The moment Xie Lin set foot there he saw Ji Youyou and hatred burned within him. She had stolen Yu Xuanhe’s first gift denying him the union he craved. Yet he forced his face to stay calm and indifferent. He could not let Yu Xuanhe remember her.
Si Yirou too was shocked. The men she had sent had failed to kill Ji Youyou. She dared not meet Xie Lin’s eyes fearing his wrath and turned all her focus to defeating the evil cultivators.
Xie Lin watched as Yu Xuanhe’s sword halted before Ji Youyou and dread crept in. He flew to Yu Xuanhe’s side and cast a spell that sealed her lips. “Xuanhe this witch uses honeyed words to ensnare men. I have silenced her. If you cannot bear to strike a woman let me finish her with your sword.” His voice was sweet to Yu Xuanhe but darkness lurked beneath.
“No need” Yu Xuanhe said. “I have always destroyed such creatures but to redeem one would be a true test. A cultivator must face all challenges.”
“Xuanhe” Xie Lin was stunned. He knew Yu Xuanhe well—these words meant he planned to take her back to Yuheng alive. As leader of Yuheng and master of the Sword Sect Yu Xuanhe held absolute power. Xie Lin and Si Yirou could not argue. He swallowed his rage.
“Finish the rest” Yu Xuanhe told Si Yirou.
She understood at once: all evil cultivators must die except Ji Youyou.
Qian’an still held Ji Youyou the dagger at her throat already drawing blood. With her lips sealed she could only weep silently her body shaking. Did Yu Xuanhe truly hate her so much? She was not one to wallow but in that moment exhaustion washed over her. If she died might she return home to her own world? Through tear-blurred eyes she looked at him one last time then closed them and pressed her neck toward the blade.
Death did not come.
Yu Xuanhe sensed her intent as if by instinct. He moved behind Qian’an his power flinging the man back then striking with a palm that cut through flesh like paper. Qian’an’s hands fell away and Ji Youyou was thrown to safety.
She stared at him confused wanting to ask why he had saved her but only a soft “mmph” escaped her sealed lips. He stood like ice carved by heaven the brightest thing in this den of darkness and she felt a pang of shame. Even apart from him his perfection made her grief sharper.
“Evil one you cannot escape your sins” Yu Xuanhe’s voice was sharp. “I will take you back to Yuheng and redeem you.” He was unsettled—from the moment he had seen her his body had stirred against his will. He hated this loss of control.
Xie Lin heard every word and his jealousy flared. He slipped his arm through Yu Xuanhe’s. “Xuanhe will this not tire you? You speak of redemption and our wedding draws near…” He emphasized the word “wedding” clearly.
Ji Youyou’s heart sank. She and Yu Xuanhe had never had a wedding. Now she was branded a witch bound for torment in Yuheng forced to watch him wed another. It was cruel beyond words. She tried to speak to explain but could not only sat there defeated.
“Sister!” Pei Yun had been gravely wounded by Si Yirou. He had meant to flee with a teleport spell but when he saw Yu Xuanhe near Ji Youyou he forgot all thought of escape. He only wanted to save her.
He flew toward her his hand barely a hair’s breadth from hers when Si Yirou threw a dagger pinning his hand to the ground. Though they had only just met Pei Yun had saved her and his sincerity was real. Ji Youyou struggled forward her eyes filled with worry for him.
Yu Xuanhe noticed and glanced sharply at Si Yirou. She understood at once.
“Blossom Storm—Destroy!” Si Yirou’s fingers moved and a thousand sharp petals of pink mist spiraled toward Pei Yun.
“Sister look out!” Pei Yun thought the attack was for Ji Youyou. He turned his back to shield her and the petals struck him like blades. He fell before her pierced through and through.
Evil could not stand against good—he could have run but he had chosen to stay for her. Blood poured from his mouth as he collapsed at her feet.
Ji Youyou’s eyes widened in terror. This was the first time she had watched someone she knew die before her. She could not speak only scrambled back two steps her face pale with horror. They had killed him in seconds only because he was labeled an evil cultivator—life meant nothing to them.
With his last strength Pei Yun reached for her and slipped the jade bracelet onto her wrist. It wrapped around her arm as if alive. He smiled weakly lying on the ground. “Sister I will protect you always.” Then his eyes closed.
Yu Xuanhe turned abruptly. “Si Yirou see to this.” In a wisp of blue smoke he was gone.
Si Yirou summoned a flame and cast it upon the bodies of the evil cultivators. They turned to ash and vanished. Then she waved her hand and pink mist drifted toward Ji Youyou. Her eyes rolled back and she fainted.
“Si Yirou what happened to your order to kill her?” Xie Lin’s voice was cold with anger.
Si Yirou shrank back. “I am a cultivator—I cannot kill a mortal with my own hands. I sent men but they were useless and she is too lucky…”
“What do we do now? Xuanhe has real feelings for her—even the forgetting draught did not work.” Xie Lin clenched his fists his teeth grinding.
“Calm yourself” Si Yirou said. “I think it is only a passing fancy. Better she is in Yuheng where we can watch her. With her reputation as an evil cultivator you can dispose of her as you wish.”
“Perhaps you are right.”