Ling Qingyue flicked the longsword formed at her fingertip. Another flying sword shot out, again grazing past Meng Li’s body, perfectly slicing another mountain range behind her into a clean, level cut.
Meng Li still stood rooted to the spot, unmoving. Ling Qingyue furrowed her brows. She hadn’t expected this disciple of hers to truly not dodge, displaying a complete acceptance of death.
“Why do you not dodge…”
“Because I’m not afraid!”
At this answer, Ling Qingyue seemed slightly surprised. After all, in her memory, when Meng Li had revealed her true face, she had always been a delicate, pitiable creature. That appearance was indeed extremely endearing, but often, the softest exterior hid the darkest heart.
“Is this also a mask of yours…”
Ling Qingyue looked at the other indifferently. In that dim cave abode, she had sat in quiet meditation, looking back at the present. Without that clamorous Heart Devil, things had been rather peaceful. Meng Li faced her inscrutable Shizun.
She directly placed her hands on her hips, putting on a complete show of fearing neither heaven nor earth. In truth, her legs were already as limp as gummy candy. She was only standing there through sheer force of will.
“A joke?! If I could run, I’d have run already!”
Meng Li was frantically cursing internally, but she remained in place. The reason was simple: standing here, she might not die. But if she turned and ran, she absolutely would die.
“Shizun, what words are these? Your disciple is upright and righteous, and has never done anything to wrong Shizun!”
“Indeed. You now have done nothing to wrong me. After all, my Spirit Meridians being destroyed, my body afflicted with a strange poison… all of that hasn’t happened yet, has it…”
Ling Qingyue spoke softly, recounting the events. But hearing this description, Meng Li had long since guiltily averted her gaze. Yet Ling Qingyue slowly walked closer. Although the word “Rebirth” still floated above her head, there wasn’t excessive hatred in her eyes at this moment.
“Perhaps, you becoming that way was, in part, my fault…”
Ling Qingyue gently hooked her finger. A wisp of Spiritual Power, tinged with a trace of cold Qi, wrapped around Meng Li. She felt her entire body move uncontrollably towards the other. Meng Li was terrified, but what awaited her was merely a gentle embrace.
“Shi… Shizun, what is the meaning of this…”
Meng Li’s eyes darted around, looking everywhere except at Ling Qingyue’s face right in front of her. Shizun suddenly becoming gentle gave Meng Li an ominous feeling.
“Perhaps pruning the already-warped branches of your path is indeed my responsibility. After all, the you right now does not, in the end, represent the future you, does it…”
“Ah… This… Uh… Al… Although… Although I don’t know what Shizun is saying, this disciple will certainly be obedient…”
Facing Ling Qingyue’s self-reflection, Meng Li desperately wanted to tell her that yes, she had fully intended to do all those things. But voicing that would undoubtedly result in her ashes being scattered to the four winds. So she resolved to keep playing dumb.
“What a deeply moving scene, Shizun~”
Ling Qingyue, whose expression had just softened, let out a helpless sigh upon hearing that familiar voice. The pink figure behind her was still as vivid as ever. Not only had it failed to dissipate, but even its facial features were becoming more distinct.
“Right here, right now. A single sword thrust into my heart. The ‘me’ in your arms, so weak I couldn’t be any weaker. It would be so easy, wouldn’t it~”
The pink afterimage drew closer and closer, its voice terrifyingly familiar. Ling Qingyue tried her utmost to restrain herself, but her body couldn’t stop trembling. She didn’t know what she was doing anymore.
“Shut up!”
“Ah? I… I didn’t say anything!”
Meng Li was bewildered. The other’s sudden shout had scared her half to death. Then, the gentle embrace suddenly loosened. Meng Li immediately jumped down from it, turned around, and saw Ling Qingyue’s face twisted in pain.
“Senior Sister Situ Xue’s Dao Heart—I’m the one who crippled it. Senior Sister Ye becoming a Devil—I did that too. And you can still forgive me? I’m truly so touched, Shizun~”
“I told you to shut up!!”
Ling Qingyue’s gray pupils were now tinged with red. Meng Li was utterly at a loss, not knowing what to do. But then, a longsword suddenly came flying from afar. This time, the sword was not aimed beside her; it was heading straight for her face.
Meng Li watched the flying sword get closer and closer, her body unable to decide on any response. Ling Qingyue’s emotions had swung wildly, like a complete madwoman. Just moments ago, they had been talking amicably; now, she was attacking friend and foe alike like an uncontrolled area-of-effect ultimate skill.
“What are you spacing out for…”
“Eh? Shi…”
Meng Li saw that familiar, stunning face. No matter how many times she saw it, even knowing the other’s identity now, she still found it breathtakingly beautiful. A single Wandering Ruler Sword, a single Crimson Water Robe. The avatar Ling Qingyue, who had been standing to the side as mere background, was now standing protectively in front of her.
“If everything you just said and did was just an act, then I can tell you: you can run now…”
“Wh-Why would I run? Shizun, what exactly is wrong with you?! Why have you become like this?!”
Ling Qingyue stood there, her gaze icy as she observed everything. But her eyes, now tinged with a crimson glow, proved that she was not calm. From Ling Qingyue’s perspective, there was no one else—only a single Unfilial Disciple, standing right there.
“Shizun remembers, doesn’t she. I almost thought Shizun had forgotten. Shizun, do you know what Senior Sister Ye’s last words were before she died?~”
“……”
“I see Shizun doesn’t remember. But I remember very clearly, you know~ What Senior Sister said was… Hey? What was it again? I’ve forgotten too~ Haha~”
Ling Qingyue had thought that in the cave abode, with a clear heart and mind, without seeing that face, the Heart Devil wouldn’t continue to develop. Yet for some reason, the other had indeed been quiet for a while. Ling Qingyue had assumed the Heart Devil was already exorcised. But the moment she rose from that ice bed…
That silvery-bell-like laughter once again rang in her ears. Ling Qingyue merely glanced behind her. The other was still sitting there, just much quieter. Ling Qingyue had thought this quiet state was acceptable. She never expected that the moment she found Meng Li again, this Heart Devil would be even more insolent than before.
“Unfilial disciple…!”
Facing the Heart Devil’s wanton provocation, Ling Qingyue stared at her with icy eyes. After holding it in for a long time, all she could finally utter was “Unfilial Disciple.” But on Meng Li’s side, watching the killing intent radiating from Ling Qingyue at its center, cold enough to congeal frost, she was terrified.
“Shizun, quick, think of something! If this goes on, your true body will destroy this entire area!”
“The true body is trapped in delusion. What can I do…”
The avatar Ling Qingyue held her longsword horizontally before her, defending against the pressure brought by that oppressive aura. With only the Spiritual Artifact in her hand, she deflected the Spiritual Power-formed swords that continuously flew from Ling Qingyue’s center.
“‘Trapped in delusion’? The only thing I know is that Shizun, if you don’t stop, something terrible is going to happen!”
“Then go knock me unconscious…”
“Huh? Me, fight your true body??”
………
…
