The Blue Whisper 驭鲛记 - Prologue

The Blue Whisper 驭鲛记

Author：九鹭非香

Synopsis:

She was the most powerful demon master in the Demon Valley, but her heart was enchanted by a
demon.

Prologue:

The winter day grew dark extra early with the sun setting outside, casting a golden orange tint
across the window pane. If not for a single dim candle flame flickering in the air, the room would have
almost no light.

The person in the satin bedding moved a bit, grunted a grunt, and woke up.

She squinted and glanced over to the window. "Ah, it's dark, time to get up." She sat up with a
yawn.

After combing her hair in front of the mirror, she looked at the window where the light was
receding. Her eyebrows twitched slightly as her pale fingers reached out and pushed open the window
with a creak. Her body stood behind the wall while her outstretched hand touched the remaining
sunlight.

At that moment, her already thin hand became stripped of flesh and blood, revealing a terrifying
sight of the bones underneath.

And the body that did not touch the sunlight remained intact as usual.

Ji Yunhe turned her hand, looked at her withered bones exposed under the sun, and clenched it into
a fist. "So scary," she said in a monotone. And just as the words fell, she saw the maid downstairs in the
courtyard approaching slowly with a food basket.

Ji Yunhe withdrew her hand, but did not close the window.

Today was sunny but still cold and windy. A breeze blew in, but she did not feel the chill. She
remained standing behind the wall looking at the distant mountains over the lake, and puffed out a
mouthful of white air. "Looks like snow tonight, time to warm a pot of wine to drink."

Pop! The door was roughly pushed open. The sun outside disappeared completely into the horizon
at the same time. The room darkened.
 The new maid, Jiang Weiyan, came in with a food basket. "Still want to drink? With such a weak
and sickly body, are you not afraid of drinking to death?" Jiang Weiyan raised her eyebrows and looked
condescending and rude. "The window should be closed tightly. It's fine to die, but if you get sick, I will
have to be the one to take care of you," she said while placing the dishes from the basket onto the table,
her voice deep and solemn.

"Such a cold, snowy day. Others all get to rest inside, but I still have to come and bring you food."
Jiang Weiyan complained as she was setting up the rice. When she turned her head, she saw Ji Yunhe
still had the window wide open. She raised her eyebrows and her voice, "Can't you hear what I'm
saying?"

"I hear you." Ji Yunhe looked at her with a smile, as if she were not facing a grumpy, rambling girl.
"Please continue."

Jiang Weiyan lost her temper. She put down the bowl, took two big steps to the window and
reached out to close it. But a hand came through under her arm and held the window up, keeping her
from pulling it shut. It was the sickly Ji Yunhe.

Jiang Weiyan turned her head and stared furiously at Ji Yunhe, who said with half a smile, "I just
want to feel the breeze and get some air. Been locked up all day..."

Before she finished her sentence, Jiang Weiyan slapped her hand away.

"Who cares?!"

Ji Yunhe looked at the back of her hand turning red from the slap, and her eyes narrowed slightly.

Jiang Weiyan slammed the window shut and turned around. "Feed yourself, and when you're
done..." Her sentence was cut short as Ji Yunhe grabbed her by the wrist. Jiang Weiyan was stunned, but
before she could say anything, she felt her body suddenly grow light and turned around. Her head
smashed into the window that had just been shut, reopening it.

The cold wind from outside immediately poured onto her face. Half of her body was now hanging
out the window with Ji Yunhe's hand holding on to her collar, keeping her from falling down three
floors.

Jiang Weiyan's face turned blue and her voice trembled, "What, what do you want? Let go… No!
Don't let go..."

Ji Yunhe wiped her own forehead with the spare hand, coughed a bit then sighed, "Not at all like
before. Just this little bit of movement already makes me tired and my hands shake."

Jiang Weiyan immediately grabbed Ji Yunhe's wrist. "Don't, don't, don't shake."

Ji Yunhe laughed and said, "Who cares?!" She made a gesture to let go.
 Jiang Weiyan screamed, but then she felt a force pulling her up. Her tightly closed eyes opened and
she saw that it was Ji Yunhe who had saved her. Jiang Weiyan stood steadily inside the room and looked
back through the window. The wind was strong, the sun was gone, and there was not a bit of warmth in
the air.

She had almost fallen from this floor...

Jiang Weiyan turned back and took another look at Ji Yunhe who was still smiling in front of her in
an intrusive manner.

"How does it feel to be bullied?" Ji Yunhe asked.

After coming back from a near death experience, the anger of being teased suddenly overshadowed
the fear.

Jiang Weiyan, who had been practicing martial arts since she was a child, was not convinced. Ji
Yunhe must have only gotten the better of her because she was not prepared. Jiang Weiyan also took
pride in being the niece of the head housekeeper here, even though her aunt had told her repeatedly not
to cause trouble in this Cloud Garden.

But this Cloud Garden was only inhabited by this sickly "mistress" -- mistress only in name. In
fact, she was just here under house arrest. The Cloud Garden sat on a small island in the middle of the
lake. All traffic around the island was being blocked. Without instructions from above, no one was
allowed to set foot here. People outside could not enter and people inside could not leave.

The top had specifically ordered that the "mistress" here was not allowed to step outside of her
room.

Everytime Jiang Weiyan came to deliver food, she would have to put a lock on the outside door
when she left. It was like watching a prisoner.

There were rumors saying Ji Yunhe was somehow connected with the lord of the house. But in the
many days she was living here, the lord of the house had never set foot on the island, let alone been
inside the Cloud Garden. Obviously this was just a woman dying of illness and left here in the cold. She
did not even have a real title, what was there to fear?

Jiang Weiyan grew up treasured by her family. If not for the decline of the family wealth, she
would not be here serving with her aunt. And now, she had been victimized by such an embarrassing
prank.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Jiang Weiyan raised her hand to slap Ji
Yunhe in the face while shouting, "Who do you think you are?!"

But before the slap could land, her hand was caught by someone.
 It was not the strength of a woman. Jiang Weiyan turned her head and saw a black robe and a pair
of blue eyes so cold they seemed frozen inside.

This was...

Jiang Weiyan recognized the person and immediately shivered with fear. Before she had a chance
to bow, the hand that had caught her wrist fell on her neck. The last words Jiang Weiyan heard were icy
mixed with anger.

"Who do you think you are?"

In the next instant, she was thrown out of the open window of the third floor penthouse like
discarded garbage.

With a thud, she fell into the frozen pond, smashed through the ice and sank under, only to
resurface after a while shouting for help and mercy.

The servants and maids standing outside the courtyard were startled and looked at the third floor
with great fear. No one dared to move.

"Hey, give her a hand," Ji Yunhe peeked her head out and said. "We don't want to mess around
with life and death here."

But the attendants did not dare to move, nor raise their heads. Only because the man in black next
to Ji Yunhe had such a frosty aura around him that it was terrifying.

Ji Yunhe gave a slight grimace. "Got it, I'll close the window. Take the opportunity to pull her up.
This guy will not see anything."

"..."

She was the only person who dared to talk like this in front of him.

Click. The third floor window closed.

The cold breeze outside was cut off. Ji Yunhe turned her head and looked at the man in front of her.
She took a step back and sat diagonally on the chair. "Changyi, your temper has gotten quite bad."

"Come over and eat."

The two of them exchanged completely irrelevant words. Changyi walked to the table and finished
setting up the bowls and chopsticks. Ji Yunhe did not move. She just kept staring at Changyi in silence.
After a long while she said, "Let me go. I've been locked up long enough."

Changyi placed the chopsticks on the bowl. It made a soft sound, but it seemed alarming in the
silence.
 Ji Yunhe sighed. "What are you keeping me here for? I don't have many days left to live. Let me go
out and see the snow, see the moon, see the spring flowers that are about to bloom all over the field. And
with a little luck, I might even get to see the summer rain… I just want to enjoy a few days of
freedom..."

"Ji Yunhe," Changyi said as he turned around, "kill me again if you can, then you'll be free to go."
His ice blue eyes were void of emotion, but at the same time, they seemed to hide a thousand thoughts.

Two pairs of eyes faced each other in silence.

In the end, it was Ji Yunhe who laughed out loud. "If this were six years ago, I’d be able to leave
tonight."

Hearing her say this in such a calm manner, Changyi's hand tightened slightly then loosened up
again. He stepped in front of Ji Yunhe, cupped her chin and looked directly into her eyes, trying to find
some fluctuation. But there was nothing.

Her eyes were the same as always, dark like a vortex, hiding all secrets within them.

Changyi said, "Unfortunately, this is no longer six years ago."

"Right," Ji Yunhe said as she lowered her eyelids, "this is not six years ago anymore." She smiled.
"You have become such a powerful demon, while I went from a demon master to a useless nobody,
Changyi..." The snide teasing in Ji Yunhe's voice made the corners of his lips tighten.

"Right now, we're exactly the same as six years ago," she continued, "just the other way around."

The jailer and the prisoner.

Chapter 1: Jiaoren*

Six years ago, outside the Demon Valley.

When Ji Yunhe received the "goods" from the arrogant eunuch, it was the most beautiful day in
march.

The wilderness outside the valley was full of romantic mountain flowers, filling the air with their
pleasant scent. Ji Yunhe felt distracted even as the eunuch in front of her barked instructions with his
incessant voice.

"Our master has spent a lot of effort in capturing it. We will give you three months to train this
demon. Don't make us come and pick it up again with such a big box full of charms and spells. Not only
is the transportation troublesome, it also looks bad."

The person responsible for dealing with this arrogant eunuch was Ji Yunhe's assistant, Qu
Xiaoxing. Qu Xiaoxing was still a teenager, but his mouth was as slick as oil. He smiled and responded
to the eunuch, "Eunuch Zhang, you can rest assured. We have tamed many demons over the decades. It
doesn't matter what kind of a monster sits in this tin box, as long as they come here, they will surely
leave submissive and loyal. We will not make any mistakes."

"Well, just don't be careless. This here is no ordinary demon."

"We know this is a task assigned by Princess Shunde. The valley of demon management is
absolutely dedicated to taming this demon. When you return you will be proud."

Qu Xiaoxing was the best at dealing with these people. He spoke until Eunuch Zhang showed some
satisfaction.

Ji Yunhe listened to their conversation and walked to the carriage.

The box behind the carriage was half a person high, made of black iron and covered with layers of
paper talismans. Ji Yunhe reached out and lifted one of them. Seeing the inscription on the paper, she
raised an eyebrow and casually uncovered a small piece.

The moment the paper talisman was removed, a loud dong was heard inside the black iron box
together with the sound of iron chains clanking.

Ji Yunhe was surprised. This demon was very powerful. She had only uncovered one of the many
talismans, and the demon immediately sensed it.

The noises inside the box frightened the horse pulling the carriage. It let out a loud neigh and
pounced its hooves to run. The coachman immediately pulled on the reins, gave it a good toss and
stabilized the horse.

Eunuch Zhang turned his head. "Aiya, be careful! This demon is very powerful!" he took a few
steps back and said. "Who the hell are you? Don't foolishly touch anything if you have no idea what
you're doing! Hurry up and paste the talisman back. Careful we charge you with a punishable crime!"

Qu Xiaoxing quickly gave a smile. "That is our..."

"Vermilion sand yellow talisman, thunder incantation, lock five senses, seal demonic power. This is
the handwriting of the Grand Master." Ji Yunhe interrupted Qu Xiaoxing and took a playful glance at
the talisman in her hand. Then her eyes turned and swept sharply onto the eunuch standing on the side.
Her fingers moved, and the vermilion sand yellow talisman immediately shot out like an arrow and
fixated on his neck.

Eunuch Zhang's eyes bulged and his mouth opened with anger, but no sound came out. The eunuch
was startled and reached out to tug at the paper talisman on his neck, only to have his fingers flicked
away. His eyes added several points of fear as he stared at Ji Yunhe, pointing his finger at her and
speechless.

"Yap yap yap half a day," said Ji Yunhe while she clapped her hands. "Now it's finally peaceful."
 She gave a wink to a few sturdy men standing behind her and they stepped forward to reach for the
carriage. The guards escorting the carriage nervously pressed their hands to the hilt of their swords.

"We will take this carriage off of your hands now. Come back in three months and we guarantee
the demon will behave. Your job is to ensure a smooth transition back and forth, right? Now that the
demon has arrived at the Demon Valley, it's our turn to take over. What is with this gesture? Are you
guys not going to let us do our job?" Ji Yunhe stared at the guards. "Are you listening to Princess
Shunde's orders, or are you at this eunuch's command?"

The guards looked at each other and retreated. A few men then invited the coachman off of the
carriage, set up the horse and steered into the valley.

As the carriage pulled away, Ji Yunhe said to the eunuch, "I do not know how to lift the talisman
from your neck. Go back to the Grand Master for help."

She then brushed her sleeves and entered the valley.

Qu Xiaoxing rushed to the side of the eunuch with a smile. "That is our Master Warden. She has a
bit of a temper, but on demon mastery she is second to none here in the valley. Please don't take it to
heart. I cannot help with this talisman as my power is very low compared to others. To limit your
suffering, I'm afraid you will have to go back to the Grand Master for help..."

"Qu Xiaoxing," Ji Yunhe called out to him.

Qu Xiaoxing hastily acknowledged her and did not speak with the eunuch again. He gave him a few
gestures of apology then turned around to catch up with Ji Yunhe.

Qu Xiaoxing sighed. "Master Warden, how many times do I have to say this, these people bringing
demons to our valley might be just servants of the royalties and noble families, but they all have a mouth
that can be heard by important ears. You cannot keep offending them like this… This is the eunuch
around Princess Shunde, if he decides to say some damaging words about you..."

"Mhm mhm, I've done a thankless deed." Ji Yunhe casually brushed him off.

"So you better go back to him and lift the talisman. If you make him travel all the way back mute,
god knows how big of a grudge he will hold."

Ji Yunhe gave him a side eye. "Qu Xiaoxing, we want to please their masters, not them. And the
way to please their masters is to tame the demons well. Everything else is frivolous."

Qu Xiaoxing sighed again.

"You have a point. Also it's unfortunate that today's world is so unfavorable for us demon masters.
I heard fifty years ago, before the Grand Master developed the poison against us, our tribe was very
powerful. We called the wind and rain at will, and demons came to our bidding. Hard to believe that we
have fallen so far in just fifty years. Even a court eunuch can yell at us like this..."

"Come on, you talk as if you were there fifty years ago."

They arrived at wide open gates to the Demon Valley. Heavy fog filled the air. Ji Yunhe digressed,
"The demon brought in today seems quite special. Let's go to the dungeon and watch the unboxing."

Qu Xiaoxing nodded.

Inside the Demon Valley dungeons were black iron cells densely engraved with spells and seals,
blocking the power of demons.

The black iron box was sent to the largest cell. The top of the box had a black iron hook. Demon
masters hooked it to a chain hanging from above and the engravings around the cell started to glow with
power.

This lockbox had been developed by the valley to be convenient for dignitaries to catch feral
demons and transport them in.

The hook on top of the box was actually from inside. It was attached to the chains used to subdue
demons, so they could be easily hooked and connected to the chain in the prison cell. Once connected,
the magic spells from the cell would then be transmitted through the chain onto the demons,
strengthening the force of the seal. This had been designed to keep demon masters from harm as demons
often grew excited upon seeing the light of day during their unboxing.

After the hook and chain were in place, a demon master inserted a key into the lockbox. Click. The
box immediately made a series of knocking and trembling sounds.

The demon master did not even have time to withdraw the key yet when the lockbox suddenly
exploded from inside, every shard covered with talisman. Along with the scattering of debris, a giant
white and blue fish tail fell out.

Ji Yunhe stood just outside the dungeon. Before she could shout "watch out," a powerful force
swept across the prison cell. The demon master who unlocked the box let out a miserable cry as his
blood splattered everywhere.

Ji Yunhe held Qu Xiaoxing's head and pushed him down onto the ground with her, narrowly
avoiding the demonic aura from the fanning tail.

She looked up from the ground and saw the lockbox was now in pieces. A demon hung from the
chain with his hands bound, completely naked, and the lower half of his body was a huge fish tail. But
different from the others, his tail was blue and white and formed layers and layers like a giant lotus.
More surprisingly was his face...

Jiaoren was a race known for their beauty, but Ji Yunhe never thought there would be a face like
his. So stunningly beautiful that it was breathtaking...
 This demon was a...

Male jiaoren.

*Jiaoren is a mythical creature with the head and torso of a woman and the tail of a fish. They are
similar to mermaids except jiaoren are believed to inhabit the South China Sea. Many different versions
of half human half fish creatures are found among ancient chinese literature with jiaoren first appearing
in "In Search of Gods" written by Gan Bao (280 - 336 AD). Legend has it that jiaoren specializes in
weaving dragon silk that stays dry underwater, shed tears that turn into pearls, and possess an enchanting
singing voice.
Chapter 2: Demon Valley

Jiaoren were feminine and almost always female. Males were so rare that it was just about
impossible to find one. Even if you did, their powerful demonic energy would make them extremely
difficult to catch, let alone be sent to the Demon Valley.

Princess Shunde must have put in a lot of effort this time, Ji Yunhe thought. Just then, she saw him
abruptly lift his long tail again. This time everyone was exposed to his attack. Ji Yunhe could not dodge
while lying on the ground, so she made a shield spell with her hand to block her front.

Ji Yunhe felt a whirling wind force pressure against her shield, producing loud grinding sounds
from the friction. Lying on the ground with his hands over his ears, Qu Xiaoxing repeatedly screamed
with fright.

A few steps away, weaker demon masters who could not resist the impact of the demonic force
were knocked away with blood spewing from their mouths. The dungeon turned into a mess.

Ji Yunhe looked around in shock.

She had never seen a male jiaoren before, but she knew what kind of demonic power they typically
harnessed. The one here today, his power was far greater than anything she had ever seen.

Afterall, she had never witnessed a demon sealed by the black iron incantations but was still
powerful enough to hurt and kill.

With wailing all around, Ji Yunhe looked at the jiaoren. She narrowed her eyes and her hand
moved to grip the sword hilt at her waist. She could not allow this demon to go on unchecked, else even
Qu Xiaoxing and herself would not end well.

With just a slight movement from Ji Yunhe, the jiaoren immediately turned to stare at her. His eyes
were a strange blue like the frozen sea, icy cold and bone-chilling. They were filled with rage.

The eye contact alone made her body shiver. Looked like some real effort would be necessary to
suppress this demon today.
 He raised his tail again, preparing for another attack. Suddenly, a long golden arrow flew in from
the other entrance of the dungeon. It shot between the black iron bars and straight through the fish tail,
pinning it against the wall behind.

At the end of the long arrow was a black iron chain. As soon as the arrow pierced the tail, the iron
chain magically crawled up like growing vines and wrapped around and around.

Binding his tail tightly.

The jiaoren let out a muffled grunt. Cold sweat seeped out of his forehead from the pain, yet his
eyes did not show any sign of weakness. He struggled again, tearing at the wound on his tail. Blood fell
like a waterfall.

And at the same time, from the direction where the arrow had come from, a man's low voice
sounded, "What are you all lying down for? Get up and set the formation!"

Ji Yunhe turned her head and took a look. "Qu Xiaoxing," she called out to her assistant who was
lying on the ground trembling. "Get up, we have nothing to do here. Let's go."

Only then did Qu Xiaoxing lift his head. "All… all good now?" Crawling on all fours, he took a
peek to the side and saw the man who had just arrived. "Whew, the young valley master is here..."

Ji Yunhe threw some side eyes at him. "What? I heard that. You think I alone can't protect you?"

Qu Xiaoxing, being the smart young man that he was, immediately put on a smile. "Master
Warden, don't kid me. You are so mighty, how can you not be able to protect me? I just think the young
valley master being here will save you some effort. I am always on your side, don't worry."

Ji Yunhe withdrew her gaze and glanced at the jiaoren. The cell door was now open. Two iron
hooks protruded out from the wall behind him, penetrating his clavicle and striking at him with
lightning. His low grunts were quickly drowned out by the sound of demon masters chanting their
formation spell.

Golden beams of light appeared all around. All the black iron started to glow, basking the entire
dungeon in brilliance.

And aside from trembling in pain, the jiaoren no longer had any power to attack.

"Let's go," Ji Yunhe said to Qu Xiaoxing.

As she was turning the corner, Ji Yunhe saw Lin Haoqing, the young valley master, discussing
matters with others in the prison cell while watching her.

Ji Yunhe's footsteps kept going as if she did not see him, and left.

The relationship between Ji Yunhe and Lin Haoqing was more than awkward to describe.
 The Demon Valley Master, Lin Canglan, was very old, but his attitude remained ambiguous
regarding the position of his successor.

Lin Canglan's son, Lin Haoqing, was known as the young master of the valley. However, Lin
Canglan had never publicly announced that he would pass the lead to Lin Haoqing. Instead, he always
seemed to favor his adopted daughter, Ji Yunhe. He had even created a position of Master Warden for
her.

Ji Yunhe's demon mastering skills topped the Demon Valley. If you were to distinguish by strength,
Ji Yunhe undoubtedly would suppress Lin Haoqing. In addition to the old master's unknown attitude, Ji
Yunhe had also gained support from many others to become the next Valley Master. For a long time, the
valley was divided into two factions. People who preferred strength and talent pushed for Ji Yunhe to
lead, and people who believed in tradition vowed to protect Lin Haoqing's position.

The two factions battled against each other both openly and underground. The personal relationship
between Ji Yunhe and Lin Haoqing had also changed from brother and sister when they were young to
the current incompatibility.

However, no one knew that Ji Yunhe did not want to be the labor intensive Valley Master at all.
Her biggest wish in life was to earn some money and leave the valley. Maybe move to a nice water
village in the south and live a carefree life of luxury.

But fate was always against her...

The Demon Valley was not a place she could just leave.

Walking back toward her own courtyard, Ji Yunhe instructed Qu Xiaoxing, "This is a hot potato,
throw it to someone else."

Qu Xiaoxing was stunned. "But Master Warden, this jiaoren belongs to Princess Shunde... If you
tame him well, Princess Shunde will inevitably have a promotion for you, you know the... " Qu
Xiaoxing looked around then whispered into Ji Yunhe's ear, "You should know what the royal people
say is of great importance here in our valley. If Princess Shunde helps you, the position of the next
Valley Master..."

She simply did not want that position.

However, Ji Yunhe could not say this to Qu Xiaoxing. She looked at him with a stern face, and
asked, "And if the taming doesn't go well?"

Qu Xiaoxing acted shocked. "Huh... Master Warden... can it be, you are worried that you can't tame
this demon?" He blinked a few times.

She really was worried. Worried that she would really tame this jiaoren and win Princess Shunde's
heart, and that Princess Shunde would really say something for her. Because from then on, she would
lose what little peace and tranquility she currently enjoyed.

"If you say so," Ji Yunhe replied, closing the courtyard doors behind her. "Either way I do not want
this job. If Lin Haoqing wants it, or whomever else wants it, then they can take it. I am not getting
involved."

Outside the doors, Qu Xiaoxing heard her lazy voice say, "Just tell them I will be meditating for a
while. Will do nothing."

Qu Xiaoxing puckered his mouth. He could not force anything onto his superiors afterall.

However in the evening, Qu Xiaoxing came to the door of Ji Yunhe's courtyard again and knocked.
"Master Warden."

After a long time, Ji Yunhe's voice came from inside, "Didn't I say I'm meditating?"

"Yes, but the Valley Master is looking for you."

"..."

The courtyard door opened and Ji Yunhe came out scratching her head, looking a bit frustrated.
"What does the Valley Master want with me?"

"I do not know."

Ji Yunhe felt helpless and could only make her way over.
Chapter 3: The Competition

As soon as Ji Yunhe entered the main Li Feng Hall and saw Lin Haoqing standing beside the old
Valley Master with downcast eyes, she knew there was nothing good in store for her.

"Valley Master," Ji Yunhe bowed. Lin Canglan looked ancient with a face full of wrinkles, but the
pair of eyes between the lines were still as sharp and intimidating as a hawk.

"Yunhe is here." Lin Canglan coughed a few times and beckoned her to come forward. "What has
Yunhe been up to lately?"

Ji Yunhe walked up respectfully. "Trained some small demons a few days ago and sent them off.
Now I am just giving the demon masters under me some pointers and techniques."

Lin Canglan nodded. "Good girl, always doing your best for the valley." His old fingers reached
out and took Ji Yunhe's hand, patting it. "You've been working hard."

"It is my duty," Ji Yunhe lowered her head and bowed again.

Lin Haoqing's eyes turned slightly and glanced over Ji Yunhe's face.
 Lin Canglan nodded as if extremely pleased, and then said in a feeble voice, "I have gathered all of
the most capable people into our Demon Valley. Thanks to Emperor Gaozu's favor, we have been
allowed to manage the demon lineage here in the southwest and live a relatively peaceful life. Now
Princess Shunde is asking for our help in taming a powerful demon, this is both an important task and an
imperial gift. We must not fail."

Ji Yunhe and Lin Haoqing both listened quietly.

Although Ji Yunhe's face seemed calm, her heart could not help but feel some distress. It appeared
that she would have to get involved with this job...

"I thought about it again and again, a demon like this will need to be handled by you two." Lin
Canglan coughed a bit and said, "Coincidentally, as an old man, I have been in poor health lately and I
am aware that my fate is near..."

"Good fortune to the Valley Master."

"Long life to father."

Ji Yunhe and Lin Haoqing spoke almost simultaneously as the two of them knelt on the ground
next to each other.

Lin Canglan smiled and waved his hand. "This body… an old man knows himself. It is also time to
appoint the next master of the valley."

With this statement, the entire hall fell silent.

"You are both my children, and you are both very good. Since it is difficult to choose, I will take
advantage of this opportunity and give you two a competition." Lin Canglan took out a letter from his
robe. Its paper was exquisite and smelled of incense. "Princess Shunde wrote this. She is asking us to
tame this demon with three wishes in mind. First wish is for this demon to speak human words. Second
wish is for him to grow legs. The third wish is for him to serve without rebellion. Between you two,
whoever accomplishes them first will become the next Valley Master."

"At your command, father," Lin Haoqing clasped his hands and replied.

Ji Yunhe, on the other hand, did not speak.

Lin Canglan turned his eyes and stared at her. "Yunhe?"

Ji Yunhe looked up at him. When she met Lin Canglan's kind but piercing gaze, her heart felt cold.
She had no choice but to hold back all of her emotions. "Yes, Yunhe is at your command."

Leaving the main Li Feng Hall, Ji Yunhe walked absent-mindedly until she was about to part ways
with Lin Haoqing. He called her name, abruptly returning her to her senses, and she looked up at him.
 "Yunhe," Lin Haoqing's voice was polite but distant, "I look forward to learning from you in the
coming days."

Ji Yunhe also returned the salute. "You're too kind, brother." After the courteous exchange, the two
had nothing more to say.

The valley outside the main hall was full of flowers all year round. When the spring breeze passed
by, their petals and scent would linger in the air, making it extremely pleasant. The corner of her lips
moved, but when she opened her mouth to speak, Lin Haoqing coldly turned around and walked away,
avoiding her eyes.

Ji Yunhe stood at the same spot looking at his distant back. She smiled helplessly.

She called him brother because she really did see him as one.

Ji Yunhe turned around and saw the flowers in bloom under the warm spring sun. Her thoughts
drifted back in time.

She saw herself many years ago, when she was still a little girl who did not know the world. She
would jump and play in the flowers while Lin Haoqing, a few years older than her, stood in the distance
and quietly watched her. His eyes had been gentle, and his smile a bit mild.

She always picked a handful of flowers haphazardly and took them to him. "Brother Haoqing, do
the flowers look pretty?"

Lin Haoqing would smile and touch her head. He would then pick the grass and messy branches out
of her hair and put a flower behind her ear. "Flowers look best on you."

And now, the warm and smiling brother of her memories would only leave her a cold and distant
back.

Ji Yunhe hung her head low. She knew better than anyone else that their relationship turning sour
was not at all to be blamed on him.

The blame was all on her...

When Ji Yunhe returned to her courtyard, it was already dark. She sat down, lit the lamp, and
watched the bean-sized candle flame flicker and jump. Once, twice, and when she counted to five, the
air suddenly flashed a demonic aura. A black-haired woman dressed in white and red appeared in the
room.

Ji Yunhe shifted the lamp a bit and did not bother to look at the woman. "Tell me. Lin Canglan
gave the order to make us compete directly with each other this time. How far should I go?"

The woman's voice was thin and unemotional, "He wants you to give it your all."
 Ji Yunhe smiled. "Give it my all? If I tame the demon, will Lin Canglan really dare to make me the
next Valley Master?"

"The master has his own arrangements, you don't have to ask so much," the woman answered. Then
she raised her hand and tossed Ji Yunhe a pill. "You only need to know that if he finds out you didn't do
your best, you can forget about getting the antidote next month."

Ji Yunhe caught the pill as the woman in red and white disappeared like a ghost. She rolled the pill
between her fingertips, and the corners of her lips pursed tight.

The old master of the valley had made her Master Warden, treated her no differently from his own
son, Lin Haoqing, and even vaguely seemed to want her replacing Lin Haoqing.

However, only Ji Yunhe knew that the scheming old man could not possibly give the position of
the Valley Master to an "outsider", even if she was his adopted daughter.

Not to mention Lin Canglan had never really seen her as an adopted daughter. She was just a pawn
under the old man, helping him do all the dark, unsightly deeds…

Ji Yunhe took the monthly antidote and felt the bitter taste spread across her mouth. The bitterness
kept her awake and allowed her to think clearly about the dilemma she was facing.

She knew the old man had no intention of giving her control of the valley, and now he was staging
such an open and fair contest and wanted her to give it her all. If she were to lose, it would become Lin
Haoqing's reign and she would be abandoned by the valley. Even Qu Xiaoxing and other long time
supporters of hers would suffer.

And if she were to win, it would be even worse.

The old man behind the scenes would surely have his tricks to deal with her. And even if there were
no tricks, all he had to do was withhold the antidote she must take every month. That would be enough
to make her suffer.

Both outcomes were a dead end...

Ji Yunhe tugged on her shirt. She was already feeling a bit warm after taking the pill, now she was
even more restless after stressing over her current situation. The room became stuffy and unbearable and
she decided to go for a walk in the crisp night air.

She kept thinking as she wandered, and soon found herself standing before the dungeon holding the
jiaoren.

In fact, it was not by chance.

The dungeon where the jiaoren was being kept was the most secure one in the entire valley. Very
few demons qualified to be locked in here, so it was almost always free and empty. Ji Yunhe enjoyed
walking around this area when she was upset or stressed. Sometimes she would even go inside the cell
and hang out for a while.

With no one inside, it was a rare place where she could feel a bit of security.

Now the jiaoren was here. Many guards stood outside the dungeon, giving Ji Yunhe a simple salute
as she approached, "Master Warden."

Ji Yunhe nodded and casually asked, "Has that demon been docile?"

The guard replied, "The young valley master cleaned him up during the day so he wouldn't have the
strength to toss around at night."

Ji Yunhe nodded again, "I'll go take a look."

She slowly stepped down onto the dungeon floor. She did not try to conceal the sound of her
footsteps, because he would be able to detect her no matter how quiet she tried to be.

Down in the dungeon, the prison cell was dead silent. Huge iron bars were plastered with talismans
and washed clean of the blood splattered during the day. The moonlight casting down from the top of
the dungeon made it look extra cold.

And the jiaoren was hanging alone inside. His long tail draped down, dragging over the ground
while the scales shimmered under the light of the moon. One could vaguely see how gloriously stunning
it used to be.

Ji Yunhe slowly stepped in. His head was hanging down and his waist length silver hair shielded
half of his face. But even so, Ji Yunhe could not help but find this demon too beautiful.

Excessively beautiful.
Chapter 4: Similar Dilemma

Ji Yunhe walked up to the cell and looked through the thick bars full of talismans. The jiaoren hung
by his hands and his body was covered with wounds. Large iron hooks pierced through his clavicle, and
the chains wrapped around his blue and white tail confined him from all movements.

His blood dripped down, soaking the chains, and his face looked as pale as paper under the
moonlight. Even though Ji Yunhe had been in the valley for many years and witnessed many gruesome
scenes, she still could not help but feel chills right now.

Along with the chills, she also felt a bit lost in his appearance.

There were always some people or things in this world that could touch the heart, whether they
were in bloom or in wilt.
 She took one step forward. This step seemed to have brought her into his area of guard. His lashes
fluttered, and his ice blue eyes opened with a shimmer. He looked at Ji Yunhe and his pupils reflected
the darkness of the dungeon, the dim flames on the wall, and her shadowy figure.

The corners of his mouth were slightly downturned, adding to a majestic look of nobility that he
was born with. His eyes were aggressive and displayed a mixture of wariness, anger and detachment.

He remained silent.

The eunuch who had delivered him did not provide any information at all. Where did he come
from? What was his name? What was his physical condition and what level of magic power did he
possess... Naturally, the eunuch also did not tell anyone if he was able to speak.

The wish to have him speak human words… Was that to simply make him speak or to teach him a
whole new language?

Ji Yunhe did not shy away from his gaze. She took another step closer and pressed herself against
the bars to examine him.

The two pairs of eyes met, each one deep in thought.

Ji Yunhe did not know what the jiaoren was thinking, but she had an eerie feeling that her current
situation was very similar to his.

Entrapment.

Staying in the Demon Valley was a misfortune, and leaving would not be good either.

If the Demon Valley could not tame him, then he would be sent to the Demon Terrace in the north,
the Demon Island in the east, or the Demon Mountain in the west... Under the control of the imperial
court, these were the only four places left in the world allowing people born with demon master powers
to exist and survive.

None of these places were friendly to demons.

What was the difference between him and Ji Yunhe?

Lin Haoqing and Lin Canglan, the former was defensive and suspicious of her and wanted to get rid
of her, the latter used her in every way possible and could not squeeze enough blood out of her. If she
were to escape from the valley, the poison in her body would activate, not to mention the entire world
under royal power would regard her as a traitor. None of the four major demon master quarters would
accept her again.

Between the jiaoren and Ji Yunhe, one was a plaything under the power and one was a pawn. They
were both prisoners.
 The sound of blood dripping down in the dungeon was faint but clear. Ji Yunhe looked across his
sturdy chest and muscular abdomen. She raised her eyebrows and sighed to herself. He looked very
strong.

And then her eyes shifted down. His fish tail was no longer as smooth as during the day when she
first saw him. Due to a lack of water and punitive lightning strikes from earlier, the scales were now
rough and uneven. Some were overturned, revealing the flesh underneath. It was a bit scary to look at.

For demon taming, Ji Yunhe had never been fond of using violence.

She turned her hand and her palm conjured a small, clear spring of water. With a wave of the
fingers, the water floated over and rolled onto the jiaoren's tail.

It was an act of sympathy toward him, probably also sympathetic that his situation was not unlike
her own.

He subconsciously resisted and shifted slightly. As soon as he moved, the black iron chains made a
clattering sound, and a bolt of lightning instantly flashed out and dissipated into his flesh.

The jiaoren's body shivered and he clenched his teeth. Another stream of blood trickled out from
the wounds covering his body...

He endured it all in silence.

"Don't move," Ji Yunhe opened her mouth with a voice lower than an ordinary woman. "I do not
want to harm you."

She looked up again and met with his blue eyes.

Her hand did not stop as the stream of water continuously floated out from her palm, warm like the
temperature of her body. It covered the jiaoren's tail.

The scales slowly smoothed themselves down piece by piece. Soon the entire tail was shining again
with the dazzling luster it used to have.

He looked at her with cold eyes still void of emotion.

Ji Yunhe did not expect anything more. She closed her palm and the spring of water disappeared.
"You want to leave, correct?"

He did not respond, as if he did not hear her question at all.

"I want to leave too," she said in such a low voice that it was not much more than a whisper. "Be
good and listen, it will be easier that way."

She looked at him, smiled, then turned around and left.

 Away from the dungeon, Ji Yunhe tilted her head to look at the bright moon in the sky. She took a
deep breath and smelled the flowers that bloomed all year round. Even though she hated this Demon
Valley, Ji Yunhe had to admit that she was fond of the south, the mild temperature and the always free
and warm wind.

For so many years, she had been trying to figure out a plan to leave this place peacefully,
however... now she had no more time to slowly toss and turn.

Lin Canglan had set up this competition for her to take part in. She could not avoid it, so might as
well accept it.

Except her opponent was not Lin Haoqing, but the one sitting in the main hall with his old beady
eyes, the Valley Master, Lin Canglan.

Lin Canglan had told her a long time ago that the poison in her body had a real antidote. One that
would cure her once and for all and she would no longer need to take pills again. He told her if she did a
good job, he would eventually give her the last antidote.

Ji Yunhe once had hopes and faith in Lin Canglan, but not anymore. Now she even doubted the
existence of such an antidote. But it did not matter, as long as she learned the recipe for making the
monthly pills, she would be able to leave. Or if she could get her hands on enough pills to last while she
had someone research and replicate them... Or even if she were to acquire just a handful of the pills, she
still wanted to go.

She was sick of this.

This life without freedom, she was sick of it.

She desired for a moon that she wanted to see, flowers that she wanted to enjoy, and a world that
she wanted to walk in, by her own will, without any control and manipulation.

This would be her battle with Lin Canglan. It was time to fight back.

And it would start with this jiaoren.

"Jinsang," Ji Yunhe bent down and pressed her lips gently to the heart of a flower by the road, "it's
time to come back."

The air stirred around her, lightly rustling the petals as a soft breeze carried her words off into the
distance.
Chapter 5: Snow March

It was a beautiful day. Gentle winds and bright sun, a perfect day in spring.

Sunlight pierced through the window and stopped shortly by the desk, but the warm breeze
bypassed the screen and blew into the bed curtain. It ruffled the hair around the ear of a woman inside.

Along with the breeze came the sound of knocking on the door and Qu Xiaoxing's call. "Warden!
Yunhe! Auntie! Do you know what time it is? You're still sleeping!"

The knocking on the door kept going on and on. It was so annoying that finally...

Creak... Ji Yunhe opened the door with a frown. Messy hair, messy clothes and a tone that was
absolutely unfriendly. "What's the fuss?!"

Qu Xiaoxing was so frightened by this aggressive yell that he took a step back.

"I... I didn't want to come bother you either, who doesn't know that your wake-up call scares people
to death..."

The fact that Ji Yunhe slept late and woke up late and had a big wake-up temper was basic
knowledge here in the valley.

Qu Xiaoxing muttered, "I am just concerned for you! Everyone knows how important this
competition is. The young valley master already went to the dungeon with his people earlier this
morning, but you... Here you are sleeping until noon… No one else dares to come call you, so of course
I have to come..."

Ji Yunhe really had forgotten about the

competition during her slumber.

She smacked her lips, forced off any signs of embarrassment, and cleared her throat. "Taming is all
in the technique. It's not like getting up earlier would be more convincing to the demon." She rubbed her
eyes and waved her hand to drive off Qu Xiaoxing. "Okay okay, you can go. I'll fix up and head over."

"I'm afraid there's no time for you to clean up." Another female voice appeared behind Qu
Xiaoxing. Ji Yunhe cocked her head, peeked back, and saw the woman approaching. She had long legs,
a slender waist and hair down to the bend of the knees. Her facial features were sharp and chiseled, and
the outer corners of her eyes slanted up a bit, giving her an aura of ferocity and prowess.

"Huh..." Ji Yunhe blinked away some sleepiness and said, "March?"

Ji Yunhe muttered in confusion, "Don't tell me I accidentally sent a message to you last night...
How come you're back? Didn't you go to the western Demon Mountain to help them with some stuff?
So fast?"

"Ha!" Snow March let out a sneer. "The people in the west are growing more useless every year.
What giant snake demon that they couldn't handle… That snake hasn't even achieved human form yet.
Bunch of garbage demon masters. Their report made it sound scary, but in reality, I didn't need much
work at all."
 Snow March's demon taming skills might not be very impressive, but when it came to demon
slaying, not many people could compare with her.

"Your matter here is more concerning." Snow March scoffed at Ji Yunhe, "A competition for the
throne of the valley, and you still have time to be lazy?"

Snow March grabbed Ji Yunhe by the hand and dragged her away, messy hair and all. "Lin
Haoqing is already in the cell using his methods."

Ji Yunhe understood what Snow March was saying. Lin Haoqing was torturing the jiaoren. If the
demon spoke now she would lose the first round of the competition. But for some reason, when Ji
Yunhe heard March's words, what flashed through her mind was the jiaoren's dried and cracked scale
armor, his blood-covered skin, and his stubborn and indifferent blue eyes.

"Can't beat the words out of him."

Snow March turned to look at her. "How do you know?"

Ji Yunhe smiled confidently and said, "If we could beat them out of him, Princess Shunde wouldn't
have sent him to us. The court's methods of punishment are not any less than those of the Demon
Valley."

Snow March slowed down her pace. "You have a plan?"

In fact, Snow March had a bit of admiration for Ji Yunhe. She could tame more demons in a year
than half the masters here in a lifetime. It was like she could see straight through and grasp onto the
demons' deepest fears, then use them to gain control.

Her understanding of those demons was frighteningly amazing.

"Yes," Ji Yunhe said while glancing at Snow March. "But what are you so worried about this
competition for? It's not like you don't know my situation."

The two of them had been friends for many years and knew the most hidden secrets inside each
other.

"No matter what, this is an opportunity." Snow March continued dragging her toward the dungeon.

Ji Yunhe looked at Snow March's hand holding her own and slightly warmed her face. She liked
this. She liked the feeling of being held by someone. It told her that she had a fellow traveler walking
down her path. That she was not always alone.

And a large crowd had already gathered outside the dungeon, observing.

When Ji Yunhe and Snow March arrived, a series of lightning sounded from inside.
 One of the demon masters cautiously stammered, "Young valley master seems a bit hasty. With this
kind of torture, might it kill that jiaoren?"

"The young valley master has his measures. There is no place for your concern," another one
answered.

Ji Yunhe frowned slightly. At the same time someone noticed her presence and greeted her,
"Master Warden."

The people in the front immediately turned, bent their heads and gave way, allowing Ji Yunhe to
walk in smoothly through the crowd.

The usually empty cell was now full of people. Lin Haoqing stood in front of the cage, his face
under flashes of lightning looked a bit cold, even gloomy. He stared at the jiaoren intensively, studying
every bit of disturbance on his face.

The jiaoren did not make a single expression no matter what was inflicted. However, as soon as Ji
Yunhe entered, his lashes trembled and he slowly raised his eyes. Ice blue pupils softly shifted onto her.

Lin Haoqing followed his gaze...

And he saw the jiaoren staring at Ji Yunhe while she looked back at him with her brows slightly
furrowed. It actually seemed as if she had some inexplicable concern for this demon.

Lin Haoqing clenched his hand into a fist and his eyes grew darker. He now looked a bit like Lin
Canglan.
Chapter 6: The Spirit of the Sea

"Master Warden is late," Lin Haoqing said as he lifted his hand and gave a signal. The lightning
strikes that had disappeared briefly started up again. Black iron full of inscriptions flashed with blinding
light, striking onto the jiaoren again and again.

The demon hanging in the air seemed to have no more reaction to the pain. His muscles
autonomously spasmed a bit then became still. His head hung low and his long silver hair scattered
across his body in a bloody, sticky mess.

Like a lifeless ragdoll. Ice blue eyes were now hidden behind his lids, no one could see any
expression.

Ji Yunhe put on a face of indifference. She lazily stretched her arms and said with a little bit of joke
and sarcasm, "Why doesn't the young valley master say he is a little bit hasty."

Lin Haoqing smiled. "Yunhe is very good at taming demons, a brother does not dare to be slow. I
need to do my best to be worthy of your competition."

"I have never had such a big audience while taming demons," Ji Yunhe teased as she pulled Snow
March to the dungeon floor and sat down on a stone. Since Snow March remained standing by her side,
she took the opportunity to lean comfortably against her legs. Snow March glanced down at her, but
allowed her to be lazy. Ji Yunhe waved her hand and said, "Go on, brother. But..."

Ji Yunhe skimmed her lips with her tongue and continued, "I have heard the noble Princess Shunde
is of very fine taste. She demands nothing less than perfection. This jiaoren… we don't even know how
his healing abilities are. Brother, the competition is trivial, delivering a job well done is our top priority,
yes?"

Lin Haoqing's eyebrows sank slightly. His eyes moved away from Ji Yunhe and fell onto the
lifeless demon.

Ji Yunhe was right.

The world currently belonged to the imperial court. Demon masters no longer ruled like in the old
days. The court had separated them into four corners of the land, dividing thus limiting their power. All
four quarters now catered to the imperial court as a priority over demon mastery.

Training these demons to royal satisfaction was their most important task.

Even though it was a contest for the position of the Valley Master, it still had to be played by
Princess Shunde's rules.

The princess wanted her jiaoren to talk, to grow legs, and to be submissive. She did not want a
broken, beaten up slave.

Lin Haoqing waved his hand, and the assistant by the lever slowly eased the lightning strikes to a
stop. Lin Haoqing walked to the bars. He lifted his head and looked at the jiaoren hanging inside the
cell. "Jiaoren have always been an intelligent race.You should know what is best for you. As long as you
do what I say..."

Before Lin Haoqing could finish, the jiaoren's hanging eyelids lifted abruptly and glared at him. Blue
eyes looked clear and bright without the slightest sign of defeat. They even appeared more fierce than
yesterday.

The jiaoren's body suddenly dispersed a light blue glow, prompting the assistant to immediately
restart the lightning mechanism. Roaring thunder and flashing lights filled the air while the onlookers
outside scattered and fled. The demonic energy emitting from the jiaoren's body was overflowing out of
the dungeon.

Then Ji Yunhe saw him make his move. The huge white and blue fish tail swept out fiercely amidst
a combination of lightning and blood, lifting the chain and uprooting the golden arrow binding it to the
ground.

Clang! They smashed against the black iron bars in front of Lin Haoqing in full force.
 The bars caved and bent outward from the impact, stopping just three inches short of Lin Haoqing's
face.

"Young valley master!" The assistants nearby rushed forward in defense, pulling Lin Haoqing back.
"You're injured!" an assistant exclaimed in shock.

An ugly gash had appeared across Lin Haoqing's cheekbone, dripping with blood. The assistant
chanted a spell to stop the bleeding but found it did nothing. Lin Haoqing pushed him away. "I was
scraped by the enchanted golden arrow. You can't fix the wound."

Golden arrow...

Everyone looked into the cell and saw the jiaoren was still staring at Lin Haoqing, his tail now a
hideous wreck.

His attack had almost ripped the bottom of his tail apart. The chain was still deeply embedded
within his skin and flesh, but the golden arrow at the end of the chain was now broken.

When his tail pulled the arrow loose and smashed it against the iron bars, the arrowhead had broken
off and flew out, striking Lin Haoqing in the face.

No one spoke, but their attitudes toward the jiaoren all changed a bit.

No one had expected him to still have the strength to resist in his condition, nor the will. Out of all
the demons they had seen, none would even have the desire to live by now...

This jiaoren…

Could he really be tamed?

The lightning inside crackled and flashed, the people outside scurried and shouted, dust and debris
continuously fell all around… It was truly a chaotic sight. All the commotion finally chased off Ji
Yunhe's last bit of sleepiness.

She quietly looked at the demon hanging in the cell. His ice blue eyes glowed with a light that she
had not seen before, persistent and unwavering.

"Jiaoren are born from the spirit of the sea," Snow March murmured next to Ji Yunhe. "I thought it
was just a myth, but it's really true."

Ji Yunhe turned her head and looked at Snow March. "Don't let others hear you."

Praising demons was unacceptable here in the valley.

Even so, Ji Yunhe also found his persistence quite admirable.

Chapter 7: Tough

The jiaoren's attack had used up all of his strength. He was now hanging there motionless while the
lightning kept striking him.

Everyone was focused on Lin Haoqing and his injury right now, no one seemed to care that the
lightning mechanism was still turned on.

"Young valley master, this place is dangerous. The bricks and stones keep falling... Let's get out of
here?"

Lin Haoqing concentrated his powers on self healing, then raised his head and stared gloomily at
the rag-like demon in the cage.

"Have someone come and repair the cell," he gave an order then turned to leave. While walking
out, his eyes fell on Ji Yunhe who was still sitting on the side, steady and calm like a mountain.

"Master Warden is not leaving?"

"I'll stay a little longer and watch him, in case he makes another move." Ji Yunhe finally moved her
eyes away from the jiaoren and looked back at Lin Haoqing. "Young valley master was injured by the
golden arrow. The enchantment on it is powerful, please go and treat it quickly before it gets worse."

"Master Warden, please be careful as well." Lin Haoqing looked at the two assistants beside him.
"You two stay here to protect her. If this demon dares to move again, report to me at once."

The two who were appointed hesitated a bit. Obviously they did not want to stay any longer, but
due to the order, they could only lower their heads and answer "yes."

Finally, Ling Haoqing left the dungeon surrounded by his eager assistants.

Ji Yunhe brushed the dust off of her body, stood up and walked to the lightning control.

The two guards left by Lin Haoqing watched in horror as she put her hand on the wooden lever and
pulled down. Click! The lightning disappeared.

"Master Warden!" one of the assistants called out. "I'm afraid that is not wise..."

"What's the problem?" Ji Yunhe barely acknowledged their existence. "The young valley master
has his methods in taming demons, and I have mine," she said as she shifted her focus into the cell, no
longer paying any attention to them. She started chanting the incantation to open the cell door.

Most of the onlookers outside had left by now. A remaining few saw what she was about to do and
shouted out in distress, "Master Warden, no!"

Ling Haoqing's two assistants rushed toward Ji Yunhe to put a stop to her chanting. But before they
could reach her, a sword swiped down and pierced into the ground before their feet, sending chills down
their spine.

"Have the young valley master's men forgotten the rules?" Snow March stood beside them with an
intimidating face. "Are the Master Warden's actions part of your jurisdiction now?"

Snow March's capabilities were not unknown here in the Demon Valley. With Lin Haoqing gone,
the remaining minions were no match whatsoever against her. The two assistants could only beg
helplessly, "Master Warden! The prison door must not open! If the demon escapes..."

But Ji Yunhe already pulled the cell door open and stepped inside. She did not rush to close it.
Instead, she turned around and pushed it open a little wider.

The people standing outside the dungeon immediately trotted off. The two guards left here by order
did not run, but their legs began shaking and their faces turned pale.

This jiaoren had really given them quite a scare.

Ji Yunhe chuckled, then slowly closed the door.

Clang. The sound isolated them from the world outside.

She approached the jiaoren. Being up close and without bars and lightning flashes in between made
his injuries look even more horrific.

Such a critical condition, how was he supposed to escape?

Ji Yunhe stood in front of the huge tail that was supposed to be stunningly beautiful. It was now
completely powerless and limp, hanging down lifelessly. Looking up, she saw his pale face, silver hair
tangled with blood and dust, and eyes that remained half-open by pure defiance.

The ice blue pupils were now gray with no focus and no spirit, as if he were dead.

Ji Yunhe knew he had used up all of his remaining power and strength for that strike.

Just to hurt Lin Haoqing, someone who had humiliated him...

She sighed softly. Tough demons always had to endure more suffering. The tougher they were, the
more difficult their days.

People were the same way.

Ji Yunhe looked down at his tail. The iron chain was still embedded inside him, though now
hanging by just a small piece of skin. She took out a dagger and swiftly sliced through the last bit of
connecting tissue. The chain fell to the ground with a thud.
 Even though the tail was torn, at least now he no longer had to bear all that extra weight. It should
lighten the burden on his arms.

Ji Yunhe looked up at him again. He was too weak to feel her dagger, but the sudden ease of the
body brought some consciousness back into him.

The blue eyes moved and finally focused on her face below.

Ji Yunhe knew he was looking at her. She opened her mouth and silently said with just the
movements of her lips, "Why bother?"

The jiaoren's eyes quivered slightly. He understood her.

No more interaction beyond that. He probably did not have the strength to talk even if he wanted to.

Lin Haoqing was really too anxious this time and had acted quite irrationally.

Ji Yunhe gave an order, "Pull that lever and bring him down for me."

Lin Haoqing's two assistants shook their heads vigorously. Snow March gave a cold snort. Without
saying anything, she picked up a stone and flicked it at a lever by the edge of the cell. Gears turned and
the jiaoren was slowly lowered to the ground.

Ji Yunhe watched him closely. When he came within reach, she wrapped her hands around his
waist and pulled him into her arms. His waist was where scales met skin. The scales here were soft,
shimmery, and cool to the touch. They felt wonderful… but she did not dare to touch more because there
was nowhere on his body without wounds.

She gently laid him down on the ground.

"Bring me some medicine."

The two assistants looked at each other. "Master Warden... you want to treat the injuries of this
demon...?"

"Who else?" These two were really starting to get on her nerves. "Beat you up then give you
treatment?"

The two of them let out a gasp. Ji Yunhe did not establish her rank by being lazy and bedridden all
these years.

They looked at each other for a while and nudged themselves in the arms, finally deciding on one
to go get some medicine.

Ji Yunhe examined the injuries on the jiaoren's body.

 From his eyebrows to his chest, from his waist to the tip of his fish tail, she looked over every inch.
He was still awake, though barely. He stared at her at first, but after realizing what she was doing, this
tough guy demon who did not react to any beating and cruelty, suddenly blinked twice and somewhat
stiffly twisted his head in another direction.

Ji Yunhe felt the slight movement of his body, and glanced at him with amusement.

Hmm? As it seemed, he might be tough on the outside, on the inside he was surprisingly shy.
Chapter 8: Secrets and Friends

Ji Yunhe conjured some water and moistened all the dry and cracked scales on the jiaoren's tail. It
looked much better afterwards even though it was still covered in scars.

While Ji Yunhe tended to the wounds, the jiaoren finally gave in to exhaustion and fell asleep.

"Master Warden, here is the medicine," one of the guards called from outside the cell. He took one
look at the demon lying on the ground, the loose chains placed aside, and did not dare to walk another
step closer.

Ji Yunhe eyed him, "Are you asking me to go out and get you or what?"

The man trembled and hesitated a long while before reluctantly inching a step forward. Snow
March could not take it anymore. "A demon master so scared of a demon, what has your master been
teaching you? Shameful!" She took a few big steps to him, grabbed the medicine bag and threw it into
the cell with a backhand.

The bag passed through the gap between the bars and was steadily caught by Ji Yunhe. The guy
was honest enough to deliver a lot of good medicine, but they were all external medicine that would do
nothing for internal injuries.

Demon masters usually did not heal internal injuries for demons so as not to replenish their power.
It was common sense.

Ji Yunhe asked Snow March, "Got any ningxue pills?"

The ningxue pills were the best internal medicine made here in the Demon Valley.

Snow March was a bit surprised that Ji Yunhe would want such precious medication for the demon.
She felt uneasy about it, but still pulled out a small bottle and tossed it over without saying anything.

The faces on the two guards changed at once, but they did not dare to question Ji Yunhe.

Ji Yunhe did not care much for what others were thinking anyway. She made an attempt to feed the
jiaoren a ningxue pill, but his teeth were so tightly shut they would not open no matter what. She sighed
and decided to set the pills aside for now. Then she took the healing ointment and started applying it
little by little to the wounds on his body.
 Her fingertips were gentle and soft. She was very thorough and did not pass up on even the
slightest scratch under each scale.

The ugly wounds seemed to heal under her touch.

Some cuts were thin and deep, others were wide and massive. Applying the medicine was not an
easy task, dressing them was even more difficult. By the time Ji Yunhe finished, she raised her head and
saw the moon was already high.

Snow March was long gone, and the two men left on guard by Lin Haoqing were sitting back to
back on a rock, dozing off.

Time always passed quickly when one stayed focused. Ji Yunhe tilted her head and twisted her
neck which now felt a little stiff.

The last injury left to be treated was on his wrist where the binding chains had made their mark.

Ji Yunhe washed the wound, applied some ointment, and started to bandage it when she suddenly
felt a cool gaze on her face.

"Oh, you're awake," Ji Yunhe greeted him gently.

Ice blue eyes stared at her. Ji Yunhe held the ningxue pill in front of his face. "Here, take this. It is
good for your internal injuries."

The jiaoren did not open his mouth.

"I know what you're thinking." Ji Yunhe's hands kept working on the bandage and her tone was no
different from a casual chat. "You are thinking -- might as well just die. If it were me, I would probably
think the same. However, if you have a home, or unfinished business, or if there is someone you still
want to see..."

She peeked at him and saw his eyes flicker.

Ji Yunhe knew he understood her words and possessed the same feelings humans did. He probably
did have a home, things to do, and people to see.

And now he was thinking of them.

"Just stay alive. Your situation is not completely hopeless yet." Ji Yunhe patted the back of his
hand which was now fully bandaged. She took out a ningxue pill, held it between her index finger and
thumb, and pressed it against his lips.

Lips as cold as the pupils of his eyes.

 After a brief silence, his teeth slightly parted and Ji Yunhe stuffed the pill down his mouth.

Seeing that he had taken the medicine, Ji Yunhe stood up, brushed off her bottom, grabbed the
medicine bag and headed outside.

No more requests, no more words, as if she was here just to treat his injuries.

As if...

She had come to save him or something.

Ji Yunhe pushed the door outward, waking up the sleepy two.

They quickly stood up after seeing her lock the cell. "Master Warden is leaving?"

"Sleepy? Then go back and sleep," she said. "Won't need the lightning for a while, he is badly
injured and cannot cause trouble anymore. You guys can just keep an eye on the door."

She walked away, leaving the two whispering to each other, "Master Warden… seems a little
gentle toward this demon?"

"You haven't been here long, there are some things that you don't know. You're mistaken if you
think Master Warden is any less tactical than the young valley master. She is just using a gentler
approach."

They both turned their heads to look at the demon in the cell. His breathing was light, as if he did
not understand anything, or could not hear them at all.

Ji Yunhe took a deep breath when she walked out. The dungeon was humid and stuffy, it could not
compare with the cool breezes and fragrant flowers out here.

It was just a pity that the winds here in the valley lacked freedom compared to the world outside.

Ji Yunhe walked deeper into the sea of flowers.

This large flower field sitting in the center of the Demon Valley were planted by the very first
demon masters that had settled here. It consisted of specimens from each of the four seasons and was in
bloom all year long.

It had been fifty years since the establishment of the Demon Valley, and people lost interest in
caring for the flowers long ago, letting them grow wild. Some branches were now half a person high
while others were thorny or even poisonous. No one walked into the depth of these flowers.

For Ji Yunhe, this was a good place to quiet the mind.

She enjoyed the fresh scent while walking step by step until she unexpectedly came upon a force
field.

A wall of magic blocked her way.

Ji Yunhe touched it with her hand and already had a good idea who made it. There was only one
person who would cast a magic boundary in the depths of the flowerfield in the middle of the night...
She gently knocked on it a couple of times and it disappeared, revealing two people standing quietly
under a huge wisteria tree in full bloom.

Ji Yunhe said, "I knew it was you."

It was Snow March and... her demon slave, a cat demon with orange blond hair and exotic eyes.

Snow March publicly claimed that this was a stray she had picked up, that he was her right-hand
man in demon hunting, and that he was completely subservient to her... She even gave him a name,
called Li Shu.

Only Ji Yunhe knew the relationship between Snow March and Li Shu went far beyond that.

Ji Yunhe could still remember the night she met Snow March, when she was fifteen or sixteen
years old.

It had been right after Ji Yunhe and Lin Haoqing turned against each other and she first thought of
escaping the Demon Valley. But she was weak and alone, and was not able to do anything but dwell in
her own helplessness... Just like tonight, she was pacing around in the flowerfield. Then…

Purely by chance, under the silver moon, she saw a girl with long floating hair gently kiss a man
resting under the wisteria tree.

At that moment, Snow March's usually stern eyebrows became soft like water.

A young girl in love.

It was the first time Ji Yunhe saw that word written so clearly on someone's face.

What could not be spoken was the fact that the young girl was kissing Li Shu.

She was kissing a demon, her slave.

Fifty years ago, when the court first began to rule over the demon master tribe, the boundary
between humans and demons had been clearly delineated and no one could trespass, especially demon
masters. The royal family was full of caution and prejudice against those born different.

They did their best to widen the gap between demons and demon masters, so they could dominate
over both.
 Anyone who fell in love with a demon would be killed without mercy.

What Ji Yunhe saw was a matter of life and death. She chose to leave quietly.

But after a night of tossing and turning, Ji Yunhe felt like she needed to break her isolation.

Snow March held power here in the valley, and her force was the one thing Ji Yunhe lacked. She
needed protection so she could develop her own.

So on the next day, Ji Yunhe took the initiative to confront Snow March. She told her, "Last night
in the sea of flowers, under the wisteria tree, I saw something."

Although Snow March was just a young girl at the time, her power was enough to rival the most
powerful demon masters. Her only shortcoming was she could only kill, not tame. When she heard what
Ji Yunhe said, her already cold face immediately turned colder, and her palm coalesced a murderous
aura.

"Take it easy," Ji Yunhe said with a smile. "I can see that you are a person of martial chivalry and
righteousness. Just so happens, I am too."

Snow March sneered, "What moral righteousness is there here in the Demon Valley?"

"I appreciate you more for your bluntness. As you said, there is no moral righteousness here in the
Demon Valley, but I have it." She took a step closer to Snow March. "I am a fair person, I now know
your secret, so I will tell you one of mine in exchange, how about that?"

"Righteous adopted daughter of the Valley Master, what secret do you have that is worth
exchanging for this life of yours?"

"Valley Master Lin Canglan is not a good man. He uses poison to control me and to use me in
motivating his weak son. I am just a pawn doing all of his unspeakable deeds."

"What unspeakable deeds?" Snow March asked.

"Taming demons for the imperial court is just a facade. The truth is all the demons I tame remain
loyal to the valley, and they are to deliver secrets of the royal family back to us."

Snow March was shocked.

Ji Yunhe smiled. "Is this secret enough to exchange for my life?"

The secret was more than enough to exchange for her life. If the royal family were to learn of this,
the entire Demon Valley would be turned upside down. None of them, including the Valley Master,
would be allowed to live.

Snow March was silent for a long time. She sized up Ji Yunhe for a while, then finally asked,
"What do you want?"

"I want a friend." She grinned while grabbing a lock of Snow March's long hair, twirling it around
her fingertips. "A friend who will never betray me."

A friendship built on the basis of such vital secrets would be indestructible.

"I also want a friend who can escape the Demon Valley with me."

Snow March was shocked again.

Ji Yunhe was not stupid. The moment she saw her kissing Li Shu, she knew exactly what Snow
March wanted most. She, like herself, wanted to leave the valley and be free.

From that day on, Ji Yunhe began laying out her plans. She established alliances through mutual
benefits, common interests, and friendships. She slowly built up her own power and force in the valley,
bit by bit.

Fortunately, the friendship that had begun with an exchange of secrets grew into a true friendship.

Maybe some people were just born attracted to each other. Or maybe they were just too similar to
one another. Rebel in the bones, nothing could make them bend.

Replaying such memories from the past made Ji Yunhe a bit emotional.

"Why are you wandering around here again?" Snow March's voice pulled her back to the present.
"That demon's cured?"

Ji Yunhe waved her hand as a greeting. "You think his injuries can heal just like that?" Ji Yunhe
glanced at Li Shu. "Take care of yourself. Right now things are not like they used to be."

Snow March nodded then turned to look at Li Shu, who returned her gaze with a gentleness not
unlike her own.

The couple standing under the wisteria tree looked as beautiful as a painting under the moonlight.

They were so good together, but because of the imperial rule, they could only sneak around like
thieves. Ji Yunhe sighed. She patted her dress and turned to leave. "Not going to intrude on you guys
any longer. I'm heading back."

She looked up at the moon and hoped for everything to come soon. That they could leave the valley
soon and live a life without scheming and deceit. That the people she cared about would soon be free.
Chapter 9: Sympathy

On the next day, Lin Haoqing came back to the dungeon before dawn.
 He said nothing about the jiaoren's treated wounds, and just ordered the demon to be hung up again
to resume his questioning. Each question that went unanswered resulted in a lightning strike.

This was a common method for demon taming. The idea was to apply physical stress until the
demon's psychological defenses break down and it begins cooperating with the demon master. Every
desired behavior would then be rewarded, so in the long run, the demon would become habitually
obedient.

Of course there had been stubborn demons, some refusing to submit even until death. But no one
had ever seen anything like this jiaoren before, with his… complete indifference.

He gave no responses to any of the lightning strikes, as if he were able to control his physiological
reactions. He just hung there silently with his head low and his eyes closed.

If they did not know which part of his body was more sensitive to the lightning strikes, they would
have no way to give him more targeted damage.

Lin Haoqing spent most of the day on him with no progress. Ji Yunhe came late again, same as
yesterday, arriving at noon.

There were very few people observing today, likely due to yesterday's scare. Ji Yunhe yawned as
she walked in. Lin Haoqing's assistants noticed her and greeted, "Master Warden."

Ji Yunhe nodded and sat down on the same stone as before, seemingly in no hurry to compete with
Lin Haoqing.

But the moment she sat down, the jiaoren opened his eyes and looked at her with ice blue pupils
still free of emotion. Then they closed up again.

"Yunhe."

Ji Yunhe was a bit surprised. It had been many years since he last called her by her first name like
this. She stood up. "Young valley master?"

"I'm going to the Discipline Hall this afternoon, so I'm handing this demon over to you."

Ji Yunhe was even more surprised. "Discipline Hall?" She felt her heart beat a little faster. "Which
demon master committed a crime? That calls for the young master of the valley to get involved?"

Lin Haoqing nodded with a straight face, "Earlier today, the Valley Master received a secret letter
of denunciation, stating that one of our demon masters, Snow March, is having an affair with her demon
slave, Li Shu. The Valley Master has ordered me to interrogate her."

Lin Haoqing talked with a flat, calm voice, but each word resonated inside Ji Yunhe's body,
sending chills up and down her spine.
 She tilted her head and looked at Lin Haoqing quietly, her face nonchalant as if what he said about
Snow March had absolutely nothing to do with her.

But how could it have nothing to do with her? Everyone in the valley knew that Snow March was Ji
Yunhe's left and right hand man. Her existence had made it possible for Ji Yunhe to establish herself as
the strongest demon master here.

Behind Lin Haoqing's polite, personable face was a sneering, mocking smile full of heartfelt
pleasure.

Hypocrisy.

But Ji Yunhe could not scold him. She had to be hypocritical too.

She acted confused and surprised. "Oh? How could Snow March do something this stupid... Young
master of the valley must investigate fully."

"Naturally. This jiaoren is a tough one, so I will have to trouble Master Warden with him this
afternoon." Lin Haoqing turned around and walked away.

Ji Yunhe watched him leave with his long trail of assistants. Unlike yesterday, he did not leave
anyone behind as if he no longer cared if Ji Yunhe could get the jiaoren to speak.

While leaving, Lin Haoqing turned a bit and sneaked a peek at Ji Yunhe. He saw her head hanging
low and her hands clenched into fists.

He knew Ji Yunhe, just as Ji Yunhe knew him.

They both could see through each other's faces and into the heart.

They did grow up close after all, as brother and sister...

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

An assistant next to Lin Haoqing seemed perplexed. "Young valley master, you just leave the
Master Warden alone inside? We saw everything yesterday… It appears her method… If she makes the
demon talk today..."

"Doesn't matter, both of our methods attack the heart and cannot be rushed. I doubt she's even in
the right mind to do much today. Besides..." he paused, looking in the direction of the Discipline Hall,
"even if she wins this first round, it won't make a difference anymore."

Lin Haoqing was not wrong.

Losing Snow March would be a serious blow to Ji Yunhe.

 Exactly how powerful was Snow March? No one really knew anymore. They only knew that she
had not lost a single battle against demons since she turned sixteen. Not to mention all the challengers
from the four demon master quarters. For the past ten years, Snow March had steadily held on to her
victories without much effort.

As a result, no one ever crossed her no matter how bad her temperament got. Even the Valley
Master himself seemed extra lenient with her.

She was like the soul of a demon master who had lived fifty years ago. Free, passionate, capricious
and incomparably powerful. These characteristics were reflected in her to the fullest.

And that fearlessness dared her to risk the world and fall in love with a demon.

How many people supported Ji Yunhe's reign here in the valley because of Snow March, no one
knew. But if something were to happen to Snow March, Ji Yunhe's status would definitely fall.

And right now, Ji Yunhe hung her head low and clenched her fists with tense brows. Not because
of the uncertainty in her future, but because she was worried about her friend. Who knew what kind of
interrogation Snow March was enduring in that dark Hall of Discipline...

The Demon Valley had many methods of torture and punishment. They did not only use these
means to deal with demons, but also demon masters who dared to disobey.

She lost herself in thoughts. When she finally looked up, Ji Yunhe was surprised to see a pair of ice
blue eyes fixated on her.

Two pairs of eyes quietly stared at each other. Ji Yunhe finally broke the silence with a helpless
smile. "I just fixed your wounds yesterday, now they are torn and bleeding again. If this continues, I am
afraid you are going to die in this dungeon..."

The jiaoren looked at her. He definitely did not seem afraid of dying.

She paused for a bit then said, "If I could, I'd really love to let you go."

This was not a lie. Ji Yunhe admired his unyielding willpower from the bottom of her heart. She
also felt for him and his situation, as if he were another one of her in this world.

They remained staring at each other in silence, a human and a demon with cell bars in between. But
somehow they seemed to get along and did not feel the least bit awkward.

Then Qu Xiaoxing came.

"Master Warden. Aiya, my protector, hey." Him rushing in made the jiaoren shift his gaze. Qu
Xiaoxing took a step back, frightened by his ice blue stare. He quickly hid himself behind Ji Yunhe and
lowered his voice to her ear, "Miss Snow has been captured!"
 "I know," Ji Yunhe replied calmly.

Qu Xiaoxing was stunned. "You know? Then why are you still standing here? How about doing
something..."

The corners of Ji Yunhe's lips tightened. "The Valley Master gave the order for Lin Haoqing to
interrogate her, what do you want me to do?"

Qu Xiaoxing froze at once. "You mean this was the Valley Master's idea? Interrogating Miss Snow
during such an important competition, that means the Valley Master is against you..."

That old man clearly had always been against her, but others did not know this. Ji Yunhe waved her
hand. "Go and find out who passed the secret letter to the Valley Master. Also, Li Shu and Snow March,
are they being detained separately?"

"No, they are still on trial in the Hall of Discipline, no one is locked up yet."

Ji Yunhe frowned, "The trial is taking so long?"

"Yes, the young master of the valley has ordered Miss Snow to break off her bond with her slave,
and to have the cat demon executed. Miss Snow refused, so they are still in a standoff..."

The bond between a demon slave and the demon master was actually more like a curse on the
submissive demon. In becoming a slave, the demon would lose part of his demonic power, and forever
be subjected to the master and her offsprings, even if she were to die. The only way to break the binding
was for the master to willingly lift the curse.

So almost no demons were willing to agree to enslavement unless they were defeated in battle,
forced or completely tamed. Or in Snow March's case...

The demon fell in love with the demon master.

And the demon would also be protected by the bond. No other demon masters were allowed to hurt
him. This had been a rule amongst demon masters since ancient times.

Lin Haoqing naturally would need Snow March to break off the bond if he wanted to dispose of Li
Shu. It was just unexpected that she would have such a big reaction, considering the valley usually
treated demons like livestock.

Ji Yunhe actually did not know much about this cat demon collected by Snow March. Even though
Snow March always said Li Shu was a tremendous help in her demon hunting, no one had really seen
him in action.

But Ji Yunhe knew that the cat demon could not be weak. Even though she did not interact much
with him, having dealt with thousands of demons, her intuition was rarely wrong.
 Cat demon Li Shu had never shown his true strength.

He just watched when Snow March was captured and taken to the Hall of Discipline?

Ji Yunhe felt like something was off. She could not help but think of the day many years ago, after
she and Snow March first grew close to each other, when Li Shu was temporarily absent...

"Didn't you say you don't know how to tame demons? Where did you capture such a demon? It
looks unapproachable and very powerful." She was very curious. "How did you get him to submit to
you?"

Snow March looked smart, but she had no understanding of psychology. That was why she could
never become a taming master like Ji Yunhe. She could only rely on her power to conquer.

Snow March faced Ji Yunhe's question with a scratch on her head.

"I don't know... Met him when I was hunting another demon and accidentally trespassed into his
territory. At the time I was a little injured, and thought I was dead when I bumped into him, but
unexpectedly he saved me."

Ji Yunhe was a bit confused. "He? Saved you?"

Although Ji Yunhe had very little contact with Li Shu, she could perceive very keenly that this cat
demon did not like demon masters. Or rather, he did not like humans.

"Why did he save you?"

"I don't know. When I asked him, he only said the phrase 'Like a returning friend'," Snow March
replied carelessly. "Probably I look like someone he used to know."

"Oh? That's why he was willing to come back to the Demon Valley with you and be your slave? He
had his own territory, that's not something any little demon could have achieved, right? And his
temperament is so noble and austere, his previous identity couldn't have been simple..."

"Well, I also asked those questions," Snow March cut her short.

Ji Yunhe could still remember Snow March's face to this day, the softness in her eyes.

"Li Shu said he likes me."

It was the look of a little girl completely lovestruck.

Perhaps that answer had been good enough for Snow March, but for Ji Yunhe, she never stopped
pondering about it.

Why?
 Why did this cat demon give up everything to become Snow March's slave?

Was it also because of "like a returning friend"?

If it really was because Snow March looked like his old friend that he saved her, fell in love with
her, and was even willing to become her slave, then what Li Shu really loved was just that old friend.

She could not say this to Snow March.

And today, Snow March being escorted into the Hall of Discipline, the cat demon that had
accompanied her for so many years just watched and did not do anything about it? Even the half dead
jiaoren caused quite a stir in the dungeon yesterday, the perfectly healthy cat demon could not make a
single noise?

Ji Yunhe thought deeply, then froze as the earth suddenly began shaking violently beneath her feet.

"Snow March has gone crazy!"

Outside the dungeon abruptly came a loud voice, "Passing on the order of the Valley Master,
Master Warden must immediately report to the Hall of Discipline!" The shouting voice became louder
and louder, and kept coming toward the dungeon until the person arrived panting. He ran to Ji Yunhe,
knelt down on one knee and clasped his hands together in a salute. "Passing on the order of the Valley
Master! Master Warden must immediately report to the Hall of Discipline!"

Ji Yunhe's eyes narrowed as she followed the messenger.

Halfway out of the dungeon, Ji Yunhe looked back at the jiaoren.

His face was frozen and expressionless, but his eyes quietly followed her.

"Bring down that chain, let him rest on the ground for a while."

Ji Yunhe left these words to Qu Xiaoxing and hurried away.

The jiaoren watched her shadow disappear then closed his eyes again. He seemed to no longer care
about anything. Not about Qu Xiaoxing's predicament, or about the surroundings, or even himself. He
just completely zoned out…
Chapter 10: Blood Sacrifice

Ji Yunhe arrived in front of the normally grand and majestic Hall of Discipline, and saw it had
mostly collapsed. Snow March still wore handcuffs on both of her hands but the link in between was
torn apart.

Li Shu was carrying her in his arms, and her shoulder was wounded.
 The body of a demon master sprawled out on the ground beneath their feet.

Ji Yunhe did not feel good about this.

"Snow March." Standing opposite of Snow March and Li Shu was Lin Haoqing. "Your cat demon
killed my man. If you keep harbouring him, you will become a traitor of the valley and will be alienated
from all demon masters. I can strip you of your demon master status and both of you will die today." Lin
Haoqing raised his sword and pointed it at them.

"This is your last chance."

"Ha!" Snow March let out a cold laugh. "No thanks!"

Although Snow March was drained of her power, her intentions were clear and her eyes were
fearless. She was not backing down.

Liu Shu looked at Snow March, and the hand wrapping around her shoulder tightened.

Lin Haoqing smiled. This was exactly what he wanted. He could now blatantly cut off Ji Yunhe's
right hand, left arm.

"Good, then don't blame me for what I am about to do..."

"Young valley master!" Ji Yunhe shouted.

His eyebrows sank slightly. "Master Warden, you are not here to protect this traitor and her demon,
are you?"

All the demon masters looked at Ji Yunhe. Who did not know about her relationship with Snow
March? Lin Haoqing and all of his men had kept their eyes open for quite some time now, waiting for
this perfect opportunity...

Ji Yunhe made eye contact with Snow March and gave her a silent look. Then she turned to Lin
Haoqing and whispered into his ear, "Young valley master, you and I both know that this cat demon is
not so simple. If we fight with them today, we will definitely suffer serious losses..."

The corners of Lin Haoqing's mouth lifted slightly. He turned his face sideways a bit and whispered
back into Ji Yunhe's ear, "How about we stop pretending."

Ji Yunhe paused and looked at the soundless movements of his lips, "Today, she must die."

Ji Yunhe's eyes widened. Snow March read his lips as well and sneered, "Young valley master,
how many years have you been waiting for this?" She gripped her sword and pointed it straight at Lin
Haoqing, standing firmly with the support of Li Shu. "Cut the crap. Ji Yunhe, if you dare to get in my
way, I will kill you too."
 Of course Ji Yunhe understood. Snow March had no hopes of surviving today, so she wanted to cut
her ties with Ji Yunhe. She did not want to drag Ji Yunhe down.

Ji Yunhe clenched her fists, bit her teeth and her mind raced. There had to be a way to save her,
Snow March must not die here...

The cat demon, who remained silent this whole time, suddenly raised his eyebrows and his eyes
glowed. His demonic energy sprawled out all around him, chilling the air inside the hall.

The warm spring breeze turned cold.

Ji Yunhe had always known that the cat demon could not be weak. But right now, the
overwhelming demonic force he exuded had exceeded her imagination.

All of the demon masters stirred uneasily. Even Lin Haoqing was taken by surprise.

Upon enslavement, the demon would give a good portion of his power to the master both as a gift
and as a symbol of his submission... Being this strong even after giving up some power was something
Ji Yunhe did not expect.

Li Shu rarely talked. Ji Yunhe had almost never seen him say anything to anyone other than Snow
March.

But now, he opened his lips and said, "March, you've always wanted to leave the valley. Now you
can."

Snow March looked at Li Shu, her expression showed she was also caught off guard.

He looked back at her as if he knew this day would come. "I will destroy this Demon Valley for
you."

Lin Haoqing snorted. "The Demon Valley has a foundation of over a hundred years. It is not
something a demon such as you can just destroy."

Even though demon masters had been settled into four quarters across the land under imperial
orders, unlike the other three, the Demon Valley was not established by imperial will.

A hundred years ago, a giant jade phoenix appeared in the sky. The bird's demonic power was so
strong that it disturbed the entire world.

A great demon master, together with nine world-renowned demon masters, lured the bird into the
valley and fought with it for ten days. They finally won by using a blood sacrifice of all ten people to
form a Ten Square Formation and sealed the bird with their lives.

The world named the emergence of the giant jade phoenix the Green Feather Rebellion, after which
no more demons dominated the world again. Demon masters later built the Demon Valley here in order
to pay tribute to the ten demon masters and to guard the Ten Square Formation, keeping the bird from
escaping.

Then the Grand Master developed a frost poison which was used by the court to suppress demon
masters, thus turning the valley into a site under imperial rule. Later on, the royal court followed the
model of the Demon Valley and built the Demon Terrace in the north, the Demon Island in the east and
the Demon Mountain in the west. Any child born with demon mastery powers would be separated from
their parents and sent to one of these four places, so the court could keep an eye on them.

To this day, almost no one still cared to remember how the Demon Valley came to be. People only
knew that these four places were where demon masters lived.

In Lin Haoqing's words, the century-old foundation was the legendary Ten Square Formation,
suppressing the demonic energy of demons entering the valley. It made the entire place similar to a cage
filled with talismans written by the Grand Master.

That was why it was shocking to see the demonic aura released by Li Shu here today.

The jiaoren's desperate strike in the dungeon had made Ji Yunhe feel like he was the spirit of the
sea, but today, this cat demon Li Shu...

The demon aura around him grew more and more intense and the chill in the air was starting to feel
like a blade against the skin. Weaker demon masters started to bleed.

They screamed in panic and distress.

Lin Haoqing's gaze focused. Without further hesitation, he channeled his power from his hand into
his sword and swung it fiercely at Li Shu.

The energy from the sword turned into a magical blade. It broke through the cold wind and slashed
at the cat demon.

Snow March raised her sword to block it, but Li Shu gently pushed her hand down. He remained
standing there calm and still. When the magical blade reached him, it was as if it had struck an invisible
wall. The blade shattered into a million pieces and dispersed all around, destroying flowers and trees as
they swept across the valley.

Ji Yunhe was shocked again, not by Li Shu this time, but by Lin Haoqing...

This young valley master, when did he cultivate such profound energy...

"Li Shu? What are you doing?" Snow March lifted her head and asked.

After a few moments of silence, Li Shu only said two words.

"I'm sorry."
 Snow March did not know how to respond.

He suddenly conjured a dagger in his hand and plunged it deep into his own chest.

Everyone froze. Li Shu pulled the dagger out with blood gushing. He pushed Snow March away,
then drew a blood formation on the ground using his blood as ink and his finger as a brush. His demonic
aura flickered and danced around him while his hair and robe flew with the wind.

He looked like the God of Death.

"Jade phoenix, with my body and my blood, I sacrifice myself to ten sides, and assist you in
breaking the seal!"

Everyone was appalled. This cat demon, Li Shu, was actually sacrificing his own life to the Ten
Square Formation, to revive the greatest demon that had ever lived!

"Li Shu!"

Snow March's voice could no longer reach his ears.

The earth trembled and quaked beneath everyone's feet. In front of Li Shu's formation, a deep
chasm suddenly split open. The wind down below sounded like the howling of a vicious ghost, or the
angry roar of a giant demon that had been suppressed for a hundred years.

"Listen everyone, form up!" Lin Haoqing shouted over the howling wind. "Even if we have to lose
our lives today, we must not let the jade phoenix escape!"

As of now, the betrayal of Snow March and the conflict between Ji Yunhe and Lin Haoqing were
no longer important. The people here today did not see the vicious battle between the ten demon masters
and the jade phoenix a hundred years ago, but they had heard of the devastation it caused...

The chasm expanded at an astonishing speed as all the demon masters formed up with their magical
weapons in hand.

Ji Yunhe also found it difficult to steady her feet amidst the rumbling earth. The chasm kept
stretching forward, splitting the Demon Valley into two. Even the visible protective shield that usually
sat above the entire valley started to crumble, magic dust and sparkles fell all around like snow.

Many demon masters fell into the abyss. Some tried to fly away riding their swords, just to be
swallowed into the darkness by fierce winds and demonic turbulence. (In Chinese fantasy, people often
used their swords as both a weapon and a mount where they could stand on top of it and take flight. It
was a common form of transportation.)

Ji Yunhe rode her sword up high into the sky. If she was not mistaken, this chasm should have
cracked into the dungeon where the jiaoren was being imprisoned. Such a force would certainly have
ripped that dungeon apart, maybe even collapsed it, but that jiaoren…

Unlikely he could escape. He had no strength left.

Before Ji Yunhe could think further, she saw someone flying over on top of his sword, crooked and
lacking basic balance. It was Qu Xiaoxing, and he started shouting already from a distance, "Master
Warden! Protector!"

When he got too close, Ji Yunhe pushed him away and asked, "What are you doing here?!"

"I came to see... this..."

Before the words left his mouth, the sharp call of a phoenix sounded from the bottom of the abyss
and resonated straight up into the clouds.

The jade phoenix had awakened...

Chapter 11: Qing Ji

Everyone, including Snow March, was aghast.

Who would have thought! As a slave of a demon master, this cat demon, Li Shu, actually had the
audacity to revive the jade phoenix!

"Snow March! What are you still waiting for?" Lin Haoqing rose from his sword and stood in the
air, holding out a force field to keep himself steady in the gale. He poured mana into his voice so that his
words could break through the howling wind and reach everyone's ears. "Stop your slave!"

The master-servant contract was held between Li Shu and Snow March, and there was no way for
him to disobey her orders. Even if she were to order him to kill himself, he would have no choice but to
do it.

But Snow March did not move.

Ji Yunhe also held out in a force field in the gale, protecting herself and Qu Xiaoxing.

Qu Xiaoxing anxiously scratched his head. "Sister March! Other things are fine, but this is to
release the demon bird out into the world! Once it comes out, it's bound to wreak havoc! How can Sister
March let the cat demon do this?"

Ji Yunhe quietly looked at Snow March. Others might not understand her, but Ji Yunhe did.

She loved Li Shu enough to follow him in life and in death, and did not have the heart to interrupt
him regardless of what he might be doing.

"Snow March! This is not the time for your childish love affairs!" Lin Haoqing urged on.
 The earth trembled even more and the cracks grew bigger and bigger, as if the world was being
ripped apart right before their eyes.

But Snow March only had eyes for Li Shu. In the middle of the blood-tossed formation, the fierce
wind pulled and tugged at her clothes and her hair.

"Has this always been your plan?"

Li Shu clenched his teeth as the blood formation continuously drained from him, awakening the
jade phoenix at the same time.

With my body and my blood… assist you in breaking the seal… A life for a life, such an
irreversible pact.

"Waking up the jade phoenix, breaking the seal of the Ten Square Formation, this is no simple task
that can be done on a whim…"

Snow March's voice was very soft in the wind. She did not seem to care if they could be heard. She
could have been talking to him, or to herself.

"To break the Ten Square Formation, you would need to find the ten eyes of the seal in order to
successfully carry out a blood sacrifice. Li Shu, how much time did you spend searching for them? Are
you really willing to give your life to free the jade phoenix? Don't you want me anymore?"

Li Shu's eyes were red and bloodshot. He ignored everything Snow March was saying.

"Why?"

Like a response to her questions, a call of the phoenix rose and the earth on both sides of the chasm
tossed up violently.

The air abruptly grew still, as if they had entered a dream state. Ji Yunhe saw a long feather slowly
drift by. It was jade green with an iridescence that seemed to embody all nine skies within its slender
form. (In traditional Chinese cosmology/mythology, the sky was believed to be made of nine
components, commonly referred to as the nine layers of heaven. It's a bit similar to the Ptolemaic system
where the earth was thought to be the center which other planets and stars orbited.)

Boom! The jade phoenix broke out of the ground.

It flapped its wings and its body soared straight up into the sky. In an instant, the winds went wild,
the clouds turned chaotic, and the grass and trees tumbled in ruins. Rocks and debris filled the air as a
giant shadow was cast upon the valley. Green feathers shielded the sun and took over the daylight.

Then as fast as it came, the shadow disappeared with a blinding blue light flashing where the
demon bird was.
 Ji Yunhe shielded her eyes with her hand. After the flash of light dispersed and the daylight
returned, a green-clad woman with long floating hair appeared in the sky, hovering in midair.

The woman's figure was graceful, and her face...

Her face was very similar to Snow March.

"Like a returning friend" finally made sense.

So, this was what he had meant.

It really was very much like a returning friend.

While everyone else looked up at the jade phoenix, astonished by her return to the human realm, Ji
Yunhe alone looked at her friend, Snow March...

Li Shu's blood formation was now dim, like his life. He quietly knelt on the ground, his eyes looked
up into the sky, and his lips turned into a smile. It was not the face of a dying man, but one who saw the
winter snow melting and the spring flowers blooming.

Next to him, Snow March also looked up into the sky.

But her face was pale.

"The jade phoenix has emerged! Kill it now before it regains its strength!"

Lin Haoqing simply did not care about the love-hate entanglement between those three. He stood
on his sword and quickly gave out a command. The demon masters that were still conscious
immediately took action and laid out a golden formation in the shape of a circular prison, trapping the
jade phoenix in the center. They chanted their spells and the golden formation expanded and brightened.

"Heh," the green-clad woman grinned somewhat wickedly. Without saying anything, she raised her
hand and snapped her fingers. The hundreds of demon masters in the air immediately blew out in every
direction, either dead or injured, and fell back onto the ground like garbage.

"Sigh, demon masters nowadays are seriously using such a low level formation on me?"

The woman drifted down from the air. Her feet touched the ground with a gentle burst of air,
blowing away all the dust in the valley.

She walked toward Li Shu step by step. The face might look similar to Snow March, but the pace
was an enchanting and graceful stride that Snow March never had.

"Li Shu, are they crazy?"

Li Shu looked at her and opened his lips to speak, but a mouthful of blood poured out instead.
 The green-clad woman was a bit taken aback. Her pace quickened and she arrived before Li Shu
like a gentle breeze. "Little Li Shu." She caressed his face. The two old friends looked like a couple
straight out of a storybook. "You sacrificed yourself?"

Snow March watched them, as if watching a story unfold in a play.

Suddenly, Li Shu stretched out his hand, grabbed Snow March, and pulled her into their story.

This action consumed what little strength he had left. He gasped, coughed, and finally squeezed out
a few words, "Qing Ji, take her away."

Qing Ji looked at Snow March and went quiet for a moment.

Snow March smiled awkwardly. "Li Shu, you are making me look like a joke."

Li Shu did not speak. He just looked at Snow March, his face now a ghastly grey with no color at
all. Slowly, he fell backwards.

"I'm sorry."

He left her these two words and nothing more.

The cat demon fell to the ground and turned to dust.

Qing Ji said with a bit of regret, "A pity that you gave your life for me."

But to Snow March, those words sounded like -- you also look like a joke.

Upon death, demons typically turned into dust. The more powerful the demon, the less trace they
left behind.

Snow March stared at the body disintegrating before her.

Qing Ji waved her sleeves and the dust swirled up into the sky and dissipated. A couple of particles,
still warm, brushed against Snow March's cheek. Her body trembled. Before she could recollect her
thoughts, Qing Ji grabbed her by the hand.

"I will grant him his last wish. Let's go."

A long sword suddenly appeared.

"No one is leaving."

It was Qing Shu, the Valley Master's fox demon slave. A number of demon masters followed
behind her. Even Lin Canglan, the old man himself, had arrived in his wheelchair.
 Qu Xiaoxing regained his senses from what had just happened, and pulled at Ji Yunhe. "The Valley
Master is here! You got to hurry and put up a performance, save yourself!"

Ji Yunhe glanced at Lin Canglan. All the demon masters in the valley were focused on Qing Ji and
Snow March right now.

Lin Canglan's low voice resounded, "Freeing the jade phoenix is an unforgivable crime. Kill them
both."

"Yes, sir!"

The demon masters' reply echoed throughout the valley.

Qing Ji put on a soft smile. "Good, some exercise to freshen up my old bones."

Qu Xiaoxing again nudged Ji Yunhe. "Master Warden! Sister March is doomed, you have to earn
back the Valley Master's trust! Show him something!"

"Qu Xiaoxing," Ji Yunhe said as she turned her head, her face serious like never before, "run."

"Huh?"

"Leave the Demon Valley, right now is a heavenly opportunity."

Qu Xiaoxing froze.

"Master Warden... you..." He was afraid to talk out loud, and only used his lips to gesture "want to
run away?"

Yes, Ji Yunhe wanted to run. But not just on a whim. She had thoroughly examined the situation.
Lin Canglan and all of his men were here right now because they would have to face the wrath of the
imperial court if they were to lose the jade phoenix. He certainly needed to fight this demon bird with
full force. But ever since demon masters had come under the court's rule, the great techniques for
dealing with such a demon were long lost. Even if all the demon masters in the world were to gather
here today, it was still unlikely for them to subdue her.

So this battle was a lost cause.

The jade phoenix just woke up and her power had not yet fully recovered. She was unlikely to fight
for long or be interested in a bloodbath. She would leave soon.

So right now was the best and possibly the only opportunity for Ji Yunhe to get out.

Snow March and Qu Xiaoxing were the only two who had openly sided with Ji Yunhe. Snow
March would surely be taken away by the jade phoenix. Ji Yunhe just needed Qu Xiaoxing to be safe,
then she would be able to take the opportunity and steal some antidotes from the Valley Master's room
and run away.

After all this, the valley would suffer high casualties, be reprimanded by the court and end up in
great disarray. No one would have the mind to hunt them down.

The sky would be high and the earth would be wide. Plus all the islands out at sea… They would
never have to be prisoners of the valley again.

Ji Yunhe sorted everything out in her head.

She quietly looked at Lin Canglan. He gave an order with a wave of his hand, and all the demon
masters charged at Qing Ji on command.

Ji Yunhe glanced at Snow March and pushed Qu Xiaoxing again.

"Go!"

Being free was no longer just a dream.

Chapter 12: Big-Tailed Fish

The demon masters and the jade phoenix engaged in battle. Various magic weapons flashed in the
air, and no one paid any attention to Ji Yunhe and Qu Xiaoxing.

Qu Xiaoxing pulled Ji Yunhe by her hand and whispered, "Master Warden, let's run together!"

Ji Yunhe looked at Snow March. She was sitting still on the ground where Li Shu had turned to
dust, protected by a magic shield laid down by Qing Ji. No one could touch her. No one was really
interested in her either. They were all focusing on the demon bird.

Under imperial rule, demon masters were no longer the honorable, chivalrous heroes they used to
be. At this moment they shouted out every intention to save the world, but deep down they only cared
about personal gain. Killing Qing Ji would make for a handsome reward from the imperial court.

After Ji Yunhe made sure Snow March was fine, she turned around and picked up Qu Xiaoxing by
the collar.

"Leave the valley and use this spell on a flower to send a message. Luo Jinsang will hear it and
come meet you. She has been waiting outside for a long time. I still have some important business to
take care of. After that I will go and find you."

"Luo Jinsang? Didn't she die a long time ago? Master Warden, what else do you need to do?"

"Go." Ji Yunhe did not want to say more. She pushed him one last time, turned around and headed
for Lin Canglan's residence.
 Qing Ji had almost turned the entire Demon Valley upside down when she emerged. Ravines criss
crossed all over the ground along with collapsed hills and destroyed houses. There were no longer any
traces of paths and roads.

When Ji Yunhe found Lin Canglan's house, all she saw was a wreck. She looked at the piles of
rubble and frowned. It would not have been easy to find the antidotes even if the house were intact…
But now...

In any case, she had to try.

The heated battle between Qing Ji and the demon masters was still going strong up in the sky. This
was good for Ji Yunhe. The more intense their fight, the more time it would give her.

Ji Yunhe raised her hand and chanted some spells under her lips. One by one, the broken bricks and
tiles trembled on the ground then slowly floated into the air.

She held out a fist then abruptly opened all five fingers. The floating bricks dispatched under her
command and started to return to their original positions. The walls, floors and roof rebuilt themselves
piece by piece, but with spaces in between big enough for Ji Yunhe to fly through.

The house looked like an explosion frozen in time.

Ji Yunhe searched through every piece and segment.

She kept her fingers moving like a puppet master, and eliminated all of the unwanted items one by
one. The broken, floating house was soon dismantled, leaving only a bookshelf.

Lin Canglan's bookshelf. Ji Yunhe had seen it many times before but was never able to touch it.

She went to the bottom of the bookshelf, moved her fingers, and found a rectangular shaped box
attached to one of the three wooden boards.

It had not fallen off even after such a violent earthquake?

Ji Yunhe smiled and reached for it, but her fingers were flicked away by an invisible force field.

A magical shield on such a small box? Even if it did not contain the antidotes to Ji Yunhe's poison,
it still had to be something of great importance to Lin Canglan.

She raised her hand and chopped down onto the invisible shield.

Lin Canglan would feel it as soon as the shield broke, but he would not be able to leave the fight
and come. She felt good. After being suppressed by that old man for so many years, she finally got a
chance to faze him.

Ji Yunhe did not hesitate to open the box as soon as the shield fell.
 As expected, it held the monthly antidotes.

At a rough count, there were almost fifty pills inside the box.

Fifty pills!

Twelve months in a year. Even if she did not do anything, she could still live on these for years.
Plus she was sure someone would be able to duplicate the recipe. The world was such a big place after
all.

She held the box tightly under her arm, mounted her sword and flew for the exit.

The wind blew at Ji Yunhe's hair. She untied the jade charm around her waist, a symbol of the
demon master identity, and casually threw it down. She did not care where it might land, or if it would
break.

Riding her sword higher and higher, Ji Yunhe thought she would not have any residual thoughts
about the Demon Valley. But when she flew past the dungeon where the jiaoren was being imprisoned,
she could not help but pause.

For some reason, his beautiful eyes flashed inside her head.

She looked back at the battle in the distance. It seemed like it would last for quite some time.

Ji Yunhe had grown up in the valley. Thanks to Lin Canglan's blessing, she knew very well the
importance of self-preservation and selfishness, but right now...

"Think of it as giving Lin Canglan another major problem to clean up."

Ji Yunhe found herself a reason and flew down into the crevices of the ground.

This chasm formed from breaking the Ten Square Formation was extremely deep. Ji Yunhe rushed
downward for a long while, but still could not see where the original dungeon might be. The cold, damp
air in the abyss was getting thicker and thicker.

Ji Yunhe looked up and saw the light at the surface was now just a tiny sliver. The darkness had
almost completely swallowed her.

Further down was pitch black and nothing could be seen. Where could that jiaoren's prison be?

The fight between the jade phoenix and the demon masters outside could be over soon, she had no
time to lose right now.

She hesitated, then stubbornly flew down further.

 "Jiaoren!" Ji Yunhe desperately called out, her voice echoed in the middle of the abyss.

No response.

Ji Yunhe sighed in disappointment and turned to fly back up when the corner of her eye suddenly
caught a glimpse of an ice blue shimmer. It was like a pearl glowing inside the deep blue sea, euphoric
and mesmerizing.

Ji Yunhe abruptly turned her head and saw another glimmer of light about ten meters away. Her
heart lit up with hope as she flew over.

Finally, Ji Yunhe stopped in front of him.

This jiaoren… The entire cage had sank into the ground and was now nestled in a crack. The black
iron bars were still in place, trapping him inside.

But he had no signs of fear. He sat in the cage in this underground abyss with his huge tail casually
laid out. Its scales reflected the light of the sky a thousand meters away, breathtaking beyond
comparison.

The jiaoren watched her calmly through the bars, as if all of her urgency and haste were just dust on
the walls and could be easily brushed off.

Ji Yunhe looked back at him. Here in the abyss, she finally saw a bit of what he must have looked
like in the deep sea. Casual, beautiful, proud, relaxed and confident.

Two pairs of eyes met each other. Even though the setting had changed drastically, the look inside
his eyes remained the same as before.

Ji Yunhe could not help but smile. "Hey there, big-tailed fish. You are really difficult to find."
Chapter 13: Like a God

The black iron cage was unbreakable, but luckily, the stone wall where the cage bars were lodged
into was not as strong.

Ji Yunhe chipped away at the rocks with her sword and made a hole without much effort. Some of
the gravel and dust rolled into the abyss, others fell inside the cage. Ji Yunhe peeked through the hole
and saw the jiaoren had not moved at all. He casually sat there with his tail spread out, and did not
bother to even brush off all the dust that had landed on him.

He held his head up and watched Ji Yunhe with a look that was part assessment, part curiosity, but
mostly a waveless calm.

Here she was working up a sweat and her face was covered in dirt, yet he looked completely at
ease. She felt a bit humorous.
 "The emperor does not know anxiety. Big-tailed fish, do you want to come out or not?" (This is
part of the Chinese proverb "The emperor does not know anxiety, the eunuchs do." It describes a
situation where a person directly involved with the issue shows no concern while those who are not
involved stress out instead.)

The jiaoren tilted his head and looked a bit confused. He seemed to be wondering what Ji Yunhe
was doing.

Ji Yunhe sighed and thought this guy might look beautiful and powerful, but his brain was perhaps
a bit dull...

That was why he got caught, right?

"Forget it." Ji Yunhe got down and stretched her hand into the hole she had made. "Come, I'll pull
you out."

He still did not move.

When Ji Yunhe started to suspect maybe he did not want to go, the jiaoren finally shifted his tail.

The huge lotus-like tailfin brushed the rocks on the floor and propped up his body. A draft of air
moved out from under him.

The fine air ruffled Ji Yunhe's hair and water droplets fell from the walls of the cliff.

A drop brushed against her cheek and landed onto his tail.

In an instant, the scales began glowing with a captivating luster.

Then, as if riding the water droplets, he floated up into the air. His tail swayed gracefully behind
him as he began “swimming" toward her.

Ji Yunhe, with her hand still stretched out, froze.

He looked too beautiful.

The jiaoren slowly approached her outstretched hand, but he did not hold out his hand to greet it.
Instead, his cheek was the first to make contact with her fingers.

He did not want to hold hands with her so he flew directly for the exit. Touching her fingers was an
accident. But it made Ji Yunhe feel as if she had touched the face of a god... And she was being a bit...

… disrespectful?

Ji Yunhe quickly withdrew her arm and straightened her body.

 The jiaoren exited the cage and hovered in mid air with his tail shimmering. His ice blue eyes
quietly stared at her.

She felt a bit hypnotized. His aura looked so holy and pure.

Ji Yunhe had not noticed it when he was half dead in the prison, but standing before him now, she
almost felt... unworthy.

Books and scrolls often documented beautiful demons worshipped by people because of their god-
like appearances. She herself had dealt with tens of thousands of demons throughout the years. But not
one of them could compare with him.

Exactly what made Princess Shunde think she was entitled to such a creature?

"Let's go." Ji Yunhe regained her senses and stepped onto her sword. "You're going to float out by
yourself, or do you need my help?"

The jiaoren looked at the sword under her feet and thought for a bit, then stretched out a hand.

Probably he was still weak and wanted a ride from her?

Ji Yunhe interpreted it as such, and grabbed a hold of his hand.

It startled him.

Her hand was warm, and his hand was cool. The jiaoren's eyes widened slightly, seemingly
unfamiliar with the human body temperature.

Ji Yunhe pulled him toward her, but he did not move.

They looked at each other in the dark.

Ji Yunhe was confused. "What's the meaning of this?"

Before the jiaoren could respond, a flash of golden light suddenly appeared down in the abyss.

Ji Yunhe lowered her head and looked below...

"Not good... That old man is going to reactivate the Ten Square Formation!"

Even though Li Shu had broken the seal, the foundation was still there. Lin Canglan would not be
able to rebuild it, but out of desperation, he could mobilize the remaining power of the formation to deal
with the jade phoenix.

Magical formations were made with a layout of focal points, called eyes. Seeing the flashing light
beneath them, there must be an eye of the Ten Square Formation inside the abyss.
 Although Lin Canglan's intended target was the jade phoenix, the magic power from the formation
would attack anyone that got in its way.

"Let's go!" Ji Yunhe pulled at him again.

But he still did not move.

"What the hell..."

Before Ji Yunhe finished talking, the jiaoren's hand let out a gentle force and she found herself
helplessly pulled into his arms. His body felt cool, the skin on his chest was smooth, and the scales
under his abdomen were hard like armor.

This was the first time Ji Yunhe had ever been held inside the arms of a demon. She was not used
to this… Then his tailfin trembled. The damp air and surrounding cliffs released millions of water drops,
converging onto his tail and moistening it.

The scales began emitting a glow that lit up the darkness around them.

Suddenly, as if it had gathered enough force, the huge fish tail thrashed against the water in the air
and they ascended at a speed Ji Yunhe never imagined.

She finally understood.

Oh... when he held out his hand, he was patronizing her.

He did not care for her rudimentary form of travel.

Well, excuse me big-tailed fish, Ji Yunhe thought. Being imprisoned for decades to the point she no
longer had a soul, how was she supposed to know demons of the outside world had such efficient
methods of transportation?

"Big-tailed fish, if you were given some more water, would you be able to zoom instantly into the
clouds?" Ji Yunhe joked, tilting her head to look at him with no intention of getting a response. But the
big-tailed fish gazed down at her intently, the look in his eyes suggesting he was seriously thinking
about her question.

Then his lips parted. With somewhat of a broken pronunciation, he said, "With more water, yes."

He talked?

Ji Yunhe stared at him in disbelief.

And his first sentence, surprisingly, was to give such an earnest answer to her nonsensical
question...
 After a long silence, Ji Yunhe decided that this serious answer was super cute.

She was just about to smile when a ray of golden light suddenly beamed out from the bottom of the
abyss, shooting past their side like a fierce dragon. The jiaoren abruptly turned his direction in the air
and dodged the beam without slowing his pace.

But that was not the end of it. After the first beam of light had passed, a second one shot out
immediately after.

Ji Yunhe could already see the skylight above their heads, but the second golden beam of light
seemed to have a life of its own. After reaching the sky, it turned back down, heading straight for the
jiaoren.

He dodged left and right, narrowly avoiding the strikes. But then a third beam came at them like
lightning from below.

"Watch out!" Ji Yunhe shouted. The jiaoren looked down and saw their current situation. If he were
to dodge the second beam again, Ji Yunhe would surely be hit by the third.

Ji Yunhe held out two fingers to create a magic shield, no matter how futile it might be. But before
the shield had time to form, she felt their movement come to a complete stop.

This fish...

He had no intention of avoiding the second beam of golden light!

She watched in horror as it viciously struck him in the back while she herself remained fully
protected inside his arms.

Demon.

A demon who took the damage for her with his own body.

Calls of the jade phoenix echoed in the sky just above. The jiaoren, still holding Ji Yunhe, fell.

With scattering scales and water droplets, they plunged back into the depth of the abyss.
Chapter 14: Touch It And It Will Get Better

Ji Yunhe woke up in a daze and thought she had ascended to heaven.

She was not being crazy, everything around her looked so bizarre.

Aside from the big-tailed fish still sleeping beside her, there was nothing around. All one could see
from the ground to the sky was a faint golden vastness, like the legendary heavenly palace with its gold-
encrusted splendor. Ji Yunhe looked around and did not see a palace.
 She stood up and snapped her fingers, trying to summon her longsword. The sound of the snap
echoed into the distance, but the sword was nowhere to be seen.

Ji Yunhe paused, then felt her pulse. To her great alarm...

Her spiritual power had completely disappeared!

The reason why someone could become a demon master was because they were born with a special
spiritual power that ordinary humans did not possess. It allowed them to perform magic.

Normally, a person's pulse moved with the beating of the heart. People with spiritual power had a
second set of pulsing underneath their skin, known as the hidden pulse.

The hidden pulse was especially strong upon birth and would gradually weaken with age, but never
fully disappear.

Having a double pulse was the mark of a demon master.

And the stronger the hidden pulse, the stronger the spiritual power. Every year, the court would
pick out children with a double pulse, forcefully separate them from their parents, and send them to the
four quarters where demon masters were kept. Children with the strongest hidden pulses were sent to
become disciples of the Grand Master.

As such, the only notable demon master to come out of the four quarters was Snow March.

And the Grand Master's house was full of powerful individuals not focused on demon mastery, but
serving the court.

Ji Yunhe patted her head and pulled herself out from the drifting thoughts.

She had been able to feel her hidden pulse since she was young, and had never heard of one
suddenly disappearing before.

Where exactly was this place...

She looked around again and did not see an exit. Then she heard a deep breath.

Ji Yunhe looked down and saw the jiaoren was gradually waking up. He seemed to struggle for a
long time before finally opening his eyes, then weakly turned his gaze to her.

Ji Yunhe then remembered...

"Ohhh! You helped me block a blow from the Ten Square Formation!"

She thought she had fallen to death and ascended to heaven, and completely forgot about that. How
heartless of her...

She rushed to his backside, squatted down and studied his wound.

His entire back appeared split open with the skin and flesh turned over, revealing some bones of the
spine underneath. The blood seemed to have dried up and the scars looked scorched and horrible.

Ji Yunhe frowned gravely. There was no way a human being, demon master or not, could have
survived that.

This jiaoren saved her life.

Why? Because she had treated his wounds in the dungeon? Or was it because he thought she had
come to save him from the abyss, so he did not want his "savior" to die?

Could it be such a simple reason? If not, what else could it be?

Ji Yunhe looked at the side of his face and could not help but ask, "Why did you block that blow
for me?"

The jiaoren seemed a little surprised by her question and looked back slightly. He smoothed his
breathing, swallowed all the pain visible to the naked eye, and spoke calmly, "I would just get hurt. You
would've died."

So... that's it?

Just a most basic assessment, not even the simple reasons she had thought of.

He treated Lin Haoqing as an enemy, so he would rather fight him to the death than submit. On the
other hand, he did not see Ji Yunhe as an enemy, so he endured such a critical injury to save her life.

Being a demon master for so many years, Ji Yunhe had never met a demon like him. Stubbornly
holding on to his will to resist, while still clinging to his gentle kindness.

"Thank you," Ji Yunhe said.

"You're welcome."

Again, an earnest response.

He was abiding by his manners even in a situation like this.

Ji Yunhe found this fish really interesting.

"Does the wound hurt?" Ji Yunhe asked him.

 "It hurts very much."

He was very straightforward. Ji Yunhe felt sorry. "I don't have any spiritual power right now and
can't use my magic to create water out of thin air."

"That's okay."

A sincere forgiveness.

Ji Yunhe chuckled. She looked at the jiaoren, who rolled his eyes as much as possible without
turning his body, trying to see her. Ji Yunhe walked to his front and squatted down, staring into his clear
blue eyes. "I have nothing on me that can help you recover, so I will have to go look around. If I find
some water, I guess it will make you feel better. Lie still and wait for me to come back."

"Okay."

Surprisingly submissive.

Ji Yunhe looked at his face. Perhaps due to his new injury, the godlike glow she saw previously had
dimmed. Plus he started to talk. She felt the distance between them grow closer. On an impulse she
reached out her hand.

He was lying down and could not move, so he just watched as her hand landed on the top of his
head. Then, like petting some animal, she stroked the hair on his head again and again.

His hair was soft and smooth, unlike anything she had felt before. She slightly curved the corners
of her mouth...

In fact, if she could have some freedom, she would definitely adopt a nice big dog...

"What does this mean?" The jiaoren was curious about her actions.

Ji Yunhe thought this clueless question made him a little more adorable.

"This is..." Ji Yunhe pondered for a moment then answered with the same earnest face as his, "a
special magical gesture among humans that can make the wounded feel better."

"Humans? Can they get better just from touching?"

Ji Yunhe held her face straight while her hand kept stroking his hair. "Touch it and it will get
better."

"But I don't feel better." He was too honest.

"You will."
 "Hmm..." He waited a little longer then commented, "This magic is very slow."

Ji Yunhe laughed and finally withdrew her hand. She buried her head to find the hem of her coat,
then pulled out a thread and handed it to him. "This place looks endless, nothing but a golden void all
around. Hold this end of the string when I go out to look for water so I can follow it back.

"Okay."

He wrapped Ji Yunhe's thread around his fingertips. Coincidentally, her coat was sewn with a
bright red hem.

"You know, we humans believe if two people are tied together by a red string, fate will bring them
together even from the opposite ends of the world. They will forever be hand in hand to old age." Ji
Yunhe stood up and turned to the distance. "Big-tailed fish, hold it tight. Whether I can return, or can
live to old age, all depends on you now."

Ji Yunhe waved her hand and walked off. She did not get to see that behind her, the fingers holding
the red string tightened their grasp.
Chapter 15: Speak Human Words

Ji Yunhe thought she would have to look forever, but she soon came upon a huge crater in the
ground.

Unlike the golden light that endlessly surrounded her, this depression in the land surprisingly
consisted of grass, flowers, trees, a small babbling brook, and a cabin in the center.

If not for the golden void all around, Ji Yunhe would have thought that she had stepped into some
small village in the south.

Why did this piece of paradise sit in the middle of the Ten Square Formation?

Ji Yunhe found it strange. This could not have been built by the ten demon masters to make it
comfortable for the jade phoenix, right? The only possibility was the demon bird had been trapped here
for so many years that it had created a world for itself.

"She's a talented demon indeed."

Ji Yunhe stepped onto the grass.

The further she went inside, the more amazed she was.

The sound of birds and the scent of flowers were certainly not lacking. But one could only hear the
chirping. There were no birds other than the small stone carvings on the ground. A golden "dog" sat
motionlessly in the distance and barked out from behind a tree.

There were sights and there were sounds, but there was no life.
 Ji Yunhe walked in this odd paradise for a while. After the initial curiosity and novelty passed,
what followed was an overwhelming sensation of loneliness that seemed to have lingered here since
ancient times.

Everything here was fake.

The jade phoenix had spent decades here carving out a world of her own, but she could not create
anything that had life like herself.

These stone birds and stone dogs... The more vivid their sounds, the lonelier it felt.

Ji Yunhe spaced out for a while. If she were also trapped here forever...

The thought gave her chills down her spine. She turned her head and looked at the red string
linking her to the jiaoren.

Without hesitation, Ji Yunhe went up to the brook and touched it with her hand. This stream that
seemed to have no point of origin was actually real.

She took off her jacket and threw it in, soaking it full of water. Then she followed the red string.

Going back seemed much easier than going forward.

Ji Yunhe felt like it only took her half the time to find the jiaoren again.

He was still the same as when she left, lying on his side with his fingers curled around the red
string. He had not moved even a muscle.

When she saw him, all of the loneliness and despair instantly washed away.

Ji Yunhe did not tell him about her emotional disturbance just now. She squatted down and began
squeezing the water from her clothes onto his tail. "Do you need some on your back?"

He nodded, "Yes."

Ji Yunhe looked at his gruesome wound. "I'm not very good at this, if I accidentally cause you pain,
just bear with me."

"You are very good at this."

Ji Yunhe did not expect that from him.

In the short time they had known each other, this was already the third time she was helping him
treat his wounds. The first time was in the prison where she gave him medicine. The second time was
when she tricked him in order to touch his head.
 "All I did was give u some medicine, cast a spell, and draw some water," Ji Yunhe said while
wringing the water from her clothes onto his back.

The water beaded down his skin and flowed into the gaping wound.

His body trembled a bit as if absorbing the pain. After a while, he opened his mouth again, his
voice as calm as ever, "All very effective."

This fish...

Ji Yunhe watched the side of his face and saw he was not joking in the least bit... He really did feel
that her "treatments" on him were effective...

So when she touched his head, had it also been effective?

Ji Yunhe suddenly began to wonder if there really was a spell in this world called "touch it and it
will get better"...

She pulled back her clothes after the last drop of water was squeezed out.

"Rest for a while. Once the pain subsides a bit, I will take you over to the front. Your predecessor
left some… property there." Ji Yunhe searched for a term that best described the world created by the
jade phoenix.

The jiaoren obviously had little concept of the term. He just sat in silence for a while then said,
"Let's go."

Ji Yunhe saw him sitting up and was a little alarmed. "You don't..." She turned her eyes to check on
his back, and found it in much better condition now after being moistened by water.

Good... Ji Yunhe was impressed. So there really was a "touch it and it will get better" spell?

She raised her hand and touched the top of her head, trying to feel some of the spiritual power she
had somehow lost. But after two strokes, Ji Yunhe thought she was probably being stupid.

She was a human, and he was a demon. The jiaoren tribe was well known for their remarkable
longevity. In fact, the oils from their body could be made into everlasting lamps that never burned out.
Faster healing was probably another advantage they enjoyed.

"You jiaoren are pretty healthy."

"Just diligent in cultivation."

Another sincere answer to her nonsense. Ji Yunhe smiled and felt this fish’s honesty made him
adorable.
 She reached out to hold his arm in support. "Big-tailed fish, can you walk?"

He lowered his head and looked down, Ji Yunhe followed his gaze.

His huge lotus-like tail fins sprawled out on the ground, flowing round and round. Beautiful, but
could not walk...

Flashy but not practical!

Ji Yunhe concluded silently in her mind.

The big-tailed fish was also somewhat silent.

The two stood around dumbfounded for a while, and the big-tailed fish said, "There is a formation
here that blocks me from using magic."

"Me too." Ji Yunhe took a step forward and squatted down with her back pushed out toward him.
"Come, I will carry you."

He looked at Ji Yunhe's back.

Her back was straight as if she was full of strength, but her frame was still girlishly thin.

The jiaoren stretched out his hand, his arm was as thick as Ji Yunhe's neck.

She waited for a long time and felt no movement from him, so she turned her head to take a look.
He was staring at her back in silence.

Ji Yunhe asked him, "What's wrong? Afraid I can't carry you?" She smiled, overflowing with
confidence. "Relax, I am also diligent with cultivation."

"Diligence in cultivation is very good," he acknowledged her efforts.

"Then hurry up and come, I'll carry you, no problem."

"But you're too short."

"..."

Why not just tie him up and drag him... Ji Yunhe thought. This fish could be a bit too blunt.

"Just make an effort to lift the tail yourself!" Ji Yunhe snapped at him, no longer in good temper.
"Why grow such a big tail anyway? Come!"

The big-tailed fish stopped stalling after being yelled at. He stretched his arms over Ji Yunhe's
shoulders and she pulled them around her neck. "Hold on tight, hold on well!"

He listened.

Ji Yunhe's hands reached behind her back and scooped up under his tail so he "sat" on them.

When her hands cupped his "bottom", the jiaoren abruptly stiffened.

"Did I hurt you?" Ji Yunhe thought maybe she had accidentally stretched his wound.

"No… it doesn't hurt." The honest and sincere fish suddenly stuttered a little.

Ji Yunhe did not ask more questions. She breathed out and lifted him up against her back in one
swift motion.

She felt proud. Although the hidden pulse had disappeared and she lost her spiritual power, in terms
of physical prowess, she was still one of the strongest in the Demon Valley.

"See, told you I could carry you!"

She stepped forward. The end of his tail dragged on the ground, leaving a swish swash swish sound
as they walked. He seemed very uncomfortable hanging on her back, and took a long while to grow
accustomed enough to recollect his thoughts.

"I didn't say you couldn't carry me. I just said you're too short."

"... Just stop talking..."

Ji Yunhe felt like if Princess Shunde knew he talked in such a manner, probably she would regret
making her first wish. The wish to have him speak human words.

His words could really choke a person.

Chapter 16: Changyi

This little world crafted by the jade phoenix was really quite ingenious.

A luscious field of grass laid in the front with a charming grove and a babbling brook, the wooden
cabin sat in the middle, and a small pool of unknown depth was in the back, full of lotus flowers in
bloom.

Ji Yunhe had intended to carry the jiaoren into the cabin, but after seeing the pool out back, she was
overjoyed.

"Big-tailed fish, would you heal faster in water?"

"Yes."
 She carried him directly to the back, turned around, and threw him into the pool.

Although he looked delicately pretty, his size was quite massive. The toss created a huge splash
that doused Ji Yunhe with water, soaking her. A rainbow appeared within the lingering mist in the air.

Ji Yunhe looked through the rainbow and watched as his tail arched out of the surface then
gracefully sank in. It was as smooth in the water as it was clumsy on land.

He was finally in his most natural form. Ji Yunhe felt no matter what the reason was, he should
never be plundered out onto the shore.

The jiaoren flipped and tossed a few times in the pool. The saying "like a fish in water" was a
perfect reflection of him right now.

"Is the water here suitable for you?" Ji Yunhe asked.

He emerged from the surface. "No issues, thank you very much." He answered Ji Yunhe's question
seriously and earnestly, but she no longer cared about what he was saying. After being moistened by the
water, his ice blue eyes emitted a jewel-like sparkle, and the long silver hair was plastered on his well-
defined body. Alluring in a way that was both unattainable and extremely seductive.

"Big-tailed fish," Ji Yunhe looked at him and said, "no wonder Princess Shunde wanted you so
badly. Too much of a good thing!" (Meaning when someone has too much of something desirable, it
becomes a burden and brings him harm.)

The jiaoren's face sank slightly upon hearing that name.

Ji Yunhe saw his expression and grew curious. Due to the vastness of the ocean, the jiaoren species
was very rarely seen. Humans were not designed for the underwater world while every drop of it existed
at a jiaoren's command. So…

"How exactly did you get caught by Princess Shunde?" Ji Yunhe asked him. "You can come and go
freely in the sea, not even the fastest ships in the world can catch up. And even if they do, you can just
sink down into the depths..."

The jiaoren remained silent. His tail swayed in the water, forming ripples across the surface.

"Very few jiaoren have been caught and brought out onto the shore. Either they were injured and
got washed up by the waves, or they were tricked and lured out. Which one were you?"

"Neither."

"Then how did you get caught? According to the books, the tail symbolizes a jiaoren's power and
status. I see that you have such a big one, you... should be a nobleman or even royalty, right?"
 He did not deny it. "I saved her."

"Saved who?"

"Your Princess Shunde."

Ji Yunhe was a little surprised by this answer.

"That day, the sea was windy and the waves were high. Your man-made ship was smashed to
pieces and she fell into the water. I saved her and carried her back to the shore."

"And then what happened? You didn't leave right away?"

"When we reached the shore, there were already hundreds of men searching for her. She
immediately ordered them to capture me."

"But..." Ji Yunhe was still confused, "even so, you were close enough to the sea where you could
just turn around and swim away, who caught you?"

His eyes grew colder. "The Grand Master."

Ji Yunhe had nearly forgotten that Princess Shunde and the current emperor were siblings of the
same mother. The former emperor really favored Concubine De and had specifically asked the Grand
Master to teach both of her kids.

The current emperor did not have a hidden pulse, so he's a disciple in name only. Princess Shunde,
on the other hand, did.

In fact, she was the only one among royalty with a true double pulse, and the sole personal disciple
of the Grand Master. She held tremendous power in the court.

The imperial rule was a world of both the Dragon and the Phoenix.

If she had gotten lost at sea, the Grand Master was bound to personally go search...

What terrible luck that this jiaoren, out of all the people in the world, had to save a person like her...

She sighed and looked at him, then teased, "See? Blindly saving humans… regret it now?"

The jiaoren nodded honestly with a "mhm."

"Next time, will you still recklessly save someone?"

He went silent and seemed to be seriously considering her question. After thinking for a long time,
he asked, "How do you know if you are recklessly saving someone?"
 This philosophical question caught Ji Yunhe by surprise. She also thought for a long time, then
said, "I do not know. Maybe it is better to save haphazardly. Just go with your mood, as fate will have it.
Do what you want to do, and then take the consequences."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

Simple, brutal, direct, and clear.

He accepted it. "You're right." The jiaoren looked at Ji Yunhe from the pool. "I am fond of you. I
want to know your name."

It was the first time Ji Yunhe had heard such words from a demon.

She walked through the faint rainbow in the air, squatted down by the water, and stared into his
beautiful eyes. "My surname is Ji, the Chinese character for discipline. First name is Yunhe." ("Yun" is
the Chinese character for clouds, and "he" is the sprout of a plant such as rice or wheat)

"Nice name, but Ji means discipline?"

Ji Yunhe nodded, "Is this surname inappropriate?"

"This surname does not suit you," the jiaoren said. "I saw it in the prison. You do not believe in
human methods of discipline."

Ji Yunhe smiled at his words, and found this fish more likeable than ever.

"You are right. Not only do I disagree with our human methods of discipline, I also disagree with
many things about us humans. But we do not get to choose our surnames. We can only follow our
fathers. Although, I don't even know what mine looked like anymore..."

"Your father's surname does not suit you."

Ji Yunhe grew curious. "Then what do you think is the right surname for me?"

"You should have the surname Wind."

"Feng Yunhe?" Ji Yunhe smacked her lips for a moment. "It sounds terrible. Why?" ("Feng" is the
spoken sound for the word wind, also the word crazy)

"You should be as free and unrestrained as the wind."

The flirtatious smile on Ji Yunhe's face gradually faded away.

She did not expect the greatest desire hidden deep inside her heart over the years would be bluntly
called out by a jiaoren that she had barely met.

Ji Yunhe was silent for a bit, then said, "Oh you… " She slowly reached toward him with a
retracted finger and a half smile on her face. He remained still and did not dodge her. Pop! Without
holding back, she flicked him loud and clear in the center of his beautiful forehead.

"Can't tell if you have great wisdom hiding under a simple facade, or if you are just a simple simple
simpleton!"

The jiaoren took the flick without a blink, but he was a bit confused. "It's fine if you do not like this
name. But why do you hit me?"

Ji Yunhe stood up, stretched lazily and mumbled, "Beating is kissing and scolding is loving, that is
the rule among us humans."

The jiaoren furrowed his brows, a rare sight. "Humans are so strange."

Ji Yunhe waved her hand and turned away again. "You get a good soak, I'll go see if there's a way
out of this formation."

Ji Yunhe left the cabin. This Ten Square Formation took away her spiritual power and suppressed
the jiaoren's demonic energy, so logically there should not be any magic here. And magic was the source
of all transformations. But this strange little piece of paradise…

It proved that even though the jade phoenix could not use magic to escape, she was able to use
magic to craft things. The location of this crater must be somehow channeling a bit of the energy flow
from outside… though not much.

If there was power, then there was a way out. The jade phoenix could not escape because the seal
was in perfect condition. But now that it had been broken once already by Li Shu, a demon master and a
big-tailed fish together would surely be able to break it again.

Just needed to find the source of the flow of energy.

Ji Yunhe convinced herself.

But she searched the crater again and again, pulling up almost every root of grass, and still could
not find the source. She felt disheartened.

This place had no day and night, just a faint golden light all the time. But judging by the level of
physical fatigue, Ji Yunhe deducted that she had been rummaging for over twenty-four hours.

There was nothing to be found.

Although they were now isolated from the outside world, she was still very concerned about the
situation out there.
 Whether the jade phoenix was still fighting the demon masters, or if Snow March had been safely
taken away. If their fight was over and the Demon Valley reestablished order, she and the jiaoren would
not end well even if they were to escape this Ten Square Formation.

They would never get another chance to leave, and if Lin Canglan found out she had stolen the
antidotes… It spelled death for her.

Ji Yunhe returned to the cabin exhausted. She intended to say hi to the jiaoren then rest for a bit,
but when she got to the pool, he was nowhere to be found.

She stood on the shore and called out several times, "Big-tailed fish!" She did not get a response.

Had that fish found his own exit and ran away?

From this pool of water?

Ji Yunhe pulled her head together, got down on all fours and peeked beneath the surface.

The pool was crystal clear but bottomless, she could see nothing but a pitch black abyss down
below. The lotus flowers seemed to only grow on the surface with no roots or stems.

Ji Yunhe strained to see into the darkness when she suddenly saw a glimmer.

In a blink, the huge lotus shaped fish tail stirred the abyss and the jiaoren appeared, his body
swimming through the water like a dragon. He came up quickly, but was gentle when breaking the
surface.

His face slowly emerged from the crystal clear pool like a water god, and stopped inches away
from Ji Yunhe.

She stared into his eyes, a bit spellbound. "Hey, big-tailed fish, I do not know your name yet."

The jiaoren's eyes were clear and pure like always, with no signs of disturbance even this close to
her face. "My name, in your language, is Changyi."

Changyi… ("Chang" translates as everlasting, and "yi" is the Chinese character associated with any
state of mind such as thoughts, memories, expectations, beliefs, emotions...etc.)

This name was like the sigh when Ji Yunhe first saw him in the water.

She felt like he too should forever sway that big tail of his leisurely in the sea, happy and free.

Ji Yunhe believed from the bottom of her heart that he should regain his freedom.
 No longer because of sympathy, but because only the ocean, that which could accommodate a
thousand mountains and rivers, was worthy of him.
Chapter 17: Demonic Attachment

Changyi confirmed that the pool was bottomless.

Ji Yunhe pondered. The ground was flat everywhere aside from the crater here, and according to
her explorations, the pool should be the center of the crater.

If she estimated correctly, this pool of water would also be the center of the seal, or the main eye. If
they could shake up this eye, it would completely break the Ten Square Formation.

Ji Yunhe scooped up some water with her hand and held it to her eyes. She knew right away that
this was their way out, down in the bottom of the abyss...

Because... she felt her double pulse as soon as she touched the water, though very faint.

Changyi suddenly grew alert. "Someone's here."

Ji Yunhe was taken by surprise and looked around. "Where?"

Then she heard it too. A low rumbling from the depths of the pool as if a giant beast had awakened.

Ji Yunhe and Changyi looked at each other.

There was something very unpleasant under the water.

Ji Yunhe immediately grabbed Changyi's arm and pulled with all her might. It forcefully plucked
him out of the water and into the air with a circular arch, while she fell backward onto the ground.

When his huge tail flipped in the air, a cascade of water drops rained down across the courtyard.

Amidst the "rain", a cloud of black gas shot out from the bottom of the pool, solidifying into the
shape of a giant phoenix on the surface.

A... black phoenix.

It lifted its head and called to the sky with the sound of nine heavens, and its huge flapping wings
briefly dulled the golden light that surrounded them.

Ji Yunhe looked at the giant bird in amazement -- a second phoenix existed in this world? Did the
ten demon masters actually seal two of these powerful demons?

But something seemed wrong.

This black phoenix, although only different in color from the jade phoenix, had no feet. Or its feet
were somehow still trapped under the water and could not pull loose.

It was imprisoned inside the pool.

The black phoenix struggled and screamed incessantly. After Ji Yunhe got used to its shrieks, she
suppressed her shock and asked Changyi, "Did you see it down there?"

"No."

"Then where did it come from..."

The demon bird suddenly flipped its neck within the black gaseous cloud, and its blood red eyes
fixated on Ji Yunhe.

"Demon master!"

It let out a hellish cry, "I will eat you alive!" With feathers flapping, the black phoenix turned its
body and charged at her with its monstrous beak.

Still sitting on the ground, Ji Yunhe only had enough time to shove her bottom a bit to the side. She
watched as the bird pecked into the ground between her and Changyi.

It left such a deep pit that its own head was almost buried inside.

Ji Yunhe looked at the pit and twitched the corners of her mouth.

"What did I do..."

Ji Yunhe got up and dashed for the cabin, but the bird raised its head and thrashed against the walls,
overturning half of the structure. Broken pieces made from wood and grass turned into golden dust and
scattered across the ground.

Ji Yunhe jumped, rolled, flipped and dodged in every way she could to avoid the vicious attacks,
but every time the bird would come after her again.

Soon she was backed into a corner with no way out. Ji Yunhe stopped retreating and stared into its
wide open mouth. It charged at her then ferociously snapped shut its beak… an inch away from her
face.

No matter how much it struggled, it could not move forward that extra inch.

Ji Yunhe leaned her body sideways and checked behind the bird. It looked as if its feet had been
planted in the pool, and could only furiously snap at the air in front of her again and again.

Ji Yunhe flicked the giant beak.

 "I say, you big chicken, you are really unreasonable! What did I do to you that you have to eat
me?"

Her flick made the black phoenix even more furious. It thrashed and flailed, desperately trying to
poke its beak forward.

"You're fearless." Changyi finally managed to pull and drag his big tail over to her side. "If you had
miscalculated even slightly, you would be dead right now."

"What could go wrong?" Ji Yunhe gestured with her arms. "When straightened, its body is at most
this long."

The demon bird screamed, "Demon master! I want you dead! I will eat you! I will eat you!"

Ji Yunhe looked at it up close, and unexpectedly saw a teardrop under its bloodshot eye.

So sad?

"Why are you crying?" Ji Yunhe asked.

"You demon masters are heartless! You use then abandon! I will eat each and every one of you I
see!"

So, this was a big chicken with a story.

The demon bird enshrouded itself in a black gaseous cloud and dissipated. Then its body solidified
again, this time into the form of a woman. She stood in the center of the pool, and her face looked
identical to the jade phoenix.

A face very similar to Snow March.

Except she was dressed in all black. Her pupils were blood red and a tear still sat under one eye.

Resentful, furious, and... sad.

A big, strange chicken indeed.

"Hey, what is your relationship to the jade phoenix, Qing Ji?" Ji Yunhe stopped beating around the
bush and asked. "Why are you imprisoned in this pool?"

"The jade phoenix?" The woman in black turned her head to look at Ji Yunhe. "I am the jade
phoenix, I am Qing Ji." She spun around in the center of the pool and looked at her surroundings, then
she went crazy. With tears rolling down like a mini waterfall, she pointed to the golden sky and
furiously shouted, "I am the demon who was deceived by the Wuchang Saint and imprisoned by him in
this Ten Square Formation!"
 The Wuchang Saint? The great demon master who led nine other demon masters and built the
formation here?

Ji Yunhe had read historical documents praising the Wuchang Saint, but she had never seen
anything about him having a relationship with the jade phoenix...

But these things were not for her to dig into right now.

Ji Yunhe only felt confused. If the one being held here was the real jade phoenix, then who was the
one that had broken through the seal and escaped? That one also called herself Qing Ji. The cat demon,
Li Shu, should be her old acquaintance, but when he saw her, it did not look like a case of mistaken
identity.

While Ji Yunhe pondered, Changyi spoke.

"She is not a demon." Changyi looked at the woman in the center of the pool. "There is no demonic
aura on her."

"Then what is she?"

"Seems... she is just some emotion cast out by the original host."

"Huh?"

Ji Yunhe had read in a book that powerful demons sometimes stripped out emotions like great
sorrow and great joy to help them maintain inner stability and keep their cultivation from damage. Some
demons just throw it away while others would bury it in a fixed place.

These discarded emotions usually dissipated into thin air. However, the extra stubborn ones
sometimes linger and take form. People called them demonic attachments.

It would look identical to the original demon, but with no magic power. The attachments recorded
in the books did not live long because they had no real life, and always disappeared with the passage of
time.

Ji Yunhe never thought they could be so solid...

She looked at the wreckage all around them.

Although it had no demonic power, its body was still very strong. In bird form, it could cause
physical damage to its surroundings.

"This offshoot of a demon is a little too powerful."

"Hrm, perhaps the emotions of the host were too intense, or too many were tossed into the pool and
it simply built up over the years."
 Of course, Ji Yunhe thought. The jade phoenix was imprisoned here for a hundred years.

The woman circled around twice, muttered a few words to herself, then burst into tears again.
"Why? Why? Ning Ruochu! Why did you betray me? Why did you imprison me?"

Her tears fell into the pool, stirring up a wave of ripples that overflowed the shore and moistened
the ground.

Then a cloud of black smoke rose and she transformed back into the giant bird. But this time, it no
longer attacked Ji Yunhe as if it had forgotten her existence. Instead, it went on a frenzy. It flapped its
wings ferociously and kept pecking out one deep pit after another with its beak on the ground. Golden
earth and dust spewed everywhere.

Ji Yunhe covered her mouth and nose and took two steps back.

"Let's retreat first, and come back when she calms down," Ji Yunhe said while looking at the
frenzied bird. "If I guessed correctly, the exit is most likely in that pool."

The demonic attachment was so hostile toward demon masters that it had immediately come out
and attacked Ji Yunhe after she touched the water. To get out, they would have to dissolve this bird.

But how do they dissolve such strong emotions...

A woman was betrayed by a man and her heart broken...

Ji Yunhe pondered while she squatted down to carry Changyi on her back like before.

She scooped up his tail and walked away from the chaos, but her mind remained there.

What could mend a broken heart? Ji Yunhe felt like if this had happened to her, and some guy
betrayed and abandoned her, she would immediately go out and find another one. Out with the old, in
with the new.

But where in this Ten Square Formation could she find a man to comfort that bird...

Wait.

Ji Yunhe paused her steps and looked at the sturdy arm holding her neck.

No man... but a male fish… here's a big one!

Ji Yunhe placed him back on the ground.

Changyi was a little confused. "Am I too heavy? Are you tired?"
 "No no no, not heavy." Ji Yunhe smiled at him purposefully. "Changyi, you want to get out, right?"

"Yes."

"It's just that if we want out, we must take care of that possessed demon. But you have no demonic
power, and I have no spiritual power, and she is so big… It would be very difficult for us to get past her,
right?"

"Yes."

"So, if I have a solution, would you like to try it?"

"I'd like to hear it."

"You go and seduce her a little. Pretend you love her and make her..."

Changyi immediately frowned and cut her off, "No."

Such a stern rejection, Ji Yunhe was a bit surprised. "No, I'm not asking you to actually do
something to her..." Ji Yunhe lowered her head and peeked at his huge lotus tail.

Although... she did not know exactly how these fish people "did things" either...

Ji Yunhe cleared her throat and recollected her thoughts. "What I meant was to coax her verbally,
untie the knot in her head. These demonic attachments will quickly dissolve once their grudges are
broken, and it would be a good conclusion for her..."

"No."

Once again a righteous refusal.

Ji Yunhe was puzzled. "Why not?"

"I don't lie and I don't cheat."

Looking at this honorable face of his, Ji Yunhe paused for a moment. "But… well-intentioned
lies?"

"There are no well-intentioned lies." Changyi's tone was very firm. "The so-called good intentions
are just a form of self deception."

Ji Yunhe held her forehead. "Then what do we do? I go coax her myself?" She glared at Changyi
with a bit of frustration, but he met her gaze with eyes as pure as water. Ji Yunhe suddenly could no
longer say a single word encouraging him to deceive.

Yes...
 It had come to this...

She would have to go do it.

Ji Yunhe touched her chest and thought to herself… wrap it up, change the hair, lower the voice,
roll up the sleeves...

Let's get on with it then.

Chapter 18: Wuchang Saint

Ji Yunhe ripped apart her outer jacket and wrapped her chest with a strip. Then she tied her hair up
into a man's topknot.

Changyi sat on the grass with his back turned. Without her word, his neck remained frozen and did
not move in the slightest. But his tail softly fluttered against the ground, one twitch after another, as if a
bit bored.

"Done."

Ji Yunhe walked up to Changyi, not waiting for him to turn around. "How's this? Do I look like a
man?"

He checked her up and down a few times and shook his head. "No. Neither the body shape, nor the
facial features look like a man."

Ji Yunhe glared at him and said, "You go then."

He shook his head again. "No."

This fish had a pretty face that was good for nothing.

Ji Yunhe let out a hmph. "What else can we do? I'm going to just break the broken pot (A Chinese
metaphor for when someone chooses to make things worse after having already done something
wrong)." She turned around and marched away, like a soldier entering a battlefield.

She went with the expectation of getting thrown out after a good beating.

But it actually went smoothly.

Ji Yunhe walked to the wrecked cabin where the black bird was now in human form again. She
seemed tired from all the thrashing and sat calmly in the middle of the pool, hugging her knees.

She was surrounded by withered lotus flowers and the stagnant water under her feet was as still as a
mirror, drawing a perfect reflection of her. It looked like two different worlds seamlessly merged into
one. No matter from which angle you looked, it was as beautiful as a painting.
 Ji Yunhe's footsteps startled her, and she turned slightly.

The water beneath her feet was also disturbed, sending ripples across the reflected world. She saw
Ji Yunhe and stood up. "Who are you?"

Had she already forgotten Ji Yunhe in such a short time?

This was good. It saved Ji Yunhe the trouble of having to explain why "he" looked identical to the
demon master girl from before...

"I'm a scholar." Ji Yunhe already laid out a plan. If her disguise did not work she would
immediately run away and think of something else. Otherwise, she would claim to be a scholar.

In the mundane storybooks that flowed in from outside the Demon Valley, female demons falling
for scholars was a standard theme. Ji Yunhe had read a lot of them and knew the routine by heart.

She pretended to be a bit awkward, and said, "I saw you from afar and felt… attracted, so I came."

The attachment furrowed her brows and tilted her head to survey "him".

Ji Yunhe thought: oh no. She felt a bit silly, as fooling someone with a man's disguise was no
simple task at all.

However, the demonic attachment studied Ji Yunhe for a long time. Just as Ji Yunhe thought she
was about to get a beating, the attachment suddenly asked, "What is a scholar? Why are you here? And
why are you attracted to me?"

So many questions, but none of them were -- how dare you claim to be a man?

Ji Yunhe did not expect her to be so gullible.

After calming down, this demonic attachment was like a mentally incomplete child.

Ji Yunhe cautiously approached her and answered, "A scholar is someone who studies. I
accidentally barged in here and saw you sitting there in melancholy. What is the matter?"

To provide the right medicine for a wounded heart, one must first know the details. The drama
between the jade phoenix and the Wuchang Saint had happened a hundred years ago, no one knew about
it anymore. Ji Yunhe could only try to dig it out of the demon herself.

The attachment muttered blankly, "Melancholy? What melancholy do I have?" She hung her head
as if in deep thought, and a moment later, looked at Ji Yunhe and said, "I was betrayed by a demon
master."

Ji Yunhe waited quietly for her to continue.

 The attachment seemed to have found an outlet. Words poured out from her mouth while she stared
at Ji Yunhe with spiritless eyes. "His name was Ning Ruochu, and he was a powerful demon master.
People called him the Wuchang Saint (Wuchang means unpredictable in Chinese). At first he wanted to
abolish me. We fought and wounded each other, and fell down the cliff together... "

She turned away from Ji Yunhe and looked at their surroundings.

"The valley we landed in was very similar to here. There were flowers and grass, a small stream
that converged into a pool of water, and a wooden cabin."

Ji Yunhe also looked around and thought to herself: this place should not be "very similar" to the
original valley. It should be... exactly the same.

"There were ferocious beasts in the valley and we were both seriously injured. I had no demon
power and he had no spiritual power. We used our raw strengths and worked together to fend off those
beasts. Then we grew fond of each other... But I was a demon, and he was a demon master..."

No need to say more. Ji Yunhe knew that even a hundred years ago when demon masters ruled the
world, such a relationship was not acceptable.

Demon masters and demons were natural born enemies.

"Later on we left the valley. I went back to my home and he went back to his. But several years
later, his people wanted to kill the son of the cat demon king, Li Shu..." Upon hearing the familiar name,
Ji Yunhe's interest grew.

Hundreds of years ago, well before the Green Feather Rebellion, the biggest headache demon
masters faced was probably the cat demon king. The cat demon king liked to eat human hearts and killed
countless people as a result. It was truly a sinful time. The world almost hated all cats to the extreme.

The cat demon king was later restrained by a hundred demon masters and beheaded in the sand-
thorn mountain. His offsprings were also executed, all but the youngest son who had been displaced
outside and never found.

No records of the cat demon king and his children were documented again since then.

Ji Yunhe realized now that Li Shu was the youngest son...

No wonder he displayed such amazing power breaking the Ten Square Formation.

Bloodline of the cat demon king after all.

The attachment continued, "They wanted to kill Li Shu, but I saved him and protected him, so they
came after me. Ning Ruochu also came after me..."
 Tears swelled up inside her eyes.

"I thought he was different from the others... I explained to him that Li Shu and I would never eat
humans, and we only killed bad guys and in self-defense. But he did not believe me... Wait... he
pretended to believe me. He lured me into the valley where we first met, where he had set up a Ten
Square Formation. Then he combined the power of ten people to seal me, he... sealed me... "

Her tears fell like a broken string of pearls, once again causing the pool to stir.

"Ning Ruochu!" she shouted toward the sky. "You said you would come and join me! Where are
you? Where?"

Hearing these words, it suddenly dawned on Ji Yunhe. Qing Ji's lingering grudge was not because
she was sealed, but because the Wuchang Saint did not come to accompany her.

But he died during the formation of the seal.

Had Qing Ji been unaware of that...

"A hundred years of captivity, a hundred years of loneliness! Why didn't you come? Why didn't
you come?"

The corners of Ji Yunhe's mouth moved as she deliberated whether or not to tell her the truth.

On second thought, telling her about his death was probably not wise. The goal here was to
dissolve this emotional turbulence, not make it worse...

The demonic attachment was growing more and more agitated. Seeing the demon was about to turn
again, Ji Yunhe quickly retreated and headed back to Changyi.

The giant black bird did not wildly thrash around this time. It just raised its head and repeatedly
called to the sky, as if questioning the one who never came.

When Ji Yunhe returned with a troubled face, Changyi asked, "Your disguise failed?"

"No. But things have changed a bit." Ji Yunhe crossed her legs and sat down in front of him. "I
think I can't pretend to be a scholar anymore. I probably have to be someone else."

"Who?"

"The Wuchang Saint, Ning Ruochu."

Chapter 19: Song and Dance

Ji Yunhe mangled her hair by the creek, trying to figure out a new look.

Changyi sat next to her and watched, somewhat puzzled. "If Qing Ji was so fond of the man back
then, how would you convince her that you're him?"

Ji Yunhe looked at her own reflection in the water and replied, "Qing Ji would surely be impossible
to convince. But this is a cloud of emotions born from her grudge. She looks crazy and her brain is
foggy..."

Changyi frowned again.

No need to wait for him to speak, Ji Yunhe already knew what this righteous and simple big-tailed
fish was thinking. "Hey, big-tailed fish," she defended herself, "you have to know that she is just a pile
of emotions abandoned here by the jade phoenix. She is not an entity and she is not alive. Plus we have
no choice but to lie to her. You don't want to be trapped here forever, do you?"

The beautiful blue eyes looked down.

Ji Yunhe suddenly felt like she was coaxing a child...

She walked to Changyi's side and patted his shoulder.

"Li Shu had to give his life to help the jade phoenix escape. This is our only chance to get out of
here." Ji Yunhe touched the box of antidotes that she was keeping close and her eyes glowed. "So I have
to lie to that possessed demon, and I have to untie that knot in her heart. No matter what the method."

Changyi looked up again at Ji Yunhe, not expecting her to look so emotional.

"What's your plan?"

Ji Yunhe blinked away the determination and austerity in her eyes. She smiled and returned to her
normally relaxed self.

"I..." she gave a crooked smile, "plan to go and 'reveal my identity' to her, then follow up with
poems and songs to express my feelings. If that's not enough, then I will go with the flow, take her into
my arms and sooth her… In short, tell her I love her."

Changyi shook his head in disapproval. "You lack sincerity in your words. It is not convincing."

"No sincerity? Unconvincing?" These words seemed like a challenge to Ji Yunhe. She squatted
down, closed in on him, then raised a hand and reached for his long silver hair. "Of course..."

She lifted a strand of his hair to her lips, and before Changyi could react, gave it a soft, tender kiss.

"Having met such a gentleman, this true heart of mine, naturally, cannot stay with oneself."

Ji Yunhe held Changyi's hair steadily against her lips, her gaze was three parts tender and seven
parts fierce, like a hook wanting to pull his heart out from his eyes.
 But...

The blue eyes were like the sea that took in a hundred rivers, leisurely accommodating all of Ji
Yunhe's tender loving provocations.

Changyi's face remained calm and serene.

It was like a punch landing on cotton. Ji Yunhe watched his waveless eyes for a while, then
admitted defeat. She even felt like apologizing for her rude behavior.

The lips still pressing against his hair felt numb from embarrassment.

Ji Yunhe cleared her throat, released him, patted her hands, and stood up under his indifference.

She rubbed her nose and turned around awkwardly.

"You fish have no idea how things work in the human world. Anyway, if I do this to that possessed
demon, nine out of ten it will succeed."

Ji Yunhe could not help but glance at him again. His face still looked as calm as ever. She decided
she was dealing with a wall and changed the subject.

"Um, so, you seem to heal pretty fast. You fish people have pretty good health. Wait for me here. If
I succeed, we will be able to get out. Just wait."

Ji Yunhe waved her hand and fled.

Changyi remained seated in the same position. The end of his lotus tail rested in the stream and
fluttered a few times.

He watched her fade into the distance, then silently lowered his head and pulled up the strand of
hair that she had kissed. He held it in his hand for a while, then turned and looked at his reflection in the
water.

The ice blue eyes were now much darker than before.

Changyi sat in silence. After a long time, the color of his eyes was still a dark blue.

Suddenly, the huge tail whisked the water in the stream, breaking the silence with a loud splatter.

Cool water splashed over his head, wetting his body and hair.

The stream disturbed by his tail rippled a while then regained its calmness, and the mirror-like
surface once again reflected the color of his eyes. The dark blue had finally receded, restoring his ice
blue tranquility.
 Ji Yunhe jogged all the way back to the pool.

She brushed off her feelings of embarrassment and cleared her throat.

The Wuchang Saint lived a hundred years ago. Even though history books were full of his merits
and good deeds, they never recorded his personal life.

Perhaps the writers thought a saint did not need personal life.

Ji Yunhe could not guess what kind of personality he had from the books, but she could deduct
from the demonic attachment's story. He was most likely not a cold, heartless person. Maybe he even
had real feelings for Qing Ji.

Otherwise, with Qing Ji's trust and love for him, why would he bother tricking her into a seal. He
could have just killed her instead of making promises to be together.

This Ning Ruochu was likely a righteous demon master with a kind and loving heart.

Ji Yunhe sorted everything out in her head, made a solemn face, and proceeded toward the
attachment.

The bird was in human form again on top of the pool. But she did not sit still like before, instead,
she was dancing.

Of all the demons, the jiaoren sang the most beautiful songs, and birds danced the most beautiful
dances.

According to legend, when a phoenix danced in the nine skies, a hundred birds would come and
pay their respects. Though the jade phoenix was not a true phoenix (The chinese character for the jade
phoenix is actually a youth version. Once it matures it will become a true phoenix), its dancing was still
among the best in the world.

She floated on the mirror-like water and danced amidst a frame of withered lotus flowers and black
smoke. It was like a moving painting, breathtaking and surreal.

The woman in the painting searched high and low, paced back and forth, lingered and waited. But
she would never get to see the one who had made the promise.

Ji Yunhe was enchanted and watched until the attachment took a turn and saw her standing there.
She abruptly stopped her dance.

The rippling water soon became still.

"Who are you?"

Same question as last time. This possessed demon really did have a foggy brain. She had forgotten
Ji Yunhe again.

"Don't you remember me?" Ji Yunhe asked her. "I'm Ning Ruochu."

The attachment's body stiffened and her feet unsteadily took a step back.

She stared intently at Ji Yunhe, then asked with trembling lips, "What took you so long?"

No probing, no doubting, the attachment just believed her.

Ji Yunhe felt that even if she had not wrapped her chest, pulled her hair up, and deliberately
lowered her voice, the attachment would still believe she was Ning Ruochu.

Ji Yunhe had no idea why.

Perhaps the possessed demon was just simply mentally incomplete. Perhaps she had waited too
long and was confused. Or perhaps... waiting for Ning Ruochu was a task that she needed to complete.

Just like how Ji Yunhe and Changyi had to find a way out, this possessed demon, too, had a goal.
She was born out of the jade phoenix's obsession, so she needed to receive closure in order to be free.

She would have accepted it no matter who came and claimed to be Ning Ruochu.

Ji Yunhe could not think of any other explanation.

The attachment walked step by step toward her. Ji Yunhe did not know what the real Ning Ruochu
would say at a time like this, so she simply stayed quiet, and walked step by step toward the pool.

The two came closer to each other. One could not leave the water, while the other one did not step
into it.

She looked at Ji Yunhe, reflecting her shadow inside those blood red eyes.

"You said you would come and keep me company." Her eyes teared up. "I waited for you for a long
time."

Crying again? She's such a crybaby.

The jade phoenix was a world-famous powerful demon. She would never cry so easily, so it made
sense for this piece of stripped emotion to contain her most hidden inner vulnerabilities.

"I'm sorry." Being stared at like this by a crying woman, Ji Yunhe apologized out of instinct.

The real Ning Ruochu would probably have said the same thing.

And these two words triggered everything.

 The demonic attachment stretched out her arms and wrapped them around Ji Yunhe, embracing her.
The body was cool like water, but the words were tender and warm.

"I knew you would come."

Ji Yunhe suddenly thought of another possibility why this possessed demon believed her so easily.

Because she... or Qing Ji herself, believed that Ning Ruochu would definitely come, and that she
would see him again.

So when someone entered the Ten Square Formation and claimed to be Ning Ruochu, whether it
was a man or a woman, a god or a ghost, she would believe it.

Not because she believed that person, but because she believed in Ning Ruochu.

That he would definitely keep his promise and come find her, no matter in what form.

Qing Ji endured a hundred years of loneliness here in the formation. Maybe she had a lot of hatred,
or resentment, and maybe these emotions were terribly strong... But in the end, they were all dissolved
by a simple apology.

"You finally came."

Ji Yunhe's heart twitched.

The black smoke swirled and grew around the demonic attachment, celebrating her closure to a
century of pain and suffering.

It danced like the feathers of a black phoenix and gracefully ascended into the sky.

A song sounded from the distance, seemingly unintentional, but it matched the rhythm of the
dancing smoke.

The most beautiful dance and the most beautiful song, like a divine, heavenly combination. Ji
Yunhe appreciated the perfection unfolding before her.

Then the song stopped and the dance dissipated. All that was left was the distant call of a phoenix,
which soon faded away into nothing as well.

Ji Yunhe looked at the boundless golden sky and spaced out for a long time. Then a low sound of
rumbling woke her up.

A large whirlpool appeared in the middle of the water where the demonic attachment had been, and
it drained down at an astonishing speed.
 Ji Yunhe froze. It was too late to think about the situation. All she knew was that this was the eye
of the formation and their only way out. With this sudden and unexpected change, they probably had to
leave right away or be trapped forever.

Ji Yunhe immediately took off and ran. Not to jump into the pool, but toward Changyi.

She did not want to become a second Ning Ruochu and make someone wait for a hundred years.

She made the promise, she had to keep it.

But before she was able to get far, the big-tailed fish already dashed over from the other end of the
stream like an arrow.

He was faster than her legs by an immeasurable amount.

Ji Yunhe complained, "You can swim by yourself! Why did you make me carry you everywhere?!"

Being scolded as soon as he arrived, Changyi felt a bit perplexed. "We were not at the stream
earlier."

"Forget it, there's no time to bicker," Ji Yunhe said as she rushed to his side. The two of them stood
where the stream merged with the pool, and she pointed a finger. "Let's discuss this."

"Discuss what?"

"Look, earlier when the pool was overflowing, water flowed into the stream. Now with the pool
sinking, the stream is pouring into the pool instead. There is nothing in this Ten Square Formation, so
logically there shouldn't be water either. And among the five elements, water is the main source of life.
Now with the water rapidly receding, according to my understanding, it means the way of life here is
being cut off. This Ten Square Formation will soon become a dead formation. To get out, we have to
jump now."

"Then let's jump."

"But this is just my guess, which could be wrong. It is also possible that if we jump, we will be
trapped instead. What's down there and what will happen to us, I don't know."

Changyi turned his head to look at Ji Yunhe. "Both choices are uncertain, so what do you want to
discuss with me?"

"Do you know rock, scissors and paper?"

Changyi: "..."

He was silent for a moment and asked, "What is that?"

 Changyi thought it must be some kind of an extraordinary spell or magic weapon for her to bring it
up at a time like this.

"Come." Ji Yunhe held out her hand.

Changyi followed and also extended his hand.

"This is rock, this is scissors, and this is paper," she said while demonstrating on her hand.

Changyi earnestly noted them down.

Ji Yunhe stared at his eyes and continued, "I'll count to three and you randomly gesture one of
them. One, two, three!"

Ji Yunhe made paper, and although Changyi was confused, he made a rock with his hand.

She wrapped her palm around his fist. "I made paper that could wrap around your rock, so I win."

Changyi was dumbfounded.

The sound of water draining still roared inside their ears. He asked her, "So?"

"I've decided that if I win, we jump. If you win, we stay." She held his fist and smiled. "So, let's
jump."

Changyi was confused again. This jiaoren that was always calm and waveless no matter how scary
the situation, now had a face full of question marks.

"Just like that?"

Wasn't this a matter of life and death?

"When we have no choice, we might as well leave it up to fate."

Ji Yunhe did not wait for him to respond. She looked at him with a smile and fell backward into
the draining pool, her hand still holding on to his with no intention of letting go.

A human hand was so much warmer than his. The heat seemingly channeled through his arm, into
his heart, and down to every single scale on his tail.

Long silver hair flew in the air, a strand of it still grasping onto the residual warmth left by her
lips.

Changyi silently watched her as she pulled his body down into the darkness.

He did not struggle or resist.

 He felt that compared to him, this girl who jumped into an unknown abyss with a smile was more
like...

… a demon.
Chapter 20: Choices

The golden light of the sky grew further and further away as they fell.

Ji Yunhe was not without fear when the darkness swallowed her. But she preferred doing
something over sitting around and waiting, even if it might be the wrong move.

She held Changyi's hand and listened to the roaring grow louder, until...

Splash!

They finally reached the sinking water.

Changyi had mentioned that the pool was bottomless, and he was right.

Ji Yunhe closed her mouth and nose tightly, held her breath, and followed the downward pull.

Then she felt a tug that swept her into a pair of arms warmer than the icy water.

Changyi embraced her.

This was his kingdom.

He held her with one hand and gently stroked her face with the other.

Ji Yunhe felt the pressure around her instantly disappear. It startled her and she parted her lips, but
no water entered her mouth. "Changyi," she called out his name.

"Hmm?"

She could hear his reply.

"I didn't think you fish had such practical magic," Ji Yunhe said. "But this spell shouldn't be of
much use to you, right?"

"This is the first time I've used it."

"Changyi, within this short period of time, how many first times have I taken from you?"

Although still in the dark, Ji Yunhe was now relaxed enough to joke around. But Changyi went
silent for a long time after her question.
 Knowing his nature, Ji Yunhe teased, "You're not really thinking about it, are you?"

"I haven't finished counting yet..."

Ji Yunhe was really amused by him. She laughed and shook her head in his arms. "You are such a
serious big-tailed fish."

"It is good to be serious."

"Yes, I just didn't expect someone as serious and rigorous as you would sing for a possessed
demon."

Changyi did not respond this time.

"What did you sing?"

"A jiaoren's song, praising freedom."

After hearing this, the smile on Ji Yunhe's face faded a little. She looked at the endless darkness in
front of them and said, "That's what should be sung, Changyi, we are also going to be free."

While falling into the water, Ji Yunhe felt that this was indeed their way out. The further they went,
the more she could feel the energy flow from outside. Changyi was now able to use magic to help her
breath, and she could also detect her hidden pulse.

If they continued going down, they would definitely get out of the Ten Square Formation. With the
antidotes in her pocket, she would be free to leave the Demon Valley and roam the world.

As if to confirm Ji Yunhe's thoughts, a dim light appeared within the darkness below. It illuminated
Ji Yunhe and Changyi's eyes, and at the same time, the scales on his tail.

His scale armor glimmered like stars, making Ji Yunhe feel as if they were soaring through the
Milky Way.

"Changyi, after we leave the Demon Valley, I will return you back to the sea," Ji Yunhe said. "Then
I'll go travel the world. And when I'm about to die, I'll move to the beach. If destiny allows us to meet
again, you can sing me a song too like you did today."

Changyi did not understand why she would say such a thing right now. Obviously the sky would be
high and the sea would be wide once they got out, but she seemed to... always feel as if she was facing
death.

But Changyi did not probe, he only asked, "Sing what?"

"Praise for freedom," Ji Yunhe said. "Maybe true freedom can only be attained on that day."
 "Okay. When that day comes, I will go find you."

He agreed without a time, date, or place. But Ji Yunhe knew this fish would definitely keep his
promise.

She smiled and ushered in the end of the darkness.

Daylight broke.

A jiaoren and a demon master emerged from the cold water and leapt out. The warm sun of spring
shined onto their bodies.

Ji Yunhe felt a bit weak and drained of energy. She laid on the ground and panted. Changyi's
breathing was also a bit heavy next to her.

Ji Yunhe gathered some air and raised her head. She looked at Changyi and started to smile, but the
smile froze on her face.

A circle of demon masters had rushed forward and surrounded them.

Ji Yunhe felt an overwhelming sense of hopelessness. All the color of blood faded from her face.

She was all too familiar with this place.

The backyard of Li Feng Hall, where the Valley Master lived. Although it was now in shambles
with bricks and stones all over the floor, Ji Yunhe still recognized it. She looked back and saw the water
they had jumped out from was the pond behind Li Feng Hall.

Who could have guessed that this pond would be the main eye of the Ten Square Formation.

Ji Yunhe felt ridiculous.

She had thought of a thousand possibilities, but did not think of ending up here.

"Master Warden?"

Someone among the demon masters recognized her. Then someone else shouted, "Why is she with
the jiaoren?"

Another person muttered, "We searched all over the valley, so she was the one who took him. What
did she want to do?"

"Earlier when everyone was fighting the jade phoenix, she was absent..."

Ji Yunhe did not move, but thoughts raced through her mind.
 The jade phoenix must have left a good while ago. What happened to Snow March? Now was not
the time to inquire.

After Qing Ji left, the people in the valley must have realized that the jiaoren's cage had fallen and
searched for him. This was a task sent by Princess Shunde after all. The entire valley would be in trouble
if they were to lose him.

And now, the great Master Warden of the Demon Valley fell out of a pond behind Li Feng Hall…
with him.

Ji Yunhe had only two choices.

The first was to immediately wound Changyi, capture him, and tell everyone that she had
accidentally fallen into the Ten Square Formation while chasing after him, and made it out just now.

Second, was a bloodbath.

For Ji Yunhe, there was no doubt the first choice would be much better. If this had been her first
day meeting him, she would have chosen that one.

But now...

She had talked to him, heard him sing, and her life had been saved by him...

Ji Yunhe took a deep breath and stood up. Water still dripped from her clothes, falling onto the
gravel beneath her feet.

She channeled the spiritual power in her body and flipped her hand. A sword unsheathed itself from
the nearest demon master and flew into her grasp.

She had never wanted to do this, but the hand of fate would not let her go.

Changyi, who remained silent this whole time, suddenly moved. His tail swept across the pond and
stirred up millions of water drops, each one forming into an icicle and flying out toward the crowd.

He attacked first.
Chapter 21: Puppet

The demon masters were caught off guard. Almost every one of them had been injured in the fight
against the jade phoenix, so they had very little power to fend off Changyi’s attack.

They panicked and scattered in all directions. Ji Yunhe grew hopeful. Maybe there really was a
chance for them to fight their way out.

She tightened her grip on the sword, and at that moment, something white flashed through the
crowd. Upon seeing who had just arrived, Ji Yunhe's eyes widened.

The Valley Master's demon slave, Qing Shu. She seemed to have suffered some injuries as well
from the jade phoenix. There were still blood marks on her forehead, but this injury did not affect her
power.

Ji Yunhe's heart pounded inside her chest. She was not worried about whether or not Changyi could
take on Qing Shu, she was just afraid… if Qing Shu had come, then that old man would not be far
behind.

She looked at the main hall and watched in a daze as Lin Canglan rolled out in his wheelchair.
Before Ji Yunhe could even focus her eyes, a streak of light pierced into her forehead.

Her entire skull felt as if it were going to explode.

The pain instantly took away all of her strength. She collapsed onto the ground and the longsword
fell from her hand.

Between the swirling heaven and earth, she only saw countless icicles and swords clash in the air
with an endless chain of clatter. Then her world fell into a dead silence.

Ji Yunhe did not know how long she wandered in the darkness. It felt like ten thousand years, but
also like a split second. When she could feel the presence of her limbs again, it was someone sticking a
needle into her fingertip.

All five senses were recovered instantly.

Ji Yunhe opened her eyes. Her body was still too weak to move, but her eyes had already explored
her surroundings.

She was back.

Back in this room that she was all too familiar with. Her residence in the Demon Valley, her
courtyard, her prison.

Although this room looked a bit withered from the previous chaos, the invisible bars of captivity
were still so strong.

Valley Master's fox demon slave, Qing Shu, sat quietly by her bed performing acupuncture on her.
Her body regained life wherever the needle landed.

Ji Yunhe wanted to sit up, but as soon as she moved, the sharp pain between her eyebrows started
again.

"The soul needle has not yet been resolved, you know the consequences if you move around too
much," Qing Shu said coldly.
 The soul needle was Lin Canglan's secret technique. It suppressed people's souls and all their
senses, rendering their bodies useless.

Qing Shu continued, "The Valley Master does not want you dead yet."

Ji Yunhe wanted to laugh.

Of course. Inside this Demon Valley, who would have the freedom to choose death?

Ji Yunhe struggled and opened her mouth, "Where is the jiaoren?" She exhausted all the strength in
her body asking this question.

Qing Shu glanced at her and said, "Locked up again."

Maybe he was still too weak from his injuries and had failed to defeat that old man? But come to
think of it, although they did not know each other very long, his nature would not allow him to abandon
a friend and escape on his own.

When she fell unconscious, she likely became a burden to him...

With a silent sigh, Ji Yunhe closed her eyes.

How were they supposed to escape now...

"The medicine you stole from the master's study, I found them," Qing Shu continued.

Ji Yunhe was startled at first, then quickly calmed down. From the moment she left the Ten Square
Formation and landed in the backyard of Li Feng Hall, she already knew of this outcome. Lin Canglan
was bound to be aware of what she had done.

"What do you guys want?" Ji Yunhe did not avoid looking at Qing Shu.

She was prepared to bear the worst, whether life or death, torture or suffering.

Qing Shu laughed condescendingly. "Just some cold medication. If you want them, you can have
them. The Valley Master is generous and will not condemn you for it," she removed a needle and said
with eyes full of mockery. "I placed it on your table."

Cold medication...

Lin Canglan knew of her intentions. He had prepared this setup in his study a long time ago and
waited for this chance to embarrass her.

Telling her he was generous, and would not condemn her… while stepping all over her confidence
and self respect.
 Qing Shu did not care at all about the look on Ji Yunhe's face. She withdrew the last needle from
her forehead, and gave her back the control of her body.

A needle could suppress her soul and keep her from all movements. A hand could also pull the
needle out. It was like telling Ji Yunhe that she was just a puppet. Neither life nor death was up to
herself.

It was so easy to manipulate her.

"Ji Yunhe, the master does not care about what you think. But what you think has to stay inside
your head. What you do, however, has to be what he tells you."

Ji Yunhe sneered.

"You wanted to openly fight with the demon masters in the valley, and he restrained you." Qing
Shu placed her needle back into a satchel. "The master helped preserve your position as Master Warden.
You should go and thank him for his mercy and kindness."

As if the room was filled with invisible threads tied to her every joint. Ji Yunhe closed her eyes.
She could not bear to see herself like this.

She had thought she would be free after leaving the Ten Square Formation, but unexpectedly, that
formation turned out to be her short-lived freedom.

"Lady Qing Shu."

A call came from outside the door.

Qing Shu gently replied, "Come in."

A demon master pushed through the door and walked in, then whispered something into Qing Shu's
ear. Her eyes lit up and she turned her head to stare at Ji Yunhe lying on the bed.

"Ji Yunhe, the Valley Master wants you to immediately report to the Li Feng Hall."

Ji Yunhe rolled over and turned her back on Qing Shu and the demon master. She did not even
bother opening her eyes. "I am injured and sick. Sorry, I can't comply with orders right now."

That old man, Lin Canglan, wanted her to live and maintained her position as Master Warden. She
would be a fool if she did not take advantage of this situation. Having endured their mockery in good
spirit, surely resting in bed would not be too much to ask.

Qing Shu said, "The jiaoren spoke."

Ji Yunhe opened her eyes.

 "He asked, 'What will you do to her?'"

No need to question, "her" referred to Ji Yunhe.

Ji Yunhe was still lying on the bed, but now her body was as uncomfortable as if she had rolled
onto a board of nails.
Chapter 22: Showdown

Princess Shunde had three wishes. The first was for the jiaoren to speak human words. The second
was for him to grow legs. The third was for him to serve without rebellion.

Now, Princess Shunde's first wish had been granted.

And it was Ji Yunhe who made it happen. At the beginning of this competition, she was determined
and confident that she could make him speak before Lin Haoqing.

But...

Not like this.

The light from the sky streaked in from broken walls, and stopped exactly one foot in front of the
high seat.

Lin Canglan sat in the shadows, his eyes looked more shady due to the contrasting light. His face
was covered with wrinkles as deep as rolling hills.

Qing Shu stood behind him, more concealed than his shadow. Lin Haoqing stood on the right side
of the hall in the daylight. At first glance, he looked tall and steady and his face was calm, as if he were
still the gentle big brother Ji Yunhe had known.

Other demon masters stood along both sides of the hall.

Everyone watched in silence as Ji Yunhe walked step by step toward the master's high seat, and
finally stopped three feet before Lin Canglan. "All hail the Valley Master," she knelt down and saluted
as usual.

Lin Canglan smiled, and the folds on his face deepened a little more. "Arise. You are now a
meritorious servant of the Demon Valley."

"Thank you, Valley Master." Ji Yunhe got up and remained standing in the center of the hall.

Lin Canglan continued, "The jade phoenix has caused pandemonium inside our valley and took
away Snow March. A number of demon masters were killed, injured or still missing..." He coughed
twice, seemingly in discomfort. "The court was furious. They have sent the Grand Master to hunt down
both the demon bird and Snow March."
 Ji Yunhe's face remained emotionless, but her heart sighed with relief.

Still wanted meant not caught yet.

Snow March was free and safe.

This chaos had at least granted one person's freedom.

"The court originally wanted to condemn our valley, but, well, you..." Lin Canglan pointed to Ji
Yunhe, "you completed Princess Shunde's first wish. She was very pleased and spoke in our favor to the
emperor. Yunhe, you have brought mercy upon the Demon Valley."

Releasing the jade phoenix was a threat to national security, yet getting the jiaoren to speak was a
private matter. This current emperor... Ji Yunhe scornfully laughed inside her head. This little emperor
was truly incompetent.

It was apparent that his sister, Princess Shunde, held more power.

Ji Yunhe's face showed no trace of what she thought to herself. "Yunhe just got lucky."

"Valley Master," a man walked out from the side and saluted Lin Canglan. "It is fortunate for us
that the stubborn jiaoren spoke, but I have a few questions I would like for Master Warden to answer."

Ji Yunhe glanced at him. This was one of Lin Haoqing's men. Lin Haoqing was trying to cause her
some trouble.

She stayed silent.

Lin Canglan would know of Lin Haoqing's intentions. If Lin Canglan allowed this, then it would be
Lin Canglan who wanted to trouble her.

The only one she needed to deal with inside this hall was Lin Canglan.

Lin Canglan stared at the man for a moment and coughed twice, "Proceed."

Ji Yunhe took a breath. This old fox, he really just could not handle anyone living in peace.

"Yes. I would like to know, when we fought with the jade phoenix, Master Warden was nowhere in
sight. Master Warden is highly capable but did not fight such a strong enemy with us, may I ask where
were you and what you were doing at the time? This is my first question."

"Secondly, you all know the jiaoren is stubborn. Master Warden disappeared with him. Where did
they go and what did they do? Why did they appear in the backyard of Li Feng Hall? This is my second
question. Thirdly, after they reappeared, when Master Warden fell unconscious, the jiaoren guarded her
and protected her with his life..."
 Protected her with his life...

Changyi, you silly fish, did you have to...

Ji Yunhe's heart fluttered emotionally, but she did not dare to let it show.

"After being captured, the jiaoren's first words spoken were to inquire about her safety. I want to
know, what is the relationship between him and Master Warden?"

The demon master stopped. Ji Yunhe turned her head and asked him, "Are you done?"

Her eyes were cold, and the person who had asked the questions was visibly frightened.

He forced himself to be calm. "Master Warden, please provide some answers."

"Basically, you just want to know what exactly I have been doing all this time. There is nothing to
hide."

Ji Yunhe looked around at the crowd. "I did not participate in the battle with the jade phoenix
because after the cat demon broke the seal, I saw the crack in the ground was heading straight for the
jiaoren's prison. I was worried about him running away, so I went ahead to check on it. The battle with
the jade phoenix was extremely important, so was ensuring the jiaoren did not escape. All of you fought
with your lives to protect the reputation of the Demon Valley, to keep the jiaoren secure was also our
duty."

"And with the jade phoenix, whether I helped or not wouldn't make a difference. But to handle the
jiaoren, I alone would suffice."

Ji Yunhe spoke loudly and confidently. Her words were neither fast nor slow. The demon masters
looked at each other, and no one stood out to refute her.

"I found him and his cage embedded in the cracks between the rocks, and was wondering about
what to do when the Ten Square Formation reactivated. You all should remember what it was like."

The crowd nodded their heads.

"The jiaoren and I disappeared because we were pulled in by the Ten Square Formation."

There was an uproar in the hall.

The demon master who had asked the questions asked again, "The Ten Square Formation had been
broken, the Valley Master only used the remnants of the formation to deal with the jade phoenix, how
could you be pulled in by it?"

"Why would I lie? There were ten eyes of the Ten Square Formation. One was under the jiaoren's
cage, and another was in the backyard pond of Li Feng Hall. That's why the jiaoren and I suddenly
appeared in the pond. If you don't believe me, then explain how I was able to drag such a large, shiny
fish, avoid everyone's eyes and ears, and mysteriously walk from his dungeon to Li Feng Hall? And why
would I do such a thing?"

"Well..."

"Furthermore, The jiaoren protecting me and caring about my safety, what's wrong with that?"

In fact, Ji Yunhe had hoped someone would question her. Else she would not have the opportunity
to gloat.

"When I teach the newcomers in the valley, I always say harnessing a demon is not about beating
them into submission. We have to see into their hearts, identify and relate with them, so as to make them
obedient out of their own will. Don't forget that Princess Shunde not only wanted him to talk and grow
legs, she also wanted him to be loyal."

Ji Yunhe condescendingly looked at the demon masters in the hall. None of them talked back when
it came to their profession.

Ji Yunhe then asked, "The stubborn temperament of the jiaoren, aren't you all well aware of it? If
he could be made to submit by ordinary means, why would Princess Shunde send him to our valley?
Why can't I use gentler tactics to make him submit in a different way? I'm a demon master, is it a crime
to put on an act before him?"

The whole room was silent.

She told half truths and half lies, no one could question anything.

The only thing she did not mention was stealing the medicine from Lin Canglan's study.

But Qing Shu had told her that they were just common cold medication, and that the master would
not condemn her for this. He also wanted her to stay alive, and protected her Master Warden title.

So even though Ji Yunhe lied openly and honestly in front of Lin Canglan, he would not call her
out on it.

He made it difficult for her just so his son could witness how this treacherous Ji Yunhe would
cunningly dig her way out of trouble. He wanted to tell his son that these tactics used on her were not
good enough.

Using Ji Yunhe to educate his child.

This old fox had always been like this.

She briefly looked at Lin Haoqing. As expected, his face was gloomy and his hands were held into
fists.

Ji Yunhe no longer felt anything in these scenarios. Over the years, she had grown accustomed to
being hated.

Lin Canglan openly used her under the watch of everyone, today, Ji Yunhe decided to also make a
request under the public eye.

"Valley Master, in the Ten Square Formation, I thought about ways to tame this jiaoren to be more
docile, so as to fulfill Princess Shunde's wishes."

"Oh?" Lin Canglan stared at Ji Yunhe. "What have you thought of?"

"Due to his stubborn nature, I believe a gentle, coaxing technique is the only approach. And now
that I have gained some trust from the jiaoren, I hope the Valley Master will grant me the right to
command others to leave or to stop punishing him."

Ji Yunhe looked at Lin Canglan with a cold face, as if she really was going all out to tame the
demon for the competition.

He would think she really had the ambition to be the next Valley Master. He would also think she
was planning to use this competition to rebel.

But he would never guess that she simply did not want Changyi to get beaten again.

She did not want to see him tortured, and half dead.

He deserved the best this world could offer.

And such a simple thought would never cross Lin Canglan's mind.

Lin Canglan stared at her, then soon made his decision. He was always confident that he could
calculate a few steps ahead of others.

He coughed then said, "Of course. Although there is a competition between you and Haoqing, the
heart of the Demon Valley is to serve the royal family. Whoever can accomplish Princess Shunde's task
has my full support."

Ji Yunhe's lips curled into a smile.

In full view of the public eye, Lin Canglan was bound to make such a choice. Because it would be
impossible for the court to control everything remotely. Among the demon masters here, there had to be
a spy or two.

So Lin Canglan could not act without reason, and Ji Yunhe's words were not just for the people of
the valley to hear.
 Another power was watching over them.

But Ji Yunhe was truly happy. From now on she could rightfully stop those endless torments on
Changyi.

And as for what others thought of her smile, she did not care.

"However," Lin Canglan spoke again, "Yunhe just woke up from a loss of consciousness. The
priority now is to recuperate the body. You are all my children, take care of your health."

Ji Yunhe was not sure what Lin Canglan had intended with this statement, so she made a salute and
nodded “yes.”

Lin Canglan then waved his hand. "An old body tires easily. You may all leave."

The demon masters saluted then dispersed. Ji Yunhe and Lin Haoqing walked behind the crowd.
They did not greet each other, but Lin Haoqing glanced at Ji Yunhe as he passed by.

"You won the first round."

Ji Yunhe quietly watched him leave.

She left only after everyone else was gone.

The day was bright outside the ruined hall. Ji Yunhe lifted her head and basked in the sun for a
moment before walking on.

She liked the sun, the only true source of light inside this dark valley full of trickery and deceit.
Chapter 23: Tail Splitting

As night fell, Ji Yunhe wanted to visit Changyi. But as soon as she exited her courtyard, two demon
masters standing guard appeared.

They stopped her. "Master Warden, the Valley Master wishes for you to rest for a few days. We
hope you do not let him down."

"I'm tired of laying around in the house, going out for a walk would be considered a rest." Ji Yunhe
brushed aside one person's hand and took a step forward, but they blocked her again.

"Master Warden, the Valley Master wants you to rest inside the house."

Ji Yunhe eyed them and scoffed under her breath. Lin Canglan, that old fox, was small-minded and
petty. He was probably holding a grudge against her for making a request at the hall today, so this was a
random excuse to put her under house arrest.
 "Then, according to the master, how long should I rest?"

"We do not dare to speculate the master's intentions."

Tight lips.

Ji Yunhe nodded, "Fine." She left the courtyard door wide open and went back inside the house.
Then she walked to the inner room without closing the door again, and started rummaging through some
boxes.

The two people at the door looked at each other with puzzled faces, but they did not say anything.

After a few moments, Ji Yunhe came out with a tea table and a bunch of tea utensils. She was not at
all upset about being under house arrest. She placed the table inside the courtyard, positioned the pot and
cups, and turned to the two guards, "It is too stuffy to sit inside the house, and you must be tired
standing there. Come and have some tea with me."

She made a hand gesture and magically lit a stick of incense. The aroma swirled up, scattered in the
wind and floated into their noses.

The two looked at each other again in confusion, then shook their heads. "We appreciate Master
Warden's kindness, but we will just keep watch here so no one else can disturb your peace."

"That's fine." Ji Yunhe did not press on. She sat down and leisurely brewed some tea.

The moon was hazy and the night was quiet, even insects rarely made a chirp.

The whole courtyard had only sounds of tea cups clinking. After the incense burned out, Ji Yunhe
stretched, stood up, and walked to the door again. No one reached out to stop her this time.

Ji Yunhe looked at the two people standing against the wall. Their eyes were closed and they were
deep asleep. One even snored a little.

"I offered tea to help you stay awake, but you refused. See? Dozed off didn't you." Ji Yunhe
stretched again. "Half an hour of sleep is still good, you are all tired. I'll be back later."

She waved her hand and swaggered away, leaving the doors wide open again.

She walked through the sea of flowers in the middle of the valley. The garden had suffered a lot of
damage in the battle. Most of the flowers had been destroyed and the earth was cracked everywhere.

Ji Yunhe sighed. The fragrance from the flowers had a very tranquilizing effect, and with a little
refining, they could be made into incense no different from sleeping pills.

A pity that she had only made a few. Now with the sea of flowers in ruins, it could take years for
them to grow into a lush garden again. If not for her wanting to see Changyi, she would not have used
such a precious possession.

Ji Yunhe did not dwell in this wasteland for long and headed straight for the new dungeon where he
was being held.

There was no one around on the way. The more she walked, the more curious she felt. How
important was the jiaoren to the Demon Valley? Having escaped once already, how could Lin Canglan
not swarm this place with guards?

Once she arrived at the new dungeon, her curiosity turned into panic. With Lin Canglan's
intentional house arrest on her, she already had a guess. But this guess was something she did not want
to believe, so she tried her best to deny it.

Still no guards. Ji Yunhe's legs trembled as she ran toward the cell.

Torches sat on the stone walls, their flames jumped back and forth. Ji Yunhe's footsteps echoed in
the empty dungeon as she approached the black iron bars full of yellow talismans. So many that they
would suppress all demonic power.

She saw two people inside.

One was Lin Haoqing, standing there holding a knife. The other one was Changyi, nailed to the
wall. Blood flowed all over the floor.

Lin Haoqing's knife was sharp and cold. Blood still dripped from the blade, drop by drop onto the
ground below.

Changyi's hands and neck were fixed to the wall by steel. His skin was a horrible white, his silver
hair draped down and covered his face, and the huge fish tail that belonged to him... was gone.

His tail had been split into two, each half slowly transforming into the shape of a human leg.

Ji Yunhe stood outside the cell, all of the warm blood inside her body disappeared in an instant. A
chill washed over her front and back, up her spine, into her head, then froze her entire brain.

Her face grew pale.

"Changyi..." with trembling lips, she stuttered his name.

But she did not get a response.

His head drooped down as if he were dead. The jiaoren had always maintained his clarity no matter
how great the torture. Now… he was completely unconscious.

Although her voice did not wake Changyi, it made Lin Haoqing turn around.
 He did not seem surprised that Ji Yunhe would come.

Lin Haoqing flung the knife in his hand, sending drops of blood into the air. Some landed on Ji
Yunhe's feet, others landed on the hem of her dress.

"It's too late," Lin Haoqing said as he put the knife back into its sheath. "The jiaoren's tail was split
by me, everyone knows."

Lin Haoqing spoke indifferently.

He did not care how Ji Yunhe came, nor did he care what was done to the jiaoren. He only cared
that Princess Shunde's second wish was granted by him.

"You won the first round." These words, which Lin Haoqing had said not long ago in front of Li
Feng Hall, suddenly echoed inside Ji Yunhe's ears.

It turned out this was what he had meant.

He deliberately said this phrase because he was determined to win the second round.

Lin Canglan's house arrest on her, Lin Haoqing splitting the tail... Father and son partnered up and
gave her a good performance.

These thoughts flooded into Ji Yunhe's mind, and all the hot blood poured back into her brain.

He looked at Ji Yunhe with amusement. "To successfully split open a jiaoren's tail, he needs to be
willing. You can use his affection to make him talk, I can also use his affection for you to make him
grow legs."

Lin Haoqing's words exploded in Ji Yunhe's head. She looked at Changyi on the wall and watched
his split tail gradually become more leg-like. His beautiful fish scales withered and fell all over the
ground like a field of dead crumbs. The lotus fin had disappeared, now slowly forming into five
segments on the end of each half.

Ji Yunhe clenched her fingers into a fist.

Lin Haoqing stared at her, then called her name like the gentle big brother from the old days,
"Yunhe." He smiled, and the shady look in his eyes was exactly the same as the old fox on top of that
great hall...

"You gave me the idea."

Ji Yunhe bit down her teeth and the vein on her forehead popped. Then she kicked down the cell
door with bloodshot eyes and charged in.

Lin Haoqing stared at her, and saw a rage in her that he had never seen in the past.
 Before he could react, Ji Yunhe punched him in the face.

With the sound of flesh meeting flesh, Lin Haoqing was defenselessly knocked to the ground. He
opened his mouth and spat out a couple of teeth mixed with saliva and blood.

Ji Yunhe then rushed forward and grabbed Lin Haoqing's collar like a fierce beast. Two punches,
three punches, countless punches rained down onto his face.

The pain and dizziness made Lin Haoqing lose focus for a moment, but Ji Yunhe did not care. As if
she wanted to beat him to death, her fists fell on his face like mad.

Finally, Lin Haoqing raised his hand with all his might and blocked her punch.

Blood was dripping, but it was no longer clear whether it was his blood or the blood from her own
fist.

"Ji Yunhe, you've gone insane." Lin Haoqing's one eye was blood-filled from the beating and it
made him look like a devil.

Looking out from his eyes, the whole cell was a color of blood. And Ji Yunhe, who was sitting on
him and grabbing at his collar, was the only thing he could see clearly.

She displayed so many emotions at once. Pain, hatred, anger and sadness.

"How did you become like this?" Ji Yunhe's voice was so hoarse that it would have been
impossible for Lin Haoqing to hear if not for the extreme silence in the dungeon.

Lin Haoqing laid on the ground. His bloody eyes looked directly at her, seemingly devoid of light
and soul. Then he smiled like a wooden man who did not know the pain of the flesh. Lin Haoqing asked
Ji Yunhe with a voice that was also raspy and hoarse:

"Isn't this the young valley master that you all want?"
Chapter 24: Things of the Past

Lin Haoqing's words made it impossible for Ji Yunhe's fist to land on his face again.

She knew very well why he had become this way.

While Ji Yunhe was spacing out, Lin Haoqing lifted her off of himself. He wiped a handful of
blood from the corner of his mouth, glanced at the wall, then laughed out loud.

"Master Warden." Lin Haoqing straightened his back and looked arrogantly at Ji Yunhe who was
still sitting on the ground. "His transformation is complete. If you want to get on with him, then get on
with him."
 Lin Haoqing covered his mouth, coughed twice, and did not mind the beating he had just received.
He opened the door and left.

Other than winning the second round, he did not seem to care about anything.

He just wanted to defeat her. Defeat the Master Warden who was better than him in everything
since they were kids.

Winning against her was enough to make him happy.

Ji Yunhe's anger, in his mind, was the resentment of a sore loser. The angrier she was, the happier
he felt.

Lin Haoqing left the dungeon with a smile on his face while Ji Yunhe looked at Changyi on the
wall.

The transformation was complete.

He was hanging naked on the wall with the legs of an ordinary human male, and all of their
features. His big beautiful tail had been lost and would never grow back.

Ji Yunhe clenched her fist, gritted her teeth, and pounded hard onto the bars beside her.

The cell vibrated and a yellow talisman slowly floated down from the top.

And in that instant, the person on the wall breathed out some air. It was an extremely soft sound,
but it was crystal clear in the dead silence.

Ji Yunhe suppressed all of her emotions, stood up and walked slowly over to Changyi.

The end of his long silver hair quivered as he woke up and opened his eyes. Their color was still
that same clear blue.

"Changyi," Ji Yunhe called him.

She did not put him down from the wall. A jiaoren who had just lost his tail, landing on his feet
perhaps would cause a lot of pain. She just quietly watched him.

Changyi's eyes met hers and looked at her for a long time before regaining focus. He opened his
mouth but was unable to speak.

The most important condition for splitting a jiaoren's tail to form legs was that he had to be willing.
Otherwise it would not succeed even if you were to chop his tail into pieces.

Ji Yunhe could guess how they managed to get Changyi to agree.

 "They must have lied to you." Ji Yunhe clenched her fists and the corners of her mouth trembled.
"I'm sorry."

Changyi looked at Ji Yunhe and said, "You're okay... that's all that matters." His voice was so faint
it was inaudible, but Ji Yunhe was able to read the movements of his lips.

And these words made her feel like she had been kicked in the chest.

She opened her mouth several times to say something, but in the end, she said nothing.

Facing him right now, she simply did not know what she could say to comfort him. Or maybe, he
did not need her comfort at all.

He had done what he wanted to do. He knew the consequences and made a choice...

"Changyi, how am I worthy of you doing this for me..."

Changyi did not speak. He probably also did not have the strength to speak. Splitting open the tail
had been very draining to him.

Ji Yunhe stopped asking. She stood in front of him and conjured a stream of water between her
fingertips. The damp walls of the dungeon also released countless drops of water. Together, they gently
moistened his body and washed away the blood.

Staring at the floor, Ji Yunhe suddenly spoke.

"Lin Haoqing was not like this before," she said. "When I first met him, he was very gentle and
kind. He treated me like a sister, and I treated him like a brother. At that time, he had a puppy given to
him by Lin Canglan. He named the puppy Flower, because the puppy loved to go and bite those flowers
in the garden, and toss them into the air."

She smiled as she reminisced about the good times.

"Soon after, Lin Canglan asked him to kill the dog. He wouldn't do it. He took a good beating, and
still wouldn't do it. Then Lin Canglan threatened him that if he didn't kill the dog, he would have to kill
me. And if he didn't kill me, then Lin Canglan would kill me himself."

Ji Yunhe's voice was flat, as if she were telling someone else's story.

"Lin Haoqing choked Flower to death while he cried up a storm."

Ji Yunhe waved her hand, and the rain in the dungeon fell a little heavier. "There was a
thunderstorm that night, he was soaked to the skin when he strangled Flower in the courtyard. The dog
did not bite him back... Ling Haoqing was so upset he fell very ill the next day. Lin Canglan cooked
Flower and fed it to him spoon after spoon. He ate while vomiting. At the same time, he had to listen to
Lin Canglan's scolding, calling him a wimp, useless, good for nothing, and weak like a woman."
 "Lin Canglan said the future master of the Demon Valley has to be ruthless. Not only must he eat
the dogs he raises, but he also has to be able to eat the people he raises."

Changyi looked at Ji Yunhe, and although he was too weak to react, his eyes stayed on her and did
not move away.

"When Lin Haoqing got well, I went to see him and asked if he hated me. After all, he killed the
puppy he loved so much for me. But Lin Haoqing said no. He said I did nothing wrong. He said the one
thing in this matter that still allowed him to find a little comfort was that he saved me."

Ji Yunhe looked up and met Changyi's gaze. "Changyi, back then Lin Haoqing was quite similar to
you. But then later..."

Later, the blame was all on her.

"Lin Haoqing and I grew very close. We did homework together, and he would help me whenever I
didn't understand something. He often said I was smart. Lin Canglan also did not hold back on praising
me, even taking me as an adopted daughter. In the eyes of everyone else, we had a perfect relationship."

"But I was just a tool to train Lin Haoqing, just like Flower. Flower was the dog destined to be
eaten, and I was the person destined to be eaten."

Ji Yunhe's face grew cold. "Lin Canglan sent us to a cave trial. It was a cave full of snakes. Lin
Haoqing was more afraid of snakes than anything and everyone knew it. So Lin Canglan made me push
him in."

Ji Yunhe summarized it briefly. She did not go into the details about how Lin Canglan had fed her
poison after the death of Flower, and how she had to take an antidote every month in order to stay alive.

She became Lin Canglan's puppet on a string.

When Lin Canglan first asked her to push Lin Haoqing into the snake cave, she did not agree. As a
result, he withheld the monthly antidote and made her suffer for days. Lin Canglan told her if she did not
do it, someone else would.

So Ji Yunhe finally nodded her head.

She agreed.

Lin Canglan soon arranged for her to go to the snake cave with Lin Haoqing.

"Walking to the snake cave, Lin Haoqing was in the front. I blocked the road behind us so he could
not get out. He did not realize what kind of a situation he was in. He thought he was protecting me by
being in the front. He held back his fear and told me it was okay, that he would keep me safe, and that I
should run if there was danger up ahead."
 "I didn't run. I wasn't afraid of snakes like him. I blocked the way out and didn't move because I
was still hesitating." Ji Yunhe looked at her palm. "I was thinking, why don't I just jump in myself and
end it once and for all. But then something struck me in the arm and made me push toward him, then he
fell in."

Ji Yunhe did not push him. It was Qing Shu, who Lin Canglan had sent to spy on them. She did not
want to wait any longer and struck Ji Yunhe's elbow with a stone.

Neither her nor Lin Haoqing had the power to detect Qing Shu's presence at the time.

"I turned around and saw Lin Canglan's demon servant giving me a cold glare. I turned back and
saw Lin Haoqing also looking at me. He had fallen into the snake cave, and I can still remember the
shock and disbelief in his eyes."

"I understood then that Lin Canglan wanted a ruthless son, and things like this would happen again
and again until Lin Canglan got what he wanted. So when Lin Haoqing reached out his hand to me for
help, I made my choice."

"I stood at the edge of the snake cave and kicked away his hand." Ji Yunhe's eyes grew red. "I said,
why were you destined to become master of the Demon Valley as soon as you were born? You are such
a coward, you do not deserve it at all. I also said, I've been so sick of you all this time. Just die here!"

Ji Yunhe looked very upset even after so many years. She was silent for a long time, and when she
spoke again, her voice had become raspy.

"Later, Lin Haoqing seemed to have really died in that snake cave."

"After he was rescued, it was as if he had been possessed by a poisonous snake, and was no longer
the gentle boy he used to be."

Ji Yunhe ended her story. Only the sound of dripping water could still be heard inside the dungeon.
Every drop tugged at her heartstrings, making it difficult for her to calm down.

"For years, I believed I had made the right choice that day. Because Lin Haoqing was never forced
to suffer again by his father. But Changyi..." Ji Yunhe looked up at him.

He hung on the wall, his body had been washed clean of the blood, and the withered fish scales that
stuck to his skin like scabs were also washed away. But he was still of a pale, bloodless color.

"The choice I made back then brought you great suffering today," Ji Yunhe went on. "I was
wrong... I am so sorry… This is all my fault."

The dungeon stayed quiet for a while. Finally, Ji Yunhe heard a faint and gentle reassurance.

"Not your fault."

 His voice, like a soft brush, swept away all the debris around them, and smoothed all of her
emotional turmoil.
Chapter 25: Scarlet Whip

Ji Yunhe provided Changyi with a whole night of rain in the dungeon.

Changyi fell asleep again from his exhaustion. She stood at a distance and did not move.

The morning sunlight streaked in from the dungeon stairs, and the two demon masters who were
guarding her courtyard came rushing down the steps.

Ji Yunhe paid no attention to their panic. She gently untied Changyi from the wall and placed him
comfortably on the floor. Then she took off her jacket and covered his naked lower body.

"How could Master Warden release that demon?!"

"This is in defiance of the Valley Master's orders! This is not a good idea! Please come with us to
see the master!"

Ji Yunhe did not respond to any of their assertions. She turned around irritably, "Alright already.
Quit making so much noise."

She conjured a drop of water on her fingertip then carefully pressed it against Changyi's mouth. His
lips parted a bit and took it in.

Ji Yunhe stood up, followed the two demon masters out of the dungeon, and headed for the Li Feng
Hall.

Repair work had begun across the valley now that the jade phoenix had left and the jiaoren was
back under captivity.

Ji Yunhe approached the Li Feng Hall amidst sounds of knocking and tapping. It was covered by a
layer of construction gauze, shading it from the sun and making the inside warm and stuffy.

Lin Canglan's expression was grim and the corners of his mouth drooped, displaying the
displeasure of a superior. Ji Yunhe's footsteps grew heavy under his stare when she walked in.

But she did not stop, and her eyes were calm as she returned his gaze. Upon reaching the center,
she bent her knee and saluted as usual, "All hail the Valley Master."

Lin Canglan coughed and did not tell her to get up. "Hail to you. I'm afraid the children have grown
up. Their wings have hardened and they don't like to listen to the old man anymore."

Ji Yunhe did not respond.

 Lin Canglan waved his hand and Lin Haoqing walked over, kneeling down next to her.

The wound on his face did not get better over the night. It now looked even more hideous.

"Father."

Lin Canglan acknowledged him with a nod and gestured for him to stand up. Then he turned his
head and continued to question Ji Yunhe, "Yunhe, instead of resting properly in your room last night,
why did you go to the dungeon and do this to Haoqing?"

Ji Yunhe stayed silent.

Lin Canglan's eyes grew more and more grim. "Haoqing split the tail of the demon yesterday and
fulfilled Princess Shunde's second wish, but rather than honoring him, you decided to act out of
jealousy?"

Lin Canglan seemed so angry he started coughing again. The sound of his coughs mixed with the
construction outside the hall made Ji Yunhe feel somewhat irritated.

She looked at Lin Canglan on the stage with his demon servant Qing Shu behind him, and then
glanced at the silent Lin Haoqing. She snickered to herself -- they sure lived burdensome lives. More
ridiculous was that she also had to be the same way.

"You are all my children, you should not treat each other like this." As Lin Canglan talked, Qing
Shu stepped forward from behind him and threw a red whip onto the ground.

It immediately captured everyone's attention.

"According to the rules of the valley, what should be done when you hurt a fellow officer?"

Qing Shu replied, "Master, according to the rules of the valley, those who plot to harm a fellow
officer or wound a fellow officer are punishable with ten lashes from the scarlet whip. If lives were
taken, whip to death."

The scarlet whip was covered with tiny spikes like the tongue of a tiger. Landing on flesh, it would
rip off a good chunk of skin. Landing hard could rip a wound deep enough to see bone.

"Yunhe, as Master Warden, you should lead by example." Lin Canglan covered his mouth and
coughed for a long time before finally catching his breath. "Twenty lashes. Haoqing, you will carry it
out."

Lin Haoqing coldly nodded his head, picked up the scarlet whip and walked to Ji Yunhe's side.

Ji Yunhe looked up at him. Her eyes were calm but her mind thought of the day at the snake cave.
The eyes that stared at her from the bottom of the cave had life in them, anger, sadness, and disbelief.
 And now, his gaze was like dead water.

Ji Yunhe looked away.

The scarlet whip cracked and landed on her.

Lin Haoqing had become the young valley master that everyone wanted. Most importantly, he had
become the young valley master that Lin Canglan wanted. So he whipped without mercy.

After three whips, Ji Yunhe's back was already a bloody mess.

But she did not cry out in pain. She believed as long as a person could bear the consequences, there
was nothing he or she could not do in life. She chose to visit Changyi, beat Lin Haoqing, and stay out
overnight. Some of these were impulsive and some were deliberate.

But they all pointed to this outcome.

So she received it silently and without a blink.

Twenty whips landed on her body, and she swallowed all the blood.

After the whipping came to an end, Lin Canglan said, "Now that you've been punished, we can let
it pass. You may get up."

Ji Yunhe clenched her teeth and stood up. Lin Canglan waved his hand, signaling the end of the
meeting. She turned her bloodstained back and left the hall with everyone else.

A bloody trail formed behind her as she walked. If it were someone else, they would have been
carried out. But she seemed unaware of her wound.

The other demon masters all stared at her.

Ji Yunhe rarely received punishments. She had always known exactly what to do and how to do it.
Enraging Lin Canglan to the point of whipping her in public had never happened before.

So they had no idea that this normally relaxed and lazy Master Warden was so tough on the inside.

"Lin Haoqing," after leaving the Li Feng Hall, Ji Yunhe faintly called out to him. "Sea of flowers,
wasteland, snake cave. See you at noon."

Lin Haoqing paused briefly, but he did not turn his head. Then he walked away as if he did not hear
her.

Ji Yunhe also turned and walked off, as if she had not said anything.

She returned to her room, wiped the blood off of her back, changed her clothes, and went out again.
 This time, no one blocked her at the door. Lin Haoqing had finished splitting open Changyi's tail,
and her "misbehavior" had been punished, so she was now free to drag her half-dead body to do
whatever she wanted.

She checked her surroundings to make sure no one followed her, then walked into the sea of
flowers.

The snake cave, which was the scariest thing to them when they were young, now seemed to be just
a small cave.

Lin Haoqing was already waiting at the entrance when Ji Yunhe arrived. He stood alone in front of
the cave with his hands folded and looking at the distant road. It was difficult to tell what he was
thinking.

"Lin Haoqing," she called out his name.

He sneered, "What is it? You received a whipping in the hall and now you want payback?"

"Do you still remember what happened here?" Ji Yunhe did not dwell on what he said and just
pointed to the cave. "Do you want to know the truth?"

Lin Haoqing looked at Ji Yunhe. The sneering smile on his face faded, and his expression gradually
grew dim.
Chapter 26: Change

"Truth about what?" Lin Haoqing asked.

The wind blew through the desolate wasteland, creating a flurry of yellow dust.

"If you want to say that it wasn't you who pushed me into the snake cave, that it was Lin Canglan
who forced you..." he paused and resumed with a sneer, "I already know."

Lin Haoqing's answer was unexpected, but logical.

"Yunhe, I was cowardly back then, not stupid," Lin Haoqing said as he turned his head to look at
her. "After I was rescued from the snake cave, I did hate you at first. But after a few days I figured
everything out."

Right, Lin Haoqing was not stupid. Ji Yunhe was well aware of Lin Canglan's methods over the
years, of course Lin Haoqing would be too.

"Master Warden, don't overestimate yourself." Lin Haoqing looked at her with indifference. "It
wasn't you who changed me."

It was Lin Canglan.

 He made Ji Yunhe understand that if she did not push Lin Haoqing into the snake cave, then Lin
Haoqing would suffer a worse fate.

Lin Haoqing also understood...

So he willingly followed the path set by Lin Canglan and became what his father had always
wanted him to be.

Looking at Lin Haoqing, everything she wanted to say vanished.

"If you already know everything, then I have nothing more to say to you," Ji Yunhe said. "Take
care, young valley master."

She turned around to leave, but Lin Haoqing called out, "Wait."

Ji Yunhe barely turned her head a little.

"That was it?" Lin Haoqing asked.

"Yes."

Lin Haoqing smirked and said, "I split the jiaoren's tail, and it made you feel like what you did back
then was wrong, right?"

Ji Yunhe did not deny it.

"Do you want to make some changes?"

She turned to face Lin Haoqing. "The young valley master has a plan?"

"You came to tell me something today. Even though I already knew it, as a courtesy, I will also tell
you something." Lin Haoqing took two steps forward, leaned down slightly and whispered into her ear,
"I want to join hands with the Master Warden and kill... Lin Canglan."

His words were very light, scattering in the breeze like dandelion seeds. But they fell into Ji
Yunhe's ear and stirred up endless ripples throughout her body.

Her eyelashes trembled but she did not speak. Lin Haoqing straightened his body and took a step
back. Ji Yunhe watched his face and confirmed this son of the Valley Master was not joking with her.

He wanted to kill Lin Canglan, his father.

"When did you start thinking about this?"

"A long time ago."

 He was calm, as if they were just discussing the weather.

Ji Yunhe looked at him and suddenly felt like Lin Canglan had succeeded.

In the matter of changing Lin Haoqing, he did it with amazing success.

"Aren't you afraid that I'll go and tell him?" Ji Yunhe asked. "Lin Canglan will not tolerate anyone
having those ideas, even if you are his son."

Lin Haoqing smiled.

"I know what you want," he stared into her eyes and continued. "You don't like the Demon Valley
and want to leave."

"How did you know?"

"I had a vague feeling before but I wasn't sure. Even though Lin Canglan forced you to do a lot of
things, they might have been what you wanted to do anyway. But now... with the jade phoenix wreaking
havoc across the valley, instead of finding a way to deal with her for merit, Master Warden ran after the
jiaoren who fell to god knows where..."

Lin Haoqing looked at Ji Yunhe, smirking. "And then I checked the battle reports, Qu Xiaoxing
was on the list of the missing demon masters. Snow March was taken away, Qu Xiaoxing disappeared,
and you also wanted to run, right?"

Ji Yunhe was quiet.

"It's just a pity that you wanted too much. You also wanted to take the jiaoren." Lin Haoqing raised
his hand and gently tugged the hair around Ji Yunhe's ear. "The old man was wrong. You are the one
who's indecisive and soft, Yunhe. If that jiaoren hadn't dragged you down, you would be outside the
Demon Valley right now, happy and free."

Ji Yunhe brushed away Lin Haoqing's hand holding her hair.

"So you know what I want, what are you going to do about it?"

"I'll grant you freedom," said Lin Haoqing. "If you and I join hands and we successfully take him
down, I will become the new master of the Demon Valley. Then I will allow you to leave at will."

This was very tempting, but...

"I can't kill Lin Canglan."

Lin Haoqing raised his eyebrows. "You have no reason to refuse."

 "You just don't know the reason," Ji Yunhe said. "I was fed poison by Lin Canglan and need an
antidote every month."

Lin Haoqing furrowed his brows. It was now clear that Ji Yunhe's poison was such a top secret,
only Lin Canglan and his demon slave knew.

"So I can't join forces with you, because I need Lin Canglan alive. Unless..." Ji Yunhe looked at
him, "you give me the antidote. This is my only condition."

The wind howled again and swallowed their silence.

After a long time, Ji Yunhe said, "Young valley master, I never expected for someone else to take
care of this problem for me. I know it is very difficult."

Ji Yunhe looked at the silent Lin Haoqing and continued, "Regarding your feud between father and
son, there is nothing I can do. I am just a puppet with no free will. But don't worry, my disgust for Lin
Canglan is no less than yours, and I will not tell anyone of what you said today. Goodbye."

Ji Yunhe turned to leave.

"Yunhe," Lin Haoqing called her again, but this time she kept walking. "Do you think I'm the only
one who's been changed by him?"

Ji Yunhe's footsteps paused briefly, then continued to walk away.

She understood him.

He was no longer the Lin Haoqing she used to know, and she was also no longer the Ji Yunhe he
used to know.

Inside this Demon Valley, both of them had changed.

Chapter 27: Luo Jinsang

Ji Yunhe slowly walked back to her room. The wounds from the scarlet whip were bleeding again,
seeping through the clothes on her back.

She struggled a bit to remove her shirt and used a mirror to apply healing powder on the wound.
But it was too difficult to put medicine on herself. After several attempts, the powder sprinkled
everywhere but not much landed on her back.

"Aiye..."

Ji Yunhe did not sigh, but a girl's sigh sounded inside the room. Ji Yunhe raised her eyebrows
slightly, then looked to the corner where the sigh had come from, and without a word, threw the
medicine bottle in her hand.
 The bottle was thrown into the air, but did not fall to the ground. Instead, it stopped in mid-air as if
it had been caught by someone.

The bottle fluttered and swayed back toward her.

"What if I couldn't catch it?" The girl's voice came again, the tone was playful and lively. "If it
breaks, I will not get you a new one."

Ji Yunhe smiled at the mirror. After everything she had been through for the past couple of days,
the smile on her face was now finally genuine.

"Out playing for so many years, if you can't even catch a bottle anymore, then I really should give
you a good spanking." Ji Yunhe walked toward the bed.

And the medicine bottle wobbled and floated after her to the side of the bed.

Ji Yunhe flopped down onto her stomach, exposing her bloody back. "Be gentle."

The medicine bottle lowered, then its red cork was pulled loose and tossed aside. The girl's delicate
voice came again, "You still know about being gentle? I watched you undress yourself to put medicine
on as if you were unaware of pain at all. I thought my Master Warden had become invincible."

The medicine bottle moved over Ji Yunhe's back, and the powder slowly sprinkled down evenly
and gently across the wounds.

Ji Yunhe finally grimaced in pain as the powder penetrated every little cut. She grinded her teeth,
furrowed her eyebrows, clenched her fists, and tensed up all of her muscles.

After the medicine bottle landed back on the table, Ji Yunhe's pillow was already soaking with her
sweat.

"All done," the female voice said. "The application is finished. Where are the bandages? Get up, I'll
wrap it for you."

"It's under that cabinet." Ji Yunhe weakly pointed to the bookcase next to her.

A few moments later, the bookcase door was pulled open. The bandages inside floated out and
wrapped around Ji Yunhe's body layer after layer.

Ji Yunhe glanced at her side. "Still hidden? Are you avoiding me or avoiding thieves?"

"Oh!" The voice suddenly remembered. "I almost forgot. Being invisible is just so convenient." A
white light flashed and a youthful girl appeared, still wrapping bandages around Ji Yunhe.

The girl turned around and gave her a big smile as bright as a small sun, washing away much of her
gloom.
 Luo Jinsang was also a demon master. But she was different from other demon masters. To
everyone else's knowledge, Luo Jinsang was a dead person.

She had died on a winter day five years ago. A snow demon under captivity here in the valley had
gone crazy and she went to help restrain it, but it swallowed her whole. Everyone thought she was dead,
Ji Yunhe did too.

Luo Jinsang was lively, innocent and lovable. A rare person who's spirit remained untainted by the
Demon Valley. Ji Yunhe shared her secrets with Snow March and they weathered the storms together.
But with Luo Jinsang, Ji Yunhe protected her like a little sister.

After her "death", Ji Yunhe mourned for a very long time.

When she gradually came out of her grief, she found that... many strange events began to happen
around her...

For example, the food in the house would inexplicably disappear, there would always be a rustling
sound in the corner, and the door of the room would suddenly open in the middle of the night without
wind or rain...

Ji Yunhe felt like she was being haunted.

She had always been strong-minded, but all the weird things started to affect her sleep. She hung
yellow talismans and burned protection incense in the house. She even got Snow March to stake out in
the middle of the night several times, trying to catch the ghost. But they caught nothing.

After a month of much ado, with some help from Li Shu, they finally realized that an invisible
entity was living inside her room.

After another month of much ado, Ji Yunhe and Snow March finally determined that the invisible
entity was Luo Jinsang.

Luo Jinsang did not die after being swallowed. Once the snow demon was killed, she crawled out
of its stomach, but no one could see or hear her anymore. Sometimes she even passed through solid
objects and walls, as if she had really turned into a ghost.

She was very scared at first and ran to find Ji Yunhe, but Ji Yunhe also could not see her, so she
squatted in Ji Yunhe's house not knowing what to do. After a few days she grew very hungry and began
eating the food in her room.

Later, under the guidance of Li Shu, Ji Yunhe and Snow March began to research for a cure for
Luo Jinsang's invisibility.

Finally, they came up with some mind techniques for Luo Jinsang to learn. Although there was no
way to make her normal again, at least now she could control her invisibility.
 Ji Yunhe did not let Luo Jinsang show herself to others. Instead, she had her leave the Demon
Valley to see the world outside. Her invisibility made her the only one not subjected to the control of the
valley or the court.

From time to time, Luo Jinsang would come back and tell her about the things she had seen.
Watching her laugh or re-enact interesting events, Ji Yunhe often felt like the world was not so bad
afterall.

"Jinsang, you're a little slow to return this time." She looked at Luo Jinsang after she finished
bandaging her. "Where have you been partying?"

Luo Jinsang scratched her head. "I heard the message you sent through the flowers a while ago,
but... I was delayed a bit by that monk, Kongming." Luo Jinsang grinned sheepishly.

She had mentioned to Ji Yunhe before that she met a not-so-normal monk out there. This monk did
not drink wine or eat meat, and certainly did not like her ("her" denotes women in general. Chinese
monks typically abstained from alcohol, meat and women), however, he liked to carry a zen staff
everywhere to fight injustice and slay evil.

He did not have the mercy, kindness and tolerance of a normal monk.

But Luo Jinsang liked him very much. She followed him everyday and everywhere even though he
never paid much attention to her. He often vanished like a ghost.

"That monk is still like that?" Ji Yunhe asked her.

"Like what?"

"When he sees injustice, he takes care of it, and when he sees evil, he kills it?"

"Yup!"

Ji Yunhe let out a soft laugh. "Sooner or later, he will be liquidated by the court."

"I know right!" Luo Jinsang sat on her bed cross-legged. "Some time ago, he saw an official
oppress the poor, and with one blow of his staff, he knocked off that official's hat and head. Aiye..." Luo
Jinsang sighed loudly. "The court issued a wanted notice and the reward is so big!"

Luo Jinsang gestured with her hands and pouted. "Even I'm tempted to go get him for that bounty,
if only I didn't like him so much."

Ji Yunhe laughed. "Kongming the monk now a wanted man, why did you come back instead of
staying there to protect him?"

"I have to thank our Demon Valley." Luo Jinsang smiled so wide her eyes disappeared. "With the
jade phoenix on the loose, it's chaos out there. The Grand Master and all of his men are busy going after
her, so that little monk can rest easy. I received Qu Xiaoxing and settled him down, then came to find
you as soon as possible."

"Is Qu Xiaoxing safe and sound?"

"Yes, he's fine. I pestered the monk for a long time asking him to look after Qu Xiaoxing for me.
That monk might have a bad temper, but he never breaks a promise."

Ji Yunhe shook her head and sighed repeatedly. "Tsk tsk, it's amazing. Now you've got that monk
working for you."

Luo Jinsang grinned again. "And you? Why did my Yunhe call me back? And why did you get
flogged?"

Ji Yunhe's smile gradually faded and she put on a serious face.

"Jinsang, I want you to help me steal some medicine from Lin Canglan," Ji Yunhe said solemnly.
"The sooner the better. The sky is about to change here in the valley."

Neither Lin Canglan nor Lin Haoqing being Valley Master would be a good thing for Ji Yunhe.

The only good thing for her was to get out of here.

And she still wanted to take Changyi with her.

Chapter 28: It Hurts

Ji Yunhe updated Luo Jinsang on the things that had happened in the Demon Valley.

Luo Jinsang listened silently.

"Forgive me, Yunhe. I can help you steal the medicine no problem. But stealing that fish… he is so
big!"

Ji Yunhe did not intend on having Luo Jinsang break Changyi out. She knew it would be an
impossible task.

She had no idea how to take him away either.

"Yunhe, why don't you cooperate with Lin Haoqing. If you guys can kill Lin Canglan, then you
will be free to search for the antidote. Plus Lin Haoqing also promised you freedom."

Ji Yunhe shook her head. "It's too risky. For one thing, I don't know if Lin Haoqing is that capable,
and for another... I can't tell what kind of a person Lin Haoqing is right now."

"What do you mean?"

 Ji Yunhe looked at Luo Jinsang and laughed. "First of all, he could be swindling me into attacking
Lin Canglan so he himself could stand on the sidelines. Lin Canglan would then see my treacherous
ways and get rid of me. Secondly, even if he really did kill Lin Canglan, there's still no guarantee that he
would keep his promise to let me go. If he could kill his own father, what would stop him from killing
me?"

"True... but, he is not afraid of you telling Lin Canglan?"

"Lin Canglan is conceited and arrogant. He's always wanted Lin Haoqing to be like this. Someone
he raised with his own hands, don't you think he'd have an idea? If Lin Haoqing really did kill him
someday, that old man would probably be very proud. And as long as Lin Haoqing doesn't make a
move, he will just let him be. To that old fox, this Demon Valley belongs to both father and son. Also..."

Ji Yunhe paused, "Lin Haoqing is certain that I will not tell Lin Canglan."

"Why?"

"My disgust for Lin Canglan, no one understands it better than Lin Haoqing."

Ji Yunhe could not help but laugh at herself.

This was why Lin Haoqing said she had changed. She became as ugly as him because of her
disgust and hatred for one man.

Calculating, deceitful, and switching from side to side. She wanted vengeance, but did not want to
sacrifice anything of her own.

It was truly shameful to look at.

"Every choice is wrong..." Luo Jinsang frowned. "So other than getting rid of both father and son,
there is no good solution?"

Ji Yunhe did not respond.

Luo Jinsang's eyes suddenly twinkled. "Hey wait! Isn't there still Princess Shunde and the Grand
Master of the imperial court? We can use them!" Luo Jinsang pulled Ji Yunhe's hands with excitement.
"Out of the three wishes, only the last one is left! Just tame the jiaoren, give him to Princess Shunde, let
him send a message and tell her that Lin Canglan's been defying the law for years, using demons to
make drugs..."

The antidote that Lin Canglan was giving Ji Yunhe had been refined from those demons.

Ji Yunhe never planned on telling Luo Jinsang about the poison. But one time she did something
wrong and Lin Canglan did not give her the antidote, Luo Jinsang happened to return right when she
was suffering in her room. So she found out.
 "Have the jiaoren tell them about these things and drag Lin Haoqing into it. The court hates demon
masters who do things behind their back, both father and son are bound to be reprimanded. And then
you can openly take the seat of the Valley Master," Luo Jinsang said. "By then, you will be truly safe
and free."

Ji Yunhe turned her head and stared at Luo Jinsang. "You hang out with a monk every day, and this
is what you learn from him? Plotting and scheming?"

Luo Jinsang froze then took a step back.

"Not from him... He barely even talks to me. These... these methods are common in the valley,
people using tamed demons to send some good words in their favor..."

Yes, it could not be more common.

But she never wanted Luo Jinsang dabbling in these things. And she definitely did not want to use
Changyi...

"If I send the jiaoren to the palace, what about the jiaoren? What about him?" Ji Yunhe asked Luo
Jinsang. "Are you going to go to the palace and rescue him from Princess Shunde, under the watchful
eye of the Grand Master?"

Luo Jinsang froze again.

She, like many demon masters, did not see this matter from the demon's point of view at all.

"I'm... I'm unable to think of any other way..."

Ji Yunhe sighed. "Anyway, just help me keep an eye on Lin Canglan for now. He has to hide the
antidotes somewhere. First we get the antidotes, then we can plan our next step."

"Okay, I'll go and watch him right now."

Luo Jinsang's body slowly faded away.

Ji Yunhe roughly put on her jacket and walked to the door.

"Hey? You're not going to rest for a while?" Luo Jinsang's voice came from thin air.

"No time for a break yet."

Ji Yunhe went outside. She headed straight for the dungeon where Changyi was being held.

When she arrived outside the cell, she dismissed all the guards standing around and walked in
alone.
 Changyi was still sleeping.

Calm and relaxed as if none of the conflicts outside had anything to do with him. Ji Yunhe looked
at his face, and in an instant, all the chaotic thoughts racing through her mind went quiet.

The big-tailed fish was so talented in making people feel at ease, thought Ji Yunhe.

She sat down next to Changyi and placed his head on her lap, trying to make it more comfortable
for him.

The blue eyes opened. He looked at Ji Yunhe, blinking to disperse the haze from first awakening.
"You're here."

Ji Yunhe felt as if they were not meeting in a dungeon. It was like he just woke up in the mountains
to greet an old friend who had come to visit.

"Mhm."

Changyi sat up and moved slightly then stiffened. His hands touched the legs covered by Ji Yunhe's
jacket.

He did not lift that layer of clothing, and just felt his legs through the fabric.

Ji Yunhe felt a pinch inside her heart. "Changyi... I am sorry."

But Changyi had no sorrow or pain on his face. "I don't blame you."

"I know, but..." Ji Yunhe also gently put her hand on his leg. "I am still sorry... It must hurt..."

"Mhm," Changyi nodded honestly, which made her feel even worse.

Changyi suddenly moved the tip of his nose. He did not dwell on the topic of his legs anymore. "I
smell blood?" He leaned over and sniffed gently at Ji Yunhe's neck, his slightly cool breath brushed
against her hair and skin.

Ji Yunhe shifted a bit to the side.

Changyi wrinkled his brows. "Are you injured?"

"Just a small wound."

"The scent of blood is strong."

Ji Yunhe moved her lips, and what flashed in her mind was the image of Changyi hanging on the
wall last night.
 How could her injuries be considered bloody in comparison...

"It's okay, just a flesh wound."

"Does it hurt?"

Ji Yunhe instinctively wanted to say no, but when she met his gaze and saw his sincerity, she
suddenly felt that it was unnecessary to act tough and strong.

"It hurts."

Unprecedentedly, the iron walls and steel fences around her heart opened up a crack and allowed
some vulnerabilities to show through. "It hurts very much."

She did not cry in pain previously because it was not worth it. But now, she saw him as someone
worth crying to.

Changyi raised his hand with some difficulty. It landed on the top of her head, then followed her
hair down, stroke after stroke, earnest and meticulous.

"Touch it and it will get better."

Ji Yunhe looked at Changyi, feeling the slight coolness of his fingertips.

Sigh...

This big-tailed fish was really too easy to fool.

Then she felt like she too was probably a fool.

If not, then why did her injuries really seem to heal under his touch?
Chapter 29: Changyi's World

In the following days, the valley was peaceful and quiet.

Compared to the pandemonium that had happened, it felt a little too calm. Everything appeared to
be back to normal, but tension brewed beneath the surface.

Everyone focused their attention on Princess Shunde's last wish.

Luo Jinsang watched Lin Canglan day after day. She did not locate the hidden antidotes, but she
did hear a lot of whispers among the people of the valley.

They were all discussing the position of the next Valley Master, and that Ji Yunhe would probably
win it.
 Only Ji Yunhe did not seem to care.

Luo Jinsang ran back to her everyday to tell her how everyone believed she would win the
competition, and how Lin Canglan was bound to pass the master title to her.

"They say it with such conviction that I am convinced too," Luo Jinsang said. "Do you think Lin
Canglan will keep his promise for once and really pass the position of the Valley Master to you?"

Ji Yunhe smiled. "If he really passes it on to me, then what about his son? The old fox only has this
one seed. Do you think he will be okay with the possibility that I send Lin Haoqing to the afterlife right
after him?"

Luo Jinsang was a bit shocked. "You would really do that?"

Ji Yunhe knocked her on the head. "You can wake up. The choice is not mine to make. Just help
me find the antidotes."

"Okay."

Ji Yunhe did not care about the rumors swirling in the valley, nor did she care about what Lin
Haoqing was up to.

It would be useless even if she cared. Everyone seemed to be minding their own business and no
one was bothering her, so she was happy to relax for a few days.

She went to see Changyi everyday, and since Lin Canglan had granted her request, she could
dismiss everyone there in the dungeon and spend time alone with him.

But she did not do much. She moved her tea set over, built a tea table with two large stones inside
his cell, and just chit chatted while having some tea.

No one knew what Ji Yunhe was doing in the dungeon with Changyi. They only saw her carrying
her teapot in and out day after day. Those who got creative guessed Ji Yunhe was giving Changyi a
bewitching soup. That must be why he was behaving even without being tied up.

Ji Yunhe heard this rumor from Luo Jinsang. She went to Changyi with the pot and poured a bowl
of water for him. "This here is a bewitching soup, do you want to drink it?"

Changyi held the bowl of freshly boiled water and wrinkled his nose. "It's too hot, I don't want to
drink it."

Ji Yunhe's laughter could be heard outside the dungeon. "Changyi, did I ever tell you that I really
like your personality."

"No, but I can feel it."

 "Feel what? That I like you?"

Ji Yunhe said this as a joke, but Changyi's hand trembled slightly and spilled some water onto his
leg. It took him a while to react and wipe his pants.

He just started wearing pants recently and was still not used to it, so he always kept both legs
together. When the boiling water spilled, it soaked into both of his pant legs.

Ji Yunhe reached out to wipe them with her sleeves. "Does it burn?"

He shifted his body back a bit.

"What's wrong?" Ji Yunhe asked him. "Do your legs still hurt?"

"No..." Changyi looked at Ji Yunhe, tilted his head, and hesitated for a moment. Ji Yunhe felt
puzzled because he rarely hesitated. She was still wondering if she had said something wrong when
Changyi asked, a bit indecisively, "Do you like me?"

Once these four words came out, Ji Yunhe also hesitated.

This big-tailed fish... was taking her seriously again...

"Like friends," Ji Yunhe explained. "You matter to me and I care about you."

Changyi nodded, indicating that he understood. "There is friendship between you and me, not the
love between a man and a woman, so we should watch what we say and do."

"You big..." She laughed then paused, then her smile faded and turned to a slight sigh. "How did
you develop this personality of yours? You are direct and straightforward, but then you take those weird
protocols and etiquettes seriously. I can see clearly now that you are much more prim and proper than
me."

"It is necessary to be proper. My people will only ever recognize one partner in life. Once
confirmed, they will be together always. We cannot mislead ourselves or others."

Only one companion for a lifetime, no wonder he was so cautious.

"You are a very dedicated species."

Not only dedicated, but also sincere, unyielding, and staying true to themselves no matter what.

They seemed so glorious that Ji Yunhe felt ashamed of herself.

"I envy your people, manifesting all the virtues we humans can only sing about in books."
 "Why can't humans be like this?"

Ji Yunhe was silent for a while. "I don't know. Perhaps there are many answers to this question, but
the only thing I can think of is that humans want... too much." Ji Yunhe poured a cup of tea. "Let's not
talk about my world anymore, you already got a glimpse of it. What is your world like?"

"Very quiet," Changyi said. "People don't like to talk in the sea."

"What do you eat?"

"Everything."

This answer frightened Ji Yunhe a little. "Everything?" She looked at Changyi up and down. In her
mind, he should be like a god and not eat mundane things, but as it turned out, he was a deep sea
tyrant...?

Tormenting small fish and shrimp...

"Seaweed, shellfish, other fish. We don't eat our own kind."

"Then what's your favorite?"

"Shellfish. Their meat is very tender."

Ji Yunhe suddenly felt like the jiaoren in front of her was not so different after all.

"And where do you sleep?"

"We all have different preferences." Changyi sipped his tea. "I like to sleep in giant clams after
eating them."

Ji Yunhe gulped. "What did the clams do wrong?"

That you have to eat them then invade their shell...

Changyi pointed to the roast chicken Ji Yunhe had brought. "It also did nothing wrong. It's just
delicious."

Too much of a good thing...

Ji Yunhe puckered her mouth and pulled off a chicken wing. "If there is a chance, I really want to
go under the sea and check it out. Is it pitch black down there?"

"I have a big pearl in my clam that glows by itself and can illuminate everything around you."

"How big is it?"

 "About the same size as you."

Ji Yunhe was stunned. "Then how big is the clam you live in?"

Changyi tilted his head and looked at the cell. "Bigger than here."

Ji Yunhe shook her head and thought for a very long time. "You... are not some kind of a deep-sea
monster, are you? Eat a clam bigger than a house, sleep inside it... and use the giant pearl that took it
centuries to hatch out as lighting… In comparison, we humans seem pretty reasonable."

Changyi thought about it seriously too. "I do not lie to them. They know their fate from the
beginning. Other than that, it's just a matter of making the best use of things. We do not like to be
wasteful."

The dedicated and sincere jiaoren were dedicated and sincere even when they ate others.

Ji Yunhe nodded. "What you said makes me want to visit the sea even more."

"I can take you there someday."

Ji Yunhe nodded again, but as soon as she looked down and saw Changyi's legs, she fell silent and
did not speak any more.

Perhaps, she should not talk to him about the sea...

Ji Yunhe sighed and took another sip of tea. Suddenly she felt a sharp pain coming from her chest.
She froze and immediately covered it with her hand.

"What's wrong?"

Ji Yunhe did not answer Changyi. She gasped for breath and cold sweat appeared on her forehead.

After so many days of leisure, she forgot that it was time to take the antidote again. And Lin
Canglan had not yet sent his demon slave, Qing Shu, to deliver it...
Chapter 30: Poison

Ji Yunhe struggled to stand up.

She knocked over the teapot on the stone table and boiling water spilled all over the ground.

The clanking broke the peace inside the dungeon.

Changyi looked at her with concern. "Are you not feeling well?" He stood up and reached out to
help her.
 But Ji Yunhe pushed his hand away. She did not want him sensing how messy her pulse was at this
moment.

She shook her head and said, "I am going back, don't worry." Then she opened the cell door and
stumbled out.

Ji Yunhe felt dizzy leaving the dungeon. She looked up, the evening sun was setting and looked
like a fire burning through the sky.

She staggered along the path. People had mostly gone home for the day and she went by without
much notice.

After returning to her house, Ji Yunhe searched the table and the bed, but did not find an antidote.

She had to endure this.

But the pain at the tip of her heart became more and more unbearable as time went on. It was as if
millions of ants had bitten through her skin, crawled down her veins and ripped into her internal organs.

Ji Yunhe sat on her knees in pain.

Finally, it slowly eased. But the next wave would only be worse.

Ji Yunhe had resisted Lin Canglan's orders before -- when he wanted her to push Lin Haoqing
down the snake cave.

She endured the pain for only a few days.

But those few days were unforgettable. Even though she knew Lin Canglan was using the antidote
to manipulate her and treat her like a puppet, and she loathed the antidote to the extreme, when
provided, she never hesitated to take it.

The pain would not kill her, but it was enough to wear down her will and sanity.

It disfigured her into the wretched person that she hated.

Ji Yunhe stood up. She did not look for the antidote again because she was sure Qing Shu did not
deliver it.

"Jinsang..." Ji Yunhe called out in a desperate voice. "Jinsang..."

She wanted to go to the courtyard and use the flowers to send a message to Luo Jinsang.

Sending messages through flowers was a special link between them. She and Snow March had
figured out this spell together while teaching Luo Jinsang methods to control her invisibility.
 And this method could only be used to contact Luo Jinsang. It was as if the snow demon that had
swallowed her gave her a special connection with heaven and earth.

Ji Yunhe opened the door then leaned on it for support. Before she gathered enough strength to
walk further, she saw a thin piece of paper resting on the floor, like it had been torn off in a panic. On it,
Luo Jinsang had written a message in haste.

"Someone said the monk Kongming was captured, I'm going out of the valley to take a look, I'll be
back soon."

Seeing this, Ji Yunhe crumpled the paper into a ball. "That bald guy! So troublesome!"

Ji Yunhe knew the pain would come again soon. She could not just sit around and wait for Qing
Shu, so she grabbed her sword from the room and headed for Li Feng Hall.

She used her sword like a cane and sneaked in through the backyard.

Strangely enough, there were not many people guarding it today.

It was even emptier when she reached Lin Canglan's sleeping quarters. Although she felt strange,
the situation did not allow her to think too much.

She walked to the door and pushed. It was unlocked so she barged right in.

When she got inside, things were even stranger.

Normally, if someone dared to trespass this room, the fox demon slave, Qing Shu, would
immediately charge forth with her sword. But now, it was so quiet she could only hear the sound of her
own heartbeat.

The atmosphere felt odd.

Ji Yunhe propped herself up with her sword and walked toward the inner room. When stepping past
the silk screen, she saw candles lit inside, and the dim light of the candle flames cast three shadows onto
the curtain.

Ji Yunhe froze.

She might be physically unwell, but her brain was still crystal clear, and she could see what the
shadows represented...

Lin Canglan was sitting in a wheelchair with Qing Shu standing in front of him, and behind him,
pointing a sword at his neck... was Lin Haoqing.

The young master of the valley was making his move. He really did want to kill his father.
 Ji Yunhe stood outside the curtain holding her breath, and the three people inside stayed quiet.

Until the pain at the tip of her heart came again. She could not help but cover her chest and bend
forward.

In the extreme silence, her slight movements were easily detected by the people inside.

It was Lin Haoqing who spoke first, "Yunhe, kill Qing Shu."

Ji Yunhe could picture the stalemate without going in. Lin Canglan had grown weak with age. Lin
Haoqing must have confirmed it during the battle against the jade phoenix, and that was why he dared to
make a move on his father. At this time, Lin Haoqing must be holding Lin Canglan hostage so Qing Shu
could not do anything. But if Lin Haoqing were to kill Lin Canglan, then Qing Shu would surely kill
him too.

The three people were at a standstill with mutual checks and balances. Ji Yunhe had the power to
offset that balance.

If she were to kill Qing Shu, Lin Haoqing would win. And if she chose to attack Lin Haoqing, Lin
Canglan would be saved.

The reason Lin Haoqing dared to ask her first was because he knew how much Ji Yunhe hated this
old fox that had been manipulating her for years. And Qing Shu...

"Ji Yunhe, the poison doesn't feel good, does it? If something happens to the Valley Master, you
will never get the antidote again."

The pain in the heart grew more and more intense, and with the pain, her hatred for that old man
also grew.

Go with her spirit, or accept her fate...

This was a difficult choice.

"What are you still hesitating for?" Lin Haoqing asked.

"What do you have to hesitate about?" Qing Shu also asked.

The pain in her body and the pressure through the curtain simultaneously tore at Ji Yunhe, like an
inner battle between opposing forces. Under the candlelight, her heart beat faster and faster.
Chapter 31: Killing the Father

"Hmph, childsplay."

Lin Canglan's mockery broke the silence in the room. "The old man at your age never hesitated
over anything. But time spares no one..." he said then coughed repeatedly. The candlelight flickered
with his voice, and Ji Yunhe's eyebrows tightened. Something was up.

Qing Shu's left hand suddenly moved and a small object struck Lin Haoqing's long sword.

The sword vibrated hard and fell out of Lin Haoqing's hand. Lin Canglan's wheelchair took this
opportunity and quickly rolled out from within his reach.

Qing Shu's shadow on the curtain flashed like lightning.

Ji Yunhe had no time to think. She forcefully suppressed her pain, dashed through the curtain, and
the sword in her hand met with Qing Shu's with a loud clang.

The energy from the contact burst out in a circular arc and swept through the surrounding walls and
beams still under repair. The house gave out a series of creaking sounds as the entire structure seemed to
tilt. Roof tiles outside began falling to the ground like rain.

Ji Yunhe stood in front of Lin Haoqing, shielding him while staring at the demon fox slave.

"The choice you made is very disappointing."

At this time, Ji Yunhe's body was enduring both Qing Shu's demonic power and the pain from the
poison, but deep down, she felt great.

"Yeah?" Ji Yunhe smirked. "I don't think it's so bad."

Before Qing Shu could make another move, they heard a muffled moan. It came from Lin Canglan.

Qing Shu's eyes, which had never shown any emotion before, widened as she looked to the side
with shock.

Ji Yunhe pushed against the sword and forced her off.

Qing Shu retreated three steps, but her eyes remained on the side and did not attack again.

Ji Yunhe followed her gaze.

Lin Haoqing was now standing next to Lin Canglan, holding his sword with the blade inside Lin
Canglan's chest.

The wheelchair-bound Lin Canglan, old and frail, did not have the strength to defend.

Lin Haoqing was right.

After the battle with the jade phoenix, Lin Canglan's body had become useless.

He looked at his son with a face full of gloom. "Good... good…" he spoke while blood gushed out
of his mouth. His voice was so muffled that it was almost inaudible. "You have the heart to kill your old
man, you..."

Lin Haoqing did not care to hear another word. He pulled the sword out of Lin Canglan's chest,
walked behind his wheelchair, grabbed him by the hair, and sliced his throat.

Blood sprayed out and rained onto the floor, the sound blending seamlessly with the downfall of
rubble outside.

Ji Yunhe did not expect... Lin Haoqing to be so decisive, nor did she expect him to be so efficient.

He really killed Lin Canglan.

His own father.

The shock almost made Ji Yunhe forget about the pain in her body. And amidst all the blood, Lin
Haoqing seemed as if he just realized what he had done.

He held the sword in his hand, opened his mouth and breathed out heavily. A few moments later,
he finally made a sound. "Ha…"

He laughed. "Hahaha...! He's finally dead..."

It woke up Qing Shu who was standing frozen in shock.

"Valley Master!" Qing Shu snarled at Lin Haoqing. "I'll kill you!" She charged at him with her
sword. Ji Yunhe tried to intercept, but the pain in her body made it impossible for her to catch up this
time.

Lin Haoqing glared at Qing Shu. He raised his sword still dripping with blood, drew a circle in the
air and blocked her attack.

Qing Shu and Lin Canglan had a master-servant contract, like Li Shu and Snow March. Qing Shu
was a demon slave who had sworn eternal allegiance to Lin Canglan.

When swearing allegiance to a master, the demon slave would give up a portion of his or her power
to the master as a sign of obedience. Upon the master's death, that power would return to the demon
slave.

So logically speaking, now with Lin Canglan dead, Qing Shu should only be more difficult to deal
with.

Yet Lin Haoqing blocked her so easily. Come to think of it, when Ji Yunhe first saved Lin
Haoqing, even though she had defended him with all her might, the poison in her body was bound to
affect her strength. She should not have been able to completely stop Qing Shu's attack.
 Qing Shu should not be this weak, and Lin Canglan as well...

Their spiritual and demonic power seemed to have degraded too much after the jade phoenix
ordeal.

Ji Yunhe could not think of a reason. She watched Qing Shu go crazy and viciously attack Lin
Haoqing. He was able to resist at first, but after a while it became clear he was no match for her.
Afterall, Qing Shu was a powerful demon who lived a very long time. Throughout the years serving Lin
Canglan, no one knew how many battles she had won, or how many people she had killed.

Lin Haoqing was not nearly as experienced in combat.

Ji Yunhe had no choice but to go help. No matter what Lin Haoqing had done today, or what he
might do in the future, she already picked a path and she would follow it to the end.

Once she made up her mind, she immediately struck her own acupoints. Her blood flow reversed
throughout her body and her limbs grew numb and senseless.

The "fight fire with fire" method gave her temporary relief from the unbearable pain in her body.

This way of relieving pain was very dangerous. If she could not kill Qing Shu within three stances,
her body would destroy itself and she would die a horrible death.

No more delays, she gripped her sword and lunged at Qing Shu.

Qing Shu felt the murderous aura coming from behind and backflipped into the air, avoiding Ji
Yunhe's attack. Ji Yunhe changed her stance immediately and flew up after Qing Shu, aiming for her
lower vitals.

Qing Shu had no choice but to turn around, receiving Ji Yunhe's killing blow with her back.

The force from Ji Yunhe's sword sent Qing Shu flying while blood gushed from her wound, but it
did not hinder her from making a counter strike. Her body flipped in the air, and she shot toward Ji
Yunhe like a speeding arrow.

Ji Yunhe had no way to avoid it, but then Lin Haoqing abruptly kicked her in the bend of the knee.

Ji Yunhe fell down and instinctively leaned back against the floor, her sword raising up into the air.

It sliced the entire length of Qing Shu's body as she flew over her.

Her blood spilled all over Ji Yunhe's face.

Ji Yunhe immediately struck her acupoints again, releasing what she had previously blocked.

Her blood flow returned to normal and the pain came back.
 She weakly turned her head and looked at Qing Shu.

A demon that had roamed proudly all her life, now laid in a corner of the room covered in blood.

Qing Shu's clothes and face looked terrifying where the sword left its mark. She wanted to stand up
again but no longer had the strength. Her gaze left Ji Yunhe and Lin Haoqing, and fell on Lin Canglan's
body.

"You shouldn't have done this," Qing Shu said weakly. "If only you knew what your father was
doing. Everything… was for you and for the great cause. You shouldn't have destroyed his work."

Great cause?

Ji Yunhe looked at Qing Shu. She could not respond, but Lin Haoqing could. He looked at Qing
Shu coldly.

"And his great cause has ruined half of my life."

"Naive..."

Qing Shu did not move her gaze from Lin Canglan again nor did she speak again. She watched her
master until her last breath, then her body turned into a puff of fine dust.

This was how demons died. The more powerful they were, the less they left behind. Li Shu was
like this as well. Ji Yunhe was puzzled.

It was clear that her demonic power was about the same as Li Shu.

Before Li Shu died, he single handedly broke the seal of the Ten Square Formation. The fox
demon, Qing Shu… her power should be much stronger than what was seen in today's combat...

She said Lin Canglan had a great cause... what was it?

No one could answer her. But the pain in the chest grew so intense that she could not help but let
out a groan. She knelt on the ground and clutched at her heart. Lin Canglan died, Qing Shu also died,
who else in this world would know the whereabouts of the antidotes?

She had told Changyi earlier that she wanted to visit the bottom of the sea in the future, but who
knew... today would be her last day.

Future... she had no future...

Chapter 32: Conflict

Ji Yunhe hopelessly sat on her knees, suffering.

 Many things flashed through her mind as her consciousness started to fade. She thought of her life
before coming to the valley. As a small child with a hidden pulse, she was taken away by her parents,
hiding from the court wherever possible. But in the end, they were caught by pursuing soldiers and her
parents were killed on the spot. She alone was brought to this Demon Valley.

She lived under the shadow of Lin Canglan's manipulation ever since. Over the years, the grief of
losing her parents had been smoothed over by his torment.

She had always hoped, and planned for the day she broke free from his control. She would leave
the valley and go travel the world.

Now, she finally achieved her first wish. Lin Canglan could never manipulate her again. But
unfortunately, she also could never leave the Demon Valley...

Really wanted to... smell the flowers out there.

Ji Yunhe wished for death to hurry up and come. The pain was too unbearable.

But fate never gave her what she wanted. Just as Ji Yunhe thought she was about to pass out,
someone suddenly helped her to her feet.

Her mouth was forced open and a pill was stuffed inside.

The taste was so familiar that Ji Yunhe's mind, which had been drifting away due to the pain, was
instantly pulled back.

The antidote!

The desire to live was reignited, and Ji Yunhe struggled to swallow the pill with every last bit of
strength.

Her chest pain slowly eased and dissipated after a few moments. But this time, the antidote seemed
different from before.

After she swallowed it, the pill emitted a warmth that traveled out of her stomach and sprawled into
her veins and bones, finally converging again inside her core. It almost felt like it was forming
something inside her.

Then the warmth dissipated too.

Ji Yunhe finally regained her senses. She looked up and saw that the sky outside had brightened. It
was barely turning dark when she first came.

The night had already passed.

She was drenched in sweat, like she was just fished out of water. Even her hair was dripping.
 After a few moments of haze, Ji Yunhe finally saw clearly again.

She was no longer on the floor, but had been carried onto the bed -- Lin Canglan's bed. Lin
Haoqing was sitting next to her, looking at her with a solemn face. They were both covered in dried
blood, and Lin Canglan's corpse sat nearby, already turning blue.

Accompanied by the early morning birds outside, the scene was quiet and spooky.

"Life is really like a joke." Ji Yunhe's voice broke the eerie silence of the misty morning. "Don't
you think so, young valley master? Oh..." she paused, "it's time to call you Valley Master."

Lin Haoqing was silent for a moment, and did not pursue this subject matter. "The poison in your
body is terrifying, how did you survive all these years?"

When the poison broke out last night, had Lin Haoqing been watching over her...?

"Because I was obedient." She glanced at Lin Canglan's corpse next to her. "The antidote, where
did you find it? How many more pills are there?"

"Only found this one."

Ji Yunhe narrowed her eyes slightly and studied him.

The two had known each other for so many years, how could Lin Haoqing not know what was
going through Ji Yunhe's head. He said bluntly, "Last night when you came and stood outside the
curtain, a black object popped out of Qing Shu's hand and struck my sword, do you remember?"

Ji Yunhe nodded. "I haven't lost my memory to the pain."

"That was the pill I gave you," Lin Haoqing said. "Yesterday when I came, she was just about to
leave. I guess she was going to deliver it to you, but got delayed by me..."

It made sense.

Ji Yunhe decided to believe Lin Haoqing for the time being. She sighed, "Can't find any more?"

"I have searched the entire house. No secret compartment or secret room. Nothing for now."

So next month, she would have to go through it all again until she died...

Ji Yunhe fell silent.

"Ji Yunhe," Lin Haoqing called out her name.

She had heard Lin Haoqing gently call her "Yunhe" when she was a child, and coldly call her
"Master Warden" after she grew up. But this was the first time he called her first and last name, and with
such formality.

"Thank you for risking your life to save me last night."

Ji Yunhe was slightly surprised and raised her eyebrows. "There's nothing to thank me for. If you
hadn't kicked me in the knee and made me get on the ground, I wouldn't have been able to kill Qing Shu
either."

Lin Haoqing thought for a bit, then said, "If I hadn't picked up this antidote by accident, what
would you have done?"

"What else?" Ji Yunhe smiled mockingly. "Submit to whatever fate has in store for me."

Lin Haoqing looked at Ji Yunhe for a while then stood up. "By the snake cave, I said if you worked
with me to kill Lin Canglan, I would grant you freedom. I will keep my promise. After I take the
position of the Valley Master, the valley will no longer be your prison. As for the antidote, I don't know
how to make it, but I will find what Lin Canglan's hidden, even if it means digging into every inch of the
ground."

Ji Yunhe lifted her head and looked at Lin Haoqing. Strangely, she actually felt like the former Lin
Haoqing had come back a little...

"I will be very happy if you can find the antidote. But if you can't, I'll be okay with that too. I see it
all clearly now. All these years in the valley, I can fight you, fight Lin Canglan, but I can't fight destiny.
If this is heaven's will then I will accept it, but..."

Ji Yunhe stared at Lin Haoqing. "I have one more request."

"Say it."

"I want to leave the Demon Valley, and take the jiaoren with me."

The room once again fell into extreme silence.

They looked into each other's eyes. Ji Yunhe's expressed her determination, Lin Haoqing's showed
he was not backing down, the anxiety built on and on. Lin Haoqing finally broke the silence and said,
"You know what the jiaoren means to our Demon Valley." His face was sullen. "If we lose a demon
master, the court may not care, but the jiaoren, no one can take him."

"What if I must?"

"Then we will be enemies again."

Chapter 33: Accomplice

 Lin Canglan's body was already cold next to Ji Yunhe and Lin Haoqing.

The room was so quiet, it was as if they both had died too.

Finally, Ji Yunhe got up from the bed and stood face to face with Lin Haoqing. She was half a head
shorter but her stance did not lose to him.

"Lin Haoqing," she also called him by his full name, "after all that's happened, I will feel a pity if I
make an enemy out of you again. But I am not afraid to either."

"Huh," Lin Haoqing let out a sneer. "I see that you are not thinking clearly. If you take away the
jiaoren, not only will you make an enemy out of me, but also the entire Demon Valley. Or worse, out of
Princess Shunde and the entire imperial court!" Lin Haoqing took a step closer to her face. "Let's not
consider whether or not you have the ability to take him away. Even if you do, do you think it'll be over
then? That you two will be carefree?"

Lin Haoqing threw one word at Ji Yunhe, "Ignorant."

"I don't care if it's ignorant or not," Ji Yunhe said. "I only know he belongs in the sea, not here."

"His tail has been split, do you think he still belongs in the sea?"

Ji Yunhe's fist tightened and she went silent. Finally, she lifted her head and looked directly into his
eyes.

"Yes, he does."

Whether or not he grew legs, or changed into some other form, his big beautiful tail had existed,
and it would never be forgotten.

In Ji Yunhe's mind, Changyi would always belong to the clear blue sea and all of its magnificence,
whether in the past, the present, or in the future. And she firmly believed that he would eventually return
to it.

Lin Haoqing looked at Ji Yunhe. "Think carefully, I will only give you this one opportunity. You've
been wanting freedom for so many years, are you going to give it up for a demon?"

Ji Yunhe cocked her head. "Lin Haoqing, you wanted to kill Lin Canglan and I happened to come
and help you, so this opportunity was not given to me by you, it was given to me by fate. And my
freedom is not for you to grant. It is rightfully mine."

Ji Yunhe decided that she had completely spoiled this negotiation with Lin Haoqing today.

After a brief reconciliation, they were now back at each other's throats.

She turned to leave, but Lin Haoqing suddenly asked, "Don't you want the antidote?"
 "I want it, but you can't give it to me right now." Ji Yunhe pointed to Lin Canglan's dead body on
the chair. "You should think about how to dispose of him. The old men in the valley, the eyes of the
court, and the Grand Master will not allow a man who murdered his own father to become the next
Valley Master. What they want is someone obedient."

Ji Yunhe exited the inner room and headed for the door, reaching out to push it open. But the sound
of hurried footsteps came from outside.

"Valley Master! Valley Master!"

A demon master shouted in panic as he stopped at the door and knocked anxiously.

His shadow was cast onto the door screen by the rising sun.

Ji Yunhe's hand reaching out froze in mid air.

After her conflict with Lin Haoqing, it would be better for Ji Yunhe to take him down and become
Valley Master herself. The best way to do that was to publicize his killing of Lin Canglan. He would be
abandoned by everyone and exiled by the court. Ji Yunhe would then have the power to save Changyi.

But...

She and Lin Haoqing were both inside this room covered in blood.

It was not clear at all who had killed Lin Canglan.

Ji Yunhe turned her head and looked at Lin Haoqing.

He walked over to stand next to her. They both stayed quiet until the person outside knocked on the
door again. "Valley Master!" The demon master sounded anxious as if he was ready to push open the
door and barge in.

"The Valley Master is not feeling well and is currently resting," Lin Haoqing finally answered.
"What's all the commotion?"

"Reporting to the young valley master! News came from the front, Princess Shunde's imperial
chariot has just arrived outside the main gate!"

Ji Yunhe froze, and her heart started to beat violently.

"What did you say?" Lin Haoqing asked, also in shock.

"Young valley master, Princess Shunde's imperial chariot has arrived outside the main gate! Please
quickly inform the Valley Master, and organize a formal reception!"
 Princess Shunde...

The one seated high above everyone in the world, who existed only inside legends and rumors…
had unexpectedly, personally come to the Demon Valley...

Ji Yunhe and Lin Haoqing glanced at each other, then they both looked at Lin Canglan's dead body.

Ji Yunhe sighed.

Lin Canglan's time of death was truly inconvenient. If Princess Shunde found out they had killed
Lin Canglan, they would both be branded as disloyal, ungrateful, and guilty of treason. The court did not
like rebellious people, and that was especially true of Princess Shunde.

"Young valley master!"

The man outside urged.

Ji Yunhe nudged Lin Haoqing, who was slightly lost in thought, with her elbow. Lin Haoqing
recollected himself and responded, "Got it. Take everyone to the main gate first, I will head over after I
wake the Valley Master."

"Yes."

The messenger outside hurried away.

Thanks to his rush, he did not notice anything wrong with the Valley Master's residence after last
night's fight.

Lin Haoqing and Ji Yunhe did not speak, but they both went back to the inner room.

The two looked at the broken Lin Canglan in his wheelchair. His eyes were still open, as if he had
so much lingering desire for life, while the wound on his neck gaped at them hideously.

Lin Haoqing gently stroked his hand over Lin Canglan's eyes, shutting them.

"The old man lived at a wrong time, and also died at a wrong time," he said dispassionately.

"You can hate him when he's alive. Now that he's dead, nothing has anything to do with him
anymore." Ji Yunhe looked around. "Carrying him out to bury right now would call too much attention,
we don't have time for it."

"What do you want to do?"

Ji Yunhe raised her hand and pointed to the bed. "Put him on the bed, cover him with a quilt and
hide the wound on his neck."
 "And then what?" Lin Haoqing said sarcastically. "Wait for him to come back to life?"

"If he comes back to life, you and I will still die." Ji Yunhe looked at Lin Haoqing. "Put away your
attitude for now. Between you and me, we can compete when there's a competition, fight when there's a
fight, but in front of Princess Shunde, you and I are two bugs on one string. You killed Lin Canglan, my
hands are not clean either. So let's be good, join hands and put on a show together. Send that uninvited
guest away as soon as possible."

Ji Yunhe spoke firmly with authority and control. Lin Haoqing looked at her, and the sneering
smile was slowly taken off of his face.
Chapter 34: Princess Shunde

"You go get Lin Canglan onto the bed, position him in the same way he usually sleeps. And the
placement of the wheelchair, I want you to replicate it without the slightest error. I'll go and wipe the
blood off the floor."

Ji Yunhe took off her jacket and dipped it into some tea on the table. "When we are done with this,
you and I will each go back home, change our clothes, wipe our faces, and go meet Princess Shunde."

"We will go meet her?"

"Yes, let's go meet her." Ji Yunhe knelt down on the floor and wiped at the pools of blood. "Let's
go tell the princess that the Valley Master suddenly fell seriously ill last night and is now bedridden, and
that his breathing is extremely weak."

When Ji Yunhe wiped to the corner of the wall, she saw the small pile of dust left behind by Qing
Shu. She took the dust into her palms and sprinkled it into a flower pot nearby.

"Move quickly." She turned her head to look at Lin Haoqing. "We don't have much time to waste."

When Ji Yunhe and Lin Haoqing finished cleaning up Lin Canglan's residence, they avoided others
and quickly went back to change their clothes. When they met again, it was in front of the main
mountain gate of the Demon Valley.

The spring flowers were already gone, leaving behind an eyeful of lush greenery.

Ji Yunhe and Lin Haoqing stood to the left and right of the gate without saying anything. They
looked like the usual young valley master and Master Warden.

The two looked at each other quietly, then looked down the main path. They waited for the
legendary Princess Shunde to blow in with the wind.

Soon after, the sound of marching footsteps came from the distant bend. Even though they could
not see anything yet, the sheer amount of people coming was apparent just from the noise.

The Demon Valley was located in the southwest, far away from towns and extremely remote. It
rarely had such a grandeur of a crowd. Most of the demon masters here had been confined to the valley
since childhood. Unless they had the capabilities of Snow March, few got to see the outside world.

The sound of footsteps approaching was enough to cause an uproar. They were nervous, anxious,
and curious.

The first thing to appear in the distance was a red flag embroidered with a five claw dragon.

The emperor's flag was a dragon embroidered in bright yellow, representing supreme power.
Princess Shunde always loved red, the brighter the red the better. So the flag representing her was a
golden dragon on a red background.

Throughout the dynasties, princesses and empresses, the females of royalty, always used a phoenix
design. Only Princess Shunde abandoned the phoenix and preferred the dragon instead.

She did not even bother making an effort to downplay her ambition. But her brother, the emperor,
did not seem to mind at all. He allowed his sister to participate in dynastic politics, executive decisions,
and even infiltrate the military and the State Council.

Ji Yunhe pondered over these things while staring at the ground. Once the dragon flag came to a
stop in front of her, the sound of footsteps, horses and carriages also stopped.

Ji Yunhe finally lifted her head to look at them.

The bright red palanquin was so flamboyant, and was carried by so many people that Ji Yunhe lost
count.

It was covered by layers of organza and silk veiling interwoven with gold and silver, reflecting the
light of the sky with such a dazzling shine that one could not look at it directly.

And behind the veils of bedazzlement was a woman dressed in bright red. Her posture was relaxed,
and her hand was slightly raised as if drinking some wine.

Soon a eunuch stepped out from the giant crew. He looked at Lin Haoqing, then at Ji Yunhe, then
sneered.

Ji Yunhe also took a look at him. She felt like this eunuch's features looked somewhat familiar.

"Where is the Demon Valley Master? The princess herself has arrived, why don't we see the master
of the valley here welcoming? You guys are truly negligent."

The eunuch stared at Ji Yunhe as he spoke.

When the sharp voice pierced her ears, Ji Yunhe suddenly remembered. It was this eunuch who had
delivered the box holding Changyi a month ago. She had also given him a neck sticker of forbidden
speech... Guess he got help from the Grand Master...
 From the looks of it, he had not forgotten Ji Yunhe and was probably still holding a grudge. Now
that he's together with Princess Shunde, he would likely be a bit troublesome to deal with.

Ji Yunhe innocently lowered her head and stayed silent, as if she knew nothing. There was a young
valley master here handling everything anyway.

"Princess, please forgive us." Lin Haoqing bowed. "The Valley Master suddenly fell seriously ill
yesterday. He is unconscious right now so cannot personally come to greet you."

"Seriously ill?" Eunuch Zhang was puzzled. "Why was it not reported to the court?"

"This illness came suddenly..."

"Illness?"

A soft voice questioned from behind the layers of organza and silk.

The arrogant eunuch looked like an overinflated balloon suddenly punched flat. His entire body
curled into a bow as he walked back to the side of the palanquin. "Princess, please be at ease."

"It's just an illness, what do I have to be angry about?" The crimson figure inside sat up. "I have
come to reward Valley Master Lin. The Demon Valley has accomplished two of my wishes in
succession, this merit cannot be ignored. But unexpectedly he's fallen ill."

The veil was gently lifted from inside by a pair of excessively flawless hands.

Her fingers were like carvings of white jade, and each fingertip was dotted with small golden
flowers.

The bearers in front of her knelt down in unison as soon as she lifted the veil, and the palanquin
tilted forward at a perfect angle, allowing her to comfortably walk out.

Jade-like feet without shoes and socks stepped forward, but before they landed on the ground,
maids with flower baskets had already covered the mud and stones with a thick layer of flower petals.

Princess Shunde did not look at her servants at all. She walked toward Lin Haoqing and Ji Yunhe
while the busy maids laid out an entire floral path before her.

The perfume of countless flowers overflowed the main gate. Ji Yunhe looked at the petals being
stepped on, and only felt pity.

So unfortunate for these late spring flowers. They had spent the entire winter germinating, an entire
spring growing, but in the end, their blossoms only served this.

"No need for the crew to enter mountain roads." Princess Shunde waved her hand and a maid at her
side immediately draped on her shawl. "Let's go see Valley Master Lin by foot." Princess Shunde looked
at Lin Haoqing. "Young valley master, lead the way."

Ji Yunhe's eyes stayed on the ground and her face was blank. But inside, she decided Princess
Shunde was not going to be easy.
Chapter 35: The Visit

Ji Yunhe and Lin Haoqing accompanied Princess Shunde all the way from the main gate into the
valley.

The thick path of flowers was constantly laid out before Princess Shunde's feet. Ji Yunhe knew very
well how much further it was to get to Li Feng Hall, where Lin Canglan lived.

She looked at the flower petals under the princess, listened to the gossiping voices of her maids,
and suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"Princess," she opened her mouth and said.

Princess Shunde stopped, but the maids laying down flower petals did not stop. They busily labored
forth as if they wanted to cover the entire valley.

Lin Haoqing also turned his head to look at Ji Yunhe, his face showing some displeasure. He did
not want her saying anything out of line.

But Ji Yunhe could not help it, she bowed. "Our Demon Valley just experienced great upheaval
from the battle against the jade phoenix. We haven't yet had time to clear the roads of scattered rocks
and debris. Walking barefoot may be unwise, even with hundreds of flowers paving the road. I worry
that a loose stone may cause injury to the princess. Please put on some socks and shoes."

Princess Shunde smiled and raised an eyebrow. She studied Ji Yunhe for a while.

"You are someone who cherishes flowers," Princess Shunde said. "The heart is kind."

Ji Yunhe bowed her head.

Just as everyone was thinking that was a compliment, the smile on Princess Shunde's face
disappeared. "But I am not." The red flower embellishment between her eyebrows suddenly formed a
stern look. "I am the one who picks flowers," she said. "I love to pick flowers in full bloom. All of the
beauty in this world, ninety percent are trampled under my feet, and ten percent are worn on my body."

She reached out with her slender fingers and held Ji Yunhe's chin, making her look up.

"All the land in this world, half of it is mine, and these hundreds of flowers, they are also mine.
You, the one who cherishes flowers, is still mine." Princess Shunde's sharp nails gently stroked over Ji
Yunhe's face. "I don't like flowers that don't bloom, and I don't like people who talk too much."
 She was extravagantly ornamental. Just as she had said, ninety percent of the world's beauty was
under her feet, and ten percent on her body. Ji Yunhe was dressed in plain clothes and her face was bare
without any powder or lip color. Her entire person was completely unadorned.

A person in the sky and a person underground, face to face, created an ironic imagery of extreme
contrast.

But Ji Yunhe was not intimidated. She stared straight into Princess Shunde's eyes and asked
without subservience, "So will the princess put on some socks and shoes?"

Princess Shunde's eyes grew colder and Lin Haoqing frowned. The maids and demon masters
around them went silent, afraid to even breath.

Only Ji Yunhe seemed to feel no pressure. She spoke again, "The road in the Demon Valley is
rugged and difficult to walk."

Lin Haoqing stepped forth and bowed. "Princess, the Demon Valley is very remote from
civilization. People here are vulgar and lack proper etiquette. Please have mercy and forgive us."

Princess Shunde glanced at Lin Haoqing. "She is interesting."

Surprisingly, she made a comment not to kill or to torture, but to say Ji Yunhe... was interesting.

Lin Haoqing was a bit surprised.

Princess Shunde threw a glimpse to the side. Eunuch Zhang immediately understood and ran into
the long trail of servants, then came back out with some socks and shoes. Another eunuch kneeled on the
ground before her with his back arched out, steady and firm. Princess Shunde sat down onto his back.

The maids took the shoes and socks from Eunuch Zhang, held them out and waited for the princess
to put them on.

Crimson silk that matched perfectly with her dress.

Princess Shunde not being angered by Ji Yunhe's offenses, and even listening to her, was truly
unexpected. The crowd was baffled, but Ji Yunhe felt like this princess was very similar to Lin Canglan.

Positioned as a superior, their anger did not show as anger, and their laughter did not show as
laughter. Aside from themselves, no one else could guess what they were really thinking.

After putting on shoes and socks, Princess Shunde stood up, glanced at Ji Yunhe, and continued to
walk forward.

There were no more words exchanged until they arrived outside Lin Canglan's residence.

Lin Haoqing walked up the steps and knocked on the door, calling out without any hesitation,
"Valley Master."

Even though both he and Ji Yunhe knew very well that no one would ever answer inside.

After waiting for a moment, Lin Haoqing looked at Princess Shunde apologetically, and knocked
louder on the door. "Valley Master, the princess is here to see you."

Ji Yunhe stood at the bottom of the steps and silently watched Lin Haoqing's performance.

Still no response. Lin Haoqing said, "Princess, my father is really sick..."

"How did Valley Master Lin suddenly become so ill? The letter to the court last month did not
mention any discomforts," Princess Shunde said while stepping up the stairs. She wanted to go inside.

Ji Yunhe stood still with her head hanging low. Her face was expressionless, but her hands
nervously clenched inside the sleeves.

When Princess Shunde reached the door, Lin Haoqing spoke up. His voice was still calm without
the slightest anxiety. "Princess is going to enter?"

Princess Shunde pushed open the door to the room before he could finish his question.

Ji Yunhe held her breath.

The princess stood by the doorway and looked inside.

Ji Yunhe already knew what she would see from that perspective.

The screen at the doorway was stained by blood last night, and the curtain separating the inner room
and outer room was slashed by Ji Yunhe, so they got rid of both of them this morning. Princess Shunde's
eyes should have a direct view of Lin Canglan "sleeping" on the bed.

Lin Canglan was covered with a quilt, revealing only the upper half of his face with his eyes closed.

He should look identical to someone who was gravely ill. The only difference was that he was not
breathing. As long as Princess Shunde did not approach the bed and pull back the covers, she would not
be able to see the horrific wound on his neck...

Princess Shunde surveyed the room from the door. Eunuch Zhang, who stood at the side, suddenly
spoke, "Princess, princess." He flattered her to the extreme, and took this opportunity to show concern
for her well-being. "The princess has traveled long and far, please take care and not subject yourself to
this contagion!"

Princess Shunde looked at Eunuch Zhang, then turned around and left the door with a "mhm".

Lin Haoqing did not rush to close the door to the room. He kept it open and allowed everyone
outside to peek in and take a look.

Ji Yunhe slowly exhaled the breath she had been holding. Then she looked to the side where
Eunuch Zhang eagerly assisted the princess.

At this moment, Ji Yunhe only wanted to apologize to Eunuch Zhang and tell him: Eunuch Zhang,
you are such a good eunuch. It was all my fault putting that dumb talisman on you a month ago, I am
sorry.

"Okay," Princess Shunde walked down the steps and said, "since Valley Master Lin is sick, I will
not bother him anymore. I came here to see the jiaoren."

Ji Yunhe's heart, which had just settled down, started pounding again.

Princess Shunde turned her head and asked Lin Haoqing, "The jiaoren, where is he?"
Chapter 36: Force

Lin Haoqing closed the door to Lin Canglan's room. When he heard Princess Shunde asking about
the jiaoren, Lin Haoqing said, "The maximum security dungeon where he was being held fell into the
ground from the jade phoenix disturbance. He's been transferred to another one, but it is not set up to
ensure visitor safety like the previous one..."

Princess Shunde interrupted Lin Haoqing with a smile. "I only asked, where is he?"

Lin Haoqing hesitated for a bit, then bowed his head and led the way. "Princess, please follow me."

The giant crowd trailed from the Li Feng Hall into the dungeon.

When Ji Yunhe reached the outside of the dungeon, she subconsciously paused her footsteps until
the person behind her bumped into her shoulder. Then she took a deep breath and walked in.

She had never felt this apprehensive coming to see Changyi.

But she had to come, because she was the only one on his side.

Ji Yunhe followed the crowd and entered the dungeon.

The attendants had already set up a chair for Princess Shunde to sit on. She sat in front of the cell
staring at Changyi, and her face drew a smile of pure satisfaction.

Changyi's eyes on Princess Shunde, however, were distant and full of hostility. Just like when he
had first arrived, he was the demon locked inside, and they were the humans looking in. The bars in
between separated them like fire and water.

He loathed Princess Shunde.

 Ji Yunhe could clearly feel that his discontent for humankind had all stemmed from this woman
who trampled over the beauty in the world.

Changyi and the princess were contradictory by nature. Princess Shunde believed the world and
everything in it belonged to her, while he believed no one had the right to claim ownership of the vast
heavens and earth.

The moment Ji Yunhe stepped into the dungeon, Changyi's eyes moved away from the princess.

He looked at Ji Yunhe and his eyebrows tightened slightly with visible concern on his face.

Ah yes, last night she ran off hastily due to the poison in her body, and did not have time to explain
to Changyi what was wrong. Had the big-tailed fish... been worried this whole time?

Ji Yunhe felt warm and fuzzy inside, but looking at the bars in front of him, the feeling soon turned
into heartache.

"Young valley master split his tail, very well done." Princess Shunde's voice interrupted Ji Yunhe's
thoughts. Once again, all eyes were gathered onto her. "It's just a pity that there is no giving without
taking in this world. Having legs means I will never see that beautiful fish tail again." She sighed as she
studied Changyi, like admiring a beloved plaything. "Still, the young valley master will be rewarded. I
prefer legs."

When Ji Yunhe heard those words, she thought of that bloody night, and Changyi's pale, lifeless
face.

All that pain and suffering, the thin line between life and death, just because she… preferred legs.

Her preferences sure were valuable.

Ji Yunhe suppressed her anger.

"Come, let the jiaoren open his mouth and say a pleasing word to me." Princess Shunde gave
another order.

This time, an eerie dead silence fell in the dungeon. Lin Haoqing looked at Ji Yunhe and saw her
standing there with no intention of moving. He had no choice but to walk up to the cell. "Jiaoren, open
your mouth."

Changyi did not even look at him.

Princess Shunde showed no lack of patience. She curled a finger and someone immediately brought
her a small pot made of jade. She tilted her head and drank a mouthful of wine.

The pleasant atmosphere from when Princess Shunde had been happy now turned cold.
 The little eunuch who served wine to Princess Shunde did not dare to turn his eyeballs in the
slightest. Even the brown nose Eunuch Zhang obediently stood to the side and stared at the ground,
completely still like a meditating monk.

Princess Shunde finally finished drinking the wine after a long time. Instead of handing the pot
back to the little eunuch, she casually tossed it onto the ground. It shattered on contact.

The little eunuch who served the wine immediately knelt down and pressed his forehead to the
ground, his body trembling.

"Which demon master here taught the jiaoren how to speak?" Princess Shunde asked with a smile,
then she gently looked at Lin Haoqing. "I vaguely remember the name reported was not the young
valley master."

After a brief silence, Ji Yunhe walked out from the crowd and stood up tall and straight in front of
the princess.

Changyi stared at Ji Yunhe's back.

"It was me."

Princess Shunde looked at her and said word by word, "I want him to speak."

Ji Yunhe did not look at Changyi. "Princess, I will not force him."

The crowd silently stared at Ji Yunhe. Some were surprised, some were frightened, and some were
confused.

And Changyi stood motionless.

Princess Shunde narrowed her eyes slightly. She tilted her head and looked at Ji Yunhe from side to
side. "Fine." Princess Shunde turned to Eunuch Zhang next to her. "The Demon Valley, don't they have
a scarlet whip? Bring it."

"It's been prepared."

As soon as Eunuch Zhang's words fell, another servant girl next to him presented the whip.

Princess Shunde grabbed it, looked at it, and then casually dropped it onto the ground just like the
jade pot.

"Young valley master." Princess Shunde pointed to the scarlet whip.

Lin Haoqing walked forward and picked it up.

"The last letter I sent to your valley, do you remember what was written in it?"
 "I remember."

"Then remind this... Master Warden of yours." Princess Shunde stared at Ji Yunhe. "What are my
wishes, tell her one by one. A whip for each. I'm afraid Master Warden might have forgotten them."

Lin Haoqing held the whip and walked over.

He looked at Ji Yunhe's back which was still standing as straight as ever, and kicked the bend of
her knee.

Ji Yunhe knelt down.

He saved her life with this kick last night. Today, he used the same move, but it was now a
completely different situation.

Lin Haoqing did not understand at all.

Why would she be so stubborn at a time like this?

Would it be so painful to make the demon speak a couple of words, that she would rather take the
punishment instead? Her wounds from the last whipping had not yet healed over, right?

"Princess Shunde has three wishes." Lin Haoqing suppressed his frustration. "One wish is for the
jiaoren to speak human words."

With a snap, the scarlet whip landed on Ji Yunhe.

It ripped through her skin and flesh, and shredded the clothing on her back. The hideous wounds
from before instantly revealed themselves.

Changyi's eyes widened.

"Second wish is for him to grow legs!"

Snap! Another lash fiercely landed.

Lin Haoqing gripped the whip tightly while Ji Yunhe silently swallowed all the blood, just like
before.

Lin Haoqing stared at her. He suddenly felt an inexplicable rage.

She always insisted on being tough when she did not have to be. On a normal day, she would not
back away from compromise or trickery. But at a time like this, when there were obviously easier ways
out, she chose to be stubborn and tough, swallowing all her pain and enduring them in silence.
 And the more Ji Yunhe acted this way, the more it made Lin Haoqing... jealous.

He was jealous of her persistence, her courage, and how she always made him… feel so low and
dirty in comparison.

"Third wish is for him to serve without rebellion!"

The third lash landed.

Lin Haoqing's knuckles turned white from his grip.

And Changyi's face looked even worse than Lin Haoqing's. His usually clear and gentle eyes now
looked as if a storm was brewing, cloudy and dark.

He stared at Princess Shunde who sat in the middle of the dungeon.

The princess asked again, "Now, will you force him?"

"I will not."

The same answer, simple, clear cut, and firm.

Princess Shunde smiled. "Okay. He refuses to say what I want to hear, and you as well. I think
there's no use in keeping your tongue." Princess Shunde's expression turned cruel. "Cut it out for her."

"What do you want to hear?"

Changyi finally... opened his mouth.

Chapter 37: Song Praise

Changyi's clear and icy voice did not speak loudly, but it reached everyone's ears.

Princess Shunde's gaze finally moved away from Ji Yunhe and looked at the jiaoren inside the cell.

Ji Yunhe also heard Changyi. She kept her head low and did not turn around to look at him. She
showed no weakness when receiving the lashes, but now her shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

Others did not see, but Lin Haoqing, who remained standing behind Ji Yunhe, saw it very clearly.

After all these years, only now did Lin Haoqing notice that Ji Yunhe's shoulders were actually very
thin and no different from any other woman. Slender and delicate, like a pair of butterfly wings...

But this butterfly had always held her head up high to tell him how she wanted to fly over the
world. So he saw her as a roc, and forgot that she, too, could be weak and helpless. (The roc is a
mythological bird of prey originating from the Middle East. It is enormous in size and has been
described as a mountain hovering in the air.)
 And the vulnerabilities hidden by Ji Yunhe so deeply over the years surfaced now, because of the
jiaoren.

Only out of pity for that demon's worthless dignity?

Thinking about her actions lately, Lin Haoqing turned his head and looked at Changyi.

She and this demon...

"Let her go. What do you wish to hear from me?" Changyi looked at Princess Shunde and spoke
again. "I will say it."

"The voice is pleasing to the ear." Princess Shunde narrowed her eyes and looked at Changyi with
content. "It is said that the jiaoren's singing is the best in the world, then sing a song for me."

Kneeling on the ground, Ji Yunhe tensed up.

Plaything.

Princess Shunde's attitude pretty much said it all.

Changyi was her plaything, while others were her slaves.

She could beat them, kill them, cut their tongue, or pluck out their eyes.

The mountains and rivers were hers, and the world was hers.

After a brief pause, Changyi's song filled the dungeon. It was melodic and intoxicating.

Ji Yunhe suspended her breath.

This song... she had heard it before.

Only once but it was impossible to forget. Such a song did not belong to the mortal world.

The tune pulled Ji Yunhe back in time and into the broken Ten Square Formation. She had
pretended to be Ning Ruochu and gave closure to the demonic attachment abandoned by the jade
phoenix. When the attachment danced toward the ninth heaven, Changyi sang this song to send her off.

After jumping into the sinking pool, she asked him what the song was about, and he told her it was
praising freedom.

At that time, Ji Yunhe was optimistic and thought her freedom was close at hand, and she only felt
joy.
 But now, with the same tune echoing inside her ears, Ji Yunhe only felt sadness.

He had lost his tail and was back in prison, but he still praised freedom.

Princess Shunde asked him to sing for her, but Ji Yunhe knew he was not singing for the princess.

He was singing for Ji Yunhe.

She closed her eyes to the room full of animosity, ignored the despair and frustration she felt, and
silently listened to his song.

When the song finished, the room became quiet and serene.

People's breathing disappeared, all signs of filth and violence were washed away, and time seemed
to stand still.

Even Princess Shunde did not break the tranquility.

Until Changyi stepped forward and said, "Let her go."

Everyone woke up to the sound of his voice and simultaneously took in the breath that they had
been holding. Princess Shunde's gaze behind her beautiful makeup fixated on Changyi, and her face was
full of desire. "I never imprisoned her."

Princess Shunde gave a slight gesture. Eunuch Zhang immediately stepped forward and took back
the scarlet whip from Lin Haoqing's hand.

"Your people have done very well in fulfilling my wishes. I am quite satisfied." Princess Shunde
stood up, and the servants behind her immediately came back to life and waited on her. "But I also do
not want to wait too long."

"I will give you ten more days for the third wish. Do not make me come here again to see him
submissive."

Princess Shunde stepped away.

The huge crowd followed her out in a line. Lin Haoqing looked at Ji Yunhe, and then looked at the
jiaoren. In the end, he said nothing and left.

Soon, Ji Yunhe and Changyi were left alone inside the dungeon. Just like before, yet the
atmosphere was now completely different.

She was still kneeling on the ground.

Changyi called her name after a while, "Yunhe."

 She did not turn around.

With her back against Changyi, she raised her hands and covered her face.

Her breathing was rapid as she desperately tried to suppress her anger, resentment and hatred for
this world.

Changyi quietly watched her and waited. After a long time, Ji Yunhe finally put down her hands,
stood up, wiped her face, and looked back at him.

Her eyes were slightly red, but her expression was completely under control.

She stepped forward and made no mention of what had just happened. "Changyi, even though you
lost your tail, your demonic power did not disappear, right?"

Changyi did not respond.

"Ten days. I will bring you some medicine, try to recover your strength. This cell and these yellow
talismans can't hold you."

"What do you want to do?" Changyi asked her.

"I want to let you go."

This cell, unlike the previous dungeon, was far less sturdy.

If Changyi had been able to shake up the previous dungeon while he was half dead, this one here
should not stand a chance. Moreover, the Ten Square Formation that had suppressed all demonic power
here in the valley and Lin Canglan were both gone, if Changyi wanted to go, nothing could stop him.

Or maybe, he could leave right now.

He just...

"What will happen to you if I leave?"

Changyi asked her, and his question confirmed what Ji Yunhe was just thinking.

He was only staying here because of her.

Maybe he could have left that day after they leaped out of the Ten Square Formation, but did not
because he was "protecting her with his life".

When Lin Haoqing asked him to split open the tail, he agreed, because he was also "protecting her
with his life".
 And today, when Princess Shunde asked him to talk, he could have refused. But he put down his
pride and did as she asked.

Because he was also "protecting her with his life".

The reason he was still here was not because he could not go, but because he also wanted to take
her with him.

Ji Yunhe closed her eyes and held back her tears.

After suppressing her emotions, she stared firmly into Changyi's clear blue eyes.

"Changyi, I've been living this life for a long time, so I always look forward to something different.
I resist, persist, and fight back, because I want to make myself worthy of every flower I've enjoyed and
every bite of food I've tasted. I want to live, and I want to live happy and free! But if in the end I don't
get what I want, then that's my life. Do you understand, Changyi? This is my life!"

She paused and said, "But it's not your life."

She was fortunate to have met Changyi, and to get to know one of the purest souls. She did not
want to burden him or keep him trapped in the filth that was her world.

"You have to leave."

Facing this somewhat hysterical outburst from Ji Yunhe, Changyi's response remained very gentle
but firm.

"I will not leave."

Just like his eyes at this moment, soft but stubborn.

Ji Yunhe's heart, which she had intentionally wrapped up under layers and layers of ice, trembled
and melted again.
Chapter 38: Change of Heart

Princess Shunde was finally gone.

However, her trail of flowers remained. Within less than a day, they withered and decayed, and
their pleasant fragrance turned into a stench of rot. The late spring weather, in addition to a light drizzle
of rain, filled the valley with insects and mosquitoes. Everyone was suffering.

Lin Canglan's body could not stay hidden any longer. Lin Haoqing publicly announced his death
without further delay.

Everyone was shocked and caught off guard when the news came out. To most of the demon
masters here, Lin Canglan was not a beady-eyed old fox, but an old man who had dedicated his life to
the valley.

They saw Lin Canglan as an icon, so even though he was old and frail, and had started to look for a
successor, everyone still respected him and believed he would always be there.

Even Ji Yunhe thought this old fox would always be there.

Yet, he died.

Lin Haoqing said he died of illness, but refused to allow anyone to visit Lin Canglan's body. He lit
a fire in the middle of the night and burned it.

Ji Yunhe thought that was unwise, but she could not think of a better idea.

The wound on Lin Canglan's neck was so obvious, fire was the only way. Now that the truth had
been turned into ash, the rest was up to people's imagination.

Many people did not believe Lin Haoqing.

The elders began to look for Qing Shu, the demon slave who was faithfully loyal to Lin Canglan.
At this point, they would believe a demon over the Valley Master's own son.

But how could they find Qing Shu?

The Valley Master suddenly died of illness, and his demon slave disappeared without a trace. Even
if Lin Haoqing had the best excuses in the world, he still would not be able to suppress all the rumors
flying around.

But that was Lin Haoqing's problem, Ji Yunhe did not care. She did not want the position of the
Valley Master, and she shared no common interests with him.

She stayed in her own courtyard and stressed over only one thing.

Not about the antidote next month, nor about Princess Shunde's ten day deadline.

She only stressed over how to get Changyi to leave.

Ji Yunhe had not gone to the dungeon again ever since Princess Shunde's visit. She deliberately
distanced herself from Changyi and hoped that he would maybe gradually forget her. Ji Yunhe wanted
this so much she sometimes even dreamed of him escaping from the dungeon.

He would push open the door to her room and tell her, "Ji Yunhe, I've figured it out. You live your
life and I'll live mine. I'm going back to the sea. I'm not staying here anymore."

And Ji Yunhe would be so ecstatic and cheer for him all the way to the main gate, and wave him
off.
 She would then watch Changyi's fading back with heartfelt joy.

But that never happened.

"I will not leave."

His tone was so firm, refusing to be swayed by anyone.

How to make him go...

Ji Yunhe pondered over this question wholeheartedly until the elders came.

Two elders with the most seniority in the Demon Valley.

The elders were not the most capable and perhaps their power did not even match that of Qu
Xiaoxing, but they were the oldest. After the sudden death of Lin Canglan, in accordance with the rules,
they should preside over the inauguration ceremony of the new Valley Master.

But they had no intention of doing so.

When the elders met with Ji Yunhe, they were direct and to the point. "We suspect the young valley
master killed his own father."

Ji Yunhe thought in her mind: yes, your suspicions are absolutely correct.

But she did not say anything, and just sipped her tea.

"The day Princess Shunde came, someone went to invite the Valley Master. According to that man,
the one who answered in the room was the young valley master."

Yes, and she was there too.

Ji Yunhe continued to drink her tea.

"And as soon as Princess Shunde left, the young valley master announced that the Valley Master
had passed away." The second elder took over. "He did not even allow anyone to visit the corpse, and
burned it so quickly. What he did was really bizarre."

"So, you two elders came to me because you want me to stand up on behalf of everyone and accuse
the young valley master?"

The two elders looked at each other. "We want you to be the new Valley Master."

Ji Yunhe put down her tea and rubbed her finger around the rim of the cup. "Why bother?" She
finally turned her head and looked at them. "The valley is only this big, we are all trapped beasts in here.
Does it make a difference who becomes king?"

Between her and Lin Haoqing, one killed Lin Canglan and the other one killed Qing Shu. They were
birds of a feather.

Ji Yunhe laughed, "You guys suspect Lin Haoqing of treason, what if I'm the same?"

Ji Yunhe's response was not what they had expected. The two elders were confused.

"Although we are somewhat trapped in this southwestern corner of the land, we will never serve a
man who killed his own father. The Valley Master did say whoever could complete Princess Shunde's
task would become the next Valley Master. Everyone here knows how the jiaoren treats you. If you ask
him to serve the princess, it is not impossible..."

"That's enough." Ji Yunhe cut him short. "The elders can mind their own business. Mine are none
of your concern."

The two elders frowned. "Ji Yunhe, we are mindful that you have made a lot of contributions to the
Demon Valley over the years, so we are advising you of this opportunity others cannot even dream of.
What exactly are you trying to say here?"

Ji Yunhe looked at them with some disdain. "Nothing, I just don't feel like playing with you
anymore."

She was tired of it.

Tired of competing and tired of fighting. Ever since Princess Shunde left, all Ji Yunhe cared about
was how to make Changyi leave.

Maybe this really was her life. She could not leave the Demon Valley, nor could she escape the
shackles of her fate.

She was not going to fight anymore. After sending Changyi away, she would probably only have a
month left to live anyway.

Seeing Ji Yunhe act this way, the two elders were furious but helpless. "The Valley Master took
care of you all these years for nothing." Then they got up and left.

Ji Yunhe gave a sarcastic smile. "So thankful for your care, Valley Master."

She sat down again and continued to drink her tea, thinking about how to drive Changyi away.

Suddenly, the air stirred around her, and she looked up. Luo Jinsang faded in from an outline into
solid form, already sitting down at the table. She panted and poured herself a cup of tea without any
ladylike manners. "Hey, rushing back... is... really exhausting."
 Ji Yunhe threw her a dirty look. "Still care to come back? Is the monk all good now?"

"Hmph! Forget that dumb monk. I ran over to help him, and he scolded me and told me I was
getting in his way, so I left him to fend for himself." Luo Jinsang smiled widely at Ji Yunhe. "I came
back to help you steal the antidote, but I heard that Lin Canglan had died. What happened when I was
gone? And those two old men, what did they want just now?"

Ji Yunhe smiled. "Wanted me to become the new Valley Master."

"Huh? A good thing! Did you agree?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Don't want to get involved."

"But don't you want to save the fish? If you become the Valley Master, won't you be able to openly
set him free?"

Luo Jinsang was clueless about the complications of the matter, but what she said did remind Ji
Yunhe that even the Valley Master would not be able to set Changyi free at will. However, there was a
perfect opportunity right now to openly get him out of the valley.

"You are of some use after all." Ji Yunhe poked Luo Jinsang in the middle of her forehead.

She then stood up and walked out the door. Luo Jinsang shouted after her, "The tea is not yet
finished, where are you going? "

"To find Lin Haoqing."

Chapter 39: Plan

When Ji Yunhe arrived at Lin Haoqing's residence, a circle of elders was gathered outside.

Their faces were sullen as they looked into the room, and a chain of questions sounded from inside.

"Why did you disregard our request and burn the Valley Master's body in private?"

"Is the young valley master trying to conceal something?"

Ji Yunhe raised her eyebrows. So these elders sent one group to convince her to become the Valley
Master, while another group came here to find Lin Haoqing...?

She pushed through the crowd and walked inside. The interrogation stopped when they saw her.

Lin Haoqing turned his head to look at Ji Yunhe. He did not look good under the pressure from the
elders. His hand was holding a pen with its tip resting motionlessly on the paper, making a huge ink
stain.

The way he looked at Ji Yunhe was as if he was saying -- so, you've also come to accuse me?

Ji Yunhe looked back at him and clasped her hands into a bow, "Valley Master."

Lin Haoqing was taken by surprise.

All the people around were taken by surprise.

Ji Yunhe greeted him as "Valley Master", not "young valley master".

She had clearly stated her attitude in front of everyone that she wanted to submit to Lin Haoqing.

Some elders immediately voiced out, "The inauguration ceremony of the Valley Master has not yet
been completed, it is not appropriate to address him as such!"

"Then what is appropriate?" Ji Yunhe turned her head and stared straight at the elder who had asked
the question. "Would it be appropriate to address you as the Valley Master?" The elder's face changed
slightly, Ji Yunhe then smiled and said, "When the Valley Master was seriously ill during Princess
Shunde's visit, the young valley master led us on his behalf and handled everything accordingly. Now
with the Valley Master passing away, his son should rightfully ascend to his father's position. What is
wrong with me calling him the Valley Master?"

"But..." The elder had no words to say, so another one opened his mouth. "We do not yet know the
truth of the Valley Master's strange and sudden death, how can we hastily establish a new master?"

"Not knowing the truth yet is precisely why we must hurry and appoint a new master to investigate
the matter thoroughly. With the Valley Master's sudden death, don't you think his own son feels it the
most? He wants to know the truth more than anyone. You are purposely hindering him here, is it
because you have other plans?"

The elders paused to look at each other, but no one knew what to say.

With Ji Yunhe acting out in such a manner, they were at a loss for words. After a moment of
silence, they all brushed their sleeves and left.

Shortly after, only Ji Yunhe and Lin Haoqing were left in the room.

She closed the door, moved a stool over, and sat down opposite of him at his desk, smiling. "This
tongue has been trained well over the years. It can be of some use, yes?"

Lin Haoqing looked at her. Her face right now reminded him of the young girl laughing in the
middle of the sea of flowers.
 She would be wearing the flower garland that he gave her and ask, "Brother Haoqing, do I look
good?"

Lin Haoqing thought about the past and his face softened a little. "Yes, your tongue is very
powerful. But..." he paused, "how come the Master Warden is so kind today?"

"No, I am not kind. I helped you because I want you to help me." She was very straight forward.
"Valley Master."

Lin Haoqing put down the pen in his hand and crumpled the paper stained with ink. "There is no
way I will let the jiaoren go. You've seen the way Princess Shunde looks at him."

Ji Yunhe's smile faded upon hearing that name.

"If he were to leave, the entire Demon Valley would be sent to the grave." Lin Haoqing looked up
at Ji Yunhe. "We might not be good people, but I don't want to die, and they shouldn't die like that
either."

"I am not asking you to set him free," Ji Yunhe said. "I just want you to do me a favor."

"What kind of a favor?"

"I want you to order me, as Valley Master, to deliver him to the capital."

Lin Haoqing raised his eyebrows. "What do you want to do?"

"The fish is very stubborn. He treats me as a friend, so he will not leave even if you let him."

"Oh?"

"You don't believe me? You've seen his power when he first came to the valley. Although his tail
splitting must have been draining, do you really think he can’t get away if he tries?"

Lin Haoqing was silent.

Ji Yunhe smiled helplessly and shook her head. "This fish, isn't he stupid?"

"So, what stupid thing do you want to do for him again?"

"I want to trick him," Ji Yunhe said. "I'm going to lie to him and say, due to Princess Shunde's
orders, I must take him to the capital. He won't refuse. I'm going to take him out of the Demon Valley."

"You want to take him out and then run away? This will still implicate everyone here."

"No. I want you to send a letter to the court and have them send someone to pick him up, and at the
same time appoint me as the officer to escort him. The journey will take about a day and a half, so in the
night, I will have him locked up in a tent alone. You will go to him at that time and tell him something."

"Tell him what?"

"Tell him that I, Ji Yunhe, have been tricking him ever since the moment I met him, and me being
good to him was all a show. My sincerity was fake, and me standing up to Princess Shunde in the
dungeon was also just an act. Tell him everything I’ve done was for him to willingly serve the princess.
I want you to lie to him."

The more Ji Yunhe talked, the more relaxed she looked. She was very proud that she had finally
thought of this perfect solution.

"This fish hates it when people lie to him. When the time is right, open the cage and let him go.
When Princess Shunde reproaches and the court pursues the blame, you will give me up. I am the escort
and the ones accompanying me are her men, so her anger may spill over into the valley, but I will be the
only one to die."

Ji Yunhe finished and made a smug smile. "How about that?"

Lin Haoqing's face was even more sullen than before.

"You don't care if you die?"

"Lin Haoqing, have you found the antidotes?" Ji Yunhe asked him rhetorically.

Lin Haoqing did not speak.

"So my life will only last a month anyway." She leaned back in her chair, looking relaxed and a
little lazy. Her attitude seemed to be saying:

See, I'm about to be free forever.

"Instead of spending the rest of my days rotting in this Demon Valley, being an eyesore to you and
to the elders, why not let me go outside and get a day of freedom? At least then my life will not have
been a complete waste of time."

By then, Lin Haoqing would have what he wanted, and Changyi would have returned to the sea.

And she...

Finally, she could face her destiny head on.

Chapter 40: Privilege

Lin Haoqing was unable to speak for a long time.

He looked at Ji Yunhe in silence. The sun shone in at just the right angle, creating a bit of
displacement in time. He seemed to see her spreading her butterfly wings again, telling him: I'm going to
leave, and I will definitely fly over the world this time.

Stubborn enough to make people laugh, and sincere enough to make people cry.

"Why?" After a long time, Lin Haoqing finally opened his mouth. His question came out of
nowhere and no one would have been able to understand what he was asking, but Ji Yunhe quickly
responded.

"I care about him." Her eyes appeared a little misty under the sunlight. "I want him to get back the
freedom that I can never get. If my life still has any value, I want to use it on him."

Lin Haoqing was lost in thoughts.

Over the years, Lin Haoqing had finally become a person who only cared about himself.

Ji Yunhe, on the other hand, wanted to use her life to exchange for someone else's freedom.

Through their personal choices, they finally became two different kinds of people in the end.

It was not really about right and wrong, or good and bad. It was just where a bleak, desolated path
led them in life.

Ji Yunhe stood up from her chair, pulling Lin Haoqing back from his drifting thoughts.

"How about it, Valley Master?" She smiled softly. "Consider it my last wish. For the sake of all
these years of entanglement, bid your farewells to me."

Under the warm, late spring sun, he looked at Ji Yunhe's face and smiled back.

"Okay."

"Many thanks."

Without further words, Ji Yunhe turned around to leave.

"Ji Yunhe."

She paused.

"When are you planning to leave?"

Ji Yunhe pondered for a moment. "Today you will write to the court and have them send someone
to pick us up. With the back and forth, we should depart in three days." Ji Yunhe smiled. "Timing is just
right, I will still get to see you sit as Valley Master in the Li Feng Hall."
 Lin Haoqing lowered his head.

"Go. I will write the letter for you right now."

Ji Yunhe waved her hand and walked into the sunlight outside.

When she returned to her small courtyard, Luo Jinsang was still sitting there drinking tea. "Jinsang,
you really gave me a good idea this time."

"What? Did Lin Haoqing agree to let you be the Valley Master? You can let the fish go now?"

Ji Yunhe smiled. "Yes, I can take him away in three days. You leave first. Go outside and find your
monk. Even better if you can find some news on Snow March. Meet up with them then wait for me
outside."

"Hrm? You got the position of the Valley Master but you're not going to be the Valley Master,
instead you're going to take the fish and run away?"

"Right." Ji Yunhe handed her the teacup and teapot. "This tea set has been with me for so many
years, I kind of like it. Hold on to it for me and feel free to use it yourself. I will take it back from you
when I can."

Luo Jinsang was excited. "Good. Finally we're talking business!"

Ji Yunhe smiled and looked at her. "You should leave as soon as possible."

"Okay, then I'll go first. When will you make it out?"

"Probably... ten days from now."

Luo Jinsang turned invisible, grabbed the tea set and rattled away. Ji Yunhe looked at the sunset
that was already starting to disappear. She took a deep breath and headed for the dungeon to see
Changyi.

When Ji Yunhe arrived, Changyi was playing chess with himself.

They had drawn the chessboard together some time ago, and she taught Changyi how to play. He
was not calculating and always lost, but he never grew angry or frustrated. He just patiently learned
from his mistakes again and again.

When Ji Yunhe walked into the dungeon, Changyi looked at her with calm and gentle eyes. Not a
trace of displeasure could be seen on his face, as if her deliberate avoidance all these days did not exist.

"I played a few games against myself, I think I've made a lot of progress."

He did not hesitate to praise himself when he got the chance.

 Ji Yunhe smiled. She opened the cell door and walked in. "Really? Then let's play a match."

Changyi placed the chess pieces back into their trays and handed the white tray to Ji Yunhe.
Neither of them talked about the incident with Princess Shunde the other day. There was no mention of
Ji Yunhe's wretchedness or her emotional breakdown.

They quietly played a game. When they finished, it was already midnight.

Changyi still lost, but he survived longer than before.

"You really have improved." Ji Yunhe acknowledged his efforts.

Changyi looked at the chessboard, still analyzing, "If a wrong move was made here, then all the
following moves would be wrong too. There is no recovering."

Ji Yunhe quietly waited until he had studied the defeat thoroughly and concluded the reasons for
his failure, then said, "Changyi, I want... to ask you for a favor."

Changyi looked up at her, his clear blue eyes reflecting her face.

And under such a gaze, she still hesitated even after giving herself countless preparations.

She wondered whether she should deceive him, and if what she was about to say might hurt him.

But like with everything, there was no giving without taking.

"Changyi," Ji Yunhe calmly asked him, "are you willing... to go to the capital and serve Princess
Shunde?"

Changyi gazed into her eyes. "Do you want me to go?"

"Yes, I want you to go."

He lowered his head and looked at his defeated chess game.

The humble chess board carved into the dungeon floor was littered with pieces. He patiently picked
them up one by one, returning white pieces to the white tray, and black pieces to the black tray, while he
replied in the same orderly manner.

"If you want me to, then I will go."

Ji Yunhe had known Changyi would agree. But sitting there listening to his clear and calm voice,
her heart still could not help but tremble.

However, her eyes blocked all the emotions raging inside her.
 "Changyi," the corners of her mouth lifted, "you're really too kind."

Changyi finished picking up all the pieces and looked at her.

"I don't want you to suffer again."

"Thank you so much."

Ji Yunhe stood up and turned her back. "I will see you tomorrow."

She walked out of the prison with quick steps, her feet did not dare to stop even a second. She kept
walking and walking until she reached the depths of the sea of flowers.

She looked up at the vast starry sky and fiercely pounded herself in the chest.

You don't want me to suffer.

I want you to be free even more.

So, I'm sorry, Changyi.

At the same time, I am so thankful to have had the privilege of knowing you...
Chapter 41: Departure

The next two days were fairly peaceful for Ji Yunhe.

She watched Lin Haoqing ascend to the position of the Valley Master.

It was a warm and charming day.

Lin Haoqing, dressed in formal black, walked step by step down Li Feng Hall toward the high seat.
The breeze blew in from outside, stirring his robe and the hair on his forehead.

He did not turn around and sit right away after reaching the chair. Instead, he silently stood in front
of it for a while.

It was difficult for Ji Yunhe to guess the thoughts and emotions going through his mind at this
moment. She stood in her usual position and watched him.

The crowd started to whisper amongst themselves, and Lin Haoqing finally turned around, flipped
out his robe, and sat down.

Ji Yunhe took the lead and bowed down onto one knee. "Long live the Valley Master."

The whispering voices slowly quieted down, and everyone knelt one after another.
 "Long live the Valley Master."

The sound of salutations consecrated him as their new leader.

"No need for such formalities." Lin Haoqing raised his hand and gestured for everyone to get up.

Under the contrast of light and shadow, the new master on the seat seemed to merge with Lin
Canglan right before Ji Yunhe's eyes.

The same position, the same bloodline, and the same gaze. An eerie continuation of the cycle of
life. And when Lin Haoqing's eyes fell on her face, she responded with a faint smile.

After this, nothing in the Demon Valley, nor in the world, mattered to her anymore.

Ji Yunhe was now completely free of things to do.

She wandered around the valley looking at familiar scenes that she had grown so tired of. But now
they seemed a bit less annoying, some even felt precious.

Before leaving for the capital, she laid on her roof and watched the stars all night. When she woke
up the next morning, she felt as if she had thought about many things, but also as if she did not have
time to think about anything.

There had been some confusion and everything went by so quickly.

The court general who came to pick up Changyi waited outside the main gate.

When she went to the dungeon to get him, demon masters were already there with an iron lockbox.

They were planning to use thick chains and shackles on him and put him in the lockbox.

"There's no need for this stuff."

Ji Yunhe walked into the cell, took the chains from their hands and threw them onto the ground.
"And get rid of the box, we don't need it either."

"But..." The demon masters were uneasy.

Ji Yunhe smiled and said, "If he runs now, can we even give him to Princess Shunde?"

The demon masters looked at each other and stopped talking.

Ji Yunhe turned her head and extended her hand to Changyi. "Let's go."

Changyi glanced at her hand and rejected it. "It's inappropriate." He abided by proper etiquette even
now.

Yes, he was a jiaoren who recognized only one companion for life. He had to give his future
partner absolute dedication and loyalty. Changyi would never accept Princess Shunde as a companion,
and right now he believed he would never be free again, so he would not consider Ji Yunhe a companion
either.

She did not force him. "Okay, let's go."

She turned around and led Changyi out of the dungeon.

This was probably the first time he had a real walk since he grew legs. He did not walk fast, so Ji
Yunhe walked slowly with him.

When they arrived at the main mountain gate, the people from the court were already showing a lot
of impatience.

An armored general on his horse, wearing a black iron mask, kept pulling the reins and paced back
and forth. When he saw Ji Yunhe walk out slowly with Changyi, he complained, "You lowlife demon
slavers, if you miss our deadline, what shall be the punishment?"

Lin Haoqing was also here. He did not appreciate the general's attitude.

The imperial court did not think much of the demon masters outside the Grand Master's house, and
the noblemen had given them an extremely derogatory name, called demon slaver. It implied that they
were slaves who played with demons for the pleasure of the nobles.

Lin Haoqing was about to speak, but Ji Yunhe laughed first and said, "This is still earlier than the
agreed time. The general's lack of patience and mental stability will likely become an obstacle in the
battlefields."

The armored general's frustration turned into anger. He drew his longsword, reined his horse
toward Ji Yunhe and slashed down furiously.

Then the sword abruptly froze in mid air three inches away from her head.

Next to her, Changyi's glowing eyes fixated on the armored general. With a sudden blue flash
inside his pupils, the general's sword exploded into a million pieces and blew away with the wind.

It turned quiet and everyone was shocked.

Destroying objects through space was not something any demon could do.

The general's horse started backing away. No matter how much he pulled on the reins, he could not
get it to stop retreating. The more he tried to drive the horse forward, the more it resisted.
 The general was furious. He dismounted, drew another sword from a soldier behind him and swung
it fiercely, cutting the head off of his horse. The main gate suddenly smelled of blood.

The general then removed the black iron mask from his face and turned his head angrily. "Who
raised this war horse? Find him and kill him!"

Only after his mask had been removed did Ji Yunhe see that the general was only sixteen or
seventeen years old. But his arrogance and hostility were quite formidable.

After yelling at the people behind him, the young general turned his head and stared at Changyi.
"Jiaoren, just because you will be serving the princess doesn't mean you can do whatever you want! I
can cut off your hands and feet even if I'm not allowed to cut off your head!"

Ji Yunhe laughed again. "This little general, breaking his hands and feet is not a matter of being
allowed to, but a matter of if you have the capability, and you don't!"

The young general charged at her, but was held back by a pair of hands from behind. "Young
general, the princess and the Grand Master repeatedly instructed that a safe journey was of top priority.
Why don't you stop quarreling with this demon master."

The man speaking was wearing a white robe with a white ribbon tied around his forehead, and his
face was chiseled like a jade sculpture. A disciple of the… Grand Master.
Chapter 42: The World Outside

Ji Yunhe looked at the man in white. The Grand Master loved the color white. It was said that his
entire house was decorated in white, and everyone there wore nothing but white.

A nobleman had once tried to please the Grand Master at a palace banquet.

The nobleman said, "Only those who are above and beyond this world dress in white."

But the Grand Master coldly replied, "I am dressed in white because I am mourning for the world."

The nobleman's face immediately changed color, and the whole room fell silent.

No one else would dare to make such a statement at a palace banquet. (In Chinese culture, talking
about death and mourning is very inappropriate and disrespectful at celebrations, and may also be
considered bad luck.)

The story passed down to the public, and the Grand Master's status and reputation became
somewhat of a god among mortals.

Ji Yunhe had never been to the Grand Master's house before, but seeing this disciple's white robe
and the white ribbon around his forehead, it really did look like mourning attire... mourning for the
world. However, his face was much friendlier than the teenage general in black iron armor.
 He stopped the little general and turned his head to look at Ji Yunhe and Changyi. "Princess
Shunde wishes for the jiaoren to serve faithfully, but it appears his heart is not yet completely tamed.
Presenting him to the princess now… If she gets hurt, I'm afraid your Demon Valley will have to take on
full responsibility."

"I will not hurt the human princess." Changyi spoke before Ji Yunhe had a chance to respond. "But
no one can hurt Yunhe either."

Changyi's words were unexpected.

Even Ji Yunhe did not expect Changyi to still be so protective of her at this point… After all, she
was the one sending him to the capital and handing him over to Princess Shunde.

"The young general acted without due consideration. I, Ji Chengyu, would like to apologize on his
behalf." The Grand Master's disciple clasped his hands and bowed down to Ji Yunhe and Changyi.

This was also unexpected.

The Grand Master served through several generations of emperors, his prestige was very high. Plus
his disciples were the strongest demon masters in the world. Ji Yunhe thought for sure they would be
brought up arrogant and domineering, like the young general. But surprisingly, he was very polite.

"You are apologizing to a demon slaver and a demon!" The young general anxiously pulled at him.
"The general does not allow you to speak for me! I am not apologizing!"

Ji Yunhe flashed him a big smile.

This young general really was just a boy, immature and childish.

Ji Chengyu wrinkled his brows and called out his name, "Zhu Ling." His voice turned a bit solemn
and that was enough to intimidate the young general into silence. Ji Chengyu then pulled that young
general off to the side and reprimanded him in private. When they returned, Zhu Ling placed his black
iron mask back on his face, turned around with a "hmph", and did not speak again.

"Please," Ji Chengyu smiled and said, "we have prepared two carriages for you and the jiaoren,
please come with me."

Ji Yunhe said, "I'll sit with him."

Ji Chengyu nodded with a "sure".

But Changyi opposed it. "It's better to sit separately."

Ji Yunhe smirked. She knew exactly what he was thinking again: not proper, not appropriate, so
on...
 Ji Chengyu nodded again. "Sure."

"So troublesome." Zhu Ling turned to leave. "This general's horse has no head and cannot run, I
will take a carriage to sit in. You two can share the other one."

The little general turned and left, leaving Ji Chengyu smiling a bit awkwardly. "Then..."

"So be it." Ji Yunhe finished the sentence for him.

Ji Yunhe and Changyi sat together in a royal carriage. Even though it was not as extravagant as the
palanquin that had carried Princess Shunde, it was still quite luxurious.

The curtain was embroidered with gold silk and cushions rested against the four walls. They were
covered in fox fur and padded with fine cotton, no road bumps could be felt sitting inside. The Grand
Master's paper talismans hung from the roof, not with spells to capture demons, but to scatter bursts of
cool, fresh air.

Ji Yunhe looked at the talismans.

Inscription papers sprinkled with gold dust and purple vermilion sand from Yunlai Mountain. One
tael of that sand was worth about two hundred taels of gold.

This kind of paper would only be used to deal with demons of great power in the valley, yet the
imperial court used it for cooling.

Ji Yunhe shook her head, sat down across from Changyi, and smiled sarcastically.

"What's wrong?" Although he was reluctant to share a carriage, he was still very attentive to her.

"It just feels like this world is so ironic and full of absurdity."

Good thing such absurdity was almost over for her.

The caravan took off. Ji Yunhe raised her curtain and quietly looked at the passing scenery outside.
Changyi did not disturb her even after half a day had passed. At noon, the caravan stopped at a post
station by the main road.

Ji Chengyu wanted to lead them to the second floor of the post to have their meal so they would not
be disturbed by all the travelers going back and forth.

Ji Yunhe rejected his offer. She picked a corner on the first floor and sat down to watch the people
come and go. Everyone looked different and dressed differently. She quietly observed them without
blinking even once.

"Changyi." After a long time, she finally collected her gaze and looked at the tea on the table. Then
she commented softly as if murmuring to herself, "The world is truly ridiculous."
 The coming and going of the busy everyday life was so normal and standard for them, but for Ji
Yunhe, it was an exciting and extraordinary experience she could never have.

They probably were not even aware that a place like the Demon Valley existed.

"Have you ever seen this kind of an ordinary human existence before?"

Changyi shook his head.

"Curious?"

Changyi looked at her and saw some light dappling and flickering under her eyes. He grew curious.

He nodded, but it was because he was curious about Ji Yunhe.

Changyi did not understand why she seemed to have this magnetic power over him. She always
made him curious about her, care about her, and irresistibly observe her.

"Come." Ji Yunhe stood up and tugged on his sleeve. He followed.

She said to Ji Chengyu, "It's a bit stuffy after sitting in a carriage all day, I'll take him out to get
some air."

Ji Chengyu nodded, "Sure."

"You're not worried that we might run away?"

Before Ji Chengyu could answer, Zhu Ling drank a mouthful of tea, put the teacup on the table and
said, "This land is full of the eyes of the Grand Master, no one can get away."

Ji Yunhe smiled and said, "It appears that the jade phoenix and Snow March got away."

Zhu Ling's face changed. "There's no arguing! That traitor and the demon will be caught sooner or
later!"

That meant they were not caught yet.

Ji Yunhe did not say anything more. She took a hold of Changyi's sleeve and pulled him out
through the back door of the post.

The front of the post was the main road, the back was a small courtyard. A fence covered with
moss separated them from a lush green forest on the other side.

It was late spring and the trees had no flowers on them, but the new green shoots were still pleasant
to look at.
 Ji Yunhe stepped over the fence and walked toward the forest.

Every step stirred up the scent of fresh green grass beneath her feet. Amidst the sunlight and warm
breeze, Ji Yunhe opened her hands and took the warmth of late spring and early summer into her arms.

A soft wind blew by. It pulled on her hair and dress and loosened a newly sprouted leaf from the
branch to her side. The leaf flew past her eyes, drifted to Changyi, and landed on the side of his cheek.

He lifted his hand and took it off of his face, then studied the leaf between his fingers, seemingly
captivated by its vivid green hue. When he looked up again, Ji Yunhe was already far away, running as
fast as she could into the forest.

As if she was racing into the unknown to forever disappear behind the sun-dappled, mist-filled
greenery.

And just as her figure was about to vanish completely from sight, she suddenly stopped, turned
around, and waved at him. "Changyi!" she called out to him. "Come! There's a small hill over here!"

Her voice was like the legendary siren from the sea, tempting and luring him into the unknown
depths.

Changyi stepped over the fence and walked toward her.

Chapter 43: Without Fear

Ji Yunhe ran through the forest and climbed to the top of a small hill. She stared into the distance
while the sun sprinkled down all around her. When Changyi approached the hill, she called out to him
like an excited child, "Changyi! Changyi! Come up here!"

Changyi had never seen such a vibrant Ji Yunhe.

She had always been calm and steady, both in the Demon Valley and inside the Ten Square
Formation. Perhaps she revealed some capriciousness from time to time, but she never truly let herself
go.

But now she was actually jumping up and down on the hill.

"Look!" She pointed to the distance.

Changyi walked to her side. A vast view of endless rolling hills stretched out before his eyes,
undulating for thousands of miles. In the far distant horizon, lofty mountains towered into the sky and
pierced through the clouds. It was a sight of pure magnificence.

Under such splendor of heaven and earth, all the calculated gains and losses of human desires
seemed unimportant.
 Ji Yunhe's lips trembled as she spoke.

"Isn't this world beautiful?" It was not clear if she was asking Changyi or herself.

He turned his head and looked at the side of her face. Although she was quietly staring into the
distance, both her eyes and lips trembled, revealing an inner excitement that she could hardly keep under
control.

Changyi said while still looking at her, "Beautiful."

"Yes," Ji Yunhe said. "I don't like the human world, but it seems I do like this heaven and earth."

Ji Yunhe seemed to suddenly remember something. She turned her head sideways and met
Changyi's gaze, then took a few steps back and studied him from a distance.

Changyi was puzzled. "What is it?"

"You also."

"Also what?"

"You are also very likeable."

Changyi stopped and glanced at her smiling eyes, then abruptly turned his head. For some reason,
he felt it was difficult to face her right now, so he turned to the mountains and clouds instead.

But after a brief moment, he could not help but look at her again. "Can you stop talking like that?"

"Why?"

"It's too easy to misunderstand."

"Misunderstand what?" Ji Yunhe smiled, pressing him relentlessly.

And it was her oppressive attitude that made Changyi respond bluntly, "Misunderstand that you
like me."

"That's not really a misunderstanding."

Changyi stopped again.

"You do like me?"

"Yes, I like your beautiful face and your beautiful personality."

 Changyi pondered for a moment. "So it is that kind of like. Makes logical sense."

What a confident fish!

Ji Yunhe laughed. "Do you know what you look like, Changyi?"

He lowered his head and looked at himself. "Like a human."

From his standpoint, he was not wrong. The jiaoren Changyi really did look like a human right
now…

Ji Yun shook her head and said, "You look like a story. All the beautiful things that humans dream
of are in you. Honorable and unyielding, powerful yet gentle. You are like the stuff of legends."

Then she paused. Changyi waited a while before asking, "I'm like a story, and then what?"

The voice of the little armored general came from below the hillside, "Hey, let's go."

Ji Yunhe looked down and saw Ji Chengyu and Zhu Ling heading over with a few soldiers
following behind. She looked at Changyi and said, "Let's go then."

He nodded his head and walked down the hill, no longer dwelling on their topic just now.

Ji Yunhe watched Changyi's back as she followed him. They walked through the forest, stepped
over the fence, and returned to the post. After exiting the main door, she paused for a moment and asked
Ji Chengyu, "I want to ride your horse this afternoon, feasible?"

Ji Chengyu smiled and nodded like always. "Sure."

Zhu Ling was not happy. "Why did you agree?"

"It's not easy for a demon master to leave the valley. She just wants to switch the carriage for a
horseback, why not?"

Zhu Ling frowned. "Then you come and sit with me."

"Nah." Ji Chengyu ignored Zhu Ling's request and boarded Changyi's carriage.

Changyi looked at Ji Yunhe then stepped in after him.

Ji Yunhe mounted Ji Chengyu's horse and walked with the caravan on the main road.

Her eyes collected every distant view, and her lips smiled at every curious pedestrian who looked at
them.

Her horse followed Changyi's carriage. Aside from looking at the views and the people passing by,
she also checked on the situation inside the carriage from time to time.

The two men sat on opposite sides. Changyi was silently meditating with his eyes closed, but Ji
Chengyu seemed very curious about him, and studied him for a long time. Finally he asked, "Jiaoren are
stubborn by nature, and will not yield even in death. A tamed jiaoren pretty much does not exist in this
world. What exactly did that demon master do to you to make you submit like this?"

Ji Yunhe looked in. Between the swinging curtains, she could only see the hand resting calmly on
Changyi's lap, but not the expression on his face.

"She did not tame me, and I did not submit."

"Oh?" Ji Chengyu smiled. "Then... I'm afraid this caravan will have to turn around and take another
trip to the Demon Valley."

"No need. I said I will not hurt the human princess."

"Then you have submitted."

"I'm just protecting someone."

He did not submit, nor did he accept defeat. He was just protecting her in a world that was not his,
in the best way he could think of.

Ji Yunhe lowered her eyes and stroked the horse under her.

"Why? Are you clear about the choice you are making?" Ji Chengyu continued to ask.

"I am clear."

No more conversation followed after that.

Ji Yunhe paced her horse to the front of the carriage. She looked at the distant mountains and
smiled.

It was night.

Zhu Ling's carriage broke a wheel, and the caravan did not have time to reach the next post station,
so they camped in the mountains.

Ji Yunhe surveyed the surrounding terrain. She looked to the direction of the main road and made
sure the trails left by the caravan were obvious. Even if they were not at the post, Lin Haoqing should
still be able to find them easily. But to be on the safe side, she should probably still leave a mark...

Changyi walked over just as she was pondering over this. "What are you looking at?"
 "Nothing. Have they finished setting up the tents?"

"Mhm."

"Let's go."

The four of them had tents sitting in a row away from the soldiers. Zhu Ling's tent was on the far
left, followed by Ji Chengyu's. As for the two on the right, Ji Yunhe thought for a moment and chose the
one next to Ji Chengyu. This way she could watch over the movements of the tents next to her.

Of course Changyi would not argue with her over which tent to sleep in. He obediently took the
rightmost one and was about to enter when Ji Yunhe called him.

"Changyi."

"Hm?"

Ji Yunhe looked at him. She suddenly felt some parting sorrow. This was, perhaps, the last time she
would get to see him.

She helped Changyi smooth his slightly wrinkled lapel. "Your robe's wrinkled."

"Thanks." Changyi turned to leave when Ji Yunhe called out to him again.

"Changyi."

He turned back and looked at her. The two of them stared at each other for a while under the glow
of the campfire. Finally Ji Yunhe smiled. "Today, I feel like I finally experienced freedom and joy."

"Because of leaving the Demon Valley?"

"I guess. But I also realized that freedom is about not being afraid," Ji Yunhe said. "And today, I
lived without fear."

Changyi looked at her smiling face. As if it were contagious, he also lifted the corners of his lips.

"You will in the future too."

"Yes, I will." Ji Yunhe raised her hand and stroked Changyi's hair. "You will too."

He would soon be free, be happy, and be without fear.

Changyi looked at her with some confusion. "I don't have any injuries on my body right now."

"Touch it and it will get even healthier." Ji Yunhe waved her hand and finally turned to leave.
"Sleep well."
 She went back to her tent and watched the camp curtain fall, then took a deep breath and told
herself: Changyi is a beautiful story.

Beautiful things should keep on going.

And his story was far from reaching its end.

Chapter 44: Heartbreak

Only insects could be heard in the middle of the night.

Ji Yunhe laid quietly on a simple bunk and stared into the darkness with wide open eyes. She
seemed to be in a trance, but at the same time, she also seemed to be looking through the tent and into
the stars up above.

Suddenly, the insects next to her quieted down. Ji Yunhe knew that Lin Haoqing had arrived.

If he came, then he would not fail to do what she had asked. So what happened in the tent next to
her, she knew without needing to see or hear.

Her heart ached. She even felt like she was being too cruel to Changyi for doing this.

But, there was no going back now.

The night was still quiet.

The more calm before the storm, the more past memories floated up into her mind.

Her vague childhood, the hasty paths of escape with her parents, and unforgettable days in the
Demon Valley... For example, the day Lin Canglan first fed her poison.

It had not been a sunny day when Lin Canglan called her to his room. As soon as she entered, his
fox demon slave, Qing Shu, forced open her mouth and made her swallow a pill.

At that time she was confused and did not know what was fed to her, so she only looked at them
like a clueless fool.

The two of them studied her, and the room was quiet for a long time. Ji Yunhe opened her mouth to
ask what she had eaten, but suddenly she felt a sharp wave of pain radiating out from her heart.

That was the first time she felt the power of the poison. She did not know what she had done wrong
and rolled on the floor suffering, but Lin Canglan and Qing Shu did not care. They shook their heads
and said it was a pity.

She spent that entire night in severe pain while they watched, as if waiting for her to die.
 The turmoil she felt then was quite similar to now.

Only difference was now it was not a physical pain from the body, but an unbearable heartache.

Qing Shu had fed her a pill the next morning and she felt better. Then Qing Shu said she was the
first.

The first what? Ji Yunhe never understood.

But as someone who could give her such a heartache, Changyi was probably also the first.

A thud came from outside, next to her tent.

The sound was loud enough to alert the soldiers. Someone said, "There seems to be movement over
by the jiaoren, go and check."

Ji Yunhe lifted her blanket and sat up.

Suddenly, a translucent blue light flashed outside, followed by a crisp sound of ice breaking.

It sounded like a frozen lake cracking up on a winter day. An icicle pierced through Ji Yunhe's tent
and into the wooden beam, its crystalline body reflecting the flames outside. The campfire was then
overturned, the pit tumbled and the fire rolled out, igniting a forest floor full of dead wood and dried
leaves.

Shouts came before Ji Yunhe even had a chance to stand up. "The jiaoren has escaped! The jiaoren
has escaped!"

The chaotic disorder of the soldiers and horses outside, mixed with Zhu Ling's scolding and Ji
Chengyu's calm instructions, completely broke the silence of the night.

And in the middle of all that panic, Ji Yunhe gave a bright smile rarely seen on her face.

She thought about it. Ever since she swallowed the poison, the number of happy smiles in her entire
life had been less than that of the two months she met Changyi.

Changyi was gone, no longer burdened by her.

Hooray!

Ji Yunhe sat back down. Only now did she truly achieve the two words she had said to him earlier -
- without fear.

At least while Changyi was still around, she was still afraid of him not leaving.

Now this last wish had finally been fulfilled.

 Suddenly, someone pulled up the tent curtain and Ji Yunhe tensed up, thinking it was Changyi
coming back for her. But when she looked up, she saw Ji Chengyu.

He stood by the curtain with his shadow cast in by the firelight outside, stretching to her feet.

He looked at Ji Yunhe, the gentle smile on his face fading a little. "The jiaoren has run away. As a
demon master, why are you sitting here in peace?"

This guy did not lose his temper and yell at her even now. Very polite upbringing indeed.

Ji Yunhe calmly replied, "The jiaoren's demonic power is profound and unpredictable. If he runs
away, no one can catch him."

"You claimed he's tamed, and now he's run away. The princess will pursue this matter. Do you
understand the consequences?"

Ji Yunhe thought a bit then pretended to shake her head in sorrow. "I am probably doomed. It's just
a pity that I dragged you and that little general down too."

Although Ji Yunhe said so verbally, she knew that Ji Chengyu and Zhu Ling would probably be
fine. One could guess just from their behavior that they were not of low status. It did not matter how
tyrannical Princess Shunde might be, high ranking men of the Grand Master's house and the military
were not people she could kill at will.

Seeing Ji Yunhe like this, Ji Chengyu obviously had nothing more to say. He put down the curtain
and left. She heard his calm voice commanding outside, "Gather up some men and horses and follow
me."

This Ji Chengyu did not look easy to deal with. Ji Yunhe wondered if she should follow them when
the tent curtain was pulled open again.

She mumbled under her breath. These court people were really troublesome. But when she looked
up, she froze.

The person in front of her had silver hair loosely draping down. His white robe was tainted with
campfire soot, making him look a bit rash. And a pair of ice blue eyes stared steadily at her.

The sound of soldiers and horses outside had already faded into the distance, only the crackles of
fire burning on wet trees remained.

He did not leave yet. Still stubbornly came to find her.

Ji Yunhe looked at him, forcefully suppressed all of her emotions, and said the only thing she
could. Because everything else would be a wrong response.
 "I knew you would come back, Changyi."

The firelight outside the tent flickered in her eyes.

She put on a smile that was seven parts fake.

Changyi looked at her calmly. "Yunhe, I only believe your words, so I came to ask you."

"Ask me what?"

"Everything you did and said since you met me, have they all been a ploy?"

Ji Yunhe curbed the smile on her face and her expression turned solemn. "Who told you that?"

Changyi saw the look on her face and his lips slowly began to turn pale. Even his voice trembled
slightly. "You caring for me was fake, your sincerity was fake, everything you've done was to deceive
me and make me willingly go serve the human princess?"

Ji Yunhe approached him. "Changyi, tell me, who said this to you."

"Yes or no?" he asked again.

Ji Yunhe was silent.

"Yes or no..." asking again, but this time he evaded Ji Yunhe's gaze and looked away. Did not
understand, refused to accept, and hurt.

Ji Yunhe stared at him. "Yes."

Changyi clenched his fist and his eyes clouded up.

"That day when the human princess whipped you, forced you, and oppressed you inside the
dungeon, was that also fake? Just an act?"

"Yes."

The silence in the room lasted for a long time. The more intense the fire burned outside, the colder
it felt inside.

Changyi closed his eyes. "Ji Yunhe," he said while trying desperately to control his scattered
breathing, "I... thought you were different from other humans."

Ji Yunhe heard his anger, pain and so much… resentment that he was forcibly suppressing.

Like someone who had presented his most precious possessions, only in exchange for a cold
shoulder and abuse.
 "Changyi, I am different from the others." She looked at him. "Others can't make you serve
Princess Shunde, but I can."

She wanted to say the one thing that would pierce his heart.

And she did.

Changyi finally looked at Ji Yunhe again.

Shock, pain, and disbelief.

Like an icicle had plunged into his chest, freezing him from head to toe.

He took a step back and staggered. It showed just how uncomfortable these new legs were to him.
He reached out and grabbed a wooden frame in order to stabilize himself.

Ji Yunhe looked at him coldly.

Go!

She approached Changyi step by step. "You are the key to my freedom."

Go!

She raised her hand and channeled her palm full of spiritual power, as if to trap him. "Don't even
think about running."

Why won't you go…!

Ji Yunhe's palm inched closer to Changyi, then Zhu Ling's voice suddenly sounded from outside,
"The jiaoren is here!"

Ji Yunhe's heart skipped a beat, her face turned ruthless, and her hand thrusted forward without
holding back.

But Changyi just senselessly stood there and stared at her palm, taking it full on. The impact threw
him out of the tent with a stifled grunt, and he fell to the ground spitting up a mouthful of blood.

Changyi looked up at Ji Yunhe, blood and mud soiled his clothes and hair. She stood outside the
tent looking down at him with her face dark, gloomy and cold. And behind her came dozens of soldiers.

Changyi clenched his teeth, swallowed the blood inside his mouth and waved his hand. Countless
icicles emerged from the mud below and shot out with blinding speed. Some men took it through the
chest, others had their legs pierced. The forest was instantly filled with wailing and blood.
 And among the sea of icicles, only the space before Ji Yunhe was free and clear.

He had released all of his strength and ferocity, but he still refused to use them on her.
Chapter 45: Sever and Protect

The moon beamed through sparse clouds, casting its cool, silvery light across the land.

In the quiet of the night, amongst a vast landscape of rolling hills, a small forest was disturbed.

The night crow's cry echoed, as if calling to the afterlife. A man with silver hair stumbled through
the moonlit trees at great speed, his hand clutching a shoulder. Sound of pursuit followed him.

Changyi turned his head and looked at the soldiers chasing after him. Ji Yunhe was among them.

No time to get emotional, he clenched his teeth and kept running. The surrounding trees receded
and a clearing appeared before him. He ran a few steps forward then stopped abruptly as a gust of wind
blew across his face.

A cliff. He had nowhere left to run.

Changyi turned around. The well trained soldiers formed a semicircle and quickly surrounded him.

They held their blockade firmly and did not move again. Only Ji Yunhe dismounted and walked
step by step toward him with a sword in hand.

Changyi looked at the cliff behind him, and then turned back to look at her. A Ji Yunhe that was no
longer gentle and sweet.

The strike he suffered from her back at the camp had damaged his power and ability to ride the
wind. Behind him was a steep fall into unknown depths, and in front of him… she was also like a
bottomless abyss.

Ji Yunhe stopped ten feet away from him.

The clouds parted up in the sky and allowed the moonlight to pour down over the cliff. Changyi
saw his own shadow stretched to Ji Yunhe's feet as she stepped onto its throat.

She said, "There is nowhere to run."

Changyi stared at his shadow in silence. It was so helplessly bound to the ground, defenseless and
trampled on by her.

Ji Yunhe raised her sword, unsheathed it, and threw the scabbard aside. Then she pointed the tip at
Changyi.

He finally shifted his gaze from his shadow onto Ji Yunhe, and his eyes reflected the sheen of her
sword. "I don't believe it," he said as he stared at her.

His words drifted into Ji Yunhe's ears, but they did not stop the sword in her hand.

Her eyes were cruel, and she made her move under the chill of the moon.

When her sword entered his chest, Changyi felt no pain, only despair.

His chest was numb, and his entire body was numb.

He only felt cold.

A bone-chilling cold.

Ji Yunhe's sword had plunged through him with a force so great that it pushed him over the edge of
the cliff.

He was unable to resist. Or maybe he did not want to.

He just looked at her, and his own reflection inside her dark eyes. He saw himself broken,
desperate, foolish, and lost. And Ji Yunhe's face did not show the slightest wave of emotion.

The howling of the wind blocked all other sounds from his ears as everything grew distant and
faint, finally vanishing from his sight.

His body fell under Ji Yunhe's gaze, her eyes as cold as the moon.

I don't believe it...

He wanted to say it again, but he no longer had the strength to. The darkness under the cliff took
everything away.

His world fell silent...

"Stop! The princess wants him alive!"

Zhu Ling's voice pierced the night sky. It did not reach the ears of Changyi, but Ji Yunhe heard it
loud and clear.

A white figure on a sword flashed over along with Zhu Ling's voice. He flew past Ji Yunhe and
headed straight for the cliff, trying to retrieve the jiaoren who had fallen off. But after he made barely an
inch beyond the edge, the sword under his feet was deflected by a strong force.

Ji Chengyu turned his body and stabilized himself in mid air. Before he could make a second
attempt down the cliff, his sword cracked and broke in half.
 He had no choice but to leap down onto the ground. Along with Zhu Ling who rushed over just
now, they stared at the broken sword in shock.

Ji Chengyu turned to look at the source of the power that broke his sword.

It was Ji Yunhe.

She was still wearing the uniform of the Demon Valley, but her aura now looked completely
different.

She wiped at Changyi's blood on her sword with two fingers, then drew a pair of blood marks on
her forehead.

Like those barbarians out in the wild, painting a totem of faith on their own bodies.

She turned around with her sword in hand.

"Whoever crosses this cliff will die tonight."

She stood at the edge with her back to the abyss. Her whole body emitted an aura of bloodrage.

At this instant, she seemed to have transformed from an ordinary demon master into a god of death.
Just as she had said, whomever that crossed her would die.

"Nonsense! A lowlife demon slaver dare to stop us?"

Zhu Ling was the first one to react. He viciously kicked at the horse under his feet and charged at Ji
Yunhe.

"Zhu Ling!" Ji Chengyu tried to stop him, but he had already rushed by.

Ji Chengyu did not delay another second. He immediately made a hand gesture and a sword flew
into his grasp from a soldier nearby. Then his body lifted into the air and flew past Zhu Ling to attack Ji
Yunhe first.

Ji Yunhe blocked Ji Chengyu's sword, then formed a magic seal with her left hand and shielded
herself from Zhu Ling's saber that followed.

Zhu Ling mocked, "Skills of an ant!" He withdrew his saber, changed his stance, and slashed down
at her again.

Ji Yunhe did not even bother looking at him. The seal in her hand flashed and easily deflected his
attack. Zhu Ling then turned over and leapt off of his war horse. The horse, now no longer under a
rider's control, immediately ran away.

A soldier standing off to the side pulled on his bow string and an arrow shot past Ji Yunhe's ear.
 Zhu Ling turned around and ordered, "Find a way down the cliff! I want this jiaoren dead or alive!"

"Yes, sir!" the soldiers responded.

Ji Yunhe saw the men preparing to ride off. She withdrew the sword she was using to block Ji
Chengyu's attacks, and took a slash from him with her flesh as she threw her blade out into the crowd,
breaking the legs of all the horses.

The horses cried in pain and the men fell.

Ji Yunhe grabbed a hold of Ji Chengyu's sword still lodged inside her. With a loud cry, she broke it
with her bare hand, pulled the blade out from her body, and hurled it at Zhu Ling, knocking his helmet
off of his head.

Ji Yunhe's spiritual power then swirled out around her body and formed a magic shield.

She covered the wound on her shoulder with her hand and her eyes fiercely swept across the crowd.

"I will cut the head off of anyone who dares to go after him. I promise."
Chapter 46: Nine-Tailed Fox

Ji Yunhe stood on top of the cliff. The ground beneath her feet was pooling with blood, her blood. It
dripped down her left hand while her fingers trembled and spasmed. But despite this, her eyes were
brighter than the moon in the sky.

Down the darkness of the abyss behind her, a wave of damp, misty air washed up. It gave her
reassurance.

There was a river at the bottom.

Ji Yunhe knew the healing ability and toughness of the jiaoren very well. She could hurt him, but
not kill him. Changyi falling down into a river and being washed away was the best possible outcome.
But just to be on the safe side, she must buy him as much time as possible to help him escape.

Even if only for one second, it was still better than nothing.

Ji Chengyu looked at Ji Yunhe, who appeared to be on the verge of insanity, and gestured with his
sword. "Ji Yunhe, as Master Warden of the Demon Valley, are you really clear about what you are
doing?"

"Can't be more clear."

She answered firmly. Ji Chengyu channeled his spiritual power down onto his blade. "In that case,
don't blame me for doing this."
 Ji Yunhe looked at the graceful man dressed in white. She could not help but let out a sarcastic
laugh. "We are all people burdened by a hidden pulse, why bother..."

"Cut the crap with her!" Zhu Ling rebuked, interrupting her words. "Kill this bitch slaver first!
Then go after the jiaoren! Let's go!"

With his order, the soldiers gave out a war cry and marched forward with their swords raised.

Ji Yunhe looked at the abyss behind her.

The darkness blocked her from seeing far. She looked back at them again with a face even more
determined.

Her left arm hung loosely at her side, no longer of any use. Her right hand released the wound on
her left shoulder and the blood poured out again.

Ji Yunhe's face was pale, but she seemed to feel no pain. With her right hand, she gestured to pull
back the broken sword she had thrown out. It shook on the ground but was then knocked down the cliff
by another sword with a loud ding.

Ji Chengyu looked at Ji Yunhe, his voice now cold. "You have walked down a wrong path."

As soon as the words fell, Ji Chengyu's body turned into a white blur and flew toward Ji Yunhe like
an arrow. One move, one stance, fierce to the extreme. Just as he had said, he was not holding back any
more.

Ji Yunhe had no weapons and a broken arm. All she could do was form a shield with her right hand
and wrap her body behind spiritual power to desperately defend against his attack.

However, Ji Chengyu was not the only one who attacked. Zhu Ling also carried his large saber into
the battle.

Zhu Ling did not have any spiritual power, but he formed a seamless partnership with Ji Chengyu.
If one attacked her from above, the other one messed with her stance down below. And if one charged
full on in offense, the other one defended like an iron fortress...

Ji Yunhe was already weak and exhausted. She soon lost her ability to defend and took a slash from
Ji Chengyu's sword three times in a row, followed with a cut on her knee by Zhu Ling.

She let out a muffled grunt and fell to one knee at the edge of the cliff.

Zhu Ling charged forth, anxious to cut off her head, but Ji Chengyu did not follow. It was at this
moment that Ji Yunhe's right hand fiercely struck Zhu Ling in the abdomen.

The force of her hand was so strong that Zhu Ling stumbled backward over ten steps. The giant
saber fell out of his hand and he spat out a mouthful of blood. Even the black armor at his torso shattered
into pieces.

The crowd was stunned.

Ji Chengyu immediately leaped to Zhu Ling's side and pressed a palm onto his chest, his mouth
reciting a spell to protect his heart. Zhu Ling's injury was severe. If it were not for the black iron armor,
his heart would have exploded already. It was shocking that Ji Yunhe still had this kind of power in her
current state...

Ji Yunhe picked up the saber dropped by Zhu Ling, used it for support, and stood up on one leg.

"Who… else?"

Blood gushed from all over her body and her voice was hoarse and out of shape, but she still stood
up and guarded the edge of the cliff, like a devil that had crawled out of hell.

Zhu Ling clutched at his chest and squeezed out a command, "Kill! The jiaoren... must be
recovered."

Ji Chengyu held him down and continued to protect his heart with his palm. He then turned his
head to the soldiers. "Prepare the arrows."

Only then did the soldiers seem to come back to their senses. They quickly drew their bows and
arrows from the backs of their broken horses. Ji Chengyu waved his hand and the arrowheads began
glowing with spiritual energy.

"Release!"

He gave the order and all the arrows flew out in unison.

With her back to the abyss, Ji Yunhe could not retreat. But she did not give up either. As the arrows
rained down, she gave a loud cry and spun the saber while standing on one leg, forming a shield to block
her front.

But the arrows came endlessly. By the third wave, she had been exhausted of all her strength. Her
right arm was the first to get hit. She ripped the arrow out of her flesh and skin with her teeth, but her
arm was no longer able to lift the saber. Then another arrow pierced her other knee.

Unable to stand any longer, Ji Yunhe immediately fell to both knees with only her right hand still
struggling to support her body.

She refused to fall down.

No one understood why she still had not fallen.

She lowered her head, as if she had lost consciousness.

 One last arrow flew over and landed in her shoulder, but she was completely unresponsive...

She seemed to have died.

Bled empty of her blood, exhausted of her strength, and fought away her life.

In a frozen posture, she died on the edge of the cliff.

Ji Chengyu looked at Ji Yunhe kneeling there like a statue, displaying the most horrid and pathetic
end of a demon master.

He turned his head and looked at Zhu Ling who had also lost consciousness. His hand protecting
his heart did not dare to let go. "You guys go find a doctor, quickly. And the rest, find your way down
the cliff and recover the jiaoren."

"Yes!"

The soldiers were about to go when they suddenly felt a strong gust of wind stir up.

At the same time, dark clouds coalesced in the sky and obscured the moon. The night turned
ghastly and dark.

The soldiers were almost blown off of their feet. They turned around and looked to the cliff where
the wind was blowing from.

There, Ji Yunhe still knelt with the support of the saber. Her head was still hanging low and she did
not move, but a cloud of black gas chaotically danced and swirled around her body, pulling at her hair
and her dress.

The wind came from her.

Then the black gas slowly condensed and formed into the shape of a tail behind her.

One, two, three… the black gas grew more and more dense. In just a few moments, nine demonic
tails appeared before everyone's eyes

"Demon... demon..."

The soldiers were terrified.

Ji Chengyu looked at Ji Yunhe, his face overwhelmed by disbelief.

"Nine... tailed fox..."

Ji Yunhe moved. Her head shifted slightly to the side, and a pair of bright red eyes appeared under
the messy strands of hair across her face. They leered through the black gas and fixated on Ji Chengyu.
"Who dares to go after him?"
Chapter 47: The Grand Master

The black gas sprawled out with the howling winds.

It filled every wound on Ji Yunhe's body and stopped her bleeding while visibly repairing her flesh.

One of her nine tails floated to the front and pulled out all the arrows in her body and tossed them
down. They turned into black dust as soon as they landed on the ground and floated away with the wind.

The tails also pulled Ji Yunhe back onto her feet.

Her hair danced wickedly in the air.

The soldiers shook with fear. None of them still had the means of pulling on their bow strings,
instead, they backed up step by step with trembling hands until they stood behind Ji Chengyu.

Ji Chengyu still held a palm against Zhu Ling. He could not let go of his hand so he had no choice
but to stay at a distance.

He did not understand at all.

He had seen countless demon masters and demons while training in the Grand Master's house over
the years. Even the most powerful demons had no way of completely hiding their demonic aura. And the
double pulse of a demon master was a natural opposition to demons.

From ancient times to the present, there had never been a record of someone who could possess
both the spiritual power of a hidden pulse and the power of a demon.

Ji Yunhe… how...

Ji Yunhe walked forward and the earth trembled beneath her feet. Dark clouds in the sky thickened
as her tails swept across the ground littered with arrows.

The arrows were then wrapped with black gas and floated into the air, their tips pointing at the
crowd and following behind her every step.

When the flicker of the arrowheads pointed at them, the soldiers finally felt a more tangible threat.

A threat of death.

They abandoned their armor and ran away in all directions.

Ji Chengyu could not call back his men, Ji Yunhe had instilled the worst fears inside them.
 She was very strong, much stronger than what she was displaying right now.

Ji Chengyu stared at her but did not move. He could not abandon Zhu Ling and remove his hand
that was keeping him alive.

So he could only watch as Ji Yunhe walked closer step by step.

She stopped three feet away and her arrows pointed down at him.

Ji Chengyu looked up at Ji Yunhe. Her bright red pupils behind the black gas were now ten times
more horrific than from a distance.

He sweated, and the hand protecting Zhu Ling started to shake.

"You're not going to run?" Ji Yunhe asked.

"I can't run."

The fact that he was still protecting his comrade made her silent for a while. Then she raised her
hand...

Ji Chengyu believed he was about to die, so he closed his eyes.

But in the next moment, he only felt a cool touch against his forehead. The cool temperature found
only on the body of a demon...

The ribbon on his forehead was pulled off without hurting him. Ji Chengyu opened his eyes and
saw her holding the white ribbon in her hand. The wind was frantically pulling at it while her voice was
calm and even a bit gentle.

"This world between heaven and earth, it is so beautiful. Why do you mourn for it?"

She loosened her grip on the white ribbon and it flew away with the wind. The hundreds of arrows
hovering around her also fell to the ground.

Ji Chengyu looked up at Ji Yunhe, almost a bit mesmerized.

She had no signs of rage or hostility. Standing behind the swirling black gas, she even seemed…
compassionate.

What was she? And what secrets did her body hold?

In the next instant, a bright white light flashed through the clouds. It split open all nine skies and
allowed the moon to shine through again. Darkness dissipated and stars reappeared.

The white ribbon blown away by the wind was caught by a pale hand in the air.
 A man landed on the edge of the cliff, and his white robe reflected the moonlight. He looked like a
legendary immortal.

The ribbon fluttered between his fingers, and he turned to look at Ji Yunhe and her tails.

"A demon that is not a demon, a human that is not a human." He sized her up with naturally
intimidating eyes. "What exactly are you?"

Ji Chengyu called out from her side, "Master..."

Although there were many disciples in the Grand Master's house, they all trained under one person.
Therefore, only one man in this world qualified to be called "master" by Ji Chengyu.

"Grand Master," Ji Yunhe said.

She had heard this name from countless people. His stories and legends were told everywhere and
written in every book, and his existence was well known to every single person in this world.

He went through several generations of emperors, single-handedly established the world order
today, and the rules between humans, demon masters, and demons.

He was the supreme existence, more so than those delusional emperors and generals.

He had never seen her or heard of her, but for Ji Yunhe, he was the person who had manipulated
her life since she was born.

Even now.

Perhaps, this was the inevitable connection between the big man and the little guys.

His breath and his words could rule over many people's destiny and decide their fate.

And Ji Yunhe was only one of the many people.

She never thought she would one day meet the man who had invisibly brought her to this point.

Ji Yunhe felt a little amused.

She began to speculate about fate's intentions.

Fate had given her a hidden pulse, uprooted her life, and took away her parents, but it also gave her
inner strength. It made her unyielding to what was forced onto her, and persistent in fighting for her own
free will.

And finally, it brought Changyi into her life and allowed her a glimpse into a pure, immaculate
soul, someone for her to protect.

It all led to this.

And at this moment, fate gave her a body full of restless power, and put her face to face with the
"culprit" of her lifelong torment.

Ji Yunhe shifted her feet and her tails swept over the arrows on the ground. Each and every one
flew out toward the Grand Master.

She attacked without saying a single word.

Chapter 48: Grand Master's House

Ji Yunhe's memory of the fight that night was pretty fuzzy.

She only remembered some fragments of the beginning and the end. And she knew that when she
attacked the Grand Master, his unmatched spiritual power had felt like it was tearing at every inch of her
skin and crushing every bone in her body.

But she attacked anyway. The smell of blood only added to her uncontrollable rage. She did not use
a weapon, instead, she attacked with her bare hands and nails, like a real demon.

And the fight ended in her defeat.

She lost but she did get to rip his sleeve.

Her fingertips had grabbed a hold of the sleeve on his white robe when his sword rested against her
throat. But he did not kill her, he only knocked her unconscious.

A humiliating defeat.

But that was the outcome Ji Yunhe had expected the moment she made her move.

Who was the Grand Master? A person who came from the heyday of the Demon Master era a
hundred years ago and stood at the pinnacle even then.

Let alone today...

No one knew how old he was, but his face had not changed over the past century. One could
imagine that his power and cultivation had grown to the point where even time no longer affected him.

Nothing in this world could affect him anymore.

But the fight that night still had many things outside of her expectations.

Although she did not remember any of them, Ji Chengyu told her after she was captured by the
Grand Master and locked up in his prison.

He said her battle with the Grand Master destroyed the mountains, broke the cliff sides, and caused
the wind and clouds to change color. Her own demonic energy blew across the world, from the Demon
Valley in the south to the imperial capital in the north, and all other three demon master quarters.
Literally everyone felt it.

People said a new demon equivalent to the jade phoenix had risen. Some believed the disturbance
was caused by the jiaoren when he fled. Others believed the jade phoenix came to the jiaoren's aid and
they made it together.

Rumors in the martial world grew more and more ridiculous.

And the court never came forward to explain what had happened.

Because the Grand Master ordered Ji Chengyu to never speak of that night to anyone.

He wanted Ji Yunhe to become a secret.

A secret imprisoned in his Grand Master's house.

Ji Yunhe did not know why he imprisoned her, and neither did Ji Chengyu.

But no matter what the reason was, Ji Yunhe felt like her current situation was still much better
than expected. At least the Grand Master did not torture her, or tie her up, or ever came to see her.

It was so much better than when Changyi first entered the Demon Valley dungeon.

Ji Yunhe could not understand why, so she simply did not bother thinking about it.

She had become too lazy to think about a lot of things, including why she grew nine tails and why
her life was spared. She only knew one thing...

The time to take her antidote was quickly approaching. She did not even have a chance to see Lin
Haoqing, let alone get an antidote.

She was pretty much just waiting to die.

And she only cared about one thing while waiting to die, and would ask Ji Chengyu every time he
came bringing food.

Today, Ji Chengyu came and handed the food to her inside the cell. Ji Yunhe asked while receiving
it, "Did they catch the jiaoren?"

She asked the same question day after day. It baffled him a bit, but he still answered honestly, "Not
yet."
 Ji Yunhe then started to eat her food at ease.

She estimated, with the number of days that had gone by, even if Changyi were to crawl, he still
should have found a shore by now and crawled back into the sea.

And the sea was his world. Regardless of what Grand Master or Tiny Master they might be, there
was no reason for them to go into the sea and fish him up.

"No meat again?" Ji Yunhe complained. "You have the most prestigious house in the world, yet the
food in this prison can't even compare with the dungeons of my valley."

"Master prefers vegetarian." Ji Chengyu looked at her a little helplessly. "How are you so fond of
meat and fish?"

"Most people with a double pulse love to eat vegetarian. I didn't mind it either. But I have been
craving meat ever since that night, I don't know why."

Ji Chengyu smiled and fell silent.

He would never forget her appearance that night. He was also puzzled. She had completely
transformed into a demon, one that could even battle with the Grand Master. But afterwards she became
no different from a human again.

Still had a double pulse, still had her spiritual power, still an ordinary demon master...

Ji Yunhe dug around inside the box of rice, saw an eyeful of greens and lost her appetite. She put
down her chopsticks and said, "That little general, Zhu Ling, how are his injuries? I was a bit rash that
day and lost my cool. I must have hurt him."

Speaking of this, Ji Chengyu frowned slightly and shook his head. "He's badly injured."

"Will he die?"

"Not so much. Fortunately the armor protected him, and I was also able to protect his heart in time.
Although the injury is serious, he should be fine again in half a year's time. But..."

"But what?"

Ji Chengyu gave a helpless smile. "Zhu Ling is Princess Shunde's little cousin. He's been following
her since childhood and his martial arts top the kids among his generation. The princess really favors
him. After losing the jiaoren, she gave him a good scolding and now he's been sulking every day. I am
afraid that's not so good for his recovery."

Ji Yunhe heard him mention Princess Shunde and raised an eyebrow.

 "Not getting the jiaoren, Princess Shunde must be pretty angry."

Ji Chengyu nodded. "Very angry."

"Did she take it out on the Demon Valley?"

"No. Master told the princess that you ran away with the jiaoren, so she now has your new Valley
Master, Lin Haoqing, searching for you two all over the world."

Ji Yunhe laughed. "Your master deceived everyone from top to bottom in order to hide me. Tell
me, Mr. Ji, why is he doing this?"

"Out of curiosity."

This answer did not come from Ji Chengyu, but the Grand Master himself. He stood at the prison
door dressed in white like usual.

Ji Chengyu immediately got down on one knee and bowed his head. "Master."

The Grand Master acknowledged him with a "mhm", then turned his head to look at Ji Yunhe. His
eyes darted around her body, then landed on the box of uneaten food in her hand. "Want meat?"

Ji Yunhe did not expect that the first sentence coming from him was to ask this, and so seriously.

"Yes. The dishes in your Grand Master's house are too bland," Ji Yunhe said bluntly. "No meat and
no oil, I can't eat this."

"Prepare some meat for her tomorrow." The Grand Master turned his head and instructed Ji
Chengyu, but the tone sounded like he was talking about feeding a dog.

"Yes," Ji Chengyu answered.

Ji Yunhe lifted her head to look at the Grand Master. He seemed less scary up close, even kind of
like a normal person.

"Grand Master, what exactly do you want with me?"

The Grand Master sized her up for a moment then formed a sarcastic smile. "To see what new trick
someone's been playing."

He leaned down slightly closer to Ji Yunhe.

The smile on his face faded and was replaced with an overwhelming sense of detachment.

His eyes contained no human emotions at all. Looking at her was like looking at a piece of meat,
cold and numb.
 From years of being at the very top...

Icy cold detachment.

Chapter 49: Poison Again

"Heh," Ji Yunhe laughed softly. "Is there still anything new in this world?"

The Grand Master straightened up, looked at Ji Yunhe from above, and said, "You."

A demon master turning into a demon was something new indeed.

Ji Yunhe did not speak.

The Grand Master took out a dagger and threw it into the cell.

Ji Yunhe picked it up and asked, "Grand Master wants me dead?"

"Blood."

She looked at him and sliced the back of her hand without hesitation. The blade drank her blood
like a leech and turned red in no time. Ji Yunhe then turned the dagger around and gave him the handle.

She knew why he wanted her blood. He was the one who had developed the frost poison.

The double pulse physique of a demon master was very special. It not only gave them spiritual
power, but also made them immune to poison. The Grand Master was able to invent one they were
susceptible to.

The frost poison was harmless to a normal human being, but it was deadly for those with a hidden
pulse. With this poison, the Grand Master changed the order of the world. Reigns of demon masters
were suppressed and the status of the royal family was pushed to the very top.

The Grand Master was an extremely powerful demon master, but at the same time, he was also an
extremely intelligent doctor.

Ji Yunhe always suspected that the poison Lin Canglan had been feeding her every month was
maybe the frost poison, but it turned out to be far more complicated. Those pills somehow transformed
her body.

The Grand Master wanted to find out what Lin Canglan had done to her, and Ji Yunhe was equally
curious.

Except she did not think she would live long enough to see it.

The Grand Master took a hold of the handle, but she did not let go. "Medicine and bandages to stop
the bleeding."

The Grand Master raised his eyebrows at her request. Ji Chengyu, standing next to him,
immediately offered a white silk handkerchief and said, "Here, hope you don't mind."

Ji Yunhe did not complain. She reached out and grabbed it from him, then wrapped it around her
hand with the help of her teeth. "It's not so great being a prisoner. Better to take whatever I can get."

The Grand Master did not say anything. He glanced at her then walked out with the blood filled
dagger.

Ji Chengyu breathed out in relief and looked at Ji Yunhe with some helplessness. "Other than the
princess, you are the only one who dares to speak to the master like that."

Ji Yunhe looked at her wrapped up hand and smiled. "The Grand Master looks angry even when
he's not. It is normal for people to be afraid of him."

Ji Chengyu asked her, "Why aren't you?"

"People are afraid of him because they are afraid of death," she said. "I'm not."

Ji Yunhe talked about death with such lightheartedness that Ji Chengyu was a bit lost for words.
"Yunhe, you are not an evil person, the master is not either. Many people now choose to strangle their
babies with a double pulse upon birth. We demon masters are growing less year after year. If you
cooperate well with the master, he will not kill you..."

"It has nothing to do with who kills me or not, it is just my fate." She looked at him. "But I'd still
like some medicine to stop the bleeding on my hand."

Ji Chengyu sighed at her attitude. "I'll go get it for you."

He got up and left. The prison fell into silence again.

Ji Yunhe looked at the bars of the cage that had been with her for almost half of her life. She
reached out to touch it, but her hand was immediately flicked back by a magic seal. Sigh...

"Changyi, was it this boring for you too?"

No one was there to answer her.

Ji Yunhe then fell back on her head and went to sleep.

She dreamed of the ocean. A huge fish tail splashed under the waves and swam away. He swam so
fast, faster than the birds flying in the sky. She chased after him and watched him swim into the horizon,
disappearing into the depths of the sea...
 Never turning back.

Ji Yunhe had such dreams many times in the days that followed, so she fell in love with sleep. She
slept through most of the day, and every time she would wake up with a smile.

And that smile would linger for some time because of the freedom and joy she felt inside the
dream.

But tonight, she woke up with a smile she could not maintain.

Her heart, again, ushered in the familiar pain.

Her poison had started attacking.

This time there would be no Qing Shu or Ling Haoqing to come to her aid.

She huddled on the ground and tried to not scream, but the pain grew stronger every second.
Finally she could stand it no longer and brutally slammed her head against the cage bars.

She did not want to break out and escape, she just hoped it would knock her unconscious, or better
yet, knock her dead.

She did not want to endure this anymore, this meaningless torment bestowed on her by mere
existence.

And of course she did not get what she wanted. The bars did not knock her out cold nor did they
kill her. She did, however, manage to make herself bleed. Her face was now covered with blood and
looked extraordinarily gruesome. But Ji Yunhe did not give up, she slammed her head into the bars
again.

This time the pain felt different from before. It did not come in waves where she could have a bit of
relief in between.

The poison in her body seemed to have gone awry, not giving her the slightest break. Ji Yunhe
finally howled out in pain.

When an alarmed Ji Chengyu rushed in, he saw her rolling around on the floor with blood all over
her face.

Ji Chengyu panicked. "Miss Yunhe? What happened to you?"

Ji Yunhe clutched at her chest and repeatedly banged her head against the floor while wailing, like
a trapped beast grown mad. Except her pain had taken away most of her strength, so it looked like she
was screaming and bowing at the same time.

As if the hand of fate had finally reached down and forced her into submission, making her kowtow
to the gods.

Each contact a bloodstain, each cry a struggle.

Ji Chengyu was frightened.

Then her body grew still and all movements stopped. Just like that night on top of the cliff, when
she knelt there like a lifeless statue.

Ji Chengyu cautiously inched closer. "Yun..."

Her head, which was still resting against the floor, suddenly turned over, and a pair of bright red
eyes glared out at him.
Chapter 50: Strange New Creature

Ji Yunhe's eyes were blood red, raging with a terrifying, murderous glow.

Ji Chengyu felt chills down his spine.

The black gas around her condensed, forming nine demonic fox tails no different from that night on
the cliff.

She had transformed again.

Ji Chengyu stood dumbfounded when her eyes suddenly flashed, and her tails swiped fiercely
against the cell bars. A loud clang was heard and the cage shook. The bars, protected with the Grand
Master's magic seal, glowed and lit up the entire prison.

Ji Chengyu was knocked back by the force of the impact and fell to the ground.

The nine tails behind Ji Yunhe did not give up. They recklessly lashed out again and again against
the seal.

Then the tails suddenly retracted and struck with a momentum more powerful than before. They
broke through the glow of the magic seal and swept out of the cage, aiming for Ji Chengyu.

Ji Chengyu wanted to block them, but under the pressure of her demonic power, he could not lift
even a finger.

Just in the nick of time, a streak of white light flashed in from outside, pinning a tail to the ground.
It was a white arrow. Ji Yunhe let out a muffled grunt and attempted to retrieve her tails, but more
arrows came and nailed all nine of them to the ground.

Ji Yunhe let out a cry, spat out a mouthful of black blood, and her tails dissipated into black gas
once again, swirling around her. She leaned against the wall and panted. Dissipation of her tails seemed
to have relieved her pain a little.
 A pair of immaculate white boots walked into the prison. With a wave of his white sleeve, the
arrows scattered around and turned into vapor, gathering onto his fingertips.

Then it formed into a sword inside the Grand Master's slender hand.

"Chengyu, you can go."

Ji Chengyu nodded his head and immediately retreated.

The Grand Master pushed open the door of the cell and stepped inside.

Ji Yunhe was dripping with sweat. She looked up at the Grand Master and laughed at herself.
"Grand Master, did you see? What kind of a freak am I?"

The black gas around Ji Yunhe did not rest. They swirled and danced, probing, as if looking for the
perfect opportunity to attack and kill him.

The Grand Master had no forms of defense other than the sword in his hand. But her black gas did
not seem to dare to make a move. He walked to her, squatted down, and wiped the black blood on the
corner of her lips with a finger.

It stained his fingertip.

Ji Yunhe's bright red eyes stared at him, and watched as he focused on the blood.

"Refining a human into a demon, it is rare indeed."

Ji Yunhe asked, "What do you mean?"

The Grand Master did not answer her, but reached out again and threw a pill into her mouth. Ji
Yunhe, unprepared for his sudden move, swallowed it out of reflex.

"What did you give me?"

"Frost."

Ji Yunhe's face changed slightly.

The frost poison was made by the Grand Master to specifically deal with demon masters. Any
demon master ingesting it would die a miserable death. It gave the court absolute control over them.

"You want to kill me?"

"I don't want to kill you." The Grand Master looked at her as if she were a rock, a corpse, an object
without life. "I'm just trying it out on you."
 Using her to test his poison...

Ji Yunhe sneered. "How many times have you tried this poison on someone? Why bother wasting it
on me again?"

The Grand Master looked at her, waited quietly for a moment, and said, "Yes, it's been tried
countless times, and the demon masters always died violently..." He stood up again with a
condescending posture. "You are the first exception."

You are the first...

These words, and this situation, surprisingly made Ji Yunhe feel somewhat familiar.

She abruptly remembered after Qing Shu and Lin Canglan first fed her poison, they said the same
thing.

She was the first...

"It appears something new has been created."

The Grand Master's lips slightly turned into a smile, and his normally inexpressive face showed
some interest.

And Ji Yunhe finally started to care about what had happened to her.

"I took the frost poison, and did not die?"

She did not care before because she thought she would definitely die on this day without the
antidote. But yet, not only did she not die from it, she also did not die from the Grand Master's frost
poison...

Her body...

"Why have I grown nine tails? What is happening to me? What is refining humans into demons?"
Her eyes lit up as she finally started pondering over this broken, rotten life of hers again.

Because she now had hope of a future.

And she wanted to grasp onto this hope, no matter how slim it might be.

"The frost poison only kills demon masters, because it only works on people with a double pulse.
But now you also have demonic power inside of you that dissolves the poison," The Grand Master said.
"Someone has turned you into a creature that is neither human nor demon."

"Neither human nor demon… having spiritual power in combination with demonic power," Ji
Yunhe murmured softly. "Why? Lin Canglan... Qing Shu... fox demon... monthly pills..."

Past events flashed through her mind.

After they first fed her poison, Qing Shu used to follow her for a few days and observe her. After a
few times, she seemed to no longer care as much.

Qing Shu was a fox demon of tremendous power. No one had ever seen her true form and no one
knew why a demon such as her would submit to Lin Canglan.

And the night she and Lin Haoqing killed them, a Valley Master and a legendary fox demon,
defeated without a sound. They both died so easily...

All the unanswered questions in the past now bubbled to the surface.

She touched her body.

When she fought on top of that cliff protecting Changyi's escape, she suffered so many cuts and
slashes, took so many arrows, yet her injuries all healed. With wounds like that, she should have died a
long time ago.

This healing ability was in fact very demon-like.

And right before Qing Shu died, she said Lin Canglan had a great cause...

His great cause, was it to refine humans into demons so as to resist the frost poison? So the demon
master tribe… could once again stand at the top of the world…?

"Ji Yunhe, I will remember your name." The Grand Master looked at her. "You are strange, and
new."
Chapter 51: Hope and Despair

The Grand Master wiped up some black blood off of the ground with his sleeve and held it directly
under his eyes to observe.

"Black blood, black aura, bright red eyes." He squatted down to look at Ji Yunhe closely. When he
lifted a hand to touch her eyes, the surrounding black gas suddenly moved forward and created a shield,
blocking his fingers.

Ji Yunhe was surprised, and the Grand Master raised his eyebrows.

"Although this demonic power is not under your direct control, it knows to protect its master." He
curled his lips with considerable interest. "Not bad."

His hand retreated and the black gas automatically dispersed, back to floating around aimlessly.
 Ji Yunhe turned her head to look at the blackness surrounding her. "This is my... demonic power?"

The demonic power of demons was like the spiritual power of demon masters, each one having
their own. Most demons emitted a unique glow when they used their powers. When Li Shu had made his
blood formation to break the Ten Square Formation, his demonic power colored the air red. And aside
from the translucent blue flash from Qing Ji and Changyi, a colorless glow was considered the most
desirable.

Demons could be considered quite strange. Dying without a trace and having a colorless aura was
their ultimation. Their existence seemed to strive for the concept of "nothingness".

Unlike humans.

Humans, both ordinary people and demon masters, lived on the principle of "acquirement".

"There are no black fox demons," the Grand Master said. "Especially nine-tailed ones."

Or to be more precise, there had never been a demon who's power glowed black.

Why?

The Grand Master looked at Ji Yunhe, and his fascination grew as if he had finally found a rare
novelty. "Exactly what happened inside your body?"

At that moment, Ji Chengyu's nervous voice came from outside, "Princess! Princess! The master
has banned all visitation here..."

"How dare you?! There's nowhere in this world that I can't go!"

Her words were accompanied with the sound of a slap, then a barefooted Princess Shunde entered.
She was wearing a bright red sleeping gown and her hair and makeup were undone. She looked into the
cell and her eyes opened wide.

Ji Chengyu followed her in and stood off to the side, his face still red from her slap. He bowed his
head at the Grand Master. "Master, disciple is incompetent. I have failed to stop the princess."

The Grand Master did not move his eyes off of the black gas around Ji Yunhe. "Doesn't matter.
You can go."

"Yes."

Ji Yunhe turned her head to look at Princess Shunde and smiled. "Long time no see, princess."

"You..."

Ji Yunhe's black gas suddenly moved. It flew through the broken magic seal, and attacked Princess
Shunde.

Princess Shunde was the only child of the royal family who had a double pulse. She immediately
formed a shield with her spiritual power in defense, but it did not block Ji Yunhe's attack. The black
energy pierced through her shield and aimed directly for her heart.

But then, barely an inch away from its intended target, the black gas was abruptly blocked by a flash
of white light. Their collision made a loud dong that echoed for a long time.

Ji Yunhe smiled at the Grand Master and said, "Seems it's not completely out of my control." The
black gas floated to her face and gently stroked her cheek. "It still did what I wanted to do."

"You want to kill me?" Princess Shunde narrowed her eyes and stared at Ji Yunhe. "Losing the
jiaoren, betraying the imperial court, and now, wanting to kill the princess. Ji Yunhe, you really have
guts."

Ji Yunhe looked back at her with contempt. "I do not want to kill you. I am just curious if the color
of your heart is black, and if it's different from the black around me. If you die because of this, then it
can only be said that I have done a good deed by accident."

Ji Yunhe's attitude and words were both upsetting to Princess Shunde. The Grand Master glanced at
her and asked, "Why are you here?"

His voice was gentle and did not seem upset over the princess's trespass. It had been said that the
Grand Master favored Princess Shunde very much, and it seemed to be true.

"Master, I heard a big commotion coming from your residence in the middle of the night, and I was
worried. Others didn't dare to come, so I came." Princess Shunde looked at Ji Yunhe. "I didn't expect the
person we've been searching everywhere for would be here with you."

Princess Shunde found her pride again. Her back straightened, her chin lifted, and she stepped
barefoot across the ground, breaking through the protection shield left in front of her by the Grand
Master.

"Master." Princess Shunde was not afraid of Ji Yunhe's attacks anymore. She walked up to the
Grand Master in the middle of the cell, still surrounded by Ji Yunhe's black aura.

"I'm going to kill her." The fingertips decorated with gold flowers pointed at Ji Yunhe, as arrogant
as when she rode into the Demon Valley.

Ji Yunhe was huddled up in the corner of the wall, even more broken than the day in the Demon
Valley dungeon.

But, compared to then, Ji Yunhe was now in a much better mood. Not for any other reason, just
because she was no longer afraid of Princess Shunde.
 The princess could not find Changyi, and she also could not kill Ji Yunhe.

"You can't kill me."

"You can't kill her."

Ji Yunhe spoke almost simultaneously with the Grand Master.

Princess Shunde's face turned more vicious and her murderous intent grew to Ji Yunhe's
satisfaction.

"She is a criminal. She made me lose the jiaoren, and she is a traitor. Her life cannot be spared."

"That was before," the Grand Master said indifferently.

Princess Shunde frowned, "What do you mean?"

"Now, she is my test subject."

Yes, Ji Yunhe was now the Grand Master's guinea pig. He had said she was a strange, new
creature, so he was bound to study her more. He would never let anyone kill her for the time being.

What could be safer than being under the Grand Master's protection?

If he said she could not be killed, then even Princess Shunde would have to listen.

Ji Yunhe smiled at the princess. As of now, neither of them could kill the other. But as long as the
princess did not have Changyi, Ji Yunhe would always be the one to smile between the two.

Ji Yunhe touched her chest. The sharp pain had disappeared. The one thing that had tormented her
for years and was supposed to take her life, unexpectedly now gave her a chance to live. It was as if fate
dumped her into a coffin then carried her out again, telling her everything that happened earlier was just
a joke.

After a while, Princess Shunde nodded her head.

"Okay, master. But from now on, I would like to work with you and we can study her together."

Ji Yunhe looked at Princess Shunde, who smiled wickedly like a poisonous snake. "On
experimentations of medicine and alchemy, I have many ideas to try as well."

The Grand Master still only looked at the black gas around Ji Yunhe and said nonchalantly, "You
may."

Princess Shunde then smiled a little brighter.

 Ji Yunhe knew this was fate again.

Fate, who had just pulled her out of the coffin, accidentally pushed her back in.

When it wanted to play you, you would get played.

Late at night, Ji Chengyu left, Princess Shunde left, and the Grand Master also left.

Ji Yunhe sat alone in the prison with its magic seal restored. Her black gas still floated and danced
inside the cell, and outside, the flame of a single torch hovered on the wall.

"Can I still… live..." Ji Yunhe stared at the tiny bit of light, lost in thoughts. "Is there still hope for
freedom...?"
Chapter 52: Test Subject

Princess Shunde was not kidding when she asked to be involved with the medical experiments.

And the imperial palace certainly had no lack of methods. Ji Yunhe went through them all within a
month.

She began to wonder why God had allowed her to live.

Was it to help push the limits of human imagination in torture?

When Ji Yunhe's arm was bound to the wall and cut for the thousandth time, her wound finally
healed slower and her black blood dripped down. The black demonic gas still surrounded her, but they
were no longer as vibrant as they used to be. Forget about forming into nine tails, at the moment they
were faint and could hardly even stay afloat.

But Ji Yunhe was still alive.

She watched apathetically as the parasites sucked the blood from her arm then drilled into her flesh.

Compared to what she had went through, this was nothing.

The parasites were soon poisoned by her blood and died.

Princess Shunde stood outside the cell and shook her head. "Even the royal annelid cannot suppress
you, it seems that no worm in this world can harm you. Tell them to stop sending these things, they are
useless. Let her try the strange poison found overseas. If there is any reaction, note it down."

Princess Shunde seemed to be lacking interest today. She ordered Ji Chengyu then turned and left.

Ji Chengyu stayed quiet until the princess was gone, then he looked at Ji Yunhe with a bit of
tremble in his eyes. "Miss Ji..."
 Like always, Ji Yunhe only slightly opened her eyes and asked him, "Jiaoren..." She could only say
one word.

No need for her to say more, Ji Chengyu knew what she wanted to ask. Because she asked it
everyday. No matter how cruel the torture, how much she suffered, she always asked this same question.

"The jiaoren has not yet been caught..." Ji Chengyu replied and her eyes closed again. Aside from
this, she did not care about anything else in the world. And today, Ji Chengyu had more to tell her.
"But..."

Ji Yunhe's gaze once again landed on him.

Ji Chengyu paused for a moment, then said, "There's news from the north. Someone saw the monk,
Kongming, and a man with silver hair and blue eyes in the Northlands. That man... the description of his
appearance and body shape seems to be the jiaoren wanted by the court."

"Kongming... silver hair and blue eyes..." Ji Yunhe weakly murmured. "The Northlands... why?"

The bitter cold lands of the north were far inland, over ten thousand miles from the sea.

Why would Changyi be there?

She had pushed him off of the cliff and into the river below because she thought every river would
eventually lead to the sea. Even if he could not swim by himself, the river current would give him a ride.
But why would someone see Changyi in the Northlands? And with the monk, Kongming?

What happened to Changyi during this month?

Why did he not return to the sea?

What was he... thinking? And what did he want to do?

Ji Yunhe had countless questions. She took a couple of breaths and weakly asked, "How much of
the news... is certain?"

"The news was reported directly to the princess, so it's unlikely to be false."

No wonder...

No wonder the princess seemed careless in tormenting her today. Because she had finally received
news of Changyi.

"She... what does she want to do?" After learning that Changyi did not return to the sea, but was
still dwelling in this human world, Ji Yunhe grew anxious.

He could be in danger again, or get captured, or lose his life...

 She gathered the remaining bit of strength in her body, focused the black gas around her arm, and
forcefully pulled loose the chain binding her to the wall.

"Tell her to come back!" Ji Yunhe struggled and dragged the chain to the cage bars.

"Tell that princess to use whatever tricks she can think of on me instead."

Ji Chengyu sighed and looked at her terrible condition. "Miss Ji, why do this to yourself? Just for
that demon?"

"He is the only..." Ji Yunhe's struggle exhausted her. Her tattered clothes shook, revealing the
wound in her neck. It had healed but the ugly scar that lingered looked like a worm with a hundred feet.
A worm that crawled all over her body leaving its mark.

"He is the only..."

She whispered again then fell to the ground.

She did not finish her sentence. Metallic footsteps approached and the little general, Zhu Ling,
walked in aggressively.

Seeing Ji Yunhe had dragged the chain to the cage bars, Zhu Ling immediately frowned at Ji
Chengyu. "Hmph, the princess knew you would be too kind, so she has sent me to supervise you. The
strange poison those demon masters found, have you tried it on her yet?"

Ji Chengyu was silent and looked at Ji Yunhe without answering.

Zhu Ling pushed Ji Chengyu aside and walked to the corner where the drugs and tools sat. He took
a look then grabbed an arrow and opened a box.

The moment the box opened, a strange fragrance filled the prison. Zhu Ling dipped the tip of the
arrow into the box.

He then loaded the arrow into his bow and aimed at Ji Yunhe, his lips curling up into a smile.
"Weren't you very powerful on the cliff that night? I would like to see how much more powerful you are
today!"

"Enough!"

When the arrow was about to leave the string, Ji Chengyu abruptly stepped in.

He stared at Zhu Ling. "This poison was acquired for the master. He is out today and will not return
until tomorrow. We should wait for him to come back and give us the order before utilizing it."

"Don't try to suppress me with the Grand Master." Zhu Ling hmphed. "The princess gave the order,
I am the princess's general, and I will only listen to her. Get out of my way!"

Ji Chengyu did not move. "Zhu Ling, she belongs to the master, not to the princess. If something
goes wrong, the master will pursue the blame..."

"Of all the things the princess did to her over the past month, which one wasn't worse? When has
the Grand Master ever scolded her for it? Besides, have you ever seen the Grand Master get mad at the
princess over anything?" Zhu Ling argued back. "She's just a lab rat, who cares if she dies? Why are you
so protective of her?"

Ji Chengyu fell silent.

"Can it be that you want to be like your brother, that rebel?"

This matter seemed to have touched Ji Chengyu's sore spot. Before he had time to react, Zhu Ling
took two steps forward, kicked him out of the way, and released the arrow.

Ji Yunhe did not have the strength to block it at all. The arrow instantly bypassed her black gas and
struck her in the thigh.

The pain from the arrow was no longer enough to make Ji Yunhe frown, but the poison from the
arrowhead brought her a strange sensation.

"See, I know what I am doing. Didn't shoot her in the heart did I." Zhu Ling touched Ji Chengyu's
arm. "You don't need to pull such a long face. You get this easy job of guarding a useless piece of
garbage everyday, you shouldn't be so tense..."

"Zhu Ling! That's enough!"

"What?"

The voices of Zhu Ling and Ji Chengyu arguing outside the prison cell grew muffled and distant as
Ji Yunhe gradually began to lose her sight. Everything started to grow dark, and soon, she could no
longer feel the ground beneath her feet as well. It was as if all five of her senses were leaving her, until
only the beating of her heart remained.

It beat faster and faster inside her chest, until it, too, disappeared.

Ji Yunhe's world fell into darkness.

Chapter 53: Bitter Cold Lands of the North

When she came back to her senses, Ji Yunhe only had one thought.

Her mess of a life was throwing so much at her, yet she was still alive.

In that case, might as well make the most of it.

 She had a reason to press on now that she knew Changyi did not return to the sea. She could not
give up yet. There must be something else she could do to help him from inside this Grand Master's
house, for example...

Killing Princess Shunde.

The Grand Master was powerful, but he had no interest in Changyi. His interest was in her, the
half-human half-demon freak. The only one who was a threat to Changyi was Princess Shunde. If the
princess were to die, he would be safe even staying on land.

Ji Yunhe opened her eyes.

The familiar cell, the same dark environment, but the black gas that surrounded her was gone. Ji
Yunhe stretched out her pale and thin hand. The skin looked almost translucent with the veins
underneath clearly visible. She touched her arm… The cuts had also completely disappeared. Her body
seemed to have returned to the state prior to her demonic transformation.

"I was right. The poison from the strange flowers found overseas really did have some effect." The
Grand Master's voice came from outside the cell.

He opened the cell door and walked in, then squatted down beside her. He took her hand and placed
a finger on her pulse.

He looked like a real doctor right now, but his voice did not have the kindness of one. "Hidden
pulse is still there and the spiritual power still exists. Although the demonic power is weak, it is also
stable. They have successfully merged into your blood. Ruling did you a favor."

Ruling was the birth name of Princess Shunde. No one but the Grand Master could call her by that.

"A favor?" Ji Yunhe looked at him and laughed.

The Grand Master said, "The hidden pulse contains your spiritual power, and the pulse that
ordinary people possess, has now been infiltrated by your demonic power. The poison of the strange
flower has fused the two inside your body, turning you into a real..."

"Freak." Ji Yunhe interrupted him and gave herself the label.

"That's fine if you prefer calling yourself that. Having the power of both a demon and a demon
master is truly unique in this world. You should feel thankful."

Ji Yunhe let out a sarcastic laugh. "Ji Chengyu said you were supposed to further refine this
poison."

"Mhm. The refining is not yet complete, I will have to observe you for a few more days to see if
anything goes wrong."
 "Observe?" Ji Yunhe asked. "You mean having Princess Shunde torture me again."

The Grand Master released her wrist. "It is necessary in order to study you." Then he turned to
leave.

Ji Yunhe looked at his back and raised her voice, "Grand Master, I am curious. You and the
princess sit so high and mighty, are you all just used to being cruel and malicious? Do you not have the
slightest doubt... or guilt about what you guys are doing?"

The Grand Master's footsteps gave a slight pause. He turned his head sideways, and his figure
appeared a bit blurry under the light of the candle flame.

"I once asked this question too."

Ji Yunhe had intended to provoke him, and did not expect to receive such a response.

What did this mean? Had the Grand Master also been in the same embarrassing and desperate
situation that she was in right now?

He walked off without further explanation, and Ji Yunhe stopped pondering over it. What was in
his head was not for her to explore anyway. She sat cross-legged in the corner and focused inward,
searching for the two types of power inside her body.

She had to build up her strength so she could attack Princess Shunde by surprise.

Five days later.

Princess Shunde and Zhu Ling came again. Her mood seemed a lot worse than before, and her face
was visibly suppressing a good amount of anger.

Zhu Ling snorted after seeing Ji Yunhe had regained some health. "Lucky you!"

Princess Shunde looked even more upset. "Zhu Ling, where is the replica of the scarlet whip?"

"It should be here, I'll go find it," Zhu Ling said and walked to the storage area.

Princess Shunde stared at the meditating Ji Yunhe.

"The jiaoren has partnered up with the monk, Kongming. They are leading a group of renegade
demon masters and lowlife demons from the bitter cold lands in the north, and are fighting their way
south to the northern Demon Terrace."

Ji Yunhe opened her eyes slightly, but she did not look at Princess Shunde. She just stared silently
at the ground in front of her.
 "Master Warden of the Demon Valley, the jiaoren you set free has caused quite a bit of trouble."

Ji Yunhe looked up at the princess and saw her full of rage and viciously grinding her teeth.

Her high and mighty face was finally showing its ugly side.

Ji Yunhe gave her a bright smile. "Princess Shunde, thank you for bringing me such good news."

Changyi did not return to the sea, but he seemed to have found his footing on land.

Ji Yunhe's words ignited Princess Shunde's anger even more. "You think this is good news? Neither
the court nor I will have mercy on the jiaoren after this. He is doomed! A rabble of pathetic traitors will
not take more than a month to quell. And you will be the first to be sacrificed to the imperial flag."

"Princess, you are wrong. You can't sacrifice me to the imperial flag because your master forbids it.
Furthermore, they are not rabble. They are desperate people who have been forced to the end of the
road, by you. And over the years, under the oppression of the imperial court, do you think they are the
only ones wanting to fight back?"

Princess Shunde stared at Ji Yunhe and narrowed her eyes.

Ji Yunhe kept laughing. "A month? Two months? I think you will not be able to suppress this
rebellion even in two years. There is no certainty who wins in the end."

"What a sharp-tongued girl." Princess Shunde grabbed the whip that Zhu Ling had finally found.
"Even though I can't sacrifice you to the flag, I can still make you suffer a fate worse than death."

Ji Yunhe stared back at her. "Try it."

Princess Shunde approached the door to the cell.

Ji Yunhe watched her every step. She was prepared to make her move as soon as the door opened.
If Princess Shunde were to die, the conflicts between her and her brother's forces would surface and the
dynasty would be in turmoil. They would have no time to deal with the rebellion.

Ji Yunhe might not survive it even if she was the Grand Master's "novelty". But it did not matter, as
long as she could help Changyi, even just a little bit.

Ji Yunhe watched, and waited.

"Princess! Princess!" Ji Chengyu's urgent call came from the doorway.

He rushed in and bowed to Princess Shunde. "Princess, the emperor is summoning you to the
palace. The rebels broke through the Demon Terrace defenses, and demon masters there who remained
loyal to the court were chased off. The rebels seem to be settling there."
 Princess Shunde was stunned.

Ji Yunhe laughed. "Princess, looks like that 'rabble' have established a foothold to fight against the
imperial court."

Princess Shunde stared at Ji Yunhe with sinister eyes, and threw the whip heavily on the ground.
"Zhu Ling, beat her until she can't talk anymore!" Then she stormed off.
Chapter 54: The Bet

Zhu Ling's punishment on Ji Yunhe was small potatoes.

Afterall he was just a spoiled kid who had never been to a real battle. And with Ji Chengyu
constantly nagging him on the side, Ji Yunhe did not suffer much.

However, ever since that day, Ji Yunhe endured torture worse than death whenever Princess
Shunde was present.

Ji Yunhe was patient. She waited for the perfect opportunity to attack and kill the princess in one
fell swoop.

But the Grand Master always watched from the sidelines when Princess Shunde came. He seemed
to be aware of Ji Yunhe's intentions, but he did not call her out on it. He only had interest in the changes
happening inside her body.

Ji Yunhe's body did not change anymore.

Three months later, Princess Shunde came to the prison more furious than ever.

She did not listen to Ji Chengyu's advice, nor did she wait for the Grand Master to come. She pulled
open the door of the cell and cursed under her breath, "You traitors..." Her eyes were red with rage, and
she glared at Ji Yunhe while gritting her teeth. The princess stepped into the cell barefooted and with the
scarlet whip in hand. "You all deserve to die!" she yelled out as she lashed ruthlessly at Ji Yunhe's head
and face.

And Ji Yunhe had been channeling her power since the moment she walked in.

She knew this was the opportunity she had been waiting for.

The moment the whip came down, black gas surged around Ji Yunhe's hand, and she caught the
end of the whip. With one forceful pull, Princess Shunde tumbled into her clutch.

The princess's eyes widened with shock as Ji Yunhe's fingers tightened around her neck. But right
before the princess choked to death, her body was suddenly pulled away by an even greater force.

The attack only left a few bloody marks on her neck.

 In an instant, Ji Yunhe was knocked back by another force. It covered her and plastered her to the
wall like a spider web.

Princess Shunde touched her neck and saw her hand full of blood. With great alarm, she
immediately ran to the weapons rack to look into the mirror-like steel blade of a broadsword. She
examined her wounds carefully and repeatedly. Once she made sure her face suffered no damage, her
eyes turned cold and she pulled a sword out of the rack.

Her gloomy and bloody face made her look like a devil from hell, wanting to chop Ji Yunhe into
pieces.

But before she could set foot into the cell again, the door slammed shut.

"Enough." The Grand Master casually walked in. "Ruling, do not kill her."

"Master, it's not that I want to kill her." Princess Shunde tightened her fingers around the hilt of her
sword, her knuckles turning white. "This bitch, she wants to kill me."

"I repeat, do not kill her."

Princess Shunde's breathing was rapid and deep. Then she finally suppressed her rage and threw the
sword fiercely at the ground.

"Okay, I won't kill her. But master, the northern rebels are occupying the Demon Terrace and
making bigger waves by the day, I want you to intervene."

Ji Yunhe smiled, still stuck to the wall. "So the princess is angry over not being able to suppress the
northern uprising, and wants to take it out on me. And now that you've failed at both, are you going to
cry to the elders for candy?"

"Ji Yunhe!" Princess Shunde spat out her name between her teeth. "Just wait! Once I take down the
Demon Terrace, the world will watch as I strip you of your skin, piece by piece!"

"Two months have passed," Ji Yunhe teased her and laughed again. "Want to make a bet for two
years? Or, better yet," Ji Yunhe collected the smile on her face, "I bet you can't suppress this rebellion,
and you can't kill all the people rising up to fight you!"

"Fine!" Princess Shunde said. "I will bet with flesh and bones. If you lose, I will cut out a piece of
your flesh every day!"

"Since it's a bet, the princess should wager the equivalent. If you lose, same thing."

"We'll see."

"Of course we'll see. What else can I do?"

 Princess Shunde stopped paying attention to the snide Ji Yunhe and turned to look at the Grand
Master.

"Master," Princess Shunde asked, "things have come to this already, why aren't you taking any
action?"

"The little people are of no concern. The jade phoenix is top priority. I will need to find her and get
rid of her before I can go north."

Princess Shunde had nothing more to say. She glanced at Ji Yunhe one last time then turned and
left. Ji Yunhe was released from the wall and sat down at the edge of the cell. She asked the Grand
Master, "Is the jade phoenix so powerful that she warrants such caution from you?"

"Yes, she is."

Ji Yunhe grew curious. "A demon master and demon who came from a hundred years ago, is there
a story between you two?"

"Not a good story." The Grand Master turned his head to look at her. "Daring to make a move on
Ruling even as a prisoner. Do you really think you have a free pass from the death penalty?"

Ji Yunhe smiled. "At least for now, yes." She studied him a bit. "If I kill the princess, will my free
pass be useless?"

"I won't let anyone kill her."

"Grand Master, have you lived too long that you've grown confused? You are powerful and cannot
age or die, but Princess Shunde is obviously not that powerful. Even if I don't kill her, time will kill her.
Do you think you can fight God?"

"I said, no one can kill her. Not you, not time, and not God."

Ji Yunhe smiled and silently surveyed the Grand Master for a long time. "Why are you so obsessed
with her? Do you love her?"

The Grand Master paused for a moment. "I love her face."

"..."

She never thought he would be such a superficial person... Please excuse her...

"Her face is exactly the same as someone I have lost."

"Oh..."

Ji Yunhe digested the information then grew curious again. "Lost love?"
 "I have lost her, so any trace of her in this world, I will not lose again. No one can take Shunde
away from me."

"Even if it's just a similar face?"

"Mhm."

Ji Yunhe sat cross-legged and clasped her hands together. "Now what? Princess Shunde, I still have
to kill. She has done too many bad things."

"Then you will be buried with her."

"Doesn't matter." Ji Yunhe smiled. "My cheap life for hers, fair trade."

The Grand Master also seemed to grow curious. "And why are you obsessed with her?"

"I have someone to protect too," Ji Yunhe said. "No one can touch him."

The "heart-to-heart" between Ji Yunhe and the Grand Master ended after a moment of silence.

Due to the rising power of the rebels in the north, Princess Shunde became more and more involved
with official affairs and rarely came to the Grand Master's house. Except for the occasional war strain, or
when the court suffered major losses. Princess Shunde would then bring dozens of demon masters to the
prison so they could carry out her orders and vent her fury on Ji Yunhe.

Ji Yunhe was back to waiting for an opportunity to strike back.

The time interval between Princess Shunde's torment on Ji Yunhe, however, was growing longer
and longer.

At first, she came once every ten days or so. Then once every couple of months. Then three or five
months would go by without seeing Princess Shunde.

The battles were growing more intense.

The jade phoenix still did not reappear, so the Grand Master kept waiting and did not intervene. But
he was not stingy over lending out disciples of the Grand Master's house.

He was very generous with the needs of the court. No matter how many disciples they asked for, or
how many talismans they requested. But he himself sat home firmly like a mountain. Regardless of how
much the court and Princess Shunde begged him, he did not care to move an inch.

Two years passed, then another two years. Four years went by, and no one came to the Grand
Master again.
 But during the four years, all of the disciples in the house had been lent out. There was no one left
to even guard Ji Yunhe. The large Grand Master's house only had a prisoner and the boss himself. And
when the boss grew bored, he would come to the cell and sit next to his prisoner to read a book, sharing
ideas from time to time.

Ji Yunhe felt as if she had gone from being a prisoner to being a companion to the lonely elderly.

He even occasionally chatted with Ji Yunhe about the situation in the world. Although he did not
leave home, he knew everything.

He told Ji Yunhe about the rebels occupying the northern Demon Terrace. Their numbers started in
the dozens, then grew into hundreds, then thousands, tens of thousands… And now they had formed an
army pressing against the northern borders of the kingdom.

Most of them were desperate demons forced into a corner, and renegade demon masters. And
because of their ongoing battles with the court, their reputation grew and attracted more and more
people to join.

These rebels even formed a northern "kingdom" centered around the Demon Terrace, calling it the
"Bitter Cold State", saying they were the "Bitter Cold Ones", and establishing a leader --

The jiaoren, Changyi.

Ji Yunhe was surprised upon hearing the news. Partly surprised by how much Changyi had grown,
and partly surprised by the sheer number of rebellious people that existed in this world.

Ji Yunhe could deduct from just these bits and pieces of information that the world was in absolute
chaos. And yet the Grand Master, the supreme leader of the country, was still sitting peacefully in the
prison, leisurely reading his books. As if the world had nothing to do with him.

Ji Yunhe even thought maybe the chaos was what he had wanted.

He wanted the rebellion, the bloodshed, and the disorder.

He wanted war.

He wanted...

… to mourn for the world.

Or perhaps, he wanted to use the blood of the world to pay tribute to the love he had lost.
Chapter 55: Littered with Bones

Another year of heavy snowfall.

The world had been in chaos for a long time.

 Ji Yunhe could not remember how many days she had spent in prison. The rebellion in the north
turned into a full on war, and the encounters between the people of the "Bitter Cold State'' and the
imperial court was so frequent that it no longer made news. The Grand Master lost interest and stopped
talking about the victories and defeats.

He just read his books in prison every day. As long as Princess Shunde's life was not in danger, he
refused to intervene.

Ji Yunhe did not reject his companionship. If he did not come, no one else would. She also
preferred having someone around because being alone in prison all day would be too suffocating.

"Grand Master." Ji Yunhe knocked on the floor with a broken piece of wood out of boredom. "This
winter is too cold, give me a fire pit, eh?"

The Grand Master flipped a page in his book and did not look at her.

Ji Yunhe continued to knock on the floor. "Then when will you finish this book in your hand?" she
asked. "I finished my last book a long time ago. Hurry up so you can give it to me, eh?"

"Finished the last book? I'll ask you a few questions then I'll give you this one."

"Not again…"

Ji Yunhe felt like this Grand Master who had wanted to mourn for the world was actually just a
lonely old man who was a little introverted. Everyone was afraid of him, but Ji Yunhe was more
comfortable getting along with him than with Lin Canglan, or even Lin Haoqing.

Because she did not have to scheme in front of him. When faced with absolute power, all of her
calculations were insignificant

It allowed her to be herself.

"Ask then."

"First page, first line, the author wanted to 'walk among the green mist'. Where is the green mist?"

"Here."

The Grand Master raised his eyebrows.

Ji Yunhe smiled and continued, "In the last book, 'Notes on the Heavenly South Kingdom', the
author used her dream as a means to travel through the land. She wrote about its mountains and lakes,
yet she kept chasing the footsteps of one person. That person in her dream was dressed in white, tall and
slender, and unmatched by anyone, so she wanted to follow him to the end of the world. She indulged in
her dream because of him, and eventually died in the dream."
 She paused then continued, "What the author wanted to see was not the Heavenly South in her
dream, and the person she wanted to find was not the shadow in her dream either. Just that this person
was too unattainable in the real world. She preferred to stay asleep inside her dream until she exhausted
her life, than to wake up and face someone she could never get."

The Grand Master was silent.

"This book 'Notes on the Heavenly South Kingdom', and the book 'Notes on the Everlasting Water',
and the 'Glorious Long Night', were all written by the same woman, right?" Ji Yunhe peered at the
Grand Master.

"How do you know it's a woman?"

"How? These pages are overflowing with longing and desire. How else would I know?"

Ji Yunhe knocked on the floor with her wood. "In this book, the longing to be with one another is
very strong, but the intentions are trapped by her writing style. Her use of words sometimes appears
inappropriate. I enjoyed reading it very much, but it doesn't seem suitable for someone like the Grand
Master. Could this book be written by… "Ji Yunhe peeked at him.

"The love you lost?"

The Grand Master was not ambiguous about it. "She wrote it." Then he looked at the book in his
hand and said, "I made copies."

So he treasured the original books so much that he did not even want to touch them?

Ji Yunhe sighed. "Since you liked each other this much, why didn't you two end up together?"

He gently stroked the page with his fingers. "Why else do you think I mourn for this world?"

Ji Yunhe said, "I have not yet read the book in your hands, but from the previous ones I've read,
even though she was troubled by unattainable desire, her love for the land, the heaven and earth, and the
world in general was very apparent. Why do you..."

The Grand Master suddenly stood up before she finished.

Ji Yunhe stopped talking. She saw the serious look on his face and dropped the wood she had been
knocking against the floor. "Okay, I'll stop bothering you. You take your time with that book."

The Grand Master turned around to leave.

"What's the matter?"

"Ruling is in danger." The Grand Master's body transformed into a flash of white light and
disappeared in an instant. The book in his hand fell to the ground with a plop.

Ji Yunhe immediately shouted out, "Wait! Throw the book to me first! Hey!"

Her voice echoed twice in the empty prison, but the Grand Master was long gone.

Ji Yunhe sat in the cell and stared at the book on the ground outside. She waited for the Grand
Master to return.

And this wait lasted over ten days.

All the way to New Years.

The Grand Master's house was located in the capital. It was a quiet establishment sitting in the
middle of the most prosperous part of the city. The scent of the New Year celebration could easily float
into the prison.

In the previous years, even being at war with the Northlands, the New Year celebration never
slacked. Red lanterns would light up the streets every night for a whole month, and fireworks would
flash up in the sky.

Ji Yunhe had been able to see the colors flashing even from inside her cell.

But this year, there was nothing.

Ji Yunhe estimated that the New Years should be within a few days.

She waited, and what she finally saw was Princess Shunde storming in through the prison door.

She came barefoot, carrying a whip, and seemed to be wounded, walking with a limp even in the
rush. A huge group of demon masters followed behind her.

Ji Yunhe had not seen so many people for a long time. She looked at Princess Shunde and teased,
"Princess, it's only been five and a half years since I last saw you, how come you look so sad?"

Princess Shunde did not say a word. She gave a look and a demon master opened the cell door.

Ji Chengyu then finally managed to squeeze in through the large crowd.

"Princess! Princess! Master is still busy with the jade phoenix in the north!"

Jade phoenix, Qing Ji?

Ji Yunhe's eyes lit up. She finally showed up?

"... Maybe it won't be long before the master returns, why don't we wait until he's back..."
 "This war is all because of this lowly slave! The good men of my country who died in battle were
all killed because of her!" Princess Shunde's eyes were red with anger. "I can't rest until she's dead!"

Ji Yunhe had a pretty good guess of what had happened.

Qing Ji had come out in aid of the Bitter Cold Ones and the imperial court suffered a huge defeat.
Even the princess injured her leg. This pulled the Grand Master out of his house and tied him up in the
north.

The demon masters stepped into the cell with Princess Shunde.

Seeing that he could not stop her, Ji Chengyu gave Ji Yunhe a look, then turned and left. He wanted
to find a way to contact the Grand Master.

Ji Yunhe stood up in tattered clothing and looked arrogantly at Princess Shunde. "Princess, do you
still not know what really caused this war?"

A whip fiercely landed on Ji Yunhe's face. "Know what? I only need to know how you will die!"

Ji Yunhe touched the blood on her face with a finger, then looked at the princess again. "This is
why the battlefields are littered with bones."

"I don't need to listen to you!" Princess Shunde whipped down again.

Ji Yunhe caught the whip with her hand wrapped in a layer of black gas.

"No one was born to be your slave."

Princess Shunde shouted, "Kill her for me!"

The demon masters loaded their weapons with spiritual energy and charged at Ji Yunhe.

Ji Yunhe's hand turned into a fist and the black gas around her body grew outward at an astonishing
speed.

It deflected each and every attack thrown at her. Some demon masters were even struck by their
own weapons.

Nine demonic tails once again floated out behind Ji Yunhe, waving back and forth inside the cell
like an angry beast.

"You want to kill me, just so happens, I want to kill you too."

A black tail reached out and curled over a sword on the ground then delivered it into Ji Yunhe's
hand. She pointed it at Princess Shunde. "Come."
 Princess Shunde glared at her with a twisted, hideous face. All of her air of charm and superiority
was now consumed by hatred.
Chapter 56: Meeting Again

The battle with Princess Shunde was not an easy win for Ji Yunhe.

After being imprisoned for almost six years, her hands and feet were no longer as flexible and
quick as before

Princess Shunde was the Grand Master's favorite disciple, and she had the skills to back up her
pride. With the help of demon masters from the side, Ji Yunhe suffered numerous cuts and bled
profusely. Fortunately, she had grown so accustomed to pain over the years that these wounds did not
faze her a bit. She went full offense and did not bother defending at all, focusing only on her end goal.

Finally, all of the demon masters were defeated, and Princess Shunde was exhausted. Ji Yunhe
found an opportunity and went for the kill. Unexpectedly, Princess Shunde pulled a demon master to her
front and used him as a meatshield. Ji Yunhe's sword pierced into his shoulder as he yelled out in shock,
"Princess…!"

Princess Shunde ignored his call and flung her whip over, tying him together with Ji Yunhe.

She then grabbed a long sword and stabbed it into the back of the demon master.

The blade passed through his body and into Ji Yunhe's chest.

With a muffled grunt, Ji Yunhe immediately cut the whip trapping her and took three steps back to
avoid the fatal blow.

Seeing that Ji Yunhe was still alive, Princess Shunde kicked the fallen body of the demon master
and hissed, "Useless!" He was already dead.

The other demon masters watched in horror and shock.

Ji Yunhe covered her wounds with black gas and started to heal herself while Princess Shunde was
too exhausted to lift her sword.

"Everyone, go kill her!" Shunde shouted.

But nobody moved. The demon masters stood there silently, their spiritual powers depleted and
their bodies covered in wounds. After seeing what Princess Shunde had done to their comrade, they all
looked at her with fear. Eventually, someone opened the door of the cell, staggered out and ran away.

Then a second, a third... Aside from the demon master dead on the ground, the rest all stumbled off
one after another.
 The crowded prison cell emptied out again.

Only Ji Yunhe and Princess Shunde remained.

The two of them were both covered in blood.

Ji Yunhe's black gas had stopped the bleeding on her chest. She grabbed her sword and took a step
toward Princess Shunde.

The princess walked back a step.

When Ji Yunhe took another step forward, Princess Shunde staggered backwards until she tripped
on a sword and fell.

Ji Yunhe walked over and sat down on her stomach. She grabbed a hold of the princess's neck with
one hand, and the other hand stabbed the sword into the ground next to her ear.

"Your master said he won't let anyone kill you. But see? This world's so unpredictable. Even his
words cannot be counted on."

Ji Yunhe smiled with a blood stained face, sending chills down Princess Shunde's spine.

"Do you still remember our bet?"

Ji Yunhe pressed her sword against Princess Shunde's ear and swayed it back and forth,
accidentally making a cut on her earlobe. A little more blood was spilled.

And the princess who had wanted to trample the world's beauty under her feet, was now scared
stiff. Her lips quivered and her ear bled, drop by drop, onto the cell floor that had held Ji Yunhe for
nearly six years.

"I have seen every inch of this floor over the years, but it looks most beautiful today." Ji Yunhe
laughed. "Because it will be painted with your blood."

Princess Shunde's teeth clattered uncontrollably.

"Scared? How does it feel to be scared?" Ji Yunhe stared into her eyes. "But a bet is a bet. Since
you can't suppress the rebellion in the north, I have to cut away your flesh inch by inch."

Ji Yunhe raised her blade and aimed down. But with a sudden hollar, Ji Yunhe's body was violently
pushed off of Princess Shunde.

The blade in her hand still slashed into Princess Shunde's face.

It sliced through her cheek, over the bridge of her nose, and into the other cheek, leaving a long
gash across her entire face.
 Princess Shunde let out a heart wrenching scream and immediately sat up on her knees. She
covered her face with her hands and blood seeped through her fingers. "My face! My face!" she cried
out in pain.

And Ji Yunhe was now completely drained of her power.

She sat up and shook her head as her vision blurred.

Black iron armor… It was the young general Zhu Ling, now grown up...

"Princess!" Zhu Ling looked at the disfigured Princess Shunde, then turned his head in anger and
glared at Ji Yunhe. "Demon slaver! I should have killed you at the Demon Valley gate years ago!"

He pulled out the big saber hanging at his waist and viciously slashed at Ji Yunhe.

Ji Yunhe summoned her black gas into a shield to defend, but Zhu Ling had not been idle over the
years. His saber sliced through her protective aura and headed straight for her.

Then, like the first break of daylight, or water drops landing into a mountain spring, a fresh breeze
blew past Ji Yunhe ear and a strand of silver hair swept across her face.

Her dull pupils lit up under this glimmer of light, and she slowly opened her eyes. As if a divine
force in her soul gave her the strength, she lifted her head.

A hand as flawless as white jade, clean and untainted, had caught the blade in midair.

The person who came did not move, but with a sound of morning bells and evening drums, Zhu
Ling was thrown against the back of the cell. He passed out before he even had a chance to spit blood.

Princess Shunde parted the fingers on her face and stammered, "Jiao… jiaoren..."

"Changyi..."

Silver hair, blue eyes, and bitterly cold. He was the only immaculate existence inside this filthy,
blood-stained prison.

He had always been like this, always...

And the only difference for Ji Yunhe...

… was the impact of seeing him now felt much more significant than when they had first met.
Chapter 57: Vengeance

Ice blue eyes fell coldly on Ji Yunhe.

 They looked at each other as if they were picking up from their first encounter in the Demon Valley
dungeon years ago. Only now, their roles had been reversed.

Changyi's eyes were still clean and clear, reflecting everything around him -- the firelight on the
wall, the prison bars, and the people. Inside his translucent pupils, Ji Yunhe saw herself. She was
covered in blood, her hair was messy and her clothes were torn, even every breath she took seemed to be
a struggle. She looked so pathetic.

Ugly to the extreme.

Ji Yunhe smiled, three parts self-deprecation, three parts flirtation, but mostly a sigh from years of
sentiments.

"Long time no see, big-tailed fish."

The mirror-like tranquility under the blue eyes rippled from her voice, but the disturbance quickly
subsided.

"Ji Yunhe." His voice was as cold as his gaze. The gentle warmth of the past had now turned into
icy blades, pointing at her.

"You look terrible."

Zhu Ling's saber did not cut her body, but these words cut into her soul.

Ji Yunhe looked at Changyi.

After having gone through so much over the years and meeting the unfortunate Ji Yunhe, his
current state of mind could not possibly be as innocent and flawless as before...

It was only logical.

It was all her fault again.

Ji Yunhe felt an assortment of emotions brewing inside, but her smile did not change. She held on
to her flirtatious grin and seemingly shrugged off his malicious comment.

"That's me. Pathetic to the extreme..."

"Jiaoren… trespassed the Grand Master's house… All disciples come forth… All disciples... "
While Changyi and Ji Yunhe made their small talk, Princess Shunde started to crawl toward the cell
door. She called under her breath, but aside from the demon master dead on the floor, there were no
other disciples here.

Changyi turned his head and glanced at the even more pathetic Princess Shunde.
 The ruthlessness in his ice blue eyes was something Ji Yunhe had never seen in him before.

He had really become the Lord of the North...

Changyi was no longer the demon imprisoned in a dungeon. He now had his own power, his own
army, and his own killing intent.

Before Ji Yunhe had time to think more, he leaned over and his cool hand grabbed onto her wrist.
Then he roughly pulled her to her feet.

Ji Yunhe's body was weak and stiff, being pulled up suddenly made her every joint ache, and she
felt a wave of dizziness.

But she endured it without a word. She staggered a few steps and her head crashed into his chest.

Changyi did not bother waiting for her to find her balance before pulling her toward the cell door,
almost dragging her.

He was too strong, she had no way to resist.

She could only stumble after him.

The door of the cell still had the Grand Master's seal, but Changyi kicked it open without even
looking at it. The seal broke and he pulled Ji Yunhe out.

She finally walked out of the cage that had imprisoned her for almost six years. But as soon as she
stepped out, her legs gave way and she fell to her knees. They could not support her body anymore.

Changyi was still holding on to her wrist, so tightly that it almost bruised her.

Ji Yunhe looked up at him and tried to squeeze out a smile to no avail.

"I can't walk..."

Changyi did not speak and the prison fell silent for a while. Then he reached down and picked her
up with one arm. Ji Yunhe leaned weakly into his chest. In a moment of disorientation, she felt as if she
was back in the pool of draining water inside the Ten Square Formation. Changyi still had his tail, and
she still had hopes for a future full of endless expectations.

They drifted toward the exit, as if what awaited them was a world without restraint, the blue sea
and the clear sky...

That was the most optimistic moment in her life...

Click. The fire light brought her back to the present.

 Changyi had grabbed a torch off of the wall.

The torch was located on top of a pile of torture devices. He looked at them.

Then he turned around without saying a word. He held Ji Yunhe in one hand, the torch in the other,
and walked to the iron bars of the cell again.

Princess Shunde, who was still lying inside, panicked. She looked at Changyi and flopped
backwards a few times, struggling. "What are you going to do? What are you going to do..."

Changyi slammed the cell door shut and locked her inside. A blue light flashed on the bars. Like
the Grand Master, he had sealed the prison.

He looked at Princess Shunde. "Under the monstrous waves, I saved your life. Now, I want to
return it."

The torch in his hand flew out and landed inside the cell.

The dried grass and hay were instantly ignited.

Princess Shunde shrieked in horror, "Someone! Someone come!" She tried to extinguish the
flames, but they spread like a hell fire fueled by rage and hatred. The entire cell was set aflame in no
time.

"Help! Help! Master!" Princess Shunde cried in desperation.

Changyi held Ji Yunhe and turned away without another look.

They exited the prison of the Grand Master's house.

Ji Yunhe looked past his shoulder, and only now did she see that it was nothing more than an
ordinary courtyard.

The fire in the courtyard lit up the sky of the capital, and Princess Shunde's calls grew muffled. Ji
Yunhe whispered under her breath, "Don't make random bets."

Changyi paused his steps and looked at her inside his arm. She lifted her head and returned his
gaze.

"Fate will note it down."

Princess Shunde was now… paying for her loss in a different way.

Changyi did not understand what she was saying, but he did not seem to care either. He carried her
down the empty main pathway of the Grand Master's residence.
 After leaving the burning courtyard, a group of imperial soldiers gathered before them.

The disciples of the Grand Master's house had all been pulled to the warfront, and the ones that
came back ran away just now because of Princess Shunde. At this time, the only person standing in front
of the soldiers was Ji Chengyu.

Ji Chengyu had met Changyi before. When he saw him walk out with Ji Yunhe, his eyes widened
with shock. "Jiaoren... Jiaoren..."

Although the world was full of demons, only one jiaoren had his long silver hair and ice blue eyes.

The imperial soldiers lost their will to fight as soon as they heard Ji Chengyu. The light of the fire
shined on Changyi's hair, turning its silver color red. Changyi did not speak, but he tossed an object out
of his sleeve.

It was an old, dirty, tattered rag doll.

The doll was thrown at Ji Chengyu's feet.

Ji Chengyu was even more shocked to see this doll, and did not pick it up. After a long time, he
looked up and asked Changyi, "My brother asked you to bring this? Where is he? He..."

Changyi did not stay any longer. His hand glowed and his body disappeared with Ji Yunhe.

A flash of blue light streaked across the night sky like a comet.

Not to mention the imperial soldiers, even Ji Chengyu himself would never be able to catch up.

Changyi carried Ji Yunhe and soared through layers of clouds.

Ji Yunhe looked at the stars that she had not seen in years from inside his arm. They fascinated her.
But the most fascinating thing was the face in front of her.

No matter how many years had gone by, no matter how many things had happened, Changyi's face
was still stunningly beautiful. Even if his gaze had changed...

"Changyi, where are you taking me?" Ji Yunhe asked him. "The Northlands?"

He did not answer her.

Ji Yunhe was silent for a bit then asked again.

"Did you come to save me?"

Ji Yunhe thought Changyi would stay silent and keep ignoring her, but to her surprise, Changyi
opened his mouth, "No."
 Then they landed on a mountaintop. He released her from his arm and she staggered backward,
finally finding support against a large boulder.

He stared at her just like before, but the look in his eyes was now detached and indifferent. He
raised his hand and pulled a strand of Ji Yunhe's hair with his long, slender fingers. With a slight pinch,
her hair fell to the ground.

He had cut a strand of her hair to tell her that he was here for vengeance.

As if he were saying: This time, I'm here to hurt you.

Ji Yunhe understood his intentions but did not know what to say.

The sky brightened as a ray of sunlight beamed over the horizon behind Changyi.

Against the light, Ji Yunhe could not see his face very well. But when the sun beamed further down
and shined onto her shoulder, she felt a sharp, burning pain.

She immediately clutched at her shoulder with her hand. But that hand suddenly felt the same burn.
She looked down at it and was so stunned that she forgot about the pain.

And Changyi's eyes also fell onto her hand.

The sunrise covered the land.

Most of her body was under Changyi's shadow, but the hand exposed to the sun was stripped of
flesh and blood, leaving only the bones intact...
Chapter 58: Less Than A Human Heart

Ji Yunhe stared at her hand in a daze, forgetting the intense pain.

The bones that had been shaved of flesh and blood flipped around and Ji Yunhe reached out further
into the sunlight.

All the parts that touched the sun became nothing but bone. From the fingers to the wrist, even the
whole arm...

This bizarre sight disoriented Ji Yunhe, and the pain did not call back her senses. She had not seen
the sun for nearly six years, and right now, she had an intangible yearning for it. She wanted to explore
the sun with her body, as if she wanted to strip herself of flesh and cleanse her soul.

She even took a step to the side to give the sun more exposure. But before this step could land, her
other hand felt a forceful pull and Ji Yunhe was once again back under Changyi's broad shadow.

His shadow completely enshrouded her and his eyes glowed against the backlight of the sun, like a
hidden gem under the deep blue sea.

He cupped Ji Yunhe's chin with a hand and forced her to look up at him. There was no trace of the
self-restraint and proper etiquette he had abided by in the past.

"What are you doing?" His tone was unkind and slightly agitated. "Do you want to kill yourself?"

He seemed angry, but she did not understand why.

"Why are you angry?" Her voice was weak, but the words were clear. "You came here for
vengeance because you still hold a grudge against me for stabbing you that night, right? If that's the
case, you should be happy that I seeked my own death." She looked at him and asked again, "Why are
you angry?"

Changyi listened to her careless voice, watched her lazy eyes, and felt her disinterested attitude. His
hand cupping her chin slid down onto her neck, then he leaned in close to her ear.

"Ji Yunhe, in the past, your life belonged to the Demon Valley. Before today, your life was the
Grand Master's house. And from now on, your life is mine." Changyi's voice was chilling. "You can't die
unless I want you to."

Ji Yunhe smiled. "Changyi, you have become quite domineering. But... this is pretty good."

Not many people could bully him again, right?

Ji Yunhe lifted her hand, held it up against his chest, and pushed him away a bit. "But I still have to
correct you. My life is mine. It always has been and it always will be. Even you can't claim differently."

"You can believe so," Changyi said. "But I will not give you the right to choose."

He waved his hand, and a large black cloak wrapped around Ji Yunhe, blocking all the sunlight
from her. He even made a magic seal around the collar so she could not take it off, leaving only her eyes
uncovered.

Ji Yunhe felt comical. "I've been in prison for almost six years without any sun. Do you really think
a sunburn can kill me? Who in this world can be killed by some sunshine?"

Changyi threw her a side eye. "You can."

Ji Yunhe saw a glimpse of the Changyi she used to know. Honest, sincere, clear cut and to the
point.

She suddenly wanted to tell him the truth. She wanted to say: Changyi, I didn't betray you, didn't
abandon you, and didn't want to kill you. You can hate me and you can blame me for making decisions
for you, but I've never wanted to hurt you...
 Ji Yunhe tried to reach out from the cloak to touch him, but the magic seal made it impossible for
her to move her arms.

She let out a helpless sigh. "Changyi, the sun can't kill me. It might hurt, but I can't die..."

Suddenly, her body reacted. Her pupils shrank and a sharp pain shot out from her chest, as if her
heart was being squeezed by an invisible hand. She convulsed and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Ji Yunhe looked at the blood on the ground and felt her chaotic heartbeat. It finally dawned on her -
- her body was now so weak that she really could die from the sun...

Maybe she might even die in the next minute.

Ji Yunhe leaned against the boulder under Changyi's shadow and slowly caught her breath. She
could not see his face against the sun, but she could clearly feel his eyes on her.

"Changyi..." she said, "perhaps, we were both wrong... My life doesn't belong to you or me, it
belongs to fate..."

Once again, she was pushed to the edge between life and death. Ji Yunhe no longer felt any fear,
she only felt absurd.

Her life had been under someone else's control all along. They could make her laugh, cry, live or
die all on a whim.

Whenever she felt like she could finally gain control, fate would slap her in the face and wake her
up again. The freedom she sought after always seemed so close, yet remained just out of her reach.

She was so small and insignificant, tumbling and drifting helplessly in the world like a floating
weed.

The "truth" that hovered on the tip of her tongue was swallowed down again.

Her body had reached its limit after six years of torment, and the battle with Princess Shunde was
probably the last of her remaining power and strength.

Her future now was nothing but a dead end.

How could she still tell Changyi the truth?

Because of her "betrayal", this innocent big-tailed fish had gone through a significant
transformation. Now that he was finally able to punish her, if she were to tell him everything then die
right afterwards, how was he supposed to deal with it?

If the remainder of her life was destined to be this brief, then might as well make the most of it
again...
 Ji Yunhe looked at the blood on the ground and asked, "Changyi, I must look hideous right now..."

After a while, Changyi answered with a low voice, "Less hideous than your human heart."

Ji Yunhe lowered her head. Under the cover of the black cloak, she smiled.

If punishing her could give Changyi some inner balance and closure, then...

… so be it.
Chapter 59: I Will Not Allow It

Distant mountains were hidden by the moonless night.

A charcoal pot burned in the room, its subtle sounds pulled Ji Yunhe out of her trip down memory
lane.

The past disappeared behind her dark eyes.

She sat at a wooden, rectangular table with a couple of hot dishes and a small bowl of rice inside
her hand. On the other side of the table was a black robed man with silver hair and an unkind face.

He sat there with his arms crossed and his expression sullen. His blue eyes remained on her, like…
surveillance.

"Finish your food," seeing her chopsticks had not moved in a while, Changyi ordered.

"I can't eat anymore," Ji Yunhe said helplessly and somewhat like a plea. "No appetite. Just turn a
blind eye and pretend I ate it all?"

"Don't bargain with me."

It had been six years since they first met. Ji Yunhe felt this fish now, compared to before, had
become a bully.

But...

How could she blame him...

With a sigh, she reluctantly shoved a couple of grains of rice into her mouth.

She began to eat, and Changyi fell silent again. He did not care how quickly or how slowly she ate,
he just wanted her to eat, and he closely watched her every meal. Three meals a day with fruits,
vegetables and tea, nothing less. Others woke at sunrise and rested at sunset, Ji Yunhe got up and ate
only after the sun went down.
 The maids usually brought her meals then locked the door and left.

Therefore, no one knew that the jiaoren who had conquered the entire Northlands would come and
watch Ji Yunhe, sometimes forcing her to eat her meal.

If not for the new maid who had made a mistake and was thrown out the window by him, people
would still not have any clue.

Ji Yunhe picked at the rice grain by grain. After the half bowl of rice was finally finished, Changyi
pushed a dish of vegetables to her with a face that was still mean and unfriendly.

"Vegetables."

No nonsense, only orders.

Ji Yunhe really did not want to eat. Ever since she had been brought to the Northlands by Changyi
and locked up in this Cloud Garden, she could feel her body growing weaker every day. She did not
have an appetite, and even the act of chewing felt tedious.

But Changyi did not allow it.

She was not allowed to go hungry, and not allowed to pick and choose what she ate...

There were many other things she was not allowed, all rules set in place by Changyi.

Changyi did not allow any visitors, even though she knew both Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing were
here at the Demon Terrace in the Northlands.

Changyi also did not allow her to leave. He kept her inside the third floor penthouse, sealed it with
a magic boundary, and used locks after locks on her door. The security was even tighter than the Grand
Master's prison.

He did not allow her to see the sun. Her windows could not be opened during the day. Only at dawn
and dusk was Ji Yunhe able to see some sunrise and sunset.

Changyi was like a dictator, dominating over her clothing, food, housing, and transportation. He
wanted to control every aspect of her life. If he were able to, he would probably control her inhales and
exhales as well.

The most excessive was...

He did not allow her to die.

If God were a person and wanted to mess with Ji Yunhe's timeline, Changyi would cut off his
fingers one by one.
 He told her, "Ji Yunhe, you have to stay alive as long as I want to punish you."

Ji Yunhe recalled these punishments from him and smiled. This fish was still too naive. Making her
stare at his beautiful face every day while she ate, what kind of a punishment was this?

This was clearly the greatest generosity.

But she was still greedy, so she asked him, "Changyi, how about… you let me go out and walk for
a day, then I come back and sit under house arrest for a day. You let me out for two days, I come back
for two days. If you let me go out for a month, I will come back and sit here properly for a month. And I
will eat whatever you want me to..."

"No." Changyi looked at the plate. "The last bite."

Ji Yunhe sighed again and reluctantly picked up the last piece of vegetable on her plate.

It was winter in the Northlands and they were in the middle of a war, a fresh piece of vegetable was
hard to come by. Ji Yunhe knew that, so she opened her mouth and ate it.

But this last bite caused a rumbling inside her. Her throat grew tight and she turned her head,
throwing up everything she had just eaten into a bucket used to water the houseplants.

But her vomiting did not stop after the food emptied out.

Ji Yunhe felt a sharp pain in her stomach and started coughing up black blood.

The blood gushed out uncontrollably, and she fell to her knees shivering with a chill that had taken
over her body. Cold sweat dripped down and drenched her. Suddenly, a hand pressed against her back. It
passed wave after wave of refreshing energy into her body, suppressing her restless blood.

The pain eased and the cold sweat stopped. Ji Yunhe rested for a while before her eyes slowly
regained their focus.

She turned her head and saw Changyi crouching on the ground.

He was no longer a demon held captive in a dungeon. He now ruled over the entire Northlands and
held a domain that competed with the imperial court of the Dacheng Dynasty. He was honored,
respected, and even feared.

And right now, he crouched on the ground next to her, as if they had been taken back in time to six
years ago. His gaze was still clear and his heart was still gentle. He had no hatred, no calculations, and
would only say to Ji Yunhe: Taking this blow would only injure me, but you taking it would die.

"Changyi, I... will not live much longer."

The hand on her back pressed a bit firmer. The energy flowing into her body grew and gave her
more strength to talk. "Let me go..."

"No."

"I want to use the last of my remaining days to walk around a bit. If I'm lucky, maybe I can get
back to my hometown and return to my roots..."

"You can't."

"... at least then I would be a little worthy of this life my parents gave me..."

Ji Yunhe was exhausted. She closed her eyes and slowly fell back.

She was as light as a feather, floating into his arms sent only a few strands of silver hair in motion.

His long silver hair draped down over his face and hid his expression, revealing only his slightly
bitten lips. The room was silent for a long time.

Snowflakes fell outside, and the night was eerily calm.

Changyi tightened his grasp around Ji Yunhe's thin, boney arm, and said with a bit of a struggle, "I
will not allow it."

His voice drifted away with the falling snow and disappeared into the ground without a trace.
Chapter 60: Asset

When Ji Yunhe woke up again, it was still deep in the night. Candle flames flickered and quality
coal burned, making the room warm and cozy. The wind and snow outside the window howled with a
sound that was unique to the Northlands. It was difficult to predict how many people would be buried by
the bitter cold tonight.

But in this world of chaos torn by war, death might come as a relief.

On the other side of the room, a black robed man sitting by the candle glanced at Ji Yunhe.

Her face was pale, the hands that supported her body were horribly thin, and veins popped out from
under the skin, making them look extra creepy.

Changyi tightened his grip on the letter he was reading. But his eyes moved away from her and fell
back onto the text, showing no concern for her struggles to sit up.

Ji Yunhe, on the other hand, did not avoid looking at him. She stared for a while then asked out of
curiosity, "What are you looking at?" From the part not hidden behind his arm, Ji Yunhe could see the
words "Grand Master's house" and "jade phoenix" vaguely written on the paper.

The jade phoenix had appeared in the north a month ago, and as a result, Princess Shunde suffered
major defeat and was nearly killed. The Grand Master was pulled to the north and battled Qing Ji for
many days in the bitter cold.

Changyi broke into the Grand Master's house during that time, burned it down along with Princess
Shunde, and took Ji Yunhe away.

And Ji Yunhe knew nothing about what happened after that.

In the days she spent locked up in the center of this lake, she only saw the maid who delivered her
food along with the cleaning servants who occasionally walked by… And of course, Changyi.

The servants would not tell her anything, and neither would Changyi.

Seeing familiar names on the letter, Ji Yunhe felt a vague connection to the outside world, so she
kept asking, "You broke into the Grand Master's house and killed Princess Shunde... From my
understanding of the Grand Master, he would never let this go. Did he give you any trouble?"

Changyi turned sideways and looked at her sitting on the bed. "From your understanding of the
Grand Master..." he looked a bit displeased, "how would he give me trouble? "

Ji Yunhe thought he would keep ignoring her, or tell her it was none of her business. But he took
such an unexpected angle that she did not know how to answer him.

"He..." Ji Yunhe pondered for a moment, then responded with a question, "didn't do anything?"

Changyi held the letter against the candle flame and waited until it almost burned to his fingers
before releasing. With a wave of his sleeve, the ashes were brushed away and he stood up, returning the
topic back to what Ji Yunhe had guessed.

"These things are none of your concern."

Ji Yunhe nodded her head and smirked. As expected after all.

She looked at Changyi who was about to leave and asked, "Then what should I be concerned
about?"

Changyi paused his steps but did not answer her, so Ji Yunhe continued, "Changyi, are you going
to keep me locked up even after I die?" She lowered her head and looked at her pale, boney fingers.
"You know what I want most and what I hate most, so you are doing this on purpose to torment me and
to punish me. You want me to suffer and feel hopeless..."

While Ji Yunhe was speaking, Changyi did not turn around nor did he walk away.

Until she said, "... You succeeded."

He turned and looked at her apathetically. "Good."

 Then he left.

Ji Yunhe got out of bed, walked to the window and pushed it open. The howling snowstorm outside
immediately washed onto her extremely thin face.

Ji Yunhe stood there until it took away her last bit of warmth before closing the window. She sat
down by the dresser and looked at herself in the mirror. "Even though I owe him, this is a little bit too
harsh." She touched her cheek and sighed at her withered skin and visible fatigue.

"Begging Changyi is useless. I don't get to see anything inside this room, my body isn't getting any
better, I have no appetite to eat, and I have to vomit blood… The days are way too difficult."

Ji Yunhe opened her palm and summoned the black gas that had been dormant inside her body. It
seeped out of the tip of her index finger and swayed around without a rhythm.

"Not many days left, let's disrupt a bit. Why not."

A spark of black fire broke out on top of her hand as she spoke.

...

At the same time, on the other side of a land covered in a blanket of snow.

The capital city of Dacheng was under curfew and quiet. The snow had not yet fallen here, but it
was very cold.

Inside the Grand Master's room, behind layers of bed curtains, a woman in red breathed out a
mouthful of white air. She was wrapped in bandages, her left leg, hands, neck, and even her whole face.
Only a mouth and one eye were exposed.

She looked at the lamp by the bed and stared at its flame. The white mist coming out of her mouth
became more rapid, and terror grew behind her one eye. Her chest heaved violently even though she
could not move her limbs.

She breathed hard and her throat let out a whimper.

The flame inside the lamp, to her, was the same as the fire that had burned her throat, boiled her
blood, and scorched her skin.

She felt the pain again, so painful it distorted her mind.

Until a man's calm face appeared in front of her and shielded the lamp from her view. Just like that
day, when all the fire extinguished as soon as he appeared. He was like a god saving her life once again,
no matter from how far away...
 "Ruling."

Princess Shunde eased her tension.

Master...

She wanted to shout but nothing could come out. After he came, the burning pain around her body
slowly disappeared and her breathing calmed.

The Grand Master said, "This will cure your throat but it might cause some discomfort."

Princess Shunde blinked as the Grand Master helped her up and fed her a bowl of medicine.

She suddenly felt like she was being choked by a pair of invisible hands. She opened her mouth and
gasped for air, but nothing flowed in. The horror of suffocation made her struggle, but her limbs only
managed a slight tremble.

Her one eye filled with blood as she desperately looked at the Grand Master.

Master, master...

She wanted to call for help while he just stood by the bed and watched. It seemed like he was
looking at her, yet not really her. He wanted to heal her, but he did not care about her at all. Finally, her
throat opened up and air flowed in.

Princess Shunde breathed for a long time.

"Master..."

She finally squeezed out a word. The Grand Master nodded his head without showing any joy or
satisfaction. "The medicine is effective. Ruling, I will be able to heal your face."

Princess Shunde was silent for a moment then asked, "Master, do you want to heal me, or do you
want to heal my face?"

"Ruling," without hesitation or contemplation, he bluntly said, "that is not a smart question."

It was not a smart question. The Grand Master did not answer stupid people or stupid questions.

Why did he stand by her side all these years, saving her, protecting her, and even giving her the
power to rival the emperor? Princess Shunde had always been crystal clear, so she never asked him. She
just relied on her leverage and did all the things that others could not.

Because she had an asset that gave her shelter with the most powerful person in the world.

And she ended up… being just an asset.

 The Grand Master left. Under the blanket, her hands tightened and her blackened fingertips digged
into the sheets.
Chapter 61: Craze

Ji Yunhe had a good sleep during the day. The new maid who delivered the food was quiet and left
quickly after setting up the table. Changyi came over to patrol as usual and watched her obediently
finish her meal, then he also left without saying a word.

Two living people had come and gone without any signs of life. Ji Yunhe began to miss that
troublemaker, Jiang Weiyan.

She dismantled the black bed curtain used to block out light and sewed herself a large cloak. It was
very handsome and heroic.

Looking through the window, Ji Yunhe saw the snow had stopped tonight. The moon was visible
for thousands of miles with no wind or clouds, a perfect time to enjoy some moonlight.

Nothing blocked her hand when she reached out to test the magic seal. But when she tried to poke
her head out of the window, blue runes appeared.

The hand could reach out and the head could not, how generous of him.

Ji Yunhe smiled and black gas danced at her fingertips.

She was not sure if she could break through Changyi's seal, but if she did, she would have to run as
fast as she could to the snow covered mountains in the distance. Once there, she might be able to hide.
By then she would likely never see any old friends again.

Ji Yunhe looked back at the empty room and took a deep breath. If her life had reached a near limit,
then let her be selfish for once.

After the decision was made, Ji Yunhe summoned the power in her body and nine black tails
appeared. With a gesture of her fingers, black gas condensed inside her palm and she pressed it against
the blue seal on the window.

Boom! The whole pavilion shook and sounds of alarmed servants came from outside.

The blue seal resisted for a moment then broke under her strike.

Ji Yunhe released her palm immediately. She already felt weak just from dealing this one blow, her
body could not afford any more exertion.

And she knew Changyi would feel it as soon as the seal broke, so she had to move fast.

Without further delay, Ji Yunhe stepped onto the window sill and jumped, her cloak flying out
behind her like the wings of an eagle. She soared against the bitter cold, breaking countless invisible
chains that tied her to the room, and headed straight for the moon and stars.

The servants flooded out into the courtyard as soon as she jumped.

Some were surprised by the nine tails behind her, some were shocked that she dared to break the
seal, and some shouted to inform the lord.

But Ji Yunhe did not even look at them. She stepped over several rooftops and disappeared, leaving
a garden full of people in panic.

The wind was strong and turned her face red in no time, but Ji Yunhe felt amazing.

The stuffiness that had sat with her for six years scattered and dissipated into the wind. Ji Yunhe
looked at the moon and the distant mountains and was overjoyed. Even the chest pain from running did
not make her feel any discomfort, only excitement.

Alive. Yes, she was still alive.

She ran all the way to the shore and looked around, there was still no one chasing after her. The
lake was frozen over with a thick layer of ice, she stepped onto it and continued running for the
mountains.

However, her speed was slowing down and her body grew weaker with every step. But Ji Yunhe
laughed out loud while she ran anyway, like a small child.

Eventually her legs lost support and she fell down onto the ice, rolled out several feet with the
cloak wrapped around her, and slided for a good distance before finally coming to a stop.

Ji Yunhe could no longer run and her nine tails disappeared, but she was still laughing.

After she grew tired from the laughter, she sprawled out on her back and looked at the stars. The
condensate from her breath formed small puffs of clouds, adding some haze and beauty to the night sky.

She laid there for a long time.

Sound of footsteps slowly approached. She knew who it was without turning her head.

She did not have the strength to run anymore, and her body failed to make the disruption that her
heart had desired.

"This was a romantic getaway, Changyi." She looked at the moon. "I feel like a warrior rebelling
against the devil."

The "devil" stood next to her and his voice was even colder than the air around them.
 "Get up. The ice is too cold."

The words were of concern, but the tone was so unkind.

For Changyi, chasing her down was too easy. Ji Yunhe now realized how naive she had been. But
she did not regret her attempt to run away. She probably would never regret it.

Ji Yunhe the Warrior turned her head and looked at Changyi the Devil, then spoke out heroically,
"The moon is beautiful, come and lie with me for a while."

The devil did not smile and his tone grew even worse, "Get up."

The warrior then turned into a dead pig not afraid of boiling water (A chinese metaphor for when
someone has a thick skin and does not care about getting criticized or yelled at.), she shifted her bottom
on the ice and moved sideways like a starfish. "Don't want to."

The devil nodded his head. "Okay."

Changyi moved his fingertips as soon as his word fell. Click click crunch crack, several pillars of
water streamed out from the ice under Ji Yunhe, wrapping around her limbs and her neck and lifting her
up.

"Hey hey hey, what is this?"

The water pillars were heated and warmed up her freezing arms and legs. Ji Yunhe tried to struggle
but it was useless.

"You don't want to get up, then you will be carried back."

Changyi turned around and walked in the front while the water pillars carrying Ji Yunhe followed
behind him.

"Changyi..."

Changyi ignored her.

"I gloriously broke through the seal and came out in style, it's too embarrassing to go back like
this."

Changyi gave a cold laugh. "Embarrassing? Then you shouldn't have broken the seal."

Ji Yunhe understood. This fish did not openly complain, but was secretly angry with her. She put
on a coaxing smile. "I felt well rested today, so I wanted to get some exercise. See, I didn't wreck your
house, didn't get far, and didn't cause much trouble. Let me go and I will walk myself back. Being
carried like this is so improper."
 Changyi turned around. "I let you go, and you walk as agreed."

Ji Yunhe reassured him, "You let me go, I walk as agreed."

The water pillars withdrew themselves and merged back into the ice over the lake. Ji Yunhe landed
firmly onto her feet.

Changyi turned around to lead the way while Ji Yunhe rubbed her wrist and glanced at his back.
Then she looked up at the moon and let out a silent sigh.

Nine tails appeared in a flash, and she took off running again, leaping into the air. However, as
soon as she jumped, silver hair and blue eyes instantly appeared before her. Alarmed, she tried to raise
her hands, but Changyi had already taken a hold of her neck and pushed her back onto the ice.

His fingers did not exert force, they only restrained her movements.

Changyi's face was a look of suppressed rage. He glared at Ji Yunhe, and spoke while almost
gritting his teeth.

"Do you think I still believe everything you say like before? Do you think you can still fool me?"
He abruptly raised a hand and caught a black tail that Ji Yunhe had sneaked behind him for ambush. "Do
you think... you can still hurt me?"

Nope.

At this point, Changyi's aura alone was enough to fully suppress Ji Yunhe. They were on
completely different levels.

Or rather, from the start till now, she had never been his match.

When she stabbed him with her sword that night, it was only because he never thought of blocking
her.

Changyi tightened his hand and the force passed through her tail into her body. She felt a brief sting
in her chest, then all of her powers immediately scattered and her limbs grew weak. She could only look
at him helplessly and be at his mercy.

"Ji Yunhe, you are now in my hands." His blue eyes rippled and turned into a dark, stormy sea. "I
can tell you clearly now, the freedom that you want, I will not give it to you. You want to return to your
roots, I will not give it to you either," he said while slightly leaning over, his lips coming to Ji Yunhe's
ear. "You can only be in my hands, you can't go anywhere."

His hot breath blew onto Ji Yunhe's ear, making her shiver and giving her goosebumps down half
of her body.

Just as she was trying to figure out what he was going to do, Ji Yunhe felt a sudden pain in her ear.
Changyi bit her!

His bite broke the skin and made her bleed.

"What are you... doing?!" Ji Yunhe exclaimed in a startled voice.

Changyi wiped away the blood with a finger and revealed a blue colored rune imprinted onto her
ear.

"Other than being by my side… " he said, "from the furthest end of the earth to the deepest corners
of the sea, from heaven to hell, you will not be allowed anywhere."

He said with craze and certainty, Ji Yunhe knew this matter was now completely out of the
question.
Chapter 62: Good Enough

Ji Yunhe was brought back to the courtyard in the center of the lake.

Once again, she was locked up. And this time the seal no longer allowed her hands to pass through.

She sure had a knack for making matters worse.

But Ji Yunhe had no remorse.

She would always remember the moment she stepped out of the window, the feeling of running
wild across the frozen lake, and the exhaustion while lying on the ice looking up at the clear night sky.
They were all so beautiful.

They gave her a taste of freedom.

And after that night, Ji Yunhe felt less regretful in general. Dropping dead one day was no longer a
big deal. In fact, she even looked forward to it.

She studied the mark left on her ear by Changyi for days but still could not figure out its purpose,
so she gave up.

She knew some demons liked to mark their territory, so maybe this thing on her ear just symbolized
that she was now his property.

Although everyone would see it as such, Ji Yunhe did not accept it.

Just like how Changyi did not belong to Princess Shunde, Ji Yunhe also did not belong to Changyi.

She always belonged to herself, in the Demon Valley, in the Grand Master's house, and in this
Cloud Garden.
 Throughout her life, she had done many things outside of her will and was forced to make many
choices. Some with sorrow, others in pain. She made it this far under the pulls and tugs of life.

But she never yielded to anyone.

When Lin Canglan used poison to control her, she plotted and planned to seize the antidote. And
when Princess Shunde humiliated her and tortured her, she did not bend either.

She never stopped struggling against the hand of fate for the control of her own life, winning some
and losing some, but never giving up.

She fought along the entire way.

Ji Yunhe looked at herself in the mirror. Her face was thin, her eyes were sunken, and her lips were
pale. Her fight could be described as pretty tragic. In the past she had fought for life, now she wanted to
try a different game.

She wanted to fight for death.

She wanted to decide when, where, and how she died.

To end her journey with pride and dignity instead of fear and panic.

Since Ji Yunhe had nothing to do all day, she spent all her time thinking about this matter.
Designing, planning, calculating, and scheming, just like what she used to do in the Demon Valley.
Except back then it was to protect herself and her friends.

In her current state, Ji Yunhe would definitely not be able to break through the new seal around the
penthouse, so this was the only place she could die in. But it did not matter, everything was about give
and take and her end goal was to die. As long as she could reach it, she was willing to make
compromises over the location.

And for this goal, she only needed to boldly go forward with no reason to worry about the
aftermath. After all, the aftermath was for the living to deal with.

The only problem was her goal conflicted with Changyi. He did not allow her to die.

Ji Yunhe rummaged through the room when she was alone, and found no weapons.

No cutting herself, no jumping off the building, and no starving to death because someone watched
over her every meal.

Just hold her breath and suffocate?

She tried it. When she went to bed at sunrise, she smothered the blanket on her head and held it
tightly with her hands. She grew stuffy in no time, but her hands also grew weak. She ended up huffing
and puffing in deep slumber all day under the blanket.

Other than her nose feeling some discomfort when she woke up, everything else felt fine.

Ji Yunhe also thought about the beam on the ceiling. She could twist a rope out of the bed sheet, tie
it to the beam and give herself a good old hanging.

Ji Yunhe thought this method was feasible, but she searched and searched and could not find the
scissors.

Then she remembered… After she made a cloak and tried to run away, Changyi confiscated her
scissors. Maybe a whole bed sheet could still work… She grabbed it and shook it in the air. But as the
sheet drifted down, a gloomy face suddenly appeared behind it.

Changyi stood in front of Ji Yunhe with his hands behind his back and his face full of discontent.

The bed sheet fell limply to the ground.

"When did you... come in?" Ji Yunhe looked at the door. "The meal hasn't been delivered yet..."

Changyi ignored her question and asked suspiciously, "What are you trying to do now?"

"I..." Ji Yunhe shook the bed sheet a couple more times. "The sheet is a little dusty, so I'm giving it
a shake."

"Done shaking?"

"Mhm."

"Put it back."

Changyi watched closely as Ji Yunhe laid the sheet back onto the bed in proper form, then he left
with the same face full of discontent.

Ji Yunhe sat down, feeling a bit out of her depth. The fish now seemed to somehow know her every
move. Good thing she had not accidentally revealed her intentions, else it would become much more
difficult.

Apparently, she could not count on slow methods of death anymore.

Ji Yunhe rubbed her chin and breathed out in stress.

She looked at the charcoal pot burning in the room. A fire would not work either. The iceberg
would get here before the flames even start.

But... Ji Yunhe looked at the fire and suddenly remembered a book she read while locked up in the
Grand Master's prison. It documented many of the author's travels. Aside from astronomy and
geography, it also contained some interesting encounters.

She vaguely recalled one of the chapters had written about a noble family in the north who used a
special red charcoal for warmth. It was made of valuable wood and could burn for a very long time.
However, the young men of the family often died early, and the women did not live long either. They
suffered numerous diseases and the head of the household even died together with his wife in their sleep.

It was said that their faces were peaceful as if they were still dreaming, and there were no signs of
suffering and fear. The local people believed either the house had bad feng shui or they were haunted by
demons.

However, the author of the book later discovered that the tragedy was caused by the charcoal they
were using and a lack of ventilation in the house. The author called it "charcoal poisoning".

The reason why Ji Yunhe remembered this so well was because she had a discussion with the
Grand Master after reading the article.

Ji Yunhe said many people in the world did not understand demons so they were quick to place the
blame, and how it was rare for someone to go to such lengths and uncover the truth.

The Grand Master smiled and said, "She was always very thorough."

At that time, Ji Yunhe felt great pity for him -- a man deep in love who did not end up with the
woman he liked.

But now, as Ji Yunhe remembered this incident, she only felt joy and excitement.

The windows in her room were always tightly shut during the day, she could not open them even if
she wanted to. Her weak body grew cold easily, so if she were to request some extra charcoal, including
the valuable red ones, no one would suspect a thing. Not even Changyi.

Add a few more pots of charcoal, choke on them for a day, and pass away peacefully… No one
would think there was any foul play. They would just think she died in her sleep.

This was literally the best way to go.

Ji Yunhe was delighted by the idea.

She sat down enthusiastically at the table and waited until the maid brought her meal, then asked
for her to stay a while. When Changyi came, she asked him, "My room is too cold, this pot of charcoal
isn't enough to warm my hands and feet. Bring me some extra pots?"

Changyi did not suspect anything and granted her request with a "mhm".

The maid received the order and was about to leave when Ji Yunhe stopped her. "Do you have any
red charcoal in the courtyard? I've heard that's the best kind."

The maid respectfully replied, "Yes."

Ji Yunhe nodded. "Bring some over. It's getting colder and colder everyday."

The maid did not answer yes until Changyi nodded his head. Then she respectfully left.

Ji Yunhe looked at Changyi sitting across the table. He seemed busy with work today, and was
frowning at a lengthy report in his hand.

Feeling her eyes on him, Changyi turned his head and saw her warm and gentle smile. His mood
lightened a bit and his brows relaxed, setting the report aside.

"What is it?" he asked, his tone still cold.

"Nothing," Ji Yunhe said. "I just feel like you have become more and more authoritative. Compared
to before, this is a significant growth."

Whenever Ji Yunhe mentioned the word "before", Changyi would instantly turn somber. He
snorted coldly and picked up the report again. "Thanks to you."

Ji Yunhe smiled and took a bite of rice, then continued as if chatting about family matters, "But
your face looks as beautiful as always. It even matured a bit compared to before."

The eyes shifted from the report to Ji Yunhe again.

Ji Yunhe was very well-behaved and orderly today. She took a bite of rice and a bite of vegetables,
then slowly chewed them with no rush. Something felt strange to him, but he could not tell what.

After Ji Yunhe finished her food, Changyi put away his report and got up. Usually, she would urge
him to leave right now because she saw his presence as a surveillance on her, and Changyi knew that
very well.

But today, Ji Yunhe called out to him.

"Changyi."

She stopped him in his tracks.

He turned around and saw her smiling with a slight blush. He suddenly felt like he was looking at
the girl back in the Ten Square Formation, next to the sinking pool. There, she held his hand with a
smile when she jumped, looking so brave, beautiful, and full of temptation.

And now, he was seeing the same smile with the same mystery behind it.
 "Changyi, you are the best, and most beautiful person I have ever known..."

His fingers tightened around the paper report.

She continued, "Also the most gentle and kindest person. Six years ago, if it hadn't been due to the
circumstances, I probably would have liked you very, very much." She pretended to be relaxed. "And
perhaps, I would have wanted to be that one and only companion of a jiaoren."

They stared into each other's eyes without any passion or aggression. Their silence was like a
current deep under the sea, carrying their emotions away into an endless abyss.

The candlelight flickered, and Changyi thought he saw a glimmer of a tear inside her eye.

Then a blink restored the blackness of her pupils.

He calmly looked at her and said, "Considering the way things went, what's the point in saying this
now?"

"I just wanted you to know."

"Okay, now I know."

Without further ado, Changyi turned and left.

The room fell into silence again.

Ji Yunhe sat in her chair and quietly waited for the maids to bring the red charcoal.

After a long time, the maids finally came. They put down the charcoal, cleaned up some more, then
asked her, "Miss, is this enough charcoal?"

The red charcoal looked as attractive as the blushing cheeks of a sweet young lady. Even though it
was winter, Ji Yunhe felt as if spring had just come and brought with it a sea of flowers in bloom.

Good enough, she had said what she wanted to say.

"This is good, this is enough..."

Chapter 63: Provoke

Ji Yunhe had a very lengthy dream.

She dreamed of Lin Haoqing as a child inside the sea of flowers in the Demon Valley. She made
two flower wreaths, one for herself and the other one for him. They played and laughed together under
the sun.

And then she ran into the depths of the flowers and saw Snow March gently kissing Li Shu under a
giant wisteria tree.

Feeling a little embarrassed, she turned her head to leave, but bumped into Luo Jinsang who slowly
faded into view. And next to Luo Jinsang was a grinning Qu Xiaoxing. They each grabbed one of Ji
Yunhe's hands and pulled her toward the distant hill, running wild and free.

When they reached the top of the hill, everyone disappeared, and a vast open sea rolled out before
her eyes.

There were birds singing and whales calling.

She saw a huge white and blue fish tail in the middle of the waves, breaking out from the surface
then diving in again.

Ji Yunhe waved her hand, and watched it drift off into the horizon and disappear. Suddenly a bright
ball of light appeared in the middle of the sky. She took a step toward it and found herself standing in
the air, as if an invisible staircase had formed beneath her feet.

She followed it up. Her body grew lighter and her ailments faded as she walked higher step by step.
But just as she was about to enter the light, a gust of wind blew past her ears.

The wind carried a coolness that felt completely out of place inside this dream world.

"You can't leave yet."

A woman's voice sounded inside Ji Yunhe's ears.

She looked around. There seemed to be someone else here in the middle of the hazy light that
surrounded her. She looked at the direction where the wind had come from, and saw an elegant woman
dressed in white with long hair draping down. The woman said to her, "You can stay a little longer."

"Who are you?"

Ji Yunhe asked but did not get an answer.

The invisible stairs under her feet trembled and collapsed, and the white light around her faded as
she helplessly fell into the darkness below.

Then she felt as if she had crashed into a human-shaped prison, wet and cold. It binded to her like
an iron shackle and locked into every inch of her skin.

Ji Yunhe opened her eyes.

She moved her fingers and held a hand to her face. As it turned out, the prison... was her own body.

Demon Valley, Grand Master's house, the Cloud Garden in the middle of the lake, none of these
could compare with the imprisonment of her own withered flesh and bone.

Before she had time to get too emotional, Ji Yunhe saw a black robed man behind her raised hand.

He stood at the end of the bed and watched her without saying anything. His blue eyes seemed to
have a thousand thoughts, but at the same time, they seemed to have nothing at all.

A cool breeze blew onto her face and Ji Yunhe realized the windows were now open. Even though
it was daytime, the snowstorm was heavy enough to keep the sun from shining through. A few
snowflakes flew in and landed on the charcoal pot, sizzling and disappearing into thin air.

So this was the source of the wind inside her dream...

"Changyi..." Ji Yunhe called out his name, but it sounded more like a sigh. "Why bother..."

Why bother not letting her go, and why not let himself go as well...

Changyi did not answer her. His clothing right now looked more formal than the usual ones he
wore around her. Even his silver hair was coiled under a crown, as if he had just rushed over from a very
important event.

Changyi took a step forward and sat down on the side of her bed, but he did not look at her. Instead,
he looked at the charcoal pot in front of the window and the smoke hovering above it.

"You want to die?"

"This body of mine..." Ji Yunhe sat up and leaned weakly against the headboard. "Life and death no
longer make a difference."

Changyi answered himself, "You want to die."

Ji Yunhe did not know what was going through his head right now, which was rare. She reached
out her hand and placed it on his wrist. Changyi was a bit surprised but he did not break free, instead, he
turned and looked at her.

Ji Yunhe said, "Changyi, don't you want to get back at me?" She stared into his eyes.

And in this moment of eye contact, Ji Yunhe suddenly gathered all the strength in her body and
made her move. She held down his wrist with one hand while the other hand pulled the jade hairpin
from his crown. In a flash, she pointed the hairpin to her throat and stabbed down.

But at the same time, Changyi's other hand wrapped around her neck and pinned her onto the bed.
His body fell on top of hers, and the hairpin fell onto the back of his hand.

Ji Yunhe's blow was full force with no restraint, and Changyi's block was unexpected.
 The hairpin almost went through the entire thickness of his hand from back to front. Blood flowed
out and stained her neck and chest.

Ji Yunhe looked at him in shock.

His hand broke free from her grip and held hers down while the other hand rested on her neck with
the hairpin, still bleeding profusely. His silver hair fell around their faces, like a veil that separated them
from the outside world.

"What right do you have to end your own life?"

Dark currents flowed inside the eyes that stared at her. All of the emotions that had been hidden
and suppressed now brewed into a monstrous rage. He questioned Ji Yunhe, "How dare you?"

Ji Yunhe decided to be ruthless. She ignored the wound on his hand and viciously mocked, "Six
years ago, the chilling wind on the cliff was not cold enough, was it?"

Changyi froze, the blue in his pupils darkened some more and clouded up.

Ji Yunhe said with a snickering smile, "I tried to use you back then, but you escaped. If you were to
get caught after that, you would've had to go through endless torture and punishment for your rebellion.
For the sake of our friendship, I decided to be compassionate and take your life so you wouldn't have to
suffer at the hands of the princess."

The hand on Ji Yunhe's neck grew tighter.

She continued, "Unexpectedly, you got away and I was punished by the princess instead. And now
you make me suffer and won't even let me die."

His hand now made it difficult for her to breath, but she kept talking. "Changyi, you are even more
ruthless than I was back then."

His eyes changed from the color of the sky into a stormy sea, swirling with dark blue and black.

His hand exerted more force and blood gushed out from the wound, but he did not seem to feel the
pain.

Ji Yunhe closed her eyes.

Until her face started to turn blue, the hand finally left her neck.

With air rushing back into her chest, Ji Yunhe gasped and coughed.

But Changyi sat up. "Ji Yunhe, you're right." He looked at her. "I will not kill you, so you can keep
suffering." He walked out of the door and ordered the servants, "Remove the extra charcoal pots and
leave only one. Have someone guard the windows and open only a slit. Also, send two people to guard
the door."

She looked at the snow falling outside, and then at the maids who came cowering through the door.

They took away the charcoal pots one by one and covered the windows, leaving only a little slit for
ventilation.

They busily worked on their tasks and did not dare to lay even an eye on Ji Yunhe.

She let out a long sigh. Well, shoot. She could not kill herself anymore now that she had been
caught in the act. She even pulled out the ugly past to provoke him, and it still did not work. Ji Yunhe
touched her neck, and her palm was covered with a handful of sticky blood.

She closed her eyes and pounded the bed. "Which one of those bastards stopped me from reaching
the sky..."

The maids trembled. They still did not dare to look at her, but their hands moved more swiftly. Ji
Yunhe sighed again, and wondered what kind of a twisted relationship she and Changyi had in the eyes
of their servants.

For the entire next day, Ji Yunhe's room was full of people coming and going. One moment
someone would carry over a long table, the next moment someone would change the cabinet. Servants
were busy up and down, all day and night. Ji Yunhe finally found an opportunity and caught a person
who looked like management and asked, "You guys remodeling this place?"

The man respectfully replied, "You're very fortunate, the lord is moving in."

Ji Yunhe was stunned and could not comprehend his words. "Huh?" She blinked twice. "Who?
Moving what?"

"Lord, the lord. He ordered yesterday that from now on, all of his official business will be done
here."

Ji Yunhe's body swayed a bit.

He continued, "But don't worry, the lord has ordered not to disturb your rest during the day. He will
add a curtain seal for you, no noise will leak in."

"Cur... curtain seal?" Ji Yunhe looked incredulous. "Where? My bed? Doesn't this building have
three floors?!"

"Yes, but the lord only likes this floor."

He gave a blessing, retreated to the door, and went back to work.

Ji Yunhe sat down stiffly.

 She suddenly felt... like... she had done it again.

Her territory... had now been decreased to the size of a bed.

Chapter 64: Book of Life and Death

Ji Yunhe thought Changyi was afraid of her causing more trouble, so he moved his official business
over to keep an eye on her.

But when she saw a few men huff and puff a bed in, things began to feel more dire.

"He's not going to live here, is he?" Ji Yunhe caught the manager with some difficulty this time.

"If the lord says move over, that means move over." His attitude was very good and respectful.
"Naturally, he will move here both during the day and at night."

Ji Yunhe was now completely stupefied.

"Isn't this just a small courtyard in the center of the lake? Isn't it very remote? What does he want to
do here?"

"Miss, you are being funny. The center of business would naturally be wherever the lord is, there's
no concept of remoteness."

Ji Yunhe looked at him and choked back her words. Changyi had really turned the most bitterly
cold Demon Terrace into another power center in just a few years. His massive set of rules and
regulations seemed more excessive than those of the imperial capital.

It was another day of busy servants and maids. When the sun went down, Ji Yunhe woke up from
her bed and saw her room full of new things.

The place where she lived had been quite simple despite a lack of shortages. But now, the floor was
padded with a soft carpet, the table was laid with woven cloth, and even the cups and tea pots had been
upgraded.

When Changyi came, Ji Yunhe sat on the bed and pointed to the room full of luxury. "You fish,
when did you learn to appreciate these things? The world is at war, yet as a leader, you wastefully live in
such extravagance. I'm afraid you won't get to sit on this throne for long."

Changyi did not answer to her accusations. "Why do you care how long I sit on this throne?"

Ji Yunhe smiled. "Of course I do. If you get driven out, I'll be able to run away. I hope you can be
more extravagant and wasteful."

His expression dimmed a bit, but before he had time to respond, a cold laugh came from outside the
room. "Miss Ji is too optimistic. I have not seen him extravagant and wasteful anywhere else."
 A monk walked in with his hands crossed and stood next to Changyi. He looked at her with
arrogance and disgust.

He held a string of white Buddha beads and wore an eye catching black monk’s robe. Ji Yunhe
took one look at the beads and confirmed his identity -- Kongming.

The Buddha beads were not made from precious wood, jade, or stones. They were made of bone.

Rumor had it that the monk despised evil, and vowed to cleanse the world of injustice. He would
remove a piece of the skull from his victims to make beads.

Ji Yunhe had heard his name several times before from Luo Jinsang, but she did not expect to meet
him one day without Luo Jinsang's introduction...

"Master Kongming, I've heard a lot about you," Ji Yunhe said.

Kongming snickered. "I'm afraid, it's Master Warden's name that has really been spoken often."

It had been a long time since anyone addressed her as Master Warden, Ji Yunhe felt a little
unaccustomed to it. She looked at Kongming and asked, "We just met, why do you seem so angry with
me?"

Kongming said bluntly, "I hate villains."

"In that case, you see me as a villain?"

"That's right."

If the monk could be here right now, his relationship with Changyi must be pretty close. He
probably knew about what she had done to Changyi as Master Warden of the Demon Valley, so it made
sense for him to hate her.

"I didn't ask you to come and chitchat." Changyi interrupted the conversation between the two and
walked to the side of Ji Yunhe's bed. Kongming followed and reluctantly pulled a chair to sit down next
to her.

"Give me your wrist," Kongming said.

Ji Yunhe did as he asked. "I have only heard of you being vengeful, I didn't know you also treat the
sick and injured?"

"Six years ago, someone was seriously wounded and fell off a cliff into the rapids below. The rocks
broke all his bones and nearly killed him. I saved him and healed him."

Ji Yunhe's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. While holding her pulse, Kongming's brow
twitched slightly and he glanced at Ji Yunhe.

She held still and smiled at him. "In that case, your medical skills must be quite advanced?"

"No, can only save a dying demon." Then he pulled back his hand and stood up. "And you, I cannot
save."

"What is wrong with her?" Changyi finally asked.

Kongming wiped at the hand that had touched Ji Yunhe's wrist with his robe, his voice rude and
unkind. "A face full of cessation, she will probably last another month."

A month...

Ji Yunhe was surprised she still had a whole month left. It was more than she expected.

"Kongming!" Changyi frowned. "I wanted you to come heal her."

"I can heal demons, and I can heal humans." Kongming was still wiping his hand, as if the fingers
that had touched her was soiled beyond repair. "But someone like her, neither human nor demon, I
cannot heal."

Changyi's voice was firm. "That is not the answer I want to hear."

Only then did the monk turn his head and look at Changyi. "I’m only here because it's you asking
me. If it were some other family of hers, I would have told them to take a hike."

"Arguing is pointless, I want the cure."

While the two aggressively faced off at each other, Ji Yunhe's muttering of "who is my family
here..." was directly overshadowed by the voice of the monk.

He finally explained, "She was drugged and turned from a human into a demon with both the
spiritual power of a demon master and the demonic power of a demon in her body. I thought her
weakness was caused by a conflict between the two types of energy. If so, I would have a way to fix it.
I've read ancient articles documenting a poisonous flower overseas that can neutralize these two powers,
but seems she's already taken it. The demonic power and the spiritual power in her body now
complement one another and do not reject each other."

Ji Yunhe nodded. "That's right, I vaguely remember being shot by an arrow tainted with that
poison."

Changyi gave Ji Yunhe a look while she rubbed her chin and immersed in her past memories, not
noticing his gaze.

Kongming then said, "The reason she is so weak is because her body's been consumed to its limit.
She currently has the body of an eighty year old. If the King of Hell wants to take her life, no one can
change his book of life and death."

Ji Yunhe nodded again. "Eighty years old. Even if you say I'm over a hundred, I'll still believe it."

She did not act like a patient who had just received bad news of a terminal illness, so Kongming
gave her another look. Ji Yunhe smiled at him and said, "I heard that when you see evil people, you have
to kill them. How about doing a good deed and ending this life of mine, it will also round up that hobby
of yours... "

"Be quiet."

Kongming did not speak, but a pair of blue eyes stubbornly said, "This book of life and death, I
want to change it."
Chapter 65: Great Cause

Changyi wanted to rebel against the heavens and change Ji Yunhe's destiny.

The monk was reluctant to do so, saying it would be difficult. Ji Yunhe was also reluctant and felt it
would be too much of a hassle. She just wanted to enjoy her "old age" in peace.

But Changyi was very stubborn about it.

He forced Kongming to come doctor her, and forced Ji Yunhe to accept his doctoring.

In order to avoid a lazy doctor and patient relationship lacking sincerity, Changyi stood by their
side during each session and watched over them.

When he was too busy with official business and people came reporting late at night, Changyi
would just set up a screen in the room. He would sit in the front to work while Ji Yunhe and Kongming
did diagnostics in the back.

Usually at that time, a seal would be added to the screen to block out sound. It prevented the two
parties from interfering with each other.

And although Ji Yunhe's body was now feeble, her brain was perfectly fine. Once she got out from
under Changyi's watch, she attempted to turn his people.

She flashed a bright smile at Kongming. "Master Kongming, you are not willing to help me and I
don't want this suffering to drag on, so why are we wasting our time here?"

"Whether you want to stay alive or not has nothing to do with me. I promised that fish to try my
best, so I will keep my promise."

"Why do you have to be so rigid?" Ji Yunhe kept trying. "That fish is clueless about medicine, you
can just sneak some poison into my daily herbal tonic and send me off, he would have no idea. Treating
the sick is risky business anyway, patients can get better or worse, he can't blame you over it."

"Master Warden, first off, I am not a rigid person, but Buddhism preaches against deceit..."

Ji Yunhe laughed out loud and interrupted him, "Master Kongming, you have a hundred and eight
bone beads around your neck, yet you talk about the preachings of Buddha? Are you kidding me?"

"I eat meat and I kill, but it does not keep me from abiding by the other rules."

"What about marriage?" Ji Yunhe smiled and asked for Luo Jinsang. Although she had not seen
Luo Jinsang for years, Ji Yunhe knew the girl inside out.

Kongming was caught off guard. He looked at the smiling Ji Yunhe and frowned. "That's none of
your business."

Ji Yunhe nodded in regret and murmured to herself, "My poor girl Jinsang, so innocent and sweet,
fell for a heartless monk."

Her words seemed to have agitated the monk. He tightened his fingers on her pulse and said,
"Secondly, who said the fish doesn't know medicine?" The monk stared into Ji Yunhe's eyes, as if to
return her blow. "Lingering ailments make doctors. After he crawled back from the gates of hell, he was
under medication for a very long time."

The corner of her lips twitched, but she maintained her smile and appeared to not care.

But Kongming felt her pulse and was satisfied by its reaction.

"Master Warden, I am very curious. Exactly how did you get him to submit his heart six years ago,
that your betrayal would affect him this deeply? He pretty much survived on his hatred of you, even to
this day."

"What heart? He simply took everything too seriously, that's all. Only children believe everything
you tell them." Ji Yunhe smiled. "Such fools."

"The heart of an innocent child is rare and precious. How could you do that to him?"

"When facing life, death, power and manipulation, the heart of a child is worthless." Ji Yunhe now
looked even more detached. "He is naive. As his advisor, can you also be naive?" Ji Yunhe sneered and
withdrew her wrist.

The monk pressed on, "Over the past six years, did you not feel any guilt or regret for what you
did?"

"What I did had already been done. It's only human nature to fight for one's own benefits, what do I
need to feel guilty and regretful about?" Ji Yunhe made a sinister face.
 "You don't regret hurting him?"

"No regrets."

"Did you know that he planned and fought for six years just to save you from the Grand Master's
house?"

"I know, he wanted vengeance."

"Did you know the day before yesterday when you sought death, he was at his own inauguration to
be crowned? When he sensed you were in danger, he left immediately, leaving ten thousand people
hanging?"

The day she sought death... Her mind quickly flashed through Changyi's clothing and hair that day,
and the jade hairpin she pulled off of his crown. Changyi never wore crowns and jade hairpins before...

Turned out... he had rushed over from his own inauguration...

But Ji Yunhe looked unmoved and responded with no hesitation, "I didn't know, but so what?"

"So what?" Kongming narrowed his eyes slightly. "Master Warden of the Demon Valley, the
woman who can play with people's hearts in the palm of her hand, now cannot see into his mind?"

At this point, Ji Yunhe finally fell silent.

The monk did not let her off the hook. "You claim you are all about benefits, but right now, instead
of charming him and winning back his trust to your advantage, you do your best to annoy him, even
seeking death… Master Warden, that fish is simple minded and direct, and cannot comprehend the
twists and turns of a human heart, but I am not like him."

Ji Yunhe's lips started to turn pale, but her back was still straight. She glanced at Changyi sitting on
the other side of the screen. He seemed to be discussing something troubling and did not pay attention to
the development happening between Ji Yunhe and Kongming.

She relaxed a little.

"Master," she smiled at Kongming, "you are understanding, so you should know telling him the
truth will not be good for him or for me. I am dying..."

"I am a monk. I do not lie, and naturally I do not gossip," the monk said. "I don't care about your
thoughts and intentions back then, but this fish is now my friend. As long as you don't do anything to
hurt him from now on, I can ignore your past."

"Very good. Very good that he now has friends." Ji Yunhe smiled, then cleared her throat. "But..."

Her smile faded and she glared at him. "You better keep your word. Otherwise, I will let you know
how bad I can be."

"Don't worry, I will keep quiet. Not because of you, but because I think the same as you. Telling
him the truth will affect his mental stability, it won't be beneficial to our war against Dacheng. My goal
in life to slay evil and abolish injustice can only be achieved with his help, I will not allow anything to
mess with our great cause."

Ji Yunhe lowered her head and looked at the back of her pale hand. "It is good that you are clear."

Kongming stood up and said, "Although I know now that you had reasons back then, I still don't
like you."

Ji Yunhe smiled and looked up at him. "Coincidentally, I don't like you either."
Chapter 66: Give It A Try

Ji Yunhe observed Kongming for a couple of days and confirmed that he had no intention of telling
Changyi what he knew.

She eased her tension. But after a few days living under the same roof with Changyi, Ji Yunhe
found something else to stress over.

Changyi... did not sleep.

Ji Yunhe could not see the sun, so she slept during the day and was up at night. She thought
Changyi would go back and sleep after watching her eat her meals.

But Ji Yunhe found that when she ate, Changyi read reports. When she played with the fire in the
charcoal pot, Changyi read reports. When the sun rose and she washed up for bed, Changyi still read
reports.

And during the day, wave after wave of people came to deliver documents and paperwork.

Ji Yunhe would occasionally see him rest a bit after lunch, then he would be back to work again in
the afternoon. In the evening he would rest a bit after she ate her meal. His total time of inactivity did
not exceed an hour or two a day.

Ji Yunhe held back her concern for a few days, then finally asked him during dinner.

"Are you competing with me to see who will die first in a month?"

Changyi lifted his eyes from his paper and said, "You won't die."

"Right," Ji Yunhe nodded. "But you will."

Changyi put down the paper in his hand and gave her a look. "Shouldn't you be happy if I die
early?"
 Ji Yunhe smiled. She put down her bowl, stood up, brushed the dishes aside, and leaned half of her
body over the table with her cheeks resting on her hands. Then she stared at Changyi an inch away from
his face. "I changed my mind."

Changyi did not avoid or dodge her. He stared back and quietly waited for her to go on.

"Obviously you are not going to die before me, so..." Ji Yunhe said softly, "I should be nice to you,
so… you can be nice to me too, right?"

Changyi's face was still as cold as ever. "No." He flat out refused.

But looking at his stiff refusal, Ji Yunhe suppressed a smile.

She stretched out her finger and touched the bridge of Changyi's nose, he still did not dodge her.
"Changyi, that is because you've never experienced how nice a woman can be..." Her fingertip stopped
at the tip of his nose. Changyi's skin was as smooth as a baby, Ji Yunhe could not help but rub it a few
times. "How would you know if you've never tried it?"

The jiaoren only ever accepted one partner for life. They were far more conservative than humans
when it came to the opposite gender. From her interactions with him six years ago, Ji Yunhe knew he
was shy and knew nothing of the matters between men and women. Her actions right now were intended
to overwhelm him and make him forget about her concern for his well-being.

Before the idea had a chance to materialize in her mind, he suddenly grabbed her hand that was
touching his nose, startling her.

He said, "Ok."

"Hm?" Ji Yunhe was a little confused.

"Then let's give it a try."

"Huh?"

Ji Yunhe's eyes opened wide as her wrist was pulled and her whole body lost its support and
flopped forward. In the next moment, a hand caught her shoulder and a pair of slightly cool lips pressed
onto hers.

The distance was so close that she could not see his face clearly, but the contact between their lips
made it impossible for Ji Yunhe to ignore the situation she was in.

Wh... what?

What was this fish doing?!

 He was supposed to only take one partner for life!

He had changed...

He had completely changed!

When the cool lips left, Ji Yunhe felt as if her mouth and tongue had been burned by fire, numb and
dead.

She stayed frozen in shock with half of her body still sprawled out across the table.

"Tried it." Changyi stood up. His silver hair draped down and shielded his face, and his voice
remained cold. "Still no."

Still no to what?

Still not going to be nice to her?

But... did that question still matter...

Changyi pulled out the paperwork from under her elbow, walked around the screen and sat down at
his desk. Ji Yunhe still did not come back to her senses.

She slowly turned her head and looked at Changyi's shadow projected onto the screen by the
candlelight. He was sitting diagonally on the chair, motionless like a statue. He held the paperwork in
one hand while the other one either covered his face or propped it up.

Ji Yunhe was also a sculpture on the table.

Her body was stiff, but her mind was chaotic.

After her limbs started to grow numb, she finally moved her arm and got up. But she accidentally
pressed into the uneaten dishes and spilled food everywhere.

Then she sat down… but missed her chair. She landed bottom first onto the floor and her hands
pulled all the food onto her body.

She struggled for a while before finally climbing her way back into the chair, then she peeked at the
shadow on the screen. With all of her banging and clashing back here, the person sitting in front did not
move a muscle. He did not even call for servants to come clean up.

The room was now so silent that only the burning charcoal in the pot could be heard.

Then someone's approaching footsteps broke the silence. The person in front of the screen moved,
and Ji Yunhe also moved. She did not know what Changyi was doing, but she began to clean the food
that covered her. However, the grains of rice were very sticky, and they flattened against her dress like
glue under her haste.

"I have found a new medicine today that can maybe help enhance..." Kongming came carrying a
box, but his voice paused briefly when he walked in. "What happened to you? Your eye color... Hey!
Where are you going?"

Changyi's shadow disappeared, and Kongming walked around the screen with a puzzled face.
When he saw Ji Yunhe, his footsteps paused again.

"And what happened to you?"

Ji Yunhe cleared her throat and in a rare moment for her clever tongue, she stuttered.

"I… I fell..."

The monk narrowed his eyes and looked at her with suspicion. "Rice can also fall flat onto you?"

"Umm... fell hard…"

Ji Yunhe patted her dress, rolled up her sleeves, and took the initiative to cooperate with
Kongming. "Take the pulse and tell me about the new medicine you just mentioned. As for the rest,
don't ask..."

Kongming: "..."
Chapter 67: Mark

The bizarre event had happened quickly, but Ji Yunhe squirmed over it for a long time.

She teased Changyi over him never being seduced by a woman, but neither had she ever seduced a
man before. What happened from her first attempt was truly unexpected and disturbing.

Once the embarrassment subsided, Ji Yunhe thought about this matter and felt it was actually a bit
funny and ridiculous. However, after the humor faded, she then felt something was a bit odd.

What kind of a person was Changyi? Even if he had been betrayed and transformed into someone
mean and brutal, he should not have become so imprudent.

Else he would not have spent six years making plans to rescue her from the Grand Master and bring
her back to punish.

He imprisoned her, and tormented her because he could not get over what she had done...

He had always been stubborn. Would such a stubborn fish suddenly give up the rules his tribe
abided by for centuries and boldly kiss someone who did not promise a lifetime with him?

Just for revenge? Or to embarrass her?

 Ji Yunhe felt like he must be keeping something from her.

She did not want to meander much on this, so she waited until her next meal. The stubborn fish
stubbornly adhered to his own rules and stubbornly came to watch Ji Yunhe eat.

She set down her chopsticks, suppressed her feelings of embarrassment, ignored the awkwardness
of the man across the table, and bluntly confronted him.

"Yesterday, why did you kiss me?"

His face was behind a piece of paper. Upon hearing her question, the paper remained there for a
while, then lowered.

Changyi's expression was cold like always.

"Didn't you want to give it a try?"

"Who wanted to try that?!" Ji Yunhe failed to control her emotions and her face flushed red. She
was about to stand up but quickly suppressed herself and took a deep breath. "Changyi, you know what
I'm talking about."

"The one who provoked me was you." Changyi threw the paperwork onto the table and stared at
her. "And now the one interrogating me is also you. I don't know what you want to say."

"Okay, then I'll be thorough. Your people only allow one partner for life. Why did you break that
rule and kiss me yesterday?"

They looked at each other, talked about the matters of a man and a woman, but there was no
affection or romance.

"I abided by the rules of my people and did not break them."

He answered her a moment later.

And this answer muffled her voice.

She actually had a slight idea of what was going on before she asked, but when she heard Changyi
say it himself, she was still shocked. "When did you..."

Changyi said, "That was not the first time you and I had skin to skin contact."

An image flashed in Ji Yunhe's head. It was the day she escaped from this small courtyard and ran
to the frozen lake. Changyi bit her in the ear out of anger, and it made her bleed and left a small blue
mark...
 Ji Yunhe touched her ear and looked at him. "You're crazy."

"It was to keep you under watch," Changyi said casually. "The mark of my people allows me to see
you whenever I want, wherever you are."

No wonder...

After that, Ji Yunhe had attempted to kill herself several times and he always appeared just in
time… So this was why!

"I am not your puppet."

"You're not." He stared at Ji Yunhe. "You are my prisoner."

"Heh..." Ji Yunhe abruptly let out a laugh, three parts helpless, seven parts bleak. "Changyi, you are
using your life to imprison me."

At this point, Changyi stopped responding.

He stood up a while later. "Finish eating and get someone to clean up." He turned and walked
around the screen.

"Stand still. I have one more question." Ji Yunhe called out.

Changyi turned his head.

"Do your people allow a widower to remarry?"

The hand inside his black sleeves tightened. Changyi's face sank and walked out of the screen. He
did not answer her, but waved his hand and sealed her in.

"Hey!" Ji Yunhe followed him. "Answer me!"

She stopped at the seal but kept shouting while Changyi did not pay the slightest attention to her.

After yelling for a while, Ji Yunhe grew tired and sat on the bed to ponder. Fortunately, she was
dying. If he could remarry then it would not be a big deal. The only thing that worried her was his
jiaoren brain might not be very flexible. If they had a rule that did not allow remarriage, with their
lifespan, he would have to be alone for a very, very long time.

Their people could not be this stupid… could they?

She laid in the bed and worried for a while then fell asleep.

She had been extra sleepy lately. Kongming said it was because her body was growing weaker. Ji
Yunhe believed so too. But after dreaming of the woman in white three times, she started to feel that it
was not as simple as it seemed.

Tonight, it was the fourth time...

And this time it appeared a little different.

Ji Yunhe felt the wind at the bottom of her feet carrying her to the woman.

That woman's face was always hidden behind a layer of clouds, so Ji Yunhe could not really see
her.

"It was you who blocked my way to heaven the other day," Ji Yunhe asked her while standing in
the wind. "What are you and why do you keep appearing in my dreams?"

"I want you to do me a favor." The woman's voice came from the wind and was broken and faint.

"I don't even know who you are, why should I do you a favor?"

"I am..." Her words were partly obscured. "Help me... jade… phoenix..."

Ji Yunhe leaned her ears over as much as she could, trying hard to make out what the woman was
saying, but the wind overpowered her voice. Ji Yunhe could only gather bits and pieces.

Then the support under her feet disappeared and Ji Yunhe fell again. She woke up to a startled maid
who was covering her with a blanket.

One maid was covering her with a blanket, another was cleaning up her dinner plate, and a third
was closing the window that had been opened to let in some air. Ji Yunhe vaguely remembered the day
she burned charcoal to kill herself, she also woke up to the open window.

She noted this down. "I'm not going back to sleep, you don't need to cover me with a blanket."

Then the sound of a familiar voice came from the front of the screen. "I heard her, she said she's not
going back to sleep. You let the monk come see her, why won't you trust the doctor that I bring? My
doctor can cure people too!"

Changyi's low voice scolded, "Stop making so much noise."

"Mmm..." the woman immediately whimpered and closed her mouth in fear.

Ji Yunhe looked at the screen and saw three shadows, Changyi who was sitting down and two
women standing before him.

Changyi had temporarily dismissed the seal to let the maids in. Ji Yunhe walked to the screen,
leaned against it, and smiled at the frightened Luo Jinsang.
 "Little girl, long time no see."

Changyi glanced at Ji Yunhe, but did not say anything. He seemed to have allowed her to meet with
Luo Jinsang.

When Luo Jinsang turned her head, her almond eyes instantly turned red, and tears began to fall.
"Yunhe... Yun, Yunhe..." She took two steps forward then stopped and covered her mouth. "How did
you... how did you get so thin..."

Seeing her cry, Ji Yunhe also grew emotional. But she maintained her smile. "Skinny is
fashionable."

Changyi raised the paperwork in his hand and said, "If you guys want to talk, go inside."

He allowed the two to interact. Luo Jinsang immediately ran up and wrapped her arms around Ji
Yunhe in a bearhug. But upon touching Ji Yunhe's back, her hands rubbed up and down a bit and she
cried out even harder. "How did you lose so much weight... How..."

She repeated these words over and over again, too upset to think of anything else to say.

Ji Yunhe patted her on the back to comfort her. "You are a big girl now, stop acting like a little
kid."

Luo Jinsang kept crying nonstop. Then a green dressed woman came over and sighed while rubbing
her ears. "I know right, so shrill."

Ji Yunhe looked at this woman and froze.

"Jade… phoenix."

Qing Ji laughed and said, "Yes, I'm that bird."

Ji Yunhe felt a moment of daze. She had just dreamed of Qing Ji, and she immediately appeared.
This could not be a coincidence.

Chapter 68: Snowfields Past

Ji Yunhe invited the two to sit down at a small tea table.

Qing Ji curiously observed the candles on her table, while Luo Jinsang's words poured out like rain.

She stroked Ji Yunhe's hand like a caring mother, and soon grew emotional again. She cried over
her challenges and obstacles in coming to see Ji Yunhe.

"I've been trying to come see you ever since I found out you're locked up here..." Luo Jinsang
sobbed a couple of times and turned her head toward the screen, whispering into Ji Yunhe's ear.
 "I spent a lot of money bribing people, and tried brute force, but all were unsuccessful. Later, that
baldy came and told me to stop wasting my efforts, and that you were about to die. I was so angry I beat
him up and went to beg her..." Luo Jinsang rudely pointed at Qing Ji who was still playing with the
candles. "She was also useless as hell! What Green Feather Rebellion?! Jade phoenix! No use at all!"

Qing Ji turned her head with amusement. "Little girl, you dare to criticize even me now?" Her face
looked similar to Snow March, it made Ji Yunhe feel as if the three of them had reunited here. But upon
a closer look, the charm between her eyebrows was something Snow March did not have.

Qing Ji continued, "Didn't you see me beg that fish the other day? But he's guarding her like his
precious baby, refusing anyone from seeing her. What can I do?"

Ji Yunhe twitched the corners of her mouth and mumbled, "Precious…" Then her voice was
drowned out by Luo Jinsang's angry rebuke.

"Beat him! This body of yours full of demonic power, what have you been doing with it?" Luo
Jinsang said angrily. "Look at this precious baby, look! If he treasured her so much, how could she be so
thin?" Luo Jinsang grabbed Ji Yunhe's arm and shook it in the air. "Look at this hand! Huh? And look at
this face! And this hair! Who raises a baby like this?"

Ji Yunhe laughed and pulled Luo Jinsang's hand down. "I'm a prisoner, but you guys talk as if I've
become a guest of honor."

Luo Jinsang looked at Ji Yunhe and said sincerely, "Yunhe, I'd never believe you could do
something bad."

Ji Yunhe had never felt regret for what she did six years ago. It was what she had wanted to do, so
she was willing to bear the consequences. She always thought she was extremely open-minded about it,
but hearing Luo Jinsang's absolute trust in her right this minute, Ji Yunhe suddenly felt very moved.

She quickly glanced at the screen and lowered her eyes. "What's the point of just talking about me?
What have you been doing over the years? Encounter any hardships? Learn any new skills?"

"I..." Luo Jinsang looked beyond the screen. "It's a long story..."

The maids in the room had finished cleaning and retreated as far as they could, and the person
outside the screen spoke, "Enough. It's getting late, you guys should go."

Changyi told them to leave.

"Hey wait. Qing Ji, take a look at Yunhe," Luo Jinsang said. "Although you are not a doctor, you
have lived for so many years. Maybe there's a way..."

As expected, Changyi went silent.

 Qing Ji puckered her lips. "Then let's take a look." She held Ji Yunhe's pulse, then raised her
eyebrows.

Luo Jinsang asked nervously, "Well?"

"How long did your Kongming say she would live?"

"About a month."

Qing Ji nodded. "In my opinion, there is only one way to save her."

Three pairs of eyes fell on Qing Ji in unison. Qing Ji stood up, looked around and her eyes fell on
Luo Jinsang. Then in a flash, Qing Ji pulled out a dagger from Luo Jinsang's waist and pointed it straight
at Ji Yunhe's throat.

Luo Jinsang cried out in alarm, "Hey! What!?"

Changyi immediately stepped to Ji Yunhe's side.

"With this body, death would be a relief," Qing Ji said.

Luo Jinsang shouted in anger, "I asked you to come save her, what's wrong with you?!"

"Get out," Changyi also scolded.

Only Ji Yunhe sat in the chair without concern, smiling and nodding, "Exactly."

Luo Jinsang was even more angry now. "Yunhe! What are you talking about? You have a month
left!"

Changyi shifted his glare to Luo Jinsang. "You get out too!"

With a scolding, both of them were thrown out.

Ji Yunhe laughed alone in her chair. "That girl, there's always laughter wherever she is. I don't
know how she and the jade phoenix were able to become friends..."

Changyi's stinking expression eased a bit after seeing her smiling face.

"Changyi, let them come visit me from now on, okay?"

He did not answer her. A moment later, he turned around and left.

Ji Yunhe thought he did not agree since he always ignored her requests. She was used to this and
did not dwell on it.
 Unexpectedly, a set of quiet footsteps rustled up from the stairs when dawn approached.

The door opened with a creak and then was carefully closed again, but no one walked through.

Then the floor creaked softly.

Changyi had just left not long ago, saying he needed to take care of some business outside. Ji
Yunhe was settling into her bed when an invisible Luo Jinsang slowly revealed herself.

She flashed a bright smile and gave Ji Yunhe another hug. "Yunhe, are you surprised that I came to
see you again?"

Ji Yunhe was indeed a little surprised. She raised an eyebrow and asked, "No one stopped you?"

"No one stopped me." Luo Jinsang laughed. "Who can see me?"

"Then how come you couldn't sneak in before?"

"Hrm..." Luo Jinsang scratched her head. "There was always a magic seal around the island, today
it's gone."

Ji Yunhe felt warm and fuzzy inside, and smiled to herself. "So why are you here disturbing my
sleep?"

Luo Jinsang took out a package. "See, back in the Demon Valley you told me to take this tea set.
I've been keeping it for you this whole time."

Ji Yunhe looked down and past memories came flooding back. Although there was not much to
reminisce about, she did feel a bit nostalgic.

She held the tea set and gently stroked it.

"Jinsang, thank you."

Luo Jinsang scratched her head and said, "It's just a tea set, no need to thank me. But keeping them
safe was quite a challenge."

Ji Yunhe was amused. "Just a worthless tea set. Did someone try to smash it?"

"Yup!" Luo Jinsang said angrily. "That baldy, Kongming, was so awful! After leaving you six
years ago, I carried this tea set and searched everywhere for him. After I found him, he not only had Qu
Xiaoxing with him, he had also saved the jiaoren."

Thinking about the cliff under the moon that night and the sword, Ji Yunhe still felt a pinch inside
her heart.
 "The monk said he fished the jiaoren out of the river, and that he was dying with no will to live. He
only squeezed out a few words saying he was…" Luo Jinsang paused, "was wounded by you... I
certainly did not believe it, but that baldy believed everything. After the jiaoren got a little better, that
baldy learned the details and was so angry he wanted to smash the tea set. He also accused me of being
an accomplice to evil by keeping it with me!"

"Ha!" Luo Jinsang sneered. "This tea set did nothing wrong, he had no reason to smash it. Also,
how could you be evil!?"

Ji Yunhe laughed while stroking a tea cup. "Right, what can smashing a tea set do. If I were the
monk, I would have killed me by now."

"You're talking nonsense again!" Luo Jinsang said. "I helped you and explained to him. Before I
left the Demon Valley, you told me to take the tea set and wait for you outside, and that Lin Haoqing
was going to give you the position of the Valley Master, and that you were going to set the fish free
when the time was right."

Ji Yunhe thought for a while. Oh, so that was what she told him.

"But the monk mocked me, saying your statement was strange as hell and didn't make any logical
sense. He said you were so bad that you even lied to me."

Ji Yunhe touched her teacup. "And you? What did you say?"

"I yelled at him and left."

Ji Yunhe laughed and shook her head. "You yelled at him, but where could you go?"

"To find Snow March!" Luo Jinsang was still emotional as she remembered the incident. "At that
time, I knew you were captured by the court for failing to escort the fish, and got locked up in the Grand
Master's house. I was extremely anxious! So after the monk upsetted me, I grabbed my things and set off
on my own." She patted the tea set in Ji Yunhe's hand. "To keep the monk from taking advantage of my
absence and smashing your stuff, I gave them all to Qu Xiaoxing and told him to hide them well. You
see, he did not fail his mission either."

"Qu Xiaoxing is also at the Demon Terrace, right?"

"Yep, he's been following the monk ever since six years ago. Now he even holds an official
position in the Demon Terrace. He also wanted to come see you yesterday, but the fish only allowed me
and Qing Ji in. I think it's because Qu Xiaoxing is a man."

"But Qu Xiaoxing is just a little boy."

"Six years have passed, the little boy's all grown up."

Ji Yunhe smiled and shook her head. "What happened? Did you find Snow March?"
 "She had been taken away by Qing Ji, and I heard that Qing Ji appeared further north from the
Northlands, so I went all the way north to the extreme north. But the north was so big, I got lost in the
snowfields, and ended up in a really desperate situation..." Suddenly, Luo Jinsang's cheeks flushed red
and she cleared her throat.

"Probably that's what people mean by heaven's will, the monk also appeared in the snowfields and
he saved me."

Ji Yunhe smiled and teased, "Oh, a vast snowy plain, a man and a woman, in trouble together?"

"Yes, and then I accidentally slept with him."

Ji Yunhe's hand shook. A cup from the tea set that had been carefully kept for six years rolled onto
the ground and exploded into pieces. Ji Yunhe's mouth was wide open but she could not spit out a single
word.

Luo Jinsang, on the contrary, got on the floor with a heart full of pain. "Aiye aiye aiye! The cup,
the cup, the cup!"

Ji Yunhe carelessly shoved the other cups onto the bed and pulled Luo Jinsang up. "What did you
do with him?"

"Slept with him."

"Then you and him now..."

"Still the same as before."

"Huh!?" Ji Yunhe now felt like she could not die yet. She should go get that scum of a monk, hold
him down and ask him if he should die first...

"Aiya, the snowfields were super cold, I borrowed his body to keep warm, shouldn't be too much of
a sin..."

Well... putting it that way… seemed it might have been Luo Jinsang taking advantage of him…
Chapter 69: Many Secrets

"And the monk treats you no differently from before?" Ji Yunhe examined Luo Jinsang's
expression.

Luo Jinsang thought for a long time. "Can't say no because it seems a little different, but if I say
yes, it doesn't really feel solid... Anyway, he is a weirdo, I can't tell. Why don't you keep an eye on it for
me?"

"Ok," Ji Yunhe promised her. "Just... I won't be able to help you for much longer. You will
eventually have to deal with these things yourself."

Luo Jinsang wanted to say something to comfort her, but Ji Yunhe smiled and changed the topic.
"And afterwards? After you guys left the snowy plains, did you find Snow March and Qing Ji?"

"Yep. But when we found Qing Ji, March was no longer with her. She said March left soon after
leaving the Demon Valley."

Ji Yunhe was surprised. "Where did she go?"

"Well, with what happened to Li Shu..."

Ji Yunhe remembered that Li Shu had sacrificed himself to free the jade phoenix, and it was only
then did Snow March realize that she had been just a substitute for the real one in his thoughts.

"Qing Ji said after they left the Demon Valley, March was depressed for a while. They even got
into a fight. After the fight, March said she wanted to put the past behind her and leave the country, so
Qing Ji advised her to go overseas..."

Ji Yunhe frowned, "Qing Ji shoved Snow March over to the islands overseas?"

"How could this be considered shove? Qing Ji said in the old days, many renowned demon masters
and powerful demons gained knowledge and acquired great advancements from traveling overseas."

Ji Yunhe nodded. "Books in the Demon Valley documented some of those islands and how their
rare and exotic herbs could be very beneficial for spiritual cultivation. But they were all classified as
legends and myths. Now we have an actual life person there to confirm..."

"Yes, I really wanted to go too. March wasn't aware that you were in trouble, so she could leave at
ease. But I couldn't, I had to stay and save you."

"You care about me the most." Ji Yunhe tapped Luo Jinsang in the forehead. "But useless concern.
The one who saved me ended up being the fish."

Luo Jinsang pouted, "I am the reason that fish could save you!"

"Oh?"

"Qing Ji agreed to help him because of me!" Luo Jinsang eagerly fought for her credit. "Remember
the monk saved me in the snowfields? I later learned that he did not go there to look for me, he was
looking for Qing Ji. While I was lost in the north north, the fish and the monk took down Demon
Terrace together."

Ji Yunhe remembered hearing about the news in the Grand Master's prison.

She nodded. "I've also heard about it."

 "The fish drove out all the demon masters from the terrace and turned it into a stronghold in the
Northlands. Then he and the monk made plans to recruit as many people as they could who wanted to
rebel and offset the supreme power held by the Grand Master's house. That baldy had always wanted to
do so, but he was never able to find a demon master or a demon powerful enough, and with the same
goals in mind until he met the fish. So they partnered up… The fish stayed in the Northlands to oversee
things while the baldy went further north to recruit Qing Ji."

"Mhm," Ji Yunhe nodded, "that was a good idea."

At that time, Changyi and Kongming just started and had not yet solidified their power and status,
but if a world famous demon from a century ago came to their aid, their strength and fame would soar.
All the people who sat on the fence would join them without further hesitation.

"Yep! That's what they were hoping for. But..." Luo Jinsang smiled, "Qing Ji did not agree."

"Why not?"

Ji Yunhe thought about the Ten Square Formation. The demonic attachment born from the feelings
of the jade phoenix was so emotional, she should have some extreme hatred for demon masters.

Qing Ji should have wanted to take down all the demon masters in the world to pay for her
century-long entrapment. But when the chance came, she refused?

Luo Jinsang said, "Qing Ji seemed to have liked someone before, but after she came out of the Ten
Square Formation, she learned that the person had died."

"So..."

"Qing Ji then lost interest in this world and its affairs, so she didn't want to get involved. She
wanted to just stay in the depth of the snowfields and avoid all conflicts and strife."

Ji Yunhe raised her brows and thought: that bird had a fancy face full of charm, but turned out she
was actually quite zen.

The demonic attachment in the formation was obsessively passionate, but Qing Ji herself was not
stubborn in the least.

"Perhaps that was a wise decision..."

"Hey, lemme tell you, I also know a huge secret!" Luo Jinsang pretended to be mysterious.

"What secret?"

"Do you know who Qing Ji liked? I'll tell you, he's..."
 "I know," Ji Yunhe interrupted her. "The Wuchang Saint, Ning Ruochu."

Luo Jinsang gasped, "Hey, how did you..." She pouted like a child. "Then do you know who among
the demon masters right now is related to Ning Ruochu?"

Ji Yunhe smacked her lips and said, "The Grand Master?"

"Hey!" Luo Jinsang was puzzled. "How come you know everything?!"

Ji Yunhe smiled and pinched Luo Jinsang's cheek. "Silly, who else has been living that long?"

"Well, did you know that Ning Ruochu was the senior brother of the Grand Master?"

Ji Yunhe was a bit shocked, this... she really did not know.

"They trained under the same master?" Ji Yunhe asked in surprise. "Then who was their master?
Someone who could train two such significant people in our history, how come none of the books
documented this?"

"I don't know. This was something Kongming said in order to convince Qing Ji. But the monk did
not expect that Qing Ji actually liked Ning Ruochu. He thought she hated him since he was the main guy
behind the Ten Square Formation, and since he's dead, she would take her rage out on the only one that's
related to him. But unexpectedly, Qing Ji didn't care. She said Ning Ruochu was her only connection to
the world, and now that he's gone, she no longer has anything to do with anyone."

"Then how did you manage to drag her into these mundane affairs?"

"I can drink!" Luo Jinsang said proudly. "Qing Ji loves to drink! We drank all night long after we
met and Qing Ji took me as her friend. Later, when I was leaving with Kongming, Qing Ji promised me
a favor in return for her having such a good time with me."

"Then you and the monk left?"

"We left," Luo Jinsang nodded. "Went back and passed through the snowfields again, heh heh
heh..."

"..." Ji Yunhe rubbed her temples. Looking at Luo Jinsang's face full of wicked intentions, she did
not know if she should confront that monk anymore. "You guys did not bring Qing Ji back with you,
then..."

Ji Yunhe recalled the first five years she was held captive, the court had no idea regarding the
whereabouts of the jade phoenix, so it was apparent she had no contacts with Changyi during that time.

"Well there was nothing I could do. Snow March was gone, I couldn't kidnap Qing Ji and force her
to go save you, and I alone wouldn't stand a chance, so I had no choice but to return to the Northlands
with the baldy. I watched him and the fish establish their forces and take in rogue demon masters and
homeless demons. After everything was ready, the fish took me with him to find Qing Ji. I used the
favor she promised me and got her to help us... That's why she lured the Grand Master to the north."

Ji Yunhe asked, "But Qing Ji's so powerful, why didn't you guys just have her go to the capital with
Changyi and make a mess of things there?"

"I said so too, the baldy also said so, but the fish refused."

Ji Yunhe felt puzzled.

"The fish said he wanted to go get you alone."

Ji Yunhe flashed back to that night of blood and flames. She was on the verge of death when
Changyi appeared and carried her out of that hellish prison.

She lowered her eyes.

If her life was laid out like a piece of paper, and each emotional impact was a dot, then no one had
splashed as much ink onto it as him.

Ji Yunhe smiled...

"What a despotic big-tailed fish."

"I know right!" Luo Jinsang complained. "Look at that fish! Now that he's lord, he has become so
unreasonable! He locked you up for so long and wouldn't let me come see you! He doesn't even care that
it was my favor that got Qing Ji to help, so ungrateful and rude!"

But Ji Yunhe no longer paid attention to Luo Jinsang's voice. She looked at the screen, then at the
back of her thin, bony hands, and fell into silence.

...

The capital, inside the Grand Master's house.

The window pane, the curtains and the bed sheets were all white, as if holding a funeral.

Princess Shunde's red dress was particularly eye-catching in this setting, but her face was also
wrapped in white. Only one eye and her mouth were visible outside the bandages.

She was leaning on the bed couch, half-drunk and half-awake. Her hand held on to a celadon wine
bottle while smashed pieces of other wine bottles littered the floor.

"Someone!" Her voice was hoarse as if her throat had been shredded. "Bring more wine! I still want
to drink!"
 A general dressed in black iron armor stepped in with iron boots. Broken pieces of celadon on the
floor were crushed into even smaller bits under his feet. He walked to Princess Shunde and kneeled
down on one leg.

His face was behind a black iron mask, but horrible burn marks could be seen between the gaps
around his eyes. "Princess, you are still recuperating, you can't keep drinking like this."

"Can't? Why not?!"

"Princess..."

"I can do anything! I can do anything right now! I have a master! Master..." Princess Shunde
looked around and did not see the Grand Master, and her one eye grew nervous. "Zhu Ling, where is the
Grand Master? Where is my master?"

"The Grand Master went to develop a medicine for the princess, it should be ready by tomorrow."

"Medicine? Ha... ha ha..." Princess Shunde laughed maniacally. Then she grabbed Zhu Ling's hand
and pulled it in for an embrace.

Zhu Ling was stunned but obediently allowed her to hold his hand.

"Zhu Ling, I'll tell you a secret." Princess Shunde came up to Zhu Ling's ear. "I am not the daughter
of the late emperor."

The eyes behind the iron mask widened, and Zhu Ling froze in shock.

"I am the daughter of the empress and the prince regent."

Zhu Ling was speechless. "Prin... Princess..."

"I... I knew it ever since I was very young, so I grew up cautious. I was afraid of making a
mistake… mistake... My mother thought I was a mistake! The prince regent tried to kill me several
times, I... I was so scared..." she said in a dumb voice then cried into his ear. "I was afraid... to just die in
the palace... When I was small, I suffered so much humiliation… Until master saw me."

She stood up and stepped barefoot on the floor. Zhu Ling immediately padded the bottom of her
feet with his hands. She stepped onto his hand and did not notice at all when his palm was sliced by the
broken shards below. She walked forward and Zhu Ling followed.

"Princess..."

"Yes... he saw me, and I became a real princess. He held me to the stars, and I became the moon,
the proud daughter of heaven. Even my brother, that orthodox imperial son, must share his throne with
me. But..."
 She spun around, not feeling the slightest pain under the soles of her feet.

"But, it wasn't me that he cared about. Zhu Ling, did you know, it's this face." She grabbed the
bandage on her face so hard it uncovered some festering wounds underneath.

"With this face, I seem to have gained everything, but the fact is I have gained nothing at all. And
now... now this face that I relied on is ruined..."

She stood still for a while, then suddenly smashed the bottle in her hand on the ground. She picked
up the largest piece of broken shard and slashed ruthlessly at the curtains in front of her.

"If the world wrongs me, I will wrong the world! If people hurt me, I will kill them all! That demon
master, Ji Yunhe! She will be the first to suffer my wrath!"

As if she saw Ji Yunhe standing there, Princess Shunde slashed again and again, cutting the curtain
in front of her into pieces. Then she slammed the shard onto a wooden pillar and the celadon pierced
into her hand. Blood splattered everywhere.

Zhu Ling also clenched his fist. "Princess, I would like to do as you wish."

"No, I will kill her with my own hands." Princess Shunde turned her head, her one eye outside the
bandage red with rage. "Ji Yunhe was refined into a demon, so she has the power of a demon that
doesn't belong to her. Zhu Ling, I also want it. I want to have more than what she has." She paused then
continued, "Zhu Ling, you shielded me in the fire, you were also burned. I only trust you. Help me."

Zhu Ling nodded his head. "Yes, princess."

The next morning, the Grand Master walked into Princess Shunde's room carrying a box of
ointment. Princess Shunde looked at him from her bed, and his ageless face.

"Master."

"Hm?"

"The new ointment, is it ready?"

"Well, this ointment may be a little painful, but using it for a month should have a miraculous
effect."

"Master," Princess Shunde said, "the ointment is too painful. It feels like it's gouging out my flesh
then replacing it with new flesh."

The Grand Master's voice was distant and unemotional. "As long as it works."

Princess Shunde was silent for a moment. "Then master, I want a treat for enduring all that pain…
just to fulfill your wish."
 "What do you want?"

"The forbidden arts, the secret book that you never let anyone see."

"..."

"Master?"

"Ok, I'll give it to you."

Princess Shunde smiled. She watched as the Grand Master unwrapped the bandage from her face
layer by layer. Then she lowered her eyes.

"Thank you, master."

Chapter 70: Jiaozhu

For the next few days, Luo Jinsang often sneaked over to visit Ji Yunhe at early dawn.

At first, Luo Jinsang thought it was because she was good at it. Then she realized Changyi was
always gone every time she came, as if he deliberately avoided them. Only then did Luo Jinsang admit
he had tacitly approved of her behavior.

Luo Jinsang was a bit confused. She asked Ji Yunhe, "Yunhe, what exactly do you think the fish
means by this? Does he wish you well or does he not?"

Ji Yunhe leaned on the bed and smiled. "What do you think?"

"Before you were rescued, every time I mentioned you, the fish would get all mean and scary and
talk like there was blood to be repaid. So I thought he wanted to rescue you just to kill you with his own
hands. But now it seems that's not the case at all!" Luo Jinsang stroked her chin and said, "I think, his
punishments on you used to be pretty standard, but ever since you tried to kill yourself, things became
more complicated."

Ji Yunhe kept smiling. "How is it complicated?"

"It doesn't look like he's holding a prisoner here, more like hiding a mistress in a golden palace!
Especially since you are ill, this is clearly to protect you. I'd be overjoyed if that baldy treated me like
this."

Ji Yunhe shook her head.

And to think this was when Changyi still held a grudge against her. If she told him the truth, treated
him with sincerity, and then died, people would have to forget about the war out there.

The desperate, homeless people, the renegade demon masters and demons, who would be
responsible for them then?

He had already become the venerable Lord of the North, as a dying woman, she could not selfishly
take him for herself.

A couple of days later, Luo Jinsang took advantage of Changyi's clemency and pulled Qing Ji over
as well.

Watching them chitchat made Ji Yunhe feel like the most ordinary type of woman in the world -- a
married housewife gossiping with friends all day long.

When their topic touched on the chaos out there, it would then remind Ji Yunhe of her identity.

But Ji Yunhe really liked Qing Ji. She was spontaneous, easy going, and very independent. Only
those who possessed the power to control their own lives could be this confident.

She was sealed for a hundred years by her loved one inside the Ten Square Formation, and learned
of his death after she got out. She did not have hatred or resentment, only acceptance. She accepted that
she had loved, and that it was not meant to be.

Whenever Luo Jinsang mentioned Ning Ruochu and held a grievance for Qing Ji, she would just
wave her hand and say she had made a mistake, gotten hurt, and moved on.

Ji Yunhe admired Qing Ji.

With Luo Jinsang and Qing Ji's companionship, Ji Yunhe's life became much more enjoyable. But
as the days passed, she grew lazier and lazier, and now did not even want to get out of bed anymore.

Sometimes while listening to them chat, her consciousness would begin to cloud up. She felt like
even if Changyi were to let her go now, she probably would not make it far.

The feeling of the end being near grew more apparent, and she slept more.

Changyi would be by her bedside everytime she woke up, not busy and not reading, just watching
her.

He only looked away after she opened her eyes.

Today, Ji Yunhe teased him, "Are you afraid that one day, I won't open my eyes?"

His mouth quivered a bit and did not answer her, then he picked up a bowl and handed it to Ji
Yunhe. "Drink the medicine."

Ji Yunhe smelled the medicine that was growing more bitter everyday and frowned. "Been drinking
this day and night, but I haven't gotten any better. Changyi, if you still have any goodwill toward me,
you should help me prepare a coffin."
 Changyi held out the bowl of medicine and stared at Ji Yunhe until she could not stand it anymore.

She sighed. "Big-tailed fish, you're really stubborn." She grabbed the bowl and drank it. But instead
of handing it back to him, she turned it around in her hand and looked at the residue at the bottom. "Say,
if these drugs kill me one day, won't that be like you granting me my wish?"

Ji Yunhe was joking, but then she saw the look on his face -- confounded and lost in thought. As if
she just gave him a good beating.

She never expected to see that on the current Changyi.

"I… am just joking. Making me stay alive is the most suffering, you would never let me die so
easily."

Changyi took the bowl from Ji Yunhe's hands.

He stood up quietly and turned his back on her, his long silver hair brushing against her fingers. Ji
Yunhe lowered her head and changed the subject. "Jinsang said the court has summoned Lin Haoqing
into the capital. The war's been going on for so many years, and although the court's been working with
the other three demon master quarters, this is the first time they've summoned Lin Haoqing. Are they
planning something?"

Usually Changyi would just answer her with a "none of your business."

But today, he seemed to want to change the subject as well. He said while walking toward the
screen, "It does not matter what they are planning. The court and the Grand Master's house have lost the
hearts of their people. Lin Haoqing can't help them."

When Changyi reached the screen, he turned around and looked at her.

Ji Yunhe smiled. "You go ahead and work, I'll get some more sleep." Then she crawled under her
blanket and blocked his gaze.

She closed her eyes and felt fortunate that she and Changyi had not yet confessed their feelings for
each other.

God knows how much she wanted to grow old with him, but she simply did not have the time to be
his companion.

Ji Yunhe fell asleep in no time, and started to dream.

The window was slightly open, allowing some wind to blow in. The bed curtains swayed to the
airflow and the chill was felt even inside her dream, but it did not wake her. The woman dressed in
white floated to her side with the wind.
 The woman reached out her hand. Ji Yunhe was not sure what it meant, but she also reached out
her hand the same way.

She watched as the woman held on to her palm.

"You don't have much time left, I'll lend you my eyes."

Her voice was clear this time, unlike before.

The woman turned her hand and her fingers intertwined with Ji Yunhe's.

Boom! Ji Yunhe felt a tremor and her eyes opened abruptly. The woman in front of her disappeared
and was replaced by a ball of light as bright as the sun. It blinded her for a while.

When the light faded a bit and was about to recede, Ji Yunhe saw a young couple from afar. The
young man was only a silhouette and she could not recognize him, but the girl was the woman in her
dreams.

They were standing face to face.

This scene was very brief. It flashed by then quickly disappeared.

"What is this?"

"It's the past that I remember." The woman's voice appeared inside Ji Yunhe's ears. "What you see
now is what I once saw, after this, my eyes will be your eyes."

"You gave me your eyes? Why? Who are you..."

"Tell Qing Ji," the woman ignored her questions, "it was the Grand Master who killed Ning
Ruochu."

Another image appeared before Ji Yunhe's eyes.

It was the... Grand Master...

But it was the young Grand Master.

He was standing in front of another man, talking while gesturing on a piece of paper. It seemed to
contain a layout of the Ten Square Formation.

No need to guess, Ji Yunhe knew this was the Grand Master giving advice to Ning Ruochu.

So he had taught the Ten Square Formation to Ning Ruochu.

Ning Ruochu questioned something, and the Grand Master put the paper away and turned to leave.
Ning Ruochu then immediately chased after him and took the paper back.

Ji Yunhe was a little confused. "Didn't they study under the same master? And didn't Ning Ruochu
die because of the Ten Square Formation..."

"He lied to him," the woman said. "He told Ning Ruochu the Ten Square Formation only needed
the power of ten great demon masters. He also told Ning Ruochu it wouldn't kill anyone, and he would
be able to enter the formation afterwards and accompany the jade phoenix."

Ji Yunhe looked at the two men in her vision and thought of the small paradise Qing Ji had created
inside the Ten Square Formation.

She and Changyi were able to get out of the formation because she had disguised herself as Ning
Ruochu and dissolved Qing Ji's demonic attachment.

So Ning Ruochu never lied to Qing Ji?

He really did think he could enter the formation to be with her.

The one who lied was the Grand Master?

"Tell Qing Ji the Grand Master killed Ning Ruochu, tell her to take revenge."

Ji Yunhe searched around with her eyes, but she could not find the woman in white anymore.

"And who are you? How did you know? And why are you telling me this stuff?"

"I want him to die."

"Who? The Grand Master? You want Qing Ji to kill him?"

"This is my atonement..."

Ji Yunhe wanted to keep asking, but the wind in her ears stopped and she felt a sharp pain in her
forehead. The ball of light disappeared and the woman's voice faded. She slowly opened her eyes after a
moment of darkness.

What she then saw was the frowning face of Kongming, and he was pulling a silver needle out of
her forehead. "She's awake." He got up and stepped back, revealing Changyi who was standing behind
him.

Changyi's face looked stiff and pale,

He looked at her as if he did not have time to react.

Only once Ji Yunhe sat up did his eyes finally show some movement, like a stagnant pool disturbed
by a drop of water, rippling endlessly.

Ji Yunhe was a bit perplexed. "I just napped a bit, what's wrong with you guys?"

Kongming sneered as he put the silver needles into a bag. "A bit? You've been out cold for two
days." He glimpsed at Changyi. "If people didn't know better, they would think my medicine killed
you."

Ji Yunhe was shocked after hearing the first part. The dream felt so short, but two days had
passed...

After hearing the second part, she wanted to laugh.

Looking at Changyi's expression, did he think the joke she made earlier had become a prophecy...

She smiled at Changyi. Suddenly he marched over to her bedside, held her chin up and lifted her
head.

While Ji Yunhe and Kongming were both confused as to what he was going to do, Changyi pressed
his lips against hers again.

Again!

Ji Yunhe's jaw dropped and her eyes bulged out in shock.

And the bag of needles Kongming was holding fell to the ground.

When Ji Yunhe came back to her senses, she raised her hands to push Changyi away. But she was
so weak, he easily restrained her arms with just one hand.

At that moment, a blue light flashed inside his chest.

Realizing what he was going to do, the monk came out of his shock and yelled, "You're crazy!" He
stepped forward to pull Changyi off of Ji Yunhe, but was bounced away by a powerful force before he
could even get close. The force was so great it threw him into the wall.

And Changyi's lips were still so soft. The blue light floated from his chest to his throat, then
crossed their lips and into Ji Yunhe's mouth. It disappeared into her body before she could react.

His lips lingered for a while before finally releasing her.

Kongming got up from the ground burning with anger. "You bastard fish! Are you out of your
mind?! Our men are out there fighting with everything they've got, and you gave her your jiaozhu to
renew her life?!"

Jiaozhu?
 The spiritual power of a demon master came from their hidden pulse, while the demonic power of a
demon came from an inner pearl. The inner pearl of a jiaoren was called jiaozhu. Changyi giving his
jiaozhu to Ji Yunhe was basically using all of his own demonic power to renew her life, and he
himself… would become powerless...

He...

"You really are crazy." Ji Yunhe wiped her mouth. "I do not want it, take it back!"

Changyi held on to her chin, his blue eyes were like a whirlpool in the sea, pulling her in.

"If I want to give it, then you have to take it."

Chapter 71: It Was You

"I don't want it!" Ji Yunhe shouted in anger and slapped Changyi's hand away, then she tried to spit
out the jiaozhu.

But in the next moment, Changyi covered her mouth and pinned her down.

His eyes were dark and turbulent. "I didn't give you the right to choose."

"You do not give her the right to choose, nor do you give me the right to choose? And you don't
give the right to choose to all those people who have come to the Northlands seeking refuge?" The monk
was so angry that he pointed and cursed at Changyi's back. "Wasting a bit of time on a woman, so be it!
But also giving out your jiaozhu? If the Grand Master takes you by surprise and attack right now, what
then? You expect the north wind and snow to block him for you?"

"The Grand Master will not come before Shunde recovers."

"That guy's temperament is far better than yours! And how can you be so sure!?" The monk yelled
some more, but when he saw Changyi had no intention of letting Ji Yunhe go, he said "fine" three times
in a row. "You are lord now! I am no longer of any assistance to you. Do as you wish!"

Then the monk kicked the needle bag on the ground and stormed out.

When Ji Yunhe saw that the only person who could help her scold this big-tailed fish was now
gone, she only grew angrier and more anxious. She struggled desperately to the point of almost hurting
herself before Changyi finally released her.

She got up immediately and rummaged through the bed, of course finding no weapons, so she sat
down and huffed and puffed out in anger instead. After she calmed a bit and suppressed her urge to get
violent, she stared at him. "Forget everything else, but this jiaozhu matter is no child's play. Take it
back."

"Child's play?" Changyi sneered then said, "Fine, let's take it as child's play then. Why does it
concern you? And why are you so eager to return it to me? Do you actually care about my business?"

Ji Yunhe's lips tightened then she said calmly, "Changyi, this is not your business. This is a world
affair, the livelihoods of many people."

"It's your world, and your people." Changyi raised a finger and pointed to her face. "You guys
pulled me into this world, I have long lost the way I came."

Ji Yunhe's gaze followed his long silver hair down to his legs. He had become so accustomed to
walking on them that she nearly forgot what he used to look like.

Her heart ached.

"You should have gone back."

"Heh..." Changyi sneered again. "Go back to where?"

"The sea." Ji Yunhe closed her eyes and could not bear to look at Changyi anymore. "You shouldn't
have held on to the hatred, and you shouldn't have lost yourself in it."

Changyi was silent for so long she thought he was not going to respond.

"What I held on to and lost myself in was never hatred."

Ji Yunhe did not expect this from him. She raised her head and met his gaze. Like the sea meeting a
dark abyss, they saw their own reflections inside each other's eyes.

He did not speak more, but she could hear him say:

What I held on to and lost myself in was never hatred...

It was you.

Ji Yunhe's heart felt nothing but pain. She turned her eyes away to escape the sea of water.

She chose to return to reality.

"You know, even your jiaozhu can't really help me renew my life."

Changyi was really silent this time.

"Changyi, the people who came to join you entrusted you with their lives, their future, and their
whole world..." Ji Yunhe paused. "You know what it's like to be disillusioned, so…"

Changyi did not want to hear any more and stood up. "I can take care of the Northlands without my
jiaozhu."
 He turned around and left.

Ji Yunhe sat alone on the bed. She covered her face and let out a long sigh.

...

The capital, inside the princess's residence.

Princess Shunde's bandages had been removed from her face, but she still refused to show herself.
She wore a veil while sitting behind a bamboo curtain. Zhu Ling stood behind her in his usual black iron
armor, guarding her.

He was holding some fresh berries.

Fresh fruits were difficult to find in winter. Princess Shunde grabbed a berry and threw it on the
ground, then stepped on it with her bare foot, bursting it. Servants wiped her clean as soon as she lifted
her foot. She threw another one down and stepped on it again.

The juice of the berries splashed out and landed onto the shoes of the person outside the curtain.

Lin Haoqing looked at his shoes and bowed. "Princess."

"Valley Master Lin, I'm sorry for the delay."

The servants once again wiped the princess's feet clean. Princess Shunde took another berry and
threw it outside the bamboo curtain. The berry rolled to Lin Haoqing and stopped at the tip of his toe.

"This small fruit doesn't taste anything special, but stepping on it is very interesting. The shell
seems hard but cracks easily and the juice bursts out. It feels really good. Master Lin, why not give it a
try?"

Lin Haoqing crushed the berry with one foot. "May I ask why did the princess summon me to the
capital?"

"To stomp on berries."

Lin Haoqing waited for her to continue.

Princess Shunde stood up behind the curtain and spilled all the fruits in Zhu Ling's hand onto the
ground, then went on a stomping craze until they all turned into mush.

She stopped, but her breath was heavy and rapid. "The fruits inside the hall are finished, there are
more outside the hall." She looked through the bamboo curtain and the hair on her forehead hung down
in a slight mess. "Ji Yunhe of the Northlands, I remember you two grew up together, right?"
 Lin Haoqing respectfully answered, "Yes."

"You've been heading the Demon Valley for six years now, and you are doing a great job. Your
reputation has been soaring."

"It is my duty."

"Valley Master Lin, managing the Demon Valley is only part of your duty, sharing the woes of the
court is your top priority." Princess Shunde walked back to her seat and sat down. The servants wiped at
her feet again. "Over the years fighting with the north, aside from the disciples of the Grand Master's
house, all other demon masters only seem to be helping the court, but in reality… you know very well."

Lin Haoqing tightened his brows slightly and immediately got down on one knee. "Princess..."

Princess Shunde waved her hand. "No need for explanations, I didn't summon you today to hear
false pretenses." Princess Shunde continued, "The northern border has been a problem for many years,
yet the three demon master quarters keep failing to do their best in eliminating the threat. That is a
punishable sin. I want to blight our rivers and lakes with the frost poison."

Princess Shunde smiled behind her veil.

Lin Haoqing tightened his hands inside his sleeves.

"As you know, the frost poison is harmless to ordinary people and demons, but it is deadly to those
with a double pulse."

Lin Haoqing raised his head. "Princess, you also have a double pulse, so do the people of the Grand
Master's house..."

"We will be fine inside the Imperial City. As for the rest of you demon masters out there, I don't
expect to kill all, but as many as possible..."

Lin Haoqing's gaze grew slightly cold. "Princess..."

"There is no rush, it's just a thought. I actually called you here to commend you," Princess Shunde
said. "You have done a good job over the years and gained the trust and respect of the three demon
master quarters, so I want you to take them all to the Northlands and launch a full on assault. I can
promise that if you return victorious, the court will no longer restrain your freedoms. Well, of course, if
you do not want this prize, then I will have to punish you all accordingly." Princess Shunde smiled.

"Valley Master Lin, I can see that you and I are the same. We are both ambitious and hunger for
power."

After a long pause, Lin Haoqing asked, "Why now?"

"Previously, I only wanted to destroy the rebels in the north. But now, I want to capture one person
before destroying them, and you are the most familiar with her."

"The princess wants to capture Ji Yunhe?"

"Correct." Princess Shunde touched her cheek behind the veil. "I want to do something to her. I
want to gouge out her eyes and play with them like these berries."

Lin Haoqing fell silent.

"How about it, Master Lin?"

Lin Haoqing looked at the ground full of berries crushed into a dark red paste. It looked like a mass
of rotten meat, hideously disgusting.

...

"Lin Haoqing is going to lead the three divisions of demon masters to attack the northern border?"

Ji Yunhe heard the news from Luo Jinsang and was first shocked then confused.

Six years ago, when Changyi and his men first invaded the north, the court failed to destroy them in
one fell swoop mainly because demon masters across the land never truly aligned their hearts with the
imperial army. It gave Changyi the opportunity to build and grow his force.

Lin Haoqing had also used this time to solidify his position. He became somewhat of a leader
among all the demon masters under imperial rule.

Ji Yunhe did not know how she felt about Lin Haoqing right now, but she knew he was a good
"helmsman". After the Demon Terrace was taken over by Changyi, part of the demon masters here
defected and joined the rebels, and the rest went south to the Demon Valley.

Lin Haoqing accepted the people of the Demon Terrace, and built up his own strength together with
the demon masters of the east and west.

Ji Yunhe had thought there would eventually be three major powers in balance, the imperial court,
the Northlands, and the Demon Valley.

But unexpectedly, Lin Haoqing agreed to help the court...

Ji Yunhe pondered, "Something is fishy..."

Luo Jinsang looked at Ji Yunhe. "What's fishy? I think your fish is fishy," she said. "He really gave
you his jiaozhu? Are you cured?"

Ji Yunhe was now under tremendous stress.

 Changyi did not have his jiaozhu, how was he supposed to fight all those demon masters?

Qing Ji commented while drinking tea and eating dried fruit on the table. "If a demon's inner pearl
could give people longevity, then all the demons in the world would've been captured and used as health
supplements by now."

Luo Jinsang asked Qing Ji, "What does that mean? The jiaozhu can't cure her?"

Qing Ji pushed her teacup to the center of the table, half full of tea. "Yunhe's body is just like this
cup, no matter how you look at it, there is only this much tea left. This dried fruit in my hand is like a
jiaozhu." Qing Ji threw the fruit into the cup and filled it up. "Now it looks like there's more tea, but in
reality there is no difference."

Luo Jinsang looked at the tea cup, then at Qing Ji, then at Ji Yunhe. "That means Yunhe just looks
better? The jiaozhu is not of any practical use?"

"The practical use is to make her look better." Qing Ji poured the tea into her mouth along with the
dried fruit, swallowed the water, chewed the dried fruit and ate it. "It also lessens her suffering before
passing on."

"Huh!?" Luo Jinsang stood up and questioned Ji Yunhe, "You already know this?"

Ji Yunhe nodded and sighed, "I told him… This big-tailed fish has grown up and is now so
disobedient!"

"That means the fish also knows?"

Qing Ji answered for Changyi, "Of course he knows."

"Then is he crazy? What's the point of this? All the demon masters in the world are marching over
right now to take us down, and he doesn't have his jiaozhu..."

Qing Ji glanced at her and said, "You just realized this? I think that fish went crazy long ago." Then
she looked at Ji Yunhe and added, "But this is still good. I don't have anyone to go crazy over even if I
want to."

Upon hearing this, Ji Yunhe abruptly thought of the woman in her dreams, and the truth about what
had happened to Ning Ruochu.

Ji Yunhe looked at Qing Ji and did not know whether or not to tell her.

Then she decided to try an indirect approach. "So, Qing Ji, I heard that Ning Ruochu and the Grand
Master were of the same sect."

Qing Ji sipped her tea and responded with a "mhm."

 "I'm curious, how was their relationship?"

Qing Ji asked, "Why are you curious about that?"

"The Grand Master said he wants to mourn for the world, so I think he connived for everything to
fall into chaos. I want to know why he's so disgusted by the world. Is it because of Ning Ruochu's
death?"

Qing Ji laughed. "Of course not. Although their relationship was good, it was not that good. I don't
know about this Grand Master either. I stayed in the seal for a hundred years. When I got out, he already
changed for the worse."

Luo Jinsang also grew curious.

"What?" Luo Jinsang asked. "He was a good person before?"

"At least a normal person."

Qing Ji's words confused Ji Yunhe.

According to the woman in her dream, the Grand Master sabotaged Ning Ruochu, resulting in his
demise. But according to Qing Ji, he was just an ordinary person.

Unless the Grand Master deceived both Ning Ruochu and Qing Ji back then.

But why?

Why did he turn bad and why did he have to mourn for the world? Who was the woman he kept in
his heart?

"Then how come he changed?" Luo Jinsang also wondered, then her eyes lit up. "That Ning
Ruochu was so powerful, and the Grand Master too. Who the hell was their master? Is he still around?
Can I also go learn from him?"

Of course, Ji Yunhe had overlooked it too. Their master trained two such powerful disciples, he
must have been quite an extraordinary person.

"It's a she. Ning Ruochu rarely contacted their master so I've never met her. But the Grand Master
always traveled the world with her. Then one day he came back alone and we never heard from her
again."

Master and disciple… traveled the world...

Ji Yunhe's brain lit up...

Those books she read in the prison!

 Could it be?

Ji Yunhe held her breath, "Was she dressed in white?"

Qing Ji raised an eyebrow. "How did you know?"

Ji Yunhe took a deep breath.

The one the Grand Master loved so much was...

… his own master…

Chapter 72: Argument

The four quarters of demon masters did not exist a hundred years ago, so all the kids wanting to
become a demon master needed to find a teacher to learn the craft.

Controlling the spiritual power from the hidden pulse was not easy. One must start young, join a
sect, and acquire a master to become a second parent. There were strict rules against a master and
disciple love affair, even today.

Ji Yunhe was silent and did not tell Qing Ji about the woman in white.

What she knew from her dreams were mostly from her own guesses, and she could not tell Qing Ji
about things that had not been confirmed.

If Qing Ji knew it was the Grand Master who had killed Ning Ruochu, she might recklessly go fight
him. Even though she was likely the only one in this world powerful enough to take him on, no one had
really seen his true strength over the past century. It was too difficult to predict who would win in the
end…

And something happening to Qing Ji was the last thing Ji Yunhe wanted.

Not only because her existence brought a lot of confidence to the people in the Northlands, her
friendship was also very important to Ji Yunhe.

Ji Yunhe pursed her lips and did not say anything more.

In the following days, Ji Yunhe hoped to see the woman in her dreams to clarify everything, but she
did not appear again.

It seemed the closer she was to death, the more clearly she could see the woman. But once she got
the jiaozhu, even if it was just looking and feeling better, she could not see the woman anymore...

Maybe a link between life and death really did exist...

 There was no time for Ji Yunhe to dwell on these spiritual matters, Ling Haoqing was marching
over right this minute with his army of demon masters.

Changyi was getting busier. People came looking for him all day long outside the screen. Ji Yunhe
did not have time to say a single word to him for several days, but miraculously, she would always see
him sitting at her bed every evening when she woke up.

And he would only leave after she opened her eyes.

Today, Ji Yunhe woke up but did not rush to open her eyes. She felt her wrist being held gently and
cool fingertips on top of her pulse. The moment she opened her eyes, the fingertips withdrew
themselves.

Hidden thoughts and suppressed emotions, Ji Yunhe let out a silent sigh.

While he turned to leave, she reached out her hand and took a hold of his wrist.

"Changyi." She watched as his ice blue pupils began to ripple and stir. "How are you going to
handle Lin Haoqing?"

After hearing her ask about this matter, the ripples disappeared.

"What? Is Master Warden going to plead for Lin Haoqing for the sake of your old time friendship?"
The voice of Kongming came from behind Changyi. Ji Yunhe tilted her head and saw the monk
arranging his needle bag at the small tea table.

Kongming walked over with a silver needle and said, "If you have the energy, why don't you talk to
the fish about taking back his pearl. Otherwise, we might need you to plead to Lin Haoqing for us
instead."

Changyi brushed away Ji Yunhe's hand. "I know what I'm doing, others don't need to say
anything."

Then he turned away and sat down in front of the screen.

The seal reactivated again. Ji Yunhe turned her head back just in time to feel a sharp pain on her
forehead. The monk had roughly stabbed her with a silver needle. She was not sure if he was helping her
or just venting.

But Ji Yunhe did not take it to heart. "You guys shouldn't deal with Lin Haoqing and his men with
brute force. Princess Shunde knows your strengths very well, her plan is most likely not to have him
destroy you, but to wear down both of your resources."

"Oh? Then according to the Master Warden, what should we do?"

"The aim is not to fight, but to make them give up without fighting. Use a formation to slow them
down, ease their momentum, and convince Lin Haoqing to surrender."

After this statement, Kongming's needlework on her became gentler. "No wonder that fish likes
you so much. You guys truly think alike."

Ji Yunhe was surprised.

Kongming put away the needle bag and continued, "That's already been arranged. Our men started
on the formation two days ago, and should be done just in time for their army to arrive. It's not a
problem to trap them for ten days or half a month."

Changyi had his own ideas now.

Ji Yunhe lowered her eyes and smiled. "That's very good."

It was very good that he had learned to plan and strategize.

He must have grown a lot helping Kongming build and develop the Northlands over the past six
years. Or maybe, she had underestimated his complexity all along.

"The only issue now is talking Lin Haoqing into surrendering. In my opinion, after the army of
demon masters step into the formation, it is best to send you over to talk to him, since you know him
more than anyone else. But... the fish does not agree, and I also don't know if you will live till then."

"How much time do I have left?"

"Your pulse is faint and your organs are failing. Maybe a few days."

Ji Yunhe was silent for a moment. "Have you told him?"

"There is no need to hide it from him."

Oh... no wonder Changyi had been feeling her pulse before she woke up, he was afraid she would
pass away in her sleep...

Even if she still had his mark on her ear, his jiaozhu inside her body, and was locked up in this
square inch room, he was still full of doubt and insecurity.

At night, Ji Yunhe watched the candle flame behind the screen until dawn. When it was noon, the
seal lifted and Changyi walked in. He saw her still awake and frowned.

"It's time to sleep," Changyi said.

"I will get plenty of sleep in the future, let me keep my eyes open for now." The window was
slightly parted, shining some daylight onto Changyi. His silver hair looked so soft and clean in the
winter sun. Ji Yunhe smiled. "Can't see the beautiful scenery in the distance, so I should enjoy the
beauty in front of me."

Changyi was caught off guard and narrowed his eyes slightly. "Ji Yunhe." His voice was critical of
her flirtatious behavior.

Perhaps also because her tone had reminded him of the old days...

"Sorry sorry..." Ji Yunhe smiled. "Changyi, come sit." She patted the side of her bed.

Changyi glanced at the place where her hand rested. It was where he usually sat, but now that Ji
Yunhe had taken the initiative to invite him, he walked over and sat at the small tea table instead.

So awkward...

"Changyi, Lin Haoqing and his army will arrive in a few days. Who are you going to send to
negotiate with him?"

Changyi looked at her sunken cheeks and shifted his gaze. He could not bear to see her like this.

"Either way it won't be you."

"It has to be me," Ji Yunhe said. "I know him and his demon masters the best. Yes, I did compete
with him for many years, but the truth is there were other reasons. We're both enemies and friends...
Maybe we can even be considered the only family left in this world."

"Oh?" Changyi said sarcastically, "I didn't realize you and Lin Haoqing were so close."

"I..."

The door was suddenly pushed open and Luo Jinsang barged in. "Fish man, fish man! Lin Haoqing
and his demon masters stopped outside the formation!"

Changyi and Ji Yunhe were both taken by surprise.

Luo Jinsang often went out to spy these days since she had the power of invisibility.

She did not see Changyi in front of the screen so she ran to the back. "They seem to have noticed
the formation and stopped just short of it. They also don't seem to be planning an attack, instead, they
are setting up a blockade to disconnect the Northlands with the rest of the world!"

Changyi's brows tightened.

Ji Yunhe was confused, "Disconnect the Northlands? What do you mean?"

Changyi answered her, "Yunhe, you don't know the geography here. The Northlands is the
northernmost part of the Dacheng Kingdom. Further north is nothing but deserted mountains and
snowfields. The environment there is so harsh even demons find it difficult to survive. And right now,
those coming to the Northlands are mostly people fleeing from Dacheng. They bring both manpower
and resources that we need. Lin Haoqing setting up a blockade there will keep the resources from
flowing in..."

"So he wants to isolate us," Ji Yunhe said. "The court wasn't able to do it, why would he be able
to?"

"The court has help from the Grand Master's house, but ultimately their number is low. The only
thing they can really rely on is the imperial army. I have demons that can avoid their blockades easily,
traveling by air or water, or around the mountains."

"Mhm," Luo Jinsang nodded. "This time it's different. Good thing I can stealth, else I wouldn't have
been able to come back. Their demon masters are controlling so many powerful demons, flying in the
sky, swimming in the river, running on the ground… All the paths are now under their control."

Changyi thought for a while then said, "I was able to take down the Demon Terrace because many
demon masters here did not really fight back. I am afraid the situation now is different."

Ji Yunhe said, "Lin Haoqing's move seems as if he really does want to take you down, but why?
The longer you fight with the court, the better it is for him and his demon masters, no? What exactly did
Princess Shunde promise him? He shouldn't really want to destroy the Northlands..."

"What are you guys talking about?" Luo Jinsang was confused. "Why didn't the demon masters
here fight back six years ago to protect the Demon Terrace? But ran off to the south? And... if Lin
Haoqing doesn't really want to destroy the Northlands, then why did he march all his men over?"

"Moving to the south was to combine and strengthen the forces of the demon master tribe."

Ji Yunhe answered, "Demon masters were divided into four quarters across the land and their
freedoms were restrained because the imperial court wanted to limit their power. When rebels
overturned the Demon Terrace, they evacuated the Northlands but did not go to the east or west which
were closer, instead, they went straight to the southernmost Demon Valley. That's because it's the
strongest."

"While the imperial court was busy dealing with the north, the demon masters grew and developed
their own forces. They must have a plan." Ji Yunhe murmured to herself, "Lin Haoqing, Lin Haoqing…
Why did you come? What do you want?"

"He wants you," Kongming interrupted her thoughts.

Everyone turned their heads, and the monk threw a letter that still had a chill on it onto the table in
front of Changyi.

Luo Jinsang asked, "Baldy, what do you mean by that?"

 "Lin Haoqing has sent a letter asking us to hand over Ji Yunhe. Once he gets her, he will retreat
immediately. Here's the letter." Kongming looked at Changyi. "The courier is still here as well, waiting
for your response."

Changyi did not even unfold it. His hand chilled and froze the letter, then crumpled it into pieces.
"Tell the courier to get lost."

Kongming sneered, "I thought so." He turned to go, but Ji Yunhe stopped him.

"Wait a minute." As soon as she called out to Kongming, Changyi followed up with an order, "No
waiting!"

Ji Yunhe looked at Changyi, both a little amused and a little frustrated. "I have not yet finished
talking..."

"No need to say anything. My mind is already made up."

"How do you know what I'm going to say?"

"I just know."

"You don't know."

Luo Jinsang interrupted the two, "Grow up, you guys. Together you are almost a hundred years
old..."

Ji Yunhe was not going to have it. "He is a demon, age is all grown on his head. A hundred years?
He has to take eighty percent of it! I am still young!"

Luo Jinsang looked at Ji Yunhe with disapproval. "Yunhe... you're acting childish now."

The monk glanced at Luo Jinsang from the side. "You have the nerve to call others childish?"

"I'm trying to stop the argument here! Don't start with me, I warn you."

"Warn me? Luo Jinsang, you left the city again without telling anyone, I haven't even called you
out on it yet..."

"So? You get upset when I stay, then you get upset when I leave! How come nothing I do is ever
okay?"

Seeing those two had hijacked their squabble, Ji Yunhe felt a little dumbfounded.

"Enough!" Finally, it was Changyi who took on the role of an adult. "If you guys want to argue, go
outside."
 Ji Yunhe rubbed her temples. "Enough, all of you! Didn't you say the courier is still waiting? Can
we talk about business?!"

The arguments finally came to an end.

Ji Yunhe let out a deep sigh and said, "Let me meet with Lin Haoqing."

"No way."

"I didn't say I'd go with him, what I said was: meet with him." Ji Yunhe looked at Changyi. "I need
to know what he's planning on."

"No."

"Why not?"

Changyi paused for a long while then said, "Ji Yunhe, don't forget you are still my prisoner."
Chapter 73: On Your Side

Getting Changyi to let Ji Yunhe out was impossible at this point.

"Then let me meet the courier who delivered the letter."

Luo Jinsang showed some concern over her health. "But it's so late..."

"We can't afford any delays." Ji Yunhe did not clarify, but it was obvious what she meant. Time
was too valuable, both to her and to the big picture...

Changyi finally agreed. "Bring him in."

Meeting the courier in the back would be too unorthodox, so for the first time in half a month, Ji
Yunhe was allowed beyond that screen.

Changyi sat behind the desk, Ji Yunhe was seated to his left, and Kongming and Luo Jinsang stood
behind her.

In a few moments, a graceful woman slowly walked into the room. She first gave a salute to
Changyi, then turned to Ji Yunhe. "Master Warden, I've heard a lot about you."

The woman was not a human, as she was covered in demonic aura. Ji Yunhe had never seen her
before in the Demon Valley, but to be sent here as an emissary, Lin Haoqing must have trusted her a
great deal.

"You know me?" Ji Yunhe asked.

"The Valley Master often mentioned the Master Warden. He even made a portrait for me to see."
 That was a bit interesting.

Lin Haoqing often mentioned Ji Yunhe to her, and also drew a portrait? If people did not know
better, they would think Lin Haoqing had some strange thoughts about Ji Yunhe.

The monk raised his eyes and glanced at the one sitting behind the desk. Changyi's mouth looked
stern but his eyes were unreadable.

Ji Yunhe smiled. "I didn't know my relationship with the Valley Master was this good?"

"Of course it is good. You weathered the storms with him and overcame obstacles to help him
become the Valley Master..."

Ji Yunhe was shocked. She surveyed the female demon in front of her. Could this demon be talking
about the killing of Lin Canglan and his demon slave? Ji Yunhe never thought Lin Haoqing would one
day share this secret with someone else.

Or... was she not an outsider?

"You are Lin Haoqing's...?"

"Demon slave. My name is Siyu."

So Lin Haoqing had raised a demon slave of his own now...

"Your Highness," Siyu turned her head and said to Changyi, "my master does not intend to be an
enemy of the north. As long as Your Highness is willing to return the Master Warden to our Demon
Valley, his army will immediately retreat."

He really did come for her.

"Return to the Demon Valley?" Changyi looked at Siyu with an icy stare. "Is it to return to the
Demon Valley, or to the imperial court?" Before Siyu could respond, Changyi continued, "It doesn't
matter, no one can take her away from here. Neither your Valley Master, nor the princess."

Siyu spoke again, "Your Highness, why add casualties in vain? You know the current situation and
the concerns between the three sides, no one wants to make another move at this moment."

"Is that so?" Changyi's face was intimidating even without his jiaozhu. "The Northlands is not the
imperial court, nor is it a demon master stronghold. The people who come here have nothing to lose but
a chance to survive. If the Grand Master's house makes it impossible for us to exist, then we will fight
them to the end. And if your demon masters want to get involved and help them, then you are also
enemies of the north. You want to talk to me about our concerns?"

Changyi paused then continued.

 "The people of the north have nothing, no concerns and no burdens. If you want to fight, then we
will fight. There are no conditions and no compromises to be made. Handing over Ji Yunhe will not
happen. Handing over Kongming will not happen either. We will never hand over anyone who is
sheltered by the Northlands."

The room fell silent.

Ji Yunhe looked at Changyi and felt like he had become a real lord.

He was once submerged in the abyss, and now, he had become a dragon soaring in the nine skies.

Eventually, Siyu bowed down. "I understand, Your Highness. Excuse me for my intrusion,
farewell."

After she left, Kongming and Luo Jinsang continued to stand in silence for a while. The monk
seemed less hostile when he finally spoke to Changyi again. "The battle with the demon master army
will not be easy. Even if we win, there will be a third force waiting to pick at our broken pieces. You
should plan ahead for when the court and the Grand Master's house send their troops."

Then he took Luo Jinsang and also left.

Ji Yunhe walked up to Changyi under the dim candlelight. "Changyi."

"I know what you're going to say. Don't want to hear it, go back inside."

He had been blocking her words repeatedly today, Ji Yunhe felt both frustrated and funny. "You
know what I am going to say again?"

"Just things like how you don't want to be sheltered by the north and such." He put down the pen in
his hand. "Ji Yunhe, others here are free to come and go as they please, you are not..."

"I knew that's what you were going to say, but that wasn't what I wanted to say. You got me wrong
again."

The word "again" took Changyi by surprise. He laughed and said sarcastically, "Right. How can a
demon guess the mind of a demon master."

Ji Yunhe ignored him and picked up his pen, then she drew a line on his paper. "This side is the
Demon Terrace, this is the demon masters' blockade."

Ji Yunhe pointed to the line and explained.

"Lin Haoqing blocked all the routes coming north, whether by land, air, or the river. His formation
is bound to be arranged horizontally. If there are powerful demons blocking the airways, then there have
to be powerful demon masters there pulling the strings. And the same goes for the river and land. Due to
the suppression of the imperial court over the years, there are only eight notable demon masters outside
of the Grand Master's house that are strong enough to control demons of that level. The Demon Valley
has three. Lin Haoqing is their leader overseeing everything, so he will definitely not go to the front line
to master demons. Snow March went to the islands overseas, so she naturally will not help them either.
And I..."

Ji Yunhe smiled. "This time, I am on your side."

Changyi lifted his head and saw her withered face staring at him with a smile. Her eyes twinkled
like stars, as if no amount of time and suffering could wear down her confidence and pride.

The candle light flickered between them as they looked at each other in silence. Changyi did not
understand why she was on his side, but he did not want to spoil the moment by asking her either.

However, Ji Yunhe turned away from his gaze. She made six dots on the line she drew earlier. "In
order to fully block the northern border, there have to be two powerful demon masters overseeing air
traffic since the sky is such a wide open space. For the remaining three, one's probably assigned to the
river, and two to guard the land. The rest of the demon masters are likely forming a line here. Wherever
there's movement, they'd be able to signal one of the five powerful demon masters for support." Ji
Yunhe went on, "A strike on those five is the key. As long as we take down one person from the air and
one from the ground, Lin Haoqing's blockade will fall apart on its own."

Ji Yunhe put down the pen and Changyi asked, "How do you know they will definitely arrange it
this way?"

"This is the most logical arrangement, plus..." Ji Yunhe smiled, "I know Lin Haoqing."

The moment she said that, the corners of his lips fell.

Ji Yunhe, however, was too preoccupied to notice.

"Once the line is broken, Lin Haoqing is bound to send people to cover it. At that time, we should
assemble an elite force and launch a full on assault, but only attack a corner. Make sure to take them by
surprise, then withdraw right afterwards. The aim is not to defeat them, but to frustrate them and damage
their morale." Ji Yunhe kept analyzing, "I doubt the demon masters really want to fight with their lives.
As long as they know we have the determination and the ability to win, they will be divided among
themselves. By then we will be able to force them off with minimal casualties."

Ji Yunhe turned her head to look at Changyi. "Well?"

"Doable," he said. "We will choose someone tomorrow..."

"Wait," Ji Yunhe interrupted him. "The power of the five key demon masters is not to be
underestimated. I am not exaggerating, when Lin Haoqing and Lin Canglan were both fighting the jade
phoenix back then, if either me or Snow March were to help them wholeheartedly, it wouldn't have been
impossible to keep her from escaping. So… Changyi, capturing two of them is not to be taken lightly.
We have to make sure nothing goes wrong. I think it is best that you and Qing Ji each take a target..."

Changyi narrowed his eyes before she even finished.

"Ji Yunhe, you've really put a lot of thoughts into making me take back my jiaozhu."

Ji Yunhe smiled. "They need someone to lead them."

Changyi thought for a moment then agreed. "I can go personally, but I will return within an hour."

So... this jiaozhu would only leave Ji Yunhe's body for one hour? An hour was still better than
none. It should be plenty of time for her to talk with the woman in her dream.

"When are you planning to go?"

"Tomorrow."

Ji Yunhe frowned, "The time is so tight, will you be able to convince Qing Ji?"

"No problem, no problem! Leave it to me!" Luo Jinsang suddenly ran in through the door again.

Ji Yunhe was startled. "Why are you still here?"

"I was going to wait for this fish to leave and then talk to you for a while, and then… I heard
everything."

Ji Yunhe laughed and looked at Changyi. She was too weak to detect Luo Jinsang at the moment,
but him too? This fish might not have his jiaozhu, but his senses were still very keen.

"I can swindle that big bird tomorrow and invite her out to play. Once we are on the road, I will
force her to get that target even if I have to drag her by the hair."

Ji Yunhe said, "If Qing Ji hears this, she will beat you to a pulp."

Luo Jinsang laughed and scratched her head. "So this fish pearl, how do we get it out? Do we have
to cut open Yunhe's belly?"

Changyi replied, "However she got it, then however she will return it."

Luo Jinsang turned her head and asked Ji Yunhe, "How did you get it?"

Ji Yunhe abruptly thought of that day...

The temperature of his lips, the softness, and the unique smell of his body... All the sensations
instantly rushed back into her mind.
 She stiffly turned her head away. "Just a touch..."

"Touch where?"

"... I'm a little tired, I'm going to nap for a while, you can go."

Ji Yunhe practically pushed Luo Jinsang out of the room. When she turned back, she saw Changyi
holding a book behind the desk. It blocked half of his face, but not his smiling eyes.

They looked soft and fuzzy, tickling at the tip of her heart.

She walked past him without saying anything.

The candle light danced, casting out into a room full of tender warmth.
Chapter 74: Captured

Luo Jinsang pestered Qing Ji the next morning until she agreed to fly south with her for some wine.
Everything went according to plan.

Changyi came to retrieve his jiaozhu before heading out.

The sun was rising and Ji Yunhe was still awake, sitting at the small tea table.

She looked at him standing in front of her in his usual black robe.

The air was still, their eyes interlocked, and they felt each other's breaths.

She instinctively backed away a bit when he leaned down.

Although her movement was slight, it was very apparent to him. Changyi paused for a moment.
Then, as if he had made up his mind, he lifted a hand. His fingers brushed against Ji Yunhe's cheek, ran
through her hair and stopped at the back of her head.

His palm restrained her just enough to keep her from retreating.

Changyi closed his eyes and the ice blue pupils disappeared under his long lashes. He leaned over
and pressed his lips onto hers.

Ji Yunhe did not close her eyes. She was stiff but clearly felt the kiss. It was not a sudden and
playful flirtation like the first one, nor was it as intense and confrontational as the second. This kiss was
gentle and delicate.

At this moment, Ji Yunhe felt as if they were a real couple, doing the most intimate things in the
most private moments.

His breath tickled the jiaozhu inside her, and she felt a slight coolness rise from her chest. It moved
up into her tongue and lips, and intoxicated her like a mouthful of fine wine.

The jiaozhu left her body and disappeared between his lips.

But he did not release her.

The sunrise outside climbed higher along the window pane, and Ji Yunhe finally closed her eyes.

The kiss that started with the purpose of returning his jiaozhu was now turning into a real kiss, but
Ji Yunhe did not stop him. She allowed herself a moment of indulgence. She had given up too much
already in this life, forced to be cautious and to calculate every step, afraid of making a single mistake.

Now, she caved in to her inner most desires and savored in the pleasure and gratification of his
touch.

Her eyelashes trembled and her chest heaved, overwhelmed by the emotions she had suppressed for
so long. Suddenly, she tensed up, as if a sword flashed inside her head and sliced through her dreams.

All of the aches and pains of a broken body surfaced now that she no longer had the jiaozhu, and
they felt even worse than before.

It brutally pulled her back into reality.

She was dying.

Ji Yunhe raised her hand and pushed Changyi away.

That one bit of movement was enough to make her breathless. She immediately turned around and
covered her mouth to hide the pain, pretending she was appalled by the kiss.

Changyi looked at her back and was silent for a moment. "I'll be back in one hour."

Ji Yunhe nodded her head, still covering her mouth.

The black robe swayed and Changyi disappeared from the room. The moment he left, Ji Yunhe's
eyes went black and she fell to the ground with a thud.

She touched the mark on her ear. Changyi said it allowed him to see her whenever, wherever she
was. If he took a peek while out fighting, and saw her on the ground spitting blood...

Ji Yunhe held on to her last breath and crawled into bed before passing out under her blanket.

...

Luo Jinsang soared through the sky sitting comfortably on the back of the jade phoenix. She saw
the blue light following them abruptly stop in midair, instantly lagging far behind. Then it caught up
again and took a turn to head for the ground.

"What's wrong with that fish?"

"I don't know," Qing Ji lazily replied, then asked her, "Little girl, aren't we heading south for some
wine? Why is that fish tagging along?"

Luo Jinsang grinned. "You will find out soon."

A strange demonic cry came from the distance.

Qing Ji flipped in the air, collected her wings and returned to human form. Luo Jinsang let out a
gasp as her body lost support and began to fall. Qing Ji grabbed her hand and stepped onto a piece of
cloud. "Little girl, what is that weird sound, hmm?"

"I think it's probably a demon bird, maybe being manipulated by a demon master, maybe also
blocking our way south." Luo Jinsang was held by Qing Ji and her body dangled in the air, but she was
not afraid. "Why don't you go take a look? And if convenient, can also help me capture the demon
master."

Qing Ji laughed. "I knew there was something fishy going on."

The cries in the distance grew louder and closer. Qing Ji smiled gently and her eyes flashed. She
did not open her mouth, but a call of the phoenix resonated through the sky, drowning out the demonic
cries and scattering clouds within a thousand miles.

In the distance, a black monster crow came into view with a man standing on its back.

Luo Jinsang pointed at him and said, "That's probably the one."

"Little girl, I only promised you one favor. I have no intention of getting involved in this mess of a
war."

"Well, we're already here," Luo Jinsang urged on. "Even if you don't want to get involved, he's still
not going to let us go."

Qing Ji glanced at Luo Jinsang. "If you want to use me, at least use me for something big. But that
little crow over there?" Qing Ji said. "Have you not heard of my legends?"

Luo Jinsang struggled a bit to lift her head. "What do you want to do?"

Qing Ji let out an alluring smile. "Like you said, we're already here, so let's do something big."

"Huh?"

While Luo Jinsang was still confused, Qing Ji held on to her hand and took a dive for the demon
masters' camp on the ground.

...

Ji Yunhe knew very clearly that she was dreaming again.

It was the same hazy void. This time, she heard the woman's voice with unparalleled clarity. "Am I
one step closer to death?" Ji Yunhe asked her. "I want to confirm something with you..."

"I know what you want to confirm." Ji Yunhe raised an eyebrow as the woman continued, "Your
life, his life, the lives of all the people in the world, I know them all."

"You know them all?"

"After I died, my spirit became one with the wind. Wherever there is wind, there's my perception."
She looked at Ji Yunhe and held her hand. "Come, I'll lend you my eyes."

Just like last time, a vision appeared in front of Ji Yunhe. Except this time it was not the memories
of the woman…

It was Qing Ji and Luo Jinsang, and...

Lin Haoqing...

Qing Ji dashed into the camp of the demon masters in her natural form. Luo Jinsang disappeared,
likely went invisible to hide... Qing Ji's monstrous claws tore open Lin Haoqing's tent with the
surrounding people scattering in chaos -- demon masters, demons, and the courier, Siyu, were all
present.

With a sharp call, giant claws grabbed onto Lin Haoqing's arm.

"I told them to get the demon master, what are they doing with Lin Haoqing?" Ji Yunhe scolded.
"Ridiculous!"

The woman in white took Ji Yunhe's hand and waved it in the air. The vision disappeared on one
side then reappeared on the other. She saw Changyi had already captured a demon master, knocked him
out and was on his way back.

Changyi looked anxious, his speed was as fast as it could be.

The woman in white waved her hand again and another room appeared in front of Ji Yunhe. She
had never seen this room before, but the look and feel reminded her of the prison that held her for six
years...

The picture turned and she saw a person standing in front of a bookshelf. As expected, it was the
Grand Master.
 His white attire looked quite similar to this woman in white…

"He really is your disciple?"

"My name is Ning Xiyu, he was my first disciple. I picked him up from the streets and gave him
the name Ning Qing. I taught him everything he knew, but didn't think..." she paused. "He was my
disciple, but also my mistake. I died under unusual circumstances, and Ning Qing was never able to let it
go..."

Her voice trembled a little but she continued, "He hated everything and everyone because of my
death. He framed Qing Ji so people mistakenly thought she was causing havoc, then offered the Ten
Square Formation to Ning Ruochu, thus successfully eliminating the world's most powerful demon
masters. Then he took over and established himself as the supreme leader, divided demon masters into
four quarters, and single handedly pushed the world down a path of chaos and destruction…"

And he was now standing next to his bookshelf, calmly reading a book in his hand.

Ning Xiyu waved her hand and the vision faded away.

"You want to make up for your mistake? So you want me to tell Qing Ji the truth and have her kill
him?"

"She is the only one who can. You are also the only one I can talk to, because of how little time you
have left on earth."

"Why me? I am not the only one who's life is hanging in the balance."

"Yes, there are many dying people in this world. But someone who's neither human nor demon, and
also hanging by a thread, you are the only one. I am also neither human nor a demon. You and I both
exist outside of the five elements..."

The woman in white was still moving her lips, but her voice began to fade.

Ji Yunhe said, "I'm waking up. About Qing Ji, I..."

Ji Yunhe's eyes snapped open, but instead of the ceiling, it was Changyi's face that flooded her
vision.

His scent still lingered on her lips.

And the blue glow had just faded inside her chest.

He gave her the jiaozhu again.

Ji Yunhe sat up and he took a step back. She smiled and asked, "Got him as planned?"
 Changyi settled down after hearing her speak. "Yes."

Before they had time to exchange more words, Kongming barged through the front door and
stormed in, shouting at Changyi in anger, "How could you tell that fool to go after Lin Haoqing?! If
something were to go wrong..."

Changyi furrowed his brows and replied, "I didn't tell her to."

Seeing Changyi had been yelled at, Ji Yunhe interjected, "Qing Ji is there, she should be fine."

"Should!?" Kongming was furious. He glared at Ji Yunhe viciously. "As long as nothing happens to
this fish, you have no concerns!"

Ji Yunhe threw the monk a look, and he immediately closed his mouth. Realizing he had
misspoken, he turned around and left.

Soon came the sound of him arguing with Luo Jinsang in the hallway...

Luo Jinsang's voice was louder than his. "Get out of my way, I want to tell Yunhe the great news!
Don't block me! Hey, what are you doing? I'm fine! I'm telling you, Qing Ji and I got Lin Haoqing! He's
in the dungeon right now!"

"Luo Jinsang, can you grow a brain? Who told you to go after Lin Haoqing?"

"What's wrong with you? I got their commander from the frontlines! How glorious! What are you
so angry for? Are you jealous of me and Qing Ji?"

"Luo Jinsang!"

"What?!"

The two of them grew louder and louder, offsetting the silence in the room.

Changyi turned his head and asked Ji Yunhe curiously, "You knew they went after Lin Haoqing?"

Ji Yunhe froze a bit then said, "Just a guess, Qing Ji likes the spotlight..." Then she immediately
changed the topic. "Since they have captured Lin Haoqing... I want to see him."

Changyi stared at her for a while then finally agreed this time.

"We will go together."

Ji Yunhe smiled.

Together. She liked hearing that word from Changyi. Ji Yunhe instantly felt like telling him
everything -- how she never betrayed him.

But...

The pain she felt after the jiaozhu left her body was still lingering on her mind.

Once again, Ji Yunhe swallowed all the things she wanted to say.

With a dying body, let's not play with those twists and turns. The situation was already so
complicated, why add to the stress and confusion.
Chapter 75: Surrender

Ji Yunhe was a little worried. If Lin Haoqing revealed some details about six years ago in front of
Changyi, what should she do...

But before they had a chance to see Lin Haoqing, news came from the front that the demon masters
had broken through the formation set up by the north, and were now marching over with incredible force
and momentum.

They were furious that Qing Ji had captured Lin Haoqing. After decades of suppressed rage, what
she did was the straw that broke the camel's back.

When Ji Yunhe heard the news, she did not know whether to laugh or cry. She was one them,
having endured the oppression for so many years because of her double pulse. Her people finally rising
up with so much determination and vitality was something of a rarity that she had long hoped for, but
ironically, she was now standing in their opposition.

Luo Jinsang and Kongming were also in the room. She was super confused. "But we captured their
leader! How did they become even more powerful..."

Kongming let out a cold snort and resentfully ignored her question.

Ji Yunhe said, "Even bunnies bite when pushed to the extreme. This move of yours was too
excessive."

Luo Jinsang scratched her head. "Then we can only go to war?"

"We can't." Changyi's voice was not loud, but incomparably firm.

Ji Yunhe nodded in agreement. "If we talk about one on one, no one can beat Qing Ji. But when
two sides collide, there will be casualties. Plus the demon masters have very high morale and a lot of
fighting spirit right now, we can't take them head on. If we win by using brute force, two months later
when the snow melts and the court sends their troops, we'd be too weak to defend. And if we lose... we
end up with nothing."

"Then what do we do..." Luo Jinsang anxiously picked at her head. "Should I quietly stuff Lin
Haoqing back into their camp?"

The monk snorted again and mocked her out loud, "What do you want? Insult them a second time?
Luo Jinsang, how many lives do you have to lose?"

"Then... Well..."

Ji Yunhe raised her head and looked at Changyi. "Let's make peace. I will go and convince them to
surrender."

Luo Jinsang looked at Ji Yunhe cluelessly. "Huh? Make peace? Surrender? You're going?"

Ji Yunhe did not look at Luo Jinsang, her gaze remained on Changyi. "Yes, I will go."

Changyi thought for a moment then said the same words from earlier, "We will go together."

Deep in the night, land outside the Demon Terrace was covered by an endless blanket of snow. In
the horizon, an army pressed forth between heaven and earth.

Two shadows appeared in front of the main city gate, casually riding their horses toward the
thousands of men in the distance.

Between the two of them, one had a body running on empty, supported only by a jiaozhu, and the
other one did not have his inner pearl that was the source of his demonic power. They walked through
the wind and snow, stopped on top of a hill and waited for the approaching army. Ji Yunhe looked at
Changyi.

"Are you really not going to take back your jiaozhu?"

Changyi's hair flew with the wind, reflecting the snow around them. "Not taking it back."

Ji Yunhe teased, "What if they make the same move and capture you?"

"They can't get me regardless."

This fish was very confident! Ji Yunhe looked away and said, "You don't lie, so I believe you."

Changyi turned and looked at her frail body wrapped under a dark blue cloak. She was so thin... If
this snowstorm were to blow a little harder, it would blow her away. She pulled the reins of her horse
who had grown a little uneasy because of the massive demonic energy approaching from afar. "Changyi,
this view is so beautiful." She peered at the land through the snowstorm. "I have not seen this in a long
time."

She talked as if they were not here gambling with their lives, but merely taking a stroll.
 Changyi nodded. "Yes, it's been a long time."

It had also been a long time since he last saw Ji Yunhe among such a vast, open landscape. Six
years to be exact. On the way between the Demon Valley and the imperial capital, she had stood
opposite of him with an army behind her. Changyi still remembered the cold sensation of her sword that
night...

And this time, she was on his side.

He thought he would never let Ji Yunhe out of that room again. He planned to keep her there until
her last breath, and never give her another chance to betray him.

But what was he doing now?

He brought her out and gave her his jiaozhu. If she were to stand with the other side, she could
easily take his life again.

But he did it anyway.

"This may be the last time..."

She looked far into the sky beyond the wind and snow. Changyi understood her words and felt an
ache inside his heart.

The look of Ji Yunhe near death, Changyi had seen it before, and had ached for it.

He denied and ignored his emotions in the past. But looking at Ji Yunhe's slightly sunken eyes, and
the dry, pale lips he had kissed, his emotions surged and overwhelmed him. "Ji Yunhe."

She turned her head to look at him, her dark eyes reflecting his silver hair dancing in the snow.

"If you promise to never betray me again, I will believe you."

The snowstorm howled and whistled around them, but her world grew still.

Ji Yunhe stared blankly at Changyi. In his eyes, she had used him, betrayed him, and almost killed
him. But now he was telling her that he still wanted to believe her...

Her lips trembled and she suppressed her emotions. "Big-tailed fish, why are you still so naive...
After all these years, you still dare to take a human promise seriously?"

Her words pricked at him like a needle, but he still said, "If you say it, I will believe it."

Ji Yunhe's hands were trembling so much inside her sleeves that she could barely hold on to the
reins of her horse. Suddenly, the sound of ten thousand footsteps came rumbling, shaking the earth and
breaking the atmosphere between them.

Ji Yunhe regained her grip, looked ahead and said, "Let's not talk about these things until we take
care of business."

The army of demon masters washed toward them like a tidal wave.

They stopped a hundred meters away from Ji Yunhe and Changyi.

A few dozen men rode their horses and approached them.

Some of them were familiar faces to Ji Yunhe, some of them were new, but they all looked fierce
and full of animosity.

The courier demon, Siyu, was among them. She was Lin Haoqing's demon slave and was obviously
more anxious than the others. She took the lead in lifting the reins of her horse and came up to Ji Yunhe.
"Just you two?"

Ji Yunhe said, "The Lord of the North has come in person. It's better than a thousand men."

The crowd looked at Changyi. He did not say a word, but the blue eyes and silver hair had long
become a legend throughout the world. Many people here saw him for the first time, and turned their
heads to whisper among each other.

Changyi moved his horse forward a step and raised his voice. "The north has no intention of being
an enemy of the demon master tribe. If you retreat today, Valley Master Lin will be returned to the
Demon Valley unharmed."

"How can we trust you? Hand over the Valley Master first!" A big burly man came forward from
the crowd. "There is also my brother, Jin Lu of the Demon Mountain. We can talk about the rest
afterwards!"

This person's brother, Jin Lu, was the demon master captured by Changyi. He was the face of the
Demon Mountain, and being taken so easily was extremely embarrassing for them.

"So you are from the Demon Mountain?" Ji Yunhe looked at the big man and asked with a smile.

The big man answered suspiciously, "Yes, so what?"

"Jin Lu is the strongest demon master of Demon Mountain. Him being taken captive, did that feel
like a slap on the face?" Ji Yunhe watched the big man's face turn green, then turned her head to speak
to Siyu. "What's more, even Valley Master Lin was also directly taken from your camp… This joint
expedition to the north lost its commander before a battle even started. If word gets out, you demon
masters will look truly ridiculous."

The crowd was now even angrier after hearing what she said. Many people unsheathed their
swords.

Changyi's eyes flashed and he summoned the remnants of demonic energy inside his body. The
surrounding snowflakes in the air suddenly stopped and turned into sharp, icy blades, pointing to the
crowd from all sides.

"Why so angry?" Ji Yunhe remained smiling in the standoff. "The leader captured, the face slapped,
and all demon masters lost their dignity… Wasn't this already predestined? Decades ago when the Grand
Master developed the frost poison, established the Grand Master's house, and set up the four quarters to
keep you imprisoned, you were already destined to end up in today's defeat."

The crowd fell silent.

Ji Yunhe continued to laugh. "Are you angry at the north for being too powerful, or are you angry
at your own incompetence and mediocrity?" She raised her voice so the people a hundred meters away
could hear.

"A hundred years ago, the Grand Master's house did not exist, the four quarters weren't there, and
the demon master tribe was not enslaved and imprisoned. Look at yourselves now." Ji Yunhe
straightened her back and continued, "I am also a demon master, I used to be the Master Warden of the
Demon Valley. I know how reluctant and difficult it is for you all to risk your lives and come to this
bitter cold land! But who told you to come? And for whom are you fighting? Where are your swords
pointing? And why are you spilling your blood? Can anyone sober up and take a good look?"

"Who took away our spirit? Who trapped us in a cage? And who intimidated, threatened and tamed
us?" Ji Yunhe reached out and grabbed an icy blade frozen in the air by Changyi. It cut her skin and her
blood fell.

She fiercely threw the ice blade to the ground. "I wield my blade at the one outside the cage, not
those who are also suffering under their oppression!"

Changyi gazed at her from the side and his hand loosened. The snowstorm resumed, falling down
around him and onto everyone's faces. The crowd stirred.

Ji Yunhe looked at Siyu. "We took Lin Haoqing not to fight, but to not fight."

"We have no choice." Siyu walked her horse closer to Ji Yunhe. "Princess Shunde will taint all the
water sources with the frost poison if we don't take you to her."

Ji Yunhe froze.

"She does not necessarily want to kill the demon masters here, but if there are newborn children
with a double pulse, how are you going to save them all?"

Ji Yunhe was silent for a moment. "I don't know. But because of that, I will never give in to her.
She can threaten you to come after me today, then threaten you to go after someone else tomorrow. Her
desires and requests will never end."

Several people came out of the army and walked past Siyu…

"I would like to join the north."

"I also want to join the north..."

First a couple, then dozens, then hundreds… Endless numbers of demon masters came out of the
army and marched to the growing crowd behind Ji Yunhe and Changyi. No one from their own side
attempted to stop them.

Ji Yunhe looked at them through the heavy snow and howling wind, and smiled.

She turned to Changyi. He was quietly staring at her, his eyes reflecting only her smile.

"Changyi..." she called out softly.

The wind blew at her cloak, and it fluttered in the wind like wings.

Her ears could no longer hear anything, not even her own voice.

Changyi, this was the last thing I could do for you...

Her body slowly fell back. A sky filled with drifting snow was the last thing she saw.
Chapter 76: Returned

Ji Yunhe felt like she was being held by someone dashing wildly through the snowstorm.

Heavy breaths filled her ears.

When she finally came to a stop, the world fell into discord. She could hear everything, but nothing
was audible, and they came intermittently. Sometimes it was Luo Jinsang crying, other times the monk
cursing. Then she heard Qing Ji comforting Luo Jinsang.

Oh yeah... Qing Ji...

She still had something to tell her.

Ji Yunhe tried to open her eyes, but other than a bright white haze, she could not see anything. She
parted her lips and desperately murmured the things she saw in her dreams, not caring if Qing Ji was
there to hear it.

While she tried to talk, a brush of cool air swept over her body and took away some pain, giving
her the strength to voice out, "Qing Ji... Ning Ruochu, Ten Square Formation... was killed by the Grand
Master..."
 Ji Yunhe repeatedly spoke these broken words.

The wind wrapping around her grew stronger, now allowing Ji Yunhe to open her eyes.

She saw Luo Jinsang sitting next to her bed with red puffy eyes, and Qing Ji standing next to her
with a solemn face. She did not see Changyi or Kongming… but it was fine.

The wind suddenly swirled up with so much force even the bed curtains flew. Luo Jinsang was
shocked. "Yunhe... what is happening... "

Ji Yunhe did not have the time or the energy to explain. Her body was now pulled into the air by
the wind.

"Qing Ji, what's wrong with Yunhe?"

Qing Ji also looked at Ji Yunhe with confusion, unable to give Luo Jinsang an answer.

Ji Yunhe's lips moved on their own, free from her control, "Ning Ruochu did not lie to you."

This confused Luo Jinsang even more, while it left Qing Ji completely stunned.

Ning Xiyu, the woman in white, had borrowed the power of the wind and took control of Ji
Yunhe's body.

She continued to speak, "He intended on entering the formation to be with you, but the Grand
Master deceived him. The Ten Square Formation killed him. It was the Grand Master who killed him."

"Yunhe, what are you talking about…?" Luo Jinsang asked nervously. "Why are you..."

Qing Ji stared at Ji Yunhe for what felt like an eternity. "I know what she is talking about." She
turned to leave, bumping into Changyi's shoulder.

The two of them brushed past each other. Qing Ji did not stop and headed straight for the exit, her
face dark and gloomy. And Changyi did not even bother to take a look. He did not care who bumped
into his shoulder, or where anyone was.

He only had eyes for Ji Yunhe.

His lips were a bit pale, and his silver hair was a bit of a mess. He walked to Ji Yunhe's side and
looked at the strange disturbance surrounding her.

With Qing Ji's departure, the wind began to dissipate.

Ji Yunhe slowly fell back onto the bed. The corner of her eyes caught a glimpse of him.
 She saw his lips open and close, tremble several times, but ultimately not say anything.

What did he want to say? Ji Yunhe wanted to ask him.

But the wind that gave her the strength to talk had now completely disappeared.

Ji Yunhe knew she would disappear soon as well... Her eyes blinked, burning the last image she
could see of this world into her dark pupils.

There was a bit of the sky outside the window, Luo Jinsang's crying face, the room she had grown
tired of looking at, and... Changyi.

His silver hair and blue eyes.

A pity that she could no longer see his stunningly beautiful tail.

Her eyelids slowly fell, isolating her from the last bit of contact in this human world.

All the sights disappeared, all the sounds receded, and Ji Yunhe's last strand of consciousness, in
the midst of the darkness, gave her a final image. It was the day when Changyi took her away from the
Grand Master's prison. He carried her in his arm, flew over a thousand hills, ten thousand layers of
clouds, and landed on the top of a mountain.

The sun was about to rise, and Changyi held her against a boulder.

It was the first time in six years they were alone together, looking directly into each other's eyes.

And that was what Ji Yunhe saw in the final moment of her life.

Why?

Ji Yunhe did not understand it.

She looked at Changyi, seeing him, and also seeing herself inside his eyes. The sun rose up behind
him and he turned into a black silhouette, but the sea-like eyes still clearly reflected her face.

As if looking into a mirror, Ji Yunhe saw herself shed a tear.

The tear was crystal clear, and she once again felt a burning heartache.

"Big-tailed fish," she said to him, "I never betrayed you."

She said it.

The hidden regret she had buried deep inside was now expressing itself at the very end of her life.
 Ji Yunhe finally realized why she never told Changyi the truth. She lied all over the place about the
greater good, deceiving both the monk and herself.

But the real reason was... she was selfish, and afraid.

She was afraid that he would not forgive her even if she told him the truth. She was even more
afraid of what she had done might have been a mistake from the beginning. That it was wrong for her to
make the choice for him, wrong to plan with Lin Haoqing and drive him away, and wrong to stab him on
that cliff and break his heart...

She was most afraid of Changyi blaming her for what he had become...

She shattered a heart that was innocent and pure, and disfigured a gentle, kind spirit into something
completely different. It was a huge mistake.

So she did not say anything. Did not want to, and did not dare to.

And that was why she was seeing this right now, and hearing herself say it.

I never betrayed you.

But it did not matter anymore. Nothing mattered anymore. When people died, they died. She would
take everything with her and fade away.

Ji Yunhe watched as the sun grew brighter and hotter, until all of her surroundings turned white and
Changyi disappeared. She looked up at the empty sky and closed her eyes. She had spent her entire life
fighting for freedom and survival, struggling and wandering, now, she was finally… at peace.

Ji Yunhe died.

A matter of course. But when Changyi watched Ji Yunhe close her eyes, close her lips, and breath
out her last breath, he suddenly felt a stabbing pain. First like a frozen spear, then a burning hot iron, it
pierced through him from inside and stopped at the heart.

Thump thump...

He had never heard his heartbeat so clearly.

Thump thump...

Ji Yunhe was dead.

That was a fact.

His jiaozhu floated out of her lifeless body carrying her residual warmth, and disappeared inside
him.
 At that moment, Changyi felt as if...

… he also died.
Chapter 77: Death

The person on the bed had stopped breathing long ago, and her already thin face was now tinted
with a pale blue.

The only sound that could be heard in the room was Luo Jinsang's suppressed sobbing. But the one
who should be most upset stood still and motionless.

Kongming looked at Changyi's back. He did not dare to touch him, so he only whispered near his
ear, "We should arrange a suitable time for the burial."

"What burial?!" Luo Jinsang turned her head and glared at the monk. "I don't believe it! I don't
believe it! There must be some way! There has to be a way! Isn't Lin Haoqing here? This must be her
poison from the Demon Valley! I'll go ask him for the antidote!"

With that, she immediately stood up and ran for the door.

The monk frowned and grabbed Luo Jinsang by the arm. "I have been treating her for many days,
the poison is gone! She has exhausted her body..."

"No!" Luo Jinsang pulled loose from Kongming's hand. "No! There must still be ways to help!"
She pushed him away and ran out.

Kongming wanted to go chase her back, but then he saw the motionless Changyi standing to the
side. This was the Demon Terrace, Luo Jinsang could make some noise, but she would not cause too
much trouble. However, this fish...

His calmness was too abnormal.

"Changyi," Kongming called him. "Death is inevitable..."

He did not respond.

"Changyi..." Kongming finally touched him on the shoulder.

The touch pulled Changyi back to his senses, and he turned his head to the monk. Only then did
Kongming see that Changyi's pale face was worse than the dead Ji Yunhe on the bed.

He looked numb, and his ice blue eyes now appeared gray and lifeless. Kongming had seen him
like this only once before, six years ago. It was right after he saved him from the river rapids, and when
he first opened his eyes.
 Like an abandoned child, helpless and lost.

Kongming did not know what to say. Words of comfort would not do anything, and telling him to
face reality would be too cruel. The monk twitched his mouth for a while then ended it with a sigh.

Since Kongming did not say anything, Changyi turned and walked to Ji Yunhe.

He sat down and looked at her. Suddenly a blue light flashed inside his chest. He leaned down and
pressed his lips to hers.

He was trying to give her his jiaozhu again.

But Ji Yunhe had no breath. She was lifeless and no different from the curtains, sheets, or the
pillow under her head. The jiaozhu could not enter her body and remained hovering in his chest.

Just like him.

Could neither move forward or back, could not hold on or let go.

The blue glow lit up the entire room. His long silver hair hung over Ji Yunhe's ear, and two pairs of
cool lips no longer warmed one another.

Changyi closed his eyes. He refused to give up.

He opened her mouth and forced the jiaozhu inside, but it did not go beyond her lips no matter how
hard he tried.

So he kept trying.

The jiaozhu emitted an azure glow between their lips, casting a sea of blue across the room. It
looked like he had taken her back into the ocean -- his home world.

Kongming watched for a long time. Finally, he could not take it anymore and pulled Changyi up.

The jiaozhu once again returned to his chest and disappeared.

"Ji Yunhe is dead," the monk said.

Changyi lowered his head and his face fell behind his long silver hair. "She is lying."

"She's not breathing."

"She must be lying to me," Changyi spoke to himself as if he did not hear anything Kongming was
saying. "In the past, she tried to trick me into serving Shunde so she could be free. Now, she's faking her
death to get away from me."
 Kongming was silent.

"She didn't want to be trapped, she didn't want to stay here, she wanted to leave…"

Plop. A clear, crisp sound was heard inside the room. Kongming did not care at first, until he heard
another plop. A pearl fell from Ji Yunhe's bedside, rolled onto the floor, and stopped at the monk's feet.

According to legend, jiaoren wept tears that turned into pearls...

Six years had passed since Kongming rescued Changyi. They went through mountains of swords
and lakes of fire together, and had been in the most desperate of situations. No matter how much they
suffered or how much blood they shed, he had never seen the corner of Changyi's eyes moist for even a
second.

He thought tears of pearls were nonsense, just imaginary wonders that humans attributed to this
mysterious race. Jiaoren simply did not have any tears to shed.

But now...

Kongming looked at the silver hair concealing his face. "Changyi, this is both her wish and God's
will. You should also let go."

"Let go?"

The pearls fell one by one, but his voice remained calm.

"I told her earlier that if she promises to never betray me again, I will believe her. The truth is…
whether she says it or not, I still believe her," he said. "I've already let go of everything in the past, the
only thing I cannot let go of..."

He clutched Ji Yunhe's hand and trembled.

He did not care about her betrayal anymore. Imprisoning Ji Yunhe was never about revenge or
punishment. He was just afraid of losing her.

She was the only thing he could not let go of...

But he still failed...

No matter how isolated this island was, how much he sealed the room, how carefully he watched
over everything, he still could not hold on to her...

After a long silence, Changyi finally spoke again.

"She is free now..."

 As free as the northern wind, wild and unrestrained.

...

Luo Jinsang frantically ran to the dungeon where Lin Haoqing was being imprisoned. In her rush,
she forgot to go invisible and headed straight for the door. The doorkeeper yelled a couple of times then
followed her in.

"Miss Luo! Miss Luo! What order did you receive? You should tell us!"

Luo Jinsang did not look back and ran to the deepest part of the dungeon.

It was damp and the ground was icy, Luo Jinsang lost her footing multiple times. She balanced
herself against the cell door and shouted, "Give me the antidote!"

Inside the cell, a man in white and blue clothing turned his head slightly and looked at Luo Jinsang.
He had been imprisoned for several days, but was still calm and collected. "What antidote?"

"The antidote for Yunhe! The old Valley Master poisoned her! And now she's dying..." she said in
a panic.

The man stood up.

"What did you say?"

"Yunhe... Ji Yunhe, she died..."

Chapter 78: Sealed in Ice

Ji Yunhe was still lying on the bed. If not for her bluish complexion, she would look no different
from her usual slumber. Her long eyelashes fluttered in the breeze blowing in from the window, as if she
could wake any minute.

But, only "as if".

The pair of black eyes that he had never been able to fathom no longer gave him a chance to.

No sighs and no words, Changyi quietly sat beside Ji Yunhe, still holding her hand. His palm
chilled and frost began to cover her body.

The frost spread out inch by inch, stroking and caressing her like his fingers. It wrapped around her
arms, her torso, up her neck, and onto her face. Her lips froze, and her lashes froze.

Then...

"Wait! Wait a minute!"

 A shout from Luo Jinsang broke the silence in the room. She stepped in and pushed Changyi's arm
away from Ji Yunhe. His palm landed on the bed frame, instantly freezing the sheets.

And Luo Jinsang's hands turned white from the contact. The frost crawled up her arms and she
shivered.

Kongming saw this and immediately grabbed her. He cast a spell and covered his hands with fire,
then stroked down her arms, melting away the frost. "Do you not want to live?" He scolded her in anger.

"I don't want to die." Luo Jinsang pushed him away and said to Changyi, "Yunhe can still be
saved!"

Her words lit up the dull blue in his eyes.

"Lin Haoqing can save her!"

Everyone turned around and saw Lin Haoqing standing at the screen. He stepped into the room.

His eyes swept over Changyi's face then fell on Ji Yunhe, and his expression dimmed.

"You can save her?" Changyi asked.

Lin Haoqing took a step forward and carefully observed Ji Yunhe, his face growing more dim.

So thin… When they said goodbye six years ago, Lin Haoqing did not expect to see Ji Yunhe
again. He always thought Ji Yunhe would die in the hands of Princess Shunde.

Unexpectedly... she survived six years in the Grand Master's prison, then was brought to the north
by the jiaoren.

"Why does she look like this?" he asked Changyi rhetorically.

Changyi did not answer him. He just asked again, "You can save her?"

Lin Haoqing turned his gaze to look at Changyi. "Look at her right now, how can I save this?"

The slightly brightened ice blue pupils lost their color again.

Luo Jinsang ignored her red and swollen hands. She grabbed Lin Haoqing by his lapel and shouted,
"You said you could save her! You said she wouldn't die so easily! You just told me!"

Lin Haoqing did not break away from her grasp. "I thought I could."

"What do you mean?" Luo Jinsang asked.

"I thought she was ailing from the drugs that refined people into demons, so I thought I could save
her." Lin Haoqing looked at Ji Yunhe on the bed. "But no, she has withered. Obviously her body has
been fully consumed and exhausted. And now she's sealed in ice, how can she still be saved?"

Luo Jinsang's eyes turned red again. She turned her head and shouted angrily at Changyi.

"Why did you seal her?!" She cried out in tears. "Why did you seal her, why?"

Changyi remained silent and did not respond.

Luo Jinsang felt her legs grow weak and give way underneath. Kongming caught her before she fell
and said, "She was already dead before the seal."

Luo Jinsang continued to mumble, "Why did you treat her so badly, why didn't you let her go. You
knew she wanted to go out and see the world, why didn't you at least let her take a look…" Luo Jinsang
broke away from Kongming and threw herself onto the side of Ji Yunhe.

She reached out and grabbed her arm. "I won't let her stay here anymore! She wants to go out, I'll
take her out."

She tried to break Ji Yunhe's arm out of the frost. Before Kongming had a chance to stop her, Ji
Yunhe's body floated up into the air with a blue glow.

A bright light flashed and the shield surrounding the island instantly fell.

Changyi and Ji Yunhe's body disappeared together.

Luo Jinsang wiped her eyes. "Where is he taking her?"

"Outside." Kongming lifted her up and looked out the window. "Let her see what she wanted to see
most."

Lin Haoqing stood to the side and did not say much, but his eyes followed Changyi flying in the
air.

...

What laid beyond the island was naturally the lake. Changyi stepped onto the frozen surface. He
still remembered the time Ji Yunhe broke through his seal and ran wildly across the ice.

At that time, he actually already saw her from afar, but he did not approach her right away. He
watched as she ran and panted in the cold, then tumbled down onto the ice. He watched her look at the
night sky and laugh hysterically.

That was Ji Yunhe at her most natural form. When he could best understand her -- simple and
happy.
 He liked seeing her that way.

Changyi placed Ji Yunhe down on the ice.

Her eyes were closed and she was silent, but he seemed to still hear her laughter. As happy as a
child, without a worry in the world.

A pearl fell and landed in the frost on Ji Yunhe's cheek. The ice under her body began to crack and
open like a giant flower. It embraced her and took her into its blossom, then built up layer by layer until
she was completely encased. The pearl that had fallen from his eye was now forever frozen onto her
face.

"You're free."

The ice sank, pulling her down into the lake. As she grew more distant, her face blurred and the
glow from the pearl faded. Ji Yunhe slowly disappeared into the depths.

The surface of the frozen lake closed up and smoothed over, leaving him standing alone between
heaven and earth...
Chapter 79: Aji

A full moon over the land.

The distant mountains were covered with snow, and the nearby lake was frozen solid with ice. It
emitted an eerie blue glow under the moonlight, chilling but beautiful.

A man in black walked alone on the surface of the frozen lake. He came to a stop where the ice
looked as ordinary as anywhere else. His hand reached out from his cloak with a sword and slashed
down.

He took two steps back and watched as the ice in front of him slowly broke apart and cracked into a
web like pattern, revealing the water below.

The eyes inside the cloak looked into the depths. A faint glow could be seen at the bottom.

He dived in. The water pushed back his cloak and uncovered his face.

Lin Haoqing.

He headed for the faint glow in the darkness where the moonlight did not shine, finally landing his
feet at the bottom of the lake.

With a pinch of magic in his hand, light from his fingertips lit up the surroundings. It also
illuminated what looked like a woman frozen under layers of blue ice.

The water was clear and transparent, so this little bit of light was enough for him to see her face and
the pearl next to her cheek.

A jiaoren's tear...

Lin Haoqing pulled out his sword again and stabbed into the ice. It went in deeper and deeper until
it touched her abdomen, then he thrusted forward until the tip of the sword touched something deep
inside her.

He pulled the sword out.

The blue ice healed itself and sealed the gap, isolating her body again from the surrounding water.

Lin Haoqing looked at his sword. A round, black object now sat at the tip, as if her body had
formed a black capsule.

Lin Haoqing carefully collected the capsule and turned to leave. Then, out of the corner of his eyes,
he saw the pearl shimmering next to her face with a dazzling luster...

It looked as if she was forever frozen in time, weeping.

Did Ji Yunhe like to cry?

He had known her since they were little, and had never seen her shed a single tear.

Of course she did not like to cry...

Lin Haoqing pondered for a while.

...

The small courtyard on the island had been shut down, and Changyi never went there again.

He moved back to where he was supposed to live, the main hall of the Demon Terrace. The
Northlands had already been full of affairs for him to take care of, now with a large number of demon
masters joining them, things became even more troublesome.

Another report came from the dungeon today, stating that Lin Haoqing had escaped. Changyi
rubbed his brow and waved the messenger off.

Kongming entered the study to an exhausted Changyi. He wanted to ask him how many days since
he last slept, but on second thought, he already knew. Changyi had not closed his eyes ever since Ji
Yunhe was sealed at the bottom of the lake.

This fish did not dare to idle for even a moment.

"Lin Haoqing ran away, what do you want to do?" Kongming finally asked him.
 "Get him back."

"One more thing." Kongming walked up and placed a letter on top of Changyi's desk. "That
princess in the capital has gone crazy." He paused then continued, "Seeing the demon masters joining
the north, she dumped large amounts of frost poison into the source of several major rivers."

Upon hearing the news, Changyi blinked slightly then turned to the monk. His bloodshot eyes made
his blue pupils look purple, and black shadows gathered under his lids. He looked demonic and
frightening.

"How is the situation?"

Kongming shook his head, "Very bad. The rivers carried the poison everywhere, and many
uninformed people drank from it. It's harmless to ordinary people, but it poisoned many young children
with a double pulse. Fortunately, the water flow diluted a lot of the toxicity so no one died yet. But it's
enough to damage them for life... "

Changyi thought for a moment holding his pen. Then he took a deep breath and said, "You've been
studying the frost poison for many years. Although you haven't yet found a cure, you can still relieve
some of the symptoms. Are you willing to travel south..."

"That's exactly why I am here. I want to immediately head south. If I can relieve the pain of even
one child, it is better than sitting here and doing nothing."

Changyi nodded. "Ok. I will oversee things here, you take a hundred men and go south. Be careful
of the imperial court while you are down there."

Kongming nodded. Before turning to leave, he took a good look at Changyi sitting at the desk.
Behind him was the dark screen of the Demon Terrace main hall. His black robe blended into it, making
his pale face and silver hair stand out even more.

"You should get some rest," he finally said. "I don't want to come back to a dead fish. It's not going
to help no matter how much you punish yourself."

Then he left, leaving Changyi sitting alone in the hall.

Punishing himself wouldn't help...

But he was not punishing himself, he was just afraid to stop.

If he stopped for just one second, his mind would flood over with that thin and frail figure.

He had been living for a very long time, Ji Yunhe's appearance was such a brief part of his life.
And the amount of time they spent together was even shorter. But strangely...
 The dazzling light of her existence overshadowed everything else. So much that Changyi felt her
presence even now, between every breath. She haunted him, sometimes breathing softly into his ear,
sometimes smiling in front of his eyes, and occasionally calling out to him.

Changyi, Changyi...

Again and again, her voice was a mixture of laughter and sigh. It made him lose his mind.

He abruptly dropped his pen and stood up. "Someone!" he called out. "Let's go patrol the city..."
As soon as he stood up, the early sunrise shining into the hall made his eyes grow dark. He staggered
and almost fell.

Only when the servant came in and held him up did he regain his focus.

"Your Highness, you have not rested for a very long time..."

Changyi waved his hand and went down the steps of his high seat. He walked in the light of dawn,
each step pulling with the weight of a thousand chains. He felt unsteady and lightheaded, but he had to
keep going. No looking back and no stopping, because any slight hesitation would be enough for him to
completely lose himself.

And forget why this shell of a body was still walking.

...

It was spring again.

A small girl giggled and laughed among the plum blossoms. She ran around and plucked at the
grass for a while, then picked at the flowers for a while.

Her eyes were black and her laughter was cheerful, but a pair of black ears on her head showed she
was not an ordinary human. A silver pearl hanging around her neck shimmered under the sun, adding to
the brightness of her smile.

"Aji," a female voice called her from the other side of the plum grove, and a woman in blue slowly
walked over. The little girl jumped on the woman with a grin. The woman poked her between the brows
and said, "So rowdy? You were not like this before."

"Sister Siyu, you and the master always talk about before. What was I like before?"

"Hrm. You used to be much thinner."

"Sister Siyu is making fun of me for eating so much?"

"I don't dare to make fun of you."

 Siyu took Aji's hand and led her through the plum trees until they reached a rickety courtyard. It
was not very spacious inside. There were exactly two rooms with a plum tree in between. Flower petals
floated down and landed on a stone table underneath.

A man dressed in white and blue sat at the table reading a book. He did not seem to notice the two
of them had returned. Aji ran to him, climbed onto his knees, bumped off the book in his hand with her
head, and gave him a wreath she had made out of grass.

"Master, look! I made the wreath for you!"

Lin Haoqing looked at the little girl on his knee, and his mind flashed an image from the past. He
could not remember how many years it had been, but she had given him the same bright smile.

Lin Haoqing accepted the wreath from her.

"Does it look good?"

"Looks very good." Lin Haoqing turned his head to look at Siyu who was standing next to him. She
nodded her head and said respectfully, "I checked, no one was following."

Lin Haoqing then said, "Hungry? Let's go eat."

In one meal, Aji ate fifty times as much as Lin Haoqing. The rice bucket at the table was emptied in
no time and she was still hungry, so she ate Siyu's rice too. She ate and ate until her belly was round. As
soon as she finished, Aji yawned and rubbed her eyes. "Master, I'm sleepy."

"Go to your room and sleep for a while."

Aji went back to her room and did not even shut the door. She threw herself down onto a simple
bed and fell asleep.

Miraculously, soon after she fell asleep, her rounded stomach began to slowly disappear. In just a
while, her hair grew longer and the clothes that had fitted her perfectly now revealed her ankles and
wrists.

Siyu commented while listening to Aji's even breathing, "Over the past ten days, this body formed
from her inner pearl grows a head every time she sleeps. If this keeps going, I'm afraid she will no
longer fit inside this house."

Lin Haoqing chuckled. "Once she grows back to her original size, she will not grow anymore." He
picked up the book again. "Right now, both the Grand Master's house and the Northlands are after me,
so be careful when you take her out."

"Yes," Siyi replied and then paused.

Lin Haoqing looked at her. "What's wrong?"

 "I just don't understand..." Siyu said. "When Ji Yunhe died, why didn't the master save her right
then and there? Why go through the trouble of retrieving her from the bottom of the lake?"

Lin Haoqing was looking at the book, but his mind drifted elsewhere. He recalled the day when he
saw Ji Yunhe's withered face in that room...

"She wanted to leave that place," Lin Haoqing said. "I just helped her out."

Siyu did not ask any more questions. She silently retreated and stood behind Lin Haoqing. Petals of
plum blossoms fell around them like rain in spring.
Chapter 80: Do Not Look Back

Lin Haoqing held up an old, yellowing book with his left hand and gently picked up a small, thin
object with his right. He observed it thoroughly under the dim oil lamp and murmured to himself, "Wing
of a cicada demon..." His focus was broken by a knock at his door.

He folded the object into the book and carefully stored it away before opening the door. "What is
it?"

It could not be his demon slave, Siyu, knocking this late into the night. As expected, it was Aji.

In just half a month, Aji had already grown into a young lady. She looked no different from Ji
Yunhe in the past, but her expression was less stern and decisive.

She stood in the moonlit night with her hair falling on her shoulders, and her arms tightly clutching
a pillow. Her ears trembled on her head, seemingly restless and emotionally disturbed.

A Ji Yunhe without a past. She wore her heart on a sleeve, and her face reflected everything in her
mind. Nothing like the old Ji Yunhe who lived under a constant act.

This was probably how she should be like without the experiences of growing up in the Demon
Valley.

"Master..." She hugged her pillow and looked uneasy. "I had another dream."

"Come in first." Lin Haoqing opened the door wider for her to walk in. Aji placed the pillow onto
Lin Haoqing's bed, sat on it, and wrapped his blanket around herself. "Master, it was the same dream. I
saw myself inside that lake, surrounded by water. It was so cold..."

Lin Haoqing sat down at the table, poured a cup of tea and handed it to Aji. "It's just a dream."

Aji accepted the tea and shook her head. "No, it's strange… Sometimes I would have another
dream, a different kind..."

"What kind?"
 "I... also dreamed of a man with a fish tail. His tail looked so big and shiny, it's beautiful!" Aji said
with her eyes glowing. Lin Haoqing thought about the day in that dungeon, when they first saw the
jiaoren...

It really was a stunning tail...

Then she lowered her head and stared at the tea inside the cup. "But... he did not seem happy. He
was floating in the water in front of me and looking at me. There were beads falling from his eyes and
landing on my face..." Aji raised her hand and touched her cheek, as if she could still feel them.

Lin Haoqing looked at the silver pearl hanging on her neck.

"Just like this one!" Aji removed the pearl and exclaimed in excitement. "Master, you said this was
on me when you picked me up. What is it? Is it the same as the ones inside my dream..."

Lin Haoqing walked to Aji, gently took the pearl from her hand, and put it back on her neck.

"Aji," he said, "this is called a pearl. There are thousands of rivers, lakes and seas among the vast
world, and many, many pearls. This is just one of the most ordinary kinds. Your dream is also just a
most ordinary one among countless dreams."

Aji asked again after a moment of silence, "Really? That's all?"

Lin Haoqing nodded. "That's all."

Aji looked at his eyes, and the two fox ears drooped down. "But..." She gripped the teacup in her
hand. "Why is it that after the man with the fish tail appeared, I..."

Plop, a drop fell into the teacup.

Lin Haoqing froze, and Aji also froze. She looked up at him with eyes still clinging to a teardrop
that had not yet fallen. It flickered under the dim light of the room.

Aji wiped the tear away. "I... I don't know why I feel so sad..."

Lin Haoqing thought for a long time, then finally said, "Eat something?"

A blink restored the blackness of her eyes. "Huh?"

Lin Haoqing turned around, rummaged through the room, and handed Aji a fruit. She immediately
stopped crying and started to eat. Lin Haoqing smiled. "I have dreams too."

"Do your dreams also make you so sad?"

"Yes, but more complicated than sad..." Lin Haoqing said with a slow voice. "I dream of someone I
used to hate very much..."

Aji was not a very proper audience. She interrupted him right away. "How much hate?"

Lin Haoqing looked at her and smiled. "Someone I wanted to kill the most in this world." His
answer scared Aji a little, and she stopped talking. Lin Haoqing then continued, "But this person I dream
of, all the things he did that I hated were for a reason. No matter what people do in this world, they
always have a reason or two. There is no unwarranted good, and there is no unexplained evil..."

"Master... I don't quite understand."

The old Ji Yunhe would never say that...

Lin Haoqing gave her a pat on her head. The gods had taken away her memories and past
experiences, and returned her to a most genuine self. But he could never go back again, and did not want
to either.

"Anyway, no matter how much I used to hate that person, I do not hate him anymore. I even want
to collaborate with him and accomplish something together. Aji, everything in the dream will pass. Once
you wake up, you should let it go. Time will always move forward, and you shouldn't look back either."

"But how do I control my dreams? How do I stop myself from looking back?"

"Dream what you dream, just don't think about it anymore after you wake up."

Aji tightened her fingers around the fruit. She felt her master was right and she should do as he
said. But... but why did the thought of forgetting the man with the long fish tail make her feel so sad
again?

Seeing Aji was lost in thoughts once more, Lin Haoqing withdrew his hand and asked her in a
pretend seriousness, "You have so much time to indulge in a dream, apparently you have learned all the
techniques I've been teaching you?"

Aji scratched her head and fell for his distraction.

"Master, most of the spells you taught me were simple. Forming seals, drawing formations, I can
do them all no problem! But... that... that face-changing one..." Aji looked at Lin Haoqing with some
embarrassment. "I can manage to change my face, but it's always so awkward and uncomfortable. Any
little loss in concentration would make me change back..."

Lin Haoqing was now really serious. "Other techniques are trivial, but the art of transformation,
you must know," he said sternly. "Aji, this is the only way for you to live as you wish in the future. Your
real face must not be seen by anyone other than me and Siyu. I told you to remember these rules by
heart, have you forgotten them?"

His severity made Aji cower a little. "I remember... Never go to the Northlands, never go to the
imperial capital, never show my true face, and never use my spiritual power..."

Lin Haoqing eased his tension a bit. "You are a nine-tailed fox naturally born with nine faces. The
art of transformation should be your base skill. Practice well, and you will be able to control it."

Aji nodded. "But master... I am a demon, why do I have the spiritual power of a demon master?
Sister Siyu is a sword demon and she doesn't have it. And master, you have spiritual power but no
demon power…"

Lin Haoqing did not know how to answer her. Ji Yunhe had been refined by Lin Canglan into a
demon, so she had both the power of the double pulse and a demon. And the demonic power inside her
formed an inner pearl that all demons carried. As long as it remained intact, her demon side would not
die.

Perhaps even Ji Yunhe did not know that she actually had two lives. One was her human body as a
demon master, and the other was her inner pearl.

He took out her pearl from the frozen lake and nurtured it into a new body for her.

Only this time, she was no longer a human carrying the power of a demon, but a demon carrying
the power of a double pulse. And her memories were left behind inside the old frozen body at the bottom
of the lake.

Lin Haoqing did not explain this to the current Aji. He felt that since this was a new life, she should
get a fresh new start as well. The complicated past was best to remain behind her.

After a long silence, Lin Haoqing said softly, "Aji, do not look back."

THE BLUE WHISPER 驭鲛记 - CHAPTER 81

4/14/2021

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Chapter 81: Alone

Half a month later.

The plum blossoms in the courtyard had mostly fallen and been replaced by new sprouts. Aji
finally stopped eating and growing like crazy, and could now properly control the art of transformation.

Unexpectedly, when she stood before Lin Haoqing with the proper body of a man, he told her,
"Good, it's time for you to leave."

Siyu quickly turned around and packed some things without saying a word, then handed Aji a bag.
"Aji, it's time for you to head south."

Aji looked at the bag, then looked up at them, then changed back to her original form. Lin Haoqing
frowned and she immediately transformed into her male body again. "Master, aren't you guys coming
with me?"

"I still have unfinished business. From now on, you are on your own." Lin Haoqing looked at Aji's
dumbfounded face and continued, "Remember what I told you. No Northlands, no capital, no true face,
and no spiritual power."

Aji nodded. "I remember everything. But master... why can't I go with you?"

"Aji, be good." Siyu gently touched her on the head. "We're not trying to leave you behind, but
we're going somewhere that you can't go."

Aji did not understand. "I can't go? Then are you going to the Northlands? Or the capital?"

Lin Haoqing responded before Siyu, "You don't need to know, take your things and go south."

"I..." Aji clutched her bag and became even more at a loss. "But where should I go... What should I
do..."

Lin Haoqing stared at her for a while then walked up to her. He grabbed her shoulders and started
pushing her toward the exit. Once there, he exerted a bit more force and she was shoved out the door.
Only then did Aji hear Lin Haoqing whisper in her ear.

"You'll always find somewhere to go and something to do."

The voice was flat like always, but Aji felt a hint of tenderness.

When she turned her head anxiously to take a second look at Lin Haoqing, the door had already
slammed shut behind her.

She bumped her nose on it and rubbed a face full of dirt.

Aji stood at the door for a long time with her bag in her arms. She nervously thought back over the
past few days. Had she made a mistake and upsetted him?

She squatted at the door for half a day, then knocked on it. No response. She boldly pushed it open
and barged in...

The courtyard was quiet and cool. Wilted plum blossoms covered the ground, adding a bit of
sorrow to the atmosphere.

But in half a day's time, the entire place had been emptied out.
 She stood there for a while then turned and left. The moment she stepped out of the plum grove, the
trees behind her turned into a mass of flowers, rustling and blowing into the sky until they vanished
from sight. There had never been a plum grove here, just a most ordinary field of grass.

She felt empty, as if she had suddenly turned into a rootless weed coming from nowhere. No
parents and no past, just a body full of mystery that no one could answer. She mysteriously came,
mysteriously grew, and was mysteriously left alone...

With no one to rely on, she embarked on the journey south.

Hopefully she would get to see some nice scenery.

...

The south had warmed up, but the north was still bitterly cold.

And inside the Demon Terrace, the room of the lord was even colder than the snowstorm outside.

Ice condensed on his body, spreading to the bed below, and frost covered the walls and floor.

A knock was heard outside his door.

The silver-haired man lying on the bed snapped open his eyes. His blue pupils spaced out and
stared at the ceiling until the knock came again. He sat up and rested his head inside his palms. "Come
in."

Cold air washed out as soon as the servant opened the door, making him shiver. He walked inside
and immediately slipped on the icy floor. With arms flapping and feet struggling desperately to find
footing, he flopped around like an acrobat before finally stabilizing himself and kneeling down, not
daring to move again.

Having made a fool of himself, the servant quietly glimpsed at Changyi.

Ever since this venerable Lord of the North had moved out of the island in the center of the lake,
his body grew colder, and his temper grew more inscrutable. When Kongming and Luo Jinsang were
still around, they would at least laugh at the servant for a bit under these circumstances, lightening up
the mood. But now…

Changyi only threw him a glance and asked, "What is it?"

"Your Highness, Master Kongming has sent word from the south. There are many people affected
by the frost poison, and he may have to delay his return to the north."

"Ok," Changyi answered.

The servant then retreated from the room on his knees in order to keep himself from falling again.
 "You don't have to come again tomorrow."

The servant froze, then answered "yes" and quickly ran off.

He walked a long way and went out several doors before exchanging words with a fellow servant.
"And they say it's better in the north, I think we've come to the wrong place. This lord is moody and
unpredictable, he isn't any easier to serve than Princess Shunde."

"Shouldn't be... I heard this lord was not like this before..."

"He changed after coming out of that island courtyard. Don't know what kind of a demonic curse
fell on him. Look at how his room freezes over every morning, it's even worse than standing outside in
the snow. Thank god I don't have to go serve him tomorrow."

"Sigh..."

They thought they were complaining in private, little did they know that everything reached
Changyi's ears word by word.

Changyi listened, and felt they were right.

His temper had grown increasingly uncontrollable. To him, the world now looked like a barren
field, lifeless and dull. And looking at people's faces was like looking at objects, without the slightest
feel.

He knew he was becoming less and less interested in this human existence. All of his passion and
desire had been used on one person, and she took them all away...

Changyi looked at his hands and pale fingertips. Every breath he took formed a mouthful of white
air.

His body changed after sealing Ji Yunhe in ice. Changyi knew it was the mark he had left on Ji
Yunhe's ear that caused him to suffer this freezing pain. The bite on Ji Yunhe's ear was a promise from
the jiaoren to his mate, and it established an invisible link. While she was alive, the mark allowed him to
sense her whereabouts and wellbeing.

And after she died...

Jiaoren lived in the depths of the ocean their whole lives. Their power came from the sea, so when
they died, the power naturally would return to the sea. Their body would turn to foam and dissipate into
the waves.

Although Ji Yunhe was not a jiaoren, she was marked by one. If Changyi had buried her at sea, the
water would take away the mark and maybe turn her body into foam as well. And once the mark faded,
Changyi would no longer have to suffer.
 But he did not want to do that.

He sealed Ji Yunhe's body in layers of ice and sank her to the bottom of the lake because he did not
want to break the last link between them.

Ji Yunhe was able to let go and be free.

He was not.

He stubbornly held on to this meaningless bond, illogical, unwise, and could even be called
reckless. Just because...

It allowed him to feel her presence in his dreams, as if he were sleeping in the same icy lake as her.
He could still hear her whispering inside his ears, "Changyi… Changyi…"

It helped him sleep through the cold of the night.

Changyi left the bed and stepped onto the frosty floor. He walked out under the sun, but felt none
of its warmth.

Nothing was of interest to him anymore. He remembered hearing that the Grand Master wanted to
mourn for the world...

Mourn for the world...

It was probably the same way he was feeling right now...

Because he no longer felt anything. The sky could fall and the earth could tumble, it did not matter
to him.

"Your Highness." Another servant came, and Changyi looked at him. In his eyes, this servant's face
looked no different from the previous one.

The servant continued, "A demon master who has joined us recently, Lu Jinyan, clashed with a
snake demon. Their fight aggravated the disputes between the demon masters and demons here. Things
have subsided for now, but they still hold a grudge. Your Highness, we've always sheltered both demon
masters and demons, but since the population was low, they got along fine. Now with the huge influx of
new residents..."

"Just kill."

Changyi softly voiced out two words.

The servant was stunned, "Your… Highness...?"

 "Peace disruptors, kill," Changyi ordered blankly then turned and left, leaving the servant staring at
his back with a face full of dismay.

...

Aji grabbed her bag, turned into a man using the art of transformation and made her way south. At
first she thought she would be bewildered, but to her surprise, she was surprisingly adaptable.

Walking through the mountains along the river, she found that she unexpectedly liked this way of
life. No stress over gains and no worries over losses, she was happy-go-lucky and carefree.

After leaving the plum grove, Aji discovered her true self. She loved the blue sky, the bright sun,
and the warm breeze. She also loved catching fish in the stream, lying in the grass after eating, and
sleeping all day.

The frustration and misery of being left alone disappeared. She now believed Lin Haoqing's last
words to her were true, she would indeed find where she wanted to go and what she should do...

It was a sunny day, and Aji was walking along the creek wondering what fish to catch, when she
suddenly heard a woman crying up ahead.

Aji rushed over.

A mother holding a child was crying her heart out by the water.

"What's wrong?" Aji asked. The child's mother did not answer her. Aji looked down and saw the
child was cold all over and his skin was an unnatural blue. She pressed her fingers on the child's wrist
and discovered that he had a double pulse.

A child with spiritual power...

"He's poisoned... he's poisoned…" cried the mother. "This water is all poison!"

Aji looked at the stream that she had also been drinking from day after day, but yet she was fine.
She could feel the child's pulse growing weaker by the minute, and she frowned. She could not use her
demon power to help him because of his double pulse, and Lin Haoqing had told her to never reveal her
spiritual power. She was the only one in the world who had both, so she must keep it a secret...

But...

Could she just watch the child die?

The child twitched a couple of times, his tiny body looking even more helpless in the arms of his
mother. Aji did not hesitate again and poured spiritual power into him.

In a short while, the child's convulsions stopped, and his breathing gradually stabilized. Although
the black and blue cast did not fade completely, he slowly opened his eyes.

"The eyes are open!" The mother broke into tears and looked at the child, stroking his face again
and again. "It's okay, you are okay, mama is here, mama is here."

Aji took two steps back and smiled, feeling the mother's joy.

After nightfall, Aji followed the mother and her son to a small temple where they were temporarily
sheltered.

The mother called herself Liang Li, and the child was called Liang Xiaoan. They had escaped from
their hometown. "Xiaoan's father is gone..." Liang Li looked at the sleeping child and spoke while
wiping away tears. "When Xiaoan was born, the doctor said he had a double pulse. His father and I took
him and fled overnight to keep him from being forced into the four quarters…"

The campfire illuminated her, showing a face full of fatigue. Aji looked at her and spaced out. Her
mind flashed a series of images -- a couple fleeing in haste with their child...

"Xiaoan's father was caught by the imperial soldiers in the early years and killed. I took Xiaoan and
hid in the mountains, hoping everyday that the Grand Master would die and the court would fall, so we
could come out of our hiding. Finally the northern border rebelled, but unexpectedly, the princess in the
capital poisoned the rivers. I told him not to drink the water in the stream. We collected dew every
morning and saved water when it rained, but it wasn't enough. He was too thirsty and drank from the
stream while I wasn't watching..."

Liang Li wiped away some more tears. "I would rather he drink my blood than this poison..."

Aji listened and felt truly disgusted by the princess. "How could that princess be this cruel and
heartless?"

Liang Li shook her head. "Whatever the princess wants to do, we can only accept it as our own
misfortune. I want to take the child to the north. It's full of snow and ice over there, at least he will get
some clean water."

Aji nodded and said, "Sister Liang, don't be sad. Tomorrow morning I will help you collect the
dew."

Liang Li looked at her and said with gratitude, "Thank you so much for today..."

"No, sister Liang, promise me that you will leave tomorrow and forget about me. Don't ever
remember this."

Liang Li nodded. "I know, everyone has their own difficulties. You saved my child, I definitely do
not want to cause you any trouble. But if you are also hiding from something, why don't you go north
with us?"
 Aji waved her hand, "No thanks, I have other things to do."

On the next day, Aji went up the stream after parting ways with the mother and son. She had
promised Lin Haoqing she would not go to the north or the capital, plus the princess and the Lord of the
North were probably too high and mighty for her to touch, so she might as well do something within her
power.

For example, find the source of this stream and figure out a way to cleanse it of the poison.

...

Aji followed the stream for two days. It twisted and turned westward, taking her deep into the
mountains. She settled down for the night, and planned to keep searching for the water source in the
morning.

But shortly after she fell asleep on a tree, shouts came from behind the mountain. She sat up and
saw many people holding torches in the distance, searching through the forest.

Aji rolled over and jumped down from the tree. As soon as she landed, a cry of alarm came from
the ground next to her. It was a young man dressed in white who had fallen to the ground.

She blinked and looked at him. Before she could say anything, the man suddenly jumped up and
covered her mouth. "Shhh!" he whispered in panic. "Don't talk!"

Aji was not frightened and kept looking at him. From the hand holding her mouth, she could detect
that he had a double pulse. A demon master dressed in white… and the material of his white clothing
was so high quality...

Aji thought back to the books she had read from Lin Haoqing.

The young man saw Aji had no intention of yelling, so he released his hand and said, "Do not be
afraid, I will not hurt you."

"Are you a disciple of the Grand Master's house?" Aji asked and he immediately grew cautious. He
backed into a tree and stared at her nervously.

"Who are you...? Are you here to get me?"

Aji did not answer him. She smelled a hint of blood and turned her gaze. The man's sleeve was torn
and a long gash was bleeding on his arm.

"I'm not here to get you. But why do those men want you? Did you put the poison at the source of
this stream?"

The young man shook his head repeatedly. "Not me! I... well... maybe kind of…" He sat down
against the tree as if he could no longer support his weight. "Me and my brother, we were ordered to
come. We were on our way here and I saw a child poisoned... He was covered in black and blue... I... I
did not want to carry out the order, but my brother... my senior brother still put the frost into the stream.
And then the people from the north came... Senior brother was killed by them and I escaped..."

He spoke somewhat incoherently, still frightened from his experience.

He scratched his head and continued, "I don't know what to do... Why did this have to happen..."
He broke down emotionally. "I don't want to harm anyone, and I don't want to die either..."

This young man was only sixteen or seventeen years old. Aji looked at him, examined him, and
then believed him. She made up her mind and said, "Go. I will help muddle those people from the north
for you."

He looked up at her, his tired eyes full of disbelief. "I... I am a disciple of the Grand Master's
house... everyone wants us dead... You, you want to help me?"

"Just stop talking and go. They're coming soon."

The young man struggled to his feet. "I... my name is Ji Ning, my master is Ji Chengyu of the
Grand Master's house..."

Ji Chengyu...

That name felt inexplicably familiar.

The young man did not notice the change in her expression. "What is your name? Next time..."

"Still want to have a next time?"

A cold laugh came from behind her, and Ji Ning's face immediately grew pale.

Aji turned around and saw a strong, burly man with a giant axe. He stared at them and scoffed,
"Dog of the Grand Master, don't even think about getting away!"

Ji Ning's feet went weak and he fell to the ground again. But Aji walked over and stood in front of
him, shielding him from the big man.

"He was forced to do this, how can you kill him for it?"

"Humph, where did this brat come from? Do not interfere!" He stomped his feet and charged right
at her with his giant axe. Every step he took trembled the earth beneath them, and his axe chopped down
ruthlessly.

Aji raised a hand and her palm met with the man's wrist. A burst of energy radiated out from the
contact and shook the trees nearby.
 Aji grabbed his wrist and exerted some force, the man's expression went from surprise to pain.

She gave a gentle push and he backed up a few steps with his arm drooping down, his axe falling to
the ground.

He looked at her in disbelief. Ji Ning was also shocked.

Aji was the only one who still had a calm face. "I told you he was forced. Before killing someone,
can you be reasonable?"
Chapter 82: Returning to the North

"You're a demon too?" The man stood up and stared at Ji Yunhe.

During his attack, neither of them used any power, demonic or spiritual. It was a contact of pure
physical strength. Although demon masters had the spiritual power from their double pulse, their bodies
were still just ordinary human beings. Only demons could have such strong, raw force.

Aji did not deny it.

Ji Ning was now even more shocked.

In the middle of their conversation, the crowd with torches approached and the fire lit up their
surroundings.

Aji looked around and roughly counted twenty of them. If these people were all around the same
level as the man with the axe, then it should not be a problem. But Aji did not know their capabilities.
Plus she had to keep Ji Ning safe, and focus on keeping her transformation in place. Most importantly,
she could not activate the spiritual power inside her body…

If this fight grew messy, she could easily expose herself...

Got to run.

Among the people surrounding them, there were both demon masters and demons. Aji could tell
they did not have a very close relationship with one another, and did not form a seamless circle around
her. She found a weak spot between them easily.

She quickly planned inside her head. She had never learned these things before, and Lin Haoqing
only taught her some formations and basic skills. But somehow she seemed to know exactly what to do
in a situation like this. Weighing the pros and cons, analyzing, deciding, and executing…

The burly man in front of her held his injured wrist and said, "Kid, no matter what you are, I advise
you, you cannot take someone wanted by the north. It's best for you to stay out of this and mind your
own business!"

"I'm not minding something that's none of my business," Aji said. "I am minding over someone's
life and death."

While everyone was distracted by their exchange of words, Aji suddenly grabbed Ji Ning and
charged to a less guarded part of the circle. Two people reacted and came to block her, but she quickly
unsheathed the dagger from her waist and struck their elbows with the side. Their arms immediately
went numb and drooped down.

Aji took the opportunity and jumped over the treetops carrying Ji Ning on her shoulder. A few steps
on the branches and she flew away like a bird, as if heading for the moon.

She turned back to look behind her. The northern men were now blocked by trees and their faces
blurred. Aji laughed, "Taking your guy..."

In this moment of triumph, a shadow was suddenly cast over them. She looked up and saw a huge
oryoki bowl dropping down from above. She widened her eyes and turned to escape, but it was already
falling over their bodies.

Clang! The sound vibrated and echoed throughout the forest like a giant bell. Startled night crows
flocked into the sky and flew away.

Aji and Ji Ning were both trapped under the huge bowl.

The northern men hurried over, scratching their heads. Then someone walked out from between the
trees and a man immediately saluted, "Master Kongming, Miss Luo, thank you for your help!"

"Heard the commotion here from far away." Luo Jinsang walked out from behind Kongming and
knocked on the bowl. "Baldy's magic weapon is quite useful for catching people, yes?"

Aji and Ji Ning could not hear the people talking outside, but they could hear her knock loud and
clear. It echoed back and forth for a very long time, making them unable to do anything other than cover
their ears in misery.

Luo Jinsang knocked on it a few times before stopping. Then she curiously asked the burly man,
"Who's in there?"

"A disciple of the Grand Master's house and an unknown demon," the man replied. "Since this river
leads to the Northlands, many children born with a double pulse pass through here on their way up.
Quite a few had fallen victim to the frost poison. We found a couple of disciples of the Grand Master's
house dropping poison into the source of the stream. We killed one, and this is the other one that ran
away."

"Disciple of the Grand Master's house?" Kongming raised his eyebrows and snorted. "Heh, the
Grant Master sure indulges that witch, even getting his own disciples to carry out these cruel tasks..."

"Yes. In recent years, the Grand Master's house has been in a shortage of people, so his disciples
have also started taking in disciples. I heard earlier that this kid's master is Ji Chengyu."
 Kongming shifted his eyes to the oryoki upon hearing the name.

"Hmph. These guys are rotten to the core!" Luo Jinsang landed a fierce punch on the side of the
bowl.

The loud and lingering buzz made everyone's ears uncomfortable. Kongming threw her a scolding
look.

"All right, they've been caught, and that punch was enough to suffer them for a while. Baldy, put
your things away and let's get going. There are still many kids in need of our help"

Luo Jinsang turned and left. Kongming pinched a spell between his fingers and the huge bowl
slowly shrank back to a normal size. "Don't kill the disciple. Take him back to the Northlands and see
what information you can get out of him."

The big man was shocked. Kongming was famous for being ruthless and killing evil without
hesitation, now he wanted to spare this disciple's life. But the big man did not dare to question him, and
just nodded "yes".

The oryoki bowl that had just shrank to a few inches suddenly exploded out and was tossed aside.

The crowd was forced to shade their eyes from the black wind that blew at them. Kongming was
very quick to react. He turned the zen staff in his hands and instantly formed a shield to block the
demonic wind. Then he narrowed his eyes at the one standing in the center of the black gas. "Fox
demon?"

Aji had summoned her demonic energy to protect herself and Ji Ning who fell unconscious from
the outburst. Now that they were outside again, the black gas slowly dissipated.

Kongming studied her.

She looked back at him and felt a slight headache. Numerous images flashed through her mind
again, but she could not make sense of any of them.

And in this moment of confusion, she abruptly felt a chill on the back of her neck. She looked
behind and did not see anyone there, then she grew dizzy and fell to the ground. Before passing out, she
saw the woman who had left earlier slowly fade into view.

Invisibility...

This woman could stealth?

Aji then completely lost her consciousness.

Seeing that her eyes were now closed, Luo Jinsang patted her chest in relief. "Luckily I didn't go
far, this demon is quite powerful." Luo Jinsang squatted down and pushed back the hair covering Aji's
face. "He doesn't look like this little demon master's demon slave, why is he protecting him?"

Kongming walked over, grabbed Aji's wrist, held it for a moment, then released it. "A very
powerful demon indeed. Take him back to the north too."

...

When Aji woke up, she was inside an extremely cold dungeon.

She rubbed her temples, sat up, and realized she had been captured. She touched her chest then the
top of her head... Luckily, she had managed to preserve her transformation at the last moment and did
not reveal anything...

She breathed a sigh of relief, then quietly surveyed the surroundings.

In front of her were cold iron bars and the walls to the side were frozen. She touched the wall and
suddenly felt like imprisonment was very familiar…

She turned her head again and was surprised.

There was someone else inside her cell...

To be precise, there were two.

Ji Ning was in the corner, still out cold. Another man in tattered clothing sat by the wall, staring at
her.

Aji walked to Ji Ning, felt his pulse and confirmed he was still alive before turning to the man by
the wall. "Are you also a disciple of the Grand Master's house?"

The man crossed his arms and said, "I'm your daddy."

Aji froze, looked around, then looked back at him and asked, "The daddy of this prison?"

The man's face turned green. A strange laugh came from the opposite cell, and a voice neither male
nor female said, "Little bro, this guy will be beheaded in a few days, so just humor him a bit."

Aji looked across the cell and saw an androgynous snake demon hanging on the bars like he had no
bones. Although he had a human face, his tongue was still that of a snake, spitting out while he talked.

"Your mama! Don't forget you are also getting beheaded!" The man stood up and shouted, then he
smashed his fist against the cell door. "If it weren't because you, would I be here? You wanna die
together then let's die together, who's afraid who?!"

The snake demon spat out his tongue seductively. "Lu Jinyan, you only dare to yell at me. If you
have the guts, go cuss out the jiaoren."

What the snake demon said seemed to have touched Lu Jinyan's sore spot, and he did not curse
again. He walked a couple of circles in the cell and found a place to squat, then spoke in a muffled
voice.

"If I had known that jiaoren was also a son of a bitch, I would not have joined the north. What's the
difference between him and the Grand Master, and that bullshit princess in the capital!?" After
complaining, he stood up again, kicked the cell door, and pointed at the snake demon. "You demons are
fucking unreliable! You all should be mastered and enslaved! Venerable lord? That's giving you face!
Let's see how the world falls in chaos after I die! You're all fucking bastards! No one is ever satisfied!
No one will ever let anyone live in peace!"

He cursed and kicked the wall a few more times.

Aji sorted through his cussing and made sense of his words. "That venerable Lord of the North is
going to execute you two for fighting with each other?"

"Yeah," the snake demon answered first. "We demons and them demon masters are natural born
enemies. Now that we have all mixed together here, who can truly get along? That jiaoren probably
wants to kill a chicken for the monkeys to see, make an example out of us."

"You're the fucking chicken!" Lu Jinyan cussed again.

Aji stroked her chin and wondered, "So the jiaoren put me and this kid in the same prison as you,
does that mean he's going to chop off our heads too?"

The snake demon laughed, "The boy has finally caught on. He is a disciple of the Grand Master's
house, you are a demon who helps a disciple of the Grand Master's house. Now that you are here,
obviously you are also a chicken."

Aji was not happy. "That doesn't work for me," she said. "That's too much. I don't want to be a
chicken. Not even a chicken for people to eat, but just to be killed for people to see, no no no."

"What? This dungeon is comparable to the prisons in the capital, you think you can get out?"

Aji smiled. "Either way we are going to get beheaded, why not give it a desperate attempt?"

Lu Jinyan and the snake demon both fell into silence. They looked at each other, then looked at Aji.
Chapter 83: Prison Break

Two guards with large swords patrolled the dungeon. They turned a corner and were heading for
the death row section when some prisoners shouted from inside.

"Hey! Hey! The snake demon has run away! The snake demon has run away!"
 The two guards looked at each other in shock. The snake demon was sentenced to death by the lord
himself, if they were to lose him, the punishment would be severe.

They immediately ran in. The death row section consisted of two cells facing each other with one
of them holding three people. The disciple of the Grand Master was still sleeping in the corner while the
other two had faces full of anxiety. Lu Jinyan cursed, "These damned demons are so cunning!"

And the fox demon pointed to the opposite cell and shouted, "Quick! Go after him! That snake
demon dug a hole in the ground and ran away!"

The guards rushed to the other cell -- indeed, no snake demon! They panicked. "Dug a hole in the
ground?"

"Yes! That corner! There! Some light can still be seen!" Aji pointed to the corner and shouted
anxiously. "We can't let that snake demon get away! Get him back! We are supposed to die together!"

One of the guards took out a key and opened the cell door to investigate.

The moment he opened the door, a snake tail rolled onto his neck from the ceiling and threw him
into the wall, knocking him out cold. The snake demon's body then flashed over to the other guard like
lightning and wrapped around his mouth and face. Snake jaws opened to a frightening size and hovered
over the guard's head, as if to swallow him whole.

Pop! An ice cube struck the snake demon on his head followed by Aji's reproach, "You still want to
eat people? Just disable him and come open our door."

Aji could not use magic power inside the black iron cell, so the ice cube did not cause any real
damage. The snake demon turned around and looked at the three of them still locked behind bars. He
gave Lu Jinyan a wicked smile, released the unconscious guard, and picked up the key.

They watched as the snake demon hung the key onto the cell door opposite of them.

Lu Jinyan's face turned green. "What the fuck are you doing?"

The snake demon raised his chin in gratification, twisted his tail and slithered out.

Lu Jinyan was furious. "You come back! Motherfucker! You son of a bitch! Come back!"

Compared to Lu Jinyan, Aji seemed very calm. "Go wake that disciple of the Grand Master's house.
If he won't wake up, carry him."

"Carry my ass! That snake demon left by himself! Hanging the key over there! Can you get it? Can
you get it? Motherfucker! I told you these demons can't be trusted! They're all fucking liars!"

His attitude did not upset Aji at all. She gently rubbed the ear distressed by his booming voice and
said, "He will come back." She looked at him calmly. "Get Ji Ning up."
 Lu Jinyan suddenly felt like his rage was childish and useless in front of Aji's composure.

He scratched his head, walked to the back as he was told, and patted Ji Ning on the face. "Kid?
Kid! Running for our lives, get up!"

Ji Ning's tightly shut eyelids quivered, then a rustling came from outside the cell. It was the snake
demon returning. By the sound of it, he was now in a much more agitated state than when he left.

Lu Jinyan pulled the limp Ji Ning to his feet and was impressed by Aji.

"Hey, you were right!" Lu Jinyan then laughed at the snake demon. "Run? Why aren't you
running?"

Aji also crossed her arms and watched as the snake demon obediently grabbed the key and opened
their door. "Quick! Hurry, so many people!"

The sound of rapid footsteps came from the corner of the dungeon as Lu Jinyan half carried Ji Ning
out of the cell. The snake demon had attracted quite a crowd.

Lu Jinyan gritted his teeth in anger and glared at the snake demon. "You son of a bitch had to go
first!"

"It would've been the same if you guys had gone first." The snake demon was stressed too. "This
dungeon is full of jailers and guards. Just getting out of the cell is no use. We were too naive! Now that
they know of our escape, we are probably not going to make it."

Lu Jinyan looked at Aji behind him. "What do we do? You have a lot of ideas, think of something!"

Aji then stepped out of the cell and eyed the snake demon. "I told you to cooperate with us. We
help you open your door and you open ours. I never said you'd be able to get out on your own."

The snake demon snickered, "What? Do you think the three of you can fight your way out?"

Aji laughed. "Not the three of us. I alone can do it."

She summoned her demonic power and black gas filled the air. Lu Jinyan and the snake demon
both looked at her in shock.

At this time, a guard charged forth and slashed against the black cloud with his large sword. But it
was like slashing against solid steel. With a loud clang, the blade curled and broke.

The black cloud then waved and threw the guard backward, landing on others approaching from
behind. They all fell down into a pile.

The black gaseous cloud around Aji then fluttered and gradually coalesced into three tails behind
her.

The male disguise was her third face which gave her the power of three tails, but Aji knew it was
enough to deal with these prison guards.

Lin Haoqing had told her before that she was very powerful, but Aji did not really know exactly
how powerful. After she fought the burly man with an axe by the mountain stream, she knew she could
take on ten such demons with her current body.

When she was trapped by the oryoki, it was because it had taken her by surprise. And afterwards, it
was the sudden headache she felt when facing that monk that got the better of her. Else they would not
have been able to capture her so easily...

"Let's go," Aji said.

But both the snake demon and Lu Jinyan just stood there and looked at her.

"Kid, you're this powerful?" Lu Jinyan said with a bit of shock.

The snake demon also blinked for a moment and said, "If you have this kind of power, why not
fight your way to the main hall, kill the jiaoren and become the Lord of the North yourself?"

"Have you guys fought with him before?" They shook their heads, and Aji laughed. "Then how do
you know I can beat him? I don't want to die. I'm not staying in the north, let's go our separate ways after
we get out. I still have to go back to the south."

...

With Aji in front, they gloriously left the dungeon before backup could arrive.

All the way into the forest of the Northlands. Aji collected her tails and grabbed Ji Ning who still
had a face full of confusion from waking up in the middle of their run. "We will part ways here, it'll be
too eye catching if we remain together. You guys probably can't stay in the north anymore. If you have
nowhere else to go, you can head south and wait for me at the little village by the Demon Valley. We
can make plans there."

Lu Jinyan clasped his hands and bowed to her, "I will never forget your help today. You are
different from other demons. I, Lu Jinyan, will remember you."

The snake demon flashed Lu Jinyan a dirty look and said to Aji, "Escaping from the dungeon only
saves us from the execution in two days. There is not much to look forward to out there in the human
world either. We can only hope to live day by day. Little brother fox demon, remember what you said in
the dungeon, do not use your great power without due consideration. Take care, and farewell."

Aji nodded. "We have been named by the Lord of the North to be executed, so be careful. The
roads south will be heavily patrolled in the coming days, maybe hide out for a while then leave."
 The two of them thanked her once more then left. Aji turned to Ji Ning and said, "Come with me.
You can find your own way after we get out of the north."

Ji Ning nodded stiffly, as if he still did not come around to what had happened.

They walked further north into the forest. She believed going up into the snowy mountains would
be easier than trying to head south at the moment.

They slowly hiked through the trees and chit chatted along the way. Aji thought they would exit the
forest soon, but a few hours later, there were still no signs of an end. The deeper they went, the colder it
became.

The surrounding trees began to freeze, even the trunks.

Ji Ning started to have trouble handling the extreme temperature.

Aji gave him her outer robe and cast a small fox fire in her palm. But as the air grew colder and
colder, the fire was no longer sufficient in keeping them warm. The temperature had dropped so low that
even Ji Ning's eyelashes froze.

This part of the forest was oddly much colder than everywhere else, and it made Aji ponder. Maybe
it was the doing of a powerful demon, or some kind of a magic formation… Either way it was probably
not a good thing for them.

Aji was about to tell Ji Ning to turn around and go back when a clearing suddenly opened up in
front of them. It was not an exit, but an icy flat surrounded by a circle of white trees that had been
completely frozen solid

The flat was covered by ice spikes of different heights protruding from the ground, rough and
uneven. No one in their right mind would dare to step onto them.

Ji Ning hid behind Aji and asked her nervously, "Let's go back? This place looks so bizarre..."

Aji nodded and was about to turn around, but for some reason, she stood on her toes and looked
inside. "Wait," she said. "Wait here for a moment."

She drew a circle of fox fire around Ji Ning, enclosing him in it and warming him. Then she
stepped into the ice spikes.

"Aji..." Ji Ning called out in a whisper, not daring to raise his voice.

She tiptoed one step at a time and carefully approached the center of the flat.

She soon noticed some black fabric embroidered with dark patterns vaguely visible underneath the
thick icy formations. A step later, she saw some silver hair. As she moved forward some more…
 Aji finally realized it was a person lying under the ice.

Who was this? Why was he lying here? Was he sealed? But she did not sense any magic aura...

It almost looked like this person had just fallen asleep here... and was then covered by ice and
snow.

Was he still alive?

Aji bent down and used the fox fire to melt away some spikes. They turned into water then soon
froze back into ice again. She did not intend on melting them completely, she just needed a foothold.

She sat on her knees and leaned over to examine the person. The ice between them fragmented his
face and made it difficult to see him clearly, but just from the outlines, she could tell he was extremely
beautiful...

And such long silver hair... was it a man or a woman...

"Aji..." Ji Ning watched her slump down and called with some concern. "Aji... what are you
looking at, let's go... Aji?"

Aji sat up and said to Ji Ning, "Wait a minute..." As she spoke, the ice underneath her suddenly
trembled. The vibration was not strong, but it was very apparent. She looked down and saw a pair of ice
blue eyes open.

Aji froze.

When their eyes met, her world abruptly grew silent and still, and every beat of her heart whispered
into her ear, "Changyi… Changyi... "

Those were the first words she thought of.

Like a sigh breathing out from the depth of her soul...

Chapter 84: Just Passing Through

The ice underneath Aji cracked open.

The sound pulled her back into reality.

Danger! She should not stay here.

Aji pushed her hands against the ice before it fully broke apart, stomped her feet and leapt into the
air. She had to get out of this weird icy flat with its strange sleeping man. But before she went up far, the
ice and snow around her formed a chain and wrapped onto her wrist. She knew just from the contact that
three tails were not enough to deal with this person...
 The chain tugged on her wrist and pulled her down.

Aji had no room to struggle. She crashed hard onto the icy ground, stirring up a giant puff of
powdered snow and creating a fog around them.

The cold air and fine powder choked her and made her cough. She fell into the broken ice and they
scraped against her skin, leaving numerous scratches.

"Aji!" Ji Ning shouted in distress.

Aji, however, did not bother responding to him. She slowly stood up in the snow and fog and eyed
her surroundings...

The layer of solid ice was now completely shattered, and the person underneath had disappeared.
She cautiously looked around for any signs of him. He was very powerful... Just a most ordinary blow
was enough to cause her this much damage, and she did not even get to see his face...

The powdered snow in the air was slowly falling back down. A black shadow suddenly flashed on
her right side. The moment she turned her gaze to look, several chains of ice jumped out from her left
side. Aji flew into the air and dodged a couple of them, but the speed of the chains far exceeded her
perception. Before she was even aware, a chain had wrapped around her waist.

Aji was startled and tried to burn the chain with fox fire, but it was already too late.

The chain pulled her straight out of the snowy fog and threw her against a frozen tree, then
wrapped around her body multiple times like a snake.

The force of the contact was so great that she felt a pain inside her chest and spat out a mouthful of
blood.

Aji was now securely tied onto the tree, the sweat on her face almost turning into ice from the
chilling wind.

She watched the fog in front of her gradually dissipate. The black robe started to come into view,
and Aji could now see where he was. She bit her lip and released a drop of blood, took a deep breath,
and blew a giant black fireball at him.

The fox fire was extremely hot. It melted their surroundings, and turned the snow lingering in the
air into rain. Like a spring shower in the middle of the bitter cold lands.

The ice chain was also melted into water, and Aji fell to the ground. She clutched at her achy chest
and looked up. With the sound of a waving sleeve, the fox fire was extinguished and a man with silver
hair walked through the drizzle.

The blue pupils of his eyes were as deep and clear as the sea, but they looked colder than the
temperature around them.

Aji forgot she had just fought with him.

She stared at him. His features were now clearly displayed in front of her, and every step he took
stirred up a wave of tsunami inside her mind. Countless images were pushed up then destroyed before
she had a chance to make sense of them, leaving her with nothing to cling to...

Who was he?

No one needed to answer her. With trembling lips not at all under her control, she called out his
name...

"Chang... Changyi..."

He paused.

Changyi walked up and looked at her with some suspicion. She had been defeated and was now
covered in blood.

"Who are you?" he asked her.

So arrogant and aloof.

Aji closed her eyes, suppressed all the unexplainable emotions, and calmed her mind.

Northlands, silver hair and blue eyes, powerful. The dark pattern on his black robe symbolized the
prestige of his identity... The above features all pointed to the one high up in the sky...

The venerable Lord of the North, the jiaoren, Changyi.

Everyone knew his name, but no one called him that. People preferred to call him jiaoren. After all,
he was the one and only world famous jiaoren in existence.

Aji opened her eyes and felt like laughing. In the prison, the snake demon had joked about her
killing the jiaoren and becoming lord herself. Now it was clear how crazy and far fetched that would be.

Although she only used the power of three tails, this man only casually pinched out a chain from
ice. Likely he did not use even ten percent of his power…

"Shoot..." Aji mumbled to herself, "Fell head first into a coffin..." Then she smiled at Changyi.
"Your Highness, my lord, I was just passing through. I didn't know you were napping here. So sorry for
the disturbance..."

She now only hoped that he did not know her, so he could treat her as a passerby and let her go...
He had been sleeping here for a while, no one should have told him yet that four prisoners had escaped...
 The jiaoren narrowed his eyes and sized her up.

Then they heard the sound of wings flapping in the air. Aji lifted her head and saw a snow eagle
slowly descending, then transforming into a man. He knelt down before the jiaoren and bowed, "Your
Highness, reporting from the dungeon, Lu Jinyan, the snake demon, the disciple of the Grand Master's
house and the fox demon injured several guards and escaped."

Aji opened her mouth, looked at the snow eagle demon, and sprouted a Lu Jinyan inside her heart.
She cursed silently for a thousand times...

The jiaoren glanced at her, then looked to the side.

Ji Ning seemed to have been tied to a tree at the very start of their fight. He was a little worse off as
his mouth had also been wrapped by chains, keeping him from making any sound...

Oh... Aji suddenly understood. So when he called her earlier, it was not out of concern for her
safety, but a cry for help…

And now, the jiaoren's gaze was sweeping over Ji Ning's body. Although he was tied up and his
clothes were dirty, a closer look could still distinguish that it was the Grand Master's uniform.

The jiaoren's eyes landed back on Aji.

His look announced both of their identities -- the fox demon and the disciple of the Grand Master's
house.

There was a brief moment of silence in the chilly air. Aji pushed aside her feelings of
embarrassment and stubbornly persisted, "I was really just passing through..."

She was indeed just passing through.

The snow eagle demon who came to report the news finally looked at them and responded in
surprise, "Huh…?"

Aji lowered her head and sighed. No need to "huh"... It was them...

"Take them back," the jiaoren coldly issued an order.

The snow eagle demon immediately nodded, and at the end did not forget to kiss up a little, "Your
Highness is mighty and wise."

Aji did not know what more she could do except to sigh and resign herself to her fate.
Chapter 85: Name And Life

Aji and Ji Ning were brought to the top of the great hall.
 The Demon Terrace had originally been set up by the court for managing demons in the north. The
hall was simple and well lit. A black robed jiaoren sat on the main seat up at the top, his face cold and
majestic. Logically speaking, he should instil fear into the people down below, but for some reason, Aji
did not feel afraid.

Even though she had just been beaten by him...

She even thought this jiaoren sitting up there looked so lonely, too lonely… Her heart absurdly
ached for him.

Aji did not know what was wrong with her, but she knew this jiaoren had to be the reason Lin
Haoqing did not want her in the north. Why else would she feel so complicated upon seeing him? This
jiaoren must have been in her life before, and he was very significant.

An enemy, or a lover?

Aji had no idea since she could not remember anything. She could only make the most preliminary
judgment -- her relationship with this jiaoren was most likely not very good.

Because Lin Haoqing was the one who saved her. He treated her well, became her master and
taught her survival skills. And most importantly, he wanted nothing from her...

After leaving the plum grove, Aji had thought about her relationship with Lin Haoqing. He kept so
much hidden from her, but one thing she could be sure of was that he wanted her to be safe. So anyone
that Lin Haoqing did not want her to see must be somewhat detrimental to her.

Was the jiaoren her enemy? She felt such strong emotions with him, but he did not seem to know
her… Then it dawned on her.

Aji touched her face.

So that was why she had to master the art of transformation. Why she must never show her true
face or use her spiritual power. They would give her away to this jiaoren...

Aji was escorted to the top of the hall and made to kneel down. The jiaoren on the main seat closed
his eyes. Soon after, footsteps came from behind along with some shouting.

"Stop pushing! I have feet!"

Hearing this familiar voice, Aji turned her head and saw two people being escorted up with their
hands tied behind their backs.

Lu Jinyan and the snake demon...

Surprisingly, they had also been captured again.

 So... this jailbreak of theirs immediately ended in failure after they parted ways?

They also saw Aji and Ji Ning. Lu Jinyan stuttered with shock as he was forced to kneel down next
to her, "You guys too...?"

Ji Ning weakly replied, "We ran into the jiaoren..."

Lu Jinyan looked at the high and mighty lord sitting up top, then gave a long sigh and shook his
head.

Aji asked him, "And how did you guys get caught?"

Lu Jinyan gritted his teeth. "This dog fought with me again on the road..."

No need to hear any more, Aji understood. She looked at the snake demon and Lu Jinyan for a
while. "You two are destined to clash, why not go separate ways?"

The snake demon said, "I wanted to..."

"I also fucking wanted to!" Lu Jinyan said angrily. "You shut up!"

"Why don't you shut up?"

After listening to the four of them bicker for a while, the jiaoren opened his eyes. A sergeant
standing next to him immediately ordered, "Quiet!"

The hall fell silent, and the head of the prison walked up along with two guards. They bowed and
knelt down, "Your Highness, we have failed you. We subject ourselves to punishment."

The jiaoren looked at him for a while then nodded his head. "Okay, kill."

As soon as the word "kill" was uttered, the head of the prison was so frightened his legs went weak
and he fell to the ground. All the people in the room were shocked.

Aji felt unbelievable. She frowned at the jiaoren and wondered how he could issue that command.

The jiaoren turned to Aji. "If you don't want to stay in jail, you can be executed immediately."

The other three turned pale.

The jiaoren stood up and walked away. Aji watched him head for the exit as if everyone in the hall
were just a lifeless corpse to him. His indifference stirred up a wave of emotional turbulence inside her.
She could not tell whether it was anger or disappointment, or the mysterious ache that had been haunting
her since the moment they met.
 She stood up. "Stop."

One word, loud and clear. Everyone stared at her.

Changyi paused and turned his head slightly.

Aji stepped forward.

The guards immediately pressed their hands to the hilt of their swords, and the situation grew tense.

"You can't kill anyone here." Fox fire lit up and four black tails appeared as she struggled to
maintain her transformed face.

Everyone knew a fox demon grew much stronger with each additional tail. They looked at Aji and
saw her black gas suddenly swirl up, breaking the chain around her wrists.

Sounds of swords leaving their sheaths instantly filled the hall.

In Changyi's eyes, Aji was obviously a man. But she spoke with a familiarity that he could not
ignore, and he watched until her black demonic gas darkened his blue pupils.

The familiarity was fleeting, but it was enough to make him stay and survey the tails behind Aji.

A black, four-tailed fox demon...

He still remembered that Ji Yunhe's demon half was a black, nine-tailed fox...

"On what basis?" he asked her. "Why should you be allowed to live?"

The fox fire died down and Aji stepped up. "On the basis of my belief that the Northlands should
not be like this," she said. "I also believe the venerable Lord of the North, who's able to convince an
army of demon masters to join him, is not a cruel tyrant."

Changyi's eyes fluctuated.

After sealing Ji Yunhe at the bottom of the lake, Changyi forced himself to forget her and their
past. But at times of weakness, all the images and memories lying dormant would break through and rip
into his mind.

Just like now.

Two horses outside the Demon Terrace, walking through the wind and snow, and Ji Yunhe's
composure and demeanor, they all surfaced.

The fox demon in front of him spoke with confidence, just like Ji Yunhe when she fearlessly faced
the army that day.
 "Lu Jinyan joined the north because he placed his trust in you. The snake demon knew the world
was full of suffering, him coming to the north was also a promise to trust you. If you kill them, not only
do you fail their trust, you also fail all the demon masters and demons that have joined. They all came
seeking survival and dignity. If they are executed because of personal grudges, and the jailer killed
because of prisoners escaping, then this place will be no different from the imperial court. And you will
be no different from the Grand Master -- feared by the world and abandoned by the people."

Everyone listened to Aji as she spoke. Lu Jinyan even nodded his head a few times.

"I refuse to believe that you do not understand this."

Changyi understood, he just did not care anymore...

Aji continued, "I think you've been sitting too high for too long, and have completely forgotten
your original cause. I am afraid right now you are not worthy of all those who have died for the north!"

The guards looked at one another, visibly moved by her words. A few gathered up enough courage
to peek at Changyi. He stood alone and silently watched the fox demon in the hall.

Aji was not done. "With your power, you can kill me easily. But I will also place my trust in you
today, and believe that you will not take my life."

She stared at Changyi. The hall was now so quiet one could hear the drop of a pin.

Changyi eventually broke the silence. "What is your name?"

"My name is Aji."

His gaze drifted away for a moment then he turned to leave. "Your lives are spared," he said in a
low voice as he walked out.

Well, that went better than expected.

As soon as Changyi left, Lu Jinyan stood up and said to Aji, "Awesome! You got quite a mouth on
you! Even I believed everyone would rebel if he were to kill us! I've never felt so important before!"

Ji Ning wiped away some nervous sweat. "I'm the one who was really scared to death. Brother Aji,
you kept arguing why they should be spared, I thought I'd be the only one dragged out and beheaded..."

Lu Jinyan laughed and smacked Ji Ning on the head. "Scaredy cat! Even your hair is wet!"

The three guards also came over to show gratitude. "Aiya! Thank you, Mr. Aji, thank you!"

Amidst the cheering of the crowd, Aji blankly scratched her head and looked to the direction where
Changyi had left.
 The snake demon saw her expression and laughed. "What's wrong with you? After that incredible
speech, now you've dumbed down?"

Aji shook her head and smiled. "No... I just think maybe it wasn't the speech that saved us..."

"What else could it be?" Lu Jinyan laughed too. "Your name? Hahahaha!"

Aji looked squarely at Lu Jinyan and said, "It was exactly my name."

They saw it as a joke and did not take her seriously.

Aji glanced back again as she exited the hall with everyone else.
Chapter 86: Transformation

March. The south was already full of spring blossoms while the north was still unbearably cold.

On top of a frozen lake under the moonlight, a man in black stood inside the howling wind.

He was silent and still. If not for his long silver hair and black robe flying in the air, it would look
like he had been frozen over.

When the moon started to fade, he finally parted his lips. "Someone said what you would say, and
his name is similar to yours. He said I was wrong." He paused and looked at the ice beneath his feet. "Of
course I was wrong."

He had been wrong ever since he came to the north six years ago.

Even earlier. He had been wrong when he first met Ji Yunhe in the Demon Valley, and when he
leapt into the abyss with her in the Ten Square Formation. What's more... he should have never saved a
human in that monstrous wave, a princess named Shunde.

This was an endless dispute among the human world, it had nothing to do with him.

But...

He turned to leave.

"Oh well."

His voice and shadow gradually faded into the wind and snow.

...

After a near death experience, Aji decided that she and Ji Ning should leave the north immediately.
Then she could find a good time to get rid of him, and continue to seek her own peace and tranquility in
the human world.

But strangely, Aji still wanted to see the jiaoren again... Even though he had beaten her to the point
of spitting blood.

That jiaoren was dangerous and she should stay away, but...

Aji recalled the look of his back yesterday as he walked away while everyone else was celebrating
their return from the dead. It was like he had turned his back on life and hope, and walked toward death
alone.

Aji felt sorry for him...

"Hey! Aji, what about you?" Lu Jinyan placed a wine jar onto the table. "What are you planning to
do now?"

The snake demon had arranged for her and Ji Ning to stay at the inn just outside the Demon Terrace
for the night. Lu Jinyan came visiting with two jars of wine before noon.

Aji looked at the wine and laughed. "So much wine? I'd forget everything even if I did make plans.
Bring me tea."

Ji Ning interjected in a soft voice, "I also drink tea..."

"I know what kind of people you Grand Master's disciples are, I won't force you to drink wine." Lu
Jinyan muttered while bringing two large, coarse bowls from the side and poured some coarse tea for
them. "But you? As a fox demon, you don't like to eat meat or drink wine, but prefer tea? You didn't
train under some zen demon master did you?"

Aji chuckled and picked up the bowl. "I really did train under a demon master."

Lu Jinyan laughed. "Who are you fooling? You already have four tails! If a demon master trained
you, then he must be world famous. So who was it? Who's this mighty guy?"

Of course Lin Haoqing was world famous, but she could not tell them...

She took a sip of tea and was just about to muddle him when sounds of gasping came from behind,
followed by a familiar voice ringing in her ears, "I'm curious too, who taught you?"

Everyone's eyes instantly fell on the visitor.

Lu Jinyan and Ji Ning grew pale, and Aji spat the mouthful of tea she just took back into the bowl.
She turned her head and saw his black robe and silver hair...

"Lo… lord..." Lu Jinyan sat down wrong and fell onto the ground. Ji Ning immediately retreated
three steps and squatted down in the corner. Aji stood up stiffly and stared at Changyi.
 The other people here all made a bow they seemed very familiar with, "Your Highness..."

Aji looked at him, then looked at the people with their special salute of some gestures across the
chest. She really did not understand this bow, so she imitated them to the best of her abilities. She
roughly crossed her chest and leaned down, "The… Your Highness..."

Calling him that felt truly awkward to her...

Changyi looked at Aji's head. "Get up, I am also here to drink tea."

He took care of himself and walked to the seat opposite of her...

As soon as he sat down, the people around emptied out.

Changyi turned his head and asked the terrified Lu Jinyan and Ji Ning, "You two are not going to
sit back down?"

"I... I have to pee!" Lu Jinyan jumped up and covered his crotch. "Yes, yes, I urgently need to pee!"
He immediately ran off. Ji Ning also trembled and said, "Me too..." Then he also escaped, nearly on all
fours.

Only Aji remained standing at the table.

Changyi looked at her calmly and asked, "What about you? Are you also in need?"

Aji observed his facial expression and asked, "Can I be?"

"Best not."

Aji obediently sat down. "I don't really need to." But she muttered silently to herself...

This almighty god looked so arrogant and proud yesterday, like a lone eagle soaring in the sky.
Why did he land inside their chicken coop today… Could it be, he felt bitter about letting them off so he
deliberately came to find them some trouble?

"Your Highness..."

"Go on."

"Hmm?" Aji was a little puzzled by his interruption. "On with what?"

"Which demon master trained you?"

He still remembered this... Aji pondered for a moment. Her inexplicable mood swings when she
saw this jiaoren proved that they had known each other before. But Lin Haoqing did not want them
meeting, so it was clear that he and this jiaoren did not have a very good relationship.

Aji did not want to sell out her master, so she lied. "I was just teasing Lu Jinyan, I learned
everything by myself."

Strangely enough, the feeling of lying to him also felt very familiar…

So the problem between them, was it because she had cheated him out of something valuable? Was
she a thief…?

While Aji pondered, Changyi looked down and poured himself a bowl of coarse tea. "Oh. Then
when did you acquire human form? Under what circumstance did the second tail develop? And how did
the third tail break through? Now with four tails, you should have many stories to share about your
cultivation."

His eyes lifted and he looked at her.

Aji stuttered under his gaze. "I..." she finally said, "I have to pee..."

"Go." Changyi put down the bowl. "We can continue after you come back."

Aji pushed away her bowl and dashed out the back. After she left, Changyi was now alone in the
lobby with no one else around but a waiter and the innkeeper himself.

After a long time, the innkeeper finally came forward. He smiled and asked, "Your Highness...
some good tea came from the south a few days ago, how about I change this one out for you?"

Changyi looked at him.

Ever since sealing Ji Yunhe in ice, Changyi had not been able to distinguish anyone's face. They
were all a blur to him, and he only recognized them by their unique markings.

But today, he saw the face of the innkeeper clearly.

He had many deep wrinkles, the sign of a man who had been through everything. The ingratiating
and humble look served as evidence of his inner fear -- he was afraid of this lord, but had to obey him.

Changyi looked down at the bitter tea he was still drinking.

Aji's rebuke in the hall yesterday echoed in his ears, "I think you've been sitting too high for too
long, and have completely forgotten your original cause. I am afraid right now you are not worthy of all
those who have died for the north."

He drank the rest of the coarse tea in his hand.

"No need," he said gently. "This tea is very good."

 The innkeeper blinked a few times in disbelief. "Huh? This tea... this tea..."

"I will sit for a while then leave. You can get back to your business. Don't mind me."

"Oh... okay..."

The innkeeper scratched his head and walked back to the side. Changyi poured himself another
bowl of tea while his ears twitched. His keen senses allowed him to clearly hear the three people
chattering behind the inn.

Lu Jinyan sounded hollow and bewildered. "What do we do?"

"Have we been peeing for too long?" Ji Ning asked nervously.

Aji scratched her head. "That... demon... How do I...? Lemme think... um..." She abruptly made up
her mind. "Forget it... let's run! "

The other two were caught off guard. "Huh?"

"Go go go! Let's go through the back door."

After a series of rustling, the backyard grew silent.

Changyi looked at the bowl of tea and curled his lips into a smile. Then he pulled out a jade
pendant and placed it on the table. "Forgot to bring silver, I will pay with this."

He ignored the shock on the innkeeper's face and walked out the door. "Someone, come." A black
shadow attendant appeared silently at Changyi's side like wind. The attendant knelt down on one knee
and listened as his lord assigned him a task. "Go and find out how many tails that fox demon really has."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The attendant answered briefly and was about to leave when Changyi called out again. "Wait."

The black shadow stopped.

"Lift your head."

He lifted his head with a puzzled look. "Your Highness?"

A delicate face, not old, but already worn by time.

"I remembered your face." Changyi walked off. "Go."

 Yes, he was supposed to remember them. Every face, every life that had entrusted him. They did
nothing wrong, and should not pay for his mistakes.
Chapter 87: Test

The three of them escaped from the inn without daring to look back. Aji and Ji Ning ended up
staying at an abandoned temple in the northern part of the city.

The Northlands was now very different from when the jiaoren first came. It had developed into a
widespread area of civilization with the Demon Terrace sitting in the middle like a royal palace.

The snake demon had been here the longest, so he naturally had a home to return to. Lu Jinyan also
had plenty of demon master pals that were happy to accommodate him. Out of the four, Aji and Ji Ning
were the only ones completely on their own.

They were afraid of going with the snake demon since it would make them easier for the jiaoren to
find. They also could not go back with Lu Jinyan, since those demon masters were still very prejudiced
against demons and disciples of the Grand Master's house. Their only option was the rundown temple.

Lu Jinyan brought them breakfast the next morning. Aji said while she ate, "We still have to go
south as soon as possible. I don't understand this jiaoren." She analyzed, "If we don't leave now, we may
never be able to."

Aji did not know how the jiaoren felt about her past self, but he was obviously very dominating. If
he were to see even the slightest connection between her and the one he used to know, he would
definitely not let her go.

Maybe even imprison her for life...

She had not yet seen enough of this world and did not want to be imprisoned in this bitter cold land
forever, doing nothing but stare at his face.

Although that face was also quite beautiful. Or rather, the most beautiful she had ever seen.

"You have to go," Lu Jinyan agreed. "But I have to stay in the north. Even though the jiaoren's not
what I expected, my friends are all here, so I can't leave."

"Well, okay, then this is goodbye. Ji Ning and I will leave right away." Aji then asked Ji Ning,
"What are your plans after leaving the north?"

"Me?" Ji Ning thought for a bit then lowered his head and whispered, "I have to go back to the
Grand Master's house, my master is still there..." His voice grew softer and softer as he spoke. He was
afraid Aji would look down on him for this decision...

But Aji only nodded and responded casually, "Okay. On the way south, I'll take you to the post
closest to the capital."
 They finished their food and said goodbye to Lu Jinyan, then headed for the city gate.

Aji soon noticed they were being followed by two people in black. She turned around, and there
they were. She turned around again two steps later, and there they were, also having taken two steps.
They were tailing her openly and did not attempt to hide it in any way.

It made sense. This was the jiaoren's territory after all, he could do whatever he wanted. If he
wanted to send two people to follow them, who would object?

Aji felt stressed, but she still hoped for the best and headed for the gate. As expected, as soon as
they reached the gate, the two people stepped forward and blocked their way.

"You are not allowed to exit the Northlands right now."

Ji Ning was a little flustered. "But... but the jiaoren... No, I mean... your venerable lord said we
could leave."

Aji interrupted, "He spared our lives, he never said we could leave."

The two guards said in unison, "Exactly."

Aji patted Ji Ning on the shoulder to calm him down, then looked at the two guards. "Okay, we will
stay here." She calmly turned around. A cart loaded with hay passed by at that moment, and Aji swiped
at it with a swift hand. A mass of hay instantly flew up into the air, blocking everyone's vision. Aji and
Ji Ning disappeared amidst the confusion.

The two guards patted their bodies clean, then split ways chasing after them. One ran toward the
inside of the city, while the other one ran out.

Except Aji did not go very far. She and Ji Ning were now hiding behind a stable next to the city
gate. Before Ji Ning had an opportunity to react, she grabbed some mud on the ground and wiped it
across his face.

"This is... Hey... my clothes!"

"Quiet!" Aji ripped the outer robe off of him then wrapped him up with a rag she found on the
ground. "You pretend to be a beggar and I will pretend to be your sister. We will muddle our way out of
the city."

"My sister?" Ji Ning was more than confused. "How..." He took one look at Aji and almost jumped
in shock. "You... you're Aji? You're a woman?!"

Aji was now using the face from her first tail, a skinny, malnourished woman. Even her body shape
had completely changed.

"You you you..."

 "I am a fox demon, we can change faces. Haven't you heard?"

Ji Ning relaxed a little. "Have heard of it... Never seen it... "

"You've seen it now. Come on, get up." Aji pulled him to his feet and pushed him forward. Ji Ning
asked, "So are you originally a man or a woman...?"

"Does it matter?" Aji looked back at him then turned around just in time to ram head first into
someone's chest.

The fresh fragrance flowing into her nose made Aji wince immediately. She looked up and saw his
silver hair and blue eyes. Him again...

How was he everywhere... Was he a jiaoren or a ghost haunting her?

Aji clenched her teeth and lowered her head, trying to pretend she did not see him and just kept
walking.

But of course it would not be that easy. An ice spear formed out of the muddy snow on the ground
and pointed straight at her. Aji pinched a spell in her hand and turned back into her male body.

She took a deep breath and turned around to face him.

"Your Highness," she looked into his eyes and said, "we were forcefully brought here to the north.
We haven't committed any crimes, don't you think it's too unreasonable to keep us from leaving?"

Changyi surveyed her for a while then responded with an unrelated question, "How many faces do
you have?"

Aji was startled, but she did not let it show. "Four," she said. "Four tails and four faces."

"Four?" Changyi's eyes narrowed. A chilling draft rose up along his side, and the ice spear floated
up into the air.

Aji's body tensed and both her demonic power and her spiritual power woke up instinctively in self
protection.

Ji Ning was now so frightened he could hardly stand on his feet.

The ice spear hovered in the air briefly then flew at Aji with astounding speed.

With a loud clang, the spear pierced through layers of black gas and stopped an inch away from
Aji's throat.

Changyi looked behind her and saw she still had only four tails.
 That strike was with the intent to kill and had happened fast enough to not give her any time to
think. Unless she wanted to die, she would have defended in full power.

But only four tails...

Changyi waved his hand and the spear turned back into snow, falling to the ground once again.

Aji looked at Changyi with a pale face and unsteady breathing, as if she was scared stiff.

Changyi glanced at her then turned to leave.

"Wait," Aji panted and called out. "Now can we leave?"

"No," he rejected her without hesitation. "You can move around freely inside the city."

"Why not?" Aji pressed on. "You have to have a reason for detaining us, right?"

Changyi turned back slightly and said, "He is a disciple of the Grand Master's house, do I need a
reason to detain him?"

Aji defended, "He is a disciple of the Grand Master's house, not me. You need a reason to detain
me!"

Ji Ning panicked some more, "Wait a minute..."

But no one paid him any attention. Changyi said, "You were seen collaborating with a disciple of
the Grand Master's house. Detaining you is only natural." Then he walked away as if he did not care to
keep arguing with her. As soon as he left, several more guards gathered around the stable. They did not
arrest her or scold her, they just watched her.

Aji looked at Changyi's fading back, then looked at the guards in front of her. She cursed under her
breath then headed back to the inn with Ji Ning, under their watchful eyes.

Back inside the inn, Ji Ning commented, "In order to force out how many tails you have, he almost
killed you... This jiaoren is more vicious than the Grand Master."

Aji did not respond.

The jiaoren's attack had convinced everyone that he wanted to kill her, including herself. Logically
speaking, if she was the person he was trying to find, then she would be able to block that blow. And if
she was not the right person, then it would not matter if she died.

So life and death had really been just a fine line at the time. She took a gamble and won.

"Doesn't matter anymore," Aji said. "Let's think about how we can get out."
 ...

Above the frozen lake under the moon, a silver haired man stood in silence. A few moments later,
he leaned down and placed his hand on the ice. A blue glow emitted from his palm and illuminated far
beneath the surface.

He did not move, but his gaze pierced through the water and landed on a figure at the bottom of the
lake.

A woman sealed in ice. Her brows and lashes perfectly preserved, as if she could wake any minute.

Like being stabbed in the heart, Changyi abruptly dispersed the magic from his hand.

This was the first time he came to see Ji Yunhe since sealing her in ice. He closed his eyes and
remained on his knee, as quiet as the mountains that surrounded him.

After a layer of snow had gathered on his shoulders, he finally whispered, "Not you..."

It was unclear how much time had passed. Changyi stayed motionless like a stone statue, allowing
the snow to slowly drift onto him and bury him. Then the sound of footsteps approached from a
distance.

"Kongming."

"I went to the hall and didn't see you there, so I figured you would be here. And here you are."

Changyi finally stood up and the snow fell from his body. "I thought it's going to be some time
before you return from the south."

"We've already treated the kids along the way affected by the frost poison, though none of them
could completely recover." Kongming shook his head and sighed. "Shunde really stirred up some public
rage this time. More and more people are defecting to the north. It's shaking up the foundation of the
country, likely the kingdom of Dacheng will soon fall. I thought the north was probably getting busier,
so I came back."

Changyi nodded and walked with him across the icy lake.

Kongming said, "On the way back, I heard some interesting news."

"What news?"

"Qing Ji, who left the north a while ago, actually went south to the Demon Valley."

"Demon Valley? Why?"

 "Who knows," Kongming said. "Most of the demon masters have joined the north, the rest are just
roaming around. The Grand Master's house is short on manpower and cannot keep the situation under
control. The Demon Valley is now just an empty framework. Qing Ji, as a demon, moved in under the
public eye and settled there, heh..." Kongming laughed. "Maybe she wants to study the formation that
trapped her for so many years."

Changyi pondered for a moment. "What about the Grand Master? We lured him away from the
capital with Qing Ji, so it's obvious he attaches great importance to her. Now with the news of Qing Ji
residing inside the Demon Valley, why isn't he going after her?"

"Shunde's face isn't fully recovered yet, he's not going anywhere."

"His preferences are really odd."

"Who's isn't?" Kongming glanced at Changyi. "I heard that even with the shortage of manpower
here, you still assigned some people to keep an eye on the fox demon I sent back?"

Changyi fell silent and did not say anything.

"Because he bears a slight resemblance to Ji Yunhe?"

Changyi looked at Kongming. "You also think so?"

"There aren't a lot of black fox demons around. Although I only saw him briefly, his gaze and
demeanor really did remind me of her. Only that brainless Luo Jinsang wouldn't notice. But you do not
need to think too much. I took his pulse, he only has demon power, no double pulse. Just an ordinary fox
demon."

"He knows the art of transformation."

"The magic of changing one's appearance cannot disguise their internal flow of energy. Changyi,
didn't you come here to confirm if she's still at the bottom of the lake?"

Changyi took a deep breath and gazed into the distant mountains.

"Yes, she is dead."

Chapter 88: Snowy Mountain Top

Aji had now been trapped in the north for several days. She was stressed out of her mind. She
thought her four tails were not sufficient in getting away from the watch guards, but all difficult
problems had creative solutions.

At noon, Ji Ning buried his head at the table and chomped down his lunch. He was still a growing
body, so he ate well and slept well.

Aji, however, had very little interest in food. She disliked being watched from the bottom of her
heart. She pushed all the dishes to Ji Ning then walked to the windowsill. Looking at the distant snowy
mountains, a plan suddenly popped into her head.

She jumped up and pulled Ji Ning, who was still eating, over to the window.

"Over there, over there!" She pointed to the mountains. "There's no city gate over there, right?"

Ji Ning swallowed the food in his mouth and glanced at the direction of her finger. "Further north
of the Northlands are deserted snowfields and mountains. No one goes there, so there shouldn't be a city
gate, right?"

Aji clapped her hands and instantly said, "Go go go."

"Where?"

Aji saw his bewildered face and did not bother to explain. "Mountain climbing, for some exercise."

Ji Ning looked at the snow-capped mountains. "Right now? I'm still eating..."

"You can keep eating after we come back." She dragged him out and headed north. No bags and no
luggages, as if they really were just going to have some fun.

Of course, two guards immediately followed them. Aji did not mind it and kept walking all the way
to the northern border. The two guards then looked at each other and walked up to her.

"You two should not go further."

"What's wrong this time?" Aji asked.

"Up ahead..." One of the guards looked at the vast snowfields and tried to find a reason.

Aji took this opportunity and pressed on, "Is it exiting a city gate up ahead? Is it no longer the
Northlands territory? We just want to come out for a walk after lunch, maybe climb a mountain and
enjoy some snow, is it not okay? Are you still being reasonable here?"

The two guards were at a loss for words as Aji continued to drag Ji Ning forward. Ji Ning
whispered into her ear, "The Northlands is really too strict."

Aji peeked back and saw the guards still following them like shadows. But the look on their faces
delighted her.

They really did climb up a mountain. Ji Ning wiped away some sweat from his face and looked
back. The city was now in full view and Aji still tirelessly climbed upward. The two guards also silently
followed.

"Aji, how far do you want to go?" Ji Ning raised his voice and asked her. "I think we're about to
reach the top of this mountain."

"Go to the top and rest a bit, then head down," Aji replied without looking back.

While the guards breathed a little sigh of relief, a stream of black gas suddenly floated up behind
them. Startled, they turned around to look, but it knocked the back of their heads and they started to fall
over the cliff. The black gas then solidified into human form and grabbed them, setting them down onto
the snow.

Aji wagged her tails and Ji Ning looked at her in shock. "Five... five tails?"

From three tails to five, Aji could no longer maintain her male body. She had transformed into a
young lady with a face that had the strongest resemblance to her original self. She stayed in that form
only briefly before changing back to three tails again.

"How many tails do you really have…?" Ji Ning could not help but ask.

"Does it matter?" Aji walked over to grab a hold of his arm. "Let's go. We will fly around the
mountains from here then head south..." Before she finished talking, the hand she had reached out was
abruptly slapped away by another hand.

A black shadow flashed in front of her with hair the color of snow. The jiaoren was now standing
between her and Ji Ning.

Ji Ning's legs went weak and sat down, almost rolling down the slope.

"Your face a moment ago..." The jiaoren grabbed her chin and pulled her closer to him. "Show me
again."

Aji's mouth twitched and she blurted out, "How are you everywhere?!" She viciously broke free
from his hand. "Did you open up a third eye to stalk me?"

The jiaoren did not answer, but Ji Ning saw the two guards lying on the ground. They were still
unconscious, but they held broken snowballs in their hands. They had managed to crack a snowball to
inform Changyi when she ambushed them.

Changyi grabbed her face again and squeezed so hard that it distorted her. "Show me!"

Aji's anger and frustration had been building up over the days. Changyi's rudeness ignited the fire
inside her.

Swoosh! Five black tails appeared behind Aji. "Fine!" She channeled her palm with demonic power
and struck at his chest with full force. "Happy now?!"

Changyi spaced out the moment this familiar face appeared before his eyes and was not prepared at
all for her attack.
 The force from her palm blew away all the snow around them, but he did not move in the slightest.
Her hand landed on his chest but his hand remained on her face.

His expression was of a complexity that she did not understand. Aji froze.

What story did they have between each other?

Aji had been very curious about her past before, but never as much as now. She looked into his
eyes and desperately wanted to know what kind of experience would make someone look like this.

Finally, Changyi released his hand. Aji's question circled several times on the tip of her tongue, but
what she eventually said out loud was, "Ji Ning, let's go back."

They could not run away anymore since the jiaoren had come.

"Stand still." Changyi turned around and looked at Aji who was about to leave. "Why hide it?"

He was asking about why she had not used five tails against his deadly attack the other day. Aji
said casually, "I didn't hide it, I just thought four was enough." Aji headed down the mountain with Ji
Ning while her mouth rambled on. "It's good to come out for a walk and enjoy the view. Better than
suffocating inside all day long. Temperament gets all weird and starts to enjoy locking himself up... And
locking other people up too… Don't know what kind of an odd fetish this is."

Ji Ning sweated profusely at her words.

He nervously looked back at Changyi, and saw no emotions on his face. Instead, the jiaoren calmly
said, "Okay, let's take a walk."

They stopped in their tracks.

Aji thought she heard wrong and turned her head to look at Ji Ning. Ji Ning also thought he heard
wrong and looked at Aji. They silently inquired with each other then turned to look at Changyi.

Changyi looked back at them. "We will go together."

Ji Ning pulled his hand out from Aji's grip. "I can go back by myself, I promise I won't make
trouble. Or, how about I help you carry these two men back, I still have some strength left..."

"Ok," Changyi agreed. "Don't do anything funny."

Ji Ning was terrified, "Nothing funny, no funny..."

He summoned his spiritual power, carried the guards onto his shoulders, and wobbled down the
mountain.
 Changyi and Aji were now left alone, looking at each other.

"You're kidding, right?" Aji asked him. "What am I walking with you for?"

"You go first." He did not give her a chance to reject him.

The fact was he overpowered her. Aji let out a sigh, bit her teeth, and buried her head to walk in the
front, like a prisoner being sent into exile. Changyi followed her without saying anything. When she
walked fast, he would walk fast, and when she walked slow, he would also slow down. But the look on
his face was interesting.

It seemed as if he just wanted to watch her and her back, to reminisce in some past memories, and
to hold on to something faint and intangible...

Like a returning friend...

Chapter 89: Molten Lava

Aji walked and walked with no signs of ever stopping. Changyi quietly followed her. He did not
seem like he would say anything even if she were to walk all the way to the south.

They walked from the barren mountain tops to the lowlands with dead trees covered in snow and
ice. Aji's feet were getting tired from walking, but the person behind her still had not said a word.

"Do you have nothing to do?" Aji sneaked a glance at Changyi. "I'm not trying to get rid of you, I'm
just afraid of keeping you from your work. We've been walking around for a while now, why don't we
go back?"

Either way it was hopeless to run away today…

"Walk some more."

His calm reply made Aji choke back everything else she had wanted to say, and just kept on
walking. She felt both awkward and bored, so she shook some branches as she walked by a tree. The
snow loosened and fell onto the head and shoulders of the one behind her.

He did not dodge it, so when Aji turned around, she saw him covered with snow.

They stared at each other and Aji broke out in laughter. "Your Highness, I really didn't mean to do
that. I thought you were so mighty and powerful nothing could touch you."

Changyi coldly patted the snow off of his shoulders while Aji grinned at him.

Seeing her smile, he paused a bit then softened his gaze. The person in his memories rarely smiled
like this in front of him, but if she were to display some happiness, her face should look similar.

Changyi's eyes turned deep and reminiscent, and Aji's smile grew awkward. Not knowing what the
jiaoren was seeing in her again, she rubbed her face and continued to walk forward. "Your Highness,
how much further do you want to go? I want to go back to the inn."

"Walk some more."

Still the same words.

Aji sighed and took another few steps. "There! Walked some more. Can we go back now? Great
mighty lord master?"

"Keep going."

Aji could not take it anymore, she turned around to glare at Changyi. But looking at his cold face,
"cannot beat him" flashed across her mind. Then she thought back over the past few days. The feeling of
being constantly watched and being bullied right now overwhelmed her with frustration. Aji
immediately sat onto the ground with her legs crossed. "No! I don't want to." She broke the broken pot
and crossed her arms too. "No more walking."

"Okay, then sit for a while."

Changyi lifted the bottom of his robe and sat down too. He closed his eyes and started to meditate.

Aji stared at him at a loss.

This fish...

How was he this stubborn? Almost shamelessly...

Aji looked around and suddenly saw some steam swirling up from deep in the forest. She took a
sniff and said, "Okay, you sit here. But I'm getting cold. There is a hot spring over there, I will go soak
for a bit." Aji stood up.

Changyi opened his eyes, but Aji spoke again before he could respond. "Does Your Majesty want
to come and soak with me?"

Her bold invitation startled him and he lowered his gaze. "Go by yourself."

Aji understood, and curled her lips into a smile.

He was just so so after all.

She walked in the direction of the steam while taking off her outer robe and throwing it onto the
ground. Changyi looked at the robe. It was like a boundary that he was not allowed to step over.

Aji did not hear his footsteps behind her and felt amused. Had she known this jiaoren was so prim
and proper, she would have used this to her advantage long ago.
 But she did not plan on running again today. His senses were too keen. If he were to find out that
she did not undress in the spring and went fleeing again, then she would have really destroyed all of her
chances. Plus she was too tired from all the walking and felt lazy. Might as well avoid him for a while
and relax in the spring.

Aji walked through the mist and saw three little pools had collected at the bottom of a ditch. She
felt the water in each one and picked a favorite, then undressed herself and sat inside.

Resting her head against a large stone, she let out a relaxing sigh.

"Your Highness!" she raised her voice and called out to Changyi. "The water feels so good. There
are still a couple of empty pools here, are you sure you don't want to come?"

She knew from her observation that the jiaoren would never come, so she deliberately said this to
fluster him. "That's fine if you don't want a soak. But aren't you cold sitting there? Why don't you go
take a walk. You like walking, right?"

Aji teased on. She was in such a good mood now that she splashed the water with her feet.

Glub glub. A couple of bubbles rose up and popped on the surface. Aji thought they were from her
splashing around, so she did not pay too much attention. But then the bubbles grew more and more
dense, and she stopped all movements.

The water continuously bubbled up and the temperature rose. It quickly became so hot that Aji
shrieked in alarm and jumped out. She hopped around in the snow in agony, her skin already turning red
and swollen. She grabbed her clothes and scolded while putting them on, "You unreasonable fish! You
can't just cook me when you're upset!"

"What's wrong?" Changyi's voice was not loud but clear.

Aji barely finished putting on her under garment when the hot spring she was just soaking in
suddenly burst into the sky with a loud boom. It then showered down and soaked her.

The wet fabric stuck itself to her body and made her shiver in the cold wind.

Sound of footsteps approached and she immediately wrapped the rest of her clothes around herself.
"No, no, no!"

She saw him from the corner of her eye and tried desperately to cover herself. Then the outer robe
she had thrown onto the ground earlier fell from the sky, completely enshrouding her. Aji settled down
and finished dressing herself. After properly putting on the outer robe, she looked at him.

Changyi's gaze had not fallen on her even once. "It seems you are not as generous as you claim."

One sentence killed all of her joyous bantering from inside the pool.
 Aji held back her anger and cast a spell to warm herself and dry her clothes, then glared at him.
"You are so petty! Burning the pool just because you don't get to soak in it!"

"It wasn't me." He looked at the hot spring.

Aji also looked over and immediately froze.

After all the spring water was spewed out, the only bit left in the pool shriveled and dried. The
smoke soon turned black and the smell became pungent and unbearable.
Then the scorched earth cracked open and bright red lava flashed between the gaps.

Aji blinked. "I actually took a bath in that..."

"Something is not right." As soon as Changyi's voice fell, the earth trembled and they both
staggered. The snow capped mountain top silently broke apart and tumbled down, growing louder as it
came closer… An avalanche…

But here in the deserted mountains, an avalanche would at most bury some trees. It posed no threat
to the city below. Changyi pulled on Aji's robe and carried her up into the air with a leap.

From up there, however, the situation did not look so good...

"What is that…?" Aji asked.

They had not seen it from the ground, but beyond the forest, the snowfield looked as if it had been
chopped apart and formed a gigantic red scar. Molten lava flowed out from deep under the earth's crust
and branched in every direction. The little spring Aji had been soaking in was just one of its many
extensions.

"Was that scar there before?" Aji asked. "Do you know?"

Changyi's eyebrows tightened. "I don't know." He then looked at her and said, "But I don't believe
we've had molten lava before."

"Then, did my bath crack open the earth?" Aji said in disbelief. "Am I that powerful?"

"I didn't know you're that powerful either."

Chapter 90: Courage

The avalanche covered the forest under a blanket of snow, but was quickly melted away by the lava
below.

The molten lava only grew stronger. Mountains trembled and fell over, creating more avalanches.
Black smoke filled the air. If this went on, the entire Northlands could be in trouble.
 And so many people were still entering the border from the south...

Aji's face dimmed. "Why is this suddenly happening? Could it be the doings of the imperial court?"

"I'm afraid even the Grand Master can't manipulate the power of nature at will. Also, this is not
ordinary lava."

"Did lava come in ordinary and unordinary forms?"

"There is a famous oversea island named Thunderfire with nothing but a giant mountain reaching
into the sky. The tip of the mountain regularly erupts lava redder than blood. It's said that the lava is
made from hell fire and can burn anything in this world."

Aji listened in awe. "Where did you hear that from?"

"The sea." He stopped talking and carried Aji forward riding the wind. He was very fast, much
faster than Aji could fly on her own. The cold wind blew at her face and she lowered her head. She saw
his legs then looked up again at his excessively beautiful face.

"I heard you used to have a very beautiful tail, that's why Princess Shunde wanted to capture you."

Changyi ignored her.

"Princess Shunde is such a bastard," Aji continued. "How many people has she ruined?"

Changyi responded this time. "So she will definitely pay the price."

They flew along the burning fissure for a while then stopped in mid air. Below them was what used
to be a mountain spring. It now gurgled bright red like blood, looking terrifying to the extreme.

And what was even more terrifying was that the residential border sat just over a hill. An eruption
here would likely destroy the city.

Some of the lava seeped into the ground, while others flowed through and cut trails. All of the
surrounding snow had been scorched clean, leaving the side of the mountain black.

"How can it be this bad?" Aji was visibly concerned. "No one here ever noticed it before?"

"It must have appeared only a short while ago. This place may belong to the same mountain range
as Thunderfire, just it's been dormant. Go back to the city and find Kongming. Tell him to evacuate
everyone, and use demons and demon masters for help."

"Where to?" Aji felt very stressed. "Further north is unbearably cold. Demon masters and demons
can maybe endure it, but how will ordinary people handle it? Plus there are so many people, the food
supply will hardly last half a month. And heading south will also be hopeless. The court might be weak,
but they can still easily kill your citizens on the run."
 Aji completely forgot that she wanted to flee from him.

Changyi glanced at her and said, "I didn't say to move out permanently. It's just going to be
temporary."

"Temporary?" Aji looked at him. "What are you going to do?"

Then she pretty much guessed it. "You want to hold off this lava? Then have people return to the
city afterwards?"

Changyi did not deny it.

Aji looked at Changyi with wide eyes and shook her head. "Are you crazy?" she shouted. "You said
even the Grand Master cannot manipulate the power of nature, who are you to stop it?"

"I will set up a barrier and keep the lava from entering the city."

"Easier said than done! You think you alone can protect everyone from this natural disaster, you..."
The lava below suddenly exploded with a loud boom and scattered in all directions.

Changyi lifted his hands and formed a barrier out of ice and snow in front of them, blocking the
lava heading in their direction.

His power centered around the water element, so the snowy mountains and fields here were most
conveniently at his disposal.

The snow continuously gathered and built onto the barrier, growing it into a massive wall that made
him look so small in comparison.

"Go."

Aji bit her lip and headed for the Demon Terrace without further delay.

She flew over the city and saw many residents gathered onto the streets. They had felt the earth
tremble and saw the volcanic eruptions from here, and watched in awe as a gigantic snow wall formed.

Only one man in a black robe stood in the air between the wind and snow. Aji looked back at
Changyi then quickened her pace and entered the Demon Terrace.

The guards tried to stop her, but she blocked them with ease. "Your lord has sent me here! Where is
Kongming?" Just then, a loud rumbling came from the mountains. The lava had collided with the wall of
snow and left a giant black mark, but it did not break through.

Aji grew even more anxious. "Where is Kongming?"

 "What's the ruckus?" Kongming stepped out from a side hall. Aji immediately walked over to him.
"The mountains erupted outside the border! The jiaoren is out there alone keeping the lava from raining
into the city. He wants you to immediately get some people and help evacuate everyone."

"Erupted? He's fighting it alone?!"

Aji did not have time to explain. "He has no choice, but obviously he can't hold on very long. Find
me a hundred men who know water magic and we will go help him."

Before the monk could respond, a soldier next to him stepped forth and said, "I know water magic!
I would like to help!"

"I know water magic too!"

"Me too, please assign me!"

Aji looked around and saw the people stepping forward consisted of both demons and demon
masters. She felt incredibly excited. The two sides held generations of hatred and grudge toward one
another. Even though Aji had no memories of it, she somehow felt like this collaboration was something
she had yearned for a thousand times.

This was so good. No rivalry, no deceit, no identity, and no race. Just a common goal.

Aji nodded. "Gather enough people here and we will all go together."
Chapter 91: Cannot Hold On

The people of the Northlands were amazingly efficient. Perhaps because they were no strangers to
life and death situations, so when trouble came, their instinct to survive immediately kicked in.
Kongming already made arrangements and began the evacuation. Half of the residents went north and
the other half headed south, so if things were to grow out of hand for either side, their people would not
be wiped out.

And a hundred people who knew water magic quickly assembled in front of Aji.

"Gentlemen, the molten lava is currently trapped between the mountains, and your lord has formed
a snow wall to keep the eruptions from pouring down into the city. You are not as powerful as him, so
you must act with care and do not boldly venture in. Our goal is not to replace your lord's efforts, but to
assist him in protecting the city."

"Yes sir!"

Without further delay, Aji summoned the wind beneath her feet and took off. A hundred men
followed closely behind.

And the lone shadow before the snow wall could hear nothing but the wind next to his ears.
 Maintaining such a large wall of snow against a constant downpour of molten lava, Changyi could
not rest for even a moment. He channeled all of his demonic power into the wall and endured the pain of
surging heat and increasing pressure.

He closed his eyes in the midst of chaos and allowed his mind to walk into tranquility. Deep inside
a frozen lake, next to someone sealed in ice.

Changyi knew his attempt to fight against the power of heaven and earth was foolish and would
likely result in his demise. But somehow he found peace, as if deep down inside, he had been waiting for
this day.

Boom! Another giant eruption exploded into the sky. Lava rained heavily onto the snow wall and
water vapors in the air boiled against the skin.

A few pieces of lava flew through the wall before it had time to recover, turning into rocks on
contact. One grazed Changyi on the side of his face while another one struck him in the chest.

His flow of energy momentarily fell into disorder and the wall nearly collapsed, but Changyi
forcefully suppressed the burning sensation inside his blood and struggled to hold on. Suddenly, he felt a
cool breeze coming from behind.

Ice blue eyes turned back and widened.

A hundred or so men had gathered and were now channeling mana into their hands. One by one,
their power connected to the wall of snow, helping him support it.

They all hovered in the air behind Changyi, doing their best to help him resist one of the most
violent attacks from the lava.

Changyi shifted his eyes slightly, and saw a black-haired girl flying through the soldiers. She just
finished giving instructions to the last man, and was now heading to the top of the wall to offer her own
magic for support.

Her face was three parts similar to Ji Yunhe, but her expression was identical.

"This sudden shift between extreme cold and extreme heat is really unbearable, and the smell stinks
so bad..." She looked at Changyi with concern. "The others went to help people evacuate, I can only call
this many people here."

She called them...

Then the foot of the mountain trembled violently and lava rose to the sky again. The snow wall
shook non-stop from the onslaught, and everyone felt the attack. One man was injured and fell from the
air.

Aji immediately moved her body and chased after him. But before she got close, the man was
already caught by someone else -- Lu Jinyan.

"Your daddy is here!" he shouted with pride. Behind him, the snake demon flew up and smacked
his tail against the back of Lu Jinyan's head. "Oops, the tail slipped a little, sorry about that."

"You fucking did it on purpose! Just you wait!"

Aji looked at the two in surprise. Behind them came thousands of people.

There were demon masters and demons, soldiers and ordinary residents. Those who knew water
magic began working on the wall, while those who did not know water magic channeled their power to
those who did.

"This city belongs to your daddy!" Lu Jinyan shouted at the mountains. "Don't just throw fireballs
at your old man's house!"

The crowd cheered on and their sound echoed into the distance.

Aji's gaze swept over everyone and landed on the back of the one in the center. She flew over and
stopped behind Changyi, intending to transfer her power to him. But the moment her palm touched his
back, Aji hesitated.

Lin Haoqing's serious face flashed in her mind.

What would happen if the jiaoren found out that she was the one he had been looking for? She had
no memories of anything between them. What if she was now completely different from her past self,
how would she deal with him?

And in this moment of hesitation, the earth trembled and quaked violently down below. Something
bad was happening… Then they heard another loud explosion. This time the lava no longer soared up
and rained against them, but completely ate a hole through the mountain and flowed down the slopes.

It was heading straight for the city gate, and there were still a large number of people evacuating
there.

The lava looked red like boiling blood, and the people in the air were appalled.

Changyi was the first one to react and immediately withdrew his magic. Aji understood his
intention and shouted, "Disperse your magic! Let the snow wall fall down and block the lava!" Her
voice was tinged with demonic power and reached everyone's ears. The crowd withdrew their hands as
they were told.

The wall of snow fell from the sky like a giant curtain, cutting off the lava's path.

The steam rising up was so hot that everyone had to protect themselves with magic shields.
 While they waited for the water vapor to dissipate so they could see again, Changyi already dived
down. "Block it from the ground."

As soon as he moved, the people in the air followed.

Through layers of scorching vapor and steam, bright red lava appeared again before them.

The flow was slow but persistent.

Changyi stopped at the bottom of the mountain and bit his thumb, then he drew a blood formation,
calling forth countless icicles from the ground. They interlaced into an icy barrier to hold the lava back.
Changyi then raised a thick ice wall, building it higher and higher, as if he wanted to completely block
off the lava flow.

Everyone followed his lead and began pouring mana into the ice wall.

But there was too much lava and it slowly piled up. When one layer of lava cooled and solidified,
another layer would flow over on top. The endless effort soon exhausted everyone.

It was not possible to stop it...

Aji looked around in the air, and suddenly saw a large frozen lake north of the Demon Terrace.

She immediately thought of an idea. Fighting the power of nature with nature would be perfect.
That lake would certainly be able to contain the lava.

She flew down and landed next to Changyi. "Quickly! Extend your ice wall toward the north of the
Terrace. There is a lake there that can hold the lava! It would bypass the city!"

Changyi stiffened and looked at her.

Aji did not understand and did not care. "Hurry up!"

He did not move. The weight against the ice wall was now a weight inside his heart.

Aji shouted angrily into his ears, but he closed his eyes and his mind drifted into the bottom of the
lake where Ji Yunhe rested in peace. The struggles, the fights... everything happening out here had
nothing to do with her...

Changyi felt an incredible sadness and pain. He opened his eyes, his ice blue pupils now red and
cloudy. With great effort and determination, his hand thrusted out and the ice wall began extending
around the mountain in a huge arc, leading the lava toward the frozen lake.

"Let me go, Changyi."

As if she were whispering into his ears, "Let me go."

 Yes, he had to let her go.

Could not hold on in life, and could not hold on in death...

Chapter 92: Exactly A Returning Friend

A massive wall of ice stretched forth in the mountains.

A lone figure in black looked so incredibly small among the vast landscape, but he was resisting
against one of mother nature's most vicious attacks.

The wall built up and lengthened under his hands as he flew forward, and people that followed him
stayed behind one by one at weak spots to support it with their power.

The lava flowed along the ice wall, leaving a trail of black, rocky formations.

Aji flew in front of Changyi. She explored the terrain and guided him toward the frozen lake.

Leading the lava to the lake sounded like a simple plan, but it was uncertain how much power was
needed to build a wall of ice along the path. She was worried if Changyi could make it all the way…

She looked back at him and saw no abnormalities in his face, so she continued forward.

When she approached the lake, Aji leaped up and summoned the power of five tails. With her hand
clenched into a fist, she struck the frozen surface and broke open the ice. The wall followed right behind
her. Lava flowed into the water, immediately boiling it.

Under the surface beyond their vision, the lake shook and quaked, disturbing mud that had laid in
peace for thousands of years. Ji Yunhe's seal also stirred.

The ice coffin bounced up and down within the turbulence before the lava engulfed her completely.

The surface of the lake that had been frozen for half a year melted in no time.

Aji jumped back onto the shore.

All along the icy wall were people standing guard, making sure it did not collapse.

And the jiaoren stood silently ten feet away from Aji. Right now, the entire Northlands looked
aflame, only Changyi breathed out mouthfuls of cold air. Frost gathered on his face and neck, looking
rather frightening.

He had overextended himself...

Suddenly, he bent over in pain.

 This proud jiaoren who had never bowed down to anything was no longer able to stand tall. He fell
down onto one knee, and the body that was just frosting over turned into a burning red.

Aji did not know what was wrong with him and was about to go check when she heard people cry
out in alarm.

The ice wall was affected when Changyi fell. A piece above him fractured and the fiery red lava
poured through.

Changyi was feeling himself shift between extreme hot and cold. The cold was from the
overexertion of his demonic power, and the heat was from the lava burning Ji Yunhe's body.

Ji Yunhe could no longer feel anything. She would soon be completely taken away by heaven and
earth, and disappear. Perhaps becoming a drop of water, a grain of dust in the wind, or nothing at all...

He watched the lava pour down from above.

Come.

He had nothing to fear.

He used all of his strength to protect this northern city, and did not turn into the Grand Master who
wanted to bury the entire world for the one he loved.

So...

If they were to meet again in the afterlife, he would be able to face Ji Yunhe without shame.

But a woman suddenly appeared between him and the falling lava.

Black gas sprawled out and wrapped around them, cutting off the deadly fire. Her body was thin
but strong, and nine tails swayed behind her.

The lava poured over and swallowed them.

"Told you to run… I screamed so loud that my voice broke!" She fought to hold up her shield.
Then she turned her head and faced him, her black eyes dotted with red. "Why didn't you hear a single
word?!"

Looking at her face, Changyi was completely stunned.

Ice blue eyes stared blankly at the person in front of him, full of disbelief.

Aji struggled to hold on, but the power of the lava had exceeded her imagination. Within a few
moments, it already burned a hole through her shield.
 She felt a sharp pain in her chest and let out a grunt. The hand holding the shield began to tremble.

But she could not give up. He had done his best to save everyone and their city, she must do her
best to save him...

Aji ignored the pain in her chest and poured all of her demonic power into the shield, then she cast
a spell with her other hand using spiritual power. She no longer cared how the jiaoren might react upon
seeing her use both sources of power.

She reached out and grabbed a hold of Changyi's hand. When she touched him, she felt the sudden
hot and cold temperature shift inside his body.

He must have exhausted all of his strength leading the wall along the path.

"I'm not sure if I can break us out, I can only try my best," she said to Changyi. "Are you willing to
put your life into my hand?"

Changyi tightened his grip on her.

Suddenly, an image flashed in her mind. She was holding his hand just like now, and they jumped
into a sinking pool of water inside a dark abyss.

Aji regained her focus and was about to cast a spell when the lava squeezed through a gap inside
her black shield. Without even thinking about it, she took Changyi into her arms and embraced him.

More disconnected images floated up into her mind. She saw his big beautiful tail, him locked
behind black iron bars, and his shadow printed onto a screen by candle light. Although there were no
connections, they were all images of Changyi and her.

But what lingered in front of her eyes at the end was a moonlit night, on the top of a cliff. She
plunged a sword into his chest, and her ruthless face was clearly reflected inside his blue eyes.

That sword felt as if it had stabbed Aji in the heart.

"Enemies," Aji whispered to herself as she shielded Changyi from the searing lava. "We really
were enemies..."

But this enemy...

Why did she not feel any hatred toward him?

Her eyes grew dark and she prepared for the end.

It was just a pity that she could not remember everything...

...
 When Kongming and his men chipped away layers of black rock and saw Changyi below, he was
in the middle of a ball of ice.

His hair had been tainted grey and covered the face of a woman lying inside his arms. But
Kongming did not really care who she was. He just needed to see that Changyi was okay.

People broke out in cheers as they saw their lord alive.

Kongming wanted to call him out, but Changyi ignored him no matter how much he knocked on
the ice. Finally, the monk could not stand it anymore and chopped onto the ice with a hand full of
spiritual power. Changyi looked up at him.

The world's most beautiful face was now covered in black soot.

And on that face were two white streaks of tear marks. Pearls littered the ground next to the
woman, her neck also wearing one. The string was still half hidden by her collar, as if Changyi had
pulled it out to observe.

The ice melted into water, and Kongming heard his voice.

"It's her," he said. "She came back."

Kongming looked at the face of the woman inside Changyi's arms.

It really was Ji Yunhe...

Chapter 93: Power and Authority

"Master, a black fox demon has recently appeared in the Northlands. She's proficient in the art of
transformation and showed four tails..."

Lin Haoqing quietly put down the pen in his hand and asked Siyu, "Is it Ji Yunhe?"

"The attitude and personality seems to be her."

"Did the jiaoren recognize her?"

"Doesn't seem like it."

Lin Haoqing was silent for a moment then laughed and shook his head. "When fate comes, you
can't stop it. Just let her be. It's her own life."

"But master, you worked so hard to give her a new start…"

"When I led the demon masters to the north, I had intended on giving them to Ji Yunhe as a gift. I
knew she'd be able to convince them into joining the Northlands, but I never thought she would die right
afterwards."

"When I saw her lifeless body, I knew she did not enjoy being there, so I kept the method of
reviving her from the jiaoren and brought her back south to give her a fresh new start. But humans
cannot change what's predestined." Lin Haoqing lifted his pen and jotted down a few more notes in the
book. "Let her be."

He brought out a jar and looked at the bit of remaining medicinal powders inside. "I analyzed the
herbs inside this frost poison from Shunde, but there are two ingredients that I haven't been able to
figure out. Siyu, make some preparations. We will need to take another trip to the capital."

"Master, the princess will vent her anger on you for your army defecting to the north, I don't think
you will be able to get more frost poison from her."

"That's why..." Lin Haoqing looked at the jar in his hand, "we wait for an opportunity."

...

Outside the Northlands city, the lava that had flowed along the icy barrier cooled and solidified,
forming a bizarre ring of rocky wall.

The area had always been easy to defend and difficult to attack because of the mountainous terrain.
If they set up fortresses and weaponry along this newly formed wall, it would become impossible to
invade.

The sudden natural disaster did not kill anyone, but created an indestructible city.

When the news came, Kongming did not look too overjoyed. He just nodded and waved off the
messenger. This chaotic event did not cause harm to the north, but for someone...

He was not so sure.

Ji Yunhe laid on a bed in the side hall. Her breathing was labored and her forehead was covered in
sweat. A blue light appeared and passed from Changyi's hand to her chest, and her expression calmed.

But soon after, his lips turned blue and his hand was slapped away.

Kongming stood next to Changyi and scolded, "I told you to rest. You still dare to use your powers
recklessly?"

Changyi's gaze remained on Ji Yunhe. "I want to take her to the Frozen Sea."

Kongming was silent for a moment.

Changyi continued, "This lava is the same as the ones on the oversea island, Thunderfire. It
damaged her heart and I cannot wake her with my power. Only the deep sea lingzhi can dissolve the
poisonous fire inside her."

"What about the Northlands?"

"With you presiding over the city, I have no worries."

Kongming took a deep breath. After surviving yesterday's calamity together, the conflicts and
prejudice among their people faded significantly, and there was now an unprecedented trust and respect
for Changyi. They already started singing about the jiaoren, calling him a legendary hero who had come
from the deep sea to save the world.

Under such conditions, Changyi leaving the city should not be too much of an issue, and Kongming
should be able to get everyone to work well together without much effort.

The monk looked at Changyi then at Ji Yunhe on the bed.

Previously, this woman had been pale and weak, then died without a single day of health. Now that
she miraculously returned to Changyi's side, her bad luck self was again bedridden and could not open
an eye...

Kongming sighed. Even though he still disliked her very much, he had to admit that it was not easy
for Ji Yunhe and Changyi to come this far.

"If you want to go, then go. I can deal with the city for a few days." He turned and walked to the
door. Before exiting, he looked back at Changyi and reluctantly instructed, "Take a few trusted people,
don't try to be a one man army again. You are no longer that jiaoren who was just fished out onto the
shore."

Changyi turned to look at Kongming, but he had already left.

And he bumped into Luo Jinsang right outside the door. She banged her head on his chest and
immediately looked up at him. "Yunhe is back? I was helping the people outside settle and heard that the
fish brought a woman back! It's Yunhe, right? What other woman would the fish bring back but her!"

Kongming stared at her, "You are not confused over this matter."

He pulled her arm before she dashed off and added, "He is taking Ji Yunhe to the Frozen Sea to
treat her injuries..."

"I'll go with them!" Luo Jinsang immediately said. "I will go protect Yunhe! Don't you stop me!"

Kongming took a deep breath. "I'm not stopping you! I know you will go." Then he let go of her
arm and said, "Be careful and stay safe."

A few words that landed on the tip of Luo Jinsang's heart. She stepped up and gave him a bearhug.
"You too!" Then she released him and patted him on the chest. "Going! Remember to miss me!"
 Kongming gave a faint smile as he watched her bounce away, then he saw a timid Ji Ning standing
on the other end of the hall. "I... I came to see Aji… I don't know if she's okay..."

Kongming asked him, "Your master, Ji Chengyu, how is he doing?"

Ji Ning was taken by surprise. "Huh? Master... my master is not doing very well... He... he does not
like the Grand Master's house..."

Kongming was silent for a moment. "Who would like that place."

...

Night time.

The Grand Master held a candle at a desk full of exotic and rare herbs. He was sniffing a couple of
them when Ji Chengyu came. "This poison may help Ruling shave off the rotten flesh on her face, add it
to her medicine tomorrow. You can try it on an animal first."

"Master, the princess has been acting strange lately..."

The Grand Master did not stop him, so he continued, "She captured many defected demon masters
and took them to her palace. After they were carried out, their bodies were dry and withered. All of their
spiritual powers were sucked clean… Master, such an evil technique…"

"I gave it to her," the Grand Master glanced at the shocked Ji Chengyu and said with disinterest.
"As a reward."

Princess Shunde had been enduring a lot over the treatments for her face, so the Grand Master gave
her this forbidden art as a candied fruit to coax her into taking his medicine.

Ji Chengyu clenched his hands.

"Master, I am afraid from here on, it will be difficult for you to keep her under control."

The Grand Master smiled and did not respond. He just waved him off.

Ji Chengyu had no choice but to leave. He rushed to Zhu Ling's residence, kicked open the door
and barged in.

"What exactly does Princess Shunde want to do?"

Zhu Ling slowly sat up inside his bed couch. He did not wear a mask and the burnt skin on his face
looked hideous.

He looked at Ji Chengyu with the eyes of a snake and said, "We don't dare to speculate on the
intentions of the princess without permission."

Ji Chengyu stepped forward and grabbed Zhu Ling by his lapel. "Zhu Ling, open your eyes and
look! Look at this court! The state of the country! People are rebelling everywhere, and you are still
helping Princess Shunde do evil! What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I have made a vow to serve the princess and remain loyal to her. Aren't you the same?" Zhu Ling
looked at him. "The current state of the country, was it not your Grand Master's doing? Yet you still
remain loyal to him." Zhu Ling smiled and continued, "Even though your own brother turned against
him long ago and now leads the great army of the north."

Ji Chengyu's hand clutching at him trembled slightly, then let go.

Zhu Ling straightened his lapel and said, "Ji Chengyu, for the sake of our years of brotherhood, I
would like to offer you some advice. Right now, it's the survival of the fittest. Even though the Grand
Master is powerful, he is trapped in the past. The princess is different. The future belongs to her, and the
whole world will be in the palm of her hands. If you are willing to switch your stance and serve her
instead, you might even get to stand over the Grand Master."

Ji Chengyu sneered, "The evil art that the princess is training in was given to her by the Grand
Master. Who is she to step over him? Furthermore, did you think the Grand Master controlled
everything for decades just with his power?" He turned his head and looked at Zhu Ling. "This world is
just a playground for the strong. You and I are both pawns, so don't get too deep into the game. What I
am to the Grand Master is the same as what you are to the Princess."

"That's what you think," Zhu Ling said. "The princess told me that we will always weather the
storms together, that I am the only one who can stand next to her."

Ji Chengyu shook his head and left. He walked aimlessly on the streets of the capital.

"I knew someone who was unwilling to be a pawn." Ji Chengyu looked at the moon and recalled Ji
Yunhe's unyielding face, then lowered his head. "But she is dead."
Chapter 94: Frozen Sea

The Frozen Sea was just southeast of the Northlands. Changyi and Ji Yunhe arrived at the coast in
no time, accompanied by Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing.

Qu Xiaoxing had wanted to see Ji Yunhe ever since Changyi brought her to the north, but he never
got the chance until now.

He was not as bold as Luo Jinsang, nor did he have the support of someone like Qing Ji, so he just
quietly waited. When news came that she had convinced the demon master army into joining the north,
he was beyond excited. But...

Unexpectedly, she died...

 And then was sealed at the bottom of the lake.

Qu Xiaoxing regretted not following in the footsteps of Luo Jinsang and shamelessly forced his
way into the island courtyard.

But fate never ceased to surprise. Just as he had completely given up on the thought of ever seeing
Ji Yunhe again, natural disaster hit and the jiaoren was seen with a nine tailed fox demon. He saved the
city, and she saved him.

Qu Xiaoxing immediately found Luo Jinsang and made it in time to join their little expedition. He
finally got to see Ji Yunhe again.

Except now she was in a coma.

"Take good care of her here, I'll go down into the sea to get the lingzhi."

There were no beaches here, only cliffs and jagged rocks. The water was over thirty feet below
them, forever in a waveless, frozen state.

This was the only sea belonging to the northern realm, but it had no value and no use. The only
reason people knew about it was because of the legendary deep sea lingzhi that grew inside.

Qu Xiaoxing and Luo Jinsang watched over Ji Yunhe inside a small, broken down hut by the cliff.
Luo Jinsang cushioned Ji Yunhe's head with her lap and blew air at her to help relieve some of the
burning. Qu Xiaoxing looked at Ji Yunhe then looked at the distant jiaoren, and said with a bit of
concern, "Jinsang, I heard there are monsters guarding the sea lingzhi, do you think the jiaoren will have
any problems going down there?"

"Does he look like he'll run into problems?"

Qu Xiaoxing choked back the rest of his words. The jiaoren looked like he was just going fishing
for a snack.

But everyone knew of the lingzhi here in the frozen sea, and its amazing medicinal properties…
Yet no one dared to come harvest them...

"I am still a little worried..."

Luo Jinsang now also felt a bit of his stress. She turned and looked at the jiaoren standing over the
cliff.

His robe flew in the wind.

Luo Jinsang thought for a moment and said, "He is a jiaoren, he came from the sea. Plus people say
jiaoren are the most powerful demons of the underwater world, so he should be fine..."
 Qu Xiaoxing was not convinced. "But his tail..."

Standing on the cliff, Changyi heard every word they said.

He looked at the frozen sea down below. Although the seawater was under a thick layer of ice, the
salty scent of the ocean was something he was all too familiar with.

He thought he would never go back again...

He was a jiaoren who had lost his tail, and no longer qualified to answer to the sea's calling. But for
Ji Yunhe, he had to go back.

Changyi took a deep breath and leaped down. Several ice spears formed in front of him and broke
open the frozen surface, allowing him to dive in.

The cold water felt both familiar and strange against his skin, and he subconsciously looked at his
legs. The tail that had allowed him to come and go freely was no more. Ice blue eyes closed gently, and
when they opened again, all of his hesitation disappeared. His body shot into the darkness like an arrow.

The deeper he went, the darker it grew. Then suddenly, a whole new world appeared before him.

The fine sand under his feet was white, the reef was black, and the colorful algae growing around
emitted a faint light that illuminated everything.

Aside from the tail that had been lost, all the senses in his body told him -- he belonged here.

But his heart resisted the calling and desired for the shore.

He wandered around in the bottom of the sea, looking for traces of the sea lingzhi. The deeper he
walked, the emptier it became. When he approached an area where even seaweed no longer grew, he felt
an undercurrent with a hint of something unusual. He followed it until a faint light appeared.

He walked toward the faint light until he could see the outline of a lingzhi. But before his hand
could touch it, a huge tentacle swept through, generating a wave that washed Changyi back several feet.

Not having a fishtail was truly an inconvenience here.

He looked at the sea demon that had interfered...

A row of ten eyes blinked at him from behind the sea lingzhi, and giant tentacles swayed back and
forth. "A tail split jiaoren of royal blood, idiotic to the extreme..."

The voice was low with a soundwave that boomed and trembled across the floor of the sea.

Changyi calmly formed a seal in his hands then pulled out a three foot long ice sword between his
palms. He pointed it at the sea demon.
 "Get out of my way."

The tentacles danced chaotically. "You abandoned this world when you gave up your tail. How
dare a traitor hope to still take anything belonging to the sea?!"

With a hissing roar, the tentacles viciously threw themselves at Changyi.

The ice sword flipped in the dark, and a pair of blue eyes glowed behind the blade...

...

The ice above the frozen surface was

suddenly torn apart by a turbulence washing up from deep within the sea. Huge waves wrapped in ice
smashed against the cliff and rumbled the earth, soaking everyone waiting on top.

Qu Xiaoxing and Luo Jinsang were stunned by the sudden disturbance, they had no idea what
happened down below. Luo Jinsang was holding Ji Yunhe and could not move, so Qu Xiaoxing bravely
went to the edge of the cliff to check on the situation. He looked down and saw a giant tentacle
emerging from the thrashing waves.

"Ahhhhhhh!" Qu Xiaoxing shrieked in fear as he tumbled backward. "Monster! A giant sea

monster!"

Before he crawled even two steps, the pink tentacle landed in front of him with a thud. It twisted
and writhed, but... only half there?

It had been sliced off?

Qu Xiaoxing fell to the ground again and stared at the tentacle when the sound of footsteps
approached him from behind. He turned around and saw the jiaoren standing there, dripping wet and
wringing out water from his silver hair. His hand held a shimmering lingzhi.

"Sea lingzhi!" Qu Xiaoxing exclaimed excitedly. The jiaoren ignored him and walked to Ji Yunhe.
Qu Xiaoxing pointed at the tentacle still twisting around in front of him and asked, "What is this thing
again?"

"Dinner," Changyi replied. "Calamari."

Qu Xiaoxing's face twitched. That tentacle was almost twice as thick as him...

This jiaoren… was perhaps a thousand times more frightening in the sea...
Chapter 95: Strangers Face to Face

The huge tentacle was roasting on an open fire. It sizzled and smelled delicious, dripping with
succulence.
 Qu Xiaoxing rotated the wooden stick and swallowed mouthfuls of saliva again and again. Next to
him, Luo Jinsang also stared at it hungrily and urged on, "Can we eat it yet? What about now? Why can't
we eat it already?"

Qu Xiaoxing looked at Changyi who was still caring for Ji Yunhe. The burning inside her body had
been reduced by quite a bit after taking the sea lingzhi, but she was still unconscious, so he remained
close by her side. Qu Xiaoxing cautiously asked, "Um, Your Highness, you have been taking care of
Yunhe all day, why don't you eat something first?"

Changyi said, "You can eat." Luo Jinsang immediately pulled out her sword, sliced off a piece of
meat, blew at it a few times and gobbled it up.

"Ah... so delicious!" Luo Jinsang exclaimed. "Delicious! Where did you get such a giant squid, it
tastes so good!"

Qu Xiaoxing also took a big bite. "Yes yes, this squid is delicious."

"It's not a squid, it's a sea demon."

The two immediately froze and their faces turned green. "Sea demon?" Luo Jinsang stuttered. "A…
a demon?"

Qu Xiaoxing also asked stiffly, "The kind that can talk?"

They looked at Changyi, who nodded with a "mhm."

Qu Xiaoxing: "..."

Luo Jinsang: "..."

They then looked at the juicy meat still dripping oil in their hands, and their spirits withered. "It's a
demon."

"A live one."

"Can talk..."

"Are we eating people..."

The two fell into an uncontrollable panic and began to mutter incoherently.

Changyi ignored them and looked at the unconscious Ji Yunhe with concern. She should have
woken up already after taking the sea lingzhi, how come...

Aji could not sense his gaze right now, or the distress of the other two inside this hut.
 She had been trapped in chaos ever since passing out under the lava.

As if she had fallen into hell, its fire constantly burned at her skin and flesh.

And she could not shout out a single word amidst the agony. Her lips felt like they had been melted
by the flame, and were now stuck together.

Only when some cool air occasionally blew in did she get a moment of relief.

She did not know how much time had passed, but her lips were somehow parted and something
cool was poured into her mouth. A bitterness flowed down her throat and into her stomach, slowly
expelling the burning pain all over her body.

The flames of hell faded, and she was finally able to look at the world around her.

She found herself floating in the air with a layer of white clouds under her feet. The wind blew past
her ears, and she heard a woman's voice.

"Ji Yunhe."

Aji was startled.

She looked around, trying to find the person speaking.

"Ji Yunhe..."

But the voice only came with the sound of the wind, and would stop when the wind passed. Aji felt
an inexplicable familiarity with that name.

"My name is Aji. Who is Ji Yunhe?"

"It's you."

Another gust of wind blew by, and Aji saw a woman dressed in white at the very far end of the
clouds. She felt like she should know her, but could not remember anything. "Who are you again?"

"Ning Xiyu." The woman faded in and out, and her voice was near and far. "Find your memories,"
she said. "Retrieve your memories."

"Why?" Aji tried to get closer to her, but no matter how much she went forward, the woman was
always at a distance.

"I can lend you my power..."

"What power? Be clear, why do you know me? You..."

 Aji wanted to keep asking, but something cool pressed against her forehead, and the sensation
pulled her off of the clouds.

Aji opened her eyes with a jolt.

She saw the morning light of the rising sun beam through the wooden hut, and birds chirped and
fluttered outside the crumbling roof.

She lifted a limp, weak hand and removed the strip of wet cloth resting on her forehead, then
looked around...

Where was this place?

She turned her head and looked to her side. The silver-haired jiaoren rested quietly with eyes closed
beside her bed, his head propped up by a hand.

She tried to sit up, and that little bit of movement woke him. As soon as his gaze landed on her, the
haze of first awakening disappeared. He stared deeply, and intently into her eyes, as if he wanted to dig
out her soul, or forever lock her into his pupils.

Aji, however, scratched her head in confusion. She felt a little uncomfortable being stared at like
this, and shifted her gaze. "Ah... well… What happened with the lava? Is it under control?"

She did not see the glow inside his ice blue eyes dim down after she dodged him.

Changyi blinked and also looked away.

Aji then noticed two more people in the room, a man and a woman. The man she had not seen
before, but the woman was the one who helped Kongming capture her back in the south.

They were lying on the ground looking a bit withered and lifeless, as if they just went through
something devastating. Neither of them even noticed Aji had woken up.

"Uh..." With everything and everyone looking so strange, Aji felt super awkward. "Where are we?
How did I get here? And… why are you guys here too?"

"This is the Frozen Sea," Changyi lowered his eyes and answered in a deep voice. "You were
injured by the searing heat, and needed the deep sea lingzhi to dispel the fire."

Aji blinked for a moment and looked at him. "Thank you, Your Highness..."

Changyi tightened his lips and did not give another response. Their exchange of words, however,
woke up the two who were still immersed in their own world.

They saw Aji and instantly came back to life.

 Luo Jinsang was the first to jump over and hug her. "Yunhe! You're finally awake! You don't know
what this fish did while you were sleeping! He made us eat people!"

Qu Xiaoxing also nodded with red eyes. "Yes, people, no... Actually it was a demon, but a talking
demon, so pretty much the same thing as people... So disgusting! But finally I get to see the Protector
again... No, finally see you again, finally! Finally..."

Aji looked at the excited Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing, and then looked at the despondent jiaoren.
She was completely at a loss.

If she remembered correctly, last time they met, this woman turned invisible and ambushed her,
else Aji would not have ended up in the Northlands. The difference between now and then was
surprisingly big... Why...

Then she remembered right before she fell into a coma, she had used the power of nine tails to
protect the jiaoren...

Nine tails!

Aji touched her bottom.

The tails were not there. Then she touched her face...

It was over. She was now her original self again. The jiaoren...

Aji immediately looked at Changyi. She now understood why he was looking at her with such a
complicated face when she woke up... But...

She pushed Luo Jinsang away a bit and said, "Well, it's like this. I may be someone you know,
but... I don't know you."

Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing both looked puzzled.

Aji looked at the jiaoren next to her again. After a moment of silence, she sighed. "I'm sorry, but I
have no memories of the past."

Changyi tried his best to maintain a calm voice. "I know."

Chapter 96: No

Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing did not know what to do about Ji Yunhe losing her memories.

But as Luo Jinsang thought things over, she nodded her head. When she and Kongming captured Ji
Yunhe in the south, they did not recognize her because she had transformed into a man. But she should
have recognized them, yet she only treated them as strangers.
 "No... it's okay." Luo Jinsang regained her spirit, grabbed Aji's hand and comforted her. "It's okay if
you forget. I remember everything. And Qu Xiaoxing, he stayed by your side for a long time as well.
And the fish, the fish also remembers stuff. We can tell you all about your past."

Qu Xiaoxing nodded too and said, "Yes, yes, we'll tell you everything."

Aji pondered a bit then said, "You guys are my friends." Not a question, but an observation which
Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing immediately confirmed with an outburst of eager past recounts. They
even started counting on their fingers the years they had known each other. Aji listened for a while, but
the two of them were really vague in their narrative, leaving Aji with nothing to make sense of. She
looked at the jiaoren behind the two.

He stood in silence with his gaze slightly downcast. It was unclear what he was thinking. Aji asked
him, "So... are we friends?"

Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing shut their mouths and looked at Changyi.

Changyi raised his eyes.

"No."

He said.

Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing did not dare to speak. Aji thought about it and then smiled. "I
thought so," she said. "Earlier, right before I got burned and fell unconscious, I vaguely recalled some
things about you. But what I remembered most clearly was that I stabbed you..."

Listening to her casually mention this, his wound that had healed long ago suddenly started to hurt
again.

Yes, on the cliff, under the moonlight, she stabbed him with her sword.

Aji sighed and thought to herself, so this was the reason why Lin Haoqing did not want her to come
to the north or show her true face...

"Do you hate me for it?" she asked.

He answered after a short silence.

"No."

Not only Aji, even Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing looked at Changyi in surprise. Three heads, three
pairs of eyes, and the same face, but all for different reasons.

Luo Jinsang was excited. This fish was finally opening up!
 Qu Xiaoxing was shocked. He imprisoned the Master Warden to death, now he's saying no?

And Aji...

She did not understand at all.

She recalled the look of shock and despair on his face that night...

Now he was saying...

He did not hate her?

Why?

She did not get a chance to ask.

Changyi turned away and walked out the wooden hut. "To completely remove the poisonous fire
from your body, you will need to take another sea lingzhi in five days. Do not use any power during this
time. If the fire attacks again, there will be no cure."

He went to the cliffside and leaped down into the frozen sea where he could get some peace and
quiet. He let his body sink into the water, his mind echoing with Ji Yunhe's question and his answer...

"Do you hate me for it?"

"No."

Changyi closed his eyes. He also did not expect it.

Facing Ji Yunhe who had been reborn and knew nothing of the past, she asked if he hated her for
trying to kill him.

His answer turned out to be "no."

...

A warm, sunny day in the capital. Princess Shunde walked out of the hall with her face covered by
a red veil. Zhu Ling followed closely behind her. She sighed. "These newly captured demon masters
have much weaker spiritual power compared to the ones before." Red lips behind the veil pursed. There
were still scars from the fire across her cheeks.

"It's a pity that I can't touch the people of the Grand Master's house..."

Suddenly, a green flash of light above the sky flew over the capital and crashed into the protection
shield that surrounded the city.
 The shield was set in place by the Grand Master in preparation for moments like this.

The sound of the attack was so loud that it alarmed everyone in the capital.

Princess Shunde lifted her head and narrowed her eyes. "Jade phoenix?"

Zhu Ling's face grew fierce. "The north is attacking?"

Princess Shunde waved her hand. "The jade phoenix settled in the southern Demon Valley a while
ago. Her attack right now may not have anything to do with the people of the north."

"She came alone?"

The shield across the sky ruptured under the green light and people's exclamations echoed
throughout the city. The call of a phoenix sounded and the bird changed into human form, flying directly
for the Grand Master's house.

Princess Shunde whispered, "Master..."

She took a step forward, but then stopped. "Zhu Ling." As she spoke, a loud boom came from the
direction of the Grand Master's house. The clash of power generated a huge storm that swept across the
entire capital, shaving away all the leaves on the trees in the princess's courtyard. The servants wailed,
but Princess Shunde stood calmly in the chaotic wind. She did not care when the red veil was blown off
her face, and just slowly turned around and walked back into the palace. "Close the door for me."

Zhu Ling followed her in. The wind raged on outside, shaking up the entire palace from time to
time. People screamed all around.

Princess Shunde walked step by step to the high seat of her main hall and sat down.

She looked at the door rattling under the turbulence, but her expression was extremely cold. "We
will reap the benefits after they wound each other."

Zhu Ling bent down and saluted, "Yes."

Princess Shunde raised a palm glowing red. This was the forbidden art she had learned from the
Grand Master's secret book -- taking other people's spiritual power for herself.

"If I can get the master's power..." She looked at her hand and smiled. "When that time comes, he
will have to listen to me."

She clenched her hand into a fist, and her sharp nails pierced her skin. Her smile grew more and
more demented.

...
 Lin Haoqing's hand holding the pen froze.

"The jade phoenix broke into the Grand Master's house alone?"

"Yes," Siyu replied. "... The capital was in turmoil and the Grand Master's house was destroyed.
But she was defeated and is now being held captive inside the imperial palace."

Lin Haoqing dropped his pen and said, "Siyu, get ready. It's time for us to return to the capital."
Chapter 97: Two Sides

It was night, and the cold wind blowing in from the Frozen Sea made everyone sleeping inside the
hut shiver a bit.

Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing were lying on the ground in the corner while Aji laid on the bed.
Changyi was nowhere to be seen.

"Ji Yunhe."

Someone called out in her dream.

"Ji Yunhe..." The voice sounded distressed. "Qing Ji was captured. Remember your past! I'll lend
you my power so you can go save her!"

Qing Ji...

Aji was in a daze and fell back into the clouds. Before she could answer, a murderous aura pierced
into her chest and she instinctively resisted. But as soon as she summoned her power, the fire that had
subsided inside her heart burned up again.

She immediately felt the fire of hell against her flesh and skin.

Aji opened her eyes with a jerk, her body glowing red from the poisonous flames.

Changyi had specifically instructed her not to use any power, she never thought her reaction inside
a dream would make her use power in real life.

Aji felt the burning pain and rolled out of bed, intending to go out into the freezing wind for some
relief. But as soon as she got on the floor, her legs went weak and she fell to her knees.

Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing woke up and opened their eyes in confusion. They soon saw Aji on
the floor, panting breathlessly. Before they had time to react, a black shadow already dashed in from
outside and picked her up.

"What's wrong?" Luo Jinsang asked as she watched the jiaoren carry Aji out of the hut without
saying anything.
 Sensing the situation was not good, Luo Jinsang immediately pulled Qu Xiaoxing up, and the two
of them chased after him together.

"What's wrong?" Qu Xiaoxing also asked with a confused face. Luo Jinsang answered, "Yunhe's
fire seems to have relapsed."

"Relapsed!?" Qu Xiaoxing was shocked. "Wasn't she sleeping peacefully just now? How?!"

The two of them ran outside the hut just in time to see Changyi holding Ji Yunhe at the edge of the
cliff, leaping down into the Frozen Sea.

...

The sea was even colder in the middle of the night, surrounded by darkness.

Changyi cast a spell with his hand and Aji's face and body was enshrouded by a faint glow, then
they soared into the depths.

Aji's world fell silent inside the magic barrier he had created for her.

No one called her Ji Yunhe, no one spoke to her about Qing Ji, and in the cold water, time traveled
to a moment she had never been before.

She saw herself frozen at the bottom of the lake.

And a black capsule taken out of her body by Lin Haoqing.

"Ji Yunhe..." she murmured to herself. Then more chaotic memories flooded into Aji's mind. She
saw images of her among the snowy mountains and Changyi sealing her body with ice. She felt the
touch of a teardrop falling on her face. Then she saw a room with a screen, and his shadow under the
candle light.

Slowly, more images appeared.

In march, a sea of flowers blooming in the Demon Valley.

Being tortured and flogged by Princess Shunde inside a dungeon.

The corpse of Lin Canglan sitting on a chair with a silent Lin Haoqing nearby.

At the end, she also saw a black iron cage with blood all over the floor, the jiaoren suspended on
the wall, and his huge lotus tail...

Everything rushed into her mind at once. She heard countless people calling out the name "Ji
Yunhe". Luo Jinsang, Qu Xiaoxing, Lin Haoqing, and Changyi...
 They were all calling to her.

"Changyi..."

Changyi finally came to a stop. It was not because he heard Ji Yunhe's voice, but because he had
reached his destination -- a shimmering seabed full of lingzhi that glowed and illuminated their
surroundings.

The moment he released her into the giant cluster of lingzhi, he saw her lips move, "I remembered
everything."

Ji Yunhe's voice was blocked by his barrier, but he understood her words. It stirred up a shockwave
deep inside him.

His blue eyes lit up and glowed.

And Ji Yunhe's body floated down onto the seabed.

Seeing she had drifted away from himself, he immediately reached out and grabbed her by the
wrist.

Ji Yunhe held on to his hand and pulled his body onto hers as she landed on top of the bed.

They looked into each other's eyes under the shimmering light, through the magic barrier.

"Big-tailed fish... I'm sorry for everything you had to go through..."

He read her silent lips.

Changyi did not expect such simple words would disturb the thousands of wounds that had festered
and healed over inside him.

It was always so easy for her to drill into the deepest vulnerabilities of his heart.

But why Ji Yunhe?

He never understood it.

Why her?

Her life and death, illness and suffering, support and betrayal, remembering and forgetting... They
all made him feel so much pain.

Even her silent words made him feel weak right now.

Ji Yunhe gently caressed his face, then her hand reached behind his neck and she embraced him.
 This human world had been truly unkind to this big-tailed fish from the sea...

...

The capital, also late at night.

The battle had left the city in ruins. A spring rain lightly fell in the middle of the night, making
everything worse.

No one cared about the civilians' woes and suffering. The Grand Master's house had been nearly
demolished to the ground. He walked to his mostly collapsed study and waved his arm. A book quietly
flew into his hand from the rubble.

The book was partially soaked by the rain, and he gently dabbed at the water with his white sleeve.
Then he coughed violently.

His body hunched over in the rain, something rarely seen. A red umbrella suddenly opened up
above him.

He turned his head and saw Shunde dressed in red with her face behind a scarf. Her bare feet
stepped in the mud as she eyed him. "Master, you are injured."

The Grand Master nodded, "Mhm."

"My fault for not helping you battle the jade phoenix."

"It's good that you didn't come." The Grand Master put the book into his sleeve and coughed a
couple more times. "Rest well, catching a cold would affect your health."

Her eyes flickered and her lips trembled upon hearing his words, but the Grand Master added, "It
would interfere with the medicine you are taking."

Shunde's lips grew stiff and the hand holding the umbrella tightened.

The Grand Master did not look at her. "Go back. And put on your shoes." Then he proceeded to
cough nonstop until a mouthful of blood splattered onto the ground. He immediately channeled some
power into his hand and pressed it against his chest, closing his eyes.

Princess Shunde's gaze turned treacherous as she stared at him. "Master."

The Grand Master did not respond to her.

He was seriously injured. When concentrating on self healing, external disturbances were
considered most devastating...
 Shunde's face gradually turned cold.

In the spring rain, under the red umbrella, her fingertips gathered power and she struck at the back
of his neck.

And sure enough, the Grand Master did not defend against her. She easily seized him and began
extracting the power that she had wanted from him. His spiritual power was pure and strong, far better
than her killing a hundred other demon masters.

Princess Shunde was overjoyed until she saw him slightly turn his head.

She suddenly felt afraid, and in the next instant, her power began flowing out into his body.

She wanted to pull loose, but her hand remained stuck to him until all the power she had absorbed
in recent days was sucked clean. Then she was pushed away by a brutal force.

She staggered onto broken bricks and mud with her bare feet. They cut her skin and made her
bleed, but the Grand Master did not give her even a single glance.

"Ruling, you want too much," he said. "Go back."

He saw through everything she had planned and did not care. Absolute power gave him absolute
confidence… and control.

Shunde looked at him in the rain, her face gradually twisting. "Why not kill me?" she asked him. "I
just betrayed you, I wanted your life! Why aren't you killing me?!"

The Grand Master walked away. "You know why."

Because of her face.

Even though it had been disfigured, he still obsessed over healing her and restoring her. Because of
this face.

She touched the uneven skin on her cheek, and her sharp nails digged into her flesh. "I don't want
this face! I am not a face! Kill me! You raised me, taught me, and gave me everything, but I betrayed
you! I betrayed you! Kill me! Don't spare me because of this face..."

She collapsed to the ground, covering her bloody face and crying out in pain. "I'm not just a face,
I'm more than just a face..."
Chapter 98: I Just Don't

After returning from the Grand Master's house, Princess Shunde sat in the main hall all night. She
did not bother cleaning her bloody face, or fixing her messy wet hair.

When Zhu Ling came and saw her, he panicked and quickly walked over to her chair. He reached
out a hand to touch her face, but stopped in mid air.

He wanted to withdraw his hand, but Shunde grabbed it and pressed her cheek into his palm.

She rubbed her face against his hand, smearing blood all over it.

"Princess… your injury..."

"Zhu Ling, I wasn't able to kill the master."

"The Grand Master…?"

"He didn't punish me. He just drained me of all my power." She pressed her face a little tighter into
Zhu Ling's palm. "Identity, dignity, power, life… he gave me everything. Zhu Ling, aside from this face,
he wants nothing from me, and I have nothing now..." Her eyes were open, but her gaze was empty.

"My scars are still here after all this time, how much longer will he remain patient? One month, two
months? A year? Two years? Once he gives up, I will become a piece of garbage that he can just
casually throw away. What is the difference between me and those peasants out there?"

A trace of madness flashed across her eyes. "How about I punish him by taking my own life? He
wants this face so much, if I take it away, he will suffer."

"Princess..." Zhu Ling was appalled. "Princess, don't give up yet. I came to tell you that Lin
Haoqing has returned."

"Lin Haoqing?" Princess Shunde smiled contemptuously. "He still dares to come back? Zhu Ling,
why didn't you just kill him?"

"Lin Haoqing said he can help the princess."

"Help me? What could he help me with?"

"Kill the Grand Master."

Her body stiffened. After a moment of silence, she said, "Bring him to me."

...

On top of the seabed, Changyi had created a giant bubble to keep water away.

Ji Yunhe slept with the sea lingzhi for a whole night. When she woke up, she saw him lying quietly
next to her.

His black robe and silver hair were spread out around him, and the blue glow from the lingzhi was
the same color as his eyes. Ji Yunhe felt as if she were in a dream, private, calm and enchanting. The
occasional bubbles swirling by made everything even more magical.

Staring at the beautiful face in front of her, she did not know if this was real or a fantasy.

Ji Yunhe eyed the outline of his brows in admiration, and found their situation rather amusing.

They both thought she was dead. Who could have guessed that she would be reborn, and they
would get to see each other again...

She raised her hand and traced her finger down the bridge of his nose. He opened his eyes.

The light of the sea lingzhi glowed on both of their faces.

"Changyi." Ji Yunhe opened her mouth first, but after calling his name, she did not know what else
to say. Too much had happened between them and she could not sort through all her emotions.

"How are you?" Changyi asked. "Do you still feel any discomfort?"

Only now did Ji Yunhe remember why she had been brought here. She shook her head and touched
the sea lingzhi on the bedrock. "This place is magical, it seems to have dispelled all the burning heat
inside my body."

"This lingzhi is why this sea has no storms and remains frozen all year round."

"Why?" Ji Yunhe laughed. "Could it be that these things grow by consuming heat?"

Changyi was captivated by the smile on her face.

He had suspected Aji was her, but because Ji Yunhe's body was still under the lake, he thought he
was wrong. Now looking at her talking and laughing in front of him, so full of life, Changyi found it
hard to believe that she was real.

The past few months now felt like one long dream.

"What's wrong?" seeing that Changyi did not answer, Ji Yunhe asked.

He collected his thoughts but answered her previous question, "Sea lingzhi can be considered as
consuming heat for life. That is why it can cure the fire inside you. But now with the recurrence, it is
difficult to eliminate with a single plant. You will need to recuperate here for a few days."

"I remember you telling me not to use my power, and I was careful about it too… I don't
understand how my dream…" The dream she had in the wooden hut flashed through her mind.

She now remembered and knew the woman who spoke to her in the dream was Ning Xiyu, the one
who had taught the Grand Master. But…
 Ji Yunhe frowned, "... Too many things in my head... I can't remember why I used my power in the
dream." She looked at Changyi apologetically. "I am sorry for the trouble."

Changyi sat up and said, "It's no trouble."

Compared to her being dead and her body burned by lava, this current situation was so much more
preferable.

Ji Yunhe fell silent again. If she remembered correctly, she had never told Changyi the truth about
her betrayal...

The only people who knew were Lin Haoqing, Princess Shunde, and people from the Grand
Master's house. Another person who knew was the monk determined to make Changyi forget about her,
Kongming.

None of them would run over to Changyi and tell him this useless stuff after her death.

So that made Changyi's actions right now very intriguing. Come to think of it, the way he treated
her even before she remembered everything...

"Changyi..." she finally asked him, "why did you say you don't hate me?"

Her question was too direct. In this confined space, Changyi could not avoid it.

"I just don't," he said. "There is no reason."

His answer was also very direct. Ji Yunhe was baffled and sat up too. "I betrayed you."

"Mhm."

"Stabbed you."

"Yes."

"I pushed you off a cliff, the monk said you almost died. You spent six years in the north, planning
and fighting just to get back at me."

"That's right."

"..." She was silent for a moment. "And you are saying you don't hate me?" The eyes staring at
Changyi slowly began to quiver in the darkness. She lowered her head and did not know what else to
say. "Changyi, are you stupid?"

This big-tailed fish... after so many trials and tribulations over the years, he was still so kind and
sincere.
 "Why are you so good?" Ji Yunhe asked him. "How do you still have such a kind heart? This
way..." She looked down at his hands that had been injured by his own magic dealing with the lava.
They were covered in cuts and scratches.

She gently held his hands and tears fell. "People will bully you..."

For the first time, Changyi saw her cry. And it seemed as if she was crying for him.

But he did not feel he was as good as she said, nor was he that kind… He had come so close to
losing himself. When he finally turned around, it was not because of the good in him, but because Ji
Yunhe had come back.

Even though he had not known it was her and she had forgotten their past, she still pulled him back.

Changyi wiped away the tears on her face. "I'm very powerful," he said. "Remember, you were
once beaten by me too."

Speaking of this matter, Ji Yunhe broke into laughter. "Only you can make beating a woman sound
so justified."

The corners of his lips also curled up.

After so many years, at the bottom of the sea far away from the human world, they finally looked at
each other with a smile.

...

Inside the palace, Lin Haoqing was led into a side hall by the servant. "Valley Master, please wait
here, the princess will arrive shortly." The servant then bowed respectfully and left. Lin Haoqing sat
down and quietly took a sip of tea.

He looked at the cup in his hand and sneered sarcastically. The tea in the palace was still amazingly
good even during these tough times.

A red shadow approached from the back of the hall. Lin Haoqing stood up to salute her, but she
said, "Forget the formalities. Tell me why you are here, and why I shouldn't behead you right now."

Lin Haoqing straightened up his body and looked at Princess Shunde directly. The horrible scars
were still visible behind her veil.

"Princess, I have come to relieve you of your biggest burden."

"Burden? You know what burdens me?"

"The Grand Master's house, the Grand Master."

 Princess Shunde leaned back on her seat. "The Grand Master is my master, yet you say he is my
burden? You should be killed just for this comment."

Lin Haoqing smiled. "If not a burden but a mountain to lean on, then why did the princess feel a
need to absorb the power of so many demon masters in recent days?"

"You have eyes in my palace? Valley Master Lin, your hands have stretched very far."

"It's only for self protection. The demon master tribe has been struggling to survive under the
Grand Master's control for decades. Is it not the same for the court?"

Princess Shunde went silent.

"The princess thirsts for power, and I am risking my life returning to the capital to make you an
offer."

"Go on."

"Refining humans into demons."

Shunde narrowed her eyes. "Ji Yunhe?" she snorted. "She is already dead, and you still dare to offer
this method to me?"

"Ji Yunhe did not die from this refining process, but from years of torture."

Shunde hissed bitterly, "Her death was too merciful."

Lin Haoqing ignored her and continued, "The pills that turned her into a demon were developed by
my father. Since the frost poison only affected those with a double pulse, he created this method in order
to help us gain immunity. It's just a pity that he died before completing his work. I continued my father's
research and it's very close to succeeding. I am just missing one thing."

"What?"

"The production process of a few frost poison components."

"I see," Princess Shunde laughed. "So that's why you asked me for some frost poison when I
ordered you to go north. You said it was to help you gain better control over your men, turns out you
had other plans."

"Different times, princess. I was deceitful then, but now, we share a common enemy. Why not join
forces?"

Princess Shunde was deep in thought for a long time. "Three days," she said. "If you can't figure it
out, I will give you to the Grand Master."
Chapter 99: Follow You

Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing waited anxiously on the shore.

She almost jumped into the sea several times, but was stopped by Qu Xiaoxing. "We don't know
what's going on down there, don't be so rash!"

"Then what do we do? It's been a whole day!"

As if in response to her question, the icy water down below suddenly splashed out, drenching them
before they had time to turn around.

Changyi leapt onto the shore along with a few live fish flopping around on the ground.

They both stared at him for a while, then Luo Jinsang went hysterical. "Where is Yunhe?! Why did
you bring fish up here? Where is she?"

Qu Xiaoxing looked at the bouncing fish in horror. "This can't be Yun... Yunhe, right?"

Luo Jinsang gasped, "What!?"

Changyi wringed the water out of his hair and said, "Roast it."

"Roasted?? What!?" The two exclaimed in unison.

Changyi finally gave them a glance. "Roast the fish, I'll take it down for her to eat."

They relaxed a bit. Qu Xiaoxing went ahead and grabbed the fish while Luo Jinsang kept asking,
"Why didn't Yunhe come up with you?"

"Healing."

"For how long?"

"Three days."

"Three days?" Luo Jinsang shifted her eyes. "Then how does she breathe down there? Are you
giving her mouth to mouth?"

Changyi froze then turned his head to ponder.

Luo Jinsang overturned her own idea. "You are a jiaoren, surely you don't need such a primitive
method. But three days... just the two of you? A man and a woman alone in the dark... You better not
take advantage of her while she has no recollection of the past!"

Changyi froze again and fell into contemplation.

 Qu Xiaoxing could not take it anymore and came up next to her, muttering in a low voice, "My
lady lord, can you stop giving him ideas…"

Changyi looked at the two of them and said, "You guys talk too much. Just cook the fish."

The weather here around the Frozen Sea was warmer than the bitter cold in the north. Changyi
walked into the forest to pick some fresh fruits while Qu Xiaoxing handled the fish.

"Since when did this jiaoren like our Master Warden? Didn't he want to kill her? What did I miss?"

"You missed a lot."

...

Zhu Ling offered a pill to Princess Shunde.

She took the black pill and rolled it around between her fingertips. "So fast?"

"Lin Haoqing said all he needed was the production process of some components. Once he got it,
making this pill was a breeze. Except this is not a finished product."

Princess Shunde smiled, "What else does he want?"

"He needs to infuse it with the power of a demon and a demon master."

"The capital is full of them."

Zhu Ling said, "It has to be a demon master and a demon whose powers are compatible with the art
practiced by the princess."

"I train in the wood element, there are not many demon masters here compatible with me," she said.
"Master also uses wood magic. Lin Haoqing wants me to take his power?"

After thinking about it, Zhu Ling said, "Princess, if you must, I know a demon master that you can
sacrifice."

"Who?"

"Ji Chengyu."

"Him..." Princess Shunde weighed the pill inside her palm. "Not bad. As for the demon..." She
thought a bit then said, "The jade phoenix is considered a demon of the wood element.."

"I am afraid her power is too brutal, and is not a good match for Ji Chengyu. It may be dangerous
for the princess to use her."
 "Well, refining into a demon, plus the forbidden art, I will be able to harness both the power of
other demon masters and other demons. Eventually I will be able to fight the master again." She
clutched the pill tightly inside her hand. "Tell Lin Haoqing to find a wood demon and do not let anyone
find out about this. Tomorrow, I want to see results tomorrow at the latest."

"Yes."

...

It was evening when the young man in a dusty white robe ran into the courtyard. "Master! Master!"

Ji Chengyu came out of the house and looked at Ji Ning in shock. "Why were you gone for so
long?"

Tears accumulated in Ji Ning's eyes. "Master... I... I was captured and taken all the way to the
Northlands. They released me and I..."

"The Northlands!?"

"I... I also met Ji Yunhe, she didn't die..."

Ji Chengyu was shaken. "What?"

"Ji Yunhe, she transformed into a man and saved me, and later..." His words were incoherent as he
tried to catch his breath. Ji Chengyu pulled him toward the house. "Come in first, then talk."

They did not know that outside the courtyard door, a black-armored general stood against the wall.
His eyes behind the black iron mask were dark and gloomy.

"Ji Yunhe..."

...

The wind and rain outside did not disturb the calm in the deep sea.

Ji Yunhe was enjoying the food brought back by Changyi with a face of pure gratification. "Eating
roasted fish at the bottom of the sea, this is one amazing experience. Mainly because this place is so
beautiful, quiet and secluded, and I get food delivery."

"Then stay here."

"No way, that would be like imprisonment."

Ji Yunhe blurted out the word and they were both reminded of some past things.
 Changyi fell silent, and she immediately explained, "Big-tailed fish, I'm not blaming you."

"I know." Changyi wiped away some fruit juice on the corner of her mouth with his sleeve. Ji
Yunhe was a bit caught off guard by his action. She cleared her throat and took another bite of the fish.

But Changyi did not mind her awkward reaction. "After you get well, north, south, Demon Valley,
or anywhere in the world, you can go wherever you want."

His words surprised her. Ji Yunhe looked at his serious face in the shimmering light of the sea
lingzhi, and listened to his serious voice. "You have always wanted to be free, so much that you even
took a walk between life and death," he paused briefly. "I won't keep you locked up anymore."

Ji Yunhe asked, "What about you?"

"I will go back to the north," Changyi said. "It is no longer a tool for my own selfish desires. I will
guard the north."

"Like how you guarded it when the lava came?"

Changyi did not deny it.

Ji Yunhe looked at the side of his face and smiled. "Changyi, you've changed."

"Perhaps." He lowered his head and stared at his hand, as if he had already heard her say: okay,
after I get well, we'll go our separate ways. "Take Qu Xiaoxing, he is very loyal to you, and Luo
Jinsang..."

Ji Yunhe laughed and shook her head.

Changyi looked at her curiously.

She said, "You've changed, and so have I."

He listened quietly.

"I grew up trapped inside the Demon Valley, and then was locked up in various prisons, so I never
had any free will. Because of that, I hated the idea of being tied to anything in this world, and always
fought for that illusory freedom as my greatest desire. Even to the point of sacrificing my life for it."

Ji Yunhe turned her head and looked at him.

"But after taking a walk between life and death and having had a fresh new start, I now know
freedom is not about being able to go anywhere you want," she said. "It's being able to decide for
yourself."

Ji Yunhe gently caressed the back of his hand.

 "And I have decided to be tied down," she smiled at him, "for you."

The light of the sea lingzhi seemed brighter all of a sudden, illuminating his eyes.

"You want to follow me back north?"

"North, south, Demon Valley," she imitated him. "Anywhere in the world, you can go wherever
you want."

His hand turned over and ten fingers interlocked. Changyi did not speak again, but the corners of
his lips curved up into a smile.

"To the furthest end of heaven and earth, to the deepest corners of the sea…" Ji Yunhe whispered
into his ear, "I will always follow you."

"Okay."

"Wait a minute... Is this considered a corner of the sea? Then have we already been there?"

"There is still the far end of heaven and earth."

Tens of thousands of mountains, rivers, and seas. Once he took care of unfinished business in the
north, he would take her to all the places she wanted to go.

As for the past, she did not care to mention, and he did not care to remember. Just let it all dissipate
into the wind or the waves.

Having lost and found was already the greatest blessing.

Chapter 100: Tease

Inside the inner chamber draping with red curtains, Shunde sat in front of a mirror turned away
from her face.

Her expression was dim as someone slowly approached.

Only one person could step in here unannounced.

The Grand Master stopped behind Shunde. She gently stroked the edge of the mirror and did not
turn around to look at him.

"Ruling, drink the medicine."

The Grand Master placed a bowl of black liquid on the table next to her.

He seldom did anything himself, but with her medicine, he personally handled the entire process --
from boiling the water to serving them to her.

Shunde looked at the bowl. "I will drink it later."

"It will be most effective to drink it now."

"I don't want to."

The Grand Master picked up the bowl with one hand and pulled open her jaw with the other.
Without a single word, he started pouring the medicine down her throat.

Shunde clenched her teeth and struggled hard, finally breaking loose from his grip and stumbling
back a few steps. She stared at him in anger. "I don't want to drink it! I won't drink it! No!"

The Grand Master's face grew cold.

His expression was frightening, but Shunde only felt anger and rage. He moved his hand and she
felt an invisible force grab her throat and pin her onto the table. She struggled to no avail.

Her mouth was forced open so brutally that her jawbone dislocated. He poured the medicine into
her mouth, then released his hand and watched her.

Not observing her emotions, but watching her face.

Severe pain radiated out of her chest and ripped through her entire body, then crawled up to her
face. She fell down wailing, and rolled around on the floor in agony.

The scars on her face wriggled like worms, slowly eating away the rotten flesh under her skin and
smoothing it.

The Grand Master ignored her screams and watched with eyes lit with hope.

Eventually, her pain subsided and she laid on the ground panting for breath like a beaten dog. Her
scars looked much better now.

The Grand Master squatted down, ruffled her hair and gently stroked her cheek. "This medicine
works, be a good girl next time."

Shunde glared at him, part fear and part resentment. The Grand Master did not say anything else.
He walked out of her chamber as quietly as he came.

After a long time, Shunde finally got up from the ground.

She covered her chest with one hand and clenched a fist with the other. Before her breathing
calmed down, she took out the unfinished pill and her eyes glowed with a vicious craze.
 She opened her mouth and swallowed it.

"I can't wait anymore, not a day, not a moment... Ji Chengyu, jade phoenix... you are both mine…"

She staggered out the door.

...

Ji Yunhe rested on the sea bed for two days. The patch of lingzhi was beautiful at first, but now
after staring at them for so long, she grew bored and wanted to go out.

"Just hang on, you can go ashore tomorrow. By then the poisonous fire should be completely
gone," Changyi reassured her. "One last day, don't rush it."

"Why didn't you bring me here in the first place?"

"At that time you only needed one lingzhi. Plus there was a sea demon here, fighting him while
carrying you would have been inconvenient."

Ji Yunhe froze, then looked around into the dark sea. "Where is the sea demon now?"

"I chopped off a tentacle and it ran away."

"So this was his home?"

"Correct."

Ji Yunhe said disapprovingly, "Tsk tsk, such a bully. Hawk taking a sparrow's nest, shameless!"

"He started it."

She could not help but laugh. "I remember back in the Demon Valley dungeon, I asked you to take
me under the sea sometimes."

Changyi nodded, "You did." He answered with certainty as if he remembered everything she had
ever said.

"This place certainly counts, and I have seen many sides of you now." As if she just remembered
something, Ji Yunhe pulled out the silver pearl hanging around her neck.

It dazzled and reflected the shimmering glow of the sea lingzhi around them.

When Changyi saw her pull it out, he suddenly forgot the grief he had felt that day, and blushed...

"This is the tear of a jiaoren, right?" She closed in on him. Changyi turned his head and acted like
he did not see it. But how could Ji Yunhe be this easy to brush off. She approached him from the other
side. "You cried it for me?"

Changyi cleared his throat.

Ji Yunhe saw his ears turn red and smirked, she was definitely not letting him off the hook now.
She went straight to him face to face. "Just one?"

"Just one."

"Then can you squeeze out a couple more, I can make a set of matching earrings."

Changyi looked at her teasing eyes, and realized that this naughty girl had advanced herself and
started poking fun at him.

He decided to be straightforward about it. "The day the lava hit and you fell into a coma, after
Kongming dug us out, they were all over the ground."

All… all over the ground...

Turned out he was a treasure chest with endless riches...

He stared at her without dodging or avoiding, and she understood the meaning behind his words.
All of a sudden her heart ached and she touched his head.

Changyi quietly accepted her caress.

Of course he was now aware that there was no magic spell called "touch it and it will get better".
He had considered it to be just another one of the many lies she told him, adding to her list of sins.

But here at the bottom of the sea, her touch smoothed over all his scars and bitterness collected
over the years, as if its healing powers were real.

He also saw the heartache in her eyes.

"Lost and found, they were tears of joy," Changyi said. "You don't need to feel bad."

Ji Yunhe tightened her lips. "Big-tailed fish, I am feeling bad for the money all over the ground that
no one picked up. You guys don't know a thing about jumpstarting Northlands' economy." Ji Yunhe
paused and thought about the first part of what he said. "Lost and found, joy..." She smiled. "Changyi,
are you romancing me? "

Changyi asked, "Does that count as romancing?"

"That depends on who you are to me."

Ji Yunhe was teasing him again. She was sure he would be shy about it, but unexpectedly, he was
very direct. "You were marked by a jiaoren. In your language, it would be… together always."

Ji Yunhe was a bit bewildered by his bluntness. "Earlier, if I had wanted to go separate ways
instead of follow you back north, you would have lost your companion for life."

Changyi did not even think about it. "Would still be in the heart."

His words moved her again.

She lowered her head and smiled. "Where is the mark now?"

"It was printed on the body below the lake that burned..." Changyi still remembered the pain he felt
when her body disintegrated into the lava. "So the mark is gone too."

"Back with you again?"

"Yes." Changyi looked at her. "If you don't like it, we don't have to use it."

"We have to use it."

Changyi did not expect that from her.

She continued, "Changyi, after we go back to the city, we will be facing the strongest man over the
past century and the entire imperial court. Even though they lost the heart of their people, their power
still cannot be underestimated. We will not always be together, and this mark can provide us with a link.
It has to be printed, but it also needs to be fair."

Fair, meaning she should be able to sense him too.

Changyi watched Ji Yunhe for a while, then brushed aside the hair around her ear and planted a
gentle kiss.

She felt the same pain as last time, but was now in a completely different state of mind.

His cool lips left her ear but he did not back away. Instead, he blew softly onto her wound. Even
though the pain was nothing to Ji Yunhe, being cherished like this made her feel incredibly warm and
fuzzy inside.

No one had ever treasured her like this before.

Not Lin Canglan who raised her, not Lin Haoqing who grew up with her, and not her friends who
admired and looked up to her.

Even with Changyi himself, they were never this close back in the Demon Valley. And after he
brought her to the north, all they had between each other were grudges and disputes.
 And now, he gently helped her blow her wound.

Ji Yunhe felt like her whole body was melting under his cool breath. It tickled her ear, ruffled her
hair, and flushed her face.

She lifted her eyes and watched him. He looked so innocent, completely unaware that his actions
had aroused certain responses inside her.

"Changyi."

"Hmm?"

"You're such a tease sometimes."

"Hmm?"

Without further ado, Ji Yunhe pulled him toward her and kissed him passionately on the lips.

His eyes widened.

The giant bubble held out by Changyi's spell suddenly swayed, moving the lingzhi patch along with
it. Amidst their shimmering light, the sound of seawater resonated inside the confined space, like the
giggles of a naughty child who had peeked in.

Ji Yunhe did not let go.

Blue eyes narrowed. His hand held up to her head from behind, and he tilted his body...

"Ji Yunhe, you're also very good at teasing."

She smiled.

In the calm of the deep sea, they did not know day and night, only each other.
Chapter 101: Danger

"Changyi, how come you never asked me how I came back?"

Ji Yunhe asked softly as she rested her head on his arm.

"I'm afraid it'd wake me from this dream."

Ji Yunhe sat up and patted his face then shook his arm. "Is this a dream?"

"It feels like a dream."

Ji Yunhe smiled and said, "If this were a few months ago, I would've never dreamed that the big-
tailed fish would be so nice to me one day."

Changyi held her hand. "We don't need to mention the past." In his mind, all the drama that had
happened between them no longer mattered. "New life means a fresh new start."

"Yes, but I want to be clear with this matter. I was saved by Lin Haoqing."

"Lin Haoqing?"

"When I was refined into a demon, I formed an inner pearl. He took it out of my corpse and grew
me a new demon body."

Changyi pondered for a moment. "Why did he do that?"

"Perhaps for old time's sake," Ji Yunhe said. "Why he saved me is not important, what he wants to
do now is."

Changyi sat up.

"After saving me, Lin Haoqing pushed me out on my own. He made me learn the art of
transformation, and told me to never show my true face, and never go to the north or the capital. Likely
it's because he doesn't want me getting involved with whatever he's planning on doing. He said he's
going to the capital to take care of some unfinished business."

"What does he want to do?"

Ji Yunhe shook her head. "I used to think that I was the best at predicting his moves, but ever since
he led the demon masters on their northern expedition, I couldn't figure him out anymore. Princess
Shunde is not a master in strategy. Aside from her vicious and toxic temperament, there is nothing to
fear about her. She wanted to deal with the north and they were short on manpower, so she sent Lin
Haoqing and his men. That was a stupid and direct method. It was logical from Princess Shunde's point
of view, but why would Lin Haoqing accept the order? That's curious."

Changyi nodded. "When Qing Ji captured Lin Haoqing from their camp, it also seemed too easy."

"And then his army came attacking, which made it possible for me to talk them into switching
sides." Ji Yunhe narrowed her eyes. "Doesn't this look like he was... deliberately giving us his men?" Ji
Yunhe pondered a bit more. "But I can't figure out what he is planning on now."

"We can worry about it tomorrow after we go back." Changyi stood up. "Are you hungry? I'll go up
and get you some food. What do you want to eat?"

"Something sweet. I've suffered too much already, all I want now is sweet stuff." (The Chinese
translation for "suffering" is literally "eating bitter".)

"Okay. Which one of the fruits I brought was the sweetest?"

 Ji Yunhe smiled and answered, "You are the sweetest."

His ears turned red. "I'll be back soon."

...

When he leaped onto the cliff above the shore, Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing had been so bored
that they were tossing dice carved out of pebbles.

Seeing Changyi had come out of the sea with fish again, Qu Xiaoxing subconsciously cowered. "I
already roasted fish for two days straight, I don't want to do it today."

"Who else is going to do it?" Luo Jinsang pushed him and he had no choice but to take on the task
again. She then proceeded to ask Changyi her daily question, "How is Yunhe doing down there?"

"Pretty good." Changyi walked into the forest.

Qu Xiaoxing turned to Luo Jinsang and commented, "He seems to be in a very good mood today."

"Is he not like this usually?"

Qu Xiaoxing said bluntly, "Does he usually bother answering you?"

Luo Jinsang pouted, then suddenly a green light flashed above their heads. It felt familiar and she
looked up with a smile. "Qing Ji came! Huh..." She squinted some more. "That is... "

A giant pair of green wings flew by in the sky, but they looked very strange. They were not the
beautiful ones Luo Jinsang had seen before, but were jagged and uneven, and they flew awkwardly in
the air.

Upon a closer look, Luo Jinsang saw the person between the wings. It was not Qing Ji, but a
woman dressed in red. She and Qu Xiaoxing had never seen Princess Shunde before, but intuition told
them this woman was not a friend.

They put up their defenses as the woman landed on top of the cliff.

Now face to face, Luo Jinsang could clearly see the wings were actually green gas condensed into
the shape of wings. Similar to the nine tails behind Ji Yunhe, but much more hideous.

Princess Shunde stepped forward on her bare feet and her green aura dissipated. The scars on her
face were not completely gone, making her look eerie and menacing. Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing
could not help but back up to maintain their distance from her.

"I heard that the jiaoren has brought Ji Yunhe here to heal?" Her voice was much huskier than
usual. "Where are they?"
 Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing looked at each other. They only knew of one person in this world
who loved to wear red and had a disfigured face. Having guessed her identity, they were both shocked
and appalled.

Everyone knew Princess Shunde was a demon master and the personal disciple of the Grand
Master. How did she end up looking like this? And what's going on with those wings? This demonic
aura seemed similar to Qing Ji...

And how did she know Ji Yunhe was still alive? And came over this fast?

"We don't know what you're talking about," Qu Xiaoxing raised his voice and said. "There are only
two of us here, I have not seen anyone else."

"Then there is no use in keeping you alive."

Before Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing were able to see how she moved, her body turned into a blur
as she flashed over to Qu Xiaoxing and reached for his neck. When her sharp nails were about to make
contact with his skin, an icicle flew in from the side, aiming for her palm. She had no choice but to
retreat a few steps. Princess Shunde looked to the direction from where the icicle came.

Silver hair and blue eyes. The one she had wanted for so long but was never able to get.

The one that had created all the chaos in her world.

Princess Shunde narrowed her eyes and stared at him viciously.

And Changyi was still holding a few juicy fruits in his hand. He put them gently on the ground
using a leaf as padding, then looked at Shunde. Seeing the green demonic aura around her body, he
tightened his brows.

"Jiaoren, you and I have many scores to settle, but I am not here to kill you." Shunde's eyes were
cold, and her voice was full of hatred. "Where is Ji Yunhe?"

Changyi did not need to hear more. An ice sword took shape in his hand and he only said one word
to Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing, "Move." With that, the ice sword broke through the air and lunged for
Shunde.

Luo Jinsang hesitated and Qu Xiaoxing went to pull her. "Go! Don't get in his way!"

Changyi's ice sword landed on a wing coalesced from green gas. The force of the impact shaved the
surrounding grass and trees and pushed Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing back three steps.

Luo Jinsang had to admit that the battle between Changyi and Princess Shunde was something she
could not help with.
 She did not hesitate again and ran deep into the forest along with Qu Xiaoxing.

Luo Jinsang looked back at the intense battle. Not only was the Frozen Sea disturbed, even the
wind and clouds had changed color. But then she noticed that Changyi's hand was frosting over, almost
like it was becoming one with the sword...

"I heard that the fish overexerted himself during the lava eruption and suffered serious power loss,
is he... is he going to be okay?"

Qu Xiaoxing also looked over with concern. "You go back to the north and get help, I will try to
find Yunhe…"

Another gust of wind blew over and made them stagger. The force of this battle could be equivalent
to Changyi fighting the Grand Master himself. No time to wonder why Shunde had suddenly become so
powerful, Qu Xiaoxing pushed Luo Jinsang anxiously, "Go!"

Inside the forest, two shadows immediately went their separate ways.
Chapter 102: Back Then

Above the surface, giant waves crashed through broken ice, and a storm roared thunderously.

But it was as calm as ever in the bottom of the sea.

Ji Yunhe looked at the shimmering lingzhi on the seabed and murmured, "It's good to let bygones
be bygones, but if I don't mention it, there will always be a thorn in the heart." She touched a lingzhi.
"When Changyi returns, I should tell him everything."

She made up her mind and rubbed her belly. "This big-tailed fish is so slow today. Is he cooking up
a feast?" Remembering the mark he had planted on her, she closed her eyes and pictured his face. Her
ear felt a cool tingle, and her vision floated out of the deep sea.

She thought she would see trees and greenery, but the vision was full of thunder clouds and rolling
fog. Occasionally, she could hear sounds of weapons clashing against each other. Suddenly, blood
splattered out of the misty haze.

Ji Yunhe opened her eyes violently.

Something had happened to Changyi!

She stood up and tried to summon her power, but as soon as she mobilized the energy in her body,
she felt a burning heat inside her chest. There were still some remnants of the fire poison left.

Ji Yunhe did not want to wait anymore. She squatted down and plucked a couple of sea lingzhi,
stuffed them into her mouth and ate them.

The sea lingzhi suppressed the fire and she immediately broke through Changyi's magic barrier.
 The further she went up, the faster the darkness faded.

Ji Yunhe felt the churning waves of the sea before she even reached the surface.

She grew more anxious. Nine tails appeared behind her as the sudden daylight blinded her vision.

She closed her eyes and leaped onto the cliff.

It was empty aside from a pile of fruits still resting on the ground, padded by a leaf. They had been
battered by the wind and rain.

Ji Yunhe tried to sense the whereabouts of Changyi again, but the connection felt weak and far
away, as if he had already gone thousands of miles during the time it took for her to come up.

"Master Warden! Protector!"

The shout came from the sea below. Ji Yunhe looked down from the cliff and saw Qu Xiaoxing
floating on a piece of ice among the waves. She flew down and pulled him up. "What happened?" she
asked him. "Where is Changyi?"

The Frozen Sea had been shattered as far as the eye could see. Dark clouds were still rolling in the
sky with heavy rain pouring down. Qu Xiaoxing wiped his face and gasped for breath. "Princess Shun...
Shunde was here..."

Ji Yunhe looked at the wreckage all around and was very puzzled. "Her? Did the Grand Master
come too?"

"The Grand Master did not come, but Princess Shunde somehow had a pair of giant green wings.
At first we thought it was Qing Ji. Shunde was extremely strong, her battle with the jiaoren changed the
winds and clouds. And it looked like he still had some previous injuries, he... I told Luo Jinsang to go
get help from the north, I myself would try to go find you, but I could not get down... " Qu Xiaoxing
sounded very distressed. "He... while he was saving me, Shunde attacked him from behind..."

Ji Yunhe's face grew pale as she recalled the blood in her vision and her body trembled
uncontrollably.

Qu Xiaoxing continued, "He... he was taken away..."

"Taken away? Changyi didn't..." Ji Yunhe paused, trying to calm herself down, "he didn't die, he
was just taken away, right?"

"Right."

She felt slightly relieved. Knowing he was still alive, she suppressed her panic and began to
analyze the situation.
 At the beginning, Shunde had only wanted to tame Changyi and make him serve her. It was Ji
Yunhe who got involved and set him free. Then in the prison, Ji Yunhe destroyed half of her face, and
Changyi burned the dungeon when he came to save Ji Yunhe. So logically speaking, Shunde might hate
Changyi, but she should hate Ji Yunhe even more.

Now, Shunde took Changyi away instead of killing him... It was likely that she wanted to use him
to lure Ji Yunhe over. Or maybe use him to blackmail the people of the north. Either way she would not
kill him easily.

Changyi's life should be safe for now.

Her emotions were overwhelmed while her brain stayed clear, but Qu Xiaoxing fell into deep
remorse. "In the battle, Shunde was already exhausted. If it wasn't because of me..." Qu Xiaoxing
clenched his teeth. "I... I'm going to the capital, I will get him out even if it kills me…"

"Qu Xiaoxing," Ji Yunhe tugged at him, "do not talk like this. Changyi didn't save you so you can
foolishly throw your life away."

"But..." Qu Xiaoxing looked at Ji Yunhe and blinked, finally seeing the difference between her and
Aji. "Protector? You... you got your memories back?"

"Yes. I remembered everything." Ji Yunhe looked at the sky in the distance and did her best to
maintain her composure. "So the one who should go to the capital is me, not you."

"Master Warden..."

Ji Yunhe interrupted him, "You have your job to do. Go back to the north and inform Kongming
and tell them not to act rashly. We don't know where Shunde got this power from, but she cannot be
underestimated again. The situation in the capital is unclear right now, plus there is still the Grand
Master there, so tell them to wait and see what happens. Always be prepared."

Qu Xiaoxing asked nervously, "Be… be prepared for what?"

"Be prepared that Changyi and I might not return."

...

Shunde threw the badly injured and unconscious Changyi into a black Iron cage. Zhu Ling locked
the door then followed her out like a shadow.

On the way, Shunde suddenly felt a sharp pain in her chest and staggered, he immediately held her
up in support.

"Princess, you just went through so much yesterday refining Ji Chengyu and the jade phoenix, why
go get this jiaoren so urgently? Your body..."
 "Didn't you say they're healing in the Frozen Sea? If I don't take advantage of this opportunity,
should I wait until they are fully recovered and go back to the north?" Shunde sneered. "No matter what,
they must die before me."

A sudden wind blew by and the Grand Master appeared in front of her.

He stared at Shunde with a solemn look she had never seen before. "You killed Ji Chengyu?"

Shunde braced herself and straightened her back. "Yes."

"Absorbed the power of the jade phoenix?"

"Yes."

"Took the pill that refines humans into demons?"

"That's right, master."

The Grand Master's eyes narrowed. "Ruling, as I said, you want too much."

"Does the master not want even more?"

"You are wanting more than you can handle."

"Master," Shunde smiled, "do you feel threatened by Ruling?"

His eyes grew cold and he waved his hand. Without saying a word, an arrow solidified from thin air
and pierced into Zhu Ling's chest next to her side. The black iron armor did not protect him, and blood
spilled out before they could even react.

Zhu Ling looked down at his chest, then turned his head to look at Shunde. "Princess..."

He fell to the ground and died with his eyes still open.

Shunde was shocked and stood frozen, staring at the blood pooling around her feet.

"Ruling," the Grand Master called her name, sending chills throughout her body. "He died for your
desires." He raised his hand and gently caressed her cheek. "And you are still alive, because my
obsession is still alive."

Shunde's body trembled under his touch. Zhu Ling's blood flowed under her bare feet, and for a
moment, she could not tell whether it was warm or cold.

"But you did a good job in capturing the jiaoren," the Grand Master said and withdrew his hand.
"Without him in the north, this world of chaos will last for many more decades." Then he left.
 Shunde looked at Zhu Ling on the ground, and her body shook more and more...

The most loyal person around her had died, she was now completely alone...

......

It was night. In a small courtyard on the outskirts of the capital, the candlelight in Lin Haoqing's
room flickered.

Lin Haoqing put aside his pen and turned to look at a plain-clothed man standing in the corner of
the room. It was Ji Yunhe's third face.

"I told you not to go to the north or the capital, but you did both. Are you deliberately trying to
work against me?"

"Lin Haoqing," Ji Yunhe walked to his table and sat down, changing back to her original
appearance. She poured herself a cup of tea and said, "Is it fun playing master and disciple? Haven't you
had enough yet?"

Lin Haoqing raised his eyebrows slightly. "You remembered?"

"Yes," Ji Yunhe did not rub it in and went straight to the point. "You should know why I'm here."

Lin Haoqing smirked. "Shunde captured the jiaoren and took him back to the capital. I only learned
about it a few moments ago."

"I want to save him."

"With what?"

"That's why I want you to help me."

"Why should I?"

"Haven't you been helping me this whole time? Or rather, been helping the Northlands." Ji Yunhe
took a sip of tea. "You want the same thing as them, right? To overthrow the court."

Lin Haoqing was silent for a moment. "But what if I say, I am not going to help you with this?"

Ji Yunhe stared at him, her eyes like a blade. "Give me a reason."

...

On the same night, Changyi slowly woke up in the imperial dungeon. His eyelashes were covered
in frost, his lips were dark blue, and the back of his hands were frozen in ice from overusing his own
magic

His injuries did not have to be this severe. He had spent too much time with the sea lingzhi over the
past two days, and it worsened the chill inside his body. Ji Yunhe was poisoned by thunderfire and
needed them to dispel the burning heat, but Changyi did not need it. His companionship, in fact, was a
drain on himself.

Plus he had overextended his magic a few days prior, so this fight with Shunde was very strenuous
for him.

Changyi sat up and saw Shunde staring at him through the black iron bars.

She was dressed in red and looked at him silently, like a ghost.

"You took the power of the jade phoenix," Changyi said softly, not as a question, but as a narrative.

"Correct. She was held inside this same cage. Except that bird is in me now."

She felt a sudden pain in her chest and hunched over onto one knee. Green gas wrapped around her
then disappeared as she slowly calmed down.

"Heh... she is still misbehaving. But it doesn't matter, she and Ji Chengyu have become my
sacrifices. After I get a few more, neither you or the Grand Master will be a match for me... No one will
ever threaten me again! Hahah!"

Changyi listened to her hysterical laugh and furrowed his brows.

"Oh," Shunde stared at him, "you probably won't live to see that day. When Ji Yunhe comes, I will
sacrifice the two of you together. She is a nine-tailed fox, you are a jiaoren, with your power I will be
invincible! Hahahahaha!"

"You will never get her."

Shunde's eyes turned. "Oh? Is that so?"

"She won't fall for your trap."

Shunde laughed, and the unhealed scar on her face looked like a snake.

"She won't? Ah... these words sound really familiar... Back then, while Ji Yunhe was locked up in
the Grand Master's house, she also said I would never get you..."

Changyi's heart skipped a beat. Back then...

Ji Yunhe said that?

 "... But look," Shunde continued, "after all these years, here you are. And I am certain that she will
come even if she knows this is a trap."

Shunde pressed her face closer to the black iron bars.

"Six years ago, she was willing to risk her life to push you off a cliff and set you free, then sacrifice
herself to keep my men from chasing after you..."

Every word she spoke struck at Changyi like thunder. His eyes grew wider and wider.

"... What did you say?"

"Oh?" Shunde smiled. "She never told you?"

She looked at his expression and laughed out manically. "She never revealed anything after you
took her to the north? Why she pushed you, why she was captured, and how I tortured her for six years."

Changyi's face grew pale and his lips trembled. He felt a painful chill burst out from his body,
piercing through him from inside.

His breathing involuntarily quickened and his fingers wanted to clench, but the pain kept him from
making a fist.

"Haha, she couldn't even bear to let you hear the truth."

When Ji Yunhe was taken to the north, she was already too weak. Changyi understood why she
never told him.

With a dying body, she felt it would be pointless and would only serve as an unnecessary
distraction.

And now...

She had gone through life and death, and returned to his side. Changyi thought it was his own lost
and found, so he said the past no longer mattered.

He thought he forgave her, and learned to let go...

But it turned out that was not the case.

She hid the truth and endured everything by herself...

For him.

"Ji Yunhe will definitely come." Shunde glanced at Changyi. "You two can die together as my
sacrifices." She turned and left.
 He closed his eyes. He could sense that Ji Yunhe was already nearby in the capital. She must be
making plans right now, but no matter how great the plan, the imperial dungeon was not a place you
could just come and go in one piece.

Changyi opened his eyes and stared at Shunde's back.

He could not let Ji Yunhe risk her life like this.

To keep her from coming, he would need to either escape, or die.

Changyi braced himself against the wall and stood up unsteadily. "Stand still," he weakly called
out.

Shunde stopped in the hall.

Changyi lifted his pale, frosty hand and bit himself on the wrist. The blood flowed out and dripped
down, and they did not stop there. They pulsed on the ground as more and more flowed from his wrist,
gradually coalescing into a blood-colored ice sword.

"You want my life, fine. But you want to touch Ji Yunhe, no."

Shunde mocked him, "Jiaoren, what makes you think you can still talk to me like this?"

Changyi did not answer her. The blood sword pierced through the damp air inside the dungeon, and
shook the ground under the entire city.
Chapter 103: Alone

Lin Haoqing sat down next to Ji Yunhe and slowly poured himself a cup of tea.

"When you left the Demon Valley six years ago, I thought we'd never sit together like this again."
Lin Haoqing took a sip. "Over the years, you were imprisoned then taken to the north, while I stayed in
the valley doing only one thing."

"Developing the antidote for the frost poison?"

"Correct. But for a long time, I didn't have access to the poison to help in my research. When
Princess Shunde ordered me to go north, I used the opportunity and acquired some from her. Ji Yunhe,
do you know what I found after I got the frost poison?"

"I don't care. Lin Haoqing, I only came here to ask for your help in saving Changyi. If you don't
know how, I will go by myself."

Lin Haoqing glanced at her. "There's no rush. Listen to what I have to say before you make a
decision." He continued, "When I was analyzing the components, I found a special poison used as one of
the main ingredients. Lin Canglan had mentioned this poison to me many times before back when I was
young."

"Lin Canglan also studied the frost poison?"

"He told me of a drug that could be used as an antidote to this poison. I went into his room again
for the first time since his death, and there I found the secrets that allowed me to save you later on."

He smiled sarcastically. "There was a secret passage under Lin Canglan's bed leading to a room full
of artifacts used for developing the pills he fed you. I found this in there." He took out a book from his
pocket, placed it on the table and pushed it to Ji Yunhe.

"What is this?" Ji Yunhe flipped through the book.

It was densely packed with written notes. There were prescriptions, diagrams of herbs, words and
phrases jotted down on a whim, and some ink marks splashed out of frustration.

"This book records his life's work, including the solution to the frost poison." Lin Haoqing drank a
cup of tea. "Shunde gave the command before I had time to study the book, so I took it with me to the
north. I intended on sending the demon masters to you as a gift, you received it very well." He praised Ji
Yunhe, something he rarely did. "And along the way, I found inside this book the method of refining
humans into demons, and learned they would have two lives."

That was why it was possible to save her after she died...

"I also learned that Lin Canglan used to be a disciple of the Grand Master's house."

Ji Yunhe was stunned. "Never heard him mention it."

"Of course he wouldn't tell anyone. Fifty years ago, the Grand Master had trouble developing the
frost poison because he couldn't find the main ingredient to use as base. Lin Canglan found it. He kept it
from the Grand Master and tried to run away with his newlywed wife, but the Grand Master threatened
him with her life and made him hand over the poison. Lin Canglan was then sent to the Demon Valley.
Soon after, his wife grew ill and passed away, and the Grand Master successfully developed the frost
poison, gaining total control of the demon master tribe."

Lin Haoqing told the story as if it were about a stranger instead of his own father.

"Lin Canglan lived in deep remorse ever since, believing it was his mistake that led to the
confinement of the demon master tribe. Twenty-five years later, Lin Canglan gave birth to me." Lin
Haoqing lowered his head and looked at the teacup. "He said I was too similar to him back then... soft,
indecisive, and not cut out for major responsibilities. In order to keep me from making the same
mistakes out of weakness or love, he trained me ruthlessly..."

Lin Haoqing looked at Ji Yunhe.

"What he did later on, you should know better than anyone."
 Lin Canglan forced Ji Yunhe to betray Lin Haoqing, and turned Lin Haoqing into a poisonous
snake…

"He hoped after he died, there would be someone to lead the demon master tribe into freedom. He
desperately trained me because he was running out of time."

Lin Haoqing turned over Ji Yunhe's wrist and pointed to her pulse.

Even though she possessed both demonic power and spiritual power, she no longer had a hidden
pulse because she was now in the body of a demon.

"The frost only targets those with spiritual power. Once you refine a demon master into a demon,
the two powers will fuse together and the demonic side will dissolve the poison of the frost, rendering it
useless. His research did not go well at first, and many people died. But he finally found one who was a
success." Lin Haoqing nodded at Ji Yunhe, "You survived among his many attempts, but in fact the drug
was not considered complete. It still needed the power of a demon master and a compatible demon as
sacrifice. Lin Canglan had come too far to give up, so he used his own spiritual power and his demon
slave, Qing Shu. They did it gradually over the course of ten years."

Ji Yunhe mobilized some power and black gas surfaced over her palm.

Lin Canglan's demon slave, Qing Shu, was a black fox demon. No wonder...

No wonder they were so weak the night Ji Yunhe and Lin Haoqing killed them...

"The night we killed Lin Canglan and Qing Shu, was when they were going to give you the last
pill."

That was why they could not find any more antidotes. It was the very last one.

"After that, the tendons in your body needed to be broken apart so the refining process could
complete by reshaping your bones."

Ji Yunhe remembered after she pushed Changyi off the cliff, the soldiers shot her full of arrows...

And that was the first time she used the power of the nine-tailed fox demon.

Everything fell into place. All of her questions were now answered, and Ji Yunhe suddenly felt like
such a small chess piece among the grand scheme of things.

"Heh..." she laughed bitterly. "Look at this. For years, we didn't even know what we were in the big
picture." She looked at Lin Haoqing. "Turns out you and I are just a drop in the bucket. This world is
still just a game played by the big guys."

"But you and I, we killed a hand that moved the pieces."

 Ji Yunhe was silent for a moment.

Lin Canglan had worked and planned for years, but in the end, he was killed by the two people he
raised himself.

So ironic...

She wondered how Lin Canglan must have felt the moment his own son ended his life. Was he
sorry, or did he get what he wanted...

"Fate plays us all..." Ji Yunhe said after a while. "But I still can't sympathize with Lin Canglan."

"I do not sympathize with him either. He also does not need our sympathy. But I acknowledge his
efforts. He spent his life wanting to make up for his mistake, free his people, get rid of the Grand Master
and restore balance to the world. I want to continue down this path of his."

"So, you came to the capital..."

"In order to get the production process of a few ingredients from Shunde," Lin Haoqing said. "I
made some changes to the pill that refines humans into demons..."

Ji Yunhe frowned, "And you gave it to Shunde? That's why she suddenly became so powerful!"
She recalled Qu Xiaoxing's words and slapped the table, shouting in anger, "What did you guys do to
Qing Ji?!"

"I did not intend on using her as a sacrifice for Shunde. I would never want to bring this kind of
trouble upon myself. But things went outside of my expectations." Lin Haoqing also looked a bit
distressed.

"The jade phoenix attacked the capital and was captured by the Grand Master. Even she was no
match for him. It is now clear there is no way to take him down by force. However, the Grand Master is
extremely attached to Shunde and it clouds his judgment, so I did some tampering with the pills I gave
her…"

"What did you do?"

"I was certain the Grand Master and Shunde were in internal conflict with each other, and he would
one day die from his arrogance. The final winner between the two of them should be her, so I tampered
the pills with a spell that would allow me to easily kill her with a bit of magic," he paused. "But she did
not wait for me to pick out a good demon for her. She went off on her own and used Ji Chengyu and the
jade phoenix as sacrifices."

Ji Chengyu and Qing Ji...

Ji Yunhe closed her eyes and clenched her fist so hard that it trembled. It took a very long time for
her to suppress her emotions.

"What about your spell?"

"The jade phoenix's power was too strong and broke the spell in the medicine."

Ji Yunhe gritted her teeth and stood up. "I shouldn't have wasted all this time here with you." She
turned to leave and was blocked by Lin Haoqing's demon slave, Siyu. She held out a sword and said,
"Aji, it'd be better if you stay."

Lin Haoqing also stood up. "The Grand Master always seems to be unconcerned about the world's
affairs, but he will never let anyone be as strong as him. After the jade phoenix escaped from the Ten
Square Formation, he spent years looking for her, and immediately went after her as soon as she
appeared in the north. It is apparent that the Grand Master considered Qing Ji a threat. Now that she is
dead and her power taken by Shunde, he will not tolerate Shunde for much longer. A little provocation is
all that's needed, and they will soon be at each other's throats."

Ji Yunhe threw him a side eye, "So?"

"I don't know where Shunde learned the information about you and the jiaoren, and I didn't think
capturing the jiaoren would be a priority for her. But I believe if she did not kill him right away, then his
life shouldn't be in danger for a while," Lin Haoqing said calmly. "She has set up a trap, just waiting for
you to fall in."

Siyu agreed with him, "You can wait until Shunde fights with the Grand Master, then go save the
jiaoren."

"Wait?" Ji Yunhe snickered. "Princess Shunde is crazy, I know her madness better than anyone."

Lin Haoqing fell silent.

"The torment I suffered at her hands, I don't want Changyi to endure even a second of it. I will go
to save him today, and no one can stop me."

As she said this, the earth suddenly began to tremor and quake. The mark on Ji Yunhe's ear allowed
her to sense that it came from the direction where Changyi was. She pushed open the door anxiously and
walked out.

"Ji Yunhe," Lin Haoqing stood in the warm light of the house and watched her fading shadow,
"remember, no one will go save you today."

Ji Yunhe did not stop. Her voice drifted out to him from the darkness of the night.

"Mind your own business. You've never seen me today."

Chapter 104: Just Like Before
 Ji Yunhe rushed into the imperial dungeon expecting a heated battle, but all she saw were jagged
ice formations everywhere. However, unlike normal ice, their tips were red as if tinted with blood even
though they clearly had not injured anyone.

She felt sick with apprehension, and her feet sped up. Her body grew more tense the further she
walked inside.

The air became colder and the ice bloodier as she approached the deepest part of the dungeon.
Turning the corner, Ji Yunhe saw Princess Shunde standing outside the cage.

Shunde abruptly turned her head and stared at her with crazed eyes. "Ji Yunhe!" she hissed out her
name word by word. Her dress was tattered, her hair unkempt, and she no longer had any trace of a
princess, only madness.

Behind her were giant wings formed out of green gas that filled the entire dungeon.

Her hands held up a green magic shield, blocking a bloody ice sword currently wrestling against
her.

Ji Yunhe did not see the person inside the cage, but she knew who had the power to cause such a
disturbance. Without hesitation, she drew out her sword and thrusted it at Shunde from the side.

Shunde desperately tried to block it, but dealing with Changyi had used up all of her strength. Ji
Yunhe's sword easily pierced through her defenses and into her shoulder, nailing her body to the
dungeon wall.

Shunde let out a muffled grunt, then hung loosely on the wall without further struggles. She seemed
to be depleted of power.

Just to be on the safe side, Ji Yunhe pulled out a dagger and ran it through her throat. Blood flowed
and Shunde immediately stopped breathing.

Ji Yunhe then stepped toward the cage, but what she saw inside stunned her.

Behind the black iron bars, beyond the blood colored sword, was Changyi frozen in solid ice from
head to toe. Only his blue eyes still showed a slight sign of life.

"Changyi..."

Just like the first time they met, he was the battered jiaoren imprisoned inside, and she was the
demon master looking in.

Ji Yunhe suppressed her panic, conjured a sword and viciously struck at the lock.

The entire cage trembled and the lock fell to the floor. Ji Yunhe pulled open the door and
immediately dashed in with nine tails appearing in a flash. She ran to Changyi and embraced him,
wrapping his body in her fox fire.

"Changyi... Changyi..."

She whispered his name while the fox fire began melting the ice, slowly revealing him. Ji Yunhe
reached out and held his face into her hands.

His skin was so cold that the contact made her shiver, but she did not let go. She gently rubbed her
hands over Changyi's cheeks. "Come on, warm up! Touch it and it will get better, touch it and it will get
better..."

But Changyi did not move.

Until the ice was completely melted and his body softened, he then closed his eyes and fell toward
the ground. Ji Yunhe immediately took him into her arms and kept rubbing his cheeks and hands with
fox fire.

"Changyi… we went through so much to finally be together... Remember, you said you are going
to take me north, you can't go back on your words. You said jiaoren don't lie..."

Ji Yunhe saw the wound on his wrist.

She knew what it was. Changyi had thought that he did not have the power to fight with Shunde, so
he used a blood sacrifice. He was gambling with his life.

This overconsumption of his magic again and again successively was enough to kill him.

Ji Yunhe trembled. "You are not allowed to lie to me..." She finally broke down. She buried her
head against his face and choked on her tears, unable to speak another word.

Suddenly, a puff of cool air breathed out next to her ear.

Ji Yunhe raised her head. Changyi's pale lips were now slightly open and his breath formed tiny
bits of white mist in the air. Although they were very faint, it was enough to make her ecstatic.

"Changyi!" She grew hopeful. "Hang on, I'll take you back to the north."

"You shouldn't..." the voice was weaker than a mosquito, but Ji Yunhe heard every word, "... have
come..."

Ji Yunhe rubbed his hands until she felt some warmth returning to his body, then set him on her
shoulder. "Let's go, we can talk after we get back home."

Before Ji Yunhe took a step, the body nailed to the wall suddenly let out a strange, gurgling laugh.

Shunde had been impaled by a dagger and a sword, both were lethal, but she was still alive.
 "I've been waiting for you to come…" Shunde's voice was extremely hoarse. "I will sacrifice you
both today."

Ji Yunhe looked at Changyi. They were inside the capital, and the Grand Master could show up any
minute. She did not want to linger for another moment. Ji Yunhe cast a spell to ride the wind, but before
her spell could complete, a green formation suddenly fell from above and trapped them underneath.

Their world turned pitch black.

As if the floor had given way, they fell down a bottomless abyss accompanied by Shunde's strange
and eerie laughter...

Ji Yunhe had no idea what to do, so she just held on to Changyi as tightly as possible. She had
made up her mind to never let him go again, no matter what.

After falling for some time, their weightlessness abruptly disappeared, and she sat in a dark void
holding him.

"Changyi?"

"Mm… I'm here." Changyi's voice was weak, but he still answered her.

Knowing he was okay for the time being, Ji Yunhe calmed her mind a little and began to analyze
the situation they were in.

She knew Shunde had captured Changyi in order to lure her here, and a formation was set up to trap
them both.

But it was strange that her formation did not activate as soon as Ji Yunhe found Changyi inside the
cage. Shunde said she wanted to sacrifice them, so why did she not devour their power right away?

It could be possible that the injuries she suffered from Changyi and Ji Yunhe were severe enough to
change her original plan.

She used the formation to trap them because she needed to wait for her body to recover before
proceeding.

And the time it would take for Shunde to heal was their chance to escape.

"This is a trap..." Changyi said to Ji Yunhe. "You shouldn't have come."

"I know what I should or shouldn't do. Remember what I said before? Having the right to choose is
the freedom I want." Ji Yunhe asked him, "How are your injuries?"

"Severe," he gave an honest answer, "but won't kill me."

 "Good." Ji Yunhe stood up. "I'll carry you and we'll go find the eye of the formation together."
After Changyi was lifted onto her back, Ji Yunhe laughed. "Big-tailed fish, doesn't this feel like deja
vu?"

Changyi also smiled, "Yes."

Inside the Ten Square Formation, when he still had a fish tail and could not walk, Ji Yunhe also
carried him on her back.

And now with legs, he still needed to be carried by her.

"If we could break out of the Ten Square Formation, this one here should be nothing," Ji Yunhe
said. "Once we leave this trap and return to the Northlands, after you recover from your injuries, I'm
going to make you carry me for once."

"As many times as you wish." Changyi then fell silent for a while. "Ji Yunhe..." he paused, holding
back the emotions in his voice, "why didn't you tell me?"

Ji Yunhe turned her head to look at him. She wanted to ask him: about what? But then she knew.
Changyi was locked up by Shunde and had a fight with her. What other hidden secrets could he be
asking about...

Ji Yunhe had decided it was time to tell Changyi everything, but she never thought he would end
up hearing about it from Shunde.

"I was going to tell you after you come back with my food," Ji Yunhe smiled casually, "but it kind
of got interrupted..."

Changyi was quiet for a long time in the darkness. "I should have guessed..."

"Changyi, you were right when you said the past didn't matter anymore."

"That decision wasn't mine to make."

"Yes it was. I was dying, telling you would have been pointless. And I was also afraid… afraid that
after you found out, you would still hate me for taking away your right to choose."

Long silver hair fell on Ji Yunhe's shoulders. "I wouldn't."

"But I was still afraid. Even telling you now frightens me. But I am not dying anymore, and I'm not
alone anymore either," Ji Yunhe said. "I want to hold your hand for all the years to come... or carry you
on my back, that's fine too." She smiled and looked at the void before them, but her mind was full of
spring flowers and sunshine. "I want no more secrets between us."

She said it calmly, but her words stirred up endless ripples inside his pupils.
 He closed his eyes and said, "Shunde is crazy..."

"Mhm."

"The only thing she did right was sending me to the Demon Valley."

Ji Yunhe paused her footsteps and thought over what Changyi had gone through over the years.
What he said just now gave her a dull ache inside her heart.

In the Demon Valley, he was tortured, whipped, and lost his tail. He experienced so much suffering
and torment there, yet he said that was the only thing Princess Shunde did right...

Because he met her there...

Ji Yunhe suppressed her tears and forced a smiling tone of voice, "Big-tailed fish, you always like
to say stuff that catches me by surprise."

It seemed as if he had changed over the years, but he still had the heart of an innocent child. So
simple, beautiful, tender and kind, that it made her feel...

... unworthy.
Chapter 105: Sound the of Wind

The darkness seemed endless. Ji Yunhe carried Changyi and quietly walked, as if they were going
to walk like this until the end of time. Then she felt a faint flow of air. Seemed Shunde's formation still
abided by the basic principles of magic.

Ji Yunhe analyzed the airflow in order to identify the position of the five elements, and find the
location of a possible exit.

Soon she came to a conclusion and walked forward. "See?" she said to Changyi. "I told you this
formation wouldn't trap us for long." He did not respond. Ji Yunhe turned her head and saw that
Changyi had fallen unconscious on her shoulder.

His body was too exhausted, and his injuries needed treatment...

Ji Yunhe felt more anxious and quickened her steps when the darkness suddenly shook under her
feet. Ji Yunhe frowned and did not know what was happening outside. She could only run for the exit as
fast as possible.

The trembling of the surrounding void intensified with every step she took. What was going on?
Was it Shunde?

Did she want to destroy the formation and bury them in it?
 Ji Yunhe felt greatly distressed.

Then the darkness in front of them suddenly ripped open, and a beam of light shone through.

Ji Yunhe could not be more familiar with the man standing in the light, but she did not understand
why he had come...

"Hurry up," Lin Haoqing urged her with a low voice.

Ji Yunhe brushed past Lin Haoqing's side and stepped out of the void with Changyi. The darkness
disappeared behind them in a flash.

They were still in the middle of the cell with a broken magic glyph under their feet. Ji Yunhe
looked at Lin Haoqing who stood on the eye of the formation and asked, "Why are you here?"

Lin Haoqing checked Ji Yunhe up and down and seemed relieved that she was not hurt. But seeing
the seriously injured jiaoren on her back, he frowned again. "Leave the capital first." Then he led them
out of the cage.

On the dungeon wall, Shunde's body was nailed with a third sword. Lin Haoqing's sword pierced
through the location of her inner demon pearl.

"Is she dead?" Ji Yunhe asked.

"That will take some more effort." Lin Haoqing kept walking. "There's no time to deal with her
right now."

Ji Yunhe followed behind and watched his back. "Didn't you say no one would come to save me
today?"

"Your life was saved by me before. It'd be a pity for you to die again so quickly."

Ji Yunhe smiled.

He still made the same choice as that boy in the middle of the sea of flowers.

"Many thanks, brother..."

Lin Haoqing did not respond to her gratitude.

As soon as they stepped out of the dungeon, a voice sounded before them, "The love between a
brother and a sister, it's very touching."

The Grand Master stood quietly by the exit. He looked as calm and cold as Ji Yunhe had
remembered, but to see him here right now was something she did not want.
 Back when she was in his prison, Ji Yunhe was not afraid of death or him. But now she had
someone to worry about, and something to fear. And the Grand Master's target was the one person she
was most concerned about.

As expected, he casually said, "The jiaoren stays, you can go."

"I'll hold him back," Lin Haoqing said quietly to her. "You take the jiaoren and run."

The Grand Master gently raised a hand and Lin Haoqing was immediately knocked to the ground.
The wind did not disappear there, it continued to blow over him, firmly pinning him down and keeping
him from moving even a finger.

The Grand Master had stood at the pinnacle of power for decades, and Lin Haoqing was nothing in
front of him.

He did not even bother looking at Lin Haoqing.

The hands that were carrying Changyi tightened slightly while nine black tails subconsciously
appeared behind her. Ji Yunhe stared into the Grand Master's eyes that seemed to be void of everything,
but at the same time, full of disgust for this world.

"The jiaoren stays," the Grand Master repeated himself. "You can go."

"I will not leave him behind," Ji Yunhe said as an idea came to mind. She put away her nine tails
and suppressed her fear. "If you were in the same situation and you were protecting Ning Xiyu, would
you leave her behind?"

That name, like a needle, pierced into his indifferent eyes.

Everything around them receded, and he only saw Ji Yunhe. "Where did you hear that name from?"

"In my dream."

"Dream?" Ji Yunhe felt her throat tighten and Changyi fell to the ground. In a blink of an eye, she
was thrown against a stone wall and pinned in place. The Grand Master's force was so great the wall
behind Ji Yunhe cracked several times.

A mouthful of blood came up from her chest, but was held in by the Grand Master at her throat.

An attack without magic was already enough to subdue her. She stood no chance against him.

Refining humans into demons, antidotes to the frost poison... Ji Yunhe now understood that all the
planning and scheming in the world meant nothing in front of this man's absolute power. He turned
clouds with the flip of a hand, and controlled every life between his fingertips.

Her fox demon power was a joke next to him.

 "Ji Yunhe," the Grand Master's eyes were bitterly cold, "you have a lot of smarts, do not use them
in the wrong places."

Ji Yunhe could not summon any power at all under his grasp. But she still smiled and pressed on.

"Ning Xiyu... she always wore white and stood between the clouds..."

The Grand Master's pupils shrank.

Ji Yunhe continued, "She said she now lives in every gust of wind..."

A light breeze rose up and gently brushed the hair around the Grand Master's ears. He froze and
loosened his fingers. Ji Yunhe's toes touched the ground.

"She knows everything that the wind knows, and she sees everything you've done over the years."

The Grand Master released his hand and looked at Ji Yunhe. His gaze fell on her face, but what he
saw was someone out of his reach.

"Master..." he whispered, as if to penetrate the decades of lonely years.

The blood in her chest finally flowed out of her mouth, Ji Yunhe coughed a bit then said, "Qing Ji
came to kill you because Ning Xiyu showed me what you did, in my dream."

If the Grand Master was crazy like Shunde, then these words would be as harmless as a gust of
wind. But Ji Yunhe was certain that his madness came from his desire for that one person. All of his
knots were tied to her.

Ning Xiyu.

"You set up a trap for Ning Ruochu. You told him he could enter the Ten Square Formation and
accompany Qing Ji, but it killed him. Qing Ji learned about this and went to the Demon Valley to
confirm it, and as expected, she came. You probably didn't understand why she suddenly came after
you… It was because of Ning Xiyu... "Ji Yunhe smiled at him and said softly, "She wanted to kill you."

As if the sky had fallen and the mountains had collapsed, the Grand Master staggered back a step.

"You wanted to bury the world with her, you wanted to mourn her with everything and everyone,
but the only one she wanted to take with her... was you..."

The Grand Master froze completely.

Behind him, Changyi slowly sat up.

Blue eyes swept across the surrounding area and fell on Ji Yunhe and the Grand Master. Frost
stirred at his fingertips and condensed into the shape of a sword then disappeared. After three attempts,
the long sword in his hand finally took form.

He used the sword as support and slowly struggled to his feet, then walked toward the Grand
Master.

Ji Yunhe watched Changyi approach them. The backlash from his excessive magic consumption
had almost killed him, but he still came to help her.

He was willing to fight for her with his life, of course she had to protect him with hers.

Before Changyi could make a move, nine tails behind Ji Yunhe unfolded in a flash and her demonic
aura immediately covered the sky. She isolated Changyi outside the aura and lunged for the Grand
Master's chest.

The Grand Master stared blankly at her with no signs of resistance.

Chapter 106: Twist

Ji Yunhe's hand struck forcefully onto the Grand Master's chest, then her eyes widened.

It was as if her strike had landed on a ball of cotton, the force scattered away and his body glowed...

Changyi, standing outside Ji Yunhe's black aura, was shocked by what he saw.

The bright light around the Grand Master's body quickly merged at his chest and took in all of the
power she used on contact.

"Yunhe…!"

Ji Yunhe felt a sharp pain in her palm before Changyi's cry reached her ears. "Immortal seal..." She
could not believe it, the Grand Master actually had an immortal seal protecting his body.

Her arm shattered under the seal inch by inch and she was violently knocked back onto the wall
again.

Both the black demonic aura and her tails disappeared. Ji Yunhe slid down the wall and fell
lifelessly to the ground.

Changyi charged in with his sword and aimed for the Grand Master's back.

The Grand Master did not move or dodge. When the sword was about to pierce into him, a person
covered in blood ran between them and blocked the blade.

Princess Shunde...

She had broken free of her confinement on the wall and shielded the Grand Master with her body.
Changyi's sword pierced into her shoulder, but was then shattered by her bloody hand. He summoned
the surrounding water and ice needles flew at both Shunde and the Grand Master.

Shunde pulled the Grand Master and they fell to the ground together, dodging the needles. Her
body stained his immaculate white robe with blood.

"Master... master..." Shunde's eyes trembled and looked frantic. "I won't let anyone kill you, I
won't..."

The Grand Master spaced out for a moment as he looked at the bloody face in front of him, and he
gently stroked her cheek.

Shunde shivered under his cool touch and the madness in her eyes receded. Her expression now
had a calmness that had not appeared in a long time. "Master..."

Her voice seemed to have woken him from a trance. "You are not her..." he said.

And Shunde's calmness was instantly torn to pieces.

The Grand Master turned his head and looked at Ji Yunhe who had passed out from his seal. He
narrowed his eyes. "No one has seen her in decades, Ji Yunhe couldn't have either."

After fending off the two, Changyi slowly made his way to Ji Yunhe. His body was stiff and in a lot
of pain from overusing his magic, but that did not keep him from reaching her side.

He touched Ji Yunhe's arm and felt how weak and soft it was. "Yunhe..." he called her name with a
trembling voice.

Ji Yunhe did not respond to him. The blood at the corner of her lips terrified him, as if he were
back on that frozen lake, quietly sealing her under ice...

The pain that ripped through Changyi's heart did not get to linger long.

A person in white stepped toward them and his footsteps brought an incredible force. The pressure
made Changyi feel like he was under a mountain, but he did not bend. He turned his head to face him.

The Grand Master walked step by step closer to Ji Yunhe, his face full of killing intent. "You
couldn't have seen her." His voice was colder than the north.

Changyi stood in front of Ji Yunhe with his sword in hand.

The Grand Master gave a cold snort in disdain, "Jiaoren, you can hardly protect yourself right now,
let alone protect her."

"I can protect her." No nonsense, only determination.

 The Grand Master formed a seal in his hand and waved his sleeve. A magic blade formed out of the
everchanging wind and slashed at Changyi.

Ice spears rose up from the ground and blocked the blade. The Grand Master's eyebrows tightened,
"You are at the end of your line." His hand moved again. With a flash of light, the wind blade cut
through the ice spears in front of Changyi, but it suddenly took a turn and headed for Ji Yunhe behind
him.

Changyi immediately retreated and threw himself onto Ji Yunhe, shielding her with his body. The
wind blade slashed onto him.

Blood flowed from his black robe, but Changyi's face showed no signs of pain. Aside from the one
inside his arms, nothing else mattered to him.

Once he confirmed that Ji Yunhe was not injured, he hurled the ice sword at the Grand Master, and
ice spears once again unfolded between them.

"Struggling in vain," the Grand Master mocked and shattered all the ice spears, but unexpectedly, a
drop of blood flew through the shards. The Grand Master turned slightly sideways, and for the first time,
took the initiative to defend. When he turned back, the corner of his brow had been cut by the drop of
blood that condensed into ice on contact.

The Grand Master paused as his own blood trickled out from the wound and rolled onto the floor.

An exhausted jiaoren just injured him?

"A hundred years have gone by in this world, and only you, a demon, is worth a look," the Grand
Master said as he wiped the blood off the corner of his brow.

Changyi's fingers were now starting to frost over from exhaustion, and his breath exhaled vapor so
white that it was impossible to ignore. The extreme cold temperature inside his body made it difficult to
even turn his eyes.

"But, that is all."

The Grand Master's aura swirled around his body and stirred the wind and clouds in the sky. The
surrounding air grew so heavy that it was difficult for people to breathe.

He stared at Changyi and prepared to make his killing blow, when suddenly, a breeze independent
of his control blew by his ears. It was so light that it was almost imperceptible, but that breeze carried a
delicate flower through the gale, and across his side.

In the midst of the Grand Master's raging storm, the flying flower fluttered and drifted to Ji Yunhe.

It landed into her hand that was sitting lifelessly on the ground.
 The Grand Master narrowed his eyes and watched as the breeze rolled onto Ji Yunhe's arm then
wrapped around her body.

She trembled and opened her eyes.

Her usually dark pupils now flashed with a strange glow, and Changyi saw a demeanor in her face
that looked completely different from before.

The breeze lifted Ji Yunhe off the ground and into the air.

She said to Changyi while gazing at the Grand Master, "Excuse me for borrowing her body." Her
tone of voice was also very different from Ji Yunhe.

She seemed to have turned into a different person altogether.

Changyi froze.

The Grand Master watched as the air around Ji Yunhe moved. It was not demon power, but the
spiritual power of a demon master, and the magic she was using was identical to his.

The wind split between Ji Yunhe and the Grand Master, seemingly battling against each other.

She stared at him from the air, then made a gesture with her hand and more wind started to flow to
her side.

The Grand Master had already lost his will to fight by now. His eyes followed her and his shock
grew with her every move.

Images from the past emerged and he saw her face and heard her voice.

"This is how it's done..."

"Do not be lazy."

"My disciple is so smart..."

Things that he would never forget, even over hundreds of years...

There was no battle to be fought.

All of the wind now fell to Ji Yunhe's side. She stepped on it and looked at the Grand Master from
above with the exact same expression that he had remembered.

His lips trembled, "Master..."

Princess Shunde knew exactly what that word meant to the Grand Master. Her hands clenched into
fists.

Ji Yunhe dispersed the spell and landed in front of the Grand Master.

He just stood there and watched her silently.

The Grand Master did not dodge or hide, as if he had been waiting for this moment. He watched as
Ji Yunhe lifted her broken arm, formed a seal with her hand, and pressed it into his chest.

The immortal seal around his body lit up and rotated for a moment, then slowly began to crack.

The Grand Master still just quietly looked at Ji Yunhe.

"You've always been here." He thought about what Ji Yunhe had said earlier and smiled. "You've
always been here."

Blood seeped out of the corner of his lips as the cracks grew bigger around his immortal seal.

Ji Yunhe's face finally showed some emotion. "I gave you the immortal seal before I died in order
to protect you, not to have you linger in this world and turn it upside down."

"Then kill me." He smiled as the light at his chest slowly dissipated under her palm.

The immortal seal shattered, releasing an explosion that destroyed the surrounding trees. Lin
Haoqing, who had been pinned to the ground this whole time, finally regained his freedom. He turned
over and coughed.

And Ji Yunhe slowly began to close her eyes.

"I won't allow it!"

Shunde madly dashed forward and her sharp nails penetrated the Grand Master from behind before
anyone could react.

Blood immediately gushed out from his back, and his power began to flow into her body.

Shunde's face distorted under the sudden influx of his tremendous spiritual energy, looking hideous
to the extreme.

She laughed wildly, "Hahahaha! Kill you? Only I can kill you! Hahahahahaha!"

The Grand Master no longer had an immortal seal and was now seriously injured, so he could not
defend or push Shunde away.

He raised his hand, and with the last bit of strength, sent Ji Yunhe into Changyi's arms.
 "Go..."

His voice was weak while the wounds on Shunde's body began to heal at a terrifying speed visible
to the naked eye. She turned her head and the green aura around her body skyrocketed, trapping them
all. "No one is going to leave today!" She laughed hysterically. "You will all die here! From now on, this
world is mine! Hahahaha!"

Changyi held Ji Yunhe tightly in his arms. Under the pressure of Shunde's aura, walking was
already extremely difficult for him. Casting a spell to ride the wind would be nearly impossible.

He looked at Lin Haoqing who was still sprawled out on the ground coughing in pain. He seemed
severely injured as well...

It was a hopeless situation...

Just then, a white light streaked across the sky and smashed through Princess Shunde's green aura.

Changyi saw Lin Haoqing appear at his side.

The person who came carried them one in each hand, and crashed through Shunde's green aura
again. They soared high into the sky, leaving the madness below.

But Shunde was not in a hurry. She drained the last bit of power from the Grand Master's body,
then pushed him away. He staggered two steps and fell to the ground. He had not seen the earth at such
an angle for many years, nor had he ever looked up at others from such a perspective.

He turned his head to look at Princess Shunde, the woman he had raised single-handedly because of
his own obsession...

Her face looked terrifying, and those unhealed scars were now filled with green gas, wriggling
across her face. She had no humanity left in her eyes, only madness.

She looked at the people fleeing up above and blasted a burst of energy at them, but it was blocked
and knocked back down, landing next to the Grand Master.

Shunde wanted to go chase after them, but she abruptly coughed.

There were so many different sources of power inside her body that they started to repel against
each other. She twitched and trembled.

The Grand Master watched her. He now did not even have the strength to stand up.

The sky gradually darkened and Shunde finally seemed to have fused her powers together. She
looked at him.

He was still lying on the ground, unable to stand. His face was gray and defeated, and his head of
black hair had turned white.

"Master." Princess Shunde cocked her head as if she was looking at a joke. "Hahahahaha, master,
you also have a day sprawling on the ground, hahahahaha!" She laughed and stretched out her hand,
pulled him up and led him step by step into the dungeon.

Shunde casually pushed open a cage then threw the Grand Master inside. She locked the door
behind her and squatted down.

The light of the only torch inside this gloomy dungeon danced on them as she stared at his withered
face. Her expression started out smiling, then turned angry, then she was silent, and finally she wept.

"You see? You see? This world is full of ups and downs. Who knows what will happen tomorrow?
You were so high and mighty, like the moon in the sky. Ever since I was a child I could only look up to
you, but now… How did you end up here?"

"You wanted to die, because you thought she came back. You thought she came back through Ji
Yunhe, right? She wanted to kill you, so you wanted to die? On what grounds?" She stood up. "I forbid
it! For my whole life, I had to do whatever you wanted me to. And now, it's your turn to obey me."

She turned around and her shadow was casted onto him by the firelight.

"Master, your power is now mine. Don't you worry, I will fulfill your wish. I will mourn the world
for you."

She turned her head and grinned, the corners of her lips stretching to her ears like a ghost from hell.
Chapter 107: Old Friend

Ji Yunhe stood on a piece of cloud inside the familiar setting, but this time she was not able to see
the woman in white.

"Ning Xiyu?" She called her name and did not get a response.

She turned around to leave when a breeze blew gently past her ear. "My strength has been
depleted."

All of the surrounding clouds faded and Ji Yunhe found herself standing in a void.

"His power was taken by Shunde. What comes next, you will need to handle by yourselves..."

The wind ruffled her hair and disappeared.

"My apologies..." The voice faded away.

Ji Yunhe lost her footing and fell.

 She opened her eyes.

It took a while for her to realize that she had woken up from her dream. She rubbed her forehead
and sat up, then a glass of water was handed to her. Ji Yunhe turned her head and froze.

"Snow... Snow March?"

Snow March smiled, "Have I been gone for too long? Did you forget about me? So heartless."

"..."

"It was Sister March who brought you guys back from the capital," Luo Jinsang said as she sat
down next to Ji Yunhe's bed. "I was worried to death! After I returned to the north, I heard Shunde
captured the fish before I even had a chance to get help. She brought you back while me and the monk
were still busy making plans. I didn't get to do anything."

Ji Yunhe looked at Luo Jinsang. "Well, this matter has not yet ended, you will get your chance."
Then she asked Snow March, "Didn't you go to the islands overseas? Why did you come back?"

"While there, I heard the jade phoenix had been captured, so I came back to save her… but I was
too late."

Everyone in the room fell silent.

Luo Jinsang lowered her head onto the back of her hands on the table.

Ji Yunhe collected her emotions. "You wanted to save Qing Ji?"

She still remembered how Snow March's face was full of despair when she first saw Qing Ji, right
after Li Shu's blood sacrifice. But now, she purposely rushed back from the oversea islands to save her...

"Qing Ji did nothing wrong. Li Shu released her and she carried me out of the Demon Valley,
pretty much saving my life. I just wanted to return the favor... but I will have to owe her forever now."

"You owe her..." Luo Jinsang's muffled voice came from the table. "I owe her even more. I still
owe her so much wine money…" She buried her face in her arms and cried.

Ji Yunhe did not know how to comfort her, she just sighed.

Then she suddenly saw a man standing in the corner of the room, and that man's appearance...

"Li Shu?" Ji Yunhe was shocked. His face and body was identical to the cat demon. She closed her
eyes and rubbed her brow. "You sure this is not a dream…?"

Snow March said, "Not a dream, it is him."

 Ji Yunhe then opened her eyes to take a good look at him. This Li Shu was very strange. His eyes
only looked straight ahead and did not have the slightest bit of life. The body was also very stiff, like a
fleshless, wooden man.

"He..." Ji Yunhe hesitated.

"He's not actually real," Snow March finished the words for her. "When I was overseas, I came
upon an exotic plant called shewei. If you place someone's belongings on it and nourish it with some
blood, it will grow into a form identical to that person."

Ji Yunhe smiled. "I've heard there're many rare and wondrous plants and herbs overseas, but I never
imagined something like this."

"Mhm. He can walk and move, but he cannot speak or think," Snow March explained. "Although
he is not the real Li Shu, he has been keeping me company for a long time. Sometimes it's hard to
distinguish what's real anymore."

Ji Yunhe looked at her and thought of the Grand Master and Princess Shunde.

He had also been using Shunde as a spiritual support over the years, and look how he ended up…
But this Li Shu would never turn into a Shunde, nor would Snow March ever turn into a Grand Master.

"What's real and what's fake will never be the same. It's fine to keep him if it makes you happy, but
it's best that you maintain clarity and know the difference."

Ji Yunhe then looked around and asked, "Where is Changyi?"

The room fell silent again.

Seeing the hesitation on their faces, Ji Yunhe grew tense and sat up. "What happened to Changyi?
You know how I am, if you have something to say, don't keep it from me."

Luo Jinsang answered nervously, "The fish is not doing very well… Baldy is still treating him..."

Ji Yunhe immediately hopped out of bed and ran outside, Luo Jinsang and Snow March followed.
"Don't panic, his life is safe for now…" Snow March's voice did not reach her ears.

Ji Yunhe was already gone with the wind.

She stumbled all the way to Changyi's room and saw him sitting on the bed. Kongming had just
finished his treatment and was now putting away his needles. Although Changyi's face was pale, his
mind seemed alert.

When Ji Yunhe barged in, he and Kongming both looked at her at the same time.

The monk threw her a side eye and said, "This one sure recovers fast."
 Ji Yunhe was in no mood to squabble with him. She walked straight to Changyi and looked at his
pale face. "Do you still feel pain anywhere?" she asked while touching his head.

Changyi was still the same as before, nodding and answering honestly, "I still feel discomfort in my
legs and feet, but they should be fine in a few days."

Ji Yunhe breathed a sigh of relief, but Kongming sitting on the other side said, "Whether you're fine
or not in a few days is still too early to say. You have been overusing your magic way too much. Fish, I
guarantee, if you had cast even one more spell, you would've been carried back as broken pieces of ice.
You should consider yourself lucky that you can still sit here and talk right now."

Ji Yunhe felt very bad for Changyi, but before she could say more, someone outside reported that
Lin Haoqing had arrived.

She and Changyi looked at each other.

Changyi nodded and said, "Bring him in."

Chapter 108: Together Always

They could hear Lin Haoqing coughing before he even entered the door.

"Shunde killed her brother and ascended the throne." Lin Haoqing was still coughing non stop.
"She's gone mad. She's been using the forbidden arts and devoured the spiritual power of many disciples
of the Grand Master's house. The court is now just a one man show. There will be countless refugees
fleeing over to the north soon, so get ready."

Kongming was in disbelief. "Impossible, how come we haven't received any news on this?"

"Siyu is my demon servant, her real body's here with me." Lin Haoqing touched the sword at his
side and continued, "She can contact me instantly. These things just happened in the capital, so your
messengers are probably still on their way."

Ji Yunhe frowned, "Princess Shunde has the power of the jade phoenix and the Grand Master, I'm
afraid no one can take her on."

Lin Haoqing coughed again. "It's my fault. I didn't think this would happen."

"No one expected this," Ji Yunhe said to Lin Haoqing. "It's useless to blame yourself. Let's try to
find a way to defeat her. You gave her the pill to refine humans into demons, is there anything we can
do?"

"If only she had used Ji Chengyu and another demon for sacrifice, it would've been easy to deal
with her. But the jade phoenix..."

"Who?" Kongming suddenly interrupted Lin Haoqing.

 "Ji Chengyu…" Ji Yunhe said.

Lin Haoqing looked at Ji Yunhe and Kongming. Even though he did not know Ji Chengyu
personally, he could guess that his relationship with them was not ordinary. "Yes. Shunde's subordinate,
Zhu Ling, was a long time friend of his. He helped trick him into her trap."

Zhu Ling...

Ji Yunhe still remembered when she and Changyi left the Demon Valley six years ago, it was Zhu
Ling and Ji Chengyu who had come to pick them up. The two of them had very different personalities at
the time, but one could still see Zhu Ling's admiration for Ji Chengyu. Who knew their friendship would
end like this...

Ji Yunhe felt sorry for Ji Chengyu while Kongming went silent.

Then the monk turned around and walked out the door, bumping into Luo Jinsang outside. "Baldy,
where are you going? … Baldy? Wait for me..."

Just as Ji Yunhe was feeling disheartened over the current situation, her hand was taken into
someone else's. She looked at Changyi, and his calm, blue eyes took in all of her worries and stress. She
tightened her grip on his hand and reminded herself that no matter what, she was no longer alone.

Her chaotic emotions calmed down, and she quieted her mind. Ji Yunhe looked at Lin Haoqing
again. "I remember you telling me about tampering the medicine you gave Shunde with a spell. So now
that it's been broken and can no longer kill her, might it still cause her some damage?"

"Or delay her from coming north," Changyi said. "It will take some time to settle the refugees
flooding in."

Lin Haoqing frowned. "I shouldn't be telling you what to do in the north, but with all due respect, I
didn't inform you of this matter so that you can take in the refugees."

Lin Haoqing continued, "Shunde is now stuck in the capital trying to fuse and control the powers
inside her body. Once she succeeds, she will come full force in the blink of an eye. However, the power
of the jade phoenix and the Grand Master are too strong, to completely fuse them together is not an easy
task. The Northlands can take advantage of this opportunity to set up a magic boundary at the border in
defense. The resources here are already scarce, admitting too many refugees will just add to the strain,
and intensify the conflicts between the residents."

"So Valley Master Lin intends for us to just watch thousands of people die outside the border?"
Snow March's voice came from outside the door as she slowly stepped in, staring at Lin Haoqing with
animosity. Her impression of him had clearly stayed at the Demon Valley six years ago. "Like father,
like son," she sneered.

Lin Haoqing stayed silent.

 Ji Yunhe called to her, "March."

After learning of the whole truth, Ji Yunhe felt like his situation was the same as hers. They were
both nothing but pawns, pathetic and sad...

Ji Yunhe said, "What Lin Haoqing said was not without logic."

Snow March frowned. "Yunhe, you also want to abandon those people?"

"I can only say -- try to save as many as we can." Ji Yunhe turned to Changyi. "I don't think we can
accept them unconditionally. We need to set up a time and a limit, then lay down the boundary after that.
What needs to be done will have to be done. Nothing is perfect in this world, and sacrifices are
inevitable…"

Changyi deliberated for a while.

This was a decision to grant life, and death.

But nothing could be gained in this world without giving up something else in return.

"Come," he called in two servants and instructed them. "Before April 15th, allow in five hundred
people a day at each gate. If any were found to have committed a heinous crime, deny entrance."

"Yes."

The servants received the order and left.

"Shunde's power centers around the wood element, so a fire boundary would be ideal," Lin
Haoqing suggested. "Although my spell in her body is broken, it did leave a primer. A strong fire attack
may be able to draw it out and cause her some serious injury."

"Hmm," Changyi said, "there were five thousand, eight hundred and thirty people in the north
proficient in fire magic, that's counting both demons and demon masters. I haven't yet checked on those
who entered the border recently while I was away, but I am guessing the total now is still less than ten
thousand. I'm afraid that is not enough people to set up a boundary to stop Shunde."

Ji Yunhe looked at Changyi. This fish… Previously he had wanted to beat and kill people over
frivolous things, but in fact, he never truly slacked on official business, and was mindfully aware of each
and every one entering the city.

"I also cultivate in the art of fire," Ji Yunhe took the initiative to tell him. "The black flame of the
nine-tailed fox demon is far superior to ordinary demons and demon master crafts. I can go first to set up
a foundation for the boundary at the border. Others can then inject power to build onto it and strengthen
it. As for manpower... maybe do it like how we dealt with the lava, so people who do not practice fire
magic can help enhance the power of those who do."
 "Okay." Changyi lifted his head and looked at Lin Haoqing. This was the first time in six years they
really came face to face again.

But now, they gazed at each other with no hatred or grudge. They both had let go of the past.

"Valley Master Lin, we haven't yet finished counting all the demon masters that joined the north.
Since you are more familiar with them, you can call forth some suitable candidates to go help with the
boundary."

"I already have some people in mind, and I will bring them here tomorrow."

"Thank you."

Lin Haoqing coughed a bit then said, "Jiaoren, everyone should thank you. Without you, there
wouldn't be a Northlands for them to seek shelter in. What kind of a world would that be… Do not thank
me again, I'm not qualified."

Lin Haoqing coughed some more and went out the door.

Changyi turned around and stared at Ji Yunhe, so much that it made her feel uncomfortable. "What
is it? Do you not agree with what he just said?"

"I don't agree," Changyi said. "I came to the north initially to get back at you. If we go by his logic,
then everyone in the world should come and thank you."

He singled out the past so bluntly that Ji Yunhe did not know whether to laugh or cry. She stroked
Changyi's silver hair and said, "Laying the boundary is serious business, I will leave for the border
tomorrow to scope it out and make preparations. You have overexerted yourself too much lately, so you
must not use your magic again. Stay here as your Lord of the North. You can still oversee everything
and delegate."

Changyi was quiet for a long time before commenting, "My people would always stay together
once they have exchanged the mark of the jiaoren, but people on land always seem to part ways."

Ji Yunhe felt bad again and held his hand. "It will get better. Once everything is over, Changyi, we
will never separate again."

They looked at each other with love and affection.

"Okay."

...

After leaving Changyi's room, Snow March kept glancing at Ji Yunhe with smiling eyes as they
walked down the road.
 "Staring at me the whole way. If you have something to say, then say it." Ji Yunhe could not stand
it anymore.

"So unexpected!" Snow March clasped her hands together and teased, "When everything is over,
we will never separate again..." She laughed a little then continued, "If I were to tell the old Ji Yunhe
that she would say something like this, she would've beaten me up."

"I can still beat you up now!" Ji Yunhe feigned some anger, but it disappeared in the next instant
and both of them laughed out loud.

The sun of spring had finally warmed up the north. Walking on the stone path in the light of day
recaptured some nostalgia of the past.

Snow March elbowed Ji Yunhe. "What does it feel like to be a demon?"

"No different from being a human."

"I'd like to try being a demon sometimes too."

"Why?"

"I want to know what it's like to be similar to Li Shu."

Ji Yunhe paused her steps and extended her hand, "Come."

Snow March did not understand, but she still placed her hand inside Ji Yunhe's palm. "What is it?"

"Squeeze me."

Snow March listened and squeezed Ji Yunhe.

"Feel anything different?" Ji Yunhe asked, and Snow March shook her head. Ji Yunhe then said,
"You've also held Li Shu's hand, you should remember the feeling. It's no different from mine, right?"

"His hand was bigger than yours."

Ji Yunhe smiled and patted her. "Back then, we didn't really get a chance to say goodbye, nor did
we get a chance to talk about Li Shu's blood sacrifice." Snow March's smile faded from her face, but Ji
Yunhe went on, "In your opinion, perhaps Li Shu was using you, and maybe saw you as a substitute."

"Is your opinion not the same?"

"Not exactly. It was obvious that he prepared for a long time for breaking the seal, but why did he
choose to do it when you were captured? Performing such a ritual under the public eye was very unwise,
so it couldn't have been part of his plan." Ji Yunhe analyzed. "I believe Li Shu found the ten eyes a long
time ago, but he postponed his plan. Instead, he chose to follow you left and right for years, because he
didn't just see you as a substitute for Qing Ji."

Snow March looked at her hand and was silent.

"He didn't want to end this relationship with you."

Snow March grew emotional and her lips trembled.

"In the end, he did the ritual in order to save you." Ji Yunhe patted her on the arm. "So, don't think
that Li Shu didn't like you, or he was just using you. And definitely don't think you being a human had
anything to do with it."

Under the sunlight, Snow March finally gave a faint smile. "Yunhe, no wonder you're the most
powerful demon master in the valley. You really do understand them."

"As I've always said, treat demons as people, then it wouldn't be so difficult to understand them.
You guys just never listen." Ji Yunhe waved her hand and stepped away. "But maybe there's no need for
me to keep saying that."
Chapter 109: Touch the Heart

The southern border of the Northlands used to be pretty close to the Demon Terrace.

But after the northern expedition of the demon master tribe, Northlands pushed its border south by
an additional hundred miles. The court was unable to stop their advancement, and civilians along the
way welcomed them.

After that, they built a heavily guarded wall that stretched from east to west, with a total of twelve
gates evenly spaced apart. It served as a first line of defense against enemy attacks.

Unexpectedly, its first use turned out to be defending the city against an influx of refugees.

Shunde killed her brother, made herself emperor, and the court fell into disarray. The country was
now in chaos where the strong preyed on the weak and everyone was out for themselves. Within the
great kingdom of Dacheng, only the desolate north provided relief to the common folks.

Ji Yunhe brought her men to the far eastern gate. This was where the most refugees had gathered,
so it was given a priority for setting up a boundary in order to help them sort through people and fend
off riots.

The situation at the border was even more dire than Ji Yunhe imagined.

After they set up the boundary, she walked through the masses of refugees outside the pass.

The people here had set up countless tents of various shapes and styles. The only thing they had in
common was that they were all ragged.
 The children did not know stress and ran around playing amongst the haphazard tents, while the
adults sat around in gloom. Many people suffered from diseases and coughs could be heard everywhere.

After walking outside the pass for half a day, Ji Yunhe felt extremely grave.

Changyi knew better than anyone else how many people could be supported in the city. Allowing
five hundred people to enter each gate every day was a maximum limit, maybe even exceeding it a bit.
And just this location alone had over a thousand people arriving each day, taking in half of them would
not solve the growing problem at all. The population would keep building outside the gate, making the
situation worse and worse.

They had set up a lottery system to decide who gets to enter the gate for the day. Unfortunately,
fights often broke out over the lucky red sticks that granted a pass, sometimes ending in people getting
killed. Many also forged red sticks and scammed others out of the only food left in their hands. What's
more, organizations had formed where they sold the red sticks instead of using them to enter the city.
They charged outrageous high prices, asking for gold, silver, food, and even human organs.

Ji Yunhe was appalled by what she was seeing.

"Extraordinary situation, extraordinary means." After Ji Yunhe returned to the post, she made her
decision and issued an order. "Whoever's caught sucking blood and adding to the chaos, get rid of
them."

The first night at the border, Ji Yunhe did not sleep. She laid on the roof of a simple wooden post
station and looked at the moon and stars. She could not make sense of how the world had fallen into
such a mess.

And she wondered if Changyi was able to sleep well in the city tonight...

She closed her eyes and activated the mark on her ear, but the other end of the link felt very close to
her.

She immediately sat up and looked down. A silver haired man in black was standing right under the
roof. Who else could it be but Changyi.

Seeing the man she was just thinking about, Ji Yunhe's heart fluttered.

"Big-tailed fish..."

Changyi looked up at her. Although his face was still pale and his breath formed puffs of white air,
his eyes were as warm as the sun.

"I missed you," he said with a low and magnetic voice. "Had to come."

Six words that tugged at her heartstrings.

 She jumped off the roof without saying anything and gave him a giant hug.

Face to face and heart to heart, they both closed their eyes.

Changyi's body was cold, while Ji Yunhe was burning hot. They supplemented and completed each
other so perfectly.

"I'm so different from before." She took a deep breath in his arms. "I used to desperately try to
escape from all ties and just wanted to be alone, but now, I couldn't even bear to stay away from you for
a day…"

Ji Yunhe pulled back a little so she could look at his face. "Changyi, you're really something
special. You make me want to be tied down."

Changyi nodded, "Then I am indeed something special."

Ji Yunhe laughed and said, "And never humble about it."

"So... um..." A weak voice came from the side, and only then did Ji Yunhe notice someone else was
here. Qu Xiaoxing looked as awkward as he can be. "Should I... should I leave you two alone?"

"You should," Changyi said. "However, I still have to go back, so don't go far. Wait for me for a
bit."

Qu Xiaoxing was instantly relieved and ran away.

"You asked Qu Xiaoxing to bring you here?"

"Mhm. I promised you I wouldn't use magic."

Ji Yunhe felt all warm and fuzzy again. She stood on tiptoes and reached up to touch Changyi's
head. "My big-tailed fish is such a good boy."

Changyi smiled quietly until she withdrew her hand. "I can only stay for a while. There are still
many things to deal with in the city."

"I will try to take care of business here as fast as I can. Don't come again tomorrow. It's better to
rest if you have the time to spare," Ji Yunhe said.

"It's better to see you."

Ji Yunhe laughed. "Big-tailed fish, you are sweettalking me."

"It's just the truth."

 Ji Yunhe held his hand and walked under the moonlight. Then the sound of a child crying was
heard outside the gate, and her joy of seeing Changyi was instantly diluted.

Seeing her frown, he asked, "Are things here not going smoothly?"

Ji Yunhe shook her head. "Setting the boundary is not a problem, the men picked by Lin Haoqing
are very helpful… It's just there are too many refugees accumulating at the border. There's already
criminal activity going on. Plus with the weather warming up, contagious diseases running rampant is
also very worrying."

Changyi pondered for a moment. "It all happened so suddenly, the rules and conditions for
accepting people into the pass can use further refinement. I will give priority to this matter in the
morning."

Ji Yunhe looked at the back of his hand. The previous frostbite had made his skin dry and tinted his
complexion with an abnormal blue. She stroked it gently. "Big-tailed fish, you've had it way too rough."

But he smiled. "I'm very strong, it's not rough."

Suddenly, Changyi's body stiffened.

Ji Yunhe was startled and looked up at him. The coldness on his lips intensified and his face started
to frost over.

"Changyi!?" Ji Yunhe was greatly alarmed, but she did not dare to blindly use her fox fire. "Qu
Xiaoxing!" she shouted out.

Qu Xiaoxing immediately ran over from a short distance away. After seeing Changyi's condition,
he unsteadily took out a bottle of medicine and poured a couple of black pills into his hand. "Here,
Kongming said to give these to him when he's looking like this."

Ji Yunhe grabbed the pills and fed them to Changyi. After a while, the stiffness in his body eased.

She lit some black fox fire to help warm him and melt away the frost on his face. He closed his
eyes and rested against Ji Yunhe.

"Why is he like this? What did Kongming say?" Ji Yunhe asked the nervous Qu Xiaoxing. "Be
honest, don't hide anything from me."

"Just… he used magic too excessively..."

"But he didn't cast any spells today?"

"Right… but from before..."

"Before? Didn't he already heal from that? I was in a coma for a day after being brought back from
the capital, what happened to him at that time? Luo Jinsang told me he was not doing very well, how
exactly is he not well?"

Seeing the jiaoren was still resting with his eyes closed, Qu Xiaoxing finally found the courage to
open up. "The root cause is overexhaustion... His magic originates from water, and the chill inside his
body isn't going away, so… he's slowly freezing into ice…"

Ji Yunhe frowned, "What do you mean ice?

"Everything in his body, blood and bones, is turning into ice..."

She looked at Changyi inside her arms.

Qu Xiaoxing sighed, "He... he wouldn't let us tell you..."

"Why not..." Ji Yunhe felt lost. "Will he die...?"

"Will be frozen..."

Frozen? By the coldness inside his own body and turn into a piece of ice? Like when he sealed her
under the frozen lake?

"How do we save him?"

"Kong… Kongming doesn't know... yet..." Qu Xiaoxing sighed again. "In fact, no one wanted him
to come here tonight, but he insisted on it… He said time is precious and he wanted to make the most of
it. He already took the medicine before leaving the city… but didn't expect..."

Ji Yunhe closed her eyes.

How could she not understand what Changyi was thinking, she understood it all too well. Now with
the end in sight, everything took on a different meaning.
Chapter 110: Wish

Changyi slept for a very long time. After waking up, he looked at the black fox fire in front of him
and realized what had happened.

He looked at Ji Yunhe.

She had been up all night and her eyes were red.

They stared at each other in silence. He did not explain why he suddenly passed out. This big-tailed
fish was not capable of telling lies, and Ji Yunhe did not want to force him either.

She finally smiled and broke the silence, "It's almost dawn." She pretended to be calm and relaxed.
"Big-tailed fish, time spent with you always go by so fast."
 Changyi looked down, his long lashes covering his eyes. He gently took Ji Yunhe into his arms
without saying anything.

They snuggled together under the fading moon.

Until the sun appeared over the horizon, pulling them back to reality.

Ji Yunhe left his arms and twirled a strand of his silver hair around her finger. "It's time for you to
go back to the city," she said as she released his hair.

Changyi nodded and stood up. "I will go back and discuss with Kongming and the others regarding
the situation here at the border. We should be able to come up with some solutions in a few days." He
paused then added, "Stay safe."

He called for Qu Xiaoxing, but Ji Yunhe called out to him, "Changyi."

Changyi turned around, his silver hair reflecting the rising sun made him look as beautiful as a
celestial god.

Ji Yunhe admired him for a while then smiled. "When this is over, let's get married."

Blue eyes widened slightly.

Qu Xiaoxing, who was running over, abruptly stopped in his tracks after hearing her words. His
eyes darted back and forth between Ji Yunhe and Changyi.

The spring breeze blew past them.

"I..." Changyi hesitated a bit then said, "can't marry you yet." He lowered his eyes.

This answer was a bit unexpected. Qu Xiaoxing bit his thumb nervously and stared at Ji Yunhe. But
she looked as calm as ever with no signs of someone who had just been rejected.

"You gave me your mark. According to the rules of jiaoren, it already counts as marriage."

Qu Xiaoxing looked at Changyi again.

Changyi now looked like he was the one who had been rejected. He stared at the ground with a
frown for a long time, pondering and deep in thought. "It doesn't count according to the rules of
humans."

"I'm not a human anymore."

"You're not a jiaoren either."

 "But you are a jiaoren, you should abide by the rules of your people."

Ji Yunhe's responses were quick, and Changyi's brows tightened even more as he continued to
think hard, apparently not having a good argument against her.

Q Xiaoxing felt a little sympathy for the jiaoren.

He knew all too well that a verbal battle against Ji Yunhe was more or less futile. Her brain was too
quick and her mouth was too smart, dealing with a simple and direct fish was nothing to her.

"I... I still can't marry you."

Finally, the jiaoren did not bother giving reasons anymore, and just bluntly refused.

A flat out refusal, brutal but effective.

Ji Yunhe's artful tongue instantly became useless against his simple and direct approach.

The truth was all three of them knew very well why Changyi refused to marry Ji Yunhe. He did not
know how much time he had left, so he did not want to delay her. But if he did not make it clear, the
others would not either.

Ji Yunhe looked at him and he looked down, like a child who had done something wrong, waiting
to be reprimanded.

"Then I'll ask you again next time."

And again after that. Changyi, you will have to agree eventually.

Changyi looked at Ji Yunhe, but she already turned around, waved her hand and walked away. "I
have to rush to the next gate to lay down a foundation for the boundary there. I'm going."

The sunlight sprinkled down, casting a golden tint across Ji Yunhe's fading back.

"Your Highness?" Qu Xiaoxing waited until Ji Yunhe was no longer visible before asking. "Shall
we go back?"

"I almost said yes." Changyi was still looking at the direction where she had left. "Almost..."

He lowered his head and looked at the frost covering his fingers, nearly sealing them. He curled
them into a fist and the frost shattered, falling to the ground like snowflakes.

Changyi said, "Let's go."

...
 "Ten days." Kongming gathered the silver needles back into his satchel.

Of course Changyi knew what he was talking about.

His body would completely freeze into ice in ten days.

The bit of temptation he had on the way back was immediately snuffed out.

Marriage, whether for a demon or a human, was a major life event. If not for these unexpected
misfortunes, he would be preparing for it right now. He had marked Ji Yunhe, and kissed her...

Thinking about the few rare and precious moments, Changyi suddenly felt his increasingly cold
body warm up a bit.

Looking at Changyi, Kongming did not sneer or tease him. He just casually asked, "What are you
thinking about?"

"Ji Yunhe," Changyi said honestly.

"Think about her some more, it's good for your health," Kongming said. "Your face turned a little
rosy just now."

Changyi cleared his throat. "Today, before coming back, Yunhe asked me to marry her."

Kongming stopped. "Right now?"

"She said after everything's over."

"You can't wait til then, do it now," Kongming said. "Setting up the boundary cannot stop, but we
can get her to take half a day off and come back. Do it quickly and get it checked off of your bucket
list." He paused then continued, "Time waits for no one. If you miss it now, you may never get another
chance." What he said clearly showed regret over his own affairs.

Changyi was not good at comforting people, so he silently handed Kongming a cup of tea.

Kongmong refused the tea and looked at him. "You look like you don't want to get married?"

"I don't want to delay her."

"You two wasted so many years already, stop being so wishy-washy." Kongming got up and
walked out. "If it were Ji Yunhe running out of time, would you marry her? Would you feel like she's
delaying you?"

Changyi froze.

He stood up and was about to speak when Ji Yunhe stepped through the door pulled open by
Kongming.

She said to the monk, "I knew you'd be a great help." Ji Yunhe patted him on the shoulder. "If you
run into issues with Luo Jinsang in the future, I will help you talk to her."

Kongming threw her a glimpse. "I didn't do this for you." Then he went out the door and closed it
behind him.

Ji Yunhe looked at the closed door with a smile, then turned to face Changyi.

"Big-tailed fish, I died once before, so I know the regret felt at the last moment. Don't blame me for
using some tactics. I really don't want to keep wasting our time together," Ji Yunhe said. "I want to
marry you not for a title, but for an identity. This identity might not be important now, because what is
important to me right now is you. but Changyi..." She paused, her lips still a casual smile.

"In the days without you, this identity will be very important to me."

In the days without him, she would take on his surname and capture his presence into her life and
soul.

"This is not delaying me," she said. "This is fulfilling a wish."

Chapter 111: Marry Me

Changyi had no more reasons to refuse, so he nodded his head. Ji Yunhe gave him a big hug and
pressed herself into his chest before he had time to say "okay".

"Big-tailed fish," she said as she closed her eyes, "thank you for completing me."

Her body felt like fire, the only one in this world that could warm him.

Changyi wrapped his arms around her and took her into his embrace.

He did not speak.

When he was first captured by Princess Shunde, she tried every way possible to make him talk. She
insulted him, whipped him, and threatened him, but he kept his mouth closed no matter what.

And his silence now was completely different from then.

He had too many things he wanted to say.

His feelings, his joy, countless euphemisms, and even some humble dark thoughts. Also his
helplessness, sorrow and vulnerabilities.

Too many words and emotions jumbled together made him speechless. He opened his lips several
times, but in the end, nothing came out.
 Changyi was a jiaoren from the deep sea. There, he lived his life in solitude with no desires for
more. But in the human realm, he experienced so many unpredictable ups and downs. He saw the world,
and went through the ebbs and flows of human hearts, losing some, and gaining some...

He thought he had seen everything and was at peace with himself.

But Ji Yunhe always disturbed his tranquility so easily.

Although Changyi had always known how important Ji Yunhe was to him, only now did he feel her
influence so clearly and absolutely. Her words stirred him so deeply, and thinking about her being alone
in the future complicated his feelings even more.

He was happy and heartbroken at the same time.

These contradictory and raging emotions made him tremble.

He bit his lips with canine teeth much sharper than ordinary humans, and tightened his arms around
Ji Yunhe.

"It's you who completes me."

His whisper fell only into her ears.

They embraced each other in the silence of the night, as if they were the only people in the world.

But good times always passed by so quickly.

The vast northern border still needed to be taken care of. There was no time for them to indulge in
themselves.

Even if he only had ten days.

During these ten days, they were not just Ji Yunhe and Changyi, but a demon master and the
venerable Lord of the North. They were responsible for the livelihoods and wellbeing of countless
people.

Ji Yunhe pulled herself from Changyi's arms and stroked his head. "I have to go back to the border.
I will come again tomorrow. Also, I already told Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing that we will be getting
married in three days."

"Three days?" Changyi blinked then frowned. "How can that be enough time to make
preparations...?" He paused and did not finish his sentence.

The situation in the Northlands, Changyi knew better than anyone.

 Currently, everyone was busy accepting refugees and deploying supplies. Even the servants inside
the Demon Terrace had all been sent out to help. Changyi basically took care of his own food and
clothing right now, so there would be no one to help prepare for their wedding either.

No manpower and no money to even set up a banquet, let alone a grand ceremony...

"We will keep it simple," Ji Yunhe said. "I came back a while ago. I was sure you would agree to
marry me, so I took the liberty of making some arrangements already."

Changyi looked at the triumphant smile on her face, and the corners of his mouth followed suit.

He liked seeing her happy.

He watched her count with her fingers. "I asked Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing and some others to
help prepare for the wedding. It's just preparing some wine, some simple dishes, and getting some red
candles. I can make our wedding attire myself, no need to bother others. And for the wedding banquet,
we will just invite some friends. I also want to invite the two who were in prison with me. They can be
considered as witnesses to our past experiences..."

Ji Yunhe laughed out loud speaking of them. "I wonder how they will react once they find out that
we are getting married."

Recalling how he had almost killed her himself at that time, Changyi smiled helplessly, and then
fell into silence again.

Ji Yunhe was still counting the people she wanted to invite when she saw the shift in Changyi's
mood. "What's wrong? Did I name someone you don't want to invite?" She thought for a moment and
asked, "Qu Xiaoxing? You don't like him?"

"It's not that… I just feel like you deserve so much better," Changyi said. "This should have been
initiated by me, and done by me... and not so hasty."

"Hasty or not, it doesn't matter. Marriage is just solidifying our relationship and getting blessings
from our friends and family. The sincerity is the same. You don't like grand shows and I don't care for
them either, so in my opinion, simple is best and just right."

Ji Yunhe playfully brushed his chin with a fingertip and said, "Big-tailed fish, marry me in three
days. I'm going to go now."

She waved her hand and left. The residual warmth of her fingertip, however, lingered on Changyi's
chin.

Three days later, she would become his wife.

Although Changyi had already planted his mark on her, he was now going to give her the identity
she wanted by the human tradition.
 Changyi touched his chin and his face blushed a little.

When he dropped his hand, he heard several crisp sounds coming from the floor. Changyi looked
down. His arm had frosted over just now and the ice broke from his movement, falling to the ground.

The broken ice crystals reflected his face in pieces, and the slight redness on his cheeks faded
away...
Chapter 112: No More Waiting

The first day waiting for the wedding, Ji Yunhe spent it busily working at the second gate. By the
time they finished laying down the foundation for the boundary, it was already evening.

She was very tired but she did not even think about resting. Instead, she went back to the city.

Ji Yunhe first grabbed the materials for the wedding robes that Qu Xiaoxing had prepared, then
headed non-stop to the Demon Terrace to find Changyi.

She knew her tailoring skills were not very impressive, so she wanted to discuss with him over
settling on some simple styles.

However, Changyi was not there. She asked a servant, but he only knew Changyi was busy with
official business during the day, and did not know where he was right now.

Ji Yunhe returned to his room and sat at his desk. She was going to work on the wedding robes
while waiting for him when she saw some scraps of paper that looked like invitations.

Ji Yunhe blinked her eyes at the paper. This big-tailed fish… had he made the invitations himself,
and went to deliver them?

She was right.

Changyi really did go deliver the wedding invitations.

The monk and Luo Jinsang and such were easy, he just gave all of their invitations to Kongming
and asked him to pass them out. But the snake demon and Lu Jinyan from Ji Yunhe's list were a bit more
troublesome, Changyi would have to go and deliver them in person. He first knocked on the snake
demon's door.

This house could be considered one of the better ones in the city, there was even a young watchman
in the courtyard. The boy opened the door and froze when he saw the silver hair, black robe and a pair of
trademark blue eyes. He opened his mouth but was not able to say anything.

"Who is it?" The snake demon carried a jug of wine and drunkenly swayed his hips to the door.

Changyi looked at him.

 The wine jug fell to the ground and spilled everywhere while the snake demon looked at the visitor
in shock. Changyi calmly handed him a red invitation. "In two days, inside the Demon Terrace main
hall, Ji Yunhe and I will be holding a wedding. I came to deliver you an invitation. "

"Invitation?" The boy watchman looked at the snake demon, then at Changyi, then at the snake
demon again. "Master, you're… that important?"

The snake demon also stuttered, "A… a wedding?"

"A wedding," Changyi said. "The time is on the invitation, goodbye."

He turned to leave, but then paused his steps and looked back. This time his eyes were less friendly.
"I remember issuing a ban on alcohol a few days ago. Remember to report to the Demon Terrace and
explain where you got this wine and how much more there are. Submit yourself to an appropriate
punishment."

The snake demon gulped as he watched Changyi leave.

One minute he was giving an invitation, the next minute he ordered someone to surrender himself...
It was so jiaoren.

Changyi arrived at the arsenal.

Because Lu Jinyan now worked in the armory, responsible for keeping track of incoming weapons
and quality assurance. He had been very busy the past few days, and was counting through the racks
when he suddenly heard the sound of swords falling to the ground outside.

Lu Jinyan immediately grew irritated and poked his head out screaming, "God damn it, be more
careful! How many jobs can you guys create out of just one..."

Then he froze, and the record book in his hand also fell to the ground.

"Your Highness..." Lu Jinyan's voice softened down. "I... I have not gotten into any fights lately,
I've been too busy. And I haven't seen that snake demon in a long time…"

A red invitation was held out in front of his face.

Lu Jinyan stopped talking.

"Wedding invitation. Yunhe and I will be getting married in two days. She wishes for you to be
there."

Lu Jinyan's jaw dropped. "Me? Me?" He looked around then asked again in disbelief, "Me?"

"Yes, you."
 Changyi pushed the invitation forward some more, and Lu Jinyan took it with shaking hands.

"Good work here." Changyi dropped three words and left.

As soon as he was gone, other people immediately gathered around and took the invitation from Lu
Jinyan's hands. For a while, the whole armory was abuzz.

Changyi brought the last invitation to Lin Haoqing.

The injury Lin Haoqing had suffered from the Grand Master never healed, so he mostly rested in
this residence arranged by Changyi and seldom moved around.

When Changyi arrived, he was meditating in the courtyard with a sword placed in front of him. The
blade glowed with a faint light as Lin Haoqing whispered, "... Be careful and stay safe."

He was contacting his demon slave, Siyu.

Changyi did not disturb him and waited until Lin Haoqing opened his eyes and stood up, asking,
"What is it?"

Changyi handed over the invitation.

Unlike the others, Lin Haoqing took a glance and immediately knew what it was.

He was silent for a moment, and then smiled. "Six years ago, I would've never guessed that
someone would one day dare to marry Ji Yunhe. What's more, that she would actually invite me."

"She considers you a witness to a major part of her life," Changyi said.

Lin Haoqing's smile faded and his eyes seemed a bit misty remembering the past. "Yes, a very long
time..."

Most of her life, and his as well...

He accepted the invitation from Changyi's hand. "I will definitely be there."

"Many thanks." Changyi was about to turn around, but Lin Haoqing called him back.

"You over consumed your magic and your health is not optimistic. Holding a wedding right
now…" He paused. "Do not blame me for spoiling the mood, but have you thought of a successor? With
the current situation in the world, the north cannot be without a leader."

"Kongming is the most suitable candidate." Changyi did not mind Lin Haoqing's bluntness. "I also
hope you can stay and help. After the wedding, I will select seven people and form a cabinet. You can
all plan and make decisions together on what's best for the north going forward."
 Lin Haoqing sighed as Changyi was leaving.

"Jiaoren, this human world owes you too much."

Changyi did not pause or respond, as if he did not hear Lin Haoqing.

When he returned to his room, Ji Yunhe was still sewing under the lamp.

The sound of the door opening distracted her and she carelessly poked a finger with the needle. In
the next moment, her hand was grabbed by him. He knelt down in front of her, and seeing the drop of
blood beading at the tip, he subconsciously took her finger into his mouth.

Ji Yunhe silently watched him. After a while, Changyi took her finger out and observed it left and
right to confirm there was no more bleeding. He sat down next to her and frowned at the big pile of
fabric.

"Let me help you."

Changyi pulled the fabric, needle and thread toward him.

Ji Yunhe took them back and wanted to laugh. "I've held a needle at least once back in the Demon
Valley, have you? In the sea?"

"We don't wear clothing in the sea, so naturally we don't use needles."

"That's right." Ji Yunhe pulled some thread and continued sewing. "You took care of the
invitations, I will take care of the sewing. I was going to discuss a style with you, but then realized that I
can only make the simplest kind. So don't get picky with me, let's just wear something simple for the
wedding."

"Okay."

Of course Changyi would not be picky about it. Jiaoren's marriage ceremonies might be fancy and
grand, but they still did not wear anything…

Changyi watched Ji Yunhe sew under the lamp, and listened to her casual voice asking him, "Have
all the guests been invited?"

"Yes, they are all coming."

"I heard the city issued a ban on alcohol a few days ago?"

"Yes, the grains used to make alcohol can feed many mouths. Special circumstances, a ban on the
production and sale of wine was more or less necessary."
 "Then let's make some tea for the wedding?" Ji Yunhe asked. "Is there any tea left?"

"There is still some in stock."

Talking about trivial matters between them was rare. Deciding on food and clothing made them feel
as if they were just living a calm and ordinary life.

Changyi felt like being with her right now was as comfortable as back when he lived leisurely in
the sea.

After being fished out onto the shore, Changyi had not experienced such a feeling in a long time.

Ji Yunhe's face under the candle flame looked so soft and gentle, and she maintained a smile when
she spoke.

Changyi knew she was feeling the same way as him right now. He looked at her lips, listened to her
words, and suddenly lowered his head and kissed her.

Ji Yunhe was startled and her needle poked him in the chin. She immediately tried to look at how
much damage she did to him, but Changyi did not care about the small sting of the needle at all.

He pushed down her arm with one hand, and held the back of her head with the other, gradually
deepening his kiss.

At first, Ji Yunhe struggled a little to see his chin, but she soon gave up and kissed him back.

The candle flame danced and flickered for a long time before Changyi finally released her. Her
breathing was now messy and chaotic.

Both of their lips were slightly red from the kiss.

They gazed at each other...

"Changyi." Ji Yunhe was the first to break the silence, but Changyi placed a finger on her lips and
stopped her from saying more.

"Yunhe, it's always you who speaks and acts first. Let me take the initiative this time."

He picked her up, walked to the inner room, and placed her on the bed.

"Ji Yunhe, I want to break a rule."

Changyi was someone who always followed the rules, so when Ji Yunhe heard this, she decided to
make it difficult for him. "You are the venerable Lord of the North, how can you break the rules?"

Changyi stopped and blinked, obviously not expecting this response from her.
 After thinking about it, he surprisingly felt like Ji Yunhe was right.

So he actually straightened up. "Then you rest here for a while..."

Before he finished his sentence, Ji Yunhe grabbed his collar and pulled him back over her. Breath
to breath, skin to skin, the mood that had been dimmed by her intentional hard-to-get immediately burst
out again.

Changyi struggled to use his last bit of reasoning to sit up.

But Ji Yunhe pulled on his lapel and would not let go.

"So am I really resting?"

"Mhm," Changyi nodded. "Rest. It's been a tiring day."

Ji Yunhe looked at his red ears and smiled. "Really?"

"Really."

"Not together?"

"No." Changyi wanted to turn his head to look elsewhere. "We can wait some more..."

Ji Yunhe came up to his ear and whispered, "No more waiting." Her voice stirred up all the
irrational desires inside him. "I, Ji Yunhe, have always enjoyed breaking the rules."

Between their breaths, her other hand reached out and untied the bed curtain. It fell down and
covered them, isolating their passion from the world outside.

The red candle burned, dripping a bit of wax onto the wedding robe sitting across the table…

This was destined to be a beautiful night.

Chapter 113: The Wedding

Last night was beautiful, but also very time consuming.

Ji Yunhe woke up leisurely and enjoyed the morning ambience until she looked out the window.
She was definitely going to be late getting back to the border. She immediately rolled out of bed and put
on her shoes, waking Changyi in the process.

They did not actually get much sleep.

"I'm not coming back tonight." Ji Yunhe roughly combed her hair with her fingers. "The back and
forth takes up too much time. I will never finish these wedding robes if I keep running around, so I will
see you at the wedding."

She dashed to the door and looked at Changyi before exiting.

He sat on the bed half naked, his silver hair draping down his shoulders and his eyes reflecting the
light of the morning sun. "Okay. I'll be there waiting for you."

Ji Yunhe felt a warmth inside her heart. It was as if she had a family...

She rushed all the way back to the southern border.

She was very late, but the others did not slack because of her absence. Everyone had already set up
the framework of the formation, just waiting for her to lay down the main component.

Ji Yunhe felt relieved that they all worked so well together. Things rarely went smoothly in her life,
and seeing everyone strive toward a common goal to the best of their abilities was a breath of fresh air.

She hoped it would always be like this.

Ji Yunhe stayed up all night and finally finished their wedding robes. Even though time was short,
she still managed to embroider a big blue tail on them.

Her embroidery was very clumsy and the fish tail looked extremely rough. She touched it and
began to laugh, but then stopped.

This big tail now only existed in their memories...

The only thing left to think about was what kind of a smile she should have on her face when
Changyi uncovers her veil tomorrow.

She should have asked him how his people typically celebrated during a wedding ceremony…

The anticipation made Ji Yunhe somewhat restless throughout the night, but she was still in high
spirits getting up in the morning. The days of exertion did not leave any traces on her.

She still had to finish the foundation at the border and complete her task before heading back to the
city.

And people seemed to have found out that she was marrying Changyi. They came up to her
throughout the day to wish her well and give her their blessings. It brought a lot of cheer.

Ji Yunhe was ready to run as soon as the boundary was laid down smoothly around sunset, but she
was pulled over by some girls. At first they were a little timid, but when they saw Ji Yunhe's rush,
someone finally came out and said, "You are getting married."

"Yes, this hair must be combed," another one said while taking out a comb.
 A third girl shyly presented a box of rouge. "I... I still have some rouge here, if you don't mind..."
Her voice grew even softer when she saw Ji Yunhe looking at her, but she still insisted on finishing what
she wanted to say, "I can apply it for you..."

As it turned out, these girls could not stand it anymore that she was heading for her wedding
looking so sloppy. Ji Yunhe felt a bit humorous. A man passing by also chimed in, "Yes, yes, it is
necessary to fix up a little. You are marrying our lord after all."

Well then... not just the girls. A lot more people here could not stand it anymore...

But they were right. She was getting married to their lord after all. Preparing nothing but wedding
robes did seem negligent.

So Ji Yunhe stayed and had her hair combed, then her makeup applied.

She rarely dressed herself up in the past, and she never really had a reason to either, so she did not
think of these things at all. As a result, a group of strangers helping her out on her wedding day felt extra
special.

Ji Yunhe quietly accepted their kindness.

...

The bitter cold had receded somewhat, allowing some spring to come through. The Demon Terrace
looked no different from a usual tonight, and Ji Yunhe flew straight for the main hall.

The main hall, on the other hand, looked very different now with festive wedding decorations.

A red carpet was laid out in the middle of the hall and red candles on tall lamps stood along both
sides.

She had asked Luo Jinsang to help with the decorations here, and she did not disappoint. It could
not have been easy to find so many lamps and candles at a time like this.

Because Ji Yunhe was stopped earlier to freshen up, all the guests were already here when she
came. Luo Jinsang, Qu Xiaoxing, Lin Haoqing, Snow March, the snake demon and Lu Jinyan. Old
friends and new friends waited together while Changyi stood among them in the same black robe he
usually wore.

Ji Yunhe saw him right away. His silver hair was too eye catching.

Changyi looked at Ji Yunhe with blue eyes full of tenderness. He had also been looking forward to
this moment.

But not yet...

 Ji Yunhe landed in front of Changyi, pulled him to the side hall, and handed him a wedding robe.

"Change first."

Their wedding outfits were really simple. Ji Yunhe did not have time to make the inner pieces, so
they only had to change their outer robes. After she finished, she saw Changyi holding up his robe and
staring at the fish tail in the corner.

"You embroidered this?"

Ji Yunhe smiled and felt a bit embarrassed. She tried to pull the robe loose from his hand. "It's not
pretty, but I wanted it..."

"It looks good," Changyi said. "Very similar to my tail."

His words made her feel a momentary sadness.

She held Changyi's hand and said, "If you like it, I'll sew you another one later."

Changyi nodded. "Okay."

They came out holding hands and walked down the red carpet together. This was their only ritual.
Luo Jinsang suggested earlier to set up a customary fire bowl for them to cross over, but Ji Yunhe did
not agree. She and Changyi had experienced too many ups and downs, and just wanted their walk down
the aisle to be as smooth as possible.

And as expected, this red carpet walk was very calm. Even the wind did not come to stir their hair.
They held each other's hands and walked step by step.

When they reached the end of the red carpet, Qu Xiaoxing acted as the emcee and began to read the
congratulatory speech. The sky behind the main hall suddenly lit up like fireflies on a summer night.
Dots of light rose slowly from every corner of the city and dappled across the entire sky, looking
beautiful and awe-inspiring.

They were lanterns, floating and swaying as they drifted up into the stars like a painting.

Watching the scene and listening to Qu Xiaoxing's unintelligible speech that he found from god
knows where, Ji Yunhe's heart soared.

"What is that?"

After Qu Xiaoxing's speech, Changyi asked while still looking at the rising lanterns.

"Blessings," Ji Yunhe said. "The news of our wedding leaked out, and the people of the north are
giving us their blessings."
 Changyi was silent for a moment and suddenly said, "This human world owes me nothing."

Ji Yunhe did not understand why he said this. But recalling all the torment and pain humans had
inflicted on him, he was now saying...

This human world did not owe him.

Ji Yunhe was also silent for a moment, then smiled. "Changyi, you are too kind."
Chapter 114: Asleep

Floating lanterns hovered in the starry sky all night long.

After the wedding ceremony, Ji Yunhe and Changyi hosted a simple "feast", drank some tea, then
waved the guests off. They were all very busy, no one had time to stay and chat.

Inside their room, Ji Yunhe freshened up and turned around to see Changyi sitting by the bed. He
gently stroked the fish tail embroidery on his robe, his fingertips were soft and his gaze was warm.

She walked to his side and pulled him into her arms. "Hug," she said while caressing his hair.

Changyi released the corner of his robe and hugged Ji Yunhe's waist, pressing his face against her
belly. It was the softest part of her body, and also the warmest. It warmed up the coldness surrounding
him.

They embraced each other without saying anything, the silence was already better than a thousand
words.

After a long time, Changyi said, "I didn't lose my tail."

"Hmm?"

"It's here with you. You are my tail."

His face gently rubbed against her and Ji Yunhe held him tighter. "You are also a part of me," she
said.

Changyi closed his eyes. "Mhm."

This was perhaps the warmest night the north had ever seen.

Because Ji Yunhe had some difficulty sleeping, Changyi hummed a song in her ear. His whispering
voice first sounded like the waves from the sea, then like a clear mountain spring, soothing her. She
slowly closed her eyes.

She drifted further away from reality and closer to the dream world under his lullaby. In the dream,
Ji Yunhe saw herself standing next to the eye of the Ten Square Formation again. She pulled Changyi
into a dark pool of water with a heart full of hope, as if what awaited them at the end of the darkness was
a world of sunshine.

Ji Yunhe fell asleep to his song with a smile on her face.

Changyi's voice gradually faded, and the room fell silent.

He looked at Ji Yunhe's smile under the light of the moon.

It felt contagious and made him smile too. He raised his hand to touch her face, but then he saw his
fingertips...

The frost had solidified into icicles on his nails, sharp enough to pierce her skin.

Changyi withdrew his hand. He did not feel how cold his body had become over the past few days.

In order to keep Ji Yunhe from seeing his abnormalities, he acquired some herbs from Kongming
that took away his senses so he no longer felt pain.

If they could not be together for long, then might as well give her the best he could in the time they
have left.

Just like the beautiful sky tonight.

It was the best gift his people could give them.

Changyi curled up next to Ji Yunhe and tried his best to not touch her, afraid of the coldness
waking her from the dream. He wanted to watch her smile until the last moment...

The next day, Ji Yunhe opened her eyes before sunrise.

Although it was the first day after their wedding, she still had a lot of work to do. Ji Yunhe was
determined to never be late again after last time, so she quickly sat up to say goodbye to Changyi. But
when she turned her head, she froze.

Their whole bed was now covered in ice, including him. Only the part she laid on was not. Her
demon body was too warm to freeze.

Ji Yunhe went numb and murmured to herself, "Why did it happen so fast..."

Nine black tails unfolded and black flames burned out from her body. She melted away the ice
from his face and leaned down.

"Changyi..." she called him while she pressed herself onto his body. "It's okay, it's okay..." she
continued to murmur unintelligibly.
 Her fox fire swirled and wrapped around him.

But she could only melt away the outer layer of ice. His skin would not warm up no matter how
much she tried.

His eyes were closed and his face was content, as if he was inside a dream so beautiful that he
simply did not want to wake up.

"Changyi, Changyi..." Ji Yunhe picked him up. "The sun is coming up. Let's go see the sunrise,
don't sleep anymore." Her voice was raspy and her thoughts were scattered.

His body had softened enough for her to carry him on her back. "Let's go, I'll carry you. When you
see the sun come out, you will wake up..."

Changyi's hands hung loosely down her shoulders, crusted over by a thick layer of ice. Ji Yunhe's
eyes turned red while she desperately tried to hold back her tears.

"It's okay if you don't hold me, I'm strong, I can carry you no problem," she said while walking step
by step to the door.

But she did not feel very strong at all. Her whole body trembled and shook from head to toe.

Changyi slipped off of Ji Yunhe's back as soon as she raised a hand to push the door. She
immediately turned around and pulled him into her arms.

She sat against the door and rested his head on her legs. Tears finally flowed out of her eyes as she
looked at him, landing drop by drop onto his face.

They solidified on contact and turned into little ice spikes against his skin.

Ji Yunhe reached out to wipe away the ice while more fell one after another.

She now realized she was not as strong as she thought. Losing Changyi and living on with only an
identity and memories of him was a thousand times more difficult than she had imagined.

The morning sun lit up the door behind her and shadows began to recede. She watched as the light
slowly moved onto Changyi's face.

"The sun is out..."

Ji Yunhe's voice was broken.

But Changyi did not wake up.

His ice blue eyes would never open again.

Chapter 115: Best Friends

The Northlands was as busy as ever for the new day.

Ji Yunhe walked out the door. Even though she had the power of a nine-tailed fox demon and was
much warmer than normal people, an icy chill still lingered on her body under the sun.

Ji Yunhe stood in the sunlight for a while and waited for the frosty air to dissipate, then she raised
her head and took in a deep breath. She walked toward the main hall.

The entire terrace felt cold and empty.

When she arrived at the main hall, there were already many people reporting to Kongming. Ji
Yunhe realized now why no one went searching for Changyi even though it was already so late in the
morning. This big-tailed fish had already made arrangements.

He handed over his power long ago so the official affairs would be taken care of no matter when he
fell into a deep sleep.

Ji Yunhe lowered her eyes and touched the pearl on her neck. She did not know how to feel.

She waited until they finished their current business before walking up. "Kongming, I need to
interrupt you for a moment."

He took a glance at Ji Yunhe's solemn face and his expression also sank. "What happened to him?"

"He's..." Ji Yunhe could not help but feel an intense ache in her heart as she prepared to say it out
loud. She closed her eyes, smoothed over her emotions, then looked at the monk again. "He's frozen."

Kongming's eyes disoriented for a while. "Why so fast..."

Ji Yunhe composed herself and continued, "There's still important work to be done at the border, I
will need to head over. Can you help make arrangements for his… his body."

She continued, "The air around Changyi is dangerous. If you have people move him, tell them to be
careful and stay safe. I'll go to the border first."

She turned to leave when Kongming suddenly asked, "Is that all the reaction you have?"

Ji Yunhe's footsteps gave a slight pause. "How should I react?"

Kongming was silent for a moment. "You are cold-hearted, so I guess this makes sense."

Ji Yunhe did not say anything. She left the hall and flew toward the border. Cold-hearted? Maybe
she was. After Changyi froze, she displayed no hysteria, no wailing, and no momentary insanity.
 She even carried him calmly from the door back to the bed, then instructed others to make
arrangements for his body. And now she was heading for the border to do her job.

And all of this happened on the day after their wedding.

Was she really a cold-hearted person? Otherwise, why did she not lament like how others would
expect...

She just accepted it. She accepted that Changyi had closed his eyes in farewell.

And that she would live on alone.

At the border, everyone had already finished the rest of the work as they did before, and no one
came to ask Ji Yunhe why she was late again. They all looked at her with a warm and joyful smile.

One of the girls who helped with her makeup yesterday came over and smiled with a little curiosity.
"How was your wedding last night? We all saw the lanterns rising in the city."

Ji Yunhe swallowed all of her emotions and returned her smile. "Yes, it was beautiful." She did not
mention what happened this morning at all. Nothing about the sufferings or the tears, only sharing the
joy.

"Last night was perfect."

Dressing Changyi in the wedding robe she made, holding his hand down the red carpet, enjoying a
sky full of blessings, and falling asleep to his song… Everything last night had been so perfect.

The girl heard her reply and was more than happy to pass on the good news.

Ji Yunhe continued to do her job.

When she finished, the sun was already disappearing behind the horizon.

She looked at the sunset and suddenly felt empty and lost, like a migratory bird that had lost its
designation, not knowing where to go.

The demon masters working with her began setting up camp to spend the night at the border. Ji
Yunhe, on the other hand, stood there motionless.

Until the sun completely disappeared… Someone suddenly pulled her by the shoulder.

Ji Yunhe's body followed the force of the pull and spun around, and she saw Snow March's
breathless face.

"I searched everywhere for you. Why are you just standing here?" Snow March said. "Come back
with me, the jiaoren can be saved and we need your help."
 Ji Yunhe was dragged by Snow March for several steps before her brain digested the words.

She immediately followed Snow March onto a gust of wind and flew after her. "Changyi can be
saved? How?"

Snow March said, "Kongming was having trouble moving his body because he's so cold, so he
called Lin Haoqing over for help. Turns out Lin Haoqing has been studying a lot of exotic oversea herbs,
and he found one that could ease the jiaoren's backlash from his own magic."

Snow March spoke quickly, but Ji Yunhe heard everything. She frowned and said, "If we need
oversea herbs, then we should go overseas right now to retrieve them. Why are we heading back to the
city?"

"The herb is already here," Snow March replied. "It's the shewei on Li Shu."

Ji Yunhe froze and her wind subconsciously slowed down a bit. Snow March pulled her hand,
forcing her to keep up.

"Lin Haoqing cast a formation to transfer the power of the shewei into the jiaoren's body, but the
ice on him forms too quickly, it blocks the shewei from entering. When you get there, you need to melt
the ice on him so the herb can enter and help him wake up."

Ji Yunhe was overjoyed, but looking at Snow March's back, she could not help but ask, "What
about Li Shu?"

"Li Shu died a long time ago."

They flew under the afterglow of the sunset, but Ji Yunhe's mood did not reflect the splendor.

Waking up Changyi would be great, but she also knew what kind of a sacrifice Snow March was
making.

Changyi was the single most important person in her life, so was Li Shu to Snow March.

"Don't give me that face," Snow March said without looking at her. "Right now, Li Shu is just a
memory, but your jiaoren is not. He is a life." She glanced back at Ji Yunhe. "Maybe two lives."

Ji Yunhe let out a laugh. "Kongming called me cold-hearted, but you are saying Changyi is my
life..."

"That's because that monk doesn't know you," Snow March said. "Ji Yunhe, we've known each
other for so many years. I know you are the best at hiding your breakdowns."

Ji Yunhe looked down and her overwhelming emotions finally surfaced a bit. Her lips trembled and
her throat felt tight. "Thank you... "
 She had been expressing herself less and less over the years, but the complexity of her feelings only
grew more intense. Everything that touched her was now more unforgettable than ever.

"You and I have no need to thank each other."

This was probably the so-called friendship for life...

A rush back to the city.

Ji Yunhe and Snow March stepped into the side hall. Frost had spread all over the ground and the
air was even colder than when she left this morning. It felt as if winter had returned.

Kongming was standing guard by the door, frowning when he saw them. "Hurry up!"

Ji Yunhe quickened her steps.

Lin Haoqing was sitting by Changyi's bed while Li Shu stood next to them. A streak of light
channeled between Changyi and Li Shu's chests, but it was blocked by a layer of ice and could not touch
Changyi's body.

Lin Haoqing's eyes were tightly closed and sweat covered his forehead as he sat motionlessly on a
glowing formation.

"Just melt the ice in front of his chest," Snow March said. "This can only be done with your black
fox fire."

Ji Yunhe walked around Lin Haoqing and sat on her knees by Changyi. She placed her hand above
his chest and closed her eyes. Nine tails unfolded behind her.

The fox fire instantly warmed up the room.

This was the first time Snow March saw the tails behind Ji Yunhe. She must have endured so much
to become what she was today...

Obviously, Ji Yunhe did not need her sympathy.

Ji Yunhe had never been more grateful, and she felt extremely fortunate to have gone through it all.
It gave her the power to help save Changyi right now.

The black flame in her hand burned, slowly melting the ice as her palm pressed closer and closer to
his chest. The streak of light controlled by Lin Haoqing followed, also inching closer to Changyi.

And the more the light extended forward, the paler Li Shu's face became. It slowly revealed the
vines beneath his skin.
 He was not real. He was just a shewei plant growing around an object that was worn by Li Shu, and
forming into his appearance.

The magic of the plant was now completely pulled out by Lin Haoqing.

Snow March was relieved as she watched Ji Yunhe successfully uncover Changyi from the ice. She
turned around and saw her "memory" was now just a tangled mass of withered vines.

Her eyes dulled slightly and she looked at the piece of red jade in the center.

Li Shu used to wear it regularly, and gave it to her shortly before his blood sacrifice. It was as if he
had a premonition of his departure...

She used the jade on the shewei to grow him back. At first, she thought she would always be able to
tell the difference between the plant and the real Li Shu. But over the years, she started to have trouble
distinguishing the two...

Sometimes she even felt like the shewei had really turned into Li Shu, just could not speak...

Snow March reached out her hand to touch the red jade pendant between the dead vines. But all of
a sudden, Lin Haoqing frowned.

The light pulled out of the shewei withdrew itself just as it was about to touch Changyi. It startled Ji
Yunhe, but she did not dare to move. If she pulled out her hand, the ice would solidify again.

Lin Haoqing opened his eyes and remained sitting on top of the formation. He called out to Snow
March, "The shewei has a spiritual nature, it wants to run away. Catch it!

Snow March was stunned as the magic light pulled out of Li Shu's body fluttered wildly in the air.
It let out a sharp, piercing cry that sounded like a small child.

It bounced around in the room, but because the roots were still attached to the red jade pendant, it
could not run far.

Shewei had a spirit...

"I don't want to be consumed by him!" It hissed and shrieked in the air. "I'm Li Shu! March! I'm Li
Shu!"

Snow March completely froze in shock.

"It's lying to you, Li Shu is dead," Lin Haoqing said. "Burn the vines! Let it have nowhere to go."

"He can talk..." Snow March said in a daze. "He can talk..."

"It's not a real living entity. Like demonic attachments, it's just some emotions taking form."
 "But he can talk." Snow March looked at the struggling light in front of her.

The shewei hissed and its roots began to slowly break free from the red jade.

"It is not Li Shu, nor is it a demon. It is just an idea, a thought. It has spiritual power that allows it
to grow into the shape of the deceased, but it is no different from an object. Snow March, saving the
jiaoren depends on it," Lin Haoqing said. "The longer he remains frozen, the more difficult it would be
to wake him up, so hurry!"

His words struck both Ji Yunhe and Snow March in the heart.

In the midst of the shewei's hissing, Snow March abruptly turned back and looked at Ji Yunhe.

Nine tails danced behind her without any wind. For Ji Yunhe, it would not be difficult to keep one
hand on Changyi while getting the shewei with the other. But she did not do so.

Instead, she just silently looked at Snow March.

Snow March knew Ji Yunhe was respecting her decision.

The decision to save one and end the other. Ji Yunhe would never rush her or force her. She wanted
Snow March to make her own choice.

The shewei continued hissing in the air and its roots pulled away some more from the jade binding
it.

"I'm Li Shu!" it shouted.

A name tied to countless memories of the past. Their encounter, companionship, and intimacy
inside the sea of flowers. Everything felt as vivid as if they had happened yesterday.

Snow March quietly closed her eyes.

There were many exotic plants and herbs in the islands overseas, but she had only ever encountered
one shewei over the years. Everyone said she was extremely fortunate. After destroying this one, likely
she would never find another opportunity to see Li Shu again.

But she was not supposed to see Li Shu again.

She should have already said goodbye to him the day of the blood sacrifice. Now she was just
stubbornly holding on to a soulless body that looked like him, desperately trying to relive their past.

It was bound to come to an end someday.

Snow March opened her eyes and grabbed the shewei spirit dancing wildly in the air, then moved it
closer to Changyi as it hissed. With her other hand, she lit a magic flame on her fingertip and threw it at
Li Shu's body without looking back.

The fire drifted away, igniting the human form that was now a pile of dead vines. It immediately
burned everything around the red jade.

Without a host to retreat to, the shewei spirit had no choice but to burrow into Changyi.

A bright light scattered out from his chest and the ice over the rest of his body began to melt away.
Some turned into water, some fell straight to the ground.

Changyi's eyes did not open, but his lashes and his fingertips quivered.

Ji Yunhe did not know how to feel right this minute.

Extreme sadness and joy happening all in one day was a bit too much for her to handle, and they
did not quite sink in yet. She lifted her head and looked at Snow March.

Behind Snow March, the body made of shewei vines had been completely burned to ashes, and the
red jade pendant looked particularly striking sitting in the middle.

Ji Yunhe did not smile. "March..."

"I said already, don't give me that face. I've already received your gratitude on the road." Snow
March turned around and picked up the jade pendant, then left the room without looking back.

Ji Yunhe looked at Changyi who was still lying quietly on the bed. She suddenly felt like everyone
had become extremely good at hiding their breakdowns...

"This human world is not easy on anyone..." Ji Yunhe gently stroked the silver hair on his forehead,
and his eyelids trembled again.

"Let the jiaoren recover as soon as possible," Lin Haoqing said. "I saved him because the world
will be needing him in the near future."

Ji Yunhe turned around and looked at him.

"I'm afraid Princess Shunde is coming soon." Lin Haoqing dropped the bad news and left.

Ji Yunhe's mood immediately sank again.

Looking at Changyi's peaceful face, she could not help but let out a helpless smile. "You are
probably going to blame me for waking you up."

Sleeping was a lot more comfortable...

Chapter 116: Invasion

Shunde stood barefoot inside the empty hall of the imperial court. Dust covered everything.

"La la la la..." She sang to herself as she joyously walked across the floor. When she reached the
dragon throne at the top, she suddenly turned around and extended her hand, "Zhu Ling, come here."

A green string connected her fingertip to the forehead of a person behind her.

Zhu Ling, who had been killed by the Grand Master, was back to life.

He wore the same black armor, but his face looked lifeless and his skin glowed with an eerie green.
Everytime Princess Shunde moved her fingers with the string, he would take a few more steps forward.

He followed her string and sat in the dragon throne.

Shunde smiled happily. "See, this court is all mine now," she said. "I can have anyone sit on the
throne."

She moved another finger and a second string pulled Ji Chengyu over.

Like Zhu Ling, his skin also glowed with a faint green light and his eyes were dull.

"I remember you two used to be great friends. He suffered a lot of bullying and ridicule when his
brother betrayed the Grand Master's house and became a monk, you were always there to help him.
Later on, when your face was destroyed saving me, others were all afraid of you, but he came to see you
everyday. You were as close as brothers, so you should sit on the throne together."

Shunde moved her fingertips and Ji Chengyu sat down next to Zhu Ling.

"Isn't this great?" She gave a smile so bizarre that it was chilling. "How wonderful would it be if
everyone in the world could be this obedient."

She turned around and walked out the hall, stepping onto the dusty floor with her bare feet.

The entire palace was a dead silence.

Bodies and rubble littered the ground, showing the horrific events that had taken place.

Shunde took a deep breath and a green thread pulled a black crow into her hand. "Come, good boy.
Tell me what's new with the northern border. I finally finished making my puppets, it's time to take them
out for a walk..."

...

After Lin Haoqing dropped the news that Princess Shunde was coming soon, the preparations in the
Northlands became more tense than ever.

Having laid down the final piece for the fire boundary, Ji Yunhe saw a familiar face, Ji Ning. He
had fled the capital and came back to the north.

The boy matured quite a bit. Back when he left the northern border and returned to the capital, he
was still full of confusion and doubt. But now, such emotions were no longer on his face.

This young disciple of the Grand Master's house grew up after the sudden death of his master, Ji
Chengyu.

"Aji," Ji Ning still called Ji Yunhe as such. "Princess Shunde has gone crazy... She created many
puppets with her magic, then had them kill more people... Everyone in the capital... " He took a deep
breath and continued, "They are all dead. They have all been turned into puppets on Shunde's string..."

Ji Yunhe was silent for a moment then asked, "How many?"

"Too many to count..."

"How many can she manipulate at once?"

"She can manipulate all of them… Those puppets, tens of thousands, all listen to her. I was barely
able to escape."

Ji Ning's body began to shake involuntarily, and Ji Yunhe patted his shoulder to comfort him.
"Don't think about it right now, go rest first..."

"I also brought a friend." He abruptly lifted his head and looked at her with some excitement.
"Hopefully he can help you..." Ji Ning turned sideways, allowing Ji Yunhe to see the person behind him.
She was stunned...

Ji Yunhe's black fox fire had created a boundary that burned straight up into the sunset sky, its
flames lighting up the approaching darkness.

Standing behind the impenetrable wall of fire, Ji Yunhe looked at the two people still dressed in the
Grand Master's uniform and said, "I will take you both into the city."

...

The flaming boundary at the border reached up into the clouds, only a thick black iron gate allowed
passage.

After a meeting in the Demon Terrace, they finally closed the gates to incoming refugees. Woes
and devastation echoed beyond the border for a long time.

And Changyi did not wake up. He remained in a deep sleep.

 Kongming and the others tried their best to conceal the news of his slumber, so as not to disturb
their army's morale.

They met with Ji Ning and learned a crucial piece of information from him -- the thunderfire lava
that had previously erupted might be Shunde's nemesis.

After Ji Yunhe learned of this, she took Lin Haoqing and Kongming out the northern border.

During the volcanic eruption, Changyi formed an ice wall blocking the lava flow from entering the
city. After the lava cooled, it formed a rocky mountainous wall that was later set up with weapons for
defense.

Lin Haoqing inspected the rocks on the wall and his eyes lit up. "This rock formed out of
thunderfire lava can be made into weapons that might be effective against Shunde's puppet army."

Kongming nodded. "I'll go back and have people get started on this right away."

"Is there still active thunderfire lava in the mountains?" Lin Haoqing asked.

"Mhm. After the eruption, I sent someone into the mountains to investigate. They found an
extremely hot cave with bubbling lava inside."

Lin Haoqing held a piece of black rock and looked at Ji Yunhe. "You and this lava may be the key
to saving the world."

They went to explore the cave. Kongming and Lin Haoqing could not handle the burning heat and
were forced to stop more than ten feet away. Ji Yunhe called some fox fire to protect her body and said,
"I will go check out the terrain and set up a plan."

She gradually disappeared behind the smoke as the two of them waited patiently outside.

She walked all the way to the lava, feeling rather uncomfortable under its searing heat as well.

But whenever she felt her body was about to be torn apart by the flames, a coolness in her chest
would appear and shield her heart. This feeling was somewhat familiar to Ji Yunhe, like when Changyi
took her to the Frozen Sea and used the sea lingzhi on her...

She touched her chest.

Back when Shunde captured Changyi, she ate a couple of sea lingzhi in her haste to go save him.
Turned out they were still protecting her even now…

Ji Yunhe caressed the silver pearl on her neck and smiled. The sea had been very kind and generous
to her.
 She looked down at the thunderfire lava, manifesting the power of nature to its fullest.

Under such tremendous power, she was so small and insignificant...

She squatted down and drew a formation on the ground with her fingertips.

...

"What took you so long?" Kongming was a bit ill tempered after Ji Yunhe came back. "How do
you take so much time just to check out some terrain?"

Ji Yunhe smiled. "Would you believe me if I said I took a bath in the lava?"

Kongming gave her a dirty look then turned away, not caring to talk nonsense with her. Lin
Haoqing, on the other hand, looked surprised and asked, "Really?"

Ji Yunhe glanced at him. "Of course not. Thunderfire lava can burn anything. If I jump in, you
won't even be able to fish out my bones."

"Wouldn't care to fish you out either." The monk turned to leave. "Did you get a clear look at the
terrain?"

"Mhm," Ji Yunhe said. "It is circular. If Shunde breaches the southern border, I can lure her here."

"You?" Kongming raised his eyebrows. "Princess Shunde is following the Grand Master's wish to
destroy the world. How do you know you'd be able to lure her?"

Ji Yunhe curled her lips rather smugly. "Shunde is narrow-minded and petty. She can't forget her
hatred for me."

...

The three of them went back to the city and found the news of Changyi's unconsciousness had
spread throughout the land in the short time they were gone, as if it had wings.

Their efforts to keep it a secret had been futile.

The jiaoren was in a mysterious coma.

Over the years, Changyi had become much more than the lord of the people here. Especially after
the lava ordeal, he was now seen as a legendary guardian from the sea.

The Northlands was used to being under his protection, and now they no longer had it.

The people suddenly fell into somewhat of a chaos. Kongming was furious and wanted to find out
who leaked the information. It meant there was a mole here that he did not detect, and that was
unacceptable to him.

He became even busier than Changyi had ever been. Luo Jinsang worried about his health, but
Kongming was terrible at controlling his emotions around her, even though he was able to restrain
himself around others.

As optimistic as Luo Jinsang, she was still scolded by him to the point of self pity.

It was night time in the side hall.

As soon as they entered the room and saw Ji Yunhe gently wiping Changyi's face, Kongming
exploded. "He is still not awake, you sure have a lot of patience!" Then he glared at Lin Haoqing.
"Didn't you say he would wake up after using the shewei? Why is he still sleeping?"

Lin Haoqing glanced at Changyi on the bed. "His pulse is stable. I don't know why he's still
asleep."

Kongming rubbed his brow. He had not rested for two days and it made him look very tired.

Luo Jinsang frowned next to him. "You are a monk, not an iron man. Go sleep, do not work
anymore tonight." She tugged at his sleeve, but the monk brushed her away, clearly irritated.

"Don't bother me." He did not even look at Luo Jinsang.

Ji Yunhe raised an eyebrow and called, "Jinsang, come here. I need you."

Luo Jinsang gave Kongming a "hmph" then headed for Ji Yunhe. But when she walked past Lin
Haoqing, the sword hanging on his side shook.

Lin Haoqing drew out the blade. "Siyu has come with a message."

This sword was the real body of Lin Haoqing's demon slave, Siyu, who had been lurking in the
capital while they were here in the north. She was able to inform them of the latest news on Shunde as
fast as possible.

Lin Haoqing drew a formation on the ground then sat down, resting the sword on his knees. He
closed his eyes. "Siyu..." Suddenly his face turned grave, and the formation beneath him emitted a
strange and treacherous glow.

This had never happened before. Ji Yunhe and Kongming grew wary.

Luo Jinsang also forgot about her anger and asked nervously, "What's happening?"

No one answered her.

A gust of strange wind blew in, pulling and tugging at everyone's hair and clothing.
 The formation under Lin Haoqing's body also started to glow brightly.

"Found you!"

A shrill female voice pierced into their ears, giving everyone a headache.

Ji Yunhe quickly identified the voice, "Shunde..." Her eyebrows sank and she clenched her fists.

"Found you! Hahahahaha!" The laughter was accompanied by the howling wind, dancing wildly
through the room and destroying everything. Luo Jinsang was not as powerful as the others and spat out
some blood under the air pressure. Kongming immediately swept her into his arms and covered her ears.

Ji Yunhe made a black fox fire seal in her hand and drew a circular formation, shutting the
windows and calming the wind.

Luo Jinsang weakly leaned against Kongming's arms. Seeing his worried face, she struggled to sit
up and wipe away the blood on her lips. "I'm fine..."

On the other side, Ji Yunhe walked to the window. The voice continued to laugh like a maniac,
saying, "I'll be coming for you soon!"

The light of the formation under Lin Haoqing faded away, and the long sword in front of him
suddenly cracked.

Lin Haoqing opened his eyes. His face was pale and sweaty, and his body was trembling from pain.

He held up the sword and looked at the broken blade. Finally, he could not hold it back anymore
and blood gushed out of his mouth.

The blood fell onto the sword.

"Shunde is almost here." Ling Haoqing wiped away the blood at his mouth. "She found Siyu and
then found me through her."

"And Siyu?" Ji Yunhe asked.

Lin Haoqing lowered his head. The crack on the sword had nearly broken it in half. He silently put
the sword back into its scabbard.

"Be prepared." He got up without answering her.

Just then, the boundary at the southern border suddenly let out a flash and everyone looked out the
window.

The sky outside was illuminated by the wall of fire. A few moments later, they heard a loud boom,
as if something was knocking against the boundary gate…

"Shunde..." Lin Haoqing covered his chest and looked at the fiery horizon. "She is here."
Chapter 117: Puppet Army

Princess Shunde's arrival was much faster than they anticipated.

The sky outside burned a blood-red.

Kongming frowned and immediately went out the door, Luo Jinsang following closely behind.

Soon after, countless demon masters and demons in the city floated up with the wind, assembled in
the air, and headed for the southern border.

Ji Yunhe watched them through the window as Lin Haoqing snickered, "Worried? This attack was
made by Shunde from a hundred miles away."

She grew even more sullen. "She's still a hundred miles away?"

"She saw me through Siyu, so naturally I saw her too," answered Lin Haoqing. "But during the time
of us talking just now, she is probably already a few dozen miles closer. The art of wind manipulation is
much stronger for those who train in wood magic."

Ji Yunhe glanced at the objects scattered in the house, then her gaze fell on Changyi. "Shunde's
power is even more unpredictable than we thought. I have to go to the border and guard the boundary. If
she breaks through, I will lure her to the thunderfire cave. Help me protect Changyi until he wakes up."

Lin Haoqing spoke as she turned to leave.

"Don't gamble with your life."

It sounded like something that family would say.

Ji Yunhe smiled. "Okay," she replied.

Nine black fox tails appeared as she stepped out and soared across the sky, merging into the crowd
heading south.

Lin Haoqing went to the side of the bed where Changyi was. Even though the jiaoren still had his
eyes closed, his fingers started to quiver.

Lin Haoqing reassured him, "She will be fine."

The trembling fingertips calmed.

...
 When Ji Yunhe arrived at the border, she saw a giant puppet army emitting an eerie green glow as
far as the eye could see. The refugees had all disappeared.

The expressions on the puppet soldiers were hollow and dull, and each one of them had a green
thread attached to their forehead, leading to a point in the distant south. Like senseless ants marching
forward at their queen's command.

And they were incinerated as soon as they touched the fire of the boundary, filling the air with
burnt stench and flying ash.

Ji Yunhe stood on top of the city wall and peered into the distance. A person dressed in bright red
sat barefoot on a giant sedan chair, carried by dozens of people.

This suddenly reminded Ji Yunhe of the first time she saw Princess Shunde back in the Demon
Valley.

Arrogant, detached, and wanted to control everyone's life and death.

But she looked much crazier now. She drank some wine, then casually threw the wine jug after she
finished, seemingly at random. The jug flew through the air and crashed into the fire boundary with a
loud boom.

The tiny wine jug smashed a big hole into the boundary, shaking up the entire wall. Luckily the
flames below quickly burned up again and mended itself.

But the people within the boundary were shocked.

Shunde laughed hysterically. The wind carried her laughter across the northern city, shaking up
everyone inside.

Her sedan chair stopped a hundred feet away from the boundary, and she flipped her hand holding
the green threads.

The puppets below flashed green and accelerated their steps, eventually running into the boundary
like mad. One by one, they hit the fire and burned like moths to a flame. Ash and dust rose up and
covered the sky.

The boundary successfully kept all of the dust and chaos from entering, but this desperate assault
looked beyond terrifying.

Even though the demon masters and demons of the north were no strangers to blood and gore, they
still could not help but feel chills.

They were facing an army that seeked death over life.

 Gradually, the corpses and ashes accumulated and built up layer by layer into a mountain outside
the boundary.

Its height now matched that of the black iron city wall.

"If they want to die, then let them come," said Ji Yunhe as she waved her hand.

Smoke rose up behind dozens of city gates across the border where Ji Yunhe had laid down her
foundations, and black fox fire burned up into the sky like giant pillars.

Ji Yunhe made a gesture, and the formation under her feet flashed brightly then entered the earth
below.

Two whips formed out of black fire swept across the boundary outside like giant hands, smoothing
away the piles of corpses and ash that had built up.

And Ji Yunhe's spell casting gave her position to Shunde.

From a hundred feet away, Shunde's eyebrows sank.

She stood up on top of the huge sedan chair and gently grabbed a feathered arrow from the back of
a puppet beside her, then smiled. It flew into the wind without a bow or a string.

Faster than lightning and not giving people any time to react, the arrow pierced through the bodies
of countless puppet soldiers and headed straight for Ji Yunhe.

Black flames under the wall rolled over to block the arrow, but they were pushed away by the wind
that came with it.

Princess Shunde smiled arrogantly.

The tip of the feathered arrow shattered together with the fire boundary in front of Ji Yunhe.

The entire wall trembled, and flying ash outside flew in through the breach.

Puppets immediately swarmed up the wall and climbed through the hole. The demon masters next
to Ji Yunhe charged forth and began fighting off the invaders. Although Princess Shunde's arrow was
powerful, it did not shake the foundation of the boundary, and the flames quickly burned up again in self
repair.

"The boundary can't stop her," Ji Yunhe said to Kongming next to her. "These puppets were born
from her magic. If Shunde dies, her army will disappear."

Kongming turned his head to look at Ji Yunhe. "What are you going to do?"

"Create a hole and let her come after me. I'll lure her to the cave with the thunderfire lava. You
guys just do your best to hold back the puppet army, and do not let them enter the city."

"No problem."

Shunde threw three more feathered arrows, landing on the flame boundary in front of Ji Yunhe.

The boundary broke with a loud roar, and a battle between the two armies was set in motion.

Shunde raised her hand a third time and threw nine feathered arrows. Puppets flooded through the
breach.

Ji Yunhe flew through one of the openings without further delay. Standing in mid air, her black fox
tails were far more eye-catching than anyone else.

Shunde naturally saw her.

She channeled her power into some arrows and fiercely hurled them at Ji Yunhe.

Ji Yunhe did not dodge them. Nine tails whipped behind and a loud cackle was heard, as if
lightning had struck.

Before Shunde had the time to smile, the arrows shot back at her, now wrapped in black fox fire.

The fire grazed Shunde's ear and scorched the puppets carrying her sedan chair. The flames then
spread down onto the ground and incinerated all the puppet soldiers along its path.

Shunde looked at the scorched earth behind her. When she looked back again, her gaze was full of
murderous rage.

Ji Yunhe's strike had boosted the morale of the northern army. They shouted out in cheer, raised
their weapons, and fought bravely against the enemy force.

Ji Yunhe stared back at Princess Shunde.

Sure enough, her move provoked the princess just as she had expected. With the surging wind,
Shunde's body flew forward at a blinding speed, and Ji Yunhe was knocked backward against the
boundary.

Although the flame of the boundary did not hurt Ji Yunhe, some blood trickled down the corner of
her mouth from the force of the impact.

"Who do you think you are?" Shunde hovered in the air with her body wrapped in green aura. She
floated in the middle of the boundary fire, but the flames did not hurt her in the least bit.

On top of the city walls, people's faces all changed. Kongming subconsciously pulled Luo Jinsang
over to his side in order to protect her, but with a turn of the head, Luo Jinsang vanished from sight.
Kongming did not have the time to go find her, and just cautiously stared at Princess Shunde.

The powers of the Grand Master and Qing Ji were too strong. In front of Shunde, their efforts of
laying down a boundary had turned into a joke.

Her hair danced wildly in the wind like an evil ghost from hell. "I should have killed you long ago."

Ji Yunhe smiled as she stood up. "It's just a pity that you were never able to, and you still can't."

Shunde grew even more furious. As she summoned the wind and blasted out another strike, Ji
Yunhe turned around and ran.

"Trying to escape?" Shunde followed in pursuit, all the way to the snowy mountains in the north.

And the puppet soldiers rushed in through the boundary left broken by Shunde's passage.

The battle turned chaotic.

"Luo Jinsang!" Kongming called out her name. He had told her not to follow him to the border. She
was already injured from back in the side hall, how much help could she possibly be?

"You will just cause more trouble!" Kongming grumbled with frustration when a sword suddenly
came at him from behind. He turned around and raised his hand to block it, but when he saw the
attacker, he froze.

Ji Chengyu...

His brother.

He had not seen him for so many years. When he left the Grand Master's house a decade ago, he
guessed that they might one day be on opposite sides of the fence, but he never thought it would be like
this -- facing an already dead and manipulated Ji Chengyu.

Ji Chengyu abruptly made a move while Kongming stood there frozen, his speed was faster than
the monk could react. Just as the sword was about to enter Kongming's chest, it stopped.

Kongming looked at the sword, and saw a few drops of blood inexplicably seep out of its tip,
slowly dripping to the ground by his feet.

And a person faded into view.

It was the invisible Luo Jinsang...

"I... I did not cause more trouble."

The black fox fire on the edge of the city wall swept through and scattered all the puppets around
them. Kongming took her into his arms and lowered her to the ground while pressing against the wound
on her chest.

"Shut up."

He held her tightly.

"I was going to go help Yunhe, but she is smarter than you, so I'll save you first..." Luo Jinsang did
not shut up. "I'm your savior now, you have to be reasonable and repay me... Promise your body to me."

Kongming lost what little bit of calm he had. "You shut up!"

She had a hole in her chest, she should not be talking.

"Are you going to promise me? If you don't, then I will just die like this. If you do, I will try to
hang on a little. I..." Luo Jinsang still refused to shut up.

Kongming pressed tightly against her wound. "Your chest has a hole in it! Will you shut up and
stop talking?! I promise! Now shut up!"

Luo Jinsang grinned, "Remember your promise… When the battle is over, you will marry me..."
Her voice gradually faded and her eyes closed.

Kongming felt his throat tighten and every breath turned into a struggle.

He held Luo Jinsang's wrist to feel her pulse...

Weak...

But fortunately, it was still there.

Chapter 118: Conclusion

The sky above the southern border was blood red and visible from the inner city. The smell of
charred bodies and ash also drifted in with the wind.

Inside the Demon Terrace, Lin Haoqing looked at the red glow in the distance and shadows formed
under his brows.

"Why aren't you waking up yet?" Ji Ning paced anxiously back and forth next to Changyi's bed.

"Shunde came too soon," Lin Haoqing said. "It wasn't expected."

Ji Ning squatted down and looked sideways at the nape of Changyi's neck.

There, a small white formation swirled under his silver hair. It was impossible to see unless one
looked from this angle. Ji Ning let out a soft sigh. "When will this formation start to glow..."
 Lin Haoqing was silent for a moment then said, "Just keep waiting."

Ji Ning turned his head, his eyes passed over Lin Haoqing and looked at the reddened sky. "Do we
still have the time to wait?"

Lin Haoqing did not answer him again.

...

Ji Yunhe had promised Lin Haoqing to not gamble with her life.

But she broke her promise.

Because Princess Shunde was more powerful than they predicted. The power of the Grand Master
and Qing Ji had been underestimated all along. Ji Yunhe used everything she could just to lead her to the
thunderfire cave without getting killed.

And by the time they reached the edge of the cave, Ji Yunhe had already been cut all over by wind
blades along the way. She took advantage of the thick smoke outside the cave mouth to temporarily
conceal herself.

She began using her magic to heal her wounds, but the sound of footsteps soon appeared.

Ji Yunhe looked back and saw Shunde walking toward her through the smoke, her body wrapped
under a layer of green aura.

"I thought you've come up with an amazing plan, but you want to use this lava against me?" She
smiled contemptuously. "So naive." She raised her hand and a gust of wind blew away the smoke
around them.

The cave entrance ten feet away was now clearly in view.

They faced each other as time seemed to return to the darkness inside the Grand Master's prison.
The light of the lava now cast a red tint onto both of their faces, just like the torch in that dungeon. Ji
Yunhe heard that after she was rescued from the Grand Master's house by Changyi, Shunde became
extremely afraid of fire. But now, she showed no signs of such fear.

Shunde looked at her own palm and moved her fingers. Ji Yunhe knew another storm began to stir
at the border.

"I no longer fear the power of nature," Shunde said.

Ji Yunhe wiped a handful of blood from the corner of her lips. She sat on the ground, silently
regulating her internal energy in self recuperation, while pretending to be calm and relaxed. "Don't
overestimate yourself. If the power of nature can make you, it can also destroy you."
 Shunde smiled. "Worry about yourself first."

Before she came, she had received news that the jiaoren was trapped in a deep sleep. The only
person left able to put up a fight was Ji Yunhe. After killing Ji Yunhe, her puppet army would be able to
conquer the entire land and convert everyone. She would then control the world with no one left to
disobey her.

Thinking of this, Shunde's eyes glowed with a little madness and a longsword formed in her hand.
"Ji Yunhe, I overestimated you. I never thought you would be so weak and defenseless. The power of
the nine tailed fox, since you can't make much use of it, might as well give it to me."

She suddenly attacked before her words even fell. Ji Yunhe tried to dodge to the side, but Shunde
was too fast. The longsword in her hand pierced through Ji Yunhe's right shoulder.

A fox tail behind her turned into a sword and aimed for Shunde's chest, but Shunde flipped her
hand and Ji Yunhe's arm flew out and landed on the ground.

The blood dried up before it even had time to bleed, and the arm instantly withered under the
searing heat.

Ji Yunhe endured the pain as sweat fell from her face. Her fox tail did not get to hurt Shunde, but
she had managed to stay alive at the cost of an arm. She was trembling, but she did not show fear.

The blow was very satisfying to Shunde, and she grinned from ear to ear. "I was going to kill you,
but now I changed my mind. It would be much more fun to cut off your limbs one by one then throw
you into the lava."

Shunde was crazy.

Everything she said and did confirmed this.

The severe pain made Ji Yunhe unmotivated to argue back. She turned her head to look at the cave
entrance then backed up a few more steps.

She was moving closer and closer to the mouth of the cave during their fight, and as of now, there
were only three or five steps left.

Shunde stepped up looking more triumphant, but she was not completely unaware of the situation.
She knew the direction Ji Yunhe was going, and with a slash of the sword, a strong gust of wind rose up
behind Ji Yunhe.

It blew her forward and her neck landed in Shunde's hand.

The long sword shortened into a dagger as Shunde looked at Ji Yunhe. "Tell me." She raised her
dagger and cut along Ji Yunhe's face, from the temple all the way to the chin. Blood flowed down onto
her fingers, adding to her excitement.

"Should I cut out your eyes first, or shave off your ears? Or cut off your fingers one by one?"

Surprisingly, Ji Yunhe smiled.

Her face was full of blood and her body was crippled, but the disdain in her eyes told Shunde she
did not fear her, even now.

"You're pathetic," Ji Yunhe said.

The satisfaction on Shunde's face was instantly ripped away...

Her expression turned hideous and her fingers tightened, choking Ji Yunhe. "I might as well cut out
your tongue first!"

She raised her hand.

At the same time...

Away from the snowy mountains, on the bed in the side hall of the Demon Terrace, a white light
suddenly flashed over Changyi's body.

A formation rotated on the back of his neck, under the silver hair.

Ice blue eyes suddenly opened.

And at the cave above the mountains, thunderfire lava tirelessly tumbled and rolled. With a muffled
boom, a small eruption spurted out of the cave mouth and scattered on the ground.

A searing wave of heat swept out. The temperature grew so hot that even Shunde squinted her eyes.

And during this blink of an eye moment, an ice sword shot out from behind the lava burst, past Ji
Yunhe's ear, and headed straight for Shunde.

It easily pierced through Shunde's protection shield and into her throat.

Shunde released Ji Yunhe and staggered back a few steps clutching her neck. Her face turned blue,
but the blood was choked back by the ice sword so she could not spit it out.

And Ji Yunhe was swept into someone's arm.

Through the silver hair, Ji Yunhe looked at him with a bloody smile. "You woke up."

Ice blue eyes took in all of the injuries on her face and shoulder.
 Changyi trembled and his body grew cold, almost colder than when he was frozen.

"I'm fine." Ji Yunhe stared closely at Changyi, her remaining hand held on to his. "You know I'm
fine."

Under her calm reassurance, Changyi blinked away his rage and looked at Shunde.

The princess tossed around on the ground in pain with the ice sword in her throat. It slowly
liquified but did not turn into water. Instead, it expanded outward and wrapped her entire body in frost
that even the scorching heat around them could not melt.

Changyi pulled Ji Yunhe behind him and took two steps forward, shielding her. He looked at the
princess as she struggled to breath.

He had been just a jiaoren living comfortably in the sea, this human world had nothing to do with
him. Yet, because of her selfish obsession, he went through thick and thin all the way to this point today.

Shunde looked at Changyi and gasped in a hoarse voice, "You... you couldn't have... Why..."

He did not bother saying anything. With a wave of his hand, an ice spear pierced Shunde through
the chest. And like the sword, it liquified and covered her under more layers of frost and ice.

"You shouldn't… be... this strong..."

Shunde desperately tried to summon her green aura, but Changyi called forth numerous icicles and
pinned her limbs in place, restraining her from all movements.

Ji Yunhe stood behind him and looked at the glowing formation on his neck.

"This is how strong I used to be," Changyi said.

"What..." Shunde bitterly grinded her teeth. "How?"

"The jiaoren's slumber was part of the plan. Ruling, you failed to see through it after all." Shunde
froze at the sound of this voice. She looked beyond the thick smoke and saw the Grand Master dressed
in his usual white robe.

His expression was as cold as ever.

Even in the middle of all this blood and fire, his face did not change a bit.

"Impossible... I locked you up, I..." Shunde paused. When she left the capital, she had done
everything except checking in on him in the prison. She was so sure he was harmless...

But... he had come to the Northlands, and was now helping Changyi and Ji Yunhe…?
 When Ji Ning fled to the north, he brought the Grand Master with him.

Changyi actually did wake up already after using the shewei, but the Grand Master had a secret
discussion with them. The shewei plant was a very precious thing. It could help people repair all
damages inside their bodies if used properly, including regrowing limbs and giving new life. The Grand
Master was able to use the power of the shewei to help Changyi reconnect all the severed meridians in
his body. (In traditional Chinese medicine, people's bodies contain many paths through which their
internal energy flows. Those paths are called meridians.)

And Ji Yunhe finally learned that when he lost his tail, he also lost half of his power. Shewei gave
them back to him.

Although Shunde had the power of Qing Ji and the Grand Master, she herself had no methods in
cultivation. She consumed and drained the power in her body with everything she did. When she was in
the capital, she kept absorbing power from other demon masters and demons to replenish her energy.

But when she arrived at the north, no one supplied her with what she needed anymore.

The flame boundary at the border was a drain on Shunde, and so was her army of puppets. By the
thunderfire lava, Shunde had to keep using magic to resist the scorching heat, so it was even more of a
continuous drainage. If they could hold Shunde here long enough, the power in her body would
eventually deplete.

And the power of nature did not drain. Thunderfire lava could burn for another hundred years, or a
thousand years…

The only thing that surprised them was how fast Shunde came.

If Changyi's awakening had been a few seconds later, their plan, perhaps, would have failed.

"Why do you want to kill me?" Shunde no longer cared about Ji Yunhe or Changyi. She only asked
the Grand Master, "Don't you want to mourn for the world? When they become my puppets, they die! I
am helping you realize your wish!"

The Grand Master looked at Shunde for a while then said, "My wish now is to end the chaos that I
have created."

His wish was never about destroying the world. He had just wanted to make everyone pay for the
injustice against that one person.

At first, Changyi and Lin Haoqing did not trust him. But Ji Yunhe chose to believe him.

Because she had spent time with the Grand Master at his residence, and she also met Ning Xiyu.
She knew their story.

A hundred years of enmity started by his hands could also be destroyed by him.
 She had not been entirely sure if the Grand Master really wanted to help them, she took a gamble.
Luckily, she won.

"Haha..." Shunde laughed hoarsely. "You want to kill me... You think I can die like this..."

She struggled and ripped her own flesh and skin against the icicles, then looked at Ji Yunhe. "I will
not die, I still have the power to change the sky. Even if my body dies, I will just turn into the wind!
Scattered into the air, I will kill anyone and anything I see! You can't stop the wind and you can't stop
me!"

As she spoke, her hair slowly dissipated into layers of green light, waving around and flying toward
the sky.

"If you want to save them, you can..." She stared at Ji Yunhe wickedly. "You are half human and
half demon just like me, you can absorb me into your body and jump into the thunderfire lava." She
smiled and continued, "The tragedy of my life began because of you and this jiaoren, you, you! If you
want to save the world, then you can die with me..."

Her body dissipated faster and faster.

Ji Yunhe smiled and said, "Okay."

She glanced at Changyi, walked to Shunde and squatted down in front of her. "Then I will die with
you."

Surprisingly, Changyi did not try to stop her. Shunde's face sank.

Ji Yunhe pressed her remaining hand onto the top of Shunde's head. Nine black tails behind her
swept up all the green aura floating in the air.

"Why?" Shunde stared at Ji Yunhe in disbelief. "Why?!"

"Because we've been expecting you to do this."

Shunde stared viciously at the Grand Master off to the side. "No..."

But it was too late for her. The Grand Master formed a seal with his hand and a golden light flashed
beneath Ji Yunhe's feet. It merged into the dirt next to the thunderfire lava.

Under the ash and dust, the formation Ji Yunhe drew a few days ago lit up.

Shunde knew this formation. She saw it in the Grand Master's house when flipping through the
forbidden books. This was the Ten Square Formation inside the Demon Valley… The one that sealed
the jade phoenix for a hundred years.
 Although this version was not as big, and there were no ten demon masters to sacrifice, trapping
her was still more than enough.

"Why?" Shunde looked at Ji Yunhe in confusion, and then looked at the calm Changyi behind her.
"Why? You will die too! Why are you smiling?!"

The green aura flowed into Ji Yunhe's body, and the tremendous influx of power caused her a great
deal of pain, but she still maintained a smile on her face.

The Ten Square Formation and the Grand Master both began to glow.

"Master!" Shunde called out to him. "Master! Everything I did was for you…!"

The Ten Square Formation required a sacrifice. The Grand Master looked at Shunde with detached
eyes as the golden light diffused around his body. Then he shifted his gaze and looked up through the
smoke into the clear blue sky.

A soft breeze blew by and he closed his eyes with a smile.

Nothing could escape the wind, and everything in this world would eventually turn to dust.

The Grand Master vanished with the completion of the Ten Square Formation, and Ji Yunhe
absorbed all of Shunde's green aura into her body.

She stood up and looked at Changyi through the golden light of the formation.

Changyi gazed at her quietly.

"Let's go eat after this," Ji Yunhe said.

He nodded.

Ji Yunhe waved her hand at Changyi and leapt into the thunderfire lava.

It instantly swallowed her body.

Even though he knew of the entire plan, Changyi still could not help but feel pain in his heart.

Ji Yunhe dissolved and a green light flashed out, but the Ten Square Formation kept it from going
anywhere, successfully trapping it inside the lava.

Changyi watched until all movements died down, then he reinforced the Ten Square Formation
with an additional layer of frost.

And his body disappeared. In the blink of an eye, he was back inside the Demon Terrace.
 Ji Ning rushed up to Changyi to ask about the situation, Lin Haoqing followed. But Changyi did
not stop for anyone and kept walking toward the inner hall.

Pushing open the door, he was so hasty he even tripped over the threshold.

Ji Ning was about to ask again when Lin Haoqing pulled him back.

Changyi walked through layers of curtains and veils, finally seeing the one sitting inside.

He lifted the curtains and walked in.

Ji Yunhe, intact and without injuries, looked up at him.

Changyi knelt down and took her into his arms.

Ji Yunhe brushed his hair with her fingers and held him gently. "You know it was just another body
of mine made from half of my inner pearl."

"I know."

Lin Haoqing proposed this idea as soon as the Grand Master told them about Shunde's ability to
turn into the wind.

He had used Ji Yunhe's inner pearl before to make an Aji, so it was not difficult to use half of it
now to make a duplicate Ji Yunhe.

Only after they laid down the entire plan did Changyi go into his deep sleep to have the shewei
mend his body.

But seeing Ji Yunhe in that beaten state and jumping into the lava, he still panicked... he was so
afraid of losing her again. Being able to hold her in his arms right now, he was finally at ease.

"Changyi." Ji Yunhe gently patted his back while she hugged him. "It's over."

Everything was over.

Shunde's puppet army at the border turned into ashes and flew away.

Demon masters and demons in the frontlines cheered and hugged one another.

Luo Jinsang's injuries were stabilized by the military doctor.

It was over.

Changyi released Ji Yunhe from his embrace and said, "Let's go. You said we will go eat."
 Ji Yunhe smiled. "I've been lying down for a long time, my legs are still a bit soft. Why don't you
carry me."

Changyi leaned down and carried Ji Yunhe on his back.

Ji Ning wanted to block them. "There are many people outside..."

"Don't care," Changyi said as he walked out.

Sounds of cheer filled the city. The Northlands had never seen such joy.

Changyi and Ji Yunhe smiled at each other as a breeze blew by. The sky was blue, and the clouds
were as white as snow.

...

Changyi dropped the position of the venerable lord and threw it at Kongming.

Luo Jinsang was mostly healed by now, but Kongming was still overwhelmed between caring for
her and dealing with official affairs. Changyi suddenly said he was done with working and wanted to go
out and play.

Then he took Ji Yunhe with him and left, not concerned at all about the monk's feelings.

Kongming was so furious he nearly passed out.

Fortunately, things in the city were busy, but not bad.

Changyi knew this, so he was able to leave without worry.

Ji Yunhe had always dreamed of seeing the world, and Changyi was now fulfilling her wish.

They traveled all the way from the north to the south and ended at the sea.

The sun was currently setting over the western sky.

"Big-tailed fish," Ji Yunhe said as she looked at the endless rolling waves. "You got your original
power back, does that mean your tail..."

Changyi had not yet confirmed if his tail was back. He deliberately avoided this matter just in case.
Disappointing himself was fine, but he did not want to disappoint her.

But Ji Yunhe brought it up.

"Let's give it a try." He removed his robe and placed it next to her.
 Ji Yunhe stared at him without blinking. "And the pants too, right?"

Changyi looked around.

There was no one here except for her.

But he was still silent for another moment. Having had these legs for so long, taking off his pants
suddenly felt...

"I'll go inside the water first," he said as he walked into the waves.

They churned and gradually engulfed him.

With a lot of anticipation and nervousness, Ji Yunhe followed until the water soaked into the hem
of her dress.

The waves washed against the beach again and again, but Changyi seemed to have vanished into
the sea.

Ji Yunhe stood on the shore with the sunset drawing her shadow onto the sand. Suddenly, she heard
the water break in the distance.

Her eyes widened as a giant blue fish tail emerged from the surface, its scales reflecting the
sparkling sea and brightening her dark pupils.

The corners of her lips curled up into a smile.

The waves had never felt so warm, and the sea breeze so gentle.