“For now, there is no immediate danger to his life, but if this continues, his vitality will inevitably deplete, and he will ultimately be unable to escape death,” Bai Shaoyan replied. “That is why I brought you here—to bring this to an end.”
He then turned to Yun Niang. “Yun Niang, I am at fault. When you first began to understand human nature, I failed to guide you properly. Instead, I allowed you to become entangled in the emotions and attachments of this mortal world. Worse still, I defied the natural order, disregarding the inherent divide between humans and demons, and stubbornly insisted on marrying you. The fate I now face is the consequence of my own actions, and no one else is to blame.”
Yun Niang glanced at the others and suddenly let out a soft, bitter laugh. Then, in a faint voice, she said, “In your eyes, are demons always ruthless, cruel, and devoid of emotion? I do resent them, but I never wished for their deaths. I knew full well why Shaoyan summoned you here, yet I did not object. You are the people closest to him. I wanted you to witness our wedding. As for what would happen afterward, I had planned to take Shaoyan and flee to the mountains, find a peaceful place, and live out our remaining days in tranquility.”
“But I did harbor murderous intent toward the young apprentice,” Yun Niang admitted, lowering her gaze. “How could I resist the temptation of the Bone Exchange Pill?”
“The Bone Exchange Pill?” several of them exclaimed in unison.
Yun Niang let out a cold laugh. “Did you not know? She carries a treasure with her. If a demon consumes it, they can become truly human!”
Yan Wuyou lowered his head and coughed lightly, his peripheral vision catching Lin Yao nervously picking at her fingers. He couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.
Yun Niang pleaded, “I beg you, save Shaoyan. I will no longer kill or harm anyone. I will exchange my life for his, is that acceptable?”
Tears welled in Bai Shaoyan’s eyes, his expression filled with sorrow. “Yun Niang…”
Lin Yao spoke up, “After you drained the villagers of their vitality, they lost their minds. How can you remain unrepentant after committing such sins? And for your own selfish desires, you forcibly trapped the senior apprentice’s soul, preventing him from moving on to the afterlife. Yun Niang, is this truly saving him or harming him?”
Yun Niang trembled at these words, stammering, “I… I…”
“You have committed sins that prevent you from moving on. Do you intend to make the senior apprentice share your fate of having his soul scattered and destroyed?”
Suddenly, Yun Niang extended her hand, sharpening it like a claw, and slashed her own arm, letting her demon blood spill onto the talismans—
“Yun Niang—” Bai Shaoyan cried out in alarm.
“Be careful—” Yan Wuyou shouted as he quickly formed a protective barrier in front of everyone.
As the demon blood soaked the talismans, their restraining power instantly weakened. Yun Niang mustered all her strength, and a crimson aura erupted from her entire body—
“I am willing to dissipate all my cultivation and return my essence and blood to atone for my wrongdoings. I only ask for a chance to move on to the afterlife with Shaoyan—” Yun Niang uttered in agony. As her words faded, her once delicate appearance withered away until she vanished completely, leaving only a faint, weakened wandering soul floating in the air.
Yan Wuyou looked at Bai Shaoyan, who nodded in response. But then Yan Wuyou suddenly asked, “Senior apprentice, you were the last person to see the fourth apprentice before he died. What exactly happened that night?”
Everyone was taken aback.
Bai Shaoyan shook his head with a bitter smile. “I couldn’t hide it from you after all. I was the one who gave that painting to the fourth apprentice. You were right back then—what was missing from the painting was indeed a monk.”
“Was he wearing a string of Bodhi Beads on his wrist?”
Bai Shaoyan was astonished. “How did you know?”
Yan Wuyou let out a derisive laugh, his gaze sharp and cold. “I’ve seen him.”
“I’ve always felt guilty about Old Fourth’s death. That painting was entrusted to me by a young gentleman when I descended the mountain, asking me to deliver it to Old Fourth. Thinking back now, that gentleman seemed to be in poor health – his lips were pale, and his features bore some faint resemblance to Old Fourth’s.”
“Why didn’t you tell the truth back then?”
“Because Yun Niang was already with me by that time. I was afraid of implicating her, worried you’d discover her identity and not accept her. Besides, you had already guessed the monk in the painting was causing trouble.” Bai Shaoyan said apologetically, “This is all I know. I truly don’t understand the mysteries within the painting.”
Yan Wuyou nodded: “Are you ready?”
Bai Shaoyan looked at Yun Niang’s wandering soul. They exchanged a faint smile before he solemnly said: “I trouble you.”
Yan Wuyou immediately crossed his hands to form seals, chanting incantations. Bai Shaoyan’s physical body gradually disappeared as his soul emerged, transforming along with Yun Niang’s soul into golden specks of light that eventually dissipated.
A warm sensation faintly emerged in his chest, similar to what he experienced in the He family tomb. However, this warmth was much weaker, suggesting the amount of merit gained was related to the Demon’s power.
“Third Brother, will Elder Brother and Yun Niang be together in their next life?” He Lian Mingche asked.
Everyone turned to look at Yan Wuyou upon hearing this—
“The workings of fate are beyond my control. If I really had such power, wouldn’t you worry I might send you and Xu Guniang together? Actually, becoming a live-in son-in-law at the Xu family wouldn’t be bad, Second Brother.”
“Bah, bah, bah—” He Lian Mingche jumped anxiously, “Even if you could do it, you shouldn’t!”
Lin Yao looked confused: “Who is Xu Guniang?”
“She’s the daughter of Squire Xu, a wealthy family in Shigu Town. She’s been coveting Second Brother for a long time…” Xiao Yuanzi began excitedly, only to be muffled by He Lian Mingche covering his mouth.
“Everyone rest now. We’ll depart directly for Jade Capital Pavilion tomorrow.” Yan Wuyou said before walking out of the room.
Early the next morning, Yan Wuyou and the others were awakened by the villagers’ activities.
Since Yun Niang had returned all vitality to the villagers, the entire village had restored its former liveliness. Before dawn, every household began lighting stoves and cooking. The crowing of roosters, the lowing of plowing oxen, mixed with barking dogs, people greeting each other, and women scolding lazy children who refused to get up.
Seeing such a vibrant village, they couldn’t help but smile understandingly.
“Why hasn’t Senior Sister gotten up yet?”
“She had a fright yesterday. Let her sleep more.” Yan Wuyou said, “Xiao Yuanzi, you’re the youngest – the village aunties like you best. Why not go beg for some food in the village?”
Xiao Yuanzi pouted: “Senior Brother, I’m a Demon Hunter, not a monk…”
“Then do you want to eat Second Brother’s cooking?” Yan Wuyou threatened.
Xiao Yuanzi shook his head desperately.
“Then hurry up and go!”
He Lian Mingche emerged from the kitchen wearing an apron, scratching his head as he watched Xiao Yuanzi’s retreating figure: “Is it really that bad?”
Before long, Xiao Yuanzi returned with a cloth bundle of steaming buns. He Lian Mingche picked one up and tasted it: So delicious!
By lunchtime, Lin Yao still hadn’t come downstairs. Everyone began to feel something was wrong.
They went to Lin Yao’s room and knocked, but received no response. Just as they were about to rush in, they hesitated: if their junior sister was merely sleeping soundly, it wouldn’t be appropriate for several men to barge in abruptly.
Yan Wuyou and He Lian Mingche simultaneously turned to Xiao Yuanzi: “Little junior brother, you go in and check.”
“But senior brothers, why do I have to be the one to go in?”
“Because men and women should maintain proper boundaries, but you’re just a child so it’s fine,” He Lian Mingche explained.
Yan Wuyou patted his head: “Don’t be afraid, your senior brother is right here.” He Lian Mingche quickly nodded in encouragement. Just as Xiao Yuanzi was about to push the door open, he suddenly stopped. Turning back to look up at Yan Wuyou, he asked innocently: “But third senior brother has already held senior sister before, doesn’t that mean the boundaries don’t matter anymore?”
As if catching the scent of gossip, He Lian Mingche stared at Yan Wuyou, trying to find any clues on his face.
Yan Wuyou opened his mouth, then covered it with a cough before saying seriously: “Junior sister suffered from qi deviation during cultivation. As her senior brother, I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing, could I?”
“Oh…”
“Stop dawdling! If something really happens to your senior sister, you’ll be to blame!” Hearing this, Xiao Yuanzi nodded and knocked on the door. “Senior sister—senior sister, if you don’t answer, I’m coming in!”
Silence.
Just as Xiao Yuanzi was about to push the door open, Lin Yao’s weak voice came from inside: “Don’t—I’m fine.”
“Senior sister’s voice doesn’t sound right. Could something really be wrong?” Xiao Yuanzi worried. He Lian Mingche also nodded: “Junior sister sounds so weak. Could she have fallen ill from yesterday’s fright?” Turning to Yan Wuyou, he said, “Third brother, you’d better go check on her.”
After speaking, he pulled Xiao Yuanzi downstairs.
Helpless!
Yan Wuyou steeled himself and entered the room. He saw Lin Yao curled up on the bed, clutching the blanket tightly as if in extreme pain—Yan Wuyou’s heart jumped: “Junior sister, what’s wrong?”
“Hot water,” Lin Yao painfully squeezed out two words.
Yan Wuyou quickly poured a cup of hot water. Seeing her pale face with brows tightly knitted together, he disregarded gender boundaries and carefully helped her sit up slightly, letting her lean against his chest.
“Be careful, it’s hot.”
After drinking the hot water, Lin Yao’s abdominal pain eased somewhat. Weakly, she said: “Thank you.”
This expression of gratitude left Yan Wuyou somewhat at a loss.
The first time he saw her was at the Old Man of the Moon Temple. Facing demons, she was clever and courageous, advancing fearlessly. With her cousin, she was gentle and obedient. Before the He family members, she put on an innocent and pitiful act! A complete drama queen—what a waste she wasn’t in theater! That was his first impression of her.
Later she came to Jade Capital Pavilion. Bold in action, sharp-tongued, and vengeful! Having left the Ji family, she completely let her true self emerge. A veritable she-devil! Yet she possessed such a delicate face—completely different from her true nature…
But now, she was like a soft little rabbit, meekly obeying him, gently leaning on him. So gentle and harmless—it was truly unsuitable.
Lost in thought, he felt the person in his arms move. Yan Wuyou snapped back to attention, gently laying her back on the bed, his voice unconsciously softening: “Are you ill?”
Lin Yao nodded, then shook her head, finally pulling the blanket over her head and mumbling: “It’s that… that monthly matter.” After speaking, her face instantly grew hot.
Thankfully she was covered—otherwise he would have seen her blushing embarrassment!
Yan Wuyou flusteredly uttered an “oh” upon hearing this and immediately jumped back several steps. He had some basic understanding of women’s menstrual cycles, and his ears instantly burned bright red. Suddenly remembering something, he steeled himself and asked, “Um… how many days until we can set out?”
“Seven days.”
Yan Wuyou tried his best to keep his tone calm: “Then you should rest first. I’ll go boil some water.” With that, he strode swiftly out of the room as if fleeing.
Only after Yan Wuyou left did Lin Yao emerge from under the quilt, taking several deep breaths.