Fang Cheng was sharply pinched by Yuan Lan, yelping in pain as he dodged to the side.
Yuan Lan whispered in consolation, “Little junior sister, don’t overthink it.”
“Focus on recovering first. We don’t know where our master is now, and we need to discuss before taking action. I’ll accompany you,” Luo Chen finally said.
Tang Li rubbed her sore nose and spoke in a muffled voice, “I want to walk alone for a while.”
The girl wandered alone through Jade Spring Palace.
Amidst the overgrown weeds and gravel, she could still glimpse scenes from the past.
She saw herself slacking off during training, hiding behind her senior brothers to sleep, only for their master to arrive. Her senior brothers wanted to warn her but didn’t dare, stubbornly claiming she had fainted from training complications.
Her senior sister said it was fortunate she didn’t snore, or the excuse wouldn’t have been convincing.
But how could their master not know? Later, he found a pretext to punish her by making her meditate with him in the quiet chamber for three hours—utterly exhausting.
Remembering this, Tang Li couldn’t help but laugh, though tears welled in her eyes as she did.
Of the five worlds, she had lived here the longest.
Before Ling Yuanyi appeared, the plot’s demands on her weren’t detailed, and she lived here carefree.
This was also the world closest to her true personality.
At times, she almost forgot she was on a mission, feeling as if she truly belonged here.
Finally, the young maiden arrived outside Zhe He’s Bedchamber.
The place was eerily cold, like a prison, with desolate autumn winds whispering through, stirring the silk tassels within the hall.
Tang Li picked up a half-broken Palace bell at her feet, wiping away the dust as she stared blankly.
78 detected fluctuations and quietly reminded, [Your master might be nearby. Be careful.]
The girl stiffened, her teary eyes scanning the surroundings.
Master…
Zhe He watched from the shadows as Tang Li looked around in confusion.
So similar.
The Palace bell couldn’t be wrong.
Could it really be her?
In truth, Zhe He was almost ready to accept it.
But the thought of what he had done made him afraid.
So he didn’t dare acknowledge her.
He feared that if Mian Mian knew he was no longer the pure and noble master, she would reject him.
He feared that if Mian Mian knew he had tortured and killed countless, she would fear him.
He feared that if Tang Li knew he had cruelly treated the senior brother she liked, she would hate him.
Demonic thoughts surged wildly within him, raging out of control.
Zhe He’s eyes gradually filled with red, Demonic Markings spreading uncontrollably as his consciousness grew chaotic, echoing with a single voice.
Take her! Kill her!
No one is allowed to imitate and defile Mian Mian!
His Mian Mian was still obediently waiting for him in the Cave Mansion—this one wasn’t her, wasn’t!
Clutching his head tightly, his aura turbulent, his invisibility spell broke. Tang Li spun around and saw him, “Master?!”
Before her stood a man with disheveled white hair and messy black robes, dark red demonic energy swirling around him, groaning in agony. Ignoring 78’s warnings, Tang Li rushed forward to support Zhe He, “Master!”
The man lifted his gaze, fiery red Demonic Markings nearly covering half his face, his pitch-black eyes fixed intensely on the girl before him.
Tang Li’s breath hitched in fear.
Don’t be afraid, you mustn’t be afraid, Tang Li warned herself, then trembling, she stretched out her arms and embraced Zhe He.
“Master, don’t you want Mian Mian anymore?”
“Did Mian Mian make you angry, so you don’t want me anymore?”
The girl’s soft, trembling voice echoed in Zhe He’s ears.
Just like over a hundred years ago, when she was still alive.
“Master~ please let me go play!”
“Master, Master, I finally memorized the sword techniques today. Aren’t I amazing!”
“Master~ Mian Mian wants to go down the mountain with you. Please take me along!”
Master, Master…
As if awakening from a dream, Zhe He took a deep breath and fainted into Tang Li’s arms.
78 watched coldly from the side.
Hah, such calculated moves!