.
While hurling talisman swords and lightning talismans behind her, she urged Shen Jizhi, "Hurry, hurry, Zheng—Senior Brother Chen, jump now! Senior Brother, faster, faster, even faster!"
"..." Shen Jizhi's lips twitched. He kicked his sword, catching it in his hand, and dove straight into the withered well with Jian Huan.
The demonic shadows, like bloodthirsty bats, followed them into the well, relentlessly pursuing Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi.
Inside the well was a spatial tunnel.
The tunnel leading to the Dark Abyss was pitch black, so dark that one couldn’t see their own hand in front of their face.
The two of them fell backward, plummeting deeper and deeper. Their speed increased, the rushing wind howling around them.
After what felt like an eternity, the scene before them suddenly changed.
A blood-red moon hung in the night sky, casting an eerie, cold crimson light.
Before they could even look down, swarms of black demonic shadows surged toward them from all directions.
The leader of the pursuing demons cackled, about to speak, when a powerful dual-cyclone suddenly swept through the area.
The wind was so strong that even though the entrance to the Dark Abyss was hundreds of miles above the ground, the demonic trees below bent under the force, their thick branches snapping. Many demonic beasts were sent tumbling head over heels.
The demonic shadows in the air were scattered like kites blown off course.
Other demons who had rushed to the scene, unable to take flight, clung desperately to the trees, swinging back and forth on the branches.
As they swayed, dizzy and disoriented, they heard a drawn-out shout: "Bro~ther~, hold~ on~ tight~!"
The voice grew fainter and fainter. One demon managed to open an eye and saw two intertwined figures being swept away by the wind toward the edge of the blood-red moon. In an instant, they vanished, blown to who knows where.
