Exclusive Release on Jinjiang Literature City
December 9th, Heavy Snow.
Though the sun had clearly risen, the sky remained shrouded in gray, as if veiled by a deep-hued mist.
A bone-piercing chill permeated the air. The young maids in the courtyard had all donned thick winter attire, their breaths forming puffs of white vapor as they spoke.
Bai Shuang, standing guard inside the young lady’s room, gently closed the window.
In all her memory, this was the first time she had ever seen such heavy snowfall.
Perhaps the noise had stirred the young girl on the bed, for she slowly opened her eyes.
The bed was draped with intricate and luxurious cloud-patterned satin. Yu Sui Sui abruptly sat up, the soft brocade quilt slipping from her shoulders to reveal skin as smooth as silk.
Freshly awakened, her eyelashes still glistened with dewy moisture, yet her mind was clearer than ever.
“How did I get here? Where is Xie Rong Jing?”
Bai Shuang faltered, lowering her head to fidget with her own hands.
The young lady had been brought back by Steward Niu.
After what happened yesterday… Young Master Xie would undoubtedly face the Tian Zhao Sect’s most severe judgment.
Xie Rong Jing had caused quite a commotion—even several sixth-level elders from the South Peak had intervened. Bai Shuang knew her young lady’s whereabouts and was beside herself with worry.
Though it felt terribly wrong to think this way… could this incident implicate the young lady?
The more Bai Shuang dwelled on it, the more anxious she became—but fortunately, the young lady had been returned safe and sound.
According to Steward Niu, the young lady had not been with Xie Rong Jing. She was found lying alone beneath a clean, large tree, her face still masked. It seemed no one had noticed her, and no one knew her identity.
Recognizing the mask, Steward Niu had promptly brought her back.
As for Young Master Xie…
Bai Shuang bowed her head, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum.
“He’s… at the Judgment Platform.”
The young girl on the bed snatched her robes and rushed out.
“Young lady!” Bai Shuang cried out in alarm. “Young lady, you must stay calm!”
Yu Sui Sui found it difficult to remain calm.
If she remembered correctly, there was no scene involving the Judgment Platform in the original plot.
The Tian Zhao Sect’s Judgment Platform stood atop the North Peak, right beside the Abyss that separated the northern and southern peaks.
Legends said the Abyss was sealed with countless Vengeful Spirits—souls of the dead that had lingered for millennia, accumulating ever deeper. Only the baleful energy of the Judgment Platform could barely suppress them.
Because of this, every time the Judgment Platform was activated, it required bloodshed to cleanse the killing sins upon it, as an offering to the departed souls.
…
Xie Rong Jing would die.
He would truly die.
Why didn’t he run after causing such a huge stir?
Yu Sui Sui’s thoughts were in utter disarray. Without time to overthink, she changed her clothes and dashed out of the courtyard.
Fortunately, she retained some presence of mind. The two guards outside were both at the fifth level—she was no match for them—so she properly secured the mask over her face.
Guard A nudged Guard B: “That just now…”
Guard B: “Yes.”
Guard A said hesitantly, “Why didn’t you stop her?”
Guard B glanced at him: “You didn’t stop her either.”
Yesterday, that steward from the North Peak had nervously brought her back. If they still couldn’t figure out her identity after all these years working for the Tian Zhao Sect, they’d have been wasting their time.
The two exchanged a look, both seeing a certain unspoken understanding in each other’s eyes.
With their high cultivation levels, they had sensed it at a glance last night—the young lady carried a faint trace of Demonic Qi. It wasn’t hard to guess who she had spent the afternoon with.
That made it all the more intriguing.
Not only had the Devil Seed not harmed her, allowing her to return home completely unscathed, but he had also ensured she remained entirely untainted.
Relying on this peculiar bond, the two guards chose to turn a blind eye and allowed the young lady to see him—after all, it would be the last time.
Once on the Judgment Platform, no one had ever survived.
Yu Suisui sprinted through the wind and snow.
She retrieved the Flying Sword from her Storage Bag. The weather today was truly unsuitable for flight; snowflakes blotted out the sky, as if trying to blind one’s vision.
Snowflakes clung to the tip of her nose, melting into glistening droplets from the warmth.
Yu Suisui had left in such a hurry that her hair was still styled as it had been yesterday—loosely cascading down her back, the white butterfly hairpin at her temples drooping listlessly, its wings wilted.
She flew over Yuening Bridge and continued upward, the mist-shrouded mountaintop faintly visible, along with the majestic white-and-gold structures looming within the fog.
She pushed her way to the front of the viewing platform without encountering any obstruction.
The Judgment Platform, which opened only once in decades, was now in session, and the one being tried was Xie Rongjing, a Demon. This had sparked an unprecedented spectacle within the sect.
This was the North Peak, where even Outer Sect Disciples were permitted to attend. As far as the eye could see, a dense, dark sea of people stretched endlessly.
The crimes of the Demons were too numerous to record, and the crowd seethed with righteous indignation.
Nine years ago, most had been too weak to participate in the trial of the Demon Lord, a regret that had lingered in their hearts.
But today, nine years later, that regret was being remedied.
They could now judge the offspring of the former Demon Lord—a Demon just as vile.
“Do you admit your crimes?”
A booming voice infused with oppressive authority echoed through the skies. Among the crowd, disciples with lower cultivation levels instantly turned pale; some even bent over and vomited blood.
The murderous aura dispersed the thick white fog, revealing the scene clearly.
Yu Suisui looked up and saw Xie Rongjing on the high platform.
A golden circle glowed beneath his feet, confining him within its bounds like a prison drawn on the ground.
Though his expression remained indifferent, amid such a grand spectacle, he carried an air of arrogant composure, as unshaken as a mountain facing collapse.
“The Tian Zhao Sect raised you, nurtured you, yet you committed such atrocities against your fellow disciples—”
Had they truly nurtured him?
Yu Suisui thought. Raising him was even more absurd.
She continued to push forward, all the while keeping an eye on Xie Rongjing’s movements.
The great villain was clad in black robes, dried bloodstains marring his face. His eyes seemed to hold the boundless snowstorm, and he wore a smile that was both arrogant and world-weary.
Everyone who ascended the Judgment Platform would endure forty-nine strikes of the Soul-Severing Sword before falling into the endless Abyss.
At this point, Yu Suisui understood.
Though the plot had deviated slightly, her mission as a cannon fodder to take the hit remained intact.
The so-called [dying in the villain’s embrace] likely meant confronting the Soul-Severing Sword.
She mentally drafted a plan and stepped forward, one pace at a time.
The Judgment Platform had nine levels. Most of the North Peak disciples were concentrated on the first to third levels, while the fourth to seventh levels served as viewing platforms for the South Peak disciples.
Yu Suisui ascended level by level. At first, no one noticed her, but by the time she reached the seventh level, the surroundings were no longer as crowded as before, with only a few hall masters and guest elders scattered about.
Today, she wore a crimson cloak with a fur collar, layered over a moon-white dress that shimmered like flowing snow and moonlight with every step she took.
Amid the vast expanse of white, a speck of crimson gradually rose.
The snowfall began to lighten, allowing even the least gifted disciples to clearly see this vivid figure.
She climbed higher and higher, only to be stopped at the entrance to the eighth level.
The guard, noting her elegant attire and polite tone, spoke courteously: “Which elder is your mentor, junior sister? You should return to your sect members.”
Yu Suisui shook her head.
“You can watch the trial from below,” the man coaxed her. “The central position on the sixth level offers an excellent view where you can see everything clearly.”
The person speaking with her was gentle, much like Xie Rongjing.
Yet upon closer observation, there was a hint of concealed impatience in his expression.
“Let me pass,” Yu Suisui said.
The man frowned displeased. “Junior sister, this is no place for childish tantrums.”
The solemn, inviolable judgment platform and the unconventional maiden in red naturally drew countless gazes.
As more attention gathered around them, the guard’s expression darkened, his tone turning sharper: “If you don’t leave now, don’t blame me for being discourteous.”
This was her final task.
Yu Suisui thought.
Reflecting on her first transmigration experience, it had been filled with slacking, giving up, half-hearted efforts, and lying low… Even when she had been serious, it was only to a limited extent.
With this in mind, Yu Suisui mustered every ounce of her focus, determined to conclude her first mission with perfection.
Adopting her best performance class posture, she raised her chin and clasped her hands before her chest.
“Let me pass.”
She repeated.
The guard suddenly felt the red-clad maiden before him radiate an imposing aura. Though her hair remained disheveled and her appearance ordinary, he found himself inexplicably unable to meet her gaze directly.
But his mind raced, running through possibilities without identifying which elder she might be related to.
In front of everyone, had he really been publicly challenged by an ordinary junior female cultivator? The guard laughed in anger. “On what grounds?”
“On the grounds that I am the young lady of Tian Zhao Sect.”
The maiden removed her mask, revealing a stunningly beautiful face.
The deep red robes accentuated her skin, pale as solidified cream, rivaling frost and snow.
The entire hall erupted in murmurs.
Some had heard whispers about the young lady protecting the Devil Seed; others simply followed the crowd’s reaction, instinctively turning to look.
Under the astonished stares of the assembly, Yu Suisui advanced step by step, each footfall steady and assured.
That was close.
Had she been forced to maintain the young lady’s act any longer, she might not have been able to sustain it…
Her heart pounded fiercely in her chest, yet her expression remained composed, betraying no trace of panic.
Playing the young lady was challenging, but maintaining this calm facade came naturally to her—after all, it only required a blank expression.
Simultaneously, she captured the attention of everyone present.
Including Yu Qianqiu, and Xie Rongjing.
Xie Rongjing narrowed his eyes, a flicker of something other than indifference finally crossing his impassive face. But then, he averted his gaze as if she were invisible.
Yu Qianqiu’s face flushed then paled.
If he acknowledged this daughter, what if she pleaded for the Devil Seed again? Would he still have any dignity left?
Yet ignoring her would also reflect poorly if word spread.
With so many eyes watching, he couldn’t possibly order Yu Suisui removed—what if she caused another scene? That would be even more disgraceful.
For a moment, Sect Leader Yu was at a loss, simply waving his hand: “Bring the Soul-Severing Sword!”
It was beginning!
The crowd’s focus shifted from the young lady to today’s central figure: Xie Rongjing.
“Stop!” Yu Suisui cried out in alarm.
She was still a step too slow. A flash of sword light swept past, striking Xie Rong Jing’s left chest.
The Soul-Severing Sword, as its name implied, primarily targeted the soul.
Unlike meridians, the soul was ethereal like mist and water, incapable of being severed. Yet, if wounded by a specialized magical artifact, it would inflict excruciating agony.
Xie Rong Jing clutched his wound with one hand, crimson liquid seeping through his fingers. He staggered sideways for two steps before steadying himself.
He didn’t look the least bit like an injured person, still in the mood to smile at the crowd below and even attempt a wave.
With that mocking, cynical expression.
But this was only the first strike.
Forty-eight more remained.
Even a third or fourth-level cultivator would be reduced to a feeble-minded wreck after a few strikes, if not killed outright. Yu Suisui made a swift decision, pushing off the ground with her toes and lunging toward the great villain trapped within the golden array.
…
Now, even those who hadn’t understood what the young mistress was doing finally grasped her intent.
Only Xie Rong Jing remained unaware.
His beautiful peach blossom eyes widened in surprise. Even as the young mistress squeezed into the narrow array with him, he was still somewhat stunned.
In truth, no one had expected Yu Suisui to go this far. Her red cloak billowed in the air like a vivid butterfly in an icy wilderness. She shielded Xie Rong Jing, and the second Soul-Severing Sword struck her squarely in the back.
Everything happened too quickly for anyone to react.
Xie Rong Jing was the first to regain his senses.
Instinctively, he caught the young girl beside him. Her body was soft, light, and warm—even the blood flowing from her was warm.
“Young Mistress…?” His voice trembled almost imperceptibly as he gently touched the butterfly bones on her back. “Does it hurt?”
Yu Suisui wanted to say she felt no pain. After all, transmigrators like her enjoyed certain perks, such as the ability to block pain perception—a privilege she could use three times in total.
She had used one instance now, leaving two for the next world.
But for now, she needed to properly conclude this world.
Yu Suisui shook her head at Xie Rong Jing, wiped the blood from her lips, and supported herself by holding onto the arm of the great villain beside her as she stood.
Though she had blocked the pain, she still felt dizzy and weak in the legs.
The snow had completely stopped.
The crowd murmured, their gazes varied and complex.
Some wanted to speak, but a glance at the sect leader at the highest point silenced them.
Yu Qianqiu’s face was ashen.
Well, he had truly raised a fine daughter.
His eyebrows were nearly knitted together as he struggled to suppress the surging fury within him. “Yu Suisui, have you been bewitched by demons? Someone, bring the young mistress down at once.”
“I’m not leaving,” Yu Suisui said. “And I haven’t been bewitched by anyone. I just think this is unjust.”
Yu Qianqiu’s originally refined demeanor had vanished, replaced by sheer anger. His face darkened as he roared:
“The demon behind you disregarded sect rules, openly challenged the authority of our Tian Zhao Sect, rendered thirty-three innocent stewards unconscious, and crippled the meridians of one among them. The severity of his actions and the cruelty of his methods are beyond measure.”
“Even so, I did not seek his life. Once the Soul-Severing Sword ceases, he will be released. Tell me, what punishment would you consider just?”
A bit hypocritical, Yu Suisui thought.
“If our Tian Zhao Sect is so just, then why did the Law Enforcement Hall fail to deliver justice when Xie Rong Jing’s meridians were shattered?”
It felt liberating to be nearing the end of her role—she could say whatever she wanted.
Article 325 of the White Moonlight’s Self-Cultivation: When nothing else works, become a saint.
For a villain like Xie Rong Jing, who showed antisocial tendencies, merely being kind to him might only raise his guard.
It was better to be kind to the whole world—so kind that he couldn’t help but notice her.
On ordinary days, Yu Suisui wouldn’t speak like this, but since she wouldn’t see these people again, she might as well cast aside her shame and deliver an exaggerated yet perfect finale.
So, she gathered her thoughts and continued.
“Father, you always taught me that cultivators should carry themselves with grace and integrity as their backbone. But do you know what our sect has become? The strong bully the weak, and opportunists are everywhere—where is the integrity now? You also said that disciples of the Xianmen should be clear about gratitude and grievances, and the Law Enforcement Hall must lead by example, rewarding and punishing appropriately to win hearts. Yet, in places you don’t see, disciples are oppressed and mistreated without seeking justice, and some are falsely accused, dying with their names uncleared.”
After speaking so much in one breath, her face flushed slightly in the dim light, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
As expected, Yu Qianqiu grew even more furious.
“Yu Suisui! What nonsense are you spouting? Come here at once!”
“What truly is justice?”
Yu Suisui mustered all her acting skills, lifting her face stubbornly like the heroine of a morning drama, a glistening tear tracing the corner of her eye.
“Just because he’s a Demon, his wounds are brushed aside, and every mistake is magnified endlessly…”
“I don’t understand—is this what you call justice?”
“Yu Suisui! How dare you say another word—”
“Sect Leader Yu!” Of course, Yu Suisui dared to speak: “The one who first taught us that all beings are equal was you!”
Yu Qianqiu’s face turned from pale to red, a surge of rage rushing to his head. He stammered incoherently and slammed the table before him, shattering it.
In that split second, the third Soul-Severing Sword struck.
This time, Xie Rongjing reacted swiftly, pulling the girl in front of him behind his back.
The sword qi sliced through his left arm, the wound deep enough to reveal bone.
This couldn’t go on.
The Soul-Severing Sword had to be stopped.
But once activated, it wouldn’t cease until it claimed a life. Yu Suisui had intended to block the sword’s damage, but given her father’s demeanor, he might forcibly separate her from Xie Rongjing.
The execution platform was at the edge of a cliff, ensuring the sword qi wouldn’t harm others.
She glanced toward the abyss a few meters away and made up her mind.
Meanwhile, Yu Qianqiu regained his voice.
“Outrageous! Do—do you even remember who you are?”
“Of course, I remember,” Yu Suisui said. “I am the sect leader’s daughter, the head senior disciple of Tian Zhao Sect!”
“Precisely because of this, Suisui cannot stand by and watch justice be swallowed by darkness. Today, in plain sight, there is Xie Rongjing; but in the shadows, there are thousands of other disciples who have been bullied, harshly treated, and suffered injustice.”
Yu Suisui took a deep breath. “If all of you choose to turn a blind eye, then I will become the first ray of light.”
Yu Qianqiu finally sensed something amiss. “What are you planning to do?”
Yu Sui Sui broke free from the great villain beside her, her eyes curved like crescent moons, her smile serene and gentle.
“If blood must be shed today to wash away the sins upon the Judgment Platform, then…”
Before her words faded, she leaped like an arrow released from its bow, or a bird soaring freely. Her crimson cloak was severed in two by sword energy, resembling red wings ready to take flight.
In full view of everyone, she jumped from the towering Judgment Platform that pierced the clouds, plummeting into the boundless, endless Abyss.
…
Amidst the silence, the wind carried her unfinished words.
“Do not add unnecessary harm.”
…
“Young Lady!”
“Miss!”
“Sui Sui!”
“…!”
As she fell from the great height, Yu Sui Sui seemed to hear many voices calling her name.
She no longer wanted to distinguish whose voices they were. She was exhausted and longed to sleep deeply after the mission ended.
That earlier performance had been completely beyond her usual capabilities, and she wondered if it had been effective.
Most likely not, Yu Sui Sui thought.
After all, this person’s attitude was notoriously unpredictable.
Well, it didn’t matter how effective it was.
She had tried her best—participation was what counted.
Overall, her transmigration journey had been quite pleasant—except for failing the mission, everything else was fine.
Yu Sui Sui closed her eyes, allowing her body to fall naturally.
The whooshing wind whistled past her ears. Just as she thought she was about to return to the Transmigration Bureau—someone grabbed her hand.
Yu Sui Sui: ?
Opening her eyes, she saw the black-robed villain.
When she halted the Soul-Severing Sword, the Arrays trapping Xie Rong Jing instantly lost their effect.
And Xie Rong Jing, almost without hesitation, followed Yu Sui Sui and leaped into the bottomless Abyss.
The two were still falling continuously. From such a great height, even cultivators would have their immortal bones shattered upon impact.
“Can you still use the Flying Sword?” Xie Rong Jing asked softly.
Yu Sui Sui’s mind froze for a moment, and it took her a few seconds to understand what he meant.
Her father, Yu Qianqiu, had few redeeming qualities, but due to his obsession with saving face, the words he spoke in public were generally honored.
After the Soul-Severing Sword was halted, Xie Rong Jing should have been able to leave the Tian Zhao Sect safely.
After all, his daughter had essentially died before his eyes. To openly cause further trouble would make him appear incompetent and narrow-minded as the sect leader.
…So, why did Xie Rong Jing jump down after her?
Yu Sui Sui racked her brains but couldn’t understand, eventually attributing it to his distrust of humans…?
Well, that was understandable.
She could fake her death and return to the Transmigration Bureau, but the great villain couldn’t die.
Thus, she felt a renewed will to survive and attempted to summon the Flying Sword.
“It seems I can’t…” Yu Sui Sui realized something was wrong. “Here, Spirit Energy seems to be sealed.”
Damn, did that mean both of them would die here?
Please, no.
She had tried so hard just moments ago.
If she had known, she wouldn’t have tried so hard… But if she hadn’t, the great villain might have been slain by the Soul-Severing Sword. Yu Sui Sui felt as if she had entered an inhumane maze where both paths led to death.
“Mm, I understand.” Xie Rong Jing used his uninjured hand to pat her head.
A few seconds later, he added.
“Don’t be afraid.”
It seemed he was comforting her.
Xie Rong Jing held Yu Sui Sui tightly with his good hand. His other hand had been struck by sword energy, and when he patted her head, Yu Sui Sui heard a faint, suppressed hiss of pain.
It seemed he wasn’t entirely immune to pain.
He bit his lower lip, drew the short knife from his waist, and stabbed it fiercely into the cliff on the left.
This strike used all his strength, and a large stream of blood instantly seeped from his arm.
Yu Sui Sui understood that he intended to embed the knife into the stone and then find a buffer zone to jump down.
“Let me go,” she said earnestly.
As the saying goes, her death wouldn’t matter in the slightest, but Xie Rong Jing must not die.
Now, only Xie Rong Jing’s right hand was uninjured, yet he insisted on using that good hand to hold her, while his injured left hand took on the heavy workload—just looking at it made her wince.
Did this man have some kind of grudge against his left hand?
The great villain paused his movements, turned to look at her, and curled his lips into a faint smile, his eyes shining like stars in the night sky.
Yu Sui Sui had seen Xie Rong Jing smile in many ways—gentle, teasing, indifferent, joyful… but never with an expression like this.
His eyes narrowed slightly, the corners tilted upward, and a faint trace of pride lingered at his lips, like a beautiful cat.
“You won’t die,” he said softly.
They seemed to be nearing the bottom of the Abyss, surrounded by an ever-present black mist. With a loud thud, the sharp blade embedded itself deep into the mountain rock.
Xie Rong Jing gripped the hilt with one hand while holding onto the human girl with the other.
Both of them hung in mid-air. Xie Rong Jing tightened his grip on her hand slightly, pulling her higher, then shifted to wrap his arm around her waist.
Yu Sui Sui realized that this position wouldn’t aggravate the wound on her back.
Recalling Xie Rong Jing’s unusual behavior today, she couldn’t help but entertain a bold thought—Could it be… that she had truly become the great villain’s white moonlight?