Night was deep and dark, miasma spread across the swamp.
Using the thick night, a dark shadow fled through the forest, clearly suffering severe injury, clutching his chest and breathing heavily.
From time to time turning back to look, suddenly seeming to see something terrifying, fear flickering in his eyes, he picked up speed and plunged into this deep purple poison-miasma-filled dark forest.
No matter how strong one’s sword technique, nobody could withstand demon poison. Even if he chased in, he’d have to consider if he valued his life at all.
As long as, as long as he hid in this poisonous miasma place…he could catch his breath for a while. Once Third Brother brought people to rescue him through underground routes back to the demon realm, even if those hypocritical cultivators were powerful, how could they possibly find him on the demon realm’s ground?
A pale-blue sword light drifted like bamboo leaves, easily piercing through the thick dark miasma.
The wolf demon felt his body lighten, his back striking against something.
He widened his eyes and looked down in disbelief. That sword light had pierced through his shoulder blade, pinning him to an ancient tree.
A white-robed youth unhurriedly walked through the miasma.
The wolf demon was astounded beyond belief.
How was this possible? He didn’t fear demon poison?! Clearly, human cultivators that even touched this poison would have their flesh rot and fester, impossible to shake off like an eternal curse.
“You won’t figure it out, and no wonder, with that dumb dog brain of yours, how could you possibly understand?”
A tender, childish voice suddenly rang out.
The wolf demon heard and looked. A small dragon phantom sat on the sword hilt, its form round and plump, leisurely swinging its chubby tail.
“Did you really think your little minions’ self-destruct could stop the boss? I let you go on purpose to see where you’d run.”
Little Fatty Dragon clicked disapprovingly, “But you’re really too slow. You took a whole day to get here.”
Little Fatty Dragon turned to look at the dark forest depths, propping up its small face: “But just like the boss predicted, it really was the demon realm.”
It couldn’t help but feel some sadness, skillfully pulling out a demon-binding rope, starting to tie up the wolf demon amidst its curses.
Thought it’d be solved in a day and everyone could go home. Doesn’t look like that’s happening.
Sigh. First day away from home, I already miss Sang Ying.
The wolf demon was thoroughly bound and gagged. Next was escorting it back to the Immortal Alliance.
Little Fatty Dragon disliked the wolf demon and naturally didn’t want it on the sword, hanging it like a kite with a rope tied to the sword hilt, muttering while doing so: “Those Immortal Alliance disciples are too slow. If they could keep up with the boss, there’d be no need to ferry it.”
The sword’s speed was extremely fast, the wolf demon hanging behind, constantly emitting piercing howls: “Ahhhhh—”
Xie Lingyu spoke flatly: “Luoqing, too loud.”
Little Fatty Dragon confidently made an “leave it to me” gesture, swished its tail and crouched down, making a charging pose, suddenly jumped up and gave a flying kick. The wolf demon’s head tilted and it lost consciousness.
The world went silent.
The night was dim. Xie Lingyu’s gaze looked toward the distance. After several seconds of quiet, he pulled out his glass mirror.
Everyone had left, and Jingxi, the only one left in the residence, was tidying Sang Ying’s empty bed when she suddenly received such a message.
【How is she doing today?】
Jingxi’s expression froze.
Just a quarter hour ago, she had seen Sang Ying sleep all day without going out. Wanting to wake her to eat something before sleeping again, she went in only to find the person had vanished, and Lengmian was also gone.
She immediately understood what was happening. She contacted Sang Ying through the glass mirror, and Sang Ying quickly replied.
【I promise to take good care of myself and drink my medicine on time. I also promise to come back before Xie Lingyu returns home. He definitely won’t find out!】
【Jingxi sister, this is my one lifelong request (starry eyes)】
Jingxi sighed. The Sword Sovereign’s attitude toward what the Young Miss wanted to do was permissive, she could do whatever she wished, never objecting.
Except for one thing: if he wasn’t in the cultivation world, he wouldn’t allow her to leave.
The Sword Sovereign always informed in advance before distant trips. This time was naturally no exception.
The Young Miss’s body was frail, so she usually didn’t go out much, and would obediently stay home. But this time, even while her body was unwell, she wanted to go out. The merchant association situation really was troublesome.
And thinking of Yunshui Merchant Association, Jingxi got even more of a headache. She really couldn’t figure out what this couple was thinking.
One hid her identity and secretly founded one of the four major merchant associations.
The other pretended not to know but, to help the merchant association clear its name, made excuses to help various factions investigate the case.
【Young Miss is feeling better. She’s drunk her medicine and fallen asleep now.】
Xie Lingyu looked at this message for two seconds. The furrowed brow and eyes relaxed slightly. He put away the glass mirror.
The sword light flashed, arriving above Immortal Alliance territory.
The Immortal Alliance Master and various faction representatives had already gathered in the inner hall. The receiving official greeted him respectfully and ordered subordinates to take the wolf demon bound in demon-binding ropes to the prison division, leading him into the hall.
Xie Lingyu walked with an indifferent expression, but as he raised his eyes, he suddenly saw the person Jingxi said was already asleep, hiding in the crowd, crouching low and desperately trying to hide behind Immortal Alliance disciples.
Xie Lingyu: “…”
There were too many Immortal Alliance disciples around. The female cultivator stretched her neck to look, only seeing a white figure.
“Hey, that’s Qingyu Sword Sovereign. My little brother really looks up to him. Yesterday when the Heavenly Star Ranking finals were held, he even skipped class to watch.”
The female cultivator turned her head and saw Sang Ying wearing a fluffy fox-fur head covering pulled down tight, tiptoeing behind a tall disciple to hide.
“…What are you doing?”
Sang Ying cleared her throat lightly: “Got a breeze in my head, it aches a bit. Too much wind over there, hiding here.”
She absolutely didn’t believe that with such careful disguise Xie Lingyu could recognize her!
Once he went to the inner hall to discuss with the chief, she’d take the chance to slip out. Sang Ying perked up her ears carefully listening for movements, but heard the youth’s footsteps stop.
“Sword Sovereign, what’s wrong?” The receiving official noticed the youth had stopped and asked.
Xie Lingyu spoke flatly: “This case is urgent and time is short. Saving people is the priority. I won’t exchange pleasantries with everyone. Director, please announce it.”
Sang Ying was delighted, great, he’s leaving now.
But before two seconds of joy passed, the people from the inner hall came out, the four major families and Jade Pool elders.
With their cultivation level, at such close range there was no need to pass messages. Hearing he was leaving, they couldn’t stay put and all came out. After all, their family heads’ daughters and the next Saint Maiden were at risk.
“Sword Sovereign, wait!”
As soon as these important figures came out, they set up a sound-deadening barrier, blocking all the outer hall disciples from hearing. Immortal Alliance disciples could only see their silhouettes.
Sang Ying studied it, pinched a divination sign, and quietly tapped into their conversation.
“Sword Sovereign seems so urgent. Have you found some clue? Would you tell this old woman? She’s worried to death.” The Jade Pool Elder’s face looked grave.
The four major families’ people also chimed in agreement.
The demon realm and cultivation world were at odds. In recent years they’d barely achieved stability. If these faction’s people went into the demon realm searching, it would inevitably escalate matters.
By then it wouldn’t just be about searching. A war was likely, which would delay rescue.
They’d considered requesting old-generation demon cultivator powerhouses, but those powerhouses had some grievances with their families or factions, old debts piling up. Not stepping on them while they’re down was already generous, how could they possibly help?
So Xie Lingyu, being a demon cultivator with no grudges against the four families, having just won first place in the Heavenly Ranking, was the most suitable person for this task.
Under several burning gazes, Xie Lingyu remained expressionless, only dropping two words: “No.”
This answer made the faces of the major families darken.
Not just concern about rejection, but also dissatisfaction with Xie Lingyu’s attitude.
They were all elders of major families. Although Xie Lingyu had won first place in the Heavenly Ranking, his status was merely as a Wuwenzong disciple.
Even if he’d already married the previous sect master’s successor who inherited the position, everyone knew that. Currently, the real power of Wuwenzong was in others’ hands.
Seeing the atmosphere turning cold, the young Immortal Alliance Master fanned his fan and came out to smooth things over: “Gentlemen, no need to rush. Lingyu brought back a wolf demon. The Immortal Alliance also brought back the two merchant association heads involved. If you’re anxious, why not go interrogate them?”
The Jade Pool Elder and one family head immediately left for the prison division.
The Immortal Alliance Master opened his fan with a smile: “I know you’re all anxious. But since Lingyu has decided to go to the demon realm, he must have confidence. Lingyu, isn’t that right?”
Behind the fan, the Immortal Alliance Master wildly winked: Your wife’s merchant association had problems and I informed you immediately. When they tried to interrogate your wife, I also blocked them. Least you could do is give me face!
Xie Lingyu glanced at him coolly and looked away.
“Mm.”
Only then did the family representatives’ faces improve. “Sword Sovereign, if you need anything, the family will do its utmost to help.”
This was just the usual courtesy between world families, nobody would take it seriously. But the cold white-robed youth before them slightly nodded in acknowledgment. “Then many thanks. Luoqing.”
Luoqing’s sword rang out, the blade tip picking up a scroll that reached the ground, the sword spirit’s tender voice loudly announcing: “One hundred demon-binding ropes, one hundred immortal-binding ropes, ten boxes of premium flying-red cinnabar, premium Tianchi calligraphy paper…”
In the corner, the eavesdropping Sang Ying slowly covered her face.
…Was he shopping?
Was the pocket money she usually gave him too small? Should she give him more?
But she often heard the wealthy ladies chatting next door say that men with money turn bad and look for mistresses.
“Seven-color lingzhi grass…oh right, also, we can’t pilot swords in the demon realm, so we need to travel by carriage. You guys wait, let me calculate how many spirit stones we need.”
Luoqing continued muttering calculations while the standing family members’ corners of their mouths twitched.
Sang Ying: “…”
Maybe she should give more pocket money. Hmm…would two hundred be too much?
Among them, the Lin family’s visitor today wasn’t an elder but the family head’s son. He pulled out a storage ring and spoke earnestly: “The things Sword Sovereign needs, I’ve ordered my men to collect. Today I only brought two hundred thousand spirit stones on me. Sword Sovereign please use these first for urgent needs. Once I rescue my sister, the family will provide generous compensation.”
The major families also straightened up and quickly gathered everything, handing two storage rings to Luoqing to collect.
“Additionally, I need one Immortal Alliance disciple to assist me and come along.”
The sound-deadening barrier was removed, and the outer hall Immortal Alliance disciples clearly heard Xie Lingyu’s words. Suddenly they stirred excitedly.
But Sang Ying, hearing this, suddenly felt an ominous premonition.
The Immortal Alliance Master shook his fan: “No problem. The disciples are all here anyway. Pick whoever you want yourself.”
Sang Ying tensely covered her fox-fur head covering, watching the white-robed youth turn around. His clear, cold gaze looked directly at her without deviation, speaking unhurriedly.
“The female cultivator in the thirteenth row, sixteenth column, wearing a fox-fur head covering.”
In an instant, every disciple in the hall directed their gaze toward her.
Sang Ying: “…”