He said he wouldn't die under the same thing again.
Had he died under these butterflies before?
Suddenly, ice-blue butterflies in the sky plummeted down like meteors. The blue light from their wings illuminated the dark alley before them, and the scattered scales outlined transparent tentacles clustered tightly around Xue Chenjing.
These scales had a corrosive effect on magical creatures.
Yu Yi watched as a butterfly attached itself to Xue Chenjing's tentacle like a leech. In less than the blink of an eye, it broke through the snake-scale defense on the surface of the tentacle and burrowed into the flesh beneath.
As soon as the butterfly entered the tentacle, it transformed into countless blue threads, growing wildly like vines, rapidly spreading throughout the entire appendage. All the fine threads seemed to be the butterfly's mouthparts, piercing through the inside of the tentacle, dissolving and consuming its flesh and blood.
The glow of the Demon-Eating Butterfly shone through from inside the tentacle, outlining the originally transparent appendage. That tentacle twisted in agony, its plump flesh visibly shriveling at an alarming rate.
A flash of light passed over Xue Chenjing's hand. Using his hand as a blade, he gritted his teeth and severed that tentacle with one swift cut.
He trembled in pain, took a deep breath, and raised his head. With slightly curved eyes, he gave her a tearful smile amidst the rapidly falling blue light.
"Run," his lips mouthed.
Yu Yi looked at the curling, writhing tentacle on the ground, watching it turn into a puddle of water under the Demon-Eating Butterfly. With so many butterflies falling from the sky, how many tentacles could he cut off like this?
Reason told her that at this moment, she should indeed turn and leave without hesitation. If Xue Chenjing died under the Demon-Eating Butterflies, it would suit her purposes perfectly, allowing her to be rid of him once and for all.
However, before reason could prevail, she had already gripped her Green Bamboo Sword tightly, channeling her sword energy to its limit, and swung a slash towards the falling butterflies.
She heard the crisp cracking sound from the Green Bamboo Sword. The cracks on the blade grew denser, and the erupting green flames coalesced into a winged red-crowned crane. Snake-like lightning flowed between the crane's feathers as it whistled into the alley.
Xue Chenjing's eyes widened as he watched the sword spirit, woven from lightning and fire, rush towards him. The scorching heat swept over his body, incinerating the butterfly scales clinging to his tentacles.
The red-crowned crane raised its slender neck, its wings whipping up a frenzied wind, passing so close it almost grazed his face before soaring upward. This crane, which had once unhesitatingly wounded him, was now protecting him.
The falling butterflies were momentarily blocked by the sword spirit's wings, causing them to flutter back up like leaves scattered in a gale, swept out of the alley.
Xue Chenjing lowered the hand covering his face and took one last look at the person standing outside the alley, holding the sword. Her eyes were bright and determined, sword energy swirling around her body, her clothes and hair fluttering in the air, with a backdrop of hazy, brilliant lamplight.
This image was imprinted in his eyes and etched into his heart.
Taking advantage of the moment when the butterflies were swept away by the sword wind, the mist carried Xue Chenjing's figure away from the alley. Seeing him leave, Yu Yi deftly sheathed her sword back into her sleeve, tightened her black robe to wrap herself once more, and turned to flee as well.
Pei Jingchao, who had been following the Demon-Eating Butterflies to this place, was struck by the residual sword fire bursting from the alley. This sword spirit had the power of a Nascent Soul cultivator, and he dared not underestimate it, so he had to draw his sword to defend himself.
When the sword fire dissipated, he descended into the alley, only to see a black-robed figure swiftly disappearing.
Pei Jingchao instinctively took a few steps to give chase, but suddenly stopped. Compared to pursuing the person who might be Yu Yi, it was clearly more important to take this opportunity to eliminate the demon controller.
Although the Demon-Eating Butterflies that had fallen into the alley were scattered by the red-crowned crane's sword wind, they were not damaged by it. Demon-Eating Butterflies had the ability to devour great demons, and aside from their one fatal weakness, they could not be easily killed.
The ice-blue butterflies fell back into the alley, dancing gracefully. They quickly consumed the remaining demonic aura in the alley, then fluttered their wings to pursue in a certain direction.
Pei Jingchao followed on his flying sword.
After leaving the alley, Yu Yi immediately went to the exit of the Unmasked Tower. The exit of the Unmasked Tower still consisted of twenty screen walls distributed across different street districts, with a lantern hanging in front of each screen wall.
Entering through a screen wall would randomly place one on a street within the Unmasked Tower, and exiting through a screen wall would randomly place one in a market outside the Unmasked Tower. As long as two people didn't step into the screen wall together at the same time, it was impossible for them to appear in the same place.
This was done to prevent tailing.
By exiting and re-entering through a screen wall, one could change into a different disguise. When Yu Yi arrived at the screen wall, she saw a familiar ice-blue butterfly perched on the lantern hanging in front of it.
This indicated that there must be one butterfly stationed at the lantern in front of each of the other screen walls as well. It seemed they intended to trap Xue Chenjing inside the Unmasked Tower and deal with him there.
From the moment the Demon-Eating Butterflies appeared, Yu Yi understood that this attack was not aimed at her. However, to be on the safe side, Yu Yi still decided to change her disguise.
She looked around and, as she exited through the screen wall, flicked a wisp of sword fire from her fingertips towards the Demon-Eating Butterfly. The butterfly was instantly engulfed in sword fire, but it fluttered its wings and shook off the flames that had enveloped it.
Even sword fire couldn't kill it – how could it be fragile?
Seeing that she couldn't burn it to death, Yu Yi didn't linger there any longer. She plunged into the screen wall. Moments later, she reappeared on a bustling street of the Unmasked Tower in a new disguise.
Yu Yi lifted the hood from her head. Under long, thick eyelashes lay amber-colored eyes. Vivid vermilion slanted upwards from the corners of her eyes, outlining a pair of alluring fox-like eyes. A flame-shaped design adorned the space between her brows.
She moved with the flow of people along the street, her eyes darting about alertly, scanning her surroundings. She no longer saw any of those ice-blue Demon-Eating Butterflies.
She wondered if Xue Chenjing had managed to escape or not. That sword strike of hers had worsened the cracks on the Green Bamboo Sword, bringing it to the brink of shattering. It could no longer withstand her sword energy.
Moreover, that sword strike had activated the Nascent Soul sword spirit left by her master, nearly depleting her dantian of spiritual energy. Even if she were to go looking for him now, she wouldn't be able to offer much help.
That one sword strike to help him could be considered her fulfilling her moral duty.
Yu Yi took a spirit pill and unfolded her list to take a look. Finally, she turned into a shop to first purchase materials for tempering her sword.
The earlier skirmish on this commercial street had come and gone quickly. Many people didn't know what had actually happened, but most assumed it was just a dispute over an unsuccessful transaction.
The Unmasked Tower did not refuse any cultivator from coming to do business, and the people who came here were a mixed bunch. Such conflicts were common, and everyone was used to them, as long as they weren't personally affected.
The merchants who had retreated during the commotion immediately returned to reclaim their stall positions once things had settled down, laying out their goods for sale once again. The flow of people on the street soon became dense once more.
At this time, Xue Chenjing was concealed within the earthly turbidity, moving like a shadow through the brilliant lamplight of the Unmasked Tower. The Demon-Eating Butterflies followed closely behind him. When he sensed the butterflies drawing near, he unhesitatingly severed a section of his tentacle and cast it down, luring the swarm of butterflies to pounce upon it.
Taking advantage of the moment when the Demon-Eating Butterflies were distracted by the demonic aura dispersing from the tentacle, Xue Chenjing waved his hand to expand the range of the earthly turbidity mist, conjuring layer upon layer of illusory lamp-lit scenes.
These illusions blended with the real scenes inside the Unmasked Tower, appearing both real and fake, confusing the cultivators who were trying to corner him.
By the time the blue light of the Demon-Eating Butterflies burst into the illusions, Xue Chenjing had already withdrawn the earthly turbidity with a wave of his sleeve, his whereabouts once again concealed.
The orthodox sect cultivators pursuing him, although able to roughly track his movements thanks to the guidance of the Demon-Eating Butterflies, were consistently unable to completely intercept him, or even catch a glimpse of his true appearance.
Many cultivators followed orders to pursue, without even knowing whom they were chasing.
Shen Qingzhi leaned against an intricately carved wooden railing, stroking his chin pensively. "What's going on here? The cat-and-mouse game is interesting, but it's quite troublesome if he keeps running like this."
Due to the pursuit, several more disturbances occurred on the commercial street. It was evident that the demon creature was trying to incite chaos, probably hoping to escape in the confusion. However, each outbreak of disorder was quickly suppressed, so Shen Qingzhi wasn't too concerned.
It seemed his little butterflies were having a hard time getting their meal.
On the commercial street, Pei Jingchao had failed repeatedly, his frustration mounting inch by inch. His once handsome face was now so gloomy it seemed ready to devour people. Once again, he chased into an opulent building, plunging headlong into a sea of flickering lights and boiling clamor.
Pei Jingchao coldly pushed away the people crowding around him. One of the pushed individuals glared at him fiercely, "What's the rush? Eager to eat shit?"
A girl's coquettish voice scolded from his right, "Oh my, young master, your sword hilt is poking me."
"What's wrong with you people? Have you no manners? Can't you queue properly?"
"Move aside! Don't touch my precious items. If they break, none of you could afford to compensate me!"
The clamor poured into his ears, making the veins on his temples throb. Pei Jingchao suppressed his irritation, his gaze sweeping across their faces one by one, struggling to discern whether the people and objects before him were real or illusory.
"Pei Jingchao."
A sudden call reached his ears. Pei Jingchao was stunned for a moment. His hand slid to his waist, fingering the communication talisman there. He responded with surprise and joy, "Miss Yu? What can I do for you?"
The jade pendant with the Dragon Tail-in-Mouth design lit up with a faint glow in his palm. Suddenly, the voice inside changed its tone, sharply questioning him, "Who is Miss Yu? Pei Jingchao, are you out there investigating the Weapon Tempering Platform incident, or are you looking for your Miss Yu? Senior Brother, come back! I want you to return to Mount Li immediately!"
Pei Jingchao abruptly gripped the jade pendant tightly. Amidst the curious sidelong glances of those around him, he quickly ducked into a corner. Frowning, he explained, "Yuxiu, don't be ridiculous. I'm currently pursuing the demon that destroyed the Weapon Tempering Platform. I'll explain everything to you later."
Yao Yuxiu persisted, "No, Senior Brother, tell me right now who this Miss Yu is. I think she's the one who..."
The irritation in Pei Jingchao's eyes intensified. He raised his hand to wipe away the spiritual light on the jade pendant, cutting off Yao Yuxiu's voice. But suddenly, another voice emerged from the communication talisman, speaking softly and calmly, "I wish Daoist Lord Pei and Immortal Maiden Yuxiu a hundred years of happiness and an early birth of noble children."
"No, I don't want to hear your blessings. Yours least of all..." Pei Jingchao's mind was in turmoil. He raised his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, and the people and lights around him began to seem strange.
The noisy clamor quieted for a moment, then surged again. This time, however, what reached his ears were no longer irrelevant vendor calls, but one accusation after another directed at him.
"Senior Brother, why? I like you so much! Why are there always so many women around you? Are they seducing you? Why do you let them get close to you?"
Pei Jingchao wanted to say no, that his relationships with them were pure, that they were just friends. He wanted to reprimand Yao Yuxiu for always interpreting things with such dirty thoughts.
But immediately, another authoritative voice stifled the rebuke about to leave his mouth.
Juechen Zi, the sect leader of Mount Li, said, "Sigui, Xiu'er has loved you since childhood. You must treat her well and never disappoint her, or I will not let you off."
"I'm old now, and it's time for me to step down. As long as you marry Xiu'er, the position of Mount Li's sect leader will be yours."
After Juechen Zi, that soul-stirring sweet voice spoke again, but this time with utterly distant words, "Oh yes, there was a grand celebration at Mount Li recently. Daoist Friend Pei and Immortal Maiden Yuxiu got married. As a mere wandering cultivator, I couldn't go to Mount Li to offer my congratulations, so I can only wish the two of you a hundred years of happiness and an early birth of noble children here."
Pei Jingchao saw her eyes in his mind, clear and cold. She shouldn't look at him with such eyes.
The gaze he had always remembered, always longed for, was not like this.
Following that, another mocking voice arose: "Daoist Lord Pei has just gotten married, yet he's already 'losing himself' on this crowded street. Does Immortal Maiden Yuxiu know about this?"
Right, it was him! It was because of him!
The lights and figures before him made Pei Jingchao dizzy. The voices pouring into his ears one after another made his blood boil. Pei Jingchao's fingers gripped the jade pendant so tightly they turned white. Finally, he heard a "crack" sound.
The communication talisman shattered between his fingers.
Pei Jingchao suddenly heard a pleased chuckle. All other sounds abruptly receded. He awoke with a start. Another illusion?
He swiftly drew his sword. A crimson sword light shot into the sky as he slashed towards the intertwining figures before him. The magnificent pavilions crumbled under his sword light. The unsuspecting crowd screamed and fled in all directions.
A Mount Li disciple exclaimed in shock near his ear, "Senior Brother Pei, what's wrong with you?!"
Pei Jingchao closed his eyes tightly, then opened them again. He saw the pavilions destroyed by his sword, and quite a few cultivators who hadn't managed to escape were injured by his blade.
He looked down at the shattered communication talisman on the ground and realized in a daze, "It wasn't an illusion?"
The sudden burst of crimson sword light in the commercial street at the foot of the mountain finally alerted Shen Qingzhi that something was amiss. He leapt into action, transforming into a streak of light and landing inside the collapsing pavilion. He swept his gaze over the groaning cultivators on the ground, then looked at the dazed Pei Jingchao, and quickly produced a Mind-Clearing Talisman to press against his forehead.
Pei Jingchao closed his eyes and concentrated for a good while before finally coming to his senses under the talisman's effect.
But his one out-of-control sword strike had nearly destroyed half the street. Countless cultivators who hadn't managed to escape were injured by his sword. The surrounding area was filled with a cursing crowd. The situation had spiraled out of control after his sword strike and could no longer be calmed down.
Even Shen Qingzhi's habitual smile couldn't be maintained. With a grave expression, he patted Pei Jingchao's shoulder. "With things in such a mess, if we don't catch that demon, we won't be able to explain this to our masters."
"You stay here and deal with this. I'll go after him."
After speaking, Shen Qingzhi's figure flickered and vanished from the spot.
The entire Unmasked Tower was in chaos. When Yu Yi emerged from the neighboring commercial street, the stalls on the street had been evacuated in disarray. Some were hurrying away to avoid trouble, while others were rushing towards the site of the incident to spectate.
She sensed something and pressed her hand against her storage pouch, taking out a shattered jade pendant. It was the communication talisman that Pei Jingchao had given her.
With the jade shattered, the inscriptions on it had also failed. It was useless now.
Yu Yi glanced at it and casually tossed it into the grass by the roadside. She wrapped her black robe tightly around herself and followed behind other cultivators to see what the commotion was about.
However, before she could see anything, a magical line suddenly flashed across the ground, rapidly spreading in all directions. Yu Yi's entire body tensed, and she quickly retreated. But no matter where she retreated to, she could see the rapidly expanding magical lines.
This formation was larger than she could have imagined.
Exclamations of surprise echoed throughout the street. "What is that?"
"It's a formation! Run!"
"What kind of formation is this? When was it set up? What on earth is the Unmasked Tower up to?"
"This is bad, my spirit stones! What kind of cursed formation is this? The spiritual energy in my spirit stones has been drained!"
Hearing this, Yu Yi immediately felt for the storage pouch containing her spirit stones in her bosom. When she reached inside, she only touched a handful of lime powder.
Damn it! Her spirit stones!
All around the Unmasked Tower, cultivators were cursing as their spirit stones were drained. Countless streaks of light shot up from the street as cultivators took to the air like startled birds. Yu Yi summoned Crane Senior Brother and sat on its back, flying up into the air.
Looking down from above, she saw a massive formation taking shape on the ground. Surging spiritual energy flowed into the formation, and the entire space trembled under its influence.
Suddenly, the eternal night sky of the Unmasked Tower was torn open, revealing a crack. The fissure grew larger and larger, and dazzling sunlight poured through the gap. The beams of light easily overshadowed the brilliant lantern lights below.
This small secret realm collapsed, the eternal night retreated, and the sun hung high in the sky.
Shen Qingzhi alighted on top of a pavilion, unfurling his fan to shield himself from the blazing sun. Only one thought remained in his mind.
The Demon-Eating Butterflies he had painstakingly nurtured were now all gone.
In a corner of the commercial street, Xue Chenjing stood in the intense sunlight, his face as pale as if it were transparent. He cut open one of his wrists, smiling as he watched the swarm of butterflies being attracted by his demonic aura, rushing towards him, then struggling and dissolving one by one in the sunlight.
How beautiful they looked in their death throes.
They were so beautiful after all.
Xue Chenjing smiled happily, disappearing into the sunlight before the butterflies' owner could track him down.
He blended in with the cultivators in the sky, stumbling through the air using spiritual energy, looking around and bumping into quite a few cultivators, getting cursed at vehemently.
The cursing cultivators turned to see his face, looking as if he was about to breathe his last, yet smiling so eerily. The harsh words got stuck in their throats.
Never mind, no point in arguing with someone on death's door.
Xue Chenjing searched for a while before finally spotting Crane Senior Brother among the chaotic crowd of cultivators. He flew towards it, calling out, "Master, I'm back."
Sensing someone approaching, Yu Yi had her sword's flame ready at her fingertips. Hearing his shout, she hesitated for a moment before recognizing the face of the newcomer.
Xue Chenjing's face was as white as a ghost's. He still wore his rabbit mask, with his pupils tinged red and the corners of his eyes flushed. The rabbit ears hanging on both sides of his head were dirty, disheveled, and damp.
During her moment of hesitation, Xue Chenjing had already climbed onto Crane Senior Brother's back of his own accord. He rested his chin on her shoulder, attempting to nuzzle her with his filthy rabbit ears. Yu Yi raised her palm in disgust, pushing him away.
Xue Chenjing then seized her hand, rubbing his rabbit ears against her palm. He laughed arrogantly and smugly, "Hehe, they're just a bunch of butterflies. I'm not afraid of butterflies at all."
