Waiting for You

Seeing Mi Xingzhe's expression, Li Luoning quickly turned around, only to see a tall figure slowly falling toward him. Instinctively, he reached out to catch the figure and saw who it was.

"Minghan, is that you?" 

Shentu Zhajia looked at Li Luoning with a smile, his voice carrying the joy of a long-awaited reunion. Before he could say anything more, he spat out a mouthful of black blood.

The blade that O Shinan had just summoned was the Kunlun Hill Lava Dagger, coated with the venom of the toad. It was a gift he had once given to Hua Ruoying. After Hua Ruoying's passing, he had made this dagger a part of himself, as if Hua Ruoying were still by his side.

Seeing Shentu Zhajia collapse in his arms, Li Luoning angrily raised his hand, and a powerful spell crushed O Shinan into a heap of fragments, not even giving him a chance to scream.

O Shinan's body was crushed into pieces, leaving behind a slowly falling piece of purple silk and a golden-red spot on the ground.

"Is it you, Minghan?" Due to the venom, Shentu Zhajia's breathing became labored, and his vision blurred. He reached out into the air, searching.

"Brother." Li Minghan's voice came from Li Luoning's body, and he grasped Shentu Zhajia's hand, gently calling out.

"Minghan, it's my fault, don't... don't continue down this path..." Shentu Zhajia struggled to control the spread of the poison, blood gushing from his mouth as he weakly uttered his words.

"Brother, I've never blamed you, never... never... Brother, brother!" Before Li Luoning could finish, the person in his arms lost the light in his eyes, and the hand he held went limp, sliding down.

Seeing Shentu Zhajia in front of him, the consciousness left by Li Minghan in the Moonshadow Pill completely broke down, and the powerful spell he unleashed began to take over the last bit of Li Luoning's consciousness.

"Why, why couldn't you give me one last chance, why!"

Li Luoning suddenly clutched his head tightly, the struggle between the two consciousnesses causing him excruciating pain. The veins on his hands bulged, his throat convulsed, breathing became rapid, and his neck turned red with pain. His body staggered uncontrollably, falling and rising again.

He knew what Li Minghan intended to do; he had to control this body, or the consequences would be disastrous.

"Master, what's wrong? What happened?" Li Luoning's confused consciousness broke Mi Xingzhe's immobilization spell.

Seeing Li Luoning in such pain, Mi Xingzhe hurried forward to help, but was stopped by Li Luoning's raised hand.

"Xingzhe, stay back. I'm losing control of him. Run, run quickly."

Li Luoning used the last bit of his strength to shout at Mi Xingzhe.

Now, sharing a body with Li Minghan, Li Luoning knew exactly what Li Minghan was thinking.

But Li Minghan's resentment was too deep, and Li Luoning's consciousness was ultimately suppressed.

As Li Luoning's anguished howls grew louder, the Moonshadow Pill within him erupted with unprecedented power, enveloping Kunlun Hill in a mix of spells.

"There's nothing left... why, why did this have to happen to me?" Now controlling the body, Li Minghan's eyes were filled with desperate confusion, his head tilted back as he let out a bitter laugh, tears of despair falling from his eyes.

"I did nothing wrong, so why is this happening to me? Why, why!" Li Minghan couldn't understand why fate was so cruel to him, not even leaving him a single loved one.

His parents didn't love him, his sworn brothers didn't care for him, only Shentu Zhajia was truly kind to him. Yet he was Shentu Zhajia's father's murderer, usurping his position, imprisoning his body. He wanted Shentu Zhajia to hate him so that he might feel better. But despite everything, the only one who didn't hate him, who remembered him, and felt they owed him was still this sworn brother.

"Why, why do all of you get to live the lives you want, but I can't? Why do you all achieve your desires, while my world is shattered? Why, why!" Li Minghan's voice grew increasingly crazed, the surrounding black smoke rising to enshroud him.

The howling black smoke made it difficult for Mi Xingzhe to see.

"My master has been completely overtaken by the Moonshadow Pill. I need to find a way to restore his consciousness quickly."

"If Heaven won't let me have peace, then no one shall!" Li Minghan grabbed the Chi Xi Pill from the ground, and the surrounding black smoke surged as he absorbed its power into his body.

"This is bad, he's absorbing the Chi Xi Pill. If he gains the power of both pills and intends to harm the three realms, no one will be able to stop him. I need to think of something." Mi Xingzhe was frantic.

"Right, the feather my master gave me, I'll try using it." Mi Xingzhe thought of the golden feather in his chest.

He chanted, and the feather floated out, flying toward Li Minghan's black smoke. As Li Minghan absorbed the Chi Xi Pill, the golden feather was also drawn in.

Li Minghan opened his eyes, relishing the power of the twin pills. Just as he was about to wield his spell, he felt a tight pain in his chest.

"What's happening?" Li Minghan felt the Moonshadow Pill being gently and slowly enveloped, tightening with every effort he made to use his power.

Simultaneously, the Chi Xi Pill began to consolidate, and as it did, Li Luoning's consciousness gradually awoke within the body.

"What did you do to me?" Li Minghan angrily demanded of Mi Xingzhe.

Mi Xingzhe knew the golden feather was working.

"If you stop now, I'll withdraw the feather, but you must return my master's consciousness." Mi Xingzhe pleaded.

"Keep dreaming!" Li Minghan continued trying to harness the Moonshadow Pill's power, but the more he tried, the tighter it became.

As Li Luoning's consciousness reawakened, he saw what was happening and slowly detached from the body, forming a golden-red apparition next to Li Minghan.

"Minghan, we share the same bloodline; there's no need for this ending. If you stop now, I promise you and the Moonshadow Pill will be safe." Li Luoning's golden apparition spoke gently.

"Never!" Li Minghan's sanity was nearly gone. No matter how hard he tried, the power only grew tighter, and the Moonshadow Pill began to crack.

"The power within you is from my master, Liao Yin. No matter how you struggle, it's futile. Only by calming down will the pain cease." Li Luoning continued to reason.

"Li Luoning, who do you think you are? A savior? If not for you, I wouldn't be in this situation. Stop pretending to be virtuous. Since I've decided to take the three realms with me to the grave, you must accompany me to hell!" Before Li Luoning could respond, Li Minghan's consciousness pulled him back into the body, and he unleashed his final spell to break free.

"Stop! If you continue, not only will you destroy yourself, but the Chi Xi Pill and my master's body will be destroyed along with you," Mi Xingzhe shouted.

Li Minghan, having lost his reason, couldn't hear any of Mi Xingzhe's pleas. Like a frenzied beast, he wildly activated the power within his body. The feather tightened further, and more cracks appeared on the Moonshadow Pill.

"If he continues like this, not only will he destroy the Moonshadow Pill, but he'll also burn the Chi Xi Pill he just absorbed, and the resulting energy could turn the three realms into scorched earth. My master once said that the two pills are mutually reinforcing and counteracting. The only thing that can counteract the Moonshadow Pill now is the Chi Xi Pill. If that's the case, my master..." Mi Xingzhe tried to recall any useful methods from his memory, and suddenly,

"If you can use the Floating Light Golden Seal to protect your master's heart meridian, he won't be affected by the demonic energy."

Mi Xingzhe suddenly remembered what the Liao Yin Immortal had told him that day.

"Protect the heart meridian, yes! Protect my master's heart meridian, and also protect the Chi Xi Pill. The Golden Pill, the Floating Light Golden Seal's Golden Pill, can protect my master's heart meridian."

Mi Xingzhe placed one hand on his chest and summoned the Golden Pill within him. He pushed the Golden Pill into the air with one hand while waving the other, and a golden ring with the elements of gold, wood, water, fire, and earth appeared, each floating around it.

"Xingzhe, what are you doing? Stop!" Li Luoning didn't know what Mi Xingzhe was doing, but separating the Golden Pill from one's body was extremely dangerous, and any mistake could result in death.

Mi Xingzhe looked at Li Luoning, smiling apologetically.

This spell was one he had secretly learned from his master's ancient books. He had thought that if the Floating Light Golden Seal were ever needed, he could summon it easily. Now, it seemed that fate had its own plans.

Mi Xingzhe's fleeting smile faded, replaced by a rare seriousness. He continued chanting and moving his hands, and the five-element spells gradually entered Li Luoning's body.

The five-element spells formed a protective barrier around the Chi Xi Pill within Li Luoning's body.

Mi Xingzhe raised his hand, looking at his master with eyes full of apology and sorrow.

"The Moonshadow Pill could destroy the world. Master, my life is yours. To be your disciple has been my greatest honor. This Golden Pill is yours, and today, I return it to you for the sake of the world."

Mi Xingzhe knew that if Li Minghan detonated the Moonshadow Pill, the three realms would be reduced to ashes. The only way he could think of to prevent this was to use his Floating Light Golden Seal to protect Li Luoning's Chi Xi Pill, as the Chi Xi Pill was the only thing that could counteract the Moonshadow Pill.

Mi Xingzhe pushed his Golden Pill into Li Luoning's body, and the Moonshadow Pill was expelled, floating in mid-air.

With his consciousness regained, Li Luoning gently descended, while the now-empty Mi Xingzhe fell lightly to the ground like a leaf.

"Xingzhe, Xingzhe." Li Luoning anxiously called, rushing to Mi Xingzhe's side and cradling him in his arms. He tried to channel his power into Mi Xingzhe's body to keep him from fading away.

"Master, no... no time... quickly..." Mi Xingzhe placed his hand on Li Luoning's, his eyes signaling the urgent need to deal with the Moonshadow Pill.

The Moonshadow Pill, now floating in mid-air, was covered in more and more cracks, and the feather around it began to fall away.

Li Luoning gently laid Mi Xingzhe down and turned towards the Moonshadow Pill, his hands moving swiftly to summon seal after seal, gradually enveloping the Moonshadow Pill.

Despite Li Luoning's efforts, the Moonshadow Pill shattered. Fortunately, it was wrapped in dozens of seals, and the powerful blast only scorched the surrounding area.

Li Luoning watched as the Moonshadow Pill disintegrated, feeling a mix of emotions.

Regaining his senses, he quickly turned to find Mi Xingzhe.

However, without the Floating Light Golden Seal, Mi Xingzhe had been reduced to ashes by the heat, leaving only a golden jade pendant with a Qilin beast design.

Li Luoning carefully picked up the pendant, gently tracing the intricate patterns he had carved himself. Memories of Mi Xingzhe flooded his mind.

"Master, Master, look what I brought you!"

"Master, Qingyi bullied me again!"

"Master, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me this time, I promise there won't be a next time."

"Master..." 

"Master."

"Master!"

The echoes of "Master" in his memories struck Li Luoning's heart, making him clutch the pendant tightly, tears silently streaming down his face.

"The Moonshadow and Chi Xi Pills, the Floating Light Golden Seal... How many more lives must be sacrificed for the unification of the three realms?" Thinking of his loneliness, Li Luoning was overwhelmed with despair. He summoned the two pills in his body, holding them in his palms.

"The family's revenge is taken, the world is safe, and I'm alone without care." With that, Li Luoning prepared to destroy the pills and end his life.

Suddenly, he felt a reaction from the beads on his wrist.

"This is... the engraving my senior brother left behind!" The beads emitted a light, projecting words into the air:

"Three thousand tribulations are all karma, five hundred years of waiting, the sky and earth. All thoughts are empty because of dreams, the empty sound hangs, and the hidden words connect."

Years later, in a cave in Jiuling,

"Dinner's ready." Li Luoning walked into the cave, carrying a wooden bowl, and called softly, looking around.

"Xingzhe? Xingzhe?" After calling a few times without seeing anyone, Li Luoning shook his head in resignation and turned to ask,

"Have you seen Xingzhe?"

A little fox curled up nearby opened one sleepy eye, lazily lifting its head and flicking its red fur and soft ears. It glanced toward the stone table deeper in the cave and then comfortably licked its fur.

Li Luoning sighed and walked to the stone table where he usually read. Sure enough, a beautiful white calico cat was lazily sleeping on the cushion by the table.

"I don't know why I named you after him. He used to be the most enthusiastic one at mealtime. Now, I have to bring the food right to your mouth." Li Luoning complained gently, placing the bowl beside the cat with a tone full of affection.

The cat sniffed the air, slowly waking up. It stretched, arching its back and extending its legs, before sitting down and looking up at Li Luoning with its fluffy face.

"Meow." The calico cat meowed impatiently.

"What? You don't like being scolded?" Li Luoning asked with a gentle smile, picking up a book and sitting down beside the cat.

Seeing Li Luoning sit down, the cat jumped onto the stone table, rubbing its head against his hand before curling up in his lap to continue napping.

Li Luoning looked down at the cat in his lap, shaking his head with a sigh. His gaze fell on the jade pendant beside him.